chapitre 2: angel attainment

Zajaka Kubo had seen many things. He'd been witness to many gang wars, assassinations and assassination attempts alike, contract killings, some of which he'd carried out himself, he'd had many women, and still lusted after more…but he'd never seen this.

Lord Buddha, what does the top lawyer at Vector want with me! Even the yakuza heads knew better than to cross swords with Vector…if the business cooperation wanted something from you, you did it, no questions asked. Two years prior, when it had become clear that Vector's political power superseded their own, the major families of the yakuza had decided to eliminate this newest threat, even going so far as to put a contract out on the CEO's life. But then everything seemed to spectacularly self-destruct…as the few remaining politicians that were in the employ of the yakuza were discovered and stripped of their positions, several major businesses that were owned by some of the families went bankrupt, and the rumor on the street was that the pale-haired CEO had personally appeared to several of the godfathers, two of which had dropped dead at one glance…

The moral? Don't mess with Vector.

Kubo's own position, running several businesses for his own 'family' and the potential successor to it's godfather, had been only given to him as a result of the family trying to recover from the blows Vector had given it. Plastering a smile across his sweaty face, he gestured towards Hayasaka.

"So…what can I do for you, sir?" Hayasaka bit back a grin, the portly man was terrified of him and he knew it. At the start of it all he'd been worried about Wilhelm taking on the Japanese mafia, but now… To disguise his quiet chuckling, he lifted the sake cup to his lips.

Note to self, tell Wilhelm-sama to ease up a little bit. Putting the cup down, he settled back into the chair. "You currently have a one Shion Takada in your employ, yes?" Kubo started at that.

"Why…um…er…yes, yes I do. Is...is there a problem?" Little bitch, what had she gotten him into now?

"My employer, the CEO of Vector…" Hayasaka had to bite back another grin as the middle-aged Japanese man in front of him started to sweat even more, let the fat bastard squirm. "Was a recent friend of one of Miss Takada's late relatives, who expressed to him a desire that he house and provide for his niece proper housing and schooling. Now that he's found her, Mr. Wilhelm wishes to follow her uncle's wishes to the letter." Kubo gulped; surely they weren't demanding that he give up her, were they?

"Well…" He smiled rather nervously. "Your boss's proposal, while rather flattering…comes a bit late, yes? See, I was planning on presenting myself to the remainder of Miss Takada's family as a possible husband."

What? This lecherous old fool…is he so smitten with her that he's willing to put himself in a situation like this just so that he can use her? Hayasaka thought. Kubo was known throughout the Japanese underworld for his love of women, but heaven help the ones who were brave enough to see though him and spurn him, as how Shion had. Any other man than Kubo would have instantly released the girl right away, but this particular fool seemed only to be thinking with his balls, not his brains.

"I see." Taking this as a sign of encouragement, Kubo continued on. "And after all, I've had her in my employ and have known her for one or two years now. This sort of thing would only put a strain on her delicate nerves…" He started again as Hayasaka rose.

"Of course…I should inform you though, that Miss Takada's relatives have given my employee full power over her well-being…so if you are to propose to her, I believe he would be the one to talk to." He bowed quickly. "I have some other appointments to see to, thank you for your time."

"You…you're welcome."

"Good day." The black-haired man kept a polite smile on his face until he was safely outside the restaurant, whereupon which it turned into a snarl. "Kuso…" He yanked a cellphone out of his coat pocket and hit 1 on speed-dial. "Wilhelm-sama? Yes, it's Hayasaka…whatever other plan you had in mind, I suggest that you use it. Kubo's not listening to reason."


Shion hummed happily to herself as she poked through the computer store. Ahh, that flat panel was a dream come true…but a rather expensive dream. She'd have to upgrade her old desktop soon though, as she advanced in Tokyo U's computer program, she'd need better equipment, and she didn't want to keep mooching on the school. Her North American MSN friend did keep ranting and raving about her Dell computer though…perhaps she should look into that company.

That PDA is very nice though…and so is that data tablet… Lips pursed, she stopped at the Vector section of the store, maybe she should invest in a Vector-made computer…she would like to work for the company, but then that interfered with her plans to move out of Japan. It wouldn't make sense to move overseas and then find work with them, not when the main HQ was located right in Tokyo. Sighing, she left the building and ducked into the nearby bookstore, heading for the manga section. Like all Japanese Shion was aware of manga, but she had only just recently started to read the little comic books, and enjoyed getting lost in the exploits of the inked-out characters for one or two hours at a time.

"Let's see…" Finding the latest book in one of her favorite series, she settled down on the floor, pushing her bookbag out of the way. "What happens this month?"


"Damn you Kubo, can't you stop thinking with your crotch for once!" The speaker thundered, black eyes glittering like obsidian. "Why the hell did you tell the Vector lawyer no! That was Ruiko Hayasaka, the man who personally reports to the Vector CEO!" Kubo muttered something underneath his breath, taking out a handkerchief with shaking hands and mopping the sweat off his face with it. "When the Vector CEO wants something, you give it to him! Or have you forgotten what he did to the other families?"

"I don't know the reason why he wants the girl." Kubo muttered underneath his breath. He couldn't explain his attraction to her either, granted he could easily buy far more beautiful women than her, but… His fingers crushed the cloth.

"Once again, you've dragged this family into one of your messes. Fortunately for us, this one's easy to clean up." Kubo's head snapped up.

"What does that mean?"

"It means, work on your alibi." The speaker left the room, and Kubo's fingers flexed, almost as if he had a slender throat underneath them.


Shion whistled softly underneath her breath as she shoved her door open, she'd blown half her paycheck on new mangas at the bookstore. Of course, she hadn't meant to, but she couldn't resist…by the time she had gotten out of the store, it was late into the evening. Her stomach rumbled as she put down the bags, reminding her she hadn't had dinner.

"Oh, alright…" Grumbling underneath her breath, she headed into the kitchen, pulling off her jacket. "I think I had some ramen around here someplace." A finger reached out, flicked the light switch…and was met with darkness.

"Oh no, not again." Hissing underneath her breath, the brunette stumbled to a nearby cabinet, opening a drawer. "Okay, flashlight, then extra bulb..." She straightened, a small black penlight in hand…

And screamed when a pair of arms shot out of nowhere and around her body; one locking around her neck while the other twisted her right arm up behind her back. Shion retaliated by throwing her head back, her reward being the sharp CRACK of cartilage breaking, and the grip on her loosening. Whirling around, she brought up her right foot, sending it straight into the side of her attacker's neck. As he fell, another one rose out from the shadows of the kitchen, a switchblade glinting in his hand.

Oh oh. Shion quickly snatched a butcher knife from the wooden block next to her and sent it flying towards her next attacker. The silver blade embedded itself in flesh, and the second man fell down screaming. The brunette didn't hesitate; she tore out of the kitchen towards the living room, where the phone was. But she didn't get very far as a hand shot out of nowhere and grabbed her by the hair, sending her flying towards a glass cabinet.

CRASH

Shion slumped to the ground, blood trickling from her forehead where it had connected with the glass. Shards of the deadly material were embedded in her face and skull, her vision was blurring, and her mind was starting to shut down.

Oh no… Her eyes fluttered closed. "Ugh…" Above her Nerataki frowned, little bitch…who knew that she'd actually try and fight them off? It was a shame though, she was very pretty, such a shame to waste her. But orders were orders. Scowling, he pulled out a gun, screwing a silencer onto the barrel. Narrowing his eyes, he pointed the gun at Shion's head.

"Sayonara." He started to pull the trigger…but it wouldn't go back…and then suddenly, Nerataki found he couldn't move at all, his entire body was paralyzed. Numb, he watched the gun slip through his fingers and clatter onto the floor…just as crippling pain suddenly made itself known in the region of his heart. Released from the spell, he dropped to his knees, hands coming up to his chest as he wheezed in pain.

"What…the hell…" Within Nerataki's body, the blood was starting to thicken, veins and arteries unable to withstand the sudden pressure that was put on them, collapsing and shattering…his heart stuttered once, and then simply imploded…just as the door was kicked open, and two police officers burst inside the apartment.


Hayasaka watched as a Vector bodyguard picked up Shion's prone form off the bed and carried her out of the hospital room.

"Sir, I really must object…" The doctor said, looking a bit frazzled.

"I understand, but Mr. Wilhelm is insisting that she be taken home. He'll provide the proper medical care for her, now if you could just sign this paper right here…"

"But she should be staying in the hospital!"

"My client is very concerned for Ms. Takada's welfare." Hayasaka countered. "You said yourself that she's in no immediate danger, and that she'll have no permanent damage from the glass shards..."

"She needs to stay overnight for observation!"

"Then you'll just have to report me, but I'm following orders. And those orders are to have Ms. Takada moved into private care. If you'd excuse me…" Leaving the spluttering doctor behind, Hayasaka left the room.

"Man…Wilhelm-sama, you and I are going to have to have a talk soon." He chuckled, putting a hand to his forehead. Heading to the exit, he watched as a black Ford Explorer drove away, Shion safely inside and surrounded by several bodyguards. "Your life is interesting, but you're going to have to let me in on just what you want her for." Chuckling again to himself, he took out his car keys and headed for the parking lot.


AN: If this chapter comes off as being disjointed, forgive me...consider this the set-up chapter. (bows and asks for your forgiveness)