Novel-style: Story of Chiyo and Yuiitsu Aug. 2010 sessions

[Amris]

CHAMPIONS session saturday august 7th 2010:

 

 

- Background:

 

 

The player characters have accompanied Contessa Francesca and to a Toscan lodge where Francesca is planning to summon her arch-enemy, the Comte de Mont d'Aubrac with a magic spell.

 

 

- NPCs:

 

 

Rome, Italy:

Contessa Francesca d'Este – secret lodge faction leader

Comte Maurice de Mont d' Aubrac

2 Werewolves – the Comte's followers

Oleg Samyatin, Ivan Tretjakov – Russian guards

Dr. Kakapopoulos – old friend of Jannis Amenakis

 

 

Mexico City:

El Capitán – Mexican druglord

Sarah Campio – El Capitán's lieutenant, James' lover

Belinda – El Capitán's sweetheart

 

 

Tokyo, Japan:

Takeda, Yuriko – Yoshimoto Holding Corp. Troubleshooter

Oyo – Takida-san's butler

Ms. Kato – wife of James' Japanese private investigator

Manga – Japanese pop princess

Kobayashi, Shouta – Manga's manager

 

 

- Gameplay:

 

 

Later that day Dr. Kakapopoulos arrives at the Toscan lodge. He brings with him a longish package for Francesca and – riddle – a bag of clothes in various sizes.

Francesca turns to the wall to unpack her parcel but they still see the polished form of a Samurai sword's scabbard and the guarded gleam of it's razor-sharp edge as Francesca half-pulls it out. She puts the sword away quickly. But James inspects it later when she isn't looking. It bears the markings of a renowned Japanese swordsmith he's heard of.

What the various clothes are for is anyone's guess.

 

 

As the shadows grow longer, Francesca grimly leaves the house and walks a way down the side of the hill where she starts to set up a pentagram on the ground, about 150 meters from the front side of the lodge.

 

 

James and Chiyo still don't know nearly enough about the mechanics of the spell to feel comfortable with choosing any kind of tactics. Francesca has been tight-lipped. Chiyo might have thought this reclusiveness a result of the grief for Jannis and the stress of the last week but there is this suspicious little sparkle in Francesca's eyes. Even under duress the contessa cherishes her little games of domination.

Or maybe it's a „the less you know the less you can talk me out of.“

But Chiyo doesn't plan to talk her out of it. She has already asked Francesca if she thinks it's really worth it and if to her it is then Francesca has earned the right to exact her revenge, whatever the price.

That doesn't mean Chiyo is happy with it.

 

 

As Francesca returns to the lodge they press her for details.

She still seems determined to step in the footsteps of mystery-monger Jannis. Still they get some things out of her:

The summoning will not be instant. Indeed she will cast the spell tonight and the Comte and his wolves won't arrive before late morning tomorrow. They will arrive on foot with no vehicle. Distance doesn't seem to matter though she doesn't explain why. She is sure he will arrive on time. What time that will be she cannot exactly say before she's performed the ceremony.

She won't say what price she has to pay.

As James asks the question that has been foremost on Chiyo's mind too, Francesca states it is high time to start the ceremony. She tells them urgently to stay inside the house and not look. Her voice sounds like she means it.

So Chiyo obeys. For once she let's her walk alone down the side of the hill and out of the range she could help her.

But not watching is more that can be demanded of her. And her curiosity has nothing to do with that of course. She has to make sure Francesca is okay! After all if someone came up the hill with ill intent Chiyo would still have time to run up to Francesca before they could hope to reach her.

 

 

Francesca's voice swells with the incantation. Words that enter the mind with a strange clarity although spoken far away and not even loudly.

And far far away a dark cloud forms and grows bigger as if approaching rapidly. A strange shape seems to lay at it's core.

The cloud draws close and now Chiyo can see a man-like shape on a hound-drawn sledge within it. Beside her James looks stunned and slightly sick at the vision. The russians, unperturbed, sit at the table and ignore what's going on outside.

The sledge descends and lands next to Francesca and they can see the two talk.

At last the being reaches out and they shake hands. A light as from flames flares up as their hands touch and then the being returns to his sledge and rides off inmidst the swirling cloud, receding into the darkness.

Francesca stands there for a moment a bright shape in the growing darkness, robe around her lovely frame, vulnerable and spent-looking. And then she slowly sits down inmidst the pentagram.

Chiyo runs down the hill, followed by Dr. Kakapopoulos with his medical bag.

As they reach Francesca Chiyo hugs her tighly and anxiously examines her hand. It looks badly burned. The doctor already opens his bag and patches the burns up.

Finally Francesca feels strong enough to stand and they return up the hill.

 

 

They again ask her questions. She now can tell that the Comte and his wolves will arrive at 10 am the next day. The being she dealt with will bring them to the pentagram. Once there they will at first be confused which should let the group open up on them with a surprise attack.

After the massacres they've seen at the estate twice – not to mention the attack in the chapel - no one feels any qualms about using any kind of advantage they can get to kill the Comte and his wolves. This isn't about defeating a villain. It is an execution.

Francesca is adamant about her killing the Comte herself. Will she be able to? „Easily“, she replies. „Just keep the wolves off my back.“

Oh, well.

 

 

Chiyo and James disagree over the tactics. His plan to snipe long distance collides with Francesca's wish to go toe-to-toe with the Comte herself. At last they agree to station themselves and the russians to either side of Francesca, right there at the pentagram where the Comte and his followers will arrive. The doctor will stay hidden in a car nearby.

 

 

It's getting late and they have to catch up sleep.

Francesca blithely declares she'll sleep til nine. She won't have her beauty sleep disturbed by the Comte and he'll not be here before ten anyway. Her assurances ring of false confidence in Chiyo's ears. A way to show off and try to put them at ease.

Ah, well. Let her.

Chiyo sets her alarm to seven. She'll be awake even if for some reason the Comte arrives early.

 

 

As they head to bed, tension and anxiety knot Chiyo's stomach. But the last week has seen too much exhaustion and lack of sleep for her to be kept awake by anything as unimportant as an upcoming battle or the dreaded loss of a lover. So she sleeps deeply until the alarm goes off at 7 am. And if her dreams were troubled she doesn't remember them.

 

 

Francesca is still asleep – or pretending to be. Chiyo and James get up and make breakfast. They dress into the combat outfits they bought in Le Puy – he in black assassin's chic and she in the tight-fitting military camo she had the tailor in Rome customize for her. If you face a fight to the death at least look sexy after all.

And then they wait.

 

 

10 am finds the group in the bright sunlight, lined up at the pentagram with Francesca in the middle. Then a small dark cloud forms in the distance and approaches rapidly. As it draws nearer they again see the hound-drawn sledge and the dread creature on it, with the Comte and two werewolves running in front of it through the thin air in horror.

Francesca holds a black wooden spike-like dagger and has a japanese longsword slung to her back. James, all black, has his gun drawn. The russian's fashion sense for whatever reason has led them to appear dressed in Hawaii shirts and shorts. They'll probably stun the Comte by their very looks. At least they are armed and have their guns drawn. Like James they have silver ammunition loaded.

Chiyo, alone among them, is unarmed.

 

 

The cloud arrives and the Comte and his wolves get set on the ground just before the group. Even then the sledge turns away.

 

 

The Comte looks around as if awaking from a nightmare, stunned, trying to figure out what's happening.

Francesca strikes. Her dagger stabs out with lightning-quickness, impaling him through the heart. He goes down with a gurgling sound.

James and the Russsians meanwhile open fire on the werewolves.

The wolves startle out of their surprise and try to charge, seemingly nearly uninjured under the impacts of the bullets. But ever more bullets come and even if they aren't badly injured the continuing pounding slows them down, stuns them.

The Russian's wolf goes down. In a fluid motion, Chiyo punches James' wolf as it's still stumbling. It falls down under the impact and James shoots it in the head several times.

Francesca draws the sword and with all the anger and hurt and pain bottled up inside her she strikes down, decapitating the Comte.

The Comte's body changes to ashes. The wolves change back to human form – a young man and a girl.

The sound of victory is silence.

 

 

And Francesca turns and hugs Chiyo suddenly. Suprised Chiyo stands tense, wrapping her arms around the Contessa who clings to her, tears glittering in her eyes. They they kiss, and kiss – a long kiss as if Francesca never wants to let go.

 

 

Finally – finally – she breaks the kiss and turns away. And there, Chiyo notices, the sledge has landed. Francesca steps onto it in a flash. The sledge lifts off and heads away, a female, vaguely familiar figure standing on it now while a nude and utterly confused young man is suddenly lying on the ground wheere the sledge had been.

Now they know the deal Francesca had made.

 

 

Dr. Kakapopoulos confirms it.

Seemingly Francesca trusted him to not try to talk her out of her plans so she told him what she didn't tell them.

She had to trade places with the being on the sledge, freeing the young man from the Geas that was gripping him and taking up the role of – whatever it is that the slede-rider does – herself.

She'll be imprisoned in that form until she gets freed by a similar pact.

 

 

They bring the young man into the house and search among the clothes the doctor had brought until they find something in his size.

The man has total amnesia, not remembering anything. The doctor tells them he'll gradually regain his memories over the next two weeks.

 

 

Back in the lodge Dr. Kakapopoulos has another surprise. He hands Chiyo a letter. As she opens it, she finds Jannis' handwriting.

 

 

Dear Chiyo,

when you get this letter she will have done something very stubborn. She will be cursed until someone takes her place. Then she will be nude and confused and vulnerable for two weeks. I have all my greek friends looking out for her.

Jannis“

 

 

She can only hope Jannis was right about his friends' ability to find Francesca.

Provided she ever gets freed at all that is.

The doctor at least seems confident in the ability of Jannis' network. That's something. Has to be. She cries.

 

 

Chiyo asks the knowing doctor if he's aware of what dispositions Francesca has made concerning the administration of her estate in her absence. Unsurprisingly she's laid that in the hands of able lawyer Giovanni Di Centrella.

Chiyo calls Giovanni and tells him the situation Francesca anticipated has arisen. It's reassuring to hear her agent's confident voice.

 

 

They cremate the two former werewolves, using the huge supply of firewood that'd been kept at the back of the house. Then they leave.

 

 

On the way back to Rome Chiyo remembers the promise she's made Yuriko.

With Francesca gone and the Comte dead, Chiyo has nothing on her plate for a change. That brings her back to Francesca's fate. Another round of unhappy tears.

But she gets it under control. She has promised Yuriko she'd have her three days at the earliest opportunity and that's now. Nothing else to do. Well – nothing except trying to make money with her being practically broke. Like usual. She bites her lip and calls Yuriko from her mobile as the lovely Toscan countryside slides away before her unseeing eyes.

Yes, Yuriko would love to see her right away. How fortunate she called just now! There is a Manga-Look-Alike-Contest coming up. Wouldn't Chiyo love to take part? No? Oh!

Well anyway - if she'd manage to make it to Tokyo the following day that'd be great! Yuriko will schedule something. She'll send a car to the airport! Kisses! Byes.

Oh, yeah.

 

 

James offers to come along to Japan. That's sweet. But she thinks she can trust Yuriko. The assignment won't be dangerous. She tells him it's not necessary. He can come but he doesn't have to.

So James decides to fly to Mexico.

Oleg and Ivan return to Russia.

 

 

In Rome James and Chiyo say farewell to each other at the airport.

 

 

James finds his plane pretty crowded as he walks to his seat. There is another free seat next to his. He has hardly made himself comfortable when an ominous shape appears. Ms. Brown smiles sweetly into his expressionless eyes and then sits next to him. Her parfume threatens to suffocate him. She's already asking him if she can rest her head on his shoulder. He refuses. And refuses again. And at regular interval checks his pockets for parfumed cards that have inexplicably found their way into them.

It turns out to be a long long flight.

 

 

Even the longest ordeals end at some point and James unharmedly – relatively unharmedly – arrives in Mexico City. As he approaches the immigration counter he again finds himself waiting in the row right next to Ms. Brown's loving arms.

He hastily excuses himself and heads for the toilet.

As he reappears Ms. Brown is a safe distance ahead. He sees her talking to the immigration officer and pointing in his direction.

Whatever Ms. Brown has told the clerk – it's been nothing good.

James finds himself subjugated through the thoroughest immigration and customs inspections he's ever faced, including a strip-search.

At least Ms. Brown is long gone when they finally let him go.

 

 

He calls Sarah, realizing he's not announced he's coming. Sure enough she is busy at the moment. But he drives to El Capitàn' club. It turns out Belinda is pregnant – very pregnant actually. And El Capitan is going to be a proud father. Wow.

Sarah turns up soon, smiling and kissing James.

They spend time in her apartment together – and then more time. And more. And still more. Obviously Sarah really is glad to see him.

 

 

And then Chiyo calls from Tokyo with some disturbing news. So James decides to fly to Tokyo to help her. But he doesn't want to leave Sarah already – even more important he doesn't want Sarah to think he comes to have fun in her bed, then leaves to return to Chiyo at the earliest opportunity.

The only way around that – not a very good way maybe but one that beats the alternative at least – is to take Sarah along.

He asks her and she agrees. Not very happily maybe – but she does accede.

Okay – that she's nervous is natural. She and Chiyo will get along once they know each other, he's sure.

Now he only has to convice El Capitán to let her go for a while.

 

 

„Give Sarah free for a couple of days?“, says El Capitàn. „But bring her back whole! No dishonoring my niece without marrying her first!“

„Sarah isn't your niece!“

„But nearly!“ Then he grins. „Where do you two want to go?“

„Tokyo.“

„That far? But I need her here!“

El Capitàn clearly is unhappy. But then there isn't much he can do. He needs them both. So he agrees. He chuckles even. Maybe it's still because of his marriage joke. Or maybe his objections were just tactically motivated. To make clear that they owe him now. Yeah, actually that's probably exactly what they were.

 

 

Meanwhile Chiyo safely arrives at Tokyo's Haneda airport after an uneventful flight and unerringly homes in on a limousine waiting outside. As she draws near, the driver spots her and opens the door. She smiles and introduces herself and asks if he's been sent by Takeda-san? „Yes, Iwazumi-san“, he acknowledges with a bow, „welcome to Tokyo.“

As she returns the bow with a smile he tells her it's not fitting for her to bow to him. „Geez – I'll never understand Japan“, she replies. „I'll be grateful if you try to keep me out of creating social messes.“

„I will do my best, Iwazumi-san.“

 

 

On the way through town Chiyo encourages him to chat. The driver has noticed her looking like the pop star. Yes, she's heard that before. Anything new about Manga?

There is that Manga-Look-Alike-Contest coming up tomorrow.

And she's in trouble about her latest song. In it she criticizes the decision to place a new toxic waste disposal facility right in the outskirts of Tokyo. That song positioned her squarely in the middle of a political fight. A local politician who's been pushing the toxic waste facility is now the subject of a parliamentary investigation for alleged corruption. His supporters are criticizing Manga. Environmentalists on the other hand are out by the numbers, fighting the facility.

Gee, she thinks. This sounds like the recipe for trouble. Maybe Manga needs a bodyguard! She herself badly needs a new assignment and income at any rate. She asks him to hand her card to Manga. He agrees to try.

 

 

They arrive at a medium-sized, nice but pretty unremarkable home and he carries her bag inside. Yuriko meets her at the door, smiling and kisses her. She then sends her upstairs to change. She has a little surprise party scheduled.

Wow – Yuriko isn't wasting any time.

 

 

The butler shows her the bedroom prepared for her. It is nice and clean. Clothes are lying ready for her to wear.

She showers and dries her hair, then walks up to the make-up table to inspect the clothes she's supposed to wear.

The clothes are little more than underwear. And a revealing sort.

Shameless exhibitionist that she is she usually likes the thought of showing herself in front of strangers. It always gives her butterflies in the stomach, exciting her, the exquisite tension making the blood sing in her veins and rush into her cheeks.

But today this feeling is muted. As she sits in front of the mirror, absently, watching the way the translucent fabric clings to her curves, she finds she's thinking of Francesca.

 

 

At the proper time, a knock at the door snaps her away from these morbid thoughts. The butler reappears, managing to look unobtrusive even when conveying an air of urging her to hurry.

She follows him well-behavedly as he leads her to another door which he opens wide for her. She steps in to face what Yuriko has called her for all the way from Italy. A full-blown BDSM party. Her first thought is: Oh, my god – this is a little fast. Yuriko didn't even tell me what she expects of me. I feel lost. Her next thought is: Damn her – this is probably exactly what she intended me to feel.

 

 

And there is her hostess, masked and in a black leather outfit, showing off her well-formed, trainged body and looking her way.

Behind her, three elegantly-clad, masked women are sitting on a gleaming polished bench at the wall, also looking her way. Two of them are obviously Caucasian, one of them a tall, slender twenty-something with long red hair, the other medium-sized, haggard and over fourty with unkempt hair. The third is an Asian, probably Japanese, short and plump, has short dark hair and is in her thirties.

In the middle of the room a nude, masked, well-proportioned woman hangs spread-eagled from the ceiling, tied-up in thick cords. Another set of cords is hanging from the ceiling next to the woman.

Chiyo is a little unsure what to do and hides it. She steps close to Yuriko, bowing to her and whispering under her breath: „I'm not sure what to do!“

She can imagine Yuriko smiling as she keeps bowing and then she hear's the woman's whispered voice: „Just be yourself, darling.“

With that Yuriko leads her to the middle of the room and methodically starts to tie her up with the cords dangling down. Chiyo feels herself warm up under the touch of Yuriko's hands, the feeling of helplessness exciting her, making her heart beat faster as the cords are wrapped around her, binding her tightly.

At last Yuriko uses a set of pulley blocks to pull her up until she hangs face-down from the ceiling too, spread-eagled and steps in front of her to place a warm kiss on her lips and then expertly applying a gag.

Chiyo hangs there, flushed, blood pounding in her ears, things in her lower body tightening treacherously. All she can do is breathe. She raises her head, neck muscles straining, as she watches Yuriko step back to admire her handiwork

Chiyo hears the door open and then a maid-servant appears in her field of vision. A middle-aged masked person who looks vaguely familiar. The servant brings a glass of champaine on a try. Yuriko takes the glass and drinks, looking very pleased with herself. Then she hands the glass back to the maid, absently giving permission for the maid to drink the last sip from it.

The maid empties the glass and turns to leave the door when she starts to stagger and then collapses. Yuriko watches the maid stumble and fall and then slides down herself. She lies on the floor, gasping for air, then is still.

Shit.

 

 

And it gets worse.

The three women on the bench don't act surprised.

Oh, no, not surprised at all. They leave their seats on the bench and step close. One perches down next to Yuriko, laying her hand on the woman's neck, then nodding to the others.

The other tied-up woman starts to struggle against her binds. Chiyo feels the urge to struggle herself but forces herself to keep still. The binds are strong and there's nothing she can do to get out of them fast enough to do her any good if anyone want's to attack her now. So the best she can do is try to be unobtrusive and not draw attention to herself. Well – as unobtrusive as a tied-up girl hanging from the ceiling can be.

Sure enough the red-head steps close to Chiyo. So close that she can feel the girl's warm breath on her cheek. The girl's hand caresses Chiyo's thigh as she leans in and whispers: „If you try to find out who we are or what happened here you'll die too.“

Then she steps back and the three women disappear from Chiyo's view. Their steps seem loud on the wooden floor. A door closes.

And then there is silence, except for the moaning of the tied-up woman, still struggling with her binds.

Maybe it's time to join in that struggling now, Chiyo thinks.

It takes twenty minutes for her to get out of the tight cords. And then as the blood starts to return into her stiff limbs she hobbles to Yuriko and feels for a pulse. Nothing.

At least the maid is still alive. Yuriko feels breath on her skin as she leans down to check the woman's pulse. Now that she sees her up close she recognizes her. It is Laura Harrington. Geez.

Laura comes to and sits up, confused.

Chiyo unbinds the woman who had still been dangling from the ceiling.

As she removes her gag and mask she finds – Ms. Kato.

The same very respectable Ms. Kato who'd been so distrustful of her husband's less than reputable acquaintances – more specifically one James and one Natalie, otherwise known as Chiyo.

Ms. Kato seems to think much in the same line because she feints into Chiyo's arms.

Interestingly enough she feints in a way which won't let her hit the floor too hard.

Chiyo sets the woman down and checks her pulse and eyes. Sure enough the unconsciousness is feigned.

She finds Laura watching them. „How do you feel“, Chiyo asks.

„Pretty okay all things considered. Laura points at Yuriko. „Is she ... „

Chiyo nods.

Nevertheless she checks again. But Yuriko is definitely dead. Nothing she can do for her anymore. And that she doesn't really feel all that much about Yurikos death makes her somehow feel dirty.

Well – maybe she can at least avenge her some day.

She asks Laura if she knows the three women or anything else that could have a connection to the murder but Laura claims to not know anything. She even seems to say the truth.

Behind her she hears Ms. Kato stir.

She has 'come to' and starts to dress hastily.

Chiyo interrogates her too and Ms. Kato has noticed one thing: One of the three women, specifically the plump Japanese, seemed to be somewhat close to Yuriko.

That's a hint. At least it may be.

Chiyo leaves the room to find the butler and call the police.

 

 

When questioned by her it turns out the butler has an idea as to what enemies Yuriko may have made recently. Well – in addition to all her previous enemies that is.

She has written an expertise for her company – Yoshimoto – concerning the topic of whether one of said company's subsidiaries – namely Hayabusa Inc. - should build a new toxic waste disposal in the outskirts of Tokyo.

Manga anyone?

Chiyo asks for permission to look into Yuriko's computer and search for the expertise there but the computer is mysteriously gone. The three women must have taken it. Asked for other copies of the expertise in the house the butler says there aren't any. But he hands her a key: The key to a locker at the central station.

And there is more:

Although she's been masked the butler also thinks he has reckognized the plump Japanese woman. He is pretty sure it's been a girl Takeda-sanhad known from university.

Now, this definitely is a hint.

Yay.

Something else clicks in Chiyo's head. Female killers and poison in Japan let her mind make an intuitive leap to the lesbian – well, the maybe lesbian – who'd supposedly poisoned Idoru, James' sister.

She'd never seen that murderess. But somehow she's sure she's seen her now.

 

 

She talks to Yuriko's driver again and thanks him for delivering her card to Manga. Well – not to Manga herself, since he didn't get that far, not that Chiyo had expected him to – but at least to the hotel Manga has been staying at.

The driver also can give her the name of Manga's agent: Kobashi, Shouta.

Chiyo hands him $ 100,00 for his troubles.

 

 

The police make their appearance and question anyone. Not that the questions seem to go into the toxic waste disposal-direction yet.

 

 

At last they all can go and Chiyo calls a taxi and drives downtown to rent a hotel room. On the way she calls James because she wants to tell him what happened.

The voice who answers James' phone definitely isn't James. Nor is it any voice Chiyo reckognizes.

„Hello?“ A female voice with an accent she can't quite place.

„This is Chiyo – um – who are you?“

„I am Sarah.“

„I see. Can I talk to James please, Sarah?“

„Sure.“ And then, her voice distant: „James, it's Chiyo.“

And there is James on the phone finally.

„Hi, Chiyo!“

„Sorry to disturb you – it's late there, I guess. But something came up.“

„Yes?“

„Who is Sarah?“

„A friend of mine.“

„A good friend?“

„Well, yes, fairly.“

„Oh.“ And after a pause. „Yuriko is dead.“ And then she manages to get her thoughts back together and recounts all that has happened.

The only thing she leaves out is that the other tied-up woman has been Ms. Kato. Not that she distrusts James but BDSM people form a close-nit community and she has this instinct to protect the woman. And then there is her fear that James might misuse the information to try to pry Kato loose from his overly protective – to put a nice name on it - wife. And whatever one might say about the wife – she has managed to stop Kato's drinking. Which means that if James confronted Kato about it all he might well start to drink again.

But all of that is secondary. The question at the forefront of her mind is something else: Does he remember what the roommate of Idoru's looked like? The one who supposedly poisoned her?

Yes, he does indeed: It's been a tall, causcasian woman, red-headed.

Looks like they finally are on track.

They say their byes and she finishes the call, trying not to think about what may be going on at the other end.

 

 

Tiredly she pays the taxi driver and manages to talk to the receptionist and follow a hotel guy up to her room. She can't get rid of him fast enough, just remembering to tip him, then leans against the door, glad he's gone. She finally collapsing into bed, spent after a day on the plane with subsequent BDSM-party gone wrong. Exhausted as she is she falls asleep deeply.

Only to wake in the middle of the night by a persistent sound penetrating deeply into her dreams.

She moans and finds her cellphone ringing. She looks at the time and moans again: 3 AM.

As she picks up it is James, telling her he's in Mexico City and he and Sarah will come to Tokyo immediately.

A sting of jealousy mixes with the elation she feels but she tries to hide it, trying to sound light: „Ah, well, greet her then! Good flight and thank you for coming!“

 

 

James and Sarah arrive the next afternoon at 3 PM. Chiyo has had enough time to get accustomed to the upcoming arrival and manages to be on her best behaviour as she greets Sarah and hugs James. Sarah is a little nervous and lets a „Damn – she looks even better in reality!“ escape her. It's not sure if it's meant as a compliment or as a complaint. Probably both. Chiyo decides to take it as a compliment and returns it. Indeed Sarah is good looking.

James checks the hotel room for bugs and doesn't find any.

They start to talk over what happened and decide they should play it safe and change hotels as soon as possible.

Chiyo call Manga's manager – Kobayashi – and warns him Manga's life may be in danger. Can he please pass on the warning? She does her best to persuade him. He doesn't seem convinced. He may think she's a nutcase too even though he doesn't explicitly say so.

As she terminates the call Chiyo isn't at all it has done any good. Maybe she should go to the Look-Alike-Contest after all to make sure nothing happens to Manga there. Well – try to make sure at least.

The places another call and orders three tickets for the show.

 

 

END OF SESSION (12.00 pm)

 

 

 

 

 

 

CHAMPIONS session saturday august 14th 2010:

 

 

- Background:

 

 

James, Chiyo and James' girlfriend are in a hotel room in Tokyo, discussing what to do in respect of the recent murder of Yuriko Takeda.

 

 

- NPCs:

 

 

Sarah Campio – James' lover

Takeda, Yuriko, deceased – former Yoshimoto Holding Corp. troubleshooter

Oyo – Takeda-san's butler

Kato, Takao – James' Japanese private investigator

Ms. Kato – his respectable wife

Manga – Japanese pop princess

Kobayashi, Shouta – Manga's manager

Lt. Sato – Tokyo homicide division

various Japanese police officers

Hannes Baader – German manager

 

 

- Gameplay:

 

 

On Chiyo's suggestion James checks her hotel room for bugs before they start making any plans.

Sarah and Chiyo chat about inconsequential subjects, still feeling their way into each other's presence, the situation a little uneasy. Chiyo is honestly glad that James and Sarah have come to her aid, and tries to make Sarah welcome even though some hidden part of her wishes the other woman ten thousand miles away. It's obvious Sarah doesn't feel very safe about her relationship with James yet. Not that Chiyo blames her.

Once James has finished his search – without finding anything – Chiyo says: „Let's change hotels anyway.“

„Yeah“, he replies. „let's actually.“

Nothing like a healthy streak of paranoia.

 

 

Meanwhile Sarah seems to find it is time to stake out her claim. Wrapping her arms around James, eyes gleaming mischievously, she announces: „You know, I have to search you for bugs also.“ Her light tone nearly manages to hide her tension. „And thoroughly too, my dear.“ She presses herself against him and starts to open buttons.

James after only the briefest hesitation takes the situation in stride. „And I have to check you through too of course!“

 

 

Chiyo quietly leaves the apartment.She doesn't mind. It's not like she's ever been faithful herself. Or does she mind? Does she?? Oh, no! I'm not jealous, she thinks as she leans against the closed door. I'm not! she repeats. Sarah seems to be a nice girl – as if that'd make things better, a part of her adds. Nice for a druglord sweetheart at any rate. Sssshhh! she tells that part of her. Have fun you two – damn it. She shakes her head about her own silliness and decides to go to the hotel bar.

 

 

Once in the bar, Chiyo finds a man place himself next to her. „Hello“, the man says. „What can I get you?“ German accent.

She looks him over. A Fifty-ish, somewhat plump, well-dressed, caucasian. Unarmed. Or if he's armed, the weapon is really well hidden.

If he is a spy he's an unlikely one.

She smiles. „I was going to ask you that. Let me buy you your drink and you can buy me mine.“

„Works for me. Name is Baader – Hannes Baader.“

„Chiyo“, she replies and can't help wondering if Baader has given her his real name. She firmly steps on her paranoia. So far she has no reason not to believe him. No reason to believe him either now that she thinks about it.

She orders a vodka-orange and he says he's surprised she's not into the sophisticated drinks everyone is ordering this year. „I only arrived today“, she excuses herself half-seriously. „If you'd teach me the finer art of what is fashionable to drink this season I'd be grateful.“

„Oh, no – I didn't mean it like that“, he hastens to make clear. „I meant I'm happy you aren't a girl who orders what everyone orders.“

So he is impressed by her. The planet is still turning the right way.

They talk a little more and keep ordering each other drinks. Chiyo somehow feeling in the mood to get tipsy. After the third drink she notices she really does feel tipsy and that it's probably not a good idea to get drunk today, with Sarah here and the Manga Look-Alike whatnot coming up and everything. In fact she probably shouldn't have had the drinks she did have.

Ah, well – too late now.

Baader has asked her a question and she notices she's been woolgathering. He's asked what she's been doing here and she finds herself misunderstanding him on purpose and answering: „My boyfriend is upstairs in bed with his girlfriend.“

Damn – she is tipsy. Stupid, stupid.

Baader, of course, jumps onto the remark.

„Your – um amorous arrangements – seem to be a bit unusual, Ms. Chiyo. Not that I want to judge in any way. But I can't understand how anyone can send a girl like you downstairs to the bar alone.“

Yeah, she thinks,'unusual' may be a weak description actually. That her love life is a mess would probably be more adequate. But at least he does know how to be polite about it.

Anyway, judging by his interested look it probably is a better idea to steer the conversation away from flirting. No need to make the mess any messier than it is already. If that's possible.

„What brings you to Japan, Mr. Baader?“

„Business.“

„What business are you in?“

„Export – machine tools actually. My company is based in Düsseldorf, Germany.“

And that fits with his accent so it may even be true. Or someone put some real effort into creating a believable background, she can't help thinking. But Baader is continuing already: „ They sent me over here to sell stuff. Actually they keep doing it. So I guess that means they think I'm good at it“, he smiles ruefully. „But let's talk about you! What are you doing?“

She hands him her card. „I'm a professional bodyguard.“ He doesn't turn a hair at that annoucement. Point for him. Or maybe he thinks bodyguard means hostess in her case. Not that he even were completely wrong if he does. Or at least not completely wrong about what it might have meant in her past.

„Actually I'm pretty broke and looking for an assignment.“

„Well, that's an interesting coincidence. I'm looking for someone to accompany me to a business meeting tomorrow!“

„I'm not sure I'll have time sadly. But if I have I'd love to come. I'll give you a call when I know, if that's alright.“

„Sure – make the time!“ He winks

At last Baader excuses himself and leaves.

She watches him go, then looks at the clock. The two lovebirds should be finished by now. At least they'd better be!

She waves to the barkeep. When she wants to pay for Baader's drinks it turns out he's paid them already – and hers too.

Damn traitor. She giggles, then heads back up to her room.

 

 

Of course James and Sarah are still nude and still in bed as Chiyo reappears. Figures.

Sarah does seem to get the hint though: She heads to the bathroom to shower.

„Hey, are you okay?“, asks James when they are alone. „I'm sorry we've been so .. obvious.“

„Is all good.“ And as he giggles, obviously unconvinced: „No really, it's fine.“ And as that doesn't seem to help either: „Everything's great.“ Damn, she's making things worse.

James laughs. And then he follows Sarah into the shower. Figures too.

 

 

They still have to change hotels and the day isn't getting any younger. Indeed it's 5 PM and the Manga Contest is supposed to start at 10.

Chiyo stands at the window, trying not to look impatient, as they finally leave the bathroom and dress.

James finishes first and heads dowstairs to talk to the receptionist to let them out the back door, to call a taxi and to spot for people watching the hotel.

In her own good time Sarah finishes dressing also and she and Chiyo head downstairs to the counter so Chiyo can check out.

They find the taxi at the back exit and leave.

 

 

They decide to make their first stop at Laurell and Hamilton Inc. to pick up James' and Sarah's guns. That goes smoothly. James and Sarah reappear with 'parcels' and they give the driver order to drive them to the Main Railway Station. Chiyo still has Oyo's locker key and they want to finally take a look at what's in there.

Sarah unpacks her parcel and pockets her gun while James only unpacks his handgun. The rifle he keeps wrapped up for now.

The taxi arrives at the station. James starts to get out and notices Chiyo isn't following suit.

„We are there - let's get out.“

„No – I'll wait in here.“

„Come on, we better stay together.“

Darn, she thinks we really should notdraw attention to ourselves.

Better if she at least stays out of sight while James checks the surroundings. All vanity aside – she doesn't exactly look inconspicuous.

But it's not like they can discuss this – not in front of the taxi driver and all. With James already waiting for her to get out, the situation becomes awkward. And it's not that his proposed tactics of staying together doesn't have fairly compelling advantages all it's own.

So she gets out of the taxi.

Then she quietly slips her radio headset on and waves him to do the same. With a slight nod he follows suit.

Only then do they both look around and check the surroundings for anything funny – like people watching them for example.

Both spot the snipers on the roof on the other side of the busy street.

Three dark-clad, masked snipers.

She knew she should have stayed inside the car.

 

 

What now?

Since they have disembarked already, hesitating now would make things worse. Supposedly. Maybe the snipers are looking for someone else after all. If they don't act suspiciously now, they may still be left alone.

Yeah, whistling in the dark and all that.

 

 

They head into the station. Which turns out to be a mistake: James immediately spots seven more probable agents – plain-cloth agents. Suits and ties. Conservative. Expensively dressed but not expensively enough to look like Yakuza. Maybe police. Or not. Anyway the agents have obviously spotted them too.

This is – suboptimal.

 

 

James intents to try to get a look at the lockers, see what the situation is there, and now belatedly realizes it's not a good idea to have someone as obvious as Sarah and Chiyo – especially Chiyo – around when he does so.

But he is still carrying the damn parcel with the rifle in it. And a full-blown sniper rifle, nothing less.

He ushers the girls towards the ladies' restroom, asks Chiyo for the locker key, shoves the gun parcel into her hands and sees them off into the restroom. Hopfully they'll be safe in there.

They are hardly inside when James notices four agents making a beeline towards the ladies' room. So much for 'safe'.

All he can do is warn Chiyo via the headset. And then he walks towards the general direaction of the lockers, trying to disappear into the crowd. There is a swarm of people coming off one of the platforms and he dives in between them, agents in pursuit.

 

Chiyo meanwhile finds herself trapped with Sarah in a ladies' room with no other exit, a gift-wrapped sniper rifle in her arms and four agents headed for the door.

Great.

 

 

All Chiyo can think of in the spur of the moment is lock herself and the parcel into a toilet cabin, then climb out of the cabin without the gun and try to look harmless.

Sarah seems to have the same idea since she disappears into another cabin.

Chiyo barely manages to climb out of her cabin again, step in front of the makeup mirror and look like she's redoing her lipstick when two females suddenly burst into the room. Mid-twenties, trained, dressed up in suits and sunglasses, guns trained at her and no-nonsense faces to go with them.

„Tokyo police“, she hears. „Stay where you are. Where is your friend?“

„I beg your pardon?“

The officer points with her head, keeping her gun trained on Chiyo while the other starts to try the cabin doors, quickly figuring out which one Sarah is in.

„Come out of the cabin, hands up! And don't flush the toilet.“

„Okay“, she hears Sarah. And there she appears, moving slowly and carefully, and gets pushed against the makeup-table too.

„ Your passports, slowly.“

„Can I see some ID first, please“, Chiyo responds.

The woman shows her a badge which looks genuine enough. Not that Chiyo could tell.

Ah, well. Sarah gets her passport out and she does the same. The real one: Iwazumi, Chiyo. If she's in trouble, she's in trouble under her own name this time. How comforting.

„Who is the man who's been accompanying you?“, the officer asks.

„I don't know who you mean.“

At least James should have been able to hear what's going on over the headset. Chiyo can still hope he'll get away.

„You are under arrest. Both of you.“

They have to turn towards the mirror, legs spread and get searched for weapons. Her headset gets taken away. Then they get cuffed.

At least they haven't found Sarah's gun. She must have hidden it somewhere in the toilet cabin, probably in the flushing tank. Maybe they won't examine that. One can hope.

Anyway - the officers seem to be content for now. Both girls get taken by the arm and lead outside where more officers are posted already.

Police cars are waiting. They get pushed into them – into different ones – and droven away.

 

 

James meanwhile follows the crowd towards the subway platforms, jumps the fence and gets into the train just before his pursuers bang against the closed door.

The subway pulls away and he feels his heart beat fast as he realizes he's only just escaped. But he leaves nothing to chance. He changes subway lines at the next station and finally takes a couple of taxis before he makes his way back to the Main Station on a circumspect route.

When he looks at the station from hidden location a way off he finds the snipers still on the rooftop.

Which supposedly means that there also still are agents inside.

And Sarah and Chiyo supposedly aren't there anymore.

 

 

He ponders his choices.

He is tempted to enter the staion anyway and try to empty the locker right under the police's noses. Risky.

In fact a little too risky. Instead he contacts Kato. Hopefully his old friend can help him once again.

Kato receives his call but doesn't sound entirely pleased to hear from him. Indeed he explains he's in a bit of a hurry as his wife, who's been away today, returned and seems to be in an exceptionally cuddly mood for some reason.

Women are a mystery.

James keeps talking and Kato keeps hinting at he's in a hurry. James explains he needs help with renting a new hotel room.

„No problem – I'll do that. I have to hang up now ...“

„And I need a new cellphone.“

„Yes, yes I can do that too. But I really need to go now.“

Kato hangs up.

 

 

Chiyo and Sarah get questioned seperately.

Chiyo gets brought into an office room. Behind the huge, busy-looking desk sits a man who doesn't bother to stand as he watches her, sizing her up.

Finally he says: „Sit down – Iwazumi-san?“

His voice makes her name a question. But she doesn't react. The name is real and if he doesn't want to believe it that's his problem. She just sits and looks at him, trying to appear friendly and noncommital. An end-forty, conservative haircut, tidy, but looking like he's spent too much time in that otherwise nice suit. His eyes don't give his thoughts away. She can only hope her eyes manage to be as blank as his.

As far as she knows, the Japanese police have nothing on her under her real name. So maybe they'll let them both go soon. Yeah, maybe. Unless they've found the rifle in the cabin. Which she supposes they may well have.

Or unless Yoshimoto Inc. has somehow given them information about the Tsunami-project that originally created her. A frightening thought. But not likely. She thinks. Hopes. Damn, girl – keep your composure and don't panic.

Another lengthy silence. Then: „My name is Lieutenant Sato. Hand me the key please.“

The locker key? Has he talked to Yuriko's butler again? What was his name – Oyo? Or where did he get this information? Did the Yakuza have Yuriko's house bugged and have they tipped him off on this? Are the Yakuza even involved in this Toxic Waste thing? Is this guy honest or is he in someone's pocket?

Questions over questions. If she guesses wrong, she may get into deep trouble. Into even deeper trouble that is.

Nice to know any bad situation can get worse.

„I don't have a key on me, Lieutenant“, she answers truthfully. Not that she expects it to win her many points.

„Is that so? And would you tell me, what you've been doing at the Main Train Station with a high-precision sniper rifle?“

And that answers the question whether they've found the gun. She has no idea how she's going to tak her way out of this. Damn James and his handing her that lovely parcel.

The silence stretches out.

„Who gave you the rifle?“

She doesn't answer.

„Who's been that man who's been accompanying you?“

She doesn't answer that question either.

His eyes bore into hers.

„Look, Lieutenant“, she says finally. „I don't want to be difficult and I'm sorry to cause you trouble but I can't answer these questions you've been asking. Ask me anything else and I'll try to answer truthfully and to the best of my ability. I'll also promise to help you in any way I can. But about a gun and a man you'll not get anything out of me.“

„Very well.“ He picks a sheet of paper from his desk. „This is a copy of your testimony concerning the murder of Takeda-san. I trust you at least do remember that name?“

She nods.

„Would you care to explain why you withheld evidence from the police?“

Damn – if she just knew whether she can trust him!

If he's not on someone's pay list then telling him the truth about my suspicious concerning Yuriko's death may actually be helpful.

But if he's corrupt and working for the same people as the three graces who poisoned Yuriko, admitting the truth may lead to her being quietly disappeared.

„Can I trust you, lieutenant?“

„I'm the police.“

He's evading. Damn him. She tries not to gnaw her lip as she looks at him steadily, holding her poise and hoping her expensive, tailored suit looks suitably professional. Never show the police you are nervous.

If he's in someone's pocket he's good – she can't figure him out. She notices she wants to trust this competent-seeming police officer.

Ah, well, she thinks at last. And then she takes a deep breath and starts to talk. To hell with the consequences.

She tells him what she remembers about Yuriko's murder and about her suspicions that led to her questioning Oyo the butler and getting the locker key from him. She also tells him – truthfully as it happens though whether Oyo would verify this she doesn't know – that she told Oyo it's his judgement whether he should tell the police what he's told her already.

She also tells Lt. Sato about Yuriko's vanished expertise concerning the toxic waste facility and about her fears concerning Manga's safety.

What she does not mention is her own suspicion about the red-headed woman, nor does she mention James in any way.

„And why would you be interested in making inquiries into Takeda-san's death yourself, Iwazumi-san?“

„You might say I take it personally that she got murdered – especially in my immediate vicinity. You see: I'm a professional bodyguard. And she's been my friend.“ And on an afterthought she adds: „I'm sure you've found my cards in my wallet.“

„But you've not been employed as a bodyguard at the time?“

„No.“ She smiles ruefully. „If I had been, I'd never have let myself be tied up like that.“

„One would suppose so.“

„And what about the man who gave you the rifle?“

„I am sorry, Lieutenant. I can't help you there. Look: I'll make you a deal: I'll help you protect Manga-san if you don't ask me about the rifle and the man.“

He looks at her for some time. Finally he replies: „You'll talk, Iwazumi-san.“

„My offer stands, Lieutenant.“

„You'll stay here a long time.“

„Such is life.“

His cold cop eyes lock her up again.

„As you wish“, she hears finally. „Follow me, Iwazumi-san.“

 

 

Sato leads her to a bare, windowless room. The walls are painted white, there is a table and two chairs there and a huge mirror in one wall and that's it.

The Lieutenant leaves and the wait starts.

Is he watching her through the mirror? Hoping she'll crack? That she'll show any emotion?

No use making it seem the wait is getting to her. She sits in the chair, poised and erect and tries to look blank and unworried.

She wishes she had her watch – not to mention her cellphone. But all her things have been taken away. Even her jewelry.

At least she has her clothes and doesn't have to wear prison jumpsuits.

Yeah, the day has it's bright spots.

 

 

At last the door opens and she resists the urge to move her head quickly or look relieved. She watches the two detectives enter: A man and a woman, both with the springy gait of people who work out regularly. Well-dressed hair, expensive-looking suits. Their young faces, devoid of any expression, look like they may be even younger than herself.

Oh, geez.

She tries not to feel contempt as she watches them, keeping her face a friendly but nocommital blank. Maybe these babies are more experienced than they look. Yeah and maybe the sun rises in the west. If Sato thinks she'll crumble under these youngsters' ministrations he's more naive than she thought. Which seems unlikely. Maybe he's just watching the show, trying to read her reactions. In fact that's probably what he's doing.

 

 

The man comes over and places himself at the table, opposite to her. The woman leans on a wall, watching, her eyes cold.

„Can I get a coffee please“, Chiyo starts before they can gear up.

That seems to take them aback.

„Later“, the guy says.

„Okay.“

„Tell us about the man who gave you the rifle“, the girl asks.

„There is nothing I can tell you about that subject.“

„Look,Iwazumi-san“, the guy inserts. „You better start right away because your friend already has. In fact she's seriously incriminated you. By keeping silent you are making things worse.“

Chiyo hides a laugh. Whatever she may think of Sarah: The girl surely knows better than to talk to the police in a situation like this.

„I've told your lieutenant already: My offer stands. There is nothing else I can tell you.“

„The offer to help protect Manga-san.“

„Yes.“

„What is she to you?“

„I don't know her but I suspect she's in danger for the same reason Yuriko – Takeda-san – was in danger.“

„And that reason is?“

„She's opposed to that planned toxic waste facility. In fact she's been very outspoken about it, as I gathered from what Takeda-san's driver told me.“

The woman intervenes again: „If you don't talk you'll go to prison for a long time. We'll get you for obstruction of justice and accessory to murder.“

„Look, fujin-kéisatsu-san. You can threaten me all day but I won't tell you anymore about the gun subject. You may as well save your time.“

„Easy“, the guy inserts again. „Think before you talk. We want to help you.“

„I'd like to get that coffee now.“

A look of exasperation passes over the guy's face but he quickly brings it back under control. „Certainly, Iwazumi-san.“

He actually leaves the room. Will the girl use the opportunity to pounce her? But the officer seems to be out of ideas. So the silence stretches out again awkwardly.

Finally the guy returns – with a cup of steaming coffee actually, which he puts down in front of her.

„Thank you, keikán-san.“ She gives a little bow.

He nods.

„Will you talk now?“

„You know my offer.“

He sighs.

The door opens again. Surprise: There is Lieutenant Sato. Has he realized his youngsters won't get further or has something come up? „Come with me please, Iwazumi-san.“

„Certainly, lieutenant.“ She smiles politely and follows him back to his office..

„Sit. How is the coffee?“

„It is okay.“ It really isn't but it wouldn't do to be impolite. She sits in front of his desk again, conscious of his thoughtful eyes on her. Something is going on behind those eyes. What it is she can't guess.

„I've done some research, Ms. Natalie Takamura.“

Dang. Now this is a situation – if not entirely unexpected. After all the Takamura ID and her picture have been all over the news when Special Agent Bings launched her press conference after that New Orleans business.

„Ah, yes, I can see you have, Lieutenant Sato.“

And he is watching her l ike a hawk, she notices. Has her expression given her away? She hopes it hasn't, although that's mainly because of her professional pride. It's not like pretense helps any in this situation. But there are appearances to maintain.

There still is that hawk-like expression on his face as he continues: „I also think we know who that rifle belongs to now, don't we, Ms. Takamura? What does Takeyoshi-san call himself these days?“

„I couldn't tell, Lieutenant.“

„Well – if you happen to talk to this Takeyoshi, Tohai again by chance, tell him from me that he is expected to leave this country immediately.“

„If the situation arises, I will, Sato-san.“

„I rather thought you would, Iwazumi-san. Now there is another little matter to discuss: The issue of the upcoming Manga-Look-Alike-Contest to be precise. The thing will start in less than two hours so time is getting rather short. What am I getting at? You see: I know what the American FBI claimed was your role in foiling that attempt on the President back there in New Orleans and in shutting down that mercenary outfit which supposedly was involved in it. Cromwell, was the name I think, wasn't it?“

No use denying any of that. And it's not like she's got reason to be ashamed of it. Well – not of most of it at any rate. „Yes, Sato-san, Cromwell.“

„I suppose what the FBI told the press wasn't the complete story?“

„Some details may have been missing, Sato-san.“

He snorts but continues: „I am not surprised. But what I was getting at is: By all accounts you have done an impressive job there. And you do look amazingly like Manga-san does. So I'm going to accept your offer to help me protect her.“

„Thank you, Sato-san. One tries. And the price?“

„No questions about the rifle and Takeyoshi. Wasn't that your offer?“

Damn him. Yes, it was. And I'm broke and don't get paid for a high-risk job. Again. Ah, well – who can't take a joke shouldn't join the game.

„Yes that's my offer, Sato-san. Tell me what to do.“

„Not so fast! In return for not asking those questions I expect your help with protecting Manga-san and your handing me that locker key.“

„I don't have the key.“

„Then see that you get it – quickly.“

Damn him – again. Can she trust him? Always it comes back to this question. But she's in over her head now anyway. Go the full ten meters and see what comes of it.

„You know, Sato-san – I may be able to tell you the number of the locker. For the strangest of circumstances I seem to maybe be able to remember it.“

„I rather hoped you would. It's a deal then?“

„If you in return let me have a copy of what we find in the locker. Takeda-sans expertise about the toxic waste facility supposedly.“

„Alright. I can do that. Deal.“

She gives him the locker number and he places a call. When he turns back to her he says: „Now about Manga-san. We have to hurry. This is what I want you to do:“ He starts explaining quickly. And then he ushers her to a dressing room to change. She even gets her phone and and the headset back. And Sato claims Sarah actually has been released back to the hotel.

Chiyo calls Sarah. She answers and sounds good. They don't talk much, mindful of who may be listening in but yes – she's been released and is fine.

The day is brightening. Okay – it's been pretty dark before, but things are definitely looking up now.

Unless Sato plans to sell her out. Ugh – always her mind comes up with all kinds of nasty possibilities. One day she'll drive herself crazy.

 

 

Chiyo sits in the dressing-room, wearing Manga's extravagantly colorful and supposedly fashionable clothes and watching herself in the mirror as she gets painted with Manga's equally extravagant make-up.

While she's being prepared, her cellphone rings.

„Yes?“

„Hey“, she hears James' voice. „How are you? How is Sarah?“

„Sarah supposedly is back in the hotel and I'm just being outfitted as Manga“, she replies brightly.

„What's been happening?“

„I have to go now, sorry, honey!“ She cuts the connection, mindful of all the people listening in. At least she knows James is alright. Everything will work out fine, she tries to persuade her mirror image.

Enormous sunglasses complete the outfit. As she looks at her image she doesn't reckognize herself. Or rather: It's her but it's also Manga. The two seem one and the same there in the mirror.

Sato outfits her with a tiny, near-invisble headset which will allow the real Manga - and Sato himself - to give her instructions at any time they feel the need to. And the huge sunglasses hide a little, fully functional video camera. So Sato and Manga will see anything she sees. Oh, frabjous day.

And then they rush her to a limousine and drive her to the location of the contest. They are still in time – barely.

 

 

The limousine enters a wide garage entrance and descends an equally wide ramp and then they are there.

People are there in the garage, waiting for them already. There are the armed guards Sato warned her about. She hardly has time to register them before she gets ushered through a nondescript but solid-looking double doors and down a white-painted corridor.

She finds a man walking at her side, blathering away, his meaty hand on her shoulder. Middle-aged, plump and with - gasp - long hair. The suit a little untidy looking. That would be Manga's manager by the description Sato gave her.

„This is my manager, Shouta“, she suddenly hears a voice from her hidden headphones. The remark sounds suspiciously like a complaint. And the timbre of that voice is her own – or so close that she's not sure there is a difference. Damn. Manga's voice interrupts her thoughts: „I hate him!“

That's a statement. But what interests her more are the questions of whether the manager is armed and how competent he would be as a potential assassin.

If he is armed the weapons are really well hidden. It seems unlikely he has that kind of hold out skill when his primary job is music manager. So he probably really is unarmed. Considering he and Manga obviously have a history it's rather unlikely he's after her – at least not because of the current toxic waste facility upheaval, she decides.

But there is the wardrobe already! She finds herself pressed into a seat with make-up-artists, hairdressers and a technician fussing over her. The manager, who has no clue she just considered the possibility he's a bloodthirsty killer, hovers near her seat. „You are late! What's been keeping you?“

„Sorry“, she replies while the technician clips a mini-mic to her – Manga's – garish jacket.

„Sorry? Sorry? That's all? What happened?“

„Something came up.“ She watches him in the mirror, standing just a little too close.

„Say something“, the sound technician tells her.

„Something.“

„Okay – it's working. Remember to not turn your head away from the mic when you talk. Good luck, Manga-san!“

„I will keep it in mind, thank you.“

The technician leaves with a last glance at the mic and the hairdresser and make-up artist stop fussing too. Maybe they have given up on her or maybe they are content with the job their predecessors did back at the police station. Anyway - they withdraw, making admiring and encouraging remarks. She turns her seat around to watch them file out of the room, leaving her to face Manga's manager alone. A pretty agitated looking manager. Shouta, she reminds herself.

„What came up? Talk to me, young lady! I'm your manager, remember? I'm supposed to know little things like what's nearly making you miss a gig!“ The guy's meaty fingers have found their way around her arm again, she notices. And he's moved in even closer, invading her private space.

„Isn't he awful?“, she hears from the headphones.

„Come on, Shouta-san. I made it in time. Calm down.“ She can't help feeling a spark of devilish delight as his agitation increases yet another notch under the 'calm down' remark. Be good, Chiyo, she chides herself. You've hardly met the guy! No need to get nasty.

„Oooh – madame is close-lipped again today.“

„We got into a traffic jam if you really need to know.“

„You could at least have called!“

„Sorry, mom.“

He looks at a loss as to what to reply to that. Not for long though: „You are looking very good today“, he recovers. And all unknowingly hits a weak spot: Is he starting to suspect she's not Manga? She feels her heart skip a beat. „Thank you, Shouta-san“, she manages to reply, sparring for time.

And now he's leaning in even closer, she notices, his hands all over her under a pretense of fussing over her hair and clothes. Well – this at least lays her fears to rest: He doesn't seem to have seen through her disguise. Think positive!

„He always does this! I hate him. One day I'll just slap him“, the headphones complain. Chiyo wonders if this is a suggestion. But it's probably best if she lets Manga do her own fighting. The singer would probably hardly thank her if she alienated her manager. On the other hand ... no, forget it, Chiyo.

„Ah, Shouta-san ...“, she starts and pauses startled, as she feels his breath warm on her cheek His head is next to hers now and they look out of the mirror together. „I really need to concentrate before the performance. Would you please leave me alone?“

„Why, what's wrong?“

„I told you already: I need to concentrate.“

The head and the meaty hands get withdrawn, thank heaven. „I was just making sure your hair is set that's all!“ His voice manages to convey hurt in a way which makes her suspect a well-rehearsed act. „But sure – of course! I don't want to make madame feel uncomfortable. I'll sit here and be good.“

„No, Wait outside, please.“

„Why? What have I done?“

„Just do it please!“

„Come, children – madame has her airs and graces again!“, he says acidly. She's starting to suspect the feeling of hate is mutual between Manga and him. But the door closes and she's finally alone. At last. Well – mostly alone. „Phew – good that he's gone“, the headphones tell her.

„The sunglasses and headphones have no voice pickup. But she finds a pencil and sheet of paper and wites in big letters which the camera can't fail to pick up: Has he given you my warning?

„No“, comes the hardly-unexpected answer.

Of course not, she writes and she can hear Manga giggle.

„Turn to the mirror“, she hears. „You look perfect! No one will suspect anything!“

Yeah, and that jewel of a manager, seemed to be completely fooled by her act too. She's never seen Manga but she's really starting to wonder: Yoshimoto's Shinyo lab has produced more than one series of clones.

Shinyo Yon731901-09, she writes.

„I don't know what you mean“, Manga says from the headphones.

Oh, well – it was a try. Her theory was far-fetched anyway. She still can't help feeling this resemblence goes too far to be pure coincidence. On an afterthought she wonders if Lieutenant Sato follows the camera feed too and what he's making of her note. Maybe it doesn't tell him anything. The Shinyo-scandal is over twenty years in the past now after all.

She looks at her watch: Five minutes to go.

The door opens: A bright-eyed man who is so young he's probably an intern: „Manga-san – it is time.“

„Battle stations“, she mutters as she turns to follow him. The stage entrance looms up ahead, bright headlights shining through. Suddenly she feels an overwhelming urge to hide.

„Just say what I tell you“, the headphones say soothingly. Yeah. She just hopes it'll work. She'd really hate to make a fool of a Japanese pop star – and herself. And then there's a possible assassination to foil. This little event sure doesn't come under a 'boring' header.

 

 

She is grateful for the oversized sunglasses in the blinding light of the headlights and she hopes no one is about to shoot her just yet as she can't see a thing.

In a bid to regain her mental balance she keeps her pace down to something slow and graceful as she descends the staircase to the stage, holding her poise, the hundreds of eyes watching her simultaneously terrifying and strangely appealing. Exhibitionism anyone?

Her eyes start to work again although it's still had to make out details in the dark audience. There are no weapons pointed at her that she could see but she's reached the foot of the staircase now and the polished floor with the lights gleaming in it and she has to switch her concentration to the the guy with the bright smile and the suit who steps up to her to welcome Manga-san. She wishes she'd seen more Japanese shows – any japanese shows. She's never seen the host and doesn't know his name.

The guy congratulates her that she looked „stunning“, his smile getting even broader if possible, as he turns around to the audience, arms outstretched and pointing at her, releasing an applause from the audience so that she can hardly hear Manga say „That's Hiroshi. Tell him it's great to be here.“

„Thank you, Hiroshi-san. It is great to be here tonight!“, she says with a smile of her own and as much grace as she can muster. Which seems to be enough because another applause wells up. „I am intrigued by this contest and I can't wait to see the candidates“, she hears Manga's telling her and repeats the words aloud, smiling and stirring up another, even louder wave of applause.

Hiroshi looks satisfied as he leads her to the table where the other members of the jury are waiting already.

She smiles left and right, grateful no one expects her to talk anymore at this point. Hiroshi seems to have matters well in hand and all she has to do is be eye candy. Which leaves her time to scan to hall.

There are catwalks running under the ceiling high above. They are lying deeply in shadows so that she can hardly make out anything up there. If she wanted to shoot someone she'd definitely place herself there.

The first candidate appears: A male, no less, posing in an outfit even shriller than the one she's wearing and actually giving a pretty convincing imitation of a female. He sings too, not even badly and when he'd done and it's time to vote she repeats the polite words Manga whispers into her ears.

The performer seems content with that and bows, then leaves, to be replaced by the next one.

Chiyo scans the catwalks again. And there, deep in the shadows to the right, she suddenly notices a dull gleam. Like light being reflected from a lense. She thinks she can make out a dark-clad shape, pointing a rifle in her direction.

She lifts her head, pointing the glasses in that direction to give Manga and Lt. Sato the best view of the catwalks. Not that it's likely the cam is good enough to deliver any useful picture of that darkness up there. So she hastily scrawls on the sheet she's been give to note down her votes: „Sniper, right catwalk, to the back.“

If the performer on the stage is offended by her looking away from him and whether Lt. Sato gets her message and reacts she hasn't got time to find out. She has an overwhelming sense of threat and let's herself drop out of the chair and behind the table and in the next moment a hole appears in the back of her seat.

She hears a gasp from the headphone. Manga's voice: „What happened there? Oh, my god – was that a shot?“

The shadow up there is moving, hurrying back along the catwalk, obviously not planning to shoot again and she gets back on her chair.

„They missed you!“, the headphone continues. „This is so exciting!“

Voices around her and in the audience. „Everything okay, Manga-san“, someone asks her, the host, she notices and she nods. She realizes no one has even noticed she's been shot at. All they've seen is her seemingly falling from her chair. The performer has been startled out of her singing and is looking at her wide-eyed and a little scared.

„I'm fine, Hiroshi-san. Sorry to cause this confusion.“ And to the performer: „I am truly sorry that I have interrupted you. Please start over.“

Hiroshi hides his concern behind a flashing smile and signals to go on. The poor singer has to try to concentrate again. The voices slowly die down and the show continues.

Chiyo still feels her heart beat fast as she pretends to listen to the show, her eyes busy searching for the assassin who's lost himself – or herself? - somewhere in the back of the hall. She tries not to fidget as she imagines Sato's officers combing through the building. And she can't even talk to him. Damn.

 

 

After fifteen performances the show takes a break and she can spend some time in the dressing room to catch her breath.

That she doesn't know if Sato has had any success in catching the shooter is driving her crazy. And Shouta is driving her crazy too with his touching and clinging as he asks her what happened there on stage.

„I'll tell you later“, she evades, unsure about whether the manager should be let into the secret of her doubling for Manga. Better to leave it all open for other heads to decide later.

„Madame and her secrecy“, he complains in a hurt voice. „Why don't you just tell me?“

„I'm not sure myself. Please let it go. I'll tell you when all is finished.“

„Here“, he says and produces a bottle of champaigne. „This will relax you. Let me pour us glasses.“

She's not at all sure drinking is a good idea now. And she doesn't trust anyone right this moment, least of all this pushy control-freak who seems to be attached to Manga in a love-hate that doesn't feel healthy.

Sure enough she senses something is very very wrong as he hands her the glass.

She sets it down on the make-up table, seemingly absent-minded and secretly watches Shouta. Does he drink? No, he doesn't either.

„I need a moment alone, please“, she tells him.

„Come on let's have a toast at least.“ His hand is on her shoulder again. She's really starting to develop an aversion against his touch.

„One day I'll really slap him“, she hears Manga repeat.

„No, please wait outside. I need a bit of time to collect myself before the show resumes.“

„Let's go children - madame has her attitudes again“, he murmurs poisonously. But he leaves her.

She writes: Tell Sato to send someone to check the champaigne, please. I have a bad feeling about it.

 

 

A plainclothes detective appears and fetches the bottle and glasses not five minutes later. One less thing to worry about.

She asks the detective whether the assassin has been caught. He says he can't tell her that. But immediately after Sato's voice is in her headphone: „We didn't get the sniper. We found the black outfit and the gun though. They must have dropped it near the ladder, then lost themselves in the audience.“

Oh, this is just great.

 

 

She gets fetched for the second half of the show and returns to her seat on stage. Luckily there still isn't a lot to do for her except repeat the words Manga puts into her mouth.

The second half passes without incident. The only thing is Sato's voice startling her out of her tension at one point, telling her the lab results have come in and the champaign really was poisoned. It wasn't the same poison as was used in Yuriko's case though. This time it was globefish-poison.

There is just the finale to survive, with all of them congratulating the winner, a good-looking girl with a voice that could be worse but no musical sense whatsoever.

She smiles and waves into the applause and then she can finally – finally – disappear into the backstage corridors.

There is – of course – Shouta, congratulating her, hugging her, and bringing yet another bottle of champaigne. She fetches it and hands it over to an officer to check it too.

„What's with the bottle?“, he asks.

„I have a feeling it may be poisoned.“ She has no power left to come up with a sophisticated excuse now.

„And what was that on stage?“

„I'll tell you later.“

She hurries to the car, glad she finally gets away from the whole mess. Manga has an exhausting life.

„You've done very well“, she hears from the headphones.

„Gee, thank you“, she says to no one in particular.

 

 

The car returns her to the police Station.

Manga isn't there anymore but Lieutenant Sato tells her she's free. She can change back into her own clothes and leave.

„Did you have my things bugged, lieutenant?“

„That's a question that one doesn't ask, Iwazumi-san“, is the reply. Damn him.

She's had her whole bag with her when they arrested her. Now she can't trust any of her stuff before it's been thoroughly checked. And those costumes have been expensive! She doesn't begin to have the money to replace them.

 

 

She takes the subway to their hotel. Sarah is home and well.

Sarah agrees that it's safer to not wear the clothes the police has had their fingers on. They buy new outfits down in the hotel store. Nothing fancy. Jeans and shirts.

Then they check out and crisscross through town, using subways and taxis at random, until they finally check into another hotel. A pretty cheap one in a neighbourhood where no questions are asked and no one wants to see their passports either.

 

 

James meanwhile had called Sarah while Chiyo was still away. He suggested him coming to the hotel to visit her but she, knowing Sato was looking for him, refused.

He then spent the eveing actually watching the music hall where the Manga-Look-Alike-Contest had been staged. Police where all over the place so he had to keep some way off. When the event was finished he returned to his own hotel and called Kato to ask him about details concerning the property where Hayabusa plans the toxic waste facility.

Kato promised to look into that.

Then James drove over to the place to check out the security measures first hand.

 

 

Surprise, surprise: For an empty development project, the land is really well guarded. A fence topped off with barb wire surrounds the whole lot with twelve uniformed and armed guards, no less – and dogs – patrolling at all times.

If this isn't suspicious then nothing his. No wonder he's making plans to penetrate that security screen and check out what's hidden away in there.

 

 

END OF SESSION (23.30 pm)

 

 

CHAMPIONS session sunday august 22nd 2010:

 

 

- Background:

 

 

James, Chiyo and Sarah are still in Tokyo, investigating the recent murder of Yuriko Takeda and the whereabouts of the red-haired murderess who they believe is also responsible for the poisoning of James' sister Idoru.

 

 

- NPCs:

 

 

Sarah Campio – James' lover, Mexican drug lieutenant

Takeda, Yuriko, deceased – former Yoshimoto Holding Inc. troubleshooter

Kato – James' Japanese private investigator

Ms. Kato – his respectable wife

Manga – Japanese pop princess

Kobayashi, Shouta – Manga's manager

Lt. Sato – Tokyo homicide division

Yamada, Masa – investigative reporter

Laura Harrison – author of bdsm detective novels

 

 

- Gameplay:

 

 

Chiyo wakes after a less than restful sleep.

She kept waking and worrying at night. She may be safe in this pension actually – for the time being. But having broken contact with Lieutenant Sato and his arduous if less than experienced followers has also robbed her of any connection to Manga. There is no means for either Manga or Sato to reach her, unless she activates her old cellphone. But doing so would make the whole point of dropping out of sight moot.

Any number of people are probably just waiting for her phone to come up so they can tap in and locate her – or so her mind keeps insisting. Paranoia anyone?

She watches the morning light filter through the drapes that have seen better days and mercifully screen the view of the run-down buildings.

Sarah and her have spent the night in this less than respectable hotel they had moved to to duck out of sight of any theoretical observation. They bought new mobiles and even new clothes.

James has checked into yet another hotel – they have no idea which – and he also has a new mobile. He changes them like other people change clothes.

How they are supposed to get in touch again is an interesting question. The joys of evading surveillance.

She gets up sleepily, headed for the shower.

I really should get back in touch, she thinks, as the hot water bites into her skin, clearing her thoughts. Manga and Sato are going to need me if they want to survive the next days. And if my reappearing makes me a target - so much the better actually: If the Kuramotos or whoever else may be behind this little killing spree wastes their efforts on me that may actually be the best outcome from a tactical point of view.

Yeah,tactically. How comforting.

She dresses and knocks at Sarah's room.

She hears a groaning sound which she decides to interepret as an invitation. She turns the handle but the door is locked. She tries again and finally someone opens the door and there stands Sarah in her underwear looking somewhat less than fully awake.

„Good morning“, Chiyo says brightly. „I'm moving back to the other hotel.“

„Uh - do you know what time it is?“

„I think it's a good idea if Sato and Manga can reach me. So I can't stay here.“

Sarah walks back to the bed and lets herself fall onto it.

„Byes“, Chiyo says crisply and there is a muffled sound from the bed.

 

 

With the continuing progress of the ebb tide in her wallet, taxis have become luxuries which are to be avoided. She asks the sulky receptionist for the nearest subway station and walks there. The sun is clearing the rooftops, painting the city in gold and the day promises to get hot and sunny. But she doesn't pay much attention to the sun or the colours: She's already on the lookout for people shadowing her. There is the subway station finally. She decends into the dark and waits around a corner to see if anyone follows. But no one acts suspiciously. Not more suspiciously than usual at least.

She's sure this will change soon enough. With that thought she activates her cellphone and becomes a walking homing beacon.

In her tension she nearly jumps as the phone beeps practically immediately. A text message: Sato.

Yamato Inn 12.30 PM, she reads.

That leaves her a couple of hours.

 

 

The lobby of the Ginza hotel is the same dampened bustle of activity she remembers. Her room isn't available anymore but the friendly receptionist assures her the one he's giving her now is as comfortable. And isn't that nice?

She retracts her bag from the locker and moves to the elevator. As she waits for the cabin she quietly watches the hall, trying to spot any potential observers. Having her sunglasses available again, hiding her eyes is making that much easier.

Besides they look great, she thinks modestly.

Upon reaching her room she unpacks and frowns as she notices her nice suits have wrinkles now. She hangs them on clothes hangers, hoping they'll unwrinkle some. Optimism is a nice trait to have. It beats spending her last money on the room service to have them pressed anyway.

She has some hours left so she lies down a little to try to catch up sleep.

Is she safe in this room? Probably not. But darn – she needs to be on her toes later. No use spending her energy now and then being sleepy when she can't afford it.

We are scattered all over town. Talk about making it easy for the opposition to take one of us out – me most likely. Damn Sato and his forcing James so far underground.

The sun rises higher outside, a finger of light stabbing through the closed curtains, the brightness making it hard to fall asleep. She hides under the blanket. She wonders if she should call that German – Baader – and take his offer to accompany him. A business meeting, she remembers. But that'd be this evening already. And there is so much else going on that she's not sure it'd be a good idea to load more onto her plate. Besides with the people sure to tag on her heels soon she'd probably increase his risk instead of decreasing it. But I really could use the money ... I'll see how it goes with Sato first ...

With that she drifts away.

 

 

James gets up early too that day.

His night has been a little restless too: He has been pondering the question of how to get onto that officially empty Hayabusa lot which boosts those extravagant security measures.

And he kept coming back to asking himself how to get to Samantha O'Brien, the red-haired assassin who he's sure has poisoned Idoru.

 

 

According to the official news releases and confirmed by Kato, Hayabusa is a subsidiary of Yoshimoto Holding.

Yoshimoto. Again. How many of their associates have found their way onto his little hit list over the years already?

 

 

According to the little dossier he and Chiyo have collected on them, Yoshimoto was founded by one Kuramoto, Toshio, an officer returning from China after the war, and it has been the Kuramoto family who's been controlling it ever since. The company's goal has been to bundle the country's best heads in an effort to stay abreast with the United States scientifically, especially in the life sciences.

Yoshimoto and the Kuramotos have worked closely with the Shiukawas, the family he's had a blood feud with for so many years.

 

 

According to their earlier information – which may be out of date, he reminds himself - Yoshimoto owns 26% of the Fujiwara Corp, of which the surviving Shiukawas still hold 25%.

The Fujiwara Corp. has been Yoshimoto's pawn and cut-out in it's secret and illegal 'super soldier' genetic research which had been one of the Kuramoto's main focuses ever since the founding of Yoshimoto.

Fujiwara, supposedly with Yoshimoto's – meaning the Kuramoto's – tacid approval, has sponsored a genetic research laboratory: The Shinyo Institute. Officially dedicated to research into gene therapy and the healing of genetically based diseases the real focus of it's research was a bit different.

 

 

Unfortunately – from Yoshimoto's point of view - the Shinyo Institute had to be closed down twenty-four years ago after a little faux-pas in which it's so called „Yon“-lab burned down, leaving the corpses of several dozen human mutants – whose existence the Shinyo-people had somehow forgotten to mention to the authorities - for the police to find. That many of those corpses were badly disfigured and some of them strangely fire resistant, had complicated things further.

 

 

Yoshimoto, of course, claimed not to have known a thing about what had been going on at Shinyo. Hadn't the institute been an independent research facility?

They had gotten away with it too. They had been suitably horrified to learn about the 'deplorable activities' in which Shinyo's director, Prof. Tokiwa, turned out to have been engaged in. They pointed out that they themselves never had had any direct connection to that institute whatsover.

If the institute had happened to get financial support from one of Yoshimoto's subsidiaries - purely out of a wish to sponsor the life sciences – that didn't mean anyone at Fujiwara – much less on the board of Yoshimoto itself - had known anything about what Prof. Tokiwa had been secretly up to. This was underscored by the fact that Fujiwara's financial support for Shinyo had verifiably been cut down for years already and even been about to be terminated completely when the unfortunate incident happened.

 

 

Officially the fire has destroyed all records and it is anyone's guess on how many details Fujiwara and Yoshimoto know about how far their scientist on the spot – Prof. Tokiwa – had actually come in his pet project before it literally went up in flames.

There must have been a faction among the companies' leaderships which kept trying to resurrect the project. This has been sufficiently proved by the fact that Fujiwara kept hunting Chiyo, who to James' knowledge, is one of only two surviving 'results' of Tokiwa's genetic research.

 

 

Indeed the reason James and Chiyo had met in the first place was that he had been hired to hunt her down at the time. Yoshimoto had contracted and then planted him at Omega Unlimited, the company Chiyo had worked for at the time, although under another name.

That little brainstorm hasn't quite worked out like Yoshimoto had hoped, he thinks with satisfaction.

Instead he and Chiyo had teamed up and, over various less than pretty encounters between them and the Shiukawas, the latters' numbers – and influence - had shrunken so drastically that the family at last accepted that uneasy peace during his last stay here in Japan. Which suits James since among the way he's collected the blood debt they owed him and shortened his little hit list considerably.

 

 

As far as Chiyo is concerned, Fujiwara had stopped hunting her a year ago. Thanks to an expertise by Takeda Yuriko, in which she described Chiyo as 'uncontrollable' and 'useless for the project'.

 

 

The other survivor of Tokiwa's experiments, a nutcase by the name of Hashimo, had actually headed James' little list for quite some time before James was able to cross his name out – permanently – during that business in Mexico earlier this year.

 

 

Yeah, that was the situation before someone had the bad grace to employ the assassin who's killed James' sister.

That's a blood debt still unpaid. And again the name Yoshimoto surfaces.

Obviously someone at Yoshimoto – or more likely it's subsidiary Hayabusa Inc - has used that very same red-haired assassin to have Takeda Yuriko eliminated.

Which means said someone supposedly has a way of contacting the assassin. Which in turn means that James has to find out who that person is and make them talk.

Time to make another phone call. He leaves the hotel, making sure, no one follows him, then drives to a telephone booth at the other end of the city.

 

 

„Kato“, Kato answers, somewhat bored-sounding.

„Hello, old friend. This is James. I need a favour.“

„I've heard that before.“

„Yeah, I know. But this is easy: I need some thick carpets or plastic mats, nonconducting and robust enough to withstand barb wire.“

„Do I want to know what for?“

„I want to climb an electric fence.“

„Okay, I can do it. I'm at work now though. And later I've got an appointment with my wife.“ He makes an appreciative sound. „You wouldn't believe how hot she is lately.“

„Nice! Like when you met each other first!“

„I suppose. I wonder what brought that change on. Not that I want to complain ... But something must have triggered it.“

„Ah – just enjoy it. When can you get the carpets?“

„Will get them after work.“

„That's fine. Also I need to know whatever you can dig up about Hayabusa Inc.“

„I don't know if my wife leaves me time.“

„It's important, Kato-san.“

„It always is.“

„Talk to you later. And thank you!“

 

 

James calls Sarah next.

Her phone number is compromised since she's spent time as an honored guest of the city police. His being in this phone booth should help. Nevertheless they'll have to keep the conversation short and be mindful of who probably is listening in. He's already been trying to reach her twice without success. Her phone has been offline. Which basically is a very good idea. But this whole communication thing is getting really cumbersome.

This time he gets a ring signal. Finally.

„Hello?“

„Hey, it's me.“

„Are you okay?“

„Yes. How are you?“

„I'm fine.“

„What about Chiyo?“

„She went back to the other hotel.“

„Oh? Well, listen. Ask Chiyo which restaurant we went to last time we were in Tokyo. That's where we meet at 20.00, okay?

„'We' meaning you and me or you and her?“

„You and me.“

„Sure, darling.“ The voice has brightened with the last remark.

He hangs up. Time to change location.

As he heads back to the car on a circumspect route he doesn't notice anyone following him. Which in itself seems suspicious.

 

 

Chiyo sits up abruptly as a loud noise wakes her. Then she groans and lets herself fall back onto the bed. Her hand somehow manages to get hold of her phone.

„Yes?“

„Sarah here“, she hears a voice which she can't help feeling gets crisper and brighter as the other realizes she's woken her. „Let's go have lunch.“

Lunch? At this time? Her brain has trouble catching up. Obviously there is some reason for them to meet. „Okay“, she murmurs, trying to sound more awake.

„At that Sushi-bar we've seen next to the Ginza, at noon.“

„Okay ...“ Then she remembers the Sato appointment. „No ... wait. I can't at that time.“

„Oh, why not?“

„I have a – um – date.“

Sarah giggles. „Ten AM then.“

„That's fine. I'll be there.“

„Byes!“

„You too.“

 

 

Chiyo's eyes roam over the plates of Sushi moving on a belt before her. White raw fish with alga. Yellow raw fish with alga. Red raw fish with alga. Alga with cold rice. Part of her genetic makeup may be Japanese – or not, she has no way to know really – but she still never has liked raw fish.

Born in the USA and all that. Or maybe that's got nothing to do with it: A lot of her friends there liked the stuff too. Although with the way it tasted she sometimes suspected they were just deluding themselves because it was hip.

Beside her, Sarah actually looks rather content as she grabs one of the plates. Chiyo watches dubiously and then orders tea instead.

„So what's the reason for this meeting, Sarah?“

„Seeing you isn't reason enough?“

„Hehe - I know it's not why you are here.“

„James called. He wants you to tell me which restaurant you two went to when you were in Tokyo last time.“

„So you guys can meet there?“

Sarah nods.

„Oh, okay. Let me think... Higashi-Yama, Yeah, that's the name.“

„Thank you.“

„When will you meet him?“

„I'll be seeing him at eight in the evening. Why? You planning to come?“ Sarah doesn't sound entirely happy at the prospect.

„Maybe.“

„So how is this relationship between James and you“, she hears Sarah say suddenly. „It seems kinda strange.“

Sarah is fishing. How much should she tell her? „I suppose it is .... has been – pretty strange, yes“, she says, sparring for time, the chosen tense releasing a spike of pain within her. James likes Sarah ... loves Sarah, she corrects herself mercilessly. Which means Sarah deserves to know about their past.

She makes herself meet the other's eyes as she begins: „Funny thing is: We met first because he had been sent to hunt me down. We were both working for a NYC based company then. We ended up as a team, helping each other ... and yes, became lovers. We evaded Yoshimoto and started to work for a secret UN agency. One of our Ops brought us in confrontation with a nutcase psychiatrist called Dr. Sommerfeld. We captured him and his – um – friends. James wanted to shoot them there and then and I kept him from doing it, insisted we hand them over to the police.“ She stops, noticing she's biting her lip at the memory. Damn – how naive she'd been back then!. And what had that naivité cost them – and others!

„That wasn't the brightest thing I ever did“, she admits bitterly. „The military came and took him and the others along. But they didn't hand them over to the police. Oh, no, they didn't. Instead they protected them!“

She again sees the pictures in front of her eyes. The horror basement at 'monsignore' Napier's estate. The shackled and slaughtered children. They could have ended it then and it was she who gave Sommerfeld his opportunity to continue his perverse plans. So many friends dead. Damn, damn, damn.

„Maybe saying it was 'the military' is unfair. It was this secret department involved in some sort of super soldier recruitment project. Turned out, that colonel – Flag - who led the department had been in Sommerfeld's pocket all along. Afterwards we found out Sommerfeld had been involved with this military project all the time. And with similar projects in other countries before that. But that's another story. Anyway - we managed to get Flag's department shut down but Sommerfeld wasn't to be found and Col. Flag got only disgraced but not arrested. We had thrown a spanner into their works – quite a big one actually – but not stopped them.“

She pauses to collect her thoughts. So much has happened she sometimes has trouble keeping track. „They continued their plans in another guise. Having lost the government funding had hurt them but in place of their lost army project they founded a mercenary outfit – Cromwell Inc. They also still had connections in the government. We were naive. We ignored Cromwell too long, content we had deprived them of the official government support. And Sommerfeld had gone undercover and we didn't know how to find him.“

Yeah and meanwhile he started killing people we knew and sent me those perverse messages of his. She closes her eyes.

„Well if we didn't know where he was – he certainly knew where to find us. One day Cromwell troups attacked the agency we were working for and wiped it out. Completely. Went into the offices and shot everyone in sight. Only we weren't killed. They took us captive and dragged us along, then brainwashed us. Sommerfeld did. I guess he was obsessed with me in a certain twisted way. Maybe because I had saved his life. Damn me. To strengthen his brainwashing they implanted microcircuits in us, supposed to control us. A freak circumstance disabled James' chip and he later managed to help me get rid of mine. We fled from Cromwell then, went underground, on the run for months and through half the world until we finally managed to get to Sommerfeld and uncover Cromwell's plan to assassinate the president who I suppose was too 'liberal' for Flag's liking. After that we left the US again. The authorities were forced to be outwardly friendly to us at that point but we didn't trust that to last. Too much had happened for us to forget. We went undercover. Over the border to Mexico and that's were you and James met, I suppose.“

„And I thought my life was moderately interesting“, Sarah muses.

„Believe me, being on the run starts to lose it's appeal after a while. Especially when friends die left and right all the time.“

„I am sorry, Chiyo.“

The tea arrives. Some sort of powder and a cup of hot water. Geez.

„Do you love James?“, she hears Sarah ask. Again that tightening of her belly.

„Yes.“

„You never formed an exclusive relationship though?“

„No – no, we never did.“ Playing twenty questions isn't her favourite game at the moment. That the girl doing the questioning is the new lover of the man she loves may have something to do with that.

„According to James you've had a lot of lovers parallel to him. Male and female.“

„Well – yeah. Some.“

„You mentioned you've got a 'date' later today. Who are you meeting.“

„Lieutenant Sato.“

Another giggle. „Ah – have fun with him!“

„Will try. Not the kind of fun you are implying though.“

„Aww – why not? Isn't he cute?“

„Very funny. I doubt he's romantically interested in me and besides an affair with me would ruin his reputation.“ And Sarah is making fun of me. Get out of your morbid thoughts, Chiyo, or you'll end up the fool of the day. If you haven't already.

Sarah smiles mischievously and Chiyo notices how close she sits. She's been trying not to flirt with Sarah. Is Sarah flirting with her?

„Mm – we still have time after lunch. Let's do something together“, Sarah says brightly. Making fun of her again? Probably. Or is she serious? Possibly. Does Sarah want to be ambiguous? Definitely. And what would be worse? Damn, she can't take this right now.

„I have to go now, Sarah.“

„What's wrong?“

She gets up. „I'm sorry – I have to run. See you!“

„No worries – I'll pay“, she hears Sarah mutter sarcastically as she steps outside. She realizes she didn't even drink her tea.

 

 

12:30 PM.

From the shadow of a tree Chiyo watches the restaurant entrance on the other side of the busy street. The building looks elegant enough in an understated sort of way. Endless streams of tiny Japanese cars pass in front of it and there are a lot of pedestrians too. Mainly middle-aged business people on their lunch break.

The crowd is bad because it makes it hard to spot any potential observation.

On the other hand her skirt suit, sunglasses and dark hair blend in nicely.

She crosses the street and enters. Since hesitation tends to draw attention she doesn't stop to get her bearings. There! The bar is straight ahead. She continues to walk purposefully, trying to see if anyone is watching her. Heads turn. Just about everyone seems to look her way. Nice to know she's still in demand but it really is a tad difficult to tell the agents from the admirers in such a situation. Vanity getting in the way of paranoia. Life is a bitch.

There is Sato! Sitting at a table behind a cup of coffee. And seated in a way which allows him to watch the whole place.

„Good day, lieutenant“, she says as she sits opposite to him.

He is looking awful. There are shadows under his eyes and he seems to haven't found time to shave today. His suit looks like he's spent the night in it. But his expression is unreadable and his eyes are very awake as they lock with her's.

„Good day, Iwazumi-san.“

„Has anyone been following me? I don't want to turn my head now to look.“

„Ah - let's leave.“

Sato puts some money on the table and she follows him to a lift and into a garage. She tries to spot what – or who rather – he seems to have noticed but fails to. Damn. He ushers her into on of these tiny cars. She still can't see anyone following as he adeptly drives through the aisles, their headlights glittering on chrome and the polished paint of the rows of parked cars. Another corner, bright daylight and the exit ahead.

They turn into the street and join the everflowing stream of traffic.

„There they are“, he grunts.

„Who?“

„Colleagues of mine.“ Sato suddenly accelerates. They pass a red traffic light. Behind them they hear a screeching sound. Chiyo looks back. The car behind them had to stop, just barely avoiding an accident.

„You knew?“, she asks.

„Yeah, they've been following me all day.“

That's rather putting things in perspective. The police department has detectives shadowing their own lieutenant? That's scary.

 

 

Sato seems to turn left and right at random until he finally parks the car on a public parking lot.

„Got rid of them.“

He sounds sure. That's nice. She looks around. There is greenery on the other side of the street. The tops of trees behind a clipped hedge. „What now?“

„Let's take a walk,“

They cross the street and there is a park there, a nice one in a certain well-kept, orderly sort of way. It reminds her a little of the garden of the deceased Comte de Mont D'Aubrac. She wishes she hadn't thought of that as it suddenly lends the park a sinister note. Sato leads her deeper into it until they reach a wide meadow. No cover here for anyone to sneak up on them. Nowhere to hide for them either.

„Let's sit here.“

„Okay“, she replies and wipes the bench with her hand. Wouldn't do to get stains on her nice expensive costume. Especially since it's become irreplaceable.

„I called you because I have a problem“, he begins.

„I have a problem too. I am broke“, she interrupts. Better to make things clear from the start. This working for free has to stop or she'll end up sleeping on one of these park benches.

„You really have a problem then“, he continues unimpressed. „But I am afraid I have bad news, Iwazumi-san. We've lost Takeda-san's report. Although that may not be as desastrous as it sounds now. But I'll come to that later.“

The police manged to lose Yuriko's expertise?

„Last night there was an arson attack on the rooms of the homicide division“, he continues grimly. „My office burned out. The report was destroyed. And it gets worse: There is no trace of the attacker. The video surveillance didn't catch a glimpse of her so we don't know what she looks like. We know it's a she because a couple of officers saw her enter at around 3 AM in the morning. She looked like the cleaner. No one paid her any attention. The officers can't even describe her.“

Chiyo feels stunned. The police let someone burn down their homicide division? A person who looks like cleaning personnel can just walk in and out of there? An important piece of evidence isn't even kept in a safe – or at least a fire-proof locker? And they don't even have a clue who did it?

„Well – what was in the report anyway? I trust you did read it before it got destroyed?“ She has a sinking feeling in her stomach. But she had to ask.

„No, I didn't.“ He makes the admission unflinchingly. She has to admire his composure. Or is he playacting? But that makes no sense. Why would he try to make her believe Yuriko's report is lost? Unless he's in league with whoever's been behind her murder. There she is again: Back to square one. Can she trust him?

„That's – ah – unfortunate, Sato-san“, she says with massive understatement. I hope no one was hurt.“

„Luckily not. If luck is an appropriate word in this context.“ He can't quite hide the bitterness in his voice. No, she doesn't think he's playacting. She's accepting – tentatively - that he's actually telling the truth. Not that that makes things much better.

„Those officers must have seen something at least. What do they remember?“

„Two officers saw her enter and one saw her leave. But all they remember is seeing 'the cleaner'. When I pressed them for details they got pretty fuzzy. All I got out of them was they think she looked Japanese, they think she was medium-sized and she looked totally unremarkable and unimportant. Although they are sure she looked like a cleaner they don't even remember details of how she was dressed.“

He pauses thoughtfully. Then: „The officers who saw her enter didn't pay her much attention. And the one who saw her leave didn't either. I suppose that's because the bomb hadn't gone off yet. Although one might wish our personnel would be able to describe people even when they don't run around throwing fire bombs in all directions. Anyway they aren't – able to describe her I mean - and she used a time-fuse bomb, so the fire only started after she'd left. It's the same with all three of them: Their memories are vague. They say that in retrospective they don't even understand why they thought her unimportant.“

An unlikely story. She might not believe it had she not known Special Agent Trehearne. But she has witnessed his uncanny knack to be overlooked too often for her to totally discount the possibility someone else might have a similar gift. Not that it saved Trehearne in the end. Another sad story. Gee, Chiyo, stop that. This is not the time to develop a burn-out syndrome. Besides you are too young for that.

„Did they get an impression of her physique? Was she plump?“

„No, they say she looked average.“

Whatever average is supposed to mean. Anyway: It seems she can assume – tentatively at least – that the arsonist isn't the same woman as the rather plump Japanese woman on Yuriko's party. But if she isn't one of those three graces that means that there is a fourth botheringly competent female player on the other side. Damn.

„There is one other tidbit of information, although you'll probably won't much like that one either: Our inquiries into the poisoned champaigne incident at the Manga contest turned up, that another – or the same – unknown but strangely unimportant seeming woman has visited the company which has supplied the champaigne to Kobayashi. The pretext was the same: She posed as a cleaner there also. And again no one really remembers anything useful.“

„So it's possible she poisoned the champaigne.“

„It seems likely. Which would exculpate Kobayashi. Possibly at least. And there is some good news too: I told you losing the report may not be as desastrous as one might assume. What I meant is there may be a way to get another copy of it. Are you interested?“

„I am listening.“

„With the report we also found a note left by Takeda-san in that locker. The note was encrypted.“

„Did you have it decoded?“

„Do I look like a fool? I can't trust my my department at the moment. So I took the note home and decrypted it myself at night. That's also the reason it didn't burn up like the rest of the folder.“

Sato can decrypt cyphers? He's been impressing her already ... But she hears him continuing already: „From it I learned that Takeda-san trusted you. Which is another reason I have approached you today. What's more is, she writes that she left another copy of her expertise with an investigative reporter – one Yamada Masa.“

„So now you hope I'll somehow fetch this other copy from the reporter?“

„The thought had crossed my mind.“

„And you trust me with all this information because?“

„I cannot trust my own department anymore. I need you, Iwazumi-san.“

And that is the truth, she thinks. This case has to be so far outside the parameters of his unit's normal operation that it isn't even funny. This isn't a murder investigation. Or rather the murder investigation is only the tiniest part of it. We don't even know yet what this is all about. But it's about the business interest of a global company, it's about political connections, it's about people who have penetrated the bureaucracy and the police. It's compartmentalized and has so many cut-outs he'll never get to the guys at the top. Which he knows. And he has no idea how to stop it all.

„I probably wouldn't have involved you this deeply but for the fire. But when I saw my own department in ruins I realized these people know no limits. And I can't even trust my own colleagues. I've read your file from the FBI – what there is of it anyway. It has more holes in it than makes me feel comfortable and you seem to change names faster than other people change their undies. Yet there is a pattern there: You seem to always have been loyal and to always have done what you thought was right. In short: I think I can trust you. I hope anyways.“

He's buttering me up so I'll help him for free.

„I need money, Sato-san.“

„I can't help you there. Maybe you can get Manga-san to pay you. There is a concert coming up in two days. She'll be in danger.“

And I'd continue this operation anyway because I want to avenge Yuriko. And he knows it. So he's not going to pay me a single Yen or Dollar or Euro. Bastard.

„How long is this supposed to continue, Sato-san? Even if I manage to protect her – they'll only try again. Some day they'll get lucky. We have to find a way to stop them.“

„Any suggestions?“

„Can you have those of your colleagues whom you distrust bugged?“

He looks at her expressionlessly. This probably violates a dozen regulations. „Yes.“

„Do it then. Oh – and get a new cellphone so I can reach you without anyone bugging us in turn. Here is my own new number. The one the police doesn't know yet.“

She notices he's still got that expressionless look, watching her. What's going through his mind? Maybe it's better not to know.

„There is one other thing, Sato-san: Don't get yourself killed.“

„Don't worry.“

„That's no joke. You are the center of our little web. If the other side takes you out everything comes apart. They've already demonstrated they have no scruples.“

„Hmm ...“, he says, suddenly thoughtful. „I've never seen myself as that important.“

„Get used to it. I can't protect you too. I've got too many other things to do. Besides it'd undermine your reputation within your department if I stuck to you like a bad habit. See that you get personal security whom you can trust. Or if you can't then you better take a leave and go into hiding.“

„There is too much to do to take a leave!“

„You can't solve this case through official channels anyway so you can as well work underground. Anyway: It's imperative you stay alive.“

„Okay – I can probably take a leave.“

„Good! That's all I can think of for now. I'll fetch that other copy of the expertise for you. And I'll protect Manga – if she wants me that is. I probably should be going now. Can you bring me to a subway station?“

„It's right here on the other side of the park actually. Just follow that way over there.“

„Alright. I'll escort you to your car first though. Wouldn't want to risk getting you shot right here and now.“

But they reach the car safely. She sees him pull away and disappear into the eternal streams of cars pulsing through the veins of the huge city. Then she turns and heads to the subway station, making sure there is no one following her.

 

 

One and a half hour later Sarah and Chiyo are standing in front of a smallish house in an unremarkable street in an equally unremarkable residential area.

She's returned to Sarah's hotel after her meeting with Sato because she wanted to tell her what she's learned and hopefully contact James too. But Sarah wasn't there. So she's waited. When Sarah finally returned she's told her all. Sarah wondered if someone might have bugged Sato and listened in on Chiyo's conversation with him. Paranoia at it's best. But the thought made Chiyo so nervous that they headed straight out to the journalist's house.

The door isn't broken down and the house is still standing. A hopeful sign.

Yamada, she reads on the name-plate. She presses the bell button.

She hears footsteps and then the door opens. Before them stands a man in his early thirties, wearing T-shirt and pants. His look is comical really.

„I am a friend of Takeda Yuriko. Can we come in?“

„Yes, yes – sure. Come in, come in.“

Clothes and other things are lying around as if the owner of the house is too busy to

tidy up. There is the workroom with a window overlooking a tiny garden which equally looks like it hasn't been tended in a while. The desk in front of the window sports a computer, half lost among a mass of files, loose papers and empty fast-food cartons. Sarah raises an eyebrow as she looks around.

„It's a bit untidy“, he says unnecessarily. He watches Chiyo again, still with that befuddled look. „Are you who I think you are?“

„No.“

He doesn't look convinced.

„I am Chiyo. This is Sarah.“

„Um .. okay ...“

In his bookcase Chiyo sees a long row of Laura Harrison novels. „You are a fan of Ms. Harrison's?“

„Yes, of course! Why – are you too?“

„Not really. But I've met her.“ She hasn't read any of her books but she did read the excerpt Laura had sent Francesca and which had gotten Francesca so furious that she cursed as she rumpled it and threw it away.

„You know Harrison-san! That's – wow!“

„We are here because Yuriko – Takeda-san - was a friend of mine. You probably have heard she got murdered. We are trying to figure out who killed her. She left a copy of an expertise she'd written with you. I need that.“

„You want to look at it?“

„Yeah – I need to take it along too to study it. Although I could of course leave you a copy if you want one?“

„I don't know – I haven't even looked at it yet.“ He pauses. „I can't say no to a girl like you of course. But I want a favor in return.“

„What do you have in mind?“

„Get me into touch with Harrison-san.“

She refrains from rolling her eyes. Which is hard. „I can't promise you that. I don't even know if she's still in Japan at the moment.“ Besides even with all of Laura's faults she's not sure she wants to pester her by having her meet a fan she maybe doesn't want to meet.

„Oh, she is in a hotel here in Tokyo at the moment.“

„Hm. I can promise to get you aquainted to her if a situation arises. But really I don't want to force it in any way. Look: I really need this report. It very well may contain the motive of Yuriko's murder and even give names of possible suspects.“ She gives him full eye contact and a smile that could melt tempered steel.

„Alright, alright, you can have it. Let me scan it in and then you can take it along.“

„That's okay. But I have ask another favor: Don't use the information in it before I okay it. Because otherwise it would warn the suspects and spoil any attempt to apprehend them. And also you need to realize that you are in mortal danger if anyone learns that you are in possession of this report. Yuriko probably got killed because of it already. So if you ever use it you have to be prepared to go underground and hide. Thoroughly.“

„It is so hot?“

„Hotter than you imagine.“

„Wow – you conduct a dangerous murder investigation and you even know Harrison-san!“

He's starting to flirt. Time to end the conversation. „Let's get this copying done.“

„Okay, okay.“ He fires up the comp. Scanning takes a while and she gets nervous again already and looks out the windows to make sure no one is watching the house. Finally he's finished and hands her the report.

She asks him about the nearest copy shop and Sarah and she head off down the street, hiding the report under their shirts.

„That guy was really impressed by you. Want to date him too?“

Damn Sarah and her misguided sense of humor. „As if you spoke a word of Japanese, sweetheart“, Chiyo retorts.

Sarah giggles.

They make a couple of copies. One of them she promptly mails to Giovanni Di Centrella, her agent, with a notice to only look into it if something happens to her.

Then they return to the hotel to study the report. Finally!

 

 

Sarah makes herself comfortable on the couch with the one copy of the report while Chiyo sits at the tiny desk with the other. First thing she looks for is a mailing list. But the only person named in the report is Kuramoto, Daichi, the chairman of Hayabusa.

After the headers giving Yuriko's name and the date she reads:

 

 

Expertise concerning the suitability of the Horinouchi site for the implementation of project Hi.

 

 

Yuriko has pulled no punches as she immediately starts out:

 

 

The Horinouchi-site is unsuited for the implementation of project Hi. The subsoil is permeable to water and offers no resistence to the leakage of toxic chemicals into the ground water. Using the site for the project also makes no economic sense as the price of land in the area is so high that the operation of a waste recycling facility can not hope to amortize the high investment cost in a reasonable time frame. In short: The land is too valuable to be used for waste disposal or processing.

Furthermore the use of the above real estate is not necessary for project Hi. The goals of project Hi can be reached easier and cheaper by the purchase or lease of another piece of land. In fact the project doesn't depend on a piece of land at all. It could also be realized by other means.

 

 

So Yuriko's butler has been right: Her report argues against the toxic waste disposal. But what is project Hi? Her curiosity is piqued.

 

 

She starts skimming through the report. And there she has it: Project Hi is the plan to purposely and sustainedly inject experimental genetic substances into the ground water in order to study their effects on a huge sample of the population. The advocators of the project expect these substances to enhance the life expectancy and health of individuals. Of course Yoshimoto hasn't bothered with little things like asking said indiviuals whether they want to participate in this inofficial pharmacological mass test.

Hayabusa Inc has been founded for the purpose of carrying out the project.

 

 

Project Tsunami revived, she thinks. When Yuriko wrote that report about me a year ago, telling them I'm no use for their genetics research project, I persuaded myself they'd given up their 'super soldier' pet projects. But Yoshimoto never stops. They keep reviving them under new designations.

 

 

They aren't bothering with official permits or individual assent because they think they are the country. Or should be a any rate. They are under the delusion that once they've 'optimized' the population and have the means to mass produce their precious super humans they can end the 'dependency' of the US of A and lead the country to it's preordained preeminence. Yeah, sure.

 

 

Well, that's too bad. I will keep shutting your projects down however often you revive them. This project you'll certainly have to give up or Sato and I will light a media blitz under your arse, the like of which you've not experienced since the Shinyo Institute burned down.

 

 

The rest of the file consists of tables and charts, cost projections, prices, expenses. Yuriko has been rather blunt here too. Among the expenses Chiyo finds such interesting positions as bribes. Bribes for officials, bribes for falsified expert opinions. Or object security: Rather high costs actually. Pretty amazing for a so far supposedly empty lot. And another position: Loss in value due to insertion of toxic substances.

 

 

Your nice little piece of real estate is located next to a public water works and you'd hoped to use that to secretly insert your humanity-improving pharmaceutics into the public water supply. The water quality is monitored continouusly though. I wonder how you'd hoped to avoid the substance being spotted by controllers? I bet you have bribed people throughout the bureaucray, who knows how far to the top.

But you got too clever. You included this toxic waste processment in the small print of your application, but you didn't reckon on how much resistance such a term automatically draws. Had you stuck to a simple recycling plant as cover story you might have pulled it off. But once the words toxic waste float around, citizens' initiatives and environmentalists run amok. Someone got wind of the small print and all kinds of initiatives started. And then Manga got behind the resistance with all her publicity and suddenly you had a major problem. A parliamentary commission couldn't be put off any longer. Inquiries were starting. If someone got their fingers on Yuriko's expertise it'd been a catastrophe. So Yuriko had to be removed and her report too. And someone had the bright idea that removing Manga would let the media storm die down sooner. Fat chance of that. Anyway I got involved and suddenly killing off Manga isn't as easy a proposition as you'd envisioned it to be. And Sato turns out to be annoyingly competent and resistant to bribes.

 

 

She straightens, noticing she's sat too long in this position. Then she looks over at Sarah, suddenly noticing, the other is watching her.

„I need to inform Sato. I think I'll wait with that until we've talked things through with James though.“

Sarah nods. „I'll call him.“

 

 

They meet James at a restaurant. A pretty nice restaurant actually. James and Sarah kiss. Chiyo stands there to wait her turn. Then she leans in to plant a chaste little kiss on James' cheek. She can't help imagining that Sarah seems less than pleased by her showing even this subdued bit of intimacy to James. Oh, the joys of open partnerships.

After dinner James reads the report. Then they make sure they aren't being followed as they take a walk and discuss what to do.

„If we go public with this, the Kuramotos will claim Yuriko's report is a forgery. We have no real way to prove it isn't. I suppose there will be a media storm, but once the spin-masters on both sides are finished with it, no one will know what's true anymore. I suppose they'll hopefully have to abandon their planned waste processment facility – although even that we can't be sure of – but as Yuriko's report makes clear they can always continue this 'Project Hi' of their's someplace else. Also the media confrontation gives them additional reason to continue their little killing spree. So Manga – and Sato for that matter, not to mention us – will continue to be targets. Some day their assassins will get lucky.“

„True“, James concedes. „You know, the only way to stop them is to make continuing too expensive for them. That Sato forces me to stay undercover doesn't make things easier.“

„You know, we could go at the thing from the top instead of from the bottom. We could just eliminate the uppermost Kuramoto – or whoever is in charge there on the board of Yoshimoto.“

„Hearing such a suggestion from you is odd.“

„Yeah, I know I've been soft. But I've learned.“

„We don't know for sure who on the board of Yoshimoto is involved in this. It's not totally impossible that it's all this Kuramoto Daichi's idea. I grant you it's not likely – but we can't rule it out.“

„We could eliminate Daichi too.“ She hesitates thoughtfully. She may not be as 'soft' as she's been two years ago but she's not sure she's far enough along the road to actually preeemtively kill someone just because of a suspicion. „I'd hate it if we killed someone at Yoshimoto only to learn it was actually all Daichi's idea.“

„And we can't be sure it'd stop them. There has to be a better way.“

„Yeah, let's keep this in mind as a last resort though.“ She pauses, gnawing her lip thoughtfully. Then stops herself. It's a bad habit of her's which she's mostly managed to get rid off. „I have it: We don't go public at all. Instead we offer the Kuramotos a deal: They stop their project – for good! - and their killing spree too and in return we don't hand all this over to the press.“ She pauses again, thinking. „We shouldn't really leave all those bribed moles of their's in place, so what we'd do before offering the deal to the Kuramotos, is ask Sato which people in the government and the departments involved he thinks are trustworthy, then silently contact them and give them the report so they can try to get rid of their moles.“

„They need to hand us Idoru's killer too or at least tell us what they know about her.“

„They probably can't, James. She most likely is working independently and they won't know where she is.“

„They have to have a means of contacting her because they hired her.“

„True.“ She pauses again. Sure, 'they' may have hired her but who are 'they'? And will 'they' be willing to sell out the operative who's been doing their dirty work? „But we don't know she's been hired by the top brass at Yoshimoto who we'll be trying to make the deal with. She may have been contracted by Daichi for example and whoever is his backer up on the Yoshimoto board may not know about it. If we demand her being handed over as an additional term I am afraid we may overplay our hand and blow the whole deal.“

„You are right. I still wish we could ask them.“

„I do too.“

„Actually maybe I can get that little bit of information out of Daichi independently of your deal.“

„Good idea – you could approach him like – Daichi-san, you had this bad grace – all unknowing I'm sure but still – to contract the assassin who's killed of my sister. I'm sure you'll agree this is most unseemly and you'll do what you can to rectify the situation ...“

James grins. „Yeah, something like that. Sarah may help too. You are good at this kind of thing, aren't you, darling?“

„One tries“, Sarah retorts, smiling innocently.

„There is another thing“, James says. „Sarah and I plan to look around that toxic waste facility lot tonight. Maybe we'll find something useful. You know, their security is awfully tight there when one considers that the parcel is supposed to be empty.“

„Awfully tight – like what?“

„A two meter electrical fence strengthend with plastic platings and topped with barb wire and twelve armed guards with dogs.“

„Yeah, that is tight security for an empty lot“, she says thoughtfully, remembering the high security costs mentioned in Yuriko's report. „I wonder if Daichi is hiding something there? I mean something besides the planned facility?“

„Finding that out is the idea. If we get anything we may use it to – hm – encourage him to tell us about Idoru's murderer.“

„Problem is that that journalist – Yamada – still has a copy of the report. We need to make sure that he won't use it.“

„We could shoot him. Just kidding.“

Chiyo darts him a half-comical look. „I suppose that would solve the problem. What I'll do instead is I'll try to persuade him to not use the report.“

„I'm sure you can persuade him somehow. He was all over you.“ Sarah suddenly feels inpired to contribute to the conversation.

„He was not!“

„Yes he was.“

„He was after Ms. Harrison.“

„Yeah, sure“, Sarah giggles. Damn – she's been making fun of her again.

„I'll offer introducing him to Laura Harrison. That's what he wanted all along. If he's still alive that is and no one has broken into his house and stolen the report already.“ Her phone beeps. A text message. She reads it, then says aloud: „It's from Sato. He writes the Japanese girl from Yuriko's bdsm party has been found – poisoned.“ She thinks of the plump little masked woman who's been sitting on the bench. She probably should feel bad knowing she's dead but she doesn't. She admits it to herself, wondering if it's a bad sign.

„Not that murdering her helps them much“, James muses.

„No it doesn't. But they don't know that yet. They won't be happy when they find out. Alright - I'll go persuade Yamada.“ She gets up. „Be good you two and don't do what I would do.“

Sarah giggles. „And what would that be?“

Chiyo smiles airily and walks off.

 

 

Dusk has set.

On the western sky a remnant of orange still flames behind the jagged silhuettes of the buildings. In the east, the city is slowly being swallowed by the blueish gloom of approaching darkness.

Having left Yamada with the land mine of Yuriko's report, Chiyo half expects to find the little house broken into, him gone – or dead. But the white-washed door looks unchanged as she presses the neat brass button again.

The door opens and there stands Yamada. Very much alive and as surprised to see her as last time. Or maybe the bemused expression is his usual look.

„Did I ask you already if you are who you look to be?“

„You did and I'm not her, Yamada-san. Can I come in?“

„Sure, sure – call me Masa.“

His study is the same mess as earlier. Not that Chiyo should complain really since her own apartment – as long as she has had one which has been a while – has been at least as messy. Tidying up has never been one of her favourite tasks.

She looks him in the face. „I need to ask you to destroy your copy of Yuriko's report and to promise me to never publish any of it.“

„What do I get in return?“

„I'll introduce you to Harrison-san.“

„Oh! That's great.“ He looks thoughtful for a moment. „But we go to her first and then I destroy my copy.“

Can she risk leaving the report here for a couple hours? Probably. Does she want to risk it? Not if she can help it.

„No – we need to destroy it right now. It's to dangerous to have lying around. But I promise to bring you to Harrison-san immediately. In fact let me call her just now and make an appointment.“

He agrees. She makes sure the report is wiped from his hard disk and the disk overwritten. Then she calls Laura. Yes, they can come over to her hotel, she is being assured. Laura sounds cheerful. Chiyo feels a bit guilty for misusing her as payment for her deal with Masa. But not guilty enough to wish she'd done anything different. It's not like Laura Harrison is one of her favourite persons ever.

 

 

They arrive at the hotel reception and ask the nice young receptionist to call Laura's room.

„Yes, Iwazumi-san, of course, Iwazumi-san“, the girl says with a smile which would have done any commercial proud.

„I'll meet you at the bar“, Laura promises.

It'll have to do. She's only promised Masa to introduce him after all. Not to get him into Laura's bedroom.

They walk over to the bar and find a table that lets Chiyo watch the place. She orders them drinks and then they wait. Ten minutes later they see Laura approaching.

„Chiyo!“, Laura says warmly. Chiyo's feeling of guilt increases another notch.

„Hi, Laura! Great to see you“, she lies as they hug. „Meet Masa-san. A fan of yours. Aren't you, Masa-san?“

„Ah – yes – sure. Err - yes to both. I'm such a fan of you, Harrison-san!“

„He's got all your books in his bookcase, Laura.“

„I'm flattered. How are you, Chiyo?“

The way Laura is ignoring Masa isn't really hopeful. And that Masa is behaving like a drooling idiot doesn't help either.

„I am good, thank you! How are you?“

„Good also, thanks. What brings you here?“

I met Masa-san and we chanced to talk about you. He's a very interesting person – investigative reporter – and I know how much you like to meet interesting persons so I thought I'd introduce you. Besides he's a got a little secret. He has a weakness for BDSM, haven't you, Masa-san?“

„Me? Err – um, sure! Yes!“, stutters Masa.

„Oh, nice“, Laura says. „I'd welcome you two to my new appartment in New York City anytime!“

Uh, oh! Better duck out of this quickly. „I'd love to. I can't right now though because I have so much going on here.“

„It would be an honor!“, she hears from Masa.

„But only if you promise to come too, Chiyo!“, says Laura. Damn.

„Really, I am afraid I can't now. Got things to do here in Tokyo. Also I am pretty broke. Don't know when I'll be able to finance the flight.“ She feels saying this is a mistake even while she speaks.

Sure enough Laura's voice lowers contemptively and her eyes narrow as she says: „I can pay for your flight of course. For the flights of both of you.“

Great. Now she's a slut in Laura's book. Actually she's probably already been in Laura's 'slut' drawer all along. „I always pay my own flights, thank you.“

„Well – then that friend of your's – what was his name? James? Can probably pay for you.“

„As I said, I pay my own flights, Laura. Once I find the money and time I'll come visit you.“ Yeah and not before hell freezes over. But she keeps a blank face. Not that it seems to help much.

Actually she wonders what she has against Laura really. It's Francesca, she thinks. I just can't forgive the way Laura treated her and tries to exploit Francesca's personality for her own little game of self importance.

„Come now, make an effort!“

„Yeah, but Masa-san is a busy journalist. It won't be easy for him to find time either.“

„Oh, I have time! Sure, I can come anytime!“, Masa objects. The traitor.

 

 

„We don't want to use up any more of your time, Laura. Thank you for meeting us!“

„Oh – I have time ...“, Masa protests. Not that Laura seems to notice it.

„Don't mention it. And don't forget my invitation! I expect to see you soon!“

„Sure! Bye, Laura! Come, Masa-san!“

„Yes – um – good bye, Harrison-san. I am so honored to have met you!“

God, she hopes he has found any enjoyment in this desaster of a meeting. She certainly hasn't. But her enjoyment hasn't been the purpose anyway. She feels sorry for him though, so she asks him out to dinner. She isn't very hungy after having dined with James and Sarah just three hours ago but her fast metabolism actually can use some new calory input again already.

„Have you read any of her books? That's so incredible how realistically she describes those BDSM sex parties“, he babbles away.

Yeah and she wonders how Masa knows it's realistic.

„No, I haven't read any.“

„Ah, you should. I especially recommend her last one. There is this scene between the heroine wielding that whip in the house of that countess and her husband ...“

That would be the scene that got Francesca so furious. The scene in which Laura had reversed the roles Francesca and Laura had played in reality, 'borrowed' Francesca's personality and given it to her novel heroine, while having the 'countess' cringe before her on the floor.. It would be funny really if Francesca wasn't gone. But now she's lost her and will probably never see her again. Not hear that commanding soprano. Nor feel her warm skin next to hers. How did I ever fall in love with an arrogant, overconfident, aristocratic bitch?

„What is wrong?“, she hears. „You are looking sad.“

She shakes her head. „Sorry. Just woolgathering.“

She falls silent again. Poor Masa probably has realized he must have said something wrong but can't know what it was.

But he seems to get over it. He soon is happily babbling away again. „Wow, we met Laura Harrison! That was so amazing. Don't misunderstand me – you are a lovely girl and all. But Ms. Harrison – wow – that's something else.“

Yeah, it seems he has enjoyed the meeting.

 

 

It is nearly midnight as Chiyo gets back to her hotel.

She wonders how it is going with James' and Sarah's little nightly excursion. She wishes she could call James. But the thought of his phone going off in the middle of a break-in is a little unsettling. Supposedly he'd have deactivated it – but maybe not too. No, she can't risk calling. Damn – and if something happens to them? I'll not even know it! Stop worrying, she tells herself sternly. James is a big boy and if I head out there now, I will just draw attention and make things worse. I can't sneak worth a damn. Besides they'll think I'm possessive if I go play nanny.They are grown-ups and know what they are doing.

Supposedly. She undresses and heads to bed.

She keeps turning around restlessly as her mind produces images of what might be happening to them. No use trying to sleep. She gets up, dresses again and takes the subway to Sarah's hotel.

 

 

The fence looms up darkly before them as James and Sarah silently move up to the site of the controversial waste processing plant-to-be. They have approached it from downwind to avoid being smelled by the dogs. Now they listen as the footsteps of the pair of guards with their dogs disappear into the night. The steel fence is clad with plastic platings on the inside so they can't see through it.

The schedules he's observed yesterday have been rather erratic but the shortest interval between patrols has been half an hour, most considerably longer than that, so they should have some time to work with now.

He and Sarah move up to the fence quickly, carrying the thick pieces of carpet. He doesn't see any alarm systems. They throw the carpet onto the top of the barb wire, several layers over each other. Sarah makes sure the barbs are truly covered. Satisfied she climbs onto James shoulders and then onto the carpet-clad fence, coming to lie on it on her belly.

From her vantage point she can oversee the grounds: Dirt and grass mostly, mired by crusted wheel tracks and shrouded in darkness. The access gate and a little guard house are on the other side of the property among a handful of lights which only make the darkness on the rest of the grounds seem even deeper.

What's intersting is the low dark windowless building which crouches in the middle of the premises. It seems new and the design looks like a transformer station.

What someone needs a transformer station for on an empty piece of land is an interesting question.

„Hey, don't fall asleep up there. What do you see?“, James whispers.

„5-3-7 are this week's sweepstakes, honey. Also everything is clear. You can come up.“

Sarah gives him a hand and helps him up. James climbs onto the carpet nimbly. They jump down the other side. Nothing to be heard or seen. Noiselessly they cross the wide strip of grass and approach the transformer station.

They reach the building and carefully sneak around it to the front side. No one has seen them so far. Good.

There is the door: Coated steel, sturdy looking. A high voltage sign painted on it. The door handle is the gleam of polished metal. It's looking a little too inviting as he inspects it closely, noticing the insulator material seperating it from the metal door. That thing is electrically charged he bets.

The security lock isn't insulated so supposedly it's safe to touch. He inserts a tiny lockpick into it. He moves the pick delicately, until the lock gives a final-sounding click. Carefully he opens the door. He sees darkness through the widening crack and then – suddenly – light. Damn automatic lighting.

He quickly closes the door again and they look towards the guard's house. But no one seems to have noticed. Luck.

Very carefully he opens the door again, just barely – and up there is a switch, held back by the door when it's closed. He manages to secure ithe switch with tape. Now they open the door and the lighting stays off. Good.

The inside of the transformer station is dark. Still the bit of ambient lighting filtering through the open door is enough for them to make out that the inside is a single room. And that the dark rectangular shape looming up in it's middle isn't a transformer. It is an elevator. Go figure.

They close the door behind them and risk lighting a torch. The elevator is code-secured. There is a panel with numbered buttons.

„What now“, he whispers. „Try to hack it and see where it leads?“

„I certainly won't.“

„I'm so tempted.“

„This looks like the only way in“, Sarah says. „We have no idea what awaits us down there. There are guards up here. If we get spotted: How do we get out again?“

„You are right of course. Too bad though.“

They leave the room and he removes the tape and locks the door again. Still no guards in sight. They sneak back to the fence and exit the estate the way they've entered it.

Something is down there, James muses. Something which makes this extensive security necessary. I really wonder if the guys up top at Yoshimoto know about it or if it's a little secret of Daichi's.

 

 

Chiyo smiles at the yawning receptionist as she passes through the empty lobby and heads upstairs to Sarah's room. She can see a strop of light under the closed door and takes a deep breath. They made it back.

She knocks, the door gets upened and there stands James in front of her, looking a little tired but otherwise fine. That's a relief.

She wants to hug him but doesn't know if she should do it front of Sarah and all. But then she just wraps her arms around him and holds him. Damn this awkwardness. „Am I glad you are back! How'd it go?“

James smiles. So he doesn't mind being hugged. Things are looking up.

„Pretty good“, he answers. „There is a transformer station there which contains an elevator.“ James tells her the details. Her respect for Sarah ups another couple of notches as she hears the story. She isn't sure whether she likes that or not. She pushes these thoughts aside.

„You did good! You too, Sarah! You are very good!“

„Thank you.“

„I really should inform Sato. About the report too. But not in the middle of the night I guess.“ She hesitates a moment, then continues: „Um - can I stay here with you guys tonight?“

„No, thank you. We are fine“, Sarah returns promptly. Gee, why did she even ask?

And Sarah pointedly pulls James close and kisses him deeply

„Good night then“, she murmurs. She steps outside and closes the door. „If you really want to go already ...“ is the last she hears. Sarah's attempts at humor are really starting to get old.

 

 

She wonders if she can still get her own former room in this hotel. She had paid it after all, even if she checked out afterwards to return to the other hotel.

The receptionist puts his novel away as she approaches. Her room? Yes, it's still free and yes, true, she'd paid it. Sure, she can have it back.

So not another lengthy subway travel throught the city tonight. She smiles at the guy, the effect somewhat spoiled as she has to yawn suddenly. But he grins. She laughs silently, then heads upstairs.

 

 

Sleepy as she is, she still lies awake for a long while, trying to ignore the very obvious noises of lovemaking penetrating the thin wall. She hides under the pillow but that still doesn't muffle the noise enough. Besides it doesn't help against the growing warmth down her lower body as she can't help imagining what's going on there.

Darn it, she thinks and gets rid of her panties. Her hand finds it's way between her legs and she touches herself.

She sleeps soundly after that.

 

 

Morning.

Chiyo showers and gets back into those jeans and tee again, thinking she really should either wash them or get a second set. If she just could trust her own suits! She'll have to remember to ask James to check them for bugs. She wishes she could check them herself but she knows she'd not reckognize a bug if it bit her. Well – at least not the electronic version. The life versions can't bite her since they can't penetrate her genmanipulated skin.

She knocks at Sarah's door finds Sarah and James are already gone. They wanted to get up early to shadow Daichi.

Well – time to start the day too!

After all this sitting around, she feels the urge to work out some. So instead of taking the direction to the subway she falls into a jog and heads towards the park Sato wants to meet her in.

Routinely she looks around for pursuers but as she passes into the park she fails to spot the three tattooed young men standing down that narrow side path, discussing something. One of them sees her and points. She's passed out of sight already but the three talk urgently and then hurry up to the main way and follow her.

 

 

„Hello, Iwazumi-san! I see you've – ah - aquired some new friends“, Sato greets her as she reaches him, breathing quickly and blood still rushing in her ears. Her heart skips a beat but she forces herself to not turn her head. „I do? Who?“

„Looks like three Yakuzas.“

„Let's head to that bench and give them the opportunity to close with us.“

„If you are sure.“

Is she? She can feel her body hum as adrenaline hits her blood stream. That's probably not the best state to be in when making tactical decisions. But she really is tired of this continously having to be on her guard against people shadowing her.

They reach the bench and she poses on it, brushing her long ponytail to the side. Sato leans on the back of the bench and lights one of his stinking cigs. Out of the corner of her eyes she can see the guys approach now. Will they risk a confrontation?

They split and head into the bushes, hiding some way off. She can see the dull gleam of guns in their hands.

This is not good.

If they start firing from a distance they might just chance to hit Sato. Being unarmed herself she needs to be close in order to fight back. And this splitting means there'll be at least one guy a way off and able to shoot at Sato, whatever she does. Stopping here was a mistake.

„Let's go“, she whispers.

They walk along the path, pretending not to notice the gunmen. And the guys let them pass. Maybe it's just her looks that attracted them and they don't dare attack as long as Sato is with her. Or maybe they did reckognize her – or him even - but haven't received any orders as to what to do with them yet. Well, that's too bad for them.

Because Sato and she are walking towards his car now. They reach it and and jump in quickly. Sato starts the engine.

Behind them the Yakuzas run out of the park, towards them. But all they can do is watch the car's rear lights disappear into the morning traffic.

 

 

Sato leads Chiyo to a noodle-bar.

The place is small and has a well-used look. There are a lot of customers, which probably means the food is good if not particularly sophisticated.

She hands him a copy of Yuriko's report. „There it is, Sato-san. You can keep this copy.“

She watches and slowly sips her tea while he methodically works his way through the pages. Finally he finishes and lights another cigarette, then coughs as he inhales and looks at her thoughtfully.

„There is nothing in there which implicates any specific person in your murder investigation“, she observes.

„That's unfortunate but true. It does present a handy motive though.“

„Yeah – for several people actually. But I bet you the assassins were hired. So the motive doesn't help where they are concerned. And how do you want to get at the ones pulling the strings?“

„What do you propose, Iwazumi-san?“

„The primary mission is to stop this whole thing. And that's exactly what we can do with this report. We'll send it to the Yoshimoto board and tell them we'll refrain from making it public if they in turn stop this 'Project Hi' of theirs – permanently – and the killing spree too. Simultaneously you contact trustworthy people in the government and bureaucracy so they can get rid of these bribed officials. This way Yoshimoto can save it's face and we get rid of this whole unpleasantness. Also Manga-san won't have to face more attempts. That the assassins probably will get away is unfortunate but really is a secondary consideration.“

As he sits there, puffing his cigarette, looking tired and small somehow, she suddenly feels admiration for him. Being handed this whole mess, having to face it more or less single-handedly yet refusing to roll over and just give up or let himself be bribed like his colleagues. Admire him alright, girl, she thinks. But don't hang your heart on him. He'll just die on you. These Don Quichottes all do.

He inhales deeply, then coughs a little. „Alright.“

That was fast! And here is another thing to admire him for: He's efficient once he's made up his mind. He immediately gets up, pays and they head out to make the necessary hardcopies of the report.

Once she notices he wants to mail them she stops him though. „It's better if we meet those people of your's in person. So we can talk to them and make sure they are all on the same page. Otherwise we risk confusion. Some may act, others might not. Some might even publish it and ruin this whole deal we are proposing.“

He agrees. Wow! She's actually shaping the official Japanese reaction to this scandal. Or at least she may if this all works out as planned. Girl, you've come a long way since you added up statistics columns as an office mouse back there at Omega Unlimited. And now stop congratulation yourself and make sure nothing happens to Sato or this whole thing may go into the crapper yet.

She guards him as he places the necessary phone calls to set up the appointment. Unlikely as it seems, their plan might actually work. Yeah, maybe.

 

 

The same morning James and Sarah are sitting in his appropriated car and watching the Hayabusa Inc. headquarters in the outskirts of Tokyo. After a far-to-short night they've gotten up at 5.30 AM to make sure they are on their post when Daichi gets to work.

The company's seat is an expensive-looking three-story building, villa-style, surrounded by a well-kept garden and a formidable wall with a discreet brass plate next to the gate.

At 6.30 they see a limo approach and drive onto the premises. Daichi and a couple of guards get out of it and disappear into the building.

At 12.30 PM Daichi Kuramoto appears among a swarm of what looks like to be all his employees, twenty or thirty of them, the men in dark suits, the women in equally dark skirt costumes with white blouses. The whole throng marches off along the street to a nice-looking restaurant which probably is the feeding station for half the business administrations in this area.

James and Sarah follow a bit later, entering the restaurant. There is the Hayabusa crowd scattered around a couple of tables, pretty much concentrated in one half of the room. James and Sarah sit at an empty table on the opposite side, ordering drinks.

Daichi is in his twenties, expensively dressed and playing boss, judging by the way the others defer to him and keep watching him for clues as to when to laugh.

For all his outward joviality he makes a somewhat tense impression.

He'd probably be even more tense if he knew what is about to descend on his little empire.

Daichi looks over.

„He's noticed you“, James says quietly. „There he's looking again. He likes what he sees.“

„He'd better.“ Sarah giggles.

They wait.

Finally Daichi finishes his meal and rises and his employees take that as a signal to do the same, like a swarm of fish changing direction on some unseen cue.

The swarm leaves and there Daichi looks at Sarah again. Sarah looks back at him, then lowers her eyes. It wouldn't do to be too obvious.

„That would be practical if you could somehow get him to date you“, James muses once the swarm is out of earshot.

„Yeah but we have to find an opportunity for him to approach me.“

„Or we could try to grab him at home. We'd have to follow him first though and check out the surroundings.“

Stopping his car would be another possibility. But James rejects it quickly. There have been bodyguards with Daichi in his car this morning and taking those out would draw too much attention.

They finish their lunch and pay, then head back to the car.

 

 

END OF SESSION (23.15 pm)

 

 

 

 

CHAMPIONS session saturday august 28th 2010:

 

 

- Background:

 

 

The group is in Tokyo, trying to stop Yoshimoto's 'Project Hi' and to find Idoru's suspected murderess. Sarah and James are in a car, shadowing Daichi Kuramoto. Chiyo is meeting Sato and Manga because of the upcoming concert.

 

 

- NPCs:

 

 

Sarah Campio – James' lover, Mexican drug lieutenant

Belinda – Mexican druglord sweetheart

Roberto – her bodyguard

Manga – Japanese pop princess

Kobayashi, Shouta – Manga's manager

Lt. Sato – Tokyo homicide division

Ito, Kenzo and Suzuki, Mai – young detectives

Kuramoto, Katsuro – Yoshimoto Holding CEO

Kuramoto, Hamato – Yoshimoto Holding board member

Kuramoto, Daichi – Hayabusa Inc CEO

 

 

- Gameplay:

 

 

Afternoon: James and Sarah are still in James' appropriated car, discussing how to get to Daichi, when Sarah's phone rings.

James waits while Sarah listens to whoever is talking. And someone seems to be talking a lot. „Si“, James hears Sarah answer. „Si, si.“

Finally she puts the phone away. „We're going to the airport. It wouldn't be bad if we got there earlier.“

„Okay“, James says, laughing silently. „Which airport?“

„Haneda.“

James steps on the gas and they zip through the traffic with all the swiftness Sarah can ask for. Maybe a little more than that.

Sarah has to grip the upper grab handle to stabilize herself as she talks to him over the roar of the engine. „That was Belinda calling. She and Roberto are coming to Tokyo. Indeed they have just landed.“ James cuts another corner, sliding sideways and forcing another car to break sharply. They leave the furious honking behind as James passes a congestion on full throttle, using the opposing traffic line. „There's been an attempt on Belinda. A gringo sniper tried to shoot her while she was shopping. They killed Alberto instead, who was guarding her at the time.“

Alberto? James remembers the middle-aged, grim man who could unexpectedly reveal a dry sense of humor at times. Not that that had made him any less cold when he killed someone, preferrably someone who couldn't shoot back. Yeah, Alberto certainly hadn't been a very likeable example of the human species. Not that El Capitán's other men were much better.

They have reached the airport and James, who suddenly drives very civilly, stops in a parking lot. No one seems to have followed them. Not that it was likely at this speed.

 

 

The main hall is the usual bustle of activity. No Belinda to be seen. No one shadowing them either. Or at least if someone is shadowing us they are really good, James thinks.

All they see is the usual mixture of business people in fancy suits, tired-looking tourists in their rumpled out of place clothes, efficient-seeming clerks in their neat uniforms, students in jeans and huge-eyed kids tailing along their parents' coattails. The display claims that the machine from Mexico City has landed half an hour ago.

They post themselves at the exit gate and wait. So much for the speed race through Tokyo's rush-hour.

But it was fun.

 

 

Passengers keep popping out of the gate seemingly at random. Suddenly Jackie spots his favourite air passenger – what is coming towards him, leaving the lesser passengers littered in her wake, can only be the enormous body of Ms. Brown, a sweet smile on her face. Said sweet smile is suddenly wiped away as Ms. Brown spots Sarah next to him. She veers off quietly, looking sad.

James breathes a sigh of relief.

And there is Roberto finally, looking around and spotting them, with a pretty expectant-looking Belinda following in his wake.

Then Belinda sees them too, gives an enthusiastic outcry and beelines towards them. There are hugs all around and as it's his turn to be hugged by Belinda, James dutifully keeps his attention on their surroundings. Part of it anyways. Belinda is El Capitán's sweetheart after all. Not to mention that it wouldn't do if gunmen sprang out of the ground and mowed Belinda and Roberto down just after their arrival. Still she does feel nice in his arms.

They reach the car safely and drive back to the hotel.

 

 

Since Sarah and Chiyo have two adjacent rooms already, James rents the one on the other side of Sarah's too. They finally all stand in Sarah's room together, James closing the door behind them.

And then it's time for Belinda and Sarah to hug again. Seemingly the airport-hug was too short and didn't count. The girls chat loudly – or rather Belinda does, and at an incredible speed too – fortunately it's unlikely anyone in the other hotel rooms understands any Spanish.

„The poor Alberto – I was just leaning down to get a better look at that pair of shoes – amazing snakeskin heels they were, with pearls all around! You should have seen them! – when a shot hit him. He still managed to grab me and pull me down into cover, the poor guy. Spoiled my dress too. Do you remember my blue satin dress? There was blood all over it. I'll never get it clean again! It's obvious it's got to be replaced but did Capitán understand that? No, of course not! I count on you to help me persuade him. Anyway – the store security came and a doctor too and even police and whatnot but they couldn't save Alberto. It's a shame really. He was a good man, even though I couldn't shake the feeling that guarding me when I went shopping, bored him occasionally.“

„Any idea as to who that gringo was?“

„He calls himself The Comedian. We know he has ben sent by Alejandro. Alejandro 'El Magnifico'“, she giggles, then sobers. „It's not funny I suppose. He's a new boss, very ruthless. Capitán wants me safe now – with the baby and all. And since you guys already were here in Tokyo he decided to send me over. You are officially ordered to protect me!“

„El puerco! Alejandro will pay for that!“

„I'm to tell El Muerte – she flashes a sweet smile at James – that he's to shoot them both. Alejandro and his gringo sniper.“

„Of course I will shoot them“, James says. „We are nearly finished here. We should be able to return in the next days couple of days.“

„And what about you guys? Did you marry already?“

Sarah giggles.

„Shouldn't you and Capitán set an example first? You aren't married either!“, James says.

„Yes, we are!“

„What?! You married? And without us there! Congratulations anyways!“

„I'm sorry. We were in a bit of a hurry. And thank you! I'm sure we'll have a real big party later when all this - unpleasantness has been settled. I can't wait to go shopping for my wedding dress!“

„Sounds as if things are pretty bad back home.“

„Yeah, it is. Actually it always is. All those killings. Awful.“

Since Sarah is to guard Belinda she decides that Belinda will sleep in her room. Which means James and Roberto share the other room they rented today

Sarah's orders to guard Belinda mean she can't help get to Daichi Kuramoto as they had planned to. That's too bad.

 

 

Earlier this morning:

Chiyo looks at the rows of little white homes, stretching seemingly endlessly on both sides of the narrow street. Each house is a bit different from it's neighbours yet all are looking the same somehow.

Sato has scheduled the meeting with his contacts in the interior and the environmental departments – both on the city and the government level – for today at one in the afternoon. And since there also is that Manga-concert coming up this evening, Sato has set up an appointment with Manga for the morning.

So there they are now, standing in front of a little house which sure doesn't look like the domicile of a successful pop princess.

Sato seems to read Chiyo's thoughts: „This is a safe house we got for her after the last attempt.“

Makes sense as far as Chiyo is concerned. As a matter of fact, it makes a lot of sense. Now there is the little issue that they might have ruined Manga's nice safety by driving here. But she didn't spot anyone following them. Sato obviously hasn't either. She can hope he's as proficient at that kind of thing as he seems to be at everything else.

 

 

The door is being opened by the smug young detective who had questioned her during her little invitation to the police department, three days ago. He steps aside to let them pass and she follows on Sato's heels, giving a polite bow to the detective who returns it expressionlessly. „Nice meeting you again, keikán-san“, she says, hiding a smile. A little poise never hurts, it shows confidence. Besides it makes her feel grown-up.

She never again wants to be that mousy student with the frightened eyes who jumped at shadows. She supposes being hunted by Yoshimoto's stooges was rather a better reason to feel like a frightened mouse than most reasons she can think of but she still didn't much care for the feeling. Now if she analyzes her inner feelings more closely – which she tries to avoid most of the time – the paranoid behaviour she's displaying these days might be described as 'frightened' too. She greatly prefers the term 'prudence' though. And that's where the 'mousy' part comes in: In the bad old days, all of three years ago, she was ducking out of sight because she was running away, feeling like prey. Today she may duck out of sight too – or more often than not – but not to run away. Today she does it to avoid unnecessary risks. But when it is necessary to take a risk she doesn't hesitate to do it and lets the other side worry about the consequences. Yeah, and keep telling yourself that and you'll maybe start believing it too, Chiyo.

These thoughts have brought them to the living room. Damn, concentrate, she tells herself. There is the other baby detective, the female one, leaning on a wall, watching them enter and now bowing in their direction. She returns the bow.

And there is Manga. Playing on a keyboard, slowly, a couple of notes, then trying another variation.

Dang, Chiyo thinks. No wonder, I managed to pass for her. Without Manga's usual fantastic outfit, just dressed in jeans, a black bodice and a short jacket, she looks much like Chiyo herself does. She even has a similar poise. A strange feeling this, like a sort of déjà-vu: Seeing herself in third person mode.

Manga stops playing and raises her head, her face radiating with a smile which Chiyo herself couldn't have bettered. „There is my doubleganger finally! Yay!“

A couple of steps bring her over and she embraces Chiyo tightly, dark hair mingling with Chiyo's smelling faintly of shampoo and the merest trace of parfume.

Chiyo feels herself smile back but needs a second to decide how to respond to this assault. Best to go into 'friendly but professional' mode, she decides and hugs the other back carefully, keeping her poise.

„It's so nice to meet you, Manga-san! How are you?“

„Pretty good, all things considered. And alive too, thanks to you!“

„Don't mention it.“

Manga chuckles and releases her. „Let me take a look at you.“ Chiyo can feel blood raising to her cheeks and hopes she doesn't blush too obviously. „Wow“, she hears, „ you'd have won that look-alike contest easily if you'd taken part.“

Yeah and really this alikeness is eery. „Did you ever wonder, if there is a reason for this similarity“, Chiyo asks her gently.

„Are you implying we are related or something?“

„Who are your parents?“

„No clue. I was found abandoned.“

„The institute that created me was located in Nagoya. Have you been found around there somewhere?“

„As a matter of fact yes. In Nagoya actually. Does that mean we are sisters?“

„I don't know. It is possible.“

„Any possibility to find that out?“

„That's not hard. A gene test would tell.“ She pauses, thinking. „How old are you?“

„Twenty-six. But don't tell anyone“, Manga laughs.

Twenty-six? Chiyo would rather have estimated her around twenty-one. That may not mean anything of course. „You look younger than that and I'm not saying that out of flattery. Anyway – I'm twenty-five.“

„You look younger than that too – and see who's flattering whom now“, Manga giggles. „So what do you do? Can you sing? Can you dance?“

„Neither. I can do a bit of acrobatics for you if that helps.“ Chiyo giggles. „Originally I'm a physicist by training but my – um – skillset – has proven to make me a very effective bodyguard. So that's what I've become.“

„Oooh! That's so exciting! Come, let's sit. Do you want a drink? And then I want to now everything about you. Sato has been maddenlingly mysterious when I tried to get anything out of him.“

That remark lets Chiyo look over to the lieutenant who is standing there, trying to radiate unobtrusiveness but who seems to have grown another pair of ears or several of them.

But she's started to trust him enough that she doesn't mind. Not much anyways. Telling Manga is a risk too, of course. But if her suspicions are true, then Manga deserves to know what would be her history too.

So she tells her what she knows about the Shinyo lab. Telling the story brings back memories: Her mother's voice, talking, urgently, always frightened-sounding, telling her the same stories. Professor Tokiwa and the money he offered Ayaka for becoming surrogate mother. Ayakas discovering what happened to the malformed children, to the ones considered failures. Ayaka's headlong flight to the United States, pregnant with the daughter they'd implanted in her womb. The press articles about the fire at the institute and what would become known as the Shinyo scandal. Ayaka's murder when Chiyo was in high school, her own flight, her hiding under false identities. Her studies finished in record-breaking time, followed by the first job at Omega Unlimited. Only to find out that the company was a subsidiary of Yoshimoto and one of her colleagues set on her to hunt her down. Her starting to work as an FBI contact, then as a UNIX agent and finally as a self-employed bodyguard.

„And what about you, Manga? Tell me about yourself.“

„Not much to tell there“, Manga says with fake modesty and giggles. „As I said, I was abandoned as a baby. I grew up in a children's home and I fear I did about everything wrong that a home-kid can do wrong – drugs, brawling, cursing, skipping school, you name it. I did my share of running away too.“ She giggles. „I'm afraid I was a rather horrible kid. But I've always had this interest in music. And that's what saved me in the end I suppose. My school grades were – disappointing – to say the least. But I did make it onto the conservatory. I founded my own band halfway through that. Had minor gigs for a while. Then I managed to draw Shouta-san's attention and he got me in touch with the right people. The rest is history, as they say.“

„And you have no idea who your parent's were?“

Manga shakes her head. „None.“

Chiyo wonders. Someone at the Shinyo Institute, knowing another 'failure' is about to be terminated. Maybe even the guy ordered to do the termination. But this is such a sweet baby and he can't do it. So instead of dead in the Yon lab's waste disposals she ends up abandoned and in a youth center. It is absolutely possible. Whether it is what happened is another question. But if it did happen it means Manga is not safe from Yoshimoto either. And it raises the possibility that what happened once might have happened again. To other 'project results'. And who is the person who disappeared the baby and saved her life and what has become of them?

But those are considerations for another day.

Time is getting short, since Sato and she soon have to leave to meet his contacts. So they start planning Manga's concert now. As she mentions that she needs to charge a fee, Manga doesn't turn a hair. In fact she's kinda put out with Sato as she hears Chiyo didn't get paid anything for the last event.

„We – err – had a deal“, Sato says rather lamely.

Manga raises an eyebrow, looking at Chiyo. Who laughs silently. „It's true.“

„How much do you want?“

Yeah, damn. She likes Manga – who on top of everything else may be her sister. And negotiating fees has never been her strong suit. To put it mildly. That's why she got her agent finally. If it'd been someone less likeable than Manga she'd have asked for € 10.000,00. „5.000,00 Euros, she says finally.“

„Let's say 10.000,00, Manga replies“, giggling.

She gives Manga her account number. And the deal is done. Phew.

They have a bit of time left for tactical plans. Sato produces a floor plan which they study. Since Chiyo needs to be near Manga in order to protect her, they come to the conclusion that she should hide on stage during the concert. She asks if there is a point during the concert which would be particularly well-suited for a sniper to strike. And yes, there is actually: A scene in which an actor 'shoots' Manga with a pistol with blanks. So Manga comes up with the suggestion that Chiyo should take that role. If she's rouged and dressed like that actor no one will know her. It's a plan. Still it seems more than a little chancy to solely depend on her getting Manga out of the way at the right moment. So she asks Sato if he can get police up onto the catwalks. To which he agrees. Yay. This mission may end up successful after all.

But now it's time for Sato and Chiyo to go to the meeting.

She hugs Manga and then they are off.

 

 

The non-expressions on the faces turned towards Sato make it hard to read the moods hidden behind them. There are three women and five men all told, besides herself and Sato of course.

Still Chiyo thinks she can detect curiosity, apprehension and not a little annoyance directed towards Sato. Not that she can blame the people for it. Getting a mysterious invitation by the police can be a little – unsettling.

The bureaucrats are dressed-up and very tidy and conservative-looking, except for one guy from the city's environmental office who seems to not have heard that longer hair and colorful shirts aren't exactly career-enhancers. Or maybe his message is: I'm so good at my job that I don't fucking care. He's also the one of them who radiates curiosity most openly. And who doesn't bother to hide that he's studying her. While his colleagues pointedly keep their eyes on Sato yet dart looks in her direction when they think she's not noticing. Human behaviour must be a complete riddle when viewed by a hypothetical visitor from outer space.

Sato hands out the copies of the report, then leans back and circuitiously lights a cigarette, only to put it out moments later when he realizes smoking is prohibited here.

Whatever their original feelings – all of them are studying Yurkio's report thoroughly now. Maybe this will work out after all.

It is one of the women – a sharp-looking mid-fifties, who speaks first. „Is there proof for any of this, lieutenant?“

„No, there isn't at this point.“

„So why are we to believe this - expertise?“

„The author of the report was murdered. The suspects did their best to make the report disappear.“

The woman leans back.

Sato takes the word: „First let me all thank you for responding to my call, minasama. I apologize for not stating the reason of this meeting more clearly but now that you've all read Takeda-san's report I am confident you understand why I had to be circumspect. Needless to say, this is all highly confidential. You have been invited to this meeting because I have reason to believe every one of you can be trusted. Which – after reading Takeda-san's report - is more than I can say about certain of our colleagues, I'm afraid. As for the young lady next to me, meet Iwazumi-san.“ Chiyo bows her head with a polite smile as all eyes swivel over to her. „Iwazumi-san is supporting me in this investigation since I can't trust my own subordinates at the moment. Now as I said there is no proof that the allegations raised in Takeda-san's report are true. Yet I have no doubt that they are. Which means we have to decide how to react to this – situation.“

One of the men speaks next. A handsome fourty-something, poised and confident who also was the one guy who had displayed annoyance most clearly earlier. „You say you trust Iwazumi-san. No offense, but I want to know a bit more about her before I I decide whether I trust her too.“

„I'm sure you've all followed the news about the attempt on the American president four months ago. Iwazumi-san was involved in foiling that attempt. You may have seen her picture in the news actually. I've also studied her FBI file and am perfectly satisfied that she can be trusted.“

The looks she's receiving this time show respect and open curiousity. She holds her poise under the scrutiny, trying to radiate confidence and calm. But the man doesn't raise any more objections, which seems to indicate he is trusting Sato's judgement.

He'd better too if this meeting is to go anywhere.

They start discussing and she listens to the suggestions which range from practical to outrageous. All of this has come at these people cold so it's unrealistic to expect them to come up with a logical and effective response on short notice. At last she interrupts them, sitting very straight in her chair and trying to put as much presence and confidence into her voice as possible. „Minasama – I have a suggestion to make.“ It becomes very silent around the table, as eyes swivel back to her. She may not be Manga but she can still captivate an audience. Not that she had doubted it really. Modest, aren't I? But this'd better work or they'll have a real problem when Yoshimoto gets around to their next try.

She tells them her plan, speaking quietly yet calmly and employing all the persuasivness her training and personality and looks put at her command. When she's finished, silence falls again. And then they agree. They actually aprove her plan. Sato and her have taken this hurdle. Wow. Now all that remains is to persuade the guys at Yoshimoto too. Sounds easy.

 

 

15.00 PM. The Yoshimoto Corp. board is in session at the Tokyo office. Sato and Chiyo enter the office building and pass the porter's lodge and security without even slowing down. Sato just raises his badge.

The elevator spills them out on the management floor. More security types standing in front of expensive-looking polished wooden double-doors. A worried-looking secretary hurries up, trying to divert them to a side office. „If you would follow me please, ... officer-san ...“

But Sato simply passes him by.

The security types seem really unsure what to do. One is talking frantically into his headset. The other is half-heartedly blocking the door, hand in his jacket. Chiyo keeps her eyes on him, ready to shove Sato out of the way any bullets may be headed, but the guy doesn't draw. He's seemingly having enough common sense to doubt it's a good idea to shoot a police lieutenant on the doorstep of his employer's board of directors. Good puppy.

„Lieutenant ...!“

Sato just pushes the door open.

There is a long polished table with people seated around it, men and women in expensive suits. The grey-haired guy at the other end is Kuramoto Katsuro. And the younger, wide-eyed guy to the left who is gaping so unbecomingly must be his nephew Kuramoto Hamato, the board member responsible for overseeing Hayabusa Inc.

The guy who was standing at a tablet, presenting some paper, has fallen silent, annoyance giving way to confusion. And he'll be confused even more before this is over, Chiyo thinks contently. She half-turns to keep her eyes on the bodyguards who have entered behind them and stand there, shrugging apologetically in the general direction of their bosses.

Sato looks around the table, silently, then slowly gets his cigarettes out.

Kuramoto waves the guards away. They leave, clearly reluctantly, and close the door behind them, freeing Chiyo from having to keep her attention on them.

The board watches Sato calmly light a cig and blow a cloud of smoke into the air, like a magician about to pull a rabbit out of his hat.

And I guess it's about time for the rabbit to make it's appearance too, Chiyo thinks after a few more moments of silence have passed. She neatly walks around the table, handing out the copies of Yuriko's report. Then she returns to Sato's side, standing there very straight and actually feeling nearly as confident as she appears to be. Kuramoto Hamato's face meanwhile has produced an interesting colour change and shows an unhealthy white.

And isn't that a shame.

Katsuro opens the folder and starts to read. As if on a cue the other board members open their folders also. After a moment, Katsuro casually throws the folder onto the table and says: „I suppose you are here because you have a suggestion as to how this – situation – may be resolved, lieutenant-san.“

„I don't see any compelling reason why this expertise has to become known to the press. However this 'Project Hi' has to stop – permanently. The site mentioned in the report has to be inspected by the authorities. And that killing spree has to stop also.“

„We'll need a bit of time to discuss this, lieutenant-san“, Katsuro says calmly. „If you would wait outside, please.“

„Of course“, Sato replies. They turn and leave, closing the door behind them. The guards ignore them now, focused on projecting a 'we've got things under control' aura. Good for them.

Sato and Chiyo walk over to the leather armchairs which seem custom-designed to impress visitors with their sheer luxurious comfort. Sato makes himself comfortable and – failing to see an ashtray – produces a tiny ashtray from his pocket and neatly knocks the ash off his cig. Chiyo stands next to him, holding her poise and keeping a watchful eye on the security types. Not that shooting Sato and her would improve the other side's prospects in this situation. Rather the opposite. And Katsuro should be able to count one and one together and refrain from any sort of panic reaction. Still it never hurts to be prepared.

 

 

Sato is through his fifth cigarette when one of the guards beckons them to follow him to the conference room again.

Katsuro doesn't waste a lot of time with polite chitchat. „We agree to your suggestions, Sato-san“, he says. „However I have to point out that there are things in motion – concerning tonight – that can't be stopped anymore.“

Chiyo takes the word for the first time, speaking with a quiet voice: „We can not accept to have these – unfortunate incidents – go on forever, Kuramoto-sama. Are you sure we are talking just about tonight?“

Katsuro looks at her expressionlessly.

And there is your genetic project standing right in front of you, holding a pistol to your head and you can't do a thing, Chiyo thinks. You've brought it upon yourself too. Well, that's too bad for you.

„Yes, just tonight.“

If she agrees, she practically gives them carte blanche for another attempt on Manga. But it's likely true that the attempt has been ordered anyway and that the assassin can't be recalled anymore whatever she agrees to or not. She'll just have to foil the attempt. Yeah, easy. Damn it all. You'll pull it off, Chiyo, she tells herself. You have to.

„It's doable“, she says to Sato.

„We are in agreement then“, Sato says to Katsuro. „Have a nice day.“

They bow lightly and leave.

 

 

Their next step is returning to Manga to prepare for the concert tonight. Which in light of Katsuro's warning has gotten an additional urgency.

Chiyo calls James from out of Sato's car.

„Yes?“

„Hey“, she says. „The deal went okay. But it looks like there will be an attempt on Manga tonight.“

„I can help you. If Sato can step on his urge to arrest me.“

She turns to Sato. „Lieutenant – can you live with a certain sniper helping us out tonight?“

„Okay“, says Sato. Surprise, surprise. „I can get him a security pass and security uniform.“ Wow. He has come a long way in two days. Having to helplessly watch a murder series while your own colleagues are on the other side, not to mention having someone firebomb your office, does that to you, I suppose.

She gives James the good news. But James decides he prefers to stay anonymously in the audience.

„There is something else“, he says suddenly. „Belinda and Roberto have arrived.“

„And who is Belinda?“ Please don't tell me it's another lover. I'm just learning to live with Sarah, damn it!

„A friend of Sarah's. She's in danger and Sarah is supposed to guard her.“

„Okay. But you can come anyway?“

„Yeah.“

„See you tonight then. Kisses!“

„Kiss back to you“, he replies. It makes her feel warm. She probably shouldn't spend time wondering whether she has a lover or not when there are so many important things going on. But – yeah, she does.

 

 

Chiyo watches in the mirror as she gets changed from a dark-haired female to a blonde male. It's like magic. There isn't any one detail that she could really fix the change on but when Manga's make-up artists and hairdressers are finished with her, she definitely isn't Chiyo anymore. The hair is a wig fortunately. So she won't have to bother how to get any dye out of her hair later.

At the other make-up table, Manga gets transformed from a stunning brunette into the artificial-looking, black-haired stage beauty everyone knows.

A final briefing, including Sato, who promises her to have his people to check the stage area and cars for bombs also. Yeah, she is nervous – err – prudent today.

Then they are off.

 

 

Half an hour later they are in the biggest hall Chiyo has ever seen. Although Manga tells her it's not really a concert hall at all. There are huge concert-halls in Tokyo but Shouta has rented a multi-purpose hall because it's even bigger.

More people to keep an eye on. Oh, well.

In the dressing room, Shouta is being his usual annoying self. If Chiyo had selfishly hoped, he'd direct his annoyance factor at Manga – or solely at Manga – she gets disappointed.

„Who is this?“, she hears him complain.

„That's the actor who will do the blanks scene.“

Meanwhile Chiyo is looking at the requisite gun. It's loaded with blanks alright. Or rather: They look like blanks and they are supposed to be blanks. But she still doesn't trust them. What does that say about her?

„Cover your ears, please“, she says. „I'm gonna test-fire this gun.“ And that the thought of making Shouta jump appeals to her, has nothing to do with this little test, of course.

They look at her as if she's crazy but they comply. Even Shouta. Chiyo aims the gun at a wall and pulls the trigger. The bang is ear-shattering but no hole appears in the wall. The blanks really are blanks.

„What do you think you are doing, Mister? And what is your name anyways?“, Shouta shoots in her direction, inflating himself to his full massive height and width. Behind him, Manga rolls her eyes.

„My name is Takamura, Kobayashi-san.“

„I see a cold wind blow through your contract!“

„Yes, Kobayashi-san. Excuse me, please.“ Her cellphone is ringing. There is James calling. „Yes?“, she says quietly.

„I have problems getting my gun through the entrance checking. Can you help me?“

Dang! But she should be able to get his gun in with her stage pass. Hopefully. „Yeah, sure. Meet me behind that container at the back entrance.“

She heads outside, a little nervous because she thinks she won't be searched on her way back in but she isn't sure. There is the container and there is James. So far so good. They make sure no one is watching, then he hands her the gun which is surprisingly heavy. James doesn't do things by halves. This is a veritable hand-cannon. She hides it under the black shirt she is wearing. „Thank you“, he says.

„No worries. Call when you are inside. I'll come to the stage entrance door then.“

„Okay.“

She hugs him. And then she hurries back. She just hopes nothing has happened to Manga while she was gone. Darn this having to be in two places at once thing.

The guards let her pass without searching her, knowing her by now. Or thinking they do. Damn sloppy security, she thinks. Someone could be disguised like this actor I'm supposed to be. In fact I am disguised as him! Still it's nice not to be caught when smuggling a gun.

Back at the wardrobe Manga is still alive. As is Shouta unfortunately.

„There you are again! Show me this gun! I'm gonna check it!“, he whines.

Her belly actually tightens momentarily until she realizes he's meaning that stage requisite she's holding and not James' gun hidden under her shirt. She nearly hands him the requisite, then makes herself stop. Darn – he maybe isn't planning to kill Manga but then again maybe he is. Anyway if she hands him the gun now she won't trust it after until she's checked the ammo again and probably fired yet another test shot, just to be on the safe side. And all that trouble just because he's decided to be difficult.

„No“, she says.

„What did you say?“

„This is an important stage requisite. I can't let it out of my hands this close to the show.“

„Who gave you this role by the way? You are unsuited for it! We can't have people firing guns in Manga's dressing-room! You are fired! Leave this room immediately!“

God, maybe she should have handed him the requisite to avoid this tantrum. Now she's got to blow her cover in order to stay here, unless Manga intervenes and saves her butt. But Manga stays quiet.

„No“, she says.

„What? I'll have you thrown out!“ He heads to the door to call the guards.

Damn it all. „Go ahead“, she is forced to say. „But it won't do you good. I'm her bodyguard. If you don't like that, take it up with Lieutenant Sato.“

He gapes at her. „I will do that! You bet I will!“ And with that he steams off and slams the door behind him. Manga and her get a little break. At least that.

„And, how do you like him?“, Manga asks wryly.

„He's horrible.“

She calls Sato, using the headset. „Sato here“, she hears and says: „There is a medium-level tempest headed your way, by the name of Kobayashi. If he asks you who appointed me as her bodyguard and had the idea of having me pass as this actor, kindly confirm that it was you, please.“

„Oh, it was may idea, was it?“, he says philosophically.

„I'm afraid so. Good luck, lieutenant!“

 

 

The opening band is on stage and playing already, when James finally calls her to tell that he's made it inside. The music is hammering away at her eardrums as she walks to the backstage door. There is a security type there but thankfully he lets her open the door without fuss. And there is James already, waiting just outside the door. She shields the gun with her body as she quietly slips it to him.

He says something which she can hardly make out over the noise but which probably has been a 'thank you'. The next moment he leans in and kisses her right there among all the people. She feels her heart beat fast suddenly. Their lips part again and he takes a step back.

She watches him from out of the doorway, then leans in close to his ear to say: „One more thing.“

„Yes?“

Chiyo pulls him close and kisses him again.

„Mmmm“, he makes.

She smiles mischievously and closes the door. Then she hurries back to Manga. Already she's nervous again. For the rest of the evening I won't have to leave her again. Yeah, hopefully.

 

 

At last it is time for Manga's appearance.

Chiyo feels her belly tighten again as they wait in the shadows while Manga's band start their furious opening. Then a spotlight flashes and Manga gracefully walks onto the stage while the applause and screams from the audience get deafening and increase even more as Manga starts to sing.

Chiyo hurries through the darkness at the back of the stage, staying close to Manga, then slips into the agreed-upon position where she can't be seen from the audience.

They are halfways through the opening song and no one has shot Manga yet. Only two more hours to go. Piece of cake.

Don't doubt yourself now, Chiyo.

She keeps her eyes on the catwalks above and on those parts of the stage which are in her field of vision. Not that she can see much with all the spotlights focused onto the stage, blinding her and shrouding the catwalks in shadows. Good that Sato's men are in position up there. Yeah, hopefully.

 

 

James meanwhile has wormed his way towards the stage and his standing next to one of the oversized speakers in a spot which doesn't allow view of the stage and thus is practically empty. He can't hear a thing of course. Or rather he hears entirely too much, the basses hammering away in his chest and his ears starting to ring suspiciously.

Still the position offers a pretty good view of the crowd in front of the stage. He has already made out the black-clad police snipers up on the catwalks. He tries to keep them in sight as he scans the crowd for potential assassins. A job compared to which the proverbial needle in a haystack is an easy find.

There is a woman standing next to the stage. For some reason he feels his gaze return to her. Something must have drawn his attention. It's the look of sadness on the woman's face, he finally decides. So different from the ecstatic expressions of the crowd around her.

As he watches, the woman lets herself slowly be pushed back from the stage and further into the crowd.

Nothing more happens though. No one shoots. The snipers stay in place. The woman he doesn't see again.

 

 

Who would have thought it? They have safely reached the pause.

Chiyo is so nervous, she could jump as she escorts Manga back to the dressing room. Manga has hardly had time to sit down and take a sip of her water bottle, when Shouta storms into the room.

„Manga-chan, no time to waste! You have an important appointment with a gaijin jounalist!“

„Not in the middle of a concert, sorry. Send him away.“

„Sweetheart, should I really send away a guy from the Rolling Stone magazine, willing to do an exclusive with you? Correct me if I'm wrong, but weren't we trying to get a foothold in the US market?“

„Excellent timing.“ She sighs. „Send him in.“

Chiyo has to give him that no trace of his triumph shows in Shouta's face. He opens the door. „Mr. Brooks, please come in.“

God, Eddy?

There he is already, a bright smile on his face, as he steps into the suddenly far to small dressing room. Luckily his eyes are fixed on Manga, not her. Never before has she felt so thankful for the professional work of Manga's make-up artists.

As he interviews Manga his eyes have an irritating tendency to return to Chiyo. Each time she feels her belly tighten and prays he doesn't see through her male disguise. She swears the guy has to be psychic to always appear at the worst possible moment.

Finally he's done and leaves, a somewhat bemused expression on his face as if he had a feeling that he missed some major clue.

 

 

James meanwhile uses the opportunity to check the toilets. Or rather the men's rooms. As he approaches the ladies' restroom one of the security types spots him and he has to give up looking in there.

 

 

After the break the concert resumes and Chiyo takes up her post hidden on the stage again. She can only admire how Manga performs even knowing that someone may be out there to shoot her any moment. If she just could stand closer to Manga – darn – this is all too damn risky! What if I don't reach her in time? Or worse: What if I don't sense an attack coming at all?

Finally the pistol scene approaches. The lights go out, except for a spot on Manga. The music reaches a crescendo. Chiyo stands, raising the requisite pistol though conciously aiming not at Manga but only at a spot next to her. Still she senses nothing. If someone's gonna shoot her they'll do it now ... I'm supposed to stand a way off but damn the script and everything, I'll just grab her! The fingers of her left hand close around Manga's arm like a clamp. A last beat of the basedrum like thunder, her finger presses the gun's trigger and at the same time – at last – she feels an overwhelming sense of danger. She jerks Manga out of the way, grabbing her around the waist just as a shot impacts into the stage floor. High up ... the upper stage catwalk, she thinks as she jumps into cover, carrying the ooohm-phing singer with her. What's with the police guy up there anyway? Dead probably. Damn.

Chiyo doesn't stop. Out of sight – maybe. Not far enough! Adrenaline is coursing through her veins as she bodily carries the singer away backstage, even as she activates her mic and starts talking to Sato. „Sniper on the stage catwalk.“ She rushes into the dressing-room corridor, bypassing astonished-looking officers who only manage to react once she's gone already. There is the dressing-room door. She puts Manga on the ground next to it, pressed to a wall, then opens the door, looking in, making sure all is safe there.

„Yes, I know“, she hears Sato, who simultaneously seems to have another conversation going, barking orders to someone. „Our sniper fired at them but missed. We are searching now.“

The room seems empty, so she hurries Manga inside and closes the door, then hastily starts to check the cabinets.

„Okay. Get the lights on so you can see the assassin“, she says into the mic.

„We've been trying – they don't work.“

Meanwhile she's finished her search through the cabinets. No assassins or bombs in there either. Manga seems to be safe for now. Thank god.

„Tell the audience we're having technical difficulties and will be back soon.“

„We're at that already“, Sato replies with exaggerated patience.

„Sorry. We'll stay here in the dressing-room til all is safe.“

„Okay.“ He terminates the call and she looks at Manga.

„That was close“, she says. A little too close. “How are you?“

„You nearly dislocated my shoulder“, Manga complains.

„Sorry for that. Let me look at it.“

„No, it's okay now.“

She calls James. He's noticed the shot coming from the catwalk but couldn't see the sniper. Now he's on his way upstairs to the doors leading to the catwalks. Problem is, there also are several ladders and due to the failure of the lights they are hidden in darkness. Looks like the sniper has an excellent chance to get away. Again.

She can't have that.

 

 

Chiyo hurries over to the make-up table and pulls the wig off her head, then frantically starts to remove the make-up, disguising her as the stage hitman. As she removes the hair clip, her hair flows down in a dark brown stream. A somewhat unkempt stream but closer to Manga's current hairstyle than that darn yellow-blonde wig. Damn the white paint in her face but with her using an abundance of cleaning tissues it's coming off, or mostly at least, and she's looking herself again.

She urges Manga they change clothes and they do, as quickly as possible. A touch of lipstick, a quick glance in the mirror: She is looking like the singer again.

„Lock the door, then hide in the cabinet“, she says, then leaves the dressing-room.

The lights are working again. There are guards there in the corridor.

Her headset tells her that Sato still doesn't know where the assassin is. And she's not gonna let the door to Manga's dressing-room out of her sight. But maybe if she stands nearby, visible from the stage area, she'll make a good target and draw the sniper out. I guess I'm crazy but I really want that guy – or gal.

She waits a while but nothing happens.

Damn it all – they got away again! But at least they also missed her again. This won't do this particular assassin's reputation any good.

She returns to the dressing-room. And tries the door. Locked. Good girl. She knocks, then says „It's me“, as she hears Manga's voice.

Manga lets her back inside, with a questioning look in her face but otherwise remarkably calm looking. The singer really takes all this in stride. Pretty amazing really.

„We didn't get them“, Chiyo says. „How is your shoulder?“

„It's fine, thank you.“

They change clothes again. Manga actually wants to continue the concert. The woman has iron nerves. Sato tells her that his stage-catwalk police sniper is missing, not dead. That raises interesting questions.

 

 

Again Chiyo lies hidden on the stage, watching out for more danger, ready to jump to Manga on a moment's notice. But the rest of the concert goes as planned. No new attempts. No new 'technical difficulties'. No bombs going off.

The last encore is over and they are heading back to the car. Shouta is nowhere to be seen for once, not that she complains. Manga doesn't either.

Chiyo talks to Sato over the radio headset. „Did you have the car checked for bombs?“

„Yes“, she hears. „The car is secure. You can get in.“

They get into the car. Which doesn't pull out.

„What's keeping you“, Manga asks the driver. One of Sato's men. He looks out of the side window. And there is Sato approaching with his detectives and defiant-looking Shouta walking between them, cuffed.

What the ...?

They get out of the car

„Did I mention that we found a bomb?“, Sato asks calmly. Damn – is he enjoying himself?

„You know perfectly well that you didn't.“

A little smile shows on his usually bland face. „And guess who placed it?“

So that's why Shouta was so conspisciously absent during the second half of the concert, Chiyo thinks. And I was right about them hating each other's butts, not only Manga hating him. But what's his motive? Plain hate? He's losing one of his best artists! Or is it jealousy? Did he have anything with her? When she was still an unknown and dependent on his help?

She can see Manga pale even under the make-up. Shouta's eyes meet Manga's. And then she steps up to him and punches him in the face.

Blood runs down from his lip but he remains impassive.

„Why did you do it?“, Chiyo asks him.

His eyebrow raises as he takes her looks in. A riddle solved but the solution opening up more questions I bet, she thinks.

He doesn't answer, not that she expected it really.

„Was this your idea or did someone pay you for it?“, she tries again. It's probably hopeless but she's got to try anyway.

„I'll only talk to my lawyer.“

That is that then. She shrugs and turns away.

Then they are in the car finally and driving off. There had originally been an after-concert-party scheduled, but with everything that's happened it's been called off now. Which means they are missing another opportunity to maybe catch the assassin. On the other hand they keep Manga safe this way. And safe feels pretty good right now. She still feels her heart skip a beat when she thinks back to the sniper attempt and the realization of how close that bullet had come.

 

 

They reach the safe house and she makes sure no one is hidden in there, waiting to pounce. Sato and his two detectives are prepared to stay the night, guarding Manga. They all stay awake a while yet, winding down, talking a little, drinking something. Sleep is hard to come by after such a day.

At last Manga withdraws into her room. Chiyo calls James.

„Hey, are you okay?“

„Yes. What about you?“

„Likewise. About to head to bed. Thank you for the help tonight.“

„You are welcome. Sorry we didn't catch them.“

„Yeah. I've been thinking. I can help you guard Belinda. So you and Sarah can go – um – talk to Daichi.“

„Hm ... I will think about that. Thank you! Sleep well!“

„You too!“

She puts the phone away and says good night to Sato and his detectives, then heads to bed also. Manga has given her a room to sleep in but as she reaches it she hesitates at the door, then turns around. She opens the door to Manga's bedroom. The singer is asleep already. The windows are closed and the shutters drawn. So far so good.

Chiyo slips inside and onto the couch. If any werewolves crash through the window tonight they'll have to go through her first. Werewolves? Bushwah.

I'm not in Italy, she thinks sleepily. Or am I? Francesca, where are you?

With that she falls asleep.

 

 

James has watched the staircases on the upper level of the concert hall but without success.

The police have checked the over-stage catwalk immediately after the attempt on Manga but the assassin was gone already. The officer who'd been stationed up there was missing. Sato was tempted to stop the whole concert then but has refrained to because of the danger of causing a panic.

Once Manga had resumed her performance, James has kept an eagle eye on the audience – but there have simply been too many people in that crowd. The assassin has evaded them – again.

 

 

After the concert, James returns to the hotel.

As he enters the room he feels a gun pointed to the back of his head. Then Sarah releases him, chuckling and wraps her arms around him from behind. She feels nice as they kiss deeply. A very long kiss. At last she says: „So good that you are back! How did it go?“

„Mm ... so so. Manga is alive but the assassin escaped.“

„You managed to protect her though.“

„That was mostly Chiyo's doing. She's good at that kind of thing.“

He greets Belinda too who's so enthusiastic over his return that he has to smile. Sarah and Belinda look pretty smug while Roberto for some reason seems tired and bored and is slouching in the big chair.

They chat a while and he wonders idly how he can persuade Sarah to spend the night with him instead of sleeping in Belinda's room. But she's Belinda's bodyguard now on orders of El Capitán himself.

Suddenly his phone rings. It's Chiyo, offering to guard Belinda so he and Sarah can go to Daichi. A good idea really. Belinda would be safe with Chiyo and Sarah sure is less squeamish when it comes to 'creative talks' than Chiyo is. But Chiyo is staying with Manga tonight which means she's no help with bringing him and Sarah together right now. Too bad.

Roberto heads to bed to the room he's supposed to share with James. James excuses himself also, but then decides to spend the night in Chiyo's unused room. That way the central room with Belinda and Sarah in it will be guarded from both sides. That he'll also be alone in a bedroom with interesting possibilities for Sarah next door is an added benefit.

Sure enough, after an hour he hears a light knock at the door.

It is dark but he can make out Sarah's intriguing shape anyway as she slips inside and heads over to his bed, shedding clothes on the way.

It's turning out to be a great night.

Only they don't get very much sleep. Again.

After a few much too short hours he is up again already. It's still eary morning but they don't have a lot of time with things going on in Mexico. He is pretty sure El Capitán will need both him and Sarah badly. The sooner they get back the better. Which means they have to have that planned 'talk' with Daichi real soon.

He dials Chiyo's number.

 

 

Chiyo wakes when her phone goes off in her pocket.

Sleepily she gets it out, managing not to drop it from the couch, then hears James' voice, urging her to come back to the hotel and guard Belinda.

„Uh – right now?“

„Sarah and I will head to Daichi if you can keep an eye on Belinda in the meanwhile, okay?“

Damn, what time is it? It can't be six in the morning yet.

„Yes, sure.“

„Great – see you, honey!“

With that he terminates the call and Chiyo sits up, rubbing her eyes.

„You are a pretty loud bodyguard“, she hears Manga from the bed. No disputing that.

„I am sorry“, she murmurs and sneaks out of the room, then closes the door behind her.

 

 

END OF SESSION (1:20 am)

 

 

copyright: Bruno Behrends