Chloe having taken the Beamer Concept, I don’t have to worry about how we’re going to get Yuki and Michel home which means I can load the Mercedes S Class with Ken, Free and Nagi even though I prefer to drive my new Porsche. This is not as great a solution as it seemed at first glance as Ken immediately demands to have the radio on whilst Free, equally vehement, demands that it stay switched off. Personally I would like nothing better than to listen to some soothing classical piece or maybe some jazz but Ken would whine that it wasn’t thrash metal of some description and Free would whinge about it not being world music or new age bells or some such crap. Nagi merely shrugs at the short argument, reaches into the bag he has with him and produces a personal mini-disc player from its depths. Now why the hell didn’t I think of that?
The drive to KR’s home is fairly uneventful apart from Ken insisting on stopping for a pee and a large bag of refreshments to keep him going until we reach our destination. I can only be thankful that he’s limited himself to chocolate bars as the thought of spending the next day or two finding crisp crumbs stuck to the car’s carpets and upholstery holds very little charm for me.
The one stop doesn’t slow us down as much as I’d feared and we arrive at the castle not long after Yohji and Chloe. I know it can’t be long because they’re still in the garage admiring their purchases. Yohji, I have to admit, does look better in a green cashmere sweater and leather pants and my insides give a little lurch at sight of him. He makes things worse by glancing up and smiling at me. I scowl back at him, not needing this right now. Besides, I’m not even sure if he’s staying. A hurt expression crosses his face and I feel like a heel but I also know that Side B might not be the perfect place for Yohji. He was so crazed with it all at Koua that I doubt if he’ll want to return.
We climb out of the car and head towards the interior door. We haven’t even reached it before it opens and Michel hurtles out of it like a small cannonball and rushes forward to hug each of us in turn, or rather he does until he reaches Yohji and Nagi. He smiles winningly at them, however, and extends his hand. “I’m Michel and I’m very pleased to meet you.” Yohji takes the hand, smiles back and says, “likewise,” in accented but perfectly understandable English. Nagi looks somewhat taken aback but does nod at Michel. Our youngest looks devastated until Free suggests that we’re all tired after the journey and might not wish to be swamped. Michel cheers up and disappears, back into the castle with Free, chattering all the way.
Nagi shoots me a look reminiscent of a deer caught in a juggernaut’s headlights. “Is he always like that?” he asks.
“Yes,” I tell him just as my brain catches up and reminds me that Michel is no younger than Nagi was when we first encountered him with Schwarz. The difference is phenomenal and I suddenly realise just how tragic a life Nagi must have led. Michel’s has not exactly been a bed of roses but, compared to Nagi, he has had it relatively easy. Yuki, who lived on the tough streets of New York, is more like Nagi was and I can imagine the two of them getting along rather well.
“He’s going to take some getting used to,” Yohji comments. “He’s even more cheerful than the chibi and that takes some doing.” He then realises what he has said and scowls, shaking his head in self disgust. “As he once was, at least.”
“It’s okay,” Nagi says quietly. “I have some fond memories of Schuldig, Crawford and Farfarello that you would probably never agree with.”
“It’s not just that, Nagi,” Yohji says. “It’s also the fact that we all loved him when he was Omi. Now… he’s deliberately killed Omi and I guess we’re all in mourning.” He glances at me as he says that and I realise that he’s absolutely right. Omi has become everything that I thought he was when I first discovered he was a Takatori and it breaks my heart.
“We’d better go in,” I say as I notice we’re the only three left in the garage. The others nod and follow me inside and to the conference room where, I know, KR and Mihirogi will be waiting with the others.
Everyone looks up as we enter and Yuki offers me a slight smile. I wish I could return it but the situation is far too serious for me to manage the expression with any degree of conviction. I settle for a nod of acknowledgement and take my place at the table. Yohji immediately takes the seat to my right while Nagi slips in next to Ken. I clear my throat.
“As you’ve probably guessed, Japan was not a good place for any of us to be,” I tell KR and Mihirogi. “Yohji was being forced to pretend amnesia whilst Nagi was being forced to kill on demand, something that he was never used to doing before.”
KR frowns slightly as he gazes at Nagi. “As I understand it, you were a member of the assassin team Schwarz. Surely they would have expected you to kill for them.”
Nagi shakes his head. “No,” he says. “I hacked into security systems for them and sometimes I changed information or data in order to confuse our enemies.” He shoots me a quick, apologetic glance and I remember him sending Weiss a picture of Takatori Mamoru looking as if he was really close to Takatori Reiji. I nod in what I hope is a forgiving manner. “The only time I killed at their suggestion,” he continues, “was when we took on the three Rosenkreuz agents at Koua Academy and, to be honest, they deserved to die.”
KR steeples his fingers and taps his chin with them. “I see,” he says before he glances at Yohji. “May I ask why you were being forced to pretend amnesia?” he asks him.
Yohji leans back in his chair and smiles at KR although the expression doesn’t quite reach his eyes. “I can’t answer that with any degree of certainty,” he says, “but I did make some assumptions which seem to have been well-founded. I believe I was being protected.”
KR nods and turns his attention back to me. “In your phone call this morning you said you had proof of Saijou Takatori’s intentions towards you.”
I nod as I ask Mihirogi to pass me her laptop. She does so and I insert a floppy disc and bring up the e-mail that Nagi had shown me in Japan. I pass the laptop back to her as she is both able to speak and read Japanese and wait to see what her reaction will be. Her eyes scan the e-mail and she gasps as a hand goes to her cheek and her eyes widen in shock. She regains control of herself almost immediately and reads out the e-mail, translating it into English as she does so.
“Takatori Saijou to all Kritiker department heads, carbon copy to Takatori Mamoru,
“After careful and thorough consideration, I have come to the inevitable conclusion that the people listed below are now a threat to the security of Kritiker and should, therefore, be dealt with accordingly. It is with great regret that I order the executions of Fujimiya Ran also known as Aya, Hidaka Ken and Kudoh Yohji (if found alive).
“I am aware that this order will not please my grandson but I believe it to be in his best interests as well as those of Kritiker.
“Also I am not entirely convinced of the trustworthiness of Naoe Nagi and would, therefore, advise that his name be added to the above list if he ever lets us down in even the slightest way.
“Any associates of the above, or those attempting to aid them, should also be eliminated.”
I feel Yohji tense up beside me and, across the table, Ken’s eyes widen as he exclaims, “but that means Crashers too!”
“Plus all of Side B, KR and Mihirogi,” I point out. “He’s marked us all for death and Kritiker has an extremely long reach.”
* * * * * * *
Although both disgusted and infuriated by the contents of the e-mail, I can’t feel any degree of surprise. It’s exactly what the antiquated old fidget would do. Get rid of the evidence. For all of the ‘dark beasts’ we took down for the old fart and his organisation, he has a strange way of showing his appreciation. No longer of any use so dispose of the trash. So much for a gold watch and a pension.
I’d like to think that he’s lost it somewhere, but I know that isn’t the case. What Aya told me last night has me convinced that the ancient bastard is perfectly aware of what he is doing and why he is doing it. Nothing must be allowed to prevent the heir from taking on his Takatori birthright, from becoming the same sort of cold-blooded snake as the rest of his fucking family was. Well, perhaps apart from Shuichi.
I am brought back to a sense of my surroundings by the sound of voices raised in intense discussion. Ken seems to be of the opinion, even now, that his beloved Omi would never be party to such a thing. His words seem to upset Nagi, who has drawn into himself and sits looking more and more miserable with each word Ken says.
Aya shoots Ken a glare and he subsides sulkily. “There is one other thing to report,” he says. “While we were in Japan, somebody tried to kill Free, Chloe, Nagi and I. I can only assume it was a Kritiker assassination team.”
Now it is my turn to glare. At Aya for not telling me this before now. “What do you mean, they tried to kill you?” I demand and Aya sighs.
“They launched some kind of missile into the safe house that Crashers provided. If it hadn’t been for Nagi shielding us all, they would have succeeded.”
Useful to have around even if he doesn’t use his powers to kill. But, right now, I’m pissed. “Why didn’t you tell me?”
Aya gives me a glare frosty enough to freeze the Thames into an ice rink. “I just did,” he says. You have to admire the man’s twisted logic at times.
“So the threat is obviously very real and Nagi (may I call you Nagi?) and Aya are definitely targets. Safe then to assume that we all are.” KR’s voice is brisk and to the point and I find myself warming to the man. “The question is, what do we do about it?” He glances at first me, then Nagi. “We can do our best to provide protection for you both whatever you decide to do.” I am surprised when Nagi’s face falls before his usual impassive mask settles over it.
“Isn’t it possible to stay with your team?” he asks. “I would be both loyal and useful.” I suddenly have a moment of total clarity. This young man has only known the concept of family in the confines of Schwarz. It’s a sobering thought.
KR exchanges a glance with Mihirogi before smiling at Nagi. “We were hoping you would wish to stay,” he says, “but the choice had to be yours.” He then turns his attention to me and I feel Aya tense beside me.
“I’m staying with Aya as long as he and the rest of the team can accept me being part of this,” I growl out. I’m not prepared to lose Aya again whether he wants to admit how things are between us or not.
Strangely, I feel the tension seep out of Aya and glance at him to find him staring down at the table with a slight flush on his face. It makes me feel a great deal better to realise that my feelings are in some way reciprocated even if the stubborn fool won’t admit to it. I smile slightly and turn my attention back to KR and Mihirogi who both seem happy enough with my decision.
“Again, we were hoping that you would wish to stay,” Mihirogi says in her calm way. “For several reasons.” She shoots a triumphant look at Aya who simply glares back at her. Like me, she seems immune to his glares and merely smiles sweetly back at him.
“What about Crashers?” Ken asks suddenly. “They went out of their way to help us in Japan and must now be considered ‘traitors to the Takatori’ or some such shit.”
“Crashers know how to keep a low profile,” Aya says. He would know, having spent some time as part of their team before he came to Weiss. “But we did promise to stay in touch.” He sighs. “That might not be such a good idea if Kritiker should hack into their e-mails.”
“Let us deal with one problem at a time,” Mihirogi suggests. “If we need to offer Crashers our aid at any point, so be it. Right now we have our own situation to deal with. Takatori Mamoru knows exactly where both Ken and Aya are and that fact bothers me if his grandfather is determined to have them killed. If Mamoru’s as smart as both Ken and Aya say he is, he will have realised exactly where Yohji and Nagi have disappeared to. The big question is, will he inform his grandfather of that fact?”
“He might not have been entirely pleasant about it,” I say somewhat bitterly, “but I do believe he was trying to protect me by insisting I live as Ito Ryo.”
Nagi raises his hand and Mihirogi smiles encouragingly at him. “I think Yohji may be correct in his assumptions when it comes to ex-members of Weiss,” he says in his quiet way. “Takatori Saijou was still being led to believe that Hidaka was in jail and Fujimiya dead.”
“Until his agents saw me with you in Japan,” Aya points out. “I guess Saijou must now realise that I’m very much alive and that Ken is no longer in jail. He only has to check it out for himself. Add to that the sudden disappearance of you and ‘Ito Ryo’ and he’s going to realise that his grandson has been lying to him. He has the resources to find out exactly where we are.”
While agreeing with Aya I’m also intrigued by the way Nagi phrased his statement. “Didn’t he protect you?” I ask him.
Nagi looks as if he’s about ready to burst into tears. “I didn’t want to say anything,” he says. “You looked upon him as a friend; as family.”
“Right now I don’t believe any of us can rely on the ‘friendship’ of Takatori Mamoru,” Aya grinds out. He seems angry but I know he’s hurting the same way that Ken and I are. As Omi, Takatori Mamoru was one of us: one of Weiss.”
Trusted…
Loved…
Now, he’s very possibly the enemy. I just don’t know anymore.
Mihirogi has asked Nagi to explain while I’ve been off with the fairies and he has begun to speak very haltingly.
“As you probably know, I was never trained by Rosenkreuz. It was the very reason that Brad sent me to Takatori Mamoru. He and Schuldig were susceptible to Rosenkreuz conditioning, I was not. I think Brad thought that, as he had been part of Weiss, Takatori Mamoru could be trusted with my care.”
He glances across at Aya and I before turning to look at Ken. “You may not realise it but Brad had a lot of respect for Weiss. We all did in our own ways. You were four mundanes who dared to take us on, to attempt to thwart us. He was convinced that Aya had some precognition, at least when it came to fighting, as he was able to defend himself against both him and Farfarello.” He shrugs slightly. “Anyway, in his own way, he trusted you all. Then, when he sent me to Takatori Mamoru, things started to change.”
“At first, everything seemed okay. The taking down of Epitaph was explained to me and I was in wholehearted support of that. Having worked for Essett, I know just how evil they can be. Then the message came from Brad and Schuldig that three Rosenkreuz agents had been sent to Japan and that they would meet me at a place called Koua Academy. You know the rest. That was the first time I’d ever killed and it felt okay as the girl was twisted, evil in a way that poor Tot never was.”
He stares at the table for long moments before looking up. “I thought that Mamoru had been too busy with the taking out of Epitaph to have noticed but, somehow he knew how I had killed her. He was beginning to make his name as a politician by then and, being a Takatori, he had many enemies who were not above sending assassins to kill him. I was obliged to dispose of these assassins.”
“How obliged?” I ask, not wanting to hear the answer but needing to know anyway.
“I was told that in his world it was kill or be killed and that I should always remember that. If I ever outlived my usefulness I would also be disposed of.” He closes his eyes as if in acute pain and I am left considering exactly what his family did to Takatori Mamoru.
Ken has his face buried in his hands while Nagi looks extremely uncomfortable. It is Aya that breaks the silence.
“He always was pragmatic,” he says without a hint of surprise in his deep voice, “even as a teenager.” He sighs unhappily.
I just sit there not so much stunned as hurt and betrayed as the realisation sinks in that, while… oh fuck… whoever he is now might have been helping me to survive his grandfather it wasn’t being done out of love but merely because I was a reasonably useful cog in the Takatori machine. Aya and Ken were safely out of the country and not considered to be threats by his grandfather. Pragmatic is right.
I can’t help myself. “Little bastard,” I growl out and regret it almost immediately as I see Ken flinch. It must be even worse for him as he regarded Omi in the same light as I regard Aya.
“With all due respect to everyone’s feelings on the matter,” KR says quietly, “the immediate problem is will the Takatori organisation send agents to England to try to kill you all? Personally, I can’t see any reason for doing so as you are no longer having any influence on Takatori Mamoru. But I am not Takatori Saijou and I need to know how the old man thinks. Do any of you have any idea? Nagi, you probably saw more of him than the others. What are your thoughts on the subject?”
Nagi takes a deep breath and starts to speak. “I’ve never met anyone so cold,” he says. “I know that those of you who knew Brad thought him cold but, compared to the old man, he was warm and friendly, well, towards us at least. Takatori Saijou doesn’t give a damn about anything that doesn’t strengthen Takatori interests. His answer to Epitaph and his grandson’s concerns was to send in Crashers to blow it into oblivion and take you all out with it.”
And in my case he very nearly succeeded. I force myself to listen as Nagi continues.
“I once heard him tell Mamoru that he had nothing but contempt for either of his sons. Reiji he considered an idiot for his involvement with Essett and Shuichi an idealistic dreamer of a police sergeant. Whenever Mamoru brought up Kritiker concerns he would say it came from having a police sergeant as a father and his only concern was how things affected Takatori interests.”
“So Shuichi was his real father?” I ask, stunned beyond belief that his own father made him an assassin.
Nagi nods. “Yes, but he probably never knew it. Saijou did though and let him do what he did. Perhaps it was to keep Mamoru alive and out of Reiji’s clutches. I don’t know. I do know that he didn’t care about Masafumi’s experiments or Hirofumi’s sadism. As long as there was no scandal it didn’t matter to him.”
Ken lifts his head. “So nothing we ever did as Weiss mattered to him?”
Nagi shakes his head. “No, not a thing except perhaps for the elimination of the elders. If they had succeeded in their plans he would have been executed almost immediately.”
“Shit!” Ken exclaims and he seems to sum it up for all of us. When I think of Riot, Maki and my Asuka and what happened to Ken and Aya without anyone caring I just want to either scream in fury or go to Japan and put my wire round his scrawny neck and twist till the life leaves his body. He must have known about it all.
That thought gives me pause and my eyes widen. I glance at Aya, not sure how I should say this.
“What about Aya-chan? Suppose he uses her against you?”
I see Aya slump in his seat as he realises that Saijou is the sort of old bastard who would do just that. “I can’t…” he starts to say then buries his head in his hands and I realise that Aya has finally reached the end of his tether.