OMG, thank you so much for everyone's reviews :D! Sorry if it took me this long to post this chapter, but here it is (finally :D!) for everyone! Hope you gals love it :D once again, more little Yuriko :D!

Chapter 90: Leaving her first life behind

There was suddenly a hint of sadness within Yuriko's childlike eyes as Kenji's words sank in her mind. She tried to hide her sadness, but she knew that her father could see it. Her father knew her inside out. He could read her like an open book.

"Daddy…" She said softly, her voice almost shaking. From the tone of her father's voice, she could tell that his decision about this matter was already final. And whether she liked it or not, they would soon leave Kyoto. They would soon leave her mother behind. They would soon leave her little world behind, the world she had come to know for the past six years of her life.

The sadness from Yuriko's eyes reflected on his own as he sensed the sorrow in his daughter's face. He knew she would feel this way about the news. "I am so sorry, honey." He said gently. Then he moved his hand from her shoulder and gently brushed her cheek with his index finger.

"I am so sorry that we have to leave Kyoto behind, but…but daddy has work that he has to do." He wanted to explain to her that he was doing this for the two of them. He knew that landing that job in Code5 would definitely support both his scientific research and his family's financial welfare. He was doing this for their future…And not only for their future, but for the safety of the world.

Code5, otherwise known to the secret defense movement as Covert Operations Division 5, was one of the main divisions of the international CIA that ensured the safety of humanity. As overly idealistic and impossible the divisions' objectives may sound, Code5, together with the other CODs of the world, have protected humanity without humanity even knowing it. They have done such things as stop meaningless wars, deactivate internationally hazardous weapons, and invent medicine and equipment that have definitely contributed to the scientific welfare and progress of the people.

The CODs know no race, no country, no laws, no boundaries, no rules. They act within themselves, doing what they know is best for mankind. It was last month when one of the head scientists from Code5 spotted Kenji's scientific work and research. As a biochemist, Kenji Oyama had been working on different medicines and serums that could make people immune to various kinds of diseases. He hoped that someday, he would soon complete his research and share it with everyone who needed it.

But even though his studies have taken him far in his current works, he had not completed any of them due to lack of funding from the government. So when Earl Collier, Code5's head scientist in the research and development department, approached him and told him about Code5, the offer was so tempting, that it only took him a few days to consider the man's offer to work with them.

And now, he had finally told Yuriko about his new 'work', and he hoped that she would truly understand. Yuriko was an intelligent, smart and understanding, little girl. In fact, at times he thought she was too smart and too keen for a girl her age. And Kenji hoped that she would soon accept the reality of their new life together. He hoped that she would be ready to leave her old life behind and move on to something new.

Yuriko saw the determined look on her father's face and she knew that this was what her father truly wanted. Whatever this new 'work' was, was something that her father really wanted to have, and she didn't want to stand in his way. She also knew that her father would only do what was best for them. He had never let her down since the day she was born. He was her life, as she was to his, and she wanted him to be happy, even if that meant that she would have to say goodbye to her mother.

A humble smile curled up the corner of Yuriko's pinkish lips and she reached out and gently cupped her father's cheek. "Where are we moving to, daddy?" She asked, trying to look excited about their new adventure.

Kenji smiled back at his supportive daughter. He felt a dash of warmness in his heart as he saw the encouraging look in his child's eyes. He knew she was still sad about the moving, but he was glad that she was trying to show her support for his decision.

"Tokyo." He said abruptly. Tokyo was where everything was. After all, it was the capital of their country, Japan. Everything that had to do with the outside world and the scientific industry was there.

Kenji could just imagine his studies and researches would reach leaps and bounds once he had settled into his new laboratory in Code5's Tokyo department. All those scientific resources, just an arm's reach away. With Code5 backing him up and all those resources at his disposal, he might even finish most of his projects by the end of the year. Who knows? He might even be the next Fleming…the first Japanese scientist to ever make a medical breakthrough in a global scale. And not only would he be just any scientist…but a scientist who would serve for the betterment of mankind through the CODs' endeavors.

The first few months might be hard both for him and his little 6-year-old Yuriko, especially with all the new work pouring in, but this was all for the best and he knew it. His entering Code5 would definitely lead to a better future both for him, and his little girl. And he wanted nothing less than perfect for his only family.

Yuriko tilted her head in a curious childish manner and looked into the eyes of her father. She could see a more relieved look on his face now. She knew that her support for his venture had definitely lifted his spirits. "Is Tokyo really far from here, daddy?" She asked. She wanted to know how far they were going to be from her mother.

"It's 12 hours by train..." He said, a gentle smile curling up his lips. "So yes…it…it's quite far from here." His voice softened as he said those words. Twelve hours by train was definitely far. And he hoped that Yuriko was ready for their long journey away from home. He hoped she was ready to leave some of her childhood behind.

Oddly enough, a childish smile spread across Yuriko's face which took Kenji by surprise. "12 hours…" She said matter-of-factly. Then she tilted her head to the side and looked away as if she was deep in thought. She brought her hand to her cheek and tapped on it with the tip of her index finger. She seemed to be busy thinking about something. Then after a second or two, her head perked up and she looked back into the eyes of her father.

"12 hours is only half a day. Right, daddy?" She asked enthusiastically. Her eyes were filled with so much innocent happiness. "It's only like a sleep and a half because we sleep for eight hours, plus one half of eight hours, and that's four, plus eight, making it twelve. So I don't think it's that far away from here." The smile on her face never faltered while she shared her calculations with her father.

A huge smile spread across Kenji's face and subtle giggles escaped from between his teeth as he looked back at his smiling daughter. He couldn't believe how lucky he was to have her as his child. She definitely knew how to make him happy even when he was feeling down or confused. She truly was his little angel, and he wanted nothing more.

"And since Tokyo is not sooo far away," She added. "Maybe mommy can come and visit us sometimes." She said cheerfully. "You know, daddy, I once saw in TV that some winds can be strong enough to blow a boat across the sea. " She had a bewildered and lecturing tone in her voice. "So maybe, if a wind like that blew through this field, it will blow mommy's favorite cherry blossoms off this cliff and all the way to Tokyo where we are." Her face looked like a bulb that had just lit up.

Kenji laughed and scooped up Yuriko in his arms. Yuriko laughed too and she wrapped an arm around his neck as he stood up and carried her. Father and daughter stood there on the cliff, both overlooking the wide open sea and the distant horizon. The soft blades of grass beneath their feet waved with the wind and the orange light from the sun reflected warmly against their tanned faces. Both of them felt like they had an entire new world before them…a new adventure that awaited them both.

Yuriko looked at her father's face and smiled. Loose strands of her ebony hair fluttered across her face as the wind blew them gently. Kenji looked back at his daughter and smiled too. The future looked so bright for the two of them. Everything seemed so perfect. Nothing could go wrong now. If only Yuna was here to enjoy it with them. If only she was still alive to enjoy their new lives together, as a family.

"Daddy, do you think mommy will miss us?" She asked, looking at him.

Kenji gave out a hearty and comforting chuckle. "Whoever said we'll be leaving her behind?" He said with a huge smile on his face. Then he gently tapped the tip of Yuriko's nose with his index finger. "After all, you said so yourself that as long as the wind blows, mommy can come and visit us. And in fact…"

He slipped his free hand inside the pocket of his jacket and he took out a hair pin with a ceramic cherry blossom figurine as a design. Then he moved his hand up to Yuriko's head and gently slipped the hairpin on a smooth batch of her dark hair, just above her forehead. "…as long as you have this with you, mommy will always be with you no matter what." He said happily, looking at Yuriko. She looked even more beautiful with Yuna's favorite hairpin.

Yuriko smiled and reached up to touch the pin on her hair. She could feel the shape of the ceramic cherry blossom decoration against the tip of her small fingers. "What is this, daddy?" She asked curiously. Then she carefully pulled the pin from her hair and held it in front of her face, observing it keenly, as if she were studying it.

"That…" Kenji said as he pointed at the pin. "…is your mother's favorite and most prized possession." He said, smiling. "See? There's even a beautiful cherry blossom on it." He gently poked the ceramic flower decoration on the tip of the pin.

Yuriko giggled. "Yeah, I can see that." She replied.

A happy sigh escaped from Kenji's lips and he gently took the pin from Yuriko's hand. "Your mother loved this pin." He said as he looked at it. His eyes seemed to be reliving so many fond memories of Yuna. While he stared at the pin, he looked like he was looking at Yuna herself. "She rarely took it off. It was given to her by her mother, and her mother's mother. Her mother loved cherry blossoms too, you know."

"And I like cherry blossoms too!" Yuriko said proudly.

Kenji chuckled and handed the pin back to Yuriko. She immediately held on to it with her little hand. "Yes, I can see that, Riku. You love cherry blossoms as much as your mother did as much as your mother does." The smile on his face never faded while he looked at his daughter. "And now, that hairpin is yours. I know your mother would have loved to see you wearing it. If she were alive right now, I know she'd say you look beautiful with it." He said lovingly. He emphasized the word beautiful.

Sometimes, he couldn't help but wonder if their lives would have been different if Yuna hadn't passed away. Would he still have accepted Code5's offer? Would he still go to Tokyo with his family? Would the two of them, him and Yuriko, still be standing here right now, looking out at the sea and anticipating their new lives as father and daughter? But that didn't matter now. Now was not the time for doubts. Yuna had passed away and the only thing he had left was his daughter and his work.

Yuriko grinned from ear to ear and slipped the hairpin back on her hair. Then she leaned closer towards Kenji's face and kissed him firmly on the cheek.

"I love you, daddy." She said with so much genuine childish affection. Her father was her best friend, her teacher, her guardian and her own angel.

Kenji smiled and looked deeply into the eyes of his child. "I love you too, Riku." He said softly. "Me and your mother love you so much…."

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It had already been four years since Kenji and Yuriko have moved to Tokyo. On the first few days alone, they were already able to adjust to the fast-paced life and busy lifestyle that Tokyo offered. Yuriko had grown up to become a smart and independent ten-year-old girl whose affection to her father never faltered even once. And Kenji on the other hand, had become one of the most successful biochemists in Code5. For the first two years alone, he had created and invented various medicines and medical devices that have helped so many people, and supported so many of Code5's mission and operatives.

With all the years of working with Code5, he also realized that working for a top-secret organization wasn't as easy as he thought it would be. He and Yuriko had to limit their contact with the outside world. He couldn't speak freely of his work and researches when he wasn't within the walls of Code5's headquarters. Though the work was wonderful and the outcomes were fulfilling, he felt as if he and Yuriko were living inside a box with no doors and no windows but a beautiful box nonetheless.

Yuriko too had noticed the constrictions of her father's work, but she understood that. She had stood by his side and supported him in the best ways that a little ten-year-old girl could. Ever since her father started working in Code5, he rarely had time for her anymore, except for the weekends. But that didn't stop her from loving him. She knew her father's passion for his job and she respected that.

She really didn't know much about Kenji's work. For the past four years, the only thing she knew about it was that her father's work was for the good of the world, and that he was working for good people. She looked at him as an angel of mankind. At times, she would ask her father about what he does when he's in the 'office', and every time she asked that question, he would always tell her that he was 'helping people'. And that answer was enough for her to trust and support her father in his endeavors.

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