It was the day before the new year of 1999, Naoki dressed up as a woman, and texted Mei.
- Be at Yomiyama Park in 30 minutes
Afterwards, he tweaked his disguise once more - he also decided to put a tinting lense on his right eye - combing his hair into his left eye.
After which he dressed and left.
Waiting for Mei in the park he made sure he was not followed, it was already 4 pm when Mei arrived.
- We have 2 options
Naoki began
We can either try to intercept him at the new year's commencement ceremony, or we can get him at home.
- Both options sound risky, but ...
Mei took a moment to consider the better option.
I think it would be better to get him at his home - there as long as he is alone, more information can be extracted - besides, are you going to kill him when there are such crowds?
- I can get information out of him without having to torture him, and in turn breaking into Hironiwa's mansion might be more dangerous than killing him in the park - in fact, I have it planned.
Mei looked at Naoki with slight disbelief - giving him the signal to elaborate on his plan.
He will be dragged away from the people, and shot when the first fireworks are on.
- How are you going to drag him away then?
- Leave it to me.
Mei z looked trustingly at Naoki - in a gesture of trust.
Meanwhile, the Fujioka family's home was again visited by the police.
- Mrs. Fujioka? Tadao Hasegawa and Akira Kobayashi, we are from the police.
Mitsuyo, was slightly puzzled by the arrival of the police, she knew that Akito had not returned home for the night, however, she was not too concerned about this - their marriage was leaning towards divorce anyway, which was a matter of time.
- Yes? Did something happen?
- Your husband, Akito Fujioka, committed suicide last night.
Hasegawa said, if it was nothing important.
Mitsuyo felt a sudden shock - but also sadness - even though she was about to part with Akito anyway.
- We are truly sorry, Fujioka-san...
Kobayashi added, perfectly masking his involvement in Akito's suicide under the cover of sympathy.
Mitsuyo could not believe the officers' words - there was no indication that Akito had such thoughts, about ending his own life
so it took her a long while to accept this.
And she looked sadly at the officers.
- I understand...
- Can we ask you a few questions?
- Yes...
- Did your husband have any contact with mysterious, unknown individuals before his death?
- No, I don't know...
Mitsuyo was still shocked after Akito's news, so she seemed not very eager to question.
- Mrs. Fujioka, please remind yourself
Fujioka recovered from her shock and tried to remember if that was indeed the case.
- He... He was behaving quite strangely before his death..., he was quite nervous, and oversensitive... as if he was hiding something.
- Minazuki Company, do you associate that name? Or could your husband have associated it?
- No, I doubt it, rather not.
- So, you are not sure, Mrs. Fujioka?
-My relationship with my husband has not been the best for some time... We were about to divorce... also I was not interested in what he was doing...
Really... I didn't know it could have ended like this, despite everything Akito didn't have to die...
Kobayashi noticed Mitsuyo's guilt, and decided to gently support her with words.
- It's not your fault, your husband - Akito Fujioka could have done it for a number of reasons, while we just want to cross out the possibility that he was "silenced" by the Minazuki Company or the Hironiwa clan
- Huh? I don't think my husband would have anything to do with this company, anyway... we were too poor..
- We know this, however, we also have in mind that he may have witnessed something, something that caused him to be forced to commit suicide.
Of course, there is still the version that he committed it for reasons unrelated to the Minazuki company or the Hironiwa clan.
- We would have to look around for your husband's personal belongings. - Hasegawa continued
Mitsuyo nodded, and Kobayashi and Hasegawa went through Akito Fujioka's personal belongings - however, they did not find anything groundbreaking there, and after finishing the search, Hasegawa and Kobayashi approached Mitsuyo.
- Fujioka-san, with all regrets most likely your husband committed suicide by himself without being influenced by anyone.
Saying this cruel lie, Kobayashi even took off his headgear.
- Truly, I feel sorry for you.
Mitsuyo only nodded, being rather confused and thoughtful than sad after her husband's suicide, she only nodded when the policemen left.
The investigation now assumed that there must have been a conflict between the Minazuki company and the Hironiwa clan - by which Ria Hironiwa was killed - being an innocent victim, however, she wounded Shinichirou Kanazawa, who was probably killed by someone affiliated with the Hironiwa clan.
Most mysterious, however, was the suicide of Nobuyuki Furatani - sending an arsonist to set fire to his house and corpse seemed to make no sense.
Those linked to the Hironiwa clan through debts also turned out to be a dead end, and Akito Fujioka's suicide seemed unrelated to the case - at least to the police.
On the evening of New Year's Eve, Naoki waited for Mei in disguise, checking his phone every now and then, making sure Mei could see him.
After an hour, Mei finally came in, and Naoki walked up to her and whispered in her ear
- Don't come near me, but follow me with your eyes as subtly as you can.
Mei nodded and followed Naoki - however, the city was empty.
Naoki then remembered that New Year's celebrations are quite different from those in Europe - where Naoki has spent most of his life.
Confused and somewhat embarrassed, he approached Mei.
- Why didn't you tell me that here the New Year is celebrated peacefully?
- I didn't want to tell you
- In that case, what do we do now?
- I don't know, maybe some kind of silent elimination?
- Only that it will probably be with the family at home.
- Are you sure?
- Most likely.
Mei directed her gaze to the street where someone similar to Kenshin's description was walking by
- Is that him?
Naoki did not answer her, but cautiously began walking toward Kenshin.
Mei decided to keep some distance, walking behind Naoki.
Naoki approached Kenshin, and tried to start a conversation.
- Umm... pardon?
Kenshin turned around a bit annoyed, but when he saw Naoki in a woman's disguise the expression on his face immediately changed to a friendlier one.
-Yes, how can I help you?
- Sorry to disturb you on this day, but... could I know where Yomiyama Park is located?
I'm not from here, I came to visit my family... My deepest apologies!
Naoki's acting perfectly camouflaged his true gender - even his voice seemed believably feminine.
- I can take you there, in fact it will be on my way, no problem.
Naoki and Kenshin started walking towards the park which slightly surprised Mei, however, she decided to follow them.
During the walk, Naoki pretended to be a shy young woman, to the point that Kenshin even started flirting with him - Naoki even blushed, but it was because of his poirite that he had to force himself to do it.
Upon reaching the park, Naoki looked around, feigning surprise.
- M-my relatives should be in a while
D-thank you for your help...
- Hisajima-san, do you even know where you live?
- N-no help needed, I can handle it...
Naoki started walking toward the icy Yomiyama River, and Kenshin followed him, having no idea that Mei was following him.
Naoki stopped while crouching, at the same time removing the lens from his eye.
Kenshin stopped beside him.
- Hisajima-san, wait...
As Naoki stood up, turning to face Kenshin - Mei put a gun to Kenshin's back.
-H-huh...
- I lied, my name is not Natsuko Hisajima," replied Naoki in his normal voice.
- Tell everything you know about Misaki Fujioka's death," said Mei, calmly holding the gun to his back.
Kenshin tried to turn, head however Naoki pulled out his gun and aimed it at Kenshin.
- I-I don't even know who this is about... This is some kind of misunderstanding...
Naoki sighed and took a pair of pliers from his pocket, and took Kenshin's hand and cut off his finger. Kenshin screamed in pain and tried to fight back, however Mei shot at his leg.
- I DON'T KNOW ABOUT ANYTHING! I DON'T EVEN KNOW WHO IT'S ABOUT!
Shouted Kenshin having tears in his eyes.
"We don't have time." - thought Naoki then looked into Kenshin's eyes using his skill.
- Tell everything you know about Misaki Fujioka's death.
- I... don't know... never... anyone ... didn't ...kill ...
Naoki's patience was at an end - however, he now did not doubt the sincerity of Kenshin's words.
- The only thing ... I did... is ... I commissioned... killing... Muneyoshi... Naoki...
- Naoki didn't react to this quality particularly - however, he remembered well when he once humiliated Kenshin, but didn't know that he was the one behind the poisoning of him in March.
Naoki held Kenshin in his power for a long time, however, he let him go.
He fired one shot at his head and caught himself in his eye.
- Shoot him again in a moment...
Let the people of this city think that some foreigners set off pyrotechnics for the New Year...
Mei knew that this plan couldn't work too well, however, after waiting a few minutes she shot Kenshin in the head a second time.
After which they both quickly left the park.
Naoki was weakened, with blood pouring profusely from his eye, and he was taming the bleeding with his scarf, trying to keep the blood from dripping onto the snow.
Naoki was breathing heavily, And Mei, although it was much lower, tried to keep him walking normally, knowing that it would be closer to her house than to Naoki's house, they went to Mei's house.