Ch.4
Kido opened the door to his large, single story home and stepped out of the rain for the first time that day. He closed the door behind him and stood in the doorway, stock still with his eyebrows furrowed and his clothes dripping. He took his cover off and placed it on a table by the entrance as he took his glasses off and closed his eyes, breathing out. He took his shoes and socks off and slipped on black house slippers. He went deeper into the house, took a shower and changed into a grey house kimono with a back belt around his waist. He cleaned his glasses off then went into the small kitchen to see a prepared meal from his house-cleaner. He sat down with a pair of chopsticks, ate a few bites then put the chopsticks down and sat back, looking out of the window to his right at the heavy rain.
He looked up suddenly as he heard a knock on his door. He furrowed his brow, he thought he would be able to at least have the night to think through how to approach the issue, but it appeared not. He walked to the door and opened it. A man stood on his porch looking out at the street and suddenly he turned and held a pistol to Kido's face and Kido got a good look at the man, "Oberfuhrer Axmann." He said evenly.
Hans was struggling to even hold the weapon up as his injury sucked the last of his strength from him, "I did not shoot your Crown Prince." Hans said and Inspector Kido looked at him with a grimace as he took in the whole image, "If you detain me it will be confirmation enough that a Nazi agent shot him which will start a war." He said and Kido furrowed his brow.
"That is correct." Kido said, "What do you suggest as an alternative Oberfuhrer Axmann, considering your wound."
Hans breathed out and nodded then put the pistol on safety and grabbed it by the barrel, handing it to Kido. Kido furrowed his brow for a moment then took the weapon as Hans leaned on the wall and removed a blood soaked hand from the folds of his suit, watching it shake for a moment before he replaced it over the wound. "If a senior Nazi were to be shot and killed by the same attacker then there would be no question that we did not commit an act of war." He said as he breathed out and let out a slight laugh, "I'll bleed out soon anyway Inspector." He said as Kido furrowed his brow and looked from the weapon to Hans in understanding as he realized what this young man was proposing, "Finish it now and explain to my Embassy that while I was investigating the shooting, the attacker killed me." Hans said as he breathed out and shook his head, "This is the only way to prevent a war, Chief Inspector." Hans said, "I am willing to die for my country, are you willing to bear the burden of this lie for yours?"
Kido raised the weapon and Hans breathed in and clenched his jaw as he looked at the gun for a moment then he turned his eyes to the heavens as Kido watched him intently. Hans swallowed as his heart pounded loudly, then he heard a click and looked down in surprise to see Kido looking down at the weapon as he put it on safety and cleared the chamber. He placed the weapon on a table just in his home as Hans watched him. Kido looked up evenly at the soaking wet young man and he looked at Hans' side evenly as he furrowed his brow and looked up at Hans with a grimace on his face.
Hans furrowed his brow as he grunted in pain and pushed himself off of the wall, "This is the only way." He said as his eyes widened, "Shoot me!" He said and Kido looked at him with sympathy in his eyes. Hans took a step forward and grabbed Kido's arm as Kido looked up from Hans' blood-stained hand into his intense blue eyes, grimacing, "This is the only way. I can't go to a hospital. I'm going to die anyway! Chief Inspector you have to do this." He said and Kido looked at him intently.
"Takeshi," He said and Hans raised his eyebrows in surprise as he let go of Kido.
He nodded, "Hans," He said and Kido nodded.
"I am taking responsibility for you now." He said and Hans furrowed his brow in confusion.
"I don't understand what's happening." Hans said.
"You had an idea that could work, but the Crown Prince will not die." He said and Hans raised his eyebrows in surprise, "Which means you don't have to either. I will take responsibility for your fate now." He said and Hans shook his head.
"That isn't…" Hans said as he winced, "He took two bullets in the chest." He said and Kido nodded.
"Please." He said as he stepped aside and watched Hans closely. Hans looked at him for a moment then took a step forward and fell on his knees as his head spun. He hung his head slightly and began breathing heavily. The blood loss from the day and the release of all of the emotions surrounding what he almost did broke upon him and were nearly incapacitating. Kido bent down and helped Hans up and into the house. He closed the door then led Hans to an area of open floor. He helped Hans lie down on his back then he removed his coat and unbuttoned his suit jacket and the buttons on his white shirt to reveal an extremely muscular and well-defined chest.
Hans was up on one elbow and he watched as Kido slowly peeled the blood-soaked shirt away. Kido watched as Hans winced and laid down flat, putting his elbow over his eyes and clenching his other fist, "It went straight through." Hans said, "Didn't it, and didn't hit anything important."
"Hai." Kido said as he looked critically at the bullet wound. He got up and walked into his kitchen, pulling out a field medical kit and returning to Hans' side. He pulled out a bottle of disinfectant and placed his fingers on either side of the wound. He could feel Hans' breathing but he ignored it as he poured the bottle's contents over the wound then used his fingers to open the wound up and allow the liquid to get into it. Hans immediately went rigid in pain as his jaw clenched shut and the veins in his neck stuck out. Kido could see every muscle defined on Hans' chest as he breathed shallowly in an attempt to control the pain. After a few moments Kido saw Hans breathe out and then begin breathing heavily as though he'd run an athletic event. Kido knew he would have to disinfect it once more before he attempted to stop the bleeding. Kido put his hand on Han's side once more and Hans breathed in.
"Aufs neue? Grausamer Bastard." Hans muttered as he prepared himself once more and he felt the horrible pain. Kido was impressed for how long Hans was able to hang onto consciousness but, inevitably the pain overcame him and he heard Hans take a breathe out as his eyes closed and his body went slack. Kido put two fingers on Hans' neck and felt the strong heart beat that he had been hoping to feel. He set to work methodically. He rolled Hans on his side, disinfected the larger exit wound then he got out the sterile bandages. He furrowed his brow, he needed to stop the bleeding and quickly. He rolled up a bandage and shoved it carefully but forcefully into the wound itself and proceeded to wrap a bandage around Hans' torso as he watched Hans closely. He laid Hans down and looked at the blood around him. He moved Hans slightly, used his soiled clothes to get up most of the blood then he got out a bucket and rags. It took the better part of the evening to get the blood completely gone and then he put a blanket over Hans. He breathed out and furrowed his brow as he looked at the young man.
He walked into the next room and washed his hands then he went back to where Hans was lying unconscious. Kido watched as Hans twitched slightly in his sleep then hugged his chest and began shivering. Kido looked out of the window at the rising sun and he quickly walked into his room and changed into his typical black suit. He walked to the phone and dialed a number, "Watashi wa anata no sabisu ga hitsuyodesu." He said then he hung up the phone and breathed in as he straightened his suit.
He walked through to the house and sat on the couch by Hans who was shivering and wincing in his sleep. He watched as Hans breathed in, "Uberall, sind sie uberall." He muttered feverishly and Kido furrowed his brow, "Americans, I think." He muttered and Kido winced as he realized where Hans' feverish mind had gone. He stood up suddenly as the doorbell rang and he opened the door to reveal a tall Japanese man with short, gelled hair in a grey suit and a black briefcase.
"Takeshi." He said as he nodded, "This had better be as urgent as it sounded." He said in an American accent.
"Come in." Kido said brusquely as he stepped aside. The man stepped out of his shoes and into house slippers laid out for guests then he followed Kido into the room where Hans was lying, suffering on the ground.
He raised his eyebrows as Kido looked from Hans to the man, "This is unexpected." He said and Kido looked at him.
"Kanzen'na sairyo." Kido said and the man nodded.
"Per my agreement with the Kempeitai, so long as I am allowed to continue my work unimpeded." The man said as he looked at Kido. Kido straightened his suit, gave a curt nod and left his house. The man watched him go then put his briefcase on the ground next to Hans and looked at him.
"Is it the Japanese? Or the...the Americans?" Hans asked and the man furrowed his brow and looked at Hans for a moment.
"Can you hear me?" He asked as he knelt by Hans and lifted his eyelids then he felt his forehead with the back of his hand and shook his head as he looked at the bloodstained bandage. He opened his briefcase and prepared his medical tools, then he began to undo the bandages. As he unraveled the last bandage to reveal the wound with the bandage stuffed in it, Hans reached up and grabbed the man's wrist. The man looked down at him to see that Hans was obviously fighting for consciousness.
"Who are you?" He asked and the man looked into Hans' blue eyes.
"Dr. Pryce," He said and Hans furrowed his brow then pulled him in quickly and grabbed him by his throat. Pryce made a stifled choking noise then cleared his throat, "Chief Inspector Kido called me." He managed to force out. Hans looked at him for a moment then let go of his neck and wrist and breathed out. Pryce rubbed his throat as he looked at Hans who was eyeing him warily, "I need to get the bandage out of your wound. Inspector Kido remembered his field training well enough, but when I remove it…" He said as he took out his tools and looked at Hans, "It's going to hurt." He said as he handed Hans a straight piece of bamboo. Hans looked at him for a moment then nodded and extended his arm, taking the piece of wood from him.
He breathed out and put the piece of wood in between his teeth as he laid his head down and reached above him to grip the legs of the sofa. He breathed in as he saw Pryce lean in with the tools. Pryce looked at him for a moment, "Ready?" He asked and he saw Hans flex and tighten up his body. He raised his eyebrows and inserted the probe and the surgical tweezers into the wound. Hans threw his head back and all the muscles in his chest and arms stood out as he gripped the sofa legs and flexed in agony. His jaw clamped down on the piece of wood as Pryce heard the yelling through the wood. Pryce pulled the cloth out slowly, attempting to minimize disturbing the already present clotting that had taken place. When he pulled the last of it out, the wound leaked a little blood and he put a bandage over the wound carefully as Hans relaxed and went completely limp as he panted lightly. Pryce looked at him and nodded as he reached into his bag and pulled out a bottle of alcohol.
Hans looked at it for a moment then breathed out and put his head back, "Du verappelst mich." He muttered.
"Nicht, wenn sie nicht an einer infektion sterben wollen." Pryce said in perfect German and Hans looked at him as he laid out his tools fastidiously.
"Gut, ein Japaner, der Deutsch kennt," Hans said as he breathed out shakily, "And I thought the strangeness in my day was finally over."
"American." Pryce said and Hans furrowed his brow as he looked at Pryce once more and Pryce looked at him, "I wasn't born in Japan, my parents raised me here in America."
Hans looked at him then breathed out, "I'd identify as Japanese if I were you….better life, better outcome."
Pryce looked at him for a moment, "I didn't bring local anesthetic, you understand? It's going to be painful and you'll eventually succumb to the overwhelming pain and lose consciousness." He said and Hans raised his eyebrows.
"Is there an alternative?" He asked and Pryce looked at him for a moment then he quickly put his hand over Hans' mouth and put his hand over Hans' wound applying direct pressure to the injury. Hans attempted to fight him, but the shock of the action was too quick and he passed out in moments.
Pryce raised his eyebrows as he poured the alcohol into the wound and all over his hands, "Yes, there is." He said to himself. He proceeded to stitch and bandage the wound correctly, sterilizing it the whole time. When he was done he took his tools into the kitchen and began carefully cleaning each one before he returned it to its proper place in his bag. When he walked out, Hans was waking up slowly and Pryce could tell he was in pain because he wasn't saying anything, he was just staring at the ceiling, "You fought in the war."
Hans breathed out shakily and his side trembled slightly, "I did."
Pryce nodded as he rolled down his sleeves and fixed his tie before he took a seat on the sofa by where Hans lay on the ground, "You must have been young."
"A field doctor, right?"
Pryce looked at him, "Ages ago, another life ago."
Hans breathed in and sat up slowly as Pryce watched him. He put his left arm out and used it to help him sit up. He breathed heavily for a moment then he breathed out and pushed himself to his feet. He winced and looked down at his side, "You're good."
Pryce raised his eyebrows, "If that counts for something."
Hans looked up at him and furrowed his brow, "I've offended you somehow?"
"I know what you do, Mr. Axmann." Pryce said and Hans looked at him, "Though I should not throw stones in a glass house." He said and Hans looked at him for a moment then furrowed his brow and looked around.
"Where are my clothes?" He asked as he realized he was bare-chested.
"You're not going anywhere." Pryce said as he stood, "You've been unconscious all day, you've lost a lot of blood, you're not ready to be out."
Hans looked at him for a moment then shook his head, "Do you know?"
Pryce looked at him, "What are you so determined to discover?"
"I've lost a day already, I will not lose more time." Hans said as he looked around.
"So you didn't shoot the Crown Prince after all." Pryce said and Hans stopped looking for a moment and looked at Pryce.
"No, I didn't." Hans said then he continued looking.
Both of the men looked up as the door opened and Kido walked in. He looked at Hans and nodded at Pryce, "You may go." He said simply. Pryce nodded and stood, grabbing his suitcase.
"If you need to find me, I'll be at the university research medical facility."
Hans looked at him and furrowed his brow, "What are you and Josef doing over there?"
Pryce smiled, but the facial expression never touched his eyes, "It was a pleasure to meet you Oberfuhrer Axmann, if you should ever feel inclined to drop by my laboratory, you are more than welcome." He said then he turned to Kido, bowed and walked out. Kido had never taken his eyes off of Hans. Hans straightened up and looked at Kido.
"I have taken responsibility for you," Kido said simply and he pointed at a cabinet. Hans looked at him for a moment, then he nodded and went to the cabinet where his clothes had been laundered and were hanging. He put on his shirt and began buttoning it, "I will go with you." Hans furrowed his brow but Kido raised his eyebrows slightly and Hans nodded, acknowledging that he would remain silent, "The identity of the individual shot was never confirmed." He said and Hans looked at him for a moment, frozen stock still as he listened intently, "It would be most suspicious if our great nations were not working together to find the culprit." He said and Hans breathed out as he closed his eyes and bowed his head in relief. Kido watched him as he brought a hand up to his neck and took breaths, composing himself.
"I thought…" He began but his words caught in his throat and he turned quickly. Kido looked away as Hans breathed out and turned back around, "The shot was from a long-range rifle." He said and Kido nodded as he produced a file from a briefcase and handed it to Hans. Hans looked at the file for a moment then at Kido with a surprised look on his face. Kido looked at him and nodded and Hans opened the file and furrowed his brow.
"Your men." Kido said after Hans looked at the file for a moment and Hans looked up from the file with a furrowed brow and he locked eyes with Kido.
"Nein, aber meine verantwortung." He said and he nodded, "I will take the responsibility for this, but more importantly, we must have the truth of it."
Kido watched as Hans ignored his own pain and got dressed quickly, "The buildings are clear now."
Hans nodded as he looked at Kido, "There have been people all through there, it won't be easy to see what happened."
"The truth is never easy to see and is often harder…" Kido said as he looked up at Hans and grimaced, "To accept."
Hans looked at him and shook his head as he breathed out and handed Kido the file. He put a hand in his pocket, "Let's do what must be done."
Kido and Hans left the house and walked down the street in silence, both deep in thought. As they approached the building, Hans furrowed his brow and looked up at it, "Fourth floor." Kido said as he opened a door into the building. They walked up the stairs and Hans walked into the room they estimated the firing line had come from. He looked around and immediately he saw what he was looking for. He walked up to the window as Kido watched him and walked up next to him. He ran his finger along very small grooves at the window sill. He breathed out and looked at Kido for a moment then he looked out the window to see that four cars had pulled up and men in suits were piling out of them.
He furrowed his brow as he saw them point up at him then run into the building, "We seem to have a complication." Hans said as Kido walked to the window and saw them as well.
"Teiko," He said as he pulled a pistol from his coat.
Hans looked at him and nodded and he put a hand on Kido's shoulder as Kido walked into the hallway, leading with his pistol. Hans looked past him and he saw a body just as Kido fired two shots, felling the man. He heard a slight shuffling from a hallway to his left and he turned just in time to see a man pointing a weapon at Kido's back. He shoved Kido forward slightly and the shot rang out, missing him by inches. Hans ducked and ran at the man as fast as he could. He dealt a swift, devastating blow to the man's throat and he took the weapon from the man's hand quickly as he fell to his knees, his hands clasped around his neck as he gurgled slightly. Hans kicked him square in the chest and turned quickly with the gun raised. He proceeded back towards Kido and joined him.
"You know martial arts." Kido said as they continued along the hallway.
"No," Hans said as they approached the stairwell, "I've traveled a lot, seen…" He stopped as he fired two shots at a man who had peeked from behind a corner, "Seen many fighting styles and picked up a few techniques along the way, that's all." He said then he breathed out and straightened up as they stopped in a hallway by the stairwell.
Kido grimaced and looked at Hans, "They are all around."
Hans nodded, "They are." He said and Kido nodded.
"We want the Nazi, Inspector!" A voice called up, "He walks out here and we leave with him!"
Kido furrowed his brow and looked at Hans who was staring at the pistol in his hands, "Ja, and who is that?" He asked.
"Not important, you have a minute to make your choice. Either you come down unarmed, or we go up, armed." He said and Hans smiled as he nodded and let out a low chuckle.
He raised his eyebrows and looked at Kido, "They're not shooting to kill me Inspector. They don't want me dead." He said and Kido furrowed his brow, "Find a phone." He said as he handed Kido his weapon, "And hole up in a room until your men get here." He said then he breathed in and nodded, "My debt is cleared." He said as he stepped forward, "I am coming out, I'm not armed!" He said and Kido looked at him for a moment then he bowed and Hans furrowed his brow and proceeded towards the stairwell, his hands up.
"'Keep your hands up, we've been told what you can do with them." The same voice said and Hans clenched his jaw as he descended the stairwell and saw a group of men waiting on the third floor. A man out front had white hair and wore thick-lensed glasses. He was holding a pistol aimed expertly at Hans who was looking at all of their weapons, "On your knees." The man said and Hans looked at them all as they kept their distance.
"I won't die on my knees." He said and the man nodded and fired his weapon. Hans felt a stinging in his leg and he wavered slightly. The bullet had been fired expertly to only graze his left thigh, but it smarted still. He locked eyes with the man and breathed out, "You're keeping your distance, why don't you come over here and make me get on my knees."
"We have instructions on how best to handle you." He said, "Hands on your head and on your knees." He said and Hans looked at him for a moment and swallowed then put his hands on his head and dropped to his knees. He raised his eyebrows and looked at the man with hate in his eyes as the man let out a small smile, "On your stomach." He said and Hans furrowed his brow but dropped to his stomach, "Splay." He said and Hans laid out with his limbs as far as they could be from one another, "Go." He said and six men approached Hans as the others kept their weapons pointed at him. He felt two men drop their knees heavily on his shoulders as two other men pinned down his knees and the other two bent his arms back and tied them together. They worked quickly but efficiently and they soon had him bound so tightly and effectively, he couldn't move an inch.
When they were done, he was pulled to his feet and the man looked at him for a moment, "You're a kid." He said and Hans furrowed his brow, "Well kid, get ready for a ride." He said then he smashed his pistol into the back of Hans' head and Hans' vision turned black as his head snapped back. The man watched as the men dragged the unconscious Hans from the building then he turned to a man with a machine gun, "Go kill that damn Ins…" He began but then he looked out of the window to see cars pulling up, "That fucking brat was stalling! Let's get out of here!" He said as they all ran back to their cars quickly and the Kempeitai began streaming out and firing shots.
Kido walked down the stairwell quickly, shooting at the backs of the Resistance members as he saw Hans get thrown into the back of a large delivery truck and men piled in with him. He ran out of the front of the building, taking cover quickly as the men getting into the vehicles began returning fire.
"Sorera o teishi shite kudasai!" Kido yelled at the Kempeitai, led by Sergeant Yoshida. They began firing on the large truck and cars and Kido watched as several of the Resistance members fell to the ground, dead or horribly injured. He shot a few rounds then watched as the truck moved away. He walked into the open, mercilessly shooting two Resistance men who were squirming in pain then he pointed at one and the men dragged him away and into a truck, "Subete no hashi o tojiru." He said as Sergeant Yoshida walked up to him. Yoshida relayed the information to the men who nodded and moved quickly to get it done. He had his usual grimace on his face as he looked around at the scene before him, "Secure the area, and…" He said as he squared his jaw and looked at Yoshida, "Get me on the phone with the Reich Embassy." He said as he looked at Yoshida, "Immediately.
Hans heard low voices and he felt a pounding in his head as he began to regain consciousness, "We should have killed him, I don't understand why you…" The man from before was saying, but he stopped as though cut short.
"Life often does not work how we expect it to." A heavily accented voice said in slow, but very coherent English, "Mr. Connell, he is no longer yours to handle."
Connell breathed in, "You're lucky that Abendson holds you in such high esteem!"
"You're lucky," A third voice broke in, in an English accent, "That he doesn't take offense when you blatantly show him such disrespect!" This voice sounded younger and much angrier.
"It's alright Henry, he doesn't mean to offend anyone. It isn't easy for anyone."
"I'll leave you to it then," Connell said then Hans heard footsteps.
He heard a man breath out, "A spirited man, our Mr. Connell." The man with the accent said, "I am sorry about the restraints, but we are very well aware about your talents and I could not risk having untrained men exposed to that level of skill." The voice said then Hans felt fingers touching his wrist and hands gently as the bonds were cut swiftly but carefully. Hans was immediately on his feet, his eyes open and he had quickly gotten space between himself and the man. He blinked a few times, clearing his bleary vision as he brought a hand up to his head and looked at it to see blood on his fingertips. He looked around and saw a tall, lanky kid with brown hair and blue eyes watching him from across the room. He looked at the chair to see a Chinese man straightening up and watching him with a neutral expression but kindness in his eyes. He wore black trousers with traditional Chinese slippers on as well as a loose fitting black, traditional long-sleeved shirt. Hans looked at them both and furrowed his brow then he breathed out and turned to the younger man.
"You're British, I've never heard the accent, I thought we wiped your kind from the map."
The boy took a step forward, "You tried to." He said and Hans nodded as he looked at the young man.
"From Hong Kong I take it," Hans said as he saw the Chinese decorations throughout the room, "You're lucky you weren't back in your country when our forces moved in."
The boy took a step forward, "Hai mei." The man said as he stepped forward and the boy stopped, the veins in his neck and forehead bulging in anger, "You are being unkind."
Hans looked at the man, "Who are you? Why am I here?"
"I am just a Chinese man," He said and Hans furrowed his brow as he looked at the man then at the door.
"What's to stop me from leaving, aside from both of you?" Hans asked and the man smiled wanly and nodded.
"Nothing." He said and Hans nodded and turned around, walking towards the door. Before he knew what had happened, he felt an arm across his chest then he was on his back on the ground.
He got up quickly, wincing as the wound in his side ached slightly and he looked to see that the boy from before was in a fighting stance. He furrowed his brow and looked at him, "Aside from us, there's nothing." The Chinese man repeated and Hans nodded as he looked at the boy. He walked up to him and the boy quickly struck out, Hans blocked it and threw a punch which the boy blocked expertly and delivered several punches to Hans' rib cage quickly before Hans managed to kick him away. He winced as he looked at the boy and put a hand over his side. His head began to pound as his vision faded in and out. He fell to one knee as the pain from his gunshot wound hit him full force.
Hans took a few breaths then looked up at the older man who was watching him closely, with concern, "Who are you really?" Hans asked as the British boy walked up to him and helped him to his feet as he breathed in a breath full of pain.
"I am Master Ip." The Chinese man said, "It is a pleasure to meet you." He said as he placed his right, clenched fist into his left hand and bowed respectfully.
"Henry Churchill," The boy said and Hans' eyebrows shot up as he looked at the young, handsome and athletic man.
"Well, Mr. Ip, Mr. Churchill," He said as he straightened up, "Since I am not leaving," He said as he lifted an eyebrow, "What is it you wish to talk about?"
Henry stepped forward, "You have something in your possession." He said and Hans looked at the young man. His blue eyes held enough pain and intelligence for a man three times his age and Hans knew part of the reason why, given the boy's last name, "Something you don't understand." He said and Hans looked at him.
He breathed in, "Say I do," He said as he looked at Mr. Ip, "What would that mean to you?"
Ip breathed in, "That is not the right question Mr. Axmann," He said as he looked at Hans, "The question to ask is, what that tape," He said, causing Hans to raise his eyebrows in surprise, "Will mean to the world."