Soul Drive: Ignition

Chapter 17: Emergency

"Wrong answer," Daiki replied, his face inches from hers as he glared at her. "We'll get to the bottom of this at the Embassy."

Before she could protest, he yanked her off the couch and cuffed her wrists together with magnetic cuffs. "They'll interrogate you, and once you break... well, let's just say you won't be our problem anymore."

As Kimiko was dragged away, tears streaming down her face, she couldn't help but feel betrayed by the man who had saved her life only days before. And she knew that if she didn't find a way to escape, things were about to take a turn for the worse.

-----

The moon cast a silvery sheen on the park, illuminating the shadows as Hiro cautiously slipped through the trees. He powered down his Mach, shedding its protective armor like a second skin, and paused to catch his breath. As he stepped onto the path leading to his uncle's house, his phone rang with an urgency that seemed to pierce the quiet night.

"Hello?" Hiro whispered, his heart pounding in his chest.

"It's Yutaka," came the reply, the voice on the other end of the line tense and urgent. "The Canadians have made you. They're waiting with an ambush at your home."

Hiro froze, his blood running cold. "What should I do?"

"Go to this address," Yutaka instructed, rattling off the location of the Kodamoshi apartment in downtown Osaka. "Stay hidden, avoid major streets, and don't activate your Mach for any reason. Understood?"

"Understood," Hiro agreed, his voice barely audible as he hung up and pocketed his phone.

With a newfound sense of determination, Hiro melted into the shadows, hyper-aware of every sound and movement around him. Every passerby had the potential to be a hidden agent, every car a possible tail. As he darted from alleyway to alleyway, he couldn't help but wonder if Osamu had betrayed him to the Canadian government or if they had been followed during their risky public meeting. It gnawed at him, fueling his drive to stay unseen.

After what felt like hours of cautious navigation, Hiro arrived at the luxury apartments, awestruck by the luxuriousness of the building before him. The sleek glass facade reflected the city lights, creating a mesmerizing display. He approached the entrance, his eyes scanning the list of names on the buzzer. Spotting Yutaka's name, he hesitated for a moment, confused about how the man could afford such a place, but shook the thought away as he pressed the button.

"Come in," Yutaka's voice crackled through the intercom, and Hiro stepped into the lavish lobby, leaving his fears of being hunted on the streets behind him.

The elevator doors slid open, revealing a spacious, dimly lit apartment adorned with tasteful art and minimalist furniture. Hiro hesitated for a moment, then stepped inside. Yutaka appeared from the shadows, his relief evident as he clapped Hiro on the shoulder.

"Thank God you made it safely," he said, his voice low and sincere. "You don't need to worry about your uncle, Goro. My sources say he's safe."

Hiro nodded but couldn't shake the feeling of unease. He glanced around the luxurious space and finally asked the question that had been gnawing at him since he saw Yutaka's name on the buzzer. "How can you afford this place?"

Yutaka shrugged nonchalantly. "Family money. It's not important." He waved away Hiro's curiosity, redirecting the conversation. "What did you find out tonight?"

"I was able to identify another Mach user," Hiro replied, trying to refocus his thoughts. "Mach 2 Nori, he used to go to my school."

"Excellent work!" Yutaka beamed, clearly impressed with Hiro's detective skills. "I'll do a deep dive into Nori and figure out exactly what we're dealing with."

Hiro felt a swell of pride at having been helpful, but his concern for their situation remained. He shifted his weight, as he turned his attention to the Canadians. "What are we supposed to do about them?"

Yutaka sighed, his expression turning somber. "Their involvement wasn't surprising, but I'd hoped they'd stay out of the conflict. At least it'll be easier to destroy the Machs if they're all gathered in Japan."

Hiro agreed but couldn't help pressing further. "How should we go about collecting and destroying the Mach without anyone else dying?"

"Give me a little more time," Yutaka said, his determination evident. "I'm working on it. In the meantime, you should get some rest. There's a guest room down the hall."

With a nod of gratitude, Hiro left Yutaka to his research and made his way to the appointed room. As he closed the door behind him, he couldn't help but feel like a pawn in a much larger game – one he wasn't entirely sure how to play.

Hiro's body sunk into the plush mattress, the softness enveloping him like a cloud. He could feel the weight of exhaustion pulling at his eyelids, but just as they began to close, the shrill sound of his phone cut through the silence. He hesitated for a moment, then reached over and grabbed it off the nightstand.

"Hello?" Hiro answered, trying to keep the weariness from his voice.

"Is this Hiro?" Osamu's voice crackled through the speaker. Hiro tensed, ready to ask if he had betrayed his trust by telling the Canadian government about him, but Osamu cut him off. "Listen, we don't have time for questions right now. Daiki has Kimiko. He's taking her to the Canadian Embassy in Tokyo for questioning."

Hiro's heart raced, his exhaustion forgotten. "What? But how—"

"Never mind that," Osamu interrupted, urgency clear in his voice. "We need to save her before they get what they want and dispose of her. I need your help, Hiro."

Shock coursed through Hiro's veins, replacing the drowsiness that had threatened to overtake him moments ago. He sat up, pushing aside the heavy blankets that suddenly felt suffocating. His mind raced with questions, but he knew there would be time for answers later.

"Alright," Hiro agreed, his voice firm. "I'll do whatever it takes to help her."

"Good," Osamu replied. "Meet me at the address I'm sending you. And come prepared."

"Understood." Hiro hung up, the line going dead. He stared at the phone in his hand for a moment, trying to process the sudden turn of events. Kimiko was in danger, and it was up to him and Osamu to rescue her. 

He swung his legs over the side of the bed and stood, adrenaline coursing through his veins. He knew that they couldn't afford to waste any time. Hiro quickly got dressed, his thoughts focused on Kimiko and what could happen if they failed to save her. He tried to shove away the fear gnawing at the back of his mind, forcing himself to concentrate on the task ahead.