Ambush

"You left someone behind?" Old Two asked in understanding.

"Yeah," Yamato threw on a shirt and replied. It is already morning who knows how Tila had spent the night? Even if those guys didn't catch her she's still just a little kid, she'd obviously be terrified all alone in the middle of the forest.

"What about those people that tried to kill you? You still haven't told us what happened,"

Yamato shrugged. "I will handle them, besides when did you start caring about me?"

Old Two's face turned red in an anger and embarrassment. "Don't be vicious kid, some might see us as bad parents but we wouldn't sit still if your life is threatened. Do you even know how I knew you were in trouble and came to rescue you?"

Yamato only noticed how odd that was. How could Old Two appear on time to save him? How did he even know Yamato is in trouble? "I don't know.." He admitted.

"Hmph, that's because I left a strand of my chi in your body since you were little. The purpose of that little spell is to let me know when your vitality is low and fading. I don't know the problem you have with those guys but I won't anyone forgive anyone that tried to kill my son. The only reason I didn't kill them is because I thought you'll like to handle them your way,"

Nora came out of the bedroom and nodded. "I'll also not watch people harm my son, so take your father with you this time. From how he described it those guys are very skillful and professional, you might not handle them alone,"

"They are mercenaries," Yamato confessed.

"I knew it!" Old Two sneered. "That aura of blood cannot be concealed, those guys carry thick killing intent. Hmph I'll go with you and see who will try anything,"

Yamato frowned pretending to think about it. Yet he was secretly delighted that his parents cares about him. "Are you going to follow me everywhere now?"

"Just this once,"

"Thank God," After all Yamato like his freedom.

"I believe you are returning to Dragon Park to look for someone right? From their reaction last night those guys don't look like people that give up easily. I don't know what enmity you have between you but they could be waiting for you to return in ambush so we have to be cautious,"

Yamato shook his head. "I don't have any enmity with them. They just took interest on an alien girl I am acquainted with and wished to capture her at the same time to silence me,"

Old Two's face went dark. "Interspecies slavery? Those guys have guts,"

Nora laughed harshly. "This is worse than we thought, those guys are obviously not ordinary scumbags to try to pull this off... no wonder they want you dead,"

"Anyway, I am going," Yamato said.

"Then let's go," Old Two nodded.

Yamato just looked at him suddenly feeling unwilling to walk around with his estranged father but at last he shrugged. "Just don't slow me down,"

"Don't worry brat," His father snorted in irritation. And so they left the apartment together. "So what's happening?" Walking on the street his father asked.

"What? Didn't I already explain?" Yamato was deep in thought when he heard that and was a little confused.

"Not that, I meant how did you meet this alien girl?"

"None of your business,"

Even though his father suddenly had an interest in him didn't mean that Yamato would suddenly be all cuddly with him.

Old Two's expression darkened but he said nothing in the end. Yamato realized that he might have gone far but he was reluctant to apologize.

After walking for a block Old Two suddenly stopped walking. "You go on first, I'll catch up," he said lightly then turned around and left.

Yamato watched him leave wondering if he left because he angered him. Hopefully Old Two is not just abandoning him but wanted to do something. But what?

On the roof of a nearby building a woman with a faint presence has been watching the two. From the first time they came out of the tenement building she'd reported it to her boss. Seeing Old Two and Yamato separate, she didn't think much and continued following Yamato while reporting his location.

"Where do you think he's going Kira?" Sitting in a van with the rest of the squad Elizabeth asked over the com's.

The woman paused for a moment looking at where Yamato was walking towards. "Dragon Park boss, I think he's returning to that house," she added after another pause. "But why?"

"Hmph it's not surprising. From observing him that day that kid is sentimental, he must be coming to search for the alien girl,"

"In the end it's boss that is more cunning than the rest of us," At the side Parish burst into laugher. "Tracking his house, putting someone to watch his every move and even setting a trap in Dragon Park before hand, boss didn't underestimate him even though he's just a kid. Aren't we using an axe to kill the worm?"

Hearing the blond man's words Saldo and Luka gave Elizabeth a curious look. Seeing that she sneered. "What do you know? Of course it might have been better to attack his home yesterday and grab him for questioning. He naturally cannot escape from us but we shouldn't put the cart before the horse, our priority is Black Hand. Let's not be foolish to beat the grass and scare away the snake,"

Saldo's eyes glinted with a scheming light. "You mean..?"

Elizabeth nodded. "Black Hand don't know we are here for him that's why he appeared before us. Don't forget his expertise is hiding and would never confront anyone easily. I am afraid if he knows that he's our target not the boy he'd just flee,"

"That could happen," Parish nodded deep in thought. "Black Hand always hides and rarely shows his ability, why would he risk it for that kid? What's their relationship?"

"Is it his father? That guy sounds fishy," Luka frowned remembering the guy Kira reported to have come out with the kid but later went on his way. Yesterday night they'd investigated everything about Yamato and knows of his father. But how to say it? In a city like Kreal city the man is too ordinary.

Elizabeth also thought the same but she shook her head. "Even if it is his father we have to focus on the task in front of us first. Remember we are not kidnapping the boy right away but coercing him to give us answers first. After all we don't know how much value he has for the Black Hand or if the Black Hand will show himself if we kidnap him,"

The plan was simple. First they'll be gentle with the kid - who knows, that might actually work? - before going hard if that doesn't work.

"Keep following him and report everything," Elizabeth placed a hand on her ear and said.

"Sure thing boss," Kira replied.

After hanging up Elizabeth turned to the others. "Let's go, we have to take positions,"

Entering Dragon Park, the first place Yamato went to was the old house. He casually crossed the yard to the front door that hung wide open.

Entering the house Yamato was angered. The places was empty of course, he didn't have much hope but was just checking the place out in the unlikely chance Tila had returned here. But of course she wasn't and what started at him was the messy sitting room. A consequence of the battle yesterday.

God help that Tila is alright, Yamato prayed, if not he didn't know what he would do. After a brief search of the house and calling out to Tila, Yamato closed the doors and left. He didn't know that in another place someone watched his every action in a computer screen.

Elizabeth was too cautious that she even bugged the house with cameras. Yamato didn't know he's being watched. After leaving the old house he headed towards the safe house, being careful to cover his tracks on the way. That did not prevent those that were following him to keep up though. In fact in front of experts like them his actions looked funny in their eyes.

"This is the method he used to throw you off yesterday?" Parish mocked after seeing Yamato go in circles in the woods.

Saldo's face twitched but he said nothing, only watching from their hiding place. For experts like them hiding and conversing without giving themselves away was a piece of cake.

"That technique is not that simple," Elizabeth said narrowing her eyes to inspect Yamato's every move. "If you look closely his presence is faint, in the night he'd be even harder to keep track of. Plus he might have had a chance to shake us off if we didn't lock on him already,"

Hearing Elizabeth's words Parish shut his mouth but he secretly sneered, believing this kid could not have escaped from him not matter the situation.

After carefully advancing using the method Katrina taught him to cover his tracks, Yamato finally reached the safe house. It was a shabby wooden shack hidden up in an unremarkable part of the forest. Covered in grasses, branches and overgrown vines it was difficult to find if you didn't know about it before hand.

In fact the shack was camouflaged so well with the surrounding that it was hard for his brain to make out what he's seeing. Even while standing in front of it it was difficult to see the entrance.

However Yamato already knows where it was so after blinking a few times he spotted it. He didn't hesitate to walk to the door. "Tila are you here?" He knocked twice then whispered.

"Yamato?"

Hearing the voice Yamato's eyes brightened in excitement. Fortunately Tila had made it here! "Yes it is me!"

Soon the door opened from inside and Tila came out. Though contrary to his expectation she didn't look that happy to see him just calm as usual. "Why are you so tardy, you worried this lady to death?"

Usually Yamato would flare up after hearing the first part of her sentence but hearing the second part he couldn't help but soften. Looking at it from Tila's perspective she'd waited all night to hear news of him wondering about his fate. Just as he was worried about her she was also worried about him... Yet he just appeared in the morning seemingly alright.

Yamato sighed. "I wanted to come over here immediately but those guys caught up to me. I barely survived with my life, thank you for caring about me,"

"Hmph who cares about you? I was just afraid my mother would scold me if I let you die,"

"Yes yes yes, the young lady is cold and vicious," Yamato laughed ignoring her glare.

"Vein lock," A voice suddenly said.

Yamato's first reaction was to turn around but his body suddenly locked up, he struggled but soon realized he couldn't move or even speak. In front of him Tila seem to be in the same situation from the desperate look in her eyes.

Cold sweat covered Yamato as he tried to break out of the invisible bind. Barely moving his eyes to the side he noticed a few figures coming out of the woods, surrounding him. However he couldn't make out their features with his limited range of vision.

But he knew the mercenaries had set an ambush for him and he'd walked right into it.