Passion Fruit - By Imari Jade Page 0,4

was the last person to see her. What if he did something to her or helped her leave?"

Satoshi thought about it. "You're right. "He loves her just as much as we do, and he'd do anything for her. The bastard."

"So I think you need to start there. If he made any kind of preparations for her, there will surely be a paper trail."

Satoshi agreed. "I hope you're right. I'd rather know she's with him than dead."

"Where's Tak?" Yori asked, suddenly changing the subject.

He did that often when things got too hurtful to him. He could say what he wanted; he missed the hell out of Shaundra. "He went out."

"Clubbing?"

Satoshi nodded. "You know him. He can't stand sitting around idle."

"We need to think about recording a new CD. The China tour was great but we need to make some new plans."

Satoshi agreed. He'd been working on some new tunes in- between worrying and training Kenshin, who decided he now liked being an idol.

"What about Ichiro?" Yori asked.

"I think he's in his room. He doesn't come out much unless he's going out to check on the restaurant." Ichiro owned a restaurant in Tokyo, one in Osaka, and had just started building on one in Kyoto.

"I wish he would get some professional help," Yori said.

"He can't go on like this. He's closed himself off more now than ever."

"He's lost his wife," Satoshi reminded him. "The only true love he's ever had. He needs time to deal."

"No, it's more than that," Yori said. "It's like he's given up on life."

"She was his life, no matter what you or I think. The sun and the moon revolved around Shaundra. They were even considering adopting a baby."

"What?" Yori asked.

"He told me that they were thinking about adopting a baby. Takumijo gave him the idea."

"And Shaundra agreed to this?"

"I don't know," Satoshi replied.

"Shaundra liked her freedom. She didn't want to be tied down," Yori said.

"You seem to know an awful lot about her," Satoshi said looking at him curiously.

Yori sighed. "Regardless of what you think, I loved her. We could talk about things I could never talk about with Amaya."

"Then why did you back away?"

"I don't know. I guess I got scared, plus I was already engaged to Amaya. It would have messed up so many lives."

"You are a fool," Satoshi said.

"Yes, I know, but I'm rational. She was Ich's wife. In the end, she made the decision."

Satoshi picked up the telephone.

"Who are you calling?"

"My investigator." The phone rang and a man answered.

"Hello, this is Satoshi Hayashi. I need you to look into something for me."

"Yes, Mr. Hayashi," the man said.

"Find out everything you can on a Harper Kehoe. I need to know about any activity on his credit cards back to the end of February until now here in Asia and get back to me."

"Yes, Mr. Hayashi."

Satoshi hung up. "If Harper has any secrets, this investigator will find them. Having an ambassador for a father does have its advantages," Satoshi said to Yori.

Yori smirked. "Remind me never to piss you off." He rose and headed toward the door. "What happens if you find out that she's alive and he's been hiding her all this time?"

Satoshi smirked menacing. "I don't know, but I will assure you that revenge will be sweet."

"I better check on Ich." Yori said. "I know he'll just love seeing me."

Yori knocked on the door.

"Yes," a voice said from the other side.

A yes was just as good as a come in. Yori turned the knob and entered Ichiro's room. The bedroom was immaculate, the bed made, floors and furniture were polished, and there was no sign of Ichiro which meant he was in Shaundra's office. He passed through the bedroom and entered the adjoining room.

He found his beautiful maknae seated at his wife's desk with a cup of sake in one hand and the bottle in front of him on the desk. He looked up when he sensed Yori's presence.

"What are you doing here?"

Yori smirked. Some things never changed. "I've come to check on you. Satoshi said he hasn't seen you in a while."

Ichiro raised the cup to his mouth and sipped the rice liquor and then lowered the cup. "I've been around," he replied.

His appearance was appalling. Ichiro's hair wasn't combed, his clothes were disheveled, and he looked like he hadn't shaved in weeks.

"Why don't you come down and visit with me and Satoshi.

We're brainstorming ideas for our next CD."

"I'm not in the mood," Ichiro said. "I'd be more of a hindrance than