In a darkened room in the center of Tokyo, a clock felt the sun rising and its inner timer told it to sing. So, it sang. With all its heart and power, it sang. Without a moment to defend itself, it felt something hard hit it on the side and all its strength suddenly left. 'It was a short life' were its final thoughts as the world darkened.
Ryuuta woke up to that very voice and wacked his alarm clock to the ground as he swung his arm to hit the snooze button.
Dammit. That's the third clock since I've moved here... I just can't get used to Japan's time... I better get up.
Ryuuta wrapped his blanket around him and headed to the bathroom where he snuggly brushed his teeth and washed his face. Once more awake, he returned his blanket and took a shower. Letting the warmth of the water drip over him as he blamed himself for not turning off his alarm last night.
Once done, he put on a pair of sweats and went for a quick run around the neighborhood.
"Ohayou Ryuuta-kun!" An old lady said from her gate. "
" Ohayou Sayuri-obaachan!" Ryuuta replied as he ran past her with a bright smile and a gentle nod.
" Ohayou Ryuuta-kun! Come by later, I have some fruits I saved for you!. " A middle-aged man said from his shop as he prepared to open.
" Arigatou, Deisuke-san!" Ryuuta replied with a wave.
In the little time since Ryuuta moved there, he had made friends with those in the neighborhood. After his run, he returned to the many shops that had called out to him that morning. He chatted, shopped and picked up the various gifts. By the end, he was struggling to carry everything he received back to his apartment.
Wow... Japanese people are so nice. I don't know how I'm going to finish all this.
"Do you need help Ryuuta-kun?"
From behind him, a young man came next to Ryuuta offering his help to carry some bags.
"Jun! Just coming back?" Ryuuta handed Jun a few bags, lightening his load. "Thanks."
"No problem, you sure bought a lot."
"Half was given to me."
"Hahaha, they really love you. You're like a breath of fresh air in their life."
"Funny."
"No. I was serious."
Jun, Ryuuta's new neighbor was a young man with dark black hair who always returned home in the morning. He usually wore jeans and a long V-neck shirt. They met by chance one morning when they both got stuck in their building elevator. During the hour they waited, they chatted about life and became quick friends through their shared interests, namely games and food. Since then, they would often visit each other's house to hang out.
"Want to come over today? Play some games? I'm off tonight so I have some time."
"I'll come! Today's my day off too." Ryuuta looked at his grocery bags. "Actually, can we do it at my place today, lunch on me.
"Sounds good to me. Your food tastes great. Then I'll go take a nap, grab my system and head over at noon."
"Great, I'll see you then Jun-nii."
Once they reached their apartment building, they entered their respective apartments after saying their goodbyes.
Yes! My boring day just became a fun day. Let's see, It would take about two hours to make lunch so... What to do in the meantime...
Ryuuta went around his apartment, pondering his choices. He decided on cleaning the place. Starting with his room that looked like a tornado had gone past it. He played some pop music and got to work.
Alright room. It's just you and me. Now get clean!
Forty minutes later, Ryuuta was facing a spotless and organized room. Happy with his work he moved on to his bathroom that brought a scowl to his face.
While he cleaned, memories of his time in Canada surfaced. He remembered moments when he was a child, he would follow his father as he cleaned and tried to help out in any way he could. He learned so much during that time and he simply loved seeing his father smile. But as Ryuuta grew older and entered his teenager years, he spent less time helping his father in the house. He remembered the times his father was cleaning while he watched movies or played games. When he got angry because his father vacuumed in front of the TV.
Father, no matter how tired you were, you always kept the house clean. Dammit, I should have helped him more, why do I only notice these things after the fact…
Ryuuta continued his cleaning efforts, finishing up the bathroom, followed by the living room, main entrance until he finally reached the kitchen five hours later.
Alright! Two hours left till noon and everything is clean. That's right. Clean.
Satisfied with his cleaning work, he switched over to cooking. Two hours later, he placed two bowls of soup on the table along with multiple different side dishes. For later, he placed the leftovers in containers and placed them in the fridge
Perfect! At least I never slacked when it came to cooking, right father?
Knock Knock knock
Just in time.
Ryuuta rushed to the door, unlocking it in excitement and swung it open.
"Welcome Jun!"
Ryuuta shut the door just as quickly as he had opened it, making sure to lock it well.
Why!? Why are they back? Isn't this too soon? I'm not ready to face scary men right now!"
After a few minutes of silence, Ryuuta hesitantly walked away from the door when he heard a familiar sound and voice.
On the other side of the door, Jun's door opened and he is heard leaving his apartment coming face to face with the gentlemen outside.
"Oh. Hello, are you also visiting Ryuuta-Kun?"
Why Jun!? Why are you just talking normally to them? Go, run, hide!
One of the gentlemen replied.
"Yes we are, and you?"
"Ya, we were supposed to have lunch together. But maybe we should prospone it..."
"That may be a good idea. Our talk might go on for a while." Another gentlemen said.
"I see... Then I'll just talk to him for a minute and-"
The door opened stopping Jun in mid-sentence.
"No!"
"No?"
Ryuuta who now faced the gentlemen realized the reason Jun was calm.
They're wearing... normal clothes... No. Nope. Still scary. Be strong Ryuuta!
"Asami-dono-"
"Dono? "
"Ah. Asami-San, sorry to say this when you've come all this way to visit little humble me but it would be best if we rescheduled."
"Reschedule?" Kirishima was beyond disbelief, no one had ever rescheduled anything with Asami. No one. No one except Takaba Akihito. "For your information, Asami is a very busy man, rescheduling is simply absur-"
"I understand that Kirishima-San, but I have a life too. And I hold unto my word. It was something my father instilled in me. So as you can see, I have plans to have lunch and a gaming session now with my friend and neighbor Jun. So if you will excuse us."
"Wha- Gaming!?" Kirishima couldn't comprehend the situation."
Ryuuta ignored the sweat that was pouring out of his glands, he grabbed Jun and took a step inside where he felt safer already. It took him a minute to notice that he couldn't move any further.
"Umm...would you be so kind as to let me go... Please..."
Suoh had grabbed Ryuuta's shoulder and with that little contact and a bit of force kept him in place.
"it's okay Suoh. Release him."
"Hai" Suoh released Ryuuta making him fall forward. Jun who was still being held by Ryuuta supported him and avoided an embarrassing fall."
" - Thank you. "
" Ryuuta-kun, and Jun-kun was it. Sorry for interfering with your rest day. But you see, we have important things to discuss with Ryuuta-kun. That being said, we won't stop you from eating or resting a little."
Ryuuta perked up. " Then you'll leav-"
" So, we're going to wait till you're done. "
" Wait? Okay, that'll work, there are many cafe's and such around here. I'll see you tonight then. "
"Inside. "
"Inside?"
"We're going to wait inside." Asami turned to Kirishima. "Make it dark."
"Hai."
"Since you didn't have proper coffee nor a coffee machine last time, we brought our own." Completely disregarding Ryuuta's disagreeing face, Kirishima let himself in, heading straight for the kitchen. "I will be using your kitchen for a minute."
"umm... Sure."
Seeing that the boy gave up, Suoh and Asami also welcomed themselves in, stepping around Ryuuta and Jun.
"is everything okay Ryuuta? We can prospone or-"
"No. It's okay Jun. Their not necessarily bad people. We're just going to talk later and they said they can wait. So, don't worry.
No. Not bad. Just extremely pushy people. What could they possibly want to talk about that would have these busy men wait.
"necessarily? Well, if you say so."
Ah… I'm feeling strangely annoyed…
"Ryuuta... You look mischievous. I hope you're not planning something."
"who me? Never." Ryuuta locked the door behind him and entered his apartment. "Let's go eat before the food gets cold.
The visual in front of him honestly surprised Ryuuta more than the first time he saw them.
Asami was on his couch flipping through the channels, Suoh sat next to Asami reading a Jump magazine that was on the table.
Kirishima made himself right at home in the kitchen. Grabbing the mugs from the cupboard and heating the water in the kettle. In front of him was an expensive looking espresso machine and a quality jar of coffee.
Am I in the wrong place? Why do they change the very feel of a place just by being in its space. We're you really friends with them father?
"Ryuuta, aren't we going to eat?"
Breaking out of his trance. Ryuuta faced Jun with a new resolve.
"Yes, we are!"
Jun and Ryuuta sat at the kitchen table in between the kitchen and living room where he found two hot teas next to the plates.
He even made us tea...
"Ittadakimasu!"
"Ittadakimasu..."
The two young men began to eat while trying to ignore the presence of the men around them.
How is he eating so well?
Jun ate as if it was any other day. Unfazed by the strangers around him.
Seriously, what kind of person are you Jun.
Ahrg! I can't eat, what kind of torture is this. Is that it? Is this a new torture method? Am I the guinepig for this new torture by embarrassment act. Why? "
" Wow Ryuuta! This is Sooo good. Honestly, you should forget everything and just be a chef. "
" Really, I'm glad you like it. Thanks Jun. "
" How did you make this soup? Is that a celery inside?"
It's actually really easy, it's called lentil soup. You just boil the lentils, add fried onions. Dump in some cut carrots, celery and any other veggies you have laying in the fridge.
"wow, that does sound easy. But I just know when I start making it, I'll be at a loss."
"Then call me over, I'll be easy after I do it with you once."
"Really? I'll definitely take you up on that." Jun's eyes sparkled as he looked over all the different types of side dishes. "then what about this one?"
"Oh. That's boiled beets, after you boil and cut it, you add oil, salt and pepper to it."
Jun and Ryuuta got so invested and heated up about food that they completely forgot about the unwelcomed guests around them. They chatted, laughed and ate till every plate, bowl and cup on the table was empty.
Asami sat on the couch flipping through the different channels on Ryuuta's television while sipping away at his dark coffee. He settled on a drama that was about a cop division chasing down drug dealers. At the corner of his eye, he watched how Ryuuta and Jun were fully enjoying their lunch and chat.
They completely forgot about us... Jun was it, interesting fellow. And Ryuuta... He looks so much like Akihito. Even the way he acts resembles him. Acting embarrassed and shy earlier that he picked at his food. But now look at him, laughing and chatting away about food. Must have been Akihito's influence. He was a good cook, must have been a good father too...
"Asami-sama." Suoh closed the magazine.
"What is it.?"
"What are you watching?"
"Some cop drama. Done your magazine?"
"Ya, there were some interesting manga chapters. One about a girl that killed all her classmates because of some game. Another with a boy who met an alien and started getting chased. Anothe-"
"Kazumi, I didn't know you read manga."
"... No, I don't...normally."
"You're certainly into it for someone who doesn't."
From behind them, Kirishima who had been on his phone during this time, came to talk to them.
"Ryu, is the show good?"
"It's alright. A girl just got ruthlessly killed after hiding her boyfriend's drugs and now the detective's are investigating the scene. All done with work?"
"Hai. Nothing new to report. Want more coffee?"
"No. That's alright."
Kirishima nodded, realizing that the boys would take a while longer. He decided to join his two friends. He sat on the other side of Asami on the couch.
"Why are we all sitting on the couch? Go sit elsewhere Kei."
"No way, the floor is not clean and there's no other seats. You go right ahead Kazumi, if you want to.
" What? I was here first, and if it's dirty then go clean it. Isn't it your specialty. "
"Maybe you should take this chance to learn some cleaning skills yourself. Why can't you just be glad he was given this couch. Otherwise we'd all be sitting on the floor.
"Are you guys seriously having this argument with me in between."
Asami gave both of them a dark look that spelled warning.
"Sorry.." both said in union.
The three sat on the couch watching the rest of the drama in silence.
Jun and Ryuuta cleaned up the table and did the dishes before noticing the three men sitting in silence behind them.
I completely forgot they were here…
"oh. I forgot we had other guests."
"Haha, me too. It's fun talking to you Jun."
"Likewise. But seeing them like that in normal clothes is... Intriguing."
"Normal clothes?"
"Hmm? I mean they look like they don't normally wear those types of clothes. I imagine them more in suits as business men."
"Oh. That's what you meant. Ya, I agree. Sorry Jun, can we prospone our gaming night afterall. I kind of feel bad to have made them wait."
"of course, No worries, we chatted for a long time. I'll see you later then."
"Thanks Jun, see you later."
Jun left the apartment after waving bye. Ryuuta matched his wave and closed the door behind him. He took a large breath in and exhaled before heading back to the living room.
"I'm ready to talk."
Just as Ryuuta was about to repeat his words again more loudly, Asami calmly faced him."
"Are you sure it was okay to send him back so soon? We could wait longer."
Soon? Longer? Just how many hours do they think passed while we ate and chatted. How can they be so patient!? Don't the Yakuza usually have low-tolerance and low-patience?
"No it's more than enough, thank you for your patience and I'm sorry to have made you wait here."
"You're a good boy Ryuuta."
This feels weird... Why am I happy getting complimented by this stranger, and for being a bad host…
"So? What did you guys come to talk about?"
Asami shut off the television. He got up from his seat and leaned against the back of the couch in front of Ryuuta. Suoh and Kirishima followed suit. Standing next to him.
"Ryuuta, we've decided to help you search for your mother."
"...my mother… Why?"
" Simply put, because you're Takaba Akihito's son."
"Asami-San, sorry for being straight forward but...exactly who were you to my father?"
"… His friend."
"His friend? And since I'm your friend's son, you want to help me?"
"That's correct."
Asami Ryuuichi, father's 'friend' wants to help me find my mother... No. It's been 17 years since my father left. Who would do something like that for a friend's son that disappeared so long ago and is no longer on this earth. Can I really trust this man?
Ryuuta hesitated. A part of him learned the necessary skills to read people's motifs and actions. To be weary of them. But another part of him felt a strange closeness to Asami that he couldn't explain. Even thought he knew he shouldn't, he wanted to trust him.
This... Is probably a mistake. He could be the reason my father left in the first place... They may be lying about being friends and just want money or something from me since my father's no longer here... But still...argh!
"Since this is so confusing, I'm going to ask you straight out. Did my father owe you something? Maybe money or an item? Is it revenge?"
"Hahaha, what are you thinking Ryuuta-kun. That we were chasing your father because he owed us something and now we want you to pay for it?" Kirishima said amused.
"... It's possible."
"... Yes. I suppose it would be more likely."
More likely? Than what? "
" But I'm sorry to say, that's not the case. We're friends and we feel we owe it to our friend to help his son. Is that a good enough reason?"
Kirishima waited for his answer.
"... For now it is. I'll accept your help."
"Great. Then let's start."
Kirishima walked over to the kitchen counter, clearing a part of it. Everyone else followed.
"But, how are we going to find her? Do we have any leads?"
"I wouldn't call it a lead, but we do have a trace to follow that may provide a lead."
"A trace?"
"Your father's trace." Asami had mixed feelings every time he said the words 'your father' when referring to his Akihito." Were going to retrace his movements from seventeen years ago."
"Trace his movements? But I thought you guys couldn't find him?"
"Yes, we didn't. But we did find traces of him." Kirishima took out his notebook, opening it to the first page. "It was just that those tracks led to a dead end. But it's possible your mother was somewhere along them."
"...I see." Ryuuta watched as the three men in front of him discussed where to start. There was something that bothered him about the situation. "But. Why did you guys come here? It's not like you need my help to find her? Why are you-?"
"Don't you want to know more about your father Ryuuta-Kun?"
Asami gave a simple answer that caught Ryuuta off guard.
For me? They're having this meeting so I can learn more about father? Ah. Dammit. Exactly who are these men? Angles? Devils? Friends? Foes?... So confusing...
On the counter, Suoh laid down two maps. One of Tokyo and one of Japan.
"So here's what we have so far. On July 2nd, Asami-sama saw off Akihito and left for a business trip. The following day, The building receptionist exchanged greetings with Akihito-San who left for a job with his normal backpack." As usual he slipped away from our men. Two days later, they found his job site in Nagoya but had just missed Akihito.
"Hold on Kirishima-San. What do you mean he saw him off, and what does Asami-San leaving for a business trip have to do with my father leaving his apartment? Also", you had men following him? Why"
" You sure ask a lot of questions." Kirishima knew it was coming. He glanced at Asami who simply shrugged in an unnoticeable way.
"Ryuuta-kuni, its because your father lived with me." Asami said as a matter of fact.
Lived together? Who did? My father and Asami? Then… is that why…
" Wait. Wait. My father was living with you during that time?"
"That's correct."
Seriously?
"…How did that happen?"
No wonder his address was kept hidden. He lived with an overlord. But. Why?
"Simply put, because his coworker put his number in the newspaper and he was being bombarded by calls and people who found his old address. So I took him in and we ended up living as... roommates since then."
" Oh. I see. "
That... Makes sense…right?. The newspaper he's referring to must be the one with father's cellphone number and the photo with actress Ai. So he was living with Asami-san after that...
"Now to continue." Kirishima continued his report. "The crew who were left on site in Nagoya reported that Akihito had left early that morning. And that he was headed to another job in Chiba."
"Chiba?." Ryuuta checks the map to see where Chiba was. He was still unfamiliar with its geography. "That's pretty far."
"It is, and although it was common for Akihito to travel for work, it was strange that it sequenced. So our men went to Chiba where they found the work site and met with the crew who once again said that Akihito had completed his work and had left for another job. This continued for a week. From one job to another all over the country."
The map of Japan in front of them had markers at every location Akihito was said to be at.
"Sorry. You lost me. This map is filled with markers. How can someone work that much?"
"Exactly why we cut our business trip short and returned a week after Akihito had first left. After receiving the report from our men in person and finding a letter from Akihito. We restarted our search."
"Wait. There was a letter? My father left a letter?"
"Yes, he left a letter. That's how we knew he didn't get kidnapped or something. Although that would have made the search much easier."
They must have been close friends if he left a letter... I wonder what it said...
"What did the letter say?"
"It said something on the lines of he was leaving as he could no longer handle the dangers of our world."
Kirishima kept the answer short and provided just enough to satisfy the boys curiosity. He ignored the stare he felt from Asami and continued.
"That's… simple."
"Yes, so the first thing we did was to visit each crew again in their offices, questioning them and showing Akihito's photo. We found out that the man who had been working with them named Takaba Akihito was not our Takaba Akihito. It was someone who used the same name."
"...wow." Ryuuta was shocked. He could never have imagined that things like that happen. "So, that's where your search ended seventeen years ago?"
"Not exactly. That imposter ended up being nothing more than a diversion. We found and caught the man. Who told us he was paid to take the jobs and call himself Takaba Akihito. The money was cash so could not be traced. And everything was done over the phone, but the voice was muffled. That ended up as a dead end. But while that was going on, we had a separate search going on through out the country. All Airports and ships were being tracked to check if and when he boarded. CTV cameras, black boxes, witnesses, everything was followed. Honestly, I still don't know how he managed to hide."
"So? Did you guys find him after all that?"
"Like I said in the beginning, we found traces of him. From the taxi he took when he left the apartment. To the bus he took in the outskirt villages. To who he talked to, where he spent the night. We spent months chasing his shadow. We also learned that out of all the jobs, there were a few which the real Akihito did. That must be how he received the cash to keep going.
Kirishima took out another map of central Japan, this map had blue dotted lines like the ones on the Tokyo map. The lines led from an apartment building in Tokyo on the large map to the many villages and small towns outside of Tokyo leading up towards Hokkaido and then down towards Kyoto. It stopped at Hiroshi Shrine near the Port Town, Wajima.
"... My father travelled all around the main island of Japan and ended up at a shrine...?
"Your father was smart. He stayed away from cities, going from one small village to another. But almost like he wanted to be chased, he left subtle clues by interacting with the locals, but was quick on his feet and never stayed in the same place for long. In one village, an old lady gave us a basket of vegetables as thanks to the young man, in the photo we showed her, who had helped her out while her back gave out during her walk. He had stayed with her for three days and two nights, nursing her, doing all her chores and farm work until her son returned from the city."
"Father... He was the same when we travelled around the world. Always kind, strong and loved."
"Your father was a man who kept being who he was no matter what kind of difficulties he encountered. I'm not surprised he didn't change." Asami chimed in. He couldn't help but feel powerless now as they traced the past. He remembered how powerful he felt, unworried that he would find him. Until years later, when he didn't. But also, looking back at it this way, he was proud of how his lover managed to outsmart and out maneuver them so well. "He always bounced back and acted on his beliefs."
He sure knows father well… I guess they really were living together.
"what about the shrine. Why does the path end there?"
"Well. That's where it gets a bit strange. You see, we followed his trace to the Shrine where they said Akihito had been staying with them for two days. That he had just left an hour ago. It was the closest we had gotten in months. So we hurriedly searched the area, surrounding villages and towns. But... From that point onwards. Akihito disappeared."
" Disappeared? "
" The shrine was surrounded by forests and mountains. So we suspect he hid somewhere but even after using all our resources, we couldn't find him. We know he did not get help from outside. So that was the point where we lost all tracks of him. Over the years, a few new leads came up but they were wrong or a dead end. We believe it was from the point at the shrine where Akihito had somehow left the country or-"
"or?"
"or was dead. But unless we found his body, that option wasn't valid"
"I see. But I thought you had all the air routes blocked."
"We had all the boat and air routes blocked."
"And all the towns watched."
" All the mountains, villages, towns and cities watched. We even had all the slums checked too, just in case."
"And still he managed to hide and leave the country."
"That's correct."
"Wow. I'm honestly impressed."
"Believe me, we were too. Still are. "
"Somehow... I'm sorry for the trouble he caused." Ryuuta gave them a small bow as he apologized on his father's behalf. No matter what the reason was, his father taught him to not give trouble to others. So he felt it was his duty to make up for the trouble his father caused Asami and his men during their long endless search.
"Don't be. It was very much like him. He truly sharpened his skills since the day we first met him."
... But why?...
"I don't mean to doubt you guys. But... Why were you searching for my father to that extent? Honestly, I wouldn't be chasing after a friend who left on his own, and even left a letter. It just seems like he was running and hiding from-"
"From us?"
"Frankly, yes."
They had been expecting this question. Ever since they decided to include the boy in their search and to tell him almost everything. It was Asami who answered him.
"You're not exactly wrong Ryuuta-Kun. He ran from me, and escaped."
"Why did he feel the need to run and hide from you? Even if he thought your world was dangerous and wanted no part in it. There are countless ways to do it without needed to disappear and be chased by you. It… just doesn't add up."
"….You asked before why I had our men follow him. It was to protect him. I have many enemies Ryuuta-kun. And so, as his friend, I did what I thought was best to protect him. But after some time, I guess he felt it was too… difficult to live in our world. So he decided to disappear. You see. If he disappears from us. Then he disappears from our enemies."
"…so you're telling me, he left to protect himself? And to do so, he had no choice but to disappear from you, his friend?"
"I don't know how Akihito lived after he left. But by the fact that he died from an illness, I can tell you that he took safer routes than he did before. Most likely… because of you."
Father… I can't deny that. All the times you protected me, taught me, loved me… It's not hard to see you did it for your unborn son.
"I understand that part…. But then why?" Ryuuta faced Asami with his golden eyes that almost looked defient. Why did you chase after him? "
"… Because…" Asami hesitated. It wasn't a feeling he was accustomed too. He realized there was something about the Takaba's that made them different then every other person he knew. They always put him in a position he was unaccustomed to. "Because no one disappears from Asami Ryuichi. And although he left a letter, he never mentioned you. So I wasn't satisfied with the reason."
"I…still feel like you guys are hiding something. But… I'm going to let it go for now. Since you're helping me find my mother."
"That is a wise decision."
"Speaking of my mother, I still don't see a lead on her. I mean, we could say she helped him hide or that she was at one of the many locations he visited but…"
Is that so thought. Why does it feel like we're missing something…. Something obvious.
"For a start, we could narrow it down by the women who were pregnant during that time. At those locations." Kirishima spoke as he started typing orders on his phone.
"Would we be able to question some people again? Maybe we can get new information.?
"Hmm… that might work, we can send some men to track some people down. I've ordered my men to search the hospitals in every noted location so we should get a list in a few days.
"I'm not going to ask how you're going to get classified information but I like the plan. What can I do?"
"I'm sure you want to help… then you can start by making a li-"
"Wait Kei." Suoh who had been listening to Kei, realized the mistake they had made. "We overlooked something important."
" What is it Suoh?"
"We've been doing this backwards. Instead of looking for every pregnant women during those months, we should back track nine months from Ryuuta'Alls day of birth and automatically narrow down the search.
I knew we were missing something… so, let's see… If he left on July 2nd and my birthdate is…
"Oh. You're right. In that case, if we say that Ryuuta's mother got pregnant between July and September. Then he would have been born around late spring or was it in summer Ryuuta? Your birthday?"
"Umm... Sorry, but I'm a winter baby..."
Ryuuta could feel the air in the room suddenly change.
Asami didn't accept being in the dark. He rose to the position of power in the underworld because it meant knowing everything. Being aware and able to predict the outcome or possibility of things. That was especially true for surprises. Business Losses, Betrayal, neither were ever unexpected nor did they faze him. That's how he came to be the ruler of Japan's underworld. So, it was within a possibly for Asami to have missed something. It was simply that, even for the overlord, there was something he could have never imagined.
"A winter baby? So March? That's pretty early, maybe it was an early birth… Which day? "
"No... More like January"
"January? But that would mean-" Kei stopped. He couldn't put his thoughts into words. He looked at Asami who had come to the same realization.
That would mean Akihito had an affair while he lived with me...
"Ryu..." Suoh was shocked. The fact had been in the room with them and neither of them had realized until now. Still unable to accept it, he whole heartedly wished it was wrong.
Akihito… did you really betray me?... No. It doesn't matter anymore.
"... It doesn't matter... But this changes things. If it wasn't when he disappeared. Then he met your mother in Tokyo or while on the job. That makes the search easier."
Asami didn't change his expression. They made a plan of action which Kirishima reported to Kou and Takato. When the sun began to set, the three gentlemen bid farewell to Ryuuta, leaving him alone in his apartment.
"Ryuuta! I finally found you!"
Maya ran up to Ryuuta who had been sitting on a bench overlooking the river. Sweat was tracing down her neck and back as she placed her hands on his shoulders.
"Please be more specific next time you call me over. And why haven't you picked up your phone? "
"Sorry." Ryuuta looked up at Maya, emotionless. He was still entranced by last night's events. "I forgot to charge my phone last night. So after I sent you the message and arrived here, it died."
"I see. Well that's okay, but suddenly texting me early in the morning to meet you at Sumida river with only the detail of 'going to be sitting overlooking the river' was a bit much. You're lucky the text woke me up and you do know this place is huge right. I nearly walked five kilometers searching for you on the riverside."
"Ya. I didn't realize it was so large. Last time, I came by accident and barely remember how I got home. I'll be more specific next time. "
"… good. So? Why here? "
"I had a sudden urge to photograph this view properly. Last time I only had my cellphone with me." Ryuuta took out his phone, flipping through his photos until he found the one he was searching for. He passed his phone to Maya who was mesmerized by the photo. "It's beautiful right."
"Ya… is this really the same place. "
"Hahaha, I know right. I even brought my camera today, I wanted to capture this view in my viewfinder and print a large format image of it to hang in my apartment. But… "
"But, you came and it was like this. Foggy and dark."
"Ya. But still. Somehow it's mesmerizing too. The difference. I think it's sceneries like these that captivates people like me and my father to be photographers. No scenery is ever the same. The art of capturing the subject with the affect of light, atmosphere, composition. Its… inspiring."
"Ryuuta… "
"You know Maya, while I was sitting here, I imagined my father sitting next to me. He was holding his favorite camera, one he received from my late grand-father. He looked at me and smiled. Then he raised his camera and peered through it. While he was capturing the scenery in his viewfinder he paused before pressing the shutter. He changed his focus and placed the camera on me. Then his smile grew and he said 'Ah, you're the one I wanted to capture.' And pressed the shutter. I- I could feel the tears stream down my cheeks. At that moment I wanted to raise my own camera and capture him in my own viewfinder… but… but I knew I couldn't. That he wouldn't be seen in my viewfinder. So-so I couldn't do it. I was so afraid. I-I really, really-"
"Ryuuta-kkun..."
Maya hugged him, holding him close to her chest as he cried in her arms.
"I really miss him!"
Ryuuta-kun. I forgot how young you are, how recent it's been since you lost your father. I should have paid more attention to you.
"It's okay Ryuuta. It's okay to cry."
As the tears streamed down her arm and her shirt became wet, she tightened her hold of the crying young man as he cried his heart out. Tears he had been holding in ever since he decided to come to Japan.
A long while after, his tears dried up, but Maya still held onto him, knowing that the wounds inside were still fresh.
"Are you okay now?
"Ya, I'm sorry."
Ryuuta couldn't face Maya. He kept his head down in embarrassment. But at the same time as he felt cheeks redden, he felt lighter and calmer.
"No worries, I'm glad you were able to rely on me. But Ryuuta, did something happen? "
Ryuuta gave Maya a mixed feeling look.
"Asami-San dropped by my place last night."
"He came to see you again!? Did her hurt you or threaten you? "
"No, no. Nothing like that. I mean, yes he did come by again. But not for anything bad."
"Then…why?"
"They said, they wanted to help find my mother."
"Seriously?"
Ryuuta nodded "And so we traced my father's steps from when he first disappeared. It was the first time I heard about him from someone else. From someone who knew my father while he was in Japan. My father barely told me anything other than a bit about my extended family. I… I realized how little I knew about him. After they left, I felt strangely empty. But as I laid in bed, all the memories with him suddenly came flooding back and I couldn't sleep.
"I see… I'm surprised they went out of their way to tell you about him. Not to mention helping you…maybe they were friends after all."
"Ya. And that's not all." Ryuuta looked up with a slight mischievous smile. "I know where my father had been living after he left his apartment."
"Really? Where?"
"With Asami. The trace actually started from when he left his apartment.
"You're joking."
"Nope. Its true."
"But…why? How?"
"Umm…something like after that article eith Actress Ai, he was getting bombarded with calls and his addrrss was compromised. So, Asami, as his friend gave him a safe house of sorts."
"…wow…that kind of thing happens?" Maya was surprised but the more she thought about it, thr more it sort of made sense. Her strength loosened as she dropped down on the bench next to Ryuuta. "No wonder he didn't have his new place recorded anywhere. Well,that's solves one mystery at least. Althought I feel like a hundred more came up."
"My feelings exactly. And I don't know how to explain to but theres something I cant quite figure out about Asami-san."
"Like his reason?"
"That too. But something more to do with him as a person. I don't really know."
"Well take your time. So tell me more about this tracing you guys did.
"Well, for one, they know you've been helping me and looking into them."
"Not surprising I suppose. It's basically their job to know these things. But I don't understand, why does the great Asami Ryuichi, underground overlord, wants to help you find your mother? Even if they were friends and roommates, its been almost two decades since then.
"Honestly I'm still not sure. But it seems like my father had left him a letter before he left, and-"
"A letter? What kind of letter? "
"I'm not sure."
"If only we could see that letter. And you're sure he wasn't running away from Asami instead? They could be lying."
"I thought that too, in the beginning. But, I don't think that's the case. Asami said 'his world is dangerous. So if my father disappeared from him, then he disappeared from his enemies. That, the reason he left was to protect himself and… me."
"To protect his unborn son, he decided to disappear… it…does make sense."
"When I heard that. I understood why my father was so overprotective of me, why he taught me to read people and be weary. Why… he didn't want me to become a criminal photographer."
"Ryuuta-kun…"
"Sorry Maya, I was thinking so much about my father last night that it brought me here but I didn't want to be alone so I called you."
"Don't worry about it anymore. The important thing is that I found you and that you're not alone."
"Thanks."
"So did they have any leads to finding your mother? "
"Well. Long story short. He was travelling around the country right until he disappeared and left the country. So at first I suspected that he was running away from something, namely from Asami. But that felt off."
"off?"
"Well first, My father knew Asami well enough to be living with him. If he had other problems, he could have asked Asami for help. If it was Asami, then he should know that running or hiding away from him wasn't possible. And yet, he did. But not in a way one runs from debt collectors, cops or the Yakuza. It was like… like he was travelling. He visited many places, met and helped many people. Leaving a trace behind him like he wanted to be found. Only, he wasn't."
"So, something happened that made your father want… no. Need to leave. But he was still somewhat distressed about the decision. So he travelled both to hide and resolve himself all the while giving a chance to be found and return?"
"That…sounds about right. "
"I feel like we're missing the most important part of the puzzle."
"Ya. I agree. "
"and your mother?"
"Well. The funny part is, after tracing his steps back, we figured he must have met my mother during that time."
"Why not just go by your birthdate? Count 9 months back and you'll know the estimated time. And if he was being traced, then they should know the estimated area."
"Hahaha. Women are really better with these things. We thought about that too…. At the end. So based on that, we realized that he must have met my mother before he disappeared."
"Before!?"
"Yes, so he must have been in a relationship while he lived in Tokyo. She must have been about three-four months pregnant at the time. That makes things simpler, so Asami's men are currently searching for new clues."
"No. Hold on Ryuuta-kun. Something doesn't add up. Didn't you say he travelled around Japan before disappearing and leaving the country?"
"Yes."
"And you were born in Canada weren't you?"
"Yes…?"
"Then that would mean that at some point during his travels, your father met up again with your pregnant mother and left the country together. Or he stayed in Japan until your birth, taking only you with him and faked your birth certificate."
"But, if my mother was in Tokyo…and Asami had all the routes covered, then…"
"Then there's no way he could have returned to Tokyo, taken you or your mother and left again."
"What if my mother left Tokyo to meet up with him?"
"It's more likely, but in that case-"
"She wouldn't be in Tokyo now. Unless she returned at some point but, finding her may be not possible."
"Is that why Asami-San had that look?"
"What look?"
"When we realised it started in Tokyo, Kirishima and Suoh-san were acting… weird. And Asami-San said they would look into it. But, his reaction was… off somehow."
"how so? "
"Well. He was expressionless but his eyes greyed out for a moment. And the air changed. It was subtle but it was like when I first told them about my father's passi-.
Ryuuta stopped mid sentence. An idea began to grow in his mind.
"Ryuuta? But really its ironic that your fathers old friend has the same name as your mother. Well, last name at least.
"No."
"No?"
"What if it wasn't my mother's name…what if...it was actually Asami."
"That makes no sense,why would your fathwrs last word be the name of his friend frlm decades ago. Its not like they were lov- ah."
"what if they were? If they were lovers then everythibg makes sense."
"The reason Asami chased after your father."
"And the reason why he had that look when he learnt of my father's death."
"Why they started living together."
"And if my father was with my mother before he left then."
"Then he was technically cheating on Asami. Maybe that's even why he left."
"That's…but how could my father do such a thing…and it seemed like Asami had no idea."
"I don't know. And its probably something we'll never know or understand."
"Ya. You're right."
"But wow. To think they were an item. And it seems like neither ever forgot about the other.
"Ya. Now that I look back, it was as clear as day. When I told him my father passed away. Asami looked…as if somethibg inside of him broke. Like he lost something he would never see again. It resembled my father's expression I sometimes saw when I woke up to go to the washroom in the middle of the night. My father would have a single can of beer as he gazed out the window into the dark night…maybe…its time to give up.?"
"Ryuuta…"
"It's okay. Its just… not to be I guess. And honestly, I was chasing my father's shadow rather than my mothers."
"And I guess you found it, his shadow in Japan. Maybe you can learn more about him from Asami and his other friends."
"Ya. You're right."
Ryuuta and Maya sat in silence for a long while overlooking the river as the sun began to rise. After which they walked to the edge of the riverbank and walked their separate ways. Maya turned back, raising her voice over the quiet path.
"What are you going to do now!?"
Ryuuta turned to face her, blinking at the sun that hit his eyes.
"…I don't know!"
Turning back, Ryuuta continued walking without a destination in mind.