While walking, searching for a nice spot to wait, Akagi asked on a whim—
"Whom did you call? Private cabbie company?"
"No, but I have owned several of ridesharing companies offering services that include vehicle for hire and rental cars, transportation services. Etc."
"Let me guess — to launder your drug money? Must be filthy rich by now."
"Hehe..."
After a light giggled, Misaki makes a snarky remark--
"I am. What else I be owning seven of the cab companies? Anyway, the owners cut a deal, let me ride free across Imperium States. Sweet deal, right?"
"I noticed you weren't afraid of sharing your secrets with me?"
".... Yeah... For a long time, I being so open with somebody."
Changing her tone drastically into gloomy and depressed, on the afternoon Misaki sat beside the tree with Akagi. He removed the Redtron's mask while he occasionally does show his face when no one would see those big empty eyes of menace and sorrow containing a glint of loathing and self-hatred. The contact lenses hold the burning flames of Red Hikaru at bay, present as one the norms.
"Thank you for saving Miyoshi... Never imagined I would see her again."
Misaki said suddenly gazing up the sky, held one cigarette on her lip before lighting it up.
"Puf.... It's not because I want you dispelled that annoying bounty. It's... She's the last person I want to see get hurt or worse... Who knows?"
"You really feel that way?"
"Heh?" Misaki glance besides, noticed while, Akagi lower his head, expression lost inside the countless glossy hair bangs covered mostly, an eye of hope flourish underneath,
"What? What do you mean by that? I mean the concept of being free from everything. Free from evilness, cleansed all the wickedness, stench unpleasantness of this sicken world. A place of heaven?"
"Again, you're daydreaming aren't you Shinsuke? Of course, I feel that way."
"Then wait a little longer. Once my Operation Recommence is completed, fear of being oppressed, abused, discriminated will be over, permanently!"
After said that, Akagi extends one hand forward, instinctively, squeezed Misaki's hand affectionately.
"You know what! Are you sure you're still the same haughty prideful MRC scientist back in the Friendo's Bar?"
"Heh!? Haughty scientist, is that what you thought of me back then?"
"Oh, so you are the arrogant four-eye Akagi Shinsuke, are you? You do not look much of a notorious tyrant of mutant kind to me. In fact, you look more like a pretty heroine! Just look at your fine facial features, your dark hair! It is even silkier and straighter than mine! Almost...annoyingly so..."
"It's fucking annoying to me too!"
"Sorry. (chuckled) Besides, now I get the expression of donning a Redtron mask in front of everybody. So beautiful one might mistake you for a lady."
"Stop your moronic babbling. In what way I look like a woman!"
Horn. Honk!
Their silly argument interrupted, the car Misaki ordered has arrived.
"Here's your car boss!"
"Well that was fast. Well, Thanks for the help."
Driver tossed the keys to Misaki's, and went separate ways,
"You're going to Port Barbarossa on the northern side."
"Where?"
"According to Valhallal's Lord Cornwall's Intel, the shipping harbour controlled by ex-criminal underworld Port Talbot 154 km up north."
"Better yet. You drive, rather than talking. I hired another one car, heading back into TYZ."
"Ahh... About that... I cannot drive. Not a four-wheel car, motorbike, even a bicycle, anything."
"Seriously?!"
"Even more disturbing, back when I was Hatteki in Budapest. Was an ace driver."
After Akagi's silly yet absurd confession come to light, made Misaki speechless. She exhaled deeply, seemed frustrated, she enters the driver seat, Akagi sits besides, certainly not from Akagi's inability to drive any vehicles.
"Never mind. We have to reach the harbour before sun down."
Start the engine, release gear from the neutral. Drove forward.
Despite Misaki thought they will reach the destination before evening, she didn't aware they have to cross a swamp before reaching the Port Barbarossa.
During night, the car driving towards the destination in fast speed--
"Do you think that was a smart move, Shinsuke?"
"About Oricini brothers?"
"Mm..."
"What you suggest, why should I let them reap the fruits of our labour without compensating us for it, Misa?"
"But right now, we really need those two fags to be loyal. Let's not forget those idiots and, their little band of idiots working for the greatest idiot,"
"And what? You don't think I inspire loyalty? Or smart enough to outwitted them?"
"Nope. I think you're intelligent, educated, cunning, and deceptive, know what I mean, but I'm not sure about everyone else's think the same. Either way you know, the thing is, Shinsuke... You won this round. Like that you must win this war too. There are people who will see that as weakness. We've gotta keep our enemies close, now more than ever. And I won't be here seeing to you succeed. In fact, early irritation of mine wasn't your fault. I had to pick up some important documents personally in TYZ. Likewise, I been ever grateful for that, earned my admiration and love."
"Humph. You think I am vain and haughty, listen to yourself. Lady Athena."
"Ho-ho. You hurt me. Mock as you like babe, oh sorry, your Samesty" Misaki flirtatiously replied, "For not seeing flamboyant guy like you, anyway it's seemed we have admiration for each other mutually you're going to miss me, Akagi... As will I..."
"Eh, What? You're going somewhere!?"
"(Exhaled) Momentarily to get my new passport and Ids from Ayana-san, I had several, unfortunately Brittonian authority denied all of them. Ayana told me to collect it tomorrow as she closed shop for the day. Did... tell you, aren't I?"
"Oh....! Right... Yes, you did. Sorry. You have to go, restart your business in the domain of the Chinese Confederate, I almost forgot...I thought... never mind, keep driving..."
Under the stoic composure demeanour, tremendous shock eating him on the inside, and Misaki observed that fact, ogled him frequently while driving, which made her worried too, he always been hard-bitten.
"Hey... You okay?"
"..."
Misaki inquired, he remains silent for the moment,
"Yeah. I'm fine. You know what we going in the Port?"
"Yes...."
Subconsciously she had reach the conclusion. He feared for her safety. Even if it was just one person, at least now he thought of someone other than himself. Clouding Misaki's judgement going abroad. It's one-time trip.
Beneath the tough exterior of ice, He is in anguish. He mourns, secretly as no one to see or sense he changed the subject.
....
The car halted at Harbour, including Akira Sogen, The Crimson Killer and Asumi his "Sweetheart" standing present at the location with well-function aircraft.
"All Board. My Samesty."
"You supposedly to pick us up from the farmhouse, Sogen?"
"We were but Asumi here, she suggested—"
"Yeah... Sorry for not inform you early on—"
"Are you Akira Sogen? Who told you to open your mouth!"
Both Sogen and Asumi went silent after Misaki's savage retorts not only she saw Asumi with Tomita, Misaki looked at her mistrust. While her background is clean, she's also relatively well-mannered, Asumi, herself, is a young woman, paled-skin with long black hair, kept up into a low ponytail or low twin-tails in one or two red ribbons that are wrapped around them at the back of her head.
it's the unsettling aura of her that distressed Misaki.
At the night of bright moon, coupled with strong rogue winds, that's odd of those to be out here. Especially on a secluded dockyard.
Akagi command directly, setting their differences aside.
"Anyway. What's done is done. Both of you two get it. Now, who would pilot this Air-carrier?"
"I'll do that!"
Before the agreement could Misaki accept, instead turn away, she hopped right into aircraft.
"Where to?" she asked directly.
"To Island-city No. 9. Three some minor mutants held a meeting about 'How about counter Imperial Brittonia's oppression' the meeting I did not wish to miss."