Thanks so much for all your reviews, my oh so wonderful readers! Really appreciate it… XD Now, about the story… where was I?
Enjoy!
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After thanking Himiko and turning towards her classroom's direction, Kazuki checked her phone for messages. She smiled when she saw Jubei's name listed for three missed calls. "Ain't that sweet. The guy already misses me immediately after calling me ten minutes before I turned it off…" She whispered to herself.
Instead of phoning him, she left him a short message. Sorry had a meeting with someone meet you later. She never bothered with punctuations. 'Let them dissect the message, it'll help stock up their brains,' she thought to herself. After making sure that no one else sent her any messages during the two minutes of texting Jubei, she switched her phone off.
She strolled languidlyto the classroom, not paying any attention to the bell clanging along the hallway. She thought long and hard about Himiko's account of Ban. The girl was also confused about Ban's mysterious reason for keeping himself in the dark since they trespassed to the Kudo Mansion. It just didn't make sense. However, Himiko's recounting helped clear the fog a bit.
He was a childhood friend. She had an accident that involved a family feud. She and her brother feigned their supposed deaths. Ban came into the picture and everything concerning the past's amity and grudges were starting to surface. And Himiko didn't miss a detail regarding how Ban's battered face came to be. The two laughed nearly endlessly over it.
"I don't know what's going on in Ban's head," Himiko had confessed as she faced Kazuki. "I'd have to admit, I did notice his segregation with you guys, but I thought that he's always like that. He used to be a loner when we were kids."
"Maybe he doesn't want us to know about your families' shambles when it comes to that."
"You do have a point. But still… y'all his friends. He shouldn't be like that. He needs you guys, not just me and my brother, to help him, especially after… his refutation." Both girls had paused after the "r" word. "It's cruel of his father to do that… but I guess… it was his guts and monetary ego talking to him that night."
"How do you mean?"
"Think about it. If Kai—" Himiko quickly zipped her mouth shut, but Kazuki noticed this.
"What's wrong?"
"Nothing." Himiko had brushed aside the thought (leaving Kazuki slightly bemused) and continued, "If Shin still owned his son, he couldn't shut him up when necessary. Otherwise, he could hurt him."
"That's ludicrous! Mido-san will never hurt Ban if he ever found out."
Himiko coolly shook her head and snickered. It almost looked like she pitied Kazuki's sudden naiveté. "You think that way because you don't know him as well as I do." She held up a hand when Kazuki opened her mouth to speak. "My guess is that Shin recognized me and brother and knew that if Ban befriended us, his son would unfold the whole mystery of the Kudo accident. He knows his son… just as his own son knows his old man. They're very much alike, and both wouldn't back down easily. That was why they never got along properly."
Himiko steered her wheelchair to the door, not waiting for Kazuki's comeback. "Catch you later, lunch break's almost up."
But she halted when Kazuki ascertained, "You'll take care of him for the meantime, won't you?"
Without looking back, Himiko said, "Every time he walks past the mansion, I've been making sure he's all right. That says a lot, I believe." She pushed the door open and asked, "You'll let the others know, huh?"
"If it doesn't bother you." Kazuki combed her hair with her fingers.
"Maybe… you could keep this down for now. I only told you this so you wouldn't worry much about Ban's well-being."
Then she left without another word, leaving Kazuki to contemplate all by her lonesome. Thanks anyway.
Returning her thoughts to the present, Kazuki gracelessly rolled her tongue around her front teeth and reminisced her brief chat with Himiko. There were still huge gaps that Himiko didn't want to fill in, making Kazuki feel devastated. It was obvious that Himiko didn't want to elaborate on the evening of the accident and why it happened.
Kazuki grunted in frustration and as she neared the classroom's entrance, she quickly turned the other way toward the stairs. She was too mad to face geometry as of the moment.
Like a thief in the night, she furtively climbed up the stairs, checking left and right if any teacher suddenly pounced beside her. She then reached the door with no fuss and opened it. She was lightly surprised to see someone lying there, sunbathing in fact. She walked to the prone form, and sat down beside it.
"You've been an enigma all week."
Ban opened one eye and grinned. "Skippin' classes, I see."
"You're not the only who harbors a mean streak, mind you." Kazuki squinted her eyes to the bright sky. "Why are you evading us, Ban?"
Kazuki heard Ban chuckle, and she glared at him. "Didn't know you cared," was his reply.
"As much as I hate your stuck-up-female-harvesting-agendas, you're a good guy. And I'd have to say, it's awfully nice of you to keep us in the gloom while you investigate your little family's secret…"
Out of the corner of her eye, she could sense Ban twitching uncomfortably. "Himiko told you, ei?" There was a tinge of aggravation in his voice.
"We both have sharp minds, Ban. I would have found out about it sooner than you think without Himiko's help. Besides, I wheedled her into telling me… some of it." When Ban didn't say anything, she continued, "No matter how frustrating he is, you still care. You still respect him, don't you?" Kazuki angled herself so Ban wouldn't need to strain his head to look at her. But Ban closed his eyes again.
"And they say you're a promising shrink." Still with closed lids, he said, "I don't want you to meddle in it because you already in it is bad enough."
"What are you talking about? I… we want to help you."
"Just forget it, ok?" Ban turned his head to the side and pretended not to hear her moving away.
He thought about Ginji… and his dad. There was something suspicious about Paul and Teshi's looks when he arrived at the party with the Kudos. He didn't tell Yamato or Himiko about his latest observation. He wanted to keep it a secret at present, hopefully giving him plenty of time to prove his paranoid instincts wrong.
"Whatever you say, Ban. Himiko might be wrong about your dad or she could be right about him, I can't be all too positive. But one thing's for sure. Whether you two were childhood friends or not, she didn't fill up those holes between that time and now. We did. Me, Ginji, Shido, Akabane, Makubex, Emishi, even Hevn. We know you, Ban. So don't alienate us all because you've found your old pals." Kazuki took in one long breath, and got up. "See you later."
She was near the door when she barely heard Ban say, "I've never tried to reject you guys…" She smiled and was gone.
Ban slowly opened his eyes and sat up. He checked his watch and blew out a sigh. He didn't have time to recommence classes… it was almost two. He didn't like spending his afternoon in Mrs. Toji's class. Cooking. What's up with that? Frozen packages and ice cream always satisfied the appetite. Likewise, he could borrow notes from Ginji if she required him to do a solo demonstration. Call it talent or sheer luck; he always passed with soaring colors.
He ruffled his hair and took another glance at his watch. He had more important business to attend to… like taking a trip to somewhere very familiar.
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"Damn it! Get rid of it! Every speck, every sheet, pictures—I want everything gone! I don't care how you do it, Teshi… just do it! Is that understood?" Kaiser slammed his fists on his desk and cursed when his documents flew to the floor.
"Sorry, Der… suspicions will rise, and my boss… he's gonna run me over like a tin can if he finds out that I've burned down some files. It's illegal. I believe I've done enough damage for one lifetime, Der… so I'm not doing another again." Teshi couldn't argue with Der any longer. He stood up from his chair but stopped when Kaiser pointed a finger at him. "Don't you dare leave this room without me dismissing you. Otherwise, I'll have you…"
"Disowned? Sounds a little desperate, don't you think?" Teshi was beginning to boil, his temper rising by immeasurable degrees. "How could you disclaim your own son? Ban's your son!"
"Don't you dare bring him into this! That ungrateful sod deserved it!" With his auburn hair in chaotic disarray, his eyes bloodshot, he looked like a zany patient from the psychiatric ward. "Everything would have been all right if he agreed to the damn marriage. I wouldn't be in this fit if he just married the bitch Kakei's daughter. Now look…" He held up his arms to show them his pitiful appearance. "Clients… Investors are beginning to bail out on me…"
"You did this to yourself, Der…" Paul said after a minute's pause, shaking his head resignedly when Der gave him a heated glare.
Der then chuckled, causing Paul and Teshi to exchange nervous looks. "Some friends you are…" Der wobbled to the corner, picking out a wine bottle from his liquor cabinet. He gulped down two glasses and didn't hear the door close behind him as he poured a third.
"Mama already said you had too much but you still turning the deaf ear, ei old man?"
Der almost dropped the glass but caught himself at the perfect time. "You're not… supposed tah beeeeeee here." His voice was dangerously low and was beginning to sound inebriated. As he turned around, he gave his ex-son a sinister grin.
Teshi was approaching Der, eyed Ban to be vigilant. "Now, D—Shin…" Teshi glanced at Ban but perceived that Ban didn't hear the glitch. "You've got too much to drink. Time to hit the sack…"
"Shut up… ya trai…tow… I dooooooo not need yar help…" Der plopped on his leather chair and leaned back, causing the chair to creak under his unanticipated, submissive weight. His face was ruddy with too much booze and was tilting uncomfortably to the side, almost as if it would detach from his neck. "Yooooooo all fools…. Ya here? Smmmmugggg is what youz rrrrrr….. damn all of youz tah HELL!" He was starting to giggle, prompting Miaka to enter the room.
She gasped when she saw Ban in the room, who was watching his father solemnly. Paul made a gesture to her to leave the room now. She hesitated at first, but conceded. As she closed the door behind her, Teshi tapped Ban's shoulder. "Let's go, Ban. You can't get any from him as of now."
Ban didn't budge. He then shrugged off Teshi's hold. "You burn in hell, old man…"
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"That wasn't very nice, Ban." Teshi signaled to the waitress that they were ready to order. They were at an unfamiliar coffee shop and Ban couldn't remember the name. He didn't care likewise. He waited until Teshi finished with the waitress and then muttered, "He's garbage, just proved it only awhile back."
Teshi was about to retort when his phone rang. He held up a finger and pressed the "Answer" button. "How is he?"
"Looks dead if you ask me." Paul continued to rub Miaka's back consolingly. He stiffened when she leaned her head on his chest, her tears wetting his favorite shirt. He furiously blushed, was thankful that Teshi didn't see his discomfort. After all these years, Miaka has always been the most beautiful…
"Paul?"
"Yeah! Right… Miaka's in good hands. And Ban?"
"Gazing into space. We'll talk later?"
"We can't do otherwise, ei? D's wrong about us though…" He abruptly stopped when Miaka sobbed even louder. Paul ended the connection.
Teshi smirked. But he could be right… you've only stuck around to watch over Miaka. As for me, let's just say, he's got a greedy soul and I'm the lax angel watching over… just watching.
He returned the phone to his pocket and folded his arms. "What's happening?"
"I've made old friends." Ban leaned back as the waitress set his decaf in front of him and an ice-cold beer on Teshi's side.
"Oh ei? Care to elaborate on that?"
Ban raised an eyebrow. "Kudo Yamato and Himiko. Know them by any chance?"
Teshi had to smile. "Planning to be a daunting detective, ei? Fits your profile and mindset perfectly." Teshi took a sip from his glass and continued, "Names sound familiar…"
"You've seen them… at the party."
Teshi tapped a finger to his chin, feigning to think hard. "The tall broad guy and petite girl? They seem… amicable." Teshi could sense Ban's temper escalating and he had to grin. "No matter how much you deny him, he's still your father, meaning you two are very much alike."
"Don't beat around the burning bush and tell me what you know about the Kudo incident." Ban didn't touch his drink, just continued staring into Teshi's amber eyes.
Teshi heavily sighed, and for the first time since they've arrived at the shop, he moped. "No escaping this, ei? And by the sounds of it, you know hints of the happening. Alrighty… guess I have to tell you everything." Most of it…
"Why don't you start by telling me how you knew the bastard?"
"The bastard you are referring to is your father. Stick to it. We were good friends back in high school… that includes your father, Paul, and me. He was a fun dude back then. Liked to get the both of us in trouble, while Paul was the teacher's pet, always getting us out of a muddle." Teshi tipped his head back and smiled. "Shin was bit of a brat, and had a nasty temper if you mess with him." Ban made a grumbling noise in his throat, but Teshi ignored him. "But he loved money… that was the catch. If I could still remember it correctly, his motto might have said, 'Five hundred Yen a day makes daddy go away…' Never understood the daddy part though… but on second thought, he hated his dad too. Was a nicotine and booze addict, always beat Shin and your grandmother up. I think you know what that can do to the mind…?"
Ban gradually nodded. He didn't have the chance to meet his paternal grandparents. They passed away as soon as he opened his eyes to the hospital ward. Well, that was how his mom told him. Ban stirred his coffee lazily and asked, "You having a problem enunciating the old man's name?"
Teshi cocked his head to the side as if bemused. Sharp kid… damn! "Mind refreshing my memory?"
"You were about to call him "De" but you quickly bit it back. Thinking it over closely, 'd' and 's' don't rhyme. So what? You have code names all of a sudden and don't want to tell the kid 'cuz you're afraid that'll blow his cover? Well, in case you still want to hide the dark truth, it's currently shelling up."
Teshi wearily shook his head and gulped down more beer. "Mido Shin is a sham—"
"Uncle Teshi?" Teshi jumped when he saw Kazuki approaching their booth. He cursed silently when she brought the entire posse. Ginji and Shido inched toward Ban, who in turn gave them the evil eye. Teshi knew that look and shifted uneasily toward Ban. "Ban… calm down."
Through gritted teeth, Ban hissed. "I don't have time for this."
"What's going on here, Ban?" Ginji asked, his forehead wrinkling in confusion. He glanced at his father then at Ban. "Why'd you skipped classes again? Mrs. Toji was so nutty that she gave you an F for missing her pop quiz."
"Shut up." Ban dug out his wallet and slammed the bill on the table. "I'm done here." He squeezed his way out of the crowd and stopped long enough to give Teshi a sign that they weren't finished. Himiko followed his momentary gaze and blinked her eyes when she spotted Teshi. She knew that face. Teshi met her stare and tried to look as apologetic as ever. She scowled at him and followed Ban's route.
As soon as he was out the door, he breathed in three lungfuls of air before walking away from the café. He stopped when a boy and a girl called out to him. He faced them and recognized them instantly: Kakei Jubei and Sakura. He made a short bow and waited until they caught their breath.
Jubei was first to acknowledge Ban. "Hi, my name's Ju—"
"I know. You're Jubei and you're my ex-fiancée." He smiled at Sakura, who was blushing. Sakura cleared her throat and took Ban's hand in hers. "We are truly sorry for what happened that night. We didn't mean for it to happen…"
"Apology accepted and no need for thanks." He courteously slipped his hand away from hers, and said, "Girls are not the only ones who could undergo cold feet." He was about to walk away when Himiko turboed to him. "Mido Ban. You stop right there!"
"Yes, ma'am!" Ban gave a theatrical salute to Himiko. Himiko smacked him in the belly and scowled. "What have you been up to?"
By the sound of her voice, the Kakeis left them alone but gave Ban a smile before they made a complete exit to the café's door.
"Now look what you've done, you scared those nice folks away…" Ban smirked down at her.
"Don't play sly with me, Ban. I can be just as good a detective as you are." She motioned Ban to follow her into an alleyway. When they made sure they were out of earshot, Himiko asked, "What have you been doing with one of Shin's men?"
"Having some drinks with the guy. Hope that doesn't offend you." Ban leaned on the concrete wall, kicking a can out of his way and consequently scaring a cat off from a foul dumpster.
"Actually it kinda did." Himiko veered to him and frowned at him. "He said something, didn't he?"
Ban didn't look at her. "More like something happened. But I'm not talking about it… I'm afraid that you might squeal out on me if I told you so."
"What? What are—" She stopped, narrowed her eyes. "Kazuki told you?" It was more of a confirmation than a question. Ban still didn't meet her hard gaze.
"No. I'm a good detective, remember?" Ending the discussion, he bent over and brushed his lips over hers. "See you later."
Stunned and faintly perplexed, Himiko only stared at his retreating form. She touched her lips, and felt that they were still warm with his departing breath. Her cheeks felt hot too. Out of nowhere, Ginji appeared behind her and asked, "Himiko-san?"
"That asshole!" She didn't care whether Ginji jumped in surprise or froze in mild horror when he heard her curse for seemingly no reason. "He frigging kissed me to make me stop asking questions. I'll kill him!" She instantly switched to turbo mode and whizzed past a very bemused Ginji.
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Shido waved the gang goodbye and jogged toward the intersection where he had met Madoka. He apologized many times for blocking some pedestrians' way but he had to see her sweet face once more. Each day seemed to have gnawed at his inner core, every minute of passing this route irritated him for the reason that she didn't come through this fork below the traffic light for two straight days.
He tousled his bristly black hair, neither tidying it back nor messing it up. It was hip as is and suited him handsomely. Frustrated, he grunted lowly and kicked a tattered plastic bag off his shoe's sole. When he was able to sweep it off with his other shoe, he turned only to bump into someone else.
Madoka landed on her bum and let out a soft groan. Shido immediately went to her side and helped her up. Bearing in mind the fact that he was extremely embarrassed for making her fall for the second time, he apologized solemnly. She shook his head and stared up at him, not exactly seeing him.
"How are you, Shido-kun?" Shido smiled. She remembered his name.
"Fine, thanks." He sheepishly scratched his head, then noticed Mozart sniffing his pants. "Hello, Mozart."
Mozart looked up and just wagged his tail. Shido patted the dog's head and then gave Madoka his whole attention. "Um… I see you haven't been walking past this route for quite awhile."
Madoka bent her head as if seeking an apology, then said, "I'm sorry. I was quite busy because I have a recital coming. It's going to be held tomorrow night at the Shinjuku Theatre… and I was wondering… um… well…" She stopped when a buzzing sound droned from her purse. "Hold on…"
"Yes? Ah… Mr. Kuranimo. I am so sorry… I—… of course, of course… I'll be there as fast as I can… yes, yes… I haven't forgotten about the recital… no, sir… I am so sorry. Okay…"
She clicked her phone off and sighed. "I'm sorry about that."
"It's all right. I hear that you have to be somewhere very important?"
She blushed as he mentioned this. "It's my teacher. He wants me to return because… I sort of left him… actually, I asked for a walk break… but I guess I lost track of time…"
"Then before he plans to mark you as a lying lazy student, you better go…" He sounded utterly disappointed and Madoka noticed it. She lightly smiled and said, "Of course… there's a reason why I wanted to take a walk in the first place."
She dug out an envelope from her purse and handed it to him. "I'd decided that giving it to you personally is much cordial than mailing it to you." She bowed her head and started walking away. "I hope you'll come…"
She was fast. He didn't even remember how long he stood there, watching her form idly from a distance. He nearly punched himself for not bidding her goodbye. Shido quickly averted his gaze to the envelope. As if his entire future depended on it, he tore it open and read it.
Shido-kun, I would like to personally invite you to my recital tomorrow night at the Shinjuku Theatre. I am truly sorry if this was only handwritten; I ran out of invitations. I hope you understand. Also, you may invite any of your friends. I've made sure that there are five more seats to suit you and your comrades this coming evening. I really tried my best but five was the limit. I sincerely wish that you could make it. Thank you.
MadokaP.S. Attire is shirt and tie for men and cocktail dresses for women if it's not too much worry.
Shido lovingly smoothed the invitation and carefully slipped it back in the envelope. He grinned all the way home.
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"Are you alone?"
Before answering, Teshi locked the back doors, engaged the alarm system, and secured the curtains. Being a detective wasn't the most relaxed profession ever known to man. Now being a part-time gardener… that was a different story. Teshi shook away that thought. "Positive. And Miaka?"
"All the crying zapped the energy out of her…" Paul tiredly sat on the couch and crammed the phone between his left jaw and shoulder so he could take off his shoes. "So… got any propositions to suggest?
"Except to tell Ban the truth? None… unless you got any bright ideas."
"I'm empty this time… all this deceit is making me feel old." Paul stretched his back; a crack in the lower vertebrae immobilized him momentarily. He yawned and leaned on the couch's armrest. "But I could swig a dozen cans of beer right now…"
Suddenly, Paul heard footsteps thudding softly down the stairway. "Paul?"
"In the living room," he called out. Miaka appeared in the doorway, her hair disheveled and her mascara smeared all over, nonetheless…
"Still daydreaming how Miaka would look beneath her gown ei?" Teshi let out a hoot then before Paul could retort, he ended the call. He stared at the phone then made his way to Ginji's room.
Ginji was reading a book, his eyes oddly stuck to one specific area of a page. The boy marked the page and sat up. "Can't sleep."
"I can see that. But that doesn't give you an excuse to spy on your pseudo-dad." He sat beside his son and ruffled Ginji's hair when the boy blushed a very deep shade of red. "Sorry… I was only wondering because… maybe if I knew, I could understand Ban… better."
"Apology accepted for now… about Ban…" Teshi rubbed Ginji's shoulder and said, "He's having a hard time. All he needs right now is some alone time." Ginji slowly nodded but Teshi could see the effusive concern and sadness in Ginji's eyes. "Just give him time, okay?"
Ginji only nodded and Teshi knew that the boy was less than half convinced. Teshi sighed. "Wanna hear a Teshi-remade story… just between the both of us though? As father and son…" Ginji's gloomy expression instantly lightened up. He always did when Teshi started that sort of intro. It was one of their engaging, happiest, most intimate moments together.
"Of course! Pinky promise!" Teshi laughed at Ginji's abruptly reawakened exuberance then exaggeratedly rolled his eyes. They entwined their pinkies together then stuck their tongues out at each other. Teshi suddenly felt like he traveled back in time; the same episode ten years ago whenever they made a promise to each other.
His arms now hugging his knees, Ginji clamped his mouth shut so as not to distract Teshi's story. Teshi cleared his throat then began, "Once upon a time, there was a family called the Kaisers. They were rich, powerful, and popular. Of course I'm talking about the father, mother, and son. But what makes them rich in the beginning? Money is always the selfish answer, ei? So, the father struggles with his business, which is doing very well. But he isn't satisfied with mere average. He wants to gain more than that. That was why, he made close relations with another man, who was also a family guy. Both their children grew very attached to one another, specifically Kaiser's son and the other guy's daughter." He paused to take in a long breath. He moved to Ginji's bedside table and held up a glass of water. Ginji enthusiastically nodded and Teshi drained it down his parched throat.
Refreshed, he nodded in thanks, continued, "Now… about the scheme Kaiser was planning… he knew that the man was working for the government, and by devious chance, during that time he discovered that the government was making a program where they could determine other parties' dealings globally without the targets ever knowing them looking in. Now, if it came to Kaiser's hands, he could easily put other businesses out with just a snap."
"Man, that guy sounds like an insatiable madman. What happened to his son though?"
Teshi hid a smile. "He's dead."
"What? How?"
"The Kaisers died a long time ago. There was an accident, you see. They died along with it. But the CD that contained the overall program… well, it was never found."
"Maybe the government is using it as we speak but thought of concealing the truth to the public."
"That's a possibility. But if that were the case, Japan would be the freaking most powerful nation in the world. Like the king of the planet perhaps. But we're currently lagging behind China economically—a sign that the Japanese dream is foiled." Teshi grinned at Ginji. "That ends the story I guess…" He tousled Ginji's hair one more time and headed out the door.
"You never mentioned the other family. What happened to them?"
"They died too." He closed the door and went to the kitchen only to consider Paul's earlier craving. "Could really use a dozen bottles of beer…"
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To be continued… XD