A/N: Welcome back to When The Brothers Cry! A lot of secrets revealed in this chapter, so enjoy Chapter 7 - Revelations!
Chapter 7 – Revelations
The next couple of days had passed by with next to no incidents, except Adam and Jamie had been contacted on the first day by Ōishi, who had asked them to meet him at a café in the town. Agreeing, the brothers had immediately driven over there on their bikes, and sat down opposite the detective.
"So, Ōishi, what's this about?" Adam asked, picking up his drink, before the older man reached into his breast pocket and withdrew a picture, before sliding it across the table to Adam, who picked it up, his eyes narrowing at what he saw: A metal barrel, which looked like it had been set on fire, with a charred body inside. "What is this?" he asked, passing the photo to Jamie, before Ōishi smirked. "That's what's left of Miss Miyo Takano." He said, causing the brother's eyes to widen. "Holy shit." Adam said, before Ōishi nodded. "Now, here's something. We examined her body, and the autopsy placed the time of death at least 48 hours prior." He said, before Jamie scowled. "Okay, so why does that matter?" he demanded, before Adam spoke up. "Think about it, Jamie. If she had been dead for over 48 hours, she would have been dead round about the time of the Watanagashi Festival." He explained, making Jamie look at him in confusion. "But...we talked to her." He said, before Adam nodded. "Yeah, we did." He replied, before passing the picture back to Ōishi. "So, there's a possibility that we talked to an identity thief, is that what you're telling us?" he asked, before the detective nodded. "It's a large possibility. Just…be careful, okay?" he asked, before standing up, and going to leave the café. "Oh, and Adam?" he asked, before the specified Robertson looked at him. "Watch yourself around Miss Furude. The townspeople are very protective of her." He said, before leaving, the door to the café swinging shut behind him.
"Prick." Adam said, after Ōishi left the room. "Well, what now?" Jamie asked, before Adam shrugged. "We stay our course." He said, finishing his drink. "Now, shall we?" he asked, before Jamie nodded. "Yeah, I've got to work on that project you set me." His brother said, before getting up, Adam following suit. Going outside, the brothers walked over to their bikes, before Jamie noticed Adam was gripping the handlebars of his bike so tight his hands were paling. "No one's going to judge you, Adam. If Rika trusts you enough that she's in love with you, no one else will bat an eyelash." He reassured his brother, before Adam sighed, and loosened his grip. "I know. But, something's off. And mark my words, I am going to figure it out." He said, before slamming his helmet on his head, and looking to his brother. "Ready?" he asked, before Jamie smirked and nodded. "Ready." He replied, lowering his visor. "Let's ride." Adam said, before the two kicked their bikes into gear, and sped off down the street.
The Next Night…
As they had been instructed, Adam and Jamie had driven to the meetup point that their benefactor had specified; the old warehouse near the dump. As they pulled up at the building and exited their cars, Adam noticed that there was a large jeep parked outside. "Guess this is the place." Adam said, before the two went to enter the building, only to be caught off guard by a large man exit the warehouse, and walk up to them. "The boss is waiting for you inside." He said, jerking his head towards the warehouse, causing Adam and Jamie to look to each other, before they followed the man inside.
Inside the warehouse, they found what looked like a war room, with maps and charts spread out over a large table. As they entered, Adam and Jamie noted that a large number of heads turned to them, before an eerily familiar voice called out. "Good to have you two here." It said, before a figure stepped out of the shadows. Smirking, Adam stated, "Takano." In front of them, stood Miyo Takano, alive and well.
"Good to see you're still breathing, despite supposedly being burned in a barrel, Takano." Jamie stated, causing the woman to chuckle. "A body double. She was…disposed of, before Watanagashi." She explained, before the brothers scowled. "Why fake your death?" Adam asked, before Miyo looked to the table. "I needed to remain in the shadows to complete my plan. Tomitake learned what I am doing, so we had to get rid of him. Poor man." She said, before Adam saw Jamie clench his fist. "Okay, so why did you hire us? And why would you need drivers for simple observational work?" he asked, before Miyo smirked. "I thought you'd be wondering that. If you must know, I needed drivers to deliver my prey to me." She said, before Adam scowled. "Hang on a second…prey?" he asked, before Miyo's face darkened. "Yes. I am wishing to become a god, and prove my grandfather's work true, and to do that, I need to eradicate the Queen Carrier. I need to eliminate…Rika Furude." She said, before Adam's eyes widened.
"Whoa, hold up!" he said, walking up to the table, despite numerous members of Miyo's team grasping at their weapons. "My brother and I agreed to observe Rika and her friends, but you never said anything about killing!" he said, before Miyo looked to her men and nodded, causing them to draw numerous firearms and point them at Adam and Jamie. "Look, Adam, you're the one who agreed to work for me and the Yamainu. I never forced you to agree. But if there's one thing I hate, it's people reneging on a bargain once struck." She said, before delving her hand into her pocket, and withdrew a large pouch, before she tossed it to Adam, who caught it. Opening it, Adam saw numerous coins inside. Sighing, he looked back to Takano. "Fine. What's the plan?" he asked, to the shock of Jamie. Smirking, Miyo looked back to the table. "You two will get Rika to accompany you to the Furude Shrine tomorrow, alone, where your work will be completed, and you will be paid for your work. If you can't accomplish this, some members of the Yamainu will retrieve Rika from school." She explained, before Adam nodded. "Alright, we'll get going, and…prepare for tomorrow." He said, before Miyo nodded. "Good. Farewell." She said, before the brothers took their leave.
Outside, Jamie grabbed Adam, and pulled him round the side of the warehouse, before slamming him into the wall. "What the fuck were you thinking, Adam? You're planning to help that psychopathic bitch murder Rika?" he spat, before Adam shoved him off. "Of course not!" he said, making Jamie look to him in confusion. "What the fuck are you talking about?" he asked, before Adam held up a hand, and showed Jamie a small, pill-shaped contraption. Scowling, Jamie's hand went into his pocket. "You didn't think I'd actually kill the girl I love, right?" Adam asked, before Jamie smirked. "So, what's the plan?" he asked, before Adam handed the contraption to him. "We use this, and show Takano, exactly how much she fucked up." He said, before Jamie nodded, and the two stealthily got to work. After their work was finished, and they remained undetected, the brothers returned to their cars, and drove off, ready to enact their plan the following day…
The Day After…
As the Charger and Skyline pulled up to the school, Adam noticed that the same jeep from the night prior was close by the school. After parking in the car park, the brothers entered the school, but Adam saw Jamie slide a small device into his pocket. Nodding to him, he slid the door to the classroom open, and walked over to Rika. Tapping her on the shoulder, he asked, "Can we talk to you in private?", before Rika nodded. Following them outside, Rika was shocked when Adam pulled her into another room, and Jamie shut the door behind them.
"What's wrong, Adam?" Rika asked, before Adam leaned against the wall. "You're in danger. People are coming to kill you. The Yamainu." He said, before Rika nodded. "How do you know about them?" she asked, before Adam looked to Jamie, and sighed. "They hired us. To observe you. They want us to help them kill you, but we're helping you escape." He said, before Rika shook her head. "Adam, as much as I appreciate it, you two can't stop them." She said, before Adam smirked. "You'd be surprised." He said, before he put a hand on her shoulder. "When you get the signal, get the Club to the cars." He ordered, before Rika nodded. "What's the signal?" she asked, before Jamie said, "You won't miss it.", and opened the door, the trio leaving the room. As they went to enter the classroom, Adam saw Miss Rumiko at the other end of the hallway. "Get ready." He told Jamie, who nodded and followed Rika inside the classroom, before he ran up to Chie. "Can I talk to you for a second, Miss?" he asked, before the teacher nodded.
"What can I do for you, Adam?" she asked, before Adam sighed. "Now, don't panic, but your class is in danger." He said, before Chie scowled. "If this is a joke, Adam, I can guarantee that it's not funny." She said, going to walk past, but Adam grabbed her and slammed her into the wall. "Do I look like I'm fucking joking?" he spat, before Chie nodded, and he released her. "So, what's going on?" Chie asked, before Adam sighed. "A group of men are going to come inside and try to take Rika away. They intend to kill her. But my brother and I aren't going to let them take her without a fight. When you get the signal, get the class out of the building, and get them home safely. Rika and the rest of the Club are going with Jamie and I." he explained, before Chie nodded. "What's the signal?" she asked, before Adam echoed what Jamie told Rika; "Trust me, you won't miss it." Nodding, Chie said, "Be careful, Adam.", before leading Adam to the class. After entering, Adam nodded to Jamie, before sitting down. Quickly explaining the situation to Jamie, Adam flashed a look to Chie, who started the lesson…
About an hour later…
During the first lesson, during which Adam was helping Rika and Satoko with a piece of their work at his table, the door to the classroom slid open, and the principal was pushed into the room by people who Adam was able to recognise as members of the Yamainu. The leader of the men pointed an assault rifle at Chie's head. "Everyone, in their seats, or your teacher will be down one head!" he yelled, before all the students sat in chairs. "Right, we're here for one of your classmates. If Miss Furude will come with us, we'll be on our way." He continued, before Rika went to stand up, only to be stopped by Adam's arm. "Over my dead body." He said, standing up, shielding Rika behind him, causing the Yamainu member to smirk, and point the rifle at Adam. "Why am I not surprised you'd betray us?" he asked, before he looked to Rika. "Reports say you are in love with Furude here." He grinned, before Adam scowled. "Yeah, I am. And that's why I'm standing here right now." He said, before he heard a click from his side. "Stand aside, Adam." Jamie's voice said, making him look to his brother, who was holding a detonator in his hand.
"You son of a bitch." Adam growled, before Jamie stood up and walked over to beside the Yamainu members. "We do the job we're paid to do, no matter our personal feelings. Remember?" he asked, before he held up the detonator. "Now, stand aside, or say goodbye to your car." He said, before Adam straightened up. "I'm not standing aside, Jamie." He said, before Jamie nodded. "Well, on your head be it." He said, before pressing the button, and an explosion could be heard outside…
A/N: And shit has hit the fan! Now it gets good! I'll see you guys in Chapter 8 - Ride or Die. Madman out!