MR. OAKLAND, ANGELA PETRELLI, & SYLAR

LONDON

"How has he been adjusting to his new job?"

"Quite well actually." Mr. Oakland smiled. "Mr. Sylar will actually be back this evening from his most recent assignment. I'm sure he would be delighted to meet you, as you are a very significant part of this team."

"Yes, I would like to meet him. In fact, if I might have the honor, there is a little situation that I would like to assign him to fix for me."

"Really?" Mr. Oakland nodded. "I'm pleased to hear it. It's about time you take a more active part of our organization, Angela." They were interrupted by a knock on the door. "Come in."

The door opened and Sylar stepped into the room. "I was told to see you when I arrived."

"Yes, excellent!" Mr. Oakland greeted Sylar with a handshake and then motioned to Angela. "I wanted you to meet one of your other employers."

Sylar frowned. "I recognize you."

"Oh?" She pursed her lips and stared him straight in the eye.

"You're the politician's mother. Petrelli."

"Very good." Mr. Oakland nodded. "I assume you didn't realize that she was on our side though, did you?"

"Our side?" Sylar grunted. "I'm not on anybody's side. I'm just doing a job."

"Speaking of which, how did your assignment go?"

"Fine." Sylar replied simply.

"I hear you've just returned from France. I hope you were able to take in the sights while you were there. It's my favorite place to visit." Angela gushed. "I was just there myself the past week, but unfortunately work has pulled me away…"

"I wasn't there to visit tourist traps." Sylar cut her off. "I was on assignment."

"Right, of course." Angela tipped her head curiously. "So tell me, what was this assignment you so successfully completed?"

Sylar glanced to Mr. Oakland for permission to elucidate. He nodded and Sylar continued. "I was in France for four days. The first two days I spent tailing a man, waiting to see if he would exhibit any special abilities. On the third day I grew tired of waiting and decided to force him to show me what he could do."

"Meaning?"

"I used my abilities on him." Sylar explained.

"And what did you discover?" Angela inquired.

"He is nothing more than an ordinary man living an ordinary and pointless life in this pathetic world." Sylar's dark eyes settled on Mr. Oakland. "Is there anything else you wanted to know?"

"How can you be certain that this man had no abilities?" Angela persisted.

"I could see how his brain worked. It was normal."

"That's good enough for me." Mr. Oakland decided. "Thank you for your time, and I believe you have another assignment to begin."

Sylar nodded. "My flight leaves for Germany in one hour." He left the room without another word.

"Another assignment already?" Angela questioned Mr. Oakland once they were alone again. "You sure are keeping him busy, aren't you?"

"We think it's best for the time being. Plus he is a very handy employee. We like using him whenever possible." Mr. Oakland told her. "This particular assignment will require him to use his more…shall we say useful abilities."

"Ah, who may I ask are we eliminating today?"

"No one of consequence. A woman who has powers she is not aware of yet."

"And what harm is she to us?"

"She is an art dealer who has worked with Mendez's paintings. At this point I don't think she knows anything, but we figure it's best to stop her before she has a chance to learn what she's capable of."

"Of course. And will Mr. Sylar be taking her ability after he has killed her?"

"If he wishes."

HIRO NAKAMURA AND TAKEZO KENSEI

"Is it time for my training?" Hiro questioned Takezo as he entered the room they had planned to meet in for Hiro's daily lessons.

Something was wrong though. Hiro noticed that Takezo's usual cheeriness seemed limited. His eyes lacked their usual energy and his forehead was creased with wrinkles.

"Takezo?" Hiro waited for the warrior to speak, but he offered no explanation. Hiro tried practicing patience, but his curiosity got the better of him. "What's wrong?"

"Probably nothing." Takezo answered after a moment. "It's just Kaori…she hasn't checked in with me in a while."

"How long has it been?" Hiro asked.

"Three days."

Hiro frowned. He had seen the princess coming to Takezo every evening for the past two weeks. She hadn't missed a single day. For her to stop coming now didn't seem right. He didn't want to encourage Takezo's fears, but he couldn't help feeling a little anxious himself.

"Is there any way for you to contact her without raising suspicion?"

Takezo shook his head. "If she is with her brother, she will be too protected for me to get to her. I just have to wait and hope that she comes to me." He tried to focus on Hiro, but his eyes showed that his thoughts were still with Kaori. "Let's get to work."

"Are you sure you want to today? We could just…talk." Hiro offered lamely.

"Talk?" Takezo repeated.

Hiro nodded. He didn't know what else to say. He always felt miniscule in comparison to the great warrior he had the privilege of training with, but now he saw a different side of Takezo. He wasn't just an almighty warrior, but a man, with emotions that Hiro understood and sympathized with. Hiro thought of Charlie and he realized that he knew exactly how Takezo was feeling—scared, sad, and helpless.

"Yes…talking could be good." Takezo decided after a brief pause for consideration. "We can talk of where you come from and what has brought you here."

Hiro grinned. After two solid weeks of training in weaponry and the self-sacrifice that samurais required, they had yet to discuss Hiro's presence there in depth. Takezo knew that he had come from the future, and he claimed that Hiro had a purpose, but beyond that nothing had been said. Hiro was anxious to share his experiences with one who could surely understand what it is like to try and live up to a destiny; he was also eager to hear more of the future that Takezo seemed to believe existed for Hiro.

The two men exited the training room and walked silently towards the vast fields surrounding Takezo's hideout. When Takezo finally broke the silence, they stopped walking and each sat cross-legged in the long grass, facing each other.

"Tell me about the bad man that you fought." Takezo ordered.

"Sylar." Hiro spoke the name slowly; still fearful of the man he had stabbed. "He was a very bad man. He killed many good people."

"But you stopped him. You saved many more people!" Takezo reminded him, wanting to keep Hiro's confidence high. He knew that he would need it in the time to come. "Tell me how it felt to kill him."

"What?" Hiro hadn't expected a question like that. When he stabbed Sylar it had been strictly for defense. Sylar was a bad man who needed to be stopped. It wasn't something Hiro particularly enjoyed doing.

"I want to know the emotions you felt." Takezo expanded. "Trust me. This is important for you to reflect on. Sylar was the first person you have ever killed. Unfortunately, I do not believe he will be the last."

Hiro's eyes widened and he felt suddenly lightheaded. "I don't want to kill anyone else."

Takezo squinted directly at the sun. "Why are you training to be a samurai if you never intend to use the skills that you are acquiring?"

Hiro had no answer. All the training he had been doing with Takezo just seemed like the right thing to do. He hadn't actually considered what he would from there. He couldn't think of using a sword back in his own time.

"Hiro, I understand that you are scared." Takezo focused his eyes on Hiro unblinkingly. "It is difficult for you to realize the potential that you have, but you have to find the courage to be the person that your world needs you to be."

"You don't understand." Hiro exclaimed suddenly. "I am not a warrior like you."

"Not yet." Takezo smiled softly. "You are special though. You have an extraordinary gift, which you have already used to help people many times." He plucked a piece of grass from the ground and rubbed it between his finger and thumb. "All you need is the courage and strength to become what you are meant to be."

"I don't understand what you mean." Hiro complained. "You keep saying that I have all this potential, but what does it mean? What am I meant to do?"

"I've told you that when the time is right you will learn more." Takezo reminded him. "Just know that the dark times you were facing before are not over. Soon you will return back to your own time and continue with your mission."

"How? I can't control my powers. I hadn't meant to come here."

"You came here because you were meant to. Our paths were always meant to cross." Takezo said. "You will learn to control your powers and you will return to the future where you belong."

Hiro sighed. "When will that be?"

"That's up to you." Takezo's attention was drawn to one of his soldiers sprinting across the field towards them. "What is it?" He stood instantly and Hiro followed suit.

"Sir!" The soldier bowed his head to greet Takezo formally. "It's the Princess! She's been discovered!"

A/N: Gosh, I really don't like writing ancient Japan Hiro! I'm determined to bring him back to the present soon. Anyway, thanks for all the reviews! I'm so encouraged by the positive responses that I've been getting to this story!

One question…how much detail should I put into the next scene with Claire/Peter/Nathan/Heidi? Should I do the full dinner with detailed conversation, or just introduce it and then cut to the after scenes where they're all reflecting? Peter and Claire are my favorite storylines to follow so I love focusing on them, but I'm not sure how much you all want of that particular aspect. So, let me know what you're thinking!

Also, I'm always open to suggestions, requests, etc. Thanks again!