My name is Lee. (No, its Mai..)

Chapter 26

Huey managed to catch up to the taxi and followed it at reasonable distance. The taxi soon stopped at Wood-crest International, much to Huey's surprise. He watched the taxi drive off and got out of his car. He decided to wait by the entrance for Lee, correction Mai, to come out. He still needed time to adjust to the recent changes and hoped it wouldn't take long.

"What am I doing?" Huey mumbled, "I should be mad at her"

He rubbed his temples and waited a further 8 minutes when he heard footsteps against the concrete. Mai was carrying a black duffel bag; as she placed it on her shoulders, she noticed Huey and scowled. Mai ordered in her language,

"You should go back home"

"That's not happening until I get some answers," Huey replied in English.

"I gave you the answers. I'm avoiding the Kurosawa clan, and right now I have to save my family members from the elites. Trap or not. And I'm pretty sure I made it clear that I cannot and will not disclose any more information about my world," Mai shot back in clear English, but her Japanese accent noticeable at the same time. She walked past Huey when he called out,

"Mai of the Mizushima clan, I challenge you to a duel. If you win, I'll back away and you'll never have to worry about me bothering you. But if you lose, you have to not only answer my questions, but also let me repay you for what you did for me that night"

"You really don't know when to stop do you?"

"You didn't either when you made me confess last night. Right now your actions are riding on your emotions and you're not thinking with a level head"

"Why do you care? You don't know the first thing about me. Don't you remember how I lied to you? I thought you despised liars"

"I do despise liars, but I understand why you did that. You were only protecting your people, even the Kurosawa though they don't realise it. Admittedly, I don't know a lot about you. I can't believe I'm saying this, but I consider you a friend; not acquaintance level friend but friend friend. And right now, I don't feel like losing a friend, especially if it's the first person I've had in a long time who actually understands me. Right now, you need one too. If not that, at least accept me as your ally. I'm worried that while you're doing what you think is right, you'll lose a whole lot more than you bargained for"

"You're willing to help someone you don't know, with a chance of danger and death all because you consider them a friend? You, Huey Freeman, who's a logical person, trusts no one but himself and doesn't attempt something without knowing the pros and cons, are willing to do this for me?"

"As crazy as it sounds, I am. For one, I'd like to rediscover myself and in a way. I feel this is something I must do to prove to myself that I'm not the same person I was yesterday and that I can start trusting people again. More importantly, not shoulder the entire burden I have by myself. You owe it to yourself to do the same, don't carry all that burden by yourself, you can't do everything by yourself"

Mai looked away from Huey, not saying anything. She walked out of the school gate and towards his car, saying, "Are you driving or not?"

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The teens had been silent as they entered the highway. Huey had his eye on the road as Mai was busy with her watch.

"I've traced Ichigo and Megumi's location to a beach on the outskirts of the next town," Mai said.

"That's about an hour away. What do you plan on doing when you get there?" Huey asked.

"Scout the area. Get in without being noticed, rescue, and get out. And maybe take one Kurosawa as hostage and find out their plans"