RISING SUN

Copyright August 1, 2012 By Rory V. Pascual

Chapter Two

"Kaedeeeee, why are you so cruel to your Papa? Do you have any idea how long I've been waiting for you to call me?"

Kaede rolled her eyes, seeing her beloved but rather exasperating father kneeling on the floor of his apartment while he whined his heart out over the phone's video link. "Dad, didn't I call you last night? What, you want me to call you every minute?"

Kotetsu thought for but a second and then answered, grinning, "Yes, that would be great!"

Kaede exhaled harshly, her lips forming into a pout. Changing the subject, she began, "So, how's the café doing?"

"Pretty well actually," her father answered. "My loyal patrons certainly can't get enough of seeing their idol Wild Tiger."

"Dad, is it you whom your loyal patrons really want to see or your hardworking garcon? Speaking of which, you haven't introduced me to Locke yet."

"He's closing up the café, but I'm pretty sure he's on the way home right now." Kotetsu's face soured. "And why are you asking about Locke? How did you even hear about him?"

"I'm just curious, Dad. Karina and Pao-Lin wouldn't stop fangirling over him whenever I talk to the two of them on my cell. They won't even send me a picture of him."

"Kaede, please don't tell me that you're exchanging your dear Papa for his garcon. That would break my heart!"

"Dad, I'll never get married if you're always like this! Maybe I should hang up the phone right now."

"No, no, don't do that!" Kotetsu hurriedly said. "I promise I'll behave." He then became serious. "Okay, I know something's troubling you. Is it about that guest you and Muramasa have at home right now?"

Kaede found herself scratching her head. "Yes, it's about Mr. Reynolds. I'm really worried about him, Dad. He doesn't want to go out of the house, like he's afraid of something. He says he has agoraphobia, but I really don't think it's a simple phobia at all. I wish I could explain it well. There's something not right. Sometimes, I think he's more afraid of himself."

"Where is he right now?"

"Sleeping in the guest room. Grandma went to check on him and she saw that he was crying in his sleep. I really feel bad for him, Dad. What should I do?"

Kotetsu let out a sigh. "If it's agoraphobia, then he would need psychiatric help. Phobias can be pretty serious if the fear is that deep rooted."

"I don't think a shrink will be able to help him. Uncle offered him some sleeping pills to help him sleep and he absolutely refused to take them, saying he's had enough of drugs and people confusing him with advice."

"That doesn't sound good," her father said, frowning. "It looks like he has been taken advantage of in the past."

"Dad, do you think you can come here?" Kaede begged him. "I'm really concerned about Mr. Reynolds."

"Just why are you so worried about him, Kaede?"

The little girl reluctantly replied, "He told me once that if he and his wife Lindy had a child, he would've wanted it to be like me. He was so sad when he said that. I want to help him, Dad."

Kotetsu looked thoughtfully back at his daughter. Kaede didn't have to guess what was going through her father's mind. He was definitely wondering how the two of them could be so much alike when it comes to that strong and fervent desire to help people. The blood of Heroes truly runs in the Kaburagi family.

"Kaede, judging from what you told me, it seems Mr. Reynolds has definitely taken a liking to you. Why don't you try to convince him to get out of his shell? Maybe you and your Grandma can start by letting him help around the house. Get him busy, so he won't have to think about his fears. Then, perhaps you and your Uncle can take him around Oriental Town, introduce him to everyone. I think the most important thing for now is to let him feel comfortable in his surroundings and with the people. He already trusts you. I'm pretty sure there is nothing that he won't do for you, even if it's something as difficult as getting over even a small measure of his fears."

Kaede gave her a doubtful look, but she knew her father was right as always. Still, she asked again, "I do hope you can come home. Maybe talk to him. Give him advice." She finally added what was really inside her heart. "I really miss you too, Dad."

Kotetsu lifted a finger to touch his daughter's image on the video link. "I miss you too, Kaede."

At that moment, there was the sound of a door opening followed by a man's tired but happy voice, saying, "Kotetsu, I'm home. If you haven't had dinner, I've made some Chili Dogs and topped them with the leftover creamy coleslaw."

"I'll talk to you later," Kotetsu whispered to his daughter, realizing that the man whom she wanted to meet had arrived.

"Oh, you're so not doing this to me, Dad!" Kaede warned him before letting out an ear-piercing shriek of "LOCKE!"

Before her panicking father could press the button to end the call, Locke's smiling face popped up beside him.

"Oh, hello!" Locke greeted the little girl who had now turned beet red. "You must be Kotetsu's daughter, Kaede. My, you are so pretty! You look just like your Mom!"

"Uhm…er…thank you?" Kaede asked timidly, although she was actually close to screaming. Damn, that Pao-Lin and Karina! Why didn't they tell her he was drop dead gorgeous?

"Hey, Locke!" Kotetsu asked suspiciously, a dark scowl on his face. "Are you hitting on my little girl?"

"DADDY!"

Locke burst out laughing, showing white even teeth. With infuriating casualness, he removed his muffler and began wrapping it around a steaming Kotetsu's face. "Oh, don't worry, Kaede. Your Dad's just being protective of you. I have an older brother who is just as overprotective of me."

Kaede couldn't help asking, "Is he as handsome as you?"

"Well," Locke thought long and hard, "he's pretty good-looking in his own right. I'm adopted, so we don't really look alike. He's blond, heavier of build. To be honest though, your Dad kinda reminds me of him." He found himself glancing at Kotetsu whose face was now entirely covered by the muffler except for his flashing amber eyes. "Oh, I'm so sorry, Kotetsu. Can you still breathe in there?"

Kotetsu tore the muffler off with a wild roar and pounced on Locke, his tanned fingers closing around that creamy white throat. "JUST DIE!"

Kaede could not stop laughing at the antics of the two men so that she at first didn't notice the man who entered the kitchen.

"Kaede, are you okay?" Bob Reynolds inquired in concern, his blond hair ruffled by sleep. "I thought I heard you cry out."

"Oh, no," she reassured him. "I was just talking to my Dad."

Before Bob could blink at the video link on the phone, Locke had already broken free from Kotetsu's grasp, calling "See ya, Kaede!", and ran off to the kitchen to heat up the chili hotdogs on the microwave.

"Sorry for disturbing your sleep, Bob," Kotetsu greeted her daughter's guest. "Kaede and I can get pretty hyped up over the phone."

"It's okay, Kotetsu," said Bob, smiling wistfully. "I must admit I'm rather envious of the two of you. I wish I had a daughter like Kaede."

Kotetsu could see for himself how much the older man truly cared for his little girl. "I trust that you will take care of her for me while I'm away, Bob. But I'll try to find a way to visit Oriental Town soon. I really want to meet you in person."

"I very much want to meet you as well," Bob confirmed. He patted Kaede's head. "Don't worry. I'll protect Kaede with my life."

"Thank you, Bob," Kotetsu said gratefully, seeing the sincerity and determination on the man's face. Turning to his daughter, he advised, "You take care of Bob as well, Kaede."

"I will, Dad," Kaede replied, before growling, "and be nice to Locke!"

As she hung up the phone, Bob inquired, "Who's Locke?"

"My Dad's friend. Locke's been helping him out at the café."

"What does he look like?"

Kaede's delighted squeal and squirms was answer enough.

"So he's that good-looking, huh," Bob remarked with a side grin, cocking a blond eyebrow up.

Kaede's face turned completely red as she ran for her bedroom, screeching, "Why are all the men in my life tormenting me?"

Robert Reynolds chuckled. He was planning to make the little girl a glass of warm milk as an apology. But then, his blue eyes focused on the phone sitting on the counter. In reality, it hadn't been Kaede's playful chat with her father that had woke him up, but a prickling feeling inside his head. That feeling became a nagging discomfort when he neared the kitchen, only to disappear when he finally spoke with the girl and her father.

He knew in an instant who the source of his unease was – Kotetsu's mysterious friend, Locke.

##########

Loki could not shake off his feeling of distress after that brief chat with Kaede. It did not have anything to do with the little girl. But there was definitely something wrong, like there was a dark shadow lurking behind her. Lost was he in his troubled thoughts that he nearly jumped out of his skin when Kotetsu laid a hand on his shoulder.

Noticing how white the other man's face had become, Kotetsu asked, "Are you okay, Locke?"

"Yes, I'm fine," he smiled reassuringly. "I just had a long day."

"Listen, I'll finish cleaning the dishes. Why don't you sit down on the couch and watch some TV?"

Loki nodded at that suggestion. "Yes, I'll probably do that. Thanks, Kotetsu."

As Kotetsu took over for him, he went over to the couch. Taking the remote that was sitting on top of the table, he switched on the TV. What he saw on the screen, however, did not do anything to settle his already frayed nerves.

"KOTETSU!" he called out as he turned up the volume.

Kotetsu instantly saw the shock and fear on Loki's face. As he turned to the TV, his heart was suddenly filled with dread.

"To recap what has just happened, there has been a breakout at Abas Prison," Hero TV announcer Mario declared in his usual bombastic manner. "Although the Heroes have been able to recapture the prisoners, notorious jewel robber Pauly and his gang have escaped, with Barnaby Brooks Jr. as their hostage. Earlier, Barnaby had been forced to use his Hundred Power to fight a powerful NEXT. But since his power ran out, he fell into the hands of Pauly and…"

Loki saw Kotetsu dry his hands on a towel and toss it on the counter. Without saying another word, he headed straight for the door. Loki leaped to his feet and hurried after him, seizing his arm.

"Kotetsu, you mustn't go," Loki said firmly. "Without your Hundred Power, what can you do?"

"Well, I have to do something!" Kotetsu cried in anguish. "I can't stand by and do nothing while Bunny is…"

Loki fell silent for a moment, hearing that pet god understood all too well how helpless the human felt. Kotetsu would often regale him with tales about his former life as a Hero, and how there would be such painful longing in his eyes whenever he watched the Hero TV broadcasts. The loss of his Hundred Power was truly a great blow for him.

"I'm sure the Heroes are doing all they can to get Barnaby back. You must trust them."

Kotetsu gripped his shoulders tightly. "Tell me, Locke. What would you do if the one you love is in danger?"

Loki swallowed hard as a memory from recent past filled his mind – how he had almost lost his brother during the siege which he had instigated and how he had made the appropriate recompense. Realizing the truth of his feelings now, he knew that, if faced with the same circumstances, he would do the same thing all over again.

"I would give up my life for them," Loki answered that question, his jaw tightening in firm resolve.

Kotetsu nodded, releasing the god. For a moment, Loki thought he saw a flicker of red in the human's amber eyes. "Then, you and I are in agreement." He then turned on his heels and hurried out the door, with Loki running after him.

The two men went straight to the parking basement, heading for one of the locked garages. Kotetsu pushed some buttons on the panel and the gate started to rise with a low rumble. Loki's eyes widened in undisguised awe at the sight of the sleek white and green motorcycle. Painted on the front panel of the bike was the human's Hero name, Wild Tiger.

It took only a second for Loki to get back to his senses. "I'll ride," he said, getting on the Lonely Chaser before Kotetsu could say anything. "In your emotional state, you might crash us into a wall."

Kotetsu could not argue with that. Nodding, he got behind Loki, wrapping his arms around the god's trim waist. Without saying another word, Loki kickstarted the Lonely Chaser to life, and they roared out of the basement and into the Stern Bild streets.

##########

Loki and Kotetsu arrived in record time at Abas Prison, the god having maneuvered through traffic effortlessly. It was Karina and Pao-Lin—now dressed as their Hero alter egos Blue Rose and Dragon Kid, respectively—together with Origami Cyclone who immediately ran over to them.

"What are you guys doing here?" Karina demanded. "Kotetsu, have you forgotten that you're no longer a Hero."

"Karina, please!" Kotetsu raised his hands, halting her words, as he clambered off the bike. "What about Barnaby?"

"Sky High and Fire Emblem are going after them right now," Ivan said. "They're riding in an armored prison van along Stern Medaille Highway. I think Rock Bison's planning to block the van. He left in his launcher about a half hour ago."

"Don't worry, Kotetsu," Pao-Lin offered in reassurance. "I'm sure the guys will get Barnaby back."

"Damn it!" Kotetsu drove his fist into a lamppost, creating a dent in the metal. "You don't know how difficult it was to defeat that blasted NEXT. That diamond skin of his was tough to crack. It had to take our combined efforts in Good Luck Mode to break through."

"And you think you can do something?" Karina retorted in turn. Softening a bit, she said, "Kotetsu, you're not helping us by panicking like this. I'm sure Barnaby would not want to see you like this. You must calm down."

"How can I calm down? God, if anything happens to Bunny—"

"He'll be okay, Kotetsu," Ivan declared strongly. "We promise. Nothing's going to happen to him."

"Let's take you and Locke to Blue Rose's trailer," Pao-Lin suggested, gently leading the older man. "You can monitor things from there. Locke, please come with us."

They all turned toward Kotetsu's dashing garcon, only to let out a collective gasp. The Lonely Chaser was parked along the curb. Its rider has disappeared.