Chapter Twenty: A Mother’s Plea:
-October 11th,
2011-
“I’m home,” Anna
muttered to herself. She knew she was in trouble. Jotaro let her go pissed off.
“I’m sorry,” she
told him. The former heir glared at her.
“Goodbye,” was
all he said. Anna last saw him getting on a train out of Tokyo. She still had
the letter in her hand.
“Be careful out
there,” Anna said. He wouldn’t be the only one mad.
The boys found
her leaving the station. Tsuzuki ran over and hugged her.
“Are you okay?”
he asked.
“Yes,” Anna
said. Tsuzuki looked around.
“Where is he?”
he asked. “Where is that bastard?” His wife hung her head.
“Gone,” she
said.
“Gone where?”
Tsuzuki asked. She pointed to the train. The shinigami looked up.
“He got away?”
Watari asked. Anna nodded once. She wouldn’t look Tatsumi in the eye. He had a
guess as to what really happened. She’d have to tell the truth later.
---------
Anna walked into
the living room. Tsuzuki had to work today. He didn’t know the whole truth yet.
She dreaded having to tell him. Anna rubbed her forehead. Suddenly, her phone
rang.
“Hello?” she
asked.
“Is this
Anna-chan?” a woman asked on the other line. Anna for a puzzled look on her
face.
“Who is this?”
she asked. There was a pause over the phone.
“Um… is this the
right number?” the other woman asked.
“Who is this?”
Anna asked again. Another pause came.
“This is
Kate-san,” the other woman said. “I don’t think you remember me. You were little
when we met.” Anna blinked for a minute.
“Kate-san?” she
asked.
“Yeah,” Kate-san
said. “My name is Kate Yoshimi. You used to play with my daughter, Kiko.”
Sounded familiar…
“Kiko. Did she
have pigtails?” Anna asked.
“Yes,” Yoshimi
said. “You were a bit taller too.”
“I think I
remember you,” the younger woman said.
“I’m sorry about
your father. I wish I could have told you earlier.”
“How did you get
my number? If you don’t mind me asking.”
“Kyoko-san gave
it to me. After I heard what happened to Daisuke-san, I had to find you again. I
managed to track you through Kyoko-san. She happily gave me your number.”
“Uh-huh. Thank
you. I am fine now.”
“How have you
been?”
“Good. I’m
married now. We have a daughter too.”
“Oh!
Congratulations!”
“Thank you. How
is Kiko doing?” There was a pause over the line. “Kate-san? Are you still there?
Hello? Hello?”
“That’s why I
called,” Yoshimi said. “My daughter… she’s gone missing.” Anna froze.
“What?” she
asked.
“I’ve tried
calling, but she won’t pick up,” the older woman said. “Nobody’s in her
apartment. She wouldn’t take off like this. Kiko-chan and I are really close.”
Anna made a face.
“Why call me?
Why not call the police?” she asked.
“She’s an
adult,” Yoshimi explained. “They won’t do anything. This can’t wait. I didn’t
know who else to call. I’m losing my mind here.” Anna lowered her hand into her
lap.
“I understand,”
she said. “I will help you.”
“Thank you,”
Yoshimi said. “I don’t know what else to do.”
“I understand,” the younger woman said. “You don’t have to worry anymore.” Anna smiled to calm growing nerves.