2 KYOTO
"The sun has remained shrouded in thick cloud ever since the sword went missing on Friday," said Aizawa, "the Shinto priests at Atsuta Shrine tried to keep news of the theft quiet, but with the enthronement coming in a few months and that interview given by Lin Wenjian, the media have guessed that something has happened. The tabloids keep publishing rumours. With the darkened skies, the entire affair has been blown out of proportion. It is making international news."
Shinsou and Shigeru were sitting across the table from him in his cramped office on the tenth floor of the Directorate.
"Well, what has it got to do with us?" asked Shinsou, "it's a matter for the police to solve."
"The guji, or chief priest, of Atsuta Shrine informed the Imperial Palace of the theft," Aizawa continued, "and that interview that Lin Wenjian gave where he mentioned he'd like to own the sword is being emphasized by the media. He has denied taking it, of course. Fujiwara says an official from the Imperial Palace contacted the Directorate, asking if someone from our side could look into it."
"Well, why has it come to our group?" said Shinsou, "there are dozens of other agents in the Directorate!"
"The Palace asked if the agent who solved the Shiramine affair could be put on this case," explained Aizawa.
"Brother, you're famous," said Shigeru, slapping Shinsou on the shoulder, "even without being in a hero agency or being on the list for most popular hero!"
"I might have been glad at one time," acknowledged Shinsou, "but this kind of thing makes undercover work more difficult now."
He looked at Aizawa. "Fujiwara should have turned the Palace down. It's a case for the police – a simple theft. Someone sneaked into Atsuta Shrine and filched it."
Aizawa frowned at him.
"You don't understand what I've been telling you," he said sternly, "For an ordinary antique collector to steal an antique, yes, that is a simple theft case for the police. But when the antique collector is a high-ranking member of the Chinese Communist Party and the antique is one of the national treasures of Japan, it becomes a matter of national security."
He leaned forward, looking intently at Shinsou.
"Now, we don't even know if Lin Wenjian has taken it. He said he was interested in it, of course, in an interview. And in the past, things have disappeared after he's expressed interest in them. The police have searched his house and found nothing. We don't know how this is going to play out. But if that sword surfaces somewhere in China, there will be an uproar, even if Lin has done it in his own private capacity and it was not instigated by the Communist Party. It would be better to pre-empt that."
Shinsou was looking thoughtfully at Aizawa.
"You always stress on logic, Aizawa," he said, "What do you make of this phenomenon of the clouds hiding the sun? It's only happening in Japan. But the legend of Amaterasu is a myth, isn't it?"
Shigeru was tilting his chair back, looking out of the window. He was fiddling with his keys, an omamori dangling from the keychain.
"Brother, what did I tell you," he said, "there's some truth in these things. Like the yokai. I tell you, they exist."
Aizawa glanced at Shigeru, then looked at Shinsou.
"I'll admit I emphasize on being rational, yes," he said, "when it comes to human behaviour. And there are scientists who are trying to explain the phenomenon of the cloudy skies. They say that the Baiu Front which brings the rainy season to Japan has set in early. But as for myth, when you think about it, some generations ago, there were no such things as Quirks. Superpowers were in the realm of fantasy. And now look how things are, today."
He, too, glanced out the window, at the gloomy sky.
"Myth or not, we have a problem to solve. Fujiwara has told the Palace that we would help find out whether or not the sword is with Lin, or whether it has to be looked for elsewhere. And since we have been given the order, we have to follow it."
Shinsou looked at him. "What do you want us to do?"
"You have to brainwash Lin Wenjian and find out if he took the sword," said Aizawa simply, "He's holed up in his house in Kyoto now that the media are after him, so he's not accessible. But his adopted daughter is getting married this week. I suggest that you drop by the wedding party and talk to him."
Shigeru gave a bark of laughter.
"Gatecrashing parties," he said, winking at Shinsou, "Brother, that's right up our street, isn't it?"
Aizawa looked disapprovingly at him.
"Once Shinsou brainwashes Lin, if the sword is there, Yanigahara, you go and get it. You're good at picking locks."
"Sounds straightforward enough," said Shinsou, "If we get it, where do you want us to bring it to? Directly to the Palace, since it'll have to be there for the enthronement, eventually?"
"No, you are to bring it back to Atsuta Shrine," said Aizawa, "The officials in charge may choose to use a replica of the sword for the enthronement, in order to safeguard the original. Whatever their decision, it would be better to return it to the priests in Nagoya."
"All right, then," said Shinsou, "What's the schedule for the wedding like?"
"The wedding ceremony is on Thursday," said Aizawa, "But there's a pre-wedding party on Wednesday night. The house and grounds are huge, and there'll be a lot of guests there, so it'll be easy for you to disguise yourselves and sneak in." He placed some photographs on his desk. "Just for your information, here are what the wife and daughter look like."
They leaned forward to look.
"My, that's a couple of fine-looking wenches," said Shigeru, admiringly.
Aizawa gave Shigeru another disapproving glance.
"You're going there to retrieve a sword, not pick up women, Yanigahara," he said, tartly.
"One can kill two birds with one stone," said Shigeru.
Shinsou was looking critically at the photographs. Lin Wenjian's wife looked extremely young, almost as young as her adopted daughter. The daughter had smooth curls the colour of bronze, and dark blue eyes.
"The wife looks all right," he said, "The daughter's got too much makeup on. I doubt that looks anything like her real face."
"Brother, you're too fussy," said Shigeru, "You can only see her face there. It's more important what the rest of her body looks like."
"I hope you're not going to get too distracted while you're there, Yanigahara," said Aizawa drily, "Try to curb your excesses. I've no doubt you enjoyed yourself in Shanghai, but you had better remember that you're on an assignment now. And stop trying to corrupt Shinsou."
"It's one of the main aims in my life," Shigeru assured him, grinning, and then looked at Shinsou. "Brother, your girlfriend is one hot chick, but you should have some fun before you settle down with her."
"I'm having enough fun, thank you," said Shinsou acidly, "One woman is enough for me."
"I'm thankful to hear that," commented Aizawa, "kindly refrain from ogling at too many women during the wedding, and find out what happened to the sword. If Lin has not taken it, that will be the end of the case for us. We'll inform the police that they'll have to look elsewhere."
.
.
Lin Wenjian's house in Kyoto was certainly large and luxurious. It had sprawling landscaped gardens in a curious mixture of Japanese and European styles, and the house itself was a three-storey twelve-bedroom mansion. The ground floor was in European style, with marble floors and chandeliers and elegant furniture, but the second and third floor bedrooms were a mix of western and traditional Japanese styles.
Shinsou had disguised himself and turned up early, as usual. The media were camping outside the house, and there were security guards checking everyone who was going in. He had no trouble brainwashing the guard into letting him through, and then installed himself as one of the extra serving staff hired for the occasion.
It was easier brainwashing people in Kyoto than in Shanghai, since everyone was speaking Japanese. He noticed that there were quite a number of security guards patrolling the place, whether to keep the media out or to guard the sword (assuming it was there), Shinsou couldn't tell. He managed to corner Lin Wenjian when he happened to encounter the latter in the dining room, and after brainwashing him, brought him to a small side office to talk to him.
"Talk to me as if we are having a normal conversation," Shinsou ordered, "Did you take the sword Kusanagi no Tsurugi from Atsuta Shrine?"
"It was done under my direction," said Lin, "but I was compelled to do it by someone else."
Shinsou stared at him. "Someone else?"
"I said I would like to have the sword, yes, in an interview," said Lin, "and it's true I would like to own it. But I did not really plan to steal it, this time. I might soon be under investigation for corruption in China and have enough to think about for the time being, and the Chinese President has been trying to improve relations with Japan. I would not anger him and do something stupid like stealing the sword and making it publicly known at a time like this. He is just waiting for an excuse to have me locked up."
"Who made you do it, then?" asked Shinsou.
"I don't know," said Lin, and although he was brainwashed, he looked fearful, "it was some kind of evil force. It spoke to me. I knew it would kill me if I didn't obey. It entered my body and took over. And it sent its minions to keep an eye on me and the sword."
"Minions?" said Shinsou.
"The Gang of Four," said Lin, "They are posing as bodyguards. Kubo-san and the Tosa threesome."
Shinsou had seen them in the foyer of the house. They were tall and muscular. Kubo had the head of a cobra, and the other three had the heads of ferocious dogs. Although they were using the name Tosa, they looked more like rottweilers.
"How did you manage to steal the sword?" asked Shinsou.
"I have a Warp Gate Quirk," said Lin, "that is how I have been stealing treasures in the past. But this time I was possessed by the evil force and had no control over my body. It made me bring myself and my adopted daughter to Atsuta Shrine. I was able to bypass the guards at Shrine by opening the Warp Gate right inside the treasury of the Bunkaden. The sword is sacred, and only those of the Imperial family or the Shinto priests of Atsuta Shrine are supposed to handle it. One does not know how it would respond to an ordinary person touching it. But my daughter has royal blood in her, and although she was an illegitimate child, she was able to take the sword."
"Where is it now?" asked Shinsou.
"Hidden in my daughter's bedroom," said Lin, "inside the safe where the wedding presents are kept. There's a secret compartment inside the safe. The police weren't able to find it when they searched the house."
"Does your daughter know where it is kept?" asked Shinsou.
"Of course," said Lin, "It could be that normal people can touch it, of course, but I would not dare to try. She was the one who placed it in the safe."
"Where is she now?" asked Shinsou.
"She is keeping to her bedroom for this evening," said Lin, "She is not supposed to appear until the actual wedding ceremony tomorrow."
"I suppose dinner will be brought up to her from the kitchens?" said Shinsou.
"Yes," said Lin.
"What is your daughter's name?" asked Shinsou, "and is there anyone else with her in her room?"
"Her name is Hanayo," answered Lin, "and her lady-in-waiting, Mariko, is with her."
Someone opened the door of the room at that moment, so Shinsou hurriedly said, "Continue with your activities this evening, as usual." He then made his way to the door. Lin's wife had opened it, and was looking in. She was surprised to see Shinsou, but he smiled and bowed politely to her, and then left the room.
.
.
Shinsou decided that it would be less disruptive if he accessed the princess's room by bringing her dinner tray up. After brainwashing a few of the kitchen staff, he managed to find out what time and who would be bringing the trolley up. He had just managed to extract this information and happened to be standing near the kitchen entrance, when he heard Lin Wenjian's wife scolding one of the staff outside in the corridor.
"You're too slow!" Mrs Lin was saying angrily, "There will be twenty girl children here tomorrow morning who need wreaths in their hair! You take almost an hour to make one!"
Shinsou glanced out. One of the kitchen staff was sitting on the floor, looking frightened. There were several large baskets of flowers next to her.
Mrs Lin saw Shinsou at the door.
"You, there!" she called imperiously, "Come and help her!"
"Me?" said Shinsou, incredulously. He looked around to check if she meant someone else.
"Yes, you," said Mrs Lin impatiently, "If no one else pitches in, this is not going to be done on time!"
"But I'm a waiter," Shinsou pointed out, adding, "and besides, this is girl's work."
"Girl? Girl?" said Mrs Lin, "This useless creature on the floor is a girl, isn't she? How good are her wreaths? They're ugly!"
The girl on the floor was crying. Shinsou was going to brainwash Mrs Lin and make an escape, but then changed his mind. If he was serving drinks to guests, he might miss noticing the dinner trolley being brought up to the princess's room. He might as well sit outside in the corridor so that he could see it the minute it came out of the kitchen.
He sat down next to the girl, and allowed her to teach him how the wreaths were made. The flowers were fresh, but he suspected that they would probably have wilted by the next morning.
He was just getting the hang of it, and was into his third wreath, when Shigeru came by and saw him.
"Brother, what on earth are you doing?" he asked, in astonishment.
"Making wreaths," said Shinsou.
He decided that he had better brainwash his wreath-making companion before continuing the conversation, so he turned to her and did so.
"Brother, not that I want to suppress your creative instincts, but this is an occupation for the fairer sex," said Shigeru, seriously.
"Well, I didn't volunteer," said Shinsou, "Lin Wenjian's wife ordered me to do it."
Shigeru's face brightened. "She's quite a looker, isn't she?"
"She's a lot younger than Lin," acknowledged Shinsou, "Don't tell me you've set your sights on her, this evening!"
"She's the best-looking female present, tonight!" exclaimed Shigeru, looking besotted.
He suddenly thought of something. "Did you ask Lin about the sword?"
"I was wondering when you were going to remember that," said Shinsou drily, "It's in the bride's bedroom, hidden among the wedding presents."
"Bedroom, eh?" Shigeru laughed heartily, "That's ideal! You can make out with the lass a bit before retrieving it!"
"Maybe you'd like to do the retrieving, then," Shinsou offered.
"Brother, I'll let you have her," said Shigeru generously, "I'm smitten with the mother. She's Ono no Komachi, I tell you."
"Thanks," said Shinsou, "but I don't mix business with pleasure. Besides, the lady-in-waiting is there as well."
"That's even better, brother!" Shigeru pointed out, "You can have two at one go. Brainwash both of 'em, and have a good time!"
Shinsou decided that the conversation was going nowhere.
"Give me the car key," he said, "I'll get the sword and leave first. You're going to be here till morning, aren't you? Where did you park the car?"
"Just outside the front gate," said Shigeru, "It should be easy to leave, no one's blocking." He tossed the key to Shinsou, who caught it neatly.
"Go pursue your Ono no Komachi, then," said Shinsou, "I'm busy."
"Making wreaths," said Shigeru sorrowfully, "Brother, I'm going to have to have a serious heart-to-heart talk with you, soon." He went off.
Shinsou managed to finish another two wreaths before he recognised the dinner trolley coming out. He hastily abandoned his companion and went over to the trolley, and brainwashed the maidservant who was pushing it.
The mansion was so large that it took a while before they reached the bedroom, which was on the third floor. Shinsou told the maidservant to make her way back to the kitchen, and then knocked on the door. There was no answer, so after a while he cautiously turned the handle, and went in.
The princess was asleep in her bed. Shinsou recognised her by her hair, although her curls appeared less smooth than in the photo, and instead of bronze they were a drab brown. He looked at her for a few moments. She looked a lot plainer without all the makeup on. In fact, she had a fresh sprinkling of acne on her face, and he found himself feeling rather sorry for her. It only pays to be a princess, he thought, if you're good-looking. Otherwise he could imagine all the hurtful remarks she probably had to put up with.
He was wondering whether to wake her up, but decided he had better dispose of the lady-in-waiting first. He could see someone outside on the balcony, and made his way over there.
The lady-in-waiting was standing at the balustrade, holding a bag. To his astonishment, a large, white bird suddenly erupted from within her, flying up and away and then circling around and coming back.
"It looks like a swan," thought Shinsou, fascinated. "It must be her Quirk."
He watched as the bird came back and landed on the balustrade. The girl handed the bag to it, and when it was holding the bag securely, it spread its large wings and took off.
As the swan flew off, the clouds parted. The sky, which had been overcast for days, became clear, and stars were visible. The girl watched the bird until it disappeared, and then turned around and saw Shinsou.
"Who are you?" she demanded, bossily.
"I brought the dinner tray up from the kitchen," said Shinsou.
"Megumi normally brings it," said the girl, "Where is she?"
Shinsou decided that he might as well see if she knew how to extract the sword from the safe for him. Otherwise, he would have to wake the princess up.
"She's not feeling well, today," he said.
"Well, you're late – " she snapped, and then her face went blank.
"Do you know where the sword, Kusanagi no Tsurugi, is?" asked Shinsou.
"Yes," she said.
"Show me its hiding place inside the safe," he said.
She led him back into the bedroom, and opened a large safe in one corner. There was a pile of jewellery inside. She moved the pile aside, and opened a hidden compartment. Shinsou leaned over to look. It was empty.
He didn't want to wake the princess yet, so he led the lady-in-waiting back out onto the balcony.
"The sword isn't in the safe any more," he said, "Where is it?"
"I just sent it off with my swan," she said, "to Shimonoseki."
Shinsou suppressed an urge to throttle her. "I just missed it!" he thought, furiously.
"Call the swan back!" he ordered.
"I can't," she said.
"Why not?" demanded Shinsou, "it's your Quirk, isn't it?"
"She's too far away, by now," she said, "I'll only be able to communicate with her when I go to Shimonoseki."
"Where in Shimonoseki is she going?" he asked.
"To the house of Kazuko Harada," she said, and named the address.
"Why did you send the sword off?" asked Shinsou, after taking down the address.
"Because it is a sacred sword," she said, "and it is in evil hands, here."
At that moment, the bedroom door suddenly burst open, and Shigeru came dashing in. The disturbance woke the princess, and she sat up in her bed. The lady-in-waiting also started, and came out of her trance.
"Brother, have you got the sword?" Shigeru panted, seeing Shinsou on the balcony, "I think it's time we made a quick exit."
"Who are you?" demanded the lady-in-waiting angrily, glaring at him.
"No, I haven't," said Shinsou irritably, "this girl here has sent it off to Shimonoseki."
"How did you know that?" she exclaimed, her eyes widening.
"Well, do you have the address of the place it was sent to?" asked Shigeru, trying to catch his breath, and looking nervous.
"Yes, I took it down," said Shinsou, frowning, "What's making you so jumpy?"
"Brother, since you have the address, I think we should leave at once," said Shigeru, "Lin caught me with his wife, and now he's sent his guards after me."
The lady-in-waiting looked shocked. "You flirted with the mistress of the house?"
"You really are the limit!" said Shinsou, with asperity, "Our priority here is to get that damn sword back into Atsuta Shrine before the enthronement, but all you think of is getting laid!"
"Don't speak of the sword in that manner!" cried the lady-in-waiting, her eyes flashing.
"Girlie, you're a good-looking wench," said Shigeru, "I'm sorry I won't have the chance to get to know you better. But I have to go now. Brother, let's make ourselves scarce!"
Shinsou heard the sounds of running steps, and several guards burst into the bedroom. Shigeru had already run up the wall of the house and disappeared onto the roof. Shinsou pulled the hooked climbing gear used during the ninja training out of his pocket, and followed him.
They made their way rapidly over the roof, and then leapt off onto the nearest tree. Fortunately the road leading to the house was lined with trees, all the way to the gate, and they made their way stealthily from tree to tree until they reached the car.
Shigeru was the better evasive driver, so Shinsou tossed the car key to him. They had just gotten into the car and were going to move off, when a shadow dashed out from the driveway of the house, yanked the back door of their car open, and got into the back seat.
"What the hell? – " exclaimed Shigeru.
Shinsou pulled his multi-thonged whip out and swiftly enveloped the shadow in its thongs. The intruder gave a muffled scream, and began struggling. He pulled the whip tighter and said, "The more you struggle, the tighter the whip is going to get. Eventually, you won't be able to breathe."
The intruder stopped struggling. Shinsou switched the car overhead light on, and it illuminated his captive. It had dishevelled pink hair, and the eyes that looked at him were big and frightened.
It was the princess's lady-in-waiting.