Eyes For Jupiter
Chapter 17
Rein put up a small argument about going, but when I told him Yukara had left, he was more than willing to go back.
"Oh and I also got you something today," I said as I dug into my purse and handed him his new cell phone and the spare key to my or rather, our apartment. "I also got me a cell phone. I was worried today when you weren't at Haruka and Michiru's."
We quickly got ourselves together and left. We arrived about forty-five minutes after Rei called. Michiru and Haruka were back as well as everyone else.
"Rein," said Michiru. "Yukara wanted me to tell you she was sorry. She didn't say why, but I got a feeling that she was embarrassed about something."
"Um, yeah, thanks," said Rein. He quickly dropped the subject.
"What's going on guys?" I asked.
Ami quickly spoke up. "We found a lead. One of the factories is actually a front for something else. We're not sure exactly for what though. We have been watching the place for the last hour and several well known business exec's have been seen going in and out of there. Haruka knows a few of them. I'm still trying to get more information on who owns the place." She kept typing on her computer.
We looked at Haruka for confirmation.
"Yes I do know one of them," said Haruka. "And just recently I was contacted by an acquaintance about a business deal. He didn't divulge much information at the time, but he said it could make me a lot of money in a relatively short amount of time. I told him that I would have to think about it and I'd get back to him. It just so happened that one of the people seen coming out of the building was him."
"So what are we going to do now?" I asked.
"I just called him and told him I was interested in his proposition."
"But what if it has nothing to do with my brother?" asked Rein.
"It's the only lead we have right now, so we'll follow up on that and see where it takes us," replied Haruka.
"Bingo," said Ami. "The owner of the building is Hayashi Masato. He is the current President of Wild Winds Corporation."
"Haruka, Wild Winds is owned by Yukara," said Michiru.
"So what is the connection between this friend of yours and Hayashi?" asked Rein.
"Got it," said Ami. "Sato was recently hired by Wild Winds to head up a new research department within the company. But I can't find what they research. But there are a few more names connected with it. Takakashi Ren, Nakamura Hideki, Kinjino Yuu and Masao Shinji."
"Wait what was the next to last name?" asked Rein.
I glanced at him and noticed that he tensed up, like he was expecting something to jump out at him. I placed my hand on his to silently reassure him. He squeezed my hand and then put his arm around my shoulders.
"It was Kinjino Yuu," replied Ami.
"It can't be," said Rein.
I gave him a questioning look.
"Kinjino was our Grandmother's maiden name. Yuu was her son that died shortly after birth. It's silly, but the name was a secret way of letting each other know something was up. If we wanted to get out of a situation, we would fake a call from our friend Kinjino Yuu or say we had to meet up with him. But come on, this is Japan, how many Kinjino Yuu's are out there. Probably thousands," claimed Rein.
"True, but this one showed up just after your brother disappeared," said Ami. "I can't find any information on him prior to March 21st. No birth records, no driving records and no passport or even an application for one. The only thing that I do show is a home address."
"Where's it at?" I asked.
"It's one of Wild Winds properties in Downtown Tokyo. It doesn't give an apartment number just the building," said Ami.
"I think it's time we do some more snooping," said Minako. "I love being a private eye!"
I stopped to look at Rein for a minute. I knew what he was thinking. Once again he was going to be left behind all because he looked like his brother. It was then that I remembered Usagi's pen. "Hey Usagi, will your pen work on Rein?"
"I don't see why not," she replied. "Let's try it!" She reached into her dimensional pocket and pulled out her transformation pen that came in handy so long ago. The key words were said, and in a dazzling display of light, Rein was no longer the spitting image of his brother. Instead, he had dark hair and eyes, much like my own.
"That is going to take some getting use to," I said.
"Makoto, he looks more like your brother than your boyfriend," squealed Minako.
I lead Rein to a mirror so he could see himself. "Oh wow," he said. "This isn't permanent, is it?"
I smiled and reassured him that it wasn't. "We used to use that pen all the time while investigating things. But luckily, we haven't had the need to use it or our own powers lately."
"We probably shouldn't use my name either," he said. "Just call me Ryuu." He said with a wink. "I always like that name ever since I met a guy in the airport with it."
I smiled at him and a snort escaped, which caused everyone to laugh.
We all decided to go snooping around the complex. We agreed that Rein, or rather Ryuu and I would pose as prospective tenants, with Haruka as our broker, while the others looked around the building.
It took us about thirty minutes to arrive at the building. Before we even left, Haruka called the building to confirm that there were indeed vacancies and to let them know that she had some clients that were interested in maybe purchasing an apartment. She was told that they could meet at any time.
We arrived separately from the others. They waited ten more minutes before leaving. We were met with the building superintendent. He seemed like a nice enough man. I wasn't really paying attention to what he was saying. My focus was on the people coming and going from the place. I managed to nod at the appropriate times and the super didn't seem to mind that I wasn't in the least, paying attention.
He was leading us on a guided tour of the common areas of the building. The front lobby was large and anyone could enter at anytime. There were three sets of elevators. Two were open for any one to use. The third set was monitored by bellboys of some type. To me they looked more like bouncers from a bar.
"What's the deal with the secured elevators?" I discreetly asked Haruka, who in turn posed the question to our guide. He informed us that those elevators were strictly for the use the company that owned the building, mentioning that they had several celebrities that stayed here quite often and required the extra security.
Our tour proceeded to the mail area where all the mail was kept. Occupants could come at anytime of the day or night to collect their mail. It was much like a post office with hundreds of post boxes lining the walls. I scanned for names that I might recognize, but none jumped out at me.
"Darling," I whined to Rein. "Can we see one of the apartments? I absolutely adore the building. Its location is perfect for both of us, I just hope the floor plan is as marvelous as the building."
"Of course dear."
Rein turned and asked the man if we could see one of the apartments. He quickly agreed and we were just about to head up to the twelfth floor when we spotted him. He had just exited the secured elevators. Unmistakably it was Rein's brother, but he didn't seem like Rein at all. His eyes were not the same. They seemed hollow somehow, like he was a shell of himself, kind of the way Rein looked when I first set my eyes upon his.
I was quick to make an excuse. "Ryuu, honey."
He pulled his gaze away from his brother's retreating form. "Yes dear?"
"I don't feel well at all. I think it's the morning sickness again."
Rein turned to the man and asked if we could reschedule to see the apartment another day. He replied that this particular building was not for families. But that the company had others that were. Rein nodded and said that Haruka would be in touch to make the necessary appointments.
We quickly left the building as fast as we could with out raising suspicion. Once we were in the privacy of Haruka's car I contacted Ami.
"We've found him," I said.
Author's Note: This was perhaps the most difficult chapter for me to write. I have never written a story as complicated as this one. Heck I have never really written anything worth a damn. I sincerely hope you have enjoyed this chapter. I know I left a cliff hanger, but hang in there! I am bound & determined to finish this!