Wavelengths Apart

Chapter 4

The cool night breeze whistled softly at Kita's back and pushed her curls against her face. The sky was a deep, navy blue that reflected the surrounding water of Osaka Bay. There were hardly any stars visible due to the neon lights radiating from the Tempozan Harbor. She stood at the far end of the town, marveling at the Tempozan Ferris Wheel. It was one of Osaka's most notable tourist attractions, but for Kita it was attached to a far less enjoyable memory.

For a moment she was eleven years old again.

The people of Tempozan Harbor Village were screaming. Cherry blossoms covered the streets, now trampled. The Tempozan Ferris Wheel came crashing down on top of the vendor booths that were stationed just across the street from Kita and her family. Her ears were ringing from the screaming of tourists and Osaka citizens, the pounding of feet, and the awful sounds of metal crashing into the pavement. Aratani grabbed her hand and tugged her forward. Seconds later Kita was shoved, hard. So hard that she was sent flying to the ground a few feet away. There were snapping sounds. Branches and bones. Kita got to her feet, reaching out for her older sister. Only Aratani was trapped beneath a cherry blossom tree, blood seeping from her body that stained the cherry blossoms crimson. One of her antlers was snapped in half. Her eyes stared into the distance, empty. Dead.

Kita took a deep breath and held it for a moment before exhaling slowly. She repeated the technique twice more before walking to the edge of the building she was standing on. It was the tallest in the area and allowed her to see all the way to the far end of the harbor. She sat down and let her legs dangle over the edge. The city was quiet. Well, as quiet as a tourist spot like this could be. Things usually died down more on weeknights, and tonight was no different.

Kita sighed, gripping the stony ledge of the building as her thoughts drifted back to Mori. A few days had passed since her talk with the Commissioner. She had told Mori that night when she got back from patrol about Nasu's terms. He had been at a loss for words. He knew he couldn't ask her to give up Hero work to avoid working with Hikaru, but that didn't make him any less angry about the situation. Of course, his anger was aimed at the Commissioner Kita knew, and probably Hikaru as well for showing back up in their lives. Still, Kita's gut had twisted at the expression on his face. He had looked as powerless and frustrated as she felt talking to Nasu that day. There wasn't much Mori could have said on the subject, so he ended up going for a late-night flight to clear his head. They hadn't spoken about the CRC mission since.

Her phone vibrated in the pocket of her shorts, pulling Kita from her thoughts. She pulled it out and peered down at the brightly lit screen. The name Akiba flashed across it. Kita's mouth felt dry as she slid the button to answer his call.

"Ki—Hey, I've got something," Hikaru caught himself from using her first name. He still wouldn't address her as Aries though. "There's a handover going down in twenty minutes in Sakai." She couldn't help but notice how much deeper his voice sounded than when they were teenagers. It wasn't baritone like Mori's. It still had that airy, velvety quality to it, just less boyish.

Kita swore under her breath. Sakai was at least nineteen minutes away by train. That didn't even account for the time it would take for her to get to the right street and building.

"Text me the address. I'll meet you there." She said before hanging up. She quickly pulled up another contact and hit the call button. It only rang once before a chipper voice rang through the line.

"What's up Aries?"

"I need a lift Swoop. Meet me at the Tempozan Ferris Wheel."

"I'll be there in three minutes." The line disconnected.

Kita chuckled to herself. Swoop, one of her sidekicks, was patrolling in Yao tonight. It would take at least twenty-five minutes by car to travel from Yao to Tempozan Harbor. But Swoop was the fastest around, maybe in the world even. She knew he'd get her there in time.