Shaeula and I spent some time heading south from our Territory, away from the centre of Tokyo. The buildings mirrored the Material world, lacking the grandeur of the skyscrapers that towered into the heavens at the heart of Tokyo both in the Material and the Boundary. Still, there were plenty of enemies to fight beyond our borders, though again they were mostly of the insectoid and undead types.
Still, it had proved highly fruitful, and we moved our way through area after area, building after building, clearing them with our newfound strength. It was almost too easy, in fact, and didn’t prove as useful in increasing our skills or my level as much as I had hoped. There were a few nascent Rank 0 Territories run by monsters, the most memorable being a group of around thirty-or-so monstrous bears, but none of them were able to communicate with or join us, so in the end we simply wiped them out, claiming their spoils for our own.
All in all we added over six thousand ether to our stocks alone, and we also found a decent handful of Etherite ores, including a yellow one. When it was time to return, Shaeula decided she would remain behind and continue sweeping the area, further increasing what we would have to work with. I had my misgivings, but I trusted her enough to retreat if things got dangerous, and as she was now, it was simplicity itself for her to clear a building of giant ants, bees or zombies.
Back in the Material, I checked my clock. Yeah, there’s enough time. I made a quick breakfast of rice balls and miso soup, making sure to wrap a bowl and some spare balls for Shaeula when she finally returned. With that I headed out for my first appointment, with a tailor that was highly recommended by Fujiwara-san and Tsumura-san.
Ninety minutes later, I was being measured up, every inch of my body being meticulously detailed by the fussy older man with thinning hair that was moving around me, his assistant making notes of his findings.
It’s kind of fresh to hear my exact measurements. It isn’t something I used to enjoy, but seeing hard work paying off is always thrilling. That good feeling lasted until I was presented with the projected bill for the suits I had ordered. Each was more costly than all the other clothes I owned put together! Damn, if I wasn’t moving in exalted circles now I’d stick with the suits I bought before. They were expensive enough!
“So, that will be two suits, one formal, one casual, with the materials…” the tailor started tallying up the bill as I put my shirt back on. “… in addition to shirts, ties, cufflinks, a formal and an informal watch…” Damn, each shirt costs an order of magnitude more than the ones I own. And the watches… Patek Phillipe and Cartier… it’s amazing how money can just vanish…
“… in addition, the third suit, made from the… special… materials. The total bill is…”
I nearly blanked out at the total figure, which would be able to buy outright a modest apartment on the outskirts of Tokyo. Still, I paid without complaint. Having a suit made with anti-ballistic and anti-blade materials will give me the edge if combat spills into the Material again. I was told this store handles the suits for Fujiwara Security so they can be trusted.
It would be a couple of weeks before everything was ready, apparently truly masterful suits took time to tailor. Until then I’d have to make do. Saying my goodbyes I left and headed for my next destination, a hospital, where the Detective who was injured was recuperating…
********
“I’m coming in.” knocking on the door to the private room, I quickly slid it open, seeing the occupants within. First, sitting up in bed, hooked up to various bleeping devices and a medical drip, was the pale-looking Detective. On seeing me, his eyes widened a little in surprise, but that was nothing compared to the reaction of the other person in the room.
It was the female officer that was accompanying him during the disastrous battle at the shrine. Officer Usui… right? She was holding an apple and knife in her hands, and the plate with apple slices next to her showed she was indulging in the most cliché hospital-visitor behaviour one could do. On seeing me her expression darkened, and she scowled, standing to get between me and the Detective. “It’s you!” she declared, instinctively raising her little knife defensively.
“Yes, it’s me.” I agreed, and at my calm flippancy the Detective smiled slightly. “Anyway, I’m not here to cause trouble, so if you could put down that knife? It wouldn’t hurt me anyway.”
“You can calm down, Officer Usui.” The Detective said, and she turned to glare at him, eyes moist with sudden tears.
“No, no I can’t!” she snapped, completely disregarding that he was her superior. “It’s thanks to him you got shot, this is all his fault! You nearly died, right there in front of me…” her words came in a hot, angry cascade.
“I don’t think that’s fair. I was a victim of crime as well. Isn’t victim-blaming shameful for the police?” I retorted immediately, and she flushed, shamefaced. Still, it did little to cool her anger.
“You… you?” she spluttered, but the Detective spoke up to stop her in her tracks.
“Now, do calm down, Officer Usui. I understand why you are upset, but he is technically correct. Whether his actions led to such an outcome, he was the victim too. Besides…” he grimaced, feeling at his bandaged stomach. “… without his help, I would likely have bled out and died before help could arrive. Whatever your feelings are about him, that is still worth some thanks, isn’t it? Besides…” he looked at me now, bobbing his head in a small nod of thanks. “… if he was a true criminal, I expect he would have disposed of you as well. It would have been easy for him to cover it up, or simplicity itself to claim you were killed by his attackers.”
Well, it wouldn’t be easy to make corpses disappear, but perhaps with elemental fire… yeah, I guess I could do it. On seeing I was thinking about it, the Detective chuckled, before breaking out into some coughing. Officer Usui turned her attention from me and offered him a glass of water, which he took with relief. After a few swallows, the fit had passed. “Anyway, time for introductions again. I am Detective Kato Reiji, and this is my assistant for now, Officer Usui Yoriko.”
“I’m Oshiro Moonstone Akio.” I reintroduced myself. “The middle name is from my mother. It’s a bit strange, I know, but I think it’s been bringing me good fortune recently so…”
“Let me guess. You are here about the price for saving my life?” Detective Kato cut straight to the chase, and I nodded.
“Yes, though I think you will find it aligns with your own interests more than you’d imagine. But before that…” I stepped forwards and Officer Usui tried to block me, but at a word from the Detective she stepped away, her animosity still clear.
It’s unusual for a woman to hate me so much. It feels pretty uncomfortable. Still, it isn’t like I don’t understand. Placing a hand on his chest, I started probing the Detective with my aether. He shivered a little, and Officer Usui asked me what I was doing, her tone accusatory.
“I’m just checking everything is healing up properly, and giving it a little help.” As I felt his injuries, I trickled in a bit of aether, speeding the mending of the internal wounds. “I’m not going to suddenly cure him, that’d be way too hard to explain, but he should make a surprisingly rapid recovery.”
“It feels rather odd, but it doesn’t hurt. Still, to think you can heal injuries mysteriously. If I didn’t feel it with my own body when I was shot, I wouldn’t have believed it. No, I would have.” He amended. “Ever since those street punks were found beaten up, I just knew something unexplainable was happening. And I was right.”
“Yes, yes you were.” his Officer admitted again.
“All done. That should cut your recovery by a few days and make sure there are no complications.” I removed my hand and sat down in a vacant chair. Officer Usui muttered complaints under her breath, which sadly I could hear clearly, but she too sat down, going back to peeling her apples. She passed the plate to Detective Kato, who took a bite.
“Not bad. Thank you. So…” he turned his attention back to me. “Make your pitch. You said you wanted my help with something in exchange for saving my life. And I remember telling you I wouldn’t be a party to any criminal behaviour. So… what do you want?”
“It’s pretty simple. As you’ve seen, the world is changing, and more criminals like Kondou Kazuo will arise who will use their new powers that can’t be explained by science yet for their own gain, committing crimes in the process. If everyone is allowed to act as they please, law and order will collapse.”
“Go on.” The Detective encouraged me, and even Officer Usui was listening carefully.
“Obviously, the police are going to have to adapt to the changing world. You’ve already shown an interest in pursuing the impossible, and while I maintain I have only acted in self-defence or to take out someone committing horrific crimes, I do acknowledge that having someone with the power that I do walking around without oversight is a great burden on any functioning society. Still, keeping the knowledge of the existence of those such as myself a secret as long as possible is wise, as it gives us and the country as a whole more time to prepare new and amended laws and measures of control.” Not that I’m particularly eager to be under the control of anyone, but we need to live and function in the Material world. If we are declared the enemy of Japan, even with our skills we would be eventually killed, and even if not, what life is a life constantly on the run, always looking over our shoulders, waiting for an assassin? No, I need to show our value to those in power, making it so they need us too, and with our ties to the nobility and the shrines I’ve made a good start…
“I don’t disagree.” Detective Kato nodded. “It is the same reason that guns are so highly restricted in Japan. They aren’t banned, but having them severely regulated has kept our level of gun crime amongst the lowest in the world.”
“Though it isn’t the same.” Officer Usui interjected, her tone scornful. “You are like a living gun. We can’t just restrict you, can we?”
“No, not easily. You’ve seen what I can do, and to be honest, I’ve no intention of sacrificing my happiness or the happiness of those I care about just to make life easy for the current Japan. The world has changed. Accept it. But I am prepared to work with those in power to make sure that our new system is as safe and fair as possible, when the world eventually accepts this all as normal.”
“Indeed. Civil unrest, protests, prejudice… I can only imagine the reaction of the general public. And this is where we come in, right?” the Detective fixed me with a piercing gaze.
“Yeah. Obviously we’ll need a new branch of the police and military focussing on… well, for want of a better word, magical criminality and law. And since you are already involved and were prepared to pursue your hunches to the very end, I think you’d be perfect for it.”
“I thought it would be that.” The Detective agreed. “So, tell me, what do you have in mind…?”
********
After a long conversation I excused myself, leaving the room. Walking far enough away that they likely assumed I was unable to hear them, I strained my senses, catching their hushed conversation.
“… so, what do you think?” Detective Kato was asking his colleague. “He has the ear of the nobility, and the Prime Minister is getting involved. I know politics can change in an instant, but the current ruling Party is reasonably popular. That means he likely has support for a few years at least.”
“Well, I just don’t like him! He’s so smug and smarmy, with an answer for everything!” Officer Usui declared.
Me? Smug? Smarmy? Really? That seriously surprised me, as if anything I was often told off by my sister for being too diffident and unassuming. Still, that wasn’t important right now. Continuing to listen, I heard her next words.
“Still, much as I hate him, he’s right. The scale is different, but it would be like trying to stop anyone from working out to grow stronger than the average civilian, like a boxer or martial artists, or punishing them for having strengths others don’t. After all… he is a citizen too, and deserving of the protection of the law.” She finished bitterly, and I cracked a smile. At least she’s fair…
“Good girl, exactly right.” Detective Kato praised her. “As long as one keeps within the law, merely having power is no cause for censure, otherwise we would be no better than any third-world dictatorship. But with greater power comes greater temptations. He’s right. Kondou Kazuo will not be the last to commit crimes, if what he says is true. Thousands in Japan alone, many more worldwide. And to fight fire, sometimes it takes fire.”
“You know you are going to accept his offer. Especially if the Prime Minister is behind it.”
“Well, this old man wants to do what is right, and I need to make Japan safe for my daughters. The thought of them thrown into a chaotic, lawless world… no, I have no choice. Besides, he did save my life. I owe him a chance, at least. Still, that’s just my decision. I can get you reassigned. I still have some clout back at headquarters.”
“Fool.” Officer Usui chided him. “I haven’t learned everything I need to yet from you, Detective. Besides, you’d be hopeless without me. And surely if this new department takes off, it’ll be a quick route to the top? Don’t you want to see your best Officer climbing the ladder?”
“You never do remember proper respect for your superiors, do you?” he laughed, and with that, satisfied, I left. Yeah, it isn’t like I’ve fully discussed my plans with the Prime Minister or Fujiwara-san yet, but the more work I do now, the better off I’ll be when this all explodes and the mystery is revealed to the world. Besides, I’d rather work with someone who is in my debt and principled.
With that settled, I turned my attention to the final task of the day. Damn, now I’m starting to feel nervous. This sucks… Still, I had to do it, both to soothe Haru-san, as well as reassure a friend of the Prime Minister. Besides, if it was someone I cared about, I’d want to know if there was any hope at all, no matter how slim…
********
Well, isn’t this just awful. At least Shaeula was back, and I was never more grateful to have someone with me. And she added a few thousand more ether to our supply, plus some more Etherites she spotted with her Mystic Eyes. Realising that thinking about this was distracting me from the task at hand, I forced my attention back to the man in front of me. As I did so Shaeula, dressed in a more modest fashion, in a jumper and long skirt, which was unusual for her, and a fresh look I would have enjoyed a lot more at another time, returned with some tea, putting a mug down in front of me, before placing another in front of the man.
“My thanks.” he murmured, taking a sip, his eyes lifeless, his face ashen and unshaven.
Yeah, he doesn’t look in a fit state to run a Department at the Diet. Not that I can blame him for his grief. As Shaeula took her place beside me with her own mug of steaming tea, I observed Suzuki Akimitsu, the father of poor Haru-san. He was probably quite handsome normally, but in his hollow-cheeked grief he had let himself grow unkempt. Dark rings around his eyes showed he was barely sleeping, and the hand that held the mug of tea was trembling a little.
“Well, this isn’t easy to talk about.” I began, once more running through what I had planned to say. “So, Suzuki-san, just… just how much do you know about Kondou Kazuo?”
At his name Suzuki-san spilled his tea, shaking hand slopping it over the table and the documents on it. Shaeula clicked her tongue and grabbed a cloth, wiping it up.
“Sorry, sorry.” He said, defeated, his voice cracking. “I… when I hear the name, all I can think of is my little girl, my poor Haru. That monster… death is too good for him.”
“Yes. I quite agree. I’ll shed no tears at his death.” I felt uncomfortable sending him to his doom, effectively killing another human, but now… he’ll be the third. And all of them had it coming. I won’t say I feel good about it, or even all right about it, but… I won’t let it consume me either. Evil deeds reap just rewards. “Still, I mean… the circumstances. They were, well, extremely unusual.”
He nodded, draining the remains of his tea before putting down the mug. “Yes, I was called into the Kantei, the official office of the Prime Minister. There, I met him and Tsumura-san, from the Defence Ministry. They told me an impossible tale. All nonsense to try and assuage my grief, I can only assume.”
“I’m afraid not.” I told him. “Sadly, Kondou was a murderer from way back, but it seems that after he developed supernatural powers, he grew bolder and more indiscriminate, leading to the death of your daughter.”
“Supernatural powers.” He scoffed tiredly. “At least if there were such a thing, there must be an afterlife as well. At least… at least my baby girl can be happy there.”
“Well, you come to the crux of the matter, and what I wanted to discuss with you. Your colleagues worry about you, so they asked me to tell you the truth, even if it is painful.”
“Truth?” he said suspiciously. “What truth?”
“That through the pain, there is a little hope left.” I said, and at that the man stood, shouting so angrily spittle flew from his lips, scattering over the table and my face.
“Hope? My daughter, my Haru, she’s already dead and gone! Don’t talk to me about hope you con-artist! I’m a man of rational thought, not easily fooled by mystic vases or other scams that target the grief-stricken. I don’t know how you fooled… wha…!”
His exclamation was cut off as Shaeula stood, furious, jade energies swirling around her strongly enough to blow over our half-drunk mugs, ruining her earlier efforts to clean up. Our clothes and hair were rippling in the gale, and papers and other items were scattered to the side of the room. “Silence! I understand your sorrow, yet I will not-not tolerate you speaking to Akio in such a manner! He strives to aid you and your daughter, so sit down, be silent and listen well-well!”
At her ire and the impossible gusts that still blew across the room, he fell back down onto his chair. “So… it’s true. Magic does exist.” He managed to mutter, the shock stunning him.
“Well, not exactly. But powers and abilities that go beyond known science, yes. And while I’ll spare you the details, Kondou had access to a cruel ability.”
“I don’t know if I can take this. I don’t want to know any more details about how my poor Haru suffered.” He moaned.
“Just… just read this please.” Shaeula had retrieved the rather tea-stained list that had blown off when she was enraged, and passed it to Suzuki-san. He took it gingerly and started to read, only for his shock to mount rapidly.
“Just… how did you get this? And why?” he asked, both puzzled and angry. “Only my little girl would know these… did that monster torture her for information? But why about this? I don’t understand. If it was to blackmail me, use my influence in the Diet, this is harmless, I would never…” his mind was racing, struggling to understand.
“Actually. I got this in preparation for us meeting.” I said, and he sat there open-mouthed, unable to process what I meant.
“Akio means he asked Haru himself. For though her Material form was killed so-so cruelly, her spirit lives on in the Boundary.”
“Yes, all of these are true…” he gestured with the damp paper in his hand. “But Haru is dead! How evil do you have to be to…” suddenly the paper in his hands was sliced to ribbons, and the falling pieces burst into flames and turned to ash, Shaeula once more unleashing her ire.
“What benefit would we have to lie-lie?” She scoffed, her expression cold. “And those friends of yours, this Prime Minister, would he-he deceive you too? Besides…” her amber gaze was so intense Suzuki-san could only look away. “… it is easily proven. Ask away, and Akio shall see her and find-find the answers.”
“Yeah. I know this is hard to swallow, but… there is hope. But first, I need you to believe me.” I implored him. This really sucks. Facing a grieving parent like this, spilling impossible facts… but seeing Shaeula work her elemental arts, that has to make him wonder… people will grab any hope they can.
“I want to believe I can see my Haru again, but…” he started to cry then, big heaving sobs, and I was taken aback, unsure of how to respond. “… if… if I grasp at hope and am betrayed… I’ll die. I already… she’d hate it if I was to end my… my life.”
Left with no choice, I revealed a bit more than I wanted to. “Look, Shaeula… she isn’t a human like us. She dwells in another realm, one of the spirit. But it is possible to create a mortal body for her. Not easy, but possible. And you can see, she’s real, no?” at my words he wiped tears from his eyes, looking at Shaeula, who nodded confirmation.
“Akio has brought me to the mortal world. I find it pleasant to be here indeed-indeed.”
“I don’t know if there’s a heaven, like some religions say. But there are other realities than these, and Haru-chan persists. I’m not a god, I can’t reverse the fact that she’s been murdered. But in time… I know I can create a body for her just like Shaeula. She can walk beside you again, live a relatively normal life… she might have to change her name and pretend to be someone else, as her death is well-publicised, but wouldn’t that be enough for you? So, I need you to be convinced. Ask me anything Haru-san would know, and I’ll get the answers from her.”
“Akio would have you as another ally-ally.” Shaeula supported me. “The cost to his resources would not-not be trivial, but for a friend, Akio would perform miracles.”
Suzuki-san looked poleaxed, which was quite understandable. Hope warred with his despair, and in the end he realised he had nothing to lose believing me, but everything to gain if the truth was as we said. “Very well.” He sniffled. “Ask her this. On her fourteenth birthday…” he gave me ten questions for her, ranging from birthday presents, times she spent with her deceased mother and more. Once I had memorised them I nodded.
“All right then. I’ll be back shortly.” And with that I closed my eyes and entered the Boundary. As soon as I appeared there, Haru-san was waiting, hovering about nervously, wringing her transparent hands. On seeing me, she flew over.
“Is daddy there, is he… well?” she asked, her eyes hopeful yet aching with loss.
“Of course he isn’t well. He misses you terribly.” I didn’t lie. “But… he’s being strong for your sake, in your memory. Now, have you thought more about my offer? Your father is at least partially willing to believe me, even if his rational mind tells him it is impossible. So… I need your word.”
“Fine.” She sighed mournfully. “If you help me regain my body, so I can go home, then I’ll work for you, do anything you want. Anything.” She scrubbed at her overflowing tears that vanished before they struck the ground, puffing into silvery fog. “I’ve talked to some of the strange people here, and to Shaeula. You… you seem a good man. And my career in the Diet is dead and gone. If… if I can go home, I’ll learn to fight, or use my gift to help you. I swear it.”
“Good. Don’t make such a sad face. I won’t deny there will be hardships ahead, but if we work together, then we can overcome them and grow stronger. Shaeula’s helping you control the telepathy, right? A second chance is a precious thing. You might even be able to help the other poor wraiths who survived with you. So, now I just need the answer to a few questions…”
********
“… this Boundary sounds a strange place.” Suzuki-san was saying as I returned to the Material. “I still can’t believe it is real.”
“Well, can you deny-deny my power?” Shaeula said, and he shook his head as I opened my eyes.
“All right.” I interrupted. “I’ve the answers to your questions. First, on her fourteenth birthday you took her to see…” as I rattled off the correct answers one after another, Suzuki-san’s expression changed. The despair started to fade, replaced with the first stirrings of hope.
“That’s… incredible.” He said at last, and I noticed his hands had stopped trembling, and were now clutching at a fresh mug of tea, so hard his knuckles were turning white. “There is no way you could know that, even if you were in league with the bastard who murdered my little girl. So…” he was unable to voice his hopes, but I did it for him.
“I’m half-British. There’s a famous English detective, everyone has heard of him, Sherlock Holmes. And what did he say? When you have eliminated all which is impossible, then whatever remains, however improbable, must be the truth. I know this doesn’t prove I can bring her to the Material world again, but it does prove she still exists, right? Else finding this out would be impossible.”
“It seems so.” He scrubbed away at more tears, these ones tears of bitter relief and faint hopes. “But… how long would I have to wait? Years? Months? She must be in torment, desperate to come home.”
“I doubt it’d be years. Though to be honest, I am very limited in numbers I can bring to the Material, and the cost in spiritual resources is high. I would hope we are looking at months rather than years though. As for her state now, she’s sorrowful, sure. But she has company at least. I’ll make sure she lives…” the word was ironic, but there was no better way of expressing it. “… as comfortably as possible until such time as she can return.”
“Is there no way I can help you acquire these spiritual resources?” Suzuki-san asked, committing himself to the chance he could see his daughter again.
“As of yet, no. But you can still help us in other ways.” I advised him. “The Prime Minster and Tsumura-san will be gathering support. Japan needs to be prepared for when news of the strange abilities people can have gets out. Having a trustworthy Minister for Finance signing the cheques for needed expenses would be very helpful.”
“Fine. You win. But… can you pass on a message to Haru for me? Tell her daddy is sorry, and he failed her. But if given a second chance, he’ll make sure that she never suffers again.”
After hearing his heartfelt plea, there was no way I could refuse, or indeed a reason to. “I can do that. Now go home and clean yourself up. Then speak to Tsumura-san. You have a lot of work to do.” As do I. Tomorrow is the big day. Rank 3, here we come!