DT: HELLLLOOOOOO ANNNNNNDDDD WWWWWWEEEEEELLLLCCCCCOOOOOMMMMMEEEE to the 23rd chapter of POL! :D I know you guys had to wait for about 2 months but I had a little bit of writer's block with the story. ^^; Anyways, to make up for it, the special guest - or should I say "guests" - are the very people who're behind the inspiration for the story!
Give up a hand - FOR THE DAITORYU BROTHERS! *LOUD APPLAUSE, WHISTLES AND CHEERS HEARD*
*Three figures appear from a platform. The middle one has black hair with spiky bangs going left and right, he is fair, left eye red and right green wearing a black unzipped jacket, baggy jeans and jordans. The left one has white hair with droopy bangs and a long strip of hair going over his nose. He has a pale complexion, blank red eyes and he wears a white zipped jacket, baggy jeans and jordans. The right one has green messy droopy hair, fair, green eyes he wears a black tracksuit with white stripes and white sneakers.
Hikage (Middle one): Whazzzz up! People! Nice to MEET YA! THANKS D.T FOR LETTING US DO THE HONORS!
Hiroshi (Left one): Hikage this isn't our house stop shouting... Oh... Hi... *Waves at audience*
Ryujaki (Right one): Quite a cheery lot eh? Anyway nice to meet you fellow POL readers. *bows*
DT: So! Boys . . . . why don't you tell us all a little bit about yourselves? *sweatdropping nervously*
Hikage: About us? Oi Hiroshi you know anything bout us? *sucks on finger*
Hiroshi: Hmmm... Well we were born at the same time in different situations... and we're like triplets or sonething... but there are more like us... so... infinilets?...
Ryujaki: Yup! Hikage came out of nowhere. Hiroshi came out of flames. I came out of a mountain.
Hikage: Ah now I remember! *sad pose* I was alone in this dark worls. Cold and hungry. I looked at people pass by from the corner of the dirty street. The children smiling and laughing with their parents! How I envied them! How I-!*Smacked by a huge hammer*
Hiroshi: Shut up... you just came to our realm and slept all day...
Hikage: Yeah! Yeah! Thanks for destroying my story! *Dropkicks Hiroshi and the two start fighting*
Ryujaki: There they go again. *smiles* Use a uppercut Hikage! Cross block Hiroshi! Good!
Hikage&Hiroshi: Who's side are you on!?...
Ryujaki: I dunno.
Hikage: *wishpers* BTW people! D.T stole my name for HDR! ITZ A CONZPIRACY! HAHA!
DT: You call yourself a friend? -_- Ah, anyways, if the dear readers are wondering where the cast is, they're on a short break. But don't worry - THE DAITORYU BROTHERS ARE SURE TO KEEP YOU ENTERTAINED! Hopefully . . . . . .
Hiroshi: Yes you can count on us... *grabs Hikage's neck and shakes him* Now tell me... Where's the money at?...
Hikage: What money? Ufhuckdhshabfh! C-can't b-b-br-breathe!
Ryujaki: Money? *Looks at his expensive golden watch* Oh so that's where it came from. *goes to Hikage* Hikage I'm giving your allowance to Hiroshi this month and the next. You shouldn't have used your brother's money.
Hikage: Seriously? NOOOOOO! I don't know anything about his money! TTT
Ryujaki: I'm sorry Hikage but it has to be done. *looks away and grins widely*
DT: So would you please do the disclaimer now? -_-;
Three brothers: Alright!... *gets into a kimono of their previous colors with headbands and fans and they do a dramatic pose* D.T. OWNS NOTHING! CUZ SHE NEVER HAD ANYTHING!
DT: =_= I, at least have a brain, unlike YOU. :) Enjoy the chapter now, folks!
Three brothers: Enjoy!..
Hikage: Where did you get that watch Ryujaki?
Ryujaki: Uh! H-hehe! Well you see...*excess sweating*
Hikage&Hiroshi: *-* Ryujaki?...
Ryujaki: Yikes! See ya later people! *runs away*
Hikage&Hiroshi: Come back here! *runs after Ryujaki* See ya!... *throws all types of weapons at Ryujaki*
DT: -_-; Sorry for the weird disclaimer. Anyways, special thanks to Crimsonblade 123m OmegaSage037 and Mellow Paranoia for favoriting and following! Big thanks to Hell Vanguard for beta-ing (even though she's helluva busy) and to the lovely Dennou Writer for drawing the lovely new cover of my story! *w*
Anyways, sorry for the weirdly insane and long disclaimer and enjoy now!
Ch. 23 – Games
The aroma of pancakes and cheese sandwiches filled the air of the neat little café Kana and Saori had entered, skinny waitresses dressed in tiny pink uniforms and heeled black stilettos roaming around while balancing a multitude of trays on their bony hands. The two girls found a window seat but the busty blonde had to be half-dragged by Kana to her chair. As they finally took a seat and held up menus, Saori gushed, staring at the waitresses. "Gosh! Do you think they'd sell those skirts? They're just so ccuuuuuuuuuuutttttttttteeeee!"
Kana cocked her head to the side before turning to have a look at the waitresses – the skirts did look cute with a bunny face drawn on one side but they were a little too short for her liking as they barely reached the waitresses' mid-thighs. However, realizing she hadn't half-dragged Saori here to talk about pink skirts, she shook her head before announcing in a rather nervous voice "Listen, Saori-chan. I needed to ask-"
"Hello there!" a skinny and tall waitress with straight, blonde bleached hair appeared at their table, carrying a pink notepad in her hands. With a knowing smile, she asked "Is this your first time at 'Bunnyeria'?" The two girls only nodded, a little surprised at the name of the café. The girl grinned and said "Well, welcome then, newcomers!" She giggled. "Have you decided what you wanna order or would you like me to recommend something?"
"Uh-"
"What would you recommend?" Saori abruptly spoke up, cutting Kana off mid-sentence. The brunette sighed before turning to the waitress with a small smile and a tolerant sigh.
"Well, I think you should try out our 'Duck Barbiano.' It's grilled duck breast simmered in a light, cheesy sauce with grilled vegetables and a spicy dip."
"Well, we'll have one Duck Barbiano then" Saori nodded agreeably. "Also, what else do you-"
Kana, finally snapping in patience, turned to the waitress with a tolerant smile and said "Actually, why don't you bring all the dishes you think we should try? I think it will be much easier that way."
The girl nodded cheerfully and in a sing-song tone said "I'll be right back!" before walking off, her round hips swaying side-to-side. The click-clack of her high heels disappeared among the light clatter of utensils and chatter that inhabited the café.
"Okaaaayyyyyy . . . ." Saori raised an eyebrow at the brunette before crossing her arms over her large bust. "Seriously, what's the matter with you today? First, you dragged me through the afternoon crowd in the middle of busy Saitama. Second, you just impatiently ask the waitress to bring everything she recommends! Just" the blonde sighed before resting her right cheek on her right hand "What is UP?"
Kana's eyes slightly narrowed before she threw a cautious glance around, brown orbs shifting through the normally dressed people that were eating at Bunnyeria. She snapped her neck to the window, watching carefully as people walked past the café, busy on their cell phones or just chatting with each other. Saori was getting increasingly appalled at her friend's odd behavior and was about to interrupt again before the brunette quickly asked "What were you doing in the accident crime scene this morning?"
"Huh?" was the first word that escaped the confused blonde's lips but as events from the morning flashed rapidly through her brain, her sienna brown eyes widened and her lips shaped up into a large 'O.' Then, with a large grin, she excitedly asked "You saw me? I was looking okay, right? I mean, I'm sure I didn't apply the right amount of compact-" And with that, she dug into her large purse and pulled out a box of compact, before powdering her nose.
Kana stared at her friend with a shocked expression before scowling and exclaiming "Saori-chan!" The blonde almost dropped her compact as she stared at the brunette with a scared expression. Kana's eyes were narrow and her lips were in a tight frown. "Will you just answer me? What WERE you doing out there?!"
The blonde was motionless for a few seconds before replying in a somewhat timid voice "W-Well, I just . . . . woke up naked beside this guy-" Kana flinched at the thought of the intimidating-looking black-haired journalist, "-and we were talking and drinking for a few minutes before . . . he got a phone call from his agency or something to cover an accident and-" she stopped mid-sentence before pouring some water from a steel jug into her glass and taking a gulp. Continuing, she said "-he asked if I would like to accompany him to the scene and-who could say no? So, we went on his bike and he shot around there with his team and stuff while I just roamed around."
The brunette leaned in and whispered in an excited voice, "Did his team go with you?"
"Uh . . . well . . ." the blonde put a thinking finger on her chin before shaking her head. "I think I heard him making a few phone calls before we went off."
Her statement had barely finished before Kana pressed on, "What-what was the crime scene like? "
It was at this moment that Saori wrapped her arms around herself, rubbing her Goose bump-ed skin. "The jeep was . . . wrecked. There was this . . . this . . . pungent smell of burning coal or something like that and broken pieces of glass and metal here and there. Also," words seemed to flow out of the blonde's mouth fluidly, as if she was experiencing the accident right now, "we heard that quite a few passersby were hurt in the accident but they were taken to the hospital soon after. A lot of paramedics and police had gathered around the area and it was just . . . just . . . so chaotic." The blonde finally seemed to snap out of her daze, looking intently at Kana. The brunette stared back, lost for words.
"Something's wrong, isn't it, Kana?"
The brunette snapped her attention to her friend, brown eyes widening in shock. How did she . . . ? "Natsumi's worried about you," Saori whispered with a sad expression on her face, eyes seemingly distant. "Ever since . . . ever since that hostage situation in college," Kana's eyes flinched at that horrible memory, "you've been on edge."
The blonde's manicured hands slowly travelled towards her friend's shaking hand and tightly clasped it.
"And then," Saori turned to fully stare at Kana, worry and fear leaking into her voice "You hiding under your bed at home." The brunette visibly paled, eyes growing wide with fear. The taller girl squeezed her friend's hand, tilting her head to one side. "What is wrong, Kana?" she whispered, willing the girl to say something. Anything. "Why won't you tell us?"
Kana was shivering – shivering pretty badly now. All her pent up emotions of anger, fear, worry, curiosity were slowly leaking out of their containers now, threatening to spill out. She slowly raised her gaze to Saori – staring at her sienna colored eyes. They were staring back at her worriedly and filled with anxiety for a close friend.
Should she tell Saori . . .?
After all, she was her best friend . . .
"Saori-chan, I-"
"Here're your orders!" the bubbly waitress piped up, placing large trays on the pink-clothed table between the two girls. Both the girls were motionless for a few seconds before they turned to the waitress with grateful smiles and muttered a "Thank you." "Enjoy your meal!" the girl said before she bounced off again, heels clicking against the marble floor.
Once she was out of earshot, Saori slightly leaned over the table and whispered "You were saying . . .?"
Kana tilted her head before the aroma of grilled duck and vegetables entered her nostrils and her stomach rumbled lightly. She hadn't eaten anything when she was with Rikuo Nura-
Rikuo Nura.
"It's nothing much, Saori-chan," Kana continued as she cut through the duck breast with a fork, dividing it in two equal portions and placing them on plates. Saori stared curiously at her. "I-It's just that . . . Mom and Dad are away and exams are coming nearer and I'm just . . . having a little pressure handling the housework by myself." The brunette tried to smile as convincingly as she could. "Nothing very important, really."
Saori looked like she wanted to say something but just nodded, not wanting to press her friend more. "Well, okay . . . "
As the conversation drifted off to lighter topics, the warning omens in Kana's stomach lightly rung through the afternoon, reminding her of the mistake she'd almost committed.
She couldn't break her promise to Rikuo Nura. She really couldn't.
She'd have to clearly remember that . . .
XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX
Tiny, tiny, little pieces.
The glass had broken up into millions of tiny pieces, all scattered over the floor of the luxury plane. Rikuo matted the sweat drops of his forehead using a branded handkerchief, throwing a short glance over his shoulder towards the main cabin where Tsurara sat. Ao stood awkwardly in the kitchen with a wine bottle in his hands, smiling awkwardly at Rikuo and his gaze flinching when he saw the mess he'd created.
Rikuo wanted to jump up and hug Ao for helping him run away from Tsurara with an excuse. He was sure that if the brawny man hadn't broken something, his best friend would certainly have – and that wouldn't just be an expensive wine glass. So when Ao turned to look up at him with guilty eyes, muttering "R-Rikuo-sama, w-well . . . I-I . . . uh . . ."
"Really, it's okay," Rikuo held up a hand to silence Ao as Tsurara's personal maid Youhime entered with a broom and a dust panel, scowling at the mess and glaring at Ao. Her long, thick hair was tied up in a tight bun as she bent down and got to work. Except the pilot, Rikuo, Tsurara, Ao and Youhime were the only ones that were in the Plane. Seeing that he had nothing else to do, Rikuo sighed and walked out to the cabin once again, strong enough to face Tsurara.
The young woman lay curled up by the window, reminiscing blue eyes looking out in the direction of the setting sun over the clouds. It threw beautiful, dark orange colored lines, like the brush strokes of a skilled painter on a blue canvas, over the sky. Curling her pedicured toes, Tsurara muttered, "Lovely view, isn't it, Rikuo-kun? I remember . . . we used to go on so many vacations when we were younger." A long, tired sigh escaped her lips as she briefly closed her eyes, resting her cheek upon her right hand. "But I guess . . . the past few years have been really busy to allow us any leisure time, haven't they?"
Rikuo sometimes wondered why he wasn't in love with Tsurara Oikawa. She was his best friend, one he'd known for more than 20 years, and could put any Greek Goddess to shame with her ethereal looks. She had brains, money, skill, talent, everything a girl could possibly have. And she loved him too – he was aware. He'd been aware since the past 15 years how deeply she loved him.
Then why . . . couldn't he reciprocate these feelings of hers?
Rikuo kept a composed expression on his face as he sat down next to Tsurara, noticing a small smile curve on her pink lips at his gesture. Leaning against the luxurious seat, he murmured, "Ask. I'll answer everything you NEED to know." He didn't like doing this but there was no other alternative. He didn't want her searching for answers on her own and it would be much simpler – and safer, for everyone – if he answered her questions himself.
With her gaze unmoving from the painting of the sunset, Tsurara asked in an equally low voice, "When's the marriage?"
The Nura Heir pinched the bridge of his nose and replied, "She hasn't accepted yet." Tsurara immediately snapped her head towards him, dark blue eyes going wide with shock. "But if things go according to plan," Rikuo continued, closing his eyes "I think in about two months after we get back?"
"Two months, huh," she drawled out, lazily playing with the buttons on Rikuo's blazer "Only 60 days . . . " Her glittered nails stopped near the area where his undershirt was unbuttoned and she queried, "What's . . . she like? Ienaga Kana?" The tone with which she uttered her name was neither bitter nor hateful – it was just . . . emotionless.
Too emotionless for Rikuo's comfort.
"Typical shy, sweet, average girl," he mumbled, feeling slightly sleepy. Flights always did that to him, sucked away his energy. "Frightened, little mouse in other words." Both of them maliciously smirked at the statement. "But kinda hard to dislike." Tsurara's smirk was wiped off. "Observant. Too observant actually, for my comfort. I have to be a careful husband."
"Well, life's gonna be hell for the poor girl," the model commented, stretching out her toned, blemish-free legs. "Getting married to a Yakuza heir . . ." Rikuo smirked again.
"Well, once this marriage is done, I won't be an heir. Neither legally nor illegally."
Tsurara momentarily stopped playing with Rikuo's shirt collar. "Are you really marrying her only for Rihyon-sama to give you the papers, Rikuo-kun?" Her eyes narrowed. "Or . . . is it something else?"
"Do you really think I'm in love with her, Tsurara?" Rikuo darkly chuckled, his wild bangs shadowing his eyes. "Kana Ienaga, of all people?" His expression was soon replaced with a dark scowl. "If only Grandpa didn't have such stupid rules as marriage . . . I wouldn't even have given the girl a second glance. She just happens to get into some interesting situations. I'm only in the marriage for the companies, Tsurara."
Hopefully.
"By the way," he piped up, suddenly remembering something "That detective who wanted to talk to you – was his name Kubinashi?"
Tsurara's eyes narrowed as she slowly nodded. "Is he trouble?" she asked in a low voice, her pupils becoming icy.
Rikuo sighed contemplatively, lowering his eyelids. "Currently, no," he responded after some thought, taking out his cell phone and opening the detective's photo. "But maybe in the future."
"Do you want me to take him down?" the fair beauty asked, her sharp nails gripping the armrest of her leather chair.
"No." Rikuo firmly shook his head, a malicious smirk blooming on his face as he copied the detective's photo and opened a familiar number. "I'll see to it he doesn't do much damage."
XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX
As the sun slowly set down in Saitama, throwing distorted orange rays over the beautiful sky, Detective Kubinashi slowly trudged back home on foot, buried in his signature brown trench coat. Even though the weather was pleasant and only a little chilly, going outside without his trench coat made him feel . . . incomplete.
After all, it was the major clue that had helped him solve his very first case.
His back was hunched with disappointment and exhaustion – he hadn't been able to get a single interview out of anyone today. Kejoro had informed him that Tsurara Oikawa was on a flight to somewhere and would be back after only a week. Inspector Mame and Ryota were being detained by higher officers. He could only meet them tomorrow.
But right now, his suspicion bordered on Tsurara Oikawa.
According to Kejoro's "trustworthy informant" (he wasn't sure if he could believe both the women or not), Tsurara Oikawa had been seen at the airport this afternoon – after which she'd "disappeared." Then, one of her bodyguards was heard saying, "After a week, maam? Okay. Enjoy your flight!" That was the only proof they could rely on that she'd left Saitama – possibly, the country.
Co-incidentally and oddly, Rikuo Nura had left the country at around the same time on the morning, to a business trip to North America. The Nuras' private jet had been seen taking off around 1:00 p.m in the afternoon by several people – half an hour or so after Tsurara Oikawa was spotted at the airport.
Kubinashi's eyes furrowed in suspicion.
Hadn't he read in the article about the supermodel that she and Rikuo Nura had been childhood friends since very young? However, it was also stated that they thought of each other as siblings, more than lovers or anything of the kind. That sentence had made a smirk appear on his face – Rikuo Nura wasn't as intelligent as he seemed. To make such an unnatural beauty his supposed "sister." What a shame . . .
But getting back on the topic at hand, it was highly possible that they had caused the explosion. If his theories were correct (which he was very sure they were), one of the heirs of the Nura board members were the most plausible to be Hikage Daito Ryu. No matter how ridiculous and unreasonable it sounded to others – after all, which heir would want to destroy their own company? – Kubinashi was sure that it WAS one of them. After all, who would know the layout of their own company and its workers so well?
He fetched out his cell phone from the pocket of his trench coat and went into the "Shadow Folder." As soon as he clicked on the open icon, images of 12 people flooded the screen. But his eyes specifically bore into one figure.
"Tsurara Oikawa," he muttered, before going over to the notes corner. She was the most suspicious of them all. The dark lock of hair found at Hitotsume Nyudo's could be hers – if you were to ignore the upper, light blue colored part of her hair. No matter, he'd seen her car in the streets last night – and had been knocked out by someone. Now why would a person knock someone out – until they were doing something suspicious?
"But it still doesn't bury the fact that she has perfect alibi for Hitotsume Nyudo's murder and Hikage Daito Ryu's killings," he begrudgingly muttered, shutting his phone and burying it deep in the pocket of his trench coat. Various nightclubs were switching on their flashy signs and soon, they would be flooded with youngsters.
But he would see Tsurara when he had the chance – right now, there was another person he wanted to interrogate.
As Kubinashi slowly walked past a dainty café, he was so lost in thought that he did not hear the door to the café opening – and noticed only when a figure crashed into him.
His eyesight grew dizzy till the world seemed to be spinning around him and the suddenness of the crash did not allow him for time to regain his balance. So, naturally, he couldn't put his foot down in time and landed backwards on the concrete pavement with a large thud, the figure falling on top of him.
"Oh my Go-Are you okay?!" a feminine, high-pitched voice asked as Kubinashi's dizzy gaze settled on the large, doe-like hazel eyes of a brunette. However, when both of them noticed who it was, their eyes widened in their sockets and their breathing stopped.
It can't be . . .
"Kana – ARE YOU OKAY?" loud footsteps resonated through Kubinashi's ears as a rather endowed girl appeared, picking the brunette off of him. As the girl stood up shakily on shivering knees, Kubinashi quickly got up on his feet as well, his mind racing through various thoughts.
So it WAS Rikuo Nura's girl.
She was really pretty up close – in a fragile sort of way.
"My apologies, miss," he said in a polite and gentle voice, bowing. Smiling rather worriedly, he asked, "You're not very hurt, are you?"
Kana's frightened gaze (which was rather unexplainable to Kubinashi) mellowed a little before she ripped her eyes off him and stuttered in a low voice, "I-I should be t-the one a-apologizing." Is she always this shy . . . or is she frightened? She bowed even lower that Kubinashi had, and replied, "I-I hope you're not angry, sir. I-I didn't look w-where I was going." The detective noticed that she held a cell phone in her hands – and was probably looking at it when she rushed out.
"Well, it's okay, really," he smiled again, cursing himself for not bringing along a car – he could've checked her address on the pretext of dropping her home. "Though are you sure you don't want to get that checked?" he gestured to a bruise on her knee which had turned somewhat blue.
"Oh my, Kana! You're hurt!" the bust blonde next to her exclaimed – but apparently, something else was bothering the girl right now.
"I-It's rather okay, actually," Kana replied back, trying to keep the smile on her face from going broken. Then, awkwardly staring at her watch, she turned to her friend and said "It's getting late, Saori-chan! Mom and Dad will be worried!"
"But aren't your parents-"
"I think I should take you to a doctor, since it was my fault you're hurt," Kubinashi said rather calmly – but on the inside, he was slightly panicking. Dammit! If I could just get her to come with me . . . . .
"N-No, it's really fine!" she stuttered, sweating a little. "I-I'd rather get going now . . . . but thank you for your kindness!" She bowed again and abruptly walked off, her friend uneasily following her. But the busty blonde did smile rather flirtatiously at Kubinashi before she was gone.
The detective cursed silently to himself before walking to the direction of his own home. Oh well, at least I know her name and an acquaintance of hers.
Meanwhile, Saori was yelling at Kana. "He was such a cute guy – and so kind too!" she shouted at the brunette, who walked with her head hung rather low. "You DO know that that's a combination that's rather hard to come by these days, don't you?"
Kana lifted her head and replied after some hesitation "W-Well he was nice but . . . ." she gulped before saying the last part, "Y-You can't trust people easily nowadays, Saori-chan."
The blonde gave her friend an 'Are-you-serous?' face before smirking knowingly "Aha! Saving yourself for Rikuo Nura, aren't you?" The statement caused Kana to go beetroot red. Saori laughed rather loudly before patting her friend on the head and walking off in the direction of her own home. "Well, see you at College, Kana-chan! And best of luck studying!" Kana waved back as well before she sighed and took the straight path to her own house.
Mom and Dad should've been back by now.
Her locality was filled with rather early sleepers – and so, it was quiet even in early evening. The first of the stars had just started to appear in the darkening sky. Kana walked cautiously through the streets, still not having forgotten the fact that she had a deadly encounter a few days ago.
And now, Rikuo Nura had given her one more thing to worry about.
Opening her cell phone, she clicked on the icon of "New Message" from Rikuo Nura – flinching when text and a photo popped up. On it, was written:
"Hello Kana-chan, sorry for the abrupt departure. I'll be waiting for your reply and shall meet you on Thursday. Please do seriously think about it – it was not a joke.
Oh, and on a serious note, please avoid the guy whose photo I've sent below. He's dangerous for you."
And sent below, was the photo of the very guy she'd crashed into.
Blond and red-eyed, with an eye-catching brown trench coat.
"Oh, Kami," the girl worriedly muttered as she turned to the sky with an expression full of despair, "Why me?"