Year One

*Ven stops & turns around.*

V"Why would it bother you if I did?"

Taiyo: "Well, I was hoping you'd want to hang out with us. Sorry if it meant saying things you didn't want to share."

V"It doesn't matter. What's done is done."

T"Maybe we should start over with a change of scenery. Take a lunch break, or something."

V"I already ate."

T"We could get you a drink, or something."

V"I don't have enough money for that."

Dalia turned back, having seen all she had come for.

Jin continued to float on her back, smiling absently at the sky.

*Eve stares up at the sky, thinking, ut eventually dives under the water again*

A police cruiser is sitting at the entrance way to the shipyards when she passes by.

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Taiyo: "We could...go to the park?"

V"I wanted to go to the beach."

Dalia noticed it, and ignored it.

Jin continued to float, enjoying the feeling of weightlessness.

Eve:<So, are you getting kind of hungry?>

Not much to say now. There's some traffic and it'll be a long walk back to a more metropolitan area.

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Taiyo: "Maybe later then. So, what do you want to do?"

Dalia continued to walk back, hoping to find a taxi on the way.

"I could eat, I guess," Jin looked to Eve. "You wanna get some food?"

V"...Swim?"

*Eve nods*

<Sure. Let's head back.>

*Eve starts off for the shore, turning around to make sure Jin is following her*

There isn't a cab in sight. A green Tyranno Boys sedan slows down. A Tyranno Boy in a red leather jacket leans out the passanger side window.

Red: "'Ey chicken legs, hop on in."

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Taiyo: "Then let's swim?"

"Nope," Dalia replied without stopping.

Jin followed after Eve, resisting the urge to bound ashore and amaze everybody.

V"But I am."

T"We don't seem to be going any deeper here."

V"I hope not. There are sharks and stuff out there."

*When they reach the shore, Eve shivers*

<I gotta go get some money from my parents. Be right back!>

*Eve heads and gets some money from her Dad, then starts heading back*

Red: "Wrong answer."

The car pulls up on to the curb, and three Tyranno Boys get out. The one in red brandishes a large revolver, one in blue with an MP7 submachine gun, and one in green with an AR-15 assualt rifle. The yellow wearing driver remains in the car.

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Taiyo: "Sharks aren't really a common thing around here."

Dalia stopped and considered the men, "Well then, I guess I should cooperate. I have a question, though. Do you know who I am?"

Jin found a little handbag which she had left on the beach and slung it over her shoulder, simultaneously withdrawing some loose cash from inside and tucking it into the side of her bikini.

V"They never think there's a shark around, until someone gets eaten by one."

T"What a joyful thought."

Red: "Another corpse."

The Tyranno Boy in red pulls the hammer back on his revolver and raises it.

Red: "Pop pop."

Green: "Chicken legs go pop."

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Taiyo: "It'll be fine."

"I suppose that is a suitable answer," Dalia said before disappearing into Alternate Space. Once in her space, she walked briskly down the street and continued for a few more minutes before exiting.

*Eve walks back to Jin*

<Ready?>

"Yep," Jin nodded, smiling at Eve.

Red: "What the hell? Where'd she go?"

Green: "Who cares? We got a quota to fill or the boss is gonna go beserk."

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Fast forward to later in the afternoon almost evening. The crowd at the beach has gotten considerably smaller consisting mostly of couples walking along the shore or staring out to sea and late swimmers one of which being the sunbathing blond from earlier.

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Azuma: "That was a good day. Good ice cream, good heat stroke, and good almost coming down with hypothermia. I hope we can repeat it."

Mimiru: "No! God, you're an idiot."

Azuma: "Oh oh, shut up, news."

News Anchor: "Four dead and two wounded in a shoot out between members of the Yakuza and Yellow Dragon Triad at the docks this afternoon. Two of which being members of the Yellow Dragon Triad who have been controlling the docks for over forty years."

Azuma: "Damn. Bet the other two are just mook dock workers who were ratted out for dealing with the Triad."