Beef, Saru, and Ken stood in front of the large, single bush growing in the flower bed. Beef looked nervous, his eyes darting from the criss crossing platforms above to the ones below. They were all near the secluded area where YF had spoken to Beef last.
“Well? Get on with it, Beef here is about to piss his pants,” said Saru.
YF exhaled. “I need you guys to steal a van.”
“...where is this van?”
“It’s located at the Itsugo Gochome Shrine.”
Saru raised an eyebrow. “Isn’t that the one run by that girl in your homeroom class’ dad…?”
“Yes. It’s run by her now, though.”
“Dad passed?”
“I don’t actually know.”
“What do you need the van for?”
“I’ll explain all that in due time. But I can’t talk about it now,” said YF.
“So what’s the plan?”
YF looked at Beef. “I need you to distract the priestesses while Saru and Ken go for the van.”
“How am I supposed to distract them?” asked Beef.
YF thought for a moment. “How hard is it to get hemp?”
“Considerably harder than five years ago. They cracked down on it over the years leading up to urban renewal. Why?”
“I need you to buy some from the priestesses.”
“As in…actually buy it?” asked Beef slowly.
“Yes, that would be the idea,” said YF.
“What makes you think they’re selling hemp at a shrine?”
“I am fairly certain they are.”
“I need a bit more to go on than that, I’m risking a lot here.”
“They definitely are,” said YF.
“Let’s say you’re right. There’s still issues beyond that: code words, appointments, setup for this type of thing,” Beef explained. “I can’t just go up to the shop window and ask them for it.”
“Take some time to plan it then. I didn’t think this was going to happen tomorrow.”
“Beef’s right, we are risking a lot. Wouldn’t Gochome Shrine be in sectarian territory? What’s in it for us?” asked Saru. “I mean I’m assuming you aren’t coming.” In his eyes YF could see Saru wanted to add “Hiroyuki would have provided generous compensation” but knew better.
“Remember the house in Nishida?” asked YF.
“The one we got trashed in?” asked Saru.
“That one,” said YF.
“What about it?”
“I’m selling it.”
Saru’s face scrunched up. “But what— how…how is that even supposed to work? Didn’t Erika’s parents get it for you?”
It was true that Erika’s dad was of some means. But even then, he probably couldn’t afford to buy a three bedroom condo for himself in Nishida Ward, let alone get one for his son-in-law. Explaining anything close to the real situation would take too long and would be too inconvenient, however.
“I’ll just tell my father in law that I needed the money,” YF replied.
Ken smirked. “I’m sure that will go over well.”
“It’ll be at least one fifty mil DTKs for each of you,” said YF. That silenced everyone. “What say you?”
The three remained silent for some while longer, before Saru spoke up again. “But if you’re trying to get promoted to the Ward Office, where are you going to live? I doubt they’ll let you squat a koban like you do now.”
“If this job isn’t done then I won’t be promoted to the Ward Office.”
“Ah.” Saru nodded. “Now that makes a bit more sense.”
“So? What say you?” YF repeated.
“I’m going to need Mohan’s help for some things,” said Saru. “But I think it will ensure our success. Part of our cuts will have to go to him, of course.” He turned to Ken and Beef, neither of whom protested the addition. Saru turned back to YF. “Think that’s settled then, we’re in.”
***
“Do you have a scanner that can filter out separate coats of paint? See what’s on each layer?” asked YF.
“Sure I do,” said Kigali.
“And the reactor swap?”
“Got the parts yesterday. I can start immediately on your bike, work it so no one can tell it was modified unless they took it apart.”
“How much?” YF picked up his receiver and prepared to swipe the DTKs to Kigali, wincing as he estimated the amount.
“It’s fine, I wouldn’t worry about it,” said Kigali. “I’ll have it by the end of the day, if you can afford to patrol on something else.
“I can make do. And much appreciated.” YF put away his device.
Stolen from its rightful author, this tale is not meant to be on Amazon; report any sightings.
“Sure.” Kigali pulled out his own receiver and typed in a bunch of things before pocketing it. “You look like something’s on your mind. Something happen between you and a Reo girl?”
Talking about what was really on his mind — the case or the sectarian shootout — was out of the question. YF wanted to talk about Erika, but genuinely thought it best not to mention her for her own safety. So he thought of the next thing that came to his mind. “Yeah.”
“And?”
“Old friend, think she’d be better off adjusting her taste in men.”
“So you’re saying she likes you then.”
YF chuckled. “Good one. But no, I doubt it. I think she just doesn’t understand the men she meets as much as she thinks. That’s all.” YF recalled the first time he saw Numata when she was trying to talk to Eiji at the bar. YF might be Eiji’s best man but he could not think of a person more different from himself. The fact that she would want to get to know both him and Eiji made YF think she had no idea what she wanted.
“What’s wrong with her taste in men?” asked Kigali.
“This is assuming I’m even right. I’ve been wrong about this sort of thing most of the time.”
“Let’s just assume you are right then,” said Kigali impatiently. He started to examine the scooter, walking a few circles around it.
“How do you explain a girl who likes two completely different guys in a short timespan?”
“I feel like that would be quite common.”
“Doesn’t make it make sense,” said YF.
Kigali crouched down on the other side. “Or maybe she’s wiser than you think.” He took out his socket wrench, starting to undo a few bolts around the reactor.
YF craned his neck to see what Kigali was doing. “Hmm?”
The clicking sound of the wrench stopped. “You’re saying two guys are different but they may not be. People are usually not a good judge of themselves.”
YF was not sure whether being similar to Eiji was a good or a bad thing. Eiji was a good leader, an easy person to talk to, and had his own sense of morals and justice. He was the one person YF wanted to keep the van operation secret from. YF was not sure why — it was unlikely that Eiji would report them even if he knew. YF could imagine him getting very angry or upset, then overpowering YF in a fight. But report them? Probably not.
“It’s worth thinking about it, Sakai. Take some time. I’m sure there’s more to it.”
YF scratched the back of his neck. He was hoping this conversation would have been a lot more superficial than it turned out to be. “Yeah…maybe.”
***
YF waited next to the vending machine a level below the koban, staying out of view from the one camera he knew was nearby. Like clockwork, a man in an immaculately maintained suit emerged from the lower level’s pedestrian ramp about five minutes early. It was Mizuno. He was carrying a tall black bag that reached from his waist to a little above his head. Something like that should have aroused suspicion, but Mizuno somehow made it seem natural.
Mizuno did not stop at the vending machine, instead continuing to walk past YF. “Come a bit further with me. I know a better spot.”
YF jogged after him, eyeing the spot where the camera was. Somehow, they still seemed to be out of its line of sight. He turned back toward Mizuno. “You come here often?”
“I just checked once before our meeting today. It doesn’t hurt to be prepared.”
“Uh huh.”
Mizuno stepped onto a flower bed about half a block down and continued to walk through the overgrown bushes and tall, unmaintained weeds. It was only then that YF realized he was wearing black boots and not his usual dress shoes. YF stepped after him, using his arm to brush aside the branches. They continued until they reached a small clearing. Trash and needles were scattered through the area. A collapsed tent was hanging over one of the bushes. It was obvious that people were usually there; how was Mizuno so sure no one would show up at that minute? YF looked askance at Mizuno, who had already placed the bag on the ground and unzipped it, using both hands to pull the opening wider.
Against his better judgment, YF decided to ask what came to his mind. “You ever shoot up, Mizuno?”
Mizuno stopped rummaging through the bag. From where YF stood, he could see a
rifle muzzle sticking out from corner of the bag.
“What do you think?” asked Mizuno, still crouched.
“I suppose that’s your business,” said YF.
“My good sir.” Mizuno started to examine the weapon without taking it out of the bag. “Had you taken the oath of brotherhood, perhaps I’d answer your questions about my personal life.”
“I think we already agreed that Uwada put you up to that. And I’m sure you don’t intend to tell me anything about your personal life.”
“I never agreed with your assessment over that, Mr. Sakai.”
“Yeah, cut the bullshit.”
“So what is it you really want to ask, Mr. Sakai?”
“The drug that killed the guy I found in the bush. The synthetic one.”
“What about it?”
“Turn around.”
Mizuno released the weapon gently and stood up from the bag. He turned to YF. The sectarian had a dangerous look in his eyes.
“Tell me you and Uwada don’t make that shit,” YF demanded.
“We don’t.”
“Good. We can get on with business then.”
Mizuno crouched back down and grabbed the rifle by the thermal guard, handing it over to YF. YF could tell Mizuno didn’t want to do it. “What is your relationship to Mr. Numata?” asked Mizuno.
“It’s complicated,” said YF.
“I see,” said Mizuno. “Very well.” He crouched back down, shoving his hand into the bag.
In theory it was not that surprising that Numata’s brother was involved in sectarian activities. But YF wondered to what extent it was that it would make Uwada give up a rifle to him. Mizuno stood back up and handed over two black chest plate holder vests. Finally, he handed over the second rifle.
“I would like to warn you about something though, Mr. Sakai.”
“What’s that?”
“The moment I walk away from here you may have paid a higher price than you were ever willing to pay. In this world, favors don’t come free. Especially when money isn’t involved.”
YF never understood the whole “loyalty to the aniki” thing that sectarians had. It was clear Mizuno didn’t agree with much of what Uwada did, and went ahead and did it anyway. Beyond the lore and the mystery surrounding them, there must have been some practical reason why the system stayed the way it did for so many thousands of years. YF wondered what sort of favors Mizuno was talking about, and shivered. He tried to maintain his cool.
“The person who got this favor for me, I don’t think the person is wanting anything back,” said YF. It sounded more like he was trying to convince himself. Did Numata really expect nothing from him?
“The person may not,” said Mizuno. “But Mr. Numata may. Please be careful, Mr. Sakai.”
“So you’re advising me to put the guns back in the bag and step away?”
“Honestly, that’s what I would do,” said Mizuno.
But YF had come too far to turn back. “I appreciate your concern, brother. But I will be fine.”
“Very well. I am sure we will see each other soon,” said Mizuno. “Brother.”
Though Mizuno smirked at that word, he did seem like he believed he would see YF again. Somehow Mizuno’s trust that YF would complete his mission assured him. Mizuno bowed once and adjusted his suit from the bottom, stepping back toward the direction of the road.
“There’s one more thing,” YF called out.
Mizuno stopped, his boot crunching against a pile of leaves and dry needles. “Yes, Mr. Sakai?”
“My colleague tells me a couple of street thugs are bothering Ms. Sato in Daimon-dori. Number forty.”
“I know Ms. Sato,” said Mizuno.
“Is it your boys?” asked YF.
“Please don’t insult us Mr. Sakai.”
“Then please watch over Ms. Sato and the residents of building forty. Make sure they aren’t disturbed. I’m sure that’s what we all want.”
“I’ll make sure Ms. Sato and the good people of building forty are not disturbed. Now I apologize but I really must be going, Mr. Sakai.”
“See you soon Mizuno.”
“Take care.” Mizuno walked off into bushes and disappeared a few seconds later.