FOUR
The sun's hot rays glistened and touched the stony pathways, danced among the leaves of the trees, and created a mirage among the desolated ground. With the sun's image of a hot ball of fire, the noisy ambience of traffic, beeping sounds from motor vehicles, rushing footsteps, crowd calling from vendors, and chitchat among bystanders roared among the busy streets. This is the busy side of Tokyo.
Despite the demanding activities in Tokyo, one black Chevrolet Cruze car roamed in the streets. It stopped on one of the traffic lights in the city, waiting for the green light. The sun's light passed through the window, showing a glimpse of a young masculine image in a black suit. As the red light turns to green, he stepped on the accelerator and drove towards the highway. Ten minutes have passed; he slowly maneuvered his car towards a parking lot. He fixed his tie, made a last look in his mirror, and finally stepped out of his car. The warm wind ran through his smooth and long yellow-brown hair and he fixed it with his long fingers. Standing, he was tall and has a good build. Immediately, he marched towards the tall modern forty-storey corporate building, the Fujiwara Corporation. As he walked towards the lobby, a group of three men in black suits approached him.
"Good morning, sir," they bowed down and greeted him, still he continued on walking and they followed him. Upon reaching the elevator, they walked in, and one of the men pressed forty, closing the elevator's doors.
"I brought you news from Europe, sir," the leader of the group cleared his throat, handing him a brown envelope, which was eagerly accepted.
He took out the papers from the envelope and scanned through it. "I see. Have you reported this to the Chairman?" he finally spoke, without even turning his head towards the person beside him, returning the papers inside the envelope.
"Not yet. We're waiting for you and we want to report it first to you, sir," the man continued. As they waited for the elevator to pass on every floor, they remained motionless. Finally, they reached their destination, and the doors slowly opened its way to its passengers.
"Good morning, Kimura-sama," a sexy blonde hair secretary bowed and greeted him as they walked towards her, "The Chairman has been waiting for your arrival." She escorted the group and knocked on the large door.
"Mr. Chairman, Kimura-sama is here," the girl addressed to a masculine figure standing behind the table with his hand crossed behind his back, and looked outside from the glass window in deep thought.
"Let him come in," a strong husky voice came from the Chairman's lips. The secretary immediately followed his order and closed the door behind her.
The office was large with the morning daylight from the outside that passed through the glass windows served as the light in the room, made the room brighter without even using artificial ones. Glass shelves, displaying trophies, pictures, and books, are found on one side of the room while a black modern living room set was on the other side with a large area separating them. The room was really fit for the chairman as well as the owner of the company.
"Good morning, Mr. Chairman," the so-called Kimura bowed down, followed by the men behind him.
"You're late, Kimura," a strong but calm Chairman spoke, turning his head behind him.
"I'm sorry, sir."
"What do you have for me this time?" the Chairman persuaded him, and sat to his swivel chair comfortably.
"I bring you news from Europe, sir,"
"You'd better give me a good one, Kimura," the Chairman ordered, giving Kimura a threat. "Proceed."
"Sir, our European agents called and testified that they found Ichiro-sama in Italy," Kimura continued, while reading from a paper that he pulled out from an envelope.
"Ichiro?" the sound of the name made the Chairman looked with earnest.
"Yes sir. Apparently, he is living in a small apartment and worked as a store assistant. Yesterday, he was found in a café making a phone call. We're still closely monitoring his actions," Kimura continued and completed his report.
"How about the woman and her child?" the Chairman asked, but looked disgusted by mentioning them.
He won't like this. "We lost their tracks," Kimura answered hesitantly.
"You lost them? How could you lost them?" an annoyed Chairman stood from his chair. No one answered him, which made him angrier. "I didn't pay you for slacking off! I paid you for hunting down that woman and her bastard son!"
"We're sorry, sir," the leader of the group of three men interfered, that made Kimura irritated, "But we're investigating their whereabouts. Before we lost them, a distant relative of Hanako-sama is helping her. She was also found suspiciously roaming in a train station and boarded a train to Takeshita District."
Stupid! You think he would accept such logic? Kimura eyed at the man, who was already beside him.
"Unacceptable!" the Chairman glared at them.
"But sir, we did our best…" Kimura raised his hand like making a pledge, stopping the man from spilling more unnecessary information.
"I'm deeply sorry for his actions, sir," Kimura apologized calmly, "The search for Hanako-sama and her child is my responsibility. We've lost her, but I contacted our men in Takeshita before she boarded the train. She was near the Nakahara mansion and that was the last time that they saw her. I already doubled the men and considered their location."
"I see," the Chairman composed his self.
"Sir, if you may allow me, I will leave for Takeshita today to take charge of my team in our pursuit." Kimura took the chance for asking his boss' consent.
"Very well, I am counting on you Kimura," he demanded him. "You may also change your men," he looked at the man beside Kimura threateningly that made the person froze and panicked.
"Thank you, sir." Kimura bowed down with sincere respect. In response, the Chairman moved his hand indicating their departure and the end of their meeting. The men finally bowed and left the room.
"Kimura," the Chairman called him out as he, who was the last to leave, stopped and turned his body sideways, "I'm expecting a good result."
"I will," Kimura walked towards the door, with his hand turning the doorknob, "Father."
As Kimura left the room, Tetsuya Fujiwara ─ the fifty-five year old Chairman and owner of the Fujiwara Corporation ─ looked at the skies from his glass window. Ichiro. I'll forgive you if you'll come home.
Meanwhile, outside the Chairman's office, Kimura Fujiwara, twenty-seven years of age, walked through the hallway and towards the elevator with three men following him.
"If you make another foolish move before me and the Chairman, you won't be able to see daylight the next day," Kimura eyed at the man hostilely.
"I'm sorry, sir," the man startled.
They entered the elevator and remained still. As they reach the ground floor, Kimura's cellular phone rang. He grabbed his phone from the pocket inside his suit and looked at his phone. Taro-san. It was the name that flashed from his phone.
"You may now leave and do your job properly," he directed them. The three men bowed and left him in the lobby.
Kimura left the building and as soon as there was no one in site he answered the phone.
"Any news?" he asked the person on the other line promptly, walking towards the parking lot.
"What took you so long to answer the phone?" a solid voice came from the other line.
"It's none of your business, Taro," Kimura irksomely answered, opening the door of his car.
"Oh well…The girl you asked me to investigate left for Hokkaido," the voice reported briefly.
"Follow her to Hokkaido," Kimura gave out a firm command, closing the door and loosing his tie with his other hand.
"Tsk…I know you were about to say that…"
"I'll call you back for further instructions," Kimura uttered firmly and ended the call. He dropped his phone, removed his coat and tie, and loosens two of the buttons from his shirt. He started his car and left the parking lot. I'm going to end this hide-and-seek game and I'll definitely win this time.
In the meantime, a hundred miles north from Tokyo, the weather was fair compared to the industrious Tokyo. Fluffy and cotton-like clouds covered the sun and the fresh gentle wind blows in Hokkaido. A reasonable amount of sunbeam touched a large sign flashing from the facade of a modern international airport. Passengers and tourists were coming in and out, taxis are lining up waiting to be called for their service, and airplane flights are being called for its customers.
In one of the airport terminals, an airplane gradually lands in the runway. From its arrival, travelers appeared and waited for their luggage. Amidst these tourists is a long black-haired woman wearing white turtleneck long-sleeved sweater, tight black denim pants and was accentuated with a large dark brown belt around her waist. A long black beaded necklace was hanging from her neck and small round black earrings were both found in her two earlobes. She also wore huge black shades, a pair of black high-heeled closed shoes, and was carrying a large dark brown hand bag. With her slim physique and good posture, she looked like runway model.
From the terminal, she scrambled her way through the crowd and out of the establishment. She approached one of the yellow taxi cabs and opened the car door from the back.
"Please take me to a nearest inn," a soft but tired and trembling voice came from her as she requested the old driver who sincerely took it. The taxi driver steered his car through the streets until they arrived at an old small inn which was thirty minutes away from the airport. She took some cash from her wallet, thanked the driver, and left the cab.
She looked around and saw a police station nearly across the inn while a small local restaurant was found on the inn's left side and a bookstore at the right. It's quite safer than Tokyo. Without delay, she marched towards the small inn.
"Ohayou gozaimasu," a young freckled teenage girl in pigtails and in a frilly white dress and red apron stood behind the counter, greeted her with a smile.
"Ohayou gozaimasu," she responded the greeting fairly, "I would like a room…if I may add, the one facing the street."
"There is one room available. Would you like to take it a look?" the young girl suggested with confidence.
She nodded in agreement and followed the girl as they climbed upstairs and walked through the hallway. From the stairs, they stopped at the third room to the left. The girl pulled out the key from her apron pocket, opened the door for her guest, and they both walked inside the room.
The room was small, enough for one person. A single sized bed was found at the center of the room, with two night end tables with old lampshades at both sides. Adjacent to the bed was a medium sized hardwood cabinet and a small colored television on top of it. It has two small closed windows with white pleated curtains. A large potted plant was situated at one corner of the room, a wooden chandelier with ventilation at the ceiling, and a phone was on the wall. It was simple and cozy.
"I'll take it," she smiled, looking satisfied.
The girl beamed and handed down the key, "If you need anything, please don't hesitate to call me. By the way, I'm Akiko."
"Thank you, Akiko," she took the key and was left alone privately. She took off her glasses and dropped her bag on the bed. She peeped from window and observed her location. Suddenly, a short ringing sound came from her bag. She rushed towards the bed, pulled out her cellular phone, and flipped it on. Her hands were trembling as she scanned in the menu and saw a new unread message in her e-mail. The name of the sender gained her interest. Her heart beats faster and began reading it.
Hanako, are you already in Hokkaido? Stay there for awhile and be vigilant.
I found some of Papa's men roaming here in Italy. I'm leaving today for Russia
then to Hokkaido to meet you. We'll go back to Tokyo together and look for Ruu
and confront Papa. Whatever happens, I won't leave you and our son.
Please take care of yourself. I love you.
Two hot tears rolled in her cheeks and dropped on her hand, she started to weep quietly. I'm scared Ichiro and I miss our son. Please come back soon, Ichiro. I'll be waiting for you. Her lonely and frightened heart filled the room with solitude.
Back in Takeshita District, one white marble mansion, a century old, was the prominent site in the neighborhood. The Nakahara mansion, owned by a rich and poised widower, served as a lodge for five high school students – four beautiful boys and one scary girl.
Knock…Knock…Knock
"Come in…" a voice came from the room.
"We're here," Toyama Yukinojou opened the door and presented themselves to his dark haired roommate who was sitting in a chair near his table, waiting for them.
"Where are they?" Oda Takenaga asked them curiously.
"Sunako's in the market while Kyouhei's sleeping with Ruu in the nursery," Morii Ranmaru answered glancing at him. He really looks serious. What is he up to now?
"Good. Lock the door," a serious Takenaga ordered as Ranmaru and Yuki entered his room.
I've never seen Takenaga like this before. He's more serious than the usual. Yuki thought, staring at him as Ranmaru locked the door behind them.
"Why do you have to invite and talk to us privately?" Ranmaru asked him, looking for an answer, scanning his eyes around Takenaga's room. How could he even sleep in this boring room?
"Yes. We've noticed that you've been very serious since this morning," Yuki explained worriedly as he chose to seat comfortably on Takenaga's bed and Ranmaru leaned on the Takenaga's study table.
Indeed, it was just this morning when Takenaga requested them to sneak into his room while his two other roommates are occupied.
They were all in the garden, enjoying the warmth of the sun. Yuki, Ranmaru, and Kyouhei were playing with Ruu while Takenaga was sitting on a garden chair, reading his book quietly when Sunako Nakahara came with her food trolley.
"Come on Sunako! Play with us," Yuki offered happily at Sunako, who brought out the trolley with cakes, cups, and teapot.
"I'll join you later," Sunako replied, bowing down as to cover her eyes with her big black fedora hat, laying down the food on the garden table.
"What's your excuse this time?" Kyouhei grabbed and hugged her from behind, his lips were inches away from Sunako's cheeks. In seconds, blood spewed from her nose, and fainted. "Hahahahahaha…." Kyouhei made an evil laugh.
"Poor Sunako," Yuki and Ranmaru sighed, looking at them. Suddenly, Takenaga closed his book, walked towards them, and kneeled down.
"What's wrong Takenaga?" Yuki asked him, supporting Ruu who was sitting on his lap.
"Meet me at my room later when those two are gone," Takenaga invited them, pointing his thumb to his back where Kyouhei was stuffing his mouth with cakes while Sunako laid on the grass, immersed on her own blood.
Yuki and Ranmaru looked at the direction that Takenaga was pointing and was dismayed by the sight.
"Is this some kind of a serious talk huh?" Ranmaru concluded.
"You could say that," Takenaga stood up and left them in the garden.
"This has something to do with Ruu," Takenaga highlighted his real motive.
From the four men living in the Nakahara household, Oda Takenaga is known for his seriousness, traditional, and conservative ways but a more determined Takenaga was facing them now.
"Ruu? What do you mean?" Yuki and Ranmaru chimed then looked at each other intriguing faces.
Sitting, Takenaga turned his back and opened one of the drawers from his table. He pulled out a small wooden chest and removed something from the opened box. He showed them the gold necklace with a heart-shaped pendant. It was the jewelry that they saw the night when Ruu came to their house.
"Look at this locket," Takenaga stood up and handed down the necklace to Yuki, "At the back you'll notice an image, more likely a design."
Surprised, Yuki followed as what Takenaga instructed and inspected the locket meticulously.
"Yes! I can see it but it's quite tiny," Yuki goggled at Takenaga while Ranmaru leaned towards him to take a look for himself.
"That is a fleur de lis," Takenaga informed them.
"A what?" Yuki gaped.
"Fleur de lis is a French word for lily flower," Ranmaru divulged with elegance, as he made his usual sexy pose with white lily flowers and sparkles as his background.
He's good at French…and acting. Takenaga squinted at him "That's right. Ranmaru, does it look familiar to you?" Takenaga inquisitively asked.
"Eh? But I always see them at our hotels," Ranmaru reminded him, "It's a common design and artwork used in hotels."
I almost forgot they own hotels. "I know," Takenaga acknowledged him, "but have you seen this symbol to any families you know?"
"What does that mean Takenaga?" Yuki nosily interrupted. I can't seem to follow them.
"Well…that fleur de lis behind the locket seems to be an emblem or more of a family crest," Takenaga assumed.
Ranmaru took the locket from Yuki and studied it thoroughly, "It does look like a family crest."
"Then, what does that fleur de lis have to do with Ruu?" Yuki looked at his two roommates.
"A family crest serves as a representation of a family's status and identity. Usually, noble and influential clans have their own crest or coat of arms. For instance, this fleur de lis might be Ruu's family emblem," Takenaga started explaining.
This discussion is giving me the headaches. Yuki frowned. But I'm catching up. "Then Ruu is also a prince like you?"
"That's possible," Takenaga seconded. I really don't like the word 'prince' though.
"How come you're not sure, Takenaga?" Ranmaru added, resting his left arm on his waist, still holding the jewelry with his right hand.
"Well…our theory is not yet proven," Takenaga continued, "If this is an emblem, then to whom? Why did they abandon Ruu? There's a lot of mystery."
"I get your point, Takenaga," Yuki thought, folding his arms towards his chest.
"Now that you've mentioned it, why don't we ask our families instead?" Ranmaru made a proposal.
"That's right! Since you have all the connections," Yuki agreed with triumphant.
"I wouldn't do that," Takenaga inoffensively opposed.
"Why not?" Yuki felt disappointed.
"It's very suspicious, Yuki, to be curious towards another family. It's a complicated situation especially if this family is high-ranking and dangerous. We don't want to get them in trouble," Takenaga explained.
It's also hard to be very rich. Yuki sighed and yearned, "Well…"
"Didn't we ask Oba-chan her assistance in this?" Ranmaru recalled.
"Yes, but I'd rather not ask her now. In the first place, it's just a hypothesis. We need to be very sure before we make our next move," Takenaga justified his plan.
"Then, should we still keep it as a secret to Kyouhei and Sunako?" Ranmaru implied; passed the jewelry to Takenaga, who received it.
"They ought to know this too, right?" Yuki emphasized.
"We have to. Remember our deal," Takenaga reminded them, "If we they knew about this, they'll make an unwise move or act harshly. We'll never know what they would do next." He returned the jewelry to the box and hid it in the drawer.
Especially Kyouhei. Yuki and Ranmaru nodded in agreement.
"So what do we do now?" Yuki rose from Takenaga's bed.
"We'll have to wait, for now," Takenaga recommended.
All of a sudden, a loud knock from the door interrupted their conversation.
Knock…Knock…Knock…
"Hey! Are you guys in there? Why did you lock the room?" a yell came from outside of the room.
"It's Kyouhei! What now?" Yuki felt agitated. He can easily read us by our actions.
"Just act cool," Ranmaru relaxed him, walked towards the door and opened it for Kyouhei.
"What took you so long? What are you guys up to?" Kyouhei gawped, raising one of his eyebrows.
"Nothing," Ranmaru startled as Kyouhei glinted at him.
Keep it cool huh? Yuki scowled at the petrified Ranmaru.
"You're easy to read, you know," Kyouhei persuaded Ranmaru to speak up. "Do you have a sort of a conference here?"
"They were just asking my help for their homework," Takenaga defended, stepping in between Kyouhei and Ranmaru.
"Yes! That's right!" Yuki chimed in. Nice one Takenaga!
Whew! I'm saved. Ranmaru looked relieved.
"What homework?" Kyouhei was stunned, "It is still our break. Deal with it later,"
"It's still homework Kyouhei," Takenaga repeated, "Don't you have any?"
"Well…" Kyouhei crossed his arms, recollecting a memory of homework prior to their school break unfortunately, he didn't remember a thing. "Agh… I can't remember," Kyouhei grouched, scratching his head vigorously.
He is Kyouhei Takano after all. The three boys thought and pulled their faces at him.
"By the way, where's Ruu?" Yuki realized that Ruu's not with Kyouhei.
"He's still asleep," Kyouhei responded, "Have you seen Sunako? I'm starving!"
"After playing with your son, you're looking for your wife, isn't that adorable?" the three sniggered in chorus.
"When are you going to stop this?" Kyouhei ticked off, glaring at them.
"We don't know," they spoke in unison innocently.
Damn it! I'm hungry! Kyouhei ignored them and stomped his feet out of Takenaga's room, fuming out of hunger, and started screaming, "SUNAKO NAKAHARA!"
Rather than to be depressed, they smiled. He misses her alright though he just doesn't realize it. We're just hoping this little trick will help them.
While Kyouhei was shouting at the top of his voice looking for Sunako Nakahara, somewhere in Takeshita District, in the active downtown market, women and men alike were shifting from one store to another purchasing to sorts of available groceries.
"Achoo…" the chibi Sunako sniffed. Odd. I think someone just called my name.
"Bless you, dear," the old male vegetable vendor reacted to her sneeze, handing her the plastic bag of turnips, carrots, and radishes.
"Thank you, sir," Sunako paid for the vegetables and left him.
"Come back soon, scary girl!" the vendor waved him good-bye.
She looked back at him, bowed, and finally continued her way home. As she was walking, making a turn from a corner, she stopped, bumping into a stranger. She fell to the ground and dropped her bag.
"I'm sorry, miss," a yellow-brown haired tall young man in black slacks, black leather shoes, and white shirt with two loosen buttons, crouched down and offered his hand.
It's another radiant being. He was glowing with radiance then blood came out from Sunako's nose and stood up on her own, wiped of the blood and the dirt from her brown trench coat. "It's alright, sir."
"Let me help you," the young man dropped his hand which was unaccepted, kneeled, and picked up her groceries.
"You don't have to sir," Sunako objected the offer, but he rose up and handed the bags to her.
"After all, it's my entire fault. I was in a hurry," he expressed his regret then he smiled at her.
He's too radiant. Sunako was trembling.
"Miss, are you okay?" the man worriedly asked her but the sight of her scared him. She's creepy. Is she even human?
"I'm fine. I'm going now," Sunako bowed, "thank you". I really can't stand radiant beings. Oh! I have to cook dinner for Ruu. All of a sudden, she transformed into a lady and wore a smile in her lips; it was a lady's smile, and Sunako left him standing and dazed.
Hanako? It can't be Hanako. But…Long black hair, slim figure…Could it be? He regained his consciousness and ran, following Sunako. Unluckily, from a second corner Sunako disappeared. Where did she go? She can't walk so fast, can she? Or is she a ghost?
Unknowingly, Sunako was hiding in a dark corridor. She fell down on her knees, sweating, and gasping for breath. Ha…Ha…Ha…Radiant beings. Why do they jump at me to my surprise? Sunako wiped off the blood that dropped from her nose, stood up, and grabbed her bags. I'd better go home.
Notes:
+ This one is a little bit of serious, but I really wanted to put in Ruu's background still I hope you'll like it. ^_^