-Michiru-
"Are you sure it is ok for me to stay here?" Riko asked as they entered Michiru's apartment.
"Of course, Riko-ba-chan." Michiru laughed. "The apartment is easily big enough for the two of us and it would be ridiculous for you to get your own place just for the few weeks that you are in Tokyo. Also, I can't let you stay that long in a Hotel while you are this close and I am hardly at home anyway, so you won't have to worry that we will get onto each other's nerves." Michiru chuckled as she walked towards the guest room to show it to her aunt.
"Ok, you convinced me. By the way, you have a really nice place Michi-chan." Riko commented.
"You don't have to be polite ba-chan. I know that it is sparsely furnished." Michiru snickered.
"No, I like the open space, it gives you plenty of space to paint with no distraction." Riko justified her comment.
"Also a way of putting it. By the way, friends of mine have asked me over for dinner, would you like to join us ba-chan?" Michiru asked her aunt.
"Oh no. You young people have fun. I will just meet up with Kakashi-kun at some Izakaya tonight that he loves so much….I think it is called Yamaguchi's…" her aunt tried to recall.
"Oh, what is the occasion?" Michiru asked.
"I still owe him dinner." Riko winked.
"The food is amazing there, but be careful with their sake selection. It is vast, superb and can be quite lethal." Michiru chuckled.
-Kakashi-
He was waiting patiently in front of Yamaguchi's until a Taxi pulled up in front of it and Riko got out of the car.
"Evening Kakashi-kun." She greeted him casually.
"Evening Senpai, let's get inside." He ushered her towards Hiroshi who led them to a small private booth in the back.
"Just all the recommendations of the evening and cold beers." Riko ordered after they were seated.
"Don't you want to have a look at the menu at all?" Kakashi asked her.
"No point. Akira has never put the best dishes onto the menu and we are too old to toil around with normal dishes." Riko waved away easily. "So how did your department hold up with you being absent for four days?" Riko asked him in return.
"Nothing has burned down yet, but I was meaning to ask you. Do you know why Takashi is coming back?" Kakashi asked his former tutor.
"You know my department only deals with things that have never happened." Riko answered evenly.
"Is something 'not' happening here?" Kakashi continued to ask her.
"If I told you, then it would have not 'not' happened, but what I can tell you is that the person who has taken Tomoko and Haruki from us will definitely wish his parents had not spent that fateful night with one another to bring him into existence." Riko smirked.
Their drinks and appetisers arrived and Riko nodded appreciatively towards Hiroshi before sending her regards to his father, Akira.
"Is Takashi aware of what you are doing?" Kakashi asked tentatively.
"Unlike your department, my department is part of the IIA but utterly independent. The magic of probable deniability." Riko raised her glass before taking a good sip of it.
"So he really doesn't know what you are doing?" Kakashi asked impressed.
"It is my business what I do and no one will nor wants to know what that is. We all sleep better that way. All Takashi gets to see from me is the yearly budget request and the assurance that all my actions are for the greater good." Riko smirked.
"And he just trusts you like that?" Kakashi asked doubtfully.
"I know most of his most precarious skeletons in his closet. If I wanted to bust his chops, I could do so anytime if felt like it, but I haven't and I won't, at least in my life time. If he wouldn't trust me, he would have stopped sleeping at night a long time ago." Riko chuckled.
"So you really think the main assassin of my sister is here?" Kakashi asked before he started to drink his beer.
"I know I am close. It is only a matter of time before he slips up." Riko stated evenly before she reached for the sashimi.
"You are sure it is a he?" Kakashi continued to ask calmly before he started to eat.
"Yes. If it were a woman, Haruka and Haruto would have joined their parents on the same day to minimise suffering, or at least Tomoko would have been spared for her children." Riko pointed out calmly.
-Setsuna-
Setsuna arrived early at Makoto's apartment and rang its bell.
"Welcome Setsuna." Makoto greeted her at the door.
"Excuse my intrusion." Setsuna smiled and stepped into the cosy apartment.
Ami and Michiru were already there and Setsuna joined them at the table while Makoto brought out the last sushi plates that she had been preparing for them.
"It all looks very delicious." Michiru praised Makoto.
"Please go ahead with eating, I think Minako and Rei will be fashionably late as usual." Makoto encouraged them to start eating.
Ami poured each of them some sake when Michiru casually asked her if she had heard anything of Kakyuu.
"No, I haven't. I actually wanted to ask her something about Ayumi's research but when I tried to contact her, her assistant had told me that she had gone on a sabbatical and would not return any time soon. In the meantime, her father will be filling in her position. If I remember correctly, Dr Abe Senior is supposed to arrive back in Tokyo next week." Ami recalled. "Why do you want to know?" Ami asked in return.
"I was just wondering since I haven't heard from her in a while." Michiru answered casually.
"Shouldn't you have met Haruka's gang in Kyoto? They usually spent Obon there with Kakashi." Setsuna noted surprised.
"Yes, we did meet, but only very short. I just wanted to ask her for the pictures we took that night at the river, but she hadn't gotten back to me yet." Michiru explained.
"Maybe you should ask Hotaru for copies of those pictures." Setsuna suggested. "She has most likely more time and would love to see you again." Setsuna winked.
"That's a good idea. I probably should." Michiru mused.
Suddenly the doorbell rang again, announcing the arrival of Minako and Rei.
"I tell you, this is not good news." Rei told Minako.
"What isn't good news?" Ami asked the new comers.
"Rei just told me that she overheard on the yearly Tenoh clan visit to their family grave that Takashi Tenoh had announced that he would be moving back to Tokyo for good." Minako explained with a deep frown.
-Michiru-
Takashi Tenoh had not been back for a full day yet and already the first heads were rolling.
This morning Kakashi had been put on forced leave from his position and Setsuna had been put in his place as the head of the International Security in addition to her duties of head of Domestic Security and Research, due to rumours of foul play that had resulted in the death of a foreign agent.
Ami had been put on a sabbatical to polish up on her skills and as indirect punishment for not noticing what Ayumi was up to, even though they were only sharing laboratories and not any work by any means.
And now it was her turn to be called up to the provisional office, Takashi Tenoh had assigned himself until his official office on top of the building would be remodelled and furnished.
Michiru stood in front of the conference room, nervously thinking over all her actions, if there was anything she could be reprimanded for and if anyone besides Kakashi and her aunt had spotted them hugging, when suddenly the door opened and Takashi ordered her to come in.
"Have a seat Kaioh-san" He instructed her as he went through some paperwork on the big conference table.
Michiru obliged and sat down opposite to him and waited for further instructions.
"I need you to put the training manual, that I asked you to write, on hold and do this investigation for me instead. A while ago foreign agent had entered the country on a secret, unsanctioned mission and has died as a result. At least that is the suspicion that has been carried to me. He came under the guise of being a tourist and has officially died while trying to rescue people from a burning building outside of Osaka. The result of this fire was 35 dead including himself and no survivors. Our Chinese contacts suspect that all of that was not just a simple accident and that their man, Kín Zhao, was wrongly killed. I would like you to find out everything that there is to know about this case with Agent Kino as your assistant. I expect a thorough report by the end of next month at the latest." Takashi explained to Michiru her new ask as he passed her a file.
"Understood Tenoh-sama." Michiru nodded.
"One more thing Kaioh-san. Please, make sure that all agents under your care refrain from contacting Mizuno-sensei. The doctor needs to concentrate on the topic that she has been assigned for her sabbatical." Takashi reminded Michiru sternly before he dismissed her.
"Understood Tenoh-sama." Michiru stood up and left the room.
-Setsuna-
Setsuna just got back from work and was utterly worn out with the double duties that were assigned to her.
At least she got to keep Minako as well as Rei as her assistants and contrary to Kakashi's regular complaints about Minako's work ethics when he wasn't watching her, she was extremely efficient and knew exactly what was going on at all times and what needed to be done without needing to be told.
Setsuna dropped her bag on the dresser in the hallway and walked towards her couch, where she dropped her worn body.
"At least take off your jacket before it gets wrinkled." Kakashi snickered from the shadows of her bedroom, where he was hiding.
"What are you doing here? Are you not supposed to be under surveillance and in your home, resting away your annual leave that you forgot to take for the past eight years?" Setsuna asked him surprised as he came closer and sat down next to her.
"Just say how it really is. I am not on leave, I am as good as suspended, if not even fired and until then he just wants to jail me by forced house arrest. The old man has always hated me." Kakashi replied calmly. "Officially I am on my way to a private property in Sweden, Haruka had bought when she quit the agency. He didn't say which place I could stay at to rest and where better than to find rest in the fjords there with my disgraced niece?" Kakashi smirked.
"You shouldn't antagonise him." Setsuna warned Kakashi. "He can be very unpleasant if he wants to be, and not just towards you." She added with a sigh.
"I will be keeping my head very low and I won't be that far away either." Kakashi reassured her.
"When are you leaving?" Setsuna asked him concerned.
"I should be on the plane any minute now." Kakashi chuckled as he looked down onto his watch. "I can't stay long. I just came to tell you that this is not a goodbye. Take this and only use it if absolutely necessary." Kakashi gave her a small flash drive. "It will turn any device you use to a secure line to my private phone." Kakashi explained.
"How long will you be gone?" Setsuna asked Kakashi quietly.
"Too long to be separated from you, and not long enough to be out of Takashi's reach." Kakashi smiled melancholic before he kissed her tenderly. "Whatever happens and whatever you hear, trust me, you know me best. I will be back soon, my future wife." Kakashi smiled his irresistible school boy grin.
-Ami-
Her sabbatical was only limited to a month but it was up to the director to reinstate her when he would see her as suitable enough again to resume her duties. Even after Setsuna's protest, Takashi stayed adamant to send his message that there would be no messing around or leniency for even the slightest of failures while he would be there.
After having gone home, she had found a note among the things she took with her after her sent off from the agency. It was a simple note, but Ami recognised the handwriting to be Kakashi's.
'midnight, bring go bag, Kabukicho.' Was all the note said.
She was on a forced sabbatical and so was he, so there was really nothing to lose, she thought to herself as she took the metro on the most round about ways to make sure no one was tailing her to Kabukicho.
After being assigned to research various blood tests and to catch up on current stem cell research, which she knew all there was to know about already, since she always kept up to date, she couldn't fall much lower and there was really nothing much she could be doing at home. So she decided to do as she was instructed and was now wandering around an area in Tokyo that was the least like her.
The lights blinked bright, the music was obnoxiously loud and hosts and hostesses tried to pull her into various establishments. But Ami just kept walking pass them until a hand suddenly grabbed her shoulder. Ready to fight off whoever wanted to hold her back she turned around, only to be facing Hiroshi, Atsuko Yamaguchi's grandson.
"Please follow me, Mizuno-sensei", he beckoned as he walked into and through a host bar that was close by them. Behind the bar, a small delivery car was waiting for them and he opened for her the door to the back storage. She quickly climbed inside as she saw Kakashi already sitting in there.
"Ami, want to do something useful during your sabbatical?" Kakashi asked her with a serious tone.
"Of course." Ami confirmed.
"Great, take us to the Ramen store." Kakashi called out to Hiroshi. "We need to eat well first." Kakashi winked at Ami.
-Makoto-
They had been researching Kin Zhao now for nearly a complete day and to be calling him a foreign agent was a real stretch of the term 'agent'. He was more a mercenary for hire, the lethal and expensive type and not an agent even to the biggest leaps of imagination. His complete family disappeared shortly after he died as well, complete with mother, wife and kids. Whoever had it out for him was thorough.
"We should call it a day." Michiru sighed as she saved the last results on her laptop before she turned it off.
"Yea, it had been a long day." Makoto sighed as she looked onto her watch. She was wondering what Ami was up to and how hard she was taking her sabbatical. Makoto was forbidden to contact Ami, under direct order of the director and she didn't dare to defy orders from the highest echelon, but that didn't stop her from missing the petit doctor and the warmth Ami emitted in her eyes.
Michiru locked her office behind them and they walked silent towards the elevators as they bumped into a tired looking Rei and an exhausted looking Minako.
"Why didn't you warn me that Setsuna would work me to the bone?" Minako whined as soon as the elevator doors closed on them.
"I thought that was a given, I doubt Kakashi is any easier on you…" Rei commented.
"He actually is, as long he gets all his files when he needs them, I can do whatever I want." Minako argued.
"Maybe not so loud while we are still in the agency." Makoto tried to hush both before the elevator doors opened again and Sayaka stepped in.
"Parking floor two please." Sayaka instructed Minako, who stood closest to the panel with the buttons.
Sayaka stood straight next to Michiru and Makoto noticed from behind, how Sayaka was sizing Michiru up discreetly from the corners of her eyes. Michiru stayed unfazed and feinted ignorance.
The elevator ride continued uninterrupted but still uncomfortable until they reached ground level and everyone, except Sayaka vacated the elevator.
"I thought you got here by car." Makoto addressed Rei.
"I did, but there is no way I spent avoidable time with that traitor." Rei growled.
"How did she betray you?" Minako asked surprised.
"She betrayed Haruka, therefore she betrayed one of us and so she betrayed me as well." Rei explained.
"So you admit that you like Haruka." Minako stated evenly.
"Not like as in like like, but I respect her greatly. She is a good agent and even though she has left our fold she has taken us in as if we were family." Rei justified herself.
"How will you explain it tomorrow that you left your car here though?" Makoto asked concerned.
Before Rei could reply, Michiru answered for her. "Rei is a responsible assistant and agent. Of course she wouldn't drive if she is going to join us for dinner, where we will be drinking responsibly." Michiru explained. "We surely want to repay Makoto for the great dinner, we had at her place last week, correct?" Michiru discreetly gestured towards the car park exit, where Sayaka was about to pull out of. "I shout the first round at Yamaguchi's" Michiru offered as she waved down a passing Taxi for them.
-Ami-
They arrived at a small Ramen shop and Hiroshi dropped them off wordlessly before he drove off again, after receiving an order of freshly made Ramen for the Izakaya.
Kakashi and Ami went into the Ramen shop and were immediately welcomed by a cheerful pair of men behind the counter of the small store.
"Kakashi, long time no see." A middle aged man with strong physique called.
"Kaito, it has been too long." Kakashi grinned back.
"And who is this young lady?" Kaito asked good naturedly.
"This is a good friend of mine." Kakashi explained.
"Good friends of Kakashi's are good friends of mine. Have a seat. Have a seat." Kaito ushered them further to the back of the shop.
"Just bring us your specialty." Kakashi ordered when they were seated and Kaito nodded.
Ami put her go back next to her and faced Kakashi patiently, waiting for him to start to explain why he called her out.
"Sorry Ami, I didn't want to leave you out of the conversation, but I need to ask you first what you have planned for your so called sabbatical." Kakashi returned to his more serious self.
"I actually have nothing planned since I have already done what is required of me." Ami answered honestly.
"Great, there is a position you could fill, off the books and only if you like to, of course." Kakashi started to explain. "It will require absolute secrecy but will give you good hands on experience on security with an element of lab work." Kakashi continued. "Interested?" He finally asked.
"If I wasn't, wouldn't be here." Ami smiled as he stoked her curiosity.
"Great, there is no going back though. You need to be aware that you will be gone from everyone for at least a couple of weeks." Kakashi cautioned her.
"Minako texted me that Takashi Tenoh has ordered absolute radio silence with me. I think I can handle that just fine to be distracted with more important tasks than watching my apartment walls catching dust." Ami sighed.
"Ok. Then it's settled." Kakashi nodded satisfied.
Kaito came to serve them their Ramen and Kakashi grinned at him. "The package is confirmed and ready."
-Minako-
The taxi drove them to Yamaguchi's swiftly and they were swiftly greeted and seated by Kyoko.
"Ah, it is good to be back here." Makoto sighed. "At least here we do not have to worry that Tenoh-senior overhears us." She added with a hint of frustration.
"Maybe we should ask Ami to come here, then we can still meet up with her and still get to see her." Minako suggested.
"No chance, Ami is a stickler to the rules. She would never defy an order outright." Rei waved off that idea.
"But a month is too long to not get to see her." Makoto agreed with Minako.
"That is normal in our profession. If she were to go on a secret overseas assignment, we wouldn't know when she would be back either." Michiru stated calmly. "We are all under more scrutiny and we have to be careful what we say and how we do things. I doubt Kakashi will be the only one who will get put on forced leave. No matter how much we hid that Ayumi went rogue, it seems some of it was leaked and Takashi Tenoh is doing everything to put that rumour to rest. I have seen files on everyone that Ayumi had worked with on his desk and Setsuna's was under them. We have to watch our back's, especially each other's." Michiru added.
"Do you really think he will stay here for good?" Minako asked worried.
"If Rei heard him saying that, then it must be like that, but instead of dethroning him, we should get him to see that we work fine without him and give him reason to leave on good terms. Because he is still the director of the entire agency and that involves more departments than just ours and as much as I hate to admit it, he has been juggling all of them well." Michiru explained.
"And how do we get that done?" Rei asked her.
"First we have to get our tasks done without a hitch and secondly, we need to find out the real reason he is here. If we can remove that, he will go on his own. I am sure other departments need his supervision and auditing, too." Michiru reasoned.
"You are right, but how will we find out what he is really up to? Neither of us is close to him or not marked with the bias that we are in Haruka's and Kakashi's side." Minako thought out loud.
"Well I am not really on Kakashi's side…" Rei put in.
"But you work for Setsuna and that is just like working on Kakshi's side." Makoto noted.
"I will get close to him." Michiru announced. "I transferred late, trained only three months under Kakashi and was only on one short mission with little contact to Haruka. He already liked my reports and my objectivity in them and gave me special assignments. I am sure with more face time with him, I will figure out why he is really here." Michiru deduced.
-Ami-
At 2 a.m. the store got ready to close up for the night. Kakashi and Ami stayed in the back until they were fully closed and then Kaito took them down to the river, where his apprentice had readied a boat for them
"Where are we going?" Ami asked Kakashi.
"Ami, how does this saying end: All roads lead to…." Kakashi started.
"Rome?" Ami guessed.
"Yes" Kakashi chuckled, "But we are in Japan, so all roads start in…" He looked at her expectantly.
"Nihonbashi." Ami deduced.
"Correct." Kakshi grinned.
"Please put your bag in here and put this on. This should be your size." Kaito instructed Ami as he passed her a hard pod and a diving suit. "You can change inside the cabin." He added as he pointed to the small white door that led further down. When Ami came back out, Kakashi and Kaito's apprentice had already changed into their diving suits and had air cylinders strapped to their backs. "Ami, this is Ryou, he will be your eyes and ears down there, you need to follow him exactly the way he swims." Kakashi instructed her as he gave her an air cylinder and Ami nodded.
As soon as they were under the mazes of bridges and well hidden from onlookers, one after another dropped into the water and Ryou led the way through the dark waters.
Ami was naturally a good swimmer, but in this darkness, even she found it hard to follow Ryou through the water. Eventually they swam through an underground tunnel and surfaced at the end of it where Seiya was waiting for them.
-Seiya-
"Couldn't you come any faster, Ryou?" Seiya asked with a smirk as he sat on a robot dog, waiting the arrivals to exit the water.
"Oh shut up. This path was hard enough to swim, making me do it by heart in the dark doesn't make it easier." Ryou grunted as he swam to the edge.
"I take it Kaito-sensei is still has tough as nails on you?" Seiya chuckled.
"His Ramen are amazing though, so I have that going for me." Ryou shrugged as he climbed out of the water.
"There are no better Ramen than Japanese Ramen." Seiya grinned.
"Don't tell Mei that, otherwise I get the whole 'but we Chinese invented them' speech." Ryou sighed.
"But we perfected it." Seiya interjected.
"That's true." Ryou grinned.
Seiya climbed off the dog and helped Ami out of the water before he took the pod off Ryou's hands in which Ami's and Kakashi's bags were in.
As he put the bags onto the dog, he noticed that Ami was leaning against the walls of the narrow tunnel.
"Are you ok there, Ami?" Seiya asked concerned as he walked up to her.
"I am ok" Ami reassured him. "It just has been a very long time since my last dive." Ami explained her shortness of breath as she took off the air tank.
"I need to get back before Kaito-sensei makes me swim back all the way." Ryou commented as he collected the air tanks from Ami and Kakashi and put them into the diving pod. "You be careful and look after yourselves." He added.
"Thanks for taking us here and send my regards to your father." Kakashi patted Ryou's shoulder
"And say hi to Mei for me." Seiya added before Ryou disappeared into the deep waters again.
"Where are we?" Ami asked Seiya and Kakashi as she looked around.
"At an extended entrance." Seiya snickered. "Please have a seat on a dog." He pointed at another two dogs he had brought with him.
Ami looked uncertain at the big robot dog.
"It can carry up to 300kg and the tunnels here can be pretty tight and low here." Seiya explained as he tied the go bags onto his one and climbed on it.
Kakashi was already sitting on one when Ami timidly followed his example.
Seiya tapped his dog and it started to smoothly walk into the dark tunnel.
"Why is there no lighting here?" Ami asked from behind as her dog automatically followed his.
"We don't want to make it too easy for everyone to find us." Seiya chuckled. "The dogs know where we need to go and have night vision, so just hold on tight and keep your head down. We are going to reach a fast spot here, so please keep your limbs close onto your dogs." Seiya warned before he pressed the turbo button.
-Michiru-
She returned very late to her apartment and was greeted by the gurgling noises her new fish tank made in living room in which she kept the goldfish Haruka had caught. Her aunt's shoes were neatly placed at the step, but no other sounds could be heard, so she must have most likely already have gone to sleep.
Tired Michiru walked into her living room and sat down on the couch, to watch her fish float around in the, still sparsely decorated, tank.
Her mind wandered to Setsuna and she wondered how the other woman was coping with being separated from her lover at work. She knew that Setsuna spent the majority of her time in the office and that Kakashi regularly passed by to drop things off, pick things up or to get advice when he was in. Michiru thought back to the first day she did not see the blonde after their mission had ended and the blonde had gotten better, how much she had missed Haruka's presence, how much she longed to just pick up the phone to hear the other's voice. All of that, after just knowing Haruka for such a short period of time, and here was Setsuna, who had spent around a decade around Kakashi. She could not imagine the other person's pain, to have to cut all contact with your lover for the time being, to avoid detection, and to be burdened by additional duties.
Michiru watched how the fish swam around, without a care in the world. She envied them for their freedom within their small confinement. They didn't know that there was any other possible way of life and so they were content with living their life away day by day. Ignorance was bliss.
Michiru missed Haruka's pool and the peace she found in it, every time her emotions were making a mess of her. Yet, she missed the blonde insolent troublemaker more, that caused her emotions to be a mess.
She suddenly she heard how the door of the guest bedroom opened and her aunt came out before she walked into the kitchen. Only moments later, she came back with two bottles of cold tea and passed Michiru one.
"Thanks ba-chan" Michiru smiled grateful as she opened the bottle.
"What's with all the sighing?" Riko asked as she sat down next to her niece.
"I am sorry. Did I wake you up?" Michiru asked in return.
"No, I was still working. Time difference to London." Riko explained. "Has work been so bad that you have gone for drinks on a Monday?" Riko sniffed her clothes.
"I didn't have that much to drink, but the girls and I were just discussing recent staff changes." Michiru explained.
"Ah, yea. In this economy nowadays …" Riko nodded understandingly.
"Riko-ba-chan, have you ever had an office romance?" Michiru asked her aunt offhandedly.
"Why this sudden question? Are you in love with someone at work?" Riko chuckled.
"No, I am just curious." Michiru answered.
"I had my fair share of romance at the office and around work." Riko admitted easily.
"How come you never settled?" Michiru asked curiously.
"Not the right time, right place…. The usual." Riko shrugged.
"Is there ever a right time or a right place?" Michiru asked absent minded.
"No, but I am sure there is a right person." Riko snickered.
-Ami-
They arrived half an hour later under the Tenoh-tower, after riding through a maze of tunnels and pathways. Ami noticed, robotic humanoids and dogs guarded various section of their path and that some spots were so low that even while lying flat on the robotic dog, that it was still a tight fit.
Taiki was waiting for them, with a deep frown etched on his face, as they emerged out of the tunnel system.
"Unbelievable, I thought I made it clear that there won't be any direct communication with outside." Taiki scolded Seiya, as he emerged first.
"Calm down Taiki, we took Kaito's gate and I brought a gift." Kakashi defended the black haired man.
Ami got off her ride and bowed.
"I am sorry Ami; I didn't mean to get loud." Taiki rubbed his temples.
"You look pretty stressed Taiki." Ami noted.
"Yea, there was an incident in the clinic." Taiki sighed.
"Anything I could help with?" Ami offered.
"I need to re-authorise your access first and I need to unlock the guest quarters." Taiki explained. "But if you if you like, you can either rest on the clinic floor or in the communal area first. I think these two will have exhausted you already enough for now." Taiki added with a sigh.
"The clinic is fine." Ami informed him and Seiya passed Ami her bag.
Taiki just nodded silently and they walked towards the elevators.
On the clinic floor, Taiki and Ami left the elevators while Kakashi and Seiya proceeded to the office floor.
"What happened here earlier?" Ami asked tentatively as she looked around and saw that most machines in the laboratory were up and running.
"Hmmm, just follow me." Taiki went ahead to the back where Haruka was sleeping, hooked up to various machines, while Kakyuu slept next to her on a chair.
"Kakyuu has stopped sleeping in the bed since she couldn't react fast enough, in her opinion, the last time when Haruka was on a verge of a heart attack." Taiki explained as he looked through the window.
-Michiru-
Makoto and her had worked all morning intensively and had hit a wall in their research. To find out why Zhao was actually there and what kind of man he actually was, they retraced his last couple of days of life and found absolutely nothing. He was a ghost the last 5 days of his life. As they wanted to find out what happened to his family, a similar picture presented itself. One day his wife was bringing his daughters to school, the next she was simply gone and their apartment was cleared.
"I think we should call it a day." Makoto suggested, as she was still suffering a mild hangover and sleep deprivation from the night before.
"I guess you are right. We still have some time to go and it doesn't seem like we will find out more today than all the nothing we have found out so far." Michiru sighed.
They both left the agency and went their separate ways. The day was still long Michiru didn't feel like going home yet, since she didn't want her aunt to question her work ethics. She looked at her watch and noticed that Hotaru would be soon coming out of her Kindergarten. Looking forward to see the little girl again, she made her way to the Kindergarten.
She was still very early when she arrived at the Kindergarten and waited outside when she suddenly heard her name being called.
"Michiru-mama, over here, over here!" Hotaru called form the side of the building.
The kids where playing outside on the small playground and Hotaru was wearing her cute yellow sunhat when Michiru was walking over to her.
"I thought I come by and say hello." Michiru explained her presence.
"Did something happen to Mable and Dipper?" Hotaru asked concerned while referring to the Goldfish Michiru was taking care of for the little girl.
"No, no, they are fine." Michiru reassured Hotaru.
"Hotaru-chan, is that your new mom?" a little boy next to Hotaru asked the little girl.
"Yes, Daisuke-chan" Hotaru nodded proudly.
"She is really pretty." Daisuke whispered to Hotaru.
"I know." Hotaru grinned. "And she makes awesome French Toast." Hotaru informed her companion.
"Oh" Daisuke seemed impressed.
"Michiru-mama, are you here for tea Tuesday?" Hotaru asked curiously.
"Tea Tuesday?" Michiru asked surprised in return.
"Kids, come back here." The Kindergarten teacher called.
"Wait there Michiru-mama, I will be right out." Hotaru quickly said before she re-joined her class.
"Ok." Michiru smiled and waved towards Hotaru.
Michiru was just about to sit down on a small bench, to wait for Hotaru, when she spotted Yumi and Shinobu coming her way.
-Kakyuu-
There was a sound of something dropping to the ground.
"Haruka!" She sat up instantly and looked at the machines' displays just to find Ami standing there and picking up a pen she had dropped.
"Sorry for waking you." Ami apologised timidly before she finished filling out the status sheet for Kakyuu.
"Ami? What are you doing here?" Kakyuu asked puzzled.
"I got put on a sabbatical by the director and Kakashi kind of got me here, so I thought I might as well be useful." Ami admitted sheepishly.
"Grandpa Tenoh did what?" Kakyuu had to collect herself, this was off her routine of checking on Haruka while making sure that she did not forget to take care of herself.
"He put me on a sabbatical as indirect punishment for not noticing what Ayumi was up to." Amy explained.
"I see, so now you have joined the dark side then." Kakyuu chuckled.
"The dark side?" It was Ami's turn to look puzzled.
"Never mind. How is Haruka doing?" Kakyuu asked as she rubbed the sleep out of her eyes.
"She is stable, breathing is a bit weak, but otherwise everything looks alright. Why is she in a coma? Did something happen again?" Ami asked concerned.
"Haruka has put herself under for the duration of the viral treatment. The new serum is particular excruciating and taxing on her physically and mentally. So, to avoid that certain neural pathways to develop in a way that cause her chronic pain later on and for her not to have to witness all the horrors of it consciously, we opted for this method. It lets me objectively manage her pain without risking addiction and for her to have a break from life." Kakyuu explained as she stretched herself.
"You look really tired, how about you go and have some real rest and I take care Haruka while you freshen up?" Ami offered.
"You don't look any less tired than myself. I take it the boys took you in through one of the tunnels?" Kakyuu asked in return.
"Yea, the one near the Nihonbashi bridges." Ami confirmed.
"Oh, that is one of the trickier paths. Did Kaito-ji take you through it?" Kakyuu continued to ask as she checked on the medication schedule for Haruka.
"No, the person who took us through was Ryou-kun." Ami informed the other doctor.
"I see." Kakyuu nodded. "Have you had a nice long hot shower yet?" Kakyuu continued to ask.
"Oh, yes. The guest quarters have not been unlocked yet, so I used the clinic's facilities." Ami explained.
"I see. I better ask Taiki then if he has unlocked you a proper apartment for you to rest in and unlocked your access to the other facilities." Kakyuu pulled out her phone.
"There is really no rush. I just got here a couple of hours ago and I am really not tired." Ami reassured her.
"If you really want to help, then I need you to be really well rested, because every time I administer the Serum, it can get very turbulent in here." Kakyuu informed Ami stern.
-Shinobu-
She was walking, next to her mistress, towards the Kindergarten, which Hotaru attended, as she spotted the other woman whose presence caused her mistress a fair bit of distress. Even if Yumi didn't show it, Shinobu knew that every time a new woman appeared in Haruka's life, Yumi would get quieter and fairly sullen at times. But right now, her mistress walked unfazed towards the other woman and greeted her politely.
"Kaioh-san, nice to meet you again." Yumi greeted Michiru and Shinobu simply bowed silently.
"Myamoto-san, Sasaki-san, nice to meet you both again as well. Have you come to pick up Hotaru-chan?" Michiru asked friendly.
"Yes, we pick her up every Tuesday, for some tea, before we drive her home." Yumi explained. "Would you like to join us?" Yumi offered courteously.
"I wouldn't want to impose." Michiru hesitated.
"Of course you wouldn't impose. I run a tea house, there is always space for another person who appreciates a good cup of tea." Yumi put the other woman's mind at ease.
Suddenly the little black haired girl came running out of the Kindergarten and greeted the three women.
"Hello Yumi-nee. Hello Shinobu-nee. Are you coming with us to drink tea, too, Michiru-mama?" Hotaru asked innocently and Shinobu noticed how Yumi's eyes turned distant. Just then Hotaru turned, without waiting for Michiru's reply to Yumi. "It is ok for Michiru-mama to come along as well, right Yumi-nee?" Hotaru asked openly.
"I just asked her to join, but she has not agreed yet." Yumi replied gently.
Michiru looked conflicted for a moment but then agreed nonetheless and so they all walked towards the car, that was waiting for them around the corner, to take them to the tea house. Shinobu immediately informed Noriko to make preparations for them and as soon as they arrived, adequate servants tended to her mistress's guests needs.
-Michiru-
After a smooth ride, they arrived at a well-hidden tea house, surrounded by a tall wall and a small, well-kept bamboo forest. Yumi went ahead of them to the tea room and Hotaru followed her as if it was the most natural thing to do. Hotaru seemed very familiar with these surroundings and greeted many servants by their first name.
Once in the tea room, Hotaru immediately sat down on a specific cushion and Michiru sat down next to her as Yumi took her spot as tea master, near all the tea utensils.
"Do you think Haruka-papa will call today?" Hotaru asked excited.
"I don't know Hotaru-chan, but I am sure whoever will pick up will pass on your recording for her and as soon as she can, your Haruka-papa will answer you." Yumi explained patiently, as Shinobu brought in a laptop as well as sweets for Hotaru and Michiru.
Yumi made them patiently tea before she made the call on the secure line.
Soon, Yaten picked up.
"Hello there Hotaru-chan," He greeted the child cheerfully. "Hello Yumi-nee. Michiru-nee…." Yaten seemed slightly puzzled.
"Hello Yaten-ji" Hotaru greeted back and Yumi nodded gently before she drank of her tea.
"Hello there Yaten-kun." Michiru greeted back friendly.
"Is Haruka-papa here today?" Hotaru asked impatiently.
"I am sorry, not today Hime-chan, but I will make sure to show her your recording." Yaten reassured the little girl.
"Hmm, ok, do you think she will be back soon?" Hotaru asked a bit disappointed.
"I guarantee you, she is really doing her best to be back soon." Yaten smiled with a hint of melancholy. "So, go ahead, tell me how your day was at Kindergarten and all the things you had been doing for the last couple of days." Yaten encouraged the little girl.
Hotaru started to tell Yaten about her day and all her little adventures while he recorded her while Michiru and Yumi sat to each side of her.
Suddenly there was a light knock at the door and Katashi stuck his head in.
"Hello there Katashi-ji!" Hotaru waved to him.
"Hello there Hotaru-chan." Katashi smiled. "Can I borrow Yumi-san for a moment?" He asked kindly.
Hotaru looked over to Yumi and thought for a moment until the other woman nodded.
"Ok, but not for too long." Hotaru reminded Katashi who just nodded with a smile.
Yumi got up silently and went outside to talk to her husband before Yaten spoke up.
"Hey Hime-chan, something came up, I think we have to wrap it up for today." He informed Hotaru.
"Ok Yaten-ji. Say hi to all the others for me and remind Haruka-papa that she promised me to come home soon." Hotaru reminded him.
"Of course." Yaten winked before the screen went blank again.
"Michiru-mama, you haven't even touched your sweets." Hotaru pointed out.
"No, I am not as much of a sweet tooth like your Haruka-papa" Michiru smiled.
"Try it, it is really good. It makes the tea taste a lot nicer." Hotaru explained as she had a big piece herself, followed by the rest of her tea.
"Haruka-papa always says, the more bitter the tea is, the sweeter the sweets must be." Hotaru continued to explain.
"Do you come here often?" Michiru asked Hotaru casually.
"Every Tuesday." Hotaru answered sincerely. "Tuesdays, Hideki and Hideyoshi have Kendo training and then I would be alone at home, so usually Haruka-papa takes me here so I can try some tea and learn about it. But if Haruka-papa isn't around I just drink tea with Yumi-nee and play with Shinobu-nee." Hotaru explained. "But today you are here, so we can drink tea." Hotaru smiled.
-Ami-
They were preparing Haruka for another injection and Kakyuu was fastening the blonde's hands and feet to the bed while Ami kept an eye on Haruka's vitals.
"Is the reaction that severe?" Ami asked tentatively.
"It is just a precaution. Usually I am here on my own, so I always have to be prepared for the worst." Kakyuu explained as she put several injections ready into that machine that would administer it in the given order and intervals her before she gave Ami one separate one. "If Haruka's heartrate reaches 160 prepare to inject with this and hit it as steady as possible so that she does not exceed 175, if we get to 180 she is very likely to crash so you will need to reach for the paddles." Kakyuu instructed Ami. "Ok, ready?" Kakyuu looked at her one more time and Ami nodded and so the red haired doctor proceeded to inject Haruka with the fist syringe.
Nothing happened at first but then Haruka's heart rate slowly increased and she started to sweat.
Kakyuu calmly proceeded with the second and third courses of the serum and Haruka's heart rate climbed steadily. When it hit 145, Haruka started to shake. Ami knew that was a reaction to the pain Haruka's body was experiencing and she was glad that the blonde was in a coma, because any human who would be awake with such symptoms would probably be already screaming their lungs out. Kakyuu waited for the tremor to subside lightly before she continued with the fourth serum.
Out of nowhere Haruka's heart rated jumped to 170 and Ami immediately administered the medication which Kakyuu had given her earlier, but the heart rate would not lower. Kakyuu finished administering the last serum before she jumped up to grab the paddles herself but then Haruka's heart rate suddenly slowly dropped again, slowly, but it dropped.
Ami could see the relief in Kakyuu's eyes.
"Is it always like this?" Ami asked, suddenly noticing that her own heart rate had climbed.
"Two heart failures in the last 10 days and one cardiac arrest. I don't know how many more Haruka can candle. Today was none. So that is something." Kakyuu sighed.
-Yumi-
She was walking through the dark familiar tunnel, closely followed by her most trusted servant Shinobu. They used no lights as they knew the paths by heart and Yumi relished the cool air that permeated the tunnels in comparison to the hot humid air that was part of the Japanese summer.
It had been two days now, since she had seen Michiru, and yet she still felt rattled by Hotaru calling the other woman 'mama'. Rationally, Yumi knew that it didn't mean much because Haruka would never go out with anyone seriously, not in the condition she was in, not if she still had unsolved issues and especially when Haruka truly cared. As much it pained her, she could see that Haruka was deeply invested in the violinist, but she told herself that it was only a matter of time before that would fade.
She hastened her pace and they reached a check point. Yumi put her hand on the floor and an inconspicuous panel lit up, scanning her palm. Shinobu copied her actions, as soon as she stood up straight again, and only moments later, two pairs of eyes lit up nearby in the pitch black darkness and two big robotic dogs came closer. They took their customary spots and were swiftly carried towards the Tenoh tower.
During the whole journey, Yumi couldn't decide if she was bothered or relieved by the fact that Michiru was so calm, despite Haruka's condition. Either the other woman simply didn't know how serious it was for Haruka right now, therefore Haruka hadn't told her anything because she wanted to avoid unnecessary pain for the violinist, and so Yumi was one of the few who knew the truth or Haruka had managed to alienate the violinist so much, like she had so many other women before, that the concerned Michiru, she had seen during the weeks after Haruka's emergency surgery, had given up on the blonde.
They took the elevator to the clinic floor and Yumi walked undeterred towards Haruka's room, where Kakyuu was checking on the blonde's vitals, as scheduled around this time.
"You are early Yumi." Kakyuu noted, not in the least surprised, as she scribbled some notes down into the blonde's chart.
"Katashi has informed me that the entire Chiba clan will be having a meeting this weekend. Kenichi and Takashi have booked a room with my grandfather for the day before and, within my grandfather's grounds, I have barely any authority, so I will most likely not be able to warn you, in case Takashi is planning anything with Mamoru's grandfather or not." Yumi said calmly, her eyes focused on the cut on Haruka's wrist.
"Today was a particular rough session. We barely managed to keep Haruka down, so I am thinking about spacing out the dosages better." Kakyuu explained while she rubbed her eyes.
"We?" Yumi asked mildly surprised.
"Yea, I have Ami here. Kakashi had dropped her off for me on Tuesday morning." Kakyuu informed her.
"Maybe that is why Michiru was so relaxed." Yumi wondered aloud. Maybe Ami kept the violinist updated with Haruka's condition and that is why she had been so calm, Yumi thought to herself.
"What about Michiru?" Kakyuu asked, after she had put Haruka's chart back into its place.
"Nothing, she was just over for tea with Hotaru on Tuesday." Yumi replied indifferent.
"Oh yea, I saw the recording. What made her come?" Kakyuu asked.
"She wanted to see Hotaru." Yumi shared her assumption. "How did Haruka react to the recording?" Yumi asked in return.
"Brain function are still normal, well as normal as it can be her in her state. Voices are still being recognised and she can differentiate them. So that's something. It would be cruel though to wake her now, only half way through the treatment." Kakyuu summarised for Yumi.
Yumi noticed that Kakyuu looked away while she told her all that and that the doctor kept her eyes focused on Haruka's sleeping face. There must have been another issue that Kakyuu was unwilling to share with her, but Yumi was not going to ask her what that was. That Yumi was allowed to be here, was already a big compromise on Kakyuu's side and she was not about to push the other's generosity to its limits.
Yumi traced her fingertips tenderly along Haruka's wrists, that had been bruised and cut by the restraints that Kakyuu needed to apply before every treatment session. Kakyuu couldn't imagine the pain Haruka was going through thrice a day, not to mention, the stress it caused Kakyuu as well.
Yumi took Haruka's firm hands into her own and caressed it affectionately. This had to be enough for her. This was all she was allowed.
-Michiru-
It was Friday and she stood at the door to Hotaru's Kindergarten to pick up the little girl.
On Tuesday, when she had dropped Hotaru off after her visit at Yumi's tea house, she had asked Hotaru's aunt Sachiko for permission to take Hotaru to the aquarium for the afternoon.
As she stood there, she noticed a tall shadow approaching her and she calmly turned around.
"Mamoru, what a surprise to see you here. I thought you were still in Hokkaido." She greeted the doctor.
"Hi Michiru. Yea, Abe-sensei is doing some research here and we just moved into this neighbourhood since Usagi was unhappy in my old apartment and wanted something more spacious, so that Chibiusa can have her own bedroom." Mamoru explained. "So, are here to pick up Hotaru?" Mamoru asked Michiru.
"Yes, and you are picking up Chibiusa?" Michiru asked in return.
"Yea." Mamoru nodded.
Michiru noticed a thin man of average height standing at the gates looking over to them. His short pale blonde hair was neat and his grey eyes cold. For some reason he looked familiar, but Michiru couldn't place him, where she had seen him before.
Mamoru noticed that she was distracted and turned around to look at what she was looking at.
"Oh no." He groaned before he waved the other man to come closer.
"Chiba-sama, I have been sent to remind you of your responsibility to attend the family gathering this weekend." The man sad coldly.
"Michiru, may I introduce you my cousin, around two or three corners, Kougyoku, Higashi. Higashi, this is Kaioh, Michiru. I expect you to greet my friends with utmost respect." Mamoru growled at his cousin.
"Nice to meet you Kougyoku-san." Michiru bowed slightly.
"Higashi! You may tell my father that you have failed him by disrespecting my wishes." Mamoru said coldly.
"Oh, you don't have to…" Michiru tried to ease the tension, but the other man gave in and bowed to greet her back.
"Nice to meet you, too, Kaioh-san" Higashi said between gritted teeth.
"I believe I had made myself clear over Obon, that I am not to be disturbed during my daily routines. If there is anything urgent, you may write me an email, otherwise, wait for the monthly meetings." Mamoru's tone was unusually cold and demanding.
It was strange to see Mamoru, who was usually kind and caring, in such an authoritarian manner.
"My deepest apologies Chiba-sama. Pardon my leave now." Higashi excused himself and disappeared as sudden as he came.
"I am sorry about that Michiru, my family still has … old fashioned views on life." Mamoru apologised. "My father runs a tight command and the people working for him don't seem to listen to any other kind of tone." Mamoru added with a sigh.
"That is ok." Michiru reassured the doctor and before she could say anything further, the kids came out of the Kindergarten.
-Michiru-
They were at the Sumida Aquarium and Hotaru walked happily between the different tanks, asking all kinds of questions about the fish they saw.
"Look, Michiru-mama those look like giant worms that are growing from the ground." Hotaru pointed at a tank with snake like fish. "And look, look, which one do you think is Nemo?" Hotaru ran up to another tank.
"Wait, wait. Not so fast you little turbo charger." Michiru smiled gently down at Hotaru.
Just after she had picked Hotaru up and put the little girl onto the step for little children, she noticed someone following her. It was a tall man with white long hair and cold, pale, blue eyes. When she was about to turn around to have a closer look, a woman with long sleek black hair and blue eyes approached them and asked Hotaru: "Hey there kid, looking for Nemo, too?" She smiled friendly at Hotaru before she turned to Michiru. "Sorry, I am just hiding from someone; do you mind if I just stand here for a minute? I promise, I am gone before you know it." The stranger smiled at Michiru sheepishly.
"Oh, sure." Michiru replied, but stood closer to Hotaru nonetheless.
The suspicious looking man with the long white hair suddenly turned around the next corner and disappeared.
"Are you playing hide and seek Nee-san?" Hotaru asked innocently the woman who stood crouched next to her.
"Yes." The woman grinned back. "Thanks for having my back, kiddo." She added before she stood up, winked and disappeared around another fish tank.
Michiru and Hotaru finished their little tour through the aquarium and stepped out into the warm afternoon sun, when they bumped into the stranger with the long black hair again who was rough handed by a shorter woman with wavy brown light brown hair and green eyes.
Michiru held Hotaru safely to her left while she approached the two women.
"Excuse me, is there a problem here?" She asked firmly.
"No, there isn't! I was just about to leave." The woman with the black hair answered, while she pulled out her arm from the other woman's grasp.
"This is none of your business bitch!" The shorter woman countered to Michiru.
"Haruka-papa always says to help others in need and you are not allowed to be mean to others." Hotaru chimed in from behind Michiru.
"I like the way your papa thinks." The black haired woman winked at Hotaru and stood protectively in front of them.
"Here you are, Chiba-sama. Your father has strictly instructed us to take you to him as soon as you have recovered from your jetlag." The man with the long white hair spoke up, coming from the entrance of the aquarium.
"I am still recovering; the aquarium was part of my recovery." The woman with the black hair answered matter-of-factly.
"Oh, do you know Mamoru-oji-san?" Hotaru asked the woman curiously.
"You know my brother?" The woman asked surprised in return.
"I also know Usagi-onee-san and Chibiusa-chan." Hotaru answered proudly.
"Look what you have done, Kairenseki-san. You have insulted dear friends of my big brother." Mamoru's little sister smirked at her counterpart. "Let me apologise for her misbehaviour… Miss….?" Mamoru's little sister turned towards Michiru.
"Kaioh. Kaioh Michiru" Michiru answered evenly.
"Nice to meet you Kaioh-san, my name is Chiba, Chiba Hiroko. I am Chibiusa's aunt, and you are?" Hirko crouched down to Hotaru.
"Hotaru, I am Tomoe, Hotaru." Hotaru grinned wide.
"Oh goodness, you are Tenoh's kid. Can't wait to tell her about our encounter and how that went down." Hiroko grinned while Kairenseki went extremely pale.
"There is absolutely no need for that Chiba-sama, I take full responsibility for this." The man, who had joined them, stepped in.
"Kitae-nii, you don't have to …." The brunette interrupted him.
"Silence Nishi." Kitae hissed between gritted teeth to Kairenseki-san.
"So, how do you intend to take responsibility for this, Kujakuseki-san?" Hiroko looked at him defiantly.
"I am calling your father now and will tell him that you need until tomorrow morning to recover from your jetlag, Chiba-sama." Kitae answered evenly.
"Great. I should call Haruka-chan to see if she has time to hang out tonight." Hiroko chuckled.
"Haruka-papa is at the moment not here; she is far away for work, but maybe Michiru-mama has time to hang out with you after she dropped me off at home." Hotaru interjected.
"Michiru-mama? Well, Kaioh-san, I like the suggestion of your daughter, would you like to join me for dinner tonight? If you are busy, I do understand." Hiroko turned to Michiru.
"Thank you for your invitation, Chiba-san, but I do have to prepare for my brunch recital tomorrow." Michiru replied politely.
"What do you play, Kaioh-san?" Hiroko asked undeterred.
"The violin." Michiru answered short.
"Michiru-mama plays the violin REALLY good." Hotaru emphasised, behind her hand.
"I hope there are still tickets to your recital, Kaioh-san?" Hiroko asked nonchalant.
"I believe the Concert hall would be able to answer that question for you." Michiru replied unfazed.
"Kujakuseki-san, I believe music is good for my recovery and so is food. Please get me tickets to Kaioh-san's recital." Hiroko instructed Kitae with ease, who just nodded obedient, while Nishi fumed behind him.
-Ami-
It was Friday night and Kakyuu was working in the labs when Ami came to her.
"How does Haruka's bloodwork look like at the moment?" She asked the other doctor as Ami put a cup of fresh coffee next to her.
"Recovery is slow. This virus is annoying as …." Kakyuu sighed. "My counter virus is working, but it is a lot less aggressive and runs out of steam a lot faster than Ayumi's." Kakyuu admitted frustrated.
"Well, on the positive side, yours doesn't harm Haruka." Ami tried to be positive.
"No, it actually does. By destroying the cells in which Ayumi's viruses are festering, I am destroying parts of Haruka's organs. I am giving her a lot of boosters that should aid the recovering process, but there is a limit on how much I can give her without triggering cancerous behaviour in her cells." Kakyuu sighed again as she took off her glasses and rubbed her eyes. "It is that fine balance that is hard to hit. But right now, she is improving. Also thanks to you Ami." Kakyuu smiled tiredly.
"Oh, but I am not doing much." Ami interjected.
"You are doing a lot. I can see that the boys are a lot more relaxed since you are around, since they know you won't let me over work myself. I even heard Seiya whistling yesterday when he came down here to keep his watch over Haruka." Kakyuu explained as she stretched herself. "It means a lot to me. Thank you." Kakyuu added while Ami blushed.
"I am glad I can be useful." Ami admitted shyly as she sat down at her station in the laboratory. "I mean I am learning here a lot as well. The theory of tailored viruses to target specific cells and organisms is very interesting, but to see how it is implemented is a whole other level." Ami said with awe.
"Glad you are having fun." Kakyuu chuckled.
Taiki walked in and waited to Kakyuu to acknowledge his presence.
"You are done with prepping her for the MRI?" Kakyuu asked him before she started to drink from her hot coffee.
"Yea, everything is up and running. Just need you and we can proceed." Taiki confirmed.
"Ami, want to see the damage I have done?" Kakyuu put down her coffee with a sigh before she smiled at Ami with sadness filled eyes.
