Chapter 9
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First of all I'd like to thank dancing wind forever for your review. I have only one thing to say - YOU ROCK!! You're reviews are honest, refreshing and yes, you even make me laugh when you compare my story to irresistible tomato dishes. I'm sorry that you don't like my short chapters, but as mentioned previously, I'm concluding the story now and well, I couldn't give away half of the plot. The number three is significant and it is not related to the members of Sakura's family or Morimoto's. I can't believe no one has picked up on it yet. It's the first time no one has been able to figure out half of my plot half way through it! Yay!
But anyway, to all my readers, thank you for being there and being honest and cool with your reviews. I hope you will be there for my next story which I think will be my last for a long, long time. Oh and I'd like to wish best wishes to my sis for being there and liking my story as well.
I am sorry that it has taken me so long to update this chapter, but it has taken me forever to get my ideas down and then I didn't like what I had written and then I had to spell check it!!
Anyways I have my chocolate next to me and my mp3 player and now I am ready to start typing :)
Here is my next chapter. Ja matte.
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The door was closed keeping the noise of the busy office locked out. Faintly you could hear people talking and photocopiers scanning and printing. The blinds were closed in the office but you could still hear the phones ringing with people's unsolved cases and problems. It was these too few moments of solitude that made him love his job. To hear the world going on without him - solving problems and saving people's lives.
He shoved those thoughts away and reached for the phone. He lifted the handle and pressed the red button before replacing the receiver and waiting while it dialed.
" Hiragizawa here. " came the rookies voice over the loud speaker.
" Hiragizawa, it's Jiang. " he replied in his gruff voice. " You get the news from Li? "
" Hai, what it was about I don't know. I couldn't understand his babble. "
" I was able to make more sense of it. Apparently he has important information. " Jiang replied leaning back in his chair.
" On what exactly?" Eriol asked cautiously. He didn't want to spill the fact that Li was in Japan looking for Sakura when he was off the case and breaking an entire rule book of regulations.
" The murder cases of course. Though they were not in his jurisdiction to begin with. " Jiang replied.
" Yeah about that - "
" Hmmm? " Jiang raised his brows waiting.
" Nothing. " Eriol replied and decided to stay out it. Li could get hanged later. " What did he say? "
" We're about to find out. " he reached over and pressed another button and waited why the call was made.
" Why am involved in this? " Eriol muttered to himself while he sat in Duchess's lounge room.
" He requested that you be included. " Jiang replied as Li answered.
" Right. We're here like you requested. " Jiang stated. " Now what is going on in Japan? Have you found Avalon? "
There were two sets of gasps from both ends of the phone and Jiang had to smile. Did they think he was blind and stupid? He was the sharpest tool in the shed. He didn't miss a trick. He wouldn't be here if he wasn't.
" Hiragizawa - " Li growled over the phone.
" I didn't say anything I swear! " Eriol choked.
" Enough! " Jiang cut in wishing to stop another argument. " I know everything and don't you forget it. Now what have you got for us? "
" Before I begin, I need clearance to the paperwork taken at the recent murders. "
" And what makes you think I will give you clearance for that information? " Jiang asked.
" If you want this murder case solved, you'll do it. " Li replied firmly.
" Don't get outspoken with me Xiao Lang. " Jiang warned. " Albeit, I know about your little trip to Japan and I also know about you throwing my name around for clearance behind my back. You're pushing your luck. "
" Sir, if my suspicion is confirmed then we are looking at solving one of the biggest cases in the Asian area. And I believe that this is somehow connected to Avalon. If I can crack this puzzle, then I might be able to find something out to help and save her."
" Hiragizawa, you have the access codes on your computer. Send the information to Li. " Jiang said tiredly.
" But sir, what makes you think I have the access codes? That's strictly - "
" Oh spare my the crap Hiragizawa. " Jiang bit off losing his cool. " I was not born yesterday. Why do you think I hired you? For your pretty looks and charms? I know that you have access to the whole mainframe here, so stop protesting and do it before I change my mind. " he growled.
" Right away sir! " Eriol replied.
Jiang sat back in his chair and closed his eyes. He had been here for the last eighteen hours and could do with a power nap. He listened as Eriol talked with Li in their three-way connection and let them do their business. He would cut in when it was necassary.
" Ok, Li. Here are the files. "
" Thanks. Now give me a minute. " he said.
Li placed his phone on the table and opened the files that Eriol had just sent him. He waited while they uploaded. His amber eyes flashed with intensity as he read the details.
1st Victim
Gender:Female
Name: Erica Shiku
Description:Auburn hair, green eyes, 5'7, slight build
Age: 20 years old
Found: In apartment on Hamataru Street, Tomoeda, Japan
Injuries:Throat and stomach slashed
2nd Victim
Gender:Female
Name:Rei Hatsumoto
Description:Brown hair, purple eyes, 5'8, meduim build
Age:26 years old
Found:House on Hamataru Street, Tomoeda, Japan
Injuries:Neck broken and tied to chair in the middle of the room
Third Victim
Gender:Female
Name:Raven Tanishia
Description:Black hair, amber eyes, 6'1, slight build
Age:19 years old
Found:Apartment on Hamataru Street, Tomoeda, Japan
Injuries:Cuts all over body, bled to death, bound and gagged in the bedroom
Li sat back and picked up the phone.
" You guys there? " he said tiredly.
" We are. " came two voices over the phone.
" It's exactly the same thing. I think, no - I know, Morimoto is after Miss Avalon once again, but this time Miss Daidoji and Miss Mikazukigata are thrown into the mix. "
" What?! " Eriol gasped looking up in the empty lounge room.
" Think about it. " Li said leaning forward on the lounge. " The murders have always occurred in threes. No one knew why and nothing about the murders made sense. They occurred in Tomoeda and Tokyo regions and no one could pin why either. The connections have been there all along, staring us right in the face. "
" Get to the point Xiao Lang. " Jiang cut in. " State your point and why you think it's Morimoto. "
" Ok, all nine victims were female. The only things that seemed coincidental were the streets they lived on. But after looking at the notes and going over each case I've come to see that all nine victims have had some resemblance to Miss Avalon, Miss Daidoji and Miss Mikazukigata. "
" WHAT?! " Eriol yelled jumping out of his chair in the empty lounge room.
" The next thing you have to consider is who would want these three women dead? Who bears the biggest grudges for them? "
" Morimoto. " Eriol cut in. " They were the ones who testified and landed him behind bars. They are the ones that took everything away from him. "
" It doesn't make any sense. " Jiang cut in. " A good argument to that hypothesis would be that there would also be men who would be slaughtered for your part as well as Mr. Avalon's in the trail. No men have been killed. "
" But consider this, Morimoto's hatred would be more for Avalon because she thwarted him, Daidoji stood up with proof and sealed the deal, Mikazukigata was his possession and she betrayed him. He'd want revenge on them first before he took out the insignificant others. "
" It's a good lead, but without significant proof that Moto is the one calling for the murders, it won't stand up in court. "
" I know that. " Li bit out. " But there has to be something that we can do! Sakura is missing and we have no idea where she is. If he has his hands on her I swear - "
" Li, " Eriol cut in on his outrage. " You know what you have to do now. Don't you? "
" . . . . . . "
" You have to go back to the prison and get further footage of Morimoto as far as two days after Sakura saw him. There has to be someone that he is contacting, someone who is doing his dirty work for him. Find that connection and you will have the murderer and clues to where Sakura is, if she's been taken. "
" That is a good plan. " Jiang said, a hint of a smile in the corner of his mouth. " I'll make a detective out of you yet Hiragizawa. "
" Thank you sir. "
" Now, I will give you all clearance to get into the security footage and any other passes you may need. "
" Thank you sir. " Li replied stunned. " I don't understand why you are doing this. I mean I could be wrong. "
" Do you think you are wrong? " Jiang demanded.
" No sir. I don't. " Li replied honestly.
" Then do what you have to. If these murders are connected like you say they are, then there will be a promotion for you when you return. " Jiang replied.
" Thank you sir. " Li's voice came over the phone.
" Now Hiragizawa, " Jiang began.
" Yes sir? "
" I want you and Miss Daidoji to come here to the station. You will be flying to Japan to assist Xiao Lang and Miss Daidoji will be placed in my care until you acquire solid proof. "
" But sir - " Eriol spluttered shocked.
" Xiao Lang is going to need your computer skills and I am not paying for the phone calls between the two of you to figure this case out. Now move it! You have exactly half an hour to be here in my office with Miss Daidoji. Xiao Lang, no arguments. None what-so-ever. "
Li clamped his mouth shut and swallowed the protest he'd about to bellow.
" Good luck trying to keep your eye on Duchess. " Eriol muttered before he hung up.
" I want answers Xiao Lang and results. Good luck. " Jiang said.
" I'll do my best sir. " Li said and ended the call.
Jiang sat back in his chair and sighed. Could Morimoto be at it again? Li certainly seemed to think so and Jiang had come to rely on Li's gut instinct. It was usually right.
" He-ey! " Madison dug her shoes into the ground and tried to stop herself being pushed out of her own foyer.
" Come on Duchess! " Eriol pushed against her back. " This is no time to become as stubborn as a mule. "
" Well if you explained why you are so determined to push me from my home -! " she pushed back against him.
" We don't have time for this! " Eriol wrapped his arms around her waist and lifted her off the ground.
Madison shrieked in surprise and watched helplessly as she was carried towards the front door. What on earth was wrong with him this time?! He'd come running into her office off the kitchen and had babbled some nonsense and then started dragging he towards the door like a bat out of hell.
Madison was determined to gain some sense out of him before she went any further. She lunged and wrapped her arms around the pillar that graced her front porch and clung tightly to it. Eriol came to a halt when he couldn't carry her any further and then noticed what she was doing and groaned as he tried to tug her free of her death grip.
" We don't have time for this right now Duchess! "
" I don't care! " she yelled back. " I am not moving until you explain yourself! "
Somewhere in the back of his mind he was aware that this could be a very humorous situation to onlookers - a grown woman clinging to her front stoop like her life depended on it and a grown man trying to tug her free, but at that moment he didn't care for he had orders to follow.
" Look, Jiang wants me to go to the office and he wants you to accompany me! There! So please let go! "
" Why do I have to come? " she looked over her shoulder at him but didn't release her grip.
" Because I have to go to Japan! Are you happy now? With no one to look after you, Jiang is offering to look out for you while I'm gone. "
Madison released her grip and placed her feet on the ground. She flicked her hair back and met his gaze.
" Well then, in that case, I'll go pack. " she walked passed him and went to go back inside.
" Oh no you don't. " Eriol grabbed her and flipped her over his shoulder as he closed the front door, made sure it was locked and made his way towards his car - all the while ignoring her shrieks and swearing.
He strapped her in the passenger seat and ignored the cold, frosty glare she sent him before he closed her door and made his way to the driver's seat. He shifted the car into gear and then drove away from the Daidoji mansion and towards the city.
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Meanwhile . . .
Tori whisked the eggs in the bowl as he prepared lunch. He finished and sat the bowl down with a sigh. His gaze drifted to the stairs and to the room upstairs that she had locked herself into since they had arrived back last night.
' Oh my God! My mother's lover was Morimoto! '
Her declaration had sliced through him and stunned him as it had her. Such information was terrifying. To know that your own kin was related to that monster and that her mother had had an affair with the man. . .
Tori leaned on the bench and stared at it as his thoughts drifted. If that wasn't such a devastation, to know that both parents were dead and any chance of seeing them ever again was gone, no wonder she had locked herself away from him and the world.
But he was determined to be there for her.
He cooked the eggs and prepared the other dishes and carefully placed them on a tray and carried it upstairs. He knocked on her door and got no reply. He knocked again and waited.
" Luna, sweetheart, I know you're in there. You can't hide in there forever. Please open the door and eat something, dozo. "
He waited and finally he heard the lock click back and the door opened to a room full of darkness. Her tired and pale face peered up at him from the doorway. AS he watched her eyes welled up and tears trailed down her cheeks. Tori's eyes widened as she crumbled in front of him. He walked in and put the tray down and turned and accepted her as she leaned against him and cried. Poor girl. He rubbed her back and tried to soothe her as he had once did many a time for Sakura when she was hurt or upset. She'd told him that his hugs always made things better and he hoped it was the case here.
He must have had some affect as she quieted down and turned her head to rest her cheek on his chest. She sniffed and he continued to rub her back for comfort.
" I'm sorry. " she sniffed again. " I don't mean to be such a pain. "
" You are far from it. " Tori replied gently.
" You understand, " she hiccupped. " You know what this is like for me. "
" Hai. I do. " his voice was deep with emotion.
" To come all this way and learn that that - " she stuttered, " How could she sleep with him?! How?!! "
" I can't speak for her love. " Tori murmured. " But maybe she saw something that others didn't. Maybe that's what it was. "
" I'll never know. " she clutched his shirt tighter. " I'll never know now that they are both gone. "
" Luna listen to me. " he turned her so she was looking at him. " You're parents loved you, you know that. That old lady said as much and I know you know it in your heart. You mother made a mistake and it cost her both her children and the man she loved. You all suffered. "
" He thought I was his child. " she whimpered and tears welled again. " He thought I was his child and he still treated me like - " she cut herself off and turned away from him ashamed.
" Luna I can't take away your past but we're here in the future together, doesn't that mean anything? "
" Oh Tori! " she hugged him tight. " You mean the world to me. Never leave me! Please never walk away from me. "
" Shhh, sweetheart. It's ok. " Tori soothed her and kissed the top of her head gently. " I'll never leave you. I swear. "
She pushed away from him and wiped away the trailing tears from her face. She met his worried look and wondered how she had ever managed to keep this dark angel beside her. He was her best friend. Her only friend. Between him and his sister and their doting father, she felt like she had some part in their loving family. They were all so nice to her and she had been so wretched to them all. She remembered how she had betrayed him and still in the end he had come back to her. She never wanted to loose this friendship, it meant so much to her.
She sighed and sat down on the bed that adorned the room. She sniffed and felt the world break apart and open in front of her. The huge black void that threatened to engulf her swarm before her subconscious and she swallowed hard. She took a deep breath and decided it was now or never.
" Tori - I haven't been completely honest with you . . . " she watched his eyes darken and she swallowed hard.
" You see, what that old woman said was true but she didn't know all of it. I doubt my family knew it all either - how he treated me after he took me away. "
" Luna you don't have to do this. " Tori cut in.
" No you need to understand. " she pleaded. " You need to know so you can understand why I betrayed you when your sister was in danger last year. "
Tori sucked a deep breath at the admonition.
" I don't remember being taken away, but I do remember when I first started taking priority on Moto's list. He had me home schooled so that I could be under his supervision at all times. He made me learn to obey him and any he gave authority. If he said that I had to listen, then I had to. There was no other way for me. I never had any friends because he forbade it. I grew up not knowing what it meant to be considered a friend.
" When I was bad I was punished. I was locked away and forgotten about. So I tried my hardest to be good so I could be noticed and acknowledged. Moto taught me how to manipulate and steal. He taught me how to make good business deals and how to use my charms to win clients over. I've done bad things Tori, some horrible things that no one should be made to do. But that didn't matter to him.
" All that time I longed to be free. Moto knew it, everyone did. I had learned to hate him as I grew older and was able to understand that other people's lives were not like mine. When I realized that, I knew I would set myself free no matter what. Then the day came. Moto had suffered some setbacks. He didn't tell me but I could guess something was wrong. Then he came to me. Cut a long story short, he would give me my freedom if I found this guy that had double-crossed him and brought him back for punishment.
" To me, you were just another job, a faceless being that had to be hauled in for payment. I didn't care. I was eager for my freedom. You know the rest of what happened afterwards. You'll never know how hard it was for me to do what I did to you that day. I can't expect you to understand why I did it but I was so close to tasting that freedom I craved and all I had to do was finish what I set out to do and the deal was done.
" But I didn't count on you being so nice and friendly and loyal. That was the hard part. So when you were taken captive and my freedom was mine, I realized that I was my own master and that I could go against Moto and rescue you. I was proud that I was able to help save you to a point, for it meant that I was finally my own person. A woman who could make up her own mind.
" I was horrified what Moto had done to your sister and you'll never know how sorry I am about that. Nothing I say will ever be enough. "
The room was quiet after she finished her story. She didn't dare look at him for the fear that she would see distrust in his eyes. She was startled when he lifted her chin and made her look into his eyes. What she saw there made her cry - For it wasn't hatred or pity but a warmth that was held just for her. She sagged against him and hugged him tight.
" I understand now. I didn't then, but I do now. Thank you. " he said softly.
" Tori, " she pulled away from him and knew that this was it. " There's more that I have to tell you. "
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The sound of a powerful engine is what finally woke her. She stared around her, her vision blurred and realized that she was on a plane. And not just any plane either, but someone's privately owned plane. She struggled to sit up and touched the lump on the back of her head gingerly. What on earth had they hit her with? She looked up startled as a man came into focus in front of her.
He looked at her from behind dark glasses as he held a cloth up to her face. When she realized what he was doing she struggled, but by then the drug was taking affect and she fell down face first into a deep sleep.
When she came to, it was the sound of gentle lappng water. She groaned and struggled to sit up. He eyes swam around in her head, it was that or either the world had gone berserk. She felt sickness well up inside her and she retched over the side of the boat. She fell back limply and squinted up at the blue sky above her. The sun was warm on her skin and the gentle breeze played with her sweat-drenched bangs. She was in real trouble this time and she had a sneaking suspicion that she wasn't going to make it this time. She sighed and a small smirk of defeat played in the corner of her mouth. This was it. She was going to die out in the middle of no where and no one would be any wiser. How ironic. The first time she had run away it was to save herself and her family. This time the same thing had killed her. Fate was cruel.
She clenched he fists determined to get up and make a last attempt to save herself. She had managed to get herself into a sitting position when a sound that sounded like bubbles breaking the surface of the water reached her. She turned her head slowly and watched the surface of the blue water beside her. Her breath caught when two masked faces broke the surface and stared at her.
Thinking that they would help her, she called out to them frantically. They regarded her before shooting each other looks. Sakura stopped calling for help when they waded towards her. Something about these two were not what they appeared. Sakura backed away from them, but her drugged body was slow and she couldn't resist when the one closest to her shoved a mouth piece into her mouth and dragged her overboard and into the water.
They broke the surface into a dark cavern and Sakura tried desperately to get her body to move but it refused to and she felt like crying. Well she would have anyway if her body hadn't been completely drained. She let them push her to a small ledge and push her up onto it. She shivered with the cold of the water and the fear she felt every moment.
She looked around her as the two masked men lit a lantern illuminating the cavern. It was small and Sakura couldn't see any way out. She watched as one of the men pulled out some rope from his bag and looked towards her. Sakura backed up against the wall and begged them to leave her alone in a whispery tone that her tired body would allow.
She was manhandled roughly as they tied her hands together in front of her. They started on her ankles but she kicked out at them roughly making one of the curse behind his mask. The other slapped her for her disobedience and she cried out weakly. The other man that she had kicked motioned to the rising water in the cavern and pulled the rope away from his companion and put it away back into the bag.
It was then that her heavy mind realized what they intended to do. They were going to leave her to drown in this small pocket under the ocean. The rising water would eventually fill the small hole, taking with it the only air that could allow her to survive leaving her to struggle until death claimed her. Knowing this gave her strength and she lunged forward and started to pummel the man closest to her. Water splashed as she fought desperately to somehow free herself.
She was bodily thrown backwards by the other man and she hit the rock ledge hard making her cry out. She choked as she took in water. She kicked her legs frantically to try and stay afloat. She shook the water from her bangs and watched as the two men dived under the water. Sucking in a lung-full of air she dived under and tried to make out where they had gone. She saw the neon glow stick they were using to guide them and started to swim after them.
They were a lot faster than her since they weren't hampered by ropes and limited air supply. She swam as fast as she could and was in time to see that one of them turned to look at her as he placed something on the wall. She surged forward determined to after them into the darkness but that thing on the wall drew her attention.
And she was glad that she had noticed it.
The flickering red light told her all she needed to know. She gasped, loosing precious air, and turned around and started swimming as fast as she could back the way she had come. She could see the light from the lantern they had graciously left her with from beneath the water and swarm towards it. She broke the surface, sucking in air just as the whole world suddenly exploded.
The boat rocked back and forth as waves slammed against the side of it. The two men grabbed onto the side of it and turned back to look. They watched
the rocks tumble and fall and crash into the water. They looked at each other before they hauled themselves into the boat. The waves churned as the motor kicked in. They sped away and didn't bother to look back.
A pair of binoculars watched the boat leave. How strange. These waters were meant to be completely free of tourists and locals. The watcher lowered the binoculars when the boat was out of sight and frowned. He heard someone approaching and turned as she came up to him. She wrapped her arm around him, her long black hair blowing in the island breeze. Her eyes looked up and met his worriedly.
Just then the ground started to shake.
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That Night
Hiragizawa had barely touched the ground before he was being hauled away by Li and being bombarded by questions that demanded answers. Had he brought his equipment? He hadn't forgotten anything? Did he know how to speak Japanese? Had he heard anything at all from Jiang? Eriol answered them as best as he could as they jumped in the car Li had hired and barely had his seatbelt on before they sped off down the road.
Li grilled him and filled him in on everything as they drove towards Tokyo, towards Moto. Eriol sensing that they were not going to stop to set up base decided to do the best he could in the car. He pulled out his laptop and booted it up. He brought up the file and typed away furiously. He was going to document everything and do the best he could. He owed them all at least that much.
They arrived at the prison and flashed the pass that Jiang had given Eriol at the guards. They let them through and within moments the head warden was greeting them and asking questions. Li ruthlessly demanded that they be given all footage of Morimoto for the last two days. He squashed any attempts to be turned away and all but barged into the security room that he had been in before. The guards looked at him and Eriol and then at the warden behind them. The warden gave the order for the last two das worth of footage and the guards worked away furiously to get it for the two detectives. Li and Eriol took possession of all the footage and nodded to the guards as they left.
Screw niceties. They had work to do.
They got back into the car and screeched out of the parking lot. Li didn't care that he was doing nearly twice the speed limit. He was running out of time and he was damned if he was going to let stupid laws get in his way. He reached under his seat and popped the red light on top of the car and turned on the siren. Traffic parted like the red sea and he allowed a small smirk to adorn his mouth. His partner for the time being shot him an irritated look.
" Don't you think that this is a bit much Xiao Lang? " Eriol demanded over the noise.
" Desperate times call for desperate measures. " he replied shooting him a look as they soared over a bump.
" Go figure. " Eriol muttered clinging for dear life.
They arrived back at the Avalon house and started setting up Eriol's equipment. Li told Eriol to go ahead and start without him. He was going to have a shower and then prepare something to eat for the both of them. After all it was going to be a long night and he was already exhausted.
While he used the shower he turned on the radio and listened to the news. He washed his hair as he listened to the woman explain that a underground tremor had triggered a earthquake in the Cayman Islands. Several people were known to have suffered injuries and a few others were missing. Local fishermen were out searching for any others that may have been hurt.
Li let the water run down his back as he got out of the shower. He wiped the steam from the mirror and met his own amber eyes in the mirror. Was it him or did they look strained and haunted? He grabbed the towel and wrapped it around his waist and met his own gaze once again in the reflective surface. Where the hell was she?
An image of her sticking her tongue out at him cheekily flashed through his mind and he turned away disgusted that he would be standing here thinking of her in his mind instead of doing what he was meant to. He threw on his shirt and pants and made his way back downstairs where he made a quick meal and strong batch of coffee. After all they were going to need it.
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Meanwhile back in China . . . .
Determined purple eyes frantically scanned the empty hallway from behind the corner. She inched forward a little and made sure that no one was around. Being sneaky was hard especially when you were surrounded by pros. Madison whipped around the corner and crouched down making sure to duck below the windows of Jiang's office. If she could make it to the stairs then she could make a run for it and get out of this stupid baby-sitting business. When she got her hands on Hiragizawa she was going to choke him. Then she would torture him and then make him take part in her next modeling show. That would teach him she thought slyly.
Madison rolled across the floor until the desk hid her from view. As quick as lightning her head popped up and scanned the office area before ducking down once again like a meerkat on the lookout. She smiled evilly as she crawled across the floor behind the desk. This was too easy! She repeated the process half way across the office - a constant blur popping up and down all over the office.
She made it to the stairs and then bolted laughing triumphantly all the while. She pushed open the door to the foyer and barged into a solid brick wall. She fell back with a thud and stared up at Jiang himself as he looked down at her. Where the hell did he come from??
" Going somewhere Miss Daidoji? " he asked.
Madison sighed as she lay prone on the floor, knees together to protect her modesty with the skirt she wore, leaning back on her hands. Well so much for operation Meerkat. She was dinner.
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Tori stared at her in the darkness of the room in shock and dawning horror. Luna looked at him with regret.
" You aren't lying are you? " he trembled. " Every word you meant didn't you? "
" Hai. I'm sorry. "
" Dear God. You saw the murderer and you didn't say anything?! " he visibly shook.
" I knew if he saw me he would pin me and come after me. I didn't know then that he had actually killed them until it was broadcasted on the news. I was running when I ran into you. "
" Luna you have to go back and tell the police. You can't let Moto get away with this again. "
" If I go back the police will question why I with held this information and think that I was helping him. I don't even remember his name. I think it was Neeba. I only saw him once and that was a long time ago. He was evil. He scared me Tori. "
" You have to report it. You can't sit on this and hope it goes away. I won't let you sit here and do nothing. "
" Do you realize what could happen if he finds out that we ratted on him? He'll come after us! "
" You have no intention of telling the cops do you? " Tori murmured sadly.
" Please don't make me do this. " she begged. " I could have been wrong. It was dark. "
" If you won't tell them then I will." Tori turned and walked out.
" Tori no, " she sobbed. " Tori - TORI!! "
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Early the Next Morning . . .
Eriol yawned and looked at the clock. Three in the morning. He stretched and looked over at Li who was snoring softly. If he wasn't on duty he would have recorded the snorning detective and used it as blackmail later on. He sipped from the cold coffee and cringed. He never liked cold coffee. He was about to sit the cup on the table when the footage on the screen caught his attention.
Morimoto was standing with his profile to the screen and he was holding a cellular phone and talking into it quietly all the while looking around him. Eriol smiled tiredly and started running his program to see if he could pick up anthing. After a few minutes of trying to distinguish what was being said he sighed. Moto was talking way too quietly. All that could be heard was the occassional word and the smirk that appeared on his face when he ended the call.
He nudged Li awake and shared what he had found with him. Li growled in frustration and annoyance. They searched through all the other tapes and couldn't find anything else. The sun was starting to rise when they finally gave up. What they needed wasn't there.
" Arrrggggh!! What the hell are we supposed to do now?! " Li demanded scrunching his hair.
" There's not much more we can do. " Eriol replied dejected. " Our major lead is gone. We'll have to keep searching these tapes or give up. "
" To hell with you Hiragizawa! I will not give up so easily! "
" She could be dead you know. You have to consider that. It will make things easier. " Eriol replied softly.
Eriol watched as Li's eyes narrowed and then hardened. He was sure that any second now Li was going to leap across and deck him. But instead Li got up and walked away. He was about to leave the lounge room when he stopped and looked over his shoulder at Eriol.
" I refuse to give up. That's all that matters right now. "
-----------------------------------------
Jiang had just sat down at his desk and sipped from his coffee when his phone rang. Inwardly groaning he answered it and his eyes widened in response.
" . . It's been hell here all night. Tremor after tremor. It's enough to make you land sick. I mean how can I expect to enjoy my time here when all this is going on. But here's why I called... "
A few minutes later . .
" . . .And the weird thing was no sooner had this unidentified boat left the coast, the tremor struck. But what got me interested was the fact that the two men on that boat watched that first tremor before they took off. If you ask me the whole thing was fishy right from the beginning. Have any clues about who was on that boat? "
" None. " Jiang replied. " But it is interesting. "
" I thought that you were behind it at first, " laughing " I know you want me back there a.s.a.p but I thought the tremor was a bit much. That's when I realized that it wasn't you sending me a wake up call. "
" What made you realize that it wasn't me?' Jiang asked with a smile.
" Come on, you have power but not that much. I know that you want to move heaven and hell but no human has that kind of power. "
" Fair enough. " Jiang replied chuckling. " Let me think on this and report anything that you find out. "
" Will do. "
Jiang hung up and sat back thinking. Things were certainly becoming more and more interesting these last few months. He wondered what would be next. He turned his chair to stare out the window and smiled again to himself. Things were getting interesting. He turned his chair a fraction, a smile on his face.
" Miss Daidoji, if you insist on trying to get passed my guard, I'll have to tie you down and gag you. " he called over his shoulder.
" How the hell - ?! " came a frustrated voice from out in the office area. " Does he have eyes in the back of his head or what?!!! "
Jiang returned to staring out the window and let his thoughts drift to the two he hoped were working things out. He wanted to end this and put a stop to the murders as soon as possible. He was startled when his phone rang once again. He lifted the phone and answered.
" Hello? "
" It's Tori Avalon. I have some news for you... "
" Very well. Go ahead. "
--------------------------------------------
Li and Eriol were both asleep when Eriol's mobile started to ring. Eriol didn't hear it, but Li did. He grabbed it and brought it to his ears.
" What the hell do you want? " he yawned.
" Well I guess that is a new variation of your grunt. " Jiang replied.
" Boss? " Li snapped awake and sat up. " What's wrong? "
" Firstly how did your lead go? "
" Don't ask. It doesn't even qualify as a lead. " he grumbled.
" So you lucked out. " Jiang replied. " That's fine. I have news that may cheer you a bit. "
" You know where Sakura is? " he asked hope filling his voice.
" Iie, gomen. " Jiang replied regretfully. " But I have finally tracked down Avalon, her brother. "
" You know where he is? " Li demanded.
" Matter of speaking." he replied. " But it is the news he brought that is what is most important. He has news on the killer. "
" Hmph. Like that's any help. " Li grated. " You wake me up for that? "
" Hai, considering that you might be able to nail not only Moto but Avalon, Sakura as well. Think about it. "
" I'm listening. "
" You get the henchmen, you may be able to nail Moto. Succeed at that Xiao Lang you and you take away Moto's security and get him to talk. Get him to talk and you may find out where Sakura is. "
Li sat up straighter his mind clear. What he had said made perfect sense. Wipe the smirk from Moto's face and get the information and find out where Sakura was.
" Give me everything that you have. "
" Already done. Check Hiragizawa's email. Speaking of which, how is he doing? "
" He's all right, I guess. " Li said indifferently.
" Then he must be doing all right then to earn that remark. " Jiang replied.
" Whatever. " Li bit back.
" Tell me if you get anything. Ja. "
Li hung up and then got into the email that Jiang had sent. What he read made him pause. Mikazukigata had seen all this and she hadn't said a thing? Why? As he read on Eriol stirred and yawned. He squinted at Li and then put his glasses on and frowned.
" And you know how to get into my email how? " he asked curiously.
" Do you think your the only one with computer skills baka? " Li shot back. " We have a new lead. "
" We do? "
" Yes. Have a shower and get dressed. We leave shortly. "
" Yes sir. " Eriol replied falling backwards onto the couch and drifting off to sleep again.
" Spare me. " Li rolled his eyes and went upstairs to shower and change.
Tori hung up the phone and looked behind him. Luna stood framed in the doorway. She met his gaze and waited. Tori looked away and walked off. Luna sighed and lowered her head. This was some mess. There was nothing she could do now. Absolutely nothing. Like her water playground as a child, she would have to let the current take her along.
She only hoped that she didn't drown in the process.
Tori came back in and juggled the keys to the car. Luna knew what that meant. They were going back. She pushed away from the doorway and walked towards him. He met her gaze but didn't say anything. They took what they needed and then locked up the house. Luna took one more look at it before she got into the car. They drove away and she didn't look back. It was out of her hands now.
Being in Jiang's good books did have it's moments Li surmised. Being able to read those case reports gave him access to the witnesses statements. One in particular caught his attention. A Ms Robertson was the only witness so far to have reported that she had seen someone leave one of the murders. Apart from Mikazukigata, Roberston was the only other that might be able to give them something to work with.
They arrived at the witnesses apartment and knocked. They were greeted by an middle aged woman with graying hair. She looked at them worriedly even after Eriol shot her a comforting smile.
" Sorry to disturb you Ms Robertson, " Li began. " My name is Detective Li and this is my partner Hiragizawa. We were wondering if we could have a few words with you about the person you saw leaving one of the murder cases. May we come in? "
" Oh my." the woman breathed but stepped back to let them in.
" Now Ms Robertson, we need you to tell us everything about this person you saw. " Li said.
" Well let me see, he was tall and dark. Oh, not dark skinned mind, I mean dark as in clothing he wore. Like he was trying to blend into the shadows. There isn't much more that I can tell you. I'm sorry. He was in truth a shadow. "
" So this person you saw was male?" Eriol asked.
" Oh yes, he was very muscular. Not puffy like you see these days, but strong. You know what I mean. "
" So he was tall, dressed in dark clothes and seemed strong. " Li repeated taking down notes.
" Hai. " she nodded.
" Anything distinctive about him? " Eriol asked. " Anything to make him stand out in a crowd? "
" Well from seeing him so far away I couldn't tell. But I did notice that when I passed him the other day all the young females were staring at him dreamily like they were in love. So I guess he has a rather charming face. "
" Wait, wait. " Li said. " You saw him again the other day? Why didn't you report it? " he demanded.
" Well I guess I didn't realize it was him until later. He was down near the train station on third when I saw him. Talking to some pretty girls. "
" Thank you. " Li stood up ignoring Eriol's startled look. " We must be going now. "
" Alright. Sorry I couldn't be more help. "
" Next time you think you see a criminal, make sure you report it. " Li snapped and walked away.
" Forgive him. " Eriol said bowing before he too left.
" What the hell was that about?! " Eriol demanded when he followed Li to the car.
" She could be the difference that saves or kills Sakura and other young women. How can people be so stupid? "
" Well she didn't have to talk to us, but she did. " Eriol retorted. " Being a little nicer in future might be the difference between saving or killing someone. "
" Stuff it Hiragizawa. We have work to do. " the tyres schreeched as he sped off towards the train station.
Sometime Later...
Li and Eriol blended into the crowd of people and scanned the crowd in a vain attempt at hoping the killer would try his luck here again. Eriol shook his head when Li shot him a look from the other end of the platform. Li was about to swear when he noticed someone coming down the stairs.
Tall, dark clothing and buffed up.
Eriol had noticed too and was moving closer. Li watched him from below his long bangs and targeted him. The man stood near a pillar and waited. It was a few minutes before a train pulled up and young school girl jumped off. She scanned the crowd and then spotting him screamed and threw herself into his arms. He kissed her cheek and they started walking towards the stairs.
Li watched him as he talked with the girl. He lifted his head and scanned the crowd as they walked and Li saw not the look of a curious stranger passing by, but a killer looking for another target. Li had seen the look too many times. He nodded to Eriol and started to close in, reaching for his gun. Eriol picked up his speed and made straight for the guy.
When he came in front him he lifted out his gun and aimed it at the guy and the scared girl.
" FREEZE! This is the police! "
" Eriol you idiot! " Li seethed and started to run.
The man looked amused and then smirked.
" You must be a rookie. Look at you, your hand shakes while your finger rests on the trigger. Pathetic. " he pushed the girl away and smiled.
" Hiragizawa duck! " Li yelled as he pushed people out of the way.
Distracted by Li's call, Eriol didn't have time to react. The fist rammed straight into his chin and knocked him flying backwards. His finger pushed the trigger and it fired into the air making people scream. Li aimed his fist and let out a battle cry as he flew towards the man. Neeba smirked and ducked and aimed his fist into Li's stomach.
Li was winded and caught off guard, but retaliated none-the-less. His fist struck Neeba in the chin and sent him flying as Eriol got to his knees. Li jumped on him and tried to pin him down but Neeba was strong and Li had his work cut out for him. Li went flying as people scattered. Eriol lunged and knocked into Neeba and sent him sprawling to the ground pinning his arm behind his back.
Li got up and snarled. Neeba brought his elbow back and struck Eriol. Li growled as his partner fell forward holding his side in pain. Neeba was up on his feet and running when Li went after him. Li whipped out his gun and fired at the retreated figure but they missed. Neeba ran for the yellow line on the platform and jumped off onto the tracks. Li leapt off after him just as a train came out of the tunnel.
" LI, THE TRAIN!! " Eriol yelled in terror.
The train passed and Eriol limped forward holding his side to see what had happened to them. He saw the two of them fighting on the ground, trying to be the first to subdue the other. Eriol knew the next train wasn't too far away.
" For God's sake get off the track you fool! " he yelled to Li.
Neeba pinned Li on the track and flicked out the knife he saved for special cases such as this. Li's eyes darted to the weapon and knew he had to nip this in the bud soon or he would be a dead man. He caught the wrist coming towards him and kept it at bay. He looked up and locked gazes with the man and he frowned. Something about this man was familiar. Where had he seen him before? The knife came down and flicked across Li's cheek snapping him back into reality.
Li brought his knee up and slammed it into Neeba's stomach. The knife dropped as he coughed and Li followed his first attack with a kick from his other leg and sent Neeba skittering across the tracks. Li rolled to his knees and ran towards him. He jumped on Neeba and pinned his arms to his sides. Neeba struggled and snarled at Li.
A sound brought Li's head up. A train was coming down the tunnel. Neeba smirked as he used the distraction to flip Li so he was now the one on top pinning Li down while he reached for his knife with the other hand. Li struggled and saw the train burst out of the tunnel. Neeba laughed as he grasped the knife. Li gathered his strength and in one last stand, used his strength to push Neeba.
The train driver seeing them on the track slammed on the brakes. Sparks flew as the train skidded along the track.
Li saw the horrified look on Neeba's face as he realized his fate. Li rolled to the side just as the wheels ran over Neeba's hand with the knife in it. Blood splattered across Li's face. The crunch of bone being ripped apart was drowned out by the screech of brakes and Neeba's scream. Neeba cradled the bloody stump that was now his wrist and howled.
Eriol jumped down and ran to Li as he staggered to his feet. Passengers stared at the scene in horror. Li wiped the blood off his face as he made his way towards Neeba. The man was rocking back and forth in agony. Li hauled him up and pushed him towards the platform where Eriol was waiting.
" Get the medics and the police down here. " Li commanded of Eriol. " I don't want this to carry on any further. "
" I'll call them right now. " Eriol replied pulling out his mobile. He walked away a bit to talk.
" Don't go getting any ideas. " Li said to Neeba. " I'll be talking to you very shortly and don't think you can BS your way out of it. "
" You've got nothing on me." Neeba replied bitterly.
" I wouldn't bet on that. " Li replied.
Within minutes police and medics arrived and started treatment. The cops read out Neeba's rights and an officer went in the back of the ambulance with him as they took him to the hospital. Both Li, Eriol and several witnesses gave their statements before Li and Eriol got in the car and headed to the hospital.
When they arrived at the hospital Li spoke to the doctors and asked for a DNA test to be run. When Eriol asked him about it Li just shook his head and said that he had a gut feeling. Something about the man's face had I'm wondering. Where had he seen him before? They sat and waited while the doctors operated on Neeba. Li paced back and forth impatiently. When he got his hands on that murderer - he lost track of his thought as the nurse came out.
" You wanted to see the patient Mr. Li?"
" Thank you. " Li walked passed the nurse and went into the room where they had placed Neeba with a police escort.
" Here to question me detective? " he snarled.
" Yes, so you better answer truthfully. " Li replied.
" I have done nothing wrong. You expect me to go through all this without a fight? For God's sake, I lost my hand!! "
" Yes, only after you attacked me with a knife you held up your sleeve. " Li shot back.
" That's your say against mine. " Neeba snapped.
" I'll vouch that Li fought back in self defense. I was there too remember? " Eriol cut in. Neeba snarled at him.
" Lets begn shall we? " Li said.
" You forget Detective that I'm doped up on morphine right about now. I'll be off in lala land before you get a descent answer out of me. "
" Then we'll work with what you give us. " Li replied between gritted teeth.
" Best of luck. " Neeba replied with a dreamy smile.
" Where were you on the night of the . . . " Li began.
" I was home. That's where I usually am. " Neeba replied smiling.
" What was you relationship with Miss Jameston? "
" Never heard of her. "
" What about Miss Peterson or Miss Ayanami? "
" Nope. Not a clue. "
" You were seen in their apartments before you viciously murdered them. And the reason? I know the reason. Because Morimoto has hired you to take out women who resemble Miss Avalon, Daidoji and Mikazukigata! "
" That's a very heavy allegation you have going there. But I have never seen nor heard of these women or that man whom I supposed to be working for. "
" You were seen leaving two of the victims places. How can you explain that? " Li demanded.
" Who knows. Maybe I have a twin out there. " he replied dreamily.
" You bastard! Answer me! " Li snarled.
" Li, contain yourself. " Eriol snapped.
" You may have a reason now, " Li began meeting Neeba's eyes. " But your time is running out and I'll be making sure that you will be dragged before a judge and trialed. "
" Do what you want detective, but I'll fight back every step of the way. "
" we'll see. " Li replied.
Eriol pushed the emergency doors open and shot Li a look.
" Are you out of your mind? What is with you today? You're rude to witnesses and you rile up a supposed murderer. "
" I know that that is him. I know he is the one working Moto's stuff. " Li said angrily.
" But is that any reason to act the way you do? " Eriol demanded.
" And what do you think you were doing earlier? Why the hell did you charge him at the train station like a maniac. Didn't you learn anything at the academy?"
" Look I thought he would run when he noticed us closing in. " Eriol replied indignantly.
" You forgot all sense of training and rushed in without a thought. Maybe you've been behind the desk for too long. "
" Don't take your foul mood out on me. " Eriol snapped back.
" Look I have stuff I have to do. I want you to contact Jiang and get a warrant to land that ass in the court room. "
" All right, consider it done, but where are you going? "
" None of your business. " Li said and walked off down the street.
Eriol watched him go and sighed. He pulled out his mobile and dialed Jiang.
Li walked to the park and stared out at the scenery. It wasn't fair. People carried on like they normally did, no one stopped and seemed to know his pain. Sakura was no where to be found and there wasn't any trace f her. Where the hell was she?! He may be closer to landing the sonofabitch in jail for all the sins of the last couple of months, but he was no closer to solving what mattered most to him.
But he wouldn't give up. He couldn't. He had abandoned her when she had needed him the most and now she was paying for it. Li sighed and started to walk back to the hospital. Hiragizawa had better have enough sense to stay put while he went away to think. Otherwise he was going to get a mouthful when he found him.
Hiragizawa wasn't that bad, for a rookie, he had to admit. He did come in handy and those computer skills he had were amazing. Maybe if he got some more training in he would be a great agent. Almost as good as Mika.
Mika.
Now there was a detective that you couldn't match anywhere. Geez he hated to admit it, but he missed him. He sure could use his help here on this case. With Mika's brains and skill, he could crack this case in no time. But Mika wasn't here and he was the one that had to crack this case and save the girl. Hang on Sakura he thought. We will meet again. And this time I won't walk away.
As he arrived back at the hospital he saw Eriol standing near the car waiting for him. The wind played with his ebony hair and the light reflected off his glasses. He shot Li a reassuring smile and raised his hand in greeting. He would be dammed if he was going to let Li down. It was his personal misson to solve this case with Li. Then maybe - he thought with a small smile - Duchess might think that he wasn't a complete hopeless dolt. Yeah, he thought, they would do this and then they would sit back and enjoy the spotlight.
Li shot him a sideways look as the wind played with his bangs and brushed into his eyes. He opened the car door and motioned for Eriol to get in. Eriol smiled and got in without another word. Li started the car and edged into the traffic. It was time to get serious. They wouldn't stop until they found something.
Just as Li put on the blinker and turned into the right lane, the car phone rang. Eriol hit the answer button.
" Who is it? "
" Jiang. " came the voice. " I got some news for you. I've personally pushed the warrant for Neeba to be hauled in. Be at the court in three days. "
" Three days? " Li demanded. " Sakura could be dead by then! "
" At the moment, our main concern is dealing with Moto. He's the closest and we have evidence against him. We can't do anything until we have him cornered and desperate. Get him out of the equation and you may have your lead to Avalon. "
" That's what you aid before. " Li muttered.
" Well listen to me and maybe it might sink into that thick skull of yours. " Jiang snapped.
" Whatever. " Li muttered again.
" I also have men out investigating any leads they might find regarding the whereabouts of Avalon. " Jiang stated. " That way if I hear anything, you'll be the first to know. "
" Thanks. " Eriol replied darting a quick look at Li. " Well let you know if we find anything also. "
" Very well. " Jiang replied. " And Xiao Lang? Hold Neeba down and make him struggle like a worm on the hook. "
" I have every intention of doing just that. " Li said his eyes flashing in determination, his hands clenching on the wheel.
" I'll help in any way I can too Boss. " Eriol spoke up.
" Good to hear it. This is a big case boys. Knock 'em dead. "
The sky was starting to cloud over as the car zoomed down the road back towards the Avalon residence a.ka. the detectives' secret base. The air dropped a few degrees as the storm started to brew. With such glum surroundings it was no wonder that the detective's hearts were heavy but not completed defeated. There was hope and they would conquer all. They had their orders and all they had to do now was wait for three days. Three days and their fate would be decided. Three days and Li would have his answer.
Was Sakura alive or was she...
... dead?
TBC
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BW2 Oh my goodness! I never saw that coming. I thought that I would have finished this in this chapter but I was struggling so hard to keep going that I knew I would have to carry on into another chapter. I hope that was a longer chapter for you dancing wind forever. I tried, I really did! Please leave your comments and let me know if you have anything that you would like to see in the finale chapter.
Please review!
Goodnight - I'm outta chocolate and I'm getting distracted by Mythbusters. :)