First Adventure

//A couple of days later while the sisters and Mika are settling into the new office their first prospective client arrives through the door. It’s a mother and her child and they come into the lobby area.

Mom: Hello, anyone here?

Daughter: I’ll go check one of the other rooms…

Mom: Naomi, no wait, don’t be rude… I’m sure someone will come out shortly.

//Just then Hana appears out of one of the offices with paint all over her face and sees the Mom and Daughter.

Hana: Oiy, Aiya, someone’s here.

//Aiya peeks out of her office with Mika right behind her.

Aiya: Oh, sorry about that. Our assistant will be right out, please have a seat. (She elbows Mika and whispers) Go on!

Mika: Oh yeah, that’s me… Yes, please have a seat. Can I get you some water or tea?

Mom: Thank you, and no thank you, we are good on the water and tea.

Daughter/Naomi: Do have have any snacks or candy?

//Mom puts her hand over Naomi’s mouth.

Mom: Sorry about that, we are good without food or drink.

Mika: Okay then, welcome to Masquerade, Inc, so how can we help you lovely ladies today?

Mom: Well, a family member has gone missing.

Mika: Oh no, can you describe this family member.

Naomi: She’s about 1 ft tall and weighs about 9 pounds.

Mika: Huh? Is this a baby?

Mom: Oh no, well actually it’s…

Naomi: Our cat!

All three: What?!?!

Mika: Um, okay there… I guess no case is too small, literally…

Naomi: See, I told you they would take the case Mom!

Mom: Um, well, um thank you.

Aiya: No problem Ma’am, it’s officially our first case!

Mom: Please call me Aikiko.

Hana: Well, isn’t this great...

Aiya: Please forgive my sister, she can be quite blunt at times, isn’t that right Hana!

Hana: Tsk… Sorry… so where was the vermin last seen.

Aiya: Hana!!

Hana: What now?

Aikiko (smiles): It’s okay, please do not be too hard on your sister, we understand.

//Aikiko words have made an impact on Hana, and she feels bad for what she has said.

Hana (bows her head): I am truly sorry ma’am, please forgive me. We will be honored to find your lost pet.

Naomi: Yes! She, Iko, was last seen by the warehouses down the end of the street. We found her as a kitten in one of the warehouses and she followed us home and has been with us ever since.

Mika: And as our first client, there will be no charge for the service.

Aikiko: Oh, Thank you! I hope one day we can return the favor in kind.

Aiya: Okay, it’s settled, Hana and I will go check it out now.

//As Aiya and Hana start to leave…

Aikiko: Please be careful, the warehouse district can be very dangerous at night.

Aiya: Huh? Oh, thank you ma’am, but don’t worry about us, we’ll be okay.

//As Aiya and Hana walk outside the office.

Hana: That was kind of odd, Is the warehouse district really that dangerous?

Aiya: There are some low-level gangs in the neighborhood, but nothing we can’t handle.

//Aiya and Hana cautiously approach one of the warehouses and search for a way in.

Aiya: Over here, I think this door may be unlocked. Strangely enough though. Stay alert, never know what we might run into.

Hana: Yeah, everything about this seems a little off.

//As they enter the warehouse Aiya glance back over her shoulder as she senses they are being watched.

Aiya: Stay alert Hana, there’s more here than just a cat.

Hana: Huh? How do you know? It’s your Military training, isn’t it?

Aiya: That’s part of it, but for now I need you to focus…

Hana: Now you sound like Master Shin.

//Suddenly Aiya senses imminent danger. She quickly turns toward Hana.

Aiya (screaming): No! Hana get down now!

//Hana without hesitation hit the floor as three knives go flying by, one grazing her hair.

//Aiya immediately goes into mission mode as she spots one of the assailants. Aiya runs and springs herself off a steel girder and onto an upper platform and kicks the assailant off the platform and onto the ground.

Hana: What the heck is going on?

Aiya: Hana behind you!

//Hana instinctively does a back flip as another assailant comes at her with a sword. Hana then strikes the assailant with her stick knocking him out.

//At the same time, a third assailant is attacking Aiya. Aiya takes out her sword and blocks his attack and delivers a lethal strike of her own.

Black hood man (standing high above watching): (whispers) Tsk, useless fools. (Yells) Everyone falls back.

//Aiya spots the black coat man as exits the building. He notices her watching and stops and turns.

Black hood man: (Whispers) You and your family are such pains in the asses. We will meet again…

//He then vanishes from the building.

Hana: Aiya you okay?

Aiya: Yes, I’m coming down. (Aiya still staring where the man was) Who are you? I feel like I should know you. I have a feeling we will meet again….

//Aiya jumps down from the platform and walks over to Hana.

Aiya: There gone now, but we should be leaving too.

Hana: I’m all for that!

//As Hana and Aiya walk out of the warehouse a small cat comes strolling over to Aiya and starts to rub against her leg and purr.

Hana: No way, is this the little vermin… I mean cat that we were looking for.

//Aiya picks up the cat and stares into it eyes…

Aiya: Yep! I’ll bet you are the one, you sure do look like a troublemaker.

Hana: Well then, I guess our first case was a success! Come on Sis, let’s take this little one back home.