Chapter Three: Flight Risk:

They ran into a slight problem at the checkpoint. One involving a fluffy white ferret.

Tsuzuki, Anna, and Kirika-chan made it to the checkpoint about twenty minutes late. Tsuzuki looked at his phone.

“We should be fine,” he said.

“Are you sure about that?” Anna asked. They looked at the growing crowd at the checkpoint. Tatsumi wanted to be here early. Tsuzuki told him they would catch up. Now, that might not have been a good plan. Tsuzuki nervously laughed.

“We’ll make it in time,” he said. The shinigami didn’t sound so convinced himself. He squeezed Anna’s hand.

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-Chijou-

She had been missing for weeks. Only fifteen years old. Her parents worried about her. Her father pleaded with the media for help.

He was going to do another press conference. Still, the police felt like something was staring them in the face but they were missing it.

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-Meifu-

The family stood in line. This was supposed to be easy. Just go up to the desk, answer the person’s questions, they check the passes, and they would be off to Hokkaido. First, the family had to get through this long line.

Anna was playing music on her phone. Tsuzuki had a nervous look while they waited. We’re going to be late, aren’t we?

Meanwhile, Kirika-chan looked around. So many people. The bright lights drew her attention in all sorts of directions. So many sounds and movements.

A squeaking came into her right ear. Kirika-chan turned her head. A little face with red eyes stared back at her. The little girl giggled and patted the head. The creature ran around on her shoulders before it paused.

“What is it, Mimzie?” Kirika-chan asked. The little ferret flew off of her shoulders.

“Mimzie?” Kirika-chan asked. She took off running after the furry little creature.

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-Chijou-

The father sat in his living room. All of this acting was tiring. He wiped his forehead.

This was all her fault.

She had to go and fuck up everything. They had a perfect picture going with the family. He was the king, the master, the god. This was his house. He controlled everything. That included his wife and daughter.

They just had to play their roles. Everything would’ve been fine.

But, no! She had to defy him. The nerve! Ungrateful little bitch! Because of her, here they were.

He took a deep breath and calmed down. No time for that. The father had to play the role of grieving, worried father. All for the press. He put on his sad face and headed out the door.

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-Meifu-

Close to ten, Tsuzuki happened turn around. His stomach dropped. He reached over and tapped Anna on the shoulder. She pulled up her left earbud.

“What?” she asked.

“Where’s Kirika-chan?” Tsuzuki whispered.

“Huh?” Anna asked as she looked around. The child was nowhere in sight. Worry filled her eyes. She started to speak but Tsuzuki quickly covered her mouth.

“Stay here,” he whispered. “I’ll find her.” The shinigami vanished into thin air.

Meanwhile, Kirika-chan wandered around darkened halls. Her eyes shifted left and right with each step.

“Mimzie? Where are you?” the girl asked. Her footsteps echoed against the walls. She turned her head when she heard squeaking.

“Mimzie?” the little girl asked. Kirika-chan ran down the hall. She went from door to door looking for her pet.

Tsuzuki searched high and low with no luck. He even turned to security for help. He could barely keep calm. His mind went to the worst place. Tsuzuki drew out a fuda. The security guard grabbed his wrist. The shinigami whipped his head around.

“You can’t use magic in this checkpoint,” the security guard explained.

“Why not?!” Tsuzuki asked.

“This is a neutral place,” the guard said. The shinigami gritted his teeth and curse himself.

The whole time, Mimzie turned into mist and disappeared into the vent.

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-Chijou-

The cameras were rolling. The father went into actor mode. He once again pleaded for those responsible to bring back his beloved daughter. His wife stood beside him, silent and worn out. This would be just like last time. His words would fall on deaf ears.

But something was different this time.

An invisible mist floated through the cloudy winter air. It didn’t take it long to find its target. The father kept talking with his crocodile tears. He had gotten into the role. All according to his plans.

But then he froze. His eyes went blank.

“I did it. I have been lying to you. I killed Sachie-chan,” he said in a dull monotone voice. By the time he realized what he said, it was too late.

Shock ripped through the country. Something inside of his wife snapped that day.

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-Meifu-

Kirika-chan made her way into a supply closet. It didn’t take long for her to hear a loud squeaking noise. The little girl looked up. Mimzie sat on a giant crate across the room.

“Mimzie!” she cheered. The little girl ran over to her pet. The ferret leapt up and flew over to her owner. Kirika-chan giggled as the ferret rested back onto her shoulders.

“Kirika-chan!” a man shouted. The little girl jerked her head upwards to see an angry Tsuzuki flying towards her.

“Papa!” she said. He grabbed her by the arms.

“Don’t ever do that to me again!” the shinigami shouted. “You scared me! What if something happened to you?” The child stared at him with big eyes. Her father sighed.

“Please don’t wander off on us again, okay?” Tsuzuki asked.

“But Mimzie flew off and I had to—” Kirika-chan said.

“I don’t want to hear it,” Tsuzuki cut her off. “We’re already!” The shinigami grabbed Kirika-chan by the arms.

“And put that creature in her cage,” he muttered. Tsuzuki dragged his daughter along to the long line.

Despite the missing child scare and paying a hefty fine for trespassing, the family were finally on their way. Tsuzuki sighed and rubbed his forehead.

“Tatsumi’s not going to let me hear the end of this, will he?” he complained. Anna rubbed on his shoulder in sympathy.