Our Story
By Kitara Lira
Chapter Thirteen: Knowledge
It had only been a few days but already Natsuki had learned so much. After her explosion at Takishi, Natsuki had avoided the shop. It wasn't that she was that upset. In reality it was quite the opposite; Natsuki was ashamed. It had been so long since she had lost control. It was a feeling she hated and presently wanted to avoid confronting it for as long as humanly possible (which was only until the weekend).
"Yamada," Natsuki grunted into the speaker of her phone, holding it carelessly in the crook of her neck while she wandered the aisles of the grocery store, "You better have one hell of a good reason to be calling me while I'm shopping."
Static crackled for a moment before the voice of a male rang clear through on the other end, "I've found a few files you might be interested in."
The jar of mayonnaise nearly slipped from her grasp. Eyes of emerald scanned the aisle, looking to see if any others might have taken to eavesdropping upon her conversation. When the coast seemed clear, Natsuki spoke, "What's the price?"
"737,000 ¥," The voice said without stuttering. (A/N: That is about 10,000 Canadian. Don't ask me what it is in American dollars; I live in Canada, I work the loonie and toonie loves)
Natsuki couldn't help but laugh, "737,000 ¥? This better be some damn good information Yamada," It was unlike her informant to charge such an outlandish price for what was no doubt less than a hundred sheets of paper. Over the years, the two had come to form what I suppose you would call a deal. Natsuki would help Yamada out here and there with certain things in her field of expertise and in return he would use his field of expertise, following leads for her and charging the information at an extremely generous price. So for this to be so high – the man must have stepped on a few toes to get it.
"Believe me, the price is worth it Kuga. I almost lost my head for this one. So when do you want to do the exchange?"
The bluenette put a few more items into her basket before turning down the next aisle, "Tonight if possible. I'll drop off your portion at the usual location on my way home. You had best do the same."
It was the man's turn to break into a bout of chuckles, "Ah, Kuga, always so formal and to the code about of exchanges. I assure you, as I do with all the work we do, the information will be delivered as promised to its normal destination. Now I shall let you get back to your shopping. Make sure it is delivered no later then midnight or I will be a very cranky old man tomorrow Kuga."
"Haha, you? Cranky? You've told me that how many times now Yamada and I still have yet to see this "cranky" you speak of. I'm beginning to think you're just pulling at my chain." Replied the woman as she motioned to the deli worker to the which portion of meat it was she wanted. A few more hand signals to indicate the specific weight wanted, then Natsuki returned her attention to the call, "Say Yamada, do you think you could pull up a quick files to go with it?"
"What my information that I risked by buttocks for is not good enough reading material for you and you need more?" The man adorned a hurt tone, "That hurts Kuga after all we've been through together…"
"Oi, Yamada you sound like a whiny old bugger. Can you do it or not?"
"So serious, so serious," Yamada responded with a soft tone; by now he was quite used to these odd exchanges they had. In fact it was the odd quality of them that originally caused him to take on Natsuki as an apprentice for a year and then to work in a coalition with her for the past year and more then likely a few more years to come, "What is it you need delivered Kuga?"
Accepting the package of meat over the clear meat casing, Natsuki offering a nod to the worker and continued on her way, "The Fire Way Incident. I want a brief touch on the police reports; witness reports; detailed on the medical; and any connecting files to do with any high up case interference. This case wasn't allowed to be local and is only on the words of the students who attended the school. Three boys were hospitalized and it doesn't break to the news? I don't buy it, I want to know why. Cross reference all the data and I want any information concerning the family names of: Yuuki; Greer; and Fujino – to be on top of all other case files you can round up."
"Kuga you're asking quite a bit for two hours you know that right?"
Natsuki paused mid-step; leaning back against the nearest shelving unit and exhaling deeply, "I know… but I have faith that you can do it and you've never failed me before. What will be the extra cost?"
"Consider this one on me; I'll have the new files as well as the original file delivered for midnight sharp. But you owe me for this Kuga. If you get a call from me at some ungodly hour of the morning, you better pick it up. I might be needing my ass saved."
"Thanks Yamada. And don't worry, I'll probably sleep through it anyways. But I'll slip in a package of that strawberry pocky you love as thanks. Oh, and tell Hitomi I'll be by as always for supper on Sunday." Items were being unloaded from the basket and rang through by the teller, a young man with strange blonde hair and an even stranger look was… well was just him. He looked pretty damn strange. Natsuki cocked her brow, staring hard, trying to place the features of the male.
"Ah, alright, she'll be thrilled to hear that… Nat-chan."
"OI!" The entire grocery store paused, cringed even, but Natsuki failed to notice this, "What did I tell you about ever calling me that!? I'm going to break your legs when I see you Yamada! Break them! And you're wife is just going to sit by and say 'I told you so'." Needless to say a few of the stores patrons took a step back from the blue haired woman and her very engaging conversation.
"Haha, I love you too Natsuki-chan," Teased the man, knowing he was already in for a good solid punch at least; that last statement would probably gain him a direct blow to his pride and joy: Peaches and Floffle. The man internally cringed, "It will be there, midnight sharp. Don't forget." And with that the phone went silent.
Slamming her own mobile shut, Natsuki's gaze shot up at her teller who currently had his jaw more or less wiping the floor, "What?" She snapped, folding her arms across her chest, "I don't have all day to get these groceries packaged. I have a man who needs to be castrated!" At that the boy's eyes widened to the size of… well they just got really really big. So big that Natsuki was concerned they might fall out and onto her precious jar of mayonnaise that was resting below his jaw.
Moments passed and Natsuki was mortified to think of her mayonnaise being covered in the slim of some gross boy's eyes, so she took another approach to the situation, "Stop gawking and start working, I'm sure your boss would agree with me when I say you're paid to work not to drool. So let's be grown ups about this. If you stop drooling with your eyes… and mouth, and ring the rest of my items through, I will not contact your supervisor." This was said in such a sweet voice it sickened Natsuki so by the end of it, she had laced it with quite a menacing, yet innocent glare. Well sick; sweet; sickly sweet; whatever it was, it got the boy to move. Ringing through the items at a pace Natsuki thought might be reflective of a seizure. However, when her bags were all packed and the entire ordeal paid for in cash, Natsuki left the run down store. Perhaps I should have stayed to make sure the boy didn't hurt himself… Nah!
Now amidst the busy street, Natsuki realized she would not be able to make the drop for two reasons. Reason a) she was carrying too many groceries and b) the money was at home. That would mean a walk back home; not too fair a distance but then a walk back. And it had to be a walk; she couldn't ride her bike. Riding was too attention grabbing and attention grabbing was not something you wanted to be the cause of in this neighbourhood.
-
The three bronze keys turned the first three heavy bolts and the two golden coloured keys unlocked the last two. Opening the door, the woman slipped into her house, tossing her keys upon the old dusty entrance table. In all Natsuki's key ring held ten keys: five for the front door; four for several different safety lock deposit boxes; and one for her motorcycle. The eleventh key hung on a thick chain that was easily hidden beneath her flimsy t-shirt and baggy sweater she normally wore on her days off. It was a small key; slightly damaged. But that didn't matter to Natsuki. To her, that key was worth more then life itself. That key…
On the table her mobile went off, and the woman cursed silently. A quick glance at the caller ID was enough to tell her to throw the phone somewhere on the couch – which was exactly what she did.
It took a few minutes to unload the groceries but once the task was done, Natsuki went about shutting all the curtains, drawing all the shades then finally cutting the lights. With no need to allow her eyes to adjust, Natsuki then went about to the task at hand. Taking the first rusted key, Natsuki pried open the side casing that surrounded her shower. It was flimsy attached to the wall; falling apart like everything else in this apartment. But Natsuki didn't mind. In its deteriorating state it gave way for more unique hiding spots other than simply; in the floor boards; in the walls; or in the roof. Boring and too simple to find.
Arm reaching down a fair distance, Natsuki hit something. It was a briefcase; and contained the exact amount Yamada was looking for. Dusting it off, then sneezing at the dust that had just been dusted off, Natsuki silently cursed. Inserting the key into its slot however, the woman's downward frown turned upright. Here in her lap rested what most individuals made within a few months. This briefcase? Natsuki had earned it and its contents in one hour.
Clicking it closed, Natsuki grabbed her nearby baseball cap and drew up her hood. Out the front door she stepped, locking the five locks, and then heading for the location: the sewer that ran through main and fifth. The current of the water was enough to take it down to where it would be picked up, two blocks away. Of course, Natsuki always wrapped it nicely in an air tight bag. Why Yamada suggested this method was beyond her. Perhaps it was because the sewers were the one place the homeless had refused to go. Being sprayed every five minutes with a toxin that sent most peoples systems into shock wasn't something many people normally enjoyed. Of course, how the city had managed to work it so it didn't leech into the waste Natsuki would never know.
After her drop, Natsuki wandered around for an hour, killing time until her end of the bargain would be released. Minutes passed; an eternity to Natsuki. Nearby the pizza parlor dimmed their lights, closing down business for the day. That only went one thing to Natsuki. It was there.
Racing through the streets - up one then down another - Natsuki made it back to her humble abode in a record fifteen minutes flat. Normally at this time of night, to avoid hot spots, danger zones and picks, it took Natsuki forty minutes to complete the journey.
Locks twirled in a fury as the bluenette rushed to open her door. And when all was said and done, Natsuki was rewarded by several documents neatly placed on the edge of her bed. Yamada was the only other one who could get into this place; Natsuki had made sure of it.
Dropping herself down next to the files, Natsuki took a quick scan at what her informant had been able to round up this time. The police report; parent statements; witness statements; medical documentation; outside sources; the family names; and a file titled Lilies.
"Lilies?" Natsuki looked at the brown folder skeptically, "He got me lilies?" But before she let the gears in her head turn in the wrong direction, Natsuki set the folder down. This had the information that cost such an amount no doubt. This… she would save for last. Lilies or no lilies, she knew that whatever that folder contained – it needed to be looked through carefully and on a full nights rest.
So with that Natsuki turned her attention to the other folders, picking the one labeled Medical Documentation and opened it cautiously. A picture slipped out from the folder and slide to the ground. Leaning over Natsuki picked up the slender film paper. Upon it was the picture taken by the medical officer no doubt when one of the boys had first arrived at the hospital. A thin crust of dried blood covered most of his face, if you could ever call it that. The bone in one of his arms had been shattered back and had actually burst from the skin to protrude at an extremely odd angle and the bruising appearing on his midsection led Natsuki to believe there may have been a few broken ribs as well, if not some very close to broken ribs.
The next words to leave her mouth were extremely hushed and clearly laced with shock, "What the hell… happened…"
-
Author note: Anyways, sorry it took so long. I've been studying a story then when I want to relax from studying? I play video games.
So there you have it chapter thirteen to the ever growing and developing story of Natsuki's life and... how she will meet Shizuru in more detail. It was supposed to be this chapter but I stretched out this chapter and the last, but hopefully, next chapter! I'm thinking afternoon date with sex on the beach type thing. What do you think?