Chapter Two

The Akino Estate was modestly tucked in to an acre of land in Toyosu. Rei drove up the short driveway, and stopped the car at the first building. The estate was fenced off with a high yew fence that surrounded the property. His mother had developed the acre of land with her two sons in mind. She’d built a house for each of her sons and made sure the houses were large enough to house their families should they have them. The main house was where Kaede Akino lived. It was the first building by the gate. The driveway then went round to Ayame’s house and then to the house that belonged to Rei. It worried his mother that he hadn’t settled yet, but he wasn’t ready. Besides how could he when he was responsible for Ayame’s life.

The main door of the house slid open and a young girl ran out, excitement in her movements. She was dressed in a pretty blue skirt, a matching blouse, and her hair was in a ponytail. Her smile was a mile wide as she came up to the car. Rei turned off the engine and slid out of the vehicle, closing the door, he smiled when she flung herself at him. Her height allowed her to hug his lower waist only and that was with her standing on tiptoes.

“Rei-san,” she exclaimed happily.

“Evening Sakura-Chan,” Rei returned the greeting, he leaned to pat her head.

“You visited me,” she said in obvious pleasure. When she looked up at him, her eyes were bright in the lighted night. She was a ray of sunshine.

“I did,” Rei replied with a smile for her. “Let’s go inside, I don’t want you to catch a cold. Where is Aya-san?”

“Otoosan is writing again,” Sakura answered. She clutched his hand tightly as they walked up the steps into the house. She waited patiently as he pulled off his shoes and put on sandals. Then they were walking through an open living area headed to the back of the house. Kaede had built the kitchen to be the central room in the two story house. It was comfortable with an island dining table with chairs around it. The cooking range, counters and cupboards were all spotless. They found Kaede working at the gas range, where she was stirring a pot of soup. She looked up when they came in.

“I’m home, mum,” Rei said with a small bow.

“Welcome back, sit, you must be hungry. You look like the truck has been dragging you about with force.”

Rei winked at Sakura as his mother moved around her kitchen in practiced movements. She found a bowl in the cupboard which she filled with rice from a rice cooker in the corner. She served the soup in another bowl, and from the refrigerator she found a plate of sushi she’d kept for him. Placing them all on a tray, she brought it to him. He sat in one of the chairs at the island table, Sakura kneeling on the one beside him so that she could reach. Kaede touched his head in an endearing caress that left Rei feeling warm inside where it mattered most. Her scent was homey. It had always meant safety, love and everything he considered important.

“Itadakimasu,” he said, ready to dig in to his food. But then he paused, “Oh, I forgot. Reaching into his pocket he pulled out an envelope. He held it out to Kaede. “This is for you.”

Kaede wiped her hands on the apron she wore around her waist and came to stand on the other side of the table. Taking the envelope from him, she glanced at it then beamed. Shaking her head, she put it in her pocket and shook her head.

“You’re a good son, Rei-kun.”

“I’m I a good grand daughter?” Sakura asked.

“The best,” Kaede said. She winked at Rei then added. “But sometimes you’re not.”

“Why?”

“You should be sleeping child.”

“But Uncle is here,” Sakura said her lip wavering. “I haven’t seen him in two weeks. I didn’t want to miss him. He might go away.”

Rei reached out and pulled at her ponytail. He was tired still, and his eyes were gritty. There was no way he would be driving back to Ginza tonight. Besides, he had matters to discuss with his older brother if it meant dragging him out of that den the man called a study. Looking at Sakura, he wondered why it was that she could make him do anything.

“I’ll be here in the morning, and all day long tomorrow.”

Sakura exclaimed and hugged him hard. “Great, now I can be a good grand daughter. I’ll go sleep.”

“Yes, go rest.” Kaede said watching with a fond smile as Sakura climbed down her seat. She gave Rei one final look before she left the kitchen and headed upstairs to the second floor.

“She’s sleeping here now.” Rei stated into the ensuing silence. He picked up his chopsticks and took a bite of the rice. It was good. So good, his stomach gave an appreciative groan. Swallowing the first bite, he took another.

“She has to,” Kaede said. Pulling out a seat, she sat across him and watched him eat. “Ayame is busy right now. Having her in the house alone is not viable. She stays with me; she will at least feel like she’s useful.”

“He should pay more attention to her,” Rei said in disapproval.

“He works, like you, he is trying his best.”

Rei met her gaze and sighed, picking up his bowl; he drank the miso soup and put the bowl back down on the table. Wiping his mouth, he took a bite of the sushi.

“You look tired and worried. What’s happened?”

“I got a call this evening. Seiren is in trouble again. I’m not sure what kind, but it doesn’t sound good.”

“She is always in trouble.” Kaede reached behind her back and undid her apron. Placing it on the counter, she pushed a stray strand of hair back. The action brought Rei’s attention to her face. She was beautiful, even at her age. Her hair was turning grey now but it suited her years. She always wore it in a short bob that framed her face. Her eyes were dark, her nose small and well defined. She was petite and preferred flower motif dresses. When he’d been growing up, he’d always thought that the woman he’d marry would be just like her.

“I have to ask Ayame if she called him.” Rei announced then.

“No,” Kaede protested. “That will only upset him more; he is already such a grouch. Do you have to do this now? She can wait a day or two can’t she?”

“She’s Sakura’s mother. We have to do something soon.” Rei glared at his mother aware that her protests were because she didn’t approve of Seiren and how she’d treated Ayame last year. “Forgive her already, she’s not going anywhere.”

“She destroyed Ayame.” Kaede shook her head again. “All she does is cause trouble, even for Sakura-chan. That is not right. You will speak to Ayame about other things not her.”

“Who is this you’re not to talk to me about?” Ayame asked from the doorway.

Rei turned around to look at his older brother and almost laughed at the picture he made. The man could not be called a distinguished writer were he to be seen at the moment. His long hair was held in a haphazard ponytail at the top of his head, his reading glasses were on slanted on his nose and his clothes looked rumbled. Rei doubted his brother had seen the light of day in a while.

“Hello, Nii-san,” Rei said. He took a bite of his rice and asked. “Are you hungry?”

“Yes,” Aya said. His hand rubbing at his stomach, he came in and took the chair Sakura had just vacated. Letting out a loud yawn, he rubbed at his unshaven jaw. “You two are arguing about Seiren again.”

“We’re not arguing.” Kaede stood up and went to prepare a plate for Ayame. “Your brother just worries about everyone even the ones that don’t count.”

“Mum,” Rei admonished. “She matters, and you know it.”

“What has she done now?” Ayame questioned his tone wary. It was as though he didn’t want to know what new saga his ex-wife had cooked up. It had always been like that even before he divorced the woman. She was always trying to get his attention by doing things that would make him notice.

Rei looked away from his older brother and said, “She’s working at the White Dragon. She says those people won’t let her leave. It can only mean one thing.”

“Organized crime,” Ayame clarified. “Damn it, how do we get her out of that one? Do you see what I mean when I say she’s a vortex of trouble?”

“No one is refuting that,” Rei snapped. “But do you know who suffers when she’s not around? Sakura may not say it, but she does miss her mother. Calling is not the same as seeing her everyday and you know it.”

“My daughter is well taken care of, she doesn’t need Seiren.” Ayame nodded his thanks to Kaede when she placed a tray of food before him. Turning to meet Rei’s gaze, he said, “You need to live your life Rei-kun. Stop trying to fix mine.”

“No one said I was trying to fix your life.” Rei shrugged and wondered at his brother’s attitude. Did it matter why he chose to do this for Sakura? She was important. Her feelings mattered. A little voice whispered in the back of his head.

‘I wish I had someone to worry about.’

No, he didn’t need to wish, he reminded himself. His gaze moving over his mother who had reclaimed her stool and his brother beside him, they were enough. He didn’t need anything else, except his family. “I’ll get her out, don’t worry. Then we can discuss what it is I should or shouldn’t be doing. Meanwhile, I need to know what she said when she called you.”

“Called me?” Ayame said in between bites. “I haven’t heard a word from that woman since the day she left here screaming about getting her own life.”

“Where is your cell phone Ayame?” Kaede asked suspiciously.

Rei wasn’t too surprised when his brother shrugged his shoulders. The man was so upset minded it took two assistants to keep his appointments. But Seiren had gotten his number hadn’t she? From whom if not Ayame, it definitely wouldn’t be Kaede. His mother would not pick up Seiren’s calls. His eyes narrowed thoughtfully when it occurred to him that Sakura was eight now. She could answer the phone just fine.

“Sakura-Chan,” they all said at the same time.

***************************************************************************************************
“We have a potential student,” Saya said quietly, into the comfortable silence at breakfast the next morning. Her gaze slid over the three people seated at the table busy with their daily breakfast, and a small smile lingered on her lips when none made a move to comment.

Hana pushed her green tea away and leaned back on her high stool, her gaze on the mat before her. Beside her Tama was busy reading the newspaper, while Tomoyo took a bit of her omelet.

“Did you hear me?” Saya asked. Her tone louder now, she wanted their attention and was going to get it.

“Mother, you don’t have to shout, I don’t see what’s so exciting about a new student.” Hana looked at her with a shrug. “We get them all the time.”

“He needs vetting; you’re the one to do it.” Saya announced and waited for the explosion.

“No,” Tama said quietly his gaze never once leaving the newspaper. “Send Ogun, or even Jun, it’s in their job description. Hana has classes today.”

Saya let out a sigh at the overprotective tone in that voice and decided that she was going to get her way this time. There was a reason she needed Hana in the city today, and it certainly didn’t have to do with a student.

“She goes,” Saya insisted.

Hana looked at her then, a frown appearing on her smooth forehead. She couldn’t understand Saya’s persistence, and therefore she was trying to read it. Saya had strong defenses against Hana’s particular gifts, and the frown was proof enough of just how powerful they were. The girl was not getting anything. This made it enticing and a puzzle, and Hana loved things like that, her thoughts were confirmed when Hana glanced at her brother.

“I’m going.” The announcement was made defiantly.

“No you’re not,” Tama replied.

“Don’t dictate to me,” Hana said firmly. “I will go where I want to and you won’t stop me. Saya-sensei where is this child and why is he or she special?”

“In Kyoto,” Saya said quietly. “Got it off missing persons, she is around six or seven and is supposedly empathic. Her parents reported her missing a month ago to the police, until now, no one has heard anything about her. The police are out of leads.”

“I’ll help,” Hana declared. “I hope Ogun has the files the police have compiled.”

“It took some doing, but we have them.” Saya shook her head. “This might seem weird but there are other missing persons who fit the same profile as this girl, but no proof. It seemed like an interesting puzzle.”

“I love how the two of you are getting into this like its happening. Hana you can’t leave the estate right now.” Tama was not to be ignored; he just had to put in his two cents into the situation. Saya was constantly butting heads with him when it came to Hana and her abilities; they ran a fine line between quarrelling and downright brawling. Could anyone be this protective?

“Are you saying that I can’t even go outside those damn gates for a breath of fresh air that doesn’t include this cursed estate?” Hana exploded beside him. “I am leaving Tama, and I don’t care what you say to me.”

“Who is in charge? How do you think you’ll get out if you can’t shake the dozens of bodyguards I will put on you?” Tama said putting the newspaper down, he turned to look at his little sister. “You know we can’t let you be alone out there. There are people who would be happy to kidnap you for the sake of money. Does that ever come into your head?”

“Do I look helpless to you?” Hana asked, getting up. “I do have thorns too. If you cared at all, you’d never try to control me all the time. It won’t happen.”

“Well, are you happy Saya?” Tama asked turning to look at her.

“Extremely,” Saya replied with a smug smile. “She’ll be safe. It’s a simple investigation. Find the girl, bring her back to us, and the routine of her classes at the academy will continue, what is so wrong about that?”

“She is not meant to be running around saving people.” Tama shook his head at Saya and turned to Hana who was now leaning against the counter by the windows. Her gaze was murderous because of his interference. “Can’t you try and understand me Hana, just this once? It kills me trying to be this person to you. I want to just be your big brother you know?”

“Try giving me some trust once in a while and it might work.” Hana looked away from him and continued. “Tomoyo can come along, you trust her don’t you?”

“With your life,” Tama answered on a sigh. “Don’t look like that, please.”

“Tomoyo, will you come along?” Hana asked abruptly, refusing to look at her big brother.

“Yes.”
“There, are you happy now?” Hana demanded with a glare at him.

Saya hid a smile when Tama sighed. He was protective of his sister, but he was also the one who could never deny her anything. He loved her too much. She usually got her way when it mattered to her. But always with a price, Saya tuned her head to Tama expectantly.

“You can go if you tell me what you saw yesterday by the shrine.” Tama kept his gaze focused on Hana. He was not going to miss a single expression from her explanation. “Don’t look at me that way; you caused a big fuss with the guards yesterday. Of course they were curious. Everyone knows you saw something at the shrine. What was it?”

“It’s not my fault they have to follow every move I make outside.” Hana shrugged and folded her arms against her chest. Shaking her head, she met Tomoyo’s gaze for a moment before she spoke.

“There was very large and old cherry tree back there. It was in full bloom, the flowers were really beautiful and many. But then later in the afternoon when I returned, the tree started to wither and die. The tree seemed to burn from the inside out. The flowers withered last.”

Tama stared at her for a moment before he turned to Saya. “What does that mean?”

“Death, mayhem, foreboding,” Saya provided. “But you shouldn’t use it to hold your sister here, that isn’t right.”

“You’re playing against your own motives,” Tama said bluntly. Folding the newspaper up, he pushed it aside and let out a sigh. “Tomoyo, she doesn’t get hurt, not even a single hair on a head.”

“I’ll guard her,” Tomoyo promised, her gaze on Hana who was rolling her eyes behind her brother.

“Don’t do anything unnecessary, if things get out of hand, call me,” Tama ordered. “Hana, don’t give her a hard time.”

“Yes master,” Hana said mockingly, earning herself a scowl from Tama as he rose and left them without another word.

***************************************************************************************************
Kyoto

Ogun Shin stood in the elegant wind room at the charming Hotel Mume and handed the list he held to Tomoyo who sat in an armchair. Her gaze strayed to the windows where Hana stood still watching the stream flow by in the garden.

“The list is growing,” Ogun said quietly. “The girl Saya-san is most interested in was the fourth to disappear. Her name is Sakura Toshiro. Her parents say she can read people’s thoughts, but they are protective of her. She went missing when her caretaker took her out for a walk.”

“This caretaker is the key,” Tomoyo said.

“She works at the parents’ sushi shop,” Ogun offered. “They all seem distraught on the girl’s disappearance. There are few clues, but no concrete evidence. As you read in the files, the police can’t identify the men who drove away in the vans that took these victims. My crew has gone through all that evidence, and apart from the vans, there is nothing that can help identify these men.”

Hana turned away from the charming view and said, “Are there any witnesses?”

“Yes, there are,” Ogun said. “But they say they didn’t see the faces of these men.”

“Hmm,” Hana mused. “I’m going to see the Toshiros.”

“Hana-,” Tomoyo started to protest.

“We won’t find them while we remain inside. It will be faster out there.” Hana couldn’t explain the uneasiness she was starting to feel about this whole situation. Staying inside a hotel room was not happening during this expedition. “Ogun, keep the bodyguards away, we don’t want to make Hisako-san more nervous. Her hotel is on edge as it is; we’ll be drawing too much attention. Tell them we’re some kind of show business personnel.”

“Yes, of course, I am handling it,” Ogun said with a slight bow. “Keep to the alleys; it will be easier to move around. Take this just incase you need us.”

He held out a cell phone and Hana took it graciously. Slipping it into her jean pockets she nodded at Tomoyo. “You are coming?”

“I suppose,” Tomoyo said getting up and handing the list back to Ogun. “It’s best if we don’t have documents lying around here. The staff might get curious.”

Outside, Hana walked beside Tomoyo, their pace an easy stride through the alleys, they acted like the many tourists moving around Gion. They would stop at some shops to admire whatever was being displayed. When they came to a wood block museum, Hana decided to enter it to admire some of the prints. She loved art, and creativity. Wood block prints fascinated her. As she moved around the shop, she used the tranquil setting of the art around her to anchor herself as she searched out conversations around them. Her gift was getting stronger although she hadn’t told Saya-sensei about it.

When she’d been younger, she’d needed to be close to a person to listen to what they were thinking. As time passed, the gift slowly evolved to listening to what people were thinking at a further distance. Now, she could be standing right where she was and all kinds of things sifted into her mind. People thought loudly, and it was always easier when she felt safe to hear them. Touching a print, she sifted through daily conversations in Gion. People doing business, tourists who were passing through the town, their excitement was infectious. Whispered words, a feeling of fear, closing her eyes she concentrated on that fear.

“Where were they taking them?”

“I don’t know. They were dressed in black, with hoods, it seemed like they were army, but who can tell. This area is getting bad, my friend, people are going missing. Be careful.”

Hana opened her eyes and wasn’t surprised when Tomoyo shoved a pair of dark glasses at her. Putting them on, she looked around the shop hoping no one had noticed and nodded to Tomoyo that it was time to leave. She stopped after they had walked a little more.

“What did you hear?” Tomoyo asked.

“Someone saw a kidnapping, but they couldn’t see the faces. Let’s go to the sushi shop.”

“Your eyes will startle them,” Tomoyo said, with a shake of her head.

“You can do the talking, pretend am blind,” Hana teased with a small grin.

They resumed their walk and Tomoyo cleared her throat before she said, “Hana, this is exhaustive for you. Don’t you see why Tama worries?”

“Please don’t sell me Tama’s propaganda. He’s my big brother, but sometimes I feel like his little prisoner.” Hana complained as they turned down another alley.

“I’ve known you two for ten years now,” Tomoyo said beside her. “Ever since Saya brought me to the estate and gave me a home. You’re my family and the last thing I want is for you to feel unhappy. You’re a sister to me, you know that.”

“I know,” Hana acknowledged her gaze sliding sideways to look at Tomoyo. She was twenty-two years old, making her two years older than Hana. She was a pretty woman, in a Mika Nakashima way. She kept her hair short and hard an attitude larger than life. The best thing she’d gained from Tomoyo’s presence in the Sukiyama estate was the sisterhood she offered so easily. “Tomoyo when I was younger, Tama’s protectiveness was endearing. It meant a great deal to me, and still does, but now-“

Hana shook her head as they approached the sushi shop.

“I have a lot of questions about the past, my parents and how they died. There is a lot of anger inside me I can’t explain. I need information and the only way to get it is out here, and Tama is doing his best to stop that. I know it won’t get easier between us because of that. For him, the estate and all our parents’ assets are enough to distract me. But for me, it can’t be enough.”

“But you know how your parents died,” Tomoyo said puzzled. “They were murdered by the ISIS foundation and Takino Yuki.”

“But why,” Hana asked abruptly. She stopped so that she was looking into Tomoyo’s concerned face. “I don’t understand what it is he wanted. Why would he want to murder them so much? My gut tells me am missing something. I know this sounds weird but-

“What?” Tomoyo asked in a worried tone.

“I-I sometimes feel like my mother is still alive,” Hana confessed quietly. Tomoyo gasped and the expression on her face was enough for Hana to guess what she was thinking. “Don’t look at me that way. I-I shouldn’t have told you that. Look, forget it.”

“Why would you even imagine something like that?” Tomoyo demanded.

“I said forget it,” Hana said looking away. “And don’t go telling Tama about it. Let’s just concentrate on this.”

Hana sighed and shook her head. She couldn’t imagine why she’d blurted that out. It was something she’d been thinking about lately and it bothered her more than she could define. After all, she knew where her parents were buried. She made sure it was kept clean and with flowers everyday. She could be considered crazy right now. And if Tama found out what she was thinking-, the possible outcome of that made her shiver.

Coming to a stop in front of the sushi shop, she allowed Tomoyo to go in first. There were customers being served and Tomoyo had to get the attention of one of the girls helping to get assistance. They were showed to the back where Yue and Kato Toshiro were busy in their living area. They were talking heatedly about something, but before Hana could understand it, they stopped when they came in.

“Please, welcome to our home,” Yue said graciously rushing to offer them a place to sit.

Tomoyo held on to Hana’s hand, surprising Hana. Funny, she hadn’t thought Tomoyo would take that seriously. She was apparently to play the part of a blind woman. Yue and Kato reacted accordingly to her apparent blindness. They helped Tomoyo settle her down to a cushion by the low table in the middle of the room. Yue rushed off to get refreshments while Tomoyo sat beside Hana and engaged Kato in conversation.

“We’re here about the investigation into your daughter’s disappearance,” She said gently. “The police thought we might be able to help with finding her. I hope you don’t mind our intrusion.”

“But who are you?” Kato asked.

“Private organization that specializes on investigating cases that are this difficult,” Hana said. “Please let us help you.”

Kato looked at them conflicted, but his worry for his daughter won. He didn’t care who found her as long as she was found. He nodded his acceptance just as Yue came in with a tray that she placed on the table. While she served green tea, Tomoyo prompted them to talk about their daughter.

Hana used the easy flow of conversation to explore their memories. Her eyes were safely hidden behind dark glasses she didn’t have to fear that their changing color would surprise anyone. She started with Yue. There was an enormous amount of worry weighing her down. She blamed herself for not having forethought. She kept thinking that there was something she could have done to prevent her daughter’s kidnapping. Yue had woken that day, made breakfast as usual for her family, she’d made sure Sakura was settled with the tutor they hired, and then she’d gone to help her husband with the shop. After the tutor was done, she’d asked one of the girls at the shop to take Sakura on a walk because the day was so lovely. Yue hadn’t seen a reason to keep her daughter in while she could be out enjoying the day. Yue regretted that decision.

Turning to Kato, Hana had to put her tea down at the pain that seared through her. His pain was acute. It made her stomach roll as she tried to sift through it. He was unique but unaware of it. He was probably the reason why his daughter had her gifts. He’d bragged to his friend about his daughter. She could clearly see that scene in his mind. They had been at a bar; his friend had invited him out. He was drunk; the bragging about Sakura came from a place of love. It saddened her that it was turning to a place of hate.

He was the one who’d led Sakura’s kidnappers to her. The bar had been crowded, but the unmistakable atmosphere of malice and intent was there.

Hana touched Tomoyo’s arm. Tomoyo paused in her easy questions to allow Hana to talk.

“Kato-san,” Hana said gently. “Tell me about the bar you frequent with your friend. You told the police that you often go there with him.”

“Oh,” Kato’s tone faltered. “Yes, I did say that. But Sado-san is a good man. He would never do anything to hurt Sakura. I told the police as much.”

“I’m not asking about Sado-san,” Hana soothed. “But, there might be a possibility that whoever took your daughter had been following you for a while. Therefore they could have been at the bar. Did you notice any new faces?”
Kato remained silent for a moment, clearly trying to remember that night. He reached out to hold Yue’s hand before he answered.

“We were drunk, and I can’t be too sure. But there was a man who did walk in around nine, before we got too drunk. The only reason he seemed new was because we had never seen him before. I remember Sado-san commenting on him coz he had a scar on his right cheek. It didn’t seem important to mention to the police.”

A scar on the right cheek, Hana thought. She knew someone who had a scar on the right cheek. She’d put it there herself. So, it was the ISIS foundation after all. What were they up to?

“Kato-san, Yue-san, thank you for your time,” Hana said quickly. “I promise that we will do the best we can to find your daughter.”

“But-

Tomoyo stood up and helped Hana up. Bowing to the two confused parents, she quickly led Hana out of their home, with quick goodbyes. Once they were outside, Hana led the way toward the main street. They didn’t need to search the alleys for information.

“Call Tama,” Hana said quietly. “We’re looking for Daye Chang. They are here in Kyoto, and we need to find out what it is they are doing fast, before more people disappear.”

“Are you saying the ISIS foundation is involved in this?” Tomoyo asked trying to keep up with Hana’s fast pace.

“The man with the scar on his right cheek is Daye. I put the scar on him myself three months ago. That was when we raided the warehouse in Hokkaido. They are up to something, and we are too far behind. Get everyone down here.”

 

Chapter Three

“Progress is slow; we need a more qualified genealogist. The researchers we have right now are stuck,” Daye Chang explained into his cell phone. “The information we’re gathering is taking forever. Our operation in Kyoto will start taking heat because of missing persons.”

“Is there any change in the drug they are doing all these for? They should have come up with something different than what they had two months ago?”

“A few changes, but the side effects are dangerous. We have lost a few subjects to severe symptoms. These symptoms vary with individuals it makes it harder to pinpoint the cause of the irregularities.”

“I want results, Mr. Chang. I don’t much care for the process. Besides, the drug is not going to be used for side effects, as long as it does its main purpose. Get it done.”

The line went dead and Daye stared at the glittering night before him. Orders were such a part of his life, but this one was going to be harder to carry out than most. There were too many variables to consider. The most important one was the interest the police was building on the missing persons’ cases. It was getting harder to cover their tracks unless they moved out of Kyoto and back to Tokyo. Too many people were looking for the victims. He had no doubt that this was the Shiroi Seiryu’s newest project. Damn phantom organization that seemed to have no actual roots. He had searched for them for so long and still there was no one who seemed to know who they were.

Turning away from the spectacular view of the city, he walked to a long table that was laden with files he had requested earlier that evening. Pulling out a sit at the head of the table, he tackled the first file and wasn’t surprised to find that the subject in question was in critical condition. There were sixteen files of critical patients, while the other fourteen were the exception to the drug side effects. Their reactions were unknown because no symptoms had developed.

A knock came on the door, and a young man walked in carrying another load of files. He placed them on the table and glanced up expectantly.

“What is wrong with these fourteen subjects? Why aren’t we focusing on them?” Daye asked then.

“They are under observation, sir. The researchers believe that the symptoms are delayed. There’s never been such a distinction before. All the other subjects reacted normally.”

“What makes this group different?” Daye demanded. “Maybe they should capitalize on that fact and check it out.”

“Yes sir,” the answer came.

“Look, clean up is going to be a bitch, and having no results to show for it, will affect both you and me, Suzuki-san. Understand that and believe it, because the man we work for takes no disappointments.” Daye pushed the files away and shook his head. “Find out what they have decided to do about these fourteen. Then tell security that I want a meeting with them. We have eyes on us, and the moment this gets out of Isis, we have to have contingency plans for cleanup.”

“Yes sir, I’ll send them up right away.”

Daye watched as the young man left the room in a hurry and leaned back in his chair. His left hand moved to the scar on his left cheek unconsciously. A habit he’d developed in the past few months ever since that day at the warehouse. That bitch who’d given him the scar was going to pay. Damned Shiroi Seiryu clan, who were they anyway, and how could they get such an insipid name?

He wished they were the ones snooping around. He wanted blood for revenge, and he would get it just as soon as he caught even one person from that clan.

***************************************************************************************************
“We have a location,” Ogun said triumphantly, a week later. They had moved to another hotel, in the Kyoto central business district. It made it easier to seem inconspicuous as they ran their investigations. Hana was busy typing away at a laptop when he came in holding the piece of paper. She held out a hand, and grabbed the paper when he was close.

“Are you sure?” Hana demanded. She gave the paper a short perusal.

“Surveillance confirms it, there is serious research going on in there. All the notable scientists in genealogy are there. We’re not sure whether it is willingly or under duress, but that hardly matters. What does is the heavy security moving in and out of the place, and of course the trademark Isis equipment.”

“Chuya labs,” Hana said studying the blueprints that he’d attached to the pictures. “There is no easy way in; we have to disable the security system remotely.”

“It is complicated and there is a chance there is a silent trigger that we can’t stop.” Ogun pulled out the specifics of the security system designed for the laboratory. “It seems that the security company that designed this was the same one that did it at the warehouse.”

“Whoever it is, he is brilliant,” Hana said with a wicked smile at Ogun. “But not enough, get me everything you can, I want to be ready for the nasty little tricks he puts into the algorithms.”

“Why are you sure it’s a guy?” Tomoyo questioned then. She was carefully inspecting the guns that Ogun had delivered earlier for the raid that was inevitable. She didn’t want to have any problems on site.

“Because, women would be extremely elegant, he is simply vulgar and vicious when it comes to his algorithms and the consequences that go with breaking in to his system.” Hana smiled and winked at Ogun, before she got to work. The picture of a young girl with a pony tail and hello kitty earrings was stuck on the table beside her. They all knew her reluctance to return home was coming from that picture. She was hunting and the Isis foundation was her prey.

Leaving her to her work, Ogun motioned for Tomoyo to follow him, and they went out of Hana’s hotel room, headed for the one across the hall. Closing the door carefully, Ogun turned to Tomoyo and said quietly,

“Tama-San has asked that you return her home, and allow us to do the raid.” Ogun nodded to the men who were getting ready in the room. They were skilled men ready for combat, Tomoyo was well aware that Tama kept an army of mercenaries to facilitate all Shiroi Seiryu projects. They weren’t weak men, and knew how to do their jobs.

“I’m not sure we can pry her from this one,” Tomoyo shook her head. “We should never have let her meet the family.”

“We don’t have a choice,” Ogun said quietly. “He orders, we comply, and you knew this the moment she asked you to come to Kyoto with her. He is her guardian after all, her safety comes first.”

“Damn it Ogun, don’t you think I know that?” Tomoyo sighed. “It won’t take her long to crack that code and the moment she learns what we’re thinking, we won’t hear the end of it.”

“Here,” Ogun held out a small ear bud. “It’s a scrambler. Saya gave one to all of us to help interfere with whatever frequency she uses to tap into our thoughts. It doesn’t work well, but it will at least take her a while to know what is going on.”

“What are you suggesting?” Tomoyo demanded. Her gaze moving over him suspiciously, she looked around at the busy men and moved closer to Ogun. “Has Tama given you some sort of order he didn’t tell me?”

Ogun sighed and shook his head. “He said to drug her if we have to, and get her on a plane to Tokyo while the raid is going on.”

Tomoyo stared at Ogun in surprise before she ran a hand through her short hair, disarranging it further. “Well, he has lost it completely hasn’t he?”

“I just follow orders, Tomoyo-san.”

“This is a very bad idea, and you know it,” Tomoyo warned quietly. “I won’t take part in it.”

“I don’t think you have a choice,” Ogun snapped. Giving her a short look, he pulled out a small vial from his pocket and held it out to her. “This will knock her out for twelve hours. Put it in her drinking water, or even her food. It doesn’t matter, it will work. The moment she has a way in the lab, you do it.”

“What happens when she wakes up twelve hours later?” Tomoyo questioned with a shake of her head. “You and Tama never consider the consequences of living with her after you do idiot things like this.”

Ogun held out the vial like he hadn’t heard her. It wouldn’t matter she knew, either she did it or he would do it. Better if she did it, Tomoyo thought sullenly. Grabbing the vial with a huff, she stuck the ear bud he’d given her into her ear and walked away with a huff.

***************************************************************************************************

The moment they left her hotel room, Hana got up and moved to the closed door, standing close to it, her hand on the polished wood. Closing her eyes, she concentrated on Tomoyo’s energy, and wasn’t surprised to find the odd negative energy that constantly surrounded Ogun’s men. So, they were planning something she wasn’t supposed to know.

Push through it, you’ll find it.

The words were whispered into her head. The sensation tingling as it often was. Smiling at the familiarity of it, she did as instructed. Taking in a deep breath, she gathered energy around her absorbing it, like a sponge would water. She allowed it to give her strength. Energy seemed to be flowing into her pores, to a part of her that made her feel like she could race for miles. Her heart beat increased, the beat fast, and very strong, the sound filled her ears. It was exhilarating and scary at the same time.

Tomoyo’s energy was unmistakable. Her soft feminine caring nature filled the other room, her presence was very distinguishable. The room was filled with testosterone. Smiling at the obvious reaction to a beautiful woman, Hana concentrated on the muted voices. They seemed distorted, so she pushed harder to push against the wave that was over them.

“…drug her and get her on plane to Tokyo……I’m just following orders.”

Hana pushed away from door, her eyes flying open at the discussion going on in the room across. So, Tama was going to be that way. She shook her head, and her gaze slid to the open laptop on the table. She’d already cracked the security system. The hassle would come with the silent alarm. They had precisely ten minutes to get into Chuya labs, complete the raid and leave. She didn’t care what Tama said, they had to go in, and she would be there to help that girl.

Moving back to the desk and her laptop, Hana stared at the picture of Sakura Toshiro. Her smile was sweet, her eyes so full of innocence, it hurt to keep looking. The pain she suspected the child was going through was hard to perceive. The sight of a tree decaying to a mass of black nothing wouldn’t leave her.

A knock on the door and Tomoyo walked in, her expression closed. Hana kept her gaze on the girl stuck to her desk.

“What did Ogun want?”

“Just completing a few last minute arrangements,” Tomoyo said quickly. She reached for one of the guns on the coffee table and loaded it. Making sure the safety was on she put into a holster at her waist and started tucking in knifes into the numerous pockets of her black pants. Her gaze dedicatedly stayed away from Hana’s. “Are you hungry?”

“No,” Hana said quietly. Her fingers ran over the picture on her desk. Shaking her head, she sat down on her chair and studied the program running flawlessly on her laptop. She needed a way out of this one. Ogun worked for her family for a reason. He wasn’t stupid; he could outsmart her at will.

“You should eat something,” Tomoyo said. “You’ve been using up your energy a lot. You have dark circles under your eyes too. You haven’t been sleeping either.”

“I’m not hungry,” Hana said sharply. Looking at Tomoyo she shook her head and turned to stare out the window. She wished she wasn’t this way. May be allowing them to drug her would be better. She could use an excuse to not see what was in that laboratory. She needed an excuse. The unease in her was quickly becoming a problem. It was hard to sleep.

Tomoyo watched her and didn’t need to guess the problem. Hana was expressive when she wished.

“I wasn’t going to use it,” Tomoyo said. Walking over to the desk, she placed the vial Ogun had given her beside the laptop. “I might be susceptible to Tama’s wishes but he doesn’t rule me.”

“My brother is bossy,” Hana said to meet Tomoyo’s gaze. “He’ll get someone else to do it, if you don’t. Why don’t you just get it over with? I might take it willingly.”

“Hana,” Tomoyo sighed. “I won’t let it happen, trust me. We need you at the lab. I don’t know why I say that, I just know we do.” Holding out a silver dagger with an intricately carved handle, she said, “I know you’re done with the program. I’ll get you food elsewhere, and we can go to the laboratory first.”

Hana took the dagger, staring at the handle for a moment. For a split second, a memory seemed to stir in the back of her mind as she touched it. She couldn’t quite place what seemed so familiar about the dagger. Shrugging away the unknown, she slid the dagger into her boot and got up. Closing the laptop, she picked it up and nodded to Tomoyo. They left the hotel room quietly.
***************************************************************************************************

“Sir, there is no sign of your sister,” Ogun said staring at the vial on the table where Hana had been seating. “How do we proceed?”

“Find her,” Tama ordered. “Nothing happens to her Ogun, I have a bad feeling about this. I’m on my way.”

Ogun nodded and hung up the call. Turning to his men, he said, “We head out to Chuya labs. We’re keeping an eye out for her, as well as preparing to infiltrate the premises. This will be dangerous, she’s not easy to deal with, but under no circumstances is she to enter that building.”

***************************************************************************************************

“Are you sure about this?” Tomoyo whispered as they crouched next to a ventilation vent. Her gaze moving over the surroundings with a worried gaze, she couldn’t believe they were here.

“We have to sneak in,” Hana said quietly. She unscrewed the vent cover, and Tomoyo helped her move it to the side. “There is a short drop. We have to be very quiet. Secure all the items on you that will make any noise.”

Tomoyo nodded and taking the backpack that carried Hana’s laptop, she waited as Hana slipped in to the vent. Once she was in, Hana reached up and caught the bag, Tomoyo followed it soon after.

“What do we do about the open vent?” Tomoyo asked.

“They won’t notice,” Hana said in that sure way she had. Tomoyo accepted it and followed her as they ducked under a large vent, headed deeper into the facility. They had gone in a twenty feet from their entrance. Hana stopped abruptly, and pressed her ear to the vent. After a moment, she motioned for them to sit, and she took out the laptop.

“We are just above the ground floor, and below us is a hallway.” Hana pulled up the blue prints Ogun had given her. “If we keep going further, we should find a junction on this vent. We’ll take the one that goes left and come out here next to the elevator. From there, we’ll take the stairs down.”

“What about the guards at the elevator,” Tomoyo asked.

“I’m sure your gun has tranquilizer darts.” Hana tapped the screen again. “Our problem is the scientists in the laboratory down there. How do we get in without being noticed?”

Tomoyo felt her cell phone buzzing at the hip. Pulling it out, she clipped it to her ear. “I can’t talk right now.”

“You are going to get it,” Tama roared into her ear. “What did you do?”

“I’m in a very precarious position right now,” Tomoyo replied. Hana returned the laptop into the bag and started making her way toward the junction. “Can I talk to you later?”

“Where are you? Ogun is searching all over for you two. He says you don’t have your trackers.”

“Tell him to meet us at Chuya Labs. He should wait until I call for the signal to enter. Hana is going to disable the security from inside.”

“You two are going to be the death of me,” Tama roared. “I’m going-

“Oops, have to go.” Tomoyo hit the off button and followed Hana silently. Once they were at the junction, Hana looked back at Tomoyo and then they both started laughing. Their humor ended the moment they reached the junction, and found that their chosen route was decorated with lasers.

“Great,” Tomoyo said sitting down on the steel vent, making little noise. “Tell me you can get by this.”

“We have to sit tight, just for a while.” Hana pulled out her laptop and got to work. Her gaze focused on the laptop. “I was hoping to do this after everyone was gone, but maybe we don’t have to wait.”

“What does that mean?” Tomoyo said. Her gaze moving around their closed confines, she would do anything right now to be standing up straight.

Hana closed the laptop and handed it to Tomoyo. “All you have to do is press enter, but only when I say so.”

“What are you going to do?” Tomoyo demanded. Her gaze searching Hana’s, she had a feeling whatever Hana wanted to do would be dangerous. Despite being so easy going about doing this for Hana, she drew a line at self distraction.

“I’m just urging people along on their decision making.” Hana closed her eyes, and took up a yoga pose. “Those plugs that Ogun gave you will be useful right now.”

Tomoyo took them out of her pocket and plugged them into her ears.

Hana took a moment to calm down. Her heart was flying at unknown speeds. There was something here, she could feel it. It worried her. But she didn’t have time to pay too much attention to that feeling. Tomoyo’s presence was stabilizing. She used that calm to gather the energy she needed. Pulling it from everything around her, there was a lot of negative energy in the building. Gathering it, she added to her own until she had enough to send out the command to everyone in the building.

“Leave this place, leave now.”

She simply placed the suggestion in the general path humans seemed to have. It was the path that allowed her to hear what people were thinking. Sometimes it was difficult to read people, when they were different, but she was pretty sure everyone in the building was the same. Regardless, she needed the security to leave. The server was in the security room and any unauthorized access would be noticed.

“Hana,” Tomoyo said touching her hand gently. “You’re shaking, stop now.”

Hana kept it up for a second more. She needed to be sure, this couldn’t fail. Sakura Toshiro was depending on her. She stopped when she sensed the first wave of people start walking toward the exit.

“What did you do?” Tomoyo asked, staring through the ventilation at guards who were talking animatedly. They carried their gear as they left the building.

“Suggested they leave,” Hana said tiredly. Leaning back against the vent, she took in air, trying to regain her strength. She was so tired.

“Oh, shit, this is why I keep insisting you eat. And do you listen to me, no.” Tomoyo cursed under her breath as she opened the laptop and stared at it. There was a prompt with two boxes. One said ‘yes’ and the other said ‘no’. “Do I do this?”

Hana listened to the people below still leaving. She shook her head no, and kept her eyes closed. Once the place had quieted, she opened her senses again to listen for any body still around, there seemed to be no one.

“Go ahead,” she instructed Tomoyo.

Tomoyo happily hit the ‘yes’ button and looked around expecting a bomb to go off. Instead, the lasers silently disappeared. Gathering their things, Tomoyo proceeded ahead of Hana. It took a minute to get going for Hana. Her energy was low.

They came out at the elevator but there was no guard. Hana pushed the stair well door and made sure to note where the exit was. Running after Tomoyo down the stairs, they came up to a pair of double doors in the lower floor. They were secured with a code pad. Walking over to the pad, Hana pushed in the necessary numbers to bypass the security. It took less than two minutes to get to the laboratory they were looking for.

Tomoyo didn’t waste any time. Her job was to copy as much data as she could while destroying it. Collecting hard copy files and stuffing them into a bag she’d brought with her. While she did that, Hana went to investigate the rest of the rooms in the laboratory.

A chemical storage was adjoined to the main lab, followed by a server room. She alerted Tomoyo to its presence and headed into the next hall. This one was more elaborate. It was a large room with a workstation on one side. The other half of the room was divided into rooms with glass doors. Walking through the hallway they made she paused at the first door to look inside.

The glass wasn’t as clear as she’d hoped. But she could make out shapes and she could clearly see a bed and a chair. Frowning, she wondered why laboratory experiments would need a room. Curiosity drove her to the workstation. The locks to the doors would be wired to the central system. She just needed to press a button on the console at the workstation to get them open. Strange, usually lab animals would be already making noise by now. The best part about raiding these kinds of labs was releasing them.

Shaking her head, she pushed the buttons for the ten rooms and listened as a soft hissing sound followed her action. The multiple clicks of the automatic locks were satisfying, so she hurried back to the door she’d been looking through. The gasp that escaped her was unnoticed. She couldn’t believe her eyes.

It didn’t seem possible but the lab experiments were human beings! Suddenly Ogun’s voice interrupted the moment. His tone curt and straight to the point rang in her ear piece. He’d obviously tapped into the frequency they were using.

“Report, scans show personnel have left but the silent alarm was tripped.”

Hana didn’t reply. Her mind was still reeling at the scene before her. Room after room yielded more people. Most of them young, barely twenty, they were mixed girls and boys. Tomoyo answered instead.

“The data has been retrieved and a virus introduced to corrupt their server. If the silent alarm is on, we have less than five minutes left.”

“My men will cover you, exit now. They can’t find you there.”

They couldn’t leave yet. Rushing into one of the cells Hana reached for the young man who sat on his bed, staring at her warily. His eyes were black, his hair shaggy and long. He had dark shadows under his eyes and sweat coated his skin. He was sick. She could see him shivering. Some sort of fever. The pajamas he wore were institution supplied. Their dull color accentuated his white parlor. Frowning, she touched his arm and shuddered at the flood of pain that filled her. It almost drove her down to her knees. She let go.

“I’m here to help. Let’s go, I’ll make sure you’re safe. I’m going to help all of you be safe.”

What about the man with the scar?

The question was placed directly in her mind. Of course, she realized, they had to be unique to warrant any kind of attention from the Isis foundation. Was Sakura among these people? She almost hoped for it. The alternative was too scary. They usually put through the unique ones through worse.

“Shiroi,” Tomoyo used her code name just incase they were being heard. “We have two minutes, what the hell are you doing down there. Let’s go!”

“We have cargo,” Hana said taking the young man’s arm again. She helped him up. Looking into his eyes, she answered his question the way he had hers.

Trust me. I’ll get you out of here. Don’t worry about him.”

His hesitation disappeared and he moved. His reaction catapulted the others who had been standing at their open doors with curiosity. They rushed toward the exit without prompting. Tomoyo and Ogun would know what to do. So she made sure to double check the cells in case one of them was too ill. She was about to turn away when a soft whimper caught her attention and she looked back around to search for the source.

In the last cell, hiding the corner, she found the source. It was Sakura Toshiro. Gone was the little cute child she’d come to know from the picture stuck on her laptop. No, this little girl was different now. Her dark hair was long and un-kept. She was in a faded night dress that covered her legs where she sat. Her little arms were wrapped around her knees and she was watching Hana with her face half hidden in her knees. Finding her here was a blessing and a curse, Hana thought as she swallowed hard.

“Come on honey, let’s go. I’ll take you some where safe.”

She didn’t move. She kept cowering and the closer Hana moved the louder the moaning sound came out. It was wrenching. That sound made her feel pain that settled right in her chest. Why would anyone do this to a child? She wanted to scream. Swallowing hard, she entered the cell. Crouching beside the Sakura, Hana laid a hand over head and stroked the dirty hair.

“Please come with me sweetie. I’m going to take you to your family. They are really anxious to see you again. Your mom can’t wait.”

There was no reaction. Time was running out.

“Shiroi, I’m going to beat you up if you don’t get your butt out of there right now! Security has arrived, please, hurry.”

Tomoyo was getting dramatic, although her urgency was valid. The people Chuya Labs hired to deal with their security were mercenaries and hired to kill first ask questions later. If they caught her, they wouldn’t hesitate. She had no choice. Closing her eyes, she reached for the Sakura using her mind, hoping to take control and take the girl away. It wasn’t surprising when she found a large wall blocking her, and then pain filled her mind making her nose bleed. She’d already expended so much energy. It didn’t seem like she would be able to do this without Sakura’s consent.

Breathing out to gain control, Hana sat down on the floor and touched the girl’s arm.

I am not going to hurt you. Look into my eyes honey. I am your friend. I will not harm you, I promise on my mother’s grave.

Hana blinked as Sakura raised her face fully and she was staring into bright hazel eyes. There was power in this girl. She was gifted and these people had captured her to gain it. She was afraid, but she also wanted to leave. But this seemed like a joke. The men who’d captured her had kept promising to take her to her parents, but never did.

Hana raised her right hand and promised. “I will take you home. Your mom and father are waiting, I promise you.”

The girl’s eyes filled with tears and she moved for the first time. It was all Hana needed to make a move; otherwise victims often fought back and ended up hurt if you tried to force them. Gathering Sakura into her arms, she lifted her up and carried her out of her cell. Tomoyo was urging her to hurry. The mercenaries were here. They were prowling the first floor. She hurried for the exit and wasn’t surprised when she saw the light on the elevator come on. Pushing the stair well door open, she rushed up and was climbing the last stair up to the first floor when she heard the door down stairs open again.

Gripping Sakura tight, she merged her mind with her, to take on her fear, and ran flat out toward the lobby doors which had been propped open. Beyond that was a path that led down to a parking lot and that’s where the escape van was. She just needed to get in range of the van; Ogun’s men and Tomoyo would take care of anyone behind her.

Flinging herself out of the lobby, she was in the night, racing for the van. She could feel the little girl clutching her dark shirt, the little fingers holding the fabric in a fist. Her boots sounded muted on the ground, she cut through the lawn running for the dark van. She was almost there. Her heart pounded so loud she could hear it. The side door slid open on the van and she saw her Tomoyo looking out, a gun trained on something behind her. She was almost free.

There was a whizzing by her ear, then that sound. A wet bone crunching kind of sound that left her cold and very lost. She couldn’t tell who had been hit, there was just nothing. The nothing turned to black oblivion, and she couldn’t move anymore. She was falling instead, falling to the ground, and her head hit the grass hard. The little girl in her arms was caught between her and the hard surface. She couldn’t breath. She couldn’t move. Pain filled every part of her body.


 

Chapter Four

Tomoyo stared at Hana for a split second. Horror filling her heart she flew into the storm of bullets without caring. She had to use her own talents that she ignored on a daily basis. The bullets veered away from her course, as she leaned down and gripped Hana’s upper arms and lifted her off the ground. The little girl didn’t move, and neither did Hana. Tomoyo refused to examine the reason. Instead, she used all she had to get them both to the van where Ogun came to help her lift them into the car.

“Take the girl,” Tomoyo ordered. “I don’t think she’s alive.”

Ogun checked and sure enough, the bullet had made a neat hole on her forehead. Sighing, he picked up a blanket from the back chair and covered Sakura Toshiro’s body. His gaze returned to Hana.

“Is she alive?” His tone was hard. He couldn’t bear to think of the consequences. Tama would have their heads. “The blood, where is it coming from, is she hurt?”

Tomoyo wiped at the blood on Hana’s neck and chest. It came off easily. “It’s not hers.” Looking into her eyes, she noted the dilated pupils and frowned. “She might have hurt her head from the fall. I don’t see any other injury.”

Tomoyo studied Hana. She was getting cold, her skin was clammy. There was nothing physically wrong with her. The van was vaulting to the side; she made sure Hana was steady. Why was she not moving?

“Tama-san has landed,” Ogun announced. She looked up to meet his gaze, and he shrugged. “He is the boss, Tomoyo-san. There is nothing we can do about it. We should take her to the hospital.”

“Head to the airport,” Tomoyo countered. “The faster we get her to Okaasan the better. A hospital will ask questions.” She rubbed at Hana’s cheeks trying to infuse life into the still young woman. She worried the energy she’d expended in those laboratories was the cause of this. Hana had invested too much of herself into finding Sakura Toshiro. She didn’t know what to expect after this.

“Make sure the parents find the girl, and arrange a proper funeral for her. The Shiroi Seiryu will cover the expenses.”

“I’ll arrange it,” Ogun promised as the van kept speeding through the streets. “Will she be alright?”

Tomoyo stared down at the still Hana, and wondered herself. Holding back tears she shook her head. Hana wasn’t moving. Her eyes remained closed. Her energy was none existent. She had no idea if she would be alright.

**********************************************************************************************

Tama couldn’t help the unease that filled him when a call came to hold the plane. He paced the cabin like a caged animal. He didn’t want to risk anything delaying what he assumed was going to be a fast escape. The moment his right hand man, Jun Kazama spotted the careening van, he came rushing in to alert Tama.

They didn’t waste time, Tama went down the stairs out of the plane ready to hand Hana one for doing this to him. He couldn’t even define the kind of fear coursing through him every time she deliberately placed herself in danger. He was just contemplating what words to use when the van stopped and Ogun jumped out. He reached in to the van and carefully picked up someone. It didn’t take much to realize that it was Hana he was carrying out.

“What happened?” he demanded of Tomoyo who held a black bag and Hana’s laptop. “I thought I said not a hair on her head gets harmed.”

“Let’s do this when we’re airborne. Please, Ogun still has to take the child back to her parents.” Tomoyo nodded for the open van door and Tama stepped closer to look in to the messy van. The small body covered with a blanket was unmistakable.

Shaking his head, he followed everyone into the plane. The moment Ogun laid her down on a long seat, Tama rushed to her side. Ogun gave them one last look before he gave Tomoyo a short nod and hurried out so that they could leave.

“What’s wrong with her?” Tama demanded then. “I don’t see anything hurt. Why won’t she open her eyes?”

“I don’t know.” Tomoyo shook her head and sank into a chair. “She was running, then the girl got shot and she fell. She hasn’t moved since then.”

“Damn it,” Tama pushed hair away from Hana’s face. Her lashes lay like carved moons on golden skin. There was a bruise on her forehead, and smudge of dirt on her left cheek. Using the sleeve of his sweater, Tama wiped at the smudge. His gaze moved lower and he stared in horror at the sight of dried blood on her neck.

“It’s not hers,” Tomoyo provided first.

He nodded in understanding and took the blanket she was offering. Covering her, he sat down next to his sister, and held her hand tightly in his. Looking at Tomoyo, he said quietly, “I want you to tell me everything that happened. Don’t leave out any little detail.”
***************************************************************************************************

Daye stared at the rubble that was supposed to be Chuya labs and he clenched his fingers in anger. They had blown the building up, no doubt to cover their tracks again. He wasn’t sure they could find anything in the mess.

“Sir, we’ve recovered some records, but the rest have been destroyed,” Suzuki said. His gaze lowered as he stood behind his boss. The rage drifting off Daye Chang was hard to take in. “There were also fourteen subjects who were-

“Where are they?” Daye demanded.

“We only have four, they are in critical condition. They had been moved to a different part of the facility for observation. Nine have disappeared and one was killed in the raid.”

“So we are crippled,” Daye shook his head. His cell phone rang and he pulled it out to stare at the caller Id. He cursed under his breath in a rough tone. “Clean this up, and everyone heads back to Tokyo, right now, Suzuki!”

The younger man rushed off and Daye was left alone. He didn’t need an audience while their boss took it out on him. Jaw clenched, he answered Takino Yuki’s call.

***************************************************************************************************

She woke up with a gasp, eyes wide as she tried to reorient herself. Her heart was pounding, the pace so fast it made her feel like she was burning up. She wanted to scream. But the sound wouldn’t get past her dry throat. The pain in her head was excruciating. It pierced through her brain. Her wild gaze met her brother’s. His dark steady one was welcome, but she read the truth from him so easily. She had failed.

Sakura Toshiro was dead.

Falling back on the bed, she closed her eyes as despair seemed to flood her body paralyzing her.

“You saved the others,” Tama’s voice tried to penetrate the thick fog of pain. It wasn’t enough to dissipate it.

“She’s dead,” Hana said brokenly. She had been beyond tears for a long time. Even now she only felt the sting of them but none flowed out. No, her sorrow preferred to settle deep down in her soul.

“You saved the others,” Tama repeated holding her right hand tightly. He pushed her hair out of her face with the other hand. His slender fingers moved over her brow trying to rub away the lingering frown there. “You scared me; I thought I’d lost you.”

Hana sighed at the tone of his voice. He worried too much. He couldn’t protect her from everything and yet he still tried. Opening her eyes, she stared at him. His familiar face seemed to calm the storm. He had dark eyes, a straight nose, a sharp jaw and he kept his hair long. She’d kept hers the same because it had seemed like the coolest thing at ten years old. When she’d turned fifteen, she’d loved that it reminded him of their mother. Tama, her only family, letting her gaze fall to where he held her right hand, she said,

“I’m sorry for worrying you.”

“It’s because you insist on using your abilities. It’s going to get you killed,” Tama said savagely. “How do I get you to promise to stop?”

“I can’t stop,” Hana said. “It’s not something I can do even if I wanted. It simply happens. I don’t understand why you don’t yell at everyone else in this house. You don’t ask Tomoyo, or even Kouya. She’s always moving things around in the air for fun. Why yell at me?”

“Tomoyo doesn’t use her abilities at will,” Tama snapped. “Besides, you’re my sister. It depletes you Hana. You are tired. I can see dark circles under your eyes. You’ve obviously not been sleeping, and now you’ve been passed out on this bed for the last two days. Do you know what that’s like for me?”

He refused to hide his worry. She could feel it dripping off of him in waves. Why did it hurt him this much? Didn’t he see this was for all their sakes? It would be good to finish this feud with Takino Yuki. The faster the better then they could all go with their lives.

“I will do better next time, Nii-sama,” She said to ease his pain. “I’ll rest now.”

“Don’t just say it to make me happy,” Tama complained. His frown deepened, “I need you to rest. This is an order, no, a request from your big brother. You have to rest for two days straight.”

Hana groaned inside at the obvious delay. He and Ogun would deal with the Kyoto mess by the time she was allowed up again. She wanted in on that investigation and he knew it. Yet the look in his eyes made her want to promise. The pain in her head was getting worse. So she nodded her compliance.

The doors to her room slid open and Saya walked in carrying a tray. Her eyes were bright and her smile ready, she came to sit on a chair on Hana’s left side. Placing the tray on the bed, she started grinding herbs in a bowl with a pestle. Giving Hana a short glance, she shook her head.

“You really did it this time.”

“You send her there,” Tama said accusingly. “Are you happy?”

Hana sighed and closed her eyes. The light was hurting her. Saya ignored Tama and continued. “The herbs will help you sleep. You should regain your strength in two days.”

“So it was you,” Hana noted slowly, her voice drowsy. “You convinced him of my need for bed rest.”

“I’m useful in that way.” Saya added water to the bowl and nodded to Tama. He obliged by helping Hana sit up and holding her up while she drank the concoction that Saya had mixed up. She made a face while she swallowed the last of it and gave Saya a nasty look.

“You did that on purpose, this stuff can taste better.”

Saya winked at her and watched Tama help her lie down again. They straightened the covers over her and Hana allowed herself to slip back into sleep. She couldn’t stay up any longer. Her body felt tired and suddenly all that waited for her beyond her bedroom doors was too much. So she drifted away instead.

***************************************************************************************************
“She almost died,” Tama said quietly. His gaze on his sister’s worn face. “I can see it in her eyes.”

“This quest will destroy both of you,” Saya stood up and gathered her things. Her gaze hard now, no longer laughing, she was dead serious as she turned to Tama. “Why won’t you let me tell her the past?”

“Does it seem an easy thing to you?” Tama asked meeting her gaze. “She doesn’t remember anything. Why dredge up so much pain?”

“Tama look around, she’s actively searching out the past. This fight against Takino Yuki will not end well if she doesn’t know it, and being deceitful to her is not helping anyone. You spend your time trying to control her life, she spends hers defying you to new heights. This right here is an example of how far she will go to prove you wrong.”

“Don’t tell me about deceit,” Tama spat out moving away from the bed. Fist clenched he accused, “You sent her to Kyoto. This happened because you continually push her to do dangerous things.”

“Oh,” Saya picked up her tray. She shook her head at how stubborn he was. “Is cosseting her inside this estate working for you? How much longer will you try to contain her? She’s chafing and her power is growing. What happens when it explodes? Out there, she finds something to focus all those emotions boiling inside her. In case you thought you were dealing with a sane person, I hope the events of two nights ago have proved you wrong.”

Saya’s gaze moved over Hana’s prone body and she finished. “This has now become a vendetta, Tama. Sakura Toshiro mattered to her and unless you start supporting your sister, she will get herself killed. You’re pushing her to the edge.”

“She’s only twenty,” Tama said, running a hand down his face. “My only family, Saya, what you’re asking of me-,

He broke off and looked away.

Saya sighed at his pain and worry, but what else could she do? These two were her world now. They had come to matter to her like her own children would. What did it matter that they would one day loathe her? She kept a very powerful secret. It violated the trust they had in her and she couldn’t fathom what it would be like when they discovered it. Shaking her head to ward off melancholy, she pulled back her smile.

“Come on, she’s out like a light. Tomoyo has been cooking. I just know you’re hungry. Being cooped up in here is not helping you, why don’t you come eat something.” Saya nodded to the door. “Allow your sister some sleep.”

Tama nodded and followed Saya out. Sliding the doors closed, his hands ran over the white dragon painted on the double doors. For a moment he thought he say it shimmer under his fingertips, but it must have been a trick of the light.

***************************************************************************************************
Walking into the white dragon club, Rei stopped to take in the inside, careful to mark where all the visible exits were. There was a possibility that he was going to be running out of the place, he wanted to get a hold of Seiren and set off for the estate. Satisfied with his perusal, he ignored the dance floor and went for the bar area instead. He was careful to seem like an ordinary customer coming in to enjoy himself. He took a seat at the bar and ordered a beer from the bar tender.

The place was busy. He’d done a little research and it appeared that the owner of the club was Takino Yuki. He visited the club in the morning hours and spent it in his offices talking with his right hand man, a guy named Daye Chang. He was a scary man. He had a scar running down the side of his face, from his eye to his upper lip. He kept his hair long on that side to hide it, but from what Rei gathered, the man was scary enough even without the scar.

There was a hidden club in the basement that was more risky than the one upstairs. He hadn’t gotten enough about that part of the white dragon, which could only mean that the activities happening there were illegal. The most worrying side to all these was that there were no ex-employees at the white dragon, just a long list of missing people.

Which explained Seiren’s worry, it was clearly obvious she would never make it out alone. Looking around the club discreetly, he tried to find her. The women working here wore black short skirts, matching tights, and a white silk blouse that fitted their upper bodies. Their hair was held up in a pony tail, and they all rushed around serving the clients seated at the tables.

For a moment, he couldn’t seem to see her, and it panicked him a bit, but then, she came rushing from what he assumed was the back room or kitchen. Her cheeks were flashed, she was obviously upset, and her hands were shaking. She kept gripping them into a fist to make them stop. She picked up a few bottles from a table and carried them to a crate on the side of the bar area. Talking to the bartender, she happened to glance down and froze when she saw him.

He wasn’t sure whether to greet her, so he remained still and took his cue from her when she continued talking to the bartender like she hadn’t seen him. She was obviously ready to run to him. He could tell that by the way she moved after the bartender gave her the order she requested. Taking a sip of his beer, he watched as she paced around taking orders, then when she returned the fifth time, she stopped beside him.

“I’m afraid to talk to you, I think they’ll notice.”

“Do you want to leave now? My car is outside, Seiren. Let’s go.”

She was about to reply when an average height man came and stood on his left side. Holding Seiren’s gaze, Rei addressed the man, “You’re invading my personal space.”

“If I am, then it’s because you’re infringing on mine.” The words were soft, but he could hear the underlying warning. “What do you want with her? You’ve been watching her for a while now. She’s not for sale.”

“I’m just talking to her,” Rei said, turning to see the owner of the voice. It was Daye Chang. His eyes were dead. No life to speak of.

“I know who you are, Rei Akino.” The words were a shock that had him wanting to punch him out. “Leave, she’s not coming with you.”

“She’s my family; I can take her where I want.”

“You’ve no say in this. Try it once; you’ll pay with your life.”

“Are you threatening me?” Rei demanded.

He felt something press on his back and he froze. He wasn’t just being threatened, he was being warned. If he didn’t take it seriously, he was going to die. The gun was cocked and he closed his eyes. Could this seriously be happening? Opening his eyes, he met Seiren’s frightened ones and it became crystal clear why she’d been calling in a panic.

“Back off,” Daye Chang ordered, his tone menacing, it made Rei’s blood turn to ice. “Don’t come back to the White Dragon. If you do, she dies.”

***************************************************************************************************

Rei couldn’t understand the situation. What the hell had Seiren seen to make those jerks at the white dragon hang on to her this way? They were gripping her tightly and not letting go. Seating on the plastic waiting chairs at the police station he pushed his hair back and leaned back on the wall. He hadn’t slept for two days now, ever since that night at the White Dragon when a cold gun had been pressed into his back. He’d called everyone after that incident trying to get Seiren out. The detectives in charge of the case were out having a talk with Daye Chang right now. He hoped it would go well. Anyone would release an employee if the police got involved.

The two men walked in right then. One of them was tall and cut his hair in a military cut, the other was short with a bulging belly. Their personalities left a lot to be desired but they were his last hope right now. He didn’t care what they acted like. He just wanted them to do their job. They came strolling into the station with cheerful faces. It gave him hope. He had been worrying for nothing, he thought getting to his feet. The click of a gun as it was being cocked was still ringing in his head and it was probably what was worrying him. He hoped that he wouldn’t have to feel this way again. When Seiren got home, he was going to have her locked up.

“Where is she?”

“Akino-san, she is still at the white dragon,” the tall one said. “There seemed to be no problem.”

Rei stared at him as though he’d grown two heads. What could he mean by that? Had they even reached the club? “I’m sorry, say that again?”

“There is no problem,” the short one repeated. “We talked with the management there and there is no problem. You are just a bit overly concerned. Seiren-san is fine.”

“Fine,” Rei nodded. “A man put a gun to my back and warned me to leave or she was dead. Does that sound like a person who is fine to you?”

“We spoke to her, Akino-san. She was happy and said that she was okay. But it is looking as though you’re not happy with them at all,” the one with a bulging belly said.

“The truth is they have asked that you don’t show up there again. Mr. Chang threatened to report a complaint against you for harassment. He says you went there yesterday and made a scene. Don’t go there again, if you know what’s good for you.”

This could only mean one thing; they were in the organization’s pockets. It was over. The police were no longer an option. From the looks of it Daye Chang had friends in high places. Shit, this was supposed to have been easy, but it was turning into a nightmare. Making a fist, Rei turned and walked out of the station without another word. Outside, the sun shone bright. It was practically ten o’clock in the morning. People walked around happy in their routines. He’d hoped he’d have Seiren out by now.

Reaching for his cell phone, he was about to call his brother when a hand gripped his right shoulder. He turned around ready to fight his assailant, but he instead found himself looking into the tall detective’s eyes. It was disappointing.

“What do you want?”

“She’s not getting out.” The words were like a bullet to him. He didn’t want a confirmation of his fears. “I don’t know what she’s done, but they are holding on to her tightly.”

“I’ll get her out,” Rei hissed out.

“You need help,” the detective said. “Find the Shiroi Seiryu clan.”

“I thought that is what Daye Chang works for?”

“No, that is just a club. The clan is different. They are more powerful than Chang’s boss, and harder to get a hold of. Rumors say that there is a gallery in Ginza called the Shisei. If you inquire there, they contact you. But so far, I’ve found no proof that they exist.”

Frowning slightly, Rei realized then that he would use anyone now. Did it matter that they sounded like a ring of crime lords? Not if it meant Seiren would be safe at home where she belonged.

“Why would they help me?” Rei demanded of the detective.

“They are at war with Takino Yuki.”

“Great,” Rei cursed under his breath. “How would you know this? I thought they were hard to get a hold of?”

“They are but rumors are persistent. Besides, we’ve cleaned up a lot of messes between them. They always involve one clan or the other. Usually it’s a retaliation of something. Last week, there was a break in at one of Takino Yuki’s labs. We’re not sure who did it, but I’d bet my life that it has to do with the Shiroi Seiryu.”

Could he really get in the middle of such a mess? It would be dangerous and it would also mean being as sly as the people of these organizations. But did it really matter, they would be considered pawns. All he had to find was something worth being a chessboard piece. Would they have to run after he got Seiren out?

“This is the only way; anyone who leaves Chang’s employ doesn’t last long.”

“You people are the police, why don’t you do something about it?”

“I’m just one man.” The tall detective shrugged and turned away. “Don’t ever tell anyone I told you about the Shiroi Seiryu. I have a family and would like to remain with them.”

He walked back into the building without looking at Rei. The simple action spoke more than any words could. Rei was alone in this. He couldn’t count on them anymore. Turning away from the police station, he walked down the street his feet moving of their accord. His mind was in turmoil. He couldn’t think straight. The worry was starting to overload. He stepped off the path into a park. His shoes not making any sound on the lush green grass, he walked aimlessly through his surroundings.

The sound of his phone buzzing in his hand startled him. He realized that he hadn’t put it back in his pocket. Answering it, he stopped walking when Sakura spoke on the other end.

“Did you find her?” She asked eagerly. “Tell her she has to come for my recital. It’s in two weeks. She can’t miss it.”

Rei closed his eyes at her words and tried to calm down. “I’ll tell her sweet. How are grandma and your father?”

“Fine, Father is done writing. He took me to a play. Grandma made me dress in a long pretty dress.”

“Did you take pictures?” Rei asked swallowing hard.

“Oh yes,” Sakura said. “I have to show mum.”

“Of course,” Rei said. Opening his eyes, he stared at the tree branches swaying gently to the wind. His decision was so simple. “I have to go now, will you be okay?”

“Yes,” Sakura said her excitement not receding. “Don’t forget your promise, Rei-san. You’ll bring mum, right?”

“I will,” Rei promised solemnly. “We’ll be at your rehearsal. Now go practice some more.”

“Yes Sir,” She hung up soon after and Rei stuck the phone in his pocket, practically shoving it in there with a violent move. Glaring at the grass, he turned and walked fast headed for the subway station. He’d find this Shisei gallery first.

***************************************************************************************************


 

Chapter Five

It was raining hard. The sound of it usually comforting made her uneasy. No one would hear her scream for help. It made her shiver harder. The sound of screams in the corridor was making her tears come faster. She was so afraid she couldn’t breathe right. It felt like she was gasping for air. A blanket over her head was suffocating her. She couldn’t breathe….she couldn’t…she-?

Hana sat up with a jerking motion, taking in gasps of air. It was as though she’d been deprived of air. Taking big gulps she reached for the lamp on her bedside table and turned it on. The light was comforting. Pushing the covers away, she swung her feet out of bed. The dreams were starting to feel realistic. She felt like she was remembering something instead of dreaming about it. It was unnerving. She felt caught between the two worlds. Reality and the dream, which one was it she was living in right now.

Rubbing at her eyes, she stood up and walked over to a dresser set by the west side of her room. Pulling the top drawer open, she reached in took a small box out and placed it on the gleaming wooden surface. Opening it, she stared at the green and white silk fabric that was neatly folded. It was a small cloth, very old now, but she took care of it. It had belonged to her mother. Bringing the cloth up to her nose, she took in a deep breath. Her eyes closed she could only get the faint scent of jasmine from memory now. But it didn’t stop her from keeping the piece of fabric. It was all she had of her mother.

It took a few minutes of staring at the fabric before she could put it away.

“Okaasan,” Hana whispered putting the box away. “Why do I feel you so much?”

Shaking her head, she closed the drawer and headed out of her bedroom. It was three o’clock at night. Ever since that darned tragedy in Kyoto, she’d yet to sleep through the night. She walked silently through the house. The occupants of the rooms she passed were wholly invested in taking care of her and it took all she had to keep them at bay.

Once downstairs, she stopped in the kitchen to get a cup of green tea. Tomoyo kept the place meticulous; she’d know that Hana had disturbed it. But she was passed the point of caring.

Leaving the kitchen with her tea, she padded out using the connecting door. She left the main house and entered the hall that led to her art room. There she stood staring at the trees she’d painted for an entire week now. The cherry blossom trees that withered down to a black mass, the art room was filled with canvases of that tree in its various stages of decay.

Yes, she was stuck in a loop with her darned dreams.

**************************************************************************************************

“What is going to happen to those poor souls?” Tomoyo asked Ogun, as she went through the various documents they had printed out on the experiment in Kyoto. “This is just data, lots of it. It doesn’t seem to have a system, and we are out of answers.”

“We could be missing a chunk of it,” Ogun offered, as he scrolled down on a laptop. Shaking his head, he continued, “There could be more than one resource for the data. This is the Isis foundation; they would never keep all their eggs in one basket. It probably all goes to a main server here in Tokyo. This data we have could also need decoding.”

“Hana is good at the decoding, but all she’s interested in these days is painting,” Tomoyo sighed and pushed papers away. Standing up from the enormous dining table where they had set up the documents, she ran a hand through her short hair in frustration. “Damn it, how do we get her to snap out of it?”

“I don’t need to snap out of anything,” Hana said into the room, making Tomoyo glance up. “Tomoyo, your stress levels are over the roof. Relax a little; it’s difficult for some of us to deal with.”

“Painting,” Tomoyo asked, taking in Hana’s get up. She was in an old t-shirt and sweat pants that were stained with paint. The hair was held haphazardly and a dark smudge on Hana’s cheek topped the entire look. “You need help.”

“Help,” Hana chuckled. “You two need help, this is a huge mess.”

“Hana you pursued this mess,” Tomoyo pointed out. “For almost two weeks we did nothing else. Those people Ogun is taking care of are suffering. They are ill, and everything Saya is doing is not stopping the disease they have.”

“They are dead anyway,” Hana said with a short shrug. Moving to pass to the kitchen, she frowned when Tomoyo stepped in her path and placed her hands on Hana’s shoulders and shook hard.

“Snap out of it already! Sakura Toshiro is dead, deal with it and get back to work! There are others who need you.”

“Onee-chan,” Hana said in surprise.

“What’s going on here?” Tama asked making them all look up at his imposing figure at the doorway. “Hana you have a smudge on your left cheek.”

“Nii-sama,” Hana greeted lifting her right hand up to wipe at it. “You’re home early.”

Tomoyo let go of Hana and shook her head. Walking back to the dining table, she sat back down and grabbed a sheaf of papers, clearly intending on going back to her reading.

“Tomo-chan,” Tama asked quietly. “Is there a problem?”

“She’s upset with me,” Hana answered for her. “That should be a familiar feeling, don’t worry, I’ll return to the art room. Welcome home.”

Hana hurried out fast and Tomoyo dumped the papers she held on the table again. Glaring at Tama she demanded, “What are you going to do about that?”

“What?” Tama asked. How could he be upset about Hana cooling down and doing normal things like painting? She was even greeting him with a smile now, and talking to him nicely.

“She’s locked herself in that art room. You should see what she’s painting. I’d rather she were out there chasing after the Isis foundation,” Tomoyo said heatedly. “She’s wallowing and you know it.”

Tama sighed, “How can I refuse her wallowing? She’s actually not fighting with me. Please try and understand what that is like for me.”

“Well, climb out of nirvana and face reality. Your sister is depressed. You need to snap her out of it.”

“For what purpose,” Tama asked moving closer. Pointing at the papers strewn all over the dining table, he asked again, “for all this.”

“All of these,” Tomoyo sighed. Standing up, she held out a hand to Ogun who’d been standing quietly in the corner. He’d learned to blend when the family was in a tiff. He reached in to his pocket and pulled out the flash disk she was asking for.

Taking it, she plugged it into the laptop on the table and after a few moments, she brought a video on the over head. It took a moment to comprehend what he was supposed to watch. Then he saw the young man who was bent over on his bed, while he continually got sick into a bowl that Saya was holding. Tomoyo brought up a few more, until Tama had to hold on to the back of a chair. So much pain and suffering.

“Stop,” he ordered quietly. “Why can’t Saya help them?”

“There is something counteracting the antidotes we synthesize,” Ogun answered. “If we can’t help them, they’ll die.”

“Shit,” Tama cursed under his breath. “I’ll talk to her.”

“You need to do more than talk,” Tomoyo advised. “Saya says she needs an intervention; consider doing something huge, Tama-san.”

***************************************************************************************************

It was raining. The kind of rain that felt like water was pouring down from the sky relentlessly. Sheet rain they called it. He didn’t care what it was called. It was just a thought running through his head as he stood there watching the Shisei gallery. They closed at five o’clock without fail. Like the darned bank. So prompt. They never went out of routine, even for a second. The same man came out everyday fifteen minutes later. He entered the black Mercedes that waited at the curb and Rei watched as it slowly pulled into traffic.

Glancing at the watch on his wrist, Rei realized that he had five minutes to five o’clock. He would talk to that man even if it killed him. It was now one week since he had started his surveillance. It hadn’t seemed necessary at first. But it had seemed strange to just walk in and request to talk to the head of the Shiroi Seiryu. There was no suspicious activity; in fact the gallery was so normal it was mind boggling. His cell phone rang and he glanced at the caller ID. His office was calling again. He hadn’t been there for a while.

“Yes,” he answered.

“Do we go ahead with installation?”

“Yes, and am officially taking a leave of absence for the next three weeks.” Rei hoped that it wouldn’t take that long to get Seiren out. But it was definitely not going to be easy considering their situation. “I am busy with something at the moment.”

“Yes sir,” the answer came then was quickly followed by a click. Putting his phone back in his pocket, Rei adjusted the umbrella he held and glanced back at the gallery. A black car pulled up and stopped at the entrance. That was not unusual; the gallery had very wealthy clients who appeared at all times. Noting the number plate, Rei wondered whether the client would be turned away since it was so close to closing time.

The driver got out and opened the door for his passenger. It was surprising when a young woman stepped out into the rain. She was dressed in a long black coat with boots covering her legs. Her hair was long and fell down her back in a silky wave. Beauty ran along with wealth, he thought. She was stunning, even from such a distance. Surprisingly, a man came out on the other side of the vehicle and he frowned at the resemblance the two had. He too held his hair back in a pony tail, though not as long as the woman. They walked in to the gallery together, the man holding the door open for his companion. Rei frowned at the bow the gallery attendant gave the two.

The driver went back into the car and waited. Rei glanced at his watch and realized that it was five o’clock on the dot. The gallery was remaining open. He had found the owners of the gallery. He didn’t waste time. He stepped on to the road crossing with determination.

***************************************************************************************************

“Why did you drag me here?” Hana asked her brother as she looked around the gallery. Her gaze sliding over pieces of artwork she had chosen from the various shipments they received from across the world. “I’m not up to being in town you know.”

“You need to snap out of it,” Tama said firmly, as he led the way to the back offices. “What is it you want to do?”

“Nothing,” Hana said quietly. She followed him slowly. There was nothing she wanted to do at the moment. She’d been lazing around the house for the better part of the last week. Tama had been right. She’d been exhausted and had only wanted to sleep. After the sleep had gone, the thought of going through data that would have Sakura Toshiro’s name in it had seemed too hard. So she had decided to paint.

“Hana,” Tama sighed looking back at her. Shaking his head, he stopped and stared at a painting that was hung in the office. She had painted it for him. A perfect replica of their estate, the lush green grass, the temple style home, the surrounding gardens, why is it that she now only painted dark things. “Please try and snap out of this.”

“I thought you’d be happy I’m not chasing after dangerous things anymore.” Hana shrugged and moved to sit down in an arm chair by the wall. Her legs crossed at the ankle she leaned back and stared at the ceiling. “What’s the point anymore; I’ll just be the good girl you want me to do. You know what Nii-sama, tell me when you find a handsome young man and you want to marry me off.”

Staring at her, he wondered if murder was allowed between siblings. He could take her out, and say she fell in a river from being too stubborn.

“Careful, your murderous intentions are vibrating at me. It might be good for you not to alert the intended victim.” Hana closed her eyes. “Give up on me already.”

“Not in this lifetime.” Tama stalked around the desk and sat down in the chair. Rifling through the folders he buzzed Jun Kazama in. He intended to find a project for his sister even if it meant inventing one.

It took a while for Jun to come in, and when he did, he seemed flustered. Hana wasn’t going to pay attention to her brother’s man until he started frowning and his thoughts seemed to be shouting at her. There was a man who was apparently being extremely insistent in the main floor. He seemed agitated and was demanding to speak to Tama.

Sitting up, Hana watched Jun debate with this piece of news. He wanted to tell Tama, but it didn’t seem important. So he decided not to, and instead moved closer to listen to Tama’s instructions. Once they were engrossed in their discussion, Hana stood up and quickly slipped out of the office. In the hallway she walked sedately to the main room. He stood staring at a Van Gogh, the plum tree in blossom. Her favorite painting, she stepped closer to hear his thoughts on it. She was standing so close, she would have read his entire life story but instead, all she got was a lot of silence.

Frowning, she stared at him and reached out a hand out of surprise. Placing it on his arm, her eyes widened in surprise when more of nothing came, was she broken?

“Yes, are you alright?” he asked in surprise. “Are you ill?”

Hana stared at him. How could it be? There wasn’t anyone she couldn’t breach even Saya who had the strongest shields. Why couldn’t she read him? Maybe the connection with Sakura had destroyed her abilities?

“Miss,” he asked again.

Hana took a step back and frowned at him. “Who are you?”

“What?”

“I asked who the hell you are, what do you want from us?” she demanded. And what kind of magic was he using to stop her from reading him.

“Are you the Shiroi Seiryu?” he asked excitedly.

“What?” Hana stared at him. Most people looking for that particular name were never this excited to find it. They were instead always promising murder and mayhem against the Shiroi Seiryu.

“I asked if you’re part of the Shiroi Seiryu clan,” he said.

Hana burst out laughing. “If I was would I just say it to you? I don’t even know who you are. Why would you want to know this Shiroi Seiryu clan?”

“Now you have just told me that you know the Shiroi Seiryu, whether you’re part of them or not,” he said quietly, a small smile playing on his face. “Otherwise why would you think not to tell me?”

“You’re a stranger,” Hana countered. It was a new feeling to fly blind in a conversation. She always knew what the next answer would be. “Didn’t your parents ever warn you about talking to strangers?”

“We’re not in kindergarten,” he said with a raised brow.

“In my line of work,” Hana said looking him over from head to toe. “Being in kindergarten is equal to staying alive. I think you’re in the wrong gallery. You’ll be happier checking further down the street. The Van Gogh is not for sale.”

Turning to leave, Hana jumped when a strong hand gripped her upper arm. His grip was hard, bruising; she held back a wince and looked at him. He was desperate; she could see it in his eyes. His emotions were not so well hidden at the moment.

“I need help and am willing to do anything including make you a hostage,” the strange man said. The tone of his voice was deep enough to alert her that he was serious. No games to be played here, it was obvious he was off the cliff.

“Let go of my arm,” Hana warned, her gaze moving down to the floor. She didn’t struggle against his hold. She simply stood still.

“I want to meet the Shiroi Seiryu,” the man insisted, his grip tighter than ever. “I know you’re involved with them somehow.”

So much for being uninterested, she sighed. Moving with practiced speed, she pulled her arm away from his grip in an expert jerk, then extended her right leg out and hooked it under his left ankle. Tripping him so that he went down on his knees and she sank her fingers into his long free hair and jerked his head up.

“I warned you to let go of my arm. I don’t take kindly to man handling.”

The sound of guns cocking didn’t surprise Hana, but it did the man she was holding down. He looked around nervously. Ogun had rushed in from the car, and Jun seemed to have come to look for her from the office. They both held guns trained at the man at her feet.

“She doesn’t kid when it comes to her threats,” a cool voice said into the room. “Let him go Hana-chan.”

“I am handling it,” Hana said quietly. The men’s protective instincts were skyrocketing. It was obvious there was nothing wrong with her. She could read them just fine, but something was wrong with the man she was holding down. She still couldn’t read a thing. It pissed her off.

“Let him go,” Tama said again, knowing that trying to pry her fingers out of that man’s hair was useless. “We are peaceful people, he is just a client.”

“Peaceful,” the man scoffed. “Is that what you call this wild cat with really sharp claws?”

“I scratch too,” Hana warned. “And the problem here is you. You’re asking the wrong questions. Why are you here?”

“I already told you,” the man said.

“What is your name?” she demanded.

“Akino, Rei Akino.”

Tama studied Hana’s face as she seemed to concentrate on the man with a frown on her face. After a moment, she let go of his hair and took a step back. Frustration oozed off her, dripping down until she was drowning in it. Worried about her reaction to this man, Tama nodded at Jun.

“Find out what he wants with the Shiroi Seiryu,” Tama ordered. “Make sure you deal with him accordingly when you’re done.”

“Yes sir,” Jun said. He reached Akino first. Grabbing him by the jacket, he pulled him up and Ogun helped lead him out the back.

“Hana,” Tama said gently to his sister. She was breathing in and out deliberately, like one would do when fighting for control. Really worried, he stepped closer to her and held her arms gently, his gaze moving over her bent head. “Tell me what’s wrong.”

“I can’t read him,” she gasped out a second later. “I can’t hear a thing he is thinking or intending. Why is it like that?”

***************************************************************************************************

Rei couldn’t believe where this was going. He had hoped to at least have a conversation with someone. That little minx and her crazy attitude, a person could really be fooled by her demure appearance. She was a mad woman in disguise. Struggling at the two who were literally pushing him toward the back, he cursed under his breath.

“What are you going to do with me?”

“If you answer our questions without struggling, we might even help you,” the answer came.

“Oh yeah, that’s really hard to believe considering you have guns stuck into my back.” Rei shook his head. He was really getting tired of having all these guns held at him. “Look, I just want to save my sister from really bad people. I was told I could get help from you. After all, you guys want information on Daye Chang right?”

He was kicked in the back, and sent flying down to the ground. A gun was pressed into his head, and he closed his eyes as he waited the shot. Damn it, they could at least here him out first.

“Wait,” Hana said authoritatively. “I want to know why you think information on Daye Chang is worth anything.”

The gun pressed to his head didn’t move, though it wasn’t pressed as hard to his scalp. Guess he could thank her a bit for that. Turning his head slightly so he could see her face, he said quietly. “My sister in-law is working for the white dragon club. She wants out, but the only way to do that is with the help of the Shiroi Seiryu. Information on the manager of that place is the only thing I have to offer.”

“You want to be considered a pawn in the larger scale of things,” Hana deduced. Shaking her head, she stared at him. For a moment, they all stood in silence. There was no way out for him. They were either going to kill him or help him.

“Being a pawn is better than what my sister in-law will go through if she remains at the white dragon.”

“You are throwing your life away this way, try saving her another way.” Hana was dismissive about it, as she turned to walk away.

“Please, she has a daughter. Her name is Sakura.”

Hana stopped abruptly and stared at her brother who had come after her. There was nothing like coincidences in her life.

“No,” Tama started shaking his head. But Hana was already turning and walking back to Rei Akino. Grabbing his arm she looked into his eyes and demanded.

“Are you telling the truth?”

“I am.”

“God help you if you aren’t.” She stood up abruptly and ordered. “Let him go. Nii-sama, this is what I want to do.”

“Don’t get involved in another tragedy,” Tama begged. He could already see he wasn’t going to win this argument, but how could he not ask? After watching those darned videos that Tomoyo had shown him. Those people who were losing their lives to madness, why wouldn’t he beg her not to get involved in more pain?

“You asked me if there was something I want to do.” Hana crossed her arms against her chest and met her brother’s gaze squarely. “This is it. Don’t try and stop me.”

“Damn it,” Tama cursed under his breath. “You just want to keep torturing yourself.”

“Yep,” Hana said. “Rei Akino, I am Hana Sukiyama. This is my brother, Tama Sukiyama. These two men will help you prepare to come to our home. We can’t handle this in the open. If what you are suggesting is true, we need to not be in the city.”

“Hana, don’t do this,” Tama asked one last time.

“I can’t help but do it.” Hana watched as Ogun and Jun helped Rei up to his feet. She started walking toward the front again, and Tama grabbed her arm this time. She gave him a searing glance.

“Spare me your pet peeves, if this goes wrong, I want your word that you will stop this.”

“Nii-sama,” Hana said in surprise. His expression was demanding answers right now.

“Hana-chan,” he prompted again. “I mean what I say. If you things go wrong here, that means getting hurt or something worse; you will cease this quest you’re on. You will take over the gallery and live a normal life.”

Hana stared at him in surprise. “Don’t I get time to think about it?”

“No you don’t,” Tama snapped. “Let’s go, Ogun will bring Akino-san along in time.”

Turning to look at a startled Rei, she made a face at him. She couldn’t tell if he was for real. He was literally the first person she was making a bet on. She hoped that she wasn’t a terrible gambler. Her quest to find out what happened to her parents was now pined on that stupid man with an annoying look on his face.

***************************************************************************************************

“You are allowing her to bring him to the estate?” Saya asked. Her surprise was clearly written on her face.

“Don’t look at me like that.” Tama sat down on the couch and allowed his head to fall back on the couch. “I thought you said I should support her in this.”

“I did, but to let an unknown man in here,” Saya shook her head. “He is a security risk.”

“Not that much of one,” Tama said quietly. “His name is Akino Rei. You once told me about the family you lived next to years ago. The family name was Akino right?”

“So?” Saya asked confused. Then it dawned on her. “Oh, you think-, no, that’s not right. The kids were young. This Rei Akino sounds as old as you are.”

“How old was I when you came to live here?” Tama demanded with a small smile. When she glared at him he shrugged. “Hana is quite on it when she calls you middle aged.”

“Just because you’re all grown up, doesn’t mean I won’t spank you.” Saya huffed and paced the room. Her hands at her waist as she groaned at what this would be like. “I want to meet him first before Hana.”

“Too late, Hana is busy researching everything there is to know about Akino. I’m sure she already knows what his favorite thing to eat is right now. Your past is dangerously close, Okaasan.”

“I’m not hiding anything, my dear.” Saya shook her head at him before she started for the kitchen. “I think you should be more worried about the reasons why you have strangers in the estate we’ve kept so many out of.”

Tama frowned at her parting words and shrugged. He didn’t have to explain it. They hadn’t seen how she’d looked when she couldn’t read that Akino. It was enough to want to get her the whole world if it meant she figure out why Akino was different.

***************************************************************************************************
“There is an estate in Toyosu, the mother owns it. She has bequeathed it to her two sons in the event of her death. His brother is Ayame Akino, a leading writer in mystery novels, he has a strong following. The child is Ayame’s. The mother is Seiren Akino. She divorced Ayame a year ago. She does have a series of problems since then. It seems like Seiren-san has caused the family a lot of trouble over the years,” Ogun said all these without blinking.

He understood what it meant to work with Hana when she was in this state of mind. Facts had to be at the fingertips or else, she’d lose it fast.

“Yet he chooses to put himself in trouble for her,” Hana said thoughtfully. She paced the length of the conference room that was situated off the main house going around the large oval table, she kept going. “What does he do?”

“He works for a security company,” Ogun provided. “They are very good at hiding their tracks. It will take a few more days to dig up the details regarding the company. Jun-san will inform us.”

“I want information on that as soon as it gets in,” Hana stopped her pacing and picked up a photograph of Seiren Akino. “So, let’s concentrate on the when this woman started working for the White Dragon. Why is Daye refusing to let her go?”

“She probably knows something,” Ogun deduced.

“Or,” Hana said. “Daye is interested I her. She’s beautiful. She’d be a great addition to the convoluted madness he breeds downstairs. She’d be a working girl in no time.”

“That would earn her a funeral date without any consideration. She’d know too much,” Ogun concluded. “We don’t have too much time then.”

“The White Dragon is not easy to get into,” Hana sighed. “Too many security cameras that need access from within to interfere with. The side entrances are also accessible from inside.”

“It wouldn’t be fair to rely on the woman to help us,” Ogun said then. “She’s not someone we can trust right now.”

Picking up a blue print he’d recovered from previous attempts to infiltrate the white dragon club, Ogun spread it on the table. Hana helped him stretch it out and stood up to take it in. To get it, they’d had to create a false identity for her. One they’d kept from Tama because it had required her meeting face to face with the infamous Daye Chang.

“We’re going to need Swan,” Hana said looking at Ogun. His eyes widened and she put up a hand to ward off his protest. “It’s the fastest way in and out. Believe me; this is going to be dangerous enough. And Daye trusts Swan enough not to be overly suspicious.”

“Swan is a terrible idea,” Ogun said abruptly. “Too many variables, we didn’t leave it clean enough the last time. Daye could get suspicious. He might even choose to capture the assassin and make her work for him.”

“No one else can enter the club from our side without raising red flags. Nii-sama is too well known because of the business world, Tomoyo is best for support, she can’t be out there. You and Jun-san are the front men for all the operations the Shiroi Seiryu carries out. That leaves me, I am an unknown.”

“The last time you were Swan,” Ogun said quietly. “You ended up fighting with Daye to the point that you left a scar on his face and pissed him off.”

“He didn’t know it was me. I was wearing a mask, and he deserved it for helping child traffickers,” Hana said firmly.

“We have to tell Tama-san about Swan,” Ogun said after a while. “That’s the only way I’ll go along with this.”

“Ogun,” Hana started to protest but the look in his eyes meant he wasn’t going to change his mind. “Fine, but if he starts yelling you’ll stay and help share it.”

Ogun chuckled. Whether he stayed or not, Tama would be tearing his hair off because of this. He would be yelling at Hana and his presence in the room would be insignificant.

Hana smiled and Ogun turned away to pick up another folder. “Where is Akino,” she asked instead.

“Jun is bringing him in. He’s going to need help at the gates. We didn’t have time to give the standard recognition card.”

Hana stopped studying the blueprints and looked up. She’d completely forgotten about the gates. She’d been the one to come up with the recognition cards. They were created from her own blood. It was essentially a vial that carried a sample of her blood that was then processed into a smart card. It allowed anyone authorized into the estate to pass through the gates safely. The spell her mother had cast over that gate still remained. If no invitation to enter the estate was given, anyone who tried to come in got zapped to death.

Shaking her heat at the memory relapse she sighed, “I’ll open them myself. That should give him a stellar welcome. It will be a small trial for him, the barrier will disorient him. Tell Jun not to act like it’s usual. Make sure there is some weak tea for him waiting. Sensei has asked to meet him first, take him to her.”

“I’ll call Jun so that he waits for you,” Ogun said then.

***************************************************************************************************

Rei took in his first free breath in hours when he woke to find the sleek Mercedes speeding on the freeway. They were finally making progress. The car was headed out of the city toward Enoshima Island. The guy who was driving was called Jun. It was all he could get from him.

They’d spent two days in that darned gallery with Jun asking him so many questions he felt like he was losing his mind. After the questions, he’d been left alone in the dim room behind the gallery, cuffed to a table. It took all he had not to wiggle his way out of the room. He was a security expert; handcuffs were a minor issue to him. But, he needed this clan, so he had stayed put.

He must have fallen asleep because the next thing he’d known, Jun was back in the room carrying a duffel bag full of clothes. He’d removed the cuffs and asked Rei to take a shower and change. Thirty minutes later, Jun ushered him into the car and they were now driving at high speeds toward Enoshima.

They drove over the bridge into the island, and Rei appreciated the picturesque landscape. Cobbled paths, temples, tourists walking round in sheer excitement, the man driving was clearly unimpressed, and sped through it with an everyday attitude. They were suddenly driving through a forested winding road. He couldn’t quite tell how they’d gotten there. The turn to the right was abrupt and seemed premature. There was no visible road on the grass that Jun drove through. A few minutes later they drove through thick vegetation and suddenly they were on tarmac again.

Rei sighed. This was absurd how paranoid did people have to be to live this way. The tarmac road was impeccable and it took them to a set of the most intricate black gates he’d ever seen. They were high and heavily guarded. Guards moved on the other side, prowling as though they waited for someone to pounce. A place like this would have the best security offered to them. Yet he couldn’t even see the cameras which had to be somewhere. His trained eye moved over the area, and still he found nothing to even alert the guards of intruders along the fence.

Jun stopped the car and turned it off. The gates remained closed and no one made an effort to go open them.

“What’s going on?” Rei asked when no one moved to open the gates. “Did you forget the code or something?”

“Please be patient.”

“I’ve been patient long enough. Everyday we spend wasting time, my sister in-law moves deeper at the white dragon,” Reis said impatiently.