New Beginnings, Part II

//Aiya suddenly awakens from a nightmare about her last mission. She drenched in sweat and breathing heavily. Right before she woke up, she dreamt that one of the soldiers sweeping the beach for survivors found her still alive and was about to shot her in the head.

Ayia in a panic: Wha? W…Where am I?

//She looks around and feels her face and body and then realizes she is at home in her bedroom.

//Hana from the other bedroom hears the rustling from Aiya’s room

Hana: Aiya, you okay in there. Did you have another nightmare?

Aiya: Yeah, Yeah, I’m good now…. (whispers) but did that really happen, did I die?

//Hana gets up and heads for the kitchen to make breakfast and turns on the TV. A few minutes later Aiya comes out to the kitchen.

Hana: Oiy, did you hear, another kid snatched up according to the news.

Aiya: What? That’s the fourth one in the past month. Just like two years ago when 7 kids were taken over a couple of months. Could it be the same person?

Hana: Lot’s of weird people out there nowadays…. Could be your next-door neighbor…. He gives me the creeps.

Aiya: What?…he’s like 80 years old and barely can walk…

Hana: He’s still creepy!

//While eating breakfast the girls excitedly discuss their new adventure…the detective agency. The girls have been left a small inheritance from their father that they both agree they would use for their new beginning.

Hana: I found of couple of ads for office space for rent. I’ll go check them out today.

Aiya: We’ll also need help with someone doing some of the administrative chores around the office, and I know the perfect person. I’ll go talk to them today.

Hana: Sounds great… I’m on my way out, I have a meeting at 10 to look at a place, I’ll let you know what I find.

//Hana heads out on her on her motorcycle which she just recent bought to get around town. Aiya heads out to talk with her friend, Mika, who lives a short distance from the house.

//Aiya arrive at Mika’s house, where he is underneath the hood of a car doing some repairs. Aiya sneaks up on him like she also does and blows in his ear. Mika is totally startled, like always.

Mika (hits his head on the Hood): Ow! Oiy Aiya! I should have known.

Aiya (playfully laughing): Have I not told you a thousand time, pay attention to your surroundings.

Mika (rubbing his head): And what do I tell you, I’m not a super ninja like you!

Aiya: Sorry….Whatcha you doing?

Mika: Fixing my dad’s truck, it hasn’t been running for almost a year.

//Mika learned to fix cars from his dad, who was a lifelong car mechanic, but is now bed ridden with a chronic liver disease. However, Mika’s true asset is as a super genius computer analyst. Mika was so good that he was recruited by the Military straight out of high school to be a computer analyst and work on their top-secret missions. In fact, he worked behind the scenes on many of Aiya’s mission providing much need intel and guidance that has saved her many times over. Mika secretly has a crush on Aiya, but she has been too preoccupied with her career to notice, at least that’s what she leads him to believe. However, Mika left shortly before Aiya’s last mission to help care for his ailing dad and take over the business while he was bed ridden. The prognosis is not good for his dad though, so he may never return to work again.

Aiya: Well, I have a new part time mission for you if you ever get tired of fixing cars.

//Mika is very eager to be next to Aiya and work with her again but doesn’t want to appear too desperate.

Aiya: The pay isn’t great, but the work should be rewarding and a whole lot less strenuous than before.

Mika (takes off his hat and wipes the sweat from his forehead): Well, business has been slow lately so I might have some time on my hands. Let me think a little about it.

Aiya (smiles coyly): Okay, you’ve got five minutes to decide (as she starts the timer on her watch)

Mika, Oiy! What happened to no stress….

Aiya (hands on her hips): I said less stress, not no stress… three minutes remaining…

Mika: Okay, okay, I’ll do it. What kind of business is it and where is the office…

Aiya (bid grin): It’s a detective agency…and my sister is working on the office space…

Mika (surprised): Sister? I never knew you had a sister. Is she pretty too? (puts his hand on his chin) Hum, and a detective agency…

Aiya (clinches her fist): Grrrr!

Mika (puts his head down): Sorry! Sorry! (gulps) I’m sure she is nowhere near as beautiful as you.

Aiya (face turning red): Beautiful?

Mika (his face now turning red): Sorry, Sorry…

Aiya (smiles again): Sorry for what, am I not beautiful anymore?

Mika (pulls his hat down over his face): ummm, (whispers to himself) you’re only the most beautiful girl in the entire world…

Aiya (lifts up Mika’s hat and smiles at him): Thank you for everything. You’re the best Mika, I’ll come by tomorrow to pick you up for our new beginning.

//Aiya leave with a big smile on her face.

Mika: Did she hear what I said?

//As Aiya is walking back to the house she receives a call from Hana who sounds very excited.

Aiya: Did you find a place already?

Hana: It’s a great place…. for our new beginning. I just had to take it before someone else did. You’ll love it!

Aiya: Great! Text me the address and I’ll be right over.

//Aiya gets in her car and races to the new office space. She arrives shortly thereafter. It’s near the warehouse district.

Aiya: I love it!

//Hana comes racing out of the building.

Hana: What do you think Sis? Was I right!

Aiya: Masquerade, Inc.

Hana: Huh? What did you call it?

Aiya: Masquerade, Inc. Detective agency.

Hana: What’s that all about?

Aiya: The schools Masquerade party, where Mom and Dad first kissed and truly fell in love, and we became a reality.

Hana: Okay… a little strange, but it kind of grows on you. (Hana then shouts) I like it!

//Aiya runs over to Hana and hugs her.

Aiya: Mom and Dad would love this too. It’s for them!

//So begins the detective agency… Masquerade, Inc.