The next day near noon…
Lidia and I were on our way to 'A Little Taste of Italy'. We had just entered the town square when I caught the sound of someone playing a violin drifting to me on the wind. I looked around at the surrounding buildings looking for whoever was playing the beautiful melody. My eyes landed on the hotel that Ikotu and Tsukasa were supposed to be staying at and saw Ikotu standing on one of the balconies of the third to fourth floor playing a violin. When my eyes landed on Ikotu my heart soared at the sight of him. I also recognized the violin he was playing even from this distance it was my violin that was stolen over a year ago.
"What is it Aruto?" Lidia asked seeing that I had stopped walking with her.
"I see him Lidia, I-I see Ikotu and he has my violin that was stolen," I told her feeling tears prick my eyes and I blinked them away.
"It makes you proud to know that they are safe and still trusts you enough to come looking for you huh?" Lidia asked and I couldn't find any words to express this feeling so I just nodded. I was just about to call out to him when he suddenly stopped playing and looked behind him.
"No no no no no!" I yelled when I saw men in black appear behind Ikotu. They must have entered the building without us noticing.
"What are you doing? Let me go!" I heard Ikotu yelling at the man.
"We have to do something Lidia!" I yelled to her over my shoulder as I headed to the building. As I approached the building four more men in black ran out and blocked my way. The badges on their jackets said 'Easter' on them, but they must have not recognized me because they treated me like an average citizen.
"No worries we are just apprehending a child and adult fugitives who escaped our supervision," one of the men assured us as they lead Ikotu and Tsukasa out of the building. Tsukasa came out first, he saw me right away and gave me what I think was supposed to be a reassuring smile.
"So you are here after all huh," he whispered as they marched him past Lidia and I. Ikotu came out second being carried by another man in black. He was kicking and screaming but the man wouldn't let go.
When they walked past me I kept up and whispered to him loud enough for him to hear. "Ikotu I'll come back to Japan one day just wait and see!" he finally saw me there were tears in his eyes when he looked at me.
Not if I come and get you first!" he yelled right before they shoved him into a car. The last thing I saw of him he was staring at me then they slammed the door shut and drove off. I fell to my knees staring helplessly after the car knowing that no matter how fast I ran I wouldn't be able to catch up. "He's gone Lidia I let him go again. I could have done something," I told her slamming a fist onto the ground. Lidia came to my side and knelt down next to me.
"Oh Aruto I am so sorry if there is anything I could do to help…" she started placing a hand on my back. I at a loss for words at what we could do. I stared at the wedding band that I still wore on my left hand. I thought of the vows that Souko and I exchanged on our wedding day. 'How am I going to get back to Japan?' I thought wanting to go back once again feeling the regret at just running away from my problem and not staying by family. "Aruto we are going to get you back to Japan," Lidia told me standing up and started walking towards the restaurant again.
"How are we going to do that?" I asked catching up to her puzzled.
"Well with the restaurant we can save up extra revenue to get you back to Japan. But you have to want it enough to put in your fair share of work. It will take a while I'm not sure how long. It's going to take time," Lidia proposed to me. I felt an overwhelming love for her she was a really great friend and person in general. I hugged her which took her be surprise.
"Thank you Lidia you are the greatest friend I've ever had," I told when I let her go. "We should probably get going the others are probably wondering where we are," I started walking again and Lidia fell in beside me.
"Yeah they probably have something planned right?" she asked catching me off guard.
"What gave you that idea? We just all want to hang out together since we never do with Davide and Santino, but they have two days off of work so we are taking the time now," I told and it was true so not a total lie right? She said nothing more just gave a little giggle for a reply. We finally made it to 'A Little Taste of Italy' and I opened the door for her. The curtains were drawn and the lights were off.
"Where is everyone?" Lidia asked and that was when someone threw on the lights.
"HAPPY BIRTHDAY LIDIA!" We all yelled. Lidia's eyes teared up and she sat down in the closest chair.
"This is the best thing you have ever done for me thank you guys," Lidia got out tears streaming down her face.
"Only that best for you Lidia. Andre bring it out," Beatrix called into the back and a couple of minutes later Andre walked out carrying a good sized cake with 'Happy Birthday Lidia' written in frosting across it. He set the cake down at the table Lidia was sitting at.
"Now we just need the candles," Andre said taking out a 24 pack of candles out of pocket. We all helped put the candles into the cake and Santino lit them. When the last candle was lit Abriana turned the lights off and we all sang 'Happy Birthday'. Lidia happily swayed along with our slightly out of sync song. Our eyes met and I made myself give her a smile even though I was still worried about what might be happening to Ikotu right now there was really nothing that I could do about it. The song ended and Lidia blew out the candles. We all clapped and started to cut up the cake and have the other dishes everyone worked so hard to make. On the outside I was showing that I was having fun, but on the inside I itching to get started on trying to get back to Japan. I had the worst homesickness that I had ever had when I was in Italy. I was asking myself question I didn't have the answers to like: 'Why did the Easter people come all the way here to take Ikotu?' 'How did they know that he was here?' 'What has happened to Utau and Souko?' 'Now that they have Ikotu what are they going to do to him?' I went round and round in my head but I had no clue what was happening back in Japan. I couldn't help but ask myself these questions that I didn't know the answer to. Lidia said that she would help me get back to Japan but who knows how long that would take? What if it's already too late and I have failed them already? Then the image of Ikotu getting carried away flashed through my mind again. I had called out to Ikotu telling that I will come back to Japan one day and I was determined to do just that no matter how long it took. Lidia must have seen my eternal struggle and came over to me.
"Aruto don't worry you'll see him and your wife again. I will make sure of it even if I have to fly to Japan with you to make sure you make it there," Lidia told me and it did make me feel a little better knowing that there was someone willing to help me get through this. I got a feeling of homesickness that always came over me anytime I thought of going back home, but I pushed it away.
"I know I'll see them again it's just that I feel like I have already failed them and maybe they don't even want me to come back now...," I let it trail off there, everyone else was staring at the two of us with confusion clearly on their faces.
"I know Aruto but Ikotu was willing to come all the way here just to find you. That doesn't sound like someone who has given up if he didn't then why should the rest of your family? That tells me that he wants you back in Japan with his sister and mother," Lidia told me tapping my chest on the last part. She's right and I know it I was worrying for nothing really. Getting back to Japan should be my biggest concern at the moment.
"Uhhhhh… Lidia? Aruto? You mind filling us in on what you're talking about?" Beatrix asked interrupting my thought. Lidia looked at Beatrix like she forgot they were there and then back at me.
"Well Aruto do you want to explain? Or should I? If they are going to be helping even if it is indirectly they should at least know something," Lidia told me. I knew that they should know but I didn't want to be the one to say it. When you say it feels more real.
"Your right Lidia and I feel that you should be the one to explain it was your idea after all," I agreed and Lidia nodded her agreement.
"Alright Aruto if that is what you want," Lidia said then turned to everyone else. "You see its Ikotu, Aruto's son. We saw him on our way over here today and…"