Chapter 2
Fuko still couldn't believe that it was truly the Tokiya Mikagami she knew that sat right beside her now. He hadn't changed a bit in the past five years that she had been gone. His silvery hair was as long as ever, his violet-gray eyes revealing nothing about himself. Dressed in a black suit, he certainly perfected the image of ice.
" Miss Kirisawa, we'll be nearing your apartment soon." The agent in front informed her. " Mr. Mikagami is staying in an apartment just a few blocks away. In fact, the whole unit stays quite near each other. This is to ensure that everyone will be able to reach the agency in the quickest time possible in the case of an emergency."
Fuko nodded in reply, while she noticed that Mikagami gave a look of irritation when the agent revealed his residence.
In no time, the agency car arrived at the apartment.
" Mikagami, why don't you show Miss Kirisawa to her apartment while I bring up her luggage." The agent called out cheerfully as they got out of the car.
Mikagami did not reply, instead he made his way to the lifts, nodding for Fuko to follow.
In the lift, there was an uncomfortable silence as Fuko struggled to find something to say.
" Um, how have you been?" she asked, staring straight ahead of her, not daring to look at him in the face.
" I've been fine. What about you?"
" I'm fine."
" I didn't expect you to become a secret agent." Tokiya said, turning to look at her.
" Neither did I. But then, life is always full of surprises isn't it?" Fuko replied.
" It is. "
" Um, so have the others been doing?" Fuko asked, trying to change the subject,
The lift door opened and closed.
" Well, Recca and Yanagi married a few months after you left. They have a son and a baby daughter. Recca took over his father's fireworks factory, while Yanagi is a part time primary school teacher."
" Figures. I always knew that she would take up a teaching profession." Fuko mused " But their children. Do they have."
" Yes. Recca's son, Shoji has the power of the flame casters. Miyuki, his daughter, has yet to show any signs of being a flame caster."
" What about Domon, Koganei and Kurei?"
" Domon owns a series of florist chains now. He is trying to cultivate a new species of flowers. Koganei has in his first years of university. He is currently studying political science. Kurei got married to Neon, as you should have guessed. They have a baby son, who also coincidentally, has the power of a flame caster. However, both Recca and Kurei have resolved not to let both their sons fight the way they did."
" I'm glad, that they managed to resolve the issue." Fuko replied, remembering the times, when they had fought against Mori Koran.
" We can visit them tomorrow if you like. They live not far from here." Tokiya offered.
Fuko flashed him a grateful smile
" Thank you Tokiya. I don't even know whether I'll have time to visit them as the weeks go by. It's going to be tough time for all of us."
" Len Larson. I'm sure that you have a more detailed folder on him in your laptop than those skimpy facts you showed us just now. I would like to see that file later. I share what I have on him as we go by." Tokiya said suddenly, as they stopped right in front of an apartment and Tokiya took out a set of keys from his pocket. Unlocking the door, he stepped inside, and laid the keys on the table.
" A three bedroom flat. Overlooks headquarters and the nearby park. Should be adequate for you. "
" Yes it should be. " Fuko gave the living room a cursory glance and went straight to the balcony. She scanned the surrounding area. " Tree cover. tall buildings." she murmured to herself.
There was a knock on the door, and Tokiya let the agent in carrying Fuko's luggage. Once the agent had done his job, Tokiya let him out and locked the door. Going to the living room table, he brought out his own laptop and connected it to the electrical socket in the living room. Almost immediately a whole lot of notes came flashing up on the screen. Fuko joined him on the settee, nodding approvingly
" I see that you've compiled your own information on Len Larson over there."
" I had to prepare the notes once I knew that you were coming."
" You knew that I was coming?"
" Yes. Intelligence informed me the minute they got the letter from the A.I.U."
" I see.well, let's get on with the facts then."
Fuko took out her own laptop and switched it on. Reaching into her briefcase, she brought out her spectacle case and hastily slipped on her glasses. When she turned around, Tokiya was looking at her with an odd look.
" What?" she asked, smiling hesitantly?
" You're wearing glasses. I didn't know that you wore them."
" I started wearing them two years ago. I only wear them when I use the laptop. " Fuko smiled tentatively " The unit wanted me to go for corrective surgery, but I always didn't have the time to do it, neither did I wish to take leave."
" You look sweet in them anyway. I'm sure Recca and the others will be delighted to know that you wear glasses now."
Sweet? Tokiya thought that I looked sweet in glasses? Fuko thought incredulously. However, she reminded herself of the job at hand.
Turning her screen so that Tokiya could see it too, she told all that she knew about Larson.
" Larson first came on three years ago. When he hit at New York, I was assigned to his case. From my research, I've found out, that Larson was born in Japan, Kobe. When he was 15, his family migrated when his father was assigned an overseas job to Hawaii. The family lived happily for five years. Five years later, his father was retrenched from the company and left to survive on his own in Hawaii. During that time, a contagious disease raged through the entire country and the entire family. With no money to see the doctor or buy medicine, the entire family except Len passed away. From then on, he took odd jobs while going for night classes. That's how he got his master's degree in psychology, and his knowledge in computers and explosives. He's worked his way all over to the countries where main branches of the companies are and sabotaged the country's computer system."
" What was the company his father worked for?" Tokiya asked
" The intelligence unit." Fuko answered
" But that's impossible. No one gets retrenched from the intelligence!" Tokiya spluttered, " They either retire or .get killed." He finished. Realization dawned in his eyes then. " You don't mean.." He whispered.
Fuko nodded in reply. " Ken Larson had been selling country secrets to foreign spies. Intelligence found out and killed him and his family. Len apparently escaped."
" No wonder he has something against intelligence." Tokiya remarked, and then tapping a button on his laptop, he showed Fuko his screen.
" This is what I have. A master of disguises has knowledge of five languages, and three fake passports so far."
" I'm almost certain that Tokyo is his final destination, since this is where head quarters is."
" I've checked his style. It's to create a diversion by blowing up a populated public area, and later just skip into the buildings and let out his viruses."
" Not only that, he plays games. In New York, the A.I.U. had a called just fifteen minutes before he set off the virus. He asked the agent a question. Agent got it wrong, he set the virus." Fuko leaned back against the settee, sighing and closed her eyes.
The long nights of tracking him down on her laptop. The phone calls, the letters. And now, she was here, hoping to stop him for the final time.
" Fuko. Fuko. are you feeling all right?"
" Huh? Oh, I was just thinking. I think that I'm done with the explanations already, so any thoughts?" Fuko looked at him expectantly. Tokiya didn't reply, but just looked at her, as if examining her face.
" Why did you leave?" he asked suddenly.
" What." Fuko was taken aback by his abrupt question.
" Was it because of what."
" I left because I wanted to. I had always wanted to work overseas and I saw my chance. It was the perfect time for me to go." Fuko replied quickly.
Tokiya looked as if he wanted to say something more but hanged his mind instead and got up.
" I think that I'll take my leave now. We'll start discussing our strategy tomorrow."
Fuko nodded silently and followed him to the door. At the door he turned and said
" Have a good night's rest. Tomorrow and the rest of the week are going to be busy days."
Fuko waved him aside.
" I know that. Don't worry about me. More like you should worry about yourself. We'll be working like almost 24 hours a day, I think that we'll be staying overnight at the office most of the time."
Tokiya just lifted his eyebrows in reply and departed. Fuko grinned at his departing figure
Dear old Tokiya, ever the same old cold guy.
Fuko still couldn't believe that it was truly the Tokiya Mikagami she knew that sat right beside her now. He hadn't changed a bit in the past five years that she had been gone. His silvery hair was as long as ever, his violet-gray eyes revealing nothing about himself. Dressed in a black suit, he certainly perfected the image of ice.
" Miss Kirisawa, we'll be nearing your apartment soon." The agent in front informed her. " Mr. Mikagami is staying in an apartment just a few blocks away. In fact, the whole unit stays quite near each other. This is to ensure that everyone will be able to reach the agency in the quickest time possible in the case of an emergency."
Fuko nodded in reply, while she noticed that Mikagami gave a look of irritation when the agent revealed his residence.
In no time, the agency car arrived at the apartment.
" Mikagami, why don't you show Miss Kirisawa to her apartment while I bring up her luggage." The agent called out cheerfully as they got out of the car.
Mikagami did not reply, instead he made his way to the lifts, nodding for Fuko to follow.
In the lift, there was an uncomfortable silence as Fuko struggled to find something to say.
" Um, how have you been?" she asked, staring straight ahead of her, not daring to look at him in the face.
" I've been fine. What about you?"
" I'm fine."
" I didn't expect you to become a secret agent." Tokiya said, turning to look at her.
" Neither did I. But then, life is always full of surprises isn't it?" Fuko replied.
" It is. "
" Um, so have the others been doing?" Fuko asked, trying to change the subject,
The lift door opened and closed.
" Well, Recca and Yanagi married a few months after you left. They have a son and a baby daughter. Recca took over his father's fireworks factory, while Yanagi is a part time primary school teacher."
" Figures. I always knew that she would take up a teaching profession." Fuko mused " But their children. Do they have."
" Yes. Recca's son, Shoji has the power of the flame casters. Miyuki, his daughter, has yet to show any signs of being a flame caster."
" What about Domon, Koganei and Kurei?"
" Domon owns a series of florist chains now. He is trying to cultivate a new species of flowers. Koganei has in his first years of university. He is currently studying political science. Kurei got married to Neon, as you should have guessed. They have a baby son, who also coincidentally, has the power of a flame caster. However, both Recca and Kurei have resolved not to let both their sons fight the way they did."
" I'm glad, that they managed to resolve the issue." Fuko replied, remembering the times, when they had fought against Mori Koran.
" We can visit them tomorrow if you like. They live not far from here." Tokiya offered.
Fuko flashed him a grateful smile
" Thank you Tokiya. I don't even know whether I'll have time to visit them as the weeks go by. It's going to be tough time for all of us."
" Len Larson. I'm sure that you have a more detailed folder on him in your laptop than those skimpy facts you showed us just now. I would like to see that file later. I share what I have on him as we go by." Tokiya said suddenly, as they stopped right in front of an apartment and Tokiya took out a set of keys from his pocket. Unlocking the door, he stepped inside, and laid the keys on the table.
" A three bedroom flat. Overlooks headquarters and the nearby park. Should be adequate for you. "
" Yes it should be. " Fuko gave the living room a cursory glance and went straight to the balcony. She scanned the surrounding area. " Tree cover. tall buildings." she murmured to herself.
There was a knock on the door, and Tokiya let the agent in carrying Fuko's luggage. Once the agent had done his job, Tokiya let him out and locked the door. Going to the living room table, he brought out his own laptop and connected it to the electrical socket in the living room. Almost immediately a whole lot of notes came flashing up on the screen. Fuko joined him on the settee, nodding approvingly
" I see that you've compiled your own information on Len Larson over there."
" I had to prepare the notes once I knew that you were coming."
" You knew that I was coming?"
" Yes. Intelligence informed me the minute they got the letter from the A.I.U."
" I see.well, let's get on with the facts then."
Fuko took out her own laptop and switched it on. Reaching into her briefcase, she brought out her spectacle case and hastily slipped on her glasses. When she turned around, Tokiya was looking at her with an odd look.
" What?" she asked, smiling hesitantly?
" You're wearing glasses. I didn't know that you wore them."
" I started wearing them two years ago. I only wear them when I use the laptop. " Fuko smiled tentatively " The unit wanted me to go for corrective surgery, but I always didn't have the time to do it, neither did I wish to take leave."
" You look sweet in them anyway. I'm sure Recca and the others will be delighted to know that you wear glasses now."
Sweet? Tokiya thought that I looked sweet in glasses? Fuko thought incredulously. However, she reminded herself of the job at hand.
Turning her screen so that Tokiya could see it too, she told all that she knew about Larson.
" Larson first came on three years ago. When he hit at New York, I was assigned to his case. From my research, I've found out, that Larson was born in Japan, Kobe. When he was 15, his family migrated when his father was assigned an overseas job to Hawaii. The family lived happily for five years. Five years later, his father was retrenched from the company and left to survive on his own in Hawaii. During that time, a contagious disease raged through the entire country and the entire family. With no money to see the doctor or buy medicine, the entire family except Len passed away. From then on, he took odd jobs while going for night classes. That's how he got his master's degree in psychology, and his knowledge in computers and explosives. He's worked his way all over to the countries where main branches of the companies are and sabotaged the country's computer system."
" What was the company his father worked for?" Tokiya asked
" The intelligence unit." Fuko answered
" But that's impossible. No one gets retrenched from the intelligence!" Tokiya spluttered, " They either retire or .get killed." He finished. Realization dawned in his eyes then. " You don't mean.." He whispered.
Fuko nodded in reply. " Ken Larson had been selling country secrets to foreign spies. Intelligence found out and killed him and his family. Len apparently escaped."
" No wonder he has something against intelligence." Tokiya remarked, and then tapping a button on his laptop, he showed Fuko his screen.
" This is what I have. A master of disguises has knowledge of five languages, and three fake passports so far."
" I'm almost certain that Tokyo is his final destination, since this is where head quarters is."
" I've checked his style. It's to create a diversion by blowing up a populated public area, and later just skip into the buildings and let out his viruses."
" Not only that, he plays games. In New York, the A.I.U. had a called just fifteen minutes before he set off the virus. He asked the agent a question. Agent got it wrong, he set the virus." Fuko leaned back against the settee, sighing and closed her eyes.
The long nights of tracking him down on her laptop. The phone calls, the letters. And now, she was here, hoping to stop him for the final time.
" Fuko. Fuko. are you feeling all right?"
" Huh? Oh, I was just thinking. I think that I'm done with the explanations already, so any thoughts?" Fuko looked at him expectantly. Tokiya didn't reply, but just looked at her, as if examining her face.
" Why did you leave?" he asked suddenly.
" What." Fuko was taken aback by his abrupt question.
" Was it because of what."
" I left because I wanted to. I had always wanted to work overseas and I saw my chance. It was the perfect time for me to go." Fuko replied quickly.
Tokiya looked as if he wanted to say something more but hanged his mind instead and got up.
" I think that I'll take my leave now. We'll start discussing our strategy tomorrow."
Fuko nodded silently and followed him to the door. At the door he turned and said
" Have a good night's rest. Tomorrow and the rest of the week are going to be busy days."
Fuko waved him aside.
" I know that. Don't worry about me. More like you should worry about yourself. We'll be working like almost 24 hours a day, I think that we'll be staying overnight at the office most of the time."
Tokiya just lifted his eyebrows in reply and departed. Fuko grinned at his departing figure
Dear old Tokiya, ever the same old cold guy.