White Collar: The Nightingale
Chapter eleven
Neal woke as the morning sunshine finally made its way across the room and splashed up onto the bed. Disoriented from the late night Neal momentary forgot where and when he was. When the woman curled up against him stirred he reached up and ran his hand through her hair. Neal's blood chilled as he realized that it wasn't Kate sleeping peacefully on his chest.
Tachi was not in the mood to snuggle and now that she was awake she unceremoniously got out of bed and disappeared into the bathroom. Neal stared up at the ceiling and briefly thought about his life choices. Trying to shake off a vague feeling of guilt Neal sat up and looked around the room for his missing pants. Just as Neal got out of bed to retrieve his clothing the door opened and Hsing stepped inside carrying a breakfast tray for two.
"Hsing..." Neal said in surprise as he yanked the bed sheet off the bed and hastily wrapped it around his waist. "I...uh..."
"Good morning, Mr. Caffrey-san." Hsing greeted unphased.
Feeling like he'd been caught having an affair Neal just stood frozen in place like a deer staring into headlights. Hsing set down the breakfast tray and went back over to the door. The door opened for her and the guard handed her a neatly folded set of black slacks and a starched white button down shirt. She brought them over to the bed and set them down for him.
"Thank you." Neal said, unsure of what else to say.
Hsing gave him a bow and turned to leave. She was wearing a short sleeved blouse and Neal caught sight of an unusual set of bruises on the back of her arm.
"Wait a second, Hsing."
Hsing automatically stopped, having been given an order. She went to turn around, but Neal stopped her. He reached out and lined his fingers up with the bruising, finding that there was a corresponding mark on the front of her arm for his thumb. It was an injury that had been left by someone gripping her upper arm with a painful amount of force. Clearly uncomfortable Hsing started to pull away, Neal released her.
"Did Liao do that to you?"
Neal doubted that Hsing was going to answer, she hadn't been willing to talk further about her being a prisoner eariler. Before she even got a chance to speak Tachi come out of the bathroom. Hsing glanced fearfully at Tachi and backed further away from Neal. Wearing her white robe with the gold trim Tachi didn't bother to try to keep it closed as she walked over the breakfast that Hsing had brought them. She looked down at the tray and then glared at Hsing.
"Bring us coffee." Tachi growled.
"Yes, Ma'am."
Hsing gave Tachi a deep bow before backing into the door. When the door opened for her Hsing practically scrambled out into the hallway before the door shut behind her once more. Sitting down on the small couch Tachi picked at the fresh fruit. Neal shook his head sadly and wondered once again how biology had gotten the better of his judgment last night. Pushing the events out of his mind he pulled on the fresh pants and shirt that Hsing had brought him. Like the suit he'd been given the well made clothing fit perfectly.
Knowing he was going to be painting today Neal rolled the tailored sleeves up to his elbows. Not really wanting to sit by Tachi at the moment Neal wandered over to the window and stared out at the skyscrapers. It was later in the morning than he had first thought. With the window facing west it had taken a few hours for the sun to creep all the way across the room.
Hsing returned with a tray that held a silver pot of coffee along with two china cups, and a variety of creamers and sugars. Neal thanked her as she set the drinks down. He hated the fact that she didn't bring her eyes up to meet his own. She simply bowed, keeping her eyes cast to the floor.
"Is there anything else you require?" Hsing asked politely.
"Get out," Tachi ordered "do not return unless asked."
Neal tried to offer Hsing an apology, however Hsing rushed from the room. Tachi poured herself some coffee and sipped at it. Neal's own stomach was twisting violently and the scent of the coffee was bringing him close to being physically ill. Tachi looked up at Neal and smiled as though nothing was wrong.
"Are you going to eat anything?"
"I'm not hungry."
"Then let's get started," Tachi offered as she got to her feet "unless you need to..."
"No." Neal interrupted. "I'm fine."
"I enjoyed last night, I would not mind repeating it."
"Tachi, whatever Liao is planing," Neal quickly changed the topic "it can't be a good thing. If he has some sort of power over you, I can help you. I have friends in the F.B.I that can protect yo..."
Neal didn't get a chance to finish. Tachi moved with the speed of a bird of prey as she closed in the short distance between them. Tachi lashed out and struck Neal in the chest with the heel of her palm as she simultaneously swept her leg back behind his and used the purchase to yank him off his feet. Everything happened so fast that Neal wasn't even sure how he had ended up on his back on the floor.
Neal had already been knocked breathless by the impact to his sternum and then from hitting the floor when Tachi brought her left foot down on his throat. He reached up and grabbed her by the ankle, but when he tried to move her she just pressed more of her weight down until it became almost impossible to breath. Coming close to blacking out Neal stopped struggling.
"I do not need your protection." Tachi said evenly.
Tachi released Neal and walked over to the stool to have a seat. Sitting up slowly Neal rubbed at his sore throat and then at the spot on his chest where she'd struck him. Even while experiencing the aftermath Neal found it hard to believe that she had been capable of producing so much force. Getting to his feet Neal went over to the ink jars and brushes. He stepped up to Tachi, but couldn't find the heart to begin painting.
"I am sorry for attacking you, it was not called for." Tachi said softly. "I have been waiting for this opportunity for years, I will not get another chance."
"What are you doing?"
"I am going to stop a man from selling spring in New York."
"I don't know what that means."
"Just know that if my tattoo does not pass inspection I will be killed on the spot."
"I thought you needed me to relax." Neal muttered.
"I tried that, now I need you motivated."
"Tachi..."
"You can have the sword when I am done with it, you can use it as leverage against Liao."
"Sword?"
"The Nightingale katana."
"This is all over a sword?"
"Time is running out, Neal." Tachi said. "If Liao sees that you are not working he will threaten Hsing's life to motivate you."
"Can you get her away from him when this is done?"
"I will do my best."
"I guess that's the best I can hope for."
With a heavy heart Neal began the painting once again. Strangely enough he found that his melancholy mood allowed him to bring the mournful singing bird to life in a way that he had been unable to capture before. Relaxing into the painting Neal spent several hours detailing each flower on the cherry branch that held the bird. The delicate pink color of the petals was beautifully contrasted against Tachi's ivory skin. Neal used a red wash to intensify the color in the center of the flowers before adding the stylized stamen.
Outside the sun rose high over the city and began to set. As the night wore on Neal continued to add detail to the amazingly intricate tattoo. He couldn't imagine how many hours must have gone into the original and the pain that the wearer must have withstood to earn the honor of wearing it. Tachi stayed still as a statue and quiet as the grave as he worked. He had tried several times to engage her in further conversation on the Nightingale katana, however she was not interested in sharing any further information.
Just over halfway finished with the back piece Neal started to feel dizzy with exhaustion. Knowing he was going to start making mistakes he put down the brush and backed away. Tachi was tired as well and when she no longer felt Neal's brush against her skin she went over to the bed and laid down on her stomach so as to not ruin the new ink.
The pair had only been resting for a few minutes when the door opened. Neal looked over as Hsing stepped inside with dinner. He was just about to say something to her when Liao appeared in the door way. Hsing quickly left. Neal looked away, feigning disinterest in his host. Liao went over to where Tachi was now sleeping soundly and inspected the work.
"You really are amazing, Caffrey." Liao said with genuine approval. "I hope you can I can remain friends after this, I could find many uses for your talent that could benefit us both."
"Good friends make good business partners, eh?"
"I know that you say that sarcastically, but think about it. What are you going to do in two years when your sentence is up? You think the F.B.I is going to give you job? You think they let convicted con artists into the Academy? You need a plan to support your expensive tastes and lifestyle."
"I finish this and all I ask is that you let me go." Neal said, sounding a bit like a broken record.
"If that's what you want." Liao shrugged. "You can not say I didn't try."
"Actually there is one other thing that I want."
"Name it."
"Hsing."
"Tachi wasn't enough for you, eh?" Liao chuckled and motioned to the security camera. "You two made for good watching last night."
"That isn't what I meant." Neal replied calmly. "I want her to come with me."
"Done. She's yours. She's getting a little old for my taste anyway."
Neal did his best to ignore Liao's comment since he doubted that Hsing was even in her mid twenties. He still didn't trust that Liao was going to just let him walk away, but he figured he might as well try to take Hsing with him in the off chance that Liao remained true to his word. Liao flashed him a somewhat warm smile.
"Eat something. Let Tachi sleep, tomorrow is a big day for her."
Neal waited until Liao was gone before picking at the meal that Hsing had brought. He hadn't eaten all day, but he still didn't have much of an appetite. After eating enough to keep himself from starving Neal returned to the floor to ceiling window. The spectacular view did nothing to keep him from feeling the all too familiar claustrophobic sensation of being penned up. He thought of continuing the tattoo while Tachi slept just to get this over with for better or worse.
Finding himself too exhausted to continue Neal went over to the couch and laid down for a brief nap. Falling into a deep sleep it wasn't until the next morning that Neal stirred again. He snapped awake with a gasp as Hsing once again set down a tray with breakfast on it. He looked over and saw that Tachi was still sleeping.
"Hsing?"
"Yes?"
"The woman who originally had the tattoo, did you know her?"
"We met at our okiya."
"Okiya? A Geisha house...you're a Geisha?"
"No." Hsing looked around nervously. "I never finished my training."
"What about your friend? Did she become a Geisha?"
"She must have but our paths went different ways years ago."
Neal had more questions to ask, but Tachi stirred. Hsing quickly retreated. Tachi ignored the breakfast and went directly to her perch. Neal decided that dragging his feet wasn't going to help anyone. Picking up the paint brush once more he got back to work. It was late in the afternoon when he put the finishing touches on the scales on the koi that were kissing the pond's surface at the bottom of the painting. He looked between the two tattoos and had to admit that he was impressed by the work he'd done.
Pretending to add one last detail Neal smeared a touch of ink on his thumb and placed a ghost of a fingerprint into the waters on the far right side. The print was so light that he knew that Liao wouldn't notice it among the details of the tattoo. The fingerprint served two purposes, the first was to simply satisfy his need to sign his work, the other was to leave some mark in case Tachi somehow fell into Peter's hands.
"Is it complete?" Tachi asked.
"Yes."
With the excitement of a child on Christmas Tachi jumped up to go inspect the work in the bathroom mirror. Exhausted Neal just waited for her to return. Tachi came back and threw her arms around Neal and forced him into a deep kiss. Not in the mood for her appreciation Neal gently pushed her away.
"Thank you, Neal. I will not forget that I owe you my life."
Clearly working on a schedule Tachi rushed to the door which was opened for her. With the job done Neal waited with his breath held for Liao to return to either release him or kill him. As the minutes ticked by Neal still didn't have any visitors. After ten minutes of waiting Neal decided to pace by the window. When he grew tired of that he went to the couch and sat down. From the movement of the sun back towards sunset Neal guessed that several hours passed before the door opened again.
Neal jumped to his feet, prepared to fight for his life, however it was Hsing who entered. She had a small silver tray with a small bowl of hot tea on it. Avoiding eye contact she put the tray down and picked up the bowl. Wordlessly she held up the tea and offered Neal a deep bow. She gracefully rotated the bowl in her fingers before drinking from it and offering it to Neal.
Neal was a little taken aback to suddenly find himself in the middle of an abbreviated tea ceremony and didn't take the bowl at first. Hsing looked up at him and silently offered him the bowl once more. He doubted that it was poisoned, if Liao wanted him dead he would just shoot him. Figuring he had nothing to lose he accepted the bowl and drank the bitter green tea. She took the bowl away and put it down.
"Hsing? What's going on out there?"
"I do not know."
"What does the term 'selling spring' mean to you?"
"I would rather not talk about it."
Frustrated Neal dragged his hands through his hair. Hsing suddenly reached out and started to unbutton his shirt. Neal jerked away to stop her. He nearly lost his balance, but managed to catch himself. He was feeling a little dizzy but dismissed it. Hsing reached out again.
"Stop that."
"I was asked to clean the nightingale from your chest."
"No, I'm sick of this." Neal went over to the door and pounded on it. "Liao! Liao, I'm tired of your game!"
"Neal..."
The weak frightened tone in Hsing's voice brought Neal's attention away from the door. He turned just in time to see her collapsing to the floor. Neal tried to catch her in time, but his own body was beginning to fail him. Dropped to his hands and knees by the drugged tea he fought to get to Hsing. He rolled her over on her back and pressed his fingertips against her throat to make sure her heart was still beating. He wasn't sure if they were dying or just being put to sleep. Hsing fluttered her dark eyes open and looked up at him.
"I...I am...sorry..."
"Hsing," Neal panted as the drugs made it more difficult to breath "it's going to be okay..."
Hsing smiled sadly as her eyes rolled back to white. Neal closed his eyes for a moment and was unable to open them again. Roaring in a combination of rage and fear Neal blindly threw himself against the locked door. Falling to the floor Neal laid on his back gasping for breath, the air felt thick as water in his lungs. Spiraling into darkness he clawed at the carpeting in a desperate attempt to hold on to life. Neal's last thought as he lost the fight was a silent plea that Peter not be blamed for his death.