Chapter 10

Matsuoka didn't look over his shoulder as he stood outside the door waiting for security to open it. Behind him in the hallway he could feel Yokota's presence. To his credit, the man had not broken the stoic composure so far. That was likely about to change.

The guard at the door opened it and waved them inside.

Immediately he heard Momoki's voice sternly calling out, "Anaido's approaching the target area. Eyes open."

From above Habutae answered, "Even with his memories intact, this spot has proven to be a death trap. What are we on, day three of this?"

Striding into the room, Matsuoka folded his arms. Normally they were only allowed on the upper observation ring, staring through the window. This was not normal—than again nothing about this case had been. His call ahead had given him clearance.

Yokota, curiosity getting the better of him, walked a bit closer to the holographic well display. At one time this room had certainly left Matsuoka astounded. The strange combination of the well map layout with the images pouring out on the screen. He had sat and watched some of the dives, observing Sakaido running toward certain death always amused him. Not that he would mention that aloud to anyone. Still, he covertly watched Yokota's eyes, the stoic nature undergoing a dash of cold water he hadn't prepared for as Anaido's perspective played out on Momoki's screen. "What's going on?"

That brought a satisfied grin to Matsuoka's face. He kept his voice to a gruff whisper, "This would be the technology that gives the Kura its edge."

"Director," Togo called out, "His heart rate is growing erratic."

Momoki nodded, grabbing a screen capture and shoving it aside. "Understandable. That bullet grazed him."

"We're pushing him. Remember, that isn't Narihisago down there. Fukuda lacks his stamina."

A moment later over the speaker the sound of a bullet smacking flesh ended in a foreshortened scream.

"Anaido has died."

"Dammit. Extract him."

On the screen, the man in the cockpit sat forward, gripping his chest and gasping.

Yokota blinked, his mouth open, a strange strangled sound coming from his throat. Savoring the moment, Matsuoka folded his arms and waited for the team to finish.

Momoki bowed his head. "We fell short of it—again."

"Sorry … I really tried to get there … but this guy is a devastating shot. Could snipe my hole. Another run?"

Momoki raised his head and held up a finger. After a moment he lowered his hand. "No. You need to take a break. Togo, have him escorted to his cell for lunch. Everyone else, go and get something to eat. We'll take another stab this afternoon."

On the screen a pair of guards stepped forward and cuffed Fukuda's wrists, escorting him out of the chamber. At that moment Yokota locked eyes with Matsuoka. He'd totally lost his composure, glasses at the end of his nose. "Was that a prisoner? They mentioned the name of the guy we're after … he's a prisoner, a serial killer, as you said. But you're putting them … the criminals … serial killers … in a machine? What the hell was that?"

With a smile, Matsuoka nodded. "We are, and he is, yes. What better way to catch a killer than with a killer who understands their unhinged thought process. That machine provides the gateway to solving murder crimes. We picked up two cognition particle signatures at the accident site. What you saw was one of them."

"Cog … cog … cognition particles?"

"It's all very complicated."

Before he could explain further, Momoki turned from the screen to face them looking harried and in need of a whole pot of coffee. "Tell me you have something."

Matsuoka reached into his pocket and pulled out two small chunks of metal in evidence bags. "Sure did. Kokufu figured you'd want to see this first hand." He dropped it into Momoki's hand.

He inhaled sharply. "It couldn't have come from the guards' guns. This isn't the right caliber for the department issued firearms."

"That's right. The bullet was extracted from one of the guards. The casing from a vehicle." Matsuoka heaved a sigh. "I concede this much, someone else was involved. If they were, I'd like to know how Narihisago coordinated outside of the Kura."

"I don't think he did."

"As much as I hate to admit it, the guy is clever enough I wouldn't put it past him. We get our hands on him, I want a round with him in the interrogation room. Anyway, we're about to turn these in for processing, see if the pattern matches any known evidence on file. Maybe we can get lucky."

Out of the corner of his eye he watched Yokota enthralled with the screen captures. Right now that detective was useless.

He took the bag back. "Don't think for a second that I have dismissed the possibility he's involved."

Momoki sighed and scrubbed his hair with his fingers. "I know, I know. Thanks for showing me this. When you get the results will you let me know?"

"Of course." Grabbing Yokota's shoulder he tugged him toward the door. "Let's go, detective. You've seen enough."

"To think," Yokota murmured, "this is how you were doing it. Those remarks of laying down on the job … "

He sighed as the door shut behind them. "Those were the times when Narihisago was out of commission, before we recruited other pilots." All this time. All those arrests. For so long, until they tried Fukuda, until Hondomachi … Narihisago was it. The Kura's solitary pilot. It was easy to overlook that, easy to think of him dying over and over in the wells in relentless pursuit of an answer. Getting what that sick bastard deserved. He cringed thinking of how Hondomachi spoke of him, excitement, even honor in her eyes. Clenching a fist, he stormed toward evidence processing. He better not be showing her his true self!

~ID~

It was quiet in the dim loft as the shards of light stabbed downward tracing patterns on the floor grates. Lying on his right side, Narihisago's desperate plan to derail the run away rage train left him with a residual headache and a scab tugging on his forehead. But it had done the trick, he was calm and collected again. It wasn't his fault that Itoh volunteered his head. The thugs spoke below, the scent of a hot meal drifted upward, tormenting his empty stomach. But, he was too tired to care about something he couldn't fix. With his ear against the grate he could heard their words clearer than before.

Orochi did nothing to muffle his voice, "That's half the benefit of working for him. I'll be honest, I don't want a different boss. Under Konya, since he is such a savage businessman, there are always plenty of walking corpses waiting to be bled."

"Yeah." Tsuyoshi replied, clearly still chewing and swallowing. "The boss sets 'em up for the fall nice enough for us. Almost like he makes it impossible for them to obtain the goal."

"Hah, you mean like that sap up there? That rat was never walking out of this. I was there when he got the money. Konya knew he'd fail. Counted on it."

"Just like Izanagi."

"Well, that one was also a given. That fool tried to run. Since I had to chase him down the boss figured he'd make a great test subject for his new toy. Shame that isn't working out. I can't be the only who wanted to see that happen. Ahhh well, looks like one of us will get to end Izanagi the old fashioned way in the long run."

"Kinda nice that the boss never takes part in that. Hehe. Just stands and watches the entertainment."

Orochi snorted. "Shit, his last hit was ages ago, if it's to be believed. When he was still a teenager his father made him draw first blood on a traitor. But it makes sense. Can't go to the office covered in blood. Wouldn't be … " a phone rang. "Yeah? … That's what I said, a skirt … When is the shipment going out? … Not for another two days? Fine, we'll keep her til then."

Narihisago stiffened, glancing toward Hondomachi, her head bowed, she was sleeping. Or at the very least trying to. Two days? Shit! We have to get out of here somehow! He tried his luck against cuffs and padlock once again, to no avail.

"What was I saying? Oh, who cares. Fact is we done our part. We'll be rewarded for everything going off without a hitch. Ryota, make sure that blade is nice and sharp." A knife thudded into wood, leaving the hum of the blade. A moment later came the tell tale shink of the metal against a whetstone.

"Hey, whadya think the boss'll do with that nut job we swiped if he doesn't pull off that stunt?"

"Dunno. He hasn't ordered me to make any special arrangements for him yet, just the skirt. At least that was an easy call."

"You saw when he lost it. Wouldn't have thought it possible when he was just sitting there, but when worked up that guy looks like a bruiser. Maybe hock him off to the rings?"

"Maybe. House'd make a fortune off folks underestimating. But you heard him talk to the rat. Before anything else happens there, we get to try and pry the 'circumstances' out of him. We might get to see that outrageous story for ourselves. Just waiting for the boss to signal me the go ahead."

"You? Hey! I can do it too!"

Orochi laughed. "You got leveled by a chick."

"Shut up! Not talking to you anymore!"

"Fine by me."

Silence fell below, save for the methodical drawing of a blade over a whetstone and the slow drip from the holes in the roof overhead.

Hondomachi stirred, glancing down at him. "At least your head stopped bleeding."

He offered a weary grin, concealing his concern for her fate. "Usually does."

"That wasn't the first time you've done that?"

He shook his head.

"Huh. It's still really weird."

It was hard to shrug lying on one shoulder, but he tried to do it anyway. "You got me there. Did you at least get some rest?"

Likewise, she offered him a shrug. "A bit. You?"

"Didn't even attempt to. Not worth trying to fight for it right now."

Her eyes searched him, narrowing. But she didn't remark.

Sobbing grabbed their attention. Across the open loft, they watched Itoh writhing where he'd be chained to the railing. His cheeks were drenched with tears. "Please … " he sniffled, " … someone help me!"

"Why would they?" Hondomachi stared at him blandly.

A cold remark that the bastard deserves.

Itoh whimpered, "This shouldn't be happening to me."

Her tone couldn't be more even. "Reality check. You totally sold us out. What kind of an idiot hands over someone with Narihisago's abilities to be used to commit more murders?"

The fool wasn't listening. "Because, I shouldn't be here suffering like this! Even though I'm in security, I'm still an officer."

Narihisago eyed her, "Heh, funny how that didn't apply to you."

"Yeah." Hondomachi's expression darkened. "I noticed."

Itoh gaped like a fish. Now he was listening.

"Careful, you're in hot water with her. And I've seen what she can do when she's angry."

Snapping out of it a bit, Itoh's voice cracked as he scowled back. The scab on his own forehead clearly troubled him as he winced. "My point is, I'm a human being."

Narihisago cocked an eyebrow. "And …?"

"And what?"

Hondomachi leaned toward him. "And we're not?"

Itoh's breath caught for a moment. "That's not what I mean—"

"Oh this is an amusing view." Narihisago chuckled. "Seeing you struggle with reality."

"Shut up! This isn't funny!"

"Oh cry me a fuckin' river! I mean you have already started, coward. You are responsible for this mess. You and no one else."

"Me? Because you won't cooperate, they're going to kill both us!"

Narihisago lifted an eyebrow. "And whose fault is that? Oh yes, the ignorant power trippy coward whose favorite activity was to walk through the prison swinging his stick around. Not funny when you're on the receiving end, is it! You know what else isn't funny? Kicking a guy in his still healing gut when his hands are cuffed behind his back. I never told Momoki about that, but I damn well should have."

Hondomachi drew in a sharp breath. "When was that?"

"Shortly after I came back to the cell block, before the days I spent on that marathon dive to catch the Predator. I still had sutures!"

"Wait, that case that started with me out of town?" She fired a glare at Itoh. "You piece of shit. Did you know he was injured?"

Narihisago answered for him as he went tight-lipped. "Oh, he knew. The dick did it on purpose."

Itoh's eyes widened. "You were being uncooperative!"

"Uhhh … no, I wasn't. I'm not the only prisoner you mishandled just because you felt like being a jackass. Trust me, if you had even a chance of getting out of this the only way you'd set foot in the Kura again is being shoved into a cell! And if I had my way it would be across from me so I could watch you die!"

"I'll be going back."

Narihisago grinned at him until he lost a bit of a color. "Don't be so certain of that."

"What would you know?"

"Apparently far more than you about what happens to yakuza loan shark victims."

His breath caught in his chest.

Hondomachi glanced down at Narihisago. "I take it that knowledge comes from the cases you mentioned earlier?"

He nodded. "Absolutely. Itoh here will be fortunate if it's quick. And quite frankly, the odds are he may not be identifiable. Hope his DNA is on file somewhere."

"What?" Itoh's voice edged up an octave. He kicked his feet even though they were tethered together, something akin to a thrashing worm. "What are you talking about, you freak?"

Narihisago ignored him and spoke to Hondomachi. "Momoki and I had a number of cases that crossed paths with the yakuza."

"Homicides, right?"

Oh she knew, she's just rubbing it in, watching his heart rate skyrocket. "Well, that was our department after all. Yeah of course there were corpses. People who displeased a member one way or another. In a few cases we arrived to find them still breathing, but most … weren't." He watched as Itoh grew still, eyes locked wide in an ever growing terror. Narihisago's vocal timber remained brutally confident. "The ones who lived spoke of holding the knife themselves." And down below the shink shink shink continued preparing it for service. "The man they'd wronged forced them." He turned his full attention to Itoh.

"Forced what?" He gulped in air. "Forced what? Tell me!"

Narihisago chuckled low. "To make a sacrifice of their own flesh." Beside him, Hondomachi smiled crookedly.

Itoh's breathing increased, growing to a panic as he wailed out wordlessly.

"Awww. Should have read your contract better. Too late now."

"Please! Save me! I don't want to die!"

Closing his eyes, Narihisago muttered. "It's not so bad, really. At least you only have to experience it once."

~ID~

A bloodless corpse could have competed with Itoh for the palest tone even in the predawn lantern light. He sat on the floor, shoes and socks stripped off, baring his toes. While Tsuyoshi held his gun to him, Kenta and Ryota had unchained him. Now he sat there in a puddle of his own piss, with a hunter's skinning knife in his shaking hand.

Narihisago grunted as he used his right foot to push up against the wall enough for a better angle. He grinned as he watched, calling to mind every single time that Itoh had either inflicted, or stood idly by as his men used excessive force for no other reason than amusement. I never dreamed I would get to see him pay the piper. But karma is a raging bitch when you throw your lot in with the yakuza.

Tears and snot mingled as Itoh babbled up at the boss standing back far enough, "Please—I can't do this!"

Konya didn't say a word. He simply drummed his fingers, his rings forming a cadence.

Tsuyoshi leaned forward. "If I have to do it for you, it'll be worse, pal."

"This is inhumane!"

"You and I entered a contract." Konya flatly replied. "The contract has been broken. This is the required collection fee."

"Bu—!"

The gun striking him across the head silenced him.

Neither Narihisago nor Hondomachi flinched. Both watched the man who responsible for their current misery without a shred of sympathy.

Itoh swallowed, staring at the knife for a minute longer before he followed the instructions he'd been given. He lowered the tip of the blade to his right pinky toe, and gritting his teeth—he severed it off in a fast swipe. Sobbing, he picked up the digit from the grating and held it up in a trembling hand in offering to Konya.

He plucked the bloody toe up and not even looking at it, dropped it into a bucket at his side. "Wrong one."

"Tch!" Itoh shuddered, his eyes staring in a wide-eyed panic. No one looked away.

Interesting. This isn't how it usually goes, at least from what I heard. When this is used, it's a single digit offered as an apology for transgression. Narihisago narrowed his eyes, watching Konya's expression, reading his intent. Unless … this is a mind game. He didn't tell him which one. Something tells me that was the point.

Itoh whimpered as he lowered the knife. Cringing up at Konya he sliced through the next toe. The blood dripped between his fingers as he lifted it up in offering.

Once more Konya took it from him and dropped it into the bucket, staring expectantly.

Narihisago cocked his head. One by one under the watchful glare, with his blood dripping down between the grating, Itoh severed every toe on his right foot. When that failed to locate the request, with a trembling hand he was forced to switch to the left.

By now Itoh wobbled, both his feet bereft of their toes. Ten wounds slowly oozed blood. He was lucky that fear has pulled his blood to his core before he started. "P-please … I can't … I have … no more."

Konya didn't so much as move. It was Orochi who bent down and grabbed Itoh's blood soaked left hand, flattening it out on the grating as the man yelped.

"N-no! Not my fingers! That will be obvious! I can't hide that from view!"

In truth, with all his toes missing he couldn't hide that either. The limp would be obvious. But blood-loss doesn't allow for solid thinking.

With a savage smile, Orochi gripped his hand holding the knife, he pressed it closer to the bare flesh. "Do it. Find the proper offering, rat!"

Itoh whined, his eyelids swollen from crying as he shifted the knife over his fingers. Cringing, he brought the blade down, once again starting at the pinky.

With each passing cut the light in Konya's eyes grew, screaming volumes to Narihisago. So that's his game!

"What is it?" Hondomachi whispered.

He leaned close to her ear. "Have you figured out which digit will be the proper offering?"

She shook her head.

"The final one."

For a brief moment her eyes widened. But it didn't last long. In a quiet snarl into his ear she vented, "If it hadn't been for him we wouldn't be here."

Before long, a flush-faced Itoh had to release the knife to pick up the final digit severed from his left hand. His eyes ran dry as he sobbed.

Konya batted the thumb into the bucket and pointed to his right hand.

In dismay, Itoh stared at his left, no fingers left to grasp the knife with. Just raw fleshy stumps. "But … how … I can't … "

"Let me give you hand." Tsuyoshi picked up the blood-slick blade with a sadistic grin.

"No!" Itoh drew his hand to his chest. All in vain, Orochi grasped his arm and slammed the hand down onto the grating. "Wasn't this enough? AHHHH!"

Picking up the first severed finger, Tsuyoshi didn't even offer it to Konya, he just chucked it into the bucket. One after the next, he sliced them off as Itoh's thrashing dwindled. Tsuyoshi only held up the last one. "Oh what a shame, rat. You're all out of flesh to offer." He flicked it into the bucket and wiped the blade off on Itoh's jacket.

Itoh barely remained conscious, his eyes waggling all around.

"Boss?" Orochi averted his chin.

All that transpired was a nod.

The thugs laughed, clapping their hands. "Good thing it's still dark out." Orochi tapped Itoh's cheeks. "Come on boys, time to go make a deposit at the bank."

Carefully, they hefted Itoh up along with the chain, trying to avoid getting too much blood on them. They carted him down the staircase with Konya bringing up the rear.

Narihisago and Hondomachi craned their ears, listening through the holes in the siding.

SPLASH!

"Wow, we really are close to the harbor."

Narihisago nodded. "If we could hear that, yeah." He noted something else, an absence of even the sound of a feeble attempt to swim. In truth, who could with that much damage to their hands and feet. Couldn't get anymore powerless than that. Serves him right. And who knows, maybe someone will find the body.

Footsteps carried up the stairs. Five sets of them. They crossed the loft and stood straight in front of him, cracking knuckles. Konya's stern eyes locked on Narihisago.

Uh oh!

"Now that we have completed that transaction, I want to know what those circumstances are you that mentioned yesterday." He snapped his fingers.