Disclaimer: I do not own any part of Rosario Vampire. I am merely twisting the creator's vision into my own dream. If the supernatural, sexuality, or violence is offensive to you, then you should not read this.
Chapter 298
He sometimes wished that he had a cooler title. He was one of the general's most loyal followers, and definitely the one that had served him the longest. The general had named him a captain of Tate no Kai, but for some reason it was because of some joke. Every time the general called him captain, the man could see a twist in his leader's expression, which could be amusement, or maybe indigestion.
Either way, the lackey wore the title of captain proudly. He liked having lieutenants under him. There was a feeling of power he really enjoyed whenever he gave an order and knew it was going to be carried out. The jumped-up captain had gained his title after he had killed a police officer. That had been a thrill as well.
Lately, the general's flunky had been playing middle manager. Orders passed down to him from the general, and he had the job of choosing the men to help him carry them out. The first couple of times he had stayed well back from the action, content to watch to make sure the orders were carried out. But then came the day he had thrown the bottle of gasolene himself.
Fire was not his weapon of choice. As a kappa, he was a water youkai, so it made sense that he would be wary of fire. While he did not like fire personally, he did like the power to be found when it was used as a weapon.
Things took a turn for him however when another Tate no Kai captain had been given an assignment. While he was in charge of using fire, and possible killing people, the other captain was still piddling around with the splash and smash attacks. He had been given a chance to move up with a big operation, but the idiot had lost all his people, himself included, to a trap, all because one of his people had ratted him out.
Well one less captain meant less competition within Tate no Kai. The Kappa that thought of himself as the general's number one captain was left with more authority now that he had one less person to share it with. He wondered if he should ask for a promotion.
He was calling lieutenants and helping plan a retaliation against the police. At the same time he was passing orders along, making sure nobody was taking stupid risks. He thought that maybe if he just started calling himself a Major, he could get away with it. He was doing more work now, and if he showed the guts to advance his own rank, the general was likely to approve.
The more he thought about it, the more the now Major liked the idea. He would show that he had the determination and the guts, but at the same time he would not be bumping himself up too far. Colonel sounded better, but that would be asking to get slapped back down. Yes, he nodded to himself, he would pass the word that he had been promoted.
XX
The Major was feeling proud of himself. It had taken only a day for word of his promotion to get out. A few phone calls had been all it had taken. Of course nothing escaped The General's attention, so the boss of Tate no Kai had found out.
"If you want it badly enough to take it," The General had said in a calm voice over the phone. "Then by all means, take it. If you can hold on to it, you deserve it. If you don't deserve it, rank will be the least of what you will lose."
While the threat was clear, the Major felt more confident than ever. The threat was a warning of what would happen if he let the General down, but the price of failure was well known, and couldn't get any higher. The rewards however could be much greater if the Major worked for it. It was with that same sense of confidence that the Major went out to meet with his lieutenants.
XX
It was a simple plan to keep Tate no Kai secure. The General used a pre-paid cell phone to talk to the others, except for unannounced personal appearances when he wanted to make sure the underlings were being kept in line. Because of this plan, it was necessary for the officers of Tate no Kai to keep regular contact with their underlings and each other. Meetings were to happen either happen at secret locations, like the Major's old apartment, or in busy places where friends and strangers could mingle freely.
The Major had found a drinking dive that he favored for such gatherings. It was a bar that had out-grown its building as more and more locals decided that cheep and easy drinking was better than expensive, stylish, comfortable clubs. It was at that dive that the Major held a meeting to discuss the fate of one man. That man had also been summoned to the meeting. Brought in by a long and complicated route to make sure the police had no way of following him or knowing where the actual meeting was going to happen, the one man to escape the night club trap was rank with fear.
The Major could feel the man's fear and it made him smile. The Major was also happy to see that the man appeared to be recovering from a beating. It was clear that his story of escaping the police had some evidence to support it. Unless one of the lieutenants could offer some proof that the man had been the one to rat out Tate on Kai, he would survive to serve again.
As soon as the thought had passed through his mind, the Major had a burst of inspiration. He had an idea on how he could test the man's loyalty and to strike back at the police. The beauty of the idea was that if the man was loyal or not, he could still be used as a weapon. As he sat down with the others, the Major had a wide happy smile that could make a person's skin crawl.
XxxxxxxxX
Tsukune did not really enjoy what he had taken to calling 'Spider Duty.' He had his connections all over the area. Through his own contacts he had threads out to others all over Japan. With all those threads, Tsukune spent a lot of time waiting for a signal back that some new bit of information had been discovered. All the time that he was running around to cultivate those connections and follow up on leads, Tsukune was forced to limit himself. He could not disappear for a few days just for the fun of it. Every visit with his extended family was made with a phone in reach, whenever possible, just in case...
After the Night Club trap things did start to change however. It didn't happen all at once. It started out as just a few stirrings as one thing or another twitched. His contacts heard a few small things, saw some suspicious meetings, but nothing solid. Things picked up for a few days, before quieting down again. Tsukune suspected that Ross had been right with his prediction that the minor Tate no Kai officers were doing a quick dance to protect themselves against any accusations of betraying their organization.
It was a little more than a week after the trap had been sprung that Tsukune's web of contacts started bringing him some interesting news. Whispers in dark corners were heard by ears humans never suspected were there. Police phone taps and back-room conversations were spreading word that there was a raising power within Tate no Kai.
Confirmation came from multiple directions. Tanaka's officers intercepted phone calls. A street hustler overheard a conversation and word was passed along to Ross. A man, with a few too many drinks in him, boasted to his paid companion of the evening that he was expecting to make a name for himself, now that The Major was mixing things up. Kurumu made sure the girl was well rewarded for keeping her ears open.
Coming from more than one direction made the information more reliable to the men organizing the opposition to Tate no Kai. The information was clear that things were happening within Tate no Kai. It was also clear that the organization was looking to make a move soon. All three men knew they needed put their own plans in place.
XxX
Tanaka Ito was working through reports and logistics with determination when the next curve-ball came his way. He was trying to make sure he had enough resources available without tipping his hand. He needed to keep police officers available for quick response to any attacks, because it was only a matter of time before Tate no Kai tried to strike back after their last raid had gone so badly for them. Too many officers in any one area that did not at least look busy might frighten the bad guys away, making them strike an area that could not respond with enough force to protect lives and property.
There was still some hope that Tate no Kai would try to get revenge against the club that had been the place of the trap. Visible work was being put into making the club look like it was still a real business, and would be open for business any day now. There were enough resources in that area to make a difference if Tate no Kai tried anything. Tanaka was working on such details when he got a call that surprised him.
"What happened?" Tanaka had to question the report he had just heard over the phone. He shuffled things about to get a pen and pad ready as he listened to the report over again. "Where is your office?" He scribbled down the address. "Alright. Now listen carefully. Take him to a local hotel... make that a hostess bar..." There was a break in his instructions as the person on the other end tried to question him.
"I don't care how you think it will look!" Tanaka barked. "Take him to the nicest hostess club in the area. I want no less than four officers in plain clothes with him at all times until I can get there. Activate your night shift if you have to. Keep that man safe. Keep him happy. If you have to, keep him drunk and get a woman to literally sit on him. I will be there as soon as possible."
The Lieutenant hung up the phone and gave himself until a count of three to collect himself before picking up and dialing a number. Each time he heard the line ring, he had to remind himself to breath and remain calm. Finally the other end connected.
"Tsukune here," The voice that came through the line brought the lieutenant a measure of relief. "What can I do for you?"
"Tsukune," Tanaka replied. "I need a favor."
"Yes?" Tsukune asked.
"Get over to my office as fast as you can," Tanaka said. "Then help me get to where I need to go, in that way you can get me there fast."
"What's happened?" Tsukune asked.
"We may have an informant," Tanaka explained.
"I'll get there right away," Tsukune replied before hanging up.
Tanaka knew that Tsukune was going to take him at his word. He also knew he was going to be in for an uncomfortable day. He was comfortable with some of Aono's people, but some of the spooky stuff still made his skin crawl.
X
Tanaka was ready to go when he heard someone coming down the hall to his office. He opened his office door in time to see Aono Tsukune reaching up to knock. Tanaka took a small measure of satisfaction seeing the younger man blink in surprise.
"Are you ready to go?" Tsukune asked. He was dressed in his riding leathers. Combined with his stern expression he was intimidating.
"Nobody tried to stop you from just walking in here?" Tanaka could not help but ask.
"It appears that I am well remembered," Tsukune smirked. "At least by the few people that noticed me at all."
"I don't want to know," Tanaka said. "Let's go."
XX
"I am going to take the long way back," Tanaka said when the world returned.
Tanaka Ito liked order in his life. He had been bothered when he had first started investigating Aono Tsukune. Since then, there had been less and less order in Ito's life. It bothered him greatly when the young man did things that challenged the lieutenant's sense of order. When Tsukune took a police car and made it defy logic and the laws of physics. The jump that had just carried them close to two hundred kilometers made Ito want a drink, badly.
On the bright side, with the jump completed, it was only a short trip to their destination. Tanaka made a call get directions to where the informant was being kept and shared the information with Tsukune. Technically it was a violation of regulations to let Tsukune, who was no longer a part of the police, to drive the car, but after that jump, Ito was not ready to take over.
x
The club was a nice place. It was still early afternoon, so the police and the informant they were watching accounted for most of the activity in the place. True to Tanaka's directions, the informant was being kept there by the drink in one hand and a woman on his lap. In spite of a few visible bruises that were in that ugly yellow-brown stage of healing, the man looked happy.
It did not take long for Tanaka to get down to business. The setting was unusual. The club staff had been excused, but the décor and music remained. Tsukune, still in his leathers, sat in, looking like an enforcer. In spite of these things, questioning the informant was still good, old fashion police work. Tanaka knew exactly what he was doing.
Still working on his drink, the informant told his story. He admitted to being the one that had escaped from the trap at the night club. He went on to tell of how he had reported in to Tate no Kai and then gone into hiding for a while. As his story went, a few days later he was called in to answer questions. Because he was the only one to escape, the others had been suspicious of him. Finally he was brought to a meeting with the new major. The Major had questioned him personally, but finally decided that the escape had been real.
The informant admitted that he had been afraid for his life for a while. When The Major had decided that he wasn't a spy, he was going to be rewarded, for escaping and reporting back as a dutiful soldier was expected to. The problem was, the informant said he did not think he could trust his superiors.
"Most of them wanted to kill me," The informant whined. "The wanted to make an example out of me, even when I didn't do anything wrong. Some wanted to kill me, just because they didn't want to take a chance they said. The Major though..." He took another pull at his drink.
"The Major said I had earned a promotion," The informant continued his story. "He wants me to help lead the next mission."
"And that would be?" Tanaka asked.
"Well, the police busted a bunch of us," The informant shrugged. "The Major says the General isn't happy about that. We're supposed to do something to punish you. I mean, we're trying to make Japan a better place, but the police are just crooks in uniforms keeping us from doing anything to make a difference." He shrugged again. "You busted our guys, so we gotta get some payback."
"Is there a plan?" Tanaka asked in a casual voice.
"Yeah... Yeah," The Informant brightened. "Well we figure, that is, the Major figures that whoever owns that night club didn't learn the lesson we were out to teach him the last time. That and he worked with the police, so now he really needs to be taught something."
"But right now the club is closed down," Tanaka pointed out. "It's still a crime scene, and the owner needs to clean up before he can re-open."
"Wel... See, that is why the Major is the boss," The informant smiled. "The police would never expect us to hit the same place twice in a row. Ain't never did it before, did we? So if we bust up any guards and burn out the club, well that ought to get the point across."
"The owner can't cooperate with the police again if he doesn't have a club any more," Tanaka observed.
"Exactly," The informant nodded. "So we're going to round up another twenty guys and finish the job. I'm supposed to lead half of them this time."
"If you're so sure of the plan," Tanaka asked in a carefully casual voice . "Why are you telling the police?"
"Well it's like I said," The informant said. "I don't trust my bosses no more. If anything goes wrong this time, I'll be dead for sure. But if I tell you guys, you can protect me, right? I mean, you can get me out of the country, and maybe get me some cash. I know there are rewards being offered. I've heard a few things. That's why I came to you guys."
"But if we help you escape now," Tanaka pointed out. "Your people will know something is wrong."
"Naw..." The informant shook his head with a grin. "See, that's the plan. I warned you guys so you can set another trap. Then when we are supposed to hit the place, I lead the men in. You catch me this time, but somehow before I get to jail, you make me disappear to someplace with cheep drinks and pretty girls. Hell, you can even bring me back if you need me to testify in court, as long as you let me go and hide out again after."
"And when is this going to happen?" Tanaka asked with a look of mild interest.
"Next full moon," The informant said. "That's in four days." The man finished his drink. "So, do we have a deal?"
"If you do your part," Tanaka nodded slowly. "I can get you a hundred thousand yen."
"Naw man," The informant shook his head. "I want a million."
"Where am I going to get that much money?" Tanaka demanded. "I have to explain the expenses to the government you know." He paused for a moment, then made another offer. "Two hundred thousand yen."
"Oh come on," The informant protested. "This works and you get The Major. If it don't, then I am dead. "Make it worth it."
"Half a million yen," Tanaka said in a firm voice. "And you will stay in protective custody until after you testify. Then you can take your money and go wherever you want."
"Deal," The informant grinned and stuck out his hand.
"Deal," Tanaka shook his hand. "Now you better get out of here."
"Just point me to the back door," The informant said.
x
Tanaka watched the informant leave. He made sure to swear the local police officers to secrecy and dismissed them. Finally he turned to Tsukune.
"Do you believe him?" Tanaka asked.
"Do I believe that there will be another attack?" Tsukune clarified. "Yes. He was too happy to tell us all about it. Do i believe that he is trying to set up Tate no Kai so he can escape? Not for a second. And I know you don't either."
"Oh?" Tanaka challenged.
"You didn't try to get him to name names," Tsukune pointed out. "You didn't press him on any details. You knew he was feeding you a story from the beginning."
"That's right," Tanaka said. "He should have asked about money or immunity first. I think he is trying to set us up."
"That's what I thought too," Tsukune agreed. "So what's the next step?"
"Given that our little friend specifically mentioned twenty men were going to be assigned to the attack," Tanaka observed. "It is safe to say Tate no Kai is looking for a real fight this time. They want to try to bleed us."
"That could be costly," Tsukune nodded.
"But we've got four days to get ready, and I think I have a plan..." Tanaka Ito gave Tsukune a cold smile.