Terrorist? No freaking way. Even if he were the perpetrator, he didn't kill her---No, he ISN'T. I refuse to believe it. My dad has been absolutely normal for all the time I've known him. He's kind-hearted, selfless, and honest. Sure, he may have a drinking habit, but he's never once let me down. Besides, Akane never was hurt, was she? Never has she been in any sort of trouble in these last six months. I need to prove them that he is innocent.

"You seem to have no words, Ryou." Akane said. "You should realise by now that your father has been lying to you all this time---he's a yurei himself. A pretty skilled one, at that."

"Or," I responded, "Someone's trying to frame him. What if somebody else has been manipulating his memories all this time as well? Obviously, if my dad were innocent, which I firmly believe he is, then he wouldn't hire anyone without some identity proof, right? He'd want your details, such as the place you're studying in, or where you're actually from, along with your contact information, and more. And he did ask you all of those, and you did give them all to him. Surely, it must have crossed your mind. Also, don't you think that the real perpetrator would try to conceal himself better? Why would he want to be an easy suspect? If he's smart enough to manipulate you, the Captain of Rank-3, then wouldn't he be able to think this through?"

"That's a fine argument, boy." Henry said. "But then, who would try to frame your father? Your argument loses all value if you can't realise such a simple thing. Your father is also currently missing. There were, indeed, no traces of power present in your house when we inspected it, but your points still aren't very considerable. It just means that he anticipated such a thing to happen since the very beginning, and so he must have prepared himself. I'm sorry, but this is how it is. You aren't alone in this---the young lady here also said the same things when she first heard about it. She kept arguing for nearly three days, trying to fight for your father's innocence. But, for all we know, the statement is out---your father is now a wanted man. The TYB is frantically preparing a search party for the investigation of the disappearance of Yoshida Kenichi as we speak."

"Oh, come ON! My dad could have been just some expendable pawn for the actual criminal. He's innocent, I'm telling you! Akane, come on, believe me, please! I beg you! Aka--"

She's trying to hold back her tears, but also trying to keep a stern face at the same time. She's scared, yet angry. Her attitude has obviously changed---no, she reverted back to her old, cold self, from her military days, after she gained some of her memories, but still, she's the same innocent, and energetic girl that I know. She still has her memories of when she worked for us.

I also cracked up, looking at her sad face. I never expected anything like this to happen. Neither of us did. We, or at least I, was forced to come here, due to unfavourable circumstances. Never would I have ever imagined that the day would come when my dad would be declared as a criminal.

"However," Henry added, "We're to bring him in alive. He may be a terrorist, but as you said, there is a very slim chance of him being framed, or being used as a scapegoat. If that is true, then the perpetrator might be after you."

"M-Me? Because I'm a rekishiya?"

"Precisely. Rekishiya aren't very loved, you see. Throughout history, they've been revered as sort of proxy gods, or sometimes the real thing. This has always caused a lot of jealousy and fear among certain people, and even royalty. Most of them have never really had peaceful deaths---either killed, or have committed suicide. You're quite possibly one of the only rekishiya to be born in these last two decades. The enemy would want to harness your power for their own benefits."

Couldn't they have gone with this theory from the bloody start!? Why say that now, after making my father a wanted man? It's absurd.

"But," he continued, "For now, we still firmly believe that he's dangerous, and so, he's our prime suspect. We will do all it takes to find, and capture him. We will use any method to extract information out of him---even torture. I don't expect you to forgive me, or my people, but I promise you---we won't kill him."

Those words were cruel, yet merciful. They lifted a huge weight off my crushed soul. I could finally draw some breath.

"I will also assist in finding him. Please, let me. I need to know the truth for myself." I said.

"I knew you'd say that. Which is precisely why I won't let you. And that's an order. Got it? I cannot allow a mere student, who's also potentially under threat, to be involved in this. It's an international matter now. Six countries, including Japan, are involved in the search."

S-Six countries? What the actual hell?

"I've said my part. I'll be leaving. For what it's worth, I hope I'm wrong. See you later, boy." Henry left, as he uttered those words.

"I don't believe that you're involved in this, Ryou, but I can't lower my guard when I'm around you. I tried testing you to see if you truly had experience in combat or not---seems like I was wrong. You're weak. But I guess being one truly has saved you from being one of the prime suspects, huh? Ironic." She said, and left as well. Ouch. Rude and cold again---exactly what you'd expect from a TYB captain. Man, I already miss her old self. If only she didn't regain her memories. No, what am I thinking? This is her real self. I cannot possibly change that. As much as it pains me, I have to accept reality now. I can't waver now---I have to prove my dad's innocence. But, there's also the miniscule possibility of me being wrong here---I have no definite proof. I have to get back to my house. Chances of finding pieces of evidence are very low, since Henry and his men already checked for them. Still, I need to see it for myself---I know my house better than anyone else. But I can't do it alone. I can't ask Akane, nor can I involve another student in this matter. Who can I trust?