We fly into Narita en masse, presumably working on the safety in numbers principle. I don’t know as I didn’t make the travel arrangements. Then again, Free did and he’s nobody’s fool. Yuki isn’t with us as, for reasons of safety, I asked him to help us by doing the computer work from the castle. I want neither him, nor Michel, in any possible lines of fire. Immigration and baggage dealt with we head towards the car hire when a familiar voice calls my name, my real name. I spin round to find Yuushi striding towards us and smile. I can’t help it, it’s too good to see him once again.
He grabs me and holds me close for a few minutes before grabbing my shoulders and taking a good long look at me. “It’s good to see you… alive, Ran. England seems to agree with you. You look good.”
I allow all this nonsense for a moment or two before returning to a sense of my surroundings and glancing around worriedly. “Yuushi, is it safe for you to be here?” I demand and his face becomes serious immediately.
“Safe enough,” he tells me, “though we might want to get you out of here fairly quickly…just in case. We’ve arranged a safe house for you and Reichi is in the car park watching over the cars we bought for you to use. Come on.” He picks up my case and heads towards the entrance.
I nod to the others, who have probably realised that Yuushi is perfectly safe and the man I was hoping to see and pump for information. Without comment they pick up their bags and we all troop out of the airport behind Crashers’ Knight.
Reichi waits by a couple of unremarkable looking Nissans, at the sight of which Chloe turns up his nose disdainfully. I nudge him quite hard. “Beggars can’t be choosers,” I tell him in German so as not to upset anyone, “and we need to be as inconspicuous as possible.” He sighs dramatically but makes no scathing comments for once. Chances are the safe house won’t be up to his exacting standards either. Welcome to Japan, Chloe.
We climb into the cars and forty minutes later we pull up in the driveway of a rather attractive suburban house. Crashers have done us proud by the looks of things. We grab our luggage and enter the house which is just as attractive on the inside as it seemed from the outside. Clean, spacious and with a bedroom for each of us. Naru jumps up and hugs both Ken and I before departing for the kitchen with our drink orders. Masato, he tells us, has gone to get take out for all of us.
When Masato returns and we are all eating, I turn to Yuushi. “Did you know that Yohji was…is alive?” I ask him. He shakes his head.
“Until I received your e-mail, I thought you were both dead and Ken still in prison,” he says. “That’s the official line.”
“Yeah,” Masato says dryly, “and Yuushi was pissed enough about it to actually manhandle young Takatori. Queen had to rescue the poor little sod.” His tone leaves me in no doubt that he has absolutely no sympathy at all for Omi.
“Rook, please,” Reichi says in his quiet yet authorative way. “I think we should start from the beginning, our part in things and why we’re helping now.” He turns to look at me and his eyes are full of sadness and remorse. “Believe me, Ran, Ken, it was not our intention to harm any of Weiss. In fact we had no idea that your old team was even involved until we got to Koua and it was too late to do anything about the situation.”
“It was Crashers that blew the place up around us, wasn’t it?” Ken says and Reichi nods sadly.
“Who gave the order?” I ask, already fairly sure that I know the answer.
“Takatori Saijou,” Yuushi says. “I was with her when Queen took the call.”
“I take it she knows nothing about any of this,” Chloe says and Yuushi shrugs.
“Of course she knows, just as all the members of Side B know,” Reichi says. “Who do you think is keeping the Takatori off our backs? She was just as disgusted when she found out that you were in that building as the rest of us were.”
“But Saijou knew,” I say and it is not a question. “The only one of Weiss that he didn’t realise was actively involved was Mamoru.”
“That’s correct,” Yuushi agrees. “To give Mamoru his due, he tried his damnedest to get you all out alive.”
“Yes, I’ll give him that much.” I feel numb by this point, the betrayal too enormous for me to really get my head round and jetlag not helping any. I had wondered if Takatori Saijou was attempting to kill us all but to have it confirmed is more devastating than I’d expected.
Yuushi takes one look at my face and quickly changes the subject. “Do you know where to find Yohji?”
“Unless…Mamoru has fucking moved him in the last day or two, yeah,” Ken spits out. If the betrayals have hurt me they must be so much worse for him.
“What about the Schwartz kid?” Masato asks. “Are you intending to take him with you?”
“He’s a more difficult proposition,” I say, “but my gut feeling is that Takatori Saijou may well…dispose of him when he’s no longer useful.”
“Saijou’s already asking about how trustworthy Naoe really is,” Yuushi says, “so I think you’re probably right.”
“May I ask you something?” Free speaks up for the first time. “Aren’t you, by helping us, guilty of betraying your employer?”
A cold look settles on Reichi’s usually pleasant features. “They don’t yet know it, but Crashers have done their last job for Kritiker. They will receive our resignation the day you leave Japan. They cannot pay us enough to be the executioners of their other teams.” Free nods his approval.
“How easy will it be to speak to Nagi?” I ask. I’m still not certain that I care enough about him to put the rest of us at risk.
“You should have a perfect opportunity in the morning,” Yuushi says. “Mamoru is going to Kyoto to see his grandfather at Queen’s suggestion. Nagi isn’t welcome there even as a bodyguard, so he will be free to tell you his problems. What you do about them is up to you, I guess.”
“Okay, I’m not promising to do more than listen at this point in time, but I will do that much for him.”
Ken glances up at me. “Yohji said to tell you that both he and Nagi want out. He may know more, too.”
And with that simple statement he opens up a can of worms that I really don’t want to look into. I’ve dropped everything, dragged myself and two-thirds of my team halfway round the world, risked upsetting a very powerful man and involved Crashers in the mess yet I still don’t know how Yohji and I are going to react to each other. We could just as easily start a brawl as hug each other. I just don’t know. “Perhaps,” I say, acknowledging Ken’s suggestion. Yohji is definitely bright enough to have worked a lot out for himself. “I think you’d better collect Yohji while we go after Nagi.”
Okay, it’s cowardly, I know, but we don’t have time right now for all the shit that Yohji and I may want to work through in a possibly physical fashion. I don’t mean that in any pleasant sense either. Yohji’s temper is not as short as mine but it is just as dangerous and we are very likely to go at it when we meet again.
Ken gives me a look as much as to say, I know what you’re doing…thinking. I really don’t care what he thinks he knows. I’d rather deal with Yohji on safe ground. Either here or, better still, in London.
“Yeah, okay, whatever,” Ken says. “I’ll try to catch him on his way to work in the morning. Seems to me that the sooner we can get him out of Japan the better.”
His words are in complete agreement with my own feelings for once. I’ve got used to London and the way KR runs things. Japan and the faceless organisation of Kritiker seem almost alien to me now. Added to which I feel like I need to be constantly glancing over my shoulder. Apart from Crashers and Nagi, I have no idea who Kritiker may have at their disposal at this time and any stranger could easily be one of their agents sent to kill us.
“Okay,” I say. “But don’t bring him back here. Take him straight to the airport and get the first plane out.”
“What about his passport?” Chloe asks and I sigh. Yohji is unlikely to be carrying Ito Ryo’s passport to work, always supposing he even has one.
“We thought about that when we got Ran’s e-mail,” Naru says proudly. He stands up and leaves the room, only to return a few moments later with two passports which he places on the table. “One’s in the name of Ito Ryo so it should be safe enough.”
I pick the top one up and find a picture of Yohji staring back at me. In the six or so months since I’ve seen him, his hair has darkened back to its natural honey blonde colour and seems to have grown a bit. I snap the passport shut. “How did you get the picture?”
“Hacked into his employment files,” Naru tells me. “Is that how he looks now?”
I hand the passport to Ken who opens it and nods. “His hair’s a bit longer but that’s it.” He grins and pockets the passport. “Don’t worry about it, Aya. Yohji and I will be on the first available flight out of here.”
I wish I could share his optimism. For all I know, Yohji could be watched all around the clock. I keep my fears to myself though and instead turn my attention to the problem of Nagi, asking where he might be found if he’s not welcome in Kyoto.
“He should be at home,” Yuushi says, and hands me a piece of paper with an address written on it. “Do you know that area?”
I nod. I know it well enough to be able to find Nagi’s apartment. The only real problem is that I stick out like a sore thumb with my ridiculous red hair. “I can’t go,” I say suddenly. “I’m going to have to stay here.”
“Not a problem,” Reichi says easily. “Both cars have SatNav fitted as standard. If your team collect the kid and bring him here, that’s fine. This place will never be used again and the second passport is for him should you decide to take him with you.”
I glance up at that and search the faces of my old team for answers. “Should we help him?”
Yuushi nods, his expression serious. “The old man doesn’t like him and Mamoru is listening to Saijou more and more now that Weiss three is no longer there for him. If you don’t help Nagi one of two things is very likely to happen. One, Saijou will have him quietly killed or two, he’ll let Mamoru die rather than continue to kill for him.”
“You’ve spoken to him?” Chloe asks.
“Queen has. Nagi’s desperate. He’s not asking for anything more than a way out of Japan as he fully understands how hard it would be for any of Weiss three to trust him.”
“That’s the second time you’ve said Weiss three,” Ken points out. “Does that mean there is now a Weiss four?”
“Oh yes,” Masato tells him. “They were recruited, by Mamoru, before Koua Academy was sent sky high.”
Ken exchanges a look with me and I know he can feel bitter bile in the back of his throat just as I can in mine. I should know better. My first Kritiker team was riddled with betrayal and now, it seems, Mamoru has gone the way of Kikyou and Shion before him. Did they both see something rotten at the heart of Kritiker that I missed? Is that why they did what they did? All I am certain of anymore is that Crashers never betrayed me and nor have Side B, Ken…or Yohji. We served Kritiker well and without question, well apart from when I was hell bent on killing Takatori Reiji, and we’re being repaid by being hunted into extinction.
Suddenly I realise that I will be taking Nagi out of Japan. I turn to Free and Chloe. “Bring Nagi here. I’ll talk to him and then we leave for the airport.” They both nod their agreement, seemingly overwhelmed by the depths that Kritiker and the Takatori can sink to in order to get their own way.
At a sign from Reichi, Crashers rise to their feet. “We’ll leave you to get some sleep,” Yuushi says. “When you get back to London, stay in touch. We’ll let you know where we are.” He steps round the table and pulls me into a fierce hug. “Be careful, Ran. I don’t ever want to hear of your death again!”
“I’ll be careful,” I tell him, touched by his concern.
Reichi nods to us all. “We will be keeping watch tomorrow. Hopefully, we won’t be needed, but we will be around.”
“Thanks,” Ken says as I am still trying to come to terms with everything and finding it difficult to say anything at all. I nod my agreement, hoping it will suffice.
I watch silently as Crashers leave the house hoping desperately that I haven’t overlooked anything. Failure would be far too costly.
* * * * * * *
It’s been nearly a week since Ken collected Aya’s katana and I am missing the daily job of cleaning and sharpening the sword that Shion gave him. Asuka seems to be happier now it’s gone but all I can do is wait and wonder if Ken meant what he said and whether Aya will care anyway. He did enough to prise me away from him, succeeding so well that, by the time I left for Europe and my tryst with Schell, I almost hated the site of him.
The thing with Aya is, he can be a cold-hearted prick at the best of times. At his worst he is quite literally unbearable to be around. I was hurt when he pushed me away but, even more than that I was totally unable to understand what the fuck I’d done wrong. I didn’t know why he was pushing me away so forcefully as I’d tried to be everything I thought he wanted. And now I’m depending on him to save me from a virtual prison.
Mamoru’s words keep repeating themselves in my head. “You’re nobody, nothing.” Just another nameless, faceless worker in the well-oiled machine that the Takatori’s run. Fuck! I can’t live as Ito Ryo anymore. I’ll give Ken and Aya another week and then I’ll take matters into my own hands if I have to.
I search through all the documents that Mamoru gave me in the name of Ito Ryo. Shit! No fucking passport! If I apply for one, he’ll know. So, I have to wait for Ken and Aya after all and, if Aya doesn’t want to help me…
Basically I’m fucked.
Which leads me down another little alleyway of thought. Money. I have accounts set up in the name of Kudoh Yohji, some of which are even in Europe, but I have no access to them. Mamoru did a very thorough job in wiping Kudoh Yohji off the face of the planet. And to think I used to trust the little bastard with my life.
Another morning and I get ready for yet another tedious day. Picking up my briefcase, I leave the apartment and head towards the station. An unremarkable Nissan pulls up beside me and Ken pokes his head out of the window. “Get in quickly,” he urges.
I don’t need telling twice and run round to the passenger door. I climb in and Ken pulls away from the kerb and heads off in a hurry. I fasten my seatbelt and settle back for the ride. “Am I glad to see you!”
Ken shoots me a grin but his eyes are watchful and wary and I realise that we’re not out of the woods just yet. “Good to see you too,” he says. “The plan is simple but we’d better hope it works. You and I are going straight to the airport and getting on the first flight to London. Look in the glove compartment.”
I do as he says and find a passport in the name of Ito Ryo. I chuckle softly. Even if things should go wrong today, I’ve got a way of getting out of the country. “Nice counterfeit job,” I remark.
“Thank Crashers. They helped us. Aya thinks Takatori Saijou wants us all dead. Crashers agree. I just…” His voice trails off and his hands grip the steering wheel until the knuckles show white.
I reach out a hand and clamp it round his shoulder. “Easy, Ken,” I say. “I’d kinda worked that out for myself. If it helps at all, Mamoru kept me alive. He did that much.”
“I just can’t believe how cold he’s become,” Ken says miserably.
I give his shoulder another squeeze, there being nothing I can say to that. I want to ask about Aya but it can wait until we’re on a plane and seven miles in the air. Both of us need our wits about us until then. Glancing at the side mirror I spot a black BMW behind us. It has tinted windows so I can’t see the driver or how many might be in the car. “We’ve got fleas,” I tell Ken.
“Yeah, I’ve spotted it. Could just be going the same way. We’ll know for sure when we turn off for Narita.”
I sit back in my seat, wishing I still had my watch. I’m guessing it went the way of all things Kudoh Yohji and silently curse Mamoru. “If they are going to jump us, the airport car park is the obvious place.”
Ken nods. “The turnoff is coming up. We’ll know then.”
A few moments later we make the turning and neither of us are surprised to see the BMW follow. “That answers that question. Fuck, I wish I had my watch.” If whoever is in that car wants us dead, we’re screwed and we both know it.
Half an hour later we pull into the car park and jump out of the Nissan. The BMW pulls smoothly to a halt a little way away and the passenger door opens. Both Ken and I tense up, ready to go down fighting if we have to. Queen steps out of the car, followed by Rex, from the driver’s side and we both relax slightly.
“Just came to see you off,” Queen says soothingly, “and to return some…er…lost property.” She digs into her bag and pulls out a large manila envelope which she holds out towards me. “Your watch, Yohji, and your original documents. There should be enough there to give you access to your money.”
I take the envelope from her and stare from her to Rex and back again, totally at a loss as to what to say. I never expected either of them to openly defy Kritiker like this. “What’s Mamoru going to say?” I finally manage to ask.
Rex shrugs. “I think he’ll be relieved,” she says. “I’ll arrange a fund for Asuka and let her believe that you died. She’ll be looked after.”
I nod, suddenly feeling guilty. Since Ken drew up beside me, I haven’t given a thought to Asuka. “Use all the money in Ito Ryo’s name,” I suggest. “I’ve left the account details at the apartment.” Not home, not anymore. I dig in my pocket and pull out my wallet. “Here are the credit and debit cards.”
Rex smiles and takes them. “Good luck, Yohji,” she says and turns back towards the BMW. Queen echoes the sentiments, give us a smile and climbs in next to Rex. The car pulls away and I breathe a sigh of relief.
Ken pulls his bag out of the Nissan and is about to head for the terminal when I grab his arm. He stops and stares at me, obviously impatient at this new delay. “Put this in your bag,” I say, handing him the envelope, having retrieved my watch.
“You’re not taking your briefcase?”
“No. Everything I need is in that envelope. After this flight, Ito Ryo is dead and good fucking riddance.”
Ken grins and puts the envelope amongst his clothes before closing the bag and grabbing my arm. “Okay,” he says, “let’s go.”
Two hours later, we’re safely on the plane and several thousand feet above who knows where. Now I can ask my questions. “So, how is Aya?”
Ken grins at me. “Worried about you. He and the others are going to get Nagi out.”
“Oh.” I digest that then ask, “he didn’t just send you then?”
“Nope. We all got involved. I think Free and Chloe are curious to meet you. Yuki and Michel stayed behind, this time, but they’ve been doing the technical stuff. They…”
I hold up my hand to stop him right there. “Hold on a minute, Kenken! Just how big is this new team?”
“There’re six of us, unless you and Nagi decide you’re interested. I admit I hadn’t thought beyond getting the pair of you out of Japan, but no doubt someone has.”
That gives me even more to think about. Do I really want to be an assassin again? And will all these strangers want me to be part of their team? More to the point, will Aya?
Ken seems to pick up on my worries as he pats my shoulder. “Don’t worry, Yotan. You don’t have to decide immediately. Nobody expects that. And I’m sure, if it’s not what you want, other plans can be made. Our boss allowed us to rescue you so he’ll do whatever he can to help you settle. Just…whatever you decide…stay in touch, yeah?”
I grin at his enthusiasm, suddenly realising just how much I’ve missed the dumb jock. “Yeah, it can wait till we get there,” I agree. Anyway, I need to know what Aya thinks before I make any decisions at all. I just hope that he, and these unknown others, are safe.