Author's Note:
Honestly, I wrote this about a month ago, but I don't want to post a bunch and then not write for three or four months (like I've done with my other zillion fictions). Besides, now that I'm back in school, I have a firmer sense of reality, which means I have a hard time writing a romance/action fiction with a Japanese war photographer and fifteen-year-old girl.
I guess I need to rewatch some episodes and get myself psyched up again.
All of these characters belong to Gonzo.
. . .
With Dr. Ryogoku's guidance, Saiga and Kagura worked their way through the airport until they found him sitting on a bench in one of the large lobbies.
"I can't tell you how grateful I am." Saiga said.
Ryogoku waved his hand. "Save the thanks until we're all across the Pacific. Now here are your passports. Pay attention to the names: you're not the same people anymore."
Kagura opened her passport and read aloud her name. "Yamamoto Ari." She smiled. "I like it."
"And you're eighteen now, so you don't need any parental permission." Ryogoku added.
"Who're you, Saiga?"
"Watanabe Noboru," Saiga read. "Wow. You really did a number on my name, didn't you?"
"Consider it a gift from a friend." Ryogoku chuckled. "I couldn't help myself." He pulled up his sleeve to check his watch. "Our flight leaves in forty-five minutes, but we haven't made it through customs yet. We should get going."
. . .
Kagura pressed her face to the tiny window on her left, making small puffs of steam cloud her vision.
"Here." Saiga handed her a stick of gum. "Chew this. It relieves the pressure."
"Oh." She unwrapped the candy. "Thanks"
"So how've you two been?" Ryogoku asked. "Had any adventures since I saw you last?"
"A few run-ins," Saiga grinned. "But nothing we couldn't handle. What about you?"
"Nah. Just research—though it's fascinating stuff. I've never done anything like it before in my life."
"I bet not."
"Saiga," Kagura touched his arm. "Look! The plane's starting to move."
He leaned over her to peer out the window. "It'll probably take them awhile to get to the runway."
"Have you ever flown before, Kagura?" Ryogoku inquired.
She shook her head.
As the plane accelerated down the runway, Kagura's enthrallment with the window faded, and the color drained from her face. Saiga grasped her hand and offered a comforting smile. She began to calm down once they leveled their ascent. The flight attendant signaled their free will to move and announced the in-flight movies that would be showing in a short while.
Kagura whispered to Saiga. "Do they have a restroom here?"
He pointed her towards the front of the plane, and he watched her make her way down the aisle. Ryogoku took advantage of their isolation.
"How's she doing?"
Saiga waited until Kagura was safely inside the bathroom stall before answering. "She's been a lot better. Her headaches have stopped, and she hasn't had a fever since she took the painkillers."
"And you? How're the eyes?"
Saiga shrugged. "Not much has changed. I was having trouble reading small print for awhile, but as soon as that started, it went away."
"Well, that's good to hear."
. . .
Kagura nestled her head on Saiga's shoulders to sleep, and as he slowly drifted off to sleep as well, his head dropped onto hers.
Thirteen hours later, they landed in Los Angeles.
. . .
Their scent led Tsujido closer and closer to Tokyo, and he almost suspected a trap until they pulled into the airport parking lot.
"Shit," he cursed. "They must've boarded a plane."
Makabe and Niihari followed Tsujido as he stalked through the airport, trailing a day-old scent.
"How the hell did they make it onto a plane?" Niihari asked. "How'd Kagura get a passport? Wouldn't we have known it if she did?"
"If I had those answers, we wouldn't be in this fucking airport, would we?" Tsujido snarled. "Let's go. We don't have clearance to access these records."
"Who does?" Makabe interrupted.
"Our friends in law enforcement, of course."