Osaka, Japan
Present day
"So Tatsumi was murdered," said Nika, bringing a martini to her lips.
"Correct," Moriarty replied, scanning the bar. It was late in the night and the hotel had quietened down since they had arrived.
"And the daughter automatically inherited his Yakuza title."
"Yep!"
There was an expectant pause.
"Don't you think there's a two and two to put together here?" Nika stated bluntly.
He gave her a look. She had been prickly since their meeting with the Tatsumi twins yesterday morning. It was understandable. She thought they would be leaving Osaka tonight having squared everything with the Yakuza but she ended up with an even tighter noose around her neck instead. She had already vented her frustration at Moriarty, so much so that he reckoned he was now fluent in Russian profanities. But her real anger was with Rin Tatsumi and she was looking for any excuse to throw her under the bus.
"You mean did Tatsumi's own daughter kill him to take over the business herself? Yes, it had crossed my mind," Moriarty replied.
"Then why are we here?"
"I'm a little disappointed in you, Moriarty-san," Rin had said the morning of their rendezvous, "You're not as impressive as the rumours made you out to be." That had been the second jab at his status and while he considered himself above condescending remarks, Rin had gotten under his skin like she had gotten under Nika's. In his agreement to ally with the Yakuza he decided to himself that in the end he would either work with Rin or take her down, whatever it took to prove himself.
"Rin said her father's room was ransacked the night he was murdered, but nothing was taken," he said, "She suspects that whatever they were looking for is still somewhere in that room. She hasn't been able to find it and she doesn't trust a whole lot of people in Osaka right now."
Nika seemed to think for a moment.
"So if the killer is Rin, she doesn't want to risk giving herself away," she speculated, "If not, she doesn't want to risk losing something of potential value to her."
"See? Not just guns and explosions. You can be smart if you just apply yourself."
Nika rolled her eyes and took another drink.
"And obviously sending someone who's not involved in all the gangland politics suits Rin to the ground," he continued, "Which is why we're here. Nice frock by the way."
The hotel was a five star and only people of a high enough class were deemed worthy of its accommodation.
"Dress prettily," Rin had advised.
"Thanks," Nika snorted with a hint of disgust, "It was the only thing that would fit me. Japanese women are tiny."
The dress was an ice-blue colour, made of a synthetic fabric that shimmered in certain light. It cut straight across her bust and stopped just above her knees, accentuating her long legs. Femininity was an effort Nika had little time for but nonetheless the look suited her.
"Nice suit," she then remarked.
Moriarty smirked.
"Oh yes," he said, tugging on his cuffs, "Say what you like about the Japanese, they know how to suit up."
A brief expression of mirth crossed Nika's features, the most he had seen from her in days.
"Do you have a plan?" she asked then.
"Oh I'm just making it it up as I go," he replied, "But I don't plan to stick around here for long. As westerners we somewhat stick out like a sore thumb and it would only be a matter of time before international security or whoever is tipped off about our whereabouts."
"Reassuring as ever," Nika sighed.
Moriarty glanced around the lounge again. It was quiet. The few patrons that were present were keeping to themselves. He assessed that there was minimal risk of being stalked or followed.
"We should make a move," he said. He paid the bar tab with the American Express given to him by Rin in order to maintain his cover. Nika drained her martini glass and stood. She was a tall woman but in her heels she towered over Moriarty.
"Shall we?" he said, extending his elbow and with another roll of her eyes she looped her arm through his.
"Cheer up, darling," he cooed, "We're supposed to be on holiday."
"This is not my idea of a holiday," she drawled as they strolled toward the closest elevator, "A cabin by a fresh stream, miles from civilisation: that's a holiday."
"You never struck me as the outdoors type."
"I'm just sick of people."
"You and me both," he muttered, pressing the elevator button to the top floor. As the doors shut and the brief moment of weightlessness kicked in, Moriarty checked for the keycard in his pocket. While the suite it unlocked belonged to Tatsumi, Rin had arranged for the room to be booked under the false identities Moriarty and Nika had assumed for their cover. The room hadn't been used since the murder but it had been refurbished after forensics were done with it. Moriarty wasn't sure if that meant whatever he was looking for could still be found or not. Nonetheless, he was happy to be doing something other than just hiding, even if it wasn't entirely of his choosing.
The elevator came to a halt and they stepped into the long hallway. Moriarty made note of the security cameras in the ceiling and tried to keep his head down while following the signs to the suite.
"I hope they don't expect us to stay the night," Nika muttered.
"You know you've just gone and hurt my feelings," he said, feigning dejection, "I was good enough for you the other night."
"Please don't remind me. I didn't even have the excuse of alcohol."
Moriarty's mouth quirked upwards with amusement.
They stopped when they arrived outside the suite. Moriarty slid the keycard into the reader until a green light indicated it was unlocked. When he opened the door, he paused. At first he wasn't sure what he was seeing, then he wasn't sure if what he was seeing was real. He hadn't been drinking, he wasn't sleep deprived - for once. His brain tried to rationalise the scene but no, she was actually there standing in the room, green eyes wide with shock. There was a long moment in which they both regarded each other with utter surprise. And it then with that, Samantha threw a gun up before her and yelled, "Freeze!"
