Choosing
It was three hours later when Kimiko walked out of the bathroom bearing red, swollen eyes and a running nose. No matter how much she washed, the proof she had been bawling her eyes out would stay glued on her face. She felt guilty like never before and she wasn't sure what she wanted to do next. Her first option would have been to simply leave but a voice inside her head told her to stay.
She shuddered at the thought of being on the receiving end of those furious green eyes again. Actually, she didn't want to face Raimundo any time soon. So she settled upon talking to Jack. But when she peered in the room she found him sleeping on the bed with two cups of pudding on his overflowing desk. Her brow twitched and she whined poorly in her throat.
She headed for the door next when it was suddenly pulled back and she ended up face to face with the last person she wanted to see. Raimundo for his part jumped back with a start, never expecting to see Kimiko the moment he stepped inside. He actually considered his outburst would made her leave immediately and maybe that was what she was about to do.
But somehow, the way she looked, so unkempt, clashed with that thought. The first thing he thought as he laid eyes on her was that she looked awful. Her black long hair was disheveled, her eyes were puffy and red and he could still see the trails of tears on her flushed cheeks. She quickly averted her gaze letting ebony bangs to cover her eyes and even though she couldn't see it he did the same.
"So you want to leave?" He asked tentatively.
Kimiko shrugged. "I don't know. I just…" She motioned for the door vaguely while shifting her weight from foot to foot. "I guess, I wanted some fresh air."
"Oh…" Rai stiffly stepped away from the door.
The woman moved out with one last glance and several minutes passed before she shouted. "At least I'm not the only one with temperamental problems."
The brunet looked up with a frown at that and stepped in the threshold crossing his arms over his chest. "I so do not have a temper problem. You on the other hand would do well with some therapy."
Kimiko rolled her eyes. "I'm sure I wasn't the only one screaming. In fact, if memory serves me right, you were the one who took over the whole conversation."
"Yeah, it's called making a point and rendering you speechless." He said before adding with a victorious smirk. "…And winning an argument too."
Kimiko growled and punched him in the shoulder prompting the thief to yelp and rub the sore spot. "My, my, temperamental and violent…what a combination."
"Oh, I'll show you a combination with my fists alright." She threatened and they both took off in the night, Kimiko trailing the laughing boy.
She felt a smile tug at her lips as they ventured towards the woods and it wasn't long until she too was laughing. When Rai stopped she took her chance and bumped into him throwing them both rolling on the ground. They came to a standstill with Kimiko on top, straddling the brunet beneath her with a happy gleam shining in her eyes.
"I suppose you don't want to see that combination, do you?" She laughed but it faltered when she noticed the wicked look in his eyes.
"I would like to see other combinations, truthfully." Taking note of their position, Kimiko punched him again in the same place and rolled beside him on her back. "Girl, you hit hard."
"I get that all the time."
"Bad guys and not-very-close friends?"
She tilted her head to look at him and grinned. "Not really…More like perverted boyfriends."
Rai blinked at her before he broke out laughing, Kimiko joining him right away. "So what does that make me?" He challenged but was only answered with silence as their amusement faded.
Kimiko bit her lip nervously. "Rai…I'm really sorry about earlier."
The brunet sighed tilted her head to look at him with a finger. "It was my fault. You were trying to be helpful and I was an ass to turn you down. I should do the apologizing here."
"You were still right about one thing, thought. I've never known real pain. My mama died when I was born, so I never knew her but papa was there for me every second of my life. He filled her place like no one could. I've never face a hard situation to face until I joined the police forces and even then it was about others' pain. And this whole thing…I had it easy. I still have Keiko, Omi and Clay…"
"But you lost your mentor…" Rai continued sadly.
"But I lost Chase…" She repeated and her words were marked by a serene hush.
"I'm sorry for yelling at you…" Raimundo finally whispered drawing Kimiko's eyes to his. "I don't like burdening others with my stuff…If it's something I can solve, I'll do it on my own. Jack knows it too…"
Kimiko smiled a little. "Rai, your problems aren't a burden to anyone, if anything they are a sign of trust…Do you trust me?"
She waited with growing apprehension as Raimundo reflected upon her question. When he came with a suitable reply he smirked. "I do…But don't expect me to come crying at you whenever I have trouble. I'd rather see you struggle a bit…"
SMACK
"Ouch…Seriously, are you going to do that every time you're pissed?"
Kimiko mockingly tapped her chin with a finger. "Well, you're tall and solid, pretty resistant too…" The brunet tried to understand what she was talking about with close to no luck. "…Yeah, you'd do a nice punching bag."
He felt his brow twitch. "Wow, I thought for a moment you were complementing me…" He stated dryly.
"Oh, please…Your ego is big enough without me expanding it more."
She watched smiling as he frowned playfully and before they knew it they were caught up in a game of who riled up the other more. It only ended when both of them could barely stay awake and had to get back, however, they were very pleased with the way things turned out. As it was, their relationship just got better and a certain mutual understanding fell over them: 'I won't bother you unless you ask for it.'
-.-
The following week couldn't have been better for the trio. The old friend they asked to forge a new identity for Kimiko did his job very well; now she was Kia Morimoto, an unemployed woman with no living relatives and no criminal record, obviously. They also found out that Jack was still unknown to the world but he still had to stay low in case he was seen and recognized by the police.
His wound was healing but it would still take another month for him to fully recover. As it was he was unable to use his right arm and he got tired easily but Rai deemed that as him trying to laze around and take advantage of his and Kimiko's patience. By the time, the week ended they were heading for the Tokyo airport. But not before dropping by Mister Myuki's house to leave the Eye of Dashi.
The short, plump man walked on the corridors of his mansion, sighing as he thought for the millionth time about the treasure he lost. He wasn't paying attention to his surroundings so he was scared half to death when he felt something smooth and thin falling down his neck.
He screamed in fright, hands shooting up and grabbing the intrusive object. What he didn't expect was the very same treasure he has been thinking of to appear in his hand as he fingered the beautiful golden string strapped around his neck.
And since now the attention was on the returned jewel, the three were free to embark a plane and head for a well-deserved vacation. Jack's first option was Dubai but given that his injure still needed time to heal, they opted for the second option which was Spain. Kimiko made sure to get as much money as possible from her bank account and paid the ride to Barcelona as an apologize for everything that has happened, even though Rai disagreed – Jack was more than happy about it.
The plane was preparing to take off when Rai abruptly sat down next to her, holding Jack's laptop. "Somebody wants to talk to you." He said then placed the computer on her lap and left with a barely concealed smile.
Kimiko decided to ignore his odd behavior and clicked the connection on, gapping like a fish as she laid eyes on the person. She quickly plugged in the headphones so no one would be able to hear their conversation and smiled softly.
"How is my sweetheart?"
She giggled. "I'm fine, papa. Very fine."
"I swear I didn't recognize you for a second there. You look good with red hair sweetie." Toshiro spoke affectingly making the woman blush.
"Thanks, papa…" Her smile wavered slightly. "Do you…um…do you know what has happened in Tokyo lately?"
She noticed Toshiro pursed his lips before smiling and nodding. "Yes, I know…remember, I keep tabs on my little girl!" He laughed lightly though Kimiko couldn't say she felt any amusement.
"Papa, I'm really sorry – "
The man held up his hand. "Kimiko, don't even think I'm angry with you. How could I be, sweetie? I'm proud of you no matter what, you're my little girl and I love you very much. Beside, those things get blown out of proportions all the time…" Kimiko beamed with happiness knowing this and seeing her father so laidback about the whole situation. "I only want to tell you this, sweetheart…If you think is right then do it. If is not, then make sure you don't repeat the mistake. I trust you, Kimiko, never forget that."
The woman was amazed how her father managed to make her feel as if she was twelve all over again. She nodded obediently smiled lovingly at him with blurry eyes. "Thank, papa."
"Oh, and one more thing…" He said then suddenly grew serious. "Be careful around those boys, alright. You wouldn't want to see your old man beat them up into next week…or how kids say it these days." Kimiko couldn't help it. She laughed her head off while on the other side of the screen, Toshiro nodded knowingly happy to see his girl with a wide smile.
"Papa…you don't have to worry about them…" She chuckled wiping the tears from her eyes. "Because they're gonna have to face me first…"
"I know…I didn't even expect those old joints to cause much damage anyway." He sighed with teasing dejection.
"Thank you, papa. I feel so relieved now."
Toshiro smiled at his beloved daughter with delight. "If this is what you want then I have no place to interfere. Take care, sweetie. And don't forget I love you and always will."
"I love you too, papa."
The screen flickered and the link closed. She stared at the computer with a warm smile on her lips for a few more seconds before she saw from the corner of her eye a person standing beside her.
"Did you like it?"
She inclined her head at him, the affection not leaving her face in the slightest bit. "It was the second best moment out of this whole thing."
Raimundo raised a brow waiting for her to go into detail. "Second best?"
She leaned forward, her breath passing over his neck as she asked mischievously. "Wanna see the first?"
"I would like that…yes." And he also leaned down capturing her sky blue eyes with his own forest green ones. They were both inches apart, teasing each other with their warm breathings flowing on their skin when –
"Can you please return to your seat, sir? The plane will take off shortly."
Jack burst into fits of laughter watching each of them turn with appalled faces at the flight attendant. Well, Kimiko did, Raimundo choose to regard her with a look of utter irritation all the while, the woman smiled amiably at them as if she they weren't about to jump and rip her to pieces for interrupting the moment.
"Sir, can you return to your seat, please?" She repeated obliviously.
With a violently twitching eye, Raimundo sat up, took the laptop and walked away without a word. Kimiko watched him go crossly, even thought her fury was directed mainly at the woman who dared to meddle. She sighed as the plane started to shake when a sudden, loud smack echoed through the cabin making people turn their heads at the source.
Kimiko snickered catching glimpse of the pouting red head and the frowning Raimundo. She shook her head as she connected her headphones to her phone and let the music beat in her ears to pass time while making herself comfortable.
There was a long way to Spain after all.
And this marks the end of the first part of the 'Different Paths' trilogy. Yes! You've heard me, there are two more stories planned in this series which I haven't started yet but soon will.
As it is now, I have a bit of a crash writing the beinning of the sequel, but I know I can get over it. Dunno when it will be posted thought, so keep an eye out. The name is 'Different Paths: Playing Spy' and it'll introduce several more characters from the show. :)
Untill next time...
The Green Seer is out!