Episode One - 2011 Part 1
He was 20, free from his parents, the sting of losing his partner was still fresh, only a few months ago... He was in his own apartment. He was partying every night, trying to forget his friend, trying to be happy, trying to think about the girl from the other night and not Hikari. He was trying a lot of things really. Nothing was working though. Daisuke still hadn't accepted it.
The clock on the end table read 1:37PM while a monstrous noise emanated from under the covers in the bed. The rest of the room was filled was a messy desk; littered with empty drinks, chip bags, and clothes. The rest of the apartment wasn't much better. Definitely a single man's apartment.
As the source of the noise rolled over, a few locks of burgundy hair emerged into view and the noise grew. The monstrous melody interrupted by a ringing cell phone. An arm emerged with the hair and smacked the poor clock across the room before a few more rings made a pair of brown eyes finally look out from the darkness of the covers. The infernal ringing continued.
"Damnit!" The young man said as he climbed out of bed frustrated and attempted to find the source of the ringing. He finally found it and his eyes narrowed with disgust.
He answered it very irritated, "what dad?"
"Excuse me, what did you just say?" He immediately was awake as he heard the stern voice of his mother on the other end.
"I mean, hello my wonderful parents who help me pay for this apartment while I'm in school and looking for a job and that I love very much, who would never cut me off financially!" He sheepishly replied in a completely different tone.
"..." He could feel her rolling her eyes, "I was just calling to check up on you, son." He started leaving the room smelling shirts along the way.
"You don't have to worry I'm doing great…" He spoke dryly, gagging at the smell of the shirt, tossing it in the corner.
"Mhmm I knew you'd say that," not believing him but moving on, "so how's the job search going?" She asked.
He stopped in his tracks trying to think of something to say, "I...uh..." He hadn't gotten a single call back on anything he wanted.
"I thought so," his mother said, annoying him.
"Why do you ask so many questions if you know the answers?" He complained, opening the fridge. 'No soda, no coffee, no milk... beer it is I guess.' He thought as he grabbed one and closed the door.
"I'm your mother, I'm supposed to know these things, besides I love bothering you when you're hungover." She laughed.
"I am not..." he sighed. "Is that really all you called for mother?" Daisuke growled.
"No actually there is something else." She said.
"And what's that?" He smelled another shirt as he crossed the hall to the bathroom, finally satisfied.
"Yesterday I got a phone call from a man saying he wanted to contact you about a job."
"Really?" He asked skeptically, he opened a drawer in the closet by his bathroom as he asked her, "well, what kind of job did he say it was?" He left the closet with his set of clothes in tow.
"I don't know, he wouldn't tell me, said it was private." Daisuke tossed the clothes on the bathroom counter and went back to his desk.
"Well, did he leave a number or something? Why did he call there, I haven't put that number on any applications." He questioned as he rifled around looking for a paper and pen.
"I haven't a clue. But give me a second it's here somewhere." She went silent as he found paper.
"..."
"Great, I get offered a job and you lose the number, thanks mom." He said sarcastically as he found a pen.
"Very funny... now here it is, are you ready?"
"Uhhhhh," he scratched the paper with the pen, it did nothing. He searched for another, "uhhhh," tried it and finally had a working one, "…yea, go ahead."
"Okay, it is xxx-xxx-xxxx and his name is Michael Royland."
"Hmm, sounds American. Thank you mother, now is there anything else you wanna get onto me about?"
"Not right now," she chirped happily, "I guess I'll talk to you later sweetie, I love you."
"You too, mom, bye."
Daisuke clicked the phone off and set it on the desk. He stared at the piece of paper for a moment.
'What's an American doing calling my parents to offer a job. A job too personal to discuss with them... Weird. I'll call them in the morning...'
He set the slip of paper next to the phone and walked into the living room, he leaned down on the floor and began his work-out.
Twenty minutes later he stood up and wiped the sweat from his forehead, then continued a few more routines. After doing a few more minutes he was finally done. He headed to the bathroom and removed his clothes before turning his music on and stepping in the shower.
Turning the knobs hastily, the water escaped the shower-head before he could react, "no!" He immediately hugged the wall remembering too late, "damn I miss instant hot water!!" He yelled missing home.
As the water warmed up he leaned back into it. The warmth drenched his skin as he lost himself in his thoughts. He focused on the song that started playing it was one of his favorites, it was just a silly song... Daisuke closed his eyes, minutes passed. He was glad to be in the shower. No one could see his tears. He missed his friend. As the song ended he finally snapped out of it.
He stepped out of the shower, dried himself off and opened the bathroom door, he walked into his room, towel around his waist and found the clothes from earlier. He dropped his towel, putting his underclothes on first, he then put the tank-top on and the button-up next, but left it open. Pants last.
Walking out of the room he grabbed his keys and wallet from the nearby table. He looked over at the clock, "ugh, great I'm late now." Exiting the apartment he closed the door and locked it behind him. He jogged down the stairs and to the elevator. Once outside he went to his car. An older beat up Nissan. The alarm of the old car unlocked the doors with a light flash and he opened the door.
He pushed the clutch in, started the car and moved out of the parking space quickly getting on the road.
..
On the other side of town, outside a small family style restaurant the younger destined gathered.
"He's late...again...I told you." Miyako tapped her foot impatiently.
"He'll be here, don't worry so much sweetie." Ken said, Miyako melted in his eyes for a moment smiling but then quickly regained her aggression.
"Oh don't you use those eyes on me for him, he's been late every single time we've met in the-...since that, he always has an excuse, we made a promise, so each time we make it later and later, for him. It is 3 in the afternoon and I traded a good shift to be here for him! He's just trying to piss me off!" Miyako vented.
"Sweetheart, do you really think Daisuke is out to piss you off?" Ken chuckled.
She sighed, "ugh. No, shut up...I know he isn't, but come on, it is getting ridiculous, no?"
"We all have faults, right?" Iori reminded her.
Miyako sighed, rolled her eyes and finally agreed with them, knowing they were right. Ken looked over his friends with a smile, it had been such a road. Then his smile quickly faded, once he caught glimpse of Hikari and Takeru kissing.
"You both need to tell him, it wouldn't be nearly as bad, rather than finding out the hard way." Ken pressed them again. "I don't like keeping secrets anymore, especially not to Daisuke, the only reason I agreed not to is because it would be best coming from you two and you both promised you would. It's been a couple weeks now..."
"I know, I know, I just don't want to hurt his feelings, Ken, he's one of my best friends, and everytime I try it's..." Hikari trailed off.
"Mine too but I know it would hurt more if he found out some other way, I think you know that too."
"I wi-" She was interrupted as she heard his car pull up.
"We both will, I promise." Daisuke walked in and after spotting them he walked over "finally!" Miyako said acting exasperated, they began walking in.
"So, what's the excuse this time, hmm? Forgot an alarm? Overslept?" Miyako questioned.
"No, mother, I got a call about a job and time got away from me after that." He said poking fun at Miyako.
"What did you call me?" She tried to turn around, but Ken redirected her laughing as they sat at their favorite booth.
"A job?"
"Yea it was weird some guy called my parents house to offer me a job." Daisuke said slightly proud.
"Someone offered you a job?" Miyako asked sarcastically.
"Yea, what, is that so hard to believe?" Daisuke growled.
"Yes" 'She didn't even hesitate.' He looked visibly annoyed.
"That's great, what's the job?" Takeru interrupted.
"I don't know, he wouldn't tell her, said it was private and I still haven't called him yet."
"I wonder what it is." Hikari said.
"No idea, but enough about that, I'm hungry. Waiter, first round on me!" Everyone cheered. He won Miyako over easily he grinned.
After a couple of hours Iori was the first to leave, saying there was someone else he had to see today too. Daisuke was the last out, as he walked out he looked up, the sky had gotten dark, it was about to rain. He walked with Ken and Miyako.
"See ya'll Friday, right?" He asked Ken.
"Yea as long as you'll be on time." Miyako yelled sarcastically getting in the passenger seat of Ken's car.
"Yea, yea, yea. Next time then." He sat in his own car, waving at the pair. Hikari and Takeru rushed off after Iori departed.
..
Daisuke had just walked in the lobby when the rain let go finally. He was thankful it waited, it sounded bad. His thoughts stuck on the job as he exited the lift and walked to the apartment deep in thought. He unlocked the door and walked in, turning the lights on as the mess stared back something clicked and he decided to clean, it was a mess. So that's what he spent the next couple hours on. As he finished, he opened the refrigerator and pulled a bottle of beer out. Opening it he took a sip, half-way through he stopped when saw that little slip of paper, he remembered the job. He finished his sip and picked the paper up. He set his beer down, trading it for the phone. Daisuke dialed the number.
It rang, again, again... 'It must be too late...'
"Secured line, connecting, please hold." The operator said.
"Uh..." Daisuke said confused. 'What kind of business answers like that...'
"Line connected." The operator told him.
"Uh ok, I'm Daisuke Mo-"
"Mr. Motomiya? Yes, Mr Royland is on the line expecting your call sir, one moment please."
'This isn't weird at all...' He thought to himself as the line clicked again.
"Mr. Motomiya, I've been waiting for your call."
"Yes sir, so what's all this about?"
"Right to the point, your file said that. Listen, I'd like to offer you a job."
"What is it for, I don't think I applied?"
"This isn't a job you apply for, we hand pick our agents from all over the world. They are sent off to train. If you pass training we make a formal offer. Pay is great, job is high risk, high travel, and requires a classified clearance status, requiring only immediate family to know your status and contact information."
"I- wow that's lot, I have a bunch of questions, what do you mean high risk high travel? Where would I be traveling to? Where would I stay at? That really didn't answer what this job is for?" Daisuke crossed his legs as he leaned back thinking taking a sip.
"These are great questions. Some of them need to be answered in person. Again it is mostly classified information. It's part of an international task force. You will go all over the world. That's about all I can say right now."
"Then I'm afraid I'll have to…," he thought for a second about the rut he's been stuck in before continuing "...think about it. I'm not sure about leaving the country."
"I can understand, but as I read in your file, if you do take our offer you'll be saving the world again."
"So you know about that too... I'll think about it. I'll call you sir." Daisuke clicked the phone off and sat down at a stool.
"...classified task force saving the world. He can't just throw saving the world out there and expect me to jump in line..." he grumbled out loud to himself finishing his beer. He stood up and brushed it off, grabbing another beer.
..
A few days later...
Up much earlier than usual Daisuke made his own breakfast for once. After eating he put the dishes away and headed to his workout space, but could only think about the past. He frowned. He looked around, it was being at home, it had to be. He'd feel better if he just went out. He finally convinced himself to pick up his keys and go see if there was a good movie tonight. He hadn't been in awhile. And he was feeling very unsettled ever since that phone call with the American.
He started the car and backed out of the parking spot and drove away into the moonlit night as he headed towards the Cinema and Shops area. He parked and exited the car making his way to the entrance. He opened the door and let the girls behind him in first, then went inside himself. Once he got to the cinema entrance he spotted a movie and checked his watch; the movie he wanted to see didn't start for another twenty minutes. He decided to walk around the shops for a little while; he checked the normal places on his way to the theater.
Finally after picking up a few things, one for Hikari, that silly crush still lingering to this day. He headed toward the theater entrance again, satisfied. He was about twenty feet from the entrance when he saw Takeru, he started to wave then saw his hand connected to Hikari. He ducked out of the way. 'They wouldn't hide it from me would they?' He stood up, slowly looked for them, when he saw them he froze. Their lips were locked in bliss; he dropped what he'd bought her as he turned. Hikari had just opened her eyes, when she spotted movement behind Takeru, she turned to look at the person and it was Daisuke, his face hurt as he turned away. She gasped as she removed herself from the kiss, "no."
Takeru was visibly confused as he followed her gaze, when he saw Daisuke and his face Takeru's heart sunk. But before either could react Daisuke had turned and ran.
"No Daisuke wait!" Hikari pleaded, but Takeru grabbed her.
"You'll never catch him." He said, looking down at her sadly. She knew he was right so she picked up her phone and began calling him.
Takeru held her hand in his, "he'll be hurt for a few days but he'll calm down. We'll find him and apologize. We'll make up for it. He's grown up a lot the last few years." He assured her.
She sighed locking her phone as she reached his voicemail a fourth time, "I hope so. I feel terrible for not telling him sooner..."
"You're too sweet. He'll understand at some point. Maybe not immediately but he will." She smiled at him unsteadily.
..
To be continued..
