Early Update! I shouldn't be posting this chapter till Sunday but since it's already done and I want you to be happy I've decided to update now :) I Hope you enjoy it ;)
Chapter 4
Hotaru Imai made herself dump the last of her crabstick in the trash bin near the fountain next to the elevator that had drop her of on Ruka and Natsume's floor. It was here seventh crabstick of the day, and she had acid burning on her throat. Not a good sign.
She ran the water to clean the drain but didn't take a sip. She didn't like drinking out of hospital fountains.
She didn't like anything about this whole damn day.
The chief agent had turned the care and feeding of Ruka Nogi's sister over to her, probably because they were both female. Any comparison ended there. Mikan Sakura was just about the prettiest woman Hotaru had ever actually met in person. Long honey brown – colored hair streaked with pale blond highlights, hazel eyes, slim built, elegant even in her jeans and dark gray silk twin set. She wore a delicate little ring on her finger. Hotaru still had a band-aid scum on her index finger after she accidentally cut herself while doing her inventions. She was taller by an inch, And her hair was raven and bob-cut.
Chirst.
Ruka was dying, and she was thinking about her hair.
"Dr. Sakura." Faking calm professionalism, Hotaru pretended that her throat wasn't burning and motioned toward the waiting room recently vacated by the Hyuuga Family. "Let's go in there. It'll be quiet."
It seemed to take few seconds for her words to sink in, but Mikan Sakura nodded and mumbled something about calling her by her given name, then walked into the little room. Hotaru had already kicked out any law enforcement types. All the armed agents and marshal in the hallway were enough to agitate her, never mind the Ph.D. who'd just learned that her brother had seriously wounded in a sniper attack. A Tokyo hospital on a good day was hard to take. This was not a good day.
Hotaru had no idea what to say. None.
"Can I get you something?"She finally asked.
Mikan shook her head "When can I talk to Ruka's doctor?"
"Soon your brother's just out of surgery."
The hazel eyes were steady, but Hotaru could see fear in them and realized that Mikan couldn't speak.
"He's holding his own," Hotaru said, guessing Mikan's question. "I understand that the next twenty-four hours are critical."
Mikan took a moment to digest Hotaru's words, and then breathe in through her nose and nodded. "What about the agent who was with him? Natsume Hyuuga. How is he?"
"He's fine. Someone forgot to chain him to his bed, so he got out of here about an hour ago." It was seven now. Hotaru returned his weapon to him and, like everyone else, futilely told him to go home and take it easy. "The bullet hit him just grazed his upper arm. He was never in surgery."
"That's good," Mikan said absently. She remained on her feet – she was wearing sandals that nobe adequate for the miserable weather Tokyo was having. "I don't know much about guns. Shots like that – would they be difficult shots? Do you think the shooter meant to kill my brother and Hyuuga-san outright?"
"No answer yet. FBI's investigating."
"There must be witnesses. Central Park at mid-day – someone must have seen something. Are there places for a shooter to hide? How would he escape? If police arrived quikly - "
"Look , have a seat." The chief agent had warned Hotaru to keep Ruka's sister from dwelling on, dissecting, the shooting. It wasn't good for her. It wasn't good for any of them. "At least let me get you a cup of coffee."
"I don't drink coffee, but thank you. I'm okay. I just want to see my brother."
"I know, but it might not be tonight." He was in intensive care, on a respirator. Hotaru didn't want to be the one to tell Mikan Sakura that. "Let's just wait and you can talk to his doctor."
Mikan nodded, saying nothing and lowered her head, fiddling with her ring, as if to kep Hotaru from seeing that she was on the verge of tears.
Hell. Hotaru took in a steadying breath. Now her stomach was burning. She had no idea what to say to this woman. "Where are you staying?"
"I could stay at Ruka's. I haven't visited since I was assigned up here, but I could – I'm sure I could get the keys."
"That's not a good idea, not tonight the FBI could be going through his place for all I know, but you shouldn't stay there on your own. Forget about it, okay? Trust me. You can stay at my place, or I can book you into a hotel."
"That's very nice of you, Imai-san, right?"
"Hotaru'll do."
"Hotaru. That's a pretty name, means fireflies right?"
"Yeah." She smiled. "I think I should change it to more meaner sounding."
Mikan raised her eyes. "You and Ruka…" But she trailed off, not finishing.
Hotaru understood what she was trying to say. "We used to see each other."
"Not anymore?"
"No. Not any More."
The noise of the city – the crush people – struck Mikan as oddly reassuring as she and Hotaru Imai climbed the back of the black government car that driven them to Grandbell Hotel in the heart of Shibuya. It wasn't that far from the hospital, but Ruka's bosses didn't want her walking. They'd made that clear. They didn't say it was because a sniper was on the loose in the city and they were afraid Hotaru or even Mikan might be his next target – they said it was because Mikan was obviously exhausted and, emotionally wrung out and on edge.
But they were all tired and on edge, she thought. A steady stream of law enforcement and political types had stopped at the hospital to check on Ruka and Natsume and to greet her, to offer to do whatever they could for her. She'd sensed not only their concern for the injured agents, but their worry about the situation itself. The chief agent , the district Alice Agents, the FBI agent leading the investigation , The FBI assistant director in charge of the Tokyo FBI office, the mayor – they'd all attended the news conference that had preceded the shooting. The shooter could have been after one of them instead and seize Ruka and Natsume as second choice, targets of opportunity – get someone anyone, who'd been in the news conference.
The bottom line was clear. Two federal agents had been gunned down in daylight in Central Park, and the gunman was still at large.
"I'll check you in," Hotaru said, briskly leading the way up the elevators to the eight-floor lobby of the huge conference hotel.
She'd insisted on carrying Mikan's bag. Saying it was part of the job. Mikan wanted to ask about Hotaru's relationship with her brother, who'd only mentioned in one e-mail the he'd seeing another agent and it hadn't worked out – Hotaru had her cut off that topic.
When they arrived at the lobby, Mikan waited off to the side while Hotaru checked her in. She'd never seriously consider imposing on her agent escort – she liked the anonymity of the large hotel. She neede time for herself. Space. Ruka's doctors were guarded but not discouraging in their assessment of her brother's condition. He'd lost a lot of blood but the surgery had gone well. The bullet could have done more damage than it had, although the damage had done was considerable. They'd watch him closely for complications from blood loss, a recurrence of bleeding, infection – he had a long way to go.
Without her having to plead, his doctors had allowed her peek on him.
He was intubated and attached to a ventilator, hooked up to myriad of the IVs and tubes and unconscious. But he was alive, and that was what Mikan had tried to focus on as she touched him gently on the forehead and told him she was there and would see him in the morning. She hoped that on some subconscious level he could hear her, knew she was rooting for him and he wasn't alone.
But when she left the I.C.U., she burst into tears and almost threw up. Hotaru Imai had hesitated, obviously awkward and unsure of what to do, but the chief deputy – Kazumi Yukihara, a stocky rock of a man – stepped forward and maneuvered Mikan into the waiting room.
That was when they all decided she shouldn't walk alone to her hotel.
Hotaru turned from the front desk with a small key folder. "Tenth floor okay?"
"Anything's fine."
"Elevators are over here."
When they reached her room, Hotaru used the card key and pushed open the door, then checked out the place, even pulling open the closet and drawers. Mikan caught a glimpse of her weapon, reminder that her escort was a federal agents on duty. She wasn't just being kind.
"Place looks clean and safe enough." Hotaru turned from the closet an frowned at Mikan. "You look beat. Take a bath and get some sleep. If there's any news, someone will call you. Promise."
Mikan sank onto the bed. Her room was clean and pleasant, a large window overlooking Shibuya with its huge, flashing billboards. She was struck by the disconnect between her and her family home in Northern Woods. Not that long ago, she'd been listening to a mocking bird and drinking tea punch.
She doubted she'd sleep, never mind the flashing billboards and siens down on the busy road of Tokyo street.
A cell phone trilled, but it took a moment for Mikan to realize it was hers. She fished it from an outer pocket of her tote bag.
"Mikan – Mikan, honey, it's Narumi."
Fresh tears welled in Mikan's at the sound of Narumi L. Anju's familiar, caring voice. "Narumi – I'm so glad you called. It's been an awful day."
"I know, Honey. I heard about Ruka. I am so, so sorry."
"I saw him for a few seconds. He made it out of surgery. That's a good sign."
Hotaru turned from the window, not hiding that she was listening. Mikan knew she couldn't possibly explain that she was talking to the Prime Minister of the country. Alice Agent Hotaru Imai's ultimate boss. Ruka's boss. But to her, he was a friend, a neighbor, a man she'd known and adored all her life.
"Luna and I are thinking of you, praying for both you and Ruka," Narumi said. "If there's anything we can do, please just say the word."
"Thank you, Thank you for calling. Just knowing you're thinking of him makes a difference. He's – it's tough, Narumi. He's on a respirator – the bandages-"
Her voice faltered. "But I keep telling myself that at least he's alive. He has a chance."
"He's strong, and so re you." But beneath his soothing words, she heard the undertone of concern and fear, because for all his brilliance and compassion, Narumi Anju did't know if Ruka would live, either. "Where are you now?"
"A hotel in Tokyo."
"Alone?"
"I have an agent escort. Narumi, don't worry about me. I'm fine."
"What about your parents?"
"They're waiting until morning their time before they decided what to do."
"God love them. This has to be a parent's worst nightmare."
Narumi and Luna had no children.
That it was a political liability was something Mikan had found distasteful. Luna had, had four miscarriages and stillbirths before and emergency hysterectomy put an end to all hopes of giving birth. Mikan remembered how distraught Narumi was after that fourth and last loss. He'd come to Northern Woods alone, so his wife wouldn't see him mourn, so he could be strong for her when they were together. But even before that terrible day, Mikn had become something of surrogate daughter to them. In some ways, they'd been more reliable and solid – more available – than her own parents.
"Mikan…the media…" Narumi hesitated, a rarity for him. "They'll zero in on my relationship with your family at some point. Right now, there's no indication that Ruka was targeted because of it."
Mikan nearly dropped the phone.
Hotaru Imai took a step towards her, her expression tight alert.
"Narumi!" Mikan choked, gripping the phone. "My God, that never even occurred to me!"
"I'm mentioning it only because it could come up as a theory, and I don't want you to be blindsided." The strain in his voice, famous for its ability to soothe yet sound commanding, was evident. "Honey, you just focus on being there for Ruka. I'll worry about the rest of it."
"Thank you." She didn't know what else to say.
"Luna sends her love."
"I love you both. Thank you for calling."
After Mikan hung up, Hotaru pulled the drapes. "Do you mind if I ask who that was?" she asked.
Mikan's heart thumped painfully in her chest. Her eyes felt squeezed. In Scotland, for weeks – for most of Narumi Anju's first month in office – she hadn't had to deal with reality that her closet and oldest family friend had been elected prime minister of Japan.
"Mikan?"
"Narumi. Narumi Anju. He and my father go way back. My mother – step mother- went to college with him. She almost married him." Mikan winced, wondering why she'd brought that up. "Supposedly. You never know with my family."
"Jesus Christ," Hotaru said under her breath, then snapped up straight, looking every inch the federal agent she was. "All right, No goddamn way am I leaving you to your own devices tonight. Either we switch to a double room and camp out with you, or you take my futon at my place."
"Would I be sleeping with your inventions?"
Hotaru managed a crooked smile. "You'll see."
Since she'd be sleeping in the strange bed no matter what she did, Mikan rose and grabbed her suitcase. She'd had no intention of making Hotaru spend the night in a hotel after the day they'd both had – and there was no way Mikan was going to talk Agent Imai into leaving her alone.
"Ruka never mentioned we were friends with minister Anju?"
"No."
"He didn't want to affect him on the job -"
"We weren't always on job." Hotaru bit off a sigh. "We worked out okay before he was transferred to Tokyo. I knew your family was white bread, but -" She tore open the door, grinding her teeth."You didn't happen to mention your friendship with the minister to the FBI, did you? Yome? He talked to you right?"
"He asked me about the phone call from Ruka but the minister didn't come up."
"Trust me," agent Imai said, walking out into the hall, "it will."
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