Dominique, Captain Kusumo, and the Sato brothers entered Grandfather Hayashi’s office and locked the door behind them. The room was long and had a number of artifacts lined up in glass cases along the sides of the room. The wall farthest from the entrance was a bookshelf filled with a mix of both very old and newer looking leather bound books. Hayashi was a collector of books and he owned several first editions and rare books. In front of the book case there was a large wooden desk with a leather chair behind it and two chairs in front so that guests could sit down. Ichiro walked around the desk to where the leather chair was and sat in it. The desk had a few secret compartments in which keys, documents, and books were hidden. Ichiro opened a drawer and emptied its contents. The drawer had a false bottom and Ichiro opened it. to reveal a safe with a fingerprint scanner. He put his thumb on the sensor and the safe opened. Inside it was a hard drive with all of the Hayashi and Sato family business records on it. It also contained a small very old looking diary, a small locked box, pictures, and a few vials of strange colored liquid. Ichiro took out the hard drive.
“This hard drive contains all of our business records, and information on all our employees and business associates,” said Ichiro.
“The information on this hard drive is... sensitive, to say the least so you can see how it would be unethical to let you see anything on it Captain Kusumo,” said Yoshiro as he guided the Captain to one of the guest chairs.
Yoshiro sat in the other chair and Dominique casually leaned on the desk.
“Could sensitive be another word for illegal?” asked Kusumo.
The brothers both glared at Kusumo. Ichiro opened his mouth to speak but before he could Dominique answered in a cool voice, “Of course all the information we obtained is all either displayed publicly or given to us with consent.” Dominique turned and faced the Police Captain. “We’re not stupid Captain Kusumo. You don’t get to be as successful for as long as we have if you’re stupid. I saw the look of ambition in your eyes when I met you. The youngest police Captain in Japan doesn’t obtain that position easily. You have been investigating us for a while now. Don’t think we haven’t noticed.”
“Yes, it’s true, I’ve asked my best detectives to look into your business practices. I have learned to trust my gut, and something just didn’t seem right. After today’s events I believe more than ever that I am right,” said Kusumo.
“This RAT was going to use Grandmother’s murder as an excuse to investigate our business?!?” exclaimed Ichiro, “Tell me one good reason why we shouldn’t just slit his throat and leave him to the birds?”
Kusumo stood up and yelled, “That would be an assault on a high ranking Kyoto police officer and…”
“Shhh, did you hear that?” interrupted Dominique.
They all stood silent for a while straining their ears to listen.
“What? I didn’t hear anything!” demanded Kusumo.
“Screams.” said Yoshiro, “I hear screams.”
“It must be the birds,” said Kusumo, “If they can be taught to laugh they can surely be taught to scream.”
“No,” said Dominique, “Those are human screams.”
“Impossible, I have armed officers at every door and stationed throughout the house if something was going on I would know.”
“Yoshiro, turn the lights off!” commanded Dominique.
Yoshiro flipped off the lights and the room became pitch black. Outside in the halls they could hear people running and screaming.
“Forget our database Captain,” hissed Ichiro, “the person you should be going after is right outside!”
“You’re right I should be organizing the officers and leading everyone to a save place. You three stay here where it’s safe, I’ll radio the other officers” said Kusumo. He removed the receiver from his waistband and whispered into it, “Officer Minami come in; I need you to guide everyone to the Foyer…. Minami, respond… Minami!!..Officer Kai, how are things looking from outside? Kai respond. Respond! Someone respond!!”
“No one’s responding?” asked Yoshiro.
“It’s because they’re dead” replied Ichiro, “they’re all dead.”
“Oh God the children!,” cried Dominique and she ran for the door. Yoshiro caught her by the waste right before she went out the door.
“And what do you think you’ll do charging off like that?” he asked.
Dominique broke free and said, “I have to do something! We can’t just hide in here while our children are being murdered!”
“She’s right we have get them and bring them back here,” agreed Ichiro. He reached into his pocket and fingered a rock that Yuuki had found in the garden earlier that day. Yuuki gave it to him and said it was a fossil of a dinosaur tooth. At the time Ichiro thought it was just another piece of junk and was planning to throw it away, but he was glad he didn’t. Now it was the most precious treasure he owned.
“We’ll go out, but we have to go together, I can’t have you running off on your own Dominique,” said Yoshiro.
“Alright we’ll go to their room together,” agreed Dominique.
“I’m sorry but I can’t go with you,” said Kusumo, “I have to find my officers, and organize some form or search and rescue with them. Once you have found your children bring them to the Foyer. There is plenty of open space there and plenty of exits so we won’t be trapped.”
Ichiro stuffed the hard drive and the other valuables from the safe into a computer bag and ran over to the door with the others. They quietly exited the office and parted ways soon after.
Kusumo kept his radio on but turned the volume down until he could just barely hear the stream of static. He took his gun from his holster and held it in front of him with both hands checking around the corners as he went. The light in the halls was dim and hazy despite it being daytime. Kusmo took in a deep breath. He could smell incense burning. As he headed to the Foyer the smoke from the incense got thicker, so thick in fact that he could barely see where he was going. Kusumo choked on the heavy smoke, and found it difficult to breath. Somehow he managed to stumble his way through the house but the closer he got to the foyer the stronger the incense became. Not only the smell of incense but another smell too. The smell of blood and human waste mixed in with the sweet smoky smell of the incense. He finally reached the Foyer. The ceiling was high and the air wasn’t quite as thick.
The foyer was a grand room with two staircases leading up to the second floor of the house. The floor was a beautiful polished wood. There were traditional Japanese paintings and vases decorating the room. It felt grand and inviting at the same time. But now Kusumo could only see a horrifying smoky abss.
He looked around to see if he could find the source of the smoke, and saw that all the pots and incense sticks in the house had been gathered into a large pile in the center of the room and lit set on fire. To his right there was a large bamboo plant in a water filled vase. He lifted the bamboo out of the vase and dragged the vase over to the burning incense. The knocked it over and a flood of water quenched most of the smoking pile. The air began to clear and Kusumo could see light streaming in from open doors and windows. As the smoke drifted away he was able to make out more shapes and he thought he saw some crows fly past him. Then suddenly he felt something wet drip on his forehead. He moved away thinking it was a leak, but he was hit again. In fact now that he listened he could hear dripping all around him. It almost sounded like it was raining. Kusumo wiped his forehead with the back of his hand and returned it to steady his gun. That’s when he saw what had fallen on him was not water, it was blood! The smoke had cleared significantly now and Kusumo could see the room was covered in pools of blood. He didn’t want to but something inside of him forced him to look up. When he did he saw something out of a nightmare. Dozens of people were strung from the rafters. Suspended like puppets in mid air and all of them had their eyes pecked out. Kusumo vomited at the sight of it. He fell to his knees and grabbed his head with both hands. His gun landed on the ground next to him.
KKrerkchsha… KKusummsha
Kusumo startled at the sound of his radio. It sounded like someone said his name. Was he going insane?
“Kusumo, Captain Kusumo. Are you there? Captain please respond,” said a voice on radio.
“Yes officer Kai, I’m here.”
“Cashhish for backup...cshish...haven’t heard from anyone in a few hours…CSHISH..screaming. We’re sending people in CSSHHISH”
“Officer Kai, do not send people in do you copy? Do not send anyone through those gates!”
“CSSHHCHISH were going in Capt..CSHISCH”
“NO! Dammit I said no! OFFICER KAI! OFFICER KAI!”
“She can’t hear you Kusumo,” said a low scratchy voice.
Kusumo looked around to see who the voice belonged to and he could see a dark figure emerging from the incense smoke that the vase of water didn’t put out.
“And why is that?” asked Kusumo as he picked up his gun and stood on his feet. His whole body was shaking, but you would never know it from the tone of his voice.
“Because she’s dead,” mocked the dark figure. As it came closer Kusumo could see it was a woman with long dark hair that fell like drapes on either side of her face. She walked very confidently and didn’t seem to be frightened of the dripping blood or the bodies.
“Who are you? How is she dead I just talked to her?!” yelled Kusumo
“In this time I go by Yamada, and as far as you officer goes take a look.”
Yamada pointed at one of the officers. Kusumo forced himself to look although he was terrified of what he would see. He didn’t notice it the first time but when he looked up again he saw that many of the bodies were wearing police uniforms. With tears hanging in his eyes Kusumo looked at the face of the female officer. Her face was frozen in a scream, and her eye sockets were picked clean but there was no doubt it was officer Kai.
“NNNNOOOOOO!!!” shouted Kusumo, “How did you do that?”
He aimed his gun at her and put his finger on the trigger. Yamada seemed unaffected and continued walking toward him.
“She died a while ago while you were hiding,” said Yamada with an evil smile.
“But I was just talking to her. She was just on the radio with her!”
“Were you really? Think about it did she address you in any way? I just played you her last transmission since I thought you might want to hear it…. was I wrong?”
“Did you kill all these people? Why did you hang them up there? Why are you doing this?!?”
“So many questions, but I won’t tell you anything until you answer me. Where is the half breed?”
“What who are you talking about?”
In the blink of an eye Yamada ran over to Kusumo and had her hand around his throat.
BANG! BANG! BANG!
Kusumo fired his gun into her stomach, but the bullets had no effect.
“Tell me where the little brat is and I might let you live,” she said from between clenched teeth. Yamada lifted Kusumo off the ground by the throat. Kusumo struggled but Yamada held fast.
“I don’t know,” said Kusumo, “I… don’t … kn…”
With that Yamada tightened her grip and Kusumo breathed his last.
Dominique and the others raced down the hallway to the room where the children were kept. Along the way they were horrified to see several dead bodies and blood trails. The light was bad but they managed to get back to the room fairly quickly. Outside the door to the room they saw a huge blood stain and the door was ascue. Yoshiro flung it open and ran into the room. Pillows and blankets were torn and skattered over the place, but there was no sign of the children.
“Misha!” cried Dominique, “Are you here?”
Dominique started tearing through the bedding. Yoshiro started frantically searching as well.
“Nana, Yuuki! Where are you?” shouted Ichiro.
They heard a high pitched whimper coming from the closet. Ichiro quickly opened it and looked inside. They crying got louder.
“Yuuki?!” cried Ichiro, “Is that you?”
“Papa,” whimpered Yuuki.
“Where are you?”
“I’m up here!” said Yuuki.
The voice came from above them. Ichiro opened up the small trap door in the closet ceiling. Yuuki reached out and grabbed Ichiro’s neck. Ichiro helped him down, and they all showered him in hugs and kisses.
“Yuuki, dear, where are the others?” asked Dominique.
“They went into the old shed. I saw them go in. It was right before Yamada Sensei and the crows attacked everyone. They are looking for a way to stop her,” said Yuuki.
“Yuuki, we told you before not to make up lies about Yamada Sensei!” scolded Ichiro.
“But Papa it’s not a lie it’s true!” said Yuuki.
“So what should we do? Should we go after them?” asked Yoshiro.
“They seem like they are safe for now.” said Ichiro.
“Yes, but who knows how long that will be?” said Yoshiro, “we have to go get them.”
They looked out the window and at the small shed in the yard. The sun was setting in the sky and it covered the yard in a warm orange light. The yard was peaceful and a calm breeze ruffled the leaves of the trees. It seemed so strange that such beauty could still exist in the middle of such tragedy.
“There’s a door right there,” said Dominique, “It’s a straight shot to the shed and if we run fast we can make it there before we get attacked by crows.”
“That won’t work, Dominique,” said Ichiro, “we always keep that door chained shut. It used to fly open during storms, so the servants chained it until it could be replaced. It was low on the priority list so they never got around to fixing it.”
“Fine,” said Yoshiro, “We’ll meet Kusumo and the others in the foyer, drop off Yuuki and Dominique. They should be safe there. Then you and I can run to the shed from a different door.”
They left the room and headed toward the foyer right before Misha and the others came storming out of the shed. Had they stayed even a minute longer they would have seen the children run out and might have been able to avoid what happened to them next.
