Catch-22: The Rooms Where Decisions Are Made
By: M14Mouse
Summary: Yu visited many rooms and many decisions are made.
Disclaimer: Don't own them.
"Decision is a sharp knife that cuts clean and straight; indecision, a dull one that hacks and tears and leaves ragged edges behind it." – Gordon Graham
"Escargot-san, a moment if you please…" A male voice said behind her.
"Sweetheart…you can call me Lala," Lala-chan said to the man.
"A lady like you deserves more worth than that."
Ohya thought that this guy was a charmer.
Lala-chan laughed as she finally turned away from her drink of choice to look at the man.
Crap. She knew him. He has been in the news for years due to his connection to the idol, Risette. Now, he was back in the news due to being the head of some company but the magazines don't really do him justice. He was handsome and he carried himself in a certain way that was hard to describe. It was kind of like her favorite source of information.
"Oh, you have a silver tongue on you," Lala-chan purred.
"Oh ho…who is he?" She said with a fake giggle.
His eyes moved from Lala-chan to her. It stopped her in her tracks. She planned to do the whole drunk act. Just to see what happened.
"Oh, this is Narukami-san. He has been stopping by from time to time to check up on his student." Lala-chan said with a wave.
"Student?" She said.
"The kid is his student," Lala-chan answered.
Well…shit.
"Ichiko-san…a pleasure to finally meet you," Narukami-san said with a slight bow.
She took a long sip of her drink before she turned her attention back to the man.
"The same," She said with the wave of her hand.
Ren talked about his fellow thieves and most of all, his teacher.
"What brings you here? The kid isn't here," Lala-chan said.
"I need to talk to Ichiko-san for a moment. We have an identical problem that I believe we can solve together," He said.
"Come on…what's the problem that a big bad company man can solve? Hey, Lala-chan…more drink!" She said airily.
Lala-chan snorted as she shook her head.
"No," Narukami-san said.
"Ex-excuse me?" She said in shock.
"You might fool my student with your drunk act but I'm no fool. You are faking it. I have done it enough times myself to know when someone else is doing the same."
Her mouth may have dropped. Lala-chan had the nerve to laugh.
"He got you there."
She stuck out her tongue.
"Now that we have gotten that out of the way. We have something to discuss,"he said.
"Oh?" She said.
Okay, she was slightly curious.
"I plan to take down Shido and I would like your help to do so."
"Let me close up the place," Lala-chan said seriously.
"Thank you, Escargot-san," He said.
"Such a charmer…do you want a drink?"
"No, thank you." He said before he took a seat next to her at the counter. If he was in a crowd, she wouldn't be able to pick him out with his black suit and tie. He looked like any other businessman that she came across.
"So, kid, what are you planning? Because no one can take down Shido," She said angrily.
"I have faith that my students will be able to change his heart. There is a matter of the election."
"I have seen the other change of heart incidents. Everyone turned against them pretty quickly. I can imagine Shido would redraw his name from the election."
"And what would that solve?"
She blinked then hummed.
"Unlike the other change of heart incidents, he has been stirring up the masses for months. He has people working under him, possibly with the same goals. My students are merely changing the heart of a powerful figurehead. The pieces left behind will be messy. The truth…will need to come out."
"He would just bury it. He did that with everything…or everyone."
"It will be a little hard since I took away his usual path to get rid of getting people. I'm much harder to kill than most people."
"Still…even then, he can still bury you."
"Not if you're first article when you put in his name in a search engine," He said with a grin.
Her mouth may have dropped for a moment then she started to laugh.
"Okay…you have curiosity. Whatcha do you have planned?"
"Simple…you write articles…I will post them. You can use your name or not. That matter is up to you. Your articles will lead Shido to me," He said.
"Trail of breadcrumbs." She said.
"More like a trap but you can say that too."
She laughed.
"My publishers have been up my ass. I take it that you aren't like them. I bet you pay more, give just as juicy bits as the kid, and you aren't afraid to take on that bastard. So, when do I start?"
"Now, if you like…" He said with a smile.
"Wonderful…Lala-chan…stop talking to the neighbors! We must celebrate a new partnership! So, that means a drink!" She shouted.
Narukami-san sighed.
-P4P5P4-
"You are crazy."
"Get that a lot, Jusis."
"I know my father won't help you."
"I know."
"But my brother might."
-P4P5P4-
"Toranosuke-san." Narukami-san greeted him as he took a seat next to him at the counter. Yoshida has been to this sushi place many times before. It was quiet during the off times. It was the perfect time to meet.
"Narukami-san….please, we have known each other well enough to skip the formalities," He said.
"You first, Toranosuke-san."
"Point taken. Did you order for us?"
"Yes…variety is the spice of life."
He chuckled softly.
"I suppose that we should talk before we eat. You know that there isn't much that you can do about the election. The vote is locked."
"I know. My focus isn't the election. It is after."
"Hmm…I don't think that I have that sort of power."
"Really now. I have seen your speeches. You are slowly drawing more and more people," Narukami-san said.
He felt his face become flush.
"Small crowds."
"And more of your fellow politicians."
"My voice doesn't have that much power."
A small smile formed on Narukami-san's face.
"I think that you have more power than you know. That power will be useful in bringing people together especially after the election."
He glanced around to make sure no one was listening. The staff was busy with other tasks and customers.
"A change of heart, perhaps?"
"Perhaps. The groundwork will need to be there. Another candidate in the wing that you and your party can support. Of course, one that the company and I can support as well."
"You sound like a politician yourself."
Narukami-san shook his head.
"No thank you. I hate paperwork."
"But you serve the people," He said with a chuckle.
"I protect them. Politics ask too much of me. Half-truths covered in lies." Narukami-san noted.
"Point taken. Perhaps, our student then?"
"Possible. He is easier than me to slip between lies and truths. He has charisma for it as well. I can see it but it is his choice after all."
"Agreed. I will start putting out feelers for candidates. But…be careful."
"Always."
-P4P5P4-
"Here is all of the information that I kept…"
"Thank you, Sojiro."
"Don't get yourself killed."
"Ahh…you care."
"Can't keep these kids out of trouble without you."
-P4P5P4-
Munehisa knew something was up as soon as the guy opened the door, then the guy flipped the open sign to closed.
"Hey…we aren't closed…" He said as the guy finally turned around.
Shit.
Fucking hell. He was wondering when Narukami was going to show up ever since the kid started talking about his Sensei.
He knew who "the Boss" was.
Damn good coffee.
But Sensei?
It took a moment to realize who the kid was talking about and it was hard to believe that the kid would associate with Narukami. The man had already made waves through the underworld. Apparently, he was a part of a huge raid in London…well, that is how the rumor goes.
Hell, the man was standing in his pressed suit and tie and didn't scream threat.
He knew more than anyone that a suit and tie doesn't make you any less of a threat.
"Iwai-san, it is a pleasure to finally meet you," Narukami said.
"Can' say the pleasure is mine," He remarked.
"I also take into account that you have been avoiding me."
"I'm not involved in that life anymore. So, you can turn that sign right over…"
"If I want to get my hands dirty, I would do it myself. No, Iwai-san, I want nothing to do with weapons, drugs, or anything of that sort. I merely want an open ear," Narukami cut him off.
"I'm out of that life," He said again.
"Yes, you are and that took a great deal of courage. The yakuza don't take kindly to members leaving their ranks. I would do everything in my power not to endanger you or your son."
"Then why…?"
"According to my student, you still have a pulse of what is going on. Right now, I need that listening ear for what I have planned."
"Which is?"
"For your safety, I won't give you any details."
"Then I heard nothing."
"Even if it involved Shido…"
He nearly stumbled out of his chair.
"Have you lost your mind? His pockets are deeper than the damn' Grand Canyon. He has some yakuza on the payroll," He said
The crazy man slowly smiled.
"Then he is doing what I want him to." Narukami said.
"You're crazier than the kid."
"Well…thank you."
-P4P5P4-
"Narukami…are you sure?'
"I am, Okumura."
"A wolf in sheep's clothing."
"Excuse me?"
"That is what I thought you were but…I think that I'm wrong."
"Oh?"
"You weren't in sheep clothing. You are the wolf on the hunt."
-P4P5P4-
"Narukami-san."
"Namatame-san."
When his secretary told him that Narukami-san was waiting for him in his office, he felt a sense of anxiety wash over him.
Taro may be several years older than Narukami-san but he still felt…small in his presence.
The man saw him at his lowest point of his life.
The man stopped him for making the biggest mistake of his life.
Over and over again.
His stomach still twisted and turned at the thought of what could have happened to those children…
If it wasn't for them…
He felt himself getting sick.
No…No, not now. He had work to do and he needed to know why Narukami-san was here.
"What brings you here?" He asked the man sitting across from him.
"A formality and a warning. Have you been to Tokyo?" Narumaki-san asked.
"About two months ago….why?" He asked.
"What do you think?"
"It was busy like all big cities. The election is in full swing. The speeches and the ads….I don't miss it."
"Anything else?"
He paused for a moment. The city did feel…off to him. It was a familiar feeling that he couldn't shake. At first, he thought that he hadn't been back in a while, even big cities change with time. The longer he stayed for business, the more the feeling grew, the more he wanted to flee.
He was very glad when he made it home.
"Something is wrong, isn't it?"
Narumaki-san hummed.
"Is it…the world inside of the tv?" He asked.
"For once, no, it isn't. The cognitive world does have its similarities to the tv world."
"The cognitive world?" He said in a panic.
"A world that can change the cognition of people in our world."
"Shido…."
Narumaki-san's face morphed into a look of surprise.
"Shido is the front runner but the way people have been talking to him. He isn't even elected and yet…" He said with a pause before he continued.
They speak of him like the people here speak of the fog.
"They speak like…he is a god like he would take all of their troubles. Every election is like that…the government needs to do more for its people. Yes, the government should provide services to promote the wellbeing of their people. This is different. It is almost…like they are mindless and have no will. It is…unnerving. Is this Shido changing everyone's cognition?" He said as he felt the blood drain from his face.
"No," Narumaki-san said as he shook his head.
"Something…more?"
"Possible. I am still investigating that right now. Shido is merely an avatar."
He took a ragged breath then he put his hands on his head. It…it is happening again.
"Is…is it coming here?"
"Honestly, I don't know. I'm sure the tv world and the cognitive world can even interact with each other. That is why I wanted to warn you of the possibility."
He lifted his head up.
"Your friends know?" He asked.
"Yes and they are ready for anything to happen," Narumaki-san said with a nod.
"Good. I will make preparations. Just in case…thank you…Anything else?"
"Shido might start poking around as well. You want to be prepared for that. I don't think that he has any knowledge of the tv world. He will start digging soon enough."
His mouth dropped.
"You…you planning to take on Shido! ARE YOU CRAZY?"
"Possible."
He stared helpless at the man in front of him.
"Do…do you think that you can stop him? Are…are you going to change his heart…like those thieves?"
Narumaki-san smiled softly.
"Oh, no…that is my students' mission. Me? I plan to steal everything else."
End of The Rooms Where Decisions Are Made
Next Chapter: The Social Links
A/N: Working toward Shido/Yu "conversation" has been fun and a giant pain in the cookie. Those of you who was disappointed about Aegis. No worries. She will be back. I have gone back and edit the last chapter since one of my reviewers said that it was difficult to follow. It should be back. Thank you for the reviews, kudos, and favorites.