Sorry for breaking the promise...I didn't expect the end of the week to become the end of the following week but my beta had some technical problems with her mail and she couldn't send me the chapter any sooner. I regret you having to wait and I hope you haven't been too disappointed for my lack of activity.

Anyhow, there it is the new installment of 'Different Paths' with another promise of not making any more senseless promises. Meaning, I can't be sure when the next chapter will be up but it'll be soon.

Beginning

They were called in at the last minute as the proprietor didn't think it was bad until his workers warned him about others who made the same mistake and ended up eating dust themselves. This had to be suspicious though. He wasn't known for attacking the same area twice in the same month but the prize was indeed inestimable. The Eye of Dashi was a sight to behold. The Chinese crafted medallion has been just procured by a renowned historian, Myuki Takeo. Famous for his many purchases throughout the world, the man's wealth was said to be entirely made by historical artefacts, some of them acquired through questionable means.

And here he was now. Laid down in his futon, the historian felt his brain work in miles per hour. It was like overdrive, he thought his head would explode any second. He knew he shouldn't be worried, but from everything he had heard from his employees, he wasn't to be mess around with. He was a pro but he was assured by the police forces that it would all be taken care of. Somehow he doubted that, and for the nth time that night he wondered: How did he end up in such a situation?

Outside, the black and white picture could only bring chills down one's back with its frightening appearance, but no matter what, its majestic size spoke volumes of its importance and beauty. The mansion was engulfed in a thick veil of silence. It loomed in the sky over three stories high casting a prolonged shadow over the front yard. The circular planted gardens, filled with flowers and grass, swayed in the slight breeze as footsteps echoed throughout the deserted area. The black clad men walking in the darkness stood hidden from an unseen enemy watching with hawk like eyes every movement around the house.

Shadows crept from each corner, the faded light of the moon offering them ground to land on. The blackness was everywhere and the dim glimmer of the night queen just barely plunged into their depths. And he took full advantage of that.

Shifting swiftly from shadow to shadow, running weightlessly through the air like a spectre, expertly trailing any changes of his surroundings, Phantom easily penetrated the property, one purpose perfectly clear in his mind.

His silent steps resounded with the quietness, black body blending with the darkness; he smirked at the easiness of everything. He couldn't help feel the pang of disappointment growing inside of him. The house was in sight now and he could vaguely make out the shapes of people hidden through the foliage of the gardens or the corners of the house.

He knew he should be worried, maybe even hesitant, but somehow those emotions chose to evade him that night. If anything he was excited. And not the 'I know something you don't know so I'll win' kind of excited but the 'This is it, everything ends now' kind of excited.

He took a deep breath, reigning in his frenzy impulses. This was the end of the line. It all came down to him to solve everything. He had all the cards and boy, was he gonna love creating a hurricane for those people. A Cheshire smile spread on his lips.

'They won't even know what hit them!'

-.-

Earlier that day

Kimiko was trapped. Her sense of justice screamed to go back to Tokyo, however, that small, annoying, contradictive voice in the back of her head chose the same moment to make itself known. She didn't want to abandon Jack and Raimundo. They were nice guys, a bit odd sometimes, but she felt like she could confide in them with everything.

Also there was that uncomfortable sensation coursing through her body when her mind would turn to those deep forest green eyes; eyes filled with sorrow and regret only lightened by that twinkle of mischief and cockiness which only made her tender temper blow out of proportions.

She smiled sadly, hands gripping tightly the hems of the hood covering her face. Her pace quickened as she spotted the bus pulling in the station and she easily slipped inside. Blue eyes watched the small town shrink through the window and a heavy sigh made its way out as she slouched in her seat.

She made her decision and she knew what it had to be done. However, it wasn't going to be pretty and the though only brought a grimace on her lips.

-.-

The door clicked open and a stream of light erupted in the room from the hallway. The tall, bulky man stepped inside, locking the door with a hand while the other one searched for the switch. As the light flooded the modest apartment, Clay placed his bag on the nearest surface which happened to be the couch before walking towards his bedroom ready to throw off the uncomfortable uniform.

To say the least, he was pissed. The situation back at Headquarters was terrible and it all swirled around Kimiko. '…and Phantom,' he added bitterly.

He honestly couldn't wrap his mind around the situation. Ever since Phantom appeared in Japan things have started to go downhill. The police had been called back and forth for nearly two months. Clay found it incredibly amusing how paranoid most of the rich or influential people have become since the thief made his presence known in the country before disappearing without a trace.

Of course, afterwards they received all kinds of calls and emergencies concerning Phantom which ended up being either kids with a crazy sense of humour and an adventurous spirit or simply nutcases. He scowled darkly remembering how many times he was forced to restrain such persons.

Anyway, after his mysterious absence, Phantom indeed made a hit: Mr Hogai. The stolen item, the Sword of the Storm, had an immeasurable value, yet the thief returned it. Why? Clay had no idea and neither did the whole world. From Brazil's Ambassador, to Lady Wuya and to the infamous magnate Hannibal Roy Bean, his actions were a mystery.

The blond off-handily wondered if Brazil, Australia or the United States had to deal with the same events. He shook his head a second after. Now was not the time to think about that, he had to come up with something to fix the current problem.

Kimiko.

What was he gonna do now that the whole country associated her with Phantom? And then he asked himself again. Why did the higher-ups think they would achieve by making that sort of information public?

"It is a risk we need to assume. Phantom is considered a world-wide threat since there are very few known about him. By placing him and Miss Tohomiko in the same boat we can secure at least a temporary lead on him making this the closest up-to-date opportunity of cornering him."

It wasn't a bad idea, admittedly; but it could have been better if they didn't make a runaway out of Kimiko. He, as well as everyone else knew there was something fishy down the middle. It must have been a misunderstanding of some sort. The wrong place at the wrong time…yet, what was she doing at the museum back then?

So many questions with no answers in the near future, at least that's what he believed before answering the knock on the door and freeze in the threshold. His eyes widened for a fraction of second before they narrowed, lips thinned and jaw set firmly.

The person standing in front of him slouched a bit but their eyes remained fixed on Clay's. The blond sighed and stiffly moved to let his guest enter. He slowly closed the door and motioned for the person to the couch. He, himself, dropped like a rock on the soft cushions without a word.

Despite his calm exterior, Clay felt a storm brewing inside of him. He closed his eyes trying to get a hold of his emotions and then opened them, his voice cutting sharply through the tense silence.

"What in tarnation are ya doing here?"

-.-

Jack absentmindedly played with the spoon in his coffee as his vibrant red eyes stared blankly at the rising sun. He felt so tired he was amazed he was standing and not staggering like a drunk. The coffee must have helped a little despite taking only a few sips. His mind drifted to the day before and a barely visible frown crossed his face. He was vaguely questioning whether everything would sort itself out in the end. He could only hope it would and that it would sort out in their favour.

It was all a matter of time, he decided with a sigh.

Running a hand over his eyes, Jack abandoned the spoon letting it clank uselessly with the half filled mug. From the corner of his eye he caught the bedroom door swing open and a half asleep Raimundo stepped out yawning like there was no tomorrow.

"Morning." He muttered scratching his head and ruffling even more his normally messy hair.

Jack acknowledged the greeting with a nod as he stared at the brunet pouring himself a cup of coffee. "You know Kimiko is…" He let the words trail but only received a shrug from Raimundo.

"I was thinking she would." He replied lifting the mug to his lips and softly blowing away the steam rising from it.

"Any idea what she may be planning next?"

Another shrug. "I suppose we'll see."

Jack lifted and eyebrow at his friend's nonchalant attitude. "Doesn't it concern you a bit?"

Raimundo smirked. "I like a challenge, Jack!" The red head rolled his eyes. "We'll just go with the flow!"

"You are off the rocket, Rai!"

"What does that make you?"

The Goth threw him a half hearted glare and picked up the spoon slowly spinning it in the dark, cold liquid as his gaze slipped back at the rising sun. There would be some very strenuous days ahead, he sighed defeated.

-.-

Clay was usually a very rational guy. He didn't accept nonsense from anyone and wasn't easily fooled, especially by his friends. Despite all that he knew when not to push the subject and when a person wished to be left to their own advice and he was pleased to say he was good at that. However, the more he was hearing, the more he wanted nothing else but to throw a tantrum, shake the girl and demand some answers.

It was all so wrong. And it could all happen just to Kimiko. The raven haired woman was sitting right in front of him, face grim and determined but otherwise fine. Dark circles surrounded her eyes and clashed with her pale skin but that was expected. She must have been devastated after learning of her new status. Clay could only imagine the emotional pain that ripped through her heart a few days ago and wince slightly at the picture.

But that was not the topic of their conversation. Everything so far felt surreal to the blond. It was as if a part of a world that should have never met theirs had and still, the result of such a collision stood on his couch. He blinked slowly trying to regain his mental equilibrium.

"Let me get this straight, 'kay?" Kimiko nodded waiting for him to speak. "You met with Phantom, alone, 'cause he asked ya to…and then fled with him instead of remainin' and explainin' what the heck was going on, leaving all of us to run around in the dark and now yer coming at meh sayin' that Phantom will rob Myuki Takeo's house tonight and that ya want me ta help him get away?"

The woman bobbed her head affirming everything he has said thus far. Clay gapped at her trying and failing to form a coherent sentence. In the end he only managed a befuddled, "What?"

Kimiko huffed throwing her head back. "Clay, please, I need your help with this. It's the only way I'll be able to redeem myself."

"W-Wait a sec, ya mean…?"

"Yes. You'll go to Chase and tell him you've got an anonymous tip about Phantom and tonight while they try to capture him I'll come in and stop him myself. Then you'll help him escape. It's simple!"

The blond snickered humourlessly. "Kim'ko…it ain't that easy. They'll know something is wrong. Chase ain't stupid like that…and he knows ya."

Kimiko bit her lip worriedly. She knew the harder to fool would be Chase. He was her mentor after all, he taught her everything she knew, been there for her throughout her career. She honestly wanted to regain his respect and she wanted to tell him everything but she wasn't sure how he would react. He was unpredictable, harsh and cunning; one of the most successful agents. And he would pose as quite a hitch for their plan.

"Damn." She finally voiced. "What do you have in mind then?"

Clay frowned. "Ah ain't so sure 'bout this thing Kim'ko."

"What do you mean?"

"Ah mean…" Clay took a deep breath. "Ya should come back and explain ever'thing to the others 'cause yer not really makin' sense."

The woman shook her head slowly, a blank expression covering her pretty features. "What the hell are you talking about? I definitely can't do that!"

"Kimiko, be serious, darn it! What yer tryin' won't ever work out!"

Kimiko continued to shake her head.

"Kimiko, this ain't some movie where ya trick the police, gain respect from ever'one and save the bad guy all at the same time. This is – "

"He's not a bad guy!" Kimiko stressed through grounded teeth. "He is not who you think he is! He is…"

Clay watched her sternly. "Yes?"

Kimiko paused for a second, her mind drifting to her conversation with Raimundo back in the forest.

"Does it have to do with what you said last night? That is the 'only way to get over'?"

"Yeah! It has. It's more like a legacy truth to be told…"

She mentally shook herself out of her stupor and looked coldly in the blonde's blue eyes. "He has his reasons." She said finally.

"Which would be?" He inquired with a raised eyebrow, completely unaffected by the woman's bitter demeanour. She scowled and without a warning stood up and stormed towards the door.

Clay didn't try to stop her. "Ya don't know."

Kimiko spun on her heels, hardly concealed fury washing over her face. "He is a good person. He hasn't hurt anybody and…he…he's not doing it for himself…" At the man's confused expression, the woman shook her head. "It doesn't matter. I suppose you're not gonna help me anyway."

Clay hastily pulled himself up. "Wait! I've never said I ain't gonna help ya, it's just that…is he even trustworthy? How do ya know he ain't gonna pull one over ya?"

Kimiko looked at him impassively. Her mind was whirling around that question and every answer it came up with was an image of Raimundo smiling caringly at her. "I just know."

"This is really twisted." Clay laughed. "Ah can't believe this is happenin'."

The woman managed a weak smile and she stepped back beside the couch. "Thanks Clay."

The blond shrugged. "Want som'thing to drink?"

The sun shone through the open windows, the refreshing air of the summer night being replaced with the ever warming breeze of the morning. Kimiko followed Clay in the kitchen and watched him make some tea. She sat on a chair and closed her eyes tiredly.

From the counter, Clay smiled slightly at his friend. He had no idea what he was getting himself into but he would do anything if his friends would ask for it. And he could bet his old hat that this would be one big pain to deal with.