Chapter 25
Hikaru and Ari rush through the industrial area to reach their hideout, carrying Asha and Haru on their backs, neither of whom have awakened yet. “Are we almost there?” Ari calls ahead.
“Yeah, it’s not much farther, now!” Hikaru calls back.
Hikaru feels Haru tighten his grip on his shoulders. “Hi–Hikaru...” he rasps.
“Just take it easy,” Hikaru tells his friend. “Asha’s all right. And, for now, we’re all safe from BIOTECH.” He feels Haru loosen his grip again and knows that he has passed out. Haru has had it, he thinks. But at least...it looks like he’ll recover.
Hikaru and Ari turn the last corner before their hideout when they realize that BIOTECH has beaten them there. “No way!” Ari exclaims. “How–?!”
“You know I’m no fool, Ariana,” her uncle says. “Where else would you go but here, where your friends sought refuge?”
“RUN!” Hikaru yells. He and Ari turn to flee, but armed men block their paths.
“You wouldn’t shoot...” Ari says, her voice shaking with fright.
“Oh, these are just tranquilizers. But if you don’t hand over my weapon,” her uncle threatens them, “you’ll be coming back with me to be properly dealt with.”
Asha stirs. When she sees the men surrounding them, she slides off of Ari’s back. What’s going on? she wonders.
“Asha, you’re awake already?” Ari exclaims.
“Now is no time for pleasantries!” her uncle yells. “I said, hand over my weapon!”
Asha glances over at Haru, who is unconscious on Hikaru’s back. Haru-san...!
“You can’t have him!” Hikaru yells determinedly.
“Haru-san is not just your tool!” Asha yells, facing Ari’s uncle. “Leave him be!”
“Well isn’t that cute?” he sneers. “Willing to stand up for him, are you?”
“Of course!” Hikaru yells. “He’s our friend! We won’t let you use him!”
“Take the boy,” Ari’s uncle orders his men. “Do what you wish with the others.” Several of his men grab Haru and yank him away from Hikaru while the armed men aim their weapons at the children.
“Stand still!” one of the men barks.
Hikaru bolts after the men who took Haru. “HIKARU, NO!!!” Ari cries.
Before the armed men can open fire, they hear sirens wailing from nearby. Only seconds later, police cars stream onto the street and stop in front of their hideout. “Let the children go!” the chief yells.
“Drop your guns and put your hands up!” yells another policeman. The armed men drop their weapons, and Ari and Asha run for the safety of the police cars.
“Let go of the boys, too!” the chief orders Ari’s uncle and his bodyguards.
They release Hikaru. “Haru, too!” Hikaru yells. “Let him go!”
“This boy is my–” Ari’s uncle begins.
“Put the boy down, professor,” the chief orders. “We know very well who you are. That boy is not your child.”
With a defeated scowl, the BIOTECH C.E.O. hands Haru over to one of the officers. “Get in the car, professor,” the officer says. “Let’s go downtown for a chat.” The police pack all of the BIOTECH men in their cars and drive off.
“You, young lady,” the chief addresses Asha, “are the Hiraharas’ daughter, aren’t you?”
“Yes, sir!” Asha says, nodding. “I’m Asha– Asha Hirahara!”
“Your parents have been looking for you. It’s time to go home, young lady. Get in the car.”
Asha glances worriedly at Ari and the others. “What about...?”
“Ariana, your parents and brother are waiting in the van across the street,” the officer tells Ari. “Please join them.”
Ari smiles. “Ryo came through for us,” she thinks aloud. “Goodbye, Asha, Hikaru,” she says. “It’s been interesting. Please tell Haru I said goodbye.”
“Bye, Ari-san,” Asha says as Ari walks away. Asha shoots the chief a questioning glance. “What about Hikaru-san...and Haru-san? Where will they go?”
“Don’t worry, Asha,” Hikaru says. “I’m sure we’ll be fine.”
The chief faces Hikaru. “You and your blonde friend are coming with us to the Hirahara residence,” he says. “Please get in the car.” Hikaru and Asha exchange smiles, then jump into the police car. The chief makes sure that the other officer has Haru before they both drive off.
* * * * * * * * * * * *
“Asha!” her mother cries, embracing her. “You’re safe! Don’t ever run off like that again, do you hear me?”
“Yes, mom,” Asha says. “I’m sorry to worry you.”
The police walk in behind Asha with Hikaru and Haru. “What’s this?” Mr. Hirahara asks.
“My friends,” Asha says. “They kept me safe.”
“This one is unconscious,” the younger officer tells the chief. “Should we take him to the hospital?”
Hikaru tells them, “He’s not really hurt. He’s just tired.”
“Hikaru-san, are you sure?” Asha whispers to him.
“It’s nothing that a doctor can cure,” Hikaru whispers back.
“Mom? Dad?” Asha asks. “Can Haru-san rest here for a while?”
Her parents exchange unsure glances. Then, her father steps forward and takes Haru from the officer. “We’ll care for him, sir. Thank you for bringing our daughter back.”
“You’re welcome,” the chief says. He and the other officer turn to leave. “Take care, now.”
“Asha, you realize that they aren’t staying?” her father says sternly.
Asha frowns and nods. Then she and Hikaru go into the backyard. “Hikaru-san,” Asha asks, “how did Haru-san get like that?”
Hikaru smiles somewhat. “He was determined to save you,” he says. “The crazy kid...He cured you, even though he knew he couldn’t handle it. Ari gave him some kinda medicine, and, thank goodness, because of that, he’s okay.”
“Cured...?” Asha asks, her eyes widening with shock. “Haru-san... He kept his promise to take away my Hemophilia, even though his powers...?”
Hikaru nods. “You seem stronger already,” he says. “That’s why I know it worked. He risked his life to help you.”
“Haru-san...” Asha murmurs. Her frown flips into a smile. She rushes back into the house.
“Asha?” Hikaru calls.
Asha goes straight to her parents to break the good news. “I’m cured!” she cries excitedly. “Mom! Dad! I’m cured!”
“What on earth–?!”
Asha takes her father’s hand, and with her mother standing by expectantly, she ecstatically tells them what Haru had done for her. Her dumbfounded parents can’t believe their ears, but their faces beam with joy.
* * * * * * * * * * * *
The next morning, Asha sits in the spare room, still waiting for Haru to wake up. I wonder if Hikaru-san was wrong, she thinks worriedly, and Haru-san really isn’t okay. “Haru-san...please wake up,” she pleads quietly.
Hikaru comes into the room a second later. “Still here?” he asks.
Asha nods. “Since yesterday,” she replies. “Hikaru-san, why won’t he wake up?”
Hikaru frowns. Maybe he needs more medicine, he thinks. Where can we get it, though? She’s right. He should’ve woken up by now. “He woke up for a minute after we escaped,” Hikaru says, “so I thought he would be all right...”
The doorbell rings and both the kids go to the door to see who it is. Asha’s parents watch her pull the door open; Ari stands on the porch. “Ari-san!” Asha greets her with surprise.
“What brings you here?” Hikaru asks.
Ari shows them the big bag she is carrying. “Thought I’d bring this by to help out Haru,” she replies. “If this brat’s here, Haru’s gotta be, too, right?”
“Hey!” Hikaru cries.
Ari grins teasingly, then her smile melts into a frown. “That last job...it put a lot of stress on Haru’s body. There’s no tellin’ what kinda damage it’s done,” she murmurs. “Is he all right?”
Asha frowns and shakes her head. “He still hasn’t woken up.”
“And you?” Ari asks. “Did it work?”
“Yes; I’m a lot better now,” Asha answers.
“Good,” Ari says, a small smile returning to her face. “Here, take this,” she says as she hands the bag over to Hikaru. “It’s the antidote. Hopefully it’ll help Haru get better. Anyway, I know I wasn’t expected, so I’m gonna get out of your hair now. If you ever wanna drop by, you know where to find me.”
“Thank you, Ari-san,” Asha says. She waves goodbye as Ari walks back to her mother’s car and opens the door.
“Take care!” Ari calls back. She steps into the car and shuts the door as her mother starts the engine, waves, and drives off.
* * * * * * * * * * * *
Asha and her friends join on the porch to say goodbye. “Are you sure you want to leave?” Asha asks. “My mom and dad offered to let you stay with us. They could take care of you.”
“No, Asha, it’s okay,” Haru says, “You’ve all done so much already, and I don’t want to be a burden on your folks.”
“It’s not like this is goodbye forever,” Hikaru says. “You know where Miss Mitsuye lives. You can visit us any time you like.”
Asha smiles. “You’re going back to live with Miss Mitsuye?” she asks.
Haru nods. “Now that this is over, I don’t have to worry about her being hurt.”
“Thank you so much for healing me, Haru-san,” Asha says. “I wish there was something I could do in return.”
“Just come visit some time, okay?” Hikaru says.
Asha nods excitedly. “I will!”
“And keep up the skating. You’re great at it,” Haru adds, giving her a thumbs-up. “I hear they’ve decided to rebuild the old skating rink. If you ever want to go, come find us.”
“Of course!” Asha says.
Haru and Hikaru turn to leave. “Bye, Asha!” Hikaru calls. “I’ll be waiting for our next rematch!”
“I’ll only beat you again!” Asha calls, waving goodbye as they walk away. “Bye, Haru-san! Bye, Hikaru-san! I’ll see you both soon!”
* * * * * * * * * * * *
Haru and Hikaru wait nervously outside the old house, where the once-withered flowers are replaced with new blooms. The moment the door opens and Mitsuye steps outside, Haru waves hello, and happy tears well up from his eyes. He and Mitsuye embrace. “Welcome home,” Mitsuye says.
