The Liar Revealed

Kimiko Tamatsuki practically bounded with enthusiasm as she followed Kyosuke and Kyoko into the Hana noodle shop. Once she got her bearings, she finally took the time to examine the two of them in closer detail. Kyoko had a nervous expression, which made sense, if she really had just been rescued from a kidnapping. Aside from that, she was exactly as she appeared in all the social media pictures, which actually surprised Kimiko; it was her experience that most girls these days who posted their pictures resorted to filters to tweak their appearances in a variety of ways, but no; Kyoko really did have that delicate bearing and manner that led people to refer to her, often derisively, as "Princess" online, something she herself had done more than once.

She then took a look at Kyosuke as he kept watch through the restaurant's window. He was the polar opposite of Kyoko; he had the eyes of hunter, constantly scanning for trouble, and moved with an economy of motion like someone who had seen action in a battlefield. She snorted; like anyone was going to buy that this guy was just a cook.

"OK, so, now that we're not being hunted by hired goons, can you answer some questions now?" Kimiko gaily asked. "For starters, are you two going to become an official couple? Have you had your first kiss?! Maybe tell the audience a little more about yourself?"

Kyosuke looked at Kimiko and her extended smartphone with a scornful expression. "Are you serious with that right now?"

"Oh, come on, the audience wants to know all about you two! I mean, everyone knows Kyoko Ikemoto since high school. If you're going to be dating, then the public's wants to know about your adventures in the Army! You know... all those Secret missions, Black-Ops assignments, exciting stuff like that...?!"

Kyosuke gave Kimiko a long cold stare. "If... there were any such missions, I would be expressly forbidden from sharing those details. Doing so would be a violation of 18 USC Ch. 37, which would very quickly have me sent to Leavenworth Kansas, and don't think for an instant they wouldn't send a bunch of guys in dark suits even to Japan to make that happen."

"Oh... kay..." Kimiko stammered as she backed away slowly and turned to Kyoko. "You know he's not telling you everything about his past, right?"

Kyoko looked at Kimiko with indifference before pulling out her phone. "Kyosuke's been nothing but kind to me, not to mention gotten me out of a few troubled places. Now, if you excuse me..." She dialed her home number. "Father, it's me..." 

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Isamu Ikemoto picked up the phone as soon as his assistant handed it to him. "Yes..." He paused for a long second before his whole body visibly sighed with relief. "Oh, thank heaven." He paused, listening for details with mixed emotions, "I see... very well, yes, of course I'll arrange transport to your location immediately!"

He turned to the rest of the assistants of the office and began giving orders before making another phone call. "Akito, it's me. We have some good news..." 

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General Ryo Tanaka sat at his desk as his aides and security personnel were milled around his warehouse. Seated in the middle of the room, Akito Yamamoto tried to assume a relaxed posture, though he was fighting the urge to fidget. He knew he was making a dangerous play and surrounded by criminals; one wrong move and he could end up dead or worse, revealed as a traitor, which would soil his family name, which would have dire ramifications for his family.

Just then, the smartphone placed in the middle of the main table began to ring. Ryo's eyes lit up when the caller ID revealed "Isamu Ikemoto." He turned to Akito, "Well, well, I wonder what your employer could be calling about?"

After a momentary pause, Akito reached for the phone and answered. "Yes sir?" He listened carefully, nodded, pulled out a pad of paper, and jotted down an address. "Yes, of course, I'll be there immediately."

As soon as he ended the call, one of the security personnel snatched the slip of paper from his hands and handed it to Ryo. He looked at it and smiled. "Our prize has been spotted at... Hana noodles. That's in Shibuya, about a block away from the Acorde Yoyogi-Uehara shopping mall." He paused a moment, "We don't have much sway with the local authorities in that part of town, so we're limited in how many men and trouble we can afford to bring..." He turned to Akito. "This is your chance to prove yourself useful. Bring her back here with minimum disturbance and you'll be well rewarded," he promised.

Akito shuddered internally. This was the moment he was secretly dreading, wondering privately if he had the nerve to actually go through with it. He had been approached months ago through an intermediary about a possible deal, which at the time he turned down flat. But once Oyama had made his play, General Tanaka's situation had become more urgent, prompting him to increase his offer substantially. He had already paid a great deal to have Katsumi taken out of the picture. It would all be for naught if they were successful in cementing a proper alliance with the Ikemoto corporation. One way or another, it had to be derailed; if that meant holding onto one lone girl, then so be it.

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Yoriyoshi put down a bowl of ramen noodles in front of Kimiko and Kyoko while Kyosuke kept an eye out the front window. "Watched pot doesn't boil any faster, kid," he sighed. "This'll all be over soon and the Princess... I mean, Ikemoto-san will be home soon."

"So, what's your part in all this, old man?" Kimiko pressed. "Were you, like, his drill sergeant in the Army? Maybe served in his unit? Got any interesting war stories of your own to share?"

"Lady, you need to unplug from your phone once in a while," Yoriyoshi snorted derisively. "Kyosuke's one of my cooks, not to mention a pal of mine, so I don't know where you're getting your ideas."

Kimiko raised an eyebrow, "Oh really... you think he's just a cook? You know he's got a past, don't you?"

Yoriyoshi gave Kimiko a meaningful look. "If you keep digging into a man's past, you're going to get dirty..." 

Kimiko gave a poutful look while Kyosuke's attention was drawn by movement coming from the front of the restaurant. Kyoko glanced at a notification on her phone. "Oh, that Yamamoto-san, my father's head of security. He said he was coming to pick me up."

Kyosuke's eyes narrowed. "Coming from your place in Minato City? He made... really good time then..." he muttered suspiciously. "Also, doesn't your father keep Tokyo Limousine on retainer?"

"Of course, why do you ask?" Kyoko wondered.

Kyosuke pursed his lips, "Because either TLS' standards have gone into the sewer or something's wrong, because there's no way I see your father going cheap and sending a beat-up car to pick you up, especially when it comes to being rescued from a kidnapping attempt." He continued to keep watching then nodded to Yoriyoshi who took the silent hint.

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Akito got out of the car General Tanaka had provided him, along with the two gang members he had sent along to ensure security and compliance. He straightened his blazer and subtly confirmed his weapon was available. He hoped he wouldn't need it. Kyoko should just come along peacefully; after all, he was a familiar face. But he was in unfamiliar territory and Tanaka warned him that Oyama's people were still after the girl.

Entering the restaurant, Akito was momentarily surprised but quickly composed himself when he saw Kyosuke waiting for him, along with another girl, but no Kyoko, he thought, which immediately sent up red flags. "I'm here to pick up Kyoko Ikemoto and bring her home," he declared.

Kyosuke regarded the trio suspiciously. "Ikemoto-kaichou couldn't send a proper limo for his daughter? That seems rather inappropriate for such an important event."

"That's hardly your concern," Akito coldly retorted. "We have the security concerns well handled!"

Kyosuke nodded, "Yeah... that's why you brought General Tanaka's errand boys with you?" Behind Akito, the two gang members glanced at each other with a look of realization.

Akito blinked, then did a double-take before turning back to Kyosuke, his annoyance turning to anger. "Bring Kyoko out here or there's going to be trouble..."

He punctuated his order by suddenly drawing a Sig P230JP from his shoulder holster, eliciting a fearful yelp from Kimiko. Without hesitation, Kyosuke instantly seized the pistol's slide with his left hand, redirecting the muzzle away from harm and leveraged it out of Akito's hand with his right, securing a two hand Weaver grip as Akito drew a backup weapon as he and the gang members behind him took a step back with knives in hand.

"Well, well... pretty slick moves for a... cook," Akito smiled coldly as the four of them all stood in a standoff. "Still doesn't change anything... it's three of us, one of you... are you prepared to die for someone you just met?"