So sorry for the loooong wait. My computer has been acting weird recently, it kept closing and/or not opening and my dad had to take it to get fix twice, after, of course, he tried and couldn't do anything. Not only that but, he had to install the windows two times so everything was deleted. Lucky I have my own cute, little, laptop ( with no Internet connection, but still :) ).

Anyway, another reason for not posting anything was because I have a new Beta, (well, not new per se, this would be the first time). She is sunnysmiles97 and this chapter, apparently (^_^), passed her inspection. Hope it'll pass yours too!

Playing

The next three days were quiet. Nothing happened that could concern Kimiko leaving her to rummage through old stuff about Phantom with nothing going as far as she would want. Everything led her to a dead end and she found herself on more than one occasions with her concentration slip and her eyes staring into empty space.

During one of this occasions she completely abandoned her work and stormed out of her room deciding to get some fresh air and maybe find something to take her mind off those things. She considered restarting her old martial arts lessons at the gym but it has been such a long time ago that she doubted her old teacher even knew her anymore.

Albeit, she gave it a shot. The gym wasn't far from her place so she might as well pay them a visit at least to see the program. She walked on foot there hoping to clear her mind as well as breath some air. It did work and when she reached her destination she found the building just as she remembered.

The small yellow stairs with the metal hand rails on both side leading to a double glass door. On the sides of the doors were windows covered with violet curtains on the inside that were half way drawn letting a small beam of light in the training rooms. She opened the doors hearing a gentle chink as the bells on top of it hit each other softly. The woman at a desk on the other side looked up from her papers and smiled brightly at her.

Kimiko walked forward passing some chairs and a small table taking in the new stylish and calming effect of the décor. Everything was in brown, yellow, red or different shades of them mixed harmoniously together to create an environment refreshing to the mind and body. There were a few bonsai trees around and bamboos sticks on the walls right above a round brown sofa and opposite to a tree almost as tall as her. Kimiko didn't know what species it was but she could care less about it as she made her way to the front desk.

"Can I help you with something, miss?" she asked politely.

Kimiko glanced quickly at her; black hair tied in a bun with two crossed sticks, turtle neck, sleeveless red Chinese style shirt and a wide smile on her smooth face. She didn't have any jewels and she could make out a thin layer of powder on her cheeks and the inconspicuous lipstick on her lips. Yep! She was knew here, and very recently hired too!

"Is Nishimura-san here? I would like to talk to him." She answered just as politely.

The woman shook her head, her smile fading slightly as she thought. "I think he left for Osaka a few weeks ago. But if you are looking forward to the martial arts lessons you can talk with our new teacher. He came ten minutes ago so I'm pretty sure he's practicing right now!"

Kimiko nodded and the woman pointed to a shoji door on her left. She followed her direction and slowly slid open the paper doors peeking in only to find the room empty. She stepped inside watching the dojo like chamber provided with mirrors on two sides while the violet curtains protected the interior from the sun. The walls were a peach orange color and the soft shade of the violet drapes worked wonderfully in contrast with it as it gave the room a balance between luminosity and dimness.

"Do you need some help?"

The sudden voice snapped Kimiko out of her mental designing and faster than anyone thought possible she swirled toward the source finding the teacher she was looking for. Standing a few feet away from her in front of a door that most likely led to the lockers was a brown haired man with emerald green eyes that she found quite remarkable in that light.

"Are you the martial arts teacher around here?"

His confused and – was that worried? - gaze suddenly turned into an understanding one and he smile extending his hand. "That would be me! I'm Raimundo Pedrosa and you are…"

Kimiko took his hand and shook it once as she answered. "Kimiko Tohomiko!"

He arched an amused eyebrow. "Well, what can I do for you, Miss Tohomiko?"

Not comprehending his amusement, Kimiko crossed her arms as she surveyed once again the room. "I was thinking of resuming my training."

"Resuming as in…"

"I trained before with Nishimura-san. Did you meet him?"

She watched Raimundo shook his head while placing a bottle of water and a towel on a small shelf beneath the window. "Not really. I came here a week or so after he left. Heard he's a good teacher though!"

"Yeah…So what about you?"

He shrugged facing her again. "Wanna find out?"

Kimiko smirked taking off her thin jacket and putting it beside Raimundo's items. They both moved toward the centre of the room falling into battle stances while keeping their eyes on each other and smiling confidently.

"The lady first!"

Kimiko huffed rolling her eyes. "Your manners astound me!"

"You don't know anything about me so you might be surprise of what you find out!"

Unfortunately Kimiko blocked him out when she started to run at him. She aimed her fist at his face which Rai easily sidestepped spinning around her and coming with a low sweep kick at her legs. Kimiko jumped over it continuing with a flip and a roundhouse kick even though Rai smirked at her as if she just made a big mistake. He caught her ankle with his right and slid beneath her with a twist thrusting his left fist in her stomach.

Kimiko grunted falling backwards but she managed to catch herself before she hit the floor and jumped back on her feet reflexively stopping a punch with her forearm as it came for her face. She leant on her back letting the other fist pass over her and rolled on the ground avoiding what would have been a painful knee to gut collision.

She stood up bending her knees and positioning her arms in a defense stance preparing for Raimundo's assault. He unleashed a chain of punches and kicks, moving swiftly from one to another with a speed far greater than what Kimiko expected. He kept pushing her back and her moves started to slip becoming desperate as she worked her body to blend in with the constant assault.

Raimundo locked his hand around her wrist and pulled her toward him without letting go successfully knocking her feet from the ground and dropping her painfully on the back with a flick of his hand. He stood above her crossing her arms and smirked cockily at her position.

"How's that for a lesson?"

Kimiko scowled and tried to sit up although it seemed like she was lifting a wall of bricks. "A lesson in humiliation?"

"Guess you can call it like that." He extended his hand and helped her stand up. She painfully rubbed her back as he led her toward a wall and sat down cross legged. "Does it hurt that bad? I didn't mean to be harsh, alright?"

"Y'know, it's okay! I think I deserve it for not doing my work."

He chuckled massaging lightly her shoulder and received a wince from her. "That bad, huh?"

"Yeah!"

"So, what's this job of yours?" Rai asked grinning knowing the girl couldn't see him. "It's putting a lot of stress on you!"

"Well…I'm not supposed to tell you…" The black haired woman hesitated shrugging off his hands and turned to face him. "But do you want to teach me some things?"

He looked surprised at her determined face. "O-kay! Sure!...Are you changing the subject?" He asked in a serious tone.

Kimiko snickered punching him lightly in the shoulder. "Maybe I'll tell you some other time."

"Don't cha wanna tell me at lunch?"

The girl frowned. "Lunch?"

Rai smiled reaching for the water. "I know a nice place down the street. What do you say?"

"Sounds good!" She accepted the bottle when he was done drinking and she took a sip before sitting up flexing her shoulders.

"Let's go then!"

Rai took her jacket and they left the room. Passing by the front desk they waved at the nice woman who helped Kimiko, and Raimundo told her he would be back in an hour or so before they stepped out on the street to get something to eat.

-.-

The door swung open letting the light from the corridor creep in the darkened room. Raimundo entered closing it behind him as he switched on the lights. The apartment was small with a kitchen and lounge combined, a bathroom and a bedroom. The walls were painted a pale yellow and the floor was made of a soft wood with only a brown rug underneath the sofa and the table.

It was the only thing Rai agreed to purchase ever since he became Phantom and that was only from his first strike. He refused to let his mind be controlled by the human greed and he didn't want his friend to do that either. Even if Jack sometimes threw a fit because of his choices, Rai knew he wasn't mad with him. It was only the disappointment and love for technology talking for him. He knew Jack could survive fairly well without them. The red head was one of the most inventive persons he has ever met after all.

His feet lightly stepped on the floor without a sound and he threw the bag on a chair with a sigh. The lunch with Kimiko went great in his opinion and he even managed to talk some things out of her. Of course there were things he already knew but that didn't stop him from faking being impressed or revolted. He was such an amazing actor after all!

Beside already known things, he found out the police was stuck. And that brought a warm feeling to spread in his body, feeling that he realized it was pride. He had to admit he was good when it came to not leaving traces, but his luck could always turn against him. It wasn't the whole 'He's a pro and that's why we can't catch him' thing, it was just that Rai looked at it as a more fate related thing.

Anything could have gone wrong when he returned the sword. Someone could have looked up and saw him aiming for the plane or an employee of the airport could have come on the roof to check this or that. It was not about being a professional because Raimundo didn't consider himself that…However he didn't mind showing off a bit. Put a confident image and look as if you know what you're doing and bang! You're the most dangerous thing in their eyes!

He smiled. It was kinda good to be in the centre of attention…but it was much more easy when he was wearing that mask.

With a sigh he dropped down on the sofa placing his head on a cushion and just laid there motionless. He kept thinking about Kimiko and how ironic the entire situation was. After all she has just had lunch with the enemy even if she had no idea. He also wanted to see her and talk to her again which wasn't that hard since he agreed to be her sensei from now on.

Again, the fate's cruel irony!

But that wasn't the cause of his widening grin. Closing and opening his emerald eyes, Rai turned on his back watching the ceiling as a plan hatched in his mind. Another encounter would be very welcomed in his free agenda but he was thinking of something more…troubling!

-.-

The next morning, Kimiko woke up early and swiftly dressed in her uniform. She prepared herself a modest breakfast and right after, she went down toward the garage as per usual. Only this time, her father's secretary stopped her before she entered the elevator in order to give her something.

That something consisted in a letter.

Kimiko checked the envelope without finding anything special beside the imprinted letters with her name which raised suspicions in her head. She slowly opened and pulled out only a white sheet of paper. The message written was also imprinted and it was made of a few lines:

I'm very surprised you have chosen to open an anonymous letter like this one Miss Tohomiko,

but I might as well say you already know who I am since we have had quite an explosive meeting a few days ago.

What I want to ask you is if you accept my invitation to the Tokyo National Museum, tonight at twelve in the Toyokan building.

I just want to talk to you and I can assure you I don't have any bad intentions…unless you come of course.

I would prefer you keep this between us so please do not announce anybody else!

Phantom

Kimiko gapped like a fish at the signed name, not believing that the thief she was supposed to catch would offer himself just like that. She stood still for a second trying to wrap her mind around the idea of the letter. Phantom wanted her to meet him in the middle of the night - and - in a public building nonetheless.

She must have been looking ridiculous because the assistant asked her if she needed anything. Kimiko refused flustered and continued on her way to the car. The paper suffered the merciless wrath of her fists as it was crumbled and ripped into pieces then promptly thrown in a trash can. The trepidation she felt a second ago vanished just as quickly, being completely swallowed by the evergrowing anger.

The rage didn't vanish on the way to the police station though and it made her remarks a tiny bit harsher than she had intended. The fact didn't go unnoticed by the others so they agreed upon leaving the heiress on her own in order to cool off. Everyone believed she must have felt angry that someone actually escaped her which wasn't that far from the truth and Kimiko decided to leave it at that. She was in no mood of explaining herself to her coworkers.

But no matter what she was doing the letter kept its place in her mind. It completely trashed her concentration and made her stare blankly into space. She only read it once but still, each word was perfectly engraved in her mind so the letter continued to play itself on and on.

By that afternoon, Kimiko gave up on her work seeing as it was pointless to have something done. The anger also melted away, its place being taken by uncertainty. She felt conflicted between announcing her friends or going there on her own. But he said he wasn't going to do anything illegal (beside sneaking in) and that's what bothered her so much. Maybe if she could keep him inside for a while she would effectively be able to get some information and catch him at the same time.

He proved to be a tricky character but it didn't mean she couldn't play the same game. A new spark of determination ignited in her and when she left work she knew what she had to do.