With an exhale, you go down to the next. Why does Megumi need so many different passwords anyway? Why not just have one good password instead? One after another the phone rejects each password until you finally get to the last one and the phone unlocks.
The phone prompts you at once with a notification of 10 new texts. They’re all from someone named Emi. You click the notification. The phone goes white as if it’s going to the text screen but then it brings up the phone camera and a prompt.
The last recording wasn’t saved properly. Would you like to recover it?
Yes? No?
You frown. Has her new phone always been this defective? Bringing up the camera instead of the text menu. What an annoying bug. No wonder Megumi always said not to text her. You thumb hovers over the No but you don’t tap the screen. Maybe the phone was recording before she died? You tap yes.
The phone goes black and then switches to darkness. You can see Megumi’s shoes, but not much else. The camera must’ve started recording without her realizing it.
“Excuse me,” Megumi says. “I think you might have picked up my cloak by accident.”
Your heart leaps between your ears. Someone else is there. Her killer? You wish Megumi would turn the phone so that you could see.
Without warning, the phone falls and there’s a loud clattering noise. But the time on the recording is still going. You clench your fist in frustration. Come on. Pick up the phone so I can see who it is!
There’s a soft footstep. Then a familiar voice. “You are Megumi.”
Your heart freezes over. Masah? Or is that Mura? The very sound of the voice has knocked you so off-balance that you didn’t pay attention.
“W-what about it?”
No…
“Forgive me.” Bzzzrt!
No, please. Don’t let it be true.
“I have no personal quarrel with you, but I can’t allow you to live.”
All time falls still.
That tone. That seriousness. That quiet resignation. It’s Masah. Your Masah.
“W-what?” Megumi sputters. Megumi’s steps get loud and frantic. “Why?
“I’m sorry. I will…try to make it painless for you,” Masah says.
You can’t stand anymore. You jab at the stop button, but your fingers are quivering so much that it takes three tries to stop the recording.
You stare sightlessly at the navy blue curtains, numb to the wind blowing through. She did it. She murdered Megumi. Why? Why would she do something like that? What did Megumi do? Masah isn’t like that! Masah…
She’s a goddess of war. Your common sense reminds you. One death or a thousand is all the same to her. But…surely there’s still something not right. And where was Mura in all this? Masah and Mura were missing the night this happened. And they both returned together. You stare at the phone for a little while longer, then with a shaky hand, you summon the courage to resume the recording.
Shoes clop-clop noisily gradually fading and wing flaps follow. Then buzzing from the phone itself. A distant scream echoes. Then there’s quiet. After thirty seconds of it, you skip ahead to the last minute of the recording. Come on.
Then finally, a figure moves in the shadow. Amber eyes glow in the dark, gradually nearing the phone until you finally can make out the features of Mura’s face. Mura picks up the phone. Then the phone cuts abruptly to darkness again.
You clasp a hand over your mouth. She was waiting there, watching the whole time. Does that mean Mura put her sister up to this? You can accept that Masah carried out the kill—albeit a very, very reluctant acceptance, but you can’t quite grasp what would make them do that. Masah certainly didn’t sound like she wanted to do it. But the two are goddesses, complete with super strength, ice, wind, mountain, and thunder magic, you can’t imagine anything strong enough to hurt them besides another god.
Taro keens softly from the bed.
“I don’t want to believe it either,” You say. “I don’t even know—”
Your phone rings and you dive for it, only for your expression to sour in disappointment. It’s just Genji. You contemplate not answering, but you decide that it might not be bad to have a minor distraction.
“Hello there.” Genji’s voice is milky, but there is a wateriness to it that you are certain was not there in the previous time you spoke with him. All it does is remind you that Flame is out there tracking down two dangerous goddesses while you’re here, desperately wishing you were in the middle of the action. “I was calling just to check on our appointment tomorrow. Is meeting at TaiTai prefecture around 11 still fine with you? Do you need the address? I don’t recall if I gave it to you.”
“Actually Mr. Fujiwara, I’m afraid I’m not going to be able to make it. I’m in the middle of a family emergency and I still have yet to hear any good news about it.”
Genji isn’t saying anything. You pull your phone back to check to make sure that you didn’t accidentally hang him up with your shaky hands. He is still on the line.
“I’m sorry to hear that.” He sounds more tired than empathetic, making you wonder what he was doing prior to this phone call. “Is it possible to reschedule our meeting to sometime in the future? I’d still like to discuss your research and the the project if at all possible.”
It’s your turn to be the quiet one. You don’t want this anymore. The research, Akuma cell, the Radiance cell, what was the point of it all now? “I don’t know Genji. I really don’t know. If things change, then I’ll contact you, but I can’t say when that will be. I hope you have a nice evening.” You don’t give him the chance to speak and promptly hang up.
4-7 'Ah'
“And yet another victim falls prey to Devil’s Disease…” The reporter’s voice on the news falls into a low drone while I study the Ise puzzle box on the couch with King curled up next to me. But I can’t concentrate on it, I can only think of those bizarre room names. I know it’s not any of my business, but my stomach still churns whirlpool spirals. The Geisha has to know about those rooms. I don’t believe for a moment that he sent me here for the job satisfaction factor.
But that was before he knew about my resistance to Devil’ Disease. And before his connection to Ruthless was exposed. I’m certain that I’m not one hundred percent off the hook. I push the thought away. Look at you, the Geisha hasn’t said anything or done anything to you yet. No point worrying about him until you see or hear something. I bring my phone up to check for messages.
There’s one from Ken. Hey, have you talked to Shig by any chance? Can’t seem to get a hold of him these days. I need to talk to him.
Shig? Come to think about it, it has been a while since I’ve heard anything from him. Not even for those records I asked him for. I go to my contacts to find Shig’s number and call it.
“Hey, hey, you’ve reached Sora Shigeru. I’m not available right now, but if you can leave your name and number. I’ll give you a call.”
Hmm… Shig’s usually home by now. I know he does freelance web design on the side, but Shig always gets back to people at least by the next day or so. Maybe he’s sick? I put the phone down again and detach the shrine from the puzzle box. I press my thumbs over the front, the sides, the back and the bottom. C’mon. I know the last step, just not the one in between.
Click! A panel gives way on the bottom and slides out.
I tilt the shrine so that the horizontal katsuogi on top face me. Now for the last step. I slide the third katsuogi to the right and fifth to the left.
The doors pop open.
My jaw hangs. I finally did it! I only hope that what’s in here was worth all that trouble I tap the shrine entrance against my palm.
A silver bell drops into my hand. I pinch it between my fingers and shake it. It doesn’t make a sound. Across the room, King lifts his head from his paws and howls.
At least it looks pretty. With the way Mai talked about the puzzle box, you’d think that there would gold inside or diamonds. Still, I’d better not lose the bell. I slip the bell into my
pocket.
The doorbell rings. I get up to get it. That must be Regi.
The minute the door opens, Regi beams and holds up two bags of food that smell of leafy greens, blue cheese, and beef. “Heyo!”
King jumps from the couch, barking excitedly.
“Hey, hey, pupper! Nice to see you too!” Regi steps inside. “But the food isn’t for you.” He leans over to kiss me. “I brought Greek food.”
“Sounds delicious,” I say.
Regi goes over to the table to set the food down. “By the way, I’ve got a little surprise for you. But I can’t bring it over until tomorrow night.”
“A surprise?” I echo.
“Yeah, Mom and Dad helped pick it out and get a good deal too. You know…” Regi clasps his hands. “Our way of saying welcome to the family.” He reddens as he speaks.
Buds of warmth bloom in my chest. “How thoughtful of them. They’re really going out of their way.”
Regi pulls me to his chest with an arm. “They really like you. They think we’ll be good together.”
“I’m surprised.” I slip both arms around his neck. “They didn’t seem to say much when I came over."
Regi touches his forehead to mine, his sea-green eyes crinkling in amusement. “That’s because they were trying to play it off like it’s cool when you’re around.”
“They want you to get married that bad?”
“Well, I mean it’s not really the whole marriage thing.” He pulls back a little. “More of how people treat foreigners here. Dad was doing business here way before he met Mom and he tried dating around. It’s hard enough trying to make a living here, but trying to get a girlfriend is impossible. I’ve tried too. People just think we’re—”
“Filthy? Stupid? Dangerous?” I finish for him.
He nods sheepishly.
I understand that sentiment completely. I’d be a millionaire if I could sell the long list of names I’ve been called, the dirty looks I’ve gotten, and the jobs interviews that I’ve been dismissed from before the first question just because I’m half-Pua Moana, a billionaire for harassment I’ve gotten from people for being half-Pua Moana and a woman. Outside of Showguns, other Tokaidens I know don’t even consider foreigners dateable, mostly because their parents would have a fit.
Regi leans forward for a minnow-quick peck. “Buuuuut you are right, they’ve been nagging about settling down for a while now.”
I gawk. “For a while? You’re like twenty-one! That’s barely legal age.”
“I know but where my Mom is from, the minimum legal age is like 15,” Regi says. “And marriage is a much bigger deal in her side of the family so go figure. Besides, we never get steaks for breakfast on a weekday.”
I laugh. “I should’ve known something was up when she gave me so much food.”
“Oh Mom has tons of tricks up her sleeves when she’s out on a mission,” Regi says. Then his expression shifts to a pensive look. “You’re not mad, are you?”
“Mad? Why would I be mad?”
“It’s just you didn’t strike me as someone who had marriage or settling down as one of their life goals,” Regi says.
It’s true. Up until the Geisha came along, my only choice for a life plan was staying in Showguns, getting promoted, quitting Thanks-A-Latte when I couldn’t juggle work anymore, and retiring with benefits. I expected that Regi’s relationship with me would be something more ephemeral, a hook up, or a short-term fling. I thought at this point, I’d miss Showguns so much that it’d be unbearable. But this new direction my life is going now, I don’t know what I want anymore besides to stay alive. “I didn’t consider it, but that doesn’t mean I’m not open to it.”
“Oh good.” He gives a nervous laugh, then shrugs. “Don’t know why I was so worried. Just don’t be surprised if they poke around with lots of questions about what our plans are now. I’d like to be prepared.” Regi unclasps his laptop bag strap from around his shoulder. “There are some nice houses and wedding venues that I’ve been looking at that are on sale. I want you to look at them.”
“Sure.” I move to the couch and pick up my phone. “Let me just—”
A text notification. From the Geisha.
Come to the front of the train station.
Ah. I knew it was only a matter of time. I text back: Why?
He texts back: You’ll see when you get here.
I type: It can’t wait?
A minute passes, then a final text. Get here in the next thirty minutes or else, Hound.
Ice crawls through my veins. Or else? Gods, what he got up his sleeve now? I slide my phone into my pocket. “Regi, can we wait for a minute? I need to go somewhere.”
Regi lowers his laptop on the table. “Go somewhere? At this time of night?”
“Someone wants me to come by the train station in thirty minutes. Apparently it’s for something important.”
“Need me to drop you off?” Regi offers.
“No it’s fine,” I say heading for the stairs. “It’s not that far. I can walk.”
“If you say so…”
I race up to my room and yank both my jacket and running shoes out of the closet. My mind whirs with thoughts of what else the Geisha could possibly have gotten to use against me. He can’t threaten to kill anyone I know. He can’t threaten my life either now since I’ve got his little secret. I can’t just see what else the Geisha can try.
Hard street light brightens the way down to the train station. Clad in a tweed ascot cap, gray plaid scarf, and a Mai-quality no-nonsense frown on his pale features, he paces in front of the awning with his hands in his pockets, form tinged orangish from the street light. He does not wait for me to come to him. “Hmph. Your legs work.”
I wait to see if he’ll go for the sex joke on top of it, but he doesn’t. He’s looking around as if someone is going to jump out of the bush. His eyes have dark rings under them. Without looking at me, he says, “Let’s go inside.”
“Inside? I can’t go anywhere. My boyfriend—”
The Geisha strides off without waiting for me. “Don’t worry. We’re not getting on the train tonight. We’re just sitting down for a little bit.”
There’s no hint of threat from his text in his voice. Is he too tired or does he just not care at this point? Despite his brusqueness, he still holds the door open for me. He leads me to a secluded pair of waiting chairs in the corner alongside a ficus and a table of old magazines. He waits until I sit down then he follows suit in the seat next to me. Seated he seems more on edge than when he was pacing. I can feel all his fidgetiness like tiny energy spiders crawling on my skin.
“So…what’s this about?” I ask, after a few beats of his quiet.
“Swear to me that not a single word I say here leaves your mouth,” He says.
My eyes narrow. “Wait a minute. First you blackmail me, then you try to kill me, then you threaten me, and now you think I’m going to promise you anything?”
“I’m well aware of our flourishing relationship,” the Geisha says flatly. “And yes, I’m aware that you’re one hundred and seventy percent correct to be wary of me. If you got up right now and walked straight home, I wouldn’t blame you at all. But just once Jun I want to talk about something without our damned egos or Showguns shoved in. I’m not asking for you start calling me friend or anything, just to hear me out.”
I side-peer at him with an eyebrow raised. I’m tempted to take him up on his offer. But if he’s willing to actually call me by my name for once rather than by my label, whatever he has to say must be important. “Alright, but if I detect any bullshit, I’m going back home, Geisha.”
“Fair enough,” the Geisha says. “But please promise me that you won’t say a word to anyone,” he says.
“On the condition that I get answers to any questions I have,” I said.
The Geisha raises an eyebrow.
I raise both of mine back. “You held up my Greek food dinner. I demand compensation.”
He roll
s his eyes, but a weary smile fringes his lips. “Fine, Hound. Anything you want.” He looks down at his hands and the smile goes away. “Now as for the ‘or else’ part… do you remember the party? When I said, making you quit isn’t about the promotion?”
I nod slowly. “Yes, you never did specify what it really was about.”
“I’ve been working under some employers for some time now that came to me because they were interested in the Akuma cell and Devil’s Disease. Or at least that’s what they were claiming at first,” Genji says. “They wanted me to look into Heaven’s research discreetly because they believed she had some kind of special gene that she was using to create weapons.”
She is. I’m almost tempted to say it aloud, but I don’t dare. Who knows what anything I say here could be used for. “Is that why you had me go to the lab?”
He nods. “I was too busy to do the job myself when I initially heard of it, but I wanted to keep ties. I’d hoped to continue talking to her and hopefully see what her research is about. But there’s a big problem, Hound. Heaven cancelled our meeting and she’s not rescheduling.”
I crinkle my eyebrows. “O…kay. But I don’t get what does this has to do with me needing to be here.”
“Oh believe me, Hound. It does. My employers are not patient people. The moment they learned of Heaven’s cancellation, they flew into a rage about it.”
“Well, why are they bugging you to do this? Why don’t they call Heaven themselves and try to work something out? It’s not like she’s a difficult person.”
The Geisha shrugs. “They were very dodgy when I brought it up, but from what I could gather, they aren’t on good terms. They don’t want face-to-face contact, phone contact, email contact… You name it, Hound and I guarantee you that they’re avoiding it like flu. I’m sure that if I tried to go to Heaven’s lab myself for anymore negotiations, she’d just call security on me. Nor do I have the Hound expertise or genes to break in and get the research myself.” He gestures to me with a hand. “And that’s where you come in.”
I gape at him. “You want me to steal from my own job?”
“Oh yes, I cringed too when I came to that conclusion, but I recently found out that my employers got a hold of Shig and they’re well aware that I have a hold of you and of your friendship with him. So they’re willing to make a bargain, they’ll release him unharmed in exchange for you getting Heaven’s research. Refuse or fail and there’s consequences for us both.”
Vicissitude Yang Side Page 34