Chapter 14
The moths had been passing, and Elena had been losing her hope that things would get better. The first day of work for Iwai Kaimu's and his friends had went pretty well. Elena had refused to do the research on them during their first day, so she and Atsushi had given them other tasks, which involved sorting the chemicals stuff and cleaning the lab. There had been always someone who had kept eye on them whether they had been in the lab or outside of it. However, the members who had the tasks of observing Iwai and others had been more secretive during Iwai and others' free time, at least, for the first two weeks.
Elena couldn't procrastinate forever, she and her husband had to do what they had supposed to do, in the first place, when, Iwai Kaimu, Maiki Daichi, Maiki Daiki, Nakama Riko and Sanda Moriko came to the organisation; use them to create the drug that the organisation had been so longing for it. Elena only wished that they didn't need to use innocent people.
She also wished that Vermouth hadn't need to suffer, as well. Elena wondered how Vermouth had been doing. Vermouth's case was hopeless. Even if the organisation would cease to exist, Vermouth would always be haunt by what the organisation had done to her, how she had to go through because of it. Elena hated herself that she was one of people who made her suffer.
The only thing that didn't buried Elena in the guilt, completely, was the fact that the research on Vermouth and the homeless people would help others. Unfortunately, Elena doubted the boss would want the drug to be used by others. Elena was almost sure that the boss only wanted it to themselves, but she wouldn't let it happen. If the boss wanted the drug, fine, but he wouldn't refuse others from taking it, and Elena together with Atsushi were planning to create as many of those drugs as necessary.
"Elena-san! Atsushi-san! Quick, the blood is coming out of Kaimu's mouth,"Riko shouted, and Elena, her husband, and three others scientists rushed to them. Iwai coughed some more blood and he leaned back in his chair, and muttered something about death.
Riko grabbed Atsushi by his shirt and screamed at him, with tears in her eyes, "You're all a monsters!"
One of the members made a step forward ready to take his gun out, but Elena stopped him. Riko was right they all were monsters. They had been using innocent people for their own gain, and that's why Elena had decided she wouldn't take a drug, instead she would give to those who would need it and who would deserve it.
Riko's and Daichi's eyes were full of hatred, they were sending accusatory glares towards Elena and others, and Elena didn't blame them. After all, Elena and other scientists had been doing various tests, on Kaimu and Daichi's brother, which hadn't been pleasant to them.
Elena figured it would be better if they would first do the tests just on some of the homeless people, so they could see how they would react to it, and what corrections had to be made to improve the research on the drug and thus to create it. After it, they would do tests on Moriko and Daichi. Elena hoped that the tests on Iwai and Daiki would be enough, but the way the tests had been going, it seems unlikely. Elena was only glad that Moriko didn't have to take the part in it, although, Pisco had warned her that they would have to include Moriko in the experiment if the number of other homeless people would decrease due to death, and Elena couldn't help but think that the death will meet some of the homeless people if not all of them.
To think that five months ago, Iwai and others were enjoying their free days. Yes, they'd had no place to live and they'd had to starve, but, at least they hadn't been used in the experiment that didn't bring nothing but pain, and possible death, too.
Elena could still remember the day when Iwai, the Maiki's brothers and Riko had realized the true reason of why the organisation had brought them in. Elena and Atsushi hadn't given them all details like what the drug's purpose was, they only told them that they would 'help' Atsushi and other scientists, to create a drug by letting them to do tests on them.
Riko and others had called Atsushi and Elena insane and they refused to take a part of that crazy project, but Atsushi had threatened them that if they would not do what they had been asked then they would end up dead including Moriko. He had also warn them to not think about the escape as they had been observed twenty-four seven. Riko and others had fear in their eyes, and their bodies had shaken. Elena wished her husband wouldn't sound so merciless, but she knew Iwai and others had to take them seriously.
Elena wondered if they had thought about the escape, but considering how they had been monitored, all the time, it was impossible. However, there was part in Elena that wished they would escape, but the other part was happy that Elena could use them in order to create the drug.
Atsushi and Elena were sitting on the couch, taking a break from the research. Riko and Daichi were resting in their rooms. Elena figured it would be better if Daiki and Kaimu would stay underground, there were some beds that they could sleep on. They didn't look well, because of all tests, especially Kaimu, and besides, Moriko could ask inconvenient questions.
Atsushi flipped over the newspaper's page, while Elena observed Moriko chasing after Ichirou. Moriko stopped next to the couch, where Elena and Atsushi were sitting on, she breathed heavily. "This kid is pretty fast."
"Moriko-chan, come on, catch me," Ichirou challenged her, and Moriko started to run again, before Elena or Atsushi could say anything.
Elena smiled at Ichirou and Moriko chasing after each other, their lives looked so innocent, but it would change. Ichirou would have to work for the organisation, and would have to do things that his father had been against; and Moriko most probably would need to participate in the science project that would bring her nothing but pain, and even if she would be lucky to avoid it, close people to her, would suffer, because of the science project.
"There is a science convention in three days, we should go," Atsushi informed Elena. The excitement appeared on his face. He must read about it from the newspaper that he was holding.
"Uh, I don't." They still had to work on the drug, though the break would be nice, and who knows whom they could meet.
"Come on, Elena, it will be interesting," Atsushi insisted.
"All right, we'll go," Elena agreed as she smiled at her husband.
The convention had been held in Tokyo and the scientists from all over the world gathered in that place to present their inventions, and ideas to other people. Atsushi was acting like a child during a festival. He was pointing out at various inventions, and was saying, "Look, Elena, at that, that looks amazing." or "I wonder what it is and how it works."
A small smile played around Elena's lips, it was good that they decided to come here, they could relax. They had been working almost every day over the past five months, and sometimes they hadn't even getting a sleep. Elena and Atsushi had told themselves that when it all would finished, they would get a long day sleep.
Atsushi pulled Elena to one of the table where a man in his thirties, wearing glasses, was standing behind it. There were some big boards next to the tab;e that presented the inventions.
"Oh, this looks interesting!" Atsushi pointed at the board that showed two pictures: a small box and
a tent next to it.
"Thank you, it's portable and easy in use. It's enough to press a button and a tent will be ready in less than a minute. Perfect for camping," the inventor praised his invention, then he took out his hand to Atsushi, and introduced himself, "My name is Agasa Hiroshi."
Atsushi shook his hand. "It's nice to meet you, I am Miyano Atsushi, a scientist, and here is my wife Elena, also a scientist." Elena nodded slightly as she gave a small smile to Agasa.
"It's so nice to meet other scientists," Agasa grinned.
"I completely agree, and I definitely buy one of those tents of you," Atsushi turned to Elena, "We
could all go camping together, you, me, Akemi-chan and Ichirou-kun."
"Akemi? Ichirou? Are they your children?" Agasa asked, interested.
"Only Akemi-chan, Ichirou-kun was a son of our co-worker. Unfortunately, he and his wife died in a fire,"Atsushi explained.
They were murdered. Elena looked away. The memory of Ichirou's parents, was breaking her heart.
"I'm so sorry," Agasa face saddened.
"Well, there was nothing we could do. Oh what it is this." Atsushi changed the topic, and he took something that look like pair of small handsets.
"Thanks to it you can listen to the conversation while being away from the speakers. It's enough if one person who actually will be close to the speakers, will wear the handset, then the other person who will also wear this handset, will hear everything what the other person is hearing. You just need to remember to put the two handsets on the same frequency," Agasa explained.
"It would be great for the spying."
"Yes, it would," Agasa laughed.
Atsushi and Agasa talked some more about Agasa's gadgets, and after ten-fifteen minutes, Atsushi and Elena moved to another table. Atsushi promised he would come to another conventions to see more of Agasa's inventions.
Atsushi and Elena met different scientists from different countries, and some of them had an expertise in the fields that would be useful for the science project that the organisation had been working on. Elena got a phone number from these scientists. Maybe, Elena and Atsushi would need their help someday. However, Elena wasn't sure how these scientists would react if they would find out what was the purpose of the drug, and what the organisation had been doing in order to create it.
After eight long hours, Elena and Atsushi left the convention and drove back home. Atsushi was talking whole the time during the ride. He was exciting over all scientists and their researches and inventions. He shared Elena's opinion that some of those scientists would be useful for their science project, but they didn't need more scientists, at least, not now.
It was a late night when Atsushi and Elena returned home. They barely entered their house, and a member, who had been taking care of Akemi, stood in front of them, and informed them in an emotionless voice, "Pisco called me, he said Iwai Kaimu died."
Elena froze, she was aware that Iwai could die but she didn't expect it would happen when she was away, maybe she could prevent it.
Don't fool yourself, even if you could prevent Iwai's death, today. He, eventually would die, anyway.
The feeling of being responsible for someone's death felt horrible, but Elena wouldn't allow it to break her. She had to stay strong in order to complete the drug, even though, her whole body was screaming inside due the guilt she carried.
A/N: Arashi Kachigawa: Thank you so much for your review, I'm happy you love it, though I personally think this story is fast-paced due to these all time jumps :)