NO FLAMES PLEASE! IF YOU DON'T LIKE THIS YOU DON'T HAVE TO READ IT, NO ONE IS MAKING YOU! IN DOING THAT YOU WASTED MINUTES OF YOUR LIFE THAT YOU'RE NOT GOING TO GET BACK, WHICH YOU COULD HAVE SPENT READING SOMETHING YOU DO LIKE. IF YOU DISLIKE THIS THERE ARE PLENTY OF OTHER FICTIONS TO READ.
The contents of this chapter were originally part the last . But after some new ideas popped into my head I went on to I rewrite the plan, add in new sections and rearranged some others.
I've also been going back to reedit, rewrite you get the idea parts of previous chapters. As one reviewer said they got storyline reading my first chapter but parts of it made them cringe. And to be fair looking back on it bits of it made me cringe. So I've gone back and tried to deal with them.
Character ages:
Asami – 28
Akihito – 18
Suoh -31
Mariko -36. She was 18 when she got pregnant and had Akihito
Ayame – 35
Kirishima – 29
Nana – 28
Sudoh -20
I DON'T OWN THE FINDER SERIES NOR ANY OF ITS ASSOICATED CHARACTERS.
Chapter 13 – Silent in the Grave.
After she had helped Akihito unpack his things Ayame found herself in a reflective mood. Having Akihito come to live with her reminded her of the days when she used to babysit him. She went into her room and pulled out a photo album. As she looked through it she couldn't but be reminded of happier times. A smile came across her face as she came across her favourite picture of Akihito, she kept a copy of it in her purse. It was taken at a Halloween party when Akihito was four. He wanted to go as tiger, but Ayame couldn't get the material in time or at least that's her story. So instead she got some fluffy white material. Ayame thought her little fluffykins was the cutest kitten in the whole wide world. Akihito didn't see it this way, he had one of his adorable little tantrums because he wanted to be tiger.
The next photo she came across was one of her and Mariko at the beach. For nearly twenty years they had been best friends, more like sisters. They met on the first day of high school when they both fifteen and went on to be inseparable. Where you found one, you were almost guaranteed to find the other. Mariko was the pretty one and Akihito had inherited her looks. Mariko had a perfect petite hourglass figure, big brown eyes and one of those cherry shaped mouths that you only ever see on china dolls. Even when she started drinking heavily somehow Mariko looks held. Ayame on the other hand accepted a long time ago that beauty was not her first virtue. She was on the tall side, her mouth was a bit too wide for her face, and she didn't have the same pocket Venus figure as her best friend. But what Ayame did have beside a great pair of legs, and mind possessed of a fierce and determined intelligence.
Ayame quickly figured out that life was at its heart a game, one in which everyone played a different variation of the rules be it their own or another's. All she had to do was work out what variation worked for her. Both Mariko and Ayame worked as both hostesses and practitioners of the world's oldest profession. And at first Mariko was the more successful of the two, however it didn't take Ayame long to realise that her brain and not her body was her biggest asset. Ayame began a campaign of masterful manipulation. She may not have been the most beautiful women but by the time she was done, she was one of the most desired. Her charisma and wit more than made up for any perceived lack of physical beauty. It was about that time that Ayame began to fully realise the value of information. She understood it before, but it wasn't until she saw for herself what the right bit of information produced at the right time could do, that she came up with a plan. If it worked it would ensure her future. From that day Ayame's maxim became always have something to trade.
Her position gave her the ability to collect information, nevertheless she soon realised that there was only so much she gather on her own. So slowly one by one the Finders were born. Women and men who gathered information which she would later sell or hold onto depending on the situation. She sold information to any individual or faction that could compensate her adequately, and so she built up a reputation of neutrality. She never once considered making Mariko one of her Finders, she knew Mariko far too well. She had no subtly and couldn't keep her mouth shut. It was several years later that Mariko learned of the existence of the Finders. But at that point it didn't matter, for it was by then an open secret that Shidou Ayame had her own intelligence network. From the selling of information and careful investments she made enough to start up her business and give up her former professions. And so Shidou Ayame cemented her position and became something rare in her world, a women who wielded power in her own right.
Akihito knew that something was going on, Asami knew it, so did Akira and so did Ayame. But nobody was telling him, they were treating him like a baby. So he was just going to have find out what was going on by himself. He thought about it for a little and then suddenly an idea struck him.
Akira was in his office at Sion, on his computer was a list and information on every possible drone of Suzumebachi but so far no one fitted the exact specifications laid done by Asami sama. All they had were partial matches. When he saw that he went to Asami and requested to change the search parameters to include partial matches. He forwarded this new development on to Ayame san, and requested that they meet to compare the information that they both had gathered so far. Ayame agreed however due a previous engagement she would not be able to meet Akira, so instead she would be sending someone else in her place. There was knock at the door "Come." In walked Akira's second Mifune and behind him was a women "Akira sama this is…"
"Yamatoya Michiko." She held out her hand.
Akira looked her up and down. She had long dyed red hair pulled back into a ponytail, the colour wouldn't have looked out of place in a pre-Raphaelite or Titian painting. She was around five foot seven inches but he'd heard the sound of her heels on the hard wood floor, so he guessed she was shorter. She wore a grey trouser suit and wrap top that accentuated her narrow waist and cleavage. "Akira-san?"
"I'm sorry Yamatoya-san." He stood up, wiped his sweaty palm on his trousers and shook her hand. "That'll be all Mifune leave us." Michiko took at seat opposite Akira, threw her coat across the back of it and placed a laptop case on his desk. "Shidou-san has fully briefed me on the matter we can start right away."
"Shidou-san must trust you a great deal."
"I suppose she must. I'm not her second if that is what you're thinking. Your Asami doesn't have a second. Like you I'm trusted to act for my employer on certain matters. Has Kirishima-san finished his program yet?"
"No. Not yet Kirishima is something of a perfectionist. Did you get the new search perimeters? Looking for partial matches as well as perfect ones."
"Yes but so far we have come across no perfect matches. Perhaps Suzumebachi wiped the history of Sanada Daisuke alone, maybe they later realised that it would not deflect suspicion but raise it."
"So you think we just got lucky with Sanada?"
Michiko shrugged "Maybe and maybe not. Suzumebachi could have chosen Sanada, because they thought that Sanada would be untraceable. I think they were trying to shake us, bait us, by trying to prove their superiority. By showing us that we can't catch them, that we can't find them, they be anywhere, be anyone and we would never know. Never mind that now." She placed her hand on the laptop "This is everything we have gathered on our end so far. What I suggest is that we go through the names and look for any we have in common. Then we can pool the information and look for commonalties in lives of the people we have the most information on. Though who knows how long it's going to take us"
"I agree let's get to it Yamatoya-san. I predict that Kirishima should be finished by the end of today, leave me a copy of what you have so far and I can give all to Kirishima."
"Sure thing, we might miss something it would be best to use Kirishima san's program to double check. And please call me Miki everyone else does."
"Miki"
"Yes."
"Are you a Finder?"
She laughed "Now that would be telling."
Akihito sat under a tree in the school grounds with Kou and Takato. The three boys were demolishing their way through a large bento box prepared by Ayame. She'd made lunches for Akihito before, and she always made enough to feed a small army. "Is there anymore?" said Akihito
"No. If there was you would have found it, you can always find your way to the food even blindfolded." Laughed Kou.
"Well I don't blame him, it's good food." Said Takato.
"You say that about everyone's cooking."
"Well you can't blame me for that Akihito. What my mum cooks looks nothing like food. Toxic waste would be more edible. I swear if it wasn't for my dad we'd all starve. Any way on to more important things, like what are you up to?"
"I have no clue what you're talking about."
"Akihito" said Kou "We know you. You've had that smile on your face all day"
"What smile?"
"The one that says you're up to something. You might as well tell us because we'll ground down eventually."
Akihito chuckled "Ok, ok I surrender. I have a date."
"Who is it?" asked Kou
"I know." Said Takato "It's that guy. The one you had a crush. You plucked up the courage and confessed didn't you?"
"Well not really, he asked me out. But he had a work thing so we had to cancel. So I texted him yesterday and asked him out."
"For you to be so brave and put yourself out there this one must be something special."
"Well special is one word for him."
The surveillance operation on Sudoh Shu so far had yielded nothing concrete. The operatives however did note that Sudoh seemed nervous, he kept looking around it was as if he suspected he was being watched. His email and phone records came up clean. Then team leader examined the surveillance footage and noticed that Sudoh has two different phones.
"We need to get a look at that second phone." Said Suoh.
"Do you have a plan?"
"Yes, I need you to call Ayame san. We're going to need her help Kirishima."
"I'm already not liking this plan."
"I don't know what you're complaining about. A beautiful women wants to spend time with you most men would be flattered."
The next night Kirishima dropped Suoh a little way down the street from Dracanena. "Is everything in place?" Asked Kirishima
"Yes now all that remains is for everyone to play their part."
"I still don't like it."
"Why ever not? It's not the worst plan I've ever come with."
"It depends too much on untested variables."
"You mean Ayame-san's people and Miwa-san. And speaking of Ayame san, you better get going you'll be late. After all it's your first date tonight."
Kirishima walked Ayame to the door of her building. "I had a nice time."
"I'm glad Shidou-san."
Ayame smiled "But you don't have to take me out again, it was fair to make you. Nana and I are very similar. We want what we want and sometimes we'll walkover other people to get it, we don't let much stand in our way. And maybe I've forgotten how selfish that attitude can come across to other people" Kirishima was reminded of Nana's pursuit of Suoh, and he had to admit the two women did have similarities in personality. "I promise that when we next meet it'll be strictly professional."
Kirishima Kei is a man who likes things orderly. To someone like him Shidou Ayame should be annoyance. She was mixture of chaos and order. Kirishima is extremely stubborn, though most people don't know it. Asami is one of the very few people he'll push his stubborn streak aside for, which is why Kirishima consented to go out with Ayame. Asami himself has witnessed his oldest companion's stubbornness first hand. They say you can walk a horse to water but you can't force him to drink, in the case of Kirishima Kei you wouldn't even be able to make him walk unless he wanted to. Ayame was a mass contradictions, he'd been coerced into taking her out, but the evening wasn't as bad as he thought it was going to be. She was intelligent, witty and not unobjectionable in looks. He actually had a nice time. "Shidou-san I eh, I really did enjoy spending this evening with you and I would like to see you again."
"Really." Ayame's eyes lit up. And for the first time Kirishima noted that her eyes had a little green in them. "You know that I liked before I officially met you."
"You did?"
"Yes. I had you pointed out to me once, of course you didn't see me. So I had you looked into."
"And what did you find out?"
"They say still waters run deep. And you Kirishima Kei have the stillest waters I have ever seen. So when you feel like it give me a call."
As she entered her apartment Ayame kicked off her shoes. Akihito was on the sofa reading a magazine. "So how was your date? Did you scare him off?
"It went well, we're going out again."
"How did you twist the poor bastard's arm?"
"I did no such thing! He asked me out. No get to bed it's late." As Ayame locked up for the night. She smiled to herself. Kirishima Kei was the first man in a long time that she was genuinely attracted to. And Ayame is determined to get who is wants and get him where she wants. This was demonstrated by the fact that she spent the next fifteen minutes in her room checking she had the keys to her handcuffs.
The next morning Suoh walked into Kirishima's office "So I take it your hare-brained plan worked?"
"It was not hare brained, however compared to some of my previous plans I will admit it was less imaginative. Ayame san's people kept Sudoh busy while Miwa snuck into Sudoh's office. Miwa-san was only too happy to help." Miwa is a bartender at Dracanena. He was recommended to Suoh for this task by Otsuka Ken the head bartender at Dracanena. "You know that Sudoh and Otsuka don't exactly see eye to eye."
"Yes."
"Well it wasn't until I talked to the security staff at Dracanena to tell them to turn a blind eye to last night's activities that I discovered just how bad it is. Sudoh plays favourites with the staff. The result is that the staff of Dracanena are spilt into two factions."
"Those who support Sudoh and those who support Otsuka. How come we haven't heard all this before?"
"Both sides keep it firmly under wraps. Think of the situation as a cold war."
"Now I think about it Sudoh did come to me once and suggest that Otsuka be replaced due to his advancing years. I can remember the look on his face when I told him it wasn't going to happen. Asami-sama would never dismiss the old man."
Suoh nodded in agreement from what he knew Otsuka had been as a father to Asami. Yes the man was sixty one but he no means past it Asami, Akira, Kirishima and Suoh all have the bruises to prove it "Miwa got the information we wanted from the phone. Sudoh's second phone is pre-paid model, he hasn't made any calls or sent any texts, but he has been receiving calls."
"Do we know from whom?"
"No it's another pre-paid phone."
"Did Miwa make a note of any of the id numbers on the phone its self?"
"Yes he did." Suoh handed Kirishima a piece of paper "Why?"
"Just a hunch."
As he got up to leave Suoh turned "By the way how was your evening?"
Kirishima shifted in his chair a little "It was satisfactory."
"Well it must have been more than that you asked her out."
"How do you know?"
"Ayame told Nana, Nana told me. I think you two will suit each other very well. I knew she'd pin you down eventually."
Akihito's first date with Asami was dinner in a private room at Noir. Akihito was nervous this was the first date he'd ever been on, but Asami sat there like a sorcerer and drew Akihito out. He'd never talked so much about himself to at any one time before. As Akihito tucked into his second desert he said "It's your turn now tell me something about you, something no else knows."
"When I was a child I wanted to be a pilot when I grew up."
"Really?"
Asami nodded "Yes."
"What happened?"
"Life. Your full of questions aren't?"
"Me?! You're the one who's been playing twenty question all evening. It's my turn now." Said Akihito trying to sound tough.
"Isn't it rather difficult to act tough when you've got chocolate smeared around your mouth? " Akihito seized his napkin, Akihito muttered under his breath, Asami swore he heard the word bastard more than once.
"Like I said I've been doing most of the talking. There can be a kind of selfishness in silence, it forces the other party to carry the conversation. I want something from you."
"What would that be?"
"The truth. Something is going on. You know about it, Akira knows and so does Ayame. I've had to leave my home. So don't tell me it's nothing for me to be concerned or worried about."
Asami sighed "You won't drop this will you?"
"No."
"Ok my little Samaritan, it all began the night you and I met."
"So Asami told you about Suzumebachi then." Akihito was sat at the foot of Ayame's bed. "Are you mad at me, for not telling you the truth? I swear, I just trying to protect you."
"I was." Akihito could see the hurt on his aunt's face. "But I understand that you're just looking out for me, plus you know I could never be mad at you for very long."
Ayame leaned over and hugged Akihito "I'm sorry for not being honest with you. I don't know what I would if anything happened to you."
"Nothing is going to happen to me. Do you really think that Suzumebachi really planted those devices in my apartment?"
"I don't know for sure, but it too much of a coincidence especially at this time."
Akihito stood up "Come on lazybones there won't be any breakfast left if you don't get a move on. And there's a parcel for you."
Ayame got up, showered, dressed and went to get some breakfast. She picked up the small cardboard box on the dining table and examined it. "Pass me the scissors will you?" Akihito handed her a pair of scissors, she sliced through the packing tape and opened the box. "WHAT THE FUCK!" Akihito who was cooking spun around to see that Aya had backed away from the table, she looked like she was about to be sick "Akihito get me my phone NOW!"
Kirishima burst into Asami's office "Forgive the interruption Asami-sama but an urgent matter has arisen."
Asami looked at Kirishima, and then towards the two men sitting across from him "Gentlemen if you would excuse us."
"Of course Asami sama." Said one, the two men left the room.
"What is it Kirshima?"
"Its Shidou san-sir, she's just received a package from Suzumebachi."
Kirishima placed his phone on the desk "Go ahead Shidou-san Asami sama can hear you."
"Akihito said that the parcel was delivered this morning around eight. It contains a disc, a card with the kanji for Suzumebachi on it and a, a …"
"A what Shidou san?"
"A human tongue. Wait a minute there is some writing on the back of the card, it says: Let me not be ashamed, O LORD; for I have called upon thee: let the wicked be ashamed, and let them be silent in the grave.
And that's the end of chapter 15. So review, let me hear what you think. FLAMES AREN'T WELCOME.
The quote at the end comes from the Bible, its Psalm 31:17. I had no idea how many different translations of the Bible there were and how many different translations of this quote there were until I was looking it up.