Identity

Hi guys, I'm back again. I am really, really sorry that I haven't updated for ages. I won't be able to update frequently for a while so please, please bear with me. And don't worry, I will somehow finish the story even if it kills me. Hope you enjoy the chapter - sorry if the standard has fallen, got a huge mental block :(..

Chapter 5: Dimensions

"Feeling better today, Sakoshita-san?" Doctor Matsuro asked as he walked up to Yanagi's bed.

"Yes, thank you," the pretty young woman with the long, brown hair replied cheerfully. "Kitsuki-san already checked up on me earlier this afternoon."

"Did she? Oh, that's good." Matsuro looked around and then frowned. "And where is your young suitor today?"

Yanagi blushed. "Oh, no Doctor. He's not my suitor, he's my."

"Yes, yes, ninja. I remember he insisted on being called that. He's really serious about that kind of stuff, isn't he?"

"Yes, he is," she said with a smile. Her face lit up further when a young man with long, spiky hair entered the room. "Here he is."

Recca grinned at the doctor in greeting and handed a cup to Yanagi. "Here's your juice, hime. Sorry for making you wait. So, what's up, Doctor?"

"Just checking up on the princess," Matsuro replied. "You're doing very well, Sakoshita-san. Just be patient a few more days." As he walked to the door, he added jokingly, "Oh, and remember, visiting hours will be over soon, Ninja-san."

Recca and Yanagi smiled at each other. "He's a nice old man, isn't he?" the Hokage leader remarked.

"Recca-kun, he's only thirty."

He scowled. "As I said, he's a nice old man."

Yanagi smiled and let the matter drop. It didn't hurt for her ninja to be jealous once in a while.

"Anyway, I'm just glad that you're getting better."

Yanagi willingly closed her eyes as he leaned forward to kiss her.

"Yo!"

The two parted as the door flung open, cheeks flaming. In the doorway stood a big man with closely-cropped, spiky hair.

"Domon!" Recca's face was crimson, "Don't you ever knock?"

"Well. no." Domon walked to Yanagi and handed her a bunch of roses. "I'm so glad you're better, Yanagi."

"Thank you, Domon-kun," the healer said, beaming at him.

Recca, however, wasn't as welcoming. He scowled at his old friend. "What brings you here today?" he asked.

"Well actually," Domon said gravely, "Kagerou-san rang and told me about Mikagami's findings. Have you told Yanagi about it yet?"

The atmosphere in the room immediately became serious.

"Yes, he did," Yanagi answered for him.

"So, what are we going to do about it?" Domon asked.

"Nothing," Recca replied. "We still watch out for any suspicious people and I keep in contact with hime day and night until she gets released from hospital. Nothing changes."

"But I was thinking about joining Mikagami. It's too dangerous for anyone to go after the people behind this alone."

"Are you kidding? And who's going to keep an eye on you? You'll just get into his way, Domon."

"But I agree with Domon-kun," Yanagi said, "I don't like the thought of Mikagami-senpai out there by himself."

"I know," Recca's voice tightened. "Do you think I like the idea of not going after the people who did this to you, hime? I feel exactly the same way as you two, but."

~

"No buts, Hanabishi. I'm going alone."

"It's too dangerous!."

"Which is why I'm the best suited for this. Ishijima will just get in my way, Koganei can't miss school, and you - you have to stay and protect Sakoshita. That's as, if not more important than what I'm doing. And if I return and find that you failed, I'll kill you myself."

"I wouldn't expect anything less. But are you sure about this?"

"Hanabishi, do you trust me?"

~

".but protecting hime is our first priority. For all we know, someone could come after her again."

"I guess you're right," Domon conceded slowly.

"Hime?"

"I still don't like this, Recca-kun."

"I know." Recca took her hand in his and gently squeezed it. He grinned. "But Mi will be alright. After all, it's in his nature."

And because I trust him.

******

"This is the only building on the street?" Fuuko half-asked with a frown.

"Seems like it," Mikagami said, shrugging. "The street comes to a dead-end further up. Not what you expected?"

They looked up at the dark outline of the old, one-storey building looming in front of them. "Not exactly," she replied.

Mikagami dug his hands into his pockets. "Well," he said, "do you think we should deal with that guy now?"

"What? The guy who's been following us for the past half-hour?"

"Yes. Did you manage to make out his face?"

"No, he's been moving in the dark. But anyway, you go. I'll check things out in the building."

"What exactly are you looking for? It looks like it was deserted a long time ago." In fact, Mikagami didn't even know what they were doing in Kobe. His partner had remained tight-lipped about the details.

"No," Fuuko said absently, "there is something here. We're not here by accident."

He frowned at her. "Then we should go in together."

"No," she repeated firmly. "It's best if I go in alone. You deal with the guy behind and wait for me out here. Don't argue with me, Mikagami. You'll probably be in more danger than I will be. I'll see you soon then." She turned to leave.

"Fuuko."

"What?"

"I don't know if there's anything waiting for you in there, but be careful."

"I'll be fine." And she was gone.

Mikagami frowned. It was frustrating and unsettling when she did the identity switch thing. Her last reply had reminded him too much of himself. He considered going after her, but dismissed the thought immediately. Instead, his mind turned to another pressing matter.

Mikagami melted into the darkness and waited expectantly. Pressed against the wall of the building, he was invisible unless one looked at him directly.

A few moments later, a figure made its way towards where he and Fuuko had stood earlier. As he came into the light, Mikagami slipped the ensui from his pocket. He still couldn't see the man's face, but he seemed normal enough - he had short brown hair and was wearing a yellow sweater and jeans. He also seemed completely unaware of the ensui-wielder's presence.

Mikagami quickly formed his ensui and noiselessly walked up behind the other man. "Put your hands in the air and turn around slowly," he said.

The man jumped, but did as he was told. Mikagami was surprised to see that he was younger than he had initially thought. In fact, he didn't look much older than Mikagami.

"Who are you?" he asked coldly.

"My name is Takamura. Takamura Asura."

"Takamura. And why were you following us?"

"Look, I know the girl you were with. I go to university with her and she also buys pasta from the shop I work in. I haven't seen her the past few days and when I saw you two walk past, I just followed. I wanted to talk to her, but you didn't seem like you were in a talking mood, so I just I thought I would."

"So you just thought you would follow us."

"Yeah, I know that doesn't sound very convincing, but it's true. I was. worried about her." The youth looked warily at the glistening blue sword in his hand. "Uh, could you please lower that thing?"

Mikagami looked at him. The guy didn't seem like he was lying, but then again, appearances could be deceiving. "No," he said, then asked curiously, "Just what is between you and Fuuko anyway?"

"So that's her name," Asura said softly to himself. He straightened and unwaveringly met Mikagami's gaze. "I just want to get to know her, that's all. And if I let go of this chance, I feel that I won't ever see her again. Are you going to stop me?"

Mikagami eyed him, his face emotionless. "This isn't the time to discuss this," he said, stepping towards Asura. "But I'll tell you this - if you really are who you say you are then this no place for you." He quickly closed the distance and with a swift motion, punched the unsuspecting youth in the stomach.

Mikagami caught him a he slumped over. He half-carried him to the side and propped him up against the wall. "Sorry, but I don't have time for this," he said to the unconscious figure. He then turned to the building and said softly, "She should have come out by now."

Recca had Yanagi to protect and whether either of them liked it or not, Mikagami had Fuuko. He hurried towards the door.

******

Fuuko blinked as the door squeaked shut behind her. Staring at the wide expanse of grass that she knew just couldn't be there, she felt as though she had stepped into another world. She turned, but where the door she had just stepped through should have been, a field of yellow and red flowers was stretched out in front of her. She looked up at the bright blue sky in bewilderment. Just where on earth was she?

"Hello, Fuuko-san."

She whirled around, bringing her gun out in front of her. She looked at the black-haired girl in front of her without surprise. "Asagi," she said.

Her friend clapped her hands in delight. "You knew it was me, didn't you? Of course, I expected nothing less from one of the Hokage."

"I suspected," Fuuko replied softly, "but I had hoped differently."

The other girl smiled. "Why do you lower your gun, Fuuko-san? I am the enemy, after all."

"Are you?"

"Oh, silly me. I should have introduced myself first. You know me as Junko Asagi, of course. My real name is Mitsukawa Sai. But you know that already, don't you?"

"When we first met, you told me that you had been adopted and that your real surname was Mitsukawa. You planned on telling me that, didn't you? Even all those months ago, you were playing me."

"Oh, don't say it like that. I needed to drop the hint to you that I was a Mitsukawa and it seemed more casual if I 'accidentally' showed you my computer account password."

"So you're the one who injured Yanagi and killed Kinta."

"Of course."

"Right. There's something else that's bothering me though. Where are we exactly? You don't actually live here, do you?"

Sai grinned. "Oh I did tell you lived on this street, but no, I don't exactly live here. As for your first question - you stepped through the door, didn't you? Where do you think we are?"

"Aw," Fuuko frowned, "I hate trick questions."

"Oh, it's not a trick question, Fuuko-san. We're still in the warehouse."

"Huh?" Fuuko looked around at their peaceful surroundings, which hadn't changed. She cocked her head to one side and frowned. Brightened. Then frowned again. "Agh! I don't get it!" she yelled, tearing at her hair.

The other girl laughed brightly. "It's alright, Fuuko-san. I'll tell you. It's very simple. You see."

******

Mikagami slowly eased the door open. The inside was dark and seemed unoccupied. He groped along the wall until he felt the plastic switch under his hand. He flipped it and a bank of overhead lights flickered on, illuminating the area before him.

It appeared to be a warehouse used to store office equipment. Rows of empty metal shelves lined the walls and a few desks and chairs were stacked at the side, against the wall. Besides the furnishings, it was clear that the warehouse was completely empty.

At least so it appeared to the eye. Mikagami felt the presence of someone nearby, and he was one to trust his instincts.

"You'd better come out," he said icily, "or I'll make you."

Silence greeted him for a moment before a woman's laughter echoed around him.

"You're pretty good, to detect me," a voice rang out mockingly, "but I doubt you can make me show myself. Or can you?"

Mikagami frowned. The voice came from all around him and yet he couldn't see anyone. "What did you do to Fuuko?" he asked, anger creeping into his voice.

"Fuuko? Oh, you mean the girl. Well, let's just say she's right in front of you, but not - if you know what I mean."

Mikagami's knuckles whitened as he tightened his grip on the ensui. "When I find you, you are going to die."

Laughter rang out around him again. "Oh, don't hurry to your death just yet, Mikagami-kun." The ensui-wielder started at the sound of his name. "Why don't you make yourself comfortable and listen to the last words of your little girlfriend instead?"

"What do you -"

". don't actually live here, do you?"

Mikagami jumped as Fuuko's voice came from beside him. He turned, but nobody was there.

A second voice, a voice he didn't know, also sounded, apparently responding to the wind-wielder's question. "Oh I did tell you lived on this street, but no, I don't."

"What is going on?" he asked demandingly.

"Your girlfriend is talking to one of my colleagues, that's all. But do you want to know the fun part? She's standing right next to you and she doesn't even know it."

Mikagami frowned. "You're using a madougu."

"I'll give you the credit - you are fast. This is the work of my ability. Right now your friend can't hear you, let alone see you. In fact, she is completely unaware of what is going on here. But you can hear her only because I let you."

"What exactly did you do to her?"

"You haven't guessed? It's quite simple actually. My madougu allows me to transport people to different dimensions, where they can become lost forever. In other words, right now, your precious friend is in another dimension - and there's nothing you can do about it."