Tadashi had just seemed to disappear after lunch. There was something about what the man said that made Abigail's new friend's mind click. She didn't understand what it was, but she intended to find out. Especially if it dealt with her dad.
She was on her way to her room when she noticed a door. The name on the plate said "Jason Chang: Found near the convention center in San Fransokyo.", but when she peered in the window she saw Tadashi. He was putting a few things in a bag as if he was going somewhere.
Abigail put a hand up, and knocked on the door. At first, he didn't answer but after a couple more taps he opened the entrance and held it open for her to wheel in.
"Thanks," she said, "I hope I'm not intruding; it looks like you're pretty busy."
He closed the door, strolled over to his bed, and sat on the end. "I have to go back."
Abigail gestured her head to the outside of the room, "Why does the name plate say Jason Chang?"
"The last patient in this room, I suppose."
"Yeah right," she put her hands in her lap and gave Tadashi an intent look, "so what really happened on the night of the showcase?"
The Hamada boy let out a long exhale and put his face in his hands. After a few seconds, he finally directed his attention back to her. "I actually didn't know what happened when I first got here. The doctors said I had a mild case of amnesia, but over the past eleven months or so; I've been able to piece things together. Now I can remember when I noticed the convention center was on fire.
"I went in to get your father out, but I didn't get very far. Someone had a display that involved a large tank of water and, because of all the pressure building up inside of the containment, it exploded and sent me flying. I must've hit the wall with my left side because that was where all my burns were. It was hard to tell what happened after that, but I could hear the building collapse. When they got me here, they couldn't figure out who I was; so they just gave me the identity of Dylan Chang."
Abigail put a hand on his shoulder, "Tadashi, I'm really sorry. I do have a question though: Why are you deciding to go back now? Why not earlier?"
"I didn't have the entire story yet, but this morning when the guy mentioned a little boy almost murdered I somehow knew exactly who it was."
"Who?"
He stood and slung his bag over his shoulder, "Hiro, my little brother. When the name finally surfaced, almost my entire past came to light. The doctors weren't going to let me leave because, they weren't sure how they were going to get me back into the world." He smiled a bit, "now they don't have an excuse to keep me. I can go home," then he frowned, "Wherever home is."
Abigail was elated for him, but she couldn't help but think of herself being stuck at the hospital. The thought alone made her feel lonely, and she had enough time for solitariness when she was stuck in the time-travel capsule. To leave the hospital, and go back to the city, meant a chance at a new life. She could start over: Make new friends, get a new job, possibly even settle down one day. But first, she needed to get to the city before planning the next ten years of her life.
"Tadashi," she inquired, "please let me go with you."
He pursed his lips, "What about your therapy?"
"The best way I get over things is by moving on and walking it out; not doing exercises to remind me of what happened. If I don't go now I'll be stuck here for another three months," Abigail smirked,"C'mon, it'll be fun, we'll both be ghosts strolling around the city together."
Tadashi smiled at the prospect, "I guess I really can't stop you."
"Nope."
"That wheelchair might though."
She snorted and stood up, "I never needed it; my nurse scolded me everytime I attempted to get out."
They both laughed and Tadashi headed for the door, "Go get your stuff and I'll meet at the front desk."
Abigail left the wheelchair, and fled to her room where she gathered her few things. She changed into the black t-shirt, and tan knee-length pants that she had worn under her pilot outfit.
When she got to the front desk, Tadashi was already signed out.
"Can I help you?" The woman asked Abigail as she approached the desk.
"Yes, I want to check out as well. Oh, and, cancel my therapy appointment for tomorrow." The nurse typed a few things in before looking up.
"Sign here please," she said handing Abigail a clipboard. She did, but she faltered as she finished signing her name. Abbey, you do know you're about to travel with a guy you don't even know.
"You coming?" Tadashi asked. He was standing by the door giving her a curious look, and she realized that she was staring.
"Um, yeah, sorry." She caught up to his side, and they began to leave the hospital.
"So, where are we going once we reach the main part of the city?"
His shoulder slouched a bit, "I'm not really sure." Bad sign, run while you still can. "If I could remember anything, I'd say start from where I know; but nothing is coming to mind."
Abigail put a hand on her stomach, "Ok, well, we can start from where I know. I am famished, and that hospital food didn't settle with me very well. The Lucky Cat Cafe is not far from here."
Tadashi's eyebrows furrowed, "Say the name again."
"The Lucky Cat Cafe."
His brown eyes lit up, "Yes, Aunt Cass!"
"You know Miss Cassandra?"
"Yeah, she took Hiro and I in when our parents died. She's not our real aunt, but she couldn't be more like family." Tadashi's face, as he said that, was almost distant as if a flood of memories had just rushed into his head. He took in a deep breath, "Well, here we go."
*. *. *
Everything looked the same. Abigail couldn't imagine how much the city hadn't changed. Sure there were a few new buildings, but that was to be expected. She knew she shouldn't feel out of her time, but she couldn't help it.
They walked across the street after taking a bus into town, and made their way to the entrance of the Lucky Cat. Abigail could sense Tadashi tensing up with nervousness.
"You worried?" Stupid question for her to ask, she knew that, but she wanted him to answer honestly.
"Are you kidding? I've never been so nervous in my life." he said, "What are you suppose to say after being dead for over a year? Especially to your family."
She shrugged, "I have a feeling you'll know what to say. No doubt they'll be shocked, but you can't stay away any longer." With that, they opened the door which clinked against a bell. Costumers sat happily in the cafe chairs chatting with friends and family. The atmosphere was so familiar to the Hamada boy. The smell of his aunt's cooking tickled his nose with a beckoning sensation. There was simply a welcoming feel to that place that completely wiped any doubts Tadashi had about being back.
"Can I help you?" There she was as if he had never left. She looked a bit tired, but the fatigue did nothing to her pleasant smile that stretched across her face.
"Aunt Cass," he said returning the grin.
The whole room seemed to disappear, and any other noise simply dissipated into thin air. It took her a few seconds, but once she realized who her new customer was she stepped back in shock.
Tadashi gave a lop-sided smile, "Hi again. Um...I this must be quite a surprise, but I thought..." Abigail was wrong, he didn't know what to say.
Cassandra put her hands up to her mouth and gasped. At first, Tadashi thought that she was going to run off, but she strolled calmly up to him and smacked him across the face with shocking ferocity.
"What were you thinking, knucklehead!" She shouted as if no one was present.
Tadashi put a hand up to caress his throbbing cheek; he should've known that was coming. He didn't want to explain why he had been gone for so long without contacting. Instead, he threw his arms firmly around her, "I missed you too." Eventually, she hugged him back and they stood there for a few minutes making up for the embraces they had missed for the last year.
"Have you seen Hiro yet," she asked letting go.
Tadashi scratched the back of his neck, "No, where is he?"
"Probably finishing his last college class for the day."
He couldn't help but feel proud; Hiro did pursue his inventing career after all. "Thanks, I think I'll wait here. I want to go to the room."
"Alright, it's your funeral," she said walking away, "I'll make you something to eat."
"Okay," he answered. He was surprised that she hadn't caught the "pun" that she had unintentionally made. They most likely did have his funeral; he laughed as it came to mind. Before, the thought would've brought him to tears, but he was home...the word felt almost foreign.
"Tadashi," Abigail said, "I think I'll order some food, and then I'll go so you can get settled in."
"Are you sure? You can stay if you want."
"No, I couldn't. Maybe tomorrow I can meet you at the robotics lab at the school. Say around noon?"
He nodded, "Yeah, sure, see you then." He started ascending the stairs but turned to face her once more, "By the way, thank you."
She gave a winning smile, "Thank you, Tadashi Hamada."
He waved goodbye, and then dashed up the stairs. Getting to the top, he raised an eyebrow. The desk that had once been covered with robot fight pamphlets, was littered with small screens that acted as windows to the rest of the city.
"What in the world?" Was all that he think to say. Most of the screens showed random streets, alleys, and even storefronts. Tadashi glanced over them curiously, but he couldn't even figure out what he was looking at. Why would Hiro have cameras of the city?
On one of the screens two men stood leaning against the walls of opposite buildings. They didn't appear to have any reason to be there.
The man on the right side was tall and brawny, "Any more instructions?"
The left side man was much shorter than the other, but he looked strong and lithe. "No, same orders. I scouted the apartment complex this morning. How about you?"
"Phyllis is in play."
"Phyllis? Who the crap is that?"
The tall, but not very smart man, smiled. "You know the boom thing."
"How you got this job I'll never know," the shorter man said shaking his head and sighing. "Well, anyway, as long as the jobs are done and the boss is happy we're good."
Tadashi was still confused; the men were up to something, that much was obvious, but what could it be? It sounded like they were working for someone. But his questioning always went back to Hiro. What was he up to?
In the middle of his thinking, about ten miles away, silence had come over the office building as someone recognized a slight beeping sound. A man stood and smoothed the creases in his suit nervously. He told everyone else, as placidly as he could, to not move and stay still. He placed his hand on the eggshell, white wall and leaned in his head so his ear touched the surface. Beep beep. The sounds became quicker, and so did the thumping of the man's heart. He turned and yelled to his coworkers to get out, but in the middle of his sentence Phyllis went off.