Here is Chapter 4 of this story as it starts to truck on. We are starting to get to the business end of it now so you should see the story start to flesh out and become more open at this point. Anyone reading I hope you are going to take some guesses on what you think might happen because I'm always curious on what people might think. Anyway I hope you enjoy.
Day Two: Evaluation
Akihabara station without the people was strange, the silence was daunting and the loneliness was less than ideal. He couldn't even remember his own name anymore. The only thing left in his decaying mind now was just to keep pressing forward in hope that he would leave be himself again. The silence of the Akihabara subway gave him time to think, actually no, thinking tends to make his situation worse. Walking down the subway platform, the tube lights flickered in intervals, illuminating his path like it was sending codes. He wished it meant something, he wished it was something more than it was. He wasn't sure what it was going to be.
Stumbling his way through, maybe there would be a way to end this madness physically and mentally.
Naoto was a little annoyed as she taxi pulled up at the front of Tokyo University. She had to double back to her hotel room to grab the azure key that she had gotten from Marie earlier. She had a feeling that she would need it, especially for seeing Mitsuru after being done at Todai. She knew Souji had a work office for his studies of psychology in the law building. She'd been there a couple times when she stayed with him. He was nice enough to show her around as she was a soon to be student. It being near sunset gave the campus this ominous orange tint to the skies. The thing that worried Naoto is that she was now afraid of something as simple as the cycle of day because of it's a visual aspect of time moving forward. Something she knew deep down she didn't have much of. She knew she had to make every search count.
"Here we are," She told herself softly. Unfortunately she didn't have any way of getting in the West building without security; hopefully they have one on sight. It was just her luck she saw someone come out of the main entrance. It was the perfect opportunity for herself to slip in without having to call a guard to help her out. Once inside she set herself to head to the third floor. The building was open ended with multiple floors, large windows so you could see outside from almost any room. Would be very hard for anyone to do something here and no one would notice. If anything went down here something would have been reported.
Finally getting to his floor, she found the room number of his makeshift office he shared with other students. Luckily it was empty like most of the building. She tried the door and saw it was unlocked. Smiling at her continuous luck she slid it open and went on through and closed it gently. She'll stick out like a sore thumb here so she had to be quick. Running over to his desk, she saw some of the documents he had been working on with his name on it confirming it. She flicked through documents hoping to find something that might clue her in about where he was. Unfortunately it was nothing but old graded assignments on the desk.
She groaned, annoyed that this might be a dead end. She was about to leave when she saw a folder that took her interest.
In a green binder standing up right she pulled out from the rest, her eyes glued to the title.
'The Five Senses on How they Define Humanity and Self'
Opening the binder she read the opening that talked about the 5 senses, and how they dictate so much. It was a pretty interesting insight to how Souji saw things and she only got this from the introduction. She put the detail down in her mind to read more of his papers. It could be something that she picked up at a later date. She was about to close the binder when she heard the sliding door to the office open instead.
"Excuse me... Shirogane-san?" Turning to the woman who just entered the room, she raised an eyebrow in confusion at how she knew who she was.
"Err, hello there, how do you know who I am?" She blinked for a second to look for the right answer.
"Well you are standing over Seta-san's desk and from what I've interacted with him, I know you two are dating, he's talked about it..." Naoto's face flared up red at the mention of his relationship with her. "...Also I'm a law student. The Shirogane family comes up in our curriculum as a case study so anyone who knows anything on Japanese law knows about you and your family. It's a bit like having a celebrity in the building with you here."
"Oh I see. I'm glad we get recognition but it's not like it's important to us. Sorry for disturbing you, I was looking for Souji-kun; I'm in the area and haven't seen him." She tilted her head. Looking slightly confused,
"It's good you mentioned it, I haven't seen him in a couple days. He's normally here every day working on his papers or any new ideas he's come up with. This is the longest I've seen him not being in this office for a long time. Do you think something has happened to him?" Naoto's expression was down cast. This was what she feared, that his University had nothing to do with him going missing.
"Yes I do. I decided to come down and find out for myself but there is still missing a lot of details. I was hoping I would find something here but nothing consequential has come up unfortunately. When was the last time you saw him?"
She leaned against the wall next to the door. "Well I saw him three days ago actually. This was the last time since he's come into this office from what I'm aware. He was heading home to get dinner and to get ready to finish stuff at home because he couldn't stop talking about wanting to see you." Her blush returned with a vengeance as she looked down at her toes for a second, flustered.
"I see... Well I don't think I'll find much here but you've been a great help. I'd take my leave and I promise I'll find him. You two seem good friends." She shook her head.
"We just happen to work in the same room together. I'm just glad someone is watching over him, he seems like a handful."
"He can be, I just want to say thanks again."
"Any time, I hope you find him." She concluded as Naoto left through the sliding doors from which was where she came last time.
Walking down the subway platform, He noticed there was a dead end as soon as he hit the other end of the platform. The shutters that lead back up to the concourse were closed so either he had to go back where he came and move along the track on the 4th floor or find a way through the underground. The barriers were still up even though all trains stood still, unmoving, pausing in the eternal wait for passengers. Looking on, one thing seemed out of place, it was the guard door for the platform leading to the side path walk way of the tunnels. Only one was open, the metal gate flapping in the nonexistent wind. Being the best side that he might be going in the right direction he moved on past to find the walkway, well lit with ceiling lights and lights on the walls making it bright enough to traverse in. Considering his options, this is the best one and one detail he's learned which he hoped not to forget is that walking a building or underground stops him from wasting away or decaying, whichever one the miasma does to him.
It was now 7:30pm as Naoto stood in the busy streets of Shinjuku. She got a massage from Mitsuru that she was in the area and they just needed a place to meet. There was a lot of people walking through the signature junction in Shinjuku in its droves, completely unaware what's going on around them. It annoyed her that people were just carrying on their life as normal, without a care in the world, while she was in a race against time to save someone where she had no idea where he was. There was a sense of envy about the whole thing. Sighing she guessed that's what the rest of the team was going through, living in a state of ignorance, that in itself was painful, seeing one man who gave up so much and for his allies involuntarily forgetting who he was when he needed them most. Almost a fate cruller than death it seems.
"Shirogane-san?" Naoto perked up at the call of her name as she turned around to the adjacent street. Out of the limousine, stepped out a well dressed lady with long crimson hair carrying an aura more intimidating that most of the people she ran into. Just as she stepped out she peered into her limo again seemingly giving instructions before it drove away. "Sorry for my lateness, there was traffic in the intercity area."
Naoto shook her head. She wasn't going to complain if she had the head of the Kirijo Group helping her. "Think nothing of it. I haven't been here for long at all."
Mitsuru cracked a smile, a rare one. "Well as repayment, let's grab some food and discuss what's going on here. Have you eaten?"
Naoto was about to say something to dismiss it to say she was fine but the word food made her stomach grumble. She hadn't stopped to eat since eating on the plane this morning.
"As much as I would like to say I'm fine I think my stomach would disagree."
All Mitsuru could do was shake her head. "Pushing yourself I see. Well I know somewhere that's good. I promise we won't take long."
Naoto herself smiled at Mitsuru's words. She's noting just how important this case was to her and time sensitive. She could appreciate that. "If that's the case, please lead the way."
The walk to the establishment was in silence, Naoto noted that Mitsuru wanted to keep all the talking for the dinner table. She was fine with it because with all the sounds and sights of Shinjuku, it was all a bit distracting. She'd spent so much time in quiet places as of late the contrast was a little jarring. She was thinking over the things she'd see and been through, and how to put them in a way where it makes sense for someone else wanting to know. By the time she had her head out of her thoughts they stopped at a building.
"We are here; he's situated on the third floor. Sorry about the stairs." Her look was apologetic but humour in this situation was nice.
"I wish stairs was the toughest thing I had to deal with." Mitsuru's smile grew a little wider.
"Don't we all. Come," With that the pair walked up the small set of stairs to a small restaurant it seemed to be quiet with not that many people in there. The man at the front was wearing a white shirt and black slacks with bartender's cloth wrapped around his waist, with brown messy hair. His face lit up at the sight of Mitsuru. He grinned.
"Ah I didn't think we'd have celebrities tonight. What brings you here and also why do you never warn me that you are coming?" She shook her head.
"I'm here because of a memory of the past. Sorry to be vague. Also I don't say anything to keep you on your toes Hirigashi-san. You'd prepare better food if you knew I was coming. Consistency is the key to business as they say."
He scoffed, unperturbed by her words. His laugh carried through the building. "That's true; I'll keep that advice on board. Anyway, what can I help you with?"
"Table for two, in the back please. What we need to discuss is confidential and while I highly doubt anything will come of it keep an eye out."
It took a minute for him to catch up but he nodded at what she was getting at. He answered in a hushed voice. "Oh I get you, consider this place secure, go to the back and it's the door to your left, it's a little big but it's sound proof for bigger groups. I hope it provides you with what you need."
"Thanks Hirigashi-san, I'll make sure I tip well." He laughed out loud.
"No complaints from me."
With that both Naoto and Mitsuru walked through until they found the allotted room and slid the door open. The room was easily made for eight people like he said but it was a little jarring having so much space for the two of them. Both of them took a seat, quickly getting comfortable.
"Want to skip the pleasantries?" Mitsuru gave Naoto one of the menus that were neatly in a pile in the middle of the table. She took it graciously.
"Would you mind?" Shaking her head, her expression was one of understanding.
"If I had a loved one in danger the way you do now I would as well, go on catch me up." Naoto sighed, quickly scanning through the menu and picking out what she wanted before she started.
"So yesterday I started getting these weird dreams and headaches and I thought absolutely nothing of it until I started to notice the Investigation Team seemingly forgot about Souji's planned appearance in a couple weeks to help me move to Tokyo with him. Everyone seemingly forgot this except his surrogate sister Nanako." The memories of that day were a lot more painful than they were before. Nanako's words run in her head about the cruelty of it all.
"I see..." Mitsuru's frown was apparent. She poured the Sleuth a glass of water before sliding it over.
"So once I found out something was wrong, no messages were getting through, the team's memory got worse. I packed up and headed to Tokyo this morning to find out what's going on. First place I went to was his apartment-" There was a knock on the door. Mitsuru pressed the button on the table signalling it was good to come in.
One of the other waiters walked in, it was obvious he had been given orders to leave them in peace by his nervousness.
"Can I take your order?" They both nodded and gave the waiter their choices before he quickly disappeared to leave the pair alone to carry on the conversation.
"So carry on Shirogane-san, what did you find at the apartment?" Naoto looked to the side for a moment, trying to turn the garbled mess in her mind to coherent words.
"Well this living room and bedroom was a complete state. It was obvious that a battle took place in his living room. And whoever fought Souji-kun had been staying there for a period of time after the fact. His room was warmer than the other rooms and his bedroom looked like it's been rummaged through."
Mitsuru put a finger to her chin in thought. "Squatting in someone's apartment after trying to murder them, that is quite something."
"I know, when looking on Souji-kun's desk in his apartment, that's when I found the change of identification documents on his table. There seemed to be new, and the ink from the stamp felt fresh like it was done almost that morning. I can't imagine Souji-kun doing anything like that himself."
Shaking her head, the head of the Kirijo group took a sip of water. "That would be very unlike him. Did you bring the documents with you?"
"No, I thought it would be dangerous to have them out just in case someone was following me. I have them back at the hotel room, if you mind coming with me back there after I can show them to you."
Mitsuru nodded in understanding. "That makes sense. What about your contact with the member of the velvet room, her name was Margaret if I remember correctly from what Seta-san said last time."
The huff from Naoto sounded like a negative, but expressed her desire to carry on. "Not quite, we have a local god if you will. The will of Izanami lives among us in Inaba; she has the ability to control the weather..."
"Control the weather? That's absurd..."
Not elaborating on that bit of information she carried on. "We knew her in her previous form as Marie. She previously had access to the velvet room before and knows Souji-kun and his dealings in there. From what I've spoken to Marie about Margaret is nowhere to be seen since the incident so Marie figured she is a key to solving this puzzle..."
"Have you had a chance to see her yet?" Naoto only shook her head again.
"No, this leads me to my next thing..." From out of her pocket she pulled out the bright blue key, it quickly illuminated the room with a soft azure hue. Mitsuru's eyes went wide as soon as she recognised what that was.
"How on earth did you get that?"
"This was given to me by Marie. From what she told me this is his access into the velvet room, it's a strange thing for him to leave behind; she wasn't sure how she got it. She thinks Margaret left it for her to give back to Souji." Looking up at Mitsuru, only then she noticed the panic in her eyes before she tried to shift back to her stoic face however Naoto noticed. "You know more about this then you are letting on. What does this item signify?"
Mitsuru questioned herself. She hesitated but the key bit of information could be the thing needed to end this case but the assumptions made from it would be frightening and possibly have huge ramifications.
Coughing just to clear her throat, she started. "That key is a personification of Seta-san's power. And considering how bright it's glowing a considerable amount of energy has been fed into that."
That comment confused Naoto. "What do you mean?"
"One of two things must have happened. The first one is what I would hope has happened rather than the later."
Naoto's eyes narrowed, saying silently to hurry up and spit it out.
"Either he's actively separated himself from his power, to keep whatever was after him from getting it and somehow given it to Margaret or whatever or whoever that took him separated it from him and lost it in another battle."
While Naoto processed those words, Mitsuru put forth another question. "Was there any signs or resistance near or outside his apartment?"
"Not as far as I observed..."
She then followed it up, "Does Seta-san have a television in his apartment?"
"Yes he does. He has one..." Naoto's eyes widened at where this was going. "...Oh god..."
"Did he have his weapon at his apartment?"
"Y-Yes... I recovered it from his apartment." Mitsuru shook her head. With each passing bit of information this was looking bleaker and bleaker.
"So there is a large possibly that he's stuck in the other world with no power and without his weapon-"
"No... No... No!" Naoto shouted with her head in her hands. This can't be where it ends. No this can't be it. There has to be something. Anything from the information that's given her that might give her something that she can use to turn this around. Then she remembered something.
"I... I remember something Marie told me..." Naoto said from between her fingers. Mitsuru looked on in interest, curious how it could change anything.
"She told me to look out for blue butterflies. It's really vague but it's one of the best things I have to go on right now. I haven't seen anything but I wonder if it's something. Marie wouldn't mention it if it didn't have any meaning."
"This is just a hunch, but maybe it's something that Seta-san can see. I remember both Minato-kun and Aegis mentioning blue butterflies before. Maybe it has something to do with the power of the Wild Card?"
"That would make a lot of sense. Maybe it's something I have to carry around to actually be able to see. I do feel different carrying around, like Souji-kun is with me."
Mitsuru nodded, she had another idea. "How about-"
There was another knock on the door signalling Naoto to quickly put the item away. Pressing the button at the table the waiter appeared at the door.
"I hope you didn't disturb you. Here is your food." He said quickly as he laid down the various plates and dishes. "Just ring the bell if you need anything else." And with that he was gone with promptness.
Taking a bite of her food, "So, how about visiting Seta-san's apartment again with that in hand? I'm assuming it might lead you back to him."
"That's a possibility; I can make a second visit to it tomorrow. Would you like to attend?" Mitsuru nodded.
"I think that would be a wise idea. Whatever is out there has its eyes set out on Minato-kun and is strong enough to overpower Seta-san. Taking huge risks will only get us into more trouble than we are already in. It also makes me wonder, what would they need with Seta-san's power but trying to change his identity to Minato-kun."
This time Naoto was the one that brought something heavy into the conversation. "How does resurrection sound to you Kirijo-san?"
"That would be preposterous? You are not able to bring people back from the dead."
"Hear me out. If this person is trying to change everything from Souji-kun to Arisato-san while searching for the power of the Wild Card. Technically the power of the Wild Card has powers we have yet to even understand. Could that be their main goal not to resurrect him but to use whatever he has left from the door?"
"The door? How do you know about that?" Naoto only shook her head.
"After the case with the mechanised anti shadow weapon I decided to look into what happened with the Dark Hour, you of all people should know I couldn't let anything like that go. Especially since you were the one who came to me about how expansive the Kirijo group is."
Mitsuru scoffed. "Nothing gets past you."
"I wish that was true. There are so many references to the door and something holding it together after the events through the company's records it seems like your company has been looking for safe methods to replace it. Now that I think about it, there was a member of your team that isn't alive now but was heavily involved back then. The name of the one who holds the door's seal together has always been redacted, now I put it all together, it was him wasn't it?"
"Yeah it was. He gave his life for the balance of the world."
"Maybe they are trying to use the power to unclasp the seal. Replace one wild card user with another, or-"
"Maybe they are trying to open it? This is worrying." Taking another bite of food, "The only plus side at the moment is that you currently have that power and that operation cannot finish until whoever is planning this attains it. I have a worrying feeling that you bringing it back here only makes it more dangerous."
Naoto taking a bite of her own food, "Well I plan to give it back to Souji-kun, considering Marie's words it's the one thing that could save him."
"Or doom us all."
Naoto let off a small yet sad smile. "A gamble I'm willing to take."
It only made Mitsuru frown. She understood, but it didn't make her feel better. "Anyway, let's finish up eating so we can head to your hotel room, I want to see those documents."
The sub-level tunnels were claustrophobic yet comforting. The path lead itself, no confusion in where to go, with only forward was his aim. His body was starting to feel the elongated effects of being here way too long. Fatigue was hitting quicker and his body couldn't react to things as fast. His best way of getting through it is to avoid trouble altogether. The heavy presence of the ones giving chase was long gone, seemingly unaware on how to find. Whoever or whatever directing him in this direction knew what they were doing. This path felt safer than the others; leading him somewhere the world's gravity didn't have such an effect. Using the wall as support he continued his path hoping the railroading will be him to a point where there is a resolution. Hopefully a good one.
He could dream, if he could. He doesn't even know the meaning of that anymore...
Naoto opened up the hotel wardrobe and pushed back some of her spare clothes to reveal the safe in there. Inputting a quick combination the safe opened with a small beep revealing identification documents and Souji's passport still safely inside. Taking out the documents she passed them to Mitsuru.
"Here, these are the ones I recovered from his apartment." Mitsuru took the papers with a small 'thank you' before sitting down in the love seat, starting to go through them. She flicked between the papers, making sure to read them once over than twice over.
Naoto herself took a seat back at her desk and flicked her laptop open and waited for it to boot up. Bringing out her notepad, she double checked the notes she had taken through the day, and realised she needed to follow up on his electricity usage. Knowing Souji he's probably done it online so that's where she would check first.
"These are all correct..." Mitsuru's voice attracted Naoto's attention; she turned to look over her shoulder.
"Something's wrong?"
Mitsuru shook her head like she couldn't believe it. "All of the things here, everything about him is correct. Even information about the previous place of residence for the old SEES board is correct. That's supposed to be classified information. Who is working on this? This makes no sense."
"Could it be a breach of your internal database at the Kirijo Group and they've found out that way?"
"That's a possibility. Would I be able to borrow your laptop after this so I can check? I can get into it remotely and that might have some answers." Naoto physically bristled at the question. She was protective over her own technology but choked back the instant 'No' that was going to come from her lips. She took this rationally.
"Yes as long as none of my files on your group go missing."
Mitsuru chuckled. "Well by the end of it you might have triple the amount."
Naoto gave a small smile. She was about to answer but someone knocked on the door. The two of them looked at each other.
"Are you expecting somebody?" Naoto shook her head slowly.
"How about you?"
"My staff would call me if they needed me, I haven't told them I'm up here..." Naoto frowned; she walked up and tiptoed to the door. She looked down the peephole, and she was shocked at what she saw. Quickly turning to Mitsuru,
"In my suitcase there is a waist holster belt, pass me the whole thing." The concern was apparent on Mitsuru's face.
"Why who is it?"
"The guard from Souji's apartment..." Quickly the head of the Kirijo Group searched among Naoto's clothes and found what she was looking for. Once in her hand she threw it to Naoto who put it on. In a rush she opened one of the pouches and pulled out a pair of fingerless gloves and slipped them on. "What is that you need?"
"You took something from Seta-san's room that the tenants and legal office needed. I've come here to get it back." Naoto raised an eyebrow. That was a bad excuse.
"Unfortunately I've already given it to the Tokyo Metropolitan Police, go to them and they should be able to assist you."
"As far as I'm away, you have not been to the police department today." Naoto rolled her eyes and slowly opened the door.
"Unfortunately you are mistaken-"
"I know you have them here so hand them over before someone gets hurt." There was a slight pause as the tension in the air was thick. Naoto eyes narrowed defiantly.
"No." With that the security guard launched his right fist forward that Naoto easily deflected and took a step forward thrust her own left fist squarely into his face causing the security guard to stumble back.
"I said leave," The guard's head which was reared back pulled forward again. This time his eyes were glowing red.
"Argh!" He roared as he physically bulked up. Naoto eyes widened.
"What the hell!?" The guard charged forward again this time with his whole body. Thinking quickly, Naoto rolled to her side avoiding the incoming slam. Mitsuru instantly got on her feet and got ready as Naoto landed near her.
"I can't shoot him in here." Naoto shook her head as she watched the guard turn around. "I might hit people in the other room."
"Is there a way to incapacitate him?"
Naoto clenched her teeth. "Yeah I got an idea." As soon as she said that the guard lunged again as Mitsuru and Naoto jumped to opposite sides, flanking him.
"Go for his knees!" She went stiletto first and delivered one of her signature thrust kicks at full power causing the guard to buckle temporarily but before he went down completely he grabbed Mitsuru by the neck with lightning quickness.
"Gah!"
Thinking quickly Naoto pulled out her switchblade, stabbing the man in the thigh causing him to cry out in pain and drop Mitsuru. The moment of her fall made her stumble back onto the bed which in turn knocked Souji's sword to the ground. The impact of it hitting the floor alerted all three people in the room. Quickly the guard went for it. Naoto then pulled out something else from one of her pouches and turned it on.
The man lifted it up and pulled it from the sheath before side stepping a roundhouse kick from Mitsuru who had to pivot back from the incoming swipe from the security guard. He was about to swing again when Naoto jumped on his back.
"Hold still!" she roared as she lodged the taser into his neck causing him to scream in pain. He flailed around violently, almost knocking Mitsuru to the floor as she ducked one of his arms. Naoto growled knowing it was having an effect but it wasn't strong enough. She dislodged it for a second, upping the voltage.
"I said hold STILL!" She screamed as she plunged it in again, his cries of pain were louder than before. The one benefit this time was that he stopped flailing, this gave Mitsuru time to look around for something to use, and then she saw it on the bed side table.
"Yaaahh!" She roared as she slammed the kettle into the man's face shutting off his cries of anguish. He quickly dropped to his knees as Naoto pulled the taser out and hopped off him before he fell in a heap out cold.
The both looked at each other, a job well done before taking a breath. Looking back on the person they just dispatched, they saw him physically shrink, dropping back to the normal size that Naoto saw of him when he was at the door.
"This is getting stranger..."
"Indeed..."
What seemed to be an endless amount of walking he found himself at the next station. Looking up at the sign and it said Naka-Okachimachi. Man it almost felt like he was going in a circle as he shook his head. Something that he noted was that he's not been underground in this area due to it being blocked off. The station from up above was closed. Stepping onto the platform he noticed the lights were brighter than they were in Akihabara. In whatever left of his mind, that was progress. Whatever was hunting him before seemed a million miles away now as he couldn't feel the presence any more. So it either gave up or is so far away he can't feel it. Anyway this is the best the situation has been for a while. Still looking for a way out he needed to move quickly. Things may be on the up but he's body was decaying. Whoever was guiding him was doing a good job.