The Date

Ring! Ring!! Hizashi's phone rang non-stop. He already knew who was calling and was hoping to avoid it till things were settled. He sighed and picked the call, it was mostly quiet for the first 30 seconds and it scared Hizashi, he stood in front of the glass wall in his office and starred at nothing while waiting to hear his voice.

"Mmm! Hizashi, why aren't you talking?" The old man said. He gulped and inhaled deeply trying to answer, "Don't bother, I'll do the talking. You said the Arai family was completely killed so tell me, why is there a punk running around in a rabbit mask killing my business associates?" He yelled.

"You see the thing is…"

"I told you not to speak! Hizashi, I could've sent anyone to handle Daijirō but I knew how strong he was that's why I sent you my son, his best friend to take him out. Sure if I sent high class assassins after him, they might succeed but the casualties would be big on my part and the organization might end up being exposed." He paused for a while.

"You don't seem to understand the bloodline of the Arai clan. There's a myth saying they are harbour the spirit of death in their blood. Daijirō was the perfect assassin but that's just the problem, if he turned against us then we would be helpless. I thought I already explained this to you? No survivors!" He suddenly started coughing heavily and a bunch footstep rushed in calling out to him.

"Dad! What's happening?" He asked hoping someone there would pick up the phone and answer him.

"Hello sir? Yes, the Chairman had a seizure but we're here with him sir. He's taking his medications as scheduled and…" One of his personal doctors said but the Chairman interrupted.

"Give me the damn phone!" Doctor Hart quickly handed him the phone on his right hand while the nurses checked his blood pressure and injected him with a few fluids on his left arm.

"Hizashi, we can't afford for this to get out of hand, the press are already taking notice of the deaths. We don't have time to find out if any of the Arai clan survived, search New York and kill any Japanese male within the ages 20-28. That's the only solution. Send our rabbit after him and don't fail this time or I'll have your head instead of the rabbit's." He hung up, laid back on him comfy chair in his study and started smoking, with each puff he relived old memories he didn't want to dig up.

Hizashi was in a state of panic but tried to maintain his composure. Killing all the Japanese men that fell within the age bracket would draw the attention of the public and the rabbit will be more alert and cautious. He had to be careful, any wrong move and it is all over.

"Hey! June? I've been texting you all day, what's going on." Niko barged into the lab as usual. June sighed and walked her out of the lab to more private place to talk, her office. They both sat down and spent about a minute staring at each other.

"Well?"

"All day is a bit of a stretch, it's eleven in the morning."

"Nobody cares, what about Enji? Have you talked to him? When's the date?" Niko asked completely ignoring every other thing.

"I'm his boss's daughter, you can't force these things. It has to happen naturally, you know."

"All you had to do was just say hi and let the rest play out." Niko sighed. Someone suddenly knocked on the door.

"I'm not expecting anyone, who could it be." June suddenly noticed a grin on Niko's face, "What did you do?"

"I'm a force of nature." She smiled, "Come in!" She called out and Enji walked in looking confused. "Enji! We met a few days back, do you remember?" She asked him casually.

" Yes ma'am, I mean Niko. I got your text to come up to this office for an emergency, what's wrong." He asked.

"Don't mind my sister, everything is fine. You can …"

"Nothing is fine Enji!" She said dramatically and held on to Enji's lab coat fake crying. "It's a love emergency!" She shouted embarrassing June, "She needs a date, can you take her?" She asked in a low tone.

"Niko!" June yelled in a fit of rage.

"Umm… I… I would love to. Miss June is very… umm… very pretty, if you'll have me I promise to be worth your time." Enji replied with his head facing the ground. Niko turned to June smiling brightly.

"What a gentleman, I'm sorry for my methods but don't turn him down. Please?" Niko begged. She looked at the humble man, sighed and accepted.

"I'll text you the address of the restaurant. Eight O'clock sharp, if I wait for 3 minutes and you're not there I'll leave. Tomorrow night?" June suggested.

"No! You don't have any plans, go tonight, and enjoy yourself June." Niko cut in and after much consideration she accepted to meet up with Enji at Milestone restaurant and visible smile grew on Enji neutral face.

Milestone Restaurant…

7:25 PM

June got off and gave her keys to a vale to pack the car for her. She stood at the entrance for a while trying to prepare herself for what might happen next. She had come earlier than eight and decided to wait and prep herself. Niko helped her pick out an outfit that was so dazzling other men entering the restaurant couldn't take their eyes off her. She stepped in and suddenly saw a hand waving at her from a table near the window. It was Enji, she quickly made her way to him but he dressed casually.

"Wow, that's… just wow." Enji thought out loud. June suddenly felt embarrassed for being overly dressed.

"I knew this was a bad idea." She quickly tied up her hair and turned around to leave but Enji held her back, "I know you're only doing because my father owns the company but you really don't have to pretend to be ok with this setup."

"N… No Miss June, you're mistaken. I was surprised because you looked amazing and well dressed and I look… well, I look like this. I want to be here that's why I came early to prepare myself and so I don't mistakenly make you wait. Please, have dinner with me." He pulled out a chair for her. She was a bit relieved and sat down.

"You can let down your hair, you look amazing either way." He said and untied her hair letting her long black hair loose. She was a bit nervous but in less than an hour he made her comfortable and June was happy to be herself with him.

"Okay so what's your favourite superhero cinematic universe?" June asked while they ate sushi.

"I would say… Marvel, I love Marvel. DC is good but I prefer Marvel, they're more practical. DC is full of magic, it's very unnatural" He said but looked up to see June disappointed, "What happened?" He stopped chewing.

"How can you say that? DC has more powerful heroes and villains; they can easily wipe out Marvel's universe. The justice league is enough even, Superman can do it alone as well." She defended.

"I disagree. Scarlet Witch alone will destroy the DC multiverse, Doctor Strange too, hell even Spiderman could do it." He said laughing. June had never seen him laugh, he looked cute, he was always nervous but he seemed free now.

"Now you're just being a kid, Spiderman? Really?" They both broke out in laughter. Her phone started ringing; it was Hizashi so she excused herself and went to the restroom.

"Hello Dad, this is not a good time, I'm …"

"Listen June, we have narrowed the rabbit's identity down to a Japanese male around 20 – 28. Your sister told me you're on a date with one of our scientists, Enji, he fits the description. He might be the rabbit and probably playing you to get more information or access to our family." Hizashi said.

"How can you say that? He seems like a decent guy…"

"You're already falling for him. Think June, be rational about this. What best way to destroy your enemy than to get close enough to deliver a finishing blow. Of course I might be wrong but we can't afford any mistake. Investigate him and find out if he's the enemy but be careful, if he is, he would be hard to take on alone. Have fun on your date, I love you." Hizashi hung up. She walked out of the restroom and stared at Enji who was waving at her again, wondering how he could be a cold blooded killer. She sat back down.

"He can't possibly be the rabbit can he? But then again he could be a great actor and this Enji character is the perfect disguise…" She was lost in her thoughts staring into space.

"June? Are you with me?" He asked waving at her.

"What?" She came to her senses.

"I just gave a detailed explanation of how Spiderman could defeat DC, weren't you listening?"

"I'm sorry, I got lost for a moment there. Let's order more food." She called the waitress and they placed their orders.