(Koji)

I let a sigh take over me as it flew through my lungs and back through my mouth. The warm summer air grew very cold at night….

"Hey Minamoto…." I turned around sharply.

"Guy Okata…."

He grinned. "Yeah, seems you know the cool dawgs aroun' school, ain't cha Minamoto?"

"What do you want?" I asked viciously. I sensed he had something for me, I didn't want him to waste my time, it was the only voice I had at the moment.

"Nut' in really. Just…er, question…."

I narrowed my eyebrows.

Guy's gang slowly emerged from the darkness behind him. Boko Okata, Yoshida Morisato, Jouhaka Ogata, Shazu Yokaida and Ibaku Koma.

"Ganging up on me huh? C'mon Okata, get to the point. I don't waste my time with sleazebag's like you."

Guy just laughed. "Trust me Minamoto, you'll never think that again once you agree."

"OKATA!" I ordered.

He snapped and out of his right hand man and younger brother; Boko Okata came a pack of cigarettes.

"You might want to put that away, you might hurt yourself." I said, shoving my hands in my pockets and started to walk away.

"Not so fast Minamoto, you don't really want to walk away from this wonderful offer…."

"A pack of cigarettes? Oh, please, I could jack those anytime I want from some 7/11 with some weak old guy at the cashier. I don't need your whimpy 'offers'."

"Give em' a chance Minamoto. They calm the soul. And calming of the soul is exactly what you need right now…with your Dad and all I mean."

Guy put a hand on my shoulder and his gang slowly surrounded me, blocking me of every path to get out.

All of them had evil grins on, except Boko who looked scared and guilty.

"How do you know anything about my family issues? And why should I? Gimme one good reason?"

Guy grinned and gave a quick laugh. I guess 'chuckle' is too cool for him in his little arrogant world.

"I told ya 'Moto, they're good for the soul."

I stared at the pack. They were sorta tempting…I mean, I really did need something to take my mind off of Dad. But what would my friends think? They…wouldn't know if I just kept it a secret. Maybe just one to see how it…feels.

I reached for a cigarette and Guy nodded with approval.

As I took one out I examined it's feel and texture, after me the rest of the gang took one, one for each. They all took out lighters, lighted the cigarettes and smoked.

Guy tossed me his lighted, I distinctively copied exactly what I had seen Guy do and smoked.

"Pretty good for a beginner. You're a quick learner Minamoto…."

"What? You thought I was stupid?"

"Naw, just thought you'd be too whimpy for those little 'angels'. But then those two hot girls—shiny blonde and silky brown with what? Natural golden highlights? Or otherwise, what you would call…your 'friends'."

"Hey! Shut your mouth! Anyway, isn't Zakuro your girl?" I shouted and started to push him.

"Hey, calm down Minamoto, I know you're not like them. I've always liked you. You'd make a good part to our team…."

I removed the cigarette from my mouth. "To be part of your team…that's what this was all about."

"Yeah. So? Yes or no, it's your choice."

I thought about it. I always knew being in a gang would get Dad really mad…and if I was doing drugs—maybe even drinking…that would be the ultimate recompense….

I smiled to myself at the thought of Dad getting all worked up about my new 'gang'. I'd just tell him this is the kind of stuff I can do I my own, I don't need you to decide for me, and you're just mad because you don't know what its like. Yes. Revenge.

"I'll do it." I said, with a smile as I inserted the cigarette back into my mouth.

"That's a boy. C'mon. Is getting late. Tomorrow. 9:00. Here."

"Got it Okata. Just don't chicken out of me."

"You can count on it." He nodded a goodbye and the left the opposite direction.

And as I smoked, imagining the moment of Dad's anger I noticed that it felt…good.

(Kai)

"Let's see what we've got so far." I examined the multiple papers and glanced at the tape recorder across the wooden table.

"If all this adds up, Mr. Minamoto thinks he's going to Canada to look at houses he's really going so we can sneak in without any disturbances." Chizuko comprehended.

"That's only part of it." I murmured. "We need to go there because we need to get in a little closer to what he's doing for this…job and then we'll get to the bottom of the case and solve it. I mean, there must be some reason he's been moved to another job."

"Koichi, you said your Dad said that his business said that it wasn't going to well and he might get deployed right?" Chizuko asked.

"Yeah."

"Well then, why didn't you ask Mr. Reifuto that at the restaurant?"

"Because Zu (my nickname for Chizuko), that would be stupid, if I was his real secretary I would know all about it and it would be rude to say it anyway."

"Then isn't it rude that were sneaking into Mr. Minamoto's business?"

"YES Chizuko." I rolled my eyes.

"Ok, just checking."

"Koichi, tomorrow, after your Dad leaves, we're coming over to your house, got it?"