Seiryu Spirit – 5

Eyes Filled with the Bluest Water

Scratching his day-old beard, Andre shifted on the bench at the police station, and watched Leon talk to a police officer.

They were working on the premise that if Sakura was missing, as Seiren said, her caretaker would have filed a missing person’s report.  It was a guess, based on…the natural order of events if this were a normal case.  Andre frowned.  There was the chance that because Sakura’s mother was a hooker, she might have asked the person taking care of Sakura not to report to the police.  God, he hoped not.  It would make the situation more difficult.

“Yes, we have Sakura listed in our missing persons’ case,” the police officer said to Leon in heavily accented English.

Relief flooded Andre at the positive starting point.

“Her guardian reported her missing, then withdrew the case, before she filed a second time.  Her full name is Sakura Akino, she’s eight years old.”

“From where?” Leon asked.

“Gion area,” the police officer said.  “She has been missing for three weeks now.  We’re doing the best we can to find her, to find all of them.  Why do you ask?  Do you have information we can use?”

“All of them?” Leon asked with a frown.

The police officer launched into rapid Japanese to answer Leon’s question.  What would he do without Leon who spoke fluent Japanese?  Whatever the police officer said, had Leon turning to look at Andre, his gaze alarmed.  Andre smiled, giving Leon thumbs up, encouraging him.  Leon’s alarmed gaze turned into an amused sigh and he turned back to finish with the police officer.

Leon came to sit next to Andre after a few minutes.

“They have fourteen other children missing,” Leon said.  “A huge case that has a special investigation team working it.  He says to wait, and we can meet the team.”

“More missing children,” Andre frowned.  “We’re not looking to get involved with anything flashy, Leon.  We just need to talk to Sakura’s guardian, and figure this out.”

“Hard to do when Sakura’s name is on a list with fourteen others,” Leon said, leaning his head back on the wall behind him.

They hadn’t gone back to their hotel yet.  After escaping their tail, Leon had suggested visiting the police station to ask about Sakura.

Leon looked tired.  Momentary guilt flooded him looking at Leon, but then a short man in a long dark coat entered the police station, drawing his attention.   All thoughts of getting Leon back to the hotel disappeared when the police officer Leon had been talking to stood up to meet the man.  They talked a few minutes, and then the police officer pointed in their direction.

“Leon,” Andre said, prompting Leon to sit up.

They stood when the police officer motioned for them.

Andre wondered at the nervous energy that suddenly coursed through him when the man in question indicated for them to follow him out of the police station.

***

Ogun entered the flower room at the charming Hotel Mume and took the suitcase he carried to the corner of the room.  Koji sat in the living room area surrounded by police files, reading glasses perched on his nose.  He looked like he might be studying for exams.  Ogun sometimes hoped Koji would be burdened with such regular expectations, instead of the crazy life he lived.

“Tomoyo is coming up in a bit,” Ogun said, coming to sit in the chair across Koji.  “She has taken control of the kitchen.”

“Hmm…,” Koji said, going through the last file.  The one with Sakura Akino.  “What does the staff here know?”

“They think we are on an assignment from an office,” Ogun shrugged.  “I wasn’t specific on the project.  The owner is very helpful, as we booked all the rooms for the week.  Tomoyo has charmed her way into the kitchen.”

Koji removed his reading glasses and placed them on top of the documents on the coffee table.  He rubbed his eyes, and then stretched his arms above his head.

“Sakura-chan is the easiest to follow,” Koji announced, sitting back in his chair.  “Her guardian is clearly worried for her.  There is fear in her statements, as it is with all the others, but Sakura’s guardian withdrew the report two days in, and then filed again a day after.  Curious.”

“The police questioned her on that,” Ogun said.  “She wanted to withdraw the case when she thought Sakura was with her birth mother.  When it was clear that Sakura was not with her mother, she hurried to the police station and asked help to find her.  Obviously, the investigators hadn’t stopped searching, but her actions are suspicious.”

“Makes me more curious,” Koji murmured, rubbing his forehead with his right index finger.  “Sakura-chan doesn’t fit.  Why is she included in our list?”

“Other than she’s missing in the same time frame as all the other fourteen, there’s no other connection,” Ogun replied.

The door opened and Tomoyo came in carrying a tray laden with green tea and neat sandwiches.  She placed the tray on the coffee table, moving Koji’s papers to the side.  She handed Koji a cup and Ogun smiled when Koji brought the cup to his lips when she scowled at him.

Tomoyo nodded in satisfaction when Koji took two healthy sips and sat next to Koji.  Easy access for her to force-feed him, Ogun mused.  The woman was obsessed with feeding Koji.

“I want to visit the Akino home,” Koji said, placing his cup on the coffee table.

“Right now?” Tomoyo asked, glancing at the time.  It was thirty minutes after midnight.  “It’s kind of late for that.  Why not in the morning?”

“I didn’t say I was going now,” Koji replied.  “Besides, don’t we need to meet the rest of the team?”

Tomoyo nodded, and turned to give Ogun his mug of coffee.

“They are having a late meal downstairs,” Tomoyo said.  “Discussions are always more productive on a full stomach.  I made sure they had a delicious meal.  We need to make a good impression before they all meet Koji.”

“What’s that supposed to mean?” Koji scowled at her.

“That Tomoyo will need to break out her cooking skills more than once this trip,” Ogun said, standing when his phone buzzed a message.  “Looks like they are ready, we should head downstairs.”

Koji started to stand but Tomoyo grabbed his arm, forcing him to sit.

“After Koji has eaten,” Tomoyo stated her tone enough to keep Ogun from arguing.

He hid a laugh when Koji scowled at him, as if he was a traitor.  Reaching for his own cup of coffee, Ogun took a sip, enjoying the start of a new adventure with Koji.

***

Andre realized following a man they didn’t know into a dark parking lot in the middle of the night was taking a mad risk.  They should have asked for more information before they blindly got into their car and followed the small Mazda now parked across them.  Yet they hadn’t.  Too eager for answers, too eager for progress.

Andre couldn’t help the chuckle when he and Leon stopped to make a stand.  They stood leaning on their rental car refusing to take another step to follow the mysterious short man in a black coat.  Andre folded his arms against his chest caught between irritation and amusement by the whole scene.

Leon spoke in Japanese as he delivered their refusal to continue without more information.  It was refreshing when the short man spoke English in reply.

“I’m sorry for the cloak and dagger,” the short man said.  “I’ve always wanted to act out a James Bond movie and wanted to see how long I could push it.”

“Depends on which one you’re acting out?” Andre said, deciding to be amused.

“Of course, the dark haired one…hmm…Pierce Brosnan,” short man answered with a snap of his fingers.  “I love his Bond.”

Leon cursed softly.  “What’s your name, Bond?”

“Hisao.”

“Hisao,” Andre said.  “Where are we going?”

“You are asking about Sakura-chan,” Hisao answered, and waved toward the exit.  “I am taking you where you can get answers.”

“This late at night?” Leon questioned.  “Why don’t we just—

“The team works twenty-four hours, seven days a week,” Hisao explained.  “Thanks to a special team created by officials above, we are well-funded and have the will to keep searching.  No worries about overtime.”

Andre frowned.  “Private funding?  From powerful political allies?”

Hisao grinned.

“I’m a low-paid police officer who wouldn’t know these complicated matters.  Please, let me lead you to investigation team.  I need to catch a few hours of sleep tonight.  It’s been a tough week.”

Hisao started walking to the exit forcing both Andre and Leon to hurry after him.

“Why are we leaving the car?” Andre asked, when they stepped into the cool night.

“No parking space, and we’re going to need more than two hours in the meeting,” Hisao answered.  “I hope you don’t mind the walk.  It’s only three minutes.”

“Not at all,” Leon said, though his tone sounded like he did.

Andre on the other hand hoped that they’d done this during the day instead of late in the night.  He itched to take photos, but he’d left his camera at the Hyatt when he’d left to go meet Seiren.

Hisao was right on the walk time. It took them exactly three minutes.  Their destination turned out to be a charcoal grey building tucked in between a row of houses.  The door into the building was blood red with a gorgeous black seal for a knocker.  A single name on the top floor of the building read ‘Mume’.

Hisao led the way to the red door and rang the doorbell.  A cheerful young woman opened the door, ushering them into an elegant bright reception area.

“Welcome to Hotel Mume,” she said.  “Are you here for the team meeting?”

“Yes,” Hisao nodded.

She smiled and led them to the right into a neat dining room and sitting area with floor length windows showing off the lighted river in the back of the hotel.

Andre took in the elegance and enchanting mood, finding it hard to reconcile it with the number of serious people sitting at the long dining table.  Their expressions solemn, the screens projected on the wall full of children’s faces and scenes.  Gloom in splendor.

The woman who had led them in left.  Leon touched Andre’s arm when the picture of a sweet smiling eight-year-old girl came up on the screen.

“Sakura Akino,” the team leader was saying, and then paused, his gaze resting on Andre and Leon.  The momentary pause attracted attention, and Hisao smiled lifting his hands in apology.

“Sorry for being late.  These two gentlemen are looking for Sakura-chan,” Hisao said.  “Our man at the desk thought they would get more information here.  No Japanese for the taller one.”

“Welcome,” the team leader said, “Take a seat.  The briefing continues as is, we can talk after.”

Andre nodded, and Leon moved to take the only empty seat at the long table.  Satisfied, the team leader continued his briefing.  While Andre headed to the sitting area, removed away from the intense group.  One other person sat at the wicker chairs by the windows.  A young man in a pale green jersey with the hood pulled over his head.  His hands folded against his chest, his right leg resting on his left knee.

Andre sat in the chair next to him, curious.  Glancing at his wristwatch, Andre frowned when he saw the time.

“How odd to have a briefing at this hour,” Andre murmured. 

“It’s only one o’clock,” the young man answered, his tone low, so that he wouldn’t interrupt the ongoing discussion.

“You speak English,” Andre said.  “What a relief.”

“Most of us can,” the younger man said.

“Then why is it so hard to get into a good conversation here?” Andre asked, thinking apart from Seiren, he had relied on Leon to get around.

“Your accent sounds French,” the younger man said.  “In France, does everyone speak English at will?”

“I suppose it depends who you are with.”

“As it is here,” the answer came and Andre found himself smiling.

“Andre Lacome,” he said, extending his hand out to the youth.

There was hesitation, and then long elegant fingers closed over his. 

“Koji Sukiyama.”

“May I call you Koji?  Your surname is a mouthful.”

“It’s a burden to me too,” Koji said, with a small chuckle.  “Yes, Koji is fine.”

Andre shifted in his seat to face Koji.

“As happy as I am to have been invited to such a briefing, why is it happening at this hour?” Andre asked, his gaze sliding to the long table, and the screens showing off information ahead.

“During the day, they are out chasing leads,” Koji said.  “This is the only hour to regroup and share what has been discovered.  They have been at it for almost two weeks.  Now it’s about reviewing the data they’ve amassed and looking at it through fresh eyes.”

“Two weeks,” Andre frowned.

That was a long time to go missing.  He had hoped they’d find Sakura fast, and get to saving Henri.  He had a week to find the child, if there was any hope of getting help from Seiren.  If the police had been on the job for two weeks, how were he and Leon to pull this off?

“Your sigh sounds disappointed,” Koji said beside him. 

Andre wiped a hand down his face, suddenly tired.  “It’s been a long week.”

“You make me curious,” Koji murmured, and pushed back his hood to reveal a head full of messy silky hair.

Andre watched Koji reach to his ears, removing what looked like hearing aids.  Then Koji turned to meet his gaze, and he stared into the deepest azure eyes he’d ever seen.  Surely, his heart had no defense against this kind of assault.  No escape from the depths of those blue pools, so beautifully rendered, he never wanted to look away.  How beautiful Koji’s eyes were, filled with the bluest water, Andre could not look away.

***

Koji’s presence in the large dining room slash sitting area was not to listen to the team leader repeat the case details.  No, he had wanted to poke at their thoughts as they had been chasing down leads for weeks.  Sitting in the corner, no one paid attention to him, too involved in the puzzle of this case.

Tomoyo sat at the long table getting to know the investigators.  Ogun leaned on the wall closest to Koji, never too far, just in case.  The hood over his head was more to hide his eyes, as he allowed his senses free reign.  When he was twelve, he had needed to touch a person to know their thoughts, get a feel of their mood.  His teenage growth spurt had evolved his gift though, now all he needed to do was stand in a room and allow everything to sip into his thoughts.  People thought loudly, and it was always easier in a focused group like this.

Sitting alone in the corner, Koji sifted through passing thoughts as the briefing started.  Whispered words, frustration, closing his eyes, he concentrated on the frustration.

‘She said she thought she saw a black van on the edge of the park.  If only she could remember…we would have a solid lead.’

Koji frowned, wishing he knew the investigators well.

‘So many kids missing, the residents don’t even want to talk to us because they’re afraid.’

Koji opened his eyes then, his thoughts on the woman who might have seen something on the edge of the park.  If he could meet the woman in question, maybe he would get more insight from her.  Pushing his noise canceling hearing aids in, he was about to stand and leave the room when the two white men walked in with Hisao.

Sitting back, Koji watched the room turn to stare at both men.  Hisao smiled and made apologies for the interruption.  When Koji heard they were looking for Sakura, he gave up on the idea of leaving.  Sakura was the way to crack the case, so it was curious that two foreigners were also interested in her.

The shorter one chose to sit next to Tomoyo, while the taller man came to sit beside him.  Koji crossed his arms against his chest, and wondered if he shouldn’t just read their thoughts.  He was tired from all the traveling and should really rest, still—, it was good to know what the tourists wanted to learn here.

Curiosity had him sitting through Andre’s conversation.  He was glad for the years Saya had insisted he learn English as it came in useful now.  Andre’s voice was soothing, calm.  He reminded Koji of a man who would not panic in the middle of a storm.  Then, Andre sighed, the sound of it heavy.  The kind of sigh one would give if the weight of the world rested on the shoulders.  Heavy and full of meaning.

Koji found he wanted to listen to Andre’s thoughts.  He wanted to know what would make a man like Andre sigh so deeply, so—

Removing his hearing aids again, eager to listen.

Only to be met with absolute silence.  The complete stillness in the room surprised him.  Koji gaped when all he

heard was the intense discussion at the long table.  No internal thoughts flooded him, not a stray emotion filled him that wasn’t his.  It was absolute quiet.  The kind he only found with the use of the hearing aids he held.

Koji turned to stare at Andre in shock.

“Your eyes are stunning,” Andre said, the awe in his voice clear.

Koji tried to find his voice, but he couldn’t formulate a word.  He didn’t know what to say, this complete silence so unfamiliar, he didn’t know how to bear it.

Andre leaned closer and Koji blinked, shock bringing him to his feet fast.

Ogun pushed off the wall, but Koji ignored him and instead rushed out into the lobby. In the bright reception hall, Koji took in a deep breath, then another, and almost cried in relief when the receptionist turned to him and her internal appreciative sigh filled his head.

“Koji?” Ogun hurried to his side, concern on his face.

“I’m fine,” Koji said, breathing out his surprise.  “Just tired.”

“Are you sure?”

Koji rubbed his forehead.  No, he was freaking out.

“I—,”

Koji broke off, not sure what he wanted to say.  Maybe foreigners were wired wrong.  Andre Lacome was a fluke.  One he had not expected, once they got used to each other, he’d get to hear Andre’s thoughts.

This was nothing.  He was just tired.

“I’m heading upstairs,” Koji murmured.  “The foreigners, find out why they’re looking for Sakura.”

“Koji?”

“It’s been a tiring day,” Koji said, forcing a smile for Ogun.  “I’m going to sleep first, goodnight, Ogun.”

Koji ran up the stairs to his suite grateful for every soft whisper he heard in his head on the way upstairs.  He had spent so much time wishing he didn’t have this gift, yet in that moment, facing Andre Lacome, hearing nothing had almost undone him.  He wondered if he shouldn’t stay away from the gaijin altogether.

****

gaijin – foreigner