Next Day 7:00am

A Japanese traditional breakfast involves sitting on the ground eating at a knee height table. Yumi wore a white kimono with beautiful sakura embroidery, Silk had on her pink nightgown. Breakfast was all set on trays on each side of the square table. I picked a spot then Yumi picked a spot on my left hand side and Silk picked the spot across from me.

"What happened to your nose Silk?" Yumi asked.

"Just a little accident." Silk turned to smile innocently as she rubbed her nose with her right hand.

"Just a little accident indeed." I said not even bothering to look up from my food.

Silk laughed guiltily at that.

"So could someone please explain to me what happened?" Yumi asked eyed the two of us sharply.

"Well it was all..." Silk spoke first but I cut her off immediately.

"Let me explain. Last night before I used the hot bath, I knew Silk was going to assault me in the tub."

"Is that true?" Yumi cut in.

"No! I just wanted to give my cheire a surprise."

"Knowing that I set a trap."

"Trap?" Yumi asked face removed of emotion.

"I attached a trip wire between the bath room door and the bathroom door frame."

"I remember falling, but how come I didn't see the trip wire?" Asked Silk.

"The bathroom doorway was filled with steam."

"That my Cheire!" she yelled with pure excitement.

"And I knew you were a professional thief. So for extra security measures I covered the ground with shampoo. And I set another tripwire to dump the bath buckets on your head."

"I do remember trying to regain balance and all of a sudden everything went blackout for me...Your even better than I thought Cheire!" Silk clapped her hands in joy.

"I am not your Cherie! ...And Yumi? ..." I turned to Yumi who eyes were enough to make stones crack under pressure.

"What you need right now is not a lecture about your behavior, but rather a lesson of pain for your body!" Her knife hand was so fast I barely saw the shadow of her hand before a shocking pain connected to the top of my head.

"Lesson learned..." I barely made out the words as I covered dealt to me with both of my hands.

"Finish your breakfast so I can wash the dishes."

"I don't notice any servants at your house, so who made the breakfast?" I asked seriously.

"Me. Do you have a problem with the breakfast?" Yumi's voice had more steel in it than normal.

"Oh, how long did it take you to make it?" which looked rather liked refined art.

"Why did you ask?"

"Because it looks like you defiantly put time into it."

"2 hours."

"So you woke up 5 in the morning and made this for us?"

"Is there something wrong?" she replied.

"How much sleep did you get last night?"

"Enough sleep."

"Sorry. It must be tiring for you."

"There is nothing to apologize for."

That was a little surprising. Yumi never struck me as an ordinary woman much less a housewife... she was so caring in some ways.

"So...how do you eat this breakfast?" on my breakfast tray were dozens of small plates with food that looked more like small delicate art work.

"I knew you were going to ask." She said as she started giving complicated instructions again. Well the Yumi like this wasn't quite bad either.

"Wait, isn't that egg raw?" I asked.

"Yes it is. This is how you eat it, first crack the egg." She took her egg and demonstrated. Even though I was a really fast learner, she did it slowly as if I were a child. It reminded me of when the Professor taught me things. He was the first one and the only one to teach me how to do things by hand. In that moment Yumi seemed so much like Professor, his grace and kindness...she had it too...

"Have you been listening to me at all?" Yumi snapped.

"No, to be honest. But I did see what you are doing. You crack the egg against the bowl and pour its contents onto the rice. Then stir the rice and the egg together. And let it wait for a while for the heat of the rice to cook it." I

"Correct. But is there something wrong?" she asked a hint of worry trickling past her steel expression.

"No, nothing is wrong or should I say..."

All of a sudden the door opened a Louis appeared from behind it.

"Ever heard of knocking?" Yumi eyed him.

"Am I not a guest signora?"

"I didn't make any extra breakfast, so suit yourself." Yumi closed her eyes not looking from her breakfast.

"Don't need it. Ling nice work last night." He stepped inside the room.

"Take off your shoes." Yumi said irritated. There was enough iron in her voice to make Louis's foot stop midair. Yumi stared at him and Louis stared back. Louis's sly smile began to disappear as he set his foot back outside the door frame and took off both shoes before coming in and taking the last empty spot.

"You weren't permitted to sit." Snapped Yumi. I wanted to warn her, though she wouldn't budge at all.

"Spare me that talk. Guest should be well treated, but I spared you all of that. You should perhaps be nicer."

"Nice? You are permitted to leave now." I could feel the fury building inside Yumi, though she didn't show any of it on her face.

"I did not come here today to argue with a women. Today I came for him," He pointed.

"What do you want with me? The competitor ring? The relic? The clue?"

"No, I changed my mind. You can keep all of those...but in return you must solve the next clue and remain in the alliance."

"Deal."

"Good. You have the next clue right? Show it to me." I took out the original clue I got from Henry.

"So you believe me that this is the original clue?"

"Of course, I would believe in everything you say good friend."

"I am glad to hear that." I said, knowing we both told a lie.

"Hidden within the city of freedom, inside the crown of prosperity." Louis read.

"All the clues given to the competitors are written in native language of their home country. And all the relics have been hidden in their home country. I did a little research last night and found out Henry Jones's entire family is purely American for 8 generations. So I am absolutely sure that the relic is hidden somewhere in America."

"Good, can you narrow it down?"

"Hmm." I considered for a moment.

"In the first sentence it mentioned city of freedom...free...free-trade! And the center of the world free trade is New York!" I stopped myself to say more.

"Impressive, anything else?"

"I will figure the rest out once we get there."

"Bravo! I sure can count on you! I will get my assistant to book a flight to New York right now. And we will be able to leave for New York today." He grabbed me by the shoulder and shook it with surprising strength. I turned and looked at Yumi and she looked a little bit...worried? Then I turned to face Louis direction.

"Louis you can go on the car first. I need to have a few more words..." I looked in Yumi direction again.

"Fine. But I warn you, she's not suited for you. After the competition I promise you I will introduce you to much finer ladies." He whispered into my ear. Then he left.

"Me and Louis will be waiting in the car." Silk said making her grammar mistake obvious so we would know her pride. She turned around and gave Yumi an apologizing smile.

"So what is it what you want to say to me?" Yumi asked her face impassive.

"Thanks for the help and everything." I said sincerely.

"Oh...you're welcome." Her mask was breaking.

"Is there anything else I could help you with?" I asked

"Just be careful. Louis..."

"I know. I dislike him very much."

"I know, but be careful he..."

"I can defend myself. And I can call upon Kenai's men anytime."

"Very well, hope we may meet again someday... Sayonara?"

"No you baka, Sayonara means never seeing each other again! Its Ja ne."

"Then, Ja ne." I turned around and Yumi's voice stopped me.

"Promise me two things."

"That depends on what they are."

"One, let's trade phone numbers."

I passed her my phone and she passed me her phone.

"You use an S-crystal too? I thought they don't sell that to the general public yet..." I asked.

"True. I received this phone from Skydorm as a beta tester. To those who have these phones to exchange information all you have to do is this." She held up her phone and tapped the screen.

"See?" she swiped the screen of her phone flipped to my side. On the upper half of the screen was a picture of me and the bottom half of the screen was information I filled in myself I hadn't bothered to fill in details.

"You have voice command on right? Just say the word scan."

"Scan."

"Then point to me and press anywhere on the screen." I did as her told as I pointed towards her and pressed the screen.

"Oh..." a new tab popped up with her picture and information on the bottom.

"Then say the words Friend request." Yumi said. She tapped her screen.

"Request accepted. Call me if there is anything I can help you with."

"Will try...a curious question." I asked.

"What is it?"

"How come you don't use voice command?"

"Because talking to myself... even talking to a machine feels weird?"

"Talking to a machine...you're right it does feel weird if you think about it."

"New wonders appear, new troubles follow along."

"Technology these days." I said.

"Quit sounding like an old man and listen carefully to what I am about to say next."

"Please be safe and take care of yourself, our chat isn't finished yet."

"I will promise you my best to stay alive...and in one piece."

"No. Hoping you to come back alive maybe too much to ask already." She sighed.

"That was very encouraging. Jiana." I left, but I could sense her smiling.