Amai Shi
Chapter 7: Fatal Attraction
Written by AnimayWriteY0
Having witnessed the rotten corpse of Inami the desolate, odorous, and seemingly empty body. Yakimori calls in an emergency dispatch team to pick up the body and transfer it to Kamai Clinic. Sanada on the other hand locked his glaring eyes on his little sister with utter disappointment yet very concerned for her rash decision of going out without his permission.
However, before he had the chance to scold Himiko the upset big brother went over to closely examine the body. For a short moment, something seems to give Sanada another chilling feeling within his subconscious. Just before he could speak, his entire vision blurred, the more he struggles to shake off this uncomfortable and painful headache. Sanada looked at his palm realizing he is imaging three separate hands from his left hand alone. Just before he could snap out of such an unpleasant notion. He found himself in a dark void, flabbergasted he tried to call out someone from a distance away from this pitch darkness, this devoid dimension is something he recalled experiencing before back when that nightmare occurred. The stern detective looked at every angle to find some sort of opening of this strange abyss.
Once he turned around, he found one tiny glimpse of light behind him. Without a second to lose he rush towards the light ahead only to see that the more he tried to run at its direction, the further away it goes away from his presence. It's as if there's something keeping him from escaping this empty void of shadows.
"Damn it what is this?!" Sanada cursed; he stops to regain his composure. He noticed a huge burst of periling feeling from his legs, it's gotten so heavy all of a sudden. As soon as he looked down, he's beginning to fear for what's happening to him. "No! No! Not like this!?. The pitch darkness surface he's standing on is somewhat devouring him from the ground up. Sanada everlastingly fights off this frightening predicament as he kicks and use whatever force he has for his body to push up away from being sunk down. Yet he inevitably gets engulfed by the tar-like substance as his entire body has been completely devoured.
[STATIC]….
Pitch black, nothing but darkness, indeed this is the same dreaded feeling Sanada felt before and now aware of it Sanada tries his best to compose himself from the earthshaking dilemma within himself. As his blurred vision became all too clear, he notices he's drowning. Down deep from an empty, slow, and painful sea of torment.
However, this pain isn't coming from him, he placed his hand onto his own chest to see if he's having these pain-staking feelings. Nothing, no sign of change until he can hear a faint call of him on a reference to his profession. The drowning detective sets his entire view on his right to see whose calling him. Someone is indeed approaching the sinking Sanada. The figure has the same physic of a young girl, the same hair style who he had saw at the pond to Sanada's obvious shock he pointed out that the approaching soul was none other than Inami staring straight at Sanada's confused, surprised, and frightened gaze with emotionless, cold, and empty eyes.
Before Sanada could muster up his strength to speak to the tortured girl. She let out her plea for the stiff detective. "D-Detective….p-please….you must...stop her" Her eerie calls have echoed the blank dark ocean which can be heard from miles upon miles away as she starts to come even closer to Sanada. "We've suffered an immense amount of pain and suffering…please…you must…" The soulless girl suddenly begins to cry out bloody tears from her eyes as she held both her hands towards the stunned Sanada.
"I-Inami!? Why do you want to entrust me to this investigation so much? Why and who is "She" you're referring to?" Sanada being confused but curious at the disembodied girl. But then Sanada recognizes he and Inami are close about five feet at each other's face. This alarms Sanada as he tried to break himself free from the dream, but to no avail. The young girl has risen her right arm as her hand is forming into a clench except for her index finger, where she is moving her finger straight towards Sanada's face. The stern officer couldn't do anything while the ghostly Inami had placed her finger on his forehead...Just then….
[STATIC]….
Sanada opened his eyes to see he's back on the police car. Believing it's over he took a look at Yakimori only to see what looked like him but a corpse of him being riddled with maggots, flies, and roaches which made the frightened officer move away leaning on the car door until he turned to his right. Standing before him are stream of unworldly web of chains all around him.
These rattling, tainted, and surreal number of chains have been extended beyond his sight ahead of him. Sanada proceeded to move forward to this, strange, and unnerving pathway with uncertainty and overwhelming curiosity. As the wandering detective continued his path down the chains he starts to observe, he notices the majority of chains are imprinted with pictures, he examines these set pictures. To his observation he figures that these images are the memories of the victims who had died from their unknown deaths. Memories that started out peaceful and wholesome where the victims were at the peak of their lives with their loved ones.
That is until Sanada experiences some of these chains ahead had changed to a more malice and graphic atmosphere, they're now rusted and bloody. To his stupor they are blanketed with dark red and putrid blood as some are dripping down on the watery pathway creating a distortion to Sanada's linear path. Not only that but so are the images, these are more graphic where the victims experienced disturbing, heinous, unforgivable, and torturous images that had made Sanada gritting his teeth seeing the horrors of what all the victims had gone through, his body shook violently, hands clenched into a tight fist, his glare became sharpened and rightfully enraged. Images of the innocent being tainted and slaughtered by some unknown being hidden in dark silhouette. The continuous onslaught of painful memories of the victims was too much for Sanada to bare, in an instant the whole area went complete pure white as he stood up with his eyes closed. Until he finally found the words to solidify his next course of action.
"All of you girls, don't deserve all what had happened to you from the past..." Sanada spoke in a concerned tone while looking up the chain riddling void still present. "I will do whatever it takes to free you all from this hell hole and bring justice and closure…" After he spoke his now committed intentions, Sanada without a doubt had gotten a reply from not one, not two, but all the victims who were shown from the pictures. The voices of the victims have thanked Sanada for his strong sense of determination and justice to try and uncover the truth for their sake.
Momentarily Sanada had come back from his inactive mental stasis only to see his investigation partner glance at him waving at his hands at his face attempting to figure out if his dozing companion has finally woken up from his evidently trance like state Sanada shook his head and took a deep breath.
"Dude, are you always having your episodes in the middle of our job?" Yakimori lets out a condescending tone while keeping his eyes on the road. "I hate to be the guy to ruin your sweet daydreaming, but your sister is really worried about you there." He points at her direction.
Sanada soon shook off any bits of blur that's still visible on his eyes. After that comment Sanada glanced back behind his passenger seat to see Himiko and Ryumo seating on the back seats. "Himiko?...Ryumo?"
Visibly shaken up due to how her brother acted from his lucid trance. Himiko lets out a disquieted tone calling her older brother placing her hand on his forehead. "Onii Chan...Are you feeling okay? Why did you space out like that?" Sanada slowly places Himiko's hand away from his forehead lightly as he flopped on the seat leaning back with an exhausted sigh. "Ugh….I don't know but I guess I'm fine now..." He rubs the bridges of his nose shaking off his daze.
That was a really good question though, despite having gained consciousness Sanada wonders how his mental imagery from within his mind keeps popping up. The first was with the butterfly hair pin he touched, and now after witnessing Inami's corpse it came out of hiding again. What's more, to him he felt as if the images were real. The recent nightmare in which showed such graphic details in a form of chained tied memories, Sanada can only believe that he had come across the victims' memories, not one but mostly all who had been involved with such a simultaneous case that he and the rest of Division 3 members tried so hard to crack. For now, Sanada has a few things to say to a certain brunette behind him.
"Himiko, there is something I would like to talk about…" His tone of his voice changed to a more serious and firm manner of speaking."Oh boy here we go..." Yakimori briefly gulped and keeping his distance out of this conversation between the two siblings.
"Do you have any idea how worried I've been when you told me you were out on your own without notifying me?! What's more why didn't you let me know that you planned on going out today? Didn't we agree that you'll give me a notice before you do anything? If it wasn't for Ryumo being there, those 3 thugs could have harmed you!?" Sanada's relentless scolding had made Himiko feeling quite ashamed of herself while nodding. She knew this was going to happen regardless. Ryumo doesn't say a thing even though he really wanted to defend Himiko, he knew full well that he shouldn't interfere with family matters.
"Y-yes...I-Im so sorry…I shouldn't have done what I did, now you're really worried for
me and you had to go through all the things you did to keep me safe..." Himiko close to tearing her eyes while she shakes passively, and the fact that if Ryumo wasn't there who knows what the 3 thugs could have done to her.
"Himiko…. from now on you're not allowed to go out without anyone being there with you." Sanada stated in a clear earnest manner. He looks at Ryumo knowing that he doesn't like the idea of not seeing Himiko for a long time, but Sanada just needs to discipline his sister to be sure she doesn't get herself into trouble again. "J-Jeez Sanada San...isn't that a bit harsh man? I mean come on, it almost feels like you're not giving your sister any space to decide." The wildly officer states his concern for Himiko since she just couldn't help but hang out with someone for a while.
Seeing where his cop partner is going with this and understanding his defense for his little sister, his point still stands after what happened at the pond "It's the best course of action to keep her safe, I mean she is the only person who I hold close to me, and the only reason why I kept pushing myself forward to look after her. Yakimori even though you are a decent guy to talk to and be around with. You have no place to tell me off about my decision for Himiko…" Sanada lets out a frustrated sigh. The annoyed brother just looked at the window and wanted to keep his feelings to himself just to stay professional. With all the rant he let out on his sister his harsh concern has subsided.
Himiko had almost let her tears escape her eyes but found the strength to hold them back while looking at Ryumo, she sees that the young man had placed his hands on her shoulder while he shook his head indicating that it's not the best time to cry. He doesn't want her to feel guilty, it was actually his choice that caused Himiko to accept his invitation, he's the one who wanted her to come to hang out. Ryumo silently ensures Himiko that she's not to blame.
He took a glance at the two seeing their interaction, deep down Sanada almost made a genuine smile but doesn't want anyone to notice. Soon enough the stern eyed detective turns his attention to Yakimori. "Alright back to business, it's strange given what we have from our newest discovery. Inami happened to die the same way just like Ai but what's bothering me right now is what we heard based on Ryumo's encounter with those three goons. Right?" He turns to Ryumo awaiting his response.
"Uh...yeah, the three thugs really wanted to get close to Himiko, those type of low life's trying out their chance with a pretty girl." He also found it strange that they basically ignored his existence when they're around Himiko. And only Himiko, there were other beautiful girls at the same location near them and yet those punks chose to check the brunette out out. "Despite saying no, and asking them to leave us alone, one of them tried to take me. That's when Ekijo San protected me from them." Ryumo places his hand on her hand while Himiko grip tightly feeling much more secure like this. Ryumo smiled while he turns to the brunette's older brother. "They even did it when there's a lot of people present at that spot."
"So, a bunch of dudes who happened to be bold enough to try and kidnap Himiko Chan for no reason despite the place having a decent amount of people to witness it...That's definitely fishy." Yakimori continued to chew on his tooth pick out of confusion.
"I agree...speaking of which. If MRI does indicate that the corpse was indeed Inami and suffered the same fate as Ai, then I would most definitely have to guess that the killer is associated with a fanatical cult conducting sacrificial rituals on the missing girls as offerings for something or someone. Hence forth why Sasiki and I dub it the Five Claw Ritual..." Sanada tries to see whether this is worth looking into, but in his honest opinion having to find clues based on logical facts won't be enough to track down the truth to all of this. Even if it's ridiculous to think there's something paranormal involved it still holds the pieces waiting to be discovered so this dead-end case would finally be done with properly. "I believe we should give Jazu a visit. But first we'll have to drop these two off so we can proceed our task."
Aware of their conversation, the two youngsters do need to be dropped off back to their home. Ryumo wanting to be dropped off right by Fresco groceries to get a few things before he goes. Himiko will be sent home right after.
"Hmmm What do you mean Onii chan? You really haven't been angry at me..I didn't let you know what I've been doing today..." She tilts her head wondering what her brother is on about here.
Becoming flustered and losing his wordings, the clearly flustered Sanada coughs and tries to speak properly and professionally. "Well, it is improper for a caring brother such as me to be so uptight like that. If I ever went out of line, I would take responsibility for being unfair on making decisions for you. From now on, I'll let you do your thing without having to ask me for permission just so as long you have someone by your side that both of us trust."
Out of nowhere Himiko hugged her brother tightly from behind grateful, joyful, and gleaming from that response coming from him. "Ohh Onii chan! Thank you! Thank you! You have no idea how happy that makes me feel when you said that!" Her grip becomes tighter as Sanada tried to fight off her loving death grip.
"Kuhhhhhh…..H-Himiko...I-I can't b-breathe!…." Sanada's face turning blue in an instant then finally let out a huge gasp once Himiko let go. "Hehe sorry I just can't help myself! Anyways thank you! And good luck!"
Once Ryumo had been dropped off right in front of the supermarket. Himiko says her goodbyes to Ekijo San. With that the two police duo went straight to Shibumi residence and dropped Himiko in front. Sanada rolled down his window and pats Himiko on the head. "Stay safe Himiko, and...I'm sorry I got angry at you like that." Himiko smiled and blushes while giving her big brother a sweet and warm hug. "It's alright, you're right about the dangers of going out alone. Maybe I'll ask grandma or Ryumo to keep me company when I go out to do grocery shopping or just wanting to keep myself busy." Sanada nods. "That's for the best, alright sis I'm off back to work." Then suddenly Yakimori butts in on their conversation. "Hey don't worry Himi Chan! I'll keep your brother out of trouble! You can count on me for that!" Sanada sports a huge tick mark on his forehead, tirade at the thought of calling his sister that. "Oi! Who gave you permission to call her tha-?! Whaaaaaa!" Before Sanada could object such a name, suddenly Yakimori hits the gas petal making the car drive immediately over 45 miles away from Himiko. Himiko giggles as she waves goodbye.
Once Sanada could barely see Himiko from the rear-view mirror he slumps back on the car seat. "Phew….well that turned out better than I hoped..." Then coming from his left, he heard a snort. "What?" He turned his attention to his laughing partner. "Seriously whats so funny?"
"Ohhh look at you are becoming more charming than ever before. Haha!" Yakimori burst out laughing having to hear such an uncharacteristic change from Sanada. "Dude, the way she hugged you and your reaction to it is just so damn hysterical!"
"Tch….urghh shut up. I'm just trying to let my sister know she's a big girl and I won't have to tell her how she should handle her business that's all." Sanada grumbles and crosses his arms in utter annoyance. After a few laughs Yakimori then changed back to his usual self and gave Sanada a fist pump right at his shoulder. This in turn caught Sanada's attention to know what his hyper energetic officer wants. "Dude, you should be proud of how you handled your interaction with your sister."
"Hm Whats up with you? I never heard of you being this sincere?" Curious as to why Yakimori went from being his hyperactive self to a more chilled and relaxed behavior. "Hey Jingo San, you seem to be more chill than you are now. It's starting to bug me a bit." Sanada seeing through that sudden change of attitude from Yakimori got a little curious. "Yeah well, I wish I could be like that to my younger brother, but I could never get the chance like that in like ever..." Yakimori sighs as his smile form into a lonely frown. This in turn caught Sanada's interest and attention. "You see pal, back at the time when I was about half my age before all this. I always play sports and do outdoor activities with my younger brother, Yusako. He and I had always been the best-est friends."
Feeling a bit concerned on what this conversation may turn out to be Sanada made sure to let his investigation partner know he doesn't have to share his story if he's too uncomfortable. "Dude, you really don't have to share your story…don't wanna see you go gloomy on me." Yakimori rolled his eyes. "Ha..Ha funny pal. I'm fine sharing it to ya." Yakimori then told his story while Sanada listens in through his perspective.
[Summer 2005]
Young Yakimori at the age of eleven is playing soccer with his younger brother Yusako. He calls out to his younger brother to give it a kick. Yakimori then position himself to defend the goal from the ball going straight in the net. Yusako tries to find out a way to get the ball in the goal bypassing his defending brother, he realizes that Yakimori is turning his attention to the ball, so he feints the kick which had made Yakimori move further to the left at the direction he thought Yusako would kick. Unfortunately, he fell for the trick as Yusako kicked the ball at the other way and the soccer ball had managed to go in the goal. Yusako jumped triumphantly at his cunning decisions while Yakimori walk towards his brother and ruffles his head.
"Way to go bro! You really did a great job using your smarts
to outsmart your opponent." "You're on your way to becoming an excellent athletic player for the big leagues."
"O-ohhh y-yeah! I'll definitely do whatever I can to make you proud!" He smiles a little only to look at the sides. "Hmmm? Whats up little bro?" Yakimori saw a bit of sadness behind that smile of his little brother. "N-no nothing, I'll do my best to make a name for the Jingo family!" He toughens out and became confident only so his brother can be prouder of him. "Alright that's the spirit! Let's keep practicing!"
"A-alright..." Normally the young lad is having fun playing these types of things but he wouldn't have much thought of actually going to be participating in a real game. Yusako wished that he can at least do what he loves to do best, draw and create his very own t.v. show anime, where he can let out his enormous imaginations and show his love for the entertainment industries providing high quality work.
However, because of his need to impress his family especially his older brother, he would sacrifice his own career and go along with what his brother wanted him to become. A sports athlete, primarily a professional soccer player. So, he worked twice as hard to be as good as the top players from their respective teams.
[Spring 2010]
At Yokohama Sports Stadium, the scores are shown from the big screen, 21 for the red hawks to the 23 for the Blue Sharks in which Yusako is playing on. Yusako played the goalie able to handle most of the game play out on the field but now being his turn to protect the goal. The Red hawks just needed one score to beat the Blue Sharks. Tension has risen from both the opposing crowds, Yakimori with their parents watching over Yusako proceeded to further support his actions by cheering him on.
"Come on little bro win it for us! You can do it!" He cheers his little brother on to no end to further support him. Same with the other crowds as they cheer for the Blue Sharks. Even some cheering for Yusako by calling out his name in a chant. "Lets go Yusako, Lets go! Lets go Yusako Lets go!"
Now focused as ever from the massive support from the whole crowd, and of course his family and brother. He was the one who had managed to break the tie with the score from his last field game. In which gave him the motivation to keep on going for the team and family. He sets his sights on the approaching opposing team member with the soccer ball getting ready to strike a goal. A few of his co players are trying to block the striker, they failed to stop him from getting close to the goal, seeing a potential hit the striker kicked the soccer ball towards Yusako's goal. At first the ball tilted at the left so Yusako covers his right to catch it only to be heard from his older brother of the shocking turn.
"Yusako! That's a spin ball! It's turning to the right!" Yakimori yelled "D-damn it!...No time to.." Suddenly he jumped to his left and managed to block the ball securing the victory of the Blue Sharks.
The score stayed 21 to 23 and the Blue Shark Crowd bursts into a loud pop. But for the Yakimori family they were shocked. Yakimori immediately ran down the stadium and jumps off the rails while rushing his way toward his little brother lying motionless from where he was hit. He holds his body to realize that he's dead. The incoming ball had hit his head so hard that his neck had snapped from the impact. Yakimori's pupils changed to a small dot, body shaken, and his eyes filled with tears. Lamenting his loss of his younger brother holding his corpse close mourning to no end.
After the funeral service Yakimori went into Yusako's room to keep himself from being lonely. Then he noticed a sheet of paper laying on his brother's office table. The older brother read the note which was written from his little brother. To his shock and guilt, despite how loving his little brother has for his older brother he noticed that he wished that he can at least do what his little brother want to do best but he couldn't because he has to work his way up for Yakimori. This indeed brought Yakimori to his knees on how horrible he has been pushing his own little brother to do what HE wants him to do instead of allowing his brother to do what he loves.
Yakimori while still driving, felt reminiscent about his brother's fate and the noticeable guilt over not allowing his younger brother to be who he is as a person. This in turn made Sanada think about his past conversation with Himiko and regret his way of handling it.
"Jingo San...I..." Sanada having heard of Yakimori's loss for his younger brother had really made him show some sense of vulnerability due to his own understanding of losing someone he cares about as well. So, Sanada pats the shoulder of his companion. "I understand man, I know what that's like to lose someone I care for."
Yakimori nodded. "Thanks for understanding man, I can already you lost someone you cared for as well." He took a deep breath as he finally arrived to Kyoto Prison. "Alright we are here." With that Sanada concentrate his thoughts on the job. "Ok partner let's get this over with."
Now that the two-cop duo are on their way to said prison. Yakimori brought up a point about why they shouldn't visit the murderer who killed Inami. Sanada then points out that since Ryumo is highly innocent and falsely accused of murdering Ai he figured that Jazu may have experienced the same issue. "Are you sure about that man? Because I can't express enough on how that lunatic would respond if we do decide to get any answers from him?"
"Jingo San, have you ever heard of not jumping into conclusions? Because you're putting up a thought process with subjective perspective. I'm doing this objectively, so we won't be too biased to what's presented to us." He stoically counters Yakimori's response.
The two detectives of Division 3 are entering the building as they're greeted by a front desk associate who wanted to know what the type of business they're here for. Sanada explained their plan to visit a man name Jazu Kiwani for information regarding to a case related to him. The associate gladly obliges. So, of course they are asked to wait until the warden for his set prison sector is tasked to check up on Jazu. For a decent amount of time, both detectives' names were called. Sanada and Yakimori are being led and escorted to the interaction room. What they saw are 2 guards standing behind a man who looks out of shape and bewildered. What's more, they also noticed the individual is being strapped with a stray jacket. Cautiously and carefully the two officers took their seat while putting their attention to the silent man who just stare blankly at the glass interface wall.
"Kiwani San I presume?" Sanada stayed to his firm tone to know he is going to take this conversation as serious as he can be considering what he knows of Jazu's bizarre stories regarding to his life. "What...do you two want? Are you all here to make a mockery out of me like all the rest?" He stated out of a disturbed and robotic demeanor. "Of course not, what we are here is your involvement with Toshiba San. We would like to know what your relationship is with her and how you were placed in solitary confinement." Sanada made sure to play his cards right to get some decent number of hints from this conversation about said joint cases with AI and Inami.
The tired man sets his eyes at the stern looking officer and left a broken frown. He proceeded to tell them what he knows. "If you're interested to what I can offer you...then please do know that what I'm about to tell you would be something you should really believe...As you can see, me being placed in solitary confinement are upon the request of myself."
"What? Why would you subject yourself to a punishment that can deteriorate your sanity?" This indeed surprises both Sanada and Yakimori but due to Sanada being the more neutral talker, Yakimori allows his partner to do all the talking as he sits back and listen in on the conversation.
"It was all to keep myself from being targeted by a group of people who wants to keep the truth from being revealed..."
"Are you saying that there is more to the disappearance of Inami?" Sanada crosses his arms and bends a little forward to get a read on this man. "Yes…I was there, I have experienced the torment my Inami had to go through until she was gone before my very eyes...they….they struck her with so many different blades..." The man suddenly starts to let out tears from his eyes. While the two guards are trying to keep the man from going hysterical, but Sanada addresses the two guards do not reprehend him. "T-Thank you, you see….my Inami have been changed the moment SHE took over her like how the Mu-Onna did to absorb children….it sickens me….The fact those savages were trying to perform some sort of ritual on my Inami they have made me sit and watch her slowly die and hear her screams from each consecutive stabs...they were actually enjoying my misery and the pain they inflicted to my Inami!...and then SHE...had to take her face to spite me further…! That was until they were satisfied with their sick pleasure and allowed me to escape as long as I don't spill any info of their operation... if I did, they would send their assailants to kill me off..."
The two detectives looked at each other baffled to such information. To Sanada it's clear the man has suffered PTSD from his experience of losing his woman but also being targeted. And what's more Jazu had brought up the same thing that Inami had explained from his previous dream encounter that this is the work of a female killer and solely responsible for the suffering of this man.
"So, you mean to tell me that you arrested yourself to keep yourself from being killed by someone who wants to keep the truth from being revealed?" The weak looking Jazu nodded. "Yes, which is why I
need someone believe in my story and take it seriously so that way my justice, and Inami's justice will be served...but it didn't go as planned as I thought...no one believed me."
The stern eyed detective stood up and bows to Jazu. "If that's the case...then I believed your story." Both Yakimori and Jazu were immediately surprised at Sanada's reply. "Even though it's hard to understand all of this but then again, you're a man of honesty and pride...the fact that your profile has shown that you have no signs of criminal activity besides the self-conviction you had on yourself. I can ensure that I'll bring justice for Inami San."
"T-Thank you Detective!..." He finally lets out his emotions while he was being escorted by the 2 guard wardens as they take the man back to his cell when his grace period became long overdue during this visit.
The two detectives deliberate and rationalize their meeting with Jazu, Sanada being able to somewhat understand Jazu's claim while Yakimori is still considering the fact the guy is a big lunatic given the way he looked and the way he told his story. On top of Sanada's mind, he seems concerned if Ryumo could be in danger. "You know Yakimori, I got the feeling Ryumo might be targeted given his involvement with Ai, since he's still out and about in public.
"You think we should at least try and see what we get from the MRI results first?...Oh speak of the devil." Yakimori checked his phone, the call came from Division 3 Headquarters. He answered putting speaker mode for Sanada to hear as well. "Hello, this is Yakimori."
"Hey, it's me Sasiki, you guys should really come over to check out on what we found from MRI but not only that we gained some new extra information."
"Really?! Dang you guys work fast, I like that!" Yakimori is getting pumped as usual.
"There's more, Kei is on the search for Ryumo." Sasiki said.
"Wait why? We just dropped the kid off at Fresco. Why was he needed for this one?"
"It's because he is the only person who we know that have some answers for what we discovered right now so you must assist Kei on finding Ryumo immediately."
"Alright Utochi San, I'll be assisting Kei while Yakimori's going back to HQ to look into your findings. I'll be going on foot since Fresco is not that far from where we are."
"Alright, good luck you two." Sasiki said preparing to hang up.
"Thank you." Sanada turned to Yakimori, Yakimori nods confirming that he will be fine. "Thanks bud...let me know of what you'll see there."
"I will….good luck man!" And so, the two detectives are split again to do their tasks, once Yakimori has driven off straight back to Division 3 headquarters. Sanada decided to walk at the direction where he and Yakimori had dropped off Ryumo while looking for Kei. Halfway there he feels a presence that seem to get Sanada shaken up. But once he noticed his phone is ringing, he then feels a tug on his right arm as if it was being pulled on its own. Once he turned to the attention of said tug, he's surprised to see someone who he least expected, it's Miyazu Kanatoshi. She's holding his arm where he tried to pick up his phone.
"Gah!? Kanatoshi San!? Where did you come from?!" The surprised officer was left stunned and noticed she is getting way too close to him.
"Hehehehe Hi there Mr. Detective how was your job going along?" The twin ponytail red head obviously trying to let out an elegant and somewhat alluring aroma and tone of her voice. "Hey you should hang out with me for awhile!"
Flabbergasted from this strange display of behavior coming from Miyazu, Sanada tried to politely persuade Miyazu to leave him some distance so he can have his personal space back. "Kanatoshi san I'm actually really busy…" He sees his phone continue to ring but he then was being pulled by Miyazu.
"Ohhh come on let's just hang out! You've been working too hard! At least spare a few for little lonely Miyazuuu." She then grasps her arms more on Sanada's left arm.
This inevitably had Sanada make a confused look from this but still hold his stern gaze while trying to get his phone. "I apologize but I have things to do right now….." Before he could try and get away from this awkward situation, Miyazu then dragged the officer to a nearby pastry cafe as she pleads the detective to spend time with her.
He cursed his gentleman like ways, so he begrudgingly accepts as he orders some pastry goods on behalf of Miyazu's choices. He sat on the opposite side with Miyazu as she helped herself with some sweets. This in turn had irritated the stern looking officer.
Meanwhile Kei has tried to call for Sanada for the sole reason of the tight situation presented to her where she's hiding out of sight from what looks like two people in ski masks in concealed combat attire pinning down Ryumo at Sagaoritocho outskirts between an alleyway. She couldn't do anything but watch on to see Ryumo being tormented by the two assailants. She couldn't draw her gun because she's a horrible shot and if she does do it, she's running the risk of fatally injuring Ryumo.
"What can I do….I can't risk injuring Ryumo, I could call Headquarters...but I would create suspicion...Ohhhh Sanada where are you?..." She held her gun shakily only to witness the two beating down a frightened Ryumo being unable to fight off their barrage of kicks and punches. She couldn't bear to see him hurt so she is going to risk it. "Stop right there! Step away from the young man and drop your...!" Suddenly she felt something being pressed to her head only to see from her side that she's being held at gun point by another one. Kei drops her weapon and raised her hands up feeling completely helpless.
"Ugh…..Wume San! Urghh!" The young boy gets a kick to the gut from one of the attackers. "Quiet, you won't want to have the young lady being shot down if you ever do decide to beat us to a pulp."
Kei starts to shed tears feeling afraid and failing to do her job properly, and because of this she had been held hostage in front of a heavily injujred Ryumo. She had made the biggest mistake of not being more aware of her surroundings and created more trouble for herself and the beaten down Ryumo. The gun pointing assailant proceeded to a give order for the two others to continue their beat down on Ryumo. Kei, being unable to do anything is now praying for Sanada to get her texts.
From not so far from the scene, Sanada is being forced to shop around with Miyazu as they're at a clothing store at the moment. Sanada being able to have some space, he checked on his phone, to his absolute fearfulness he realized that Kei has sent out distress messages. So, he finally put this nonsense aside to help his distressed comrade.
"Kanatoshi! I have to go now….! I seriously have a job to do!" Before he could get through the door, he's been stopped again by Miyazu once more.
"B-But! We just got to know each other I want to spend some time with you!.." She gets even closer to an uncomfortable degree. "Maybe I'll let you have some fun with me…"
Having heard that, he's literally enraged and state his brutal honesty towards her. "Girl, I have no time for this rubbish you're freakin 16 get your dirty hands off me! And I don't even know you and right now you're pissing me off! If you continue to hold me back one more time, I'll arrest you for obstructing an officers duty!"
Miyazu backed away from seeing the venomous threatening glare she sees from Sanada as her scared reaction surfaces as she dropped the clothes. "Y-You big meanie!… F-Fine have it your way!" She ran away from the experience she had with Sanada.
"Damn it, now I went a bit far….but I must help Kei right now!" He rushes out of the clothing store and ran around a place closest to what Kei mentioned on her text. For a few minutes he sees people approaching a scene that's not too far from the outskirts of Sagaoritocho. So he goes to that direction and once he is about 20 feet away from the scene with a bunch of people staying still, scared hoping that nothing happens Sanada sees Kei being held down from gun point and Ryumo being constantly being beaten down. "Damn it…what can I do!….wait…" He sees a sewer cap behind the gun pointing assailant, he looks around to see a sewer cap that is connected to that one.
To his luck there's one from the far left of him. So, Sanada does exactly what he is going to do, go in the sewer line, sneak up behind the assailant with the gun, opening the sewer cap quietly. He slowly grabbed his gun by the pistol wipe in close enough distance he knocked the person out with a whack with his baton on the assailant's back head. Sanada successfully took out the guy holding Kei hostage, managed to hold Kei by his left arm. "I got you Kei. I'm so sorry for being late…"
She looked up at Sanada and noticed how close she is with him, she couldn't contain her cheeks from blushing red. "Sanada San! I umm..."
He immediately turned his attention to the 2 remaining assailants and points his gun at them demanding the two in an enraged and aggressive mood. "KYPD DROP YOUR WEAPONS NOW! DON'T MAKE ME USE LETHAL FORCE! DROP ON YOUR KNEES! DON'T DO ANYTHING RASH!"
"Damn it he managed to get here on time!" The scared ruffian stepped back. "Why didn't our mistress kept that bastard from getting here?!" He whispered to his cohort.
"How the hell should I know of that?! Let's split!" Both decided to run away in evasive maneuvers. The two started to climb on the chained walls from the alleyway which Sanada proceeded to shoot at them but missed them the moment they are out of range from his 9mm Colt Pistol. They managed to escape the other side. Sanada cursed but at this point he checks up on Kei hoping she's okay. "Hey Kei, sorry to for not being here on time…thank you for staying strong and patient."
She glances at Sanada and decides to turn her head away from his eyes to try and hide
her obvious feelings towards him. Suddenly Kei notices Ryumo trying to get up she rushes towards the young man. "Ryumo!….Hey kid, I'm sorry I got you worried...Oh my kami are you alright?"
"Urghh…." He weakly and slowly managed to push himself up and shook his head. "It wasn't your fault..I was blindsided by those three attackers...luckily I was tough enough to deal with their weak attacks..."
Sanada raised an eye brow. "Dang kid you sure can take a lot of hits. I must say I'm very impressed…" The beaten Ryumo chuckles sheepishly but still let out some pained grunts after moving a bit more. "Thanks Sanada San…..and please don't let Himiko know what happened to me?"
Sanada smirks as he pats the young man's head. "Already aware of that. On second thought I forgot all about it." He does so in a sarcastic way but confirms his promise for Ryumo."
"Good, I really appreciate that.." To be honest, another minute of him being beaten would have done him in. Luckily his will power allowed him to stay alive and conscious.
"Now then..." He walked towards the unconscious criminal and continue to unmask the person. What he heard from Kei, she let out a statement that confirms Sanada's suspicion all this time from the beginning leading to this discovery. "T-That's one of the former officers from the Division 5 force!"
Sanada grits his teeth and drops the unconscious man down on the street floor. "Tch….so they ARE conspiring this cryptic conspiracy. Great...now I have ideas on where this case is going lead for us now..."
To Be Continued.