The Unceasing Path
Ch 4: 非常突然
Sudden and Unexpected - wherein Ami has sudden feelings, and Makoto has an unexpected visitor
ping
An email notification suddenly popped up on Makoto's desktop. Subject line: HK Story Ch 4: Sudden and Unexpected, Sender: MizunoA.
Well, this was unexpected. Ami must be having a quiet day at the hospital.
Makoto looked down at the stack of supplier invoices on her desk, then up at the short story that appeared on her screen.
Yeah, this was a good time for a break.
Makoto grinned to herself as she began to read...
[Outside Ami's safehouse. Just before dawn...]
Ami fumbled at the metal security grate outside her Kowloon safehouse. Her hands were cold, making this a more difficult task than it needed to be. The concrete walls of the tenement hallway seemed to absorb all warmth in the already chilly predawn gloom. She closed her eyes, trying to block out the outside world so she could focus on the task at hand. It wasn't like she could see anything anyways. The hallway was barely lit. The embrasures meant to admit daylight was largely useless - it sat in the shadow of a giant billboard almost 24/7. The only other source of light was much too weak to be helpful. The red "incense" lightbulb in the household shrine beside her neighbour's door did little to dispel the darkness. Still, the dim bulbs were more helpful than the dimwits that were responsible for tracking prisoner's personal possessions down at the station. Those morons lost her keys and her wallet, but they returned her lockpick set just fine. Ami smirked to herself. At least the irony was worthy the annoyance.
Ah, finally. Success. Ami felt the pins click. She turned the torsion wrench and frowned to herself as the lock gave way. That took longer than it should have. She should probably practice more. On that thought, she slid the grate aside and made quick work of the cheap interior door lock to let herself in.
There it was. Home sweet home.
Ami looked around her apartment. Her plants were dead, but they might have been even before she spent last week in jail. The only signs of life were the ants attracted to the half full take out container she'd left on the counter. Other than that, the apartment was exactly as she left it. That was a relief.
Suddenly, she couldn't stand it anymore. The memory of the homemade egg-and-rice dish from last night made her disgust with the week-old noodles unbearable. Ami shoved the take out container, ants and all, into the garbage.
Wait. Where did that come from? Why did she just think of Makoto?
Ami pushed it to the back of her mind. She could check up on that situation later. The past was past. Time to move on.
Time to get to work.
Her friends needed to know that she was back. They were probably worried. Ami set up her recording devices, found the appropriate cell phone and then dialed the appropriate number.
"Hey Usagi!" Ami held the phone away from her ear. Usagi was loud, as expected. Loud and every happy to hear form her. Ami could't help but smile. "Yeah, hello to you too. Sorry. Jail again. No...I'm good... not that...or that either...No. That job's ancient history by now. I think they were looking for some stolen cars actually... yeah. Really... I know right? That was a good score too...don't worry, of course I'm alright. You think those bastards have anything on me?
Ami allowed herelf another smile before moving onto business.
"So, what's new? Anything interesting happen while I was gone?"
[Chief Inspector Chiba's office. Later that week...]
Makoto stood at attention. She was out of uniform, wearing jeans and a simple t-shirt, but habits were hard to break, especially when faced with a superior officer.
Her sergeant's – Ami's - voice popped into her head suddenly. Just one word. 'Idiot'. Of course! This was the kind of crap that could blow her cover out in the real world. Makoto relaxed her posture. Chief Inspector Chiba didn't seem to notice either way. He was busy was finalizing some paperwork. He signed his document with a flourish, closed the file, and then put it away in his desk.
"There." The drawer lock turned with a final click "Now only, you, me, and Mizuno have the knowledge that you are one of Hong Kong's finest. From this point forward, you have the authority to act as you see fit in your capacity as an officer in the HKPD Anti-Triad Unit. Welcome to Operation Moon Revenge." Chiba looked at her curiously "So, you know what to do next?"
"Not a clue, but I'll figure it out. That's the point isn't it?"
Chief Chiba nodded.
"Mizuno's trained you well then." He pulled out an envelope. "Here's your new ID, a driver's licence, bank cards...an account's set up in your name. Not much in there, and it's all tracked, but it should help you establish yourself. Don't worry about your spending. As long as it's nothing ridiculous, I can handle all the paperwork. Let me worry about the taxpayers while you focus on the job. Right now, your mission is to infiltrate the Hung Fa Boys. Ultimately we want the identity of their Dragonhead, but one thing at a time. Get in with the gang first, and we'll take it from there. Understood?"
"Yes sir!" Makoto gave her head a quick shake. "Ah - I mean, yeah, got it."
Chief Chiba smiled "Relax Kino. Everything's going to be alright. To begin with, we know that members of the gang out at the Lucky Jade Restaurant in Hung Hum. That's probably a good place to start. Find a way to ingratiate yourself with them and report back. I imagine you'll be trying to connect with Tenoh Haruka yes?"
"That's the plan." Makoto nodded, then paused. Something was bothering her. "Hey chief... permission to speak freely?"
"Of course. What is it?"
This had been on Makoto's mind since early last week. She had been reviewing the records of known gang members with Ami when she realized she had a personal connection with a rather prominent member of the Hung Fa Boys.
"You've read my file. Did you know I had a history with Tenoh? Was that why you chose me for this case?"
"No. I didn't. I had my eye on you since you joined the police academy - you were something special. I picked you because I knew you were loyal. That you were briefly known to associate with Tenoh was just icing on the cake. Now go. Call me if you need anything. Despite what Mizuno's probably told you, you aren't completely on your own out there. HKPD's got your back alright?"
"I understand. Thank you."
Chiba nodded.
"You ready for this?"
"As ready as I'll ever be sir."
"Good luck then Constable. Keep me posted."
Makoto saluted, and then walked into an uncertain future.
[Outside Makoto's apartment. One month later...]
It had been a long, frustrating, and ultimately fruitless, month. Makoto was stuck more or less where she started.
It was a city of 7.3 million. It was a total crapshoot trying to find one person, especially a person who was a part of an underground society who most likely had no interest in being found.
There was no good way of making inquiries either. Everyone on the street knew better than to just talk about Triads. The best lead so far had been a bartender. It took a few wasted dates with that jerk for Makoto to figure that he didn't know shit and was just talking a big game as a way to pick up women.
Time to step it up. Makoto was heading "home" after a long day of applying for jobs in the neighbourhood. If she was going to be a fixture in the Hung Fa Boys turf, then she needed to make actual human connections here. Someone had to know something. The idea was disconcerting, building an actual fake life, but Makoto didn't have any better ideas.
A job washing dishes or something at one of the Hung Fa Boys's known hangouts might do the trick...
It was kind of funny. Her cover life was pretty much the same as her old one. Working crappy part-time jobs while living paycheque to paycheque. At least the rent on her "apartment" good up through the year courtesy of the taxpayers of Hong Kong. That was a step up right there. Not for the first time, she wondered how Ami found her way into the Yuet To Tong. Makoto sighed. For now, all she could do was trudge up the stairs to her apartment and get ready to try again tomorrow. Bed sounded so good right around now.
Makoto entered her apartment and took off her shoes. The instant she closed the door, she realized something was profoundly wrong – someone else was here.
She tensed, ready for action.
A masked figure stepped out of the shadows. Makoto fought back as best she could, but the invader had the advantage of speed and surprise. It was over in a minute. Makoto found herself pinned face first against the wall with her arm twisted behind her back. More critically, there was something hard poking into the back of her neck.
Makoto froze. Just when this day couldn't get any worse. How embarrassing was it to be fucking robbed like this? Some special agent cop she turned out to be. Maybe she wasn't cut out for this line of work after all...
Wait. Deja vu. This happened before. The invader's voice soon confirmed her suspicion.
"Not bad Kino. Not bad at all. Actually put up a fight this time. Good for you."
Makoto turned her head and saw Ami's familiar blue eyes glinting deep in the shadow of an oversized hoodie.
"Holy SHIT! You scared me!" Ami let her go. Makoto spun away and started to rub the feeling back into her arm. "What the hell?"
"We need to talk."
"Take that off. Can you even see underneath that thing?"
"Oh right." Ami pulled her hood off. "Can't be too careful."
"Ugh. Whatever. If we're going to talk, then come on in. Not like you needed an invitation anyways." Makoto was in no mood for bullshit tonight. She walked over to the couch and plopped herself down. "Well, say your piece."
Ami followed behind.
"Tenoh is a member of the Roaring Wind Motorcycle Club. They have a meeting tomorrow night at the Golden Crown Karaoke bar. She drives a blue and yellow Yamaha GTS1000. Licence plate MA 104 . I'm going to steal it. You are going to stop me. That's your in."
Makoto's jaw dropped. Just like that, the problem that had been plaguing her all month had a solution. It was too good to be true.
"Wait. How did you even know I was having trouble?"
"I've been watching you."
"Piss off. What was all that crap before about me being on my own then?"
"I lied."
"You lied. Of course. I should have figured." Makoto rolled her eyes. "Sounds like a good plan but isn't it dangerous?"
"You don't trust me?"
"Well, I do but - "
"Don't do that." Ami reprimanded automatically before reconsidering. "Though I like that you don't just blindly follow orders. To answer your question, yes. It is dangerous, but the risks are acceptable given the what we have to gain. As long as you stick to your cover, you should be fine."
"I meant for you."
Ami's brow furrowed a tiny bit.
"...as I said, the risks are within acceptable bounds. There are some mitigating factors you don't know about that make this our best option." Ami nodded once, in confirmation of her own plan. "Be outside the Golden Crown at 18:00. Stay out of sight. I'll make my move as soon as I see Tenoh come out. You follow my lead."
"Just like that? Nothing more concrete for me to go on?"
"No, the situation will be fluid. It could all change in an instant - Where Tenoh parks for example, or if she's alone when she comes out, any innocent bystanders. Any number of factors. Having a plan in your head slows you down. Simply know your parameters, set your limits, and work within them. You already know everything you need to know."
"What?"
"Know what you can do, know what you can't do, know what you won't do, then put everything else out of your mind. Understood?"
Makoto confirmed that she understood. Ami sighed and clapped a hand on her shoulder. She gave Makoto a light squeeze.
"Get some sleep tonight. Tomorrow, you get to see just how deep the rabbit hole goes." Ami turned and headed for the door. "I'll see myself out. Goodnight Makoto."
Sorry for the cliffhanger. More later. Back to work.
Love you,
- Ami
P.S. Might be home late tonight. Sorry. Don't wait up.
A.N
Hello again! I'll be the first to admit, I spend too many words describing the scenery, but y'know. Atmosphere. All that about concrete walls and dinky red lightbulbs will probably make more sense if you are from, or have spent any time in Hong Kong (specifically older parts of Kowloon).
And of course, thanks for reading y'all! Hope we've been enjoying the ride so far. In the next chapter, we will finally start getting out into the streets and we gon get a little action! This is supposed to be an action movie right?
Reviews and PM always appreciated yo! Until next time,
cheers,
-Drift.
Up Next:
Ch 5: 旺角黑夜 - One Nite in Mong Kok - wherein Makoto reconnects with an old friend on the streets of Mong Kok