Chapter 07 - When Darkness Falls

(I don't own JSR (unfortunately - if I did, I could make them bring out the sequel on Dreamcast and then I could buy it) although I do own Amy and her aunt, and Breaker. Please r+r!)

It was late evening of the next day when they found the body.
Amy, Garam, and Tab were skating in Benten-cho together. Amy, who
was practising on skates but wasn't risking a tagging session with them yet,
was waiting on the bridge for Tab to get back from the walkway area. Garam
was with her.
He hadn't spoken at all since he'd stumbled in the day before. Amy was
secretly glad. She didn't know what to say to him. What could you say to
someone who'd suffered that sort of loss?
Suddenly a voice called from the train tracks below, "Hey, GGs!"
They glanced over the railings of the bridge. It was a Noise Tank, his
pale suit ghost-like against the dark ground.
"What?" Amy answered.
"We heard you lost a member," the Noise Tank said, his voice sombre.
"There's - uh - a body down here. If it's yours, you might want it to pay your
respects to."
Amy saw Garam tense.
"Do you want to see?" she whispered. "If not, I'll go on my own..."
"No," Garam said, his voice dry. "I'll come."
Tab came dashing towards them. They explained the situation, and
made their way to the siding.
The Noise Tank was waiting for them.
"We found it dumped here this afternoon," he said. "We put it behind
one of the boxes."
Amy gripped Tab's hand as they followed the Noise Tank towards the
box. She swallowed.
It didn't appear to ever have been human.
She wasn't able to look at the powdery charred skin, the twisted,
blackened limbs. This couldn't be the pretty girl who'd asked her about the
bruises on her arm. It couldn't be.
Garam knelt down. He picked up what might have been a wrist.
"This is Piranha's watch," he whispered. His voice made tears come to
Amy's eyes.
"Leave it, Garam," Tab said, his voice hoarse.
Garam covered his face with his hands. Amy heard his breathing catch
in the silence of the night.
"Thanks," Tab said to the Noise Tank. "I - we'll deal with her."
"That's okay. I'm sorry." The Noise Tank sighed, and turned to make
his way back to his base.
On their way back Amy saw Rokkaku lorries driving round the city,
stopping outside people's houses, handing out large cardboard boxes.
"The free videos and computers," Tab said, dully.
"Do you - do you think we should tell Camilla about this?" Amy said.
"That's not a bad idea," Tab said. "Maybe she'll know something we
could use. You reckon you could write to her?"
"Sure." They turned the corner, and Amy's heart beat faster. This was
her old street.
She held her head up as they passed the house. It was dark. There were
no trucks visiting it.
I've escaped, she told herself. I've escaped.
But her stomach still rolled with fear, and she felt icy sweat break out all
over her skin.
What's the point? she thought. Maybe this is what life is really like.
Murder and people being hurt and loss and pain.
"Maybe I should go back and let her kill me."
"Amy?" Tab was looking at her in horror.
"I tried to escape, and now someone's dead." The thoughts were
bubbling up into her brain like lava. "Nowhere anywhere seems safe.
Everyone is cruel."
Tab looked at Garam, who was striding along ahead of them. "No," he
said. "You're wrong."
"You think? You've been hurt too. Worse than me."
"I still live," Tab said. "And I can still care. And there's Garam - he's
hurting like mad, but that's because he loved Piranha. Bad things happen, but
not everyone does that sorta stuff. As long as someone still loves...I
mean...even if people die, if someone will mourn for 'em, then you can't say
everyone's cruel. And Piranha has ten of us to mourn for her."
"Thank you." Amy hugged him, and buried her face in his boiler suit.

The funeral took place in a patch of waste ground in Shibuya-cho, after Beat
and Gum had been discharged from hospital. It was a drizzly day, and rain
clung to their faces in a mist.
Typical weather for mourning, Amy thought, as she stood with the other
GGs. She'd crept back to the house at a time when she knew her aunt would be
out, and got herself a black skirt and top to wear for this. The other GGs had
done the same sort of thing - Beat had exchanged his yellow shirt for a black
one, Yo-Yo was wearing a purple anorak instead of his lime-green one, Mew
had somehow gained herself a navy leotard. The others wore black armbands,
torn from one of Combo's old shirts, and Combo and Garam had left off their
jewellery.
Piranha had been buried in a cheap coffin that Tab had procured from
who knew where. Combo had dug the grave, and now, as the others watched,
he carefully tipped the coffin into it.
Garam stepped forward. He dropped a bunch of flowers into the grave,
on top of the coffin. Then Combo began to bury it.
Each person tagged their name on the wall behind the grave. Above the
names was an X-tra large tag that said Piranha - we'll never forget you.
Amy let the tears wriggle down her face. She hadn't known Piranha that
well, but the sheer horror of the death, and the pain she could see in Garam's
face, was hurting her as much as much as the loss was hurting the others.
Beat stepped forward. His voice was husky as he said, "Piranha, you
were a great GG. We're really gonna miss you. Don't forget us, wherever you
are."
Mew sniffed, and rubbed a hand across her eyes, smearing her makeup
over to one side of her face.
On top of the grave they put a small cross, with Piranha's name and
approximate dates on it. Then they turned and walked away.
Garam wouldn't walk with anyone else.
The girls were all crying, even Gum, who kept her mouth savagely shut
as the tears fell, and the guys looked as though they might, would or had been.
They reached the garage at last. For a few minutes everyone just sat in
silence, and then Garam sat up and said, "I'm going to kill him."
"Who?" Yo-Yo asked.
"Koji Rokkaku."
"What?" Everyone looked at him in amazement.
"I mean it," Garam said, his voice low with rage. "He doesn't care
about a dead rudie. I'm gonna make him care. I'm going into that building and
I'm going to kill him."
"Are you crazy?" Mew said, voice thick with tears. "He'll squash you.
And you'll never get in there anyway."
"I tell you I'm going!" Garam got to his feet.
"No, you're not." Beat got up as well. "Garam, I know you're upset,
we all are, but you're not going to do this. It's crazy."
"You shut up and quit telling me what to do," Garam snapped. "Now
move out of my way."
"No."
Their eyes met. Amy could feel the tension bubble and growl around
them.
"Beat," Garam said, slowly, dangerously. "Get out of the way."
"No."
Then Garam punched him. Beat dropped like a stone. Garam gave him
a harsh kick to the ribs, then ran.
Gum rushed over to Beat. "Are you okay?"
"Yeah...yeah, I've had worse." Beat slowly got to his feet.
"Hadn't we better go after him?" Cube said.
"Nah. In his present mood he'll just freak out."
"But he's going to attack the Rokkaku HQ!"
"I'll go after him," Amy said. "I haven't got skates, he won't notice me.
I'll see you guys later."
She got up and hurried outside.
Garam was dashing down the street. Amy quickly hurried after him,
worried he'd hear her - but he seemed intent on his own thoughts.
It was getting rainier. Amy shivered. A coat would be nice. She
followed Garam through the grey streets. Soon they'd reached the Rokkaku
building. It was glittering in the wintry light.
Garam stared up at it. Amy could see his shoulders shaking. She
considered what to do now. Trying to subdue him physically wouldn't work.
Should she try talking to him?
"Garam," she called. "Wait up!"
She didn't expect him to respond, but he did, turning towards her with a
face full of fury. Amy met it calmly.
"What do you want?" he demanded.
"I came to make sure you were okay."
"Well, you can just go back again. This is none of your business."
"I can't do that." Amy faced him through the webs of rain between
them. "If I went away and then you went in there and died, I'd never forgive
myself. This isn't for you, it's for me."
"I don't care if I die," Garam said. "I feel like I've fallen into some
alternate reality. She's dead. I just need to get out of here and find her again,
and - and -"
His voice broke, and he quickly slammed a tough mask onto his
features.
"She won't want you to do this. Wherever she is now, she won't want
you to. You ask her if she wants to see you die, she'll say no."
"Well, I didn't want her to die either." Garam stared up at the Rokkaku
building. "And Koji Rokkaku doesn't care about her, or know how I feel, or
anything."
"Listen!" Amy snapped. "There's something big going on here, bigger
than anything that's happened so far. The Assassins are let out, but they only
kill one person. Koji claims he's trying to lead the company to new hope, yet
he's reading up on the Devil's Contract. Jet Set Radio is blasted by mind
control music. Camilla tells us she's scared of what's going on. If we could
prove Koji was doing something crazy, he'd either be destroyed by whatever
forces he's mucking around with, or he'd be arrested and charged with
murder."
"And what good'll that do?" Garam sneered. "He's got pots of money.
He'll put up his own bail, hire the best lawyers, and be back here before we
know it."
"And do you think anyone will trust this corporation again? He'll be
ruined. Whereas if you kill him you'll get caught and either get the electric
chair or at least life imprisonment. That's if you even manage to kill him.
Piranha loved you and she doesn't want that to happen to you, and nor do I -
nor do any of us!"
There was a long silence, broken only by the pattering of the rain around
them.
Then Garam shrugged. "All right."
Amy smiled with relief.
"But if there's something going on," Garam said, "I want to check it out.
A little spying, Miss Winters?"
"You don't mean -"
"Look, Amy. You talked me out of my first idea, but we got to do
something. If you're right, about what you said, then we might be Tokyo-to's
only hope. Again."
"Well, you'd better try not to look so rudie-ish, then," Amy said,
studying him.
"That's not easy. You're okay, but me..."
"You can at least take your skates off."
Garam rolled his eyes, but he did what she said, putting his skates
behind a cluster of dustbins near them.
"Let's go," he said.
Suddenly a voice from behind them said, "Go where?"
They both jumped. Behind them stood Breaker.
Garam scowled. "Boy, Breaker, don't do that. You nearly gave us a
heart attack."
Breaker shrugged. "Sorry. So, go where?"
"In there," Garam said, indicating the Rokkaku HQ. "We're spying."
"Can I come?" Breaker asked.
"Why d'you want to?" Amy said.
"I've got a score to settle with the Rokkakus, and I want to know what's
going on as much as you do."
"Sure," Garam said. "Any ideas on how to get in?"
Breaker looked up at the building. "My cousin used to work here.
Follow me."
He headed round the back of the building, and reached a door. He
glanced from side to side, then opened it. Garam and Amy followed him
inside.
Down a small, dusty corridor. Amy wrinkled her nose at the smell of
mildew. This was a far cry from what she'd seen before. Breaker led them
round a corner or two, and finally they reached a dead end.
"Hang on," whispered Breaker. He seemed to be listening to something.
Then he nodded, and pushed against the wall.
It swung open.
"Sweet," Garam murmured as they stepped out into a large, airy office.
"I've never been in this building myself," Breaker said. "But he told me
a lot about it."
"Where shall we head to?" Amy whispered. "Koji's gonna be in his
office - we can hardly go look around there." This was very different from the
last time she'd been in the building. Then it had been silent. Now, all around
her, she could sense the hum of voices.
Suddenly they heard footsteps coming towards them. "Quick!" Breaker
hissed, and they all dashed back into the secret passage.
As Breaker pulled the secret door shut, Amy heard a woman saying,
"...You think something's going on?"
"Mr and Miss Rokkaku have been looking daggers at each other all day.
They've had words."
"I suppose you didn't catch what these words were about?"
"Camilla accused Koji of something. Said he'd gone too far."
"What he say to that?"
"He acted like he knew nothing about it. There's definitely something
funny going on, though. I got sent to print out some forms from his computer -
by Camilla - he'd left them behind and he needed them for a meeting - and I
saw a file on there and I accidentally clicked on that instead of the one I was
meant to..."
"Sure. I believe you. Thousands wouldn't..."
"Oh, shut up...anyway, it was this weird blueprint..."
"Of what?"
"I don't know. Something to do with the free videos and computers
we've been giving out."
"So?"
"There were two blueprints."
"Now you lost me."
"No, listen. There was the regular blueprint, titled The Rokkaku
Processor 01, and there was this other one I opened, titled DC01. And they
were different, but I didn't have time to look closely. Don't you think it's
weird he'd have two blueprints?"
"No, I don't. I think it's normal, and I think snooping around on the
boss's computer is a very dangerous idea."
"Spoilsport. Uh-oh, we'd better get moving."
Heels clicked on the floor, and then the sound faded away.
"What do you think?" Garam asked Amy. "Is it something fishy?"
"Could be. DC...it's far-fetched, but it could stand for Devil's Contract.
But it's not proof, is it?"
"Then maybe we should have a proper look on the boss's computer,"
Breaker said. He pushed open the panel, and the three rudies stumbled out. "I
can access that one from this terminal." He pointed to the one on the desk.
"You sure it's safe?" Amy said. "Whose office is this?"
"Don't worry," Garam said. "I'll guard the door, and if anyone comes,
I'll yell."
"Okay." Breaker sat down at the computer, leaning his crutch against
the desk. He switched it on, and waited.
Please give your password.
Breaker typed quickly.
"How're you doing this?" Amy asked.
"My cousin told me how."
The computer whirred, and then a Desktop came up the screen, with a
Rokkaku symbol for the background.
Breaker opened a program that Amy didn't recognise, and began typing
again. She didn't understand what he was doing. Turning away, she surveyed
the office. It was pretty neat, no papers scattered on the desk or rubbish on the
floor. A dying pot plant was on the windowsill, its leaves dragging over the
painted surface.
"Bingo," Breaker said, and she turned back to look.
The computer was covered with reams of writing. Amy studied it.
It all goes well. I accessed my father's notes today. His plot was
foolish, the concoction of a madman, but he was right insofar as he wished the
name of Rokkaku to become a symbol for power...

That entry was dated about a month earlier. Amy scrolled down to another
paragraph.

Time to show those rudies who's really in control. Once they've found
themselves drawing rhinos they'll know it's happening again. I admit the
music is a stroke of genius - the power of those mind-control helmets combined
with my own subtlety...

"Seems pretty conclusive to me," Amy said.
"Check out what he says about Assassins," Garam spat out. "See if he
remembered to mention that."
Amy scrolled further down the document. She found the relevant entry,
and read it out for Garam's benefit.

Next step - bring back the Famous Five. Everything must be as it was before.
This is not only a quest for myself, but a tribute to my father. If only one rudie
dies, then that will show the others I'm serious...yet there will still be others to
show. Soon all will be ready. Soon the name of Rokkaku shall be made great
again.

Amy glanced at Garam. His hands had curled into fists, but he was
silent.
"What's next?" Breaker asked. "You may as well know what's going to
happen."
Amy looked at the section written that day.

It's all prepared! The date draws near. Just one last piece of preparation. I
can hardly believe I'm getting this close. Nothing must go wrong. Nothing.

"What date?" Amy said. "The date on which he...unleashes
something?"
"What date would that be?" Breaker asked.
"I don't know." Garam walked across. "You reckon the cops'd believe
us if we showed 'em this?"
"Not necessarily. We could have written it ourselves," Amy said. She
sighed. "If only there was something more..."
"There isn't," Breaker said. "I've checked. This file alone is rigorously
password-protected, and it's the only one with suspicious contents."
"But I don't get what he's going to do," Amy said. "Tab said the record
was a hoax. Does he just believe something occult's going to happen?"
"If he does he really is crazy. He sounds like he's preparing for
something, though, doesn't he?" Breaker clicked on Print and waited as the
printer clattered into life. "I think we should make a copy," he said. "Even if
it's not conclusive proof, the rest of your gang may want to see it."
The document finished printing. Breaker folded it up and handed it to
Garam. "Now let's get out of here," he said.

"What date?" Beat said, rereading Koji's thoughts for the fifth time. "There
weren't any other hints?"
"I've told you, no." Garam sighed. "And we still don't seem any closer
to doing anything!"
Amy took the paper from Beat and scanned it again. One phrase jumped
out at her: Everything must be as it was before.
"Beat?" she said. "How long is it since Goji tried to release that
demon?"
"Hmm? It must be about a year now..." He suddenly realised what she
was getting at. "Of course! He'll do it at exactly the same time and place."
"Which is when?"
"Uh...I don't know."
"Beat!" Garam yelled. "Stop being so dumb! You must remember!"
"Well...it was this month. But I can't remember the exact date, can I?
Anyone else?"
Amy looked round the garage. Silence and blank faces abounded.
"This is ridiculous," Beat said. "Didn't anyone write it down? You
know, Go And Save World Tonight?"
"Sorry," Yo-Yo said. "I've got last year's calendar, though."
"I didn't know we had a calendar."
"Well, we did, and I...uh...saved it. Hang on."
He got to his feet and ran into the other room. Soon he came back
clutching a rather battered-looking calendar. Amy could see why he had saved
it - each month was accompanied by a picture of a girl in a deeply skimpy
bikini.
"I don't want to think of what you've been doing with this..." Gum said.
"Get to February."
Yo-Yo found the relevant month. It was blank.
"Woah, real helpful," Gum said sarcastically.
"No, think about it," Beat said. "Today's the 13th, and nothing's
happened yet, so that rules out the 1st to the 12th. Now, come on. Did Goji do
it before or after Valentine's Day?"
There was a long pause.
"What happened on Valentine's Day?" Gum asked at last.
"Ummm...I sort of forgot it," Beat said quickly. "But when I
remembered I got you a box of chocolates..."
"That was a week later," Gum muttered.
"And did you get the chocolates before or after the Rokkaku business?"
Breaker said. He was sitting on the sofa, his crutch leaning against it.
"I remember!" Beat said. "It was on Valentine's Day that I remembered
I'd forgotten it, but that was also the day all the Assassins turned up, so I never
got round to buying anything until after it was all cleared up."
"We saved Benten the night before Goji played the record," Garam said.
"The next night we were up on the Rokkaku building. So that must have
been..."
"15th February," Tab said. "There you are. He'll do it in two days
time."
"So what do we do?" Gum said. "No one'll believe us. And we don't
even know what he's going to do, do we?"
"Well, we can tell Camilla. Warn her," said Tab. "See if she's noticed
anything. And someone can go back and see if there are any other clues."
"More spying?" Gum groaned.
"Yeah, that's a good idea," Beat said. "You and Amy can go up there
tonight."
"What?" both girls yelled.
"You can't be serious," Gum snarled. "I refuse to go with her."
"Look," Beat said, "Amy's been there twice. She knows the place. And
Gum, you're real observant and you're also tough if necessary. So you can
both go there when most of the place'll be empty - like six or seven this
evening."
Gum gave both Amy and Beat poisonous looks. "Fine. Just don't
blame me if she gets us both caught."
"I'm sure she won't," Beat said, placatingly. "Teamwork is a wonderful
thing."
Gum muttered something under her breath, then got up and walked over
to the door. "Well, I'd better enjoy my last moments of freedom before I get
captured by the Assassins."
Amy glared at the door as Gum slammed it behind her.
I'll show her, she thought, and got up as well. "Tab, can I borrow your
skates?"
"Why?"
"I'm gonna practise." She looked at her watch. One o'clock. That gave
her five hours. She was going to learn to skate if it killed her.

As Amy walked out of the garage, Tab turned to Beat. "You just put those two
together to see what would happen, didn't you?"
"No." Beat had a very straight face. "I had very good reasons for the
decision."
"Yeah. You wanted to see which one kills the other one first."
"Well, maybe there was an element of - uh - experimentation in the
choice, but come on. You never know, the danger and fear of the mission will
cause them to bond and we won't have to listen to Gum making snide remarks
all the time."
"You really think that's likely?"
"Well, no...but they're both smart. Hopefully they'll be there for each
other when it comes to the crunch."
"Yeah. Hopefully."

It was half past six. Gum and Amy walked towards the Rokkaku building.
Both were silent.
Amy was on skates. She could now walk in them easily, but grinding
was something she had to work on. But at least she could keep up with Gum
now.
They reached the building.
"Well, how're we gonna get in?" Gum hissed.
"Follow me." Amy led her round to the entrance Breaker had showed
them. It was still open. They crept down the passageway and into the deserted
office.
"Now where?" Gum demanded.
"I don't know. I've looked in Koji's office, I don't think there's
anything else we can find in there. You got any ideas?"
Gum looked thoughtful. "Well, if he's going to do everything the same
as his dad, then I'd try the roof."
"Huh?" Amy cursed herself as Gum smirked, obviously pleased at
knowing something Amy didn't.
"Goji played his music on the roof of the building. He had a whole set-
up there. Koji will have to have done something if he wants everything to
match."
"Fine. Let's get moving."
Amy gingerly pushed the office door open and stepped into the dark
corridor. She really wasn't meant to be here, and she could feel nervousness
prickling on her skin, but she wasn't going to let Gum know that.
"Better not take the lift," she whispered. "It might be alarmed or
something."
They headed round the corner, and up the stairs.
"Can't you grind?" Gum said as Amy started to climb.
"Too fast and noisy," Amy retorted, and Gum rolled her eyes.
Amy soon lost count of how many flights they'd climbed. Once she
glanced over the banisters, and saw curls of staircase twisting away below them
as they climbed higher and higher. She could smell floor polish, and hoped
there were no cleaners around.
At last they reached the floor with the Rokkakus's offices on. Now was
the tricky part. Amy could hear footsteps above them, and voices. A mistake
now would lead to disaster.
"How many floors now?" Gum whispered.
"Two left after this. And they're the ones which Koji and Camilla live
on, so be quiet."
"Yes, ma'am."
Amy tried to ignore the sneering tone of Gum's voice, and headed for
the staircase she'd come up on her last visit here. Now they were on the same
floor as the Rokkakus, and she could hear their voices on the other side of the
wall.
"All the videos and computers...now they might start accepting us at
last..."
"Yes...but sales are still low...seems like it'll take a miracle to get us
back to what we used to be..."
"And just one more bit of bad press and we'll be knocked down for
good."
That was Koji. He sounded tense. Surely he wouldn't do what they
thought? He must know the risks. If he didn't, he was crazy...
Gum poked her in the back, and she edged towards the next staircase.
Each footstep seemed painfully loud as they began to climb it.
They reached the top floor. Amy glanced out of the window, and
shivered at the sight of Tokyo-to spread out below them like a galaxy.
There were two doors on this corridor, both shut, obviously leading to
rooms.
"What if we can't get onto the roof?" Amy whispered.
"If Koji wants everything to be the same, he'll have some way of
managing it."
"How did you get up there on the old building?"
"We came up on a fire escape."
"That won't work this time. The fire escape on this building stops at
this floor."
"Well, sorry! You're so smart, you think of something!" Gum snapped.
"Sssh!"
The voices below stopped for a brief moment. Both girls went
absolutely silent.
At last they began again.
"Sorry," Amy said. "Maybe we should check these rooms. I think it's
their bedrooms. There might be a window you can use or something in
Koji's."
"Okay." Gum crept towards one of the doors and pushed it open. Then
she shook her head. "Nope. Unless Koji wears lipstick, this ain't his room."
She shut the door and turned to the next one. "Here goes."
She opened it, and Amy followed her inside.
The room was carpeted in a sensible dark maroon colour that muffled
their footsteps as they walked. It was part of a suite of rooms, like a flat, and
they stood in a living room. The chairs were creamy leather. It was all oddly
neat. Facing them was a huge window with that amazing view of Tokyo-to and
the night sky.
"Sweet," Gum murmured. "Okay, let's start looking."
Amy nodded, and they began to search. The whole apartment was neat
and silent. Amy was prepared to bet that Koji didn't spend much time in it -
and of course, he'd have cleaners. All the windows were large and wide,
giving you an eyeful of the city wherever you looked, but there didn't seem to
be either any incriminating evidence or any exits to the roof.
"Amy!"
She heard Gum call, and walked back through the living room to a
bedroom, where the rudie was standing.
"Look."
There was a door on one side of the bedroom that Amy had assumed led
to a cupboard. It was the same white as all the others in the place, but behind it
there was a flight of about five or six steps.
Gum gave her a smug smile. Amy didn't return it. "Are we going up
there or not?"
"Ooh, jealous?"
Amy forced down a reply, and followed Gum up the steps. The ceiling
was very low, and she had to keep her head bent. At the top was a small
skylight.
Gum squinted through it. She was taller than Amy, and blocked the
view.
"What can you see?" Amy whispered.
Gum had gone very quiet.
"Well?"
"This is bad," Gum whispered. "This is very bad. Okay, Amy, you go
down the steps and keep watch by the cupboard. I'm going out there."
"Why do I have to keep watch?"
"Because I know this bit better than you and I know what to look for.
So move it."
Amy marched down the steps again. Just one more bossy-boots-
patronising order and she'd forget teamwork and give that girl a punch on the
nose, and she'd enjoy it.
She stepped back through the door, and stood there. "Are you going?"
"Yup." She heard a clatter as Gum tried to open the skylight.
Suddenly an alarm tore through the silence.
"Gum, get out of there!" Amy yelled.
Gum began to hurry down the steps. As she reached the bottom, a
barred gate shot down over the doorway, trapping her on the steps.
"Can you get up on the roof?" Amy yelled over the blaring siren.
"No, it's locked!" Gum pushed at the gate, but it had fastened firm.
"Trust Koji to alarm the one bit we really need..."
There were running footsteps echoing along the corridor.
"Get out of here!" Gum hissed.
"But -"
"I said, get out." And, as Amy looked reluctantly at her, "Listen,
schoolgirl rudie, there's nothing you can do so go!"
Amy ran.
In the corridor the alarm was still going, and someone was coming up
the stairs. Desperately, Amy looked for a hiding place. There was only one
option that she could see. She wrenched open Camilla's apartment door and
dashed inside. It was on the same layout as Koji's. She hurried to the bedroom
and dived under the bed, where she lay, trying to get her breath, listening for
sounds that would tell her what had happened.
Footsteps ran past the door. They seemed to be filling the building.
Amy lay on the smooth carpet, and heard Gum arguing with another voice.
The gate rattled as it slid back up. Then footsteps in the corridor, out of step,
one pair obviously in skates. They stumbled past the door, to the corner, then
stopped. There was the hum of a lift, and they faded away.
Amy lay quite still, and waited for her pulse to stop hammering so
quickly. Eventually, when she was sure that she was alone again, she slid
herself out from under the bed.
Camilla's room was very different from Koji's. The materials there had
been sensible, functional, smart. Camilla's bedcovers were silky-smooth, a
deep blood-red. There had been no objects anywhere in Koji's rooms,
everything had been put away. Camilla's dressing room was dotted with
makeup of various sorts, there were several books and papers on her bedside
table, and Amy could see three different pairs of shoes on the floor.
But there were still those huge Tokyo-to views.
What was going on? What was Koji going to do to the city?
Amy shivered. She had to get back out and tell the others what had
happened. There was nothing else she could do.

Gum watched Amy dash out of the door, and tried not to panic. Her heart
pounded, the beats pulsing up her throat. Once again she tried to open the door
to the roof. No good.
She heard a click as the door opened, and looked round to see Koji,
Camilla, and two security guards coming towards her.
"What are you doing here?" Koji demanded. "What's your name?"
Gum folded her arms and didn't reply. The former action was more to
stop her hands shaking than for any show of obstinacy.
"She must have been trying to get up onto the roof," one of the security
guards said. "Do you want me to call the police, sir?"
Oh, man. Gum forced her face to remain tough. There was no way she
was going to humiliate herself by breaking down.
"I should say so," Koji snapped. "This is the last thing I need!"
"Why, is there something important on the roof?" Camilla said. "It's
only a balcony really, isn't it?"
"That's not the point," Koji said. "I'm not tolerating theft, especially
not from a rudie."
"Who said I'm a thief?" Gum said.
"Well, what else would you be doing here?"
Gum swallowed. If Koji knew that she knew what was going on, she
could be dead. On the other hand, he obviously wanted them to know what
was going on, didn't he?
"I was looking for information," Gum said at last. "There's something
funny going on in this city, and you guys seem to be connected..." She let her
voice trail off, and watched Koji and Camilla's reactions.
Koji's eyes narrowed. "If you aren't careful," he growled, "I'll add
slander to the theft charges."
Camilla shrugged. "I did warn you, Koji. Something strange is going
on here -"
"Oh, do be quiet!" Koji roared at her. "No wonder the company's the
way it is, with you going round encouraging rumours like that!"
"Rumours?" Gum said. "That's not what I've heard. I've heard truth."
For a moment she though Koji was going to have a heart attack. He
stepped right up to the bars and snarled, "Listen, you thieving whore -"
"Koji!" Camilla shoved him, hard, with her elbow. "You'll have to
excuse my brother," she said. "He's a little tense at the moment. The pressures
of business, you know."
"I understand," said Gum. "I mean, trying to destroy Tokyo-to and take
over the world...man, I'd be stressed too."
Koji didn't say anything, but his dark eyes narrowed.
"However," Camilla said, "I'm afraid that you have been found
trespassing and so the police must be summoned."
Gum sighed. She'd hoped she might get lucky like Tab and Amy had,
but she supposed it was different when you'd broken into someone's actual
bedroom.
"Take her down to the basement and detain her there," Camilla said.
"I'll make the call - I wish to talk to Captain Onishima. Koji, you go back
downstairs and mix yourself a martini or something. You need to relax."
Her brother glowered, but did as she asked. One of the guards took out
a key and unlocked something on the back of the door. The bars shot up. Gum
tried to make a dash for it, but the guards caught her arms and dragged her
back.
They led her out into the corridor, keeping her arms twisted up behind
her back. Camilla followed, her footsteps quiet. Gum tried to ignore the numb
aching that was seeping through her muscles. She couldn't see Amy anywhere.
That brat probably ran off as soon as she could, she thought.
They reached the lift. Gum tried to break free, but it was impossible.
One of them wrenched her wrist, and she yelped before she could stop herself.
The lift dropped. They seemed to stay in it for ages. Finally it jerked to
a halt, and she was dragged out.
The basement was concrete-walled, and the air was cold and damp.
There were several doors along the wall, all bolted shut. Gum shivered as she
took in the scene. Despite herself, she was scared.
She heard a creak as one of the doors was unbolted, and then suddenly
the pressure on her arms vanished as she was shoved inside. Stumbling
forward, she didn't even get time to look round before the door slammed
behind her, and the dim light was cut off.
She stood in the darkness, feeling herself shiver, and cursing her bad
luck at getting into this situation. Dropping down on the floor, which was cold
and stony, she wondered what to do next.
Suddenly she heard a faint hissing sound. Her first thought was a snake,
and she gulped.
The air was becoming oversweet, clouding her head, dragging her
eyelids shut. She yawned, and dimly realised she must be being gassed.
Staggering to her feet, she tried to reach the door, but she was too tired.
Coughing, she fell back onto her knees. Her eyes closed again, and she
couldn't open them this time.

Amy reached the garage and banged on the door, her hand shaking as she did
so. This was not going to be pretty.
It was Beat who answered, and Amy's heart sank as he said, "Hey,
where's Gum?"
"She got caught," Amy said.
There was a pause. At last Beat said, "No way."
"I'm sorry."
"Come in." The words were abrupt, said without thinking. Amy did as
he said, wishing she could turn tail and run back out again.
"What happened?" Tab said, coming towards her. "Where's Gum?"
"They got her." Beat sounded grimly furious. "What happened, Amy?"
Slowly she stumbled out her story. Her voice sounded stupidly loud in
the silence, and she felt out of place, unwanted, incongruous.
At last Beat said, "Didn't you try and help her?"
"How could I? I'm no Superman."
"Well, you could have tried! You just let them take her down there and
you could've followed, you could've done something, you didn't need to just
let them lock her up!"
"Hey, cool it," Tab said. "What else could she do?"
"Oh, that's right, stick up for her," Beat said, his hands curling into fists.
He glared at Amy. "Gum's right, you are useless!"
Amy gasped, his words slamming into her like bullets. She felt tears
come to her eyes, but quickly held them back and watched as Beat turned and
marched out of the garage, slamming the door behind him.
"He's just upset because Gum's his girl," Mew said, coming up behind
her. "Don't worry. When he's cooled down he'll understand."
Amy shrugged. That was true. But she was pretty sure he wouldn't
have shouted at any of the others that way. Not with those words.
"I'm going out," she said. "Here, Tab, have your skates back."
"Amy, don't be -"
"I'm fine, okay? I just want a walk."
She went outside before he could answer.
The evening had turned into night now, and the sky was a deep pool of
darkness. Amy didn't like Shibuya-cho at night. It was too lonely. It should
be perpetual daylight there, she decided. A place for people to be happy in.
Now? Well, she wasn't happy, and she bet Beat wasn't either.
She carried on walking, and let her feet carry her to Benten-cho.
She avoided the walkway district where she'd once lived, and headed
downtown. There the streets were warm. Heat from a thousand restaurants
and bars spilled out over her, and music echoed in her ears.
As she walked, her gloom turned to anger.
I can't help it if she got caught. Why do they always pick on me? It's
not my fault I was born weak and stupid. Why can't they just leave me alone?
She knew she wasn't thinking straight, but she didn't care, taking pleasure in
being furious. I can never fit in anywhere. I didn't fit in at school and I don't
fit in here either. She kicked a squashed drinks can and grinned as it shattered
a pot plant on someone's front step.
She leant on a low wall and sighed, watching the lanterns hanging above
her bob in the night breeze. Far, far away, on the horizon, was the dark,
dominating shape of the Rokkaku building.
What had happened to Gum? Had they handed her over to the police?
Locked her up themselves? Done to her what they did to Piranha?
For the first time she could understand Beat's anger.
And what were they going to do to the city?
Suddenly a hand clamped down on her shoulder. She leapt up, the harsh
grip sending a message of raw fear down her spine.
"Going somewhere, miss?"
The voice was sickeningly familiar.
Amy clenched her fists, summoned up all her strength, and spat out,
"Leave me alone. Now."
"I don't think so. You're coming back with me and you are not going to
run away again, I'll make sure of that."
"No!" She didn't even think. Just knew that was the only option.
Her aunt's other hand grabbed her wrist and twisted it up behind her
back. "Come on."
"Let go of me!" Amy heard her voice echo around the small, hot
buildings. "Let go!" She wrenched her arm free, but it was instantly grabbed
again. The woman slapped her face, knocking her to her knees.
"You can't drag me home," Amy shouted as loud as she could. "What
are you going to do, hypnotise me? I'm not coming back, and I mean it!"
Her aunt pushed her back against the wall of a house and shook her.
"Listen here, you. You're coming back with me right now...you're an
untrustworthy, lying, cheating little cow...but you're still under my charge and
I've got a duty to uphold."
"What, smashing my skull?" Amy struggled to break away, but her
aunt's grip was too strong.
"I've seen you...creeping round the Rokkaku building with those
thugs..."
"They are not thugs! You're the thug!"
"I saw you, you and that blonde slut going in there tonight...I saw you
earlier, with the lout and the cripple. I'll tell the police if you don't come
quietly."
"Then I'll tell them what you've done to me." Amy could feel the hate
wriggling in her stomach like a centipede. She didn't know why she'd not
wanted to report her aunt once. Now she just wanted to attack any way she
could.
"I'm sure other people have seen rudies round the Rokkaku building,"
her aunt said calmly. "I myself saw that cripple going in at the front this
evening, just before you. Whereas there's nothing to see at our house." She
shoved her niece backwards against the wall. Amy choked as the breath was
knocked out of her. She struggled desperately to break free, kicking, pushing,
screaming for help.
But the street was staying empty. Amy looked round desperately - and
then she was slammed against the wall - her head rang - and dizzily, she
stumbled into unconsciousness.