Ito stretched out as she woke up, she was still sore from the other day, since they had all agreed to go into town today her morning run with Darren was cancelled, she was still a bit sad about it but they would be wandering around the mall together so she decided it was alright. She climbed out of bed and dropped some dried leaves in a kettle and flicked the power on, she was about to turn back to her dresser when she noticed an envelope slid under her door. Ito walked over and picked it up, it had her name in bold letters on the front, she turned it over but there was no indication on who it had come from. She placed the envelope on the counter top and went to get dressed, she pulled on a black skirt, black knee socks and a white blouse, she felt a little embarrassed since she had normally worn more practical clothing since coming here. Ito went back into her small kitchen and poured a cup of tea then picked up the letter again, she sat back in a comfy brown chair she had next to her bed and placed the tea on an end table after taking a sip. Ito casually opened the letter, "TOP SECRET" was written in red on the top fold of the paper which was inside, she gasped in surprise. Assuming it was someone's idea of a prank she unfolded the sheaf of paper:
"Stay calm, what this is about to reveal to you is the absolute truth, you have been abducted, the Genetech Corporation are evil, they abduct citizens of other countries to perform genetic experiments on them since they are limited where testing on their own people is concerned. Your friend Darren was also an abductee, I intend to make contact with both of you in the future and help you to recover your memories which Mikhail Vasaliev personally altered. Don't talk to this about anyone and destroy this letter as soon as you've finished reading it, if the company finds out about this they'll erase this event from your memory. As proof this isn't some hoax, try calling your family back in Japan, the number you remember is theirs are actually Russian operatives whose job it is to fill that role."
The letter was signed "A Friend" Ito tossed the letter back on the counter nonchalantly, it's obviously fake, the letter even said her parents are fake but she had just talked to them yesterday and they remembered the events of her childhood as well as she had. When the time had come to meet up with her friends she had completely pushed the message out of her mind and made her way towards the front gate.
"Hiii" Anya greeted as Darren approached the gate, everyone except Aleksi had arrived, "You're late!" Anya exclaimed, Darren looked at his communicator he was still five minutes early "I don't care about your semantics" Anya pouted "everyone else was here early so you're late!" Just outside the gate was the familiar Genetech transport, "Wow you're dad really doesn't let you use public transport does he?" Darren said.
The luxury transport pulled up to Siniy Mall drawing a lot of attention, "Don't really care for the attention" Darren admitted, Ito nodded in agreement, "You get used to it" Anya said, they stepped out of the vehicle and headed to the main entrance. Darren had been feeling uneasy lately so he had asked the school for a firearm for when they were off school grounds, it took a few days but they called him in earlier today and granted him a handgun and a conceal carry license. Darren gave his side a reassuring pat to make sure his firearm hadn't slipped and with where he had placed it to onlookers it might seem if he was just checking for his wallet.
Anya, Jeanne, and Ito all wanted to go clothes shopping so Darren was dragged along to various stores to comment on the outfits they intended to buy, when Anya tried to drag him into a lingerie shop he vehemently refused to play her game.
"You're such a poor sport" Anya pouted while they sat at a vacant table in the food court, "By no means should a man comment on a woman's underwear unless they are attached" Darren said adamantly. "Men should not go into women's underwear stores" Jeanne agreed, "You're such a trouble maker Anya" Ito said, seeing she wasn't going to win this argument Anya gave up. Darren was casually slurping away at his ramen when he thought he spotted someone familiar leaving the food court, "Why ramen again?" Anya asked, "There's plenty of other food here!" "I like what I like" Darren replied. He tried to spot the guy he had seen but he was no longer anywhere in sight, "What are you looking at?" Ito asked, "I thought I saw someone but must have been mistaken" Darren said.
They continued their shopping after lunch, Anya and Ito had dragged Darren to Oedo Kimonoya the shop where they had made him try on clothes the last time, "Not after last time!" Darren protested. "You looked so good though" Ito said disappointed, "I'm not apposed to going in side but not while that lust demon is with us!" Darren said pointing accusingly at Anya, Anya replied with a shocked and hurt expression. "It wasn't on purpose" she whimpered, Darren could tell she was clearly putting on an act, "You must stay ten meters away from the changing room at all times" Darren said. "But..." Anya argued, "No buts!" Darren interrupted, "I won't...." Anya started, "That's enough out of you!" Darren said, "I won't go in unless you agree to these terms" Anya eventually agreed but she wasn't happy about it.
They browsed the store for a while, Anya and Ito ended up buying the outfit they had Darren try on during their previous visit, he had no intention of purchasing anything himself, "We bought it for you so you have to wear it sometimes now!" Anya said triumphantly. Darren looked at the time and it was getting late, "We should get going, we won't be back till after dark now" Darren said, "It'll be fine" Anya said, "What's going to happen in a place as well guarded as Genetech Academy."
Darren finally convinced Anya they should head back with Ito's help and they made for the front entrance, just outside of the mall a group of thugs blocked their path, "What's up cutie, why don't you come have some fun with us" one of them said to Anya. "Eww" Anya said a look of repulsion on her face, "Don't say that, we'd be much more fun then that wimp you're with" another said not taking the hint. A third came over to Darren and put his arm on his shoulder, "Why don't you get lost wimp, leave the girls with us we'll see they get home" he said laughing, Darren gave the man a cold glance then looked at his arm. "What? angry small fry?" the man said getting angry, "I was just thinking you must not care much for your arm" Darren said, the man removed his arm and swung at Darren. Darren blocked the mans punch and quickly drove an uppercut into the thugs elbow shattering it. "You're not smart kid" one of them said as the rest of the thugs drew knives, Darren drew his concealed pistol and put a bullet into the outstretched blade before aiming at the thug. "Next shot won't miss" he promised, one of the thugs tried to grab Ito as a hostage and took a shot to the shoulder for his effort, the man dropped to the ground screaming in pain, the rest of the hoodlums ran away leaving their two injured friends behind. Mall security came running up their guns pointed at Darren, Darren put the safety on and dropped his gun to the ground, check my right pocket he told the men as they approached. One of the security officers searched Darren while the other kept him checked with his gun, the guard pulled out Darren's wallet which held his Academy ID his gun and conceal carry license and various other cards. They eased off after Anya identified herself as the daughter of the countries leader, "What are you thinking!" she scolded, "These men were trying to abduct us and our friend saved our lives, pointing a weapon at him is beyond disrespectful."
The group had a fairly silent trip back to the academy after the ordeal, when they arrived, "I didn't know you were carrying a weapon" Anya said, "I had a bad feeling a couple days back so I asked the faculty for a conceal carry license, they got back to me today" Darren replied. "It was a good thing" Ito argued for Darren's sake, "what would have happened if he didn't," Anya went back to her usual self "I'm not mad or anything" she said, "I was just surprised you didn't tell us." "Yeah... I fully intended to tell everyone but we were so busy having fun today it slipped my mind" Darren said feeling guilty, "Well anyways its almost passed curfew" Anya said, "Everyone to their rooms." "Says the girl who wanted to shop more" Darren muttered, they all separated at the dorm lobby saying their goodnights.