Chapter Five

A pad of paper was in her hand, a pen in her other.

“Furthermore, I would like to extend my thanks to those who contributed to Takatori Incorporated in its time of need…”

She frantically recorded what she heard down the side of the paper. Unfortunately, her hiragana was an appalling mess of inexperienced, westernized scribbles; to add, she could barely hold the felt pen the correct way.

“Takatori Incorporated has gone from such humble--” The man paused. “No, such meager beginnings to one of the most universally respected, scientific institutions in the world. We, hm…”

“We promise to uphold your faith in us for centuries to come?”

“…We promise to uphold your faith in us for centuries to come.”

She nodded and continued writing, trying desperately not to smudge the symbols with the edge of her palm.

“Best regards, Takatori Reiji, Chief Executive Officer of Takatori Incorporated.”

She completed the sentence, leaned back, and looked at the letter.

“Your signature, sir.” She slid the pad over the metal desk between them before laying the calligraphy pen on the top sheet. “I’ll get it mailed as soon as I can.”

“Have you forgotten about our dinner plans tonight?” He looked down his nose at the writing, grunting slightly as he took up the pen. “Rewrite this. It looks like filth.”

“I haven’t forgotten, sir.” The woman lowered her head as the paper was inched back. Indeed, the kana did look a bit cluttered.

“My youngest son will be joining us tonight.” Reiji’s cold eyes flashed with enthusiasm. “He’s wants to show me what he’s been studying all these years.”

“And what would that be, sir?”

“He’s been working with a certain strand of the Variola virus.”

“Oh?” The woman’s brows furrowed. “Isn’t that…”

“Smallpox, yes.” Reiji stood, his tired bulk caused his movements to be sluggish and fidgety. He placed a hand down on the desk, another on his side, and took a deep breath. “Perhaps not the most dangerous virus, but toxic enough to make a decent bio-weapon.”

“That could kill a lot of people…”

“That could make me a lot of money.” The man shuffled around the table, bumping against the edges as he squeezed through. His hand went for a black trench coat and hat hanging by a hook near the door. “If he can complete everything in three months, it could put this company on the map.”

“What exactly would this virus do?” The woman stood as well, gently slipping the letter into a manila folder tucked under her arm. “Does it have the same characteristics as smallpox?”

“Basically, yes. It kills faster, though,” He opened the door to his office, motioning the woman out into the hallway. “We already have countries eyeing it at the moment.”

“Oh?”

“Germany, Russia, North Korea. The usual bickering, useless nations.” He glanced down at his watch. “Who would have ever thought that something as trivial as oil could cause such loathing.”

Reiji watched as the young woman stood and reached for her coat. His eyes glinted with unabashed hunger as he watched her stretch, intertwine her long, supple fingers into the band of her wool pea coat, and slip it smoothly around her darkly tanned shoulders. A perverted smile grew on his wet lips, his tongue running the length of his teeth as she approached him, polished and ready.

“Would it be ok if I took a tour of his laboratory?” She looked up at him as she walked past, fastening the black buttons of her coat together. “I’ll get all my work done first...”

“Nonsense. Chances are you’ll break something. Besides,” A vulgar smirk grew on his lips as he suddenly pushed out his hand, giving her behind a swift slap. “I have other things I need you to do for me here.”

She sat on the bed, one eye black, both swollen and red. Thick lines of mascara etched down her face, her lipstick was smudged, her lips bitten and cut.

Her hair was twisted up and smudged with blood, her neck scraped and littered with bruises. A stained sheet was pulled tightly around her quivering body as she tried to restrain the tears welling up in her eyes. She wasn’t really trying to uphold her pride by not breaking down into sobs. Instead, she knew that the salty tears falling down her face would burn the deep, bloody gashes in her cheeks. At that moment, she doubted she could take any more pain.

Her body had been overcome with violent trembling, yet she could barely move. Her left wrist was broken, this much she knew, and the flesh underneath her collar bone heaved with an remarkably sharp pain. Her crimson virginity was smeared onto the soiled mattress below her. That night, her innocence had been viciously murdered, the beauty and purity in her life had been cruelly ripped from her body.

Takatori Masafumi sat at the edge of the bed, a cigarette lazily hanging out of his mouth. He was looking at her again, a foul, grotesque smirk growing on his lips. The room smelled heavily of dirt, chemicals, and held the slight frothy scent of burnt nicotine.

Masafumi suddenly stood, his gaze still locked onto the shivering female hunched over in his bed. He picked up his white coat from the floor, swung it over his bare torso, and started for the door.

“Are you going to cry?” He held a tone of mockery, his laugh deep and triumphant. “Clean this shit up before you go.”

He traversed the room, his fingers gripping the door knob. Abruptly, he turned again, a grotesque smile prevalent on his clammy, pale face.

“This,” A chuckle escaped his throat. “Will be our little secret.”

With that, he was gone, the door to his apartment shutting her in complete darkness. For a second, she sat motionless, her breath coming out in slight bursts, her heartbeat ringing in her ears.

She touched her abdomen, her eyes wide with rage and devastation. There was something inside of her, something disgusting, revolting. She could feel it growing, winding and pulsing inside her womb, shredding her insides, tearing and biting its way through her body.

Without warning, her stomach cramped, a hot, boiling sensation jerking her body forward. She bowed from the pain, her face mere inches from the blood stained sheets. The urge to throw up, to purge away the vile taste he had left in her mouth, overtook her. Tensed, she lay here, tears finally unleashed, and heaved onto the mattress, her hands clawing at her constricting neck. She suddenly threw her arm to the side, her mouth gaping as a scream ravaged her throat. Her hand slammed into an end-table as her fingers groped desperately for anything sharp.

She picked up the object, a pen, and rapidly recoiled her arm toward her body. Taking a deep, labored breath, she shut her eyes, and suddenly plunged the tip into her abdomen. A scream, so horrific and revolting, echoed throughout the building

That night, something had started to grow within her, something pure and untainted. Hatred had surfaced, vengeance would soon cloud her emotions. That night, as she mutilated the part of her that could bear life, her mind became impregnated with only one feeling, only one objective.

Revenge.

“He should be here soon.”

Elise didn’t hear him. In the seat she had taken against the far wall, well away from the moonlight, she sat in silence. She cupped her quivering fingers, nudging them against the .45 colt pistol that lay in her lap. As the cold metal touched her skin, courage and control reentered her body. A surge of venomous fury replaced the fear that had been harbored in her subconscious for so long. She, at that very moment, was invincible.

Crawford had glanced over a few times during the wait, peering at her over the black rims of his glasses. She was a very particular woman with very particular quirks that whittled away at his patience. She would, no matter the time of day, be still, haunting, an unmoving statue with eyes as black as coal. He hardly understood her motives for why she played along with him. Crawford had gone through years of torment and retribution, but they were a joke compared to the utter hatred he could sense fuming within her. He really didn’t care about her story, though. All that mattered to him was the fact that she was easy to influence, to dominate. He knew the death of Takatori Reiji would satisfy her in some vile, lewd way. In turn, he would finally get the mindless power be believed he so deserved. Crawford had come to realize that shedding the blood of a man such as Reiji would do more good then harm.

But wait. Crawford shifted his shoulder off the window sill. His dark eyes absently searching the sky for answers as he took a swift puff of his cigarette, He has another son and…a daughter, a horrendously feisty one at that.

“After Reiji we have one more son to take care of.” He glanced down as he spoke. A small, silver lighter flicked open in his fingers. A flame of yellow arched over the strip of flint, then distinguished with a hiss as the metal lid was flipped shut. “He’s the eldest son. The one who sets up the meetings with clients in order to auction off the chemicals. He should be easy for you.”

“He has a daughter.” Her voice sounded like a wisp of cold wind. A beautiful, melodic sadness was buried within the words, their tone aged and beaten with grief.

“I don’t think we’ll have to worry much about her.” He nudged a piece of hair away from his glasses, his eyes glancing down at a can of gasoline by his feet. “She’ll think it was an accident that killed her father. I doubt she’ll be of any trouble to us after his funeral.”

“I’ve heard things.” The persistence of her voice caused Crawford to turn, his fingers idly holding the lighter. “She can’t possibly be normal.”

“She looks normal to me.” He scoffed, leaning his broad shoulder back against the sill. Outside, a small drizzle of fog clouded the parking lot below. Through the mist, the reflection of headlights caught his eye. “She has a strange skin tone. I don’t understand why no one has questioned Reiji about his mutt of a daughter.”

“I think we should deal with her first.” Her proposal was modest. “Hirofumi should be spared.”

Elise took his silence as her means to continue.

“He was disowned. I doubt he would still have any personal ties to his father other than the family business. With him as the head of Takatori Inc. we’ll still be able to -- ”

“I’ll think about it.” He touched the glass with his hand, an outline of frost formed around his long fingers. Sure enough, thirteen stories below, he could make out the faint glow of taillights. “He’s here. I’ll leave everything up to you.”

Sofia waved to the gatekeeper, the smile on her face a false advertisement to the real anxiety she felt within. A neon bar lowered before her Continental; a small beep came from the call box to her right. She leaned out, pressed a red button attached to the side, and waited for assistance.

“Konbanwa, Takatori-san, how may I help you?” The man’s voice sounded metallic and jittery over the small speakers.

“Is my father in?” She retracted her hand back into the car, shaking off the droplets of water that wet her sleeve. “I need to talk to him.”

“One moment please.”

There was a small beep, a rustling of papers, then silence. Sofia leaned back in her seat, sighing as she blew stands of curls away from her face. The heat was on in the Bently, so was the classical hum of Beethoven’s Minuet in G in the background. Stretching out ahead of her was a sea of stained asphalt, dotted randomly with chunky, flickering streetlights. Squinting, she could see the lesser building of Takatori Incorporated in the distance, a majestic monument composed almost entirely of glass and stone. For a moment, even though the fog greatly obstructed her sight, she could make out the main building.

“Um,” Sofia lifted her head to the man’s voice. “Well, you father just arrived a few minutes ago, but I’m afraid that I can’t give you clearance.”

“What?” She placed her hand on the steering wheel and leaned her entire head out the window. With her free hand, she jabbed the red button, her lips pursed in a frown. “Not even to get into the sub-level?”

“No, Gomen nasai--”

“There must be some mistake.” She glared up towards the guardhouse, hoping that he could see her apparent distaste in the situation. “I’m the daughter of you’re boss. I don’t appreciate this treatment.”

“Well,” The man seemed as surprised as Sofia was. “I have a memo that says we are forbidden to let you back on the premises.”

“A memo?!” She took her hand off of the wheel, pressing it against her left temple and mumbled. “Crawford went that far to force a memo out of my father…”

“If you want,” The guard looked out the window at the dark haired woman, a piece of paper signed by the CEO of Takatori Inc. in his hand. “I can page Mr. Takatori after his meeting…”

Sofia’s eyes suddenly jerked open. With a quick smack, she hit the edge of her dashboard, her chest raising as she leaned out again into the rain.

“How long will that take?” She snorted through her nose, her discomfort audible. “My father has a certain time at night when he doesn’t want to be bothered.”

“You’re right.” The man glanced towards a clock that hung on the side wall. “I can leave a message in his office and he’ll get back to you tomorrow. You can come back then.”

“This is ridiculous.” Sofia pressed her lips together in aggravation. “I shouldn’t have to wait to talk to my own father.”

“I’m sorry, Takatori-san.” The guards tone had changed. “Now, please remove yourself from the grounds, or I will be forced to call security.”

“Are you fuc--.” Sofia quickly took a deep breath and nodded. “Is there any way to negotiate this?”

“No, gomen nasai.” With apprehension, he continued. “I’ll have to ask you again to please remove yourself from the premises.”

“It’s quite late, Takatori-nasi.” The elderly woman’s voice was mellow, soothing. “We weren’t expecting you until tomorrow.”

Reiji gazed sideways at the secretary as he lifted his trench coat and hat onto the marble desk. She reached over, gently gathered it in her hands and, with a smile, slid a security entrance card into his hands.

“I have a meeting.” His reply was in an incautious huff. He seemed largely uncomfortable and greatly annoyed at being interrupted at this time of night. With the security card in his stout fingers, he pushed on towards the executive’s elevator, nodding to a few guards as they performed their nightly rounds.

The lobby to Takatori Incorporated was as grand and regal as they come. Above, a circular dome of shimmering bulbs framed the oval hall. Walls painted in a light ginger-gold lined the individual corridors that radiated out into the building. Below, squares of russet browns and bullion marble outlined the walkways, their designs a bold and beautiful contrast to the neutral walls. The heads of orange and amber Canna Lilies floated in a ceramic fountain centered in the foyer, their petals shivering as they rode the ripples.

It almost seemed like a calm, serene place…

“Sir!” The tranquility shattered. “Takatori-nasi!”

Reiji groaned as he halted, his considerable bulk leaning heavily against the wall. The steal elevator had been in his sight; if only he had walked a bit faster.

“Soh…” Reiji mumbled under his breath, his nose flaring as he cranked his head to the side. The secretary had leaned over the front desk, her hand waving in the air.

“Your cell phone went off, sir!” The woman called to him. Sure enough, she held his cell phone in her extended hand, the antennae lighting up as it rang. The old woman hurried out from behind the circular desk, moving as fast as she could in her black heels. The cell phone was passed between hands. Reiji thanked her, and she bowed in appreciation.

“Hai. Moshi Moshi?” Reiji finally ambled to the elevator, the card disappearing into a machine beside it. “Make this quick, I have a meeti--”

“Oto-san?”

“Ah, Sofia!” His mood immediately perked as he heard his daughter’s warm, rich voice. “Why are you calling me? Is everything all right?”

“Hai.” She sounded worried, disorganized. “I need to talk to you.”

“Can this wait?” The elevator hummed to life, there was a low thud before the doors smoothly slide open. “I’m late for a meeting with Crawford.”

“That’s exactly what I wanted to talk to you about…”

“Oh?” He stepped into the empty elevator just as the doors closed and locked behind him. Placing his suitcase at his feet, he leaned over and pressed the button for floor number thirteen. A audible sigh passed his lips, his eyes searching above the doors to watch the numbers tick away. “I’m not firing him, Sofia.”

“That’s not it…” He could hear the irritation in her voice. “I just need to talk to you face to face.”

“Aren’t you supposed to be out with your friends?” The second and third floor passed by him as he fixed his tie. “I thought I wasn’t going to hear from you for a while.”

“I can’t even call my own father to talk to him!?” Reiji pulled the phone away from his ear, the volume of her voice echoing throughout the small interior. With a groan, he leaned against the wooden railing, his weight resting on one foot.

“I’m in a hurry, musume-chan.” The forth floor rattled by. “Is this really important?”

“You’d rather go to a meeting with some stranger then talk to your own daughter?” Her voice continued to be deafening. “Why is the meeting this late anyway?”

“He said it was important.” Reiji inhaled heavily as he ignored her first question. “I’ll call you afterwards and we can discuss whatever it is that’s bothering you.”

“Matte!” Reiji’s phone suddenly beeped as Sofia’s voice ravaged his ears. “Just let me come up with you! I’ll wait out in the hallway. I won’t get in the wa--”

“Gomen, there’s someone else on the line.” He quickly said, interrupting her dramatics. “Be right back.”

“Matte!”

Sofia jerked the phone away from her ear, her teeth grinding against one another as she exhaled. The hiss that escaped her throat sounded dangerous, lethal. She could hear nothing on the other end of the phone line, just a steady, rhythmic humming interrupted by small bouts of static.

“Beautiful timing.” She puffed up her cheeks and let out a long stream of air. “Be-a-utiful”

Her arm fell to her side, her eyes rolling away from the cell phone and looking out into the deserted field she was parked in. Across the small clearing, a tinny shine caught her attention as the metal lattice of a fence banged against its posts. Sofia slowly wound down her window, the overwhelming sound of crickets and wind practically masking the clanging in the distance.

She stepped out of her silver Continental Bentley, the cool, moist breeze chilling the heat that had warmed her cheeks. She skipped a few feet, trying to jump out of the wet clumps of grass that tried to suck her boots clean off of her feet. After some foolish moments and a botched skid, she finally stepping onto dry ground. She did a few quick wipes on the grass to get the dirt off the soles of her boots before looking up. Locating the fence through the darkness, Sofia pressed the cell phone to her ear as she continued her walk.

The lattice was cold and dew laden when she reached out to tug on it. While it wobbled, small droplets of rain drizzled down on her arms; Sofia quickly shook her hand off with a grunt.

“It feels sturdy.” She mumbled to herself as she touched a finger to her chin. Sofia ran her nail gently across her bottom lip in contemplation, her eyes looking past the fence towards the halo of lights that illuminated Takatori Inc. In the dark of night, it would be a quick, easy run from where she stood to the nearest structure, which happened to be a maintenance building, forty yards away. She smiled; a plan had formed.

She glanced to her left.

“No guards.”

Then to the right.

“No lights.”

Sofia listened, concentrating through the singing insects and vast, low rustling of the grasses around her. She heard no footsteps, no dogs, nothing that signified another human hiding in the darkness.

“This is tempting.” She bit her lip as she wedged her cell phone underneath the fence, knocking it away from the rusted lattice. “I wonder...”

Sofia swung a arm up, her fingers clutching the crisscrossed pattern of the fence. It took her a few seconds to wedge her boots into the diamond-shaped slits and climb her way to the top. Clutching a metal rod for balance, she was careful to protect the inside of her thighs as she straddled the sharp tips of the lattice. She took a breath and looked out over the field, her eyes confirming that the nearest structure was, in fact, the maintenance building.

“--ofia?”

Sofia suddenly cocked her head to the side as she steadied her feet within the holes.

“--fia?”

“Kuta baro.” She muttered the curse under her breath as she glanced down towards her blue-tinted cell phone half hidden in the weeds. She quickly pushed herself off the fence as her name was called a third time. Her landing was slightly rushed and disorienting, but she was able to hit the ground solidly. She steadied herself, spotted the cell phone, and snatched it up.

“Hai? Oto-san?” She crouched against the fence, supporting herself by pressing a hand into the cold ground.

“You sound out of breath…”

Sofia tensed her jaw and pulled the cell phone away from her ear, silently covering the mouthpiece with her free hand. She took a few deep breaths, trying to steady her heartbeat as best she could.

“I must be coming down with something.” She said as she brought the phone back to her lips. “Who was on the other line?”

“Your brother.”

“Hiro?” She straightened up, wiping her muddy fingers off on her jeans shorts. “He actually called you? What did he want?”

“Just to see how his old man was.” Sofia promptly looked both ways and started her spring across the grounds, cautious enough to keep her breathing slow and regular. “He sent his apologies for not being able to make it to the funeral.”

“Ah, sooka.” She knew he wasn’t telling the truth. “Oto-san, can you please let me--”

“Gomen nasai, angel, but I need to go now.” Sofia stopped running and crouched down into the grass. “I’ll talk to you in a little bit.”

“Demo, matte!” Sofia tried her hardest to control the level of her voice. “Just let me wait in the lobb--”

“Ai shiteru, Sofia.”

She sighed and hung her head, defeated.

“I love you, too.” She replied reluctantly. “I’ll see you after your meeting.”