Tekken 8: Breach
Chapter 2
Saturday, Sunday. Had she not established her studiousness, her brother would have found her staying in her room all those days suspicious. She was still studying though, just not for school, but for the infiltration that will formally start through a supposed interview four days from now: Friday.
The sun is now behind the buildings of KZM International School, at least by the main entrance. The sky is also visibly orange. Too orange, according to Mihatsu, who is constantly glancing up to it. It is also as clear as it can get. No aircraft dropping anything. Nothing. It's just the clouds and, well, the sky.
To be fair, it has always been like that around KZM, even during the heat of the war. Considering however that Kazuya Mishima has taken control of the Mishima Zaibatsu, Mihatsu is supposing that that will not be the case anymore. Oddly though, from what she heard, it's been a while since said takeover-- while enough for her to question why nothing is happening here.
That Mishima Zaibatsu is just so bizarre. Why did Onii-san even take over that? Why did those Mishimas even let him do that? Why does its head change so qui-- Her train of questions was blocked by a car that by itself blocked her way to a bus station.
"I've come to pick you up," the frame of the car's window made it looked like Akari Saitou's smile is something televised, made it even more plausible that it can actually came out of one with a smile as sweet as hers.
Albeit a little surprised, Mihatsu quickly responded by raising a hand purposely,-- meant to bid a greeting-- before sitting at the passenger seat, "You should not have."
"I do insist," still wearing the same smile that greeted Mihatsu: so wide, and too sweet, too real-- annoyingly real, but Mihatsu kept it to herself. In addition to that smile, there's also her apparently wrong assumption that the woman beside her has done everything necessary for the success of the infiltration. That is more inconvenient than annoying to her though as it just means that this is leading to a losing arrangement.
"There is too much risk interacting with you around the vicinity of KZM," Akari took a glance at Mihatsu through the rear-view mirror, and of course, still with a smile albeit noticeably smaller than the previous one, perhaps because of confusion. Mihatsu closed her eyes briefly and suppressed a sigh. "Onii-san can easily get information of my activities around here."
"Oh," Akari's smile then went back to what it was, "Does that explain the stiff greeting of yours?" Arguably a better one, or in Mihatsu's perception, a worse one came after, considering that a giggle is clearly being suppressed. Despite that, Mihatsu did not react anything else. Picking up on it, Akari smiled to herself, "Worry not. It looked legitimate enough on other angles."
"You cannot be sure with that, can you?"
"To be fair, it's up to others."
"Do not do that again, please."
"Have you told your brother some cover-up?" Mihatsu abruptly gazed at Akari's direction with this shift of the conversation. "Not yet." The entire weekend, she barely saw her brother. As far as she can remember, she actually has only done so when it's time for the meal. It really was a good thing that Jin did not ask anything about said situation as she really has been having a problem with what to say to him. If she actually has to come up with something back then, there's no doubt that Jin will pick up something wrong with it.
"I see... Well, I'll handle that."
"How so?"
"Don't worry how. It will work," Akari took her eyes off the road briefly to wink at Mihatsu. A thought crossed Mihatsu's mind with that wink. A scary thought at that, for something that looked so innocently playful. How could I have not considered? Immediately, "I will handle it," for somebody who has been eyeing to enter the business world for as long as she can remember, for somebody that should be striving utmost cautiousness, she deems it so stupid and careless of her to not consider the different intentions this woman can have for her actions. How dare she even rule out the possibility that the woman beside her is one of the victims of the war her brother started.
Mihatsu shut her eyes to continue berating herself for the blunder she made. "As I said Mi-chan, don't worry," but it seems that Akari's way of addressing her has a different plan. A flash of memory came instead, which made her head hurt.
It's blurry... as it always was. But even if that is the case, she can still make out a woman whose lips are forming a crescent, "You're too young Mi-chan. Maybe when you're seven?"
What comes after in the vision are small fingers counting, "Seven... Four... One... Two... Three!" Three fingers were put up in front of the woman. "Three years! That's a long time Ka-chan!," and it promptly ended before the woman can respond anything.
It's a different memory from the last time and the other times it happened when her brother accidentally called her that. As what he explained to her, that is what their father calls her, which was then adapted by him and their mother. The first time such circumstance happened, she still clearly recalls how genuine Jin was when he wished that he could elaborate further. But her well-being is more important to him than whatever she doesn't remember-- that she would love to remember, but alas.
"Do not call me that." Mihatsu said flatly, still has her eyes shut. When she opened it, she did so when she felt the car stopped moving and Akari's worried face already had taken her quite a back, "Are you okay?" With such tone, she almost dismissed the possibility that Akari is seeking revenge against Jin. Almost.
Mihatsu looked back at the road she may have missed when she has her eyes closed. Akari followed her gaze but quickly redirected it at Mihatsu, "Did you leave something? We can go back." For a moment, Mihatsu shut her eyes before settling her eyes on the road ahead of the vehicle, There is that sincerity again. "No, I did not leave anything."
"Are you sure? You stay at the apartment near KZM, right? We can go there. Don't worry, I don't mind." When Mihatsu faced Akari, there is a smile again. She stared briefly at her eyes and still managed to see nothing but sincerity. She then looked at the time, "Yes, I am certain." Has it been earlier, she would test if Akari certainly doesn't mind fulfilling what she offered. But according to her current judgment, she should not be with this woman at the dusk, let alone at deep in the dusk. She can indeed go back and leave this woman as is, assuming of course that she'll take her to the dorm, but she sees no fault in taking calculated risk.
She recognizes that whatever this woman's intention is, the hiring she showed her last Friday is more than legitimate-- that alone is enough to get in G Corporation. If Akari leaves her hanging in the middle of the infiltration, she's certain that she can handle herself. If there's a point she cannot, she's also certain that she knows when to completely drop out of it. If, however, Akari informs G Corp. about her... I hate that I currently have nothing for that and actually relying too much that Saitou-san means no ill. Well, an almost calculated risk, I hate these so much.
That aside, if things are to go to worst just by being in the ride she's currently in, she has confidence that she'll be able to mend it. With her respectable agility (according to her brother), and by extension evasiveness, in addition to her knowledge of basic self-defense, she should be able to escape Akari. And with the path in mind and her fair familiarity with it, she should be able to find a safe retreat.
Mihatsu took a glance at Akari and just sighed mentally.
"Please take a sit, and treat the place as your own." Akari said as they entered a two story house. Mihatsu swiftly observed the living room that greeted the doorway and saw nothing unusual with it. One long couch, and another short surrounding a coffee table. In front of the set, the long couch specifically, is a television which itself is also facing a dining table set.
"May I wear my shoes indoors?" Looking more closely at the direction of the dining room is something she can make out as a kitchen, separated by a countertop.
"Do as you please."
"Do you want anything? Juice? Coffee?" Mihatsu took a glance at the key that Akari just placed on the coffee table, and headed herself towards it. Coffee? For the afternoon? Is it normal for someone to offer their visitor such beverage in the afternoon? "I would not mind a coffee," and seated courtly on the short couch where she can clearly see Akari moving to the kitchen.
"But do you know that coffee in the afternoon is bad to your health?" Akari lectured now walking back to the living room with a glass of water.
"You offered it yourself Saito-san." Looking around, she tried to find any picture of her, especially of her family around. But it looks to her like this house is of no importance to Akari, although important enough to be fully furnished and have complete appliances such as the air conditioner Akari is setting up behind her.
"I was not sure that you'll actually have one."
"Do you always have one at this point of day?"
"No."
Mihatsu turned her head when she felt eyes on her back and have her own eyes settle straight the ones laid on her. "I do not have to make you believe now, do I, Saito-san?" Akari just smiled in response before heading back towards the kitchen.
Staring at the glass of water in front of her for a second, she just realized that she accepted a drink from a stranger. She couldn't exactly tell Akari directly that she doesn't want one anymore. If all of she is is really true, she would rather not implant in her that she is not investing any trust in this supposed alliance. Why did she even bring up a coffee if she knows that it is bad to have one at this point of the day? But really, is following her to the kitchen any different than telling her that she doesn't want a coffee anymore?
"Is something the matter?"
"Do you mind, Saito-san?" The moment Akari shook her head, Mihatsu watches every move the woman made from the countertop. It looks like it'll be a freshly brewed coffee-- a non-poisonous black coffee that is eventually in front of her. Mihatsu winced at the back of her mind as she stared at the beverage. She only broke the stare off when she heard a chuckle in front of her, Did it show? "Please, try it," Akari said before taking a sip from a cup of coffee herself. When she saw her looking fairly satisfied as she put down the cup, Mihatsu turned her gaze back at her cup. Gulping, This could go wrong so easily, she finally took a sip.
"How is it?" Mihatsu snapped her attention back at Akari, hearing anticipation with her question. "It tastes well," now continuously sipping the coffee, still being careful of its temperature. To start with, from what Mihatsu can tell, the beans are actually of quality and well-roasted. It is more than clear to her that this needs no sugar nor cream to cover up whatever incompetence other coffee may have. It tasted rather sweet to her actually, with subtle notes of citrus, honey and spices, and without overtly bitter aftertaste, just like how she likes it.
"Oh, thank goodness," Akari said, now with relief, earning a furrow of eyebrows from Mihatsu, Should my opinion on the coffee really matter that much? Mihatsu took another sip.
"If you are not confident in making one, you should have not. It is so easy to go wrong with this."
"Pardon my lack of confidence. It's just that I'm out of practice. It's been a long time since I last made one for my husband."
Long time?
"Oh. And please, refrain yourself from taking coffee about six hours before you sleep. Please, take care of yourself."
It is none of your business now, is it?
"By the way, is there something you want to ask me?" Mihatsu stopped herself halfway from taking the cup in front of her mouth, "Should there be?"
"You seem off since I told you I will handle the cover-up." I sure do need to work on how much I present myself.
Akari placed her hands on top of Mihatsu's, making the latter jolt a little. "I totally do get if you don't fully trust me, especially the situation around your brother. But I am more than willing to work on that."
When Mihatsu just stared at her hands, Akari couldn't help but sigh and stand up looking for something in one of the kitchen drawers.
"What are you doing?"
"I told you, I am more than willing to earn your trust," when Akari eventually faced Mihatsu, there's a cuff around her wrist, which is now being connected to stainless steel sticking out the countertop. Akari stretched out her free hand to Mihatsu, "Here is the key, and also of the car," pointing out the table in the living room.
Mihatsu just watched the whole thing played out with fairly widened eyes, I'm trying to establish a trusting relationship by avoiding interrogation and this is how she'll act?
"I want to give you peace of mind," Akari said out of the moment of silence.
"You have nothing to support your claim that I do not have one."
"Do I? Please. Let me prove myself as someone you can fully trust."
Mihatsu looked at Akari's eyes, which seems to be a habit of her now-- a habit she noted at the back of her head that has to stop because it's a useless source of information: How can she see nothing in it but sincerity. Should she learn more about reading people? Regardless, there's no point in twisting this.
"Where did you get your handcuffs?" She first asked what weirded her out the most. "I am an officer myself," but perhaps it's not even supposed to be weird if that's to be considered.
"An officer of law? So you are really spying on G Corp. for them, and it just so happened that you allied yourself with Chaolan-san?"
"Actually, used to be an officer. I just managed to keep this," Mihatsu squinted her eyes.
"You said a long time when you were talking about your husband."
"I haven't seen him for about a decade now."
Long before the war started.
"May I pry on why so?"
"Something took him away."
Thing? "Work?"
Rather a ridiculing tone, "Oh, I wish."
"How about children? Do you have some?"
"Yes, and they are very much alive."
"Do you have any pictures? As current as it can be as much as possible, please."
"I unfortunately do not have one. We also have been apart for far too long," Mihatsu felt herself be irritated with such.
"How about other family members? How are they?"
"They are doing well."
"Do you have anything to back that up?" Akari just chuckled.
"Can you look at me, straight in my eyes?"
"I wish you and your brother nothing but your well-being and happiness. I swear on my life."
Mihatsu let few seconds pass out before voicing out her confusion, "Why?"
"I owe you--r brother, a lot."
Someone else that sees him beyond a warmonger?
"May I know what he did to you?" Akari now just smiled, "You sure do cover your bases," Mihatsu observed Akari closing her eyes in what seemingly is reminiscent, "I sure did seek the right person."
Realizing what she's actually supposed to be here for, she walked around to Akari side to properly unlock the handcuff, "My apologies. I have wasted time to--"
"Don't be."
"Excuse me but, was that the last of the coffee?" The presence of the sun is now barely noticeable in this living room. It's not that it lacks windows. It more so that the trees barely made it know, and the sun is even barely up there.
Akari just came from upstairs with some files in her hands, "Nope. But as I said, it's unhealthy to consume coffee at this point of the day."
Mihatsu can't help but sigh at that, Why would you make something so great which will not be in few minutes and keep it to yourself? Mihatsu snapped her attention back at the matter at hand when Akari handed her a folder, "You'll be using Saito and you'll be my niece so it'll be for the best to refer to me as Oba-san."
"Did you not say that you have been working with Chaolan-san? How sure are you that your alliance with him will not be found out through him or yourself?"
"Hundred," Mihatsu stopped reading the files to raise an eyebrow at Akari. "As I told you, I have been preparing for this for a very long time."
"Akari Saito is not your real name, I take?"
"Well... No. But say, that's my identity ever since and has been consistent throughout my say, businesses."
"So, I don't think that there will be conflict with the 'multiple names used' if that's a concern."
"And yes, I have been very careful with said businesses."
Mihatsu continued reading. When she got to the names of the parents, she took a time to stare at it. "Is the father and mother named here real people?"
"Yes."
"Where are they?" Mihatsu said, now have her eyes on Akari.
"Dead, as you'll present them to G Corp."
"Why is there a," Mihatsu winced as she utters the succeeding words, "hanging quotation mark on the dead?"
"They are still alive, but they are different people now. The name and everything with it is as free as it can get."
Mihatsu looked at the paper again, "What if they are actually alive?" but immediately broke it off when she realized that she uttered the question out loud. When she looked at Akari, confusion is apparent on her face. She quickly thought of a recovery. "Oh. I mean, I know nothing of my actual parents. With that said, I do not even know who and how they are."
When it looks like Akari became even more confused with her explanation, Mihatsu continued, "They can suddenly appear, and ruin this information is what I am specifically saying."
"You still know nothing of them? Like nothing?"
"That is beyond my point, Saito-san," Mihatsu said now with apparent irritation in her voice.
Picking up on it, Akari responded in an oddly factual tone, "They wouldn't."
"What if they would, and for example, they are an ally of G Corporation, and they managed to recognize me? Let us think of contingencies now, Saito-san."
"There's really no need for that, but if it is to put your concern to rest, you can leave that to me. And please, refer to me as your aunt. We can actually be caught with that. Understood?"
Albeit still annoyed to a small degree, she recognizes that she indeed can't slip with this honorific, "Yes, Akari Oba-san."
Akari smiled upon hearing that, "That's progress."
What if they are actually alive? Mihatsu can't help herself but wonder if they can prevent her brother from doing what he did if they indeed are. But really, what is the point? Things already happened. They just have to recover from it. She'll make sure they will.
(holy cow. i hate writing descriptions so much. like why can't these just take place in an empty room!)