One Too Many Problems

"Hanako...you think you're funny, eh? Calling me and hanging up so quickly and suspicious like that. I informed the troops back at the S.Y.N. that I was going on a well-deserved vacation until New Years, so here I am. Are you happy?"

I blinked twice—no, three times—expecting the image of Suri standing in front of me to fade away. But no, she was there. In the flesh. Wearing a puffy white coat and a thick red scarf. Her green eyes narrowed at me as she pressed her glasses up on her nose. She was also carrying a large suitcase, almost as if she had planned to stay here for her vacation. Jeremy, Niall, and Morgan were all in the room, staring at me, as if I had committed a heinous crime or something. Clearly I hadn't thought this through. I hadn't even considered the fact that Suri might show up at the Safe Haven to demand answers from me. How she had known where this place was, I had no clue. But she was definitely here.

"Hanako..." Jeremy whispered right by my ear, causing me to make a startled jump. "Care to explain...?"

"I am curious as well," added Niall.

"Yeah, what's the general doing here?" Morgan's tender voice seemed to trigger a pleasant smile from Suri, and she gazed at him with a look of fondness in her eye.

"Why, hello there, pretty boy," she said. Morgan hid his face in embarrassment. "It's good to see you are doing alright. Has Ironmage been causing you trouble? If so, you could always come with me."

Face still hidden, Morgan shook his head. "N-no, ma'am," he declined, his voice quiet and muffled. "Jeremy has been very kind. And besides, I would never leave Hanako."

"I was only joking," Suri laughed. "I understand you two are good friends. Anyway, Hanako, back to the topic at hand...the phone call..." Her sweet voice grew darker with each syllable she uttered, and a mysterious and threatening aura lurked around her as she took a step closer to me.

"What phone call?" Jeremy asked. "Since when did you get Suri's phone number? Are you two texting buddies now? Ooh, can I have your number, Suri?"

"As always, you are not taking the important matters seriously, Ironmage..." The general scowled.

"Please. Call me Jeremy."

"No," she replied coldly. "Now, Hanako, explain yourself."

I felt all the blood drain from my face. My mind and heart raced at a mercilessly fast pace, and my thoughts began to jumble themselves. What do I do?! I wondered. If I tell her about the note from Grave, then Jeremy will ask where I got it from, and I'd have to tell him about the book, and the note from Dad, and...and...what would Niall say? My stomach churned at the thought of yet another look of disappointment from my demon friend. I certainly did not want to see that again. But I couldn't...I couldn't lie to them...could I? That would have been wrong. After all they had done for me, what kind of friend would I be if I lied to them about something this important? I had to tell them the truth.

"Hanako, we're wa-"

"I received a note from a man named Grave," I blurted, my eyes squeezing shut in fear of their reactions. "I-I found it in a book that I coincidentally stumbled across back in Aobasani." Upon hearing nothing but silence follow my words, I looked up.

Jeremy's eyes were squinting accusingly at me, making me feel uneasy. "What book?" He asked. "Was it that book you were hiding from me before?"

I nodded.

"What was it called?"

"......."

"Tell us, Hanako. No, rather, show it to us.....well? What are you just standing there for? Go get it."

"It's...it's in my room..." I said timorously. "I'll...be right back."

I said that, but I didn't mean it. Because I took my time. As soon as I got to my room, I closed and locked the door behind me and took out the book, then stared at it for what seemed like half an eternity. I bit my tongue and knocked my wrist against my head, hoping it help me come up with an idea of what to do.

"Book...give me answers." I opened to a random page and read quietly to myself. "....blah, blah, blah..." Nothing. I turned a couple more pages. "If there's a note in here that could help me out, that would be great!" Tossing the book furiously across the room, I let out a distressed groan and hid my head defeatedly in my hands. "I'm so screwed..."

At that moment, my phone buzzed. A text message? I thought, hurriedly yanking it out of my pocket. Who the heck would be texting m-...

My eyes widened and began to tremble at the sight of five little words that had appeared on my screen.

2:12 p.m.: Hanako, this is your father.

I could have chosen not to believe it. I could have easily ignored it and quietly shut my phone, tossing it aside. But the fact that this message had come from an unknown contact was what captured my interest. Then again, it could have been someone pranking me. This thought in mind, I decided to send a reply to confirm it.

2:13 p.m.

To ???: I want proof. Tell me something only my father would know.

Just a few moments later...

2:13 p.m.

From ???: It was raining on the day you were born.

A sudden chord struck in my heart. Of all the things he could have said, he chose one of the most painful memories. Well, it wasn't a memory, per say, but just thinking about it reminded me of that sleepless night I spent listening to my mother's cries of desperation, begging my father to come home, even though it was obvious he couldn't hear her. It reminded me how my entire childhood from that day on was spent with one foot dipped in misery, and with me believing I owned a heart that was incapable of being mended.

On the day I was born, it was raining. On the day my father left, the sky outside was just as dreary, and storm clouds let loose once again.

2:14 p.m.

To ???: Alright, I'll believe you. But what the heck is wrong with you, old man?! Why did you choose now, of all times, 2 contact me?!?

2:14 p.m.

From ???: Son, now's not the time, but I promise, I'll explain everything to you.

2:14 p.m.

To ???: WHEN??

There was another pause, causing anticipation to build up inside me.

2:15 p.m.

From ???: On Christmas Day.

2:15 p.m.

To ???: Why on Christmas?

2:16 p.m.

From ???: Because this year, I promise that I'll spend Christmas with you. And with Morgan. You can count on it.

At that moment, I wasn't sure how to feel. Happy? No. Angry? Nah. Confused? Enthused? Shocked? Astonished? Ready to drop tears on my phone, then crush it in my hand? Probably the latter. It took me a while to process the message, and to finally sort through the images and thoughts jumbling themselves in my head. Very, very, very slowly, I texted my father back.

2:20 p.m.

To ???: Christmas? With you and Morgan? But what about Mom? And what about Aki? Have you forgotten about them??

2:21 p.m.

From ???: I told you, I'll explain everything on Christmas. At the Safe Haven. You know the Safe Haven, right? Jeremy's home. I'll be there. You have my word.

I decided not to push it any further than that. If he said he would explain it all later, then I would believe him. So, I sent him a one-word reply.

2:21 p.m.

To ???: Okay.

I shut my phone after that. As I held the device in my hand, I bit down on my lip, struggling to hold back what was threatening to fall from my eyes. But I failed. I wept silently to myself as the tears fell, streaming down my face and staining the backs of my hands. Why was I crying? I tried my hardest to figure it out, but for some reason, I just couldn't do it. Confusion flooded my mind, causing my head to start pounding.

But my head wasn't the only thing pounding.

"Hanako!!"

I heard Jeremy shout from the other side of my door, and his fists were angrily banging against it.

"Hanako, open this door!! I'm getting impatient out here!"

"J-just give me a minute!" I managed to choke back a response. "I'm having trouble finding where I put it!"

"Well, why did you lock the door?!"

"You don't need to see where I hide my stuff!"

Jeremy groaned. "Whatever. Just...hurry up, okay?"

Great. I bought myself some time to figure out what to do next. I closed my eyes and thought deeply...

I can't let him see the book. I don't know why, but for some reason, I have a feeling he's not supposed to know I have it. I could always...replace it with another book? But would it be that easy? Would Jeremy not suspect I'm hiding the real thing? Maybe...maybe Dad can help me...

I flipped open my phone again and texted my father, after, of course, finally adding his contact name.

2:25 p.m.

To Dad: Dad I need ur help. Jeremy wants to see the book. What do I do?

To my surprise, I received a reply shortly after I sent the message.

2:25 p.m.

From Dad: Let me speak to him.

What??

2:25 p.m.

To Dad: What??

2:25 p.m.

From Dad: Trust me, son. Jeremy and I go way back. He'll listen to me. I'll be able to convince him. Just give him the phone. But first, delete our conversation so he can't see what we were talking about.

2:26 p.m.

To Dad: If you say so...

I did what he said with little hesitation. After deleting the messages we had exchanged, I slowly crept over to the door and called out to Jeremy. "Jeremy?"

"What is it, brat? Did you finally find the book?" He yelled back.

"No," I replied. "But my father wants to speak with you."

Dead silence. But just for a moment.

"...alright...slide the phone under the door and continue your search for the book..."

I carefully set the phone on the floor and pushed it to the other side, where Jeremy's hand was waiting to receive it. He took it, and I pulled my arms tightly to my side and waited impatiently for him to say something.

It took 5 minutes. Only 5 little minutes until Jeremy spoke again. And the next thing that came out of his mouth made my jaw drop.

"Alright...forget about the book, Hanako. Just...open the door and take your phone back."

I blinked. Was I hearing him right? Was he serious?? I gradually got to my feet and placed my hand on the door knob. Then, ever so slowly, I opened the door and found myself staring into the eye of a very distressed Jeremy. "Uh..." Without another word, Jeremy grabbed my hand, slapped my phone in it, then shoved it away. "...thanks..." I whispered.

"Uh-huh..." He said in a low voice, still looking dazed. "Your father, uh.....are you happy t-"

"I don't know."

"Right. Okay. I'm sorry. Shouldn't have asked..."

"No, i-it's okay...I'm just...really confused right now..." I rubbed my wrist against my temple, suddenly feeling my head begin to pound again. "Everything's been happening so fast...and in such a blur lately...I don't...I don't really know what to think....I...I..."

"Hanako?"

I'm starting to get dizzy. My head is spinning. Everything's becoming fuzzy all of a sudden. What's going on?

"Hanako! Are you alright?!"

"I'm sorry..." I said with a shaky voice.

Then, I collapsed.

"Hanako?"

"Hanako!!"