Act III: Showing Off A Little

     Miya, Ami, and Munenori enter a somewhat falling apart building in a lower class part of
the city.
     "I'm sorry, it isn't much," Miya says as she places the tired Ami on a small piece of
bedding. "Just, ever since our parents died a couple years ago we have had to make due with
whatever we can find."
     "Yeah, that's a problem in this city," Munenori answers. "I had to live the same way for
a long time."
     "Really?" Miya asks, sitting on a couch and inviting Munenori to sit next to her.
     "I had lived in places like this, actually, must worse for most of my childhood. I grew up
knowing the rules of the street, living on my own with no one to take care of me."
     "That's terrible," Miya says concerned.
     "I hope Ami knows how lucky she is to have you."
     They both look over to where Ami is resting peacefully.
     "I don't think she even knows how poor we really are," Miya mentions.
     "As long as a child has shelter, food, and love, they could really care less," Munenori
comments. "I take from the look of contentment on her face that you have done that well."
     "I try my best," Miya tells him. "But I absolutely hate leaving her alone for any amount
of time. I have no choice though. Either leave her alone, or don't work and go hungry."
     "Yeah, I know what you mean."
     "So, anyway, what exactly is your purpose for being here?"
     "As I said, I'm looking for someone," Munenori explains.
     "Why are you looking for them?"
     "I don't want to face my new challenge alone, so that's why I'm looking for her,"
Munenori answers.
     "Her? Girlfriend?" Miya questions.
     "No, cousin."
     "Oh..."
     They two sit in silence for awhile until Miya speaks up, "I think I'll go to bed now. I
don't have much more to offer than this little couch we're sitting on..."
     "That'll be enough."
     "I just hope that...." Miya pauses in her sentence as she stands from the couch.
     "Hope what?" Munenori asks.
     "Nevermind," Miya walks over to some bedding next to Ami.
     Munenori senses her worried feelings and questions further, "Really, what's bothering
you?"
     "Oh, nothing much," she continues to avoid answering. "Just, be careful if anything
happens."
     "What might happen?" Munenori asks her.
     "Well..."she hesitates.
     "Miya, tell me."
     "Okay," she takes a deep breath. "We, Ami and I, hit hard times when I lost one of my
higher paying jobs. We had to borrow money. And now the people who gave me it are after me."
     "Rest well, Miya."
     She stares at him confused for a moment. Munenori just lies down on the couch and
closes his eyes. Miya finally decides to go to sleep also.

     "What news do you have for me on our target?"
     "He is staying at an abandoned building in Shoumu with two other people."
     "The next time they are outside of the city, make your move."
     "Yes, sir."

     Miya wakes up as the morning sun breaks in through the partially boarded up windows.
She stares at the ceiling and thinks to herself, Well, we made it through another night.
     She looks around and notices that Ami is not still sleeping next to her. She looks at the
couch and Munenori isn't there. She sits up with a worried look on her face.
     "Ami," she whispers under her breath.
     She quickly stands up and looks around the room without finding her. She runs outside
the house. She looks from her right to her left and sees nothing.
     "Ami," she says to herself.
     She can hear commotion from around the side of the building. It sounds like the voice of
a three and a half year old in trouble.
     "Ami!" she shouts and runs into the alleyway.
     She stands there, worried beyond belief as she watches Munenori and Ami.
     "Okay, now, take my arm and bring it above my head," he says as Ami grabs his wrist.
"Hold on, I'm just a little taller than you."
     Munenori kneels and helps show Ami how to twist his arm around. Soon, Ami has
Munenori on his stomach.
     "Now, make sure you have your knees against my arm. Put your left hand by my
shoulder, and keep holding my wrist with your right," he continues to instruct. "Now, push my
wrist towards me, ahh, that's it. Now you've pinned me."
     Ami lets go and claps her hands, "Yeah! Now I can show those meanies whose boss."
     "And who might that be?" Munenori questions Ami.
     "Those mean men who bully Miya."
     "Ami, what are you doing up?" Miya asks bringing attention to herself.
     "Oh, hello," Munenori greets her. "Ami woke up this morning from a bad dream. She
said she was scared she would be hurt. So this morning I brought her out here to show some stuff
I picked up from my cousin and her friend about Aikido."
     "Well, don't teach her too much. Next thing I know she'll be throwing me around the
room whenever she doesn't get what she wants!"
     Munenori and Miya laugh together as they take Ami back inside the house.
     "Well, thank you anyway," Miya says to Munenori. "A friend of mine should be stopping
by soon to watch Ami."
     "I thought you said you had to leave Ami alone?" Munenori questions.
     "I do sometimes, less now than before," she pauses. "I'll have to get to work soon."
     "Can I come along?"
     Miya is startled by his request, "Ah, I guess so."
     Another young girl walks into the building, "Hi Miya." she says.
     "Hi Kiko," Miya responds.
     "Who's this?" Kiko asks referring to Munenori.
     "Oh, just a friend."
     "Okay, well, I'm done with my shift," Kiko announces.
     "Hi Kiko!" Ami shouts as she runs towards her.
     "Hi Ami!" Kiko greets as she picks Ami up. "Staying out of trouble?"
     "Yes, ma'am." Ami says playfully.
     "Well, then I guess we're ready to go," Miya states.
     "Bye bye sis," Ami calls out as Miya and Munenori leave.
     They leave the building and begin walking into the city.
     "So, where is it that you work?" Munenori asks.
     "You'll find out."
     They turn the corner and there is a big fancy diner next to a large office building that is
under construction. They begin walking towards it.
     "Oh, so you're a waitress," Munenori suspects.
     "Ah, not exactly."
     "....?"
     They walk past the shiny diner and the large wooden fence enclosing the construction
site. Miya walks up to a middle-aged man.
     "Good mornin' Miya," the man says.
     "Good morning Jiro-san," Miya replies.
     She grabs a hard hat and tosses it to Munenori.
     "Check in, they'll pay you just for walking on to the site and doing a little work."
     Munenori puts on the helmet. Miya looks at him after putting hers on and asks, "You're
really going to do this?"
     "Why not?" he asks.
     They walk over towards a large truck and wood pile.
     "Most of what I do is break up these large pieces and toss them in the truck to be taken
away."
     "I can do that."
     Munenori pulls out his weapons and begins smashing pieces apart. Miya just watches
him as he moves quickly through the pile. Eventually a small crowd has formed watching him
meticulously go through it all. Soon, he is finished.
     He says, "Well, I did my part."
     Some of the workers gradually begin to pick up the pieces of the wood. They throw it all
into the truck which is soon full and drives away.

     "Are your men in position?"
     "That they are, sir. The moment they leave the crowded area, they will not have no
escape."
     "Excellent."