3: 15 pm hands both strong and rough gently held a fragile porcelain cup.

"It's good… but you didn't just invite me out for coffee did you?" The rough voice of Ishikawa inquired prying Batou out of his brief daydream. He looked surprised a moment, the pair had been sitting in silence for well over twenty minuets now and this was the first dialogue between them sense they got their drinks and sat down.

" What? I can't just have a casual time with a co worker with out them thinking something is up?" Batou said as cheerfully and jokingly as he could but inside he was anything but. A week of no sleep and hallucinations were taking their toll on him, he just couldn't drive out the strange feeling that his partner was some how still alive despite all the evidence supporting otherwise. The bearded man's eyes lit up in a smile his lips curled into a small smile for a moment of humor then faded into his usual serious look as he slid a small brown envelope over to his blonde co worker. Seizing the item he looked at the man in surprise and questioning.
" What is this?" he asked curiously

" Call it an early birth day present, " The bearded man said leaning back in his chair and taking another sip of his drink. Batou spied his co worker suspicously at first he didn't recall asking anything of Ishi before he left and here he was giving him something in a small unmarked brown envelope. He sighed and decided if he was going to play a prank on him he could sure use the laugh so he tore it open as gently as possible so as not to destroy it's contents. Turning the envelope upside down its contents quickly fell out and into his large hand below, placing the envelope down and looking that the items in his hand he glanced up surprised.

" Tickets?" He was confused. Ishikawa smiled again and leaned forward.

" Not just any tickets. Before you had asked me to look up items on Yin Chinlou."

" That was before I was put on leave you didn't – "

" Well, " Ishikawa interrupted, " I found your guy or at least determined his last known where abouts."

Batou said nothing in response just patiently waited for the man to continue.

" He was last seen in Thailand coming off of a Japanese flight. His records show he purchased a one way ticket to India from there he just seems to disappear no further purchases or activity in his accounts. However shortly before his departure by several weeks in fact he had transferred a total of around 1 million dollars out of his many banking accounts to a Swiss account. Before his disappearance he had transferred another 10,000 dollars."

" That's enough to live off of for a while, " Batou commented folding his arms and leaning back, " So what's with the change."

" Change?" He repeated puzzled

" I thought you preferred the office why are you suddenly itching to go to India?"

Ishikawa didn't respond he just smiled and finished his coffee, " Thanks for the coffee, " He said standing up to leave he paused a moment, " just be ready by 7 am your flight leaves around 8. "

" Hey Ishi – " His co-worker ignored him and continued to walk out of the rapidly crowding café leaving Batou alone. Still confused.

For once sleep came easily he couldn't remember the last time he'd slept so well. No hallucinations, no nightmares, no anxiety, just pure un interrupted sleep. He felt better already knowing where to look and who to kick in the ass. The weight on him felt lessened to a degree but it still left him filled with suspions and questions, but despite these emotions he had still managed to fall into a deep sleep. Feeling a presence in the room slowly reawakened him, feeling a gently kiss being placed on his lips snapped him into full awareness looking up he saw Togusa moving back up to a sitting position where he sat next to his laying form. In a way he almost didn't care his mind was projecting this, he had been keeping his feeling from everyone it just was unfair to everyone especially himself that the one he cared for wouldn't do the same for him. He loved how the smaller man looked the sun on his skin highlighting his brown shoulder length hair. He smiled at Batou gentle, lovingly his voice was pleasant sounding, " You're going to be late," was all he said, his brown eyes staying locked to Batou's machine ones. The sound of the door bell ringing brought him back into reality surprised he looked over at the clock 7: 57 am he gasped bolting straight up, the plane!

Packing only a carry on bag he raced out the door and practically flew to his car it was all such a blur he didn't have time to relies or ask why the Major was there instead of Ishikawa, it was only when they were officially on the plane that his mind relised the persons involved or presumed to be had been changed, his mind catching up to this newly discovered fact decided it was best for him to pose the next question.

" So I guess your coming on this trip then? What happened to Ishi? " He asked feeling rather stupid for how it all came out. She was next to him in the aisle putting up her carry on. She was dressed rather unusual for her self, dressed in a pair of black pants and t – shirt with a red Japanese sun on it and black and red striped arm warmers. He was only asking about the trip but wanted to know even more about her get up.

" It's the answer obvious?" She answered still rooting in her carry on bag above him. What was she looking for?

" I guess so, " he said leaning away from her and placing his jaw on his right arm, " Are you coming to keep an eye on me or something? Correct me if I'm wrong Major but didn't you place me on leave?"

" Yes Batou I did, but I did it for good reason, " She stopped digging and looked down at him, " I'll explain after we land. It's not just for you I'm going Batou I have my own business as well one which I'm sure you'll be interested in."

He stopped looking bored and gave the Major a strange look, " Ok Major when you say things like that it sounds wrong." She gave him an angry look and started digging again in her bag finally coming up with what she was looking for she practically slammed it down in his lap. Surprised by the movement he jumped slightly and looked at her. She was closing the hatch to the upper luggage storage and no longer looking at him. He ignored her and picked up the small radio sized item.

" It's a portable language program, " she said sitting down beside him, " Jack in and get learning. India has many languages and you're going to need to know them all," She said buckling her belt and settling in for a long ride.