The world that we live is not black or white, just Grey.
Shouji Toukairin stood in front of a stone grave where his childhood friend, Kazumi Takahashi now lay. His name was engraved in excellent calligraphy. The date of his birth to the day that he died. Last words of remembrance. All craved in black into the stone. The surrounding grass was cut and weeds all pulled out. He placed a bouquet of flowers on the stony ground.
Gomen ne, Takahashi. It has a long while since your funeral. Toukairin dug his hands into the huge pockets of his jacket, brooding over what happened 4 months ago. He couldn't believe that Takahashi died on the day he was celebrating his victory over the thorny case. He was so happy, so relieved. And he was going home, home to his wife and family. Wasn't it too much to ask for? For a family man like Takahashi, wasn't it too much for him? Toukarin couldn't believe that that day was the last time he would see Takahashi alive. It was unfair, totally unfair. Unfair for a man who uphold the law to protect civilians from evils hands of crimes.
The most unjust thing was that nobody seems to do a damn thing about it. The people at the headquarters just stated that he died of strangulation. Case closed. Come on, a detective was murdered a few kilometers away from Bokuto Station! This was not something to tucked away into the computer files and left there. A murder was done and there's a need to do something. The headquarters people should not let the murderer scot-free. But why are they? The way they handled his murder was totally bizarre. But the most pounding question that everybody in Bokuto Station was asking was – why was he killed?
"Toukairin?" A gentle hand pressed against his solid shoulder.
Toukairin moved his head slightly. The person standing before him was dressed in a dress which colour was of the autumn leaves that were falling across the graveyard. Shades of brown hair tied into many little plaits. Slight pink lips, carefully powdered face and eye-shaded eyes covered up the true gender of this person.
"Aoi. It's you. What are you doing here?"
"I was here visiting a friend when I saw you." Placing a few stalks that he pulled out from her bundle. "I'm sorry about Takahashi. He was a good detective and a friend."
"Thank you." Turning away. "It's just that it's hard for me to accept that the headquarters people said that his case was closed. How could they? He died and his murderer got away free."
"That's what I felt too. Maybe there is something important linking to his death that might affected the people of the headquarters…"
"Then, it's up to me to find out what it is."
"Toukairin…"
"I know what you are going to say but I can't take it this lying down. There's a need to be done. I won't let Takahashi died for nothing."
"And that's why I helping you."
"Huh?"
Aoi smiled. "After all, you can't do this alone."
Toukairin blinked his eyes a couple of times. Sometimes, Aoi can really surprised people including him.
"Okay… " Pronouncing it slowly. "You said that you are visiting a friend. Not offending you, but would your friend would want to meet you here?"
"That's because this is her resting place," Aoi answered. Toukairin, feeling very stupid, looked away like a schoolboy.
"Would you like to meet her?"
"Ah…"
Aoi brushed away the autumn leaves that hid a marble tile from view. In faint bronze letters, engraved a name – Junko Yumi. Toukairin watched as Aoi quietly restored grave to its former self. The bouquet of flowers rested across the marble tile while Aoi said his prayers. Toukarin kept silent too.
"Junko Yumi," said Aoi, after completing his prayer. "I met her when I was just started out as a policeman. She was victim of a rapist and committed suicide a few months later. She was going to a state of instability and nobody noticed it. Including me. After her death, I hated myself for letting her died this way. So, I made a promise that as far as possible, I will not let any girl end up as her. Since then, I engrossed myself into the ways of women. Though my parents objected to this, I still continued to do so until I became who I am today."
"It's strange though," He stood up. "I never told anyone about this. Not even Yoriko. You must have think that I'm weird when you first saw me."
"I was at first. But guess I'm getting used to you dressing up as a woman."
"Really? Most likely everybody is used to me being like this. Even Takahashi gets on really fast."
"He's always adapt to things quick. He has always been like this since he was a kid."
"You know him pretty well then."
"He and I used to play with each other back home. He was 6 years older than me but was like an older brother. From young, his favourite game was police and thieves. Takahashi would always insist being the policeman no matter how much the other kids protested." He gave a thin grin. "Not a day would pass without him saying that he would be a great policeman. And he achieved his dream but." Dark eyes were controlling the hidden emotion inside. "He died just like that. No explanation given."
"Toukairin…"
"As much as I want to accept the fact that he's dead, I cannot forgive the person who did this to him."
"That is why I'm helping you in investigating Takahashi's death. You can't do this alone."
"Are you sure? We can get into a lot of trouble without authorization."
"I know but that's what makes our job so exciting. Then, I'll see you tomorrow at work."
"Yeah, Jaa ne. And by the way, thanks."
"There is a petition requesting for the investigation of Kazumi Takahashi's death, Persia," reported a woman, dressed entirely in red. "I feared that this investigation might expose Weib."
"Who are the people who signed the petition, Manx?"
"Mainly Takahashi's partners. Also, a significant number from Bokuto Station. Apparently, Takahashi has friends over there. The people at the Headquarters are considering whether to accept the petition. There's a possibility that they will agree to this."
"Naturally to save face. Manx, where are the boys now?"
"They are currently in Tokyo. That's where you sent them for their next mission."
"Ohayo," greeted Toukairin to the people of Bokuto Station, walking towards his desk and sitting down. A strong pair of feminine arms wrapped around his neck from behind. Warm and gentle. She whispered into his ears, "Ohayo, Toukairin."
"Ohayo, Natsumi." He responded to her, squeezing her arms mildly. It was so good to see her never-ending cheerful spirit. She made him feel at peace with himself. Then, the feminine arms went tighter.
"Why didn't you call me last night? You promised me that you would."
"Oh… ah… gomen." Toukairin cringed at her change of voice. "I… I… forgot."
"Nani?" She rubbed his head roughly. "You forgot? Don't tell me that you forget what we are supposed to do today?"
"Of course not…" Toukairin cracked his brain for the right words. "After work, you and I are having dinner together?"
"That's right!" Natsumi loosened her grip, patting his head. "Now that you have recalled our date, I'll go and get you some tea."
"A..ri..ga..tou.." stuttered Toukairin. That was close.
"Ohayo, Tokuno-san!" greeted Natsumi happily to the middle-aged detective.
"Ohayo." Tokuno replied, walking towards to the Chief and passing him a sheet of paper. The chief read it and returned the paper back to him. He spoke in a deep voice.
"They have finally agreed to let you carry out the investigation."
"About time, they did. I came here to ask you if you would spare Natsumi, Miyuki, Toukairin and Aoi to help me with this."
"Yes, I will and I think they will be willing to help. Shouji, Tsujimoto, Kobayakawa, Futaba. Please report to Tokuno-san this afternoon after work. Is that understood?"
"Yes, sir!" They saluted.
Toukairin and Aoi exchanged looks with each other.
"Irasshaimasen!" Yoji welcomed another batch of high school girls. All of them crowded around the van. It was late afternoon and most of the students were having their break after the monotonous routine of studies. Some of them fainted at the sight of him. Others pressed forward to get closer to him.
Ken opened the door, revealing the flowers that were waiting to show their brilliant colours to any potential customers. Omi smiled and waved at the girls while Aya coldly put on the florist apron.
"Would you like to buy some flowers, ladies and gents? Some roses, perhaps? For any couples here, the guy should buy some white and red roses for his lady. White and red roses means love forever. What do you say, iiyo?" Yoji said, sounding like a pure salesman.
Some of the girls, totally taken in by his smooth words, started to bug their boyfriends to buy roses. The rest hovered over the merchandise and point out their choices. Aya and Omi wrapped the flowers with papers that magnify the splendid colours of the flowers.
"Thank you very much," said Aya, passing the bouquet to a high school girl.
The high school girl took the bouquet, her face blushing at his manly voice. Her friends began to giggle. Aya politely turned his attention somewhere else. His long golden earring dangled in the sunlight. The schoolgirls awed at it while the schoolboys felt jealous. Yoji smiled to himself at the sight.
"Treat yourself with some flowers today. Better hurry because time can only tell whether we would be back again."
Yoji lowered his sunglasses at the presence of a police car.
In the conference room of Bokuto Station, Tokuno addressed the small group that had gathered.
"As you all know, Detective Kazumi Takahashi was found murdered a few kilometers away from Bokuto Station. Although the headquarters have declared his case closed. A few others and I have started a petition, which had gained support that from you as well as the families of the victims. Due to the overwhelming support, the headquarters people have granted the permission to reopen the case and appointed me to be in charge of the case."
"However, there is a catch though I was given no reasons why. The catch is that we are given 3 months to solve it. After that, this case is considered closed and will probably be locked away for a very long time. To prevent this from occurring, I'm requesting for your help since you people had helped Takahashi in his last case. And that is where we will start. But before you do so, can I ask that you put away any personal feelings that you have about this?"
"Yes, sir." They chorused.
"Yokatta. The less personal feelings that you have, the more chances of finding Takahashi's murderer. Right, let's review the last case about Ishimaru and Koiwai. Both of them were found guilty of killing women through their contacts from the discos clubs that each of them have possessed. The place was been abandoned now and under the property of the government but we are charge of that area at the moment. I have people over there now, looking for any dainty clues."
Putting four photos on the table – each portraying the strangled faces of Ishimaru, Koiwai, Takahashi and another man. Miyuki felt sick. Natsumi covered her mouth. Toukairin and Aoi remained expressionless.
"I want you to observe the lines on the necks of these people. Can you see the similarity in it? Autopsy had proven that it was done by the same person. A professional killer. Someone who knows how to kill fasts and leaves a clean crime scene. I've discussed with my people and we all agreed that it was done by a assassin."
"Who's the fourth man?" asked Toukairin, pointing to the fourth picture.
"He's a owner of a disco club, which belongs to Koiwai. That's where Takahashi found out about the hidden passageway that Koiwai used to sneak in his victims into the hotels where the function was held. Aoi, that was the place where you went, is that correct?"
"Yes."
"Then, can you tell me more about the guy who went with you?" Taking out another photo from a file. "This man." His finger tapping on a young man with blonde hair and sunglasses. "I understand that you two were the ones who crack the nut."
"Who? Yoji?" asked the surprised Aoi. "He was a private eye before. But he quitted and became a florist. He decided to help in because he hates women-killers. Why?"
"Nothing, Aoi. Except that it is strange that he would appear at a time like this and disappear. Plus, you gave a vague description of his involvement in your report. So did Takahashi. May I ask why?"
"We made a deal with him. He helps us. We won't mention much about him."
Tokuno raised an eyebrow. "Made a deal? Interesting… Because this Yoji has been seen by my men. He's working a florist all right, selling flowers to school girls with 3 other guys in a van."
"What are you suggesting?"
"I'm suggesting that you go ahead, find him. Use your friendship and get something out of him." He passed a box to Miyuki. "Miyuki, remember that you install a video camera into Aoi's earring at ZanGUN pub?"
"Yes," Taking the box from him. "But it was damaged by Ishimaru."
"I want you and Natsumi to get some information from it. How you repair it, I'll leave it to you. Toukarin, you come with me and view some tapes that the hidden camera took? Shall we get started?"
"Whew!" Ken wiped the sweat from his forehead. "I thought the girls will never leave. But they sure bought a lot of stuffs."
"They are girls, Ken," commented Yoji. "Get them some flowers and they will be happy. Ne, Omi, why don't you bring some flowers to school? You can gain a lot of popularity from them."
"Yoji. Don't be ridiculous," replied Omi. "I want less attention as much as possible."
"The lesser the better," agreed Aya.
"Come on, you guys. Having a bit of social life won't kill you."
"But it's too risky for us, you know that."
"Aya, buddy. You really have break the mold."
"Whatever."
"Yoji" called out someone. The boys turned and found themselves staring at a beautiful woman with multiple plaited hair. She was wearing an indigo dress with a cream vest. Her glossy pink lips smiled against the powdered face. Light ginger eye-shadowed completed the finishing touch of her appearance. She was carrying a green bag with both hands.
"Yoji," whispered Ken hoarsely. "You know this woman?"
"Yes, I do." Yoji imitating Ken. "The wonders of make-up. Jaa." He hopped out of the van. "I'll meet you guys later."
"Hey! You are sneaking off. That's means we have to do more work," protested Omi.
"I'll pay you back later then. Thanks." Yoji walked towards the woman. "Meet you back later."
"Aya. Don't tell me that you are letting him go," Ken said, watching the two diffused into the crowd.
Aya did not bother to answer. Uncertainty pasted on his face.