- The Price of Perfection-
Four: Sweet Dreams for Tonight
November 9th 2007
"I wonder why the room doesn't have any furniture in it," John suddenly mentions.
Takigawa folds the large blueprint down so that he can meet eyes with the priest.
"You mean the one with the strange writing on the wall? Yeah, I've wondered about that too. Naru asked Ito-san about it earlier, but I guess he just said it was one of many unused rooms in the house. There are more than enough for Ito-san, Makoto and the maid, after all."
John nods at the information, but the monk can tell that he believes there's more to it than that. So he asks him what he thinks about it.
"Well," the priest begins. "I mean, why did the writing appear in that particular room? Something must have taken place there in the past significant enough to tie a malevolent spirit to it, right?"
Takigawa nods, urging the priest on.
"Do you remember when Ito-san was giving us a tour? He informed us of every possible significance in each room the case could apply to, even things that clearly had no possible connection. But when we investigated the message room, he stayed pretty far away from it. Even before the writing appeared."
Takigawa lowers his hands completely and holds eyes with the young man. John has a fair point, he agrees. Ito Keiji had kept physical distance from the particular room, fidgeting his fingers and keeping their stop at the room short, a couple of minutes at most. Thinking back on it with more attention brings up stirring suspicion.
"There were a ton of other spaces upstairs to visit," Ayako interjects with a shrug. "I don't think it was a big deal."
"Of course not," Takigawa says with a tone. When Ayako shoots him a look, he shrugs back. "We'll mention it to Naru anyway when he gets back to the base with Mai. It can't hurt to stay cautious. Makoto-chan is involved after all."
That is one point of the case no one disputes with.
…
I've always been the impatient one, a characteristic I inherited from my mother. But Naru's painstakingly deliberate actions and lack of responses to my questions are about to drive me up a wall with a newly found intolerance.
"Naru," I stress, willing myself to not tap my foot. "How many times are you planning on looking at every single book in this library? Because once is enough." I pause my nagging when I realize something else. I loose my annoyance in momentary wonder and ask,"Why am I even here?"
Naru sets down a heavy volume and picks up another, undeterred by my mood swings. "Mai, grab me my notebook from over there."
My frustrations still on the verge of boiling over, I pick up his black book and slap it into his outstretched hand. When he pulls to take it, I hold on. Finally, I get the attention from Naru that I've been demanding for over an hour.
"What am I standing here for Naru?"
"You've been my assistant for well over two years now, Mai. I'd assume that you'd know what to do by now." His eyes hold no signs of sarcasm and it suddenly makes me feel stupid for not knowing what he's assuming is the obvious.
"Make you a cup of tea?" I guess hopefully.
"Look for the unusual. See a vision or sighting. Your eyes are as good as Johns in finding abnormalities during cases. I have reason to believe that there is something Ito-san is not telling us. Whether it is written information or a rumor, I believe that we can uncover it in this house and why it's better for you to not be cooped up at the base."
I almost blush at the hidden compliment he said so nonchalantly. It frustrates me how he doesn't know the affect his words can have on me. But just like that, my mood is somewhat lightened. He turns and meets eyes with me and I feel cornered. I turn with enthusiasm and declare, "Well I think I'll start with Maya-san! She's been with the family since before Makoto-chan was born after all. I think you've got the library well covered." I see his calm, watching look from the corner of my eyes and I give him a light smile.
When I leave the library, there's no opposition from my boss. With a sigh, I take a left towards the kitchen where Maya-san is preparing dinner. She has her back towards me and I take chance to take in the delicious smells wafting in the air. My stomach betrays me with a loud growl, giving my presence away. Maya turns with a small laugh.
"Oh, why hello Mai-chan. Don't worry, dinner will be ready soon enough."
"Please don't rush on my account," I say, though I can't help but eye the pile of pork cutlets. As Maya goes back to cutting the carrots, I decide to give a stab at my subtle interrogation. "So you've been with the family for over 10 years now? I imagine Makoto was adorable as a baby."
"He was the sweetest," the maid smiles with nostalgia. "He hardly gave me or his mother any trouble and was always polite. There's nothing I wouldn't do for him."
I can feel the warmth of Maya's affections radiating from her, making me smile with envy. "You've known him all your life Maya-san. What do you think made him go mute so suddenly? Do you think it was because of his mother too?"
Immediate worry shrouds her face and mixed with it, something else I can't lay a finger on. For some strange reason, I think it's fear.
"I've never seen Makoto so down in his life. It's like he's a completely different boy." Maya-san looks and me and winks. "But he's been so much better since you showed up Taniyama-san."
"Not at all!" I insist, but I blush and give a huge grin. "And please, call me Mai."
She nods happily and goes back to cooking. "He also avoids eye contact and seems distant with his father – well, more so than usual. Ito-san has always been the strict one but sometimes, and I may be speaking out of line...but sometimes he seems to be too strict to a son as young and devastated as Makoto."
I remember the first time we'd all met, when Naru and I were listening to Ito-san's case plea. I remember how Makoto had leaned away from his father, instead of toward for comfort. I give a small frown. "More so than usual? What do you mean."
She pauses her work again with shy uncertainty. "Well, it may not be my place to say, but Makoto was never very close with the master. He was a mommy's boy since the beginning and after her death, well, I suppose he lost the part of his life that had always given him security. So I suppose to answer your question, yes, I believe his change was from his mother's death."
"I see." It's a tragedy to loose your parents so young, I would know. Then another thought enters my mind and I change courses. "Maya-san, did you ever meet Ikeuchi-san yourself?"
The name makes her freeze on the spot as if I'd dumped a bucket of cold water over her head. But for a strange reason I don't see fear or worry. I see hatred. "Ikeuchi Takeshi was a terrible man who let his emotions for the Miss ruin everything. His death was tragic, but at least Makoto-chan is now safe."
The black letters flash across my mind. The boy is mine.
Maya-san's words sound forced, if not stiff. I can tell that they'd been rehearsed beforehand but I don't say anything, just give a small understanding nod. That seems to be enough because Maya-san dismisses the tense air with a clap of her hands.
"Well I believe that dinner is ready to be served. Mai-chan, if you could be so kind as to inform your members..."
I'm glad to leave the room to think things over. Why did it seem as though Maya-chan was hiding something? As I walk across the long, dreary hallway, I can't shake off the unsettling lump in my chest. Anxiety and unanswered questions have been making my temples throb for days, and I haven't been sleeping well. As Makoto-chan's smile floats in my mind, I sense something and stop in my tracks. At first I think I'd imagined it, but then I feel it again. It isn't a sensation or sound that roots me to the spot, but unexplainable dread in the pit of my stomach. I shiver to realize that my breath is leaving my mouth in silky mists. I quickly rub my arms and feel goosebumps all over. A sudden pang of fear makes me alert in this all too familiar setting. When I decide to hurry on to the security of the base, a blood curling scream tears through the air. A woman's scream. Without hesitation I am running up the stairs and looking for the source of the voice. As I open the door to the first room I can reach, I hear a small shriek and I pinpoint the room it came from. But as I wrap my hand around the golden handle, I realize it's the room with the black writing on the wall. I swallow hard at the silence. I brace myself, knowing that anything could be on the other side of the door, and turn the handle.
I am faced with a darkness that doesn't seem possible with the light that is streaming in from behind me. Should be streaming in. The light cuts off abruptly at the edge of the door and I find myself standing at the entrance to an abyss of mixed darkness. I think I hear something, something dull and low. I feel it throbbing in my chest rather than hear it in the air. I stay standing outside, but nothing changes and instead of going back to bring Naru or anyone else, I follow my instincts and take a step inside, one hand remaining on the outside frame of the door. I almost expect the floor to give out under my feet and my body trembles when it doesn't.
"Hello? Is someone there? Are you alright?"
A cold shiver runs down my spine when I see a flash of auburn red hair. At first I panic, thinking that it's Ayako. But then I hear another small scream, followed by laughter that, with relief then dread, I realize belongs to someone else entirely. The room is suddenly a warm place with furniture and painted walls, a secluded area that is someone's personal haven. There is a woman on the bed, her screams caused by a man running his hands across her body. It hits me that they are laced with a playful air, only made obvious from the smile on the woman's face that there is no peril. The man is shirtless and young, smiling down at her as though she were the world to him. All signs of playfulness disappear as he leans down to capture her lips in his. The kiss deepens as his hand trails up past her knee, her inner thigh...
I drop my gaze as heat flushes to my cheeks. I don't recognize who they are or what I should do. I shake my head with the understanding that this is the first sort of vision I've had since taking on the case and that I may discover something useful. It's alright Mai, I tell myself, you're not intruding, this is only a memory at best. But after a moment, I realize that there is a silence too strong and thick to be there without reason. Anxiety nearly keeps me from lifting my head and face a scene that grabs a hold of me with sheer terror.
The man and women are staring right at me, boring into me with eyes that are black and void of emotion. There is menace on their faces, twisted into unbelievable hatred and it is being all directed towards me. In a blink of an eye the woman is standing inches away from where I'm standing, her white night gown as white and ghastly as her pale skin. She smiles, and a thick, black substance drips from her lips as her night gown eagerly swallows the color in.
I find myself screaming at the top of my lungs, willing myself to run away. But I can't move, can't think straight. All I know is that fear is numbing me to the core and my heart is pounding hard against my chest. Her eyes follow me and I can't blink. Hands grab at me and I fight, fight until I feel warmth returning to my body and darkness taking me under.
...
When I manage to open my heavy eyelids, I find brown large orbs pouring worry into mine. I smile when I feel the warmth of a small hand pressed against my forehead.
"Hello Makoto-chan," I manage to mutter. He smiles at my voice and jumps off the bed, running off to presumably get someone's attention. No doubt his excitement would be enough to let them know that I'd woken up. I close my eyes and moan. There is a pressure on the back of my neck from a lingering headache and the usual queasy pit in my stomach after a vision. I turn my head to see that I'm alone in the room that Ayako, Masako and I share. I can't tell what time it is let alone how long I've been out. But what I do remember are the faces and feelings from the room before blacking out. As much as I don't want to, I run their faces through my memory so I can identify them later for Naru. I'm remembering those deep black eyes when I hear something from near the door. I shiver at the blackness that's spreading towards me. Something low and growling approaches from the wall across the room and I can't hide beneath the covers like I want to. It's like a living thing, like the black words on the wall that had reached and grown to give its message. I try to scream but my throat is too hoarse. The blackness is almost on me when the door opens wide and the growling grinds to a harsh stop. The room is white again and I see my SPR members walking into a normal room of normal colors. I realize that I'm breathing heavily, my eyes are focusing back to reality and I try to look as calm as possible.
"Oh Mai." I hear from Ayako. "Why is it that you're the one who always blacks out?"
I try laughing but it comes out weak instead of playful. "Naru tells me its because I'm special."
"More like an unlucky victim," Bou-san says. "Man I'm never around when I should be."
"How long have I been out?"
"A few hours," Ayako says, voice still layered with worry. She's standing above me so I don't have to look down at an awkward angle. "Are you hungry at all? Maya saved a portion of dinner for you, you should really eat something."
"Sure," I reply, though I have no appetite. I can see that agreeing to as little as that has already lightened her mood somewhat. Ayako nods with approval and when her red hair shakes, the woman's ghostly face flashes behind her shoulder. I gulp hard and force a smile.
"We'll let you rest a bit longer, okay? I'll be back up with a tray in a few. Bou-san, John, stand guard at the door so Naru can't enter to interrogate her!"
"Yes'm!" Both men reply, silly smiles on their faces.
"Did you hear it too?" Masako asks softly when they all leave and close the door. In our solitude, we can relate to each other best. Even without the specifics, I know she means the low drumming, the sound of something alive mixed with mechanical precision. I nod and she closes her eyes in response as though she's listening for it again. I do it too. There is something of a whisper in the darkness but it's subtle, nothing like the loud grinding from before.
"What could it be?" I wonder out loud.
"Whatever it may be, you should stay away from the room for the time being. Naru wants to talk to you after you've eaten." Masako stands abruptly and leaves for where I'm assuming is the base.
"What? Naru doesn't want to talk to me right away?"
Masako stops and without looking back, says in a grumpy tone, "I suppose he cares more than he shows." I lay silent, surprised by her reaction. She lets out a small 'hmph' and leaves the room. Moments later Ayako brought small portions of everything Maya had cooked. It lay hot on a tray and she remained to keep me company. I couldn't each much but I tried a bit of everything, trying to play off my lack of appetite for fatigue. Even after I'd finished, Naru didn't bother stopping by the base to question me and no one really seemed to know why. About an hour later, Ayako returned to the base and I tried closing my eyes. I asked her to leave the lights on to escape the darkness. But for some reason, despite my painfully groggy sleepiness, I can't fall asleep. Maybe it is because of the unsettling vision, or random thoughts about the case, or about Naru's strange actions. Whatever it is, I decide to take advantage of my relentless insomnia and try climbing out of bed. A walk sounds like a good way to get rid of my restlessness.
It is painful at first, but after a moment of sitting with my head down, I am able to clear the stars from my vision. I soon manage my way to the door. At first, I don't know where I'm heading, but as soon as I enter the dim hallway, I know that I am being pulled back towards the room where I'd seen the vision. Soon my footsteps fall into a steady, slow rhythm. There is music, music as soft as wind that comes from all around and I can't help but smile. Then, as though I can't help myself, I start to laugh and spin in place, so gracefully I almost forget my headache and sore bruises. I am laughing, twirling, not even flinching with surprise when warm hands press against me to guide my skipping and turning. The light blinds his face, but I know who it is. You came!
His lips smashed into mine.
I gasp in cold air when abruptly, I am back in the dark. I am heaving for air, but feel no warmth from physical exertion. There is a light creak to my right where the door had suddenly opened, wide and foreboding. When did I reach the door? What just happened? Cold sweat prickles at my skin. But something inside me feels awake and solid, strong enough to help me keep my wits. The vision or memory I'd just experienced is fading fast like an interrupted dream. Now there is nothing left but the darkness of the room. Rather than an absence of light, I feel as though the darkness is holding secrets – I can almost hearing the hushed voices of a woman, or does it belong to a man? When I take a step inside, sudden low drumming surrounds me. It's the same beating that I know has been haunting me and Masako. The beating grows louder and louder with each step until I think I could go deaf from the noise when, under a dim light, I see a box. It is beautifully etched and polished, handcrafted with what seems like fairy tales on the top and sides. I marvel at its delicate lines and surprising heaviness. There is a simple, silver latch that I opened without a second thought. The sound from before which had fallen silent, now pounds with renewed vigor when I place my hand on the silver pocket-watch that lies in the satin cushion of the box. As though its release calmed its anxiety, the watch let out nothing but pure silence as I placed the box back onto the ground. It looks simple enough. There isn't as much detailing on the silver, but it doesn't look like less work was put into it either. Each line that was made is sharp and so thin and intertwined that I can't imagine a person making them. Somehow, I know it's handmade. When I turn it over, there is a glass center that reveals the gears and springs frozen on the time 1:47. I wind up the watch, and stare memorized by the delicate movements of all the pieces spinning and ticking into motion. As the watch reaches 1:48, the ticking grows louder and louder, when at the last second, everything stops and goes black.
When I open my eyes, I am back in my bed, staring at the ceiling. I lie still for a moment and listen to muffled talking through the wall. There is still some lingering light outside my window and I realize I'd been asleep for hours. I turn my head to look at the time, blinking in bright red numbers. 1:47, 11.12.07. I blink and frown. It should be the 10th. There's no way I slept for two whole days. No way anyone would have let me. But there it is, clear as the glass that glints with the last rays of today's sun. But then it hits me. It's the time from the dream. I watch terrified for what will happen when the minute ends.
3...2...1...
The door stirs open. For a moment I wonder if I'm still dreaming or in a vision, but I have a gut feeling that this is real. Then I see Makoto walk in, pale, shivering, and holding an empty box. I hesitate to say anything when in any other situation I would have ran to him with worry. Something is off. Something holds be back with unexpected distrust. Instinctively, I clutch my hand around the watch and quietly pull it back under the covers.
Makoto catches the movement and a look in his eye distorts. He opens his mouth, and the voice of a man growls at me with simmering malice: That doesn't belong to you.
...
"Lin, did you print out the papers I asked for?"
The man nods towards the folder on his left and says without breaking the flow of his typing: "It wasn't easy acquiring information about Ikeuchi Takeshi. His death wasn't published in the papers, and rather hushed up." Lin stops and takes a sheet from the top and hands it to his boss with dis-quietness. "Naru, there's something disturbing that our client declined to mention. Something that changes the face of the case."
With a swift motion Naru takes the paper and reads it over. As he does, his eyes widen before becoming a scowl. Everyone watches as the look stays cemented on his face, even after the second re-read.
"What? What is it?" Ayako demands with worry. At that point, Takigawa takes the sheet and reads it himself. It doesn't take long before his face mirrors Naru's.
"Hey, you've got to be kidding! Lin-san you sure this is right?"
"What?!" Ayako exclaims.
Naru's voice is its usual and steady tone, but it is clear that there is anger laced into his answer. "It appears that Ikeuchi and Ito are half brothers. Their father had an affair when Ito was only 2 and Takeshi was adopted into the family until he was disowned at 17. He then changed his name and disappeared until only a few years ago."
Ayako sits stunned at the news, but John processes it much faster. "Judging from the fact that their last names are different, it means that he re-took his mother's name?"
"It would appear so." Naru mutters in thought. "Previously known as Ito Takeshi. This means Keiji-san lied when he said that his wife introduced Takeshi as a friend of hers."
"Do you think they recognized each other?" Ayako asks.
Naru picks up the rest of the file and slaps it on top of his black folder. "Whatever the situation, we can't figure out much else until we ask the right questions. Ayako, go check up on Mai. Takigawa and Masako, come with me to the downstairs office. It's time we had another talk with our client."
To Be continued...
To my amazing readers who've been waiting for years, I apologize for the long delay. I have been trying to catch up with my updates as of late, and to upload new stories I've wanted to share for a while. This past year has been particularly busy, as my new husband and I have been planning our public ceremony for this September! So with all the love and excitement, I have written out this chapter with my best efforts. I hope that you enjoy!