Reckoning - Chapter 8

“W

hat are you doing here, Mary?” Ryo asked.

“I owe you. I came to repay the favor you did me with Eric,” she replied with a frown.

“Forget about it,” he said. “And go home.”

“Are you okay?” Mary asked, her frown deepening.

No, he wasn’t okay. He just wanted to go home, feeling suddenly exhausted. “Why?”

“Well…I’m here, and you’re there.” She pointed at him, still seated at the counter. “Are you sick or something?”

So he hasn’t jumped on her. Big deal. He wasn’t feeling like it; that didn’t mean there was something wrong with him.

“Oh.” Mary was looking around the cafe, her eyes alight. “I see.” She sidled up to him with a come-hither smile. “Where’s Kaori?”

That name felt like a blazing hot poker against his insides. For a moment, he couldn’t breathe.

“Who’s Kaori?” Mick unwittingly twisted the knife.

“Kaori’s dead.” He almost choked on the name and slid off his stool. He needed to get out of there.

Mary gasped. “God, Ryo. I’m so sorry.”

“Don’t be.”

As the glass door slammed behind him, Mick lifted his hand. “I wouldn’t mind some info.”

Mary looked at him with shiny eyes. “What are you doing here, anyway, Mick?”

“Came here to kill him, didn’t, decided to stick around.”

His explanation had more holes than Swiss cheese, but she decided it wasn’t worth it. There was a bigger issue that needed her immediate attention. “What did he mean?” she asked Miki and Umibozu. “What happened to Kaori?”

“Who is Kaori?” Mick once more piped in.

Umibozu and Miki exchanged glances. It wasn’t really their place to say anything, but Mick and Mary were bound to find out sooner or later, especially if they stuck around.

Miki sighed, biting the bullet. “Kaori—or whatever the woman’s name is—is the one who arrested you.”

“What?!”

X Y Z

“That was quick,” Ryo murmured as Saeko plopped down on the park bench beside him.

She glared at him. “It was quick, because I got nothing!”

“Meaning?”

“Meaning the Union file is gone.”

He looked at her. “Gone or classified?”

“Gone. Completely gone. Even the data on my personal server disappeared.”

Ryo huffed. “They locked you out.”

Saeko turned fully toward him. “Let's not beat around the bush here, Ryo. Kaori locked me out.”

“Her name’s not Kaori,” he hissed, kicking at a pebble.

“For all we know, she could be Princess Mako in disguise. We know her as Kaori, so I’m using that name, like it or not,” she snapped. “You’re not the only one she lied to, you know?”

He looked at her from the corner of his eyes. He didn’t say a word. He didn’t have to.

She chuckled and shook her head. “You have lousy timing.”

“Tell me about it.”

“Something’s coming, Ryo. Something big, and I’m locked out. I can’t access squat. I’m even locked out of Hideyuki’s file.”

He turned to her, narrowing his eyes. “What?”

“Everything connected to the Union is gone.” She sighed. “I went so far as to contact our Cybersecurity division. They didn’t detect any breaches. We weren’t hacked.”

“The order came from the inside.”

Saeko leaned back, stared at the sky. “That’s just it. No one has that much clearance. Not to make all info and data disappear on a dime.” She cursed under her breath. “The logs are clear, apparently no one accessed the info because it doesn’t exist, Ryo. It just isn’t there. Even the hard copies are gone from the archive. And there’s no record it ever existed.”

“Well.” He stood, rammed his hands into his pockets. “Thanks anyway.”

“Where are you going?”

“Home.” Ryo grinned his trademark lecherous grin with the requisite drop of drool. “Wanna join me?”

She smirked, her eyes troubled. “I might, if you actually meant it.”

Grin instantly gone, he shrugged and walked away. “Suit yourself.”

“Wait!” She reached him in a few strides. “I don’t know what you’re planning, but be careful, Ryo.”

He shrugged, started walking again. “When shit starts, risks are inevitable.”

“Ryo!” She grabbed his arm. “I’ll do what I can on my end, you just don’t do anything stupid.”

“You know me.”

She tugged him back. “Yes, I do know you. And I know something changed. You’ve changed. Don’t do anything reckless, you hear? And if you need help, call.”

“Knock it off, Saeko. You’re a cop, you’re bound by law and procedure. How in the hell can you help me? Ever wondered why Makimura stopped being a cop?”

“Did he stop being one?”

Their eyes met. Even that absolute wasn’t a given anymore. The man they’d both loved had become almost a stranger since they’d discovered the truth. Or a version of it.

Ryo shrugged. “Cop or no cop, the Union killed him. It’s time he’s avenged.”

“Is it just him you’re avenging, Ryo?”

On impulse, he leaned down, kissed her cheek. “Go back to being a cop, Saeko. Leave the Union to me.”

X Y Z

What was she up to?

Ryo turned the corner onto his street, his mind troubled.

Who was she? What was she up to? What did she want?

Why were all the files, all the data, gone? Why couldn’t Saeko access Hideyuki’s file? What was in that file she wanted to keep hidden? What was in her file?

And why did she arrest Mick, keeping him out of commission for two days? Why did she prevent Mick from trying to accomplish the job?

Was she trying to protect him? Why? It’s not like she cared. What was she up to? What was she planning?

He was halfway up the stairs, his mind going in circles, when he sensed it.

An almost malevolent presence with familiar undertones.

He knew that residual energy. His father was waiting for him.

For a split second, the thought of Kaibara visiting his apartment just a few days earlier chilled him to the bone. The thought of Kaibara alone with her. God only knew what the man was capable of. What he was willing to do to get his way. He’d use any perceived weakness to his advantage.

And in the past years, Ryo’s only weakness had been—

Gritting his teeth against the pain inside him, he drew the Python, and charged into the apartment.

Kaibara was seated on the couch, his back to the window. “Hello, boy. It’s been a while.”

“What the hell are you doing here?”

“To say ‘hi’, of course.” Kaibara indicated the steaming cup in front of him. “I made myself at home while I waited, I hope you don’t mind.” His lips extended into a semblance of a smile. “Funny, I was expecting the lady of the house to be in.”

Ryo’s hand shook as he holstered his gun, thankful, for the first time in four days, that she was gone.

“She’s a lovely young lady, son. I approve. She’s both beautiful and tenacious. You chose a worthy partner.” His eyes twinkled maniacally. “Or did you? Choose her, I mean.”

The bastard knew. Ryo gritted his teeth. It was probably him that had ordered the leak to Saeko. To fuck with his mind. To keep him on edge, focused on her instead of Kaibara.

Behind him, the front door smashed into the wall as Umibozu, Mary, and Mick came charging in.

Kaibara merely lifted his hand, never taking his eyes off Ryo. “Calm down. If any of you shoot, we all blow up.” He tapped his left knee. “There’s a bomb in my prosthesis. It’s set to automatically activate at a minimal anomaly in my body.” He grinned, but it didn’t reach his eyes. “I don’t know about you, but I have no intention of dying today.”

Ryo could feel the other three holstering their guns as the front door was closed softly.

“It’s good to see you, Mick,” Kaibara said calmly as the three flanked Ryo.

“The feeling’s not mutual,” Mick hissed.

“Why the attitude?” The older man looked genuinely puzzled. “Is it because I ordered you to kill Ryo? I was being considerate.”

“Considerate?”

Kaibara shrugged. “Well, yes. Dying at the hand of your best friend should be a happy occasion.” He chuckled. “Unfortunately, it didn’t go to plan.” He winked at Ryo. “The lady of this house made sure of it.” He nodded. “As I said, good choice.”

“Get lost,” Ryo said with a calm he didn’t feel. “I know why you’re here, and you can forget it.”

Kaibara crossed his arms over his chest. “As I told you when you barged in, drawing your gun against an unarmed man, this is merely a courtesy call.”

“Bullshit. You want me to join the Union.” Ryo smirked. “Fuck off.”

“Rude, as always. And impatient.” Kaibara shook his head as if he were telling off a child. “I believe you don’t have enough information to properly assess the issue.” He stood. “The Union isn’t a mere drug-trafficking organization anymore. We’re a powerful global player running multiple international companies and with deep connections to governments around the world. You do realize the futility, the stupidity, of trying to oppose such an enemy.” He smiled. “Oh, I almost forgot. One of our companies also produces Angel Dust.”

Everything inside Ryo went still. He knew the thing was still on the streets; Makimura’s little sister died of it, for fuck’s sake, but hearing Kaibara say those two words made it even more real. More chilling. Deadlier.

Kaibara calmly turned his back on them, looking out the window. “We developed a new, improved formula. The Angel Dust 2.0 is better, even more potent. We’re in business with various armies who want to establish super platoons of immortal soldiers.” He shrugged. “What can you do? People love war.”

Ryo felt a shudder run through him as memories assailed him. The fog that had come over him, the incessant thirst for blood, for death, as he hacked and hacked and hacked through human flesh, covered in blood, craving more of it. The pain afterwards, the craving for the fog, the oblivion…

Unaware, or maybe uncaring, of where Ryo’s mind has gone, Kaibara continued, “Humans cannot live without massacre and bloodshed. We’ll never be out of business.”

“It’s a never-ending story with you,” Ryo said, allowing sadness to color his voice. “You’ll never wake up from this nightmare. Not as long as you draw breath.”

Kaibara turned, mouth open for a retort, but words never came, as his eyes widened. His expression half-shock, half-rage.

Ryo felt a single tear trickle down his cheek as realization finally dawned. Nothing of his father remained inside Kaibara. The man who took him under his wing, claimed him as his own, raised him, shaped him was no more. If he had ever existed.

“Ryo…” Mary whispered by his side.

“I’ll say it one more time,” Ryo said, resigned and determined. “Get lost.”

Kaibara scowled. “God, you’re stubborn.” Then he sighed, features once more calm and placid. “Fine, I’ll go. But you think about it. Whether you accept or refuse my proposal, I’m sure you’ll come for a visit. My yacht, St. Damiano II, is moored in Tokyo Bay. You can find me there.”

Kaibara walked toward him with a small smile. “It’s a beautiful white boat, easily recognizable. Come whenever you want, I’ll be waiting.” He walked on, brushing past Mary. “Almost forgot. You should thank me for my generosity. I’ve been a good boy and didn’t kill your partner when I had the chance. You couldn’t even protect your Kaori, and you think you can destroy the Union?” He opened the door. “Well, speak of the devil…”

“Hell,” Umibozu whispered.

Mary went the other way. “Jesus.”

Mick merely sighed appreciatively.

Heart in his throat, Ryo turned. And there she was, on his threshold. The woman who’d made him live, the woman who’d made him feel love, the woman who’d made him the man he was today, the woman who’d been his only family, who’d brought light into his life only to take it away again. The woman who’d pretended to care, the woman who’d pretended to love him. The woman who’d lied.

Gone were the expressively open gaze, the easy smile, and relaxed features. The woman in the doorway was all cop. From her face set in impassive lines, the hard glare directed at Kaibara and the insolent smirk down to the opened black thigh-length blazer, the right side flicked back to reveal a SIG nestled in its holster and a golden badge unlike any Ryo has ever seen clipped to her belt.

“Kaibara,” she said calmly, as if in greeting.

“Makimura,” he replied in the same tone.

Ryo frowned. Makimura? What the fuck?!