Chapter 1
A Murder and the Secret Letter
"Hurry, Taiju! Start the car now!" He shouted at his friend, who seemed confused when he returned after minutes of entering the building.
The car engine hoisted on the paved and silent street. He removed his blood-stained gloves inside the car as his friend looked at him, confused in the rearview mirror.
The headlights flashed by as the car sped by the quiet and windy road and buildings. It was darker and the faint moonlight was the only source of light that night.
"What happened, Senku?" his spiky brown-haired friend who drives the car he was in, asking him out of the blue. He chose to ignore it instead, he kept gritting his teeth, and his heart was beating hard in his chest, almost leaping along with the speed of the car. He closed his eyes and swallowed hard.
All of this was not part of his plan at all.
Damn it! This was not part of the plan, Senku Ishigami cursed inside his head as his car rode out of the mansion gates.
The media has been baffled by weird and curious news about a murder that has occurred yesterday night.
It was no ordinary, for it involved the death of one of the CEOs of one of Japan's reputable and rising companies. The news may have been misplaced, but the theory behind the death baffled many internet enthusiasts, and it deserved its popularity for it involved a very mysterious murder. An insane man and a rebellious ex-wife were the favorite theory so far, as a blonde-haired woman scrolled through her phone along with the headlines.
Kohaku Weinberg was shaking her head at the absurdity and ludicrous theory of people online for the scandalous murder that had transpired. The CEO did not deserve such foolish treatment as she thought and picked up a letter delivered earlier this morning at her office. It's a red envelope signifying it's an order from her organization. She opened the envelope, and she first read the name of the person she was expecting to give her that letter secretly.
Stanley Snyder, her Lieutenant.
She was in her office in her villa, before she opened the letter, Kohaku paused to take a breath and reflect on the situation. The organization preferred to do it the old-fashioned way, having entrusted an unknown messenger to deliver it to her office through her trusted servant, Amaryllis.
It happened years ago, and she was the only female member of their spy and intelligence division. It was a secretive group of people formed by the government and anonymous to even the police. Her office was one of her places to write letters to secret individuals.
Her father and older sister think she was merely reviewing reports and managing their business in her office, but they had no idea she was part of such an organization. Only Chrome and a few of her friends know what she did inside her office aside from the tasks of just managing their businesses. Chrome did not approve of her first for being a part of such a secretive division. Her life was often threatened and was always prone to danger for doing secret missions, but she didn't care less-and Chrome finally came to terms with how stubborn she could be and ultimately decided just to respect her decision four years ago.
Kohaku also made sure Chrome would keep her secret to heart by not letting her father and older sister know of her involvement with a secret organization.
She was involved in numerous dangerous missions unknown to many - be it saving a city from an unknown nuclear attack, being a spy undercover and acting like a wife for the head of the drug dealer that she almost killed, and many more. It has also been rumored her organization was connected to conspiracies and Illuminati organizations' involvement all over Japan. It was already expected that the moment her beloved sister knew of her involvement in such a dangerous organization, she wouldn't think twice about telling her to go to the U.S to live there and forget about her job. But she won't let that happen, and she has already pledged her life to fulfill her duty not only for her country but also for its beloved citizens.
She was about to read Stanley's letter when the door to her office burst open and entered her brown-haired scientist friend, "Can you not ask Kinro or Ginro to do it instead?" Chrome demanded in annoyance while closing the door behind him.
Kohaku gently folded the paper in her hands. She was at a loss for a second, and she slowly relaxed her serious demeanor as a smile crept up her face. She remembered Ruri's problem of finding a husband as soon as possible.
Ruri Weinberg was desperate to find a husband because one of her father's investors was obsessed with her and lured their father to wed her to him. She had asked her younger sister's help, and Kohaku came to ask Chrome's help. Kohaku smirked as she recognized that Chrome was in love with Ruri but hadn't come to terms with his feelings yet, because he was busy with his career as a scientist.
She also realized it was an impromptu and immature decision for someone to demand a list of eligible bachelors from Chrome, but Kohaku can't think of someone else capable of helping her. Ruri was adamant because she had enough of Magma's incessant desire to pursue her for her father's wealth.
"No, Chrome. I chose you for a reason.."
"Why me? I did not decide to come back to Japan for a vacation, you know." He crossed his arms at her.
"You came back to manage your family's mines. I know that" Kohaku pointed out to him using the paper she's holding, "I also know you came back here for Tsukasa and Minami's wedding."
One of their high school friends, Tsukasa, caused a big scandal by marrying the beautiful reporter hunted by the government. Minami had recently been petitioned to prison and sentenced to death after being falsely accused of stealing an important document from the Tokyo Imperial Palace. If it wasn't for Kohaku, with a little bit of Chrome's help, Minami's name was recently cleared, and she was pardoned by the Emperor and had her job as a reporter once again.
"The scandal already came to pass, gorilla. I can go back to the United States anytime…." A flicker of irritation for calling her that nasty nickname caused her to walk towards him and give him a blow to the head.
"Aw! That hurts!" She just crosses her arms at him as he holds his head in pain.
"But you won't because you will help us."
"Kinro and Ginro can do it."
"Kinro tends to make people uncomfortable, and he is usually a stick in the mud, and Ginro is a scum who will most likely spend his time chasing beautiful women. Those two are useless."
"Then Gen or…. Ryusui!" Chrome cried out, talking about Kohaku's friends. "They have matched many couples in the past, and I don't want to be a victim to them. That's why I chose to run away. Should I remind you of their recent victims, particularly our friends Tsukasa and Minami?"
Kohaku shook her head. "Those two are just going to mess around and are so damn romantic. Ruri does not need any romance. She needs a husband."
"When do marriage and romance become distinctive? Am I so oblivious with my career to have missed it?"
"In some marriages, there is no romance, and not all romance leads to marriages," Kohaku reasoned to a confused Chrome in front of her.
"I do not see any reason why I have to do this, Kohaku. I have been away from Japan for too long. Aside from that, I am busy with my work, and it would be best if you find someone else capable."
Kohaku just smiled at him. Chrome decided to leave Japan and pursue his career overseas for reasons unknown to his family and friends, including Kohaku.
"Chrome, I can see you still have your charm. There's a good chance that you've made some good friends, and those friends have even more friends." She dismissively waved her hand. "Won't you just make a list for me, please?"
Chrome looked pained and nearly desperate for Kohaku to leave him out of this. "Kohaku, you're wrong about that! I almost forgot about all of them, and I'm not even sure if those people I once associated with are married or deceased or worse if they've turned into criminals!"
"Ruri and I will attend a party in Tokyo for one of our investors who is a famous artist the day after tomorrow. You will come with us," she said firmly, as well as ignoring his statement with a bit of a roll of her eyes.
"And why would I do that?"
"Well, Magma will be present there. My plan is for you and Ruri to arrive as a pair to show him that you're her fiance, of course."
Chrome nearly choked and, with a slack expression on his face, "F-Fiance? That fast?"
"Why? Do we have a problem with that? Or don't tell me you've already replaced my sister in your heart that quickly." Kohaku gave him a narrowed expression.
Chrome shook his head dismissively and waved his hand. "N-No! You got it all wrong. I mean, as a fiance, really? Can't we just arrive as a pair?" he asked, being skeptical about his friend's plan.
"I want Ruri to show Magma that she is not available anymore and if he keeps pursuing her and go after you instead. I will threaten to bring down his career with these pieces of evidence that I have.." Kohaku waved a big brown envelope that she picked up from her table in front of him. "These pieces of evidence will prove Magma is selling illegal firearms that he stole from the government to underworld organizations." Kohaku just shows him a smirk while crossing her arms as he reads his expression that Chrome understands her wit.
"It is also necessary for our organization to catch this man. Now Chrome, are you up for it?"
Chrome pursed his lips as he hung his head low. Kohaku knows better that he is still thinking about whether to agree with her or not.
"I know you care for her, Chrome. She's not only my sister, but she is your friend as well," She firmly reminded him. Since they were children, Chrome has known the sisters, "It is my responsibility to help her as her sister, but I would need your help, Chrome. If Magma succeeds in making our father marry Ruri to him, it will be on our conscience. I already fear the worst that horrid Magma might plan to kill her the night of their wedding so he will have our father's company all by himself!"
Kohaku felt delighted as she watched Chrome struggle for a while. Chrome might be dense in romance, but it's cute to observe his innocent reactions whenever displaying jealousy or worry for Ruri.
"You owe me this one, Kohaku," he finally made his decision known to her, while Kohaku just widened her smile at him.
"It will be my pleasure, Chrome. You may go now. If my sister looks for me, please tell her I have a meeting with the investors."
Chrome just stared at her. "Shouldn't you be doing that at your company instead?"
Kohaku had started to unfold the letter she placed on her table earlier, "It will be a hassle, and it's called working from home, Chrome." she just rolled her eyes at him.
"Okay," Chrome muttered as he turned his back to leave.
"Don't forget to give me the list, Chrome!" She reminded him as he opened the door. Chrome just looked at her and then closed the door shut.
Kohaku made sure Chrome was out of her office before turning her attention back at the letter and began to frown as she read along.
Amber,
It's safe to assume you've heard of the death of the CEO of Japan's most renowned guns dealer. I'm afraid this is true. Our organization has been tasked with conducting an in-depth investigation while maintaining strict confidentiality. On the day he was assassinated, Tanaka Hanada only had one caller on the phone. It was the head scientist of the forensic science laboratory, Senku Ishigami.
A/N: Konnichiwa, minna-san! Here is another story for my favorite pairing on the show. I am currently obsessed with writing alternate universes fanfictions for the pairing Senku x Kohaku, so I hope you like it. I also do not own the characters from Dr. Stone for this story, it belongs to the great Inagaki and Boichi.
