240 Chapter three, 2017, old and new: 10 (1/2)

They must have joined the opening ceremony together, because they were still together, standing in the staircase just inside the door to the roof. Ulf knew they had, but he wasn't sure, because he was still in a daze from the news just days earlier.

He didn't want to put the lid on, but Kyoko's father had, rather understandably, been in a fury, and he had the contacts needed to dig deep enough to unearth Kareyoshi.

'Because the moron is not merely a first class arse, he's an imbecile arse to boot.'

How anyone with such an epic lack of braincells had been entrusted with the knowledge of the arrivals was beyond Ulf, but he was, and as such untouchable.

Yukio leaned on the crutch he had received, more for comfort than any real need. It was the kind of antiquity still popular in Japan and the US with the support in the armpits rather than around the lower arms. ”And why are we here?” he growled.

'Time to lose a friend,' Ulf thought. ”You can't. Until we have the proof needed we can't start a manhunt.”

”Who cares about proof?” Ryu wondered. He was as furious as Yukio.

'You should, you know.' Then Ulf regretted his actions last summer. Even with solid proof, manhunts were best left to the police. Society seldom benefited from vigilantes. ”Because it's not the right thing to do,” he said and prepared for the worst. ”Besides we're told not to.”

Yukio let go of his crutch and hammered him to the floor in response.

Ulf stood up just to be docked once more. The pain was nothing compared to watching the faces of his best friends.

”Where's your loyalty?” Ryu asked.

”We don't go after him because there are better ways.” Ulf touched his bruised chin with his hand. It hurt. He deserved it, but that didn't make ambushing Kareyoshi any more right. He'd have wanted to, but Amaya's explicit orders combined with his memories from last summer told him to stay his course.

”You had no such qualms last summer.” Ryu gave him a disgusted look and stormed away. A few moments later Yukio followed.

”You shouldn't have said anything,” Christina whispered. ”You could just have told them to wait. That you had a plan or something.”

”And lied to my best friend? Would that have made things better? To betray him later?”

”Whatever. I'll talk to them.” And with that Christina ran after their friends.

Only Noriko remained.

”Aren't you going as well? Family and friends first, and all that.” Ulf knew that was uncalled for as soon as he said the words, but he sullenly refused to apologise.

”You're hurting. That's why you're mean. Family and friends, and all that. That's why I'm staying by your side.” She gave him a look filled with sadness. ”I don't agree with your thinking, and you not with mine, but I'll stand by you in this. Because it's important for you.”