On Sunday, I visited my parents' graves and told them in hushed whispers about Shibuya Kazuya. Of course I could not tell them the truth for fear of someone over hearing even though the graveyard was empty, so I spoke in a demented sort of code. Switching words for loosely related synonyms that would hopefully sound innocent to any eavesdroppers. I hoped that if they were watching me from the afterlife, that they understood the meaning behind my words.
On Monday, I woke early again having slept very little and decided to head to school promptly so I could finish my maths homework in the school library before registration and lessons started. However, I hadn't got very far on my journey when I heard a high pitched scream down a small side street.
There was no mistaking the fear in that scream.
And fear was something I had felt very accustomed to in the last week or so. I couldn't leave whoever it was alone facing who knows what. I turned and ran towards the sound of the cry. I could see a woman, who could not have been not much taller than I was with odd coloured hair. It looked like brown hair that had previously been dyed bright pink that had started to fade. She was plainly dressed and clutching a rucksack close to her chest as she whimpered in fear for her life.
The woman was backing into a wall as two men in navy hoodies that obscured their faces ganged up on her. A flash of light told me at least one of them was brandishing a knife.
"Hey!" I yelled, but they seemed unable to hear me so I picked up the pace. "Hey!" I tried again.
"Stop!" A harsh voice said from somewhere to my left. I had otherwise not paid much attention to my surroundings so was surprised when I looked round to see a tall man with dark hair that covered one of his eyes making a grab for me. Without stopping to think who this man was or why he might be yelling at me, I made a well-aimed kick at his legs that connected with his left ankle and then kept running towards the woman.
"Stop! Leave her alone!" I screamed as loud as I could and the two thugs finally heard me. They looked up to see me sprinting towards them. I registered fear in their eyes and they both turned and scarpered in the opposite direction.
"Mai!" That oh-so-familiar voice said from behind me. A voice that made me stop dead in my tracks. I turned to look down the barrel of a gun that was pointed directly between my eyes. Perhaps that's why the thugs had run in fear. "What are you doing here?" Naru asked forcefully as he lowered the weapon.
"I was helping that woman…" I turned to point at the lady I had seen before, but she was gone. When I looked back around, he was placing the handgun back into a holster hidden by his jacket. He sighed and I watched as he walked back to the other man; the man I had kicked who was now lying on the damp floor.
"Are you alright?" He asked him. "You're bleeding." It was true; there was fresh blood on his face.
"Just a cut and my ankle is throbbing." The injured man replied in the same harsh voice.
I rushed over to help.
"I'm sorry, I didn't realise he was with you! Are you okay?"
"It's fine." The other man said with cold fury in his eyes. I could feel the hatred emanating from his gaze, was this all because I'd kicked him? I was about to think that he was being rather petty considering the circumstances, but then I remembered the circumstances myself. I was pretty sure Naru was some sort of killer, if this man was with him, was he a killer too? Would he kill me for kicking him?
I backed away as Naru helped this other man to his feet. Even though he was limping it was clear to see he was a good three or four inches taller than Naru and at least a decade older.
"There's a clinic near the school." I offered the information in hope that it would help, not that I really thought two suspected assassins would use a local health clinic.
"It's fine." Naru said. "I suppose I should inform you that the school bell has rung."
"What?!" I pulled out my phone, glanced at the time and swore under my breath before sprinting away. I had left so early, how on earth was I now going to be late?
I arrived at school only five minutes later, but spent most of my day thinking about what had happened that morning.
Why had Naru been there? And not stopping those men from being obviously nasty to that woman? Unless he was supposed to be killing her? Or the men? Or something else entirely? And who was that other man? And why did he look like he hated me so much? I mean admittedly I had hurt him but he'd scared me! You shouldn't jump out at people like that and not expect some sort of repercussion!
It was all such a jumble.
I knew that Michiru and Keiko suspected something despite my reassurances that everything was fine. But I didn't know what else I could do. It was hard to pretend that I hadn't had a gun pointed at me this morning. I wasn't even sure if I had processed that fact properly.
That afternoon, I walked home from school alone as I had remained behind to do some homework in the library. Ever since Naru had broken into my apartment, I felt more comfortable in public places. I had not been walking long when a familiar low voice interrupted my thoughts.
"Taniyama-san."
I turned to see Naru standing a few metres away and I joined him. He was still wearing the same black coat as he had been wearing previously – did he not own any other clothes?
"How is that man?" I asked
"He'll be okay, but he's out of action for a few days." Naru said coldly. Together, we began walking towards my apartment.
"I'm sorry; I really didn't mean to hurt him! He frightened me!" I said earnestly but my words seemed to have no effect on him.
"He tried to prevent you from interfering."
"Yeah, I'm sorry. How do you know him?" I asked, wondering briefly if this was crossing some invisible line.
"Assistant."
"You help him with his work?"
"The other way around. He is the assistant. I am the boss."
That couldn't be right, could it? Naru was only seventeen from what he had said; that other man had to be at least ten years older than him?
"Right…" I muttered, not entirely sure how I was supposed to respond to this piece of information.
"My job this morning was severely delayed."
"I'm sorry to hear that." Again, it was so weird pretending that this was an ordinary conversation.
"It was delayed because of you and I want compensation."
At these words, I froze. What kind of man follows a girl around to demand compensation?
"What kind of…"
"Compensating me would impossible for you so you have only one choice. So I want you to work for me."
If I had been shocked before, it was nothing to how I felt now.
"Doing what?" I asked tentatively.
"Working as my assistant."
"So I'll help you with your work?!" I began spluttering; he wanted me to assist him in killing people?!
"Isn't that what you just heard?"
"What kind of work do you do?" I asked; was he going to admit it to me if I was to become his assistant?
Naru obviously saw my confusion and made to pull something out his pocket. I flinched back automatically, expecting the gun I had seen that morning, but it turned out to be a business card. He was holding it by the very edges of the card, presumably as to not leave fingerprints.
I took it and read the English words: Shibuya Private Research.
Then underneath that read the kanji: Shibuya Kazuya, private investigator.
"Private investigator?" I whispered. It would explain how he knew so many things but… It didn't answer all of my questions. I couldn't help but wonder, was this just a cover for his real profession?
"Of course, what else did you think I did?" Once again he sounded almost amused but he didn't wait for an answer. "I have written the address on the back of that." I turned the card over to read the address. "I expect you at 4pm tomorrow."
"Hang on…" But when I looked up, he had gone.
Author's note: Well thank you everyone that has reviewed so far! It really does mean a lot to me! Please review this chapter and tell me all your thoughts about what's happening! I love hearing your theories! Sorry to everyone who's asked a question I haven't properly answered, but I don't want to give out spoilers! Please review :)