Released – Chapter 38

Jiro takes me out for more food since our lovely breakfast ended up on the floor. We have an early lunch at the ramen place across the street with Oyama in the kitchen.

“You haven’t been eating. I can tell. You can barely finish your bowl, and you used to eat everything.”

I push my lunch away from me and lean back to let my belly expand. “Well, this was actually a lot of food for me. I ate almost the whole bowl.” I look up from the few noodles floating in the broth to find Usagi crossing the street and heading straight for us.

“Sanaa, Jiro. May I sit?”

“Of course, Usagi.” I pull out the chair next to me, and he sits down.

“I’ve come to apologize. I didn’t want to interrupt you earlier when you were home.” He smiles, and I blush. “I’ve missed Helena, and I know it’s not your fault she was poisoned. I don’t blame you, I promise. All the nights I didn’t come to take you out when you asked were spent working. I spent every day, every night, wandering the neighborhoods where Kazuo and Sachi were last seen. I followed Emiko Matsuda, Risa, and her parents. I’ve even watched Minamoto.”

He sighs and nods at Jiro. “I’m sorry. I was so obsessed with this, with finding them, I didn’t tell Jiro or Sakai. I didn’t want them to know I was neglecting you to do this. Because I knew my actions were wrong, but I couldn’t stop.”

Usagi is looking me straight in the eyes, not avoiding me like I would expect a liar to. Obsession is something I understand.

“You hurt me. I like you a lot and trusted you. I was crushed that you, of all people, ignored me.”

“I’m so sorry. I feel terrible. If Helena were here, she’d probably break up with me for treating you this way.”

He’s right, but I hope we both see her again. As mad as I am at him, I’m more angry with Mariko. She abandoned me for all the wrong reasons.

“I forgive you, but you should know it’ll take me a long time to forget.”

He winces. Good. I don’t want to be mean, but I want to make it clear I’m not someone who can be wronged and then immediately forget.

“Also, at Jiro’s behest, I’m going to have to insist you always come when I ask you to. No more excuses.”

“I understand.”

To show I’m not completely heartless, I reach over, take his hand, and squeeze it.

“Thank you for not firing me,” he says, and I laugh.

“Usagi, you’ll never be fired. We have to work some things out. I was naive to believe everything would be perfect from the get-go.”

I was naive to believe Mariko would love me because she loved my mother, naive to believe we could be happy with each other right from the very start because Jiro loved us both. What was I thinking? I can only blame it on my hopefulness and the fact that she lied to me. I can’t let myself be that gullible again.

“I have other news,” he says, pulling my thoughts back to the present. “Kentaro found Kazuo, and he’s on the move today, maybe finding his way to Sachi. We should follow.”

“Let’s go get dressed.” I nod eagerly at Jiro. I’ve been dying to get out and chasing down Kazuo is just what I need.

—-

Kentaro waits for us outside our apartment, and once Jiro and I are dressed, swords and shinobijō, we take off into the afternoon streets ready to follow Kazuo. I’m light on my toes and happy for the first time in months, a huge weight lifted off my chest allowing me to breathe again. I learned some hard lessons today, ones I won’t forget.

We pick up the trail on Kazuo deep in Minamoto territory bordering Little Kyoto. He’s been traveling around, in and out of restaurants and apartment buildings, with a giant bag on his back which gets fuller each time he stops. He must be picking up his belongings from all of the places he’s lived over the years. But why?

Following him all over Ku 6 is tiring. We’re constantly ducking in storefronts, out of sight so we’re not caught. We take turns checking around corners, watching alleyways, and splitting up to sneak around buildings, picking up his trail when he disappears.

At seven, he finally slows down and ends his journey in a familiar udon shop. It’s the same restaurant he met Sachi and Risa at after Sachi tried to poison us at Izakaya Tanaka.

Jiro, Kentaro, Usagi, and I peel off half a block away and observe him through the window as he seats himself near the back of the restaurant and orders food.

“Thank the gods, he’s stopped. My feet are beginning to ache,” Kentaro says, leaning against the building.

“This is an izakaya.” Usagi leans out and examines the restaurant’s storefront. “Let’s go in and get something to eat.”

I bounce from one foot to the next, stretching out my ankles. I’m glad I’ve spent my alone time in Sakai building running the stairs.

“Can’t. No Oyama.” They all sink in disappointment. This is why I never get invited out. “No matter. Let’s go in anyway. I need to rest. You can eat.”

“That’s it! I’ve had it,” Jiro growls, his hands curling into fists shaken upward at the domes. “This is the worst day on record. Sanaa, I know this was my idea, and Mark’s, to keep you safe at home, but I’m tired of all these restrictions on your life. You’re tired of them. Do you want to live like this?”

I lean back. I do not like it when his fiery emotions are directed at me. “No.”

“Then eat what you want, when you want. Drink what you want. Go places. Without anyone else. I trust you. You’re more than capable of defending yourself. I feel sick knowing I’ve cooped you up for months.”

I pause and lick my dry lips. “Really? Real freedom?”

“Yes. I’ll be devastated if something happens to you, but this life you’re living is worse than death.”

“That would be… amazing.” It seems stupid to be overwhelmed by the idea of getting my life back, but I’d rather do what I want and be struck down tomorrow than live a long life held captive like this.

“Use your judgment,” he says, his expression serious. “We’ve been all over the ward today. No one is going to know you’re here. I think you can eat in peace. If you were at Izakaya Tanaka, that would be a time to have Oyama since you’re always there.”

“You only have a few weeks left,” Kentaro butts in. “Access the cameras outside first if you want to go out and no one is around to escort you.”

“And never leave without your sword,” Usagi follows up with a nod.

I could cry from joy. I’m going to enjoy every last moment until we leave. I’ll figure out how to live on Yūsei when we get there.

We eat dinner in the izakaya, checking the cameras out front with Kentaro’s tablet every now and then, and Kazuo stays put. The dome lights dim around seven-thirty, and half an hour later, Kazuo grabs his bag and exits the udon restaurant out back. Time to go.

Jiro and I pick a spot across the street from the entrance, in the shadows of an alley, where we can stand side-by-side and not be seen. Kentaro will sneak around to the back. Usagi will watch the alley.

“Don’t lock your knees. Keep them loose or you may faint,” Jiro whispers.

We both wait. After ten minutes, I reach over and grab Jiro’s hand. I’m nervous and want his reassurance we’re doing the right thing. He rubs his fingers along my left hand and plays with my ring.

Kazuo and Sachi emerge from the end of the alley. He must have met up with her in back of the restaurant. Kazuo’s hair is shoulder length and tied back. This must be his normal hair because it’s the most popular of all the styles I’ve seen on him. Sachi’s hair is long and tied into pigtails.

We hold completely still in the shadows. The twins scan left and right, and after a moment’s hesitation, they take off in the same direction together, matching their long strides.

We give them a one-block lead before Jiro peeks his head out and gestures to Usagi to walk on the opposite side. Staying on our side of the street, Jiro and I match our strides like the twins. Kentaro emerges from behind the udon restaurant and starts walking a half a block ahead of us.

Kazuo and Sachi don’t slow their pace. When they make a right turn, Jiro and I slip into another alley behind them and wait. The twins don’t double back. They keep going, cross the street, and head straight for an open community playground nestled between two buildings ahead.

We’re way off the main streets now, so far from the neighborhood business district I can almost see the edge of this dome. It slopes down low overhead only two blocks away.

Jiro points to Usagi and gestures to him to come at the playground from the same direction as the twins. Jiro points to Kentaro and swoops his hand around towards the left indicating he should come around from the other side. Then he points to us both and motions that we’ll come in over the top.

Jiro and I quietly approach the building next to the playground, and as we close in, three other people are heading this way from a few blocks off. The fire escape is on the opposite side of the building so it shouldn’t be hard to climb up and get to the roof, but the ladder doesn’t lead all the way to the ground. We’ll have to boost up.

I stand in position underneath because I think Jiro is going to need me to help him, but he stops. He stops dead, his hands cradling my face, his thumb gently stroking my cheek. I’ve lost my breath. His expression is so loving and so full of concern for me I can’t look away.

Really, I shouldn’t be here at all. I’m the last in my line, and if I die, no one else can do the job I have to do. This will be the test of my new life. If I live through tonight, will it be enough to convince everyone I can do this forever?

Quickly, he pulls me to him and kisses me hard, passionately. This could easily be the end for us. After everything we’ve gone through today, I’m happy to be here with him despite the danger. It’s just the two of us, an unbreakable team.

When we break apart, I breathe and center myself. “You first.”

Cupping my hands together, I give Jiro a small boost. He lies down on his stomach and hangs through the opening, and I jump up, lock my hands with his, and climb up next to him. We ascend the stairs being careful not to make any noise, cross the roof of the building, and peek over the top.

Kazuo and Sachi are waiting down below with their bags next to them and Risa is there.

“But you can stay with me, if you like, Kazuo. There’s no reason for you to go now.” Risa strokes her hand along Kazuo’s upper arm, and he backs off. I can see Risa’s pout all the way up on the roof. She’s detestable.

“She recognizes me now. They all do, I think. Time to go.”

“I’m not done here yet,” Sachi whines and stomps her foot, and I clamp my hand over my mouth to stop a laugh. Jiro rolls his eyes at her.

“You wanna stay? Fine. Be my guest. I’m leaving.” Kazuo opens his bag and pulls out a sword, placing the long katana on his back.

The three people coming from the opposite direction approach the playground from the street. Risa’s parents, Nobu and Yukio Yamamoto, and Emiko Matsuda step up to Risa, Kazuo, and Sachi.

“Are you ready to go?” Emiko asks.

The twins look at each other. “I am,” Kazuo says, “but Sachi has unfinished business.”

They’re about to leave. It’s now or never.

“Jiro, what should we do? It sounds like the twins are dividing up. We may never be able to track them again if they leave now.”

He nods his head. “We should stop them. Are you up for it?”

“Absolutely. We have to try and stop them now before they do more damage to our family.”

I’m crazy, but I don’t care. My new family may not want much to do with me, but I’d still do just about anything to protect them.