"It's all set," Saiki said when she moved back into Kiryu's lap. "I think I have the best seat in the house…"
"Not complaining about that," Kiryu nodded. "The chair is comfortable, too. Where do we watch? Is there a specific screen?"
"We have surround sound and vision," she grinned and took out a remote. She turned on three giant screens around the room for a nearly theater-like sensation. Tomi was in absolute awe at it. Seonhee was making mental notes on how to improve her own personal space. The others were just as impressed.
"Did you ever watch this video?" Kiryu had to ask.
"In truth…I didn't. I heard the first bit, and I stopped. I didn't know if I'd want to. So…all of this is new with you," Saiki admitted.
"It's all right. I'm here with you," Kiryu nodded. "I do absolutely love this setup! We are totally going to do more karaoke here!"
"You bitch…you ordered all of this…" Yamashita growled.
"I did. And not once did you ever question it. No one did," Saiki mused. "And it all started with my very first request. The books."
"Fuck!" he spat. He was bound down securely. He was effectively trapped. "How the fuck did you learn how to read?!"
"As a child, some areas I went to had women there. Those women took pity on me when I tried to read a candy wrapper they gave me. They were shocked that a ten year old didn't know how to read. They taught me how to read just enough until you put a stop to it. To keep me stupid," Saiki growled. "And it was that same group of women that taught me just enough on how to write. After I got the books I wanted, I finished the job."
"He wanted to keep you uneducated…" Kiryu said with a glare of absolute disgust at the bound man. "Only something to be used for killing…"
"That was her only job! Not to get smart! Not get educated! Just a tool to use to get the upper hand!" Yamashita snapped out.
"Joongi. Put a gag in his mouth. He's spewing too much shit for me to bear," Seonhee said bluntly. The white-haired man nodded, got up and was quick to put a ball gag in his mouth that was found on the torture table. Saiki nodded with appreciation at that and pressed a button on the remote to start the video.
Yamashita was seen walking into the main gathering area of the Tojo Clan headquarters. He had a friend with him that sat with him, and the camera zoomed in to show it was locked only on Yamashita at all times. His friend smiled at him and nodded with gratitude that they were able to meet. Both of them were nearly alike in dress with nice shirts containing shades of blue with bluish-black jeans.
"Yamashita-kun, it's good to meet with you. You kept telling me about the prize you found for the Tojo Clan. A few years back, of course. And you have so much success and praise from it! I mean, you were one of the scouts sent out to find recruits. How did you do it?" the man asked.
"Well, I decided to look for children," Yamashita admitted. "Adults don't like to learn new things. I mean…look at us! But a child? Only taught how to kill and that's…pretty much it? I mean, sure, there's always bad areas to find kids of any kind and such, but I decided…the best way to scope out such a feat would be an orphanage. Right? This would let you scope out kids in a better way for health and personality in a home-like environment."
"You would think so."
"Exactly! So, I went around to local areas, but couldn't really find anything. I would test kids with small questions with memory. Look like I was interested in adopting one. That sort of thing. But…none of them really had that…spark. I suppose. But…it was just my luck that I was heading out of town when I spotted a blond girl around three years old playing outside."
"What was so special about her?"
"It was how she was playing with her blocks. She was organizing them according to size. Then reversing them. Then she started to make intricate patterns with them! I knew this had to be the child we needed. But…there was a big problem. She still had her parents," Yamashita sighed. "So, being a yakuza…I had to do what a yakuza does best…"
"You murdered her parents?!" his friend gaped.
"I had to. I needed her to go into an orphanage. That happened a week later when I made an anonymous call to authorities of a murder in a home," Yamashita chuckled ruefully. "I didn't really need to adopt her. I waited for her to be alone outside the orphanage. Then I…plucked her up and brought her in quickly. The bosses were pleased. But then that little bitch said something to me when I took her into a destined room for her."
"And what was that?"
"She said she saw me kill her parents. And she would kill me as I killed them…" Yamashita muttered. "I figured she would forget about it, but I did insist to be her…guardian. To ensure she did exactly as she needed to. She's doing that and then some. I just need to keep her focused on killing methods and what the bosses want me to ensure she learns. And she learns so fast when she focuses on it! She's learning that if she does this, then she gets small rewards. Much like…a little pet would!"
"Enough!" Saiki said and paused the video. She was trembling with a rage that was starting to borderline with a killing vengeance. The others were ready to get up and skewer the bound man on her behalf. Yamashita was clearly panicking now and struggling to free himself to save his own skin.
"Saiki, listen to me," Kiryu said when he sat up to address her. "Focus on my voice. Are you able to hear me?"
"Barely…" she shivered. She cringed when he lightly touched her shoulder, but he realized she didn't push his hand away. He knew she wasn't used to being touched, but he also knew that he was likely the only one that she fully trusted. He began to lightly and gently move his hand to stroke along her back to comfort her. He kept going until her shaking stopped and she was able to breathe easier.
"That's it. Easy now. I have only one request," he said softly in her ear. She looked at him with a hard frown. "Don't kill him in here. Do it outside. I don't want this beautiful karaoke room to get all messed up."
That got her smiling softly at him while the others laughed at it. Then she licked her lips and said, "I have plastic tarps…"
"No. Far too much work. I know this is important to you. But you are not alone in this now," Kiryu said gently. "If I knew anything back then…you know I would have found you."
"I know…" she nodded.
"And if I knew you were forced into an orphanage…" he winced.
"I had a family. And that piece of shit took that from me, too!" she spat.
"Yeah. And we heard that from his own mouth," Kiryu muttered and let her lean into him. He knew she was on the verge of tears. "The only other question is…where can we take him to kill him discreetly…?"
"I know a place we can take him to," Seonhee mused. "Joongi. Remember that abandoned plot with a building on it? Near the middle of Ijincho?"
"That place? I can arrange a discreet…drop off…" Joongi mused.
"Oh, you had better count me in! And we can stop by my restaurant after. I'll make us lunch," Zhao chuckled. Then he looked at Saiki with a sad sigh. "As much as you scared the living shit out of me earlier…just know that you can call on me as an ally anytime. I was a leader of a small group before. I know how to fight in any situation."
"I…appreciate that," Saiki smiled. "I'll make sure to pause my blade if it's about to move at your throat…"
"Ah…yeah…thanks…?" Zhao found himself swallowing nervously.
"I think that's the best form of thanks you'll get from her," Kasuga found himself laughing. "Don't worry, Sai-chan! I've got your back, too!"
"Sai-chan…?" Saiki asked with a raised brow.
"He likes to give nicknames to those he sees as friends," Kiryu sighed.
"Tell me about it," Chi-chan rolled her eyes with Sa-chan.
"Yep! I have Tomi, Sa-chan, Chi-chan and now you! There's Ei-chan, but he's in jail right now. Anyways, just let me get a hit on this prick, too! Guys like him don't deserve anything less!" Kasuga growled.
"We all need to take a turn on him," Nanba nodded.
"Nothing like a solid beat down!" Adachi grinned widely.
"I still get the first cut," Goro muttered.
"I want to break the first bone," Daigo added.
"I just want to fuck him up," Taiga nodded. "What he did was low down and dirty. And to think he wanted you to be uneducated?! I'm sorry, but I don't think the patriarchs even knew this. Every child needed to learn the basics. No matter what was done. I'm sure those women told someone and were ordered to help her. Without that fucker's knowing."
"Then why did he stop them?" Joongi asked.
"I bet he made a deal that he would teach Saiki, himself. And it was a lie," Seonhee frowned. "So, Saiki learned how to teach herself. He saw her ordering books and decided to go with it thinking she wouldn't know how to read them. That's where he fucked up. He didn't know she was able to read now. As well as write. He probably thought she was going to look at the pretty pictures."
"So much truth there…" Saiki muttered. Then she looked at Kiryu and frowned softly before using her singing tone to him. "I have…a request. I want to…try and find the place…of my birth. Where I was stolen. It's personal…and I don't want…too many to know…"
"I can get how that can be," Kiryu nodded lightly. "You know, I think I want to show you a few of my old haunts. Just you and I to keep things simple. We'll be out and about after this. I think it's needed. What do you think?"
"I would like that," she smiled.
"Good. We'll plan for that first and then grab lunch. It will give Zhao time to prepare and select a good menu item," Kiryu smiled lightly.
"That works," Zhao chuckled with complete agreement.
"Is it a date?" Tomi grinned.
"Well…" Kiryu found himself pausing and looking at her. "I don't know if I would call it that…"
"I would say an outing with an acquaintance would be acceptable," Saiki nodded. "I can go with that."
"Right. Too new with a lot of things. Okay. Let's move that guy," Kiryu nodded. Saiki rose up from his lap, and he got up to whisper softly. "Was there more to that video?"
"Yes…but…I want to watch it…alone…"
"With…me?"
"I…yes…"
"Done," he mumbled. "We'll finish it after lunch. Maybe I should learn how to talk like that, too."
"It has its uses," she chuckled softly. "I'll show you my library in greater depth later on. I really need to get a larger room for it."
"Yeah. As well as get your bank account fixed. Hmm. You don't have any identification, do you?" Kiryu frowned. "It will be tough to get that account set up without that idiot's help."
"Actually…I have that remedied," she mused. "May I have the card?"
"Here you go," Nanba said and handed the bank card over for her to study it.
"Okay, I have to hear this!" Tomi grinned eagerly.
"We have plenty of ATM's around. I rigged them with anything that would come up with my name to catch the pin code. I got a hit. And it included the same card number. I just didn't want to do anything about it to avoid suspicion. So…give me five minutes…"
"You think you can check your bank account now?" Kiryu asked. He was clearly impressed. She gave him a small nod and moved into her security room. It was sealed behind her to keep it secret for now, and she was quick to head to a computer to start bringing up the banking website. She punched in the recorded pin with the card number. And she made note of what she found. She was absolutely livid and scoured through the purchases that were done. Then she saw what the prior balance was before all the purchases were made. It was only a month and this shit happened?! Fuck this!
The next thing she did was stride out of the security room, head straight up to Yamashita and slap him hard across the face. "You bastard! You have been spending my funds! On nothing but bullshit! You've been living a life of lavish luxury from me! That's the reason you kept me for yourself! You used me as your fucking meal ticket! And now the account is almost empty?! In just a month of random shit expenses?! I cannot wait to gut your ass open and revealed for the birds to peck at whatever they want!"
"How much did he spend?" Chi-chan asked.
"I had almost a million yen in there at one point. He spent every fucking last drop of it within a month's time. I have nothing left. Not even a savings account. Only a couple hundred yen is left at the most," she shivered with pent up anger.
"He spent a million yen in a month?!" Kasuga gaped.
"Likely on liquor and cheap whores…" Goro muttered.
"There's no more money coming in from the First Dissolution. After the yakuza were dissolved, there was no further inflow of cash. I'm sure he figured he'd just spend the lot of it and deal with the consequences after. All of this was recent, too, to show he tried to salvage it. But now there's just enough in there to keep the account open. He doesn't even put anything in it! He just bought whatever the fuck he wanted and pissed away the rest! Much like a spoiled little boy would do," she sneered. Now the man looked at her with a glare of hatred. She knew she struck a severe nerve.
"Hey," Kiryu said and had her look at him. "Don't worry about money."
"What?" she frowned. He gestured for her to come back to his side, and she found herself doing just that. Then she blinked at the light hug of comfort he gave her. She shivered and shook her head at everything.
"We have ways to get it back. That can be replaced. And we can make a lot of it back quickly. So don't worry about that," he said with a confident nod.
"I don't mind making a small contribution to your cause…" Chi-chan mused. "I can start up a fund raiser."
"I wanted to see about purchasing the land the Tojo Clan headquarters was on above us. I want to keep others from abusing what's left," Kiryu said.
"I can help with that," Seonhee nodded. "I can also start a funding project. If Chi-chan makes it first, then I'll gladly contribute."
"I just started it! Sending out the link…now!" Chi-chan grinned.
"Got it! I'll put in 500 yen to start…" Joongi mused and passed the text link around to anyone else he knew.
"Count me in to help with donations!" Sa-chan beamed and submitted her starting contribution.
"Five thousand yen from me," Seonhee chuckled.
"Thank you all," Saiki nodded lightly.
"I can do fifty yen for now. But, yeah, this just really sucks with what happened," Tomi frowned. "How much do you think we need?"
"I can ask about that to see how much money we'll totally need," Chi-chan said. "And here's a small contribution from my business account as a future venture purchase. You'll be needing stuff shipped in from my company, so I can play it out like that."
"I think we know a few contacts that may be interested in this," Daigo nodded while sending out the link he got. "It would be best. There may even be former yakuza that would like to contribute. It would be nice to make a building to help other former yakuza with rehabilitation to get back into society. It will be on familiar grounds and many can work for us properly and legally."
"I can see intense value in that," Adachi mused with ideas and was quick to put in what he could to help.
"I would totally help with that!" Kasuga agreed with a stern nod. "And I just did! Five hundred to contribute, and I'll add more later on."
"Hmm. Yeah. Sucks what happened to the old place. I don't want it desecrated any further than it already is," Goro agreed.
"And if this place is under it? Still working, too? You got my vote," Taiga nodded sharply. "Can I get a guest pass to visit now and then?"
"I can arrange visiting hours. I'll still need to have some private time in my home," Saiki nodded. "Of course…Kiryu-san may become a permanent roommate here. I have only one guest room, and someone has to keep an eye on his illness."
"And someone has to keep an eye on you," Kiryu chuckled. She shook her head at him and glanced with a cold glare at Yamashita.
"His home address is on his wallet, right?" she asked.
"It's on his identification card," Nanba nodded on inspecting it.
"Good. We'll take a trip to where he holed himself up after he dies. Maybe we can sell a lot of the stuff he bought with my pay," Saiki growled. "Let's go. And leave him gagged up. I don't want to hear him beg, swear and shout out for his life. It's not needed."
"I can agree to that," Seonhee smirked and watched Joongi and Goro move to collect the man. Zhao brought out some rope he found to help tie him up.
"Can I try something?" Kiryu asked. Saiki looked at him with an odd smile and squeaked slightly when he suddenly scooped her up to carry her.
"What…?! Why?!" she said with complete bewilderment.
"I think you may need to get used to feeling this. For later," he said lightly in her ear. "I want you to get used to feeling me hold you. To touch you. It really is needed."
"For what purpose?" she frowned.
"Just…trust me…please…" he said carefully. She looked away, but she also nodded to show she understood. "There's a lot that I've seen and witnessed. With what you want to do later…I can't let you do certain things alone. Some things…you simply can't do alone. Even I had to learn this. I need to be here to help you with that burden. Just trust me in what I am telling you. You'll understand when the time comes."
"Very well…" she nodded. She actually found herself secretly enjoying being carried. "I could get used to this…"
"You've never been in a relation, right?" he smiled.
"No. Why would I? And…we aren't in one…"
"Yet," he muttered out. That had her blink at him. "We'll see if it gets to that point."
She remained quiet after that, but he knew her mind was lost in thought. And I already know that if we do claim each other as a couple…she won't let anything hurt me at all. And with how I am now with my illness…maybe that's not a bad thing to consider…
"Maybe in a few months…" she murmured out. "Maybe then…"
"We'll take it slow," he agreed. "For now, we work together."
"Yeah…" she nodded. "So…what you're doing would be considered sexual harassment?"
He looked at her wry smile and cleared his throat. "No. It's part of training you to accept things. Nothing in an overly sexual basis. If you're wounded, I would be doing the same thing to get you to safety."
"Ah. That I can see," she mused aloud.
"I can help you with that, too!" Goro grumbled.
"You disrespected me shortly after we met. Kiryu-san has shown nothing but respect to me. You are an asshole trying to get a piece of the action," she snorted at him. Goro's jaw dropped. Daigo burst into intense laughter. Taiga was grinning from ear to ear at this. "Furthermore, I wouldn't even be talking to you right now if it wasn't for Kiryu-san telling me to back off of you from the bar. Your head would have been rolling down a street by now if it wasn't for him."
"This is the most turned on I have ever been in my life," Goro growled.
"Well, when we get outside, there are still some bushes left over from the fire. You have two free hands to help yourself with when you reach them. Or just use one if that's your method. I don't really care," she snorted with dismissal at the whole thing. That got Seonhee to die laughing. Chi-chan's jaw dropped. Sa-chan had to hide her face from the massive blush that covered her cheeks now. Kiryu pursed his lips together tightly and carried her away from the other laughing and snickering men.
"I will not get into an argument with her," Tomi said wisely. Kasuga was clearing his throat and trying to think of other things. Then Tomi said, "Are we going to use the other car?"
"Yes. Daigo, Taiga and Goro should go with Dog Catcher in that car. The rest could go with you, Tomi. Unless others want to go with them to meet up with us. What do you all think?" Kiryu asked when he reached the elevator. He kept Saiki in his arms to watch her take out the USB stick and insert it to activate the elevator. She punched a button for the top floor after everyone piled in.
"I have the keys to that car from his pockets. Maybe we can get the title moved into your name," Nanba mused.
"I want nothing of his. Best to sell it and get the cash back," Saiki grunted. Then she winced at a thought. Kiryu looked at her with a frown. She gazed at him and said, "I don't even know my last name. Or if my name is truly my own."
"I know," Kiryu said softly. "I'm sure things will come to light."
"Yeah. And I know I'll want to search his apartments for anything that could help. Maybe tomorrow, though," she murmured. Yamashita was trying and failing to struggle in the strong grip of Daigo and Taiga. Both men were stern in keeping him down, and Saiki mused that they both looked nearly identical save that Daigo had slightly long, dark brown hair and a short beard. Taiga was clean shaven and chose to have his hair clipped ultra-short.
"Where are we going?" Goro asked. His own lanky, dark brown hair was lightly mussed up as though he woke up from a dead sleep, but he was itching to cut something up. When Yamashita struggled again, Goro growled out, "You'd better stop doing that. I'll forget we're supposed to meet up with them and leave your dead husk on the side of the road…"
"I sent you the address," Seonhee nodded. "We should tie him to the hood of the car like a trophy, but we don't need anyone getting involved in our business. Let's get going."
"Oh, Goro," Saiki said with a heavy, untrusting stare at him. "If you kill him before I do…you will take his place."
"Ah…" Goro paused at this. Taiga cringed and bit back a laugh.
"You can slap him and punch him unconscious. But don't you fucking dare make him breathe his last before me," she said with her lip curled back slightly.
"I think we need a girl's day out in a few days," Seonhee grinned.
"What?" Joongi looked at her like she was mad.
"Saiki has the same mindset as me when it comes to being in charge. I respect that," Seonhee chuckled. "I wouldn't mind making her into a lieutenant under me, either. She'd definitely get a steady paycheck…"
"She works for me," Kiryu said bluntly.
"Ah, Kiryu-san. I don't mind doing the odd side job for extra pay. I'd be a bit like a roaming mercenary," Saiki said with a soft giggle. "And I'm not expecting pay from you. But anyone else? Eh. Fair game."
"I will go over any jobs first," Kiryu muttered.
"I wouldn't have it any other way," Saiki smiled with a nod. When she felt his arms tighten around her, she found herself laughing softly. "Kiryu-san…don't fret on this…I've lived alone…fought alone…for a long time…"
"Not anymore," he said on gazing at her. She found herself pausing with genuine surprise. "We need to talk later. Alone."
"Of course…" she nodded lightly.
"Okay! Pile in! You going to follow me?" Tomi asked.
"Wait here. Taiga, Dog Catcher parked his car on the opposite side. Drive it over to here. Nanba, can you go with them? You have the keys, so you can drive while they keep pretty boy, here, tied up," Kiryu said.
"I can do that," Nanba nodded.
"Almost half of the day is gone. We need to move," Kiryu said to spur the next bit of activity. The groups split up, and Kiryu had Saiki move back into his lap in the back seat of the minivan. Seonhee claimed the front seat to help guide Tomi on where to go.
"I can sit next to you now," Saiki said.
"No," Kiryu said and kept her right in his lap. "I'm actually…growing accustomed to this. I'm going to keep this tactic."
"A bit forward on just meeting her," Sa-chan chuckled.
"And protective. It's hard to explain. Right under my nose, she was kept hidden by everyone from that schmuck! He used her power. He abused her to no end as a power play move. She told me…she fought him…and he abandoned her below for a whole month," he grimaced.
"Wait, what?!" Kasuga blinked.
"Why?" Zhao frowned hard.
"He was proving to her that no one would have come to her rescue. I'm sure even the patriarchs had forgotten she existed, too. All part of his plan. And she was still getting paid. Somehow. I don't know how that all worked, but I'm sure he likely used her to pull strings," Kiryu grunted.
"And now…he will die…" Saiki said with a low growl. He nodded at this and kept his gaze fixed on the surroundings revealed by the windows. Right after the white car appeared with Nanba driving it, Seonhee started to direct where to go.
Ten minutes later found them parking in front of an abandoned lot. She had her men scouting to ensure no innocent bystanders would get in the way. As much as many of the men were awed on seeing her when she stepped out of the van, Kiryu was the only allowed to keep her close. The building they walked up to was more like a single room shack with a few rooms sprawling out. It was clearly condemned and ready to cave in on itself from rot.
"Where do we put him?" Goro asked when they hauled Yamashita along.
"Just inside. We can even burn the damned thing down. The building is a matchstick, anyways," Seonhee nodded. She pulled her lilac-colored hair aside and nodded to Saiki. "He's all yours."
"Good. Strip him naked. I want to ensure he has no other secrets," Saiki nodded back. That got Seonhee to raise a brow and look at Joongi.
"I'm on it," he nodded and was quick to help disrobe the man.
"Leave his briefs on?" Adachi asked.
"No," Saiki said flatly. "He always made comments to leave me naked and defenseless. I want him to eat his own words. Take the ball gag out, too. Then back away from the building. Goro, if you want to cut him, you'd better do it now. If anyone wants a piece of him…do it now."
"Oooh…yeah, I'm gonna enjoy this…" Goro grinned wickedly.
"How bad can we do this?" Kasuga asked and slammed his fist into his palm to show he was just as ready as the others.
"Just leave him alive. I'll take care of what's left of him. Did you want a go at it, Kiryu-san?" Saiki asked.
"No. I'm staying right behind you," Kiryu muttered. "At first…nothing would have made me happier than to beat the living shit out of him. But…I won't have you stand alone. I'm staying right here."
"Thank you," she said softly. He placed a hand on her shoulder to let her feel his touch, and she found herself sighing inwardly. Yamashita swore out and screamed bloody murder as each person took a turn at him. After ten minutes, and ensuring everyone was out of the hovel, she looked around with a small smile. "It's relatively dark in here. Good. I have a blacklight lantern…"
"Oh?" Kiryu blinked and saw her pull out a different disc. She pressed it for a lamp to pop into shape with a small, circular loop for a hook on the end. She took out a small blacklight bulb to fix into it and turn it on. Then she let her scythe come out to let her hang it off the end of the nasty curve. The light revealed several symbols that would have been seen in the last hallway etched into the blade. Now Kiryu saw the look of absolute terror on Yamashita's face before he started screaming like mad. That neurotoxin really does enhance things! I'm so glad she didn't use it on my friends!
"Nowhere to run...nowhere to hide...your time...is now...over..." she hissed out in her singing voice to penetrate into her prior jailer's mind. Then she struck a match from another pocket she had a matchbox in. And she tossed it right into one of the walls. "As you murdered my parents...in the darkness of the night...may this fire burn you...while consumed in the same darkness..."
Kiryu carefully pulled her back and out of the burning building. Saiki saw that her tormentor was still alive and screaming from the visions that assaulted his mind. The lantern was already put away now that the main use for it was done. She looked at Kiryu and glanced into the building. When she tightened her hand on the scythe, he nodded. "Be careful."
"Always…" she smiled and darted into building swiftly. At the choked off sound heard next that stopped the screaming, it was only too clear on what was done. Then she rushed back out with her weapon back on her side. Kiryu pulled her close and studied her carefully to make sure she was unharmed. "I trained purposely on how to work with fire at various angles. I'm fine."
"It worried me. Anyways, let me show you a few old haunts. Zhao, where is your restaurant? I'm gonna spend an hour showing her a few places," Kiryu nodded. "I think she needs the change."
"I'd say maybe, eh, have her change clothes?" Tomi suggested.
"No. If people have a fit, then that's on them," Saiki mused.
"Just wear this," Kiryu sighed and took off his jacket. She rolled her eyes, but she settled it over her shoulders for now.
"We'll sell the car after searching it and put the funds in the fund raiser," Seonhee said. "You think about an hour we meet at Zhao's?"
"Sounds about right. Text me the address," Kiryu nodded. Zhao did just that and started to head to Tomi's minivan. Daigo looked at Taiga and they both nodded to each other.
"We'll keep Goro occupied. See you there," Daigo nodded to Kiryu.
"Right," Kiryu nodded back. "We're going around Kamurocho. I know some places there."
"Okay," Saiki said with a small nod. When he knew the others were gone, he glanced at her. She frowned and said, "The video claimed I was found at a house near the outskirts of town. He didn't say what town."
"I think I have an idea. Follow my lead," he said. He called up a cab and it took them fifteen minutes out from where they started. After paying the man, they both walked down a street until they came to an odd run down house. Saiki paused and studied the ruined, wire gate with the dead lawn. Then she saw the toy blocks just outside the opened door.
"This…is the place…" she whispered.
"The toy blocks were mentioned. Are you ready? This place is clearly abandoned. It looks as bad as that hut. We'll be careful," he said. She nodded, handed him back his jacket so she could move freely and walked inside with him after breaking the gate down and pushing it aside.
The first thing she smelled was mold. But then she smelled blood. Very old blood. Like it was still rotting in here after so many years. Was this place ever cleaned out? Or just the bodies? She stepped carefully around the place and noticed a lot of the house was looted out. She took in the sights of the small kitchen. A single bathroom. She found the door to the master bedroom opened, and she paused at how the sheets on the bed were stained with blood. "He murdered them in their sleep. With a gleaming knife. He opened their throats. I…remember…and it's why…I went after the heads of those that hurt me…"
"Tell me," he said softly. "What do you remember?"
"I heard a sound. And I crawled out of bed. I saw him standing over their bed with a grin. I hid…" she winced. "He went to look for me, but I was gone. It was easy for me to hide from him, and it was after he left that I ran to them. I didn't understand…why they didn't wake up…"
"I'm so sorry…" he whispered.
"It was a day later that someone came over when they heard me crying. It was…really the last thing I can clearly remember…" she shivered and forced herself to calm down. She moved to the bedside and found a small photo in a frame of her parents holding her. She couldn't see it too clearly, but she set it in one of her pockets and looked around a bit more. She found one other thing that was a baby book. Kiryu took this for her, and she moved out of the bedroom.
She found herself moving into what was her childhood room. And it was here that she saw something on the wall that made her gasp. Kiryu saw it was a name in colored letters hanging over the bed in a playful design. "Your name…it was Aika! It wasn't Saiki!"
"The name almost sounds alike. I think. Or something else. I don't know. But…" she shivered hard again. "I need to get out of here…"
"Come," he nodded and led her straight out. When they got out the door, he took out the baby book and opened it. To their shock, they found her birth certificate in there with a few of her baby pictures that were neatly pressed into the protective plastic pages. "Aika Hikaru. That was your name."
"I was born in 1983…" she whispered.
"You're 34 years old," he nodded. "March 12th is your birthday."
"How…can this be…?" she swallowed and pulled out the photo frame of her parents. She cleared off the layers of dust to see how she had her mother's eyes and hair. She had her father's smile. And both of them were holding her as a newborn with smiles of joy at being a family.
"Oh, Aika…" he swallowed hard.
"Ah…!" she finally gasped and fell to her knees. He was quick to crouch down to hug her as she couldn't stop the bawling tears from coming now. It took twenty minutes of holding her and letting her vent out her rage and sorrow. When she managed to pull herself together again, she said, "I don't want…anyone…to know…my real name…"
"That's fine," he agreed.
"When we…are alone, though…" she sniffled.
"Yeah. I get it," he agreed again.
"I wasn't…supposed to cry…show tears…"
"It just shows you're still human. There's nothing wrong with that."
"I don't know…where they were buried…" she winced.
"We should go look tomorrow. This is too fresh for you. I don't want you overwhelmed. We could both use a good meal, too," he said gently.
"Just…five more minutes…" she gasped and clung to him. He nodded and continued to hold her trembling form until she recovered herself completely.
"Remember this, Aika," he muttered in her ear. "You recovered what you lost. And from now on…only good memories will come back to you."
"As long…as…" she trailed off. When she gazed at him, she swallowed and shook her head. He smiled softly with understanding and kissed her. Even though he tasted her tears, he didn't care. But it was after the kiss broke that he found himself sighing hard.
"Will you be my girlfriend?" he asked softly.
"As long as I get to murder anyone that hurts you," she said with small smile. He grinned, shook his head and kissed her again.