After Akama left, Aoyama continued making his drink. Once he was finished, he sat on the corner of his bed sipping his warm tea while watching Miki who was fast asleep.

Aoyama tried to recall what happened last night. He vaguely remembered Miki telling him that Akama was living with her and he remembered feeling rather jealous. He couldn't remember anything else after that. He seriously hoped he did not say ridiculous things to Miki that would change their relationship. Miki acted all normal just now so maybe he was safe.

He then wondered what Miki thought of him. She had seemed to be pretty attentive and caring to him yesterday. He wasn't sure if it was just because she felt sorry for him or there was more to it. Then he remembered his parents. What if Akama was right? What if dark forces were behind it? But why did they specifically target his parents? What about Miki's grandma? Was it their doing as well? But why?

So many questions went on in his head that he couldn't answer. He suddenly had the urge to talk to Akama, he wished he hadn't left. He always had the answer to everything.

Three cups of tea later, Miki still had not woken up. He decided to take a shower and freshened up.

The sound of water from the bathroom woke Miki up. She yawned sleepily and checked the clock on the wall. It was seven in the morning.

Half asleep, she got out of bed and tried to stand up. Quickly a shooting pain on her injured ankle overwhelmed her so she sat back down on the bed. "Damn it," she cursed.

"Morning, Miki," Aoyama greeted her as he got out of the bathroom wearing only shorts. The sight of topless Aoyama made her forget her pain straightaway. He still looked as fit as he was five years ago.

"Morning," she mumbled, still staring.

Aoyama quickly felt awkward for being stared at so he grabbed a shirt and put it on. "Slept well?" he asked.

"I-I think so," Miki replied as she quickly looked elsewhere after realising she was caught checking him out. She then remembered Akama who came over earlier. "Did Akama come earlier or did I dream that?" she asked.

"He did come," Aoyama answered. "And then he left. I wonder why."

Miki sighed. "I hope he isn't too mad at me."

"Why would he be mad?" Aoyama wondered.

"For not getting in touch with him. You should see him yesterday when I told him I was going to stay with you. Made me feel like I was going to elope with Desgiller."

Aoyama had to laugh at the Desgiller's reference. Desgiller had always been Akama's arch enemy. "I wonder if Akama thought I was THAT dangerous."

It was Miki's turn to laugh. "Seeing how you were when you were drunk last night, maybe Akama had a valid reason to be concerned."

"Ahhh," Aoyama threw a pillow to Miki. "Don't remind me."

"Maybe we should call him now," Miki suggested as she caught the pillow nonchalantly and threw it back to Aoyama.

Aoyama had to duck down to avoid Miki's accurate aim. "Haven't lost your touch I see."

"Neither have you," Miki winked at him. Aoyama's heart skipped a beat at that.

"Will you call him? I can't walk. My ankle hurts," Miki said.

"Uhm, sure!" Aoyama said as he tried to recover from Miki's wink.

Miki told him her number and Aoyama quickly dialed. On the first ring, Akama answered, "Hello?"

"Hey Chief, good morning. It's me Aoyama," Aoyama said to the phone.

Akama felt a bit disappointed that it wasn't Miki who rang but he hid it well.

"How are you doing?" he asked.

"I'm alright," Aoyama replied. "Thanks so much for yesterday."

"What are you talking about, we're family, we're here for each other," Akama said.

Aoyama felt warm hearing that. "Thanks. Sorry for not getting in touch with you last night that you had to come this morning."

"No problem. How's Miki?" he asked.

"She's…well she can't walk apparently," she said looking at Miki.

Miki quickly mouthed and moving her hands in panic trying to sign to him to not say that to Akama. But too late.

"What? I'm coming to get her," Akama quickly said.

"But Chief…" Before Aoyama could say anything, Akama had hung up the phone. "I can drive her back…," he finished his sentence while putting down the phone.

"He's coming to get you," he told Miki.

"Arrgh! Why did you tell him I can't walk?"

"You didn't tell me not to tell him that," Aoyama defended.

Miki cringed in fear. "He worries so much about me as it is…"

Aoyama frowned. "Really?"

Miki saw the change of expression on Aoyama's face. Now that she knew how he felt about her, she didn't want him to misunderstand her. "Oh you know Akama, he always worries about everyone but himself."

Aoyama nodded his head silently. "Would you like some drink?" he changed the subject.

"Some water will be great, thank you."

Aoyama walked away to the kitchen without a word. After a few minutes he came back with a glass of water and still not talking.

Sensing the shift of mood in her friend, Miki had to ask, "Are you okay?"

"Eh?" Aoyama wasn't sure what Miki was referring to.

"You've gone silent."

"Ah, really?" he said nervously, kicking himself for not being able to hide his feelings well. "I'm fine."

"Okay, just checking," Miki did not want to push the matter further.

"Will you help me up?" she asked after finishing her glass of water. "I need to go to the bathroom."

"Sure." Aoyama came to her aid straightaway.

-oOo-

While Miki was in the bathroom, Aoyama's doorbell rang. Thinking it was Akama, he wondered if he rode Goggle Caesar to be able to arrive this quickly.

He opened the door to find Kijima standing there. "Hey buddy, how are you doing?" Kijima slapped Aoyama on one shoulder.

"Kijima!" he exclaimed happily to see his best friend. "What brings you here?"

"Breakfast," he said showing him a bag of take away food.

"Ah, thanks! Come on in! Don't you have to work today?" Aoyama asked. It was a Sunday and he knew Kijima tend to work weekends as the zoo was usually busy then.

"I'm taking today's off. I thought you might want some company," Kijima said.

"Ah, you're the best! Thanks, buddy," Aoyama said appreciatively.

Then Kijima noticed a white boot near the front door and crutches inside. He paused for a second. "You've got company?"

"Miki's here," Aoyama said.

Kijima eyes widened. "Ohhhhhhhh! Did she stay last night?" he eyed him suspiciously.

"Yes," Aoyama answered blushing.

"You didn't…," Kijima pointed to him.

"No, no, it's not what you think it is. Come on! I just lost my parents. It's the last thing in my mind. She just stayed to keep me company. Just like what you're doing right now," Aoyama quickly explained.

"But that's good news, buddy. That means she cares a lot about you," Kijima said. "For a girl to stay the night at a guy's place…"

Aoyama blushed again. "Ssh!" he was afraid Miki could hear what he said.

Not long after, another unexpected visitor came. "Kuroda!" Aoyama quickly let him in. He was also bringing breakfast.

"Great minds think alike," he high-fived Kijima.

"We're just missing Akama. I think he's coming soon to get Miki," Aoyama said. He was happy that his friends were all here to keep him accompanied.

"Miki's here?" Kuroda lifted his eyebrows.

Kijima nudged Aoyama and grinned, "someone's got lucky…"

"I told you it's not what you think!" Aoyama quickly said. "And ssh!"

Aoyama saw Miki coming out of the bathroom. "Miki!" he said louder than he intended to. "Look who are here!"

"Oh hey guys," Miki said as she saw the two guys. "See Aoyama, you're not all alone. Everyone's here with you."

Aoyama smiled sheepishly. "Thanks, guys," he muttered.

Not long after, Akama arrived. By then the door was wide open. Aoyama knew he was coming so he didn't bother closing it.

"Hey Chief, come have breakfast with us!" Kijima said when he saw Akama at the door.

"Whoa, you guys partied and didn't invite me?" he joked when he saw everyone's there.

"Well, you're here, aren't you?" Kuroda said. "Join in!"

"It works out well that everyone's here…," Akama hung his sentence. He looked around the table before he sat down. Hearing his familiar leader voice, everyone automatically paid attention to him and waited for what he had to say. "I need to give you these." He took out five pagers from the shopping bag he was carrying.

"Whoa," the rest exclaimed in unison.

"What are they for?" asked Kijima.

"Well, I thought if we were to work together again to solve Aoyama's parents' case, we will need to be able to contact each other quickly," he explained. "Without the Goggle braces, it isn't so easy anymore. So these are the next best thing."

Without Akama having to tell them, everyone knew which pager belonged to whom from the colour.

"Cool," Kuroda exclaimed.

"Just like the old days," Kijima said admiring the device.

"Actually," Miki who had been rather quiet since Akama arrived, mainly still afraid of what Akama would say about her not looking after herself that her ankle hurt again, started talking. Everyone's attention switched from Akama to her. "I'm wondering if we could contact the Future Science Lab and see if they know anything."

"That's an idea," Kuroda said.

"But we don't know their location anymore," Akama pointed out as ever since they finished their mission and went back to live normal lives, they were no longer informed of the new location of the lab.

"I may have some contacts," Miki said.

"Oh?" The rest looked at her curiously.

"Akane. She still sends me letters every now and then. Although she never said anything about the lab in her letters as she's probably not allowed to, I'm pretty sure she and the rest of the comboys are still working there."