Author's Note: I'm hoping to get this posted before the end of the year, if I do, then Happy New Year to all!

Answers to reviewer questions-

Rika began working for Hypnos at the age of thirteen and it's been ten years since. Rika had been under training by Hypnos for two years before she was allowed to begin her first job for Hypnos at age fifteen. The police didn't start tracking her until a year later and it's been seven years since. I looked over the part with that and I admit that I slipped up and wrote the wrong number of years. It should be ten and not seven. And I'm the one who wrote it. ^^'' Sorry for that slip up. I've gone back and revised that one part so that others who read won't become confused. Thank you to rukimakino for catching my mistake. ^_^

Disclamier: ................................. Um............................ Yeah......................... Whatever............................

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~Chapter 4~

The phone rang for the fourth time as the dark haired detective rushed across the living room, practically lunging for it before the other person hung up. Along his way, Henry had succeeded in knocking over a coat rack, a few pillows off the couch and he'd almost pushed his mother's prized flower vase that sat at the other end of the couch over. How he managed all that was beyond him though? Imagine what all his colleagues would say about him if they found out that the best cop on the force was clumsier than a three year old.

"Hello?!" Henry practically yelled, crossing his fingers hoping that the person on the other end hadn't hung up yet. It was the third time this week that someone decided to call just as he got to his door. It was the third time this week that he'd had to bowl through his messy living room just to get to the phone before the caller hung up. It almost seemed that people planned these calls at that particular time. Probably just to be cruel to him.

A familiar voice called out a hello to him from the other side, interrupting his thoughts.

"Takato?" Henry blinked. It sounded like his old childhood friend. The weird thing, though, was that he hadn't heard from Takato Matsuda in a long time.

"That's the name!" Takato seemed to be the same Takato that Henry knew as a child. He didn't even sound all that different, "So, how's it been? You liking it in America?"

Henry blinked again, finally shaking off the surprise he felt from hearing his old friend's voice. He smiled, "Takato! Wow! It's been, what? Ten years?"

"Yeah, Man!" Takato confirmed, "And you never called." Henry seemed to catch a hint of hurt in Takato's voice, but he also detected the joy from the friends being able to speak to each other again.

"I-" Henry bit his lower lip. He'd never called Takato? He'd never kept in contact? Was that what happened when one moved far away? Was that why...?

Thoughts of his talk with Ms. Nonaka that afternoon came back to his mind. Upon meeting Ms. Nonaka again, he'd been reminded of his past that he had apparently placed aside for the longest time. But why had he put those memories aside? He couldn't even remember the reason for not calling any of his friends. For not keeping in contact with them. What had happened? He knew that he had promised to call and write as much as he could. Why hadn't he done that?

"Hello? Earth to Henry," Takato's voice cut through the detective's thoughts, "You still there? You're not going to avoid me now that I've finally found your number are you?"

"Takato?" Henry repeated what he'd already spoken a few times, "I'm sorry... I was just..." He shook his head, ridding himself of any other thoughts so that he could focus on the phone conversation with his childhood friend, "How've you been?"

"Well, where do I start?" Takato thought aloud, "It's been so long since we last spoke."

"I know," Henry sighed guiltily, "I'm really sorry, Takato. I honestly intended to keep in contact with all of you. But I guess something must have come up. Come to think of it, I don't even remember what it was..." He trailed off, still wondering about ten years ago when he'd left Japan and his friends and life behind.

"Don't fret, Henry," came Takato's reassuring voice, "You're not the only one who seemed to drift away. The only person I've spoken to in the past few years is Kazu. Jeri and Kenta went off to doctor school a few years ago. After Jeri lost her stuffed puppet, that is." Henry chuckled in remembrance at the yellow dog sock puppet that the auburn haired, Jeri Katou always had with her. It spoke to her and she spoke to it. Not much to say about that.

"And as for Rika," Takato continued.

Henry caught his breath. Rika! Memories began to flood into his mind as Takato continued to speak, causing Henry to only half hear what was being said. The conversation he'd had with Ms. Nonaka that afternoon came back into mind. He shook his head and tried to pay more attention to what was being said right now. Unfortunately, he only caught the last part of it, "... I haven't seen her since. What happened to you two anyways? Didn't you two become really close or something around that time? Oh, by the way, have you seen her? I think she might have moved to America. Los Angeles, California, I think. Isn't that where you live?"

"What?" Henry felt another pang of guilt. Takato had called hoping to catch up with him on their lives, and here he was spacing out.

"Did you even hear a word I said, Henry?" Takato asked, feeling a little hurt and annoyed. It hadn't been easy for him to find Henry's number. Well, maybe it was easier than he made other's think. He'd just been lucky one day to run into Henry's father on a business trip and, through him, found out about what Henry was doing and received the number to call the young detective.

"I'm sorry, Takato," Henry sighed, "I was just thinking. Hey, how'd you get my number?"

"From your dad," Takato answered, "He came to Japan for a business thing and I ran into him. I also found out more stuff about you from him. But anyway, what were you thinking about?"

"What were you talking about before?" Henry avoided the question. Even he didn't understand what he was thinking about. It had come so suddenly.

"I was telling you about how we all drifted apart," Takato repeated, "Jeri and Kenta both went off to doctor school and Rika just disappeared after her grandmother died."

"Rika? She really disappeared? What do you mean?" Henry slumped down onto his couch, a look of concern etched on his face. Rika's mother had mentioned that, but he thought that she only meant Rika wasn't allowing her mother to find her. That she was just avoiding her mother after her grandmother's death. Not that she'd actually "disappeared."

"Well, a few months after you left, Rika's grandmother died," Takato explained, "It was an accident actually. Some idiot was driving drunk and well..." Takato trailed off, remembering the look on Rika's face during the funeral so many years ago.

"Oh man," Henry whispered, "I didn't even know about that. I mean, when I ran into Ms. Nonaka today, she told me, but... How-? Wait! What happened to Rika?"

"She started off becoming distant again," Takato explained, "You know how she was before. And then one day, she just left. She never talked to any of us. She never called either. Kinda like you. By the way, you didn't answer my question. What were you thinking about?"

Henry remained silent. It finally hit him. He remembered that portion of his childhood now. When he had left Japan. Why he hadn't remained in contact with his friends. Why he had seemingly laid aside his memories. Of course he hadn't done it voluntarily. He didn't even realize that he had done it in the first place. That he had practically forsaken all his memories of the past. He sighed, knowing that Takato was still waiting for his answer. He closed his eyes, finally uttering a soft, barely audible, "Rika..."

*flashback*

"Henry," Mr. Wong walked up to his son, who craned his neck in hopes that his friend would be arriving soon, "Henry, our plane will be leaving in another fifteen minutes, okay?" The dark haired boy just nodded, unenthusiastically.

Mr. Wong shook his head. He didn't like the idea of moving away either, but that was the only way. It wasn't every day a person got offered an opportunity of a lifetime. Even if it was across the ocean in a completely different country. He couldn't turn it down. And so the only thing to do was to pack up and move there. Los Angeles, California, in America. That's where they were headed.

Henry didn't move an inch. His eyes remained toward the front of the airport. He knew his friend would show. Rika'd never let him down before. Takato and the rest of the gang had just left, saying that they wanted some food. They would be back in a few seconds if the lines in the cafe weren't long. He trusted they'd be back to wish him a last farewell.

As for Rika. She hadn't come with Takato. He wasn't even sure if she would show up. She didn't exactly mention it when he told her of his leaving for America. Now that he thought about it, Rika had been acting a little funny. A bit different. He didn't know what or why, but he knew there was something different about her.

"Henry," a familiar female voice caught his attention and he turned toward his left to see the person he'd been waiting for. He smiled, knowing that he'd been right. Rika was his best friend. There was no way she'd let him leave without a proper good-bye.

"Better late than never," Henry smiled. He extended his arms to embrace his friend, but was taken aback by her pulling away.

"Henry, don't," Rika seemed to choke those words out. And she was looking down. She was refusing to look at him. Something didn't seem right.

"Rika?" Henry's expression became one of concern.

"I almost didn't come," Rika spoke up.

"You didn't have to," Henry tried to find his words carefully, "if you were busy or something..." It was as if he was sensing quite a bit of tension between the two. What was going on?

"That's not it, Henry," Rika still remained unmoving, her face never looking at Henry's, "I almost didn't want to come. Do you know how hard it is to say...? How hard this is...?" She trailed off, not knowing how to bring herself to say what was on her mind.

"Rika, is everything okay?" Henry placed a hand on her shoulder, but shock came over his expression once again when she brushed it away just as immediately, "Rika?" He looked long and hard at Rika's face, averted elsewhere, refusing to face him. She had a look on her face. A far off look. Henry furrowed his brow. Where had he seen that look before?

"I'm sorry, Henry," Rika blinked a few times and finally looked up. The grim look still on her expression. Her eyes were a little tired and red. She, herself, looked weary and tired.

"Rika, have you been crying?" Henry reached out for her once again, but like she had done twice before, she backed away.

"I'm alright Henry," Rika forced a smile, "I just thought that it wouldn't be right to not say... to not say, good-bye."

"Rika..." Henry didn't know what was going on, but he didn't feel it right to pursue. Something just wasn't right, but he was afraid that he would say the wrong thing. As much as he understood this young girl, sometimes, when she chose to, Rika Nonaka would become a complete mystery to him, "We'll still be able to see each other soon. And we'll write each other and talk over the phone. We'll keep in touch. We're still going to be friends."

Rika flinched at the word 'friends,' though she didn't really show it. She just nodded, "Yeah, we'll still..." she trailed off, never finishing her thought. She swallowed the lump in her throat, while at the same time trying to ignore the pang of hurt in her heart and the tears that threatened to flow. She looked into Henry's eyes, hoping to find a sign, "Henry, I have something I need to tell you." Any sign would've been good. But all she found was Henry's expression of concern for her... as a good friend.

"What is it?" Henry smiled warmly, in assurance that he would always try to be there for Rika. That he would always listen to what she needed to say to him. That's what best friends were for. And to him, his friends were the most important parts of his life, aside from his family. To him, Rika really was an important part of his life. She was his best friend- the person he cared about the most.

"Henry, I..." Rika stared into his eyes, half hoping that he'd be able to figure it out so that she wouldn't have to say it out loud. Openly admitting her feelings had never really been one of Rika Nonaka's strong points.

"What is it, Rika?" Henry's voice was half muffled by the female voice announcing that his flight would be ready for take off in five minutes. He scowled at it. Times like this were no time for him to be in a hurry to leave. Especially not now, when it was apparent one of his friends needed him.

"Henry! We need to board now!" his father called to him.

"What is it Rika?" the boy tried his hardest to ignore all the clamor around him. All the noise. The announcement of this flight. His father's voice, beckoning him to leave now. He only wanted to pay attention to what Rika had to say. She was what was important at the moment.

"Henry..." Rika just stood there, still staring into Henry's eyes, even though he had broken eye contact only a few seconds ago. Please, please, Rika silently pleaded, but for more than on thing. She needed Henry to understand what she was trying to tell him. She pleaded for Henry not to leave. She hoped that some miracle would occur; that he would be able to stay with her. But most importantly, she was pleading for the boy, for the love of her life, to be able to return the same feelings to her. To love her as much as she loved him.

"Henry, let's go!" Mr. Wong's voice rang across the waiting room again.

Rika sighed. Instead of speaking, she threw her arms around Henry and hugged him tightly, completely catching him off guard. She then pulled slightly away and, much to her surprise and his, she pressed her lips against the dark haired boy's for a few seconds and then pulled away, whispering a barely audible "I'll miss you," and then running off before Henry could even react.

The tension and confusion was probably thick enough to cut with a knife. Henry stood speechless. Not understanding what happened. Not knowing what to make of the situation. And not knowing what actions he should take next.

"Henry! Let's get going!" Mr. Wong seemed oblivious to what had just taken place only seconds before. To the fact that those few seconds had been one of the most important ones in his son's life. The actions that would effect him whether or not he forgot about that brief moment.

"Rika..." Henry managed to utter as he searched the crowd for any sign of the auburn haired girl. Nowhere. He closed his eyes and took a deep breath and then finally turned, picking up his carry on bag, and headed toward the terminal.

*end flashback*

"Hello? Earth to Henry?" Takato's voice had to, again, cut through Henry's thoughts to bring him back to reality, "Henry? Are you okay?"

"Huh?" Henry shook his head, "Takato. I'm sorry. I kinda spaced out there."

"I noticed," Takato sighed in exasperation, "What's wrong with you, Man? You don't seem too happy."

"I'm fine, it's just-" Henry took a deep breath. He couldn't believe everything that had gone on today. In just one day, he'd been reminded of his past twice. Not that it was a bad thing. He'd never intended to forget in the first place. It just... happened.

He'd run into Ms. Nonaka that afternoon and now Takato calls. Both telling him the same story about Rika, but in a different perspective. Was it a sign of some sort? Henry shook his head, "Takato, what happened to Rika? Do you know where she went?" He thought back to the conversation he'd had with Rika's mother that afternoon. She'd mentioned that even she didn't know where Rika was. Couldn't contact her, nor could she find out where the girl went. Come to think of it, it did sound as if Rika Nonaka had just disappeared from the surface of earth. Ms. Nonaka didn't even find out about the death of her own mother until a year after it happened. This had caused her a world of grief, though in order to keep her job, she had to remain calm and toughen out the hurt and pain.

Hearing this, Henry had expressed quite a bit of worry and concern. He hadn't seen Rika for ten years- yes. But he still felt that she was his best friend. At least he knew that he was her best friend. For the past ten years, he'd been so caught up in his new life that he hadn't even thought of how much had changed between his old friends since he'd left.

"I don't really know, Henry," Takato spoke thoughtfully, "I do remember this weird man at Grandma Nonaka's funeral though. He seemed to know who Rika was and spent most of the time talking to her. You mean, you haven't seen her?"

"Why would I have seen her?" Henry furrowed his brow while he absently picked up one of the pillows on his couch, hugging it for a bit of comfort. His eyes scanned the clutter he had caused on his way in the door. The coat rack on the ground, the pillows- he'd straighten up later. At least he hadn't harmed his mother's vase. She'd kill him for that one.

"Well, about a year ago, these movers came here, to where Rika used to live," Takato explained, "Apparently they were ordered to move the whole of Rika's house somewhere else." Takato beamed for a while, "And with my detective skills, I was able to find out from them that the house was to be moved to LA. If that's the case, then wouldn't Rika be living in LA too? I mean, why else would her house be moved away? To LA?"

"You mean, Rika could be here?" Henry didn't know whether to jump for joy that he finally had a lead on where his childhood best friend was, or to just leave it be. It seemed weird. If Rika had moved to Los Angeles, then why had she not contacted her own mother? He was sure Rika would know where her mother was. And he was sure he had told her where his family would be moving to, didn't he? Why hadn't she contacted him?

"I'm just guessing," Henry could almost see Takato shrugging as he responded, "You haven't seen her?"

"No," Henry shook his head, "Actually, I haven't seen any of you guys for the past ten years. But then again, neither has Ms. Nonaka. She hasn't heard anything about Rika at all. When she told me that, I just thought that Rika was trying to avoid Ms. Nonaka. I guess that's not the case anymore. What could've happened to her?"

Takato shrugged as if Henry would be able to see him, "Again, I don't know. Whatever it is, I hope she's okay. As much as I didn't like her attitude sometimes, I still thought she was a cool person. Especially after she softened up a bit after the whole Digital World thing."

"I hope she's okay too," Henry sighed. More than ever, he silently added. Hopefully, he'd be able to find Rika soon. That would be his new mission. His new, personal mission. He would find Rika.

The detective closed his eyes hoping to clear his mind for a while. Too much had happened today...

"Well, I've got something to tell you," Takato spoke cheerily after a slight pause, only hoping to lighten the mood by changing the subject, "You're about to see more of me soon."

"What?" Henry stretched from sitting in the same position for so long. He pulled himself to his feet and headed toward the kitchen for a snack. If he wasn't mistaken, there should be some leftover spaghetti from when he went to The Olive Garden with his family yesterday morning for that quick lunch. It had been the only time he could schedule his family in for a nice lunch. The chase after Midnight Fox had practically taken up most of his time, and he was going to let it too, if he planned on closing up the case soon. Preferably before the commissioner had a tantrum again.

"Are you moving here too?" Henry joked. He rummaged through his fridge, but only managed to find a carton of milk, a half empty carton of orange juice and some other choice supplements that would require him bringing out his cooking talents that, fortunately, he hadn't inherited from his mother. To be a good chef all a person needed was a good cook book, cable with the food channels and if all else failed, take out was always a good back up plan.

"How'd you guess?" Takato beamed.

"You are?!" Henry was glad he hadn't drank any of the orange juice like he had planned. He would have spit it all back out in surprise. Then he'd have another mess to clean up.

It was times like these that he wished he hadn't insisted on moving out. His excuse was that his job took up the majority of his day and he didn't want to bother his parents by coming home late at night and waking anyone up. Plus the fact that his younger sister was now in college and she needed her sleep and study time. After a few days of his parents' and little Suzie's pleading, he finally convinced them that it was best if he moved out. He needed his space. His parents seemed to take it pretty well, but Suzie had refused to talk to him for a whole month, until he promised that she could come visit him as much as she wanted. And vice versa.

"Yeah," Takato nodded, "I'm getting a special transfer to LA. My superiors are going to let me attend a one year leadership training retreat in Washington D.C., and then their going to station me in LA. Depending on how well I do at the retreat."

"Wow! That's great!" Henry smiled. He set down his carton of juice and finally shut the refrigerator, "So when will you be here?"

"Well, that's what I'm so peeved about," Takato sighed, "I applied for this a year ago, and they just now informed me that I've been selected to attend the retreat... a year from now. So I won't even be able to show for another two years."

"Well, that might not be all bad," Henry responded, "It's better than what I had to do. Didn't even get a month to spend with my friends before we left. A few weeks and that was it."

"But everyone's gone now," Takato whined, "Even Kazu left. He became a security guard at the University of Tokyo and now he's off to America because some guy bought the, uh, I think it was the Shinjuku Ancient Blade, Krita-Yuga, or something like that. I've never really paid attention to science and stuff."

"Kazu's going to be in America?" Henry blinked in surprise, "Kazu's a security guard?" That was even more unbelievable.

"Oh! And what a coincidence too!" Takato spoke, "He's going to be in LA. Actually, he should already be there. He left a few weeks ago."

"Here? Already?" Henry sat down at his counter, listening intently, "That really is coincidental." He blinked a few times, suddenly thinking of something, "Hey, Takato, how much do you know about the Krita-Yuga? You know, how it was sold?"

"Not much," Takato replied, "Now that I think about it, I think Kenta called me up to complain about it. He's a student at the University of Tokyo. He told me about some wealthy professor who decided to sell the University's artifact. Right out of the University's museum too. Don't know why someone would do that. Kenta wasn't too happy about it though."

"Where was the blade supposed to be shipped to? I mean, what place?" Henry asked.

"Oh, that's an easy one," Takato answered, "Kazu wouldn't stop talking about it. It's supposed to be sold to Kayath Grande Hotel, to be put in display. Should be there right now. Kazu's there because he has to guard it until the hotel's grand opening. Then he can come home and resume his job guarding the University of Tokyo's museum. The owners of Kayath Grande promised that a few more guards would be hired by then. Right now, he's the only one."

"That's tomorrow," Henry spoke more to himself than to his friend.

"What's up, Henry?" Takato asked.

"Nothing," Henry shook his head, "But I think I've got a lead..."

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End of chapter.

To those of you who are reading and reviewing- Thank you very much. I truly appreciate all the encouragement and suggestions from those of you who read my work. Thank you!!

Don't forget to review. Thanx. ^_^