Silence In Numbers: File One (23 page)

“I guess there’s nothing we can do?” Rufus questioned.

Law shook his head. “Not really.”

“We can be there,” Sano shrugged. “If either of them needs help we can do it. Especially considering this new stuff with their father that we’re gonna be told about.”

The rest nodded and Rufus looked over at Katsumi and Ayane. “We should act like nothing’s wrong, too. I’m sure they both know very well just how much is wrong, they don’t need us reminding them.”

“Yeah,” Reno agreed, “and we all know how much Katsumi hates things like pitying looks or condolences anyway. I think we’re smart enough by now to avoid things like that.”

Lenora smiled. “So we just support them by being friends.”

“A team,” Sano added. “We’re a team in everything, and now Ayane’s part of that team as well.”

They looked over as the song finished and Ayane jumped on Katsumi’s back, bringing laughter from the older woman. The sisters weren’t thinking about it at that moment, but they had five people who were determined to make sure they stayed that happy.

They came back over and Ayane sat down beside Sano, smiling at him as her sister took a seat beside Lenora. “So, Sano. I’ve heard a lot about you.”

Sano set his drink down and raised an eyebrow. “Not all bad, I hope.”

“Nope, not all. I hear you’re my sister’s best friend, though, so I feel I should warn you about a few things.”

“Things I don’t already know?”

“Oh, it’ll be different now. Number one? I know I say it a lot, but don’t call her Sumi. Only I can do that.”

“Right, I won’t use your name for her.”

“That’s good. Neither of us will like it if you do. Next thing? Now that you know about me, prepare to hear about me a lot.”

Sano blinked. “Hear about you a lot?”

Ayane nodded. “Our favorite subjects are each other. You can ask Law how much he’s had his ear talked off about me. Oh, and if you become my friend too, you’ll hear a lot about Katsumi. Really a lot. Like, really a whole lot.”

“Huh…” Sano smiled. “I can deal with that. Can’t hurt to learn more about you two.”

“It could.” Ayane grinned. “Okay, third thing? I’ve heard about your mannerisms. When I’m living with Sumi, we’re going to move, but whether we have or not at the time, no barging in without asking!”

Sano laughed, leaning back in his chair. “Not a problem. You know I nearly got killed last time I did that anyway, so I don’t think I will again.”

Ayane nodded. “Smart man. Keep your head in one piece. Why’d you nearly get killed that time? Was she showering or something?”

“No, she looked like she’d just been sick, and you know how she is when she’s like that.”

“Oh…” Ayane’s smile faltered for a moment but she replaced it almost instantly. “Yes, I think I remember that. All the spring storms can really wreak havoc with immune systems.”

Sano looked at her. “Speaking of… You talk about living with her. Are you leaving the hospital?”

Ayane sighed. “I don’t know yet. I’m feeling a little better recently, but that doesn’t really mean anything, and besides Sumi is a bit… protective.”

“I know.” Sano thought back to the few details he’d been told about their past. “And I can see why.”

“Oh, so can I. And I really appreciate her protectiveness; besides, it goes both ways.”

“What about you, how do you feel? I know you said you like to talk about your sister a lot, but I’ve known her for six years and have only just met you.”

“Me? Well I’m a lot less tough than Sumi. Attitude-wise, I mean. I don’t act as tough. I’m generally nicer and much more open to meeting people, which I actually like doing.”

“You two do seem very different.”

“Different and similar at the same time.” Ayane smiled. “My point is that I don’t like the hospital because it’s very lonely. I’d like to leave it, but unfortunately simply wanting something can’t cure you. That’s the only reason none of you have met me.”

“Katsumi didn’t want her enemies to be able to learn you exist.”

“Right. If I wasn’t sick that wouldn’t be a problem.”

Sano raised an eyebrow. “She wouldn’t be trying to protect you if you were healthy?”

“No, she would, just… not the same way. I’m very capable, but my skills don’t mean much whenever I’m weak and can’t even walk straight.”

“Ah, I get it. Well now we can all help both of you. And we can visit.”

“More visitors? I
love
more visitors!”

A few feet away Katsumi sat sipping her drink and watching her sister talk to Kurasano. She couldn’t hear what they were saying, but Ayane looked happy, so Katsumi was happy. It must have been visible because Lenora looked at her and smiled knowingly. “You really care about her, don’t you?”

“Mmm.” Katsumi set her drink down, glancing at Lenora. “More than anything. We’re a pair; neither of us would work without the other.”

“I’m glad you have something so important. I know how much you must worry, though.”

Katsumi sighed. “I just… I try not to think about certain things, but it’s hard. Seeing someone you love in a hospital bed, being uncertain if they’ll continue to be there, it’s one of the worst things there is. And I rarely see Ayane outside her bed. I know she hates it, I know she wants to go places and do things; she’s always been an extremely active person. I still hope this will end and we’ll be able to do all the things we keep planning for.”

“Well both of you certainly deserve it. I’m a nurse, I’ve seen many people stuck in hospital beds and it’s always a terrible burden. I know the feeling of helplessness that comes from being unable to do something; I think everyone here is feeling that tonight. At the very least you’re lucky to have so many people feeling that way.”

Katsumi smiled softly. “Yes, I know. Believe me, I know I’m lucky. There’s just one major fear keeping me from being happy and I can’t be truly happy until it’s gone.”

“All of us will support you both until then. This is a good group of people, and they’re determined.”

“I did hand-pick them.”

“Except for me.”

Katsumi smiled. “You’re one of the reasons I picked Reno.”

Lenora blinked. “I am? Why?”

Katsumi looked back to her sister as Ayane laughed, giving a soft smile. “Family is strength.”

~ ~ ~ ~ ~

It was just after midnight and Katsumi and Ayane were walking down the dark street without a care, laughing with each other as they shared opinions on the people they’d just left and their reactions throughout the night. They were in a joyous mood, and it seemed like nothing could ruin it. Of course, that’s exactly the time when something tends to happen.

The cloaked figure raced out of the alley as they passed, moving immediately for Ayane after identifying her as the weaker one. He slammed a fist into her stomach, carrying the punch several feet until he ran her into the wall. Lifting his head to see the woman he’d just pinned to the wall he revealed himself to be a vampire; a recently made one, Katsumi was able to judge, not usually a big threat. She had her gun out in an instant but he held a knife to Ayane’s throat, grinning at Katsumi. “Ah-ah-ahh, one more move and I’ll cut this one’s neck.”

Katsumi raised an eyebrow. “
Really.
I don’t see it working that way.”

The vampire frowned, about to speak when an iron grip on his wrist cut him off. Ayane pulled his hand from her neck, giving him a look. “You have
terrible
judgment.” She slammed her forehead into his, swept his foot out from behind and stepped to her left, yanking his arm around to slam him into the wall where he crumpled with a moan of agony. “This has to be a training mission, right?”

“Seems like it.” Katsumi looked over her shoulder at the corner of the wall. “The Sire is close.”

A vampire Sire was an older vampire with much greater power and the ability to turn others into vampires if they were willing. They usually took newly created vampires out on ‘training missions’ to teach them how to use their newfound abilities, select prey, and feed. Katsumi had tangled with more than one, and she knew he was going to be a bit trickier than his new apprentice. She tossed her pistol to Ayane, who understood she’d be better using that given her physical condition, leaving the brute force to Katsumi.

The night street was eerily abandoned, as if everyone knew to stay away from it. It grew even more silent as the seconds passed, that calm before its sudden, violent interruption. It came unseen, an invisible strike from the side that hit Katsumi’s face and sent her reeling. Ayane immediately fired to her side and there was a quick rush of air as the vampire dodged. Katsumi threw her fist out and connected with his side, causing the vampire to reveal himself as he caught his footing. His fists came out in a blur and Katsumi went into a backpedal, defending herself from his rapid strikes.

Ayane leapt up to catch a window ledge of the building beside them, pulling herself up onto the narrow perch and firing down over Katsumi’s head, achieving a hit in the vampire’s shoulder. The man, pale, weary and animalistic, growled and drew the blood from his wound, flinging it into Katsumi’s eyes. She responded by lunging forward and shoulder-rushing him, bringing them both to the ground. Ayane fired every time the vampire tried to wriggle out from under her sister, leaving him in a situation where he couldn’t utilize his superhuman speed.

That turned out badly for him as Katsumi slammed her fists down repeatedly. He managed to evade a couple, leaving small cracks in the street from their impact, but eventually the brutal rain subdued him and left him unconscious. Katsumi took a breath and stepped back, lifting him up and throwing him beside the other one.

“Suddenly, vampires! Thousands of them!” Ayane dropped down and handed the pistol back. “I think you’ve been gone too long, Katsumi, chasing terrorists and such things. Dark creatures might start to feel like they can operate here again.”

Katsumi nodded, giving her a smile. “I guess I’ll have to change that, then. Looks like I’m going back to work.”

~ ~ ~ ~ ~

A young woman with brown hair and gentle eyes stood with a sad look on her face as she looked through a store window at a variety of weapons on display. “Do I… really have to?”

“There is… no choice.”

She shuddered a little at the harsh whisper that came from behind her, something she’d never get used to. She looked around but no one else was on the street at this time of night. She then looked back over her shoulder. “Why?”

Cold blue eyes – seeming to be made of pure energy – materialized in the air, glaring at her. There were no pupils, no iris, just a burning blue that emanated pure hostility and danger. “You have asked enough questions!”

“Okay!” The girl sighed, taking a calming breath as she looked back to the store window.

“Okay…”

The sound of breaking glass, an alarm, hurried footsteps, and a few seconds later the girl was clutching a strange old knife in her hands, breathing rapidly with her back against a wall.
The floating eyes appeared before her again, as did the harsh whisper. “Don’t panic! You will need a greater will for what I ask of you!”

“I’m sorry! I’ve never committed a crime before!”

“You will perform more than this.”

“I’m a florist, not a criminal!” She glared at the image.

It seemed to bristle at that, blue flames lighting up around it as its voice seemed to roar inside her head. “YOU WILL BE WHAT I DESIRE YOU TO BE!”

“Aah!” The girl dropped the knife and clapped her hands to her ears uselessly, falling to her knees and trying to shake the voice from her head. “Stop!”

“Get up. Collect the weapon and leave here now!”

She picked up the knife again, unsure whether she felt more helpless or more afraid. She pushed herself to her feet and ran off as the sound of approaching sirens neared.

The car screeched around the corner, its tires squealing as it nearly spun out of control. It slipped into an alleyway, slamming through a pile of boxes and sending things flying. Behind the car a figure sprinted around the corner, his movements not only as fast as the car- he was gaining.

The driver, his jaw clenched in concentration, spun the wheel rapidly to execute another mad turn as the passenger banged on the seat with his free hand, gesturing behind them with a handgun at the pursuer he watched through the rear window. “Faster! Faster! Speed up, he’s gaining!” He leaned out and fired the last three shots he had, but the man’s saber somehow deflected them all.

The driver chanced a glance at the rearview mirror, which spurred him on to stomp down on the gas pedal again. “I’m going as fast as this piece of shit will go! What do you want me to do?!”

“Well do something! He’s not stopping!” The passenger watched with fear as the man continued to gain on them, moving like no human he’d ever seen before. He
looked
human, that’s what made it so unnatural; he was an older man with mostly neat hair in a low ponytail and a short-haired beard, both more grey than brown. He had glasses and wore a nice brown trench coat and tan slacks. He didn’t look like he’d be able to jog for more than a minute, let alone move like a blur and keep up with their car. “What
is
he?!”

The driver, who, like the passenger, was a member of a pretty big criminal organization, had no more answers than his companion. All he knew is that he’d seen the man easily cut through a garage door with the saber he was carrying, and he had no desire to see what would happen if the guy caught him. “It doesn’t matter what he is… All that matters,” he muttered as he weaved around a chain link fence, “is that,” he grunted as the car bounced off a building, “we lose him!”

The passenger looked forward after sensing a desperate tone in his partner’s voice, only to see a train yard looming ahead of them, filled with numerous train cars strewn about the unused tracks. Worse yet, the car seemed to be heading for a gap between two train cars, beyond which there was only one train track before another unmoving steel train car. Finally, and without a doubt the worst part of this situation, is that the track his partner seemed to be aiming for was in use; a train could be heard coming from their left, getting closer by the second.

“Are you insane?!” the passenger yelled, gripping his seat tightly. “That’ll kill us quicker than he will!”

“Trust me… I see it…” The driver sped up, as the man behind them was only a few meters away by now. The passenger started screaming at this point, and for good reason.

What happened next proved the driver was something special, as he slammed on the brakes and spun the car ninety degrees to the left; it slid perfectly between the two parked train cars with little room to spare, hitting the opposite car broadside but not injuring either. The situation only seemed worse as they both saw the blinding light and heard the blaring horn of the oncoming train, and the driver hit the gas again, wheels spinning as the car took off towards the speeding train.

The obscenities streaming from the passenger were impressive before he started screaming in fear, and the driver joined in screaming in anger and defiance. Both of them saw the man in their mirrors; he’d followed them through onto the track and was still after them, but that was what the driver had planned.

In an event that had both passengers of the car convinced that God was truly forgiving for past sins, their car reached the end of the parked train cars and swerved to the side less than a second before the train that would have turned them into scrap metal roared by. And better yet, the man- or whatever he was- was too far behind to do the same, and there was no space to dodge, leaving no choice but to get crushed.

Surging with adrenaline and victory, both passengers cheered loudly, slamming their hands on the dashboard as the driver hit the brakes.

“WHOOOOOOOO!”

“HELL YES!”

“Did you see that?! That was amazing! You were fucking incredible!”

The driver laughed, grinning at his rearview mirror as he watched the train speed by. “We got some sorta god watching us, man! There’s no way we could’ve…”

He trailed off as his eyes widened, and both paled as they looked behind them. In the air above the speeding train their pursuer could be seen, somehow having leapt the locomotive. He sailed through the air far higher than any normal human could hope, landing on the roof of their car and creating a dent.

Both men could do nothing but stare as the saber stabbed in through the roof, piercing the driver’s chest. The driver grunted in disbelief, grabbing at the blade before it twisted, jerking him into death. That shook his partner out of his shock and he scrambled for the handle, flinging open the door and stumbling out, sprinting away as fast as he could.

Joseph Elwood looked calmly after him, withdrawing his saber and standing slowly, whipping the blood free from the blade. The survivor jumped for a ladder on a train car, climbing up it as quickly as he could in his panic. Once he reached the top of the car, he turned back to look.

It was unfortunate. He was able to see Joseph sprint, barely more than a blur, from the car, across the tracks, and straight up the side of the train car in under two seconds; the man was only able to widen his eyes a bit as he blade came up at him, spraying blood into the night air.

Joseph sheathed the saber in its scabbard on his hip as he reached the trunk of the car, opening it up and spotting a black box. He ignored the money and other things in the trunk, not even bothering to close it as he started walking away. He withdrew his phone, making a call as he headed towards the entrance to the train tunnel, hearing another train coming. “I’ve got it,” he said into the phone in an even voice as he tucked the black box under an arm.

“Excellent!” the other voice replied, and Joseph could hear the grin on Sigma’s face. “Bring it immediately and we can get started on phase two.”

“I’m on my way.” Joseph ended the call as the next train sped out of the tunnel. He leapt up into the air, landing on the third car as it flew past. He straightened on top of it, having no
problems maintaining balance despite the speed and the heavy winds that whipped his hair and coat around. He calmly began pressing keys on his phone, paying no attention to his surroundings as the train rushed into the night with its unknown passenger.

~ ~ ~ ~ ~

“Miss Samakura.” Katsumi started, looking up to see M smiling at her. “Something important?”

“No,” Katsumi replied as she shut her phone, smiling at him. “So, do you have the details?”

“Of course, I didn’t call you here to waste your time. Get your team to the Briefing Room.”

“Understood, Director.” Katsumi used her cyber link to tell everyone to head to the room as she went herself.

Ten minutes later the full team was seated in the room and M walked in, dropping a file on the desk at the front of the room. “Missing persons.”

Reno raised his hand. “Uh, ‘what are the pictures on milk cartons representing?’”

“Your knowledge of last-century television being impressive as it is, Mr. Hillford, I don’t think that reference is anything but anachronistic.”

Reno shrugged. “
You
got it.”

“
I
am a genius,” M smiled. “Is there another comment you’d like to make, or shall we move on?”

Reno hung his head. “Sorry, teacher.”

“Put him in detention!” Sano shouted as he leaned around from the seat behind him.

“Behaving like children does not make this a classroom,” Katsumi interrupted. “Now settle down until recess,” she added with a smirk.

The two chuckled, as did M while he turned on the screen on the wall on their side of the room. “I would have no problem handing out more homework if you’d like.” He stepped to the side and a picture appeared on the screen beside him.

It was a picture of a smiling woman with shoulder-length brown hair and gentle blue eyes; she was pretty, and obviously didn’t look like a threat, meaning she was probably the missing person M had referred to. Kurasano leaned forward to look at the picture. “Whoa, she’s pretty. Please tell me she’s not a horrible demon.”

“Unlikely,” M replied, “as demons don’t have the kind of family she does. No, Mr. Lionel, this is our ‘victim’.”

Katsumi narrowed her eyes. “Victim of what?”

“We’re not sure at this point, but certainly some sort of spirit. Security cameras at a local store caught this footage last night.” The screen switched to video showing the woman outside the window. She looked scared and seemed to be talking to someone outside the camera’s range; she eventually broke a window, grabbed a knife and ran. “She’s a florist, and has no history of violence or criminal activity,” M added.

“Someone was making her do it? She’s talking to someone off-camera.”

“And not just anyone, Miss Samakura.” The video switched to a feed of a nearby traffic camera that showed her standing outside the store; more importantly, it showed that no one was standing anywhere around her.

“Invisible companion can certainly mean ghost,” Rufus noted.

“Or dementia,” Katsumi pragmatically cautioned.

“She has no history of mental illnesses, except one note.” M smiled thinly, pushing up his opaque glasses. “She’s made multiple claims over the course of her life about ‘odd noises’ and spectral visitors, dismissed as paranoid ghost stories. In addition, the knife she stole is an ancient sacrificial dagger – though the store owner had no clue as to its true origin and value.”

The others looked at each other and Katsumi nodded. “Now it makes more sense.”

“I thought it would. Now, as for the ‘missing’ part… Her shop has been closed for a week, and she’s not contacted her friends or family in the same amount of time, which is very unusual in her case. Her apartment, however, remains locked, and we believe she’s inside.”

“Doing what?”

“That’s for you to find out.”

“Age?”

“She’s twenty-eight.”

“And single?” After M’s nod, Katsumi smiled at Kurasano, who blinked in response.

“What, me?”

“You’re our usual inside man anyway. Besides, if you go in alone, it will be less suspicious.”

“Alright, I got it.” Sano looked back to the picture. “So what’s her name?”

~ ~ ~ ~ ~

“Hitomi Saizen,” the young woman answered with a tired smile at the man. Honestly, she wouldn’t have opened the door for anyone she knew, but this was a stranger and he seemed friendly enough.

“Fitting,” the man smiled. “That name means ‘beautiful virtue’.”

“So what does your name mean?”

The man rubbed his head. “Kurasano? I dunno, I think my dad just thought it sounded cool.”

Hitomi’s smile grew a bit. “Your mother let your father name you?”

“Well she wanted to name me Richard, after him, but he thought Japanese names like hers – Matsumi – sounded better. My dad was kinda funny that way.” Sano grinned. “Anyway, I was actually hoping I could come in and talk to you about something important.” He pulled out an Aegis badge.

The surprise on her face was obvious, she knew that, but she couldn’t help it. She looked over her shoulder, but he wasn’t there at the moment, so… “Yes, of course,” she smiled, “as long as it’s quick.”

“I won’t take up much of your time.” Sano stepped through the door as she held it open for him, his brown eyes scanning the apartment and taking in every detail. It was dark, with all of the curtains pulled closed and most of the lights off. The place was messy, but Sano had seen enough messed-up rooms in his experience to tell the difference between the types. This wasn’t the type of messy that Katsumi’s place was, with trash and clothing scattered about showing that the person didn’t care about the appearance or organization of their home.

No, this was more the “messy” that you’d see after a place was broken into, with things rifled through and thrown everywhere. To her credit, though, the girl tried to pass it off as the former, despite it not fitting her profile.

“I’m sorry the place is such a mess,” the young woman said with a sheepish smile as she removed some things from the couch for him to sit, and turned on a lamp. She took a seat in a chair beside the couch and ran a hand through her hair. “I’ve just had a bit of a rough week, and you know how things can slip when you’re busy.”

“Of course, we’ve all been there,” Sano reassured her with a smile. “You won’t get judgment from me; my best friend’s apartment is so bad that maids want to compete to clean it for the bragging rights.”