Exit Wounds III
Seta Souji sat with the Investigation Team in the home of his Uncle Ryotaro Dojima around the coffee table. The three men and two women were staring down at the three issues of the tabloid that had broken the stories involving Souji, Rise and Yukiko. First was issue that had set off the incident, the issue from two weeks before reported that Seta Souji was cheating on popular teen idol Rise Kujikawa with Kanamin Kitchen's Tamami Uesugi. The article claimed that the two had engaged in a month's long affair right under Rise's nose often meeting at Souji's Tokyo apartment. The second article was from a few days ago going into gory detail about the alleged dissolution of Rise and Souji's relationship and contained behind the scenes gossip about the press conference.
The final article was published in today's issue of the tabloid making salacious accusations regarding Yukiko and Souji's relationship. The article alleged with no attribution that Yukiko and Souji had been lovers during the time he lived in Inaba and that their tryst had continued long after it became public that Rise and Souji had become an item. The article alleged that Rise was aware of their relationship but was threatened into silence by Souji who was using both women for their money and position to further his own ends.
Yosuke sighed leaning back looking towards the drawn curtains of the living room, "Dude, with all the sex you're allegedly having I'm surprised you have the time and energy to study."
What followed was the expected smack over the back of the head for that remark by Chie, it did however make Souji smile a little. He had to agree, these articles made him seem way more sexually active than he thought humanly possible. Keeping up with Rise was more than enough in his considered opinion for any man let alone trying to keep up with Yukiko as well.
At that moment, the front door of the house opened and an exasperated Ryotaro Dojima entered, he held up his hand turning right into the stairwell for a moment before stepping out again with a smile, "I found someone in a nearby street trying to find a way in."
A relieved looking Yukiko Amagi stepped out of the stairwell after a moment with a smile. The group got up to greet her but before anyone could move towards her Yukiko walked over to Souji. Standing in front of him she looked up into his eyes giving him a gentle punch in the chest before enveloping him in a bone crushing hug that last a good thirty seconds before she released him smiling, "Baka, hentai."
Souji let out a small chuckle holding Yukiko by the arms gently, "Yukiko I'm…"
Yukiko shook her head, "Don't you dare, this is in no way your fault Souji-san, I explained everything to my parents. They didn't need much convincing, they know you too. No one who knows you would ever believe the crap that's being reported and as for everyone else, fuck them."
Chie gasped covering her mouth, "Yukiko, language!"
Yosuke and Kanji laughed, "Way to go Yukiko-senpai!"
Souji had no choice but to start laughing as well falling into the couch beside him as Yukiko descended into one of her laughing fits. Naoto continued to sit at the table dumbfounded as Dojima joined in the laughter completely taken aback but appreciative of the support of the Amagi's. Dojima fixed himself some of the food Nanako had prepared earlier and sat down with a beer at the table as the team settled sitting back down around the coffee table to pool their resources. Nanako came down from completing her homework to greet her father with a hug. She sat beside him quietly as they observed the legendary Inaba Investigative Team at work. Dojima had an ironic grin on his face wondering if they could do it again.
Naoto considered the papers on the table and looked up and around at the group, "We should first attempt to glean whatever information we can out of these tabloids before we discard them."
Kanji picked up the earliest issue flicking through the contents, "There's not much here Naoto-san, it's just a load of bull… manure."
Naoto nodded, "I agree Kanji-san, but as it stand this is the only evidence we have to go on. We must make the best of it."
"Well, I guess the first thing I noticed was they're all written by the same guy, Tatsu Hideo. His name is on all the by-lines." Chie observed.
Naoto nodded, "After the second article came out I googled the name Hideo Tatsu. I discovered Hideo Tatsu is a Non-De-Plume."
Nanako furrowed her brow, "Dad, what's a Non-De-Plume?"
Dojima sipped his beer and smiled, "Non-De-Plume means that the person writing the article isn't using their real name."
Nanako raised an eyebrow, "Why would you do that?"
Dojima shrugged, "Lots of reasons, in this instance I'd say it was to stop anyone suing him or her for publishing lies about Souji."
Nanako nodded, "That's rude, if you say something mean about someone you should say it to their face."
Dojima's face beamed with a proud smile kissing the young girl on the head, "You're right Nanako, they should."
"You know the more I read the article from today the more it sounds like a hatchet job not just on Souji but on the Amagi Inn too. They're saying a lot of mean stuff about the Inn how it's old and decrepit and linking it back to Mayumi Yamano's murder too. They're really laying it on thick." Yosuke observed.
Naoto pondered Yosuke's observation, "Senpai, did you have any interaction with the press while you were here the first time?"
Souji thought about it for a second before a light went off in his head turning to Yukiko who looked like she'd stumbled onto the same thought he had, "It can't be, can it?"
Souji shrugged catching the attention of the others and Dojima, "Who?"
Yukiko sighed, "Well, one day Souji and I were hanging out around the Inaba shrine when we were ambushed by these News of the Weird show guys. They wanted me to do some lewd filming in hopes of boosting their ratings. They started to disparage me and the Inn and I finally snapped and told them off. They left town the next day and I haven't heard about them since."
"Oh yeah, I remember those guys, they came poking around the Textiles shop looking for gossip about the Inn. Ma gave them an earful about trying to disrespect the Amagi name and sent them on their way. She rarely looked so cool." Kanji interjected with a smile.
"Didn't that show get cancelled not long after the serial murder case ended?" Chie asked as Naoto studied her phone.
"Yes, it did. Apparently, complaints from several residents and businesses in Inaba including from the Deputy Mayor forced the station to cancel the show despite good ratings due to a sponsor revolt. The producer in charge was dismissed and per this article several industry insiders believe he will have a difficult time getting work following this scandal."
Yosuke scowled, "Well, I guess we know where he found work in the end."
At that moment there was a knock at the door and Dojima went to answer, after a minute her returned with a half opened package which he held up to the group. "Fortunately, I still have some friends in the press corps and one of them gave me an advanced copy of that rag that's been publishing these stories. What now…"
Dojima tore the paper open and frowned sharply, he slowly approached the table laying the magazine in front of Souji. The headline read: "The Risette Saga day 28, Souji Seta's Androgynous Concubine, face of a boy-toy a body built for sin. Just who is Naoto Shirogane?"
The table was silent as Yukiko turned the Tabloid over before Nanako could see. Naoto's cheeks burned with shame as Souji's eyes smoldered with rage getting up from the table. The group stared for a second before realizing he was heading from the front door Kanji and Yosuke were the first to reach him grabbing him by the arms as Dojima intercepted them. "Where the hell do you think, you're going?"
"Outside, to speak with the press."
"Dude, that is a really stupid idea." Yosuke chimed in still holding Souji by the arm.
"I don't care, they can say what they want about me, they're hurting my friends and I won't let that continue!" Souji argued angrily.
Dojima's face softened placing his hands on Souji's shoulders, "If you go out there now you're just adding more fuel to the fire. You're provoking them into continuing this garbage."
Souji's anguish filled eyes looked up at Dojima, "I have to stop this… Dojima-san, they're hurting my friends, they've done nothing… Yukiko and Naoto are amazing, they're my friends and they get called sluts in some garbage Tabloid and tomorrow it's on every news program in Japan. How do I sit here and say and do nothing? How do I let the Amagi Inn suffer because something they had nothing to do with, how do I let Naoto's reputation suffer? I have to do…"
"No you don't!" Naoto yelled, everyone stopped turning back to look at her. Naoto hadn't moved since the Tabloid had been dropped onto the table. Now she got to her feet and walked over standing in front of Souji, "Souji-senpai, I understand you want to protect us, that's very sweet of you but we can't let you do this. Not for us, we'll recover in time. A tabloid storm will blow over eventually but going out there only gives validation to the person who is trying to hurt you. It lets them know they're succeeding in hurting you…"
"They are hurting me…" Souji protested.
"My point exactly Senpai. You can't let them see it. You can't let them do this to you. Please, just go up to bed and rest. We'll stay here and figure this out."
Souji blinked, "You're staying?"
The group nodded, "I don't think we can sneak out right now." Kanji confirmed.
"Besides, I'm sure Dojima-san doesn't mind, do you sir?" Yosuke replied with his trademark grin.
"Sure." Dojima replied feeling he had little choice.
"Yay, sleepover!" Nanako yelled excitedly hugging Chie and Naoto.
Yosuke approached Dojima as the others talked and bowed respectfully, "I'm sorry sir, we didn't really plan this very well. It wasn't our intention to take over your house."
Dojima smirked, "Oh yes it was. You're just lucky Souji has a very understanding Uncle."
Yosuke smiled, "Yes Dojima-san."
Souji took Naoto's advice and walked upstairs, the weight of everything bearing down on him made the teen tired, before he went to bed he checked his mobile which had been off until now for messages. To his surprise eleven messages waiting for him. One from each parent and the others were from friends he'd made in his time in Inaba. Kou, Daisuke, Noaki, Ai, Yumi, Shou, Sayoko and even Hisano with the help of her Grand Daughter had e-mailed to express their unwavering support for him. The fact they were all still on his side was heartening.
Unfortunately, beneath all of those e-mails was another from an unkown sender, opening it against his better judgement it contained a short but direct message:
WE HAVE YOUR GIRLFRIEND
YASOGAMI HIGH SCHOOL
MIDNIGHT
TELL NO ONE
Souji frowned at the message wondering about its authenticity, as far as he knew and he wasn't supposed to know, Rise was at a retreat for the well-heeled near Mt. Fuji. Souji had kept in contact with the one ally he felt he had left in Rise's inner circle since this nightmare had begun. Inoue, Rise's former manager had been kept on as a consultant and as someone who could talk Rise into doing things she didn't feel comfortable with or outright refused to do. For instance, the incident a few months ago when Rise's new manager had tried to convince Rise to break up or at least distance herself from Souji to help her image among young men.
According to him the great Risette having a boyfriend ruined her appeal with men, Honda thought having Risette be single being the sweet unattainable fixture of young men's fantasies would boost sales of products Risette endorsed. Particularly if they moved into slightly more risqué and sexually orientated products as Rise turned from teen to adult idol.
When Souji sided with Rise in objecting to the direction of Risette not to mention breaking up with Rise for no good reason. Honda had brought in Inoue to try and convince Rise to go along with Honda's plan only to have it backfire when Inoue sided with them. After that Honda shelved those plans for the time being, Inoue had promised Souji to protect Rise from Honda's more extreme tendencies when Souji wasn't around even exchanging phone numbers with him just in case.
Well, Souji considered this one of those 'just in case' times opening his phone to dial the number Inoue the phone started ringing and to Souji's surprise, "Inoue-san?"
"Thank the gods Souji, I've been trying to get a hold of you all night!"
Souji blinked, "Why?"
"Rise has gone missing, she never made to her retreat. I wanted to give you heads up before the police showed up. I can't reach Honda-san but I suspect he'll try and point the Police in your direction. Watch your back Souji."
"You too Inoue-san."
Souji hung up frowned glancing back at the door to his room checking the gang was still downstairs he considered the message in addition to Inoue's phone call, was it possible? It was ten thirty, if he left now he would reach Yasogami High before midnight. He wanted to tell the others especially Dojima about the e-mail amd Inoue's phone call but he worried about putting Rise in any more danger than she was already in.
Grabbing his Yasogami High school jacket for warmth Souji opened the window of the room and slipped out onto the roof. Sliding the window closed behind him he ducked own observing the news trucks still parked outside the Dojima residence. He knew he was walking into a trap but knowing it was a trap he hoped to get the better of it and finally end this nightmare. Souji leapt from the roof into the neighbor's yard, sprinting out into the street he turned the corner sneaking around the news trucks Souji disappeared into the night.
It was approaching midnight as the rusty gates of the Yasogami High School were disturbed by Seta Souji slipping inside the grounds. He frowned feeling a chill run down his spine, Souji had never been to the school at night. It was one of the few places he'd not visited at night in his time in Inaba. Scouting the grounds, he found them empty, not a sign of anyone else.
Souji frowned wondering if it was one of his ex-classmates playing a sick joke on him. He knew there were at least some students at Yasogami High he'd ticked off. The guy who'd accidently struck Ai when aiming for him immediately sprang to mind but Souji had no idea how he'd have gotten his e-mail address. Souji paused near the soccer fields noticing the lights in the nearby basketball court were on. Souji's muscles tensed as adrenaline began pumping through his body, he was ready for this. Whoever took Rise thought they could get the drop on him, they were about to find out they were very wrong.
Souji quietly scouted around to the rear of the gym crouching down beside the emergency exit to the building. Diverting from the door he thanked the gods that the broken window that had been there since at least sometime before Souji had attended the school still hadn't been repaired. He knew about this little school secret from Kou after he left his bag in the gym after basketball practice one evening. Unfortunately, that night he had Kou to help him get into the Gym, tonight he was alone and for once he felt it.
Shaking off his fears Souji ran at the wall which he climbed high enough get a hand hold on the ledge beneath the broken window. Pushing himself up he forced the window open using the window frame as leverage he gained a hand hold on the inside frame. The frame shuddered in his hand as if it were about to come apart, letting go he pushed his head and upper torso through the opening before the window fell onto his back causing Seta to curse under his breath in pain. Pulling the rest of his body through he flipped over in mid-air to land on his back. Souji groaned in pain rolling over onto his stomach after a few seconds getting his feet under him.
Exhaling in relief Souji began walking forward into the well-lit court looking around for any sign of the kidnappers or Rise. Souji frowned reaching the middle of the court, he knew from here it would be difficult for someone to sneak up on him, difficult but not impossible.
Moments later Souji felt a sharp pain in the back of head and his world darkened around him as he lost consciousness slumping to the floor. The person who'd struck him stood over Souji's unconscious body smirking dropping the baton he'd used to the floor grabbing Souji by the feet dragging him off the court.
A short time later at the Dojima residence the Investigation Team sans Yosuke became distracted by a commotion at the staircase. They heard a resounding thud as Yosuke leapt from the third step to the ground bursting into the dining area. "Dojima-san, I went to check on Souji but he's gone!"
Everyone in the room got to their feet, "Gone, where?"
Yosuke threw Dojima Souji's open phone who studied the screen carefully frowning, "That boy needs to learn to stop keeping secrets. I think it would be best if Naoto and Yukiko stayed here, Chie, Yosuke and Kanji come with me I'll call your Principal on the way to let us in."
The three teens ran after Dojima as he hurried out of the house, Yukiko walked up behind Nanako putting her arms around the younger girl gently as they watched them go. Nanako bit her lip trying to hold back tears, "Big Bro is in trouble isn't he Yukiko-san?"
Yukiko frowned trying to be strong for the younger girl, "I hope not Nanako-chan."
Sometime later the door of a shed in an undisclosed location opened, the young copper haired woman inside recoiled as an unconscious body was unceremoniously thrown into the room before the door was locked again.
Rise Kujikawa crawled over to the unconscious body rolling him onto his back and gasping, "Souji-senpai?"
To Be Continued…
A/N: Please review.