chapter six

The two boys sneaked out of Tokyo Tower, hiding from all of the body and security guards. They didn’t want anyone to interfere in their business. And so, taking much precaution to not being seen, Nokoru and Takendo made it out of the Tower and began to search on the street for any sign of Mika.

Takendo frowned. How were they going to find her? he thought. Then, scratching his head as he followed the older boy, Takendo said, “So, do you have any ideas as to where we could find her?”

Nokoru looked back at his companion. “I think maybe we could ask around. People generally remember things that are a little out of the ordinary, and I am sure that a young girl surrounded by big men in black suits would seem a little strange.”

Takendo nodded. That seemed like a good idea. So, Nokoru and Takendo began again to ask people in stores and on corner stalls if they had seen any sign of Mika. At first, the people they approached and just shook their heads in response. However, it was when they went up to a little stall that was set up on the ground, which sold a hotchpotch of objects and souvenirs was when they had luck. Nokoru asked the man if he had seen a girl with turquoise hair, the man at first shook his head like the others, but then suddenly remembered that he did see her.

“Yeah, I remember now. A girl with hair up to here right, and with these big men protecting her?” the man asked.

Nokoru nodded eagerly and motioned the man to continue.

“Well, yeah, she was here and she was lookin’ at my goods. An’ then she started talkin’ to me. Nice girl that was. But the men that were all around her weren’t too friendly looking. Thought that they were her bodyguards most likely. She looked like she came from one of those upper class families. Anyway, started to make nice conversation with me and all.”

“About anything in particular?” Nokoru interrupted. Here was a chance to know if Mika had left a message for him.

“Oh, no. Just about the weather and the night, and if I had many customers or not. Very nice girl.” Nokoru sighed in despair. Well, it looked as if Mika did not think to aid them to find her.

“Do you know in which way they went?” Takendo asked, concern vividly showing on his face.

“Well, they kept on walking up this street.” the man shrugged.

“Thanks.” Takendo gave a small smile.

“Oh, just before I forget, she also bought something off me as well. Didn’t make her bodyguards too happy thought.”

“Oh, and what was that?” Nokoru inquired.

“Just a little key-ring of Tokyo Tower. Hehe, and made those blokes pay for them as well.” the man laughed out loud.

And after some more chitchat, the two boys left the man and again started to search for any clues on the turquoise haired girl. They walked in the direction to where the man pointed and with luck, they found more people who had seen Mika.

Later, as they were sitting down on a sidewalk bench, the two boys sighed as they took a rest.

“Well, what have we got so far?” asked Nokoru, elbows on knees and head in hands.

Stifling a yawn, Takendo answered, “Hmm, it seems that Mika has gone in this direction. She walked to her destination, and on the way, talked to all of these people and bought all of this stuff. Why though, I don’t really know. I mean, she could have bought all of that stuff just to make an impression on those people so that they would remember her, and also to annoy the kidnappers.”

Nokoru didn’t answer straight away. Looking at the concrete wall in front of him, the Kaichou pondered on everything that had happened, and everything that people had told him.

“But then just talking to the people at the stalls would have made an impression. So why did she buy something? That would be more trouble then it was worth.”

“Well, what did she buy? Maybe that will make sense. Or…” Takendo’s eyes brightened up as an idea popped into his mind. “Or maybe there is a clue there.”

Nokoru grinned back at the younger boy. “Right!” He felt the enthusiasm he usually had build up again, and pulled out a pen and a notepad from his inside pocket. “So, let’s make a list.”

“Well, there was that key-ring she bought from the first man.”

“..hmm. What else?”

“And then there was the toy mouse and also the fruit.”

“I think we should be more specific. She bought the lemon and the pear. And after that, an eel pie. I know for sure that she hates eating them, so it must be a clue she is telling us.”

Takendo put that piece of information in the back of his mind; it might be useful in the future. “…ok, and then there was also the Hello Kitty toy, and erm…that ice-cream.”

Scribbling down every item Mika had purchased, Nokoru looked at the list and frowned. Was there a relationship between any of the item bought? There was a key-ring, a toy mouse, a lemon, a pear, a Hello Kitty toy, an eel pie and also an ice-cream.

Takendo tried to look over the older boy’s shoulder to have a peek at the list. There was a..er… key ring, a mo-mouse…Takendo couldn’t see anymore items on the list. So straining his head higher and higher, it was only when his head knocked into Nokoru when the Kaichou realized Takendo’s antics.

“Oh, sorry.” Nokoru apologized, then giving the raven-haired boy the list. “Can you figure out any link between them?”

Scanning the list, Takendo was as clueless. What did a key ring of Tokyo Tower have anything to do with an eel pie (which Mika hated)? “Umm…maybe, no. How about, er, no, that won’t work either.” Racking his brain, Takendo tried with all his might to come up with something, anything, but had no luck. Then, looking up at the kaichou, he shook his head with chagrin.

Nokoru sighed, and tried to smile. “Don’t worry, I am sure that we can come up with something.” Then, looking at the list again, Nokoru stared at the words, not taking them in properly. Where was Mika? he pondered. Where could she be? Was she safe, was anything awful happening to her at this very moment? All of these thoughts were racing around in Nokoru’s mind, then suddenly, he saw it. He knew what the message was. Jumping up in rapture, and startling Takendo as well, Nokoru began to pace up and down the sidewalk, muttering on the way.

“K for key ring, L for lemon, P for pear…” Takendo watched the older boy with a confused expression. What was he doing? Takendo thought. Then, suddenly, it dawned on him.

“The link is the first letter of the words!” the younger boy cried out.

Nokoru paused in his pacing and grinned. “Yep!” he cried. “So far, I have got the word ‘help’ from the Hello Kitty, eel pie, lemon and pear, and the M I K from the mouse, ice-cream and key chain. And I bet you that the next thing she bought starts with A, so that means her message is…”

“Help, Mika!” Takendo interrupted, jumping up and down with excitement on the sidewalk seat. Suddenly, he stopped. “Help, Mika?” the black haired boy continued. “What kind of message is that? I mean, it’s just that, um, that it isn’t too specific now isn’t it?” Stepping down off the seat and onto the sidewalk, Takendo frowned.

“I know what you mean.” Nokoru said slowly. “It doesn’t help us out too much, sine we already know that Mika needs help.”

There was a pause.

“Well,” Takendo began. “At least it has given us some clue to where she is. Those people she talked to and bought stuff off, they all remembered who she was and told us in what direction she was taken.”

“True.” replied Nokoru. “Anyway, let’s find out where she bought the last item, and hopefully we can get a clue off them.”

“Yeah, and then we will be able to save Mika!” the younger boy cried. And, with enthusiasm pumped back in their veins, they approached a small newspaper and magazine stand.

“Excuse me ma’am,” said Nokoru. “Do you perhaps remember seeing a young girl with turquoise hair passing by? It would be incredibly useful for my friend and me if you know of her whereabouts, or maybe just the direction she walked off into.”

Nokoru’s politeness and charisma immediately charmed the lady behind the counter. “Oh, let me see.” the lady said. Takendo and Nokoru held their breath in anticipation. “Oh, that’s right, dear. Was she surrounded by these big men?” The two boys nodded eagerly. “Yes, I remember her. Such a sweetie she was.”

“Did she buy anything?” Takendo hastily replied.

Taken by surprise, the lady stared back at Takendo and said, “Well, you’re a bit rude, aren’t you?”

Blushing a crimson red about his impoliteness, the younger boy stuttered for forgiveness. Nokoru, however, intervened, and in a smooth manner, expressed their sincere apologies. “I am sorry for our rudeness, it is just that that girl is my younger sister, and both my friend and me are concerned for her well-being.”

“Well, if it’s that then it’s all right. Hmm, but let me try and remember. Oh, yes, she bought an Asuka magazine, you know, the one with the manga? Very popular these days that one is. People talking about Z or whatever that manga is called.”

“Er, I think you mean X.” said Takendo. The lady gave the boy a withering look and glared at the raven-haired boy. And, with further ado, he hastily stepped back behind Nokoru.

“Hmph. Anyway, she bought that magazine and walking into that building.”

Eh?? The two boys thought.

“That one,” the lady pointed to the gate behind them. “That one there!”

Nokoru and Takendo slowly looked to where the lady pointed and fell. It was a huge mansion that lay there, with high concrete walls surrounding the house. It looked like it was heavily guarded.

“Er, thank you very much,” Nokoru said, still awed by the mansion. How in the world were they going to get in?

“Your welcome, and it might be useful for you to know, it’s owned by that model, Sotaro Izunawa.” the lady replied. As the two boys walked off, they walked in silence.

Some minutes later, after their shock, Takendo asked, “So, got any ideas how to get in, save Mika and get safely out?”

Nokoru didn’t answer straight away, but then gave the younger boy a great big smile. “Yep!”

Eh???

~---~

Taking a long sip of the red wine, Sotaro stalled before he began his story. Taking a deep breath, he started.

“I need an Imonoyama because, wait, no, I won’t begin there. No, let me see.” he paused, thinking of a way to tell the child his plans.

Mika waited for him to start up again. And waited, and waited and waited. There had been a silence for over five minutes when Mika became fed up and poked Sotaro in the arm. “Are you going to tell me or not?” she said, exasperated.

“Oh,” the blue haired man replied uncomfortably. “Um, yeah, I’ll tell you. Ok, it was about four or five years ago when I first, when I first met her.” Sotaro’s eyes became distant and dreamy as he reminisced.

Mika’s jaw dropped. What the hell is he going on about?

“She was beautiful. It was in late Spring and the weather was becoming quite warm. I was at a dinner party, but not as one of the guests. You see, I wasn’t always rich, it was only when I came into this profession when I got the money. Hmm, anyway, I was just one of the waiters there serving drinks. But it was at that party when I first heard that voice. Some of the guests were performing on the stage with musical items and so on. They were all right, nothing too special. But then she went up on stage; and that was when I heard her sing. It was the most beautiful voice I had ever heard, just like an angel’s. I couldn’t believe it, and then I looked up towards the stage and there she was, the most beautiful lady I had ever seen. Long blond locks and bright blue elfin eyes. She, I just fell in love with her on the spot.”

Mika was looking at Takendo with a strange look upon her face. Why in the world is he telling me this? What has this love story got to do with my kidnapping and the Imonoyamas? Oh wait…Oh my lord… And then it hit her. She knew why. Mika knew why Sotaro kidnapped her and why he needed her to be an Imonoyama. She knew why he could only have an Imonoyama to help him and no one else. And it was this reason that made her burst out laughing. She laughed and laughed, and couldn’t stop for at least five minutes. Rolling on the ground and holding her stomach, Mika then tried to regain her composure as she wiped the tears off her face.

“Oh my lord! You’re in love with MY SISTER!”

Sotaro blushed a beet red. “So, what’s wrong with that?”

“My sister? You kidnapped me so you could get closer with my sister?”

Sotaro didn’t reply.

“Sheesh! What were you thinking?”

Standing up in embarrassment, Sotaro then began to walk to the other side of the room. “Well, you have admitted to be an Imonoyama, now haven’t you?”

Mika gasped. “Oh, crap. I did, but then again, it was just too funny!”

“What is there that’s so funny?”

“Why don’t you just talk to her?”

“I have already tried! Many times, but none of those times worked.”

“And so…”

“And what?” Sotaro was confused.

“Jeez…and so WHAT HAPPENED?”

“She, she wasn’t interested in me.”

“How do you know that?”

“I got one of my friends to ask her.”

Mika erupted in laugher again.

Sotaro scowled at the girl, but continued with, “She said she wasn’t interested in me. Said that all I had were looks, and no brains. She wants someone who can think, not just look good. I mean, you, you Imonoyamas! You are the revered for your perfection, your intelligence and everything!”

Mika stopped laughing. “That’s not true.” She quietly said. “Well, if your talking about all of my sisters and brothers, well, you’re right there. But me…”

Sotaro quickly looked back at Mika, and saw a look of sadness on her face. Suddenly, she screeched. “AH! Why can’t I have any of the luck!”

“But, what do you mean?” asked Sotaro.

“I mean that I am not perfect and brilliant like all of the others. I am just the leftovers, really.” Mika sighed. “Just once, just once I would like to know what it felt to be like them.” Mika then felt a hand on her shoulder.

“No you don’t.” Sotaro reassured her. “You wouldn’t want to be someone that you are not. You are who you are and no one can stop you from being that. So what if you aren’t like all of your brother and sisters, does it make you fell so rejected? All of them love you for whom you are, and not because of what you can be. If you have that, then I say you’re all set for life.”

Mika looked up at Sotaro’s handsome face and quietly said, “Thanks.” Then, peering at him and his features, Mika suddenly realized who he was. “Hey, aren’t you that model?”

Sotaro sweat-dropped. “Yeah…But anyway, you shouldn’t try to be someone you’re not. It’s not true to yourself.”

“You’re right. I shouldn’t be complaining, I am proud of who I am, and, and I will show the world, I AM MIKA IMONOYAMA!” Jumping up and punching her fist in the air, Mika felt her hand collide with something hard. Tentatively, she looked up to see her fist connecting with Sotaro’s jaw, and with a heavy thud, the model fell to the ground.

“Whoops.” she said.

“ARGH! Why did-th you d-th-o that?” Sotaro mumbled and he struggled to get off the floor.

“Ah, it, it was a mistake!”

“Mis-th-take?!?! ARGH! I think my jaw is-th broken! AH! It hurts, it hurts!”

“Well, shut up then if it hurts so much.” Mika was becoming all flustered and nervous, and not knowing what to do. “I er, think we have to take you to the hospital.”

“What!? OW!”

“I said SHUT UP, talking will only make it worse! C’mon, let’s go to the hospital.” Then, grabbing a think material napkin and filling it with ice cubes from the wine table, Mika pushed it up to Sotaro’s face. “This will be all right until we get you some help.”

“You’re gonna kill me!”

“Oh, just shut up.” Then, grabbing Sotaro’s arm, Mika and Sotaro made their way out of the room.

~---~

“All set?” asked Nokoru.

“Yep.” answered Takendo.

“Ok, on the count of three.”

Takendo nodded and gulped, hoping the plan could work. First, they would climb the tree on the sidewalk at the same time and try to be inconspicuous, and, since it had a branch that leaned over into the mansion grounds, they were to jump into the grounds, and hide in the bushes until all was clear. After that, well, Nokoru said he would explain it to him then.

“One…Two…” counted Nokoru.

“Heya, what are you doing there?” said a voice.

Freezing on the spot, the two boys looked at each other, thinking of valid excuses.

“What are you doing?” the girl’s voice repeated.

“Um, ah, well, you see…” started Nokoru as he turned around, and suddenly, he stopped. Takendo, feeling nervous and wondering what had happened to Nokoru, swung his head around and stared, opening and closing his mouth like a goldfish.

“Mi-mi-Mika-chan!” cried the blonde.

“Yeah?” Mika replied, with a mischievous look in her eyes. She was standing beside a woebegone Sotaro, and began to smile at the situation. “Guess you were trying to save me, huh?”

“Well, yeah.” Nokoru scratched his head in slight embarrassment. “We were going to climb this tree here and get into the compound.”

“We?” Mika couldn’t see the other boy, since he was hiding in the shadows of the night.

“Mika!” cried the other boy.

“Ta-Takendo?” Mika recognized the voice as his, and blushed as she saw his head nod up and down.

“Are-are you all right?” he stammered.

“Yeah, I’m fine, considering that I was kidnapped.” she sheepishly replied.

“Oh, um, that’s good. Not about getting kidnapped, go-good about being, being safe and all.”

As Mika was about to reply, she was rudely interrupted by someone else.

“Ow ow ow! It hurts! Hurry, let’s go to the hospital!” cried Sotaro.

Giving him a scowl, Mika yelled back, “Fine! Your such a wimp!” Then, looking back at her brother’s and Takedo’s confused expressions, Mika just smiled ruefully and shrugged. “C’mon, let’s go.” she said.

As they all made their way to the hospital, there was no need for talk, for they were all content with the fact that they were all together and safe. Well, all of them except for Sotaro that is.

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