Author's Note: Okay, before you threaten me with poison gas and wild Doberman, I'm going to give you all what you want. The very next chapter of 'Midnight Fox.' ^_^ And you all that I was dead or something. And no, I'm not evil, either. I've just been really busy lately with homework and graduation. I haven't had time to do any writing.

But anyway, where we last left off, Rika and Henry had just battled. Now what's going to happen?

To everyone out there, I am very sorry about the lateness of this chapter. Also, in my opinion, this is a fairy short chapter and so hopefully I will have the next one out soon. Once again, I am very sorry.

Disclaimer: .................... What? .......................

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~Chapter 6~

*A flashback*

She finished off her spar by flipping Henry onto the ground. He made a pretty loud thump as his back came in contact with the hard mattress that had been laid out in the garden. The blue mattresses were there every day at the same time. Usually around noon when the two friends sparred with each other. That was the time they laid aside each day for their exercises.

Ever since they discovered this similar interest in each other, the two had been sparring, practicing and learning new techniques and routines each day just for fun. Basically, they were training for a competition that they would probably never attend. They both looked forward to those junior martial arts tournaments, but never really thought of competing. They only practiced and trained because it was something they loved to do together. Henry would show off his Tai Chi skills that he learned from his father, and his sparring friend would show off whatever creative martial arts movements that she either made up or learned from books. Both exchanged skills and as a team together, were unbeatable.

During school days, they would spar after school let out. During non-school days, they would spar during the noontime and then have lunch immediately afterwards. Grandma Nonaka always had a tray of sandwiches and juice ready for them. On good days, the old woman would make a scrumptious delicacy for them. Either way, lunch was delicious and their days were filled with endless joy.

The dark-haired boy rolled his eyes up to look at the girl who'd just slammed him onto the ground. "That was awesome," Henry laughed, breathing heavily. He looked into the violet eyes of his friend who extended her hand to pull him up. He smiled, grateful that his best friend had finally broken out of her cocoon, and was now hanging out with him and his friends more without her usual angry and rude mask that she wore. He couldn't even remember the last time that she was being a punk bully. But he could remember the first time that she let down her false exterior and welcomed him into her life. Welcomed all her friends into her life to see the true her.

And he was glad and grateful for that. She was an awesome friend. The best he'd ever had. Of course, there were still always those times that she would put out her tough exterior and jokingly make rude remarks. But it was all with friendly intentions that no one took the wrong way anymore.

"I told you I could kick your ass if I wanted to," she also breathed heavily from the work out, "Never underestimate my strength, Henry Wong."

Henry smiled up at her mock egotism, "Completely understood, Ma'am. You can kick every guy's butt with the way you've been training." He extended his hand toward her, "Now, Miss Almighty Rika Nonaka, how about helping a friend up." He watched as her smile faded into an expression of playful anger and her extended hand was pulled back. Her eyes narrowed, but the cheeriness in her expression remained. Her lips were slightly curled, as she tried her best to conceal her smile.

"I'm not that bigheaded," Rika turned away, crossing her arms and sticking her nose high in the air.

"Come on," Henry persisted, his arm remained extended in the air toward the girl before him, "You're not the type to hold a grudge. I believe Rika Nonaka is better than that. Besides, I wouldn't call you 'big-headed.' Not when you can kick my butt whenever you feel like it." He tilted his head to find that a huge smile now appeared on the girl's face, as she had been unable to feign her anger.

"As long as we're both in agreement here," she finally laughed as she turned to help pull her friend onto his feet, extending her arm once again.

"Of course," Henry smiled at her. A devious twinkle appeared in his hazel eyes as he took her hand in his. Instead of letting her pull him to his feet however, he yanked hard on her arm, causing her to topple over on top of him. He distinctly heard a low growl from the girl as she sat up, starring daggers at him.

"Why you little..." Rika again faked an angry expression and turned her head away from her friend who was chuckling lightly to himself. She hmphed and crossed her arms.

"Rika..." Henry shook his head still chuckling to himself.

*end flashback*

"Rika..." the whispered name hung in the empty night air.

Only mere centimeters away from his face, the attacking hand stopped. Having closed his eyes in reaction to her attack, Henry now opened them when he didn't feel the painful blow it should've caused. He looked passed the arm and right at the female thief's face.

Why had she stopped? That would only mean one thing. She really was Rika! He had said her name as the memory faded away. He had whispered her name, but it was still loud enough for her to hear. She really was the Rika Nonaka that Henry knew as a younger adolescent!

Rika only gaped at him, her heart beating loudly and her head dizzy with shock. She felt numb.

She'd thought he didn't know who she was. She was supposed to be the great Midnight Fox. She was supposed to only be known as Midnight Fox. As much as she hated that name, it was the only name by which the public knew her. NO ONE was supposed to know who she truly was, but he'd spoken her name. That meant that what she suspected was true. The detective really was Henry Wong. The Henry Wong she'd known as a child. The same boy she had loved. And Henry Wong was the detective who'd been tracking her for the past year. She same detective who had devoted all that time to capturing the infamous Midnight Fox, bringing her to justice and locking her up for the crimes she'd committed.

And now, he knew who she was.

***

In the dark of an empty parking lot building, a light shined from behind a tall figure. He stood against the hood of his car awaiting the other person he was to meet. The man brushed off his watch and checked the time just as footsteps were heard coming his way. He smiled, his eyes twinkled deviously in the dark at the secret meeting he'd arranged for tonight.

"If you want to live to hear this," the man warned in a stern whisper, "I'd suggest you don't come too close. When I said confidential, I meant it." He looked over the features of the other man, recognizing the face immediately.

"It's fine with me," came a higher, rustier male voice. He stopped where he was and eyed the silhouette of the other man, trying to avoid the blinding high beams from the car he was leaning on, "I'm only here for your information. I don't need to know who you are." He narrowed his eyes, hoping to get at least one look at the face. After he'd taken care of his first business with the information this "secret source" was about to provide, then he would also bust the rest of them.

"Good," the first man dropped his cigarette onto the ground and smashed it out, "Because I have information that will help you dearly." He smirked, loving what he had planned to do in an almost perverse way. His idea had come to him early on in the year, but tonight was the only time he could find to go through with it. Finally, he would get his time to shine.

"Let's hear it," the second man took a step forward absently. He'd received an anonymous call that morning and, all day, he'd been nervous about the situation. But as long as he received what he wanted to know, he would be fine. Better than fine, actually. He knew his colleagues would indefinitely be looking up to him. He could show the force and show his team that Henry Wong wasn't the only great cop on the force. When he finally arrested the infamous Midnight Fox, then Wong would be out of the picture and he would become the force's best officer. That was all he had to do. Arrest Midnight Fox.

"First," the man grinned lighting another cigarette, "I want what I asked for."

The second man nodded and raised a bulky manila envelope in his hand, "It's right here."

"Give it to me," the first man demanded, but was disappointed to see that the cop before him made no movement to do so.

"How do I know you're information is useful?"

"Because," he smirked, "I've been working with your so called 'Midnight Fox' for the past ten years. I know exactly the information you'll need. Now give me the money and I'll give you the information." He took a puff of smoke from his cigarette.

"How do I know what you'll be telling me is true?" the cop hesitated, still not believing. He continued to find some way to see passed the blinding light. He wanted to see who this "secret source" was. He wanted to know who was giving him this valuable information that probably not even Henry Wong would ever receive.

"That's an easy one," the man responded, "Because I want Midnight Fox out of the picture." He took one last huff from his cigarette and then flicked it across the dark parking lot, watching as the spark from the buttend of the item came to a rest.

***

Time passed painstakingly slowly as the two continued to stare at each other, both unmoving.

It was Henry who made the first move. He hesitantly raised his hands toward the thief's face, reaching for her sunglasses. Rika snapped out of her trance, though still feeling numb from shock. She moved her outstretched hand to slap away Henry's, but he only grabbed it with his other hand and managed to take hold of the sunglasses that covered Midnight Fox's eyes, masking her face.

His hand remained there for a moment before he finally decided to pull the glasses away from the girl's face. And still, time ticked by in slow motion until the accessory was finally pulled away from Midnight Fox's face to reveal two shimmering violet eyes, which were filled with disbelief, anger, fear, hatred and sadness.

"Rika," Henry breathed. He'd finally found his friend, but... She was the Midnight Fox that he had dedicated the past year of his life to finding and arresting. How could this have happened? He shook his head unwilling to believe what he had just discovered. What was he supposed to do now? He couldn't possibly arrest his best friend. His heart wouldn't allow him to do this. But what about his job? His career? He couldn't forget about that either. He'd worked hard for what he had.

"Why?" Henry heard the familiar voice utter. He should've guessed that it was her to begin with. All the signs he'd been seeing all day. Why had he been so stupid?

Rika only licked her dry lips and closed her eyes, "Why? Why did it have to be you?" She chuckled sadly and shook her head as she stepped away from him and headed off into the dark of the street.

Henry only stood there. What was he supposed to do? What could he do? He slumped to the ground and buried his face in his hands. Of all the people that Midnight Fox could've been... "Why Rika?" He only remained there, not even bothering to watch where the night thief was headed, not even knowing whether or not he should go after her.

She was his friend. She was his best friend. One of the people that he cared about more than his own life. She was important to him. And in turn, she turned out to be the one person that he had to capture, to arrest. He had to do it, because his job depended on this. But at the same time, she was his best friend. She was one of the most important factors of his life. As much as his mind told him to go after her and take her in, his heart told him other wise. He couldn't do it. His heart just wouldn't let him.

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My apologies. It just gets worse and worse, doesn't it? Oh well, the show must go on... or rather, the story must continue.

I hope everyone enjoyed that last chapter. I'm not exactly all that good at writing emotional scenes. This last one was supposed to be overly, dramatically emotional and sad. Actually not really, but I tried my best.

Another note to all the readers of 'Midnight Fox' - THANK YOU!! I really enjoy reading all those reviews you've been giving me. Thank you very much for you support. Because of you all, I'm trying my hardest to complete this Henrika fic.

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