The Alpha-Omega ~ Sequel

-14-

Takemichi:

It's 7 o'clock in the morning. I couldn't sleep a wink. Of course... I was thinking about Jaron the whole time, and how he's being abused by the criminals... and what else... I think it's better not to think about it too much.

I turn sideways in the bed to check on Mikey, but he's not here.

"Mikey?" I get up and look for Mikey. Arriving in the living room, I see that he is sitting outside on the balcony having a smoke.

I open the balcony door and walk out to him. "Mikey...how long have you been out here?"

He doesn't answer. His eyes look so empty. "Mikey?" I say, putting my hand gently on his shoulder. He shrugs first and then looks at me.

"Oh. Morning babe. How did you sleep?" he asks, looking off into the distance again. "Couldn't sleep... What about you?"

"Same."

I sit down next to him on a chair and suddenly see two empty cigarette packs on the table. I widened my eyes and looked at him again. "Did you really smoke two packs of cigarettes this night?!"

He hesitated for a moment and took another drag from his cigarette which already has almost nothing left on it.

"So what? Just had to." he says emotionlessly.

I opened my mouth to say something, but let it go. I think it's better not to put more salt in his wounds. Mikey now stubbed out his cigarette, because there was nothing left to smoke and looks at me now.

"Am I a bad dad Takemitchy?"

"What? No, where do you come up with that kind of bullshit?! Believe me you are the best dad Jaron has. He loves you!" I say to cheer him up.

"Doesn't feel like it.... I haven't talked to him that much lately.... I've had so many papers to grade and lately I've been so tired all the time... He tried to talk to me, but I always gave him only short answers and did not give him the attention like a real father does..."

"Mikey..."

"I was supposed to protect him... and I failed... why am I so useless?! I hate myself! I think it would be better if someone else is here in my place..." he says and a tear flows down his cheek.

I stand up and hug him. "No. You're not. You're trying so hard to make sure our family is okay. No one is perfect, and be glad of that! Otherwise the world would be boring if everyone was the same. And when one of us has problems, you are always the one who is there and helps and that is I love about you. Look at me, I couldn't even keep order in college. So..."

I said and now I stand in front of Mikey to put my hands on both of his cheeks, so that he can now look into my eyes. "If it wasn't for you, I wouldn't be the person I am now. We will find our son. I have faith that we can save him. Then our family will be complete again and soon we will have another family member!" I say and smile at him and kiss him on the forehead. "I love you."

"I love you too." says Mikey and pulls me onto his lap and kisses me.

We now walk into the kitchen and figure out now how we are going to proceed with the search of Jaron.

"The best thing to do is to ask the neighborhood. I have some pictures of Jaron that we could show. Somebody must have seen something," I say and look at the pictures.

"Are we going together or are we splitting up?" asks Mikey now, looking at me.

"Hmm...I think if we split up, then it would go faster. You best ask here in the vicinity. I will ask near the school and in addition I will go to Kile. As your Grandpa said, they always go home together from school."

"All right. I'll take this picture then." Mikey says and grabs a school picture of Jaron.

"I'm going to head out then. If you find out anything report back to me!" I say as I put on my shoes.

"Yeah, you do too! Good luck babe." I give Mikey another quick kiss and now I'm on my way to Jaron's school.

I am now in the vicinity of the school and I am looking for some people. A couple now comes in my direction. "Excuse me? Excuse me, I am Takemichi Sano and I live near here. Have you seen this boy by any chance? He is my son and he hasn't returned home since yesterday. " I say and show the picture to the couple.

"No... I'm sorry."

"I see... Thank you anyway and sorry to bother you." 

I ask some other people I see. Nothing. No one has seen him.

I think it's best if I go to the Tetta's next. I really need to talk to Kile. It's funny... so many people have been reported missing, and yet the police can't figure it out. I hope Mikey's grandpa finds a clue soon.

I'm walking by one of my favorite restaurants right now. It's where Mikey and I used to go on our dates. Those were the days... we could do it again.

Suddenly, the door opens and a familiar face comes out from the restaurant.

"Chifuyu?!" I said , walking up to him.

"Hey Takemichi! Haven't seen you in a while. How are you doing? Are you going out for a walk right now?" Chifuyu asks me.

"I'm on my way to the Tetta's right now."

"What, to Kisaki's? You don't hear that every day either. Where's Mikey, then? And how's little Jaron?"

I look at him, trying to hold back my tears. "I don't know..." I say barely audible.

"What?" He looks at me questioningly.

I look down at the ground. "I-I don't know how Jaron is...because.... I don't know where he is right now..."

"What do you mean?"

"He... has disappeared... He was supposed to come home after school, but he didn't show up... And then all the news about missing person cases and some secret organization... and... and I'm so scared.... that Jaron.... That..." I could speak no further, because I suddenly have a lump in my throat and tears are flowing down my cheeks.

"Takemichi... I..."

"Hey Chifuyu I paid the bill now-. oh hey Takemichi. Didn't even notice you at first-. What's wrong?" Baji has come from the restaurant and is standing next to Chifuyu and looks at me in shock.

I tried to say something, but I couldn't.

Baji looks to Chifuyu for help. "Takemichi... I'm so sorry. I didn't mean to..." says Chifuyu, hugging me.

"It's okay... Mikey and I are just asking around the neighborhood if anyone has seen anything. But still nothing... No one has seen him... I'm so worried about him..."

"This is terrible... Takemichi, Baji and I... are going to help you and Mikey find him!"

"W-what...?" i asked him.

"Baji and I used to take care of him all the time when he was younger. Of course we will help there, won't we Baji?" Baji nods in agreement and looks at me. "It's the least we can do Takemichi."

"Th-thank you guys..."

They both smile at me. "So you wanted to go to Kisaki?" now asks Chifuyu.

"Yes... well not directly to Kisaki but to Kile. He was probably the last one to see Jaron yesterday. I would like to ask him a few more questions."

"I see. We'll go with you then!" says Chifuyu.

I smile and nod. 

The three of us now make our way to the Tetta's.