Butterfly Effect: Downfall


File 001
"Contract"


"Are you already inside?" Abe hushed at the radio he held. He removed his thumb off the button at the device's periphery and stared for it for some seconds. A soft, harsh shrill of static burst through the radio's speaker that informed him that the other line was responding.

"I-I'm in," a soft-spoken voice sounded from the radio.

"Good," Abe responded as soon, "Stay low. I'm following you." He added. He snuck the radio into his coat and crouched against the wall. He kept a lingering eye over the place, making sure that he remained undetected.

He clipped a fresh magazine into his gun, which he pulled out from his holster some seconds ago. He reloaded his standard-issue pistol, while making his steps light and quiet at the same moment. Perhaps it wasn't the best time for him to arm himself, but Abe knew that they were near the end of this cat-and-mouse hunt. There was a lot that they had to risk, just for them to infiltrate the facility.

Honestly, he spoke to himself, I'm feeling a lot nervous right now. He admitted in his thoughts. Even Abe was someone who would get anxious depending on the situation.

As he moved stealthily inside, Abe's pupils would land back on his coat's pocket, where he put the radio in. Though he told his partner to stay hidden, it didn't mean that he needed to lose radio contact. It was the only way for them to maintain communication – the only way for them to check one another. In times wherein they had to work in an enemy's turf, they had to sustain a line of contact – as per their agency's policy and regulation – and, seriously, Abe was as uneasy when he heard nothing from his partner like he felt troubled when he spoke.

Come on, Abe groaned in thought. Tell me you're still there, he pulled his eyes away from his pocket and stared straight ahead. For all the missions that they had performed, this one felt much different from the rest. It seemed that Abe could not pull his mind away from the possible dangers that they might encounter, despite their skills and their aptitude to fend for themselves. There's something different about this place, Abe thought. He continued to move ahead, and then he heard the faint sound that came from the radio.

"A-Abe-kun," his partner called. "HVT is here." Abe's eyes were wide when he heard that. It was only a sudden tip that was delivered to their agency, but it seemed that their effort was worth the bet. To think that we really can find him here, Abe wore a sarcastic smirk, though it vanished just as soon.

"Stay put," had pulled out the radio to respond. "I'm coming for you. Don't do anything." He said, adding a stern accent on his words. Sometimes, his partner was prone to do something stupid when the two of them were separated. Abe didn't want that, now that they practically had their fingers around their target's neck.

"Target is… un-unarmed." His partner quickly answered. But Abe was not amused. He didn't take a lot of his thoughts just to understand what his partner was trying to imply. "Proceed to capture?" His partner swiftly added.

"Negative," Abe said firmly. Whatever his partner was thinking right now, he could really understand. Now is not the best time to disagree with my orders, Abe wanted to tell him that. I'm not risking a compromise, and I surely don't want to risk your safety. He told in his head, the reproving words he wanted to say. "Stay put. I repeat, stay put. Just keep surveillance. If HVT does anything funny, report to me immediately." Abe instructed him. At that point, he needed to proceed with haste. For some reason, his partner speaking boldly gave him ill thoughts. We needed to do this perfectly.

He finally reached the hallway where the room that his partner just entered into was located. He did not find it surprising that it was an office that belonged to one of the facility's top executives. As if the final boss is waiting for us inside, Abe just added in thought. He clenched the gun nearer his chest.

"HVT is open." His partner's voice wiped off the silence around him. Abe immediately reached for his radio and stared at it incredulously. "A-Abe-kun… i-if I w-won't move now, it w-will be… too late." He said, which made Abe more apprehensive. He heard a metallic clink through the radio – the sound of a gun being loaded – and Abe didn't need to think clearly anymore. Dropping the radio away from him, Abe sprinted and rammed himself against the wooden door. It immediately broke down at the force of contact. Abe rolled once on the floor but he ended in knelt position, gun already pointed away.

"Mihashi—"

"Too late," a voice interrupted him. But what made Abe stare was the fact that his partner stood in the center of the room, hands raised and obviously unarmed of his weapon. "Just too late, Takaya."

Haruna Motoki smirked at Abe, enjoying the surprised expression the latter showed. He slowly leveled a gun – which Abe supposed was Mihashi's – and pointed it at his partner. The grin on his face grew even more as the seconds passed, and the realization starting to dawn against Abe. "Did you think you can best me, Takaya?" Haruna said. He gestured towards Abe. "Drop the gun."

There was no point in resisting; it was in Abe's mind. Haruna had a surefire finger – he won't be reluctant in firing that weapon in his hand. Abe slowly placed the gun on the floor and kicked it away from him. He gradually stood up and opened his hands, to show Haruna that he was already rendered weaponless. "Now, what do you want?" Abe asked Haruna.

"Don't be so hasty." Haruna answered. "But if you want to know, then I'll answer right away." Haruna approached Mihashi, prodded the gun's muzzle hard on his chest and said,

"I only want this."

"I'm sorry, Abe-kun…"

"Mihashi–!"

A single gunfire echoed.


Abe's eyes snapped open.

His vision was still blurry, though he only blinked twice to clear it out. He barely even moved as soon after he regained his awareness, and settled on observing his surroundings. He remembered the documents that were neatly stacked on his work desk, and even the bare papers stripped from their respective manila envelopes. The familiar sight reassured him that he only fell asleep inside the office. Abe only sucked in air, before he heaved out an exasperated sigh. Leaning his weight against the swivel chair he had slumbered upon, Abe tried to sort out the images from before.

It was normal for him doze off in the office; his teammates seemed more than glad seeing him rest. But it never failed to annoy him, that nightmarish dream. For him, it was just too much to revisit that vivid memory, that flow of images that he tried to hide away from his mind. Abe only grimaced at the sudden reminiscence of that event, that one time that he wished had never happened.

His eyes unconsciously fell at the framed picture that stood forgotten on his table. It wretched his heart just to see it, but he couldn't even want to take it away.

Mihashi… Abe spoke his name. And even in his mind, his voice was still in monotone, just in an effort to shy away his emotions. He prided himself for working resolutely, devoid of any semblance of feelings. And just as when he remembered Mihashi, Abe tried his best to shake him away from his mind. This is not the time… Abe thought, as he pinched the bridge of his nose. This is not the time to count those mistakes, he chided himself. He stole one final glance at the picture, before he stood up from his chair.

"It seems that our top detective's finally awake," a deep yet friendly-sounding voice attracted Abe. The spiky, dark-haired male flashed his eyes towards the door, and saw that Hanai loomed over the door. By his gesture, it seemed that Hanai was just about to knock on the door, despite the fact that Abe kept it open for them to get in as freely as they wanted. Hanai only smiled a little as he invited himself inside the small office. "This makes my job easier, I guess." He commented as he took the seat in front of Abe's desk.

"What's that supposed to mean?" Abe turned to Hanai while he arranged his hair.

"I tried to talk to you for many times already," Hanai said, looking at the thick stack on Abe's table. "But you were sleeping,"

"So?" Abe said, already sounding so disgruntled. Hanai was sure that it wasn't about being waken up from his sleep, though. "You could've just waken me up,"

And there it was. Hanai already sighed even before the expected argument broke out. It was a discussion that Hanai already decided he had no chances of winning, a significantly trivial dispute that often happened between members of their agency against Abe. During the first times it had occurred, Abe threw himself in a fit, which took half of their group just to control. The worst part was that Izumi was rather particular of Abe's natural indignation of things, and it lead to more complicated thing. After some months of thorough discussion, none of them had persuaded Abe, but it didn't mean that they accepted his claims either.

"So it's my choice?" Hanai asked, rather sarcastically. He felt the sting that Abe sent through his gaze. "Abe, I'm not really in the mood to talk about how you should be taking your rest." Hanai just said, while ignoring the furious look the other male now sported.

"If there are works to do, then why do I need some rest?" Abe answered; Hanai was so thankful that Abe sounded calmer than usual. "I'm not interested in sleeping. My job here is to solve crimes and help people." He told Hanai.

And it took a lifetime effort for Hanai not to slap himself for taking their discussion into that argument once more. Why do you have to be so persistent? He mentally asked. Instead of remarking the other male's words, Hanai only revealed a small envelope and placed it atop the other papers that populated Abe's desk. "All right then," he said. "Just as you want. Work." Hanai informed him.

Abe eyed him for some seconds, before he approached the table and snatched the envelope Hanai just placed. He unfolded the flap and fished out the papers inside. But seeing that it had already been unsealed, Abe turned to Hanai once more and spoke. "So, what did it say?" He just asked, knowing that Hanai already discovered the content even before he passed it to him.

"Well," Hanai looked back at Abe, "it's not that it says something, per se. Actually, I heard mostly from the guy who delivered that message to us." He explained to Abe. "You should see him instead," Hanai mentioned to him, making the other male look at him disbelievingly.

"Sometimes, I feel that you're using your captaincy on purpose on me," Abe only commented as he collected some objects that littered his table.

"What?" Hanai responded innocently. "You also voted for me as captain!"

"I take it back," Abe replied, snatching a glance of his reflection. He might be hasty for work, but he at least still conscious of his appearance, considering that he had just woke up sleep barely minutes ago. "You're treating me unfairly,"

"Oh," Hanai muttered, though rather slyly. "As if you do care on how I treat you," he said, a little smile forming over his lips.

"I'm off," Abe only said and his face remained impassive.

Hanai kept the smile on his face until he was sure that Abe was gone. Then a frown soon replaced it. Even though Abe always looked so seriously, Hanai knew that even he knew how to humor other people, especially members of their agency. But ever since it happened several months ago, Hanai couldn't help but think that Abe had gone lonelier even further. If back then Abe had kept an emotional wall around him, then Hanai could point out how it evolved into something much harder to poke through. It sure fell hard on him, Hanai thought as he glanced at the single photo on Abe's work table.

It was a picture of Abe and Mihashi. The two of them stood together in the shot, the two of them looking too awkward during the time that it was taken. But Hanai understood that they were a weird pair to begin with. That picture was a testament of their agency's hard work, a proof that Abe truly deserved what he was and what he had back then.

But you just needed to take away everything from Abe, Hanai furiously stated in thought, to the person who caused it months ago. Just to leave him empty.

. . . . . . . . .

"It must be really important if you have come all the way from Gunma," Mizutani spoke up, as he typed something over the keyboard. It was enough to show his intention to strike a conversation with their visitor, although it might have sounded that he was rather stating a simple remark. However, Mizutani's eyes would break off from the computer once in a while, which were then plastered over the newcomer. "Our jobs as detectives do bring us to a lot of places," he added as he beheld the other man who patiently sat on the couch of their small reception area.

"I don't mind," the visitor answered. "It's expected."

Mizutani was visibly startled with the curt reply, but only smiled at his own words. "Oh yeah," he said. "Like what I said," he pointed. "I shouldn't have made it sound like a complaint if I at least expected it too." He said.

The visitor nodded at him. Mizutani was glad at that. At least, he understood that he was talking to someone with some sense. Mizutani was confident enough to hold some witty responses himself, so it wasn't entirely a problem if he kept on entertaining their visitor. "I know it's too late but do you want some coffee?" Mizutani offered, finally twisting himself from the computer towards the visitor.

"I think that won't be necessary," the other man answered.

Mizutani was silent. "All right," he gave him a small smile. "You seem pretty nervous, so I was just trying to lighten up the mood." He finally admitted, which, in fact, helped diffused the tension away from their visitor, as evidenced when the other male showed an almost stupefied expression upon hearing Mizutani's statement. Of course, Mizutani noticed. "So… coffee?" He recommended once more.

"Uhh, thanks, I guess," the visitor only said.

"No worries," Mizutani answered as he retreated to the table near the counter. Mizutani didn't really want to startle their visitor, but he had to admit that the atmosphere surrounding that man also affected him. And, being a detective and such, Mizutani was just compelled to shift the situation to that of something manageable. But it only proved that the matter concerning their visitor's arrival in their agency was of great significance. Mizutani wasn't just trained only to greet people when they come in their agency; he was at least as good as Izumi in gathering information just by observing.

The first sound of the coffee dripping by the maker was a signal for Mizutani to continue.

"You're lucky that you came when Abe's still around," Mizutani said. "He's always on the run in the weekdays,"

"I've heard," the visitor answered. "He takes a lot of load,"

"Yeah," Mizutani responded. "That man's a monster. Sometimes he'd solve two crimes in a single day." He added, which made their visitor looked surprise with he just heard. "He's been working so hard that we're even more concerned for him than he is for himself." He told the other male. Mizutani pulled a cup and poured the freshly-prepared coffee in it.

"I see," the visitor only remarked. "And thank you," he also said after receiving the cup of coffee personally given to him by Mizutani.

"Well, that's that and—"

"It's a surprise."

Both Mizutani and the visitor turned when the door that led to the inner offices was opened and revealed a flagrant-looking Abe. The detective briefly scrutinized their visitor, before he approached him. "When Hanai told me that this–" he raised the envelope with his right hand "–was sent by a messenger, it didn't even cross me that this person is another detective," Abe's face remained slightly smug. "Kanō," he greeted the other male.

"Abe," the visitor, Kanō, stood up. "It's been a while."

Abe motioned him to sit. "You've been working very hard." He took the couch opposite to where Kanō was.

"And so have you," Kanō replied. "So I've heard," his pupils landed to where Mizutani was, then quickly sent it back to Abe. "I've come for some work, of course."

"Is that so?" Abe muttered and gave a full look back at Mizutani. There was a small smile that hovered over his lips, which made the other male slightly uneasy. "You seem to be talking well, Mizutani." Abe just told him. "I'll take it from here. I'll call on you when I need something." Abe told him sharply.

Mizutani only nodded. Sometimes, Abe could be really intimidating if he chose to. He then excused himself from the other two detectives. Kanō watched Mizutani as he hurried back to the counter to man it once more.

"He was only telling me how fortunate I am to get hold of you," Kanō quickly commented.

"Please, I want to be spared from all the meddling,"

"As long as you are part of this agency, you know that's impossible for them not to intervene." Kanō responded, his lips closing in a thin line, though his tone was laced with interest.

"And that's enough to justify their wants?" Abe answered, even though he was aware of the hidden amusement growing inside Kanō. "It seems to me that they're just nagging mothers,"

"How can they not?" Kanō said, as a visible grin seemed to appear on his face. "To me, you seem to be another petulant child."

"Geez, thanks for the vote of confidence,"

"You're welcome," Kanō finally said, which ended up the possibility of another debate rising between the two of them. Kanō kept his eyes warily over Abe, as he took a sip from the cup given to him by Mizutani some moments ago. "Abe, I'm not going to tell you what you need to do," Kanō placed the cup on top of the center table between the two of them. "But I just want to remind you that your value is dependent on how functional you remain," he told the other detective.

"Even though you're basically telling me the same thing Hanai is saying, I appreciate it that you told it to me in a realistic perspective," Abe answered.

Silence reigned over them for some seconds. Kanō did not mind it and Abe seemed to have no problem about it either. Indeed, there were moments that silence was just more effective than words. Kanō was in a hurry, but the situation wouldn't really turn out well if he just rushed it. And for that, I need him to listen, Kanō thought as he picked the cup once again and tipped it into his mouth. It's really easy to know if something's bothering him. He added in his thoughts. "All right, on to work then." Kanō said aloud.

Abe casually threw the envelope over the table. "It just seems to be a bunch of letters."

"It is," Kanō said. "Of course we have to value the system of formality. Anyway, what I'm going to tell you is the important thing." He slid his hand on the table and took the envelope. "The prefectural police of Gunma want some help on a certain case. Though it happened here in Saitama, the responsibility still rests on them." Kanō introduced. The cup of coffee remained on his hand though. "And for that, they needed your help,"

Abe stared at Kanō for some seconds. "Did that request came from them?"

"No," Kanō immediately responded. "Saitama Prefectural Police handed this task to us in Mihoshi. Though they did request some additional hands, they did not specify who." He told the other detective. "You can say that this is just my decision to seek you."

Abe was silent for some seconds, seemingly pondering in thought. It did not bother him that a detective from another agency had asked his help, but he felt a sudden curiosity within him. Kanō's appearance is very unlikely, Abe mentally said. As the idea floated inside his head, Abe quickly realized what it was all about.

"The decision was not from you," Abe spoke out. "It was from Nishiura, right?"

"To whom it came from doesn't matter," Kanō said in neutral. "We need to work together on this one, Abe."

"I told everyone before that I won't be working with anyone anymore," Abe hissed, sending a glare to the offices deeper inside their building. "Even though I may be part of Nishiura, I don't want any of them slowing me down." He stated. "I'll accept the job, if that was it. But if it needs me to work with you, then I won't." Abe said.

Kanō only held his eyes closed as Abe told those slightly disheartening words. Indeed, Hanai had warned him that Abe would certainly oppose the plan, but it wasn't as if Kanō just wanted to help Abe. It was the job, as stated to him, so he hadn't had the leisure to keep up with Abe's demand. He should have let go of it a long time ago, Kanō said in thought, eyes still shut tight. He's a detective, yet he lets himself be controlled by his emotions. He opened his eyes with a sigh.

"I'm not going to work with you as partner, if that is what you want to hear," Kanō said, instantly silencing Abe. "It's only stated in the description that I needed help from Saitama. After all, this will be a joint case that is being worked on both by Gunma and Saitama police." He reasoned.

Abe stilled as he took in Kanō's explanation. "But that doesn't change the fact that my own agency pulled you in here just to make me work on this job," he said derisively.

Kanō held his tongue for some seconds first. "The case is about an intrusion to one of Saitama's local manufacturer office." He started, finally ignoring the focus of Abe's dismay. "Hosei Armaments Incorporated is the one supplying Saitama with standard-issue weapons for the police. Two days ago, they discovered that someone broke in their office here in Saitama." Kanō said and gulped the rest of his coffee after. "The staff believes that the goal of the trespasser is to obtain a copy of the records of Hosei's transactions with the police."

"That's understandable," Abe placed his hand under his chin. "It's a way to discover how much weapons the police currently have in store." He said. "But knowing it is entirely unnecessary, unless there's a catch?"

"There is," Kanō nodded at him. "It seems that aside from the transaction, there is also a record that states the date when those weapons will be delivered here in Saitama."

"Date of delivery?" Abe repeated. "Damn," he suddenly cursed. "Are you saying that whoever did this wants to hit the delivery of those weapons?"

"Precisely." Kanō answered. "Preliminary investigations already proved that this crime is connected to one of the Yakuza groups here in Saitama." He said, his eyes sharp at Abe. "This case is top priority. If you're not handling any major cases, I ask for your cooperation on this one."

Abe just suddenly stood up, slightly startling Kanō. "I don't need to answer that one." He only said. "Just wait for a while; I'm going to gather my stuff." He then sped back inside the offices, leaving a shocked but glad Kanō in the reception area.

"Until now he doesn't want to work with a partner?" Kanō stated out loud, knowing that Mizutani was listening from the counter.

"Yeah," Mizutani answered. "It's against our agency policy to work alone, but in his current skill we can't even deny how great he is." He explained to Kanō. "After all, I think he still can't move on from what happened back then."

"I know, but I can't just blame him for what he feels." Kanō said. "It had only been six months since it happened. It still weighs heavy on him." He said, justifying what Abe probably felt, though he found it bemusing that the other detective couldn't let go just yet.

"He's just going hard on himself," Mizutani responded.

"But for it to happen before your eyes?" Kanō's tone suddenly dropped deeper. He slowly faced Mizutani with an almost inconsolable expression. "I don't know if I have the heart to see that. Though I don't want to rationalize Abe's stubbornness, perhaps it's just the way for him to show that he's still strong after all that's happened." Kanō said. "Perhaps it's Abe's way of holding on despite his experience." Kanō twisted his face away from Mizutani. "He doesn't want a new partner because he can't let go of the partner he had lost."


"I only want this." Haruna said as he looked grimly at Abe. He placed his index finger over the gun's trigger, prepared to squeeze it at any seconds. "Mihashi, do you have anything to say to your partner?" He just added, now smiling towards Abe.

"T-There's n-nothing that I-I could… say," Mihashi answered. Abe did not know what Mihashi's expression was because he was facing Haruna that time. "I h-have no-nothing to say… but I-I'm a f-failure as A-Abe-kun's partner." Mihashi twisted his head slightly to his side and tried to look at Abe at his periphery. "I'm sorry, Abe-kun…"

"Mihashi–!" Abe tried to reach out.

But the sound of the gunfire reverberated all across the room.

And Abe only saw the warm liquid of red that flowed on the floor.


- File 001: End -

Butterfly Effect: Downfall
Story: Nillum Richner
Writer: Dairene Kezelghski