It had been almost three months since Izanagi and Izanami met. A significant portion of Tokyo was now in the grip of the U.N. Naturally, the government had been crying foul about the violation of its sovereignty. However, it had no allies on which to call for support. Every nation in the world wanted Gate technology, and none of them trusted Japan to share.

Misaki Kirihara had begun settling into her new life as one of the heads of the "New Syndicate". Between Kobayashi's assets in Japan and Oreille's resources abroad, they had significant influence in both the political and strategic arenas. Thus far, they had been utilizing them to exert pressure on the occupying nations. They all knew it wouldn't work on its own, but as Mao once pointed out, they also had public opinion on their side.

But truth be told, none of that truly mattered to Misaki. She was far more interested in the past than the present. Or rather, a man from the past.

A knock at the door shook Misaki from her thoughts.

"Miss Kirihara?" a somewhat distracted female voice uttered from behind the speckled gray door. "the reports you asked for are here, but the man who delivered them says he has to give them to you personally."

"That's fine," Misaki answered without getting up from her desk. "Send him in. And stop calling me 'Miss'; it makes me feel old…" she added with a bit of annoyance.

The door opened, and a somewhat overweight man holding a manila folder entered.

"Saito, it's really not necessary for you to do this every time."

He immediately straightened his posture. "Yes, I know, but I figure it's better to be safe than sorry!"

"Even though you're always sorry for imposing afterward?" Misaki remarked in a lecturing tone.

Saito appeared to sweat bullets as he tried and failed to come up with a reply.

"Calm down, Saito, it's a joke," she finally added. It was a lie, of course, but he didn't deserve to be mocked like that. "So, the report?"

"Hm? Oh, yeah! Here you go."

Saito rapidly crossed the room and handed her the envelope. As she opened it and skimmed through its contents, his gaze swept across the desk and walls of the room. Both were bare save for the most minimal of work materials.

"Uh…Excuse me for saying so, but isn't it about time you decorated this place somewhat? You know, make it more…'you'?"

"Mm hm," she replied as her eyes flitted across the lines of text. She was clearly not paying attention.

Eventually, he gave up and waited for her to finish reading, passing the time by memorizing the patterns of wooden grains on her desk.

"So, this is all the information we have on the new Gate?" Misaki finally asked.

"Yes. For the moment, anyway."

"I see. What about Izanagi and Izanami?"

"That CIA contact we have says that Izanagi's body was found deceased at the center of the Gate, along with the body of a young girl who looked just like him and a-"

"Young blond boy," she finished.

So, those two had died as well...

"…Yes," he confirmed with surprise. "But for some reason, no one is able to get near the bodies."

"Why?"

Saito shook his head. "That's all he gave us. No idea of Izanami's whereabouts, either, or if she's even still around."

"And the rumors about the Child at the Gate?"

"Still just rumors. Nothing solid yet."

"I see. Thank you, Saito."

By this point, he had learned that was a code phrase for "Thank you; you can go now," so she was surprised when he suddenly blurted out "You know, the old gang is getting together for drinks later. You know, to celebrate Yutaka and Mayu's engagement. You should come along and catch up. They all want to know how you've been doing."

She stared at him for a moment. What on Earth was that man always so nervous about?

"I'm sorry, Saito, but I can't," she lied. "I have too much work to do here tonight."

"Oh. My apologies, then." Saito couldn't hide his disappointment as he turned to leave.

Misaki stood. "Saito, wai-"

But the door had already closed behind him. Oh, well, she'd just have to apologize to him next time.

And so she sat back down in her office chair and thought back on the new information she had, particularly the fate of those two children.

"So that's what happened to you two…" she remarked sadly. They had been so young, and had so much to live for.

"I wonder…Were you there for her at the end, Li? Was there anything you could have done? Do the memories of the people you couldn't save haunt you?"

The Black Reaper invaded her thoughts when she was in mourning. It was cruelly appropriate.

The ringing phone brought her back to reality.

"Hey, Misaki," came the teasing voice she had gotten used to. "Just calling to make sure you're going to the big outing tonight."

"Kanami? You're going too?" Misaki said in shock. "But I thought you were always busy at the observatory these days."

"Even I can find time to relax once in a while. You should try it sometime."

"I do too relax!" Misaki protested.

"Oh? When was the last time you went shopping without me dragging you to a store?"

"Look, it doesn't matter," Misaki explained. "I have too much work to do tonight, and-"

"Work, work, work," Kanami repeated. "That's all you ever do these days. You're going to break down at this rate. You know what you need? You need to go on a big shopping spree, eat a ton of stuff you'll regret the next day, and maybe meet a handsome foreign man who will make you forget all your troubles."

"What?!" Misaki flushed. "Where did that come from?"

"Come on, be honest," Kanami pressed. "When was the last time you had a date?"

"Well…" Misaki stalled.

"It's time to move on."

"What?"

"He's gone. He disappeared with that Doll. You said it yourself. Getting hung up over the people you've lost won't help; it'll just isolate you from the people you have left."

Misaki said nothing.

"So, I expect to see you show up tonight, got it? Otherwise, I'll tell them about the dress I got you to wear that one time…" Kanami threatened.

"You wouldn't!" Misaki gasped. The memory was embarrassing enough with only the two of them knowing about it. If others learned of it…

"Wouldn't I?"

"Kanami, if you're serious, I swear I'll…"

"So, ciao!" she replied cheerfully before hanging up.

Misaki sighed. Despite the threat of utter humiliation hanging over her head, her thoughts were still focused on Li…Er, BK201.

She knew he wasn't coming back. She had come to terms with that fact long ago. What she couldn't grasp was why.

Why did he choose that Doll over her? She had all the advantages, didn't she? She could have given him anything he needed. If he needed to hide, she could have provided any number of sanctuaries, probably with police protection included. If he required money, she had more than enough. And if he wanted someone to talk to, she could have held a conversation far better than any Doll. So what was it about this Doll? Surely Li wasn't simply the type who preferred younger women?

"No! No! It's not that!" she blurted out, giving both her cheeks a light slap for emphasis.

But still…

On a whim, she rummaged through the Syndicate files that Mao had provided her until she found the one she was looking for.

"Yin: A Doll of Scandinavian descent. Uses water as a medium. Blind. Met the Black Reaper when he was assigned to her team three years ago."

That was right around the time Misaki herself first met him, so it couldn't have been a matter of timing. Then what was it?

"Disappeared with him after the Tokyo explosion. Remained with him until the awakening of Izanami began."

What was the reason?

"Disappeared with him once again after the meeting of Izanami and Izanagi."

What did that Doll have that she didn't?

"Current whereabouts unknown."

Her shoulders slumped. Did she ever even have a chance?

Dropping the file, she looked out her window at the stars that were still faint in the evening sky. BK-201 still shone as brightly as ever, as if mocking her with its mysteries.

"Maybe…" she pondered aloud, "It's time I stopped asking myself questions I can't answer."

Her gaze slowly shifted to the phone on her desk, and before she knew it she was dialing.

"Saito? My schedule just opened up. Where are we meeting?"