This is the chapter where the underlying plot comes to the forefront, so if it seems like you're reading a different story, that's why, tee hee hee. I sort of view this chapter as a turning point, where things come to light and get brought to everyone's attention, including the reader's.

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VIII

Robin

Robin peered around the wall and looked into the main room. Michael was at his computer and Sakaki was asleep in a computer chair, snoring loud enough that she heard it even with their distance. Michael didn't seem to mind. In fact, Michael seemed to be in a good mood ever since Robin returned with Sakaki and Doujima. Robin looked down at her bag, then back up at Michael. He'd like the donuts, but she was afraid to ask him about what he might know.

She put a smile on her face as she walked out in the room. Michael looked up at her and smiled very widely. She held up the bag as she came around the desk. Michael rubbed his hands together and turned towards her. She sat down in the chair next to Michael's.

"What's going on?" Michael asked. "I thought you would have gone home by now."

"Sakaki said he'd give me a ride," Robin said. "But I wanted to talk to you before I left." Michael looked interested.

"Really?" he asked. "Well, what about?"

"About…what you and Sakaki talked about this morning…"

"You heard, huh?" Michael asked. Robin nodded. She sat the bag on the desk and took out the box. Michael stared hungrily at it. She smiled again. "What do you want to know?"

"You said Amon was still at work when Touko got that call, right?"

"Yeah," Michael said. Robin opened the box and took out a donut. Michael followed her lead.

"Well…are you sure he didn't leave for a moment, like to go to the bathroom?" Michael shook his head.

"No," he mumbled. He swallowed his bite and wiped his mouth. "He was in front of me the whole time."

"I see."

"I'm sorry you heard," Michael said. "I didn't know it was about you until he started talking."

"It was about me, wasn't it? It couldn't have been about anyone else." Michael looked sad for her. She sighed. "I don't understand," she said. "Why…does Touko…I mean…?"

"Some things you just can't explain," Michael said.

"Amon said it was because she thought something was going on between us, Amon and I."

"When he called you back that Tuesday?" Michael asked.

"Yeah."

"So what did you guys talk about?"

"They said they were sorry, and I believed them."

"Has Amon given you any indication that he might not mean it?" Michael asked. Robin shook her head.

"No, but then again, neither has Touko." Michael thought about it for a moment, then he looked up at Robin with his eyes wide.

"Wait a minute…" he said. "How could I have forgotten…?"

"What?" Robin asked.

"I stepped out for a moment, when Amon first came over…"

"So he could have called her then?" Robin asked. She closed her eyes; she didn't want to believe it. "Why did they even bother?" she asked.

"It doesn't mean it was him," Michael said. "Amon…wouldn't do something like that."

"Do you know how many times he's…?" Robin clenched her eyes shut and shook her head. "I can't believe I've fallen for it," she said. "I can't believe they'd do this."

"Robin…" Michael said. Robin covered her face. She tried her best not to start crying. It was hard keeping the tears back. She sniffed sharply and looked up, clearing her throat. "Amon just…wouldn't…"

"We don't know that Michael," Robin said. "Amon…Amon does whatever he wants, regardless if it'll hurt someone. He… You know him as well as I do. He'd do anything for one goal, and we never know what that goal is until it's too late."

Michael

Michael looked down. He didn't want to believe it. If Amon did call Touko while he'd gone to the bathroom…but…why would he do that? Robin was right in saying that Amon often did things according to his own rules, and regardless of how it would affect others. But Amon seemed to be making an effort to reverse that, and to open up to them.

Michael looked at Robin. She was near tears, but she was trying to be strong. Michael looked down at his donut, and then over to Sakaki. He was still snoring loudly. Michael shook his shoulder gently, and he woke up slowly.

"Haruto, wake up."

"Huh?" Sakaki asked. "What? Is Robin ready yet?"

"There's something I need to ask you about Touko." Sakaki sat up and rubbed his face. He turned around in the chair as he stretched, stopping when he saw Robin.

"You told her?" he asked.

"She overheard." Sakaki lowered his arms.

"Oh," he said nervously. "So you heard, huh?"

"How long did the conversation last, Sakaki?" Michael asked.

"Um…not long. Like two or three minutes."

"You said something about them talking about it later…?" Michael asked. Sakaki nodded and glanced at the box of donuts.

"Yeah," he mumbled. "She said it was late and that they should talk when they were both fully awake. What's going on? You think you know something?" Michael sighed.

"Amon was alone for long enough to talk to Touko while he was here," Michael said. "I didn't remember it at first, but he was." Sakaki looked surprised.

"So it was him…?" he said. Michael still wouldn't believe it.

"We don't know that…"

"Well, who else?" Robin said. "Touko doesn't know very many people outside the STN. She barely calls anyone or goes out or brings people over. And even if she did, why would they care about her treatment of me?"

"And we all like Robin," Sakaki said. "Even the boss is nice to her—" Sakaki paused on his last statement, narrowing his eyes in thought. Michael stewed over the information. Stupid pig dog. Zaizen was nothing but a joke. Didn't any of them know that already? Zaizen cared about no one but himself. And Touko. …Touko? Amon told Michael about how most of he and Touko's problems were because of Zaizen's protection of her. Michael's eyes lowered to a slant. He took a bite out of his donut and chewed on it furiously.

Sakaki

"It wasn't Amon," Michael said. Robin and Sakaki looked at him. He looked angry.

"But…" Robin tried to say.

"It was Zaizen."

"Zaizen?" Sakaki asked, as if the possibility was slim to none. Then he paused. "Wait a minute…" That Wednesday…when Zaizen called Amon to the office… He was angry about Touko and Robin hanging out together, wasn't he? Sakaki thought back to the phone call. Could she have been talking to Zaizen? It was a possibility, wasn't it? Well, hell, why didn't he think of that before? Sakaki sat back in his chair.

"Hey, Mike…" he said. Michael looked at him. "Don't hate me for this…but…you remember when I listened in on Zaizen and Amon's "talk" on Wednesday?"

"Yeah."

"And how I told you that not much was said?"

"Yeah…" Michael said a little slowly.

"Well, I lied. Zaizen…kinda blew up at Amon because of Touko and…I'm sorry to have to say this, Robin, but… He was complaining about how he never wanted Touko to associate with you."

"Of course…" Robin said. She looked enlightened. "Making up was Amon's idea. He must have convinced Touko that hanging out with me was a good idea. It must have angered Zaizen. But then…that talk they had. Touko…was in on it, right?"

"Sounded that way," Sakaki said. "It sounded like she and Zaizen planned something, and you hanging out with her might have compromised it."

"Oh, my…" Robin looked down. "Why?" she asked. "Why are they doing this?"

"I don't know…" Michael said. "But I want to find out." He rolled closer to his computer and moved the mouse. The screen saver went away and he began to open programs and type rapidly. Sakaki looked at Robin. She looked like she'd just lost her best friend.

"It's okay, Robin. You still have us. We're what really counts." Robin nodded, and smiled very shortly.

"Yes…" she said. "You are."

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Thanks for reading and please review. I hope to get nine out soon!

kaj