"Ayane! Hey – I came home early and thought maybe I could make you some of your fav-… Ayane?"
Ryu shoved the large black, teakwood door closed with his foot. As it solidly thumped back into place, he put his parcels down on the side table. He looked around the spacious apartment.
It was still light out and the sweeping, photosensitive glass walls that rose up and curved over to form the better part of the ceiling, had begun to lose their tint to reveal the stars that were coming out above.
He walked silently through the large room and into the sunken area in the center, where the low couches chairs and tea table sat.
"...Ayane?"
Ayane's leather pants were no longer wedged into the seat cushions – her gun and holster were not hanging over the back of the antique sendai dansu. The soft lighting only picked out the beautiful shelves and tables that held the priceless antiques they both collected. Even the large screen television had been lowered back to its unobtrusive resting space below the seamless panels in the hardwood floor.
He looked down to see Buddha rubbing up against his legs, happy to see him. The large, white cat had been recently brushed and left no white hair on his pant legs.
"Wow – she really cleaned the place up! Hey – c'mere you…"
Picking up the happily purring cat, Ryu began to stroke it absently, as he walked over to the large glass walls.
Weird, I wonder where she… went?
He gazed out over the wide, plant covered deck to view the lights of Tokyo. They were just beginning to twinkle into life, far below. Then turning towards the wide nautilus shaped stair well that wound from the main great room to the lower and upper floors. Ryu called out again.
"Hello? Kokoro... Eliot?"
Huh. I know that Kokoro and Eliot were coming over to visi-huh?
His nostrils flared slightly.
Iron… I wonder what –
He sniffed again, testing the air carefully.
No… not just iron – that's blood!
Gently putting Buddha on the floor, Ryu began walking as if in a trance, following the scent – he crossed over to the kitchen.
No – not here…
He ran back through the large living room and over to the wide entryway that led to the room Ayane and he referred to as the "four mat room." He reached the threshold and stopped, stone still.
Right here – something happened here… In this room.
He carefully walked into the room and looked up to see the skylight – it was shut and locked. He closed his eyes and made a slow quarter turn. He took two short steps and stopped.
Death. People died here… Maybe five… less than… ten.
Like a dark blur he was out of the four mat room and dashed across to the side table next to the door.
My phone - !
He reached into his pack and pulled out his phone.
She could have called - why didn't she ca – shit! The ringer is set on silent! I forgot I turned it off when I was with Ganryu last night!
With swift precise movements, Ryu's finger swiped and stabbed at his phone's screen… There were no messages.
N-Nothing!?
He could feel his stomach begin to float, as if he was in free fall.
Ayane! Oh no – no… Wait – if… if there was a problem – where would she go? Come on – THINK – where would she…The safe house – NIRISAKI!
In instants, Ryu was out the door and down the long corridor to their private elevator. He hit a single, green button that was set in a silver panel and sent the lift racing to the garage level.
As he traveled down, Ryu deftly swiped the panel above the glowing button and brought up the lovely face of Maiya the concierge down in the lobby. Her brown eyes shone happily, as she greeted her favorite tenant.
"Good evening Hayabusa Samma! Is there anything I can get –"
"NO – uh… thank you Maiya." Ryu interrupted, then taking an instant to compose himself, he continued.
"Ayane and I will need you to watch Buddha though – maybe for a few days. I'll call you with more details later."
"Certainly!"
"Great, thank y– oh, and I also left a bunch of groceries on the side table, they'll need to go in the fridge…"
"I shall see to it."
"Maiya…"
"Yes?"
"Thank you – I owe you one…"
He saw her redden slightly and look down. Then her large brown eyes swiveled up and looked at him from under her onyx black hair. The corners of her mouth curled slightly with gentle mischief.
"Not at all… I am sure by now – you owe me… six."
"One, Maiya." Ryu said as he swiped her startled image away.
His smile faded as the doors silently slid open to reveal the garage. Directly ahead, sat Ryu's gleaming and aptly named, Suzuki Hayabusa.
The lights slid and shimmered off of the deep, almost jet black racing green, as Ryu strode quickly over to it. He stopped for a moment, then swung his leg over and brought the huge engine to life with a screaming roar that split the air around them.
Okay – let's see just how fast you can go…