-Kakyuu-

Kakyuu kept a close eye on Haruka as she brought Hotaru into the room to visit the blonde.

Not a twitch, not a flinch, not even the slightest wince on Haruka's face as they walked into the room together.

"Welcome home Haruka-papa" Hotaru called cheerfully as she ran over to the blonde and Haruka patted the space next to her on the bed warm heartedly.

"Missed me Hotaru-chan?" Haruka asked rhetorically as Hotaru climbed up the bed with a bit of Yaten's help, who had been by the blonde's side since she had gotten up.

"Of course I did. Did you get sick again Haruka-papa?" Hotaru asked calmly after she hugged Haruka tight.

"I did, but I am all better now. See?" Haruka hugged the little girl tightly in return and tickled her, much to Hotaru's delight. "I'll be all good in no time." Haruka announced and Yaten got the wheelchair ready.

"This is not how the human body functions Haruka!" Kakyuu groaned as she watched Haruka dragging herself out of bed and into the wheel chair that was standing ready for, steadied by Yaten.

"You are underestimating my powers my dear." Haruka just grunted defiantly as she sat down. "Look at me, my stitches are healed," Haruka lifted her shirt, revealing a perfectly toned and smooth stomach, earning herself a disappointed "oh" from Hotaru.

"You don't have that star on your stomach anymore." The little girl noted, which was a reference to one of the many scars that were faint remanences of the many bullet wounds that Haruka had collected over the years.

"That's Yuuko-ba-magic." Haruka explained and Hotaru nodded impressed.

"You had a gazillion skin grafts for that." Kakyuu sighed.

"Hmmm, how long was I out Yaten? I might need my head checked again after all, I don't remember gazillion actually being an achievable number of procedures being done on me." Haruka chuckled as she lifted Hotaru onto her lap.

"If you asked me Kakyuu-nee, I think she's doing well. Horrible dad humour, check." Yaten laughed.

"Of course, you'd side with your overlord." Kakyuu sighed as Haruka and Yaten fist bumped while Haruka was carted with Hotaru to the elevator.

"I did all you asked of me, blood tests, scans and all. I might be an overlord but you are overly concerned Kakyuu." Haruka replied confidently.

"Where are we going Haruka-papa?" Hotaru asked curiously.

"We are going to the pool, actually just the baths. I miss having a good soak." Haruka explained. "You know you look overly stressed, I am sure you could do with some unwinding in the Sento as well." Haruka suggested to Kakyuu.

"The only reason why I am going to join you is because I want to keep Hotaru safe and don't want you two to drown. Adult supervision." Kakyuu replied stern while Hotaru and Haruka just gave each other cheeky winks while Yaten chuckled.

When they arrived on the pool and bath level, Haruka took over to push herself into the women's bath and Yaten returned to the control centre to check on the system.

While they had agreed on not updating Haruka on any business matter it was of no use since, as soon as Haruka was disconnected from the machines, she had made her way through the tower, even if it was by dragging herself through the secret passages, just to get the information that she wanted. So, they had to give in and give her a short update in the morning and in the evening if they didn't want to scour the whole tower for her position. The blonde seemed to take every information in quite well. There was no anger outburst, no discussion about the information or any of the usual antics that Haruka got up to when the news was less than pleasant. She only listened silently to Yaten or Taiki, nodded, gave a few instructions and then continued her day as if nothing had happened. While Haruka was not able to stand on her own, she was determined to get her leg strength back as soon as possible and used every given chance to stand and walk so the constant supervision of her was essential if they wanted to prevent her from hurting herself during the recovery process.

Haruka manoeuvred herself smoothly within the changing area and used the crutches that were attached to the wheel chair to walk into the cleaning area. Hotaru, meanwhile, was busy telling the blonde about her day at school and all the new friends that she had made with the kids of the Yamaguchis' who have taken over to take care of the little girl and her safety while Haruka was in her coma. Haruka listened patiently with a benevolent smile on her face and asked occasional questions while they all washed themselves and finally moved to soak in the big hot baths. Kakyuu kept an eye on both of her charges but Haruka did not behave in any erratic or irritated manner in which she had in the past when there was temporary memory loss due to injury or trauma.

Kakyuu had to admit to herself that she always dreaded the prospect to have to take care of Haruka in such a situation without Haruto who had always been the calm pillar that Haruka could lean on when the world stopped making sense to her or at least the restraint that could hold her back from doing something insensible, but Haruka was very calm and level-headed since she woke up.

As they immersed themselves into the hot water and soaked in the heat, Kakyuu's muscles started to relax. 'Maybe this was just the side effects of the new organs, or even better, maybe Haruka's underlying irritation in the past had been symptoms of her other health issues which got inadvertently solved by the new organs. Kakyuu tried hard to see the silver lining as they sat in silence together in the warmth while a storm was brewing outside.


-Riko-

"That went a lot faster than I had expected." Riko commented as she looked through the new pieces that Michiru had made.

"I haven't had much use for sleep lately" Michiru admitted.

"Something on your mind?" Riko asked as she looked at a piece that was nearly as large as the entire wall of the studio itself.

"Not really." Her niece evaded the question which was not missed by her Riko.

"A matter of the heart maybe?" Riko poked a bit further as she moved onto a warmer looking piece that was only a fraction of the size of the previous one.

"Have you ever loved someone to irrational extents?" Michiru blurted out with a hint of exhaustion.

"Isn't most love irrational?" Riko asked in return as she had a closer look at the smaller painting.

"A parent's love isn't irrational." Michiru countered.

"Are we talking about parental love?" Riko asked in return.

"No…..I have been meaning to ask you, why do you have so much footage of the Tenoh twins?" Michiru asked outright.

"I have been looking after them since they were very young. I believe I told you that the Kaiohs and Tenohs used to be fairly close." Riko recalled as she made notes on how to transport the collection to Rome.

"Are you in a relationship with someone?" Michiru continued to ask.

"Why do you want to know?" Riko asked surprised in return.

"Just answer the question." Michiru insisted while she looked positively tired.

"Why?" Riko asked with a raised eyebrow.

"I just need to know, just for myself." Michiru sighed defeated.

"Not that it is any of your business, but if it puts your mind at ease: yes, I am in a relationship, have been for quite some time and I am happy with it." Riko replied consolingly as she sat down on the floor next to her niece and caressed the tired figure that was Michiru. "I am sure you will find love when the time is right for you." Riko added as Michiru rested her face in her paint smeared hands.

"It's fine. I am ok." Michiru mumbled into her hands. "I will be ready when you need me."

"We are ahead of schedule. If you like we can still unwind for a few days." Riko offered but was met with a resolute shaking of Michiru's head.

"I made a promise and I am intending to keep it." Michiru just said cryptically and got up. "I just go shower and then I will be ready to go. The sooner we arrive in Rome, the sooner I can acclimate to the time zone." Michiru just stated emotionless and Riko nodded.


-Setsuna-

They were called into an all-in meeting in the agency by Takashi Tenoh and the whole building was antsy to what the director, who had been holed up in his office from morning to night almost every day since his arrival, had to tell them. Every available agent was in the big function hall of the agency and Sayaka made the last few preparations on stage as everyone sat down on the chairs that were provided. All the girls had already sent more or less frantic messages to Setsuna, asking her what was going on, but she didn't know either and therefore she only replied with the more or less calming words of: "let's keep a low profile and find out". Before Setsuna could sit down, she was ushered by Sayaka onto stage and to the chair that was right next to Takashi's chair. Just before everyone had finally settled, Takashi himself got onto stage and stepped up to the microphone and the complete room fell silent.

"Thank you all for coming here on such a short notice. As you know, I am no man of many words, therefore I will keep this announcement short so that you can resume your work as soon as possible. As you might have noticed, some structural changes have been taking place here and all over the world within our agency. This is for the best for the agency as a whole and further changes will be taking place, starting with the new vice director, Meioh, Setsuna. Many here will know her, many of you will still get to know her. Since over 25 years, we have not had a vice director and I am sure many will not remember this agency ever having one, but as your director and former vice director, let me assure you that this is not some token position. I expect utmost compliance with the directions of the vice director leadership when I am not present. Please welcome her to her new position." Takashi instructed before he motioned for her to step up by his side and everyone bowed in unison. "To start her off, Meioh-san will be leading out delegation for the Dublin summit in my stead and assemble her own team for it. Other promotion in the meantime will also be Sakamoto-san, who will head the RnD Department under the Guidance of Okamoto-san, Takahashi-san will stay the head of the InS department but which will be led by Yamaguchi-san in his absence…" Takashi continued with a few more staff changes as Setsuna noticed a group of masked and almost perfectly disguised people right on top of the lights that lit the stage. They didn't seem to be paying attention to Takashi's words, but more to the crowd that is beneath them. If Takashi knew about their presence, he did not show it but just continued on with his speech. "…Everyone who has been put on a compulsory sabbatical and has not received their letter of notification so far, should be receiving it in the next few days and are advised to follow the instructions carefully. We have no need for mistakes due to the lack of appropriate training or exhaustion. If there are any concerns regarding the changes, you are welcome to make an appointment with me through Shinagawa-san. Thank you all for your hard work." Takashi ended his speech and stepped off the stage.

The agents slowly returned to their work and Setsuna followed Tenoh senior.

"Meioh-san, as the new vice director of the IIA, expect you to represent our agency appropriately. I know that you are very familiar with the security plans of it and I hope you will be delegating that job to someone worthwhile while you take over my seat at that table there." Takashi reminded her sternly and she just nodded.

"Please leave it to me. I will not disappoint you, Tenoh-sama." Setsuna bowed before she left him and returned to her office. So many things needed to be shifted and so many more things arranged. She could only hope that Kakashi was fine while she secretly wished for him to be by her side during this stressful time.


-Michiru-

They were finally sitting on the last flight out of Haneda. All the pieces that she wanted to take along with her for her little tour were expertly sent off ahead of them and Michiru leaned back in her chair as she looked out of her window. Her aunt was, as usual, busy on her phone, arranging all kinds of things for them, while Michiru only had to take care of their cover for now. As much as she dreaded to leave Tokyo without having seen the blonde or Hotaru again, she was in some way relieved to do so. She needed to get her head straight and her heart back into place. During her painting she realised that as much as those two meant to her, they were not safe as long as the threat for their life still existed, and taking care of that had a priority. Her aunt told her that this was for the sake of saving the continuance of the family lines, but right now, Michiru couldn't care less for that. Someone was still out for their life, not just Haruka's but most likely of Hotaru's as well, as she was the last biological link to the Tenoh bloodline. Michiru closed her eyes and sighed.

"We'll be in Rome in no time. Just relax." Her aunt told her as she herself got comfortable next to Michiru and Michiru just nodded.

The last time she was in this situation, it was her reassuring Ami that everything would be ok, and now it was her who took on the passive role in this mission. It was less than ideal in her opinion, but she preferred to be in the loop rather than being kept out of it as she had been most of her life.

"You will have to be covered in a few magazines…." Riko started and Michiru suppressed a groan. "I know, I know. You are no fan of media coverage, especially since that last one a few years back."

"It was over a decade ago and that so-called art critic called me an ice queen because I refused to go out to dinner with him." Michiru reminded her aunt.

"It was the right thing that you turned him down. If you hadn't your father would have sent squad to skin that guy alive if he had tried something funny." Riko chuckled.

"Now you make me regret not having gone to that dinner what that douche. It would have been a win-win situation for me, had I known that dad could do that." Michiru smirked.

"It was for your safety." Riko reminded her and Michiru was tempted to recall that she was kidnapped just shortly after, but it wasn't something that was her aunt's fault and not really something that she enjoyed or ever wanted to talk about at all.

So Michiru just nodded understandingly.

"I think you will like this reporter. I promised her an exclusive on your whole European art stint so you only have to deal with one reporter the whole time." Riko tried to shift the sudden sullen mood.

"What if I don't like her either?" Michiru asked rhetorically in return, because she knew that she could not avoid the press all together.

"Then I find you someone else, but I think you will get along with this one just fine." Riko winked before she leaned back and instantly fell asleep.

This is one of the skills Michiru admired her aunt for. She could just fall asleep as if nothing was wrong in this world and get her well deserved rest while Michiru would toss and turn until the morning hours if something was bothering her. She looked outside the window and to the ever shrinking lights of that lit Japan and wondered where Haruka was and what the blonde was up to.


-Haruka-

Everyone was tight asleep when she snuck out of her own bed and over to one of the secret doors in the walls. Hotaru and Kakyuu were deep asleep in her bed as Haruka walked carefully through the hidden door. Her legs were still shaky from the lack of use but her sense of balance was unaffected and so Haruka carefully walked along a familiar passage to a hidden elevator that would take her down to the training centre where Yaten was already waiting for her with another wheelchair.

"Do you really think that this is a good idea Haruka-nee?" The silver hair man asked her as he pushed her over to the training tank.

"If you want to go and feign ignorance, this is your chance Yaten." Haruka just chuckled as she took over from his pushing and pushed herself the last few metres.

"That is not what I meant, I mean more the matter of taking your recovery slow." Yaten sighed.

"I will keep an eye on her for you so that she won't overdo herself." Yumi's voice came from behind them.

"If this is not my favourite enabler." Haruka smirked.

"Don't think that only because I enable you to train that I will go easy on you." Yumi smirked in return.

"I would not expect any less." Haruka grinned as she grabbed for the training suit to change into and Yaten left those two to get changed while he retreated to the safety behind the monitoring screens that would record Haruka's performance.

With a Yumi's help, Haruka quickly changed into the wet suit and climbed into the tank to start walking without further assistance.

The water was soothingly warm, but not sleep inducingly hot and so Haruka started to jog while Yumi ensured that Haruka did not slip and drown during her training session.

"Haruka-nee, slow down." Yaten called through the speaker system and Haruka did as she was told.

"How obedient." Yumi mocked her and Haruka just smirked.

"You would know how that is like." Haruka grinned without breaking eye contact.

"Seems that you are learning it after all." Yumi responded uncommittedly before a distinct beep could be heard from the control room and Yaten sprinted out of it.

"I got to…." The young man stammered.

"Go." Haruka waved him to go, which he did with haste.

"Something wrong?" Yumi asked Haruka, but Haruka shook her head.

"Nothing that I can fix in the state that I am in, but something that I will fix as soon as I can." Haruka just replied, her eyes back on the monitor in front of her.

"You are thinking about how to get Kakashi out, aren't you?" Yumi asked rhetorically.

"Wouldn't you?" Haruka replied between deep breaths to expand her lung to its max capacities.

"How much time do you think they have?" Yumi asked in return.

"Hopefully long enough until I can fetch them." Haruka just responded before focusing all her efforts back onto her training.


-Rei-

After meeting with the big announcements, a lot of changes took place. Apparently Minako and her got relieved of the job of assistant to Setsuna and Rei was promoted to lead the Dublin visit logistics with Ami as her assistant while Minako got put in charge of the overall safety of the event with Makoto as her assistant. As new right-hand woman to the vice director of the IIA, her security clearance would need to get bumped up a few notches, which would depend on passing a few tests downstairs with the Okamotos. Rei dreaded having to go down there to get reassessed and envied Minako and Makoto for already have gotten that clearance through surviving Haruka's program. She wondered if she could insist on technically having passed it already due to the preparation that she had to go through at the Tenoh Tower, but she doubted her chances, since she needed to lead by example in her new position. After a short debate in her head, she made her way down to see Kazuko Okamoto, who was the only one who could give her the certification needed to get the new clearance that she needed. As the elevator descended to what felt like the depths of doom, Rei braced herself for what she might be facing soon. The Kazuko was notorious with her training regimes, second to no one, not even Haruka, and that thought alone rested heavy on Rei's stomach. As the doors opened to vast darkness, all her senses went on high alert mode, but she stepped out nonetheless so and waited for her eyes to adjust to the darkness.

"Ah, my bad." Came a friendly voice to her right before lights got switched on. "I didn't expect you so soon Hino-san." Kazuko said casually as she climbed down from a huge humanoid.

Rei had not had many dealings with Kazuko, but she knew not to trust that casual tone lightly. Kazuko Okamoto was a stone cold killer who had a track record longer than her size might imply and to this day, no one had ever survived the tale of having had a real combat session with the short woman.

"I hope I am not catching you at a bad time, Okamoto-sama." Rei replied respectfully.

"Okamoto-samas are my parents. Kazuko will do for me." Kazuko waved casually the formalities off the table.

"Rei, it is for me then." Rei obliged.

"Mina-san has already warned me of your manners, but I would not expect any less from someone who had undergone shrine maiden training from a young age." Kazuko chuckled before she led the way to her office. As they arrived, Rei noticed that Minako was already there, laughing and joking with a tall woman that Rei had never seen before.

"Manami, is the paperwork ready for Rei-san?" Kazuko asked casually the tall woman who stood inside of her office with Minako by her side and who was arranging her paperwork.

"Yes. I have already updated her profile in the system and it just needs your signature to complete it." Manami replied dry.

"Good, good." Kazuko just nodded as she washed her oil smeared hands before she wiped them dry with the bright white towel that Manami held ready for her.

"Shouldn't I be undergoing certification first?" Rei asked tentatively.

"Mina-san told us about your training in the Tenoh Tower and if Haru-chan is ok with you then you are ok in my books, too." Kazuko just waved off casually. "There is no point in injuring you right before a mission." She added with a shrug and Rei had to do her best not to show that she was phased.

With hand print and a subsequent signature, the system green lit her new clearance level and Minako and Rei got sent on their way after Ami received additional clearance as well.

"I am sure Makoto will be stoked that Ami doesn't have to undergo further testing." Minako said cheerfully as they made their way back to the elevators.

"Did she ask you to talk to Okamoto-san" Rei asked surprised.

"Not really, but considering that she lost sleep since the changes got announced, I thought to myself a word with Manami and Kazuko won't hurt." Minako just replied in her usual cheerful manner.

'No honorifics' Rei thought to herself as they entered the brightly lit elevator.

"You seem close." Rei noted in the most neutral tone that she could muster.

"Who?" Minako asked surprised.

"Okamoto-san, her assistant and you." Rei clarified.

"Oh, yea, Kazuko is Haruka's cousin, second or third, or something, don't quote me on it, and Manami might not look like it, but she is also fiercely loyal, so it was always good to stay in their good graces. Their robots are by no means kinder than Haruka's." Minako laughed. "Anyway, let's bring Ami the good news and watch her drown in relief. I bet she didn't get a wink of sleep last night either." Minako winked as they reached their office floor and the doors opened.

"It should be a crime to be so light spirited" Rei sighed.

"Don't take life too seriously Rei, we won't get out of it alive." Minako just laughed and Rei blushed.


-Michiru-

They had finally arrived in Rome and were immediately driven to the Hotel Eden. The lobby was large and bright with the usual luxurious marble pillars that underlined elegantly the Italian experience. Michiru did catch some sleep on the flight after all and felt slightly better compared to how she had when she embarked onto this journey. The weather was mild and warm and the sun was shining bright, adding to the better mood that slowly enveloped her. Her aunt went to check them in when suddenly two hands covered her eyes. Michiru's immediate reaction would have been to floor the assailant, but considering that she was under cover and that she had to be present herself as a mere artist, Michiru tried her best to keep still.

"Guess who." A familiar and cheerful voice prompted from behind her.

It was a warm voice that she hadn't heard in quite some time.

"It can't be…" Michiru replied with genuine surprise in her voice and the hands got removed swiftly so that she could turn around and face the source of surprise.

The sun kissed skin and equally sun-bleached hair, the bright eyes, the wide grin…

"Elsa?" Michiru asked with disbelief.

"Yes, it is me, yours truly, Elsa, Elsa Grey as she lives and breathes," her counterpart laughed before she proceeded to wrap her arms around Michiru and hugged her tight.

Michiru hugged her long forgotten friend tight in return and relished in the short moment of carefreeness.

"I see you seem to like the reporter that I have chosen for you." her aunt chuckled as the two of them finally let go of each other and faced a smirking Riko.

"She is the art reporter?" Michiru asked her aunt astounded.

"Well, I am a freelancer, my expertise isn't art, but I will do my best to cover your art and your journey. Thank you again for this unique opportunity Kaioh-san." Elsa bowed to Michiru and Riko.

"No need for such formalities since you two seem to be already well acquainted and we've worked well together in the past, therefore I know I can only expect the best for my niece. Now, let's go to our rooms and get ready for a good dinner. It will be the last relaxed one before the gallery exhibition marathon starts and when we have to live of hors d'oeuvres" Riko laughed as she ushered them towards the elevators.


-Kakyuu-

She stood annoyed, no, angry, no, frustrated in front of the elevator doors that slowly opened and revealed a blonde that sported the look of a child that had been caught with her hands in the cookie jar.

"Good morning…." Haruka greeted tentatively.

"Morning." Kakyuu replied.

"Where is Hotaru?" Haruka asked to shift her focus.

"Not here, Akira already picked her up for school." Kakyuu replied short and precise to show that there was no wiggling out of this one for Haruka.

"…that's good… had breakfast?" the blonde asked light-hearted as she rolled past Kakyuu into the kitchen in her wheel chair.

"No." Kakyuu did her best to be curt.

"Great. Let's have breakfast together then." Haruka proposed cheerfully.

"Where were you?" Kakyuu heard herself asking and it hit her that she sounded like some jaded woman who had caught her lover after a night out in town.

"What would put your mind at ease?" Haruka asked nonchalant in return.

"Haruka, you know….I….." then the flood of bottled up emotions came up and tears welled up in her eyes.

Haruka just watched her silently with an unreadable expression in her eyes and Kakyuu was filled with shame because of her sudden outburst, but before she could say anything, Haruka just stood up and wrapped her arms around her.

"It is not fair…" Kakyuu managed to sob before she hid her face in Haruka's comforting shoulder.

"I know… I am sorry to have worried you, but you and I know, I will probably never stop doing that." Haruka said calmly and Kakyuu knew that the blonde was right.

"I …." Kakyuu couldn't get the words and thoughts that cramped and crashed her mind beyond the knot that had formed in her throat.

"I understand." Haruka just said comforting as she caressed Kakyuu's tenderly.

"I hate you." Kakyuu hated herself for sobbing like this even more.

"I know." Haruka just continued to hold her tight.

Kakyuu was so exhausted from the previous weeks, no, months, no, YEARS of work with and on the blonde and yet the other didn't seem in the least phased by all her warnings and concerns.

"Kaki…" Haruka whispered tenderly into her hair.

"What?" Kakyuu asked defiant.

"Thank you." Haruka replied earnest.

"What have you done now?" Kakyuu sighed as she wiped her tears on Haruka's shirt like a child.

"Thank you for always being here for me." Haruka elaborated.

"Ok, I get the shovel and you tell me where we burry whatever you have just put out of its miserable existence." Kakyuu chuckled wryly to rid herself of the last remnants of that not that made it hard for her to breath.

"Ok. But first let's have breakfast." Haruka slowly let of her and dropped herself back in the wheelchair.

"Not that easy to skip sleep and cause mischief after all, huh?" Kakyuu mocked Haruka who wheeled herself over to the table on which their breakfast stood ready.

"Just conserving energy for later when you help me with the recovery." Haruka responded cheekily and both sat down at the dining table to full Japanese breakfast.

Kakyuu watched how Haruka ate deliberately slow and still had difficulties using her chopsticks. Without a comment, Kakyuu took Haruka's fish and removed all its bones for her.

"Akira has been busy lately, so his brother has been helping him out in the kitchen." Kakyuu explained why Haruka's fish still had bones in them.

"I am spoiled, aren't I?" Haruka asked with a mixture of amazement and disbelief.

"Can't be helped when you are such a baby all the time." Kakyuu teased the blonde.

"Babies don't get forced to eat Natto." Haruka commented the beans that she eyed with suspicion.

"But you love them." Kakyuu stated.

"Oh, ok." Haruka shrugged and dug in, resulting in her pulling a grimace. "Not so sure about that." Haruka mumbled between chews.

"You just don't remember and it is an acquired taste." Kakyuu insisted steadfast, suppressing the all urges to burst out in laughter.

"You know…I trust you Kaki…" Haruka sulked.

"I know." Kakyuu just chuckled in return.

It was so exhausting on her to be this idiotic blonde's friend, but besides all the roller coaster rides, be it physically or emotionally, she knew, she wouldn't want it any other way, Kakyuu admitted to herself. Maybe just a bit more stress free for the coming time would be great, but she knew that was not their fate.


-Michiru-

After having gotten ready in their respective rooms, where Elsa's room was just down the hall from the suite that Riko and Michiru shared, they met up in the lobby again to go to the Tempio Di Iside, a nice seafood restaurant with a good variety of dishes that left no wish in that regard unanswered.

They enjoyed a light-hearted evening with a lot of food and a good amount of wine. They talked about Michiru's upcoming mini gallery tour throughout parts of Europe and life's little mishaps that can be inspiring until Riko suddenly got a call and had to leave earlier on business.

"A car will be ready to drive you back to the hotel when you are ready but till then you girls just enjoy yourself and have some dessert on me. I leave my credit card details here so eat to your heart's content, especially you Michi-chan." Her aunt gave her a playful reprimanding look. "I trust you, Elsa-san, to make sure that my niece does eat some dessert and does not count any calories. Counting them won't make them less but only ruins the taste." Riko winked before she left them to their devices.

"Your aunt is really a character." Elsa laughed as she poured Michiru some more wine.

"Indeed, she is." Michiru smiled before cutting herself another bite of her lobster. "By the way, I would have never thought that you would become a journalist." Michiru commented before she enjoyed that buttery goodness.

"Unlike you, Michiru, I wasn't born with such an inert talent for the arts that my path in life would be so clear from the start." Elsa chuckled and had another sip of the wine.

"I just thought you'd always end up as a star athlete or in something that is related with sports." Michiru explained her surprise.

"So did I, until that fateful day on which you, my lucky charm, abandoned me and crushed all my dreams and hopes." Elsa played up the faux drama.

"And what day was that?" Michiru laughed.

"The day of the first track race that I have ever lost. Remember? You were always my lucky charm. With you by my side I never lost any competitive race!" Elsa recalled with played dramatic fainting.

"Ah, that day." Michiru suppressed showing any emotions besides the happy one that she had all evening. She did not intend to explain that she got kidnapped that day and had spent days in fear instead of attending her high school best friend's track race. "So, who managed to beat the devilish fast Elsa Grey?" She asked to encourage Elsa to tell her tale.

"Oh, I rather not talk about her. The defeat was just too traumatic." Elsa played up the fake drama.

"That bad huh?" Michiru mocked her friend.

"That bad indeed." Elsa agreed. "First, I thought I would train hard to beat that person on the next track race, but before I could do that, she quit track." Elsa's genuine disappointment was obvious.

"Wasn't that a good thing? That only meant that you could be number one again." Michiru reasoned.

"Number one on paper maybe, but not number one in my head. I never managed to beat her track record, and it still stands to this day." Elsa sighed with defeat.

"Wow, she really made you question your life choices huh?" Michiru asked empathetically.

"Yea, after that, I knew that even if I would win Olympic gold, she could appear out of nowhere and just beat me to it. I know that that was highly unlikely, but even if I won, I would always feel like a fake, so I changed my career choices and became an investigative journalist." Elsa grinned wide.

"Investigative journalist? My art isn't really anything that would need to be investigated." Michiru chuckled.

"Don't you know that art is one of the best means to launder money?" Elsa faked exasperation. "Of course you don't since you always donate your art pieces." Elsa answered her own question.

Michiru was tempted to say that it was impossible for her to sell any art lucratively since it turned out that her father was the mediator and any purchasing of her pieces would just be seen as indirect bribes, so either her father bought them all or she had to give them away to charity if she really wanted to put them into the market. But that was not something to be uttered in front of an investigative journalist and Michiru made a mental note to bring it up to her aunt as well as to be particularly careful around Elsa in that regard.

"… but a girl has to eat and pay bills so I can't be too choosy about the work I take and nothing is as lucrative as an all-expenses paid exclusive of the elusive Michiru Kaioh, long believed lost prodigy of the art world." Elsa chuckled.

"I don't think that that is what I am…." Michiru managed a blush.

"That is just because you have been hiding from the art world for so long." Elsa laughed. "But seriously, what have you been up to? I mean you know now what I have been up to for the past couple of years." Elsa clearly got into journalist mode.

"Nothing much really. Just been experimenting with my music and travelling the world to get some inspirations." Michiru replied casually.

"Must be nice to be the daughter of owner Umi Inc.." Elsa stated with a hint of envy.

'If she only knew….but better that she doesn't' Michiru thought to herself and smiled warm heartedly at her friend's statement.

"It is hard work, too, you know? A muse doesn't just come by every day and inspires you. Sometimes no work gets done for long periods of time." Michiru explained herself.

"How is that even possible? The Michiru I used to know would pull out a sketch pad whenever and wherever she had the chance to." Elsa was genuinely surprised.

'That is hard when you are fighting bad guys while trying to survive.' Michiru thought to herself.

"Sometimes it takes something earth shaking to inspire work that is worthy to be shown. I still do my usual scribbles, but those aren't really suitable for the public eye in my opinion." Michiru replied calmly.

"That is fair enough. Just FYI, I always thought your 'scribbles' were awesome." Elsa commented.

"That must be the wine talking." Michiru laughed light heartedly. "Should we move onto dessert? I know I will not hear the end of it if my aunt doesn't see it on the final bill." Michiru shifted the subject.

"Oh, right…dessert…" Elsa looked around for a waiter to ask for the menu and Michiru wondered if Riko knew what kind of risk factor she had introduced to the mission by choosing Elsa as the dedicated journalist who would travel with them.


-Riko-

She entered the car that had come to pick her up and drove her to a small café in the nearby vicinity.

Two large and intimidating looking men opened her the door and she passed them unperturbed as she entered the small and empty café and was greeted by its owner, a big man with beady eyes, well bearded and a broad white smile.

"Riko, it is good to see that you are well." He commented as he led her to the most secluded table.

"Indeed. It is good to see that you are faring well yourself Alfonso, how is your brother Giovanni?" Riko asked in return.

"He is recovering well." Alfonso informed her. "You could have told us that you are running an operation in the area and it would not have been such a mess." He added after they sat down.

"It would have been no surprise test, nor a covert mission if you knew about it." Riko replied as they were served some wine.

"I thought we would be closer than this, we have worked well together for decades, why these sudden secrets?" Alfonso retorted.

"I would have told you, but you have a rat amongst your ranks. I thought it would be a good exercise for you to stay vigilant. I have seen many great people fall due to their complacency when things just run smoothly all the time." Riko said coolly as she inspected her glass.

"I would never harm or betray you….or …"Riko could see how he started to panic and couldn't get another word past the knot that had formed in his throat.

"I am sure to let her know." Riko let a thin smile pass her lips.

"Nothing will happen here without my knowledge or approval of it from now on. I guarantee it." Alfonso assured her despite the slight she had served his ego.

"I am here to see just that for myself with my own eyes, so I can report back about your progress. You see, I even brought my niece with me, whom I value more than my life. If anything were to happen to her or us under your care or the lack thereof, that would be very unfortunate for you." Riko pondered aloud.

"Nothing will happen, I assure you as my father has before me." Alfonso reassured her adamantly.

"So, you have eliminated that rat?" Riko asked nonchalant.

"Not yet,…" Alfonso admitted ruefully.

"Need a hand?" Riko offered with a hint of empathy in her tone.

"No, I have my best men on it and I want to get the whole rat pack, not just that single rat." Alfonso replied with a determination that left no space for doubt.

"To eliminating rats" Riko raised her glass an Alfonso did the same.

"To eliminating rats." He repeated before they drank.

-Taiki-

Besides a very low humming of the various appliances in the apartment, Haruka's place was completely quiet. The screen was flashing with files filled pictures of different people with short descriptions of them right next to their faces and full body pictures.

He was standing right next to Haruka's working station in her apartment and looked down on Haruka who was more or less sitting unconscious in her chair. Next to him, Kakyuu was frowning deeply. He didn't dare to touch the blonde, because he only knew too well that while her active memory had not recovered completely yet, her muscle memory was very much intact. Kakyuu on the other hand, was safe and therefore reached for the headphones that Haruka was wearing. Haruka grimaced slightly but continued to sleep. She then proceeded to hold the headphones to her ears and listed to what Haruka had been listening to before her frown grew deeper and she put them down on the desk. Foreboding filled Taiki's mind as Kakyuu cleared her throat.

"HARUKA TENOH!" Kakyuu called out loud in menacing tone.

"I didn't do it!" Haruka mumbled out of reflex as she sat up straight and opened her eyes groggily.

It took her a few moments to get her bearings and to notice that Kakyuu had her arms crossed with her head tilted towards the headphones.

Suddenly Haruka was wide awake.

"I was just merely reviewing some files." She fumbled for a credible justification.

"You are not supposed to overwork your brain. You cannot force yourself to remember." Kakyuu scolded the blonde who only looked down like a child that had been found out to have broken an expensive vase.

"I remember a lot; I was just double checking." Haruka sulked and Taiki put a hand onto Kakyuu's shoulder to calm her down.

"I can't believe you." Kakyuu sighed and Taiki noticed that the disappointment in the red-haired woman's voice hit the blonde a lot harder than further scolding would have.

"Sorry." Haruka mumbled sheepishly and Kakyuu softened.

"Go and have a shower. We talk over breakfast." Kakyuu instructed, leaving no room for discussions and Haruka obediently got up and went to the bathroom.

"She is just trying to get better as fast as possible." Taiki defended Haruka as soon as the blonde was out of earshot.

"You and your brothers always enable all her bad habits." Kakyuu replies frustrated. "Some of us have to be the responsible adult in the room. She is not just my boss, she is also my friend and my family." Kakyuu exclaimed before she turned around and walked over to the kitchen.

Taiki knew how frustrating Haruka could be, if anyone, he would actually know best since he enabled all her antics, but he just couldn't refuse her. He knew what was at stake and Kakyuu didn't.


-Michiru-

Under the guise of jetlag, they had returned to the hotel sooner than Michiru had initially intended and she quickly sat down with her laptop to do a proper background check on Elsa.

Everything was just as Elsa had told her along a dozen of in-depth articles about the various corruption cases as well as underworld operations came up, putting Michiru on the edge. But Michiru knew better than to trust someone's words and searched for Elsa in the IIA servers. Not a single note about Elsa, then again, her aunt was the off the books mastermind of the Black Ops division.

"She is an asset to me, but she just doesn't know it." Riko informed Michiru from behind her back and Michiru involuntarily jumped.

"Take a deep breath, it is just me." Riko chuckled.

"Your sneaking skills are extremely good." Michiru noted.

"Not really, you are just used to my presence, that you do not notice my movements. You would notice my absence or presence if it changed unexpectedly though. You are well trained after all." Riko smirked and sat down next to her niece. "Elsa is a very good tool and serves her purposes well, to put it bluntly, but she is also very observant and might observe things that she is not meant to." Riko commented.

"A double-edged sword then." Michiru raised an eyebrow.

"Indeed. Lately she has been very investigative into my business, which would be very bad for her health if she continues into the wrong direction, but since you are here and her good friend, you will be her blind spot for me and steer her into the right direction for the benefit for us as well as her." Riko stated nonchalant.

"I thought I was here to get us a legitimate reason to attend the Dublin meeting without a connection to the agency." Michiru recalled.

"As well, you are there for that as well. You are one of the very selected few who truly know what I do and you can imagine that it is very important to keep it the number of knowing people as low as possible. There is no point in covert operations when people expect that to happen when the name Kaioh drops." Riko stated calmly.

"What happens when someone who shouldn't know finds out what you truly do?" Michiru asked curiously.

"They won't know it for long." Riko said with a tone of finality that caused a shudder to run down Michiru's spine.


-Yaten-

He was standing in front of one of Haruka's official office, guarding it, while Haruka was inside, having a private conversation with people that it was better not to know of rather than knowing of. She had returned to work as soon as she could stand up on her own, even if she was still using the wheelchair to ease Kakyuu's mind, but Haruka was recovering at high speed and moving all the pieces that were under her control to get ready for something big. Yaten didn't know the details of Haruka's plan, but he also knew that asking her was pointless at this stage where Haruka's thoughts were running a million miles ahead while everyone else took care of the day to day tasks.

Kakyuu suddenly joined him and he panicked on what to tell her about what he was doing here in the middle of the night, instead of sleeping in his room in his apartment.

"Is she in there?" Kakyuu asked rhetorically and Yaten was fumbling for words, but instead of being figuratively decapitated by Kakyuu, she just sighed, ruffled his hair and sat down next to him on the leather bench.

"Haruka-nee should be done soon. She will be off to bed really soon. I will make sure of that." Yaten tried to justify his complicity but Kakyuu just shook her head.

"I am taking care of that. You can go to bed now." Kakyuu informed Yaten who only grew more nervous.

Kakyuu had been mad with Haruka all day already and given Haruka the cold shoulder treatment from the moment that the blonde had woken up and he didn't want to imagine Haruka's hurt look when she would be facing Kakyuu any moment now and being scolded for still being up.

Suddenly the elevator doors opened and Yumi stepped out of it with Shinobu right behind her.

"I hope you are not going to make it a habit of calling me out here so late." Yumi stated with a straight face as she addressed Kakyuu.

"It is hardly late; I just know you are better than me with getting Haruka to stop what she is doing right now." Kakyuu sighed. "It is not like Haruka just has tea when she sees you on Wednesdays." Kakyuu smirked.

Yaten could see how realisation hit Yumi as her eyes brush pass the clock that was hanging on the wall.

"It is Wednesday now and I know you usually take the whole day for her." Kakyuu stated calmly.

"Don't make it a habit of pimping me out like that." Yumi chuckled.

"It is hardly pimping out when you would have come either way. I just needed you to be here sooner rather than later." Kakyuu chuckled. "Just be sure that she sleeps at least for six hours in one go. She needs that, from a medical stance."

"I will try my best, but I can't guarantee that I can persuade her to slow down." Yumi commented.

"I trust you to find a way. I am going to sleep now, because not all of us can make it without sleep." Kakyuu shrugged and walked away.

"Are you going to sleep now as well Yaten-san?" Yumi addressed him.

"Eh, I … what if you need anything?" Yaten asked tentatively.

"I have Sasaki-san here. Please feel free to go to bed whenever you feel like it." Yumi stated before she proceeded to pass him and into Haruka's office.

Now standing alone with Shinobu in the hallway in front of Haruka's office, Yaten's unease increased even more.

"Would you like some coffee?" Yaten asked the other who politely shook her head.

"Thank you, but no thank you. Please feel free to go and rest. I will be keeping an eye on Tenoh-sama and Myamoto-sama for you." Shinobu said firmly.

"I don't doubt that, it just… might take a while." Yaten danced around the obvious.

"I know, I am used to it." Shinobu replied nonchalant.

"Oh, right. If you need anything, please do not hesitate to call me. I will just be in my office over there." Yaten pointed to his office, which Shinobu acknowledged with nod, and then left.


-Kakyuu-

As she was taking the elevator to her apartment, she wondered if t was the right decision to call Yumi like that. If it wouldn't lead Haruka down the wrong path or cause Yumi unnecessary heartache. Then again, both were strong characters that had a similar background, and no matter how much Kakyuu tried to understand Haruka, there were just things that she couldn't grasp or even imagine the implications of. What it meant to be an heir of a clan and an orphan at the same time, the burden of the responsibilities with the added the lack of guidance, was something she could only grasp the edges of, but something that Yumi and Haruka had in common, something that bonded them beyond just friends, even when they were the kind of friends that enjoyed benefits.

Her mind involuntarily filled with what those two might be up to, made her realise how lonely it was without the blonde by her side. Even just the occasional banter alleviated the loneliness that Kakyuu carried in herself, but then again, it was not enough to fill the deepest of her desires. As she walked towards her apartment door, someone was already waiting for her. Loyal and quiet. The exact opposite of the boisterous blonde, but just as loyal. Taiki stood there ready for her with no strings or expectations attached but instead with her favourite soup and a flask of her favourite tea. Throughout all the ordeals that Kakyuu had gone through with the blonde, since the brunette was here, he had always taken care of all her needs, well beyond of what the blonde had ever instructed him.

She opened him the door with the full knowledge that he could have gone in any time if he wanted to but chose not to, out of respect for her, that was just who Taiki was. Always respectful of all the boundaries around him. He entered after her without a word and went into her virtually unused kitchen to unpack the gifts that he had brought and made them ready for her.

"Are you going to eat with me tonight?" She asked and he just nodded.

"Alright. Just give me a minute, I need to shower first." She informed him before she headed for the bathroom.

"You can take a bath if you like. I don't mind waiting" Taiki informed her in return but she just waved it off.

"Shower will do." She responded before she closed the bathroom door.

It had been going on like this since long before Haruka was sick and she had to admit to herself that part of the reason why she had been hiding by the blonde's side for the whole treatment, was because she didn't want to face up to the emotions that the tall man caused in her. She didn't care much for love. That was something that Haruka and her had in common. They knew that love had an expiration date. That it was just a chemical reaction in the brain that caused the hormone levels to be in havoc. That is all this kind of love was. Passionate love was just that. A hormone driven expression of carnal desires that was intended for procreational purposes. Nothing more. The love that one carried for one's family was more precious and the only one that was everlasting. While it was only born through necessity and proximity, it got forged with trials and tribulations to stand the test of time. It was there to stay. It would never go, not unless you broke it with the misuse of trust. What she wanted to feel for Taiki was what she had for Haruka or even Yaten. A deep-seated trust, that could never be broken or taken away from her. Something that couldn't fade. But that was not what she felt right now as she let the hot water run over her naked body, in desperate need to wash off that desire that she didn't want to carry in her.

Finishing her shower with a good amount of cold water, she stepped out it and rubbed the droplets of water off her skin before putting on her bathrobe and leaving the bathroom.

As expected, Taiki was waiting ready at the dining table with the still steaming food. He had perfectly timed it for her as he had so often before and she sat down at the table to enjoy her midnight snack before going to bed. They sat and ate the soup in almost absolute in silence if it weren't for the piano music that Kakyuu indulged in before bed time. She had conditioned herself that by the time the seventh song would come up, that her body would just know that it needed to sleep, no matter the time of the day.

As soon as they were done, Taiki cleared the table, while Kakyuu went to dry the rest of her hair. Just when he was about to leave, she looked at him intently. Unsure of what she wanted and too afraid to seek the answer to that question. Instead of leaving Taiki stepped up to her and embraced her.

"Is this what you want?" He asked her calm as he caressed her back, but she did not respond besides wrapping her arms around him in return.

"If you want me to, I will stay the night. Just holding you, like last time." Taiki said calmly and Kakyuu just nodded into his shoulder.