Hidden to Detected

Chapter 1

Third POV

* Next Day *

Ikoku searches the telephone book for the parents' names of Usagi's friends.

'Rei Hino. Hino Hino Hino Hino.... Aha!'

Ikuko dialed the number for Hikawa Shrine and stood nervously biting her nail.

Rrring... Rrring... Rrring

Kenji came out of the kitchen after starting the coffee machine and walked over to his wife.

"Love? Who are you calling?"

Ikuko turned to him and held up a finger, vertically, against her lips. Kenji nodded, signaling he understood what she meant.

Rrring... Rrring

"Hello this is Hikawa Shrine. How can I help you?"

Ikuko straightened up and responded.

"Good afternoon. My name is Ikuko Tsukino. I'm the mother of Rei's friend, Usagi. May I speak to Rei's grandfather?"

"Of course. Wait a moment please."

"Arigatou."

Ikuko's shoulders sagged feeling the worst was yet to come. She turned to Kenji and debriefed him on what she was doing. Kenji, not knowing how to react, just hummed and wrapped his arms around Ikuko's waist from behind. He rested his head against her shoulder and tried to hear the other end of the phone.

"Mrs. Tsukino? This is Rei's grandpa. Please call me Grandpa Hino. Is something wrong?"

Ikuko hesitated for a second before squaring her shoulders and explained to him her concerns regarding their child and their friends.

"Ah no nothing is wrong. Please call me Ikuko... Um... You see... the thing is..."

* 5 mins later *

"So you're saying that Rei and the other girls could be involved in something and, for some reason, they didn't tell us?"

Ikuko deliberated what he said and confirmed it was accurate to what she just told him.

"Yes that's what I believe. If possible,,,"

Grandpa Hino interrupted her saying,"I'm sorry Ikuko but I'm having a hard time believing what you are saying."

Kenji stood up taller, about to snatch the phone away and retort back to the old man. Ikuko sensing this gave him a stern look and held up her hand.

"I understand your point Grandpa Hino. It's the reason why I am requesting us, myself, my husband, and the parents' of the other girls, to meet at your temple to further discuss the matter. I don't want to continue living with the feeling that our daughters are in danger and we're just sitting here doing nothing to stop it."

"...."

"You really have given this a lot of thought."

Ikuko smiled sheepishly and her cheeks tinted pink.

"I did."

Grandpa Hino paused and thought the plan was a wise one. He was also sick of worrying himself to sleep every night wondering where Rei was or why she would sneak out during the dead of night.

"Okay I'll help with calling the other parents and filling them in on what is going on. I'll call the girl Makoto's parents."

"Thank you", answered Ikuko relieved.

"Tell them to meet up two days from now at 10. That should be enough time to talk and get back to our respective schedule before the girls suspect anything. See you soon."

"Okay. See you soon."

* 20 mins later *

Ikuko hanged up after calling Ami's parents and settled back against the wall feeling completely drained. Kenji came out of the kitchen and kissed the top of her head. He guided her to the living room and sat her gently on the sofa; he went back to the kitchen and returned, giving her a cup of tea.

"So I guess we'll be meeting the others in two days then."

Ikuko turned her head to his direction and smiled tiredly.

"Yeah."

Kenji kissed the top of her hand and reassured her.

"Don't worry everything will be answered soon. For now drink the rest of your tea and go to bed. I'll go pick up Shingo from school and take care of the kids today."

Ikuko dragged down her husband and kissed with all her power. She retracted when oxygen became an issue and smiled lovingly up at him.

"I love you."

"I love you too."

Ikuko finished the remains of her tea after Kenji left. She set the cup in the sink and filled it with water, too tired to bother with washing and drying it. She turned and went upstairs to their bedroom to get ready for bed. She was out like a light before her head hit the pillow.