heheh just a slight warning before the start of the chapter .. . . Prepare your eyes and mind for a super long update!!
It's going to be filled with lots of details that I myself had gotten lost in them when I wrote them . ..
hehe
[ . # C23 ]
"Good Morning!" Risa greeted first thing in the morning as Haru stepped out of her bedroom, in her pajamas while rubbing her eyes tiredly. "Get wash up quickly and join Mama for breakfast at the dinning table. Mama had prepared Haru's favourite breakfast this morning." Risa came forward before Haru and patted her head lovingly, pushed the young child a light nudge into the washroom, before getting herself into Haru's room, where she began to help Haru to chose her outfit for the day.
Haru nodded her head in sleepily as she dragged herself into the washroom, where she began to wash up and prepare herself for school. As she brushed her teeth, she vaguely remembered how her Mama had returned late from work the day before. After she rinse away the toothpaste from her mouth, she hopped a step out of the washroom and popped her head into her room, checking if Risa was still in her room. And when she saw the familiar back view of Risa at the wardrobe, she ran forward and hugged Risa's leg. "Mama, Good Morning!" Haru greeted as she buried her face into the back of Risa's leg.
"Good Morning!" Risa turned around, causing Haru to release the leg hug. Risa squatted down to the same level as Haru and ruffled soft ends of Hari's bangs. "All washed up?"
"Hmmm." Haru responded as she gave one strong nod.
"Alright, get changed and I will meet you at the dining table for breakfast." Risa ordered as she gave a light slap on Haru's butt.
"Hai!"
When Risa reached back to the main living area, she made her way straight into the kitchen where she took the food that she had prepared out to the dining table before settling herself down on her seat. Haru came running down the halls after Risa short moments later, with her school back strapped over one of her shoulders. As she reached the dinning table, she placed her bag on the seat beside her usual seat first before climbing onto it.
"Itattakimasu!" Haru chirped as she placed her palms together. After she did, she picked up the utensils placed by the side of her plate and began to dig herself into the breakfast made from love prepared by Risa.
Risa watched Haru digging into the food for a short moment starting her hands on the food placed before her in the same. As she was, a slight smile came creeping onto her face, making the first smile she made since the previous day.
"Haru-chan, Gomen ne. . ." Risa trailed off, breaking the silence that resided over the dining table.
"Why is Mama apologising to Haru?" Haru perked up her ears as she looked up from her dish and stared at Risa in confusion.
"Mama had promised you to pick you off your school yesterday, didn't I ? But- "
Before Risa could finish her sentence, Haru interrupted. "It's alright! Mama had never expect that something important will happen. Haru did not blame Mama on it. . . Though Haru is a little upset about it, it all alright ! " Haru gave her best smile as she reassured.
"Thank you, Haru."
With said, the pair returned back to their plate until Risa decides to speak again. "How was your school yesterday? Did any of such which Haru was worried about happened?"
"Hmmm?" Haru hummed in a raising tone in surprise.
Risa gave Haru a mischievous smile, giving Haru a hint that she has understood Haru's desire of not going to school yesterday.
Haru shook her head will her cheeks turning into light shades of pink.
"Isn't that great then?" Risa brushed away Haru's wave of slight embarrassment by rubbing the top of her head lovingly.
Haru nodded her head lightly in agreement before opening up her mouth to speak. "Mika-chan even thanked Haru for being here when the accident happened. The classmates had all showed extra care and concern to Haru when Haru was sitting out of the play during break time." The recount of the previous day event had triggered excitement in the younger girl, causing her to shift the attention away from her food and began to play with the leftovers on her plate. "Mika-chan had too mentioned that Haru-chan looked like pretty Nee-chan!"
That statement had caused the fork Risa held on her right hand to freeze in action.
'Does she really? How long can this secret be kept until the inevitable day draws near?' However, Haru was so excited into her recollection that she had failed to notice that sudden reaction from Risa. Risa picked herself back, shaking the thoughts in her mind away before reaching her fork to the next item on her plate.
"Ne Mama, since Mika-chan said that Haru looked like Nee-chan, will Haru grow up to be as pretty like how Nee-chan is?" Haru continued as she tapped her fork on the plate.
"Maybe. . . But if you don't clear up your dish right now, Mama can tell you that you won't." Risa bluffed as she pressed her fingertip on Haru's nose. That caused Haru to hurriedly pick up her speed and cleared up her breakfast. "So what did you do yesterday?" Risa continued asking.
"Hmmm. Haru went back to room to finish Haru's homework the moment Haru reached home. Ah! Nee-chan bought Haru a new notebook! It's exactly the same one that Mama had bought for Haru over the weekend. And oh Yah! Mama, what is a mutated cockroach? Nee-chan said that Stitch is a mutated cockroach when we watched Lilo and Stitch together."
"Buuu~" Risa spitted out the sip of orange juice she had just drank. "She said what?!" Risa shouted.
"Nee-chan told Haru that Stitch is an mutated cockroach. Mama, what is a mutated cockroach means? Does it means that it is still a cockroach?" Haru repeated the question in her innocence.
Risa started at Haru with unbelievement in her eyes.
'Why had she said that? MUTATED cockroach??! For goodness sake, Haru's just a seven year old!' Risa thought in her mind.
"Ready to go?" A third voice echoed in the room. That familiar voice that Risa will never ever recognised it wrongly. Risa shifted her eyes from Haru to the lady standing at the door way, with unexplained helplessness and slight anger in it. "What happened?" Ai asked when she noticed the stare from Risa was nowhere to friendly, just like the ones she had knew Risa earlier in spring, where the two had clashed with each other on a daily basis.
"I'm ready to go!" Haru called out from her seat. She climbed off, and pecked a kiss on Risa's cheek. "I'm going off for school! Bye bye, Mama!" With that, Haru went over to the other chair and picked her school bag up and run it over her shoulder beforing running towards the door where Ai stood. Before she exit the house, she turned over and shouted to Risa. "Mama, remember to tell Haru what does a mutated cockroach means~" Haru cheeped. With that, without waiting for any response from Risa, Haru hopped out of the doorway and towards lift lobby, leaving a rather helpless Risa staring at the now understanding the stare Ai staring at each other.
"I - "
"I got to go." Ai interrupted Risa's statement and step out of the house, closing the door behind after her.
Risa stared blankly at the close door before letting off a long sigh. She's tired, tired about putting off a strong front in front of her young girl; tired from the lack of rest due to the fact that she was not in any state of ease to close her eyes. There were still no news about whether her mom had regained her conscious from the stroke she had suffered the day before. Risa sighed once again as she picked up her phone which were placed by the edge of the table to check if there was any incoming messages or something as such. The slight vibration on the phone brought anxiety to the owner, causing her to press on buttons and read the latest incoming message.
{Mama had regained her conscious. . . Are you going to come over later? --Yuri}
A sigh of relieve escape Risa's lips. She leaned back against the backrest of the chair and closed her eyes for a while, before sitting up again and worked her fingers through the keypads of the phone.
{That's great. . . I got to see if I have the time to . . . And. . . I don't think Papa Mama will want to see me anyway. . . I don't want to cause Mama's condition to deteriorate in any way as well. . . - Risa }
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"Gaki-san!"
Risa turned around to the source of call that had echoed down the hallway to the FID office, only to see Makoto running towards her, with her sling bag running across her chest.
"Mako-chan?" Risa greeted as Makoto reached Risa's side. "Just reached?" Risa asked obliviously.
"Yupps!" Makoto replied. "How was yesterday? Heard from Haru-chan that you had emergency work to do. What was it?" Makoto questioned as she draped her hands over the shorter girl's shoulder.
Risa tilted her head a little, masking her little disquiet behind her slightly hazel eyes, before giving Makoto a slight nod. "It was just some personal stuffs. . ." Risa trailed off, answering the questions posted by Makoto. "How's work yesterday when I were away?" Risa tried to change the topic by speaking something regarding work.
"We finally managed to contact Miss Tanaka. She's coming down to the office for some statement taking today. It seems like she was hiding something to us, regarding her brother's whereabouts." Makoto answered as both of them entered into the office. Makoto released her hand from Risa's shoulder and made her way to her seat while Risa did the same. "Do you want to interview her instead?" Makoto asked.
"We can do this together." Risa suggested as she removed her blazer and place it over the back of her seat. "What time is she arriving?"
"A little pass ten?" Makoto responded.
With that, the two began to buried their face into their work, until Risa remembered something about Eri which Sayumi had mentioned the previous day. With that in mind, she stood up from her seat and went over to Makoto. "Hey Mako-chan, I'm going over to the CIL for a short moment. Will be back before ten." With that, Risa strode out of the office and down the connecting hallway and towards the CIL. When she entered the working space of the CIL, she sensed the extreme tense working atmosphere in it. In caution, she walked sideways towards where Eri sat and stopped before her. The very stressed up girl was so focus in her work that she could not even sense the presence of Risa before her. It was only until Risa knocked lightly on her desk that Eri had looked up from her report.
"Gaki-san? What are you doing here?" Eri questioned.
"Why are you sitting outside here? I thought you had been promoted. Shouldn't you be sitting over at that office over there?" Risa asked curiously while pointing at the office Ai sat previously.
"I - I don't feel like moving into it." Eri stuttered as wave of uneasiness washed over here.
"Are you alright?" Risa concerned while glancing around her surrounding, only to catch a few glances from the scientists and technicians of the forensic labs, including Sayumi's and Miki's.
"I'm fine. . . " Eri insisted.
"Shall we have a talk? Inside?" Risa suggested while tilting her head towards the direction where the supervisor was located.
"I'm - I'm busy. . . Shall we talk another day?" Eri pulled out an excuse, after guessing the possible reason for the sudden serious Risa before her. She had guessed that Sayumi might had mentioned her recent weird behaviours and actions to Risa accidentally in some ways. To the fact that Eri had been trying to run away from the wave of guilt she had felt within herself, she did not want to talk to anyone at all, not at all.
"Just for a short moment. I promise." Risa insisted as she pulled Eri out of her seat and dragged Eri into the supervisor's office.
"Let go of me, Gaki-san . . ." Eri whined softly as she struggled to peel the fingers off her wrist the moment they reached the room. Risa let go as Eri had requested.
"What had happened to you, Kame?" Risa concerned again as she watched Eri dropped down chair and buried her face into her hands.
"I don't feel like talking." Came the muffled reply from Eri.
"I heard from Sayumin that you are highly tetchy these days. Something is definitely wrong. Tell me what happened?"Risa asked.
"It's nothing." That was the stubborn reply from Eri.
" Is it something that is to do with your relationship with Sayumin or?" Risa continued suggesting, which had gained ample attention of Eri to her.
"What do you mean by my relationship with Sayu? We are not dating or anything, how can there be anything wrong with our relationship? And why does it even matters to you? You are the last person whom I will want to talk about my love life." Eri looked up from her hands and argued. That was when Risa had noticed the trails of tears following down Eri's cheeks.
"I - " Risa felt herself melting in the hurtful stares that Eri gave her. The remorse aroused within her heart.
"It's about Takahashi-san." Eri soften her tone and continued.
"What about -"
"I feel so guilty about it, Gaki-san. Every night when I close my eyes, the fact that I had caused her suspension of being a forensic investigator and haunted me so much, so much to the fact that I cannot get pass myself to move into this room. I don't feel that this belongs to me. I don't feel worthy of this position. I shouldn't had been the one to be nominated to this position. I shouldn't be. Yet I - I - "
"Kame. . ." Risa placing a soft pat on Eri's shoulder, stopping Eri from going on further. "Take a deep breath. . . I know how this feels. . . Because you are not alone." Risa trailed off to silence. "I'm experiencing the same thing as well. . ."
"I - "
"But how much more else can we do? There's nothing more else that we can do, except to return her the justice she should have. It's not the time for us to be self-blaming about what had resulted today. There's something more we should do rather than this, get it?" Risa advised,
"But - "
"She had placed you in this position for a reason, do you know that, Kame? I'm sure that she feels that you are worth it, and therefore, had placed you in her position. Make worthy of that chance. You are not being yourself and you are pulling the whole team into a real difficult position, have you realise? You need to be yourself and stop feeling guitly. Feeling guilty alone will bring you nowhere. And Sayu. . . she -"
"I know. . . I know . . . " Eri interrupted immediately, stopping Risa from mentioning anything much more obvious.
"I'm glad you knew. . . Don't repeat any of my misdoing. . . . . . " Risa trailed into silence. The unspoken words remained as understood between the two.
Eri stood up from the seat and paced back to the door. "I'm back to work. . ." With that, Eri flipped the door open. Before she managed to get out of the room, Risa had stopped her again.
"Move in soon. It will help to ease up the little tension present in the common space." Risa finished.
Eri nodded her head in slightly in acknowledgement, before getting out of the door fully and closed the door after her, leaving Risa standing all alone in the room first time in a long while. She looked around her surroundings, only to find the cupboard she had bang against previously was gone and was replaced by a brand new piece. The remembrance of the accidental kiss caused her heart to race slightly for a short moment. The moment was stopped when Risa tried to resisted against the race. Sensing that she should not stay any while longer and maybe needed back in her own department, Risa exited the room without giving any one last glance around the room.
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'What am I going to do today again?' Ai wondered mindlessly as she kept her eyes on the street. She had been driving her herself around in her vehicle in the region on the street in the same way, mindless, for the past 2 hour, and it was not only until 5 more hours before Haru gets off from school. "I hate this . . ." Ai mumbled softly to herself under her breath. She was getting a little too free for her liking. At the junction, she made an unintentional left turn, which brought her back to a familiar place she had came yesterday. The middle aged lady she met then came immediately into her mind.
'I wonder if she's alright. . . .I hope that her daughter had brought her into the hospital for a thorough check up in time. . . ' Ai hoped quietly in her mind. That had thus reminded her something else - Her own parents miles outside of the city, back in her home town.
'I wonder. . . If Papa Mama are doing well . . . or not. . .' Ai thought sadly in her mind. Without noticing it, her own conscious had drove her vehicle into the car park provided by the department store.
'Since I am back here again, might as well just get down and walk around to kill the more than enough free time I having right now.' With that in, Ai stopped her vehicle properly into the parking lot and got off the car and began to make her way towards the department store.
This time round, Ai got herself into the kids apparels department where she began to make herself through the aisles of bright coloured - pink, red, orange- clothing that would bring out the best of innocence and charm of the young ones. She was so tempted to get everything for Haru, only to end up reminding herself that it will be too weird to be getting new items for the young girl every single day, especially as the identity of a simple care giver who is not in a good relationship with her mother. Ai knew deep within herself that her kindness to the little girl can lead to something she fears to happen. With that in her mind, Ai placed back all the clothing she had chose previously and continued to window shop around the area. After she was done with that area, she moved on to the next, back to the Disney shelves, where she saw numerous number of ornaments and cups that she had not seen the day before. Ai picked up a pair of matching cup and placed it right before her eyes.
'She will love this. . . ' With that in her hand, Ai began to proceed towards the same cashier she went yesterday, only to stop at the rack where she met the middle age lady.
'She looked like she wanted to get that white dress when I saw her yesterday. . . I wonder if . . . ' Ai picked the same white dress off the rack and glanced at it for a moment.
'She has a good taste. . . This white dress carries out a different level of elegance and beauty. . . ' Ai analysed in her mind. Unknowingly, she removed the hanger and replaced it back on the rack while rolling the white dress onto her the other hand.
'Why am I buying it? This is not my style. . . ' Ai realised what she was doing. Though that, she brought the two piece of item : The matching cups and the white autumn dress towards the cashier and began to pay for her purchases. Allowing the cashier to pack the items into a single red shopping back, sealed with a white ribbon, Ai left the department store and continued her wander around the city.
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"Niigaki-san, Ogawa-san, A person by the name of Tanaka Reina is here." A uniformed PO came into the office of FID and spoke.
"Thank You!" Makoto shouted over to the PO before turning over to Risa. "Let's go?"
"Let's go!" Risa grabbed an empty confidential file and a few writing papers from her desk before getting up from her seat and reunited with Makoto who was already at the door.
"I hope we will get new leads from Tanaka-san today. It feels helpless to be stuck at the same place with no further improvements in the case. The rape victims from the 5 cases need their justice." Makoto determined.
"Yes." Came the firm agreement from Risa.
'And hers as well . . . ' Risa added silently in her mind.
The duo walked down the long hallway that leads to the interview room in silence. "Good Afternoon, Tanaka-san." Makoto greeted the moment she entered the room, followed off by Risa. "Good Afternoon, Reina-san. How is your wound recovering?" Risa concerned, causing Makoto to stare at her strangely.
"Do you know her?" Makoto asked in surprise.
"She's the kind Samaritan who had volunteered to donate her liver to Haru-chan back in the crash. That was why I said we should do this interview together. I can't do it alone." Risa explained briefly, with Makoto nodding her head in acknowledgement.
"I'm recovering fine. How are you, Niigaki-san? Are you -" Reina wanted to concern about Risa's recovery from her brother's attack but had stopped midway when she realised she may had spoke too much. That previous statement had gained enough attention of Risa and Makoto and Reina could tell that she had spoke too much from the awed expression on the former two faces. "I mean . . . Haru-chan. . . How's her recovery?" Reina continued, hoping that would covered her slip off moments ago.
Both the police had seemed to notice the slip off but had chose to let it be for the moment. "Haru's recovering well as well. "
"I'm glad to hear that." Reina commented, leading to the silence of the room.
"So, Tanaka-san," Risa changed her way of addressing as she serious up her tone. "Do you know the reason for being called in today?" Risa asked, officially starting the interview.
"Am I called in in regarding about my brother?" Reina replied.
"I see you know the reason why." Risa finished. "May I asked when was the last time you had seen your brother, and when was the last time you were in contact with your brother?" Risa continued with her questioning.
"It was that morning where my brother had went overseas, for both seen and contact. My brother doesn't has the habit to contact people when he was out of the country." Reina answered. With that response from Reina, Risa could tell that the shorter girl was lying. The shorter girl had forgotten the fact that particular afternoon, Risa and her had actually met each other.
"Are you sure?" Risa raised a tone, hoping that would make Reina to speak the truth.
Reina said nothing. She had only responded that question of doubt with a confident nod of the head.
Risa took a deep breath to prevent herself from flaring up. She could not understand the reason why Reina was trying to cover up the issues regarding her brother. To Risa, this brother was nothing near to the worthiness to be protected, especially by Reina, whom Risa felt that she was a kind hearted girl. "Reina-san, do you know what we are talking about? Your brother being a suspect of 5 sexual assault cases! If you are caught lying or hiding any facts that you knew, you will be in a deep trouble!" Risa shouted as she pushed back her seat and stood up, knocking the seat onto the ground, shocking both Reina and too, Makoto.
"Gaki-san, calm down!" Makoto stood up and picked the chair back into position, before pulling Risa back into the seat. "Why are you so agitated?"
Risa shook her head in response as she huffed in deep breaths, attempting to calm down her temper.
"5 sexual assault cases?" Reina repeated as she looked at Risa in confusion. "I thought my brother was being warrant for arrest for Takahashi-san's case and Niigaki-san's abduction case?" Reina asked, not knowing that she had just let out something really important.
However, before Risa could use this perfect moment to continue to get Reina to speak the truth, another issue had sparked Makoto's interest. "Takahashi-san? Is that the Takahashi-san that we knew? Why would Tanaka Juncho be responsible about Takahashi-san's case and suspension?" Makoto turned around and asked Risa.
"That, I will speak to you later." Risa assured before turning back to Reina. "How did you knew that the civil servant your brother abducted was me, Reina-san? From the records, we had only informed you that it was a civil servant that Tanaka Juncho had abducted." Risa questioned.
"I - I " Reina stuttered at the caught. She was squirming in fear and silence under Risa's strong glare. "I saw Onii-sama carrying you up into your own vehicle after attacking you from your back. I felt really worried. I knew something is going to happen. I called Takahashi-san for help."
"You called her for help?" Risa interrupted, surprised by the brand new piece of information that she had got to know.
"Oi, Brat!"The familiar voice sounded in Risa's mind, but Risa could not place when had that call echoed in her ears. The nervousness in the voice triggered something unexplainable within the 'brat'.
' Was that during my unconsciousness?' Risa breathed in heavily, hoping that would calm her uneven breathing. She shook her head slightly, hoping that would shake the thought out of her mind. This is not the time to talk about this.
"But, that's not what she had said." Makoto interrupted, stating the statement Risa wanted to make. "From the statement report taken by Gaki-san, Takahashi-san said that she had found Gaki-san's car at the street, parked in an inorderly manner. She felt insecure about it and went up the building to check it up." Makoto explained.
"That, was an agreement between me and Takahashi-san." Reina confessed, looking absolutely battered and tired.
"Agreement?" Risa raised half a tone at the statement made.
"Yes, in exchange for Haru-chan's transplantation."
Risa was awed at the fact. How much had she not knew about the underground transaction regarding Haru's hospitalisation. And she still had the guts to accuse the merciless actions Ai had displayed.
Makoto looked up from the testimony she was writing. "So you mean you had knew Takahashi-san from before?" Makoto question.
Reina looked blankly at Risa, unwilling to explain they complicated relationship web, leaving Risa to collect the messed ends of the story. "That, Mako-chan, I will fill you in later."
"And the reason for your brother to stop his abduction and fled the country was?" Risa continued asking while Makoto continued writing.
"I told him so." Reina answered honestly.
"Why? Reina-san, Why?"
"Because he's my brother."
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"Hey, it's you." Ai called out to the familiar back she thought she might know. The younger girl turned around and saw Ai, empty ended, preparing to leave to pick Haru up from school. She had placed the shopping bag into her vehicle, only to realised the young daughter of the middle age lady she had in her mind had just walked passed her.
"It's you?!" Yuri repeated the same greeting before rushing forward and gave a hug, shocking the latter to a huge extent at the sudden intimacy.
"Erm. . . ." Ai stuttered as she felt her arms being tied by her side, unable to make any movement. "Are you alright?" Ai choked out.
Yuri sensed the uneasiness of Ai and begun to take the initiative to move back, giving Ai the space she wants. She had yet to realised her abrupt behaviour was slightly inappropriate, especially towards someone she had barely knew. And when she finally did, she flushed in red. "I'm . . . I'm alright . . ." Yuri answered before apologising about her previous actions. "Sorry about that just now. . . I was just too. . . "
"It 's alright. . . " Ai assured, allowing the younger girl to return back to her relaxed self. "Is . . . Is your mom doing fine?" Ai asked as she stuffed her hands into her pants pocket.
The shy smile on Yuri's face disappear at the risen question. "Mama. . . fainted on the streets last evening and was brought into the hospital. . . The doctors said it was a stroke. "Yuri explained with worry evident on her face.
"I -"
"I'm grateful." Yuri interrupted as she bowed at Ai. "I'm grateful for your advice. If . . . "
"But I was still too late. . . "
"It's enough. . . " Yuri assured as she grabbed into Ai's wrist. "It's enough. . . "
Ai remained silence as the grip on her wrist tightened. Ai nodded her head lightly in acknowledgement. "What's your name?" Ai asked.
"Yuri. Niigaki Yuri." Yuri introduced herself.
"Niigaki?" Ai repeated quietly.
'Yet another Niigaki? I don't remember Niigaki being a common surname in the country, but why do I keep meeting people with Niigaki as their last name?' Ai wondered in her mind.
"Yupps." Yuri responded without noticing the slight questioning tone in Ai's voice. "Nee-san's ?" Ai shivered at the address Yuri made. Yuri noticed that small reaction and added on quickly. "Is it alright to call you Nee-san? Since . . "
"It's alright. . ." Ai reassured quickly. "Ai. Takahashi Ai." Ai lifted her right arm up and checked the time on her watch. "Are you going anywhere now? I have a little time to spare, so I can drive you to your destination." Ai offered while pointing her nose towards the direction her vehicle was.
"I'm on my way to the hospital." Yuri replied, nodding her head a little.
"I'll give you a lift." Ai offered as she signalled Yuri to go over to the other side while getting onto her driver's seat. Yuri did the same and strapped herself immediately into the seat. "Which hospital is Niigaki-san admitted into?" Ai asked as she started the engine.
"Keio University Hospital." Came the polite reply.
That caught Ai's attention. "Keio University Hospital. . ." Ai repeated softly. With that in her mind, Ai drove the vehicle out of the car park and into the main parking space. It took Ai approximately 30 minutes to drive the car through the alighting lobby of Keio University Hospital.
"Thank you for the lift." Yuri thanked as she unbuckled her seatbelt and prepared to get off the car. That was only until Ai stopped her.
"Wait a minute." Ai called out, causing Yuri to stop, with her feet out of the vehicle, still seated on the seat of the passenger seat. Ai leaned and reached for the red shopping bag placed at the back seat and passed it to Yuri. "This, I saw your mother's indecision to get it from the department store."
"I - I see. . . " Yuri stuttered, surprised at the sudden action. "How much was it, I will pay you back. " Yuri reached for her backpack for her wallet.
"It's alright." Ai stopped the younger girl's action. "Treat it as a gift to your Mother." Ai tried to smile.
"Thanks then." Yuri smiled genuinely. The smile Yuri gave Ai reminded her of someone else, someone who she could not figure up in her mind at that moment. With that, Yuri got completely off the car and shut the door, before waving goodbye to Ai. After which, she glide through the sliding door and up the elevator to the ward her mother was staying.
"Mama!" Yuri greeted the moment she entered to ward and saw her father, seated by the side of the bed, reading the day's newspaper to her mother who was sat up on her bed.
"You went shopping?" Yuri's Papa asked as he glanced at the shopping bag.
"Mmm." Yuri shook her head while making her way to the side of the bed, opposite to where her dad was sat and placed the shopping back on the bedside table. It's a gift from the lady whom Mama and I met yesterday. I had met her again today and she had passed it to me. "
"What is it?" Came the tired and stirred voice of her mother as she raised her left hand to get the shopping bag onto the bed to check the contents. Though she was a right handed, the stroke had caused her to loss her ability to move her right hand as freely as she could. The first item she felt was the icy cold surface of the ceramic cup in the bag. She pulled that out and saw the Mickey cups. "Mickey?" She placed it back quietly. Next she pulled out the fabric content, which had surprised her, causing her to drop it onto the blanket covering over her legs.
"Nee-san told me that Mama was looking at it yesterday, and had the intention to get it." Yuri explained.
"Nee-san?" The dad repeated in a raised tone, with slight anger present in his voice at the mention of the term.
"That's how I called the lady." Yuri explained quickly, trying to prevent the fire from blazing in the father. "Mama, are you alright?" Yuri noticed the mother's amiss reaction. "I - "
"I'm alright. . . " The mom replied before turning slowly towards the dad. "Papa, I'm a little thirsty. Can you get a drink from the canteen?"
"Sure, Mama. I will be back real soon. Rest well." With that, the dad stood up from his seat and walked out of the ward, leaving Yuri and the mother alone in the room.
"Yuri."
"Yes Mama?"
"Pass these to her." Came the quiet voice. "Birthday. . . "
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"Reina-san, thank you for your cooperation. We will inform you again if the legal department will charge you with false witnessing regarding the issue." Makoto finished as she stood by the doors, allowing Reina to pass through the open doors. Reina bowed in respect before walking out to the street. Makoto turned around and faced Risa, giving her the most demanding face that she could give. "GAKI-SAN! you better explain to me everything word by word to me before I get my hands on YOU!" Makoto threatened while draping her arm around Risa's neck.
"I will. . . But. . . Promise me, all these that I am going to say are going to stay between us. You are not suppose to speak a word to anyone, especially your Konno-san!" Risa replied, while trying to remove the hands off her neck that were choking her. "So let me go!" Risa struggled with a slight smile while fighting with Makoto.
"No, no way I am going to let you go. SAY!" Makoto joked as she dragged Risa up the stairs.
The vibration in Risa's pants caused her to stop in her steps, halting Makoto in her action as well. "Wait, I have a call! Let me go!" Risa wriggled her shoulders, making Makoto to release her grip. When she did, the first thing she had done was to pull out her phone. The flashing ID on the screen caused the light mood of Risa to fade away immediately. She stood aside and answered the call, with her first question being, "Did things went bad?"
"No. . Ri-ko . . . That's not the reason for me to call you." Yuri assured on the other side of the line. She had left the mother's ward the moment the father came back from the canteen, with the excuse on fulfilling her mom's order to bring the gift back home first. "Can we meet up? I have something to pass to you. . " Yuri continued as she raised her head to check the frequency of the bus.
"Hmmm. But I'm busy at work. " Risa mumbled through the receiver.
"Can I come over to your workplace then? Which Koban are you working at right now?"
"Just take the cab over to Tokyo MPD headquarters. I will pay for the fares and be waiting for you at the entrance." Risa gave in and ordered, hanging the phone moments after.
"What's wrong? You looked stressed up after answering that call. . .. " Makoto came over and asked.
Risa forced a smile and shook her head. "It was nothing. Mako-chan, you can return back to the office first. I'll be back in moments time. " Risa told her as she pushed Makoto up the stairs. Makoto rebelled and leaned her back against Risa's hands, refusing to move.
"EH, Why? Haven't you said that you are going to explain everything to me? And now you are pushing me back to the office and intend to disappear again? There's no way I am going to buy that." Makoto argued.
"I will! And I meant it for sure!" Risa reassured, continuing to push the younger girl up.
"You better mean it." Makoto gave in, removing her weights away from Risa and stood upright by herself.
While Makoto left returned to the office, Risa sat alone, aimlessly, while she waited for the arrival of her little sister. And when she saw a cab that would fit the timing that her sister should arrive, Risa stood up and walked towards the entrance, preparing the money she would need to pay the fares.
"Ri-ko!" Yuri greeted as she got out of the cab, with the red shopping bag after her.
"What's up?" Risa asked after she paid and turned her attention back to Yuri.
"Eh. . .Ri-ko is working over here right now? That's amazing!! To think I had thought that Ri-ko may be still working at a Koban. . . "
"I had only been promoted to be a Senior Inspector Officer late last year." Risa informed quietly. "So what do you want to pass to me . . . "
"This. . . Mama asked me to give this to you. I guess it is a birthday present she will want to give to you." Yuri held the shopping bag before Risa's face and presented. Risa received the present in hesitation before Yuri continued. "Ne, Ri-ko. . . "
"Yes?"
"Oh Gaki-san!" Came a third voice interrupting the conversation.
"Sayu? Kame?" Risa acknowledge.
"What are you doing out here?" Sayumi asked while brushing pass Risa, with Eri following behind her.
"What are you two doing here?" Risa chose not to answer the question. Instead, She raised another question for the pair.
"We are out on another case. Talk to you later!!" Sayumi explained, with Eri just waving a polite goodbye.
Risa returned her attention back to Yuri. "What were you saying from before?" Risa asked.
"Ne, Nee-chan. . . "
"What's wrong?" Risa sensed the seriousness of her sister's tone.
"Nothing." Yuri shook her head in stubborn. "Will you go visit Mama? It seems like Mama. . . misses you. . . "
"How can that be possible." Risa snickered. "They said they will never want to see me in the rest of their life. You were there, Yuri. You heard that. I'm not their daughter anymore. You are their only daughter right now. " Risa continued, with tears brimming at the corner of her eyes. "I don't want to agitate Mama any further."
"But since Mama -"
"Say nothing more, Yuri." Risa patted Yuri's forehead. "I have more work to do, I got to leave. Be careful . . . "
With that Risa, turned around and headed back towards the MPD tower.
"Nee-chan!"
"Yes?" Risa wiped away the fallen tear with the back of her hands and turned around.
"If. . . I miss you, can I come here and find you?" Yuri asked, causing Risa to go speechless. Risa made no verbal response, giving Yuri only a light nod of her head. "No matter what happens, you will always be my sister. . ." Finishing her sentence, it was Yuri's turn to turn around and walk away, leaving a touched Risa mouthing a small thank you to the empty space.
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"Tadaima!" Risa shouted out tiredly. After being pestered by Makoto for the whole afternoon for the whole story, Risa was dead tired.
"Okaeri!" Haru returned as she came running out of the kitchen, with a apron over her clothes and hugged Risa by her knees. Ai followed after Haru soon after out of the kitchen. The first thing she noticed was the red shopping bag in Risa's possession.
"You went shopping?" Came a monotonous statement from Ai.
"It's a gift."
"For Haru?" Haru asked. Risa made no oblivious reply, with just a slight smile towards Haru. "Can Haru look through it?" Risa nodded her head lightly. After she got the permission to look through the bag, Haru get her hands started immediately, with the pair of matching cup the first set of item she had pulled out. "Is this for Haru? It's Mickey and Minnie matching cup!" Haru shouted excitedly.
Ai was astonished by that.
'That was exactly what I had got this afternoon. . .' Ai stole a glance at Risa.
'Why is it that we had always get the same item. . .' Ai narrowed her eyes at Risa. Risa paid no attention to Ai as she had kept all of her attention on the cups held by Haru.
'It's because of Mama. . . that I had kept such a huge love for Disney. . . ' Haru placed the cups on the dining table before getting her hands back into the bag, pulling out the pure white knee length dress out of the bag. "This is so beautiful!! Is this for Mama? Mama, change into it! Haru wants to see how Mama will look like in it!" Haru squeaked.
"That-" Ai wanted to say something, but kept it all within herself. Instead, she walked towards Risa, took off her apron, and placed it into Risa's arms. "Since you are back, you can continue with the dinner. I will make my move now." Ai spoke.
"Eh? Nee-chan is not staying for dinner?"
Ai shook her head lightly with a gentle smile to Haru. "I will see you tomorrow morning." With that, Ai made her way to the hallway where she put on her shoes.
"Wait." Risa called out.
"Yes?"
"Haru has a routine check up tomorrow with Matsuura-sensei at 430 pm. Can you bring Haru to the hospital while I meet the two of you over there?" Risa informed. Ai nodded her head and headed out of the house, not staying in the apartment for any moments longer.
Risa sighed inwardly.
'Why is it that. . . we can never ever have a normal conversation with each other?' The sadness shivered in Risa's chest.
'And. . . why does the fact that we can never have a normal conversation cause so much pain within the left chest?' Risa thought wretchedly within herself.
"Mama?" A tug on her blazer brought Risa's attention back to the little girl. "Are you going to try out the dress for Haru to see?" Haru tilted her head and asked.
Risa shook her head in response. "Mama will only wear it next month." Risa replied ambiguously. Of course she understood what her younger sister was trying to bring across this afternoon. The fact that her birthday is more than a month time away, her mother had already started looking around for items that would be suited for her birthday present. What would that mean? But deep within Risa, she knew that she had no rights nor countenance to face her family. "Is Haru hungry?" Risa changed the topic, putting on the apron given by Ai previously.
"Yes."
"Let us go back to the kitchen and continue in making the dinner." Risa suggested, hanging the white dress on the backrest of the dining chair, before moving into the kitchen. "What are you two intending to make before Mama came home?" Risa asked curiously.
"Instant noodles!" Came the excited reply from Haru, getting an equally shocked expression Risa.
'How had she managed living alone in a foreign country for years without knowing how to cook a proper meal?' Risa blinked her eyes in unbelievingly.
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Ai rested on the counter of her own kitchen as she waited blankly for her cup noodles to be cooked.
'Why was the items exactly the same as the ones I had gotten this afternoon? Haven't I got them for the lady from the department store I had met yesterday? ' Ai wondered curiously in her mind.
'That girl, Yuri. . . She said her last name was Niigaki, didn't she? Niigaki. . . Isn't that the same last name as the brat? Could it be that. . . That could explain her being back late last night, yet not because of her work. . .If that was the case, why hadn't she said anything about it. . . since it's her family, wouldn't it be that Haru-chan should know about it as well. . . But why didn't she explained the reason why? But . . But it could be just a mere coincidence that the person who got her the gift got the exact items I had bought this afternoon. . .' Ai continued an essay in her mind before realising that the said brat was filling up her mind.
'Why am I even bothered to think about that? Ai finally realised.
She shook her head lightly before she grabbed her cup noodles from the counter and a pair of chopsticks from the utensils stand, making her way into the living room where she pulled the paper cover off and started digging into her dinner. A single mouthful was all what she had taken. The noodles had went all mushy after soaking in the boiling water longer than expected. Ai placed the noodles on the coffee table and crossed her arm, slightly displeased for the fact that her dinner was ruined. Ruined by the fact that she was keeping her mind focus on issues regarding Risa and not about the time about her food being cooked.
Being frustrated, Ai got up from the sofa and made her way back to her room, where she laid on her bed face down. She had decided to go to sleep with an empty stomach. She was just too lazy and tired to prepare her dinner once more. "Go to sleep, Ai!" Ai shouted to her own self.
"Stay here tonight." The gentle, unexpected statement from Risa last night echoed in Ai's mind the moment she closed her eyes.
'Was that the reason why she had asked me to stay last night?' Ai thought in her mind.
'She must be feeling confused about having her mom hospitalised and not being able to do anything about it, didn't she? Ai analysed in her mind with her eyes wide open. Before she knew it, her mind was filled up by the brat again, to the fact that she began to slap herself slightly on her head.
'AND why does that even relates to you? Since when were you concerned about her issues, Ai?' Ai scolded inwardly. She hit herself once more before attempting to close her eyes again
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"Yet another long day is over again." Risa sighed heavily fell freely onto her bed, her eyes closing tightly.
'I can't believe she lied to me. . . about how she had found me in the apartment. I thought she hates me, hates the police. . . but. . . why did she do that ? All along, her denial for help, her denial about caring for Haru, was it because of the promise, no, the conditions set between her and Reina-san? Why did she did that? She . . . she was so against the issue about preventing the course of justice, yet, she brought herself to comply with Reina-san to protect her brother, even when she hated him right into her bones. What kind of person is she actually is?' Similarly, Ai had managed to fill the space in Risa's mind when she was trying to get some sleep.
'Am I starting to fall for her? Why does the thought of her, any conversation or interaction with her will result in this abnormal heart rate. . . Every since the time where we accidentally kiss. . . The image of her had began to change in my mind. The irritating, heartless investigator that I first knew has begun to change its form, into someone that I never thought I will see in her. . . ' Risa flipped to her side onto her tummy and buried her face into her pillow.
'No, Risa, you shouldn't be thinking about relationships now. Not anymore.' "Get out of the house! If this is what you had chose, get out! You are no longer my daughter! I do not have a daughter like you! Get out!" The angry voice from her younger years echoed in her mind. Incident from the past flashed past her mind, causing her to bury her face further into her pillow, silencing the silent cries she was making, until her eyes were tired and had fallen asleep, after speeding hours in the bed.
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"Yatta! It's been some time ever since Haru had met Matsuura-sensei!" Haru cheered when Ai walked side by side with Haru, at the entrance of the hospital and was about to enter into the building.
"You like Aya?" Ai asked, looking down at the young girl.
Haru nodded her head and slipped her small hands into Ai's hands. "Just like how Haru likes Nee-chan." Haru sweet talked, leading to the long lost smile to return to Ai.
"Nee-san?" A third voice from the back called out, causing Ai and Haru to turn back. Ai bowed politely in acknowledgement. "I thought I may had got the wrong person, but I'm glad I didn't." Yuri smiled politely at Ai. "Is this your daughter? She looks so cute and so much like you." Yuri commented.
"No, Nee-chan is not my mummy." Haru got herself involved into the conversation before Ai could correct Yuri.
"She's right. She's not my daughter." Ai replied slowly while trying to conquer the slight throbbing pain within her left chest. "She's just someone that I'm helping to look after while her mom is at work." Ai continued almost perfectly, seemingly that she had gotten use to put on a mask to mask her real emotions, like how she did for the past years she had spent.
'It seems like she does not know Haru. . . So, it's probably that she shares the same last name as the brat. . . If they are related, there will be a high chance that she will know who Haru is. . . ' Ai thought in her mind.
'Wait, why am I thinking about her again?' Yuri squatted down to the same level as Haru. "What's your name?" Yuri asked in a childish way, causing Haru to laugh widely like a little baby being entertained by her favourite toy.
"Haru!"
"How old are you?"
"Seven!"
"Seven? What a big girl are you! Is Haru-chan an obedient girl?"
"Of course Haru is an obedient girl. Mama always says that Haru is the best girl in the earth, ne, Nee-chan?" Haru finished and shook Ai's arm, trying to get Ai to agree with her statement. Ai smiled lightly and gave a gentle nod to Haru. "See, even Nee-chan says so as well!" Haru celebrated.
Yuri said nothing. She just ruffled the hair of Haru and stood up back to her feet, coming face to face at the same level with Ai. "What are you doing over here today?" Yuri asked curiously as the trio began to move into the building.
"I'm bringing her here for her check up appointment." Ai replied courteously.
"Do you have some time to spare? My Mama says that she will want to thank you personally." Yuri asked.
Ai checked the time on her watch. "I still have some time to spare. I guess it's alright then."
"Mama! Looked who had I found?" Yuri ran into the ward, directly to the bed and informed, with Ai following slowly at the pace Haru was going.
"Konnichiwa." Ai greeted and bowed as she entered the room.
"It's you. . ." Came the surprisingly slightly energetic voice from the mother. Ai bowed again in respect before stepping in further into the room.
"I'm glad that you are recovering well." Ai said, with Haru hiding behind her back.
"Thank you for your concern and advice, Miss. And too, the gifts you had bought. . ." The mother began to thank Ai. "Papa, " She turned towards the father and continued. "This is the young lady I was talking to you about."
"Thank you for noticing the pre-stroke symptoms my wife was experiencing. If not, I think this daughter of mine would be totally lost, and would not even bring her Mama to the hospital when she fainted." The father joked, caused a frown to be formed on Yuri's face.
"Papa!" Yuri grunted.
"Let's ignore her." The father further joked. "Is that your daughter?" He asked. "She looks so much like you."
"You are so wrong about it this time round Papa!" It was Yuri's turn to get back on her father. "That's not her daughter. That's the child Nee-san is babysitting for." Yuri giggled.
"That's what you are best in, getting your dad in embarrassment!" The father scolding lightly, pushing the head to the side.
With the little joke, Haru began to warm up in the large number of strangers. Just minutes after they had entered the room, Haru had managed to make everyone in the room to laugh honestly from the bottom of their heart. That was only until Haru began to shout out the observation of her mother.
"Nee-chan! I saw Mama outside the room!" Haru shouted as she got off from the bed to Ai's side at the corner of the room.
"Really?"Ai raised a tone, surprised that Risa was able to find them at this ward, though Ai had mentioned nothing about visiting here. Without replying Ai, Haru pulled her out of the room, with Yuri following behind the duo like a curious cat. And when they got out of the room, all they saw were Risa hiding behind the wall, beside the door of the room.
"Ri-ko?"
"There you see! It's Mama!"
Both Yuri and Haru called out at the same time.
Risa was shivering, with fear and unexplained anger. "What are you doing here?" The question was directed directly to Ai.
"I- "
Before Ai could say anything, Risa grabbed Ai on her wrist and began to pull her away from Haru and Yuri. "Come with me." Came the tone that Ai had never heard from Risa. Risa pulled Ai down the halls, across the door where the parents had managed to catch a glimpse of Risa. Both were utterly shock and stunned, unable to move, while Yuri and Haru were both surprise after Risa had manage to put Ai out of them.
"Where is Mama and Nee-chan going?" Haru looked up at Yuri and asked, with tears forming in her eyes. Just a blink of an eye, she was left with someone she had not know for long, Haru was scared.
"Is that your Mama?" Yuri lowered herself to her knees to get into the same level as Haru.
Haru nodded her head innocently, still not getting what had just happened.
'So you are that little baby girl that Ri-ko had wanted to adopt back then. . . .' Yuri thought in her mind as she stroked Haru's face gently. "I'm sure they will be coming back. I will accompany to wait for them over here?"
"I don't want. I want to look for Mama." Haru requested stubbornly.
"Alright, I will bring you to look for your Mama, but at least let me inform my parents where I am going." Yuri let in. Haru nodded her head and allowed Yuri to hold her hands. Yuri got into the room and looked at her parents with seriousness. "I'm bringing her to look for her Mama. I will be back soon."
"Yuri, you better not-" The father was about to disallow her younger daughter to search for Risa, but was stopped by the mother.
"Let her to, Papa. Haru-chan looks like she's going to break down in any moment. She's the most innocent part in this story, isn't she? Let her find her Mama." The mother requested.
"Go." The father finally gave in. "But you make sure you don't speak to her. I don't have such a daughter."
On the other hand, Risa dragged Ai up the stairs to the paediatric ward level before dragging her into the toilet. and finally an empty cubicle. She locked the door behind her and pushed Ai against the compartment wall with her whole body weight.
"What are you doing here?" Came the same question from Risa.
"What do you mean by what am I doing here? You are the one who had asked me to bring Haru here for her check up last night, didn't you?" Ai replied, in the same offense level.
"I don't mean that! I meant what are you doing in THAT room!" Risa raised her voice slightly, causing Ai to shout back the answer to her as well.
"VISITATION, dear SIO! What else can it be then?" Ai replied. "And please, let go of me, I am not your suspect or anyone as such! You do not have the authority to keep me in this position. " Ai tried to get herself out of the position, but had lost to the strength Risa carries in superior as an police office as oppose to her as an investigator.
"I have! You gave false statement, didn't you? That's against the law. I have the authority to!" Risa argued, keeping Ai to silence as the latter knew that that was true. "How did you managed to find out?" Risa choked.
"Find out what?" Ai asked impolitely, unable to get what Risa was trying to mean until her previous suspicion about Risa's relationship the Niigaki family she had just knew. "So, Yuri is really your sister?"Ai asked again, this time round with a more gentle tone.
"No. . . " Risa loosen her grip and allow herself to fall back against the other compartment wall and leaned against it. "Not anymore. . . " Risa trailed off to silence. Tiredness can be detected for the almost inaudible voice. She raised her right hand and wiped away the fallen tear from the back of her hands.
"Not anymore?" Ai stood a step closer to Risa. "Why not anymore?"
"I was disowned by my father right before I turned 20 years old." Risa trailed off. This was the first time she had actually told someone about it. She had finally gotten a place to release the struggle she fight within herself period to period. "Yuri was only 16 back then. . . "
"Was it because of Haru?" Ai asked, knowing exactly what could have caused the family conflict that had happened. "I'm - I'm sorry." Ai finished, looking down on the tiled floor of the toilet.
Risa looked up at Ai while Ai looked up from the tiled floor at the same time, catching on each other's breath. "You don't have to. This is the first time I have ever heard you saying sorry, but, you really don't have to. It's not your fault." Risa repeated.
"But-"
"That was not the entire reason for him to disown me. It was something else." Risa admitted.
"You don't have to lie to me, I know it was about Haru. If I had noticed about her earlier, I wouldn't have brought her into this world. If I had noticed earlier, I wouldn't have abandoned her that night out of panic, and all these things will never happen, right?"
"No, you are wrong! It's not about that! It's about me liking a same gender, are you happy?" Risa blown out, pushing Ai back to the original position when Risa first dragged Ai into the cubicle. "And it's all happening again! Are you satisfied?" Risa pressed her nose onto Ai's nose, closing the distance between them to minimal. "I don't know why and I don't know how, but I have been telling myself lots and lots of time, never to fall in love again, because I know Papa is not going to like it. It only adds up the guilt within myself. But. . . I just can't help it but to fall in love again. . . " Tears continued to streak down Risa's face, leaving Ai rather speechless about the sudden outburst of Risa.
"I - "
Ai was silenced by the kiss Risa had lean in and gave. Her eyes went wide open, while her hands tried to push Risa away from her. That was her second kiss that Risa had just took. Her first kiss, was too, taken by the first person, when Ai had accidentally fell on Risa in her office. Since then, she knew something was wrong. Her heart was racing from that kiss and is still racing at this one. Risa began to deepen the kiss, forcing Ai's mouth to open when a familiar voice brought her back to her senses.
"Haru-chan!" The toilet door went opened and closed for a couple of times before Risa broke the kiss.
"Haru-chan?" Risa repeated unconciously.
Evil women is at her work again :X heheheheheh
@ kawaii beam : Woah, that was a long analysis. I like it
heheh I hope this chapter will answers some of your question. I think at 7 years old, Haru will remember what someone says, but wouldn't have the ability to think deeper in thoughts how can that be possible. . . heheh. Yupps, and risa did, in her subconcious mind though. . .heheheheh
Yupps. but it ended up it takes less than a day for them to source the problem and solved it =X It was just me who had taken more that enough time to write up this uber long chapter before the update =X hehehe.
@ rndmwierd : yupps, you were partially right. I will write up a detailed flashback in the next chapter, so do look out!! hehee
Well. . . they did get a little bit more closer in this chapter though. . .HEHEHE
Topic: SEARCH [ . C #28 + Epilogue ] 31 December 2011 (Read 43719 times)