Story Notes: This chapter was quite hard to put together. I enjoyed adding the elements featured in the first half of the chapter, as they have been separated for so long. Sorry I killed off a character so early in the story. I've had this idea for a long time and unfortunately, It started with the idea of Mr Wang's death. There is a surprise in the next chapter as Chang hasn't told Tintin what he does for a living yet.
Chapter Summary: Tintin and Haddock arrive in Shanghai, but Shadows are already moving, ready to strike.
Suggested Music
1. Utsusemi (Man of the World) - Eliott Tordo Erhu
2. Teldrassil - Eliott Tordo Erhu
3. Imminence - Eliott Tordo Erhu
Tintin couldn't find a way to vocalise his thoughts as the plane neared the airport. His mind inevitably drifted to Chang and Mr Wang.
I've let him down, I've let them both down.
I haven't seen them in years and now...
His eyes watered furiously as he recalled the last memories of Mr Wang. Mr Wang saved his life, twice, when Mitsuhirato attempted to kill him. He exhaled slowly, trying to eradicate the tightness in his chest. A memory called to him from the not too distant past when he brought Chang back from the Tibetan mountains after being saved by a yeti. Tintin still couldn't absorb the events that occurred.
Why had it taken a tragedy to bring them back together?
Tintin quickly promised himself to never let that happen again, and immediately started to think about his friends scattered across the world. As Haddock squeezed his hand, he sniffed hard and turned to face him.
"I haven't visited since ... I should have .."
"Tintin .. don't," Haddock soothed.
"I should have made time to go and see them. I can't even begin to imagine how Chang is feeling,"
"You're here now, that's what matters,"
x
As they collected their bags and made their way to the exit, Snowy tugged on his lead, obviously not happy with the strap around his neck. Tintin's vision remained fixed in the taxi stand, then his eyes shifted to a figure standing just outside the door. His eyes widened, and he paused, but only for a moment.
"Chang,"
Chang stood just outside the door, next to a car. His red-rimmed eyes caught Tintin's attention straight away, but the sight of his friend made his eyes water. Dropping his suitcase and Snowy's lead, he sprinted towards Chang without a second thought. They threw their arms around each other as tears dripped from their eyes. Chang squeezed him just as tightly, and he didn't want to let him go. When they eventually parted, Tintin couldn't hold back his apology.
"Chang, I am so sorry. Whatever you need, I'm here for you,"
"Thank you, my friend. I've missed you,"
Chang's kind words only made it harder to face up to his inner thoughts.
"I'm sorry,"
"Why are you apologizing?" Chang inquired, placing his hand on Tintin's shoulder.
"All these missed opportunities to see you... I .."
"I'm guilty of that too," Chang interjected, his voice breaking slightly. "You are here now, and that means everything to me,"
As Tintin exhaled in relief, Snowy bounded over, pressing his paws against Chang's legs. As Chang reacquainted himself with Snowy, Haddock staggered over with the bags in one hand and wrapped the other around Tintin's shoulders.
X
As they stepped back into the Wang household, memories flooded back into Tintin's subconscious.
Waking up after being kidnapped from the ship leaving China
Discussing ways to locate professor Fang …
Tintin fell quiet once again.
He found it hard to believe that happened so long ago.
After putting his bags in his room, Tintin left to join Chang in the living room. Snowy followed quietly as if he had detected the sombre atmosphere. As Tintin turned into another hallway with Haddock, he spotted Didi, gazing absentmindedly out of the window.
Didi immediately turned, offering a small smile as they approached.
As they hugged, Tintin still felt the need to make up for the lack of time they'd all spent together.
"I'm sorry Didi. This must have come as quite a shock,"
"We need to talk, follow me," Did replied quietly, his voice breaking slightly at the end.
Tintin glanced back at Haddock, whose eye's had narrowed in confusion.
"Tintin, what's going on?"
"I'm not sure,"
They followed Didi outside and sat down at the table, introducing Didi and Haddock, who hadn't met.
"I am honoured to meet a friend of Tintin's. He chooses his friends well," Didi exclaimed, gratefully shaking his hand and bowing.
"There's something I need to tell you," Chang stuttered," But I'm not sure how to say it,"
Tintin swallowed, unable to ascertain why Chang was so nervous. A thought struck him, why would he be this spooked? Is something wrong?
He glanced between the pair of them, trying to read Chang.
"This is harder than I expected," Chang exclaimed, his voice breaking slightly at the end of his sentence.
Didi brought his arm around his brother's shoulders, managing to soothe him slightly.
"Chang .. is everything okay?" Tintin asked, concerned about how everything was unfolding.
"No, not really," Chang replied softly. "Our father ... he didn't die of natural causes,"
Tintin's eyes widened.
No... It can't be.
"He was murdered," Didi finished quietly.
A tear escaped Tintin's eye as his hand flung to his parted lips.
Murdered... No. Not Mr Wang.
"Someone broke into the house and ..." Chang paused again to gather his strength. "I didn't want to tell you this over the phone. I wanted to do it in person,"
"Who would do such a thing?" Tintin exclaimed, wiping his eyes.
"Only one group had the motive to commit such a deed," Didi continued. "They call themselves the Kanzaki Brotherhood. They are a gang of criminals with links to politicians and others in high social class. Their leader is Hiroko Kanzaki. They are drug runners. No one can catch them. They are the most wanted criminal gang in Japan,"
"Why target Mr Wang?" Haddock asked.
"My father never really retired," Chang continued. "He had managed to gather new intelligence, from an unknown source. He was just about to hand the information to the police when .. . There is other information. My father hid it elsewhere. I only know bits and pieces, only my father knew the whole truth,"
X
Hiroko stepped from the room and strode onto the balcony. Osaka appeared mighty from above. High above the city, he could create the ultimate illusion of security. No one could touch him, not even the police. He smiled widely and turned to Kenji, one of his men.
"Is everything ready?" Hiroko asked.
"Yes, Sir. They are awaiting your approval,"
"Excellent, I trust our other problem has been dealt with,"
"Yes, Sir" Kenji replied, monotonously as Ren strode towards them. Ren stood as one of Hiroko's most trusted men. As Kenji returned to his post, Ren joined his boss on the balcony.
"We have new developments,"
"Concerning what?"
"The Wang household,"
Hiroko sighed in annoyance and turned to face him.
"I was under the impression that this had been taken care of. What kind of new developments?"
"Some newcomers in the house. Two Europeans,"
"This is no concern of ours. If the family wants to welcome westerners that is none of our business unless there is something else you are neglecting to tell me,"
"Someone else had access to the information Mr Wang had collected. Someone else in that house knows our secrets,"
Hiroko's lips curled into a smile.
"Well we can't have that, can we,"
X
The events of the day replayed in Tintin's head as he failed to sleep. Even stroking Snowy, who was already asleep, failed to ease his worries. Branches bent in the swing breeze pushing from the east. Even in darkness, the world did not sleep. The night sounded its calls through the earth, but it did not ease his stress.
Mr Wang was murdered, he still couldn't absorb the words.
Worries and questions filled his head, and he tossed and turned in the humid air.
Will this gang return?
Is Chang safe?
Are we all safe?
Is this the penalty for standing up to those in power?
Tintin couldn't help but wonder if he would meet a similar fate as his eyelids finally started to force themselves shut. Even as the questions continued, his fatigued body pulled him into the place where he needed to be. In minutes he slipped into sleep, comforted by Snowy's soft fur.
This chapter is soo long! I didn't want to split these into separate chapters as I thought it would make more sense if this appeared altogether. Will they be safe? Tune in next week to find out.