AN (23/12/03) : Sorry another's AN – Just for anyone who's interested, I've posted up another piece of writing (under misc) so click on the author's name for more details!
AN: Dear All, ah managed to make another weekly deadline! Again I rushed this out a few hours ago. I'm afraid this chapter is not as happening as other chapters but I guess there is a need for such chapters to link the story together ne? Thanks so much for all your lovely encouraging comments and have a merry Christmas!
kaio : Hi hi! Sorry for this late update. Thanks so much for your kind comments!!! I hope these weekly updates are soon enough. :) These few chapters have been a bit difficult to write because I'm a bit stuck in terms of the plot. However, I'm working on it!
Dark Phoenix : Thanks for your kind comments !!! Did you know that the author meant for Rui to be the main male character at first until somehow Tsukasa's popularity soared above Rui's? I guess that would explain the initial focus on Rui and the subsequent focus on Tsukasa instead.
windsoffortune: I agree that my characterization of Shizuka is indeed rather negative for her imagine! In the subsequent chapters, she will appear even worse. The mystery girl is another agent from a different agency but I think you've probably already got to the part why she acted the way she did. I guess each of us would have a crush on some person who is attractive and somehow mysterious. Shadow played that role in Rui's life and somewhat a little more … … Thanks for your comments!
kensingtonkid: Hey there!!! Definitely agree with you – Rui has always liked Tsukushi and she's so kind and sweet to him – how can he not like her? I guess the question the extent of his feelings for her which he is trying to work out. I think I have covered even more time in this chapter. It's just that I didn't really want to cover Rui's perspective on every single event and thought it would suffice to highlight his role in general. Thanks so much for your lovely comments in spite of being so busy !!
angel310 : Hi Angel (makes me think of Charlie's Angels)! Thanks soooooooooooo much for your generous comments !! Actually I have to be quite frank with you – I didn't really spent THAT much effort in selecting the words ;) Oops! I guess it was kind of more of the type of mood I was in – and I just felt like writing something more sarcastic then!! Have a great hols too !!!
Fuyu : Ah a new reader! Thanks so much for dropping by and your kind comments! I hope this update isn't too late.
cuppajava : Ah another new reader! Wow, thanks so much for your lovely comments !!! Really appreciate you taking time to let me know your opinion of Façade. I've been eliminating the many endings that I can envisage for this fic. I guess with every chapter I write, the choices diminish as well. However, I'm still working on it! Thanks again !!
Nana-chan: Wow, love reading your insight. I thought I was the only one who gets emotionally caught up in reading (even worse) summaries of manga! Would you believe that I don't own a single manga and everything I know is obtained off the net? I guess this shows how much information is actually on internet because of the many manga fans out there.
Sheen: Rui, I think you are emotionally constipated.
Rui: What on earth brought out this random comment?!?!? What did I do now?
Sheen: Nothing, just thinking about the girls in your life.
Rui: What do you mean girls? There are no girls in my life.
Sheen: Yeah, keep telling yourself that.
Rui: Tsukushi and I are friends. Shadow was … … an acquaintance with benefits and Shizuka … … I don't even know what she is … …
Sheen: He's in denial.
Rui: I am not!
just a teen: Hi thanks for your comment! Yes, one of my favourite parts is when Rui goes to New York as well. Rest assured the next chapter will deal more with that!
Lindkher: WOW !!! Thanks sooooooooooooooooooooooo much for your long and carefully thought out response. May I first say that I really really enjoyed reading your opinion and that I totally agree with you on the ideal type of girl for Rui. Shizuka is a bit too sophisticated and experienced compared to Rui. Although he needs someone supportive, he also needs someone who will allow him take care of them – does his fragile self-esteem some good. Most of all he needs someone to love him pretty much unconditionally and who is not afraid to show that to him (regardless of the method in which it is expressed). Tsukushi does not appear, on the other hand, to be his equal, nor does she appear to be intellectually stimulating. I was thinking back and realized that the only one who would probably be best for Rui (except for the age difference) is actually Shadow. Unfortunately, I killed her off in the previous chapter !!! I especially loved your expression of the female characters in the manga – it is soooooooooo true! They tend to be feminists or simply weird!
Toinks: Hi hi! Was really really glad to know that you found the last chapter funny! I was trying for a sarcastic and light-hearted chapter so thanks so much for your comments !!!! And you really made my day with the comment about not being able to read the manga without thinking of this. Thanks soooo much !!!!
Chapter 28 – Meeting an Old Acquaintance
"Stein speaking." I rubbed my hand over my bleary eyes, shaking my head in an attempt to clear it from drowsiness.
"Stein? Rui, who are you trying to fool?" My blood froze in my veins as I heard Tsukasa's voice. How could I have been so careless? I should have known that receiving a telephone call at 2am does not automatically imply that the inconsiderate caller had to be J.
"Tsukasa, b***** h*** do you know what time it is now?" I cursed fluently, trying to distract him from the way I had answered the call. It achieved the desired effect although my hot-headed best friend did not react by insulting me back as I had expected.
"I need to talk to you, Rui." His tone was flat, serious.
"What happened?" I subsided immediately as a frown appeared on my face.
"I am in New York now. My mother is currently attending a last minute urgent meeting, which is why I am able to contact you." I kept quiet and he continued, "she forced me here. She threatened to harm Tsukushi if I remained in Japan." I mentally called Mrs Doumyouji a bitch in all the different languages and in the different ways I knew – it probably took me about 5 minutes to exhaust my extensive knowledge.
"You're the only one who can help me, Rui. The only one I trust enough … …" For a moment, the smug feeling I experienced was mixed with a certain alarm. Was Tsukasa acute enough to see through the plans that I had masterminded? I mean surely he did not know how I had manipulated both of them psychologically, kept track on Tsukushi's whereabouts every time she "disappeared" through the private eye that I had hired, and many other exploits that I had a hand in? His next words sent a wave of relief through me.
"… … Soujirou and Akira are too flighty and it's obvious that you care about Tsukushi much more than them … …"
"We're friends." I interrupted him in case he got the wrong idea yet again and went off on another rampage. It was not something that we wanted to waste additional energy dealing with in face of so many other complications.
"I know. Sometimes, I think she'd probably be better off with you though." The defeated tone was so unlike Tuskasa.
"What on earth are you talking about?" I was starting to get impatient. I thought that this issue had already been discussed and settled? It was not like my best friend to be so sappy. "Tsukushi is not a doll to be pushed around or given away. She is her own person, she can and has made her decision!"
"Promise me you'll take care of her." His abrupt statement took me totally by surprised.
"Tsukasa, I … …"
"Promise me," his tone was urgent. "I don't know how much longer I can talk – my mother's meeting will be ending anytime now."
"I promise I will take care of her FOR YOU." I emphasized the last two words.
"Rui, I leave her in your hands."
"Tsukasa, you're not f**king pushing her to me! Are you tired of her already?"
"Screw you, Rui! I love her, but I will let her go if she's going to be happier with someone else!" His words hit me with the force of a blow as I recalled being in the exact same situation and convincing myself to drop out of the race before even taking part in it.
"Who are you to decide who she will be happier with?" There was a hollowness to my voice. "May I remind you that she has chosen you?"
"Only because you pushed her away."
"And your conclusion that I want her is drawn from the fact that you want her yourself? Brilliant deduction, Sherlock." I could not hide the bitterness in my voice.
"I need to go. Just help me take care of her … …" He hung up abruptly, leaving me staring at my phone in shock … …
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"J, is this assignment so urgent?" I rubbed my aching forehead as I looked at the massive document that had to be translated into several languages. The specialized terminology used was causing me a headache. It was going to take several days of hard work to meet J's so-called deadline. I really did not see why he always had such tight deadlines.
"Have you read the content?"
"Obviously." He lifted an eyebrow at my reply and kept quiet. I sighed, fully knowing the importance of the message that I had read. It was just that I needed to keep an eye on Tsukushi who was practically out of her mind with worry in spite of her faked cheerfulness, and I knew that she was about to go to New York to look for Tsukasa. Thanks to this new assignment, I would not be able to go myself to keep an eye on her.
"Fine, fine … …" I grumbled as I started to work on the document. Fortunately, the translation process got faster after I completed the first five. As I was working, there was a knock on the door.
"Come in," I muttered without lifting my head, expecting that it was J. There was a short silence.
"Stein?" I heard an unfamiliar voice. My eyes traveled up a pair of long, wrinkled jeans, a white shirt with sleeves rolled back showing thin white arms, and a strangely familiar pair of dark glasses that hid almost half of the unremarkable, yet unforgettable pale face with the shock of white hair.
"Ace!" My surprise showed in my voice. It had been years since I last met him. He nodded a greeting as a wry smile appeared on my face. Apparently, the passing years had not made him any more loquacious. "What are you doing here?"
"Meant to do somethin' about the computers." He looked around at the almost empty room. "Seems that I've got the wrong room."
"I think you probably want the computer lab. I'll show you a shortcut." I got up and opened a connecting door. "Here, it is."
"Thanks." He stepped through the doorway, surprisingly leaving it open. I had carefully destroyed the copy of the English document that J had given me and was currently doing an Arabic translation. I doubt that Ace could understand the document. However, I took the precaution of locking away the work that I had done, only taking out sections at random in order to translate.
"Stein, mind giving a hand?" I went into the other room to see Ace's fingers flowing over the keyboard. Again, his smooth, almost elegant movements reminded me of a pianist.
"What are you planning to do this time, Ace? Hack into another system?" I joked but my smile died as his expression never wavered. Geez, that guy seriously needs to get a sense of humour.
"Not exactly."
"How can I help?"
"You're good with languages right?"
"I'm okay."
"Here, I'll teach you a computer language. Then you distract the computer that you'll be in contact with whilst I do my stuff, ok?" I was intrigued – it was interesting the way he viewed the different programs as different types of languages spoken by computers. Strangely enough, with this new idea in my head, I was able to learn extremely quickly. Within half an hour, I was ready.
"Ready to go?" I nodded. He typed in a few commands and then my screen flickered as my computer logged onto a new computer network. I did what he taught me, requesting for different types of complex information, requiring the downloading of information from many different routes that prevented any newcomer from logging in. Effectively, I was "hogging" the terminal. At the same time, I purposely did a clumsy job of trying to hack into the system. We timed it perfectly. Ten minutes later, the alarm in the other computer network was raised and I barely managed to disconnect to prevent retaliation.
"Yes!" I heard Ace exclaim.
"You did it?"
"Yup, we did it." There was a grin on his face.
"Now mind telling me what we were trying to do?"
"Oh, just helping to test the security of the new computer system that my friend's contact has in place."
"And this contact happens to be an important somebody in US?" I folded my arms as I looked at him.
"Let's say it's somethin' to do with national security and I can't say anymore than that." I nodded and headed back to my own room. There was no way Ace could have lied to me, not with my knowledge of languages. I already had an inkling about what I was doing from the nature of the information that I had downloaded from the system … …
"Stein." I turned back to him and waited.
"Remember my offer?"
"Yes."
"So, wanna take me up on that?"
"Sure."
"Don't tell J though."
"Why not?" I said after a moment's hesitation. Even though I was in the business of intrigue, I hated the cloaks and daggers part of it. On second thoughts, perhaps it is precisely because of this mystery surrounding me that explained my dislike for such games.
"Some anti-interdepartmental policy shit. But you're good … … I don't like to see abilities like yours go to waste. Then, maybe you could help me out some other times like today?" That was probably the longest speech that I had ever heard from him, or ever will the voice in my head added dryly.
"Okay." I had to admit that I was a sucker for intellectual challenges – I find them extremely stimulating.
"Call me on this number tomorrow." I ended up working doubly hard the next week or so as I spent the nights at Ace's "studio" or so he called his own work station. It was really an honour to learn from a genius like him. He told me by the end of the week that I was as good as any "ordinary ole" agent in his department. That may not have sounded too complementary, but taking into account Ace's nature and the fact that all people selected for each department are gifted at what they do, I have to admit that I was rather pleased with what he said.
"Remember, don't show off your new abilities." He cautioned unnecessarily.
"Of course. Apart for not being as ungrateful as to get you into trouble, I can only imagine how much more J will try to squeeze out of me if he knew."
"Be seeing you around." I shook his hand warmly before leaving his studio.
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"Rui, what the hell have you been doing?" Tsukasa's voice nearly burst my eardrums when I picked up my phone.
"Busy." I said dryly.
"Do you know what is happening to Tsukushi?" I quickly picked up the reports that I had left on my desk in a hurry and skimmed through them. "She's had quite a rough time of it, but she's mentally and physically fine Tsukasa." Then my jaw clenched as I read the last report. She had discovered where Tsukasa was staying. Alarm bells started ringing in my head.
"That was before today." His voice was quiet. I cursed silently. This was not good. Why did I always have to be around to ensure that things did not run amok? All this stress is surely not good for my heart.
"What did you do, or rather what did your mother do?"
"I'll always remember the look in her eyes when I told her I was staying in New York and told her to get back to Japan. Why the hell could you not have prevented her from seeing me?"
"I'm sorry," I finally said.
"I don't know if I can trust you to take care of her anymore, Rui." I balled my hands into fists, refraining from yelling back at him that it was his fault that I had to keep my eye on Tsukushi and himself in spite of all my other numerous commitments. However, I managed to say tightly in a relatively emotionless tone, "this conversation is getting us nowhere, Tsukasa. I need to look for her now."
I hung up on him and made the arrangements for my own private jet to fly me to New York after I quickly left a message for J. I did not want to call him in case he should prevent me from going to New York. I only had ten more translations to go and by then I had already memorized the entire message by heart – who wouldn't after translating it into a few hundred languages? I rushed through the rest of my work and managed to complete it just before setting foot in New York six hours later.