TRAPPED
Chapter 10: Shizuru
Note: So many people are surprised that I killed off Midori so soon. Honestly I wasn't going to, but then an evil spirit possessed me and I decided to go trigger happy in my story. I couldn't help it *pouts* anyways I hope you enjoy this chapter, many of you confessed that you miss Shizuru, and hell, so do I!
Also, please check my profile to vote on a new poll I posted, I do want to know which fanfictions I should give priority updates :), also check out my latest work "GLADIATOR", its going to be another tension filled fic, so if you enjoy trapped then I recommend it!
P.S: this chapter is subject to changes due to late beta'ing.
Natsuki looked at the doctor who was heading towards her with a serious expression
"She will live, thanks to you; we were able to treat her in time."
The young woman felt a wave of relief.
"Thank god… May I see her?"
The doctor shook his head, "She is still recovering."
"I see… May I borrow a pen and a piece of paper? I have to go soon, and I wanted to tell her something."
The doctor nodded slowly giving the blunette what she needed.
After scribbling something fast she folded up the paper.
"Please give this to her when she wakes up." She quickly shoved the paper in the doctor's hand and without looking back, she quickly left the hospital.
Shizuru waited in the hole, her eyes closed humming lightly to herself.
It was funny; she had only twelve more days till her execution. And there she was… humming as if she didn't care.
Did she care though?
She was considered a murderer.
A demon… is how the media described her, and soon caught on as a nickname by her remaining relatives. And that is how the rest of the world would probably see her till the day she died.
But maybe the world would probably be better off if she was dead.
She didn't care.
The prisoner sighed trying to avoid her negative thoughts from evolving any further. The past weeks had passed for her in a blur.
Three weeks were meant to be longer were they not?
Shizuru remembered the anger she had felt when she found about her death sentence in that newspaper.
Afterwards, she spent the following days taking out her frustration and feelings of powerlessness on herself, by abusing her own body.
During one of those acts, she had ended up smashing her left hand so hard against the wall, that the guards forced her to be sent to the nurse's office.
It was ironic how the prison itself wanted you in full health condition before sending a person to die.
During her trip to the doctor's office, the first she realized Youko wasn't there, but a new doctor who she didn't recognize.
The new doctor was a woman with rough features, light brown eyes and brown hair, who, after treating her, simply kicked her out of the office, as if not willing to waste anymore of her time on her.
It was then did she realize that she missed the former doctor, Youko, who was always kind to the prisoners, and was always willing to talk to anyone and give them advice in order to help them.
She missed those long talks she would sometimes have with her, even if about trivial things like clothing or the weather.
Shizuru didn't understand her sudden longing for human contact. As short or meaningless it could be she would do anything for that small moment of exchange.
Maybe it was a simply unconscious wish to forget about the day that her life would end.
However, as if someone had heard her silent wish, that Monday, she got her chance.
Shizuru had been called out of her hole and into a special visitation room to get interviewed by a reporter.
She had been hoping for this chance, knowing that the media was probably following her story closely.
Leaded by a group of guards, she entered the room to see a rather plump man with glasses and with messy curly hair waiting for her inside.
"Ah hello." He got up from the visitor's seat and held his hand out to shake hers.
Shizuru quickly picked up the scent of alcohol and smoke and showed her cuffed wrists using it as an excuse to not to shake his hand and to avoid looking disrespectful.
"Ah yes… That's alright" he said retracting his hand and sitting down on the chair once more "Please, have a seat."
Shizuru watched the guards leave and sat down on the chair opposite him.
"So… May I ask your name?" Shizuru asked keeping a polite tone.
"Kaji Sakomizu, it is a pleasure to meet you Shizuru Fujino."
"I heard about you, you're known as one of Japan's best reporters am I right? And please call me Shizuru, I don't enjoy being called by my last name"
The reporter let out a small chuckle "That is funny because I don't like being called by my first. Anyways—introductions made, let me explain why I'm here"
Shizuru crossed her legs slowly and watched the reporter intently.
"I want to learn about you. The great heiress of the INO Corporation. Money, fame, beauty, a person who had it all—with all that, why would you kill your own family?"
The woman had been expecting this question but gave the reporter a darkened look regardless.
"Maybe, I wanted more… Or maybe I was tired of the shackles of the growing INO Empire." She answered calmly while the reporter scribbled down some notes on his pad.
"Seems like a normal reason, if not stereotypical, the great heiress who wants more, kills her family."
Shizuru watched the reporter carefully at this not trusting the man at all.
"But one does hear things from 'the grapevine'." He said calmly still scribbling into his pad without looking up. "Very interesting things, in fact."
"Rumors with no fundament, is that what you are relying on, reporter-san?" Shizuru replied while flashing one of her famous smiles "Seems hardly professional." She added after a small pause.
"Please, call me Sakomizu." He said looking up from his pad and giving back Shizuru a smile. "Now, so you say rumors have no fundament." He said playing with the pen between his fingers "But a famous saying says 'you can't create something out of nothing', which has been proven true so many times, we all know that humans don't create anything, but can only transform things." He flashed his glasses at her "What I'm trying to say here with this, is that rumors do indeed have fundament. Or base from which they evolve into ridiculous things, but that base is the truth, at least that is how I see it."
"Ara, what an interesting theory, do you wish to put it to a test?" Shizuru asked her crimson eyes flashing dangerously.
"I hardly need to. It's pretty much a fact." He said in a calm manner hardly intimidated by the woman before her.
"Then what are these 'interesting things' you've been hearing, Sakomizu-san, I'm curious to see if what you said is true."
The reporter smiled "I knew I would pique your interest. Well, mostly small meaningless things… that when put together, make a much wider picture than what the media has made for you. Correction; that you have made for yourself."
Shizuru raised her eyebrows at this but said nothing.
"It is said that you had already practically inherited the company since you were the one managing it and not your parents. So, you already had the company in your hands, so the motive 'thirst for power' can be discarded. Then you said 'freedom from the restraints of the INO Corporation' as another possible motive. Well, I had inside information, about the existence of your step-brother."
Shizuru couldn't hide her shock and stared at the reporter with wide eyes
"Oh yes…" Sakomizu smiled, satisfied from her reaction to his words "I know about Reito Kanzaki. Mr. Fujino, couldn't hold his alcohol very well could he? He made a mistake one night and then took your brother into the household in order to avoid the media finding out about such thing had happened."
The prisoner narrowed her eyes at Sakomizu. "And what does he have to do with my motives."
"More than you think." The reporter continued calmly not caring if Shizuru was glaring at him with such a force that any sane person would run out of the room terrified. "You inherit the family business not because you are the eldest Fujino, but because you are the only legitimate child, but if you really wanted to free yourself from the responsibility, all you had to do was to delegate it to your brother, who I hear, would be more than pleased to do so."
"Ara… Such fantasies reporters make in order to get a story…" the Kyoto-ben woman said trying to recover her cool and careless attitude
"These are no fantasies; you know this better than anyone." The reporter looked at his watch and got up.
"Sadly, there is no more time left. We'll drop it here, and pick up this lovely chat tomorrow, shall we?"
Shizuru stared at him in disbelief "Tomorrow?" she repeated dumbfounded
"Oh, I forgot to say… for the next eleven days, I shall be completing my story about you."
"Let me guess… you want to have everything you can so you can publish your story after I'm executed" Shizuru said coldly while the reporter simply smiled at her before walking out of the room.
Youko opened her eyes slowly.
Was she dead?
She tried to move her limbs and felt pain.
Clearly she was not.
"W-Where-"
"Ah, you are awake." A doctor came over to her bed to inspect her "You're in the hospital… You were shot so close to the heart, it seemed impossible that you would survive. Luckily you were brought in, in time by a young woman."
"A woman?" She asked confused before realizing who it could have been. "Where is she? Can I see her?"
"Sorry, I'm afraid she left shortly after I informed her you were going to recover yesterday and I haven't seen her since."
"Oh…" Youko seemed disappointed
"But, she did ask me to give you this." The Doctor pulled out a piece of paper from his pocket and offered it to her. As Youko took it in her hands he decided to give her some privacy "I shall be back in a couple hours, if you need anything, feel free to call one of the nurses" he said before leaving the room.
Youko unfolded the paper and read its contents:
'Forgive me, I put you and your friend in an unnecessary danger, words cannot really express my guilt and I understand if you are angry at me.
I do not wish to repeat my mistake; therefore I shall not be contacting you any further after this.
Do not look for me, as you shall not find me.
Please stay safe and take care, thanks for everything.'
The doctor felt a tear forming in her eye and saw it drop upon the writing smudging the black ink a little.
"That idiot!"
Shizuru was sitting in the interrogation room again the following day, waiting though rather reluctantly for the reporter's arrival.
She saw the door open and Sakomizu went through it, a small smile playing on his lips.
"Ready Fujino-san?" he asked while taking a seat in front of her
"Very." She replied curtly
Sakomizu, was cunning, yesterday she had been caught off guard, not expecting of being outwitted by him. But she had spent all night playing in her head all kinds of scenarios in which she could end up with him, and how to counter them, with the coolness that characterized her for years.
"I see you've spent a lot of time to be ready"
Shizuru blinked, not expecting such an attack.
"Ara… Don't flatter yourself." She said just in the nick of time.
A very close call, Sakomizu was better than she had expected.
"Alright then" he laughed softly "Yesterday was just a warm up, it's time for the real thing now" he said in a serious tone, his glasses shining under the fluorescent light.
"That was really intense, that woman is really something."
"You seemed to have handled it just fine though"
"Barely, that woman is unpredictable."
"I see, and then?"
"It's too early to make conclusions but, I think she is hiding something of great importance. But I don't know if I can get it out of her. I just finished today's interview and hardly got anything of value, mainly because she was more prepared for me. The more time passes the harder it will be to get information."
"So what will you do?"
"Make the most of the time we have, and then check some of my special 'sources', but I wonder if I will get anything there either."
"You still have ten more days. A reporter of your caliber should be able to get the story in that time. "
"Having lots of faith in me eh? I wouldn't do so, I tend to disappoint at times."
"Aren't you the best reporter of Japan?"
"Aye, that is me." Sakomizu smiled before hanging up the phone.
Shizuru started to slowly look forward to Sakomizu's visits, instead of dreading them like she thought she would. Though their conversations were draining, they were also entertaining.
Each day a verbal duel between a reporter and the former heiress of the INO Corporation would occur.
And before she knew it, she had become dependent of Sakomizu in order to forget about the approaching execution sentence and retaining what little sanity and coolness she needed while facing the closeness of death.
Sakomizu began enjoying their moments together as well, there weren't many people who were able to resist his methods of interrogation and cause so much trouble to him when trying to get information.
What also kept him so interested was that if he managed to pull this one off, he would indeed assure a place as the best reporter of Japan.
But days passed by and Sakomizu was running out of chances to get the information he was interested in from the prisoner. Despite of having even enjoying the time spent with a person with a rather brilliant mind, he needed the story above all else, but Shizuru did not seem very willing.
The only sad thing was that the deadline was getting closer and closer, and there would be a day in which they would part and never meet again.
It was then when the reporter opted for more direct and aggressive methods of questioning but it had little effect upon the woman.
He realized one thing, if not a bit too late, that he had lost against her the moment he had become desperate to hear the things he wanted to know and resorted to a desperate man's techniques.
Shizuru was a woman that was able to handle those with such an ease it seemed that it was mere child's play.
On the last day, he decided to use his only trump card:
"Natsuki Kuga."
Shizuru's eyes widened upon the mentioning of the name.
"I assume you know her then" Sakomizu said while smiling inwardly realizing that he might have hit the jackpot. "I've got information that you got close to her in prison, did you not?"
Shizuru didn't answer.
"Did you know that she was a cop on an infiltration mission?" he asked while taking off his glasses to wipe them clean on his shirt
"I hardly see how this is relevant or in any way related to me." She answered finally trying to move the reporter away from the subject of the blunette.
"By you reaction, I suppose you knew her."
"Hardly"
"By what I hear, you aren't being very truthful are you? Rumors say that you even went to the extent of helping her in her mission."
"Did Chie say something to you?" Shizuru snapped at him narrowing her eyes for a second losing her cool.
"No, you did, just now. It was a mere rumor, but I'm glad I have had confirmation now."
Shizuru cursed mentally at her mistake. For some reason, the thought of that woman always made her lose her cool.
"Was she important to you?"
"I still don't understand why you bring her up" she evaded the question while resisting to avert her eyes from him
He grinned and then waved a newspaper at her. Because Sakomizu's hands were covering most of the newspaper's headline, Shizuru could only read the words 'Natsuki Kuga' on the front page which caused her to stiffen up.
Did something happen to her?
"This paper came out two days ago, had I known she was somewhat important to you I would have offered you this to you sooner."
"Ara is this some new tactic Sakomizu-san as come up with overnight?"
The reporter shook his head "Maybe it is, maybe it isn't, but it's not important. This is our final day and we are both facing different deadlines, and it's time to put all card on the table. I'm offering you a trade. Information about this woman as I know you are incomunicated from the outside world, in exchange of the answering of one single question, truthfully, honestly and as detailed as possible."
Shizuru smiled "That hardly seems a fair trade, as those news could be fake could it not? Or maybe not even important" she said slowly still staring at the paper in his hands. "Besides what makes you think, I'm interested in this woman? While she was in prison, she was nothing but a toy for me to play with."
"Say whatever you wish, I cannot say that I can confirm that you have a special interest in her, but I can show you a small preview and see if she was indeed 'just a toy'" he said lifting up a couple of his fingers, showing the words 'shot' 'alley' as well as the ones before 'Natsuki Kuga'
Shizuru's eyes widened slowly and she bit her lip thinking fast. She knew she was being lured into a very obvious but well planned trap.
She was going to die the day after tomorrow; did it really matter to know what had happened to that woman?
"Tell me… What is your question?" she said finally, knowing that she would probably regret it later
Sakomizu grabbed his cell phone as he left the prison grounds, after pressing speed dial he waited for the other person to pick up.
"I have the story." He informed as he took out his car keys "I'll be there as soon as possible."
She had answered the reporter's question like promised, but deep down she wish she hadn't.
'Natsuki Kuga'
Shizuru didn't sleep; she stayed up all night staring into space after her last meeting with the reporter Sakomizu.
'22 year old cop shot dead in an alley of Fuuka'
She felt numb, Why? She didn't know what was it that the blunette had, that made her lose control.
'…unknown reasons…'
But on the bright side, she had no fear of dying later that morning. Or so she thought.
'.. Possibly shot during a gang riot…'
She tried convincing herself, that dying was the best option now.
'…Investigations are ongoing about the reasons behind the murder…'
All this time she wanted to live. But for what?
'… The body was found by a construction worker…'
She had never considered that question.
'… "She was a great cop… the service has lost a lot without her"…'
If pardoned, she would live in prison for the rest of her life.
'… Says the chief of Police Haruka Armitage…'
Though the pardoning seemed highly unlikely, even though Tomoe had gone to the tribune in a poor attempt to get the judge to reconsider his decision
Her thoughts were interrupted when the door of her cell opened and two guards awaited her.
"You shall come with us to say good bye to your loved ones now today."
She let a heartless laugh escape her lips.
Loved ones? Was that a bad joke? Who would go and visit her? Definitely not her relatives who feared her.
The guards shifted uncomfortably while Shizuru laughed.
Eventually they leaded her into a small room where Tomoe was waiting patiently inside.
"Shizuru…" she called her name as soon as she saw her enter
"Tomoe-san, what a pleasant surprise" Shizuru said flashing her one and probably last of her famous smiles.
"Forgive me Shizuru-san… I was unable to make the jury or the judge change their minds." She said her eyes falling down to stare at her feet.
Shizuru however simply stood in front of the other woman, her smile intact.
"It is alright Tomoe-san, I've already accepted my fate."
TBC
Note: DUN DUN DUN…. Yeah well, to explain what is going on really is that this and the next chapter are technically one. This one is what Shizuru was doing while waiting on her execution. The next will be about what Natsuki was doing then, and it will explain lots of things… forgive me I guess I am a bit cruel but I do like having my readers on edge.
I cannot give any spoilers but please bear with me Q_Q!
OMAKE:
Natsuki: RUN EVERYONE ASUKA HAS GONE TRIGGER HAPPY AGAIN!
Asuka: MUHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA! *insane*