Chapter 11 (Karmi's POV)

This wouldn't be the first time I'd blame Hiro for making me do something stupid. It wouldn't even be the first time I'd followed him into Good Luck Alley. He had his own vendetta to chase, but in a way…so did I.

The feeling of being shoved out of his world was almost too much for me to bear. It was one thing to need time alone to figure your feelings out, I got that. But when he was at his worst, Hiro isolated himself the most. He was worried about the past… And even as important as that was, I was worried about the future…

Our future.

So braving the dirty streets and neon lights, I trailed behind him just far enough away to stay out of sight. All I was armed with was a homebrew taser and a grimace that could have stopped time. But as it turned out that weapon was pretty effective.

"Hey, cutie, what are you doing out so late?" some snaggled-toothed creep asked from his spot leaning beside one of the many bars lining the backstreet.

"You really don't want to know," I said defiantly as I glared ninja-worthy daggers at him.

"You're right, I don't…" he squeaked, turning away.

The show of bravado wasn't that hard, given I was legitimately annoyed tonight. But still, I knew not every goon in this place would be as easily dissuaded. But Hiro was in almost as much danger. He didn't even take Baymax, what was he planning on doing if something happened? Sure he'd fare better than I would in a fistfight against a few minions, but San Fransokyo had a lot worse than small goons. What if he ran into Enkei tonight? He had no equipment and he was alone. The more I thought about it the angrier I got.

His emotions were making him reckless…again.

Glancing ahead I saw his figure round the corner. So I stepped up the pace before I lost him completely. Thankfully, I made it in time to see him slip into another bar just ahead. It was a risk to follow him into such a small space, but it would be even more obvious if I waited outside the door too long. I just needed to blend in. So pulling the hood of my jacket up I slipped into the noisy fray.

The small building was packed with every manner of riff-raff. Half of them looked mean enough to kill you on the spot, while the other half seemed drunk enough not to even care what happened next.

I took a seat in a back corner where I could watch Hiro. He was sitting at the counter and from the looks of things pressing the bartender for information. He seemed less than ready to cooperate until Hiro passed him a big enough tip to make him talkative. I couldn't hear what they were saying from here, but I saw the bartender point down the street. He was giving him directions somewhere…

Sure enough, Hiro headed for the door soon after. Which meant it was my turn to leave too. Not that I minded, this place was disgusting. Which is why a chill went down my spine when I felt someone grab my wrist from behind.

"Let go of me," I said firmly, without even looking back. I knew better than to show any fear.

"But I'd like the company, sweetheart…" a sickeningly sweet and mostly drunk voice answered back.

Fine, have it your way…

Calmly turning to face him I grabbed the taser with my free hand and jammed it into his ribs. He let out a yelp before staggering backward. The entire bar turned to look at us, but no one seemed to care for more than a second or two. I guessed this was hardly the first incident. So dusting his dirty fingerprints off me I headed for the door.

I was hoping that little distraction didn't cause me to lose Hiro, but as it turned out I didn't have to worry about it…

"I was about to help out, but it seemed like you had everything under control," I heard an all too familiar voice say.

Leaning against the wall outside was a certain smug nerd who didn't need to be named… But before I could open my mouth to explain anything Hiro basically had a conniption.

"What are you doing here?! You know how dangerous this place is, don't you?! I thought you were home in bed by now!"

I frowned. "Sure, I'm just going to read myself a bedtime story while you're out here getting killed! The danger goes both ways, Hiro! You're here alone, that's not what Big Hero 6 is about and you know it."

He ran an irritated hand through his hair. "Look, we already talked about it, I have to do this!"

"No, you don't, not like this! You don't have to do everything alone, you can rely on other people for once! Like your friends, or I don't know, your wife!"

I watched his shoulders slump. "Karmi, it's not like I don't want to, it's just…"

"Just what…?"

"Complicated…basically."

It was a lame excuse, but at least we weren't shouting. So I took a deep breath and tried to talk it through calmly. "Hiro, I just want to help you… I…love you. Aren't we supposed to share everything…?"

I watched his face soften as he opened his mouth to say something back. But that looked changed in a second as I heard footsteps behind me. Spinning on my heels I saw the same creep I'd tased, only now he'd brought friends. Ten friends to be exact.

Hiro stepped in front of me, taking a defensive stance. "Look, we're not here for trouble," he said resolutely.

The creep from the bar looked right past Hiro and at me."You should have thought of that before you made a fool of me, sweetheart."

I smirked, not letting myself seem intimidated. "You made a fool of yourself as soon as you left the house looking like that," I quipped.

I saw Hiro roll his eyes. "And so much for de-escalating the situation…"

Without another breath, they barreled toward us. Thankfully most of them were too drunk to mount a grand defense. But with so many I still thought it was better to stay on my toes. What Hiro lacked in equipment he made up for in form and training. Watching him reminded me that even out of the armor he was still Captain Cutie. Not to mention I racked up a pretty nice zap count myself.

But in desperation one of the goons still standing pulled a gun from his side and pointed it at us. My heart dropped, but I didn't let even a hint of it show on my face. Meanwhile, Hiro eyed him carefully, the sweat beading on his forehead. Our next move would have to be flawless, and we both knew it…

But as it was, we never got to make it.

Dropping from the rooftop was a blur of blue and black that moved almost too quickly to make out. All I heard was the sound of blades being unsheathed. It all happened in less than a moment, but when the dust settled we saw Momakase standing between us and the goons. An instant later we saw a line cut through their clothing, just short of drawing blood. But they seemed horrified all the same. Even more so when the gun slid apart into a few neat slices.

"I suggest you go home and go to bed now," she told the goons in a resolute and disgusted voice. "You're too drunk and too stupid to be conscious at the moment."

It seemed like no one was worried about their wounded pride anymore because they all scattered like rats.

Following her up a nearby fire escape we retreated to a spot that wouldn't garner so much attention. Safely on the roof, I could finally breathe a sigh of relief.

"Hamada…" she finally whispered as she looked at Hiro. "It's been some time, hasn't it? What foolish reason brings you to a place such as this without your entire team?"

"It seems like everyone's asking me that tonight…" he grumbled before thanking her for the rescue. "I was looking for information, something, anything, about Enkei."

"The one behind the museum attack? Yes, I've heard whispers of her, but nothing substantial enough to be useful to you, Hiro."

He frowned, seeming disappointed. "What about Robert Callaghan? We have reason to believe he's helping her. He's at large as we speak."

Her eyes narrowed as she looked at Hiro carefully. I wasn't sure how much she knew about him or his past, but nothing much seemed to escape her knowledge.

"The man responsible for your brother's death?" she asked frankly.

I saw Hiro wince before he nodded. "Yes…"

"And…" she began thoughtfully. "Do you believe he is to blame for this new wave of crime as well?"

The question should have been obvious, but it seemed like a hard one for Hiro to acknowledge. "The evidence points that way…" he finally said.

"That isn't really what I asked," she said before gazing out across the city skyline. "If you've come to such a place as this, looking for revenge then I'm not surprised you nearly died tonight. Frankly, I thought you were better than that…"

I saw the emotions flare across his face. "Momakase, can you help me or not?"

She turned back to glare at him intently. "If what you're seeking to battle are your own inner demons, then no one can help you… But you'd be wise not to lose hold of your judgment now, not now of all times." She folded her arms thoughtfully. "I agree Enkei's actions are puzzling, but she isn't the first fool to try and dazzle with petty and confusing crimes. The only real threat is if she is indeed a cog in a much larger wheelwork."

"I know, that's what I'm afraid of…" Hiro admitted somberly.

"So ask yourself," she went on. "Is Robert Callaghan the one who turns that wheelwork, or just another cog meant to twist beneath your skin?"

The question seemed to haunt him, most of all because at the moment we had no clear answer.

"I will keep my eyes and ears open about this," Momakase reassured in her own way. "I suggest you do the same, Hiro…"

With that, she was gone. Leaving us beneath the muted stars with more questions than answers.

By the next morning, we were sitting in the Lucky Cat, staring aimlessly into cups of coffee. The look on Aunt Cass' face said she was worried we'd had a big fight. In a way we had, it just wasn't with each other.

Momakase's cryptic words were still echoing in both our minds, I knew. Which is why I was a little surprised when Hiro finally broke the ice and decided to talk about us instead.

"I'm sorry," he whispered honestly. "For running off alone and worrying you."

I smiled a little. "And I'm sorry for antagonizing a drunkard and almost getting you shot. At least a little, I kinda enjoyed insulting him, if I'm honest."

He chuckled under his breath. "Yeah, you never excelled at diplomacy, now did you?"

I shrugged. "Maybe not, but he had it coming."

I heard Hiro sigh, the light mood darkening suddenly. "If anything had happened to you…I…"

"It was stupid, I know," I admitted. "We both were stupid last night."

"Fair enough," he agreed. "Let's both agree not to let that happen again, okay?"

"Well, I can certainly live without seeing Good Luck Alley's bars ever again."

He reached to squeeze my hand, the fear of losing me mingling with his attempt to be funny. "You're way too beautiful to bring to a place like that. You practically stand out like a beacon."

I grinned. "And when I get done zapping them they stand out like beacons too."

Before we near it, we were both laughing, and it drew Aunt Cass over like a moth to a flame. She didn't want to be nosy, but I knew she was dying to ask if we were alright.

"Can I warm that up a little, Hiro?" She asked casually refilling his mug.

"Sure," Hiro whispered as he eyed her with curious suspicion.

After she refilled my cup to the point of it almost running over, she hesitated, not wanting to leave the table. Finally, Hiro caved in with a smirk.

"Yeah, we made up, it's fine, honestly."

Aunt Cass smiled and heaved a flustered sigh. "Please stop worrying me, you kids, I'm getting way too old for it!"

I smiled back at her. "I know you must be terrified of having to take Hiro back."

She grinned at the joke, but then her face got a little sentimental. "That's the funny thing, I keep telling myself I'm going to turn his old room into that office I've always wanted, but…" She laughed a little. "I just can't bring myself to change a thing… Anyway, let me get back to work, this breakfast crowd is kicking my butt this morning!"

We both watched her go, but the mood lingered even after she left.

The thought of changing not only Hiro's room but Tadashi's…

The meaning wasn't lost on Hiro, on either of us.

The bittersweetness that made everything about his memory so hard. Even after so many years, I thought, he…still needed time. But, would eternity even be enough?

It was hard to say since I'd never really lost someone so close to me. If anything, most of my life had been like a vacuum filled with only loneliness. For so long I hadn't even had anyone to lose... Maybe that was why the thought of him shutting me out seemed almost worse than the thought of losing him…

I squeezed his hand back. Wishing against all common sense that I could somehow do something… Anything to ease the pain he still felt.

But all I could be was myself.

I only hoped…beyond all hope, I could somehow be enough...