die Folge version eins
Part One; Dramatic Image
Chapter Three; Blue
Mask
Der Tod, das ist die kühle Nacht,
Das Leben ist der schwüle Tag.
Es dunkelt schon, mich schläfert,
Der Tag hat mich müd' gemacht.
In another life Fujimiya Ran might have been a quiet scholar. Most likely literature or poetry, that was mainly what he read in this life. It showed from time to time, in the rare moments when he spoke with a quiet eloquence. When he offered vaguely comforting words in gentle tones so different from the enraged and indignant screaming most people heard emitted from his thin lips. Ran's life, under vastly different circumstances from those he lived, would have been his books, the occasional kendo practice, and of course, the only constant; his sister.
That sort of life was getting harder and harder to fantasize about.
Ran set down his book and looked around. The park he was sitting in was draped in the vibrant colours of autumn. Pretty soon he'd have to give up this sort of afternoon excursion. Which reminded him that he needed to buy a heater for his apartment.
To his left, Ran noticed a timid looking boy with an easel set up. He was looking from Ran, to the palatte in his hand, to the easel, to Ran... in an almost continual motion while he painted. Ran gave him a look that wasn't exactly hostile, but most people took it that way. The boy looked at him shyly and lowered his brush. " I'm sorry, it's just, you looked so peaceful sitting there. I should have asked. "
Ran blinked at him, his eyes as cool and deep as the oncoming winter.
Under that gaze the boy shifted his feet and stared at them as he did so. " Sumimasen. But... could you please stay there while I finish. I'll let you see when I'm done! Please... ehtou... My- My name is Kobioshi Jun, " he gave a short, stiff, introductory bow, " Class 2-B, Takeshi Aida School of Arts. "
Ran nodded at him. " Fujimiya A- ah, Fujimiya Ran. "
" May I... continue painting? "
Ran picked up his book. " Do whatever you want. "
" Domo, " Kobioshi bowed and resumed painting while Ran read his book. He also seemed to have taken Ran's offish consent as an invitation to make conversation. " I was thinking if this turns out alright I might enter it into a competition. If you don't mind me saying, you look like autumn yourself, with your red hair, and that orange sweater and brown coat. It's almost like the world has been reduced to those three colours... "
" Ahh, " said Ran noncommittally.
" What are you reading? " said Kobioshi conversationally.
" Poetry. "
" I see. Do you like it? "
" Ahh. "
Conversation died after that. For the duration of the painting they continued their separate tasks in silence.
(@)
Omi hovered before the desk in the front left corner of the room. Outside the window behind the desk was a world slowly fading into an early autumn snowfall. He was shifting a little nervously, it was easy to sound confident on the phone, but to be truthful, it was an awkward time for him to be suddenly leaving for Tokyo.
" Thank you for meeting me on such short notice, sensei, " Omi said.
The sensei, a middle-aged caucasian man with a penchant for wearing knit vests now that the weather was getting colder and gray hair, looked up at Omi with pale blue eyes. " You own a store, do you, Tsukiyonokun? I didn't know that. " Sensei mulled over this. " You inherited it? "
" Hai. From my father under various, rather complicated circumstances. I'd been working there already, so I knew the business. My... " he faltered, the idea was a little foreign to him still, " employees need my assistance with something. I'm afraid I will have to miss some classes to take a short trip to Tokyo. "
Sensei considered this. " It's not a good time for you to be missing class, Tsukiyonokun. "
" I realize that, please understand I wouldn't under circumstances of- " Omi paused when his sensei raised his hand slightly to pause him.
" I understand, Tsukiyonokun. Thank you for letting me know. "
Omi bowed quickly. " Arigatou, sensei! "
" Be sure to study as much as you can. "
" Hai! "
" Good day. "
Omi bowed again. " Arigatou gozaimasu! " He checked his watch and turned to go. " Forgive me, I have to go now. " He dashed out the door, and almost collided with a female student outside the door. " Ah- Sumimasen! "
She caught her balance and pushed her long blonde bangs from her eyes. " Ah- iya, it was my fault, sempai. "
Omi nodded and headed away again.
" Ano! " she called, catching up to him. " I was wondering, Tsukiyonosempai... are... are you b-busy... on Sunday? "
Omi blushed, blinking at the girl who was just barely his same height. " I'm sorry, I'm going to Tokyo for a couple days. "
" I see, " she looked disappointed. " Is there, anyone you like, sempai? "
Omi's face went a shade more red, he sighed a little and put his hands on her shoulders. " I'm sorry, " he said kindly, " I'm not really involved with anyone, but... "
" There is. "
" Yeah. "
" I understand. " The girl student smiled weakly at him. Omi hoped she wouldn't cry. " I hope everything turns out for you. "
(@)
The dim gray walls were closing in on him, and he felt like hyperventilating but found he didn't have the energy. He wanted a cigarette, a beer, and about twenty days worth of sleep. Somehow he didn't think he'd be getting any of the three anytime soon.
Inspector Morimoto creaked open the door and entered with his own vice- a cup of coffee. He dragged out the other chair from the table with his foot and unceremoniously dropped himself into the seat. He sipped his coffee, set it down, wiped his nose, and stared at Youji long enough to make the other man look away painfully.
" Mind if I drop the formalities? "
" Not at all. "
" You know why you're here. "
Youji smirked humorlessly.
Morimoto sipped his coffee again. " Let me get this straight, alright. Correct me if I'm wrong. You and... " he drew a tattered notepad from his back pocket and flipped it open. " Tagawa Miaka-san got together for a date, you met at the D'Oblivion Duce, after which you returned to your Shibuya apartment for some more... fun, shall we say? "
" Yes, " Youji said softly.
" And what did you do after that? "
Youji gave him a look. " Nothing. We slept. "
" That's all? "
" Yes. "
" You're sure? "
" God- yes! I'm sure. I didn't... " Youji sat back and put both hands over his face. " I didn't kill her. "
" I hadn't mentioned that yet, " Morimoto said plainly. He checked his notepad again. " The preliminary coroner's report cites that she likely died around four a.m. this morning. Can you say what time you two 'fell asleep'? "
" No, " Youji answered, his hands still over his face. " I don't keep a clock. "
" Watch? "
" Wasn't wearing it. "
" That's right. " Once more, Morimoto checked his notepad. " It was found by the door. Very interesting watch; we took it in as possible evidence. Do you know what we found out about that watch? " Morimoto grimly watched Youji's fingers slip down to his cheekbones to reveal bloodshot green eyes full of dread. Morimoto changed the subject slightly, Youji knew very well what they'd found.
" You were a private detective before, correct? "
Youji's voice was hoarse. " Yes. "
" Until your partner died. "
" Yes. " Youji wanted the floor to open up and swallow him. He could see where this was going. He didn't want it to go there.
Despite Youji's visible discomfort, Morimoto pressed further. " For all the records show you disappeared after that. Now here's where things get interesting. A few months after you disappear, and after the Murase-murder case is closed, funny things start going on. Shady people start dying. I'm a curious guy, so even while my superiors are dragging their asses on it, I like to collect information on these cases. There's various weapons used, but I think they're all connected: but that's beside the point. Do you know what one of those weapons was, Kudou? " When Youji very wisely stayed silent he answered his own question. " It was the same type of wire used to murder Tagawa Miaka.
" Ah- but! Those murders I was collecting information on? They stopped about six months ago when the Ani Museum sank into the ocean. That's about the time you resurfaced too, I might add. That's suspicious enough in itself, but what's even more suspicious is this... " Morimoto tossed a manila envelope across the table to Youji, who opened it with shaky fingers and withdrew the photographs inside. They depicted a scene Youji had seen many, many times before. " A high-ranking political figure who, after his death, has been revealed as quite the embezzler and blackmailer: a shady character indeed. The murder happened around three a.m. last night, right around the time you and Tagawasan were 'sleeping'. "
Youji didn't respond, he kept looking at the photographs. They weren't Ken's work, and they weren't Omi's work... it was too clean to be the former, and not the right wounds for the latter... It had to have been Ran. Had Ran gone back to Kritiker afterall? Then why did the police have...? But if Morimoto was doing this on his own...
" Kudou, we all like you here, and we appreciate the help you've been giving us lately with stuff. But you have to admit... "
Youji softly finished his sentence, " ...with all the evidence, how could you think otherwise? "
(@)
Aya stood against the open door of the shop, the sunbleached outside framing her. It may have been snowing in Hokkaido that day, but in Tokyo it was a clear day, with a crisp, cool sun that drained the colour from the world. Her face was turned away from Nagi while he swept the store. Sakura was at class and Momoe was dozing in the corner. They were essentially alone.
" Nagi, who was that man? " Aya asked suddenly.
Nagi paused sweeping and looked at her a moment, taking in the way the light softened her edges and made her glisten. " Someone I used to know. "
" I see. " Her demeanor seemed to falter a little. " I really don't know anything, do I? "
(@)
Ken's head was spinning. He had no idea whatsoever what to do now. Schuldich had Maia, any moment now he might do something rash, or make her do something rash, or...
" Schuldich, " he said again, " wh- what do you want from me? "
Schuldich chuckled. " Nothing more or less than I ever wanted or got from you Hidaka. "
You think you have it so bad, Hidaka. You have no idea.
Ken swallowed. He nodded at Maia, still holding the gun against her will. " Then, what does she have to do with this? "
Schuldich pulled Maia closer to him, and rested his chin on her collarbone. His voice was teasing, plaintive, " She's touched you, I'm jealous. "
Ken's insides crawled. What could he do to get Schuldich away from Maia? But anything he tried, Schuldich would know he was going to do ahead of time. Ken's hands gripped the futon beneath him, while he warily edged his legs into a position where he'd easily be able to jump to his feet. It wasn't hard to recall this sort of mentality, six months hadn't done much to soften what aptitude he'd had for being what he had been.
Schuldich smirked, his nose brushing the side of Maia's neck behind the barrel of the gun pressed to her jaw. " Go ahead Hidaka, if you think you're faster than me. What was it you had said? " His right arm extended to stretch behind Maia's back and wave at Ken from her other shoulder. " Something about my being useless with this arm? I've never been good with remembering specifics, but as you can see, that no longer applies. "
" This has, " he tried futilely, " nothing to do with her. "
" You're so boring Ken, " Schuldich chided.
Suddenly Maia's arms came down and the gun went off. Ken felt a searing pain in his right bicep just before he was thrown onto his back. With a crack his head connected with the floor and he was left dazed while blood soaked into the mattress. He heart Maia scream, and a dull thunk that he assumed was her hitting the floor. Next thing he knew, Schuldich was straddling him, his hand around his throat while the cold steel of the gun muzzle played with his gunshot wound.
" Saa, how does it feel, Kenkun? " Schuldich inquired lazily. " But as I recall, there were three blades in my arm, and only one bullet in yours so far... "
Still dazed, Ken's hand sought some form of weapon. He could hear Maia whimpering, at least she was safe... for now. He couldn't find a weapon, everything was out of his reach. So finally he settled on his fist, swinging his left hand upwards and smacking Schuldich across the temple. Schuldich pitched sideways, his fingers still clenched around Ken's throat. Ken was dragged over onto his wounded arm and winced.
Suddenly Maia was standing over them, tear streaming down her angry and hurt face. Ken's eyes widened when he saw what she was holding. Schuldich wasn't far behind him, and just barely evaded the heavy soccer trophy bearing down on his head. Schuldich left Ken and darted to the window. His suit was disheveled, but he was relatively unscathed.
Ken grabbed the blanket from his futon and used to to staunch the flow of blood from his arm. He hated how used he was to bleeding.
" Two more wounds, Hidaka. That's what I owe you, " Schuldich said, intent on getting the last word before he retreated. Ken could recall him once saying that the actual fighting wasn't his style. Ken had learned this was quite the understatement: he wondered where Farfarello was.
(@)
Omi raced across the airport terminal, his ticket clutched between his teeth while he struggled to get his bag on his shoulders. He wound through the businessmen on day trips and the tourists, dodging luggage and children in his path. Around the ticket he muttered rushed apologies while he went. He reached his gate just as the final call was leaving it's last echoes over the din of the crowd. He gave a sigh as the flight attendant took his ticket with a smile and sent him on his way.
Once he reached his seat, a melancholy overtook him as he gazed out the window at the cold, snow dusted tarmac. Alone.
(@)
Kobioshi paused his painting when a man in a dusty brown overcoat sat himself on the bench beside Ran. He bit his lip, unwilling to be rude. " Ano... "
" Please, if you can, continue painting, Kobioshikun, " the stranger said with a pleasant smile. " Pretend that I am not here. "
" U- Un... " Kobioshi nodded hesitantly, but went back to painting when Ran gave him a stern look. He was sure to absorb himself into the colours and block out the conversation that ensued.
" Nan da? " Ran asked flatly.
" Something has come up, and I require your skills again. " The stranger, a man Ran only vaguely knew by the name Ishida, handed him a folder he withdrew from his coat. He was silent while Ran opened the file and examined the photographs inside.
" Sometimes, Fujimiyakun, " Ishida said presently, " soldiers are known to lose their minds after a war. They cannot forget fighting, no matter how hard they try. I suppose, it's a part of human nature. Such soldiers are dangerous, they cannot control their violent impulses. "
Ran's finger traced the outline of the pretty girl's face, down to the fine silver threads around her neck that barely showed in the photograph.
" Your target is former Weiß member Balinese; Kudou Youji. "
Über mein Bett erhebt sich ein Baum,
Drin singt die junge Nachtigall;
Sie singt von lauter Liebe,
Ich hör es sogar im Traum.
~(@)~
~--------tsuzuku~
Translation notes;
Sumimasen - excuse me
Domo - 'thanks'
sensei - teacher
hai - yes
arigatou (gozaimasu) - thank you (very much)
sempai - upperclassman
nan da - what?
Author's note;
The poem in this chapter by Heinrich Heine; poem 87 in the Buch
der Lieder.
[Heinrich Heine: Buch der Lieder, S. 200. Digitale Schüler-Bibliothek,
S. 15420 (vgl. Hein-WuB Bd. 1, S. 147)]
An English translation of the poem can be found here: http://www.tkline.freeserve.co.uk/Webworks/Website/Tendheine.htm
[Written by Inseiko, 2002]