Yamato slid in front of the frightened Mimi as the man in the black jumper suit stepped forward, his hand beckoning the girl.
"Just step aside and no one will get hurt, kid," he firmly said, taking a step forward as the two children stepped backward. Grunting the man's voice rose towards Mimi, "Don't be stupid, Mimi, you're coming with us now!" he came closer but Yamato had grabbed a small pebble and flicked it at his head. "Damn you, brat—"
"Yamato," Mimi hushed, laying a hand on the boy's shoulder. Yamato shot her a puzzled look and Mimi looked straight at the stranger. "My name…how did you know my name?" She grew more afraid when the other two men stepped closer, too. The drizzle turned into a pounding rainfall that it was hard for the children to make out their faces.
The middle one laughed, "Surely you should know the answer to that? No? Well, we know everything about you—even more than you know yourself, Mimi Tachikawa—or should I say, Project 342 'Shattered Mirror'." The children watched as his hand went into his pocket and took out a small square device the size of a fingernail. He held it out at Mimi, "You don't recognize this? Why, just how many things has that Mishiru been keeping from you?"
Mimi's brows furrowed, "What are you talking about? Who are you…?" Yamato looked intensely at her.
"Who cares about that Mimi!" He glared the suited man. "You better get away or I'll—"
"Call the police? Kid, we're more powerful than the police," the man replied then hesitated before speaking. "Aren't you Masaharu's boy, too? Why, now we could bag Masaharu along with Mishiru and this girl as well!"
How do they know my father, Yamato watched as the three smirked and then seized the chance to give the middle one a huge blow between his legs. He turned to Mimi.
"Run!"
As he grabbed a nearby object and threw it to the other one, Mimi took her chance and ran pass him only to be grabbed around the neck by one of the men. Mimi screamed for Yamato and just as fast Yamato appeared and pulled on the man's hair while Mimi bit his hand.
"Come on!" Exclaiming, Yamato pulled Mimi's hand and ran. Hearing the men scowling, Yamato didn't need to look back to find out that they were chasing after them, he heard Mimi's calling for him to slow down but his mind was racing. Who are they? They knew my father and Mimi's, why do they want her? What's Mimi hiding from me?
Mimi jerked his hand so he'd stop, "Yamato, over here!" she pointed to a dark alley which they hid into. Yamato pulled her down behind a garbage bin; his heart felt as if it were about to pound right out of his chest, he could feel his rhythmic breathing in sync with Mimi's that he knew she was as terrified as him. They stayed hushed when the men stopped near them, arguing about something they couldn't understand.
"Karachi is going to kill us!" the one from earlier had said.
"Maybe they went ahead over there, you two split up while I report back to Kimiko," another declared and the three argued some more before finally taking off.
A few more minutes of silence, after Mimi and Yamato were sure they were gone they breathed a huge sigh of relief. Mimi clutched her shirt and sighed, "That was too close…What should we do now? Yamato?" she questioned, finally meeting the severe look in his eyes. "Why are you looking at me like that…"
"Why did you really move here, Mimi? And I mean really."
Mimi laughed nervously, "What are you talking about? I told you, Yamato, don't you believe me?" she asked in fear as his face grew solemn. Mimi's voice quavered, "You don't, do you?"
Sighing, Yamato softened and sat beside her, "Those men knew my Dad, Mimi…And for some reason they really want you, too, and your father. Don't think that I'm pinning this all on you but I've at least lived here my whole life and—well, nothing like this has ever happened until, until you came along…and I was just wondering if your Dad had some business in the last place you lived…"
Blinking, Mimi ran her hand through her hair, "Papa said he was here to meet an old friend…just an old friend, he said."
"That's all? He didn't mention anything about his work or who that friend was?" Yamato insisted.
Mimi was breathing heavily now, she stared at Yamato, her face stricken with panic. I don't know, she wracked her brain for an answer to both their questions but instead she surprised Yamato by suddenly standing up and then taking off into a run.
"I don't know!" was all she said as she ran away. Yamato yelled her name but she kept on going until he could no longer make out her running figure, confused and a bit guilty, Yamato didn't know what else to do but run back to Mimi's house where he would wait for her father. Maybe her Dad will have some answers, he hoped.
-----
Kimiko's eyes narrowed as she listened about the children's escape before her hand came crashing down onto the man's head, "A child, Ariko! How could three ex-CIA agents possibly lose track of a child!" she exclaimed and smacked him again.
"B-but Ms. Kimiko—"
"No buts," Kimiko said, sitting at the edge of the desk. "We're running out of time and now that you buffoons lost the girl she's probably gone and told Mishiru and then he'll become even harder to track down!"
"—Relax, Kimiko," cut in Kyoto, Kimiko glanced back at the man sitting behind her. "Ariko, you say she had a boy with her?"
Ariko nodded vigorously, "Hai! He was the son of Masaharu, Mr. Kyoto! Neither children didn't to know anything at all."
Kyoto nodded, flicking his lighter, "Good, that will most likely buy us some more time—assemble your men, Ariko." Ariko nodded and went on his way.
Kimiko turned from Ariko's leaving to Kyoto, "What are you planning to do now?"
Kyoto smirked, "Masaharu is about to get a very welcoming visit, from an old friend."
-----
"Yes, he's here," Mishiru carried the phone and peeked out into the kitchen where a soaked and frightened Yamato sat huddled in a towel, nervously sipping a cup of tea. Smiling a bit, Mishiru said, "He still seems to be reflecting on everything but I assure you he's fine, Masaharu…I'll stay with him until you get here." Hanging up, Mishiru sighed somberly and turned to head towards the kitchen.
Hearing footsteps, Yamato quickly looked up. Mishiru smiled as he handed him some more sheets, "How are you doing, Yamato?"
"I-I'm okay," he said faintly, obviously filled with guilt Mishiru felt sorry for the boy.
"Look, Yamato, it's not your fault I'm sure Mimi's on her way home," he held his hand up before Yamato could protest. "You must be wondering about those men after us, aren't you?"
Yamato looked away and said bitterly, "They were after my father, too." Although that's not a surprise, another secret to add to his collection.
Mishiru nodded and laid his hand on Yamato's shoulder, "I'm. I don't know what to tell you to explain everything, Yamato, but be sure that neither you or Mimi will be of any harm. Those men, they were just some old business dealers that me and your Dad reported to the police once, they're just being pretty bad losers in my opinion."
"Yeah, guess so," was all Yamato could say for somehow he just couldn't believe such a vague explanation. He was about to ask something else, but the conversation was put to an abrupt halt when there was a knock on the door. Mishiru glanced at Yamato then headed to open the door, Yamato suddenly heard his Dad burst in talking rather fast and Mishiru muttering something—Yamato slowly tip-toed and peeked into the hallway, just in time to find Masaharu take out the a device that resembled the one that the man in the suit had, and slip it into Mishiru's hands.
"Arigatou, my friend," Mishiru whispered and clenched his fist.
"What is going on…," Yamato was about to creep back when a sudden sneeze caught both fathers' attentions.
Masaharu looked at his son, "Yamato," he said and quickly rushed to his son, surprising him when Masaharu had engulfed him into a tight hug. "I'm so glad you're alright."
"Dad," Yamato, too startled, didn't notice Mishiru slip the object in his pocket.
-----
Her jacket soaked and clinging to her cold skin, with moist eyes Mimi wandered around the market district until it hit her how late it was getting. She took a gander around her and saw all the vendors beginning to pack their stuff and retire for the day, and she came to thinking that she should, too.
"I can't go home, not till I find some answers," she sighed, rubbing her arms for warmth. "Papa…" about to go on, Mimi was taken by surprise when a hand landed on her shoulder.
"Oh, I'm sorry! Didn't mean to frighten you, dear," chuckled a scruffy man of his early thirties. Nibbling on a piece of straw, Mimi could make out his brown eyes under his eyeglasses. "Are you lost?" Mimi shook her head then hesitated. "Well, lost or not you best be getting home, your parents must be worried by now?"
Mimi didn't reply and watched as he started to pack up himself. She didn't want to go home still, and peered over to the man, "I'm Mimi. I'm not lost, I just don't want to go home. Do you need any help?"
Unabashed by her approach, the man smiled and handed her a bag, "Well Mimi, I'm Seta and I'd love some help. Take these and I'll buy you some hot chocolate to take home," he said before dumping a blanket around Mimi's shoulders. Seeing as how she made a new friend, Mimi smiled widely in hopes of gaining help to find the answers she seeks.
-----
The rain beating onto the roof sounded like ongoing gunshots. Gazing down and around the street from the window, Mishiru firmly held the cup in his hands, trying to reassure himself of his daughter's safety.
"I'm just getting some things from work, I'll be back soon. How's Yamato doing?" Masaharu talked over the phone. Mishiru walked towards the table and sat down, watching Masaharu. "Hai, hai, let him sleep he's had a tough night. Thanks." And he hung up, breathing a huge sigh of exhaustion. "The baby-sitter finally got them to sleep…"
Mishiru nodded, "Why don't we just wrap up here so you can get back to them," he avoided his friend's eyes and glanced over the heap of paper on the table.
"I'm sure Mimi is fine, Mishiru."
Cupping a hand over his lips, Mishiru replied, "Yes, I just have to keep telling myself that, too…Boy have I got a lot of explaining when she comes home."
"Nani—what about this?" Masaharu lifted that same little device from before, Mishiru shook his head sternly. "Oh, it's not all that bad—plug the thing in her circuit, tap into her memory banks and erase the events from the previous hours—"
"You don't understand, Masaharu! Do you have any idea how much it hurts me to keep putting that machinery into her to keep her from asking too many questions?"
"But she is a piece of machinery," Masaharu slammed his fist onto the table. "Come to your senses, Mishiru! Kyoto is here, because of our slacking we've placed ourselves and these children into the danger zone!"
Mishiru flailed his hands, "I know, I know!" he scratched his head.
"Running away is the only option left," Masaharu put in. "How much do you think he knows?"
"By now, everything," Mishiru said. "Where we live, where the children go to school, all the background information…This is going to take some major hacking to cover up."
Smirking, Masaharu leaned back, "The curse of being a genius." Not even a titter came out as Mishiru went looking out the window again for any sign of Mimi. Masaharu sighed and whispered. "How am I going to get my boys to believe me now…?"
Not bothering to hear anymore, Mimi put down the cups of hot chocolate by their kitchen floor and snuck out the door.