Many thanks to rock-n-roll-suicide-queen for the beta! And sorry for the wait. Next chapter will be up way sooner, promise.
5. Samurai's Return
Hiro was afraid to open his eyes. After all he'd seen in the 17th century, the bloodshed, the fighting, the war…
He couldn't help but worry about what home he'd returned to.
Sylar was able to send him flying across the Plaza, even after Hiro had stabbed him through the heart. Hiro did not know what came next in the story. Did Sylar explode? Did Peter? Would New York City still be there when he opened his eyes? Or would it be a déjà vu of his trip into the future?
His eyelids lifted.
He was in Kirby Plaza. And everything was intact.
Hiro's heart raced wildly with joy, but he knew to restrain himself. He had to make sure, first. "Excuse me!" Hiro yelled at a boy playing a PSP by the fountain. "Excuse me! Can you tell me, what is today?"
The boy gave Hiro a weird look, as if he were diseased. Eventually he managed, "It's Monday."
"Yes, but day, the date? What is the date?"
"March 16th."
"And the year! What is the year??" Hiro asked more urgently.
"Um, 2007…"
There was a beat, but it didn't take long for realization to set in. "YATTA!" Hiro yelped, and the boy jumped from his spot on the bench. Excited, Hiro hugged him, jumping up and down. "New York is saved! New York is saved!!"
Genuinely freaked out, the boy pried himself out from Hiro's hug and walked away hastily, muttering something that sounded like, 'not from weirdos like you' under his breath. Hiro glanced around, happily setting his eyes on the sights and sounds of New York all over again.
"Matt's wife makes really good macaroni," Molly was telling Mohinder, as they strolled down the Parkmans' neighborhood. "She even used real cheddar cheese!"
"Well, at least you won't have to pretend to like my Easy Mac anymore," said Mohinder, smiling.
"Hey, I like your Easy Mac! You microwave good Easy Mac!" Mohinder didn't reply; he simply continued walking into the sunset with her, enjoying the feel of her small hand in his palm. "You don't have to go, Mohinder," she told him, looking up. "I don't want you to."
He stopped walking and knelt down, reaching eye level with her. "Molly, I have to do this. I'm going to go talk to another scientist about making you better. But I won't be gone long. I'll be back in a week, and then Lucy and I can take you to the aquarium again."
"Why does Lucy get to go with you? Why can't I?"
"Because we don't want to force the Parkmans to take care of her," he said with a wink. Molly laughed. "And we need you to stay here, so you'll be safe."
"From the Boogeyman?"
His encouraging demeanor dropped. He looked into Molly's eyes sadly. "Are you still having nightmares about the Boogeyman?"
"I had one the other night," she whispered. "Right before we left. I dreamed that…that he woke up. And he said he was ready. But I don't know where he is."
"Molly," said Mohinder, "I've told Matt about the Boogeyman. He's going to protect you. And as soon as I find your cure, I swear I'll be back right away. I promise. I won't let him get you."
He gave her a long, reassuring hug, and she kissed him on the cheek to show that she understood. They walked back together to the Parkman's, where the taxi was already waiting out in front.
"I don't think you should use walks with Molly just to get out of loading the cab," Lucy whined, as she put the last of their suitcases in.
"I'll make it up to you when we get there," Mohinder sighed. "Did you get everything?"
"Yes, we did," said Matt, not wanting him to run upstairs and tear apart their guest room looking for a missing map or whatever. "And you double-checked everything right before you went out, so you guys should be fine."
"I suppose we should be going, then." He hugged Molly one last time, as did Lucy.
"I'll watch him for you," Lucy told her, and lowering her voice, added, "and I'll swipe you some Portuguese things on the way!" Molly laughed.
"Thanks again, Matt. Please call me about anything, okay? Especially-"
"—I know." Matt looked grimly serious. "Believe me, I'm ready, if he comes."
They shook hands. Mohinder and Lucy got in, and soon the taxi was far down the street and out of sight. Matt held Molly's hand, and they followed Janice inside.
"Don't be sad, Molly," he told her, shutting the door. "They'll be back soon." She nodded, but she still stared out the window longingly. "Tell you what, you want to help me pick out toys for my baby's nursery over the internet? I think you'd know more about this than I would."
She continued to stare out the window for a time before she agreed, and took Matt's hand. But as soon as they took only a few steps up the stair, the doorbell rang. Matt opened the door, to find Mohinder standing there, holding Lucy by the collar.
"Lucy wants to return something to you," he told Matt simply. He gave her a sharp look, and out of her bag she salvaged some nice glass coasters, a metallic candle holder, and several picture frames.
"Sorry," she said, looking down at her feet.
Matt received the stolen items somewhat incredulously, but once they were all back in his hands, he smiled over at Molly. "See? Told you they'd be back."
"Ando!!"
He could barely believe the voice he had just heard. Looking around the cubicles, making sure that no one would catch him being 'crazy' again, Ando spoke into the phone. "…Hiro?"
"Yes, Ando, it is me!"
"Hiro!!" Ando yelled, effectively thwarting his own attempt at being incognito. Noticing the stares around the office, he lowered his voice. "Hiro, where are you? What happened to you?"
"I am back in New York!" he said excitedly. "And it is saved! There was no explosion!"
"I saw the news!" Ando responded, smiling. "But, there was an explosion."
"...Wha?"
Ando laughed. He missed Hiro and his happy energy so much. "Here, I'll explain it to you. Can you get to a computer?"
Hiro out the cell phone down and looked across the café table at the lovely young lady smiling giddily at him. "Excuse me Andrea," he asked in English, "may I use your laptop as well, please?"
"Well I don't know, Hiro," she giggled. "Can I get another flower?"
He grinned. "I can do better than that!" He scrunched up his face intently. A second later, he pulled out a whole bouquet of roses from behind his back with a heart-shaped box of chocolates. "How is this?"
"Hiro…" she gasped, staring at the gift, "this is amazing, I don't…how did you-"
"—May I use your laptop?"
"Sure," she said distractedly, "do whatever you want, wow…"
He brought the laptop over to his side of the table. "Ando, are you still there? I have a computer."
"Okay, go to YouTube," Ando instructed. "Type in, 'New York explosion conspiracy.' Go to the first video."
Hiro was puzzled, but he did it anyway. The video was from a shaky amateur's video camera, and was pointed at the New York city skyline. From the bottom of the screen, a bright figure, like a comet, flew out of the Kirby Plaza area, soaring higher and higher into the night sky. The cameraman swore and yelled in excitement, following the light as it zoomed out of sight. A second later a flash of light erupted into the clouds, creating a magnificent blast of light miles and miles above Manhattan and eliciting a "HOLY SHIT!" from the cameraman.
In great shock, Hiro sat staring at the screen, speechless. Below the video were various comments on the bad special effects and a debate on whether or not it was a leaked sci-fi movie trailer.
"Hiro," said Ando, "did you watch it?"
"Yes…" he answered slowly. "Peter Petrelli, he…exploded?"
"I think so. He and his brother, Nathan Petrelli, they've been missing ever since that night. No one knows what happened."
"Flying Man?" Hiro uttered, blinking. "Flying Man is missing?" Did that mean…was Nathan Petrelli in the video? Did he save New York after all?
"I don't know." There was a long silence. "Look Hiro, I'm sorry, but I have to ask about you, too," Ando told him. "I haven't seen you for four months! Where have you been? Your family has been looking for you."
"My family?"
"Yes. Your father stepped down from Yamagato to look for you, and your sister is having trouble running the corporation without him. …Come on Hiro, tell me where you've been!"
Hiro's voice took on a serious tone, the very reverent one he always used whenever describing some aspect of the 'hero code.' "I have been in the past, Ando. In 1671."
"1671?" Ando repeated, incredulous.
"Yes, I met Takezo Kensei, I helped him in battle," he said very matter-of-factly. "And then for two months, I was his apprentice. I learned a wealth about valor, tradition, and loyalty under him. I improved my swordsmanship as well. But, I had to return, because I have a mission here in the present."
"Mission?" he asked, confused. "But New York didn't explode! It was saved! You must come back, Hiro, your family is worried about you, and so am I!"
As insistent as his friend was, and as much as he missed his parents and sister, Hiro just couldn't agree to do that. "I am sorry, Ando. In the past, I met another special woman. She knew that I was from the future, Ando, she could tell! She told me that 2007 was where my path lay, and that my first great mission would come once I returned. And this is it. This is my mission." His voice took on his higher, unwavering tone as he declared, "I must find Nathan and Peter Petrelli!"
Hiro was certain he could hear his friend's brow furrowing over the line. "But Hiro…" Ando started, getting back into doubtful sidekick mode again, "No one's been able to find them! They've had people looking for months!"
"That's because I have to be the one," he answered determinedly. "It is my task, only I am able to accomplish it. Besides," he dropped his serious air, "you still have my sword! I need to come back and get it, remember? I'll be back. I promise."
Ando sat at his desk, shaking his head dejectedly. "I could never stop you before, Hiro," he said, knowing this as fact. "Just be back as soon as you can, okay? And call me if you need help."
"Of course, Ando! But…can I ask you a favor? Don't tell my family I'm back yet, okay?"
He laughed. "Don't worry, no one will know. Everyone here thinks I'm crazy for going to America, anyway."
"Well someday," Hiro said resolutely, "everyone will know that you are really a loyal friend. Goodbye, Ando!!"
The line went dead, and Ando sat there, thinking about what Hiro had just said to him. Maybe he couldn't have his friend back yet, but he at least knew where he was, and that he was doing what he did best; helping people and saving the world.
And, most importantly, Hiro was alive.
"YATTA!" Ando yelled, jumping up and scaring the shit out of everyone in the office.
And he couldn't possibly care less.