__Part 15__
to Part 15; to Tobajan Mahjong 13; to Part 16
Kuri: I lost...
Kuri: I'm impressed. You've gotten the best of me this far. But no farther!
Kuri: I can't believe it! I lost to Jango...
''.......................................''
She was so confident that she would win...that's probably why Kuri looks so shocked.
''Ouch...''
''You shouldn't try to move right now.''
''Even if you are from a family of tough Tiger people, you still need time to regain your strength.''
''...I don't want to admit it, but you're right.''
''But I can't believe that I lost against you, Jango...''
''It's all thanks to Hyoko.''
''Gau!''
''I don't see how you could get such wild Hitokata to be your Shikigami.''
''As I said before, my Master is very strong!''
''That's right. It doesn't matter if it's against the rain or the wind...he is very strong.''
''..............................................''
''To tell the truth...I regret losing...but I feel at peace now.''
''Because I didn't have to kill you with my own hands...''
''..............................................''
''...Jango, do you remember the old days?''
''Yes, I do, Kuri...''
''I'm glad. We were happy back then, weren't we...we never knew what the future would bring...''
''..............................................''
''...I see, this is not the right time to be thinking about the past.''
''I'm sorry. But right now I need you to tell me everything you know.''
''About Koizumi? I don't know his past, because I just came here a year ago...''
''We've met many times, but frankly...I don't know him that well.''
''He...doesn't talk much.''
''Sometimes, I get the feeling that he doesn't have any human emotions.''
''Ten years ago, before he became president of the company, he was supposedly...different then.''
''There are many rumors...but no one seems to know for sure.''
''I heard that the last president brought him to the company without any notice...and surprised everyone by making him the successor.''
''Morever, the last president died soon after...and then Koizumi suddenly had control of the whole company.''
''Jango, what are you going to do when you meet him?''
''Needless to say, he isn't the kind of person who solves problems with words.''
''You'll have to be careful of Yasue Sakurada, the president's secretary! She is very young...but she's an excellent worker.''
''She's always cool-headed. She manages things in an extremely professional manner.''
''People called her the Cold Blooded Bitch behind her back.''
''She is such an excellent secretary that he trusts her with everything.''
''She and Yayoi are always near him at all times.''
''Don't think anything dirty just because she's a woman, Jango...''
''Because she isn't the kind of person who solves problems with words either.''
''Yayoi...? Ah! She's the favorite pet of the president..''
''She escaped, but she was caught and brought back quite easily.''
''I...don't really understand what the situation is with Koizumi and Yayoi.''
''He takes Yayoi with him everywhere...it's very unusual.''
''The real parents of Yayoi? ...Who knows, they haven't came to see Yayoi once during the year I've been here.''
''Maybe he doesn't let them meet Yayoi...''
''..............................................''
''Even if I ask you not to go...it won't work, right?''
''Yes...I'm afraid so.''
''...He's is in the drawing room on the third floor. He's probably with secretary Yasue Sakurada and Yayoi, as usual. I'll pray for your success.''
We enter the Hachibishi building.
No one is around. This place is utterly silent.
''Strange...it's much too quiet on a weekday afternoon...Where are the office workers? How can they do business this way?''
''Hang on just a minute...''
Koukaku closes her eyes and concentrates.
''I don't think anyone's here. All the rooms are empty.''
''It's not a holiday or anything today...''
''Did Koizumi order everyone to leave?''
''...Maybe he's waiting for us to come...''
''..............................................''
''Hachibishi may just be a front for the Organization, but it's so big that there are many employees who don't know anything at all...''
''Maybe that's why Koizumi ordered to everyone to leave...''
''It seems that the stage is set...''
Then, we heard a commontion coming from the hallway.
Koukaku looks at me nervously.
''Jango...I can feel the aura of a lot of people coming toward us.''
''I feel strong hostility, Master.''
''My heart is beating so fast that it may burst.''
''...I don't think so.''
''Grrrrrrrr...''
''..............................................''
We are surrounded by guards.
They all look the same...
It's like looking at exact copies...but I may be wrong.
At first glance, it looks like over ten guards.
I feel unrestrained hostility from all of them.
''Nothing in this place but these clowns. Some company this is.''
''Everybody looks so evil. Do you all have unhappy childhoods?''
Guard: ''That's none of your business!''
''I guess we've got a fight on our hands...''
''Roar!!''
''...Master, it appears that all of guards in this entire building are gathered here.''
''If we dispose of them, there'd be no one left to bother us, right?''
''Let's do our best, Master!''
Guard: ''Shikigami Master, Jango Abe...''
''Oh, you know my name...what an honor.''
Guard: ''...You're the criminal who betrayed the Organization.''
Guard: ''You look very calm and composed for someone about to die.''
Guard: ''I didn't really believe it when I got my orders from the Boss, but you're actually here...''
''The Boss? Shouldn't you call him the 'President'? Otherwise you could be leaking information about your real operations.''
Guard: ''...We have no need to pretend in front of you.''
''Oh, that's right.''
Guard: ''This is the end of the line. We won't let you go one step further.''
Guard: ''Jango Abe! This is the place where you shall die!''
As if it was a signal, all the guards started to attack.
''I'll never let you touch my Master!''
''That's right! This place will become your graveyard instead!''
''Roar!!''
''I'm scared, but I'll do my best to fight as well.''
''......I would like to be your opponent.''
The Shikigami move to attack the guards. However, since there are a lot more guards than Shikigami, the Shikigami couldn't hold back all of the guards.
''So you're my opponent...''
Guard: ''If I kill you, those annoying Shikigami of yours would also die, right?''
Guard: ''I believe in getting right to the heart of a problem when trying to solve it.''
''...Come and take your shot, you thug.''
Guard: ''We'll see about that. Ready!''
Pow!!
I hear a loud noise, and the guard that tried to attack me collapsed to the ground.
''Here you are. I got some of my friends here to help you.''
''Taeko...!?''
Taeko's friends, a rough bunch of tough-looking guys, rush into the melee, and start fighting with the guards.
I'd seen many of these people before in the game center...
''How did you know I was here?''
''I was worried about you since you didn't contact me. Then Kasha took the trouble to come my house, and told me what's going on.''
''Kasha did that?''
''I heard about why you wanted to beat the tiger-woman, and why you went to catch the wild Hitokata.''
''I wanted to help...So I got my friends and went to the garbage dump, but you'd already gone...''
''So we came here.''
''...................................................''
''Mika is here, too.''
''Jango...don't be angry with me, okay? I told you before that 'I'll do what I want next time'.''
''Yes...Thanks.''
''Okay, let us deal with these guys... Go on ahead, Jango!''
''Thank you.''
Letting Taeko and her friends deal with the guards, I rush up the stairs with the Shikigami in tow.
''Mr. Jango!''
''Ah! It's Mika.''
Looking out of breath, Mika catches up to us.
''How are Taeko and her friends doing?''
''Still...fighting...downstairs...Miss Taeko's group seems to be winning.''
''Those guards are no match for Miss Taeko.''
''Please, Mr. Jango. Please let me go with you.''
''But...it's too dangerous.''
''Please. I...I want to see my father.''
''..............................................''
''Please, I beg you...''
''...Okay, if you're really sure.''
''Ah...Yes!''
We resume our run up the stairs...and we finally arrive at the drawing room.
There...
''Father.....''
''........................................................''
''Father!''
''Jango!''
''.....................................................''
The room is filled with tension.
Yujiro Koizumi is standing across the room, and Yasue Sakurada is in the corner, holding Yayoi tightly.
Is this man Mika's.....?
There's something strange about him...
Mika's image is reflected in his eyes, but it's obvious that Yujiro Koizumi couldn't see anything.
Those eyes look completely empty, as if he doesn't have a will of his own.
That's it, he looks like a man under hypnosis or some kind of mind control......
''Master...doesn't Yujiro look a little weird?''
''Yes...''
''Master...I can't feel Yujiro's mind...as if his mind has been sealed off...''
''Sealed off...?''
''He doesn't have any will of his own...so I cannot read his mind...''
''Is that why he has vacant eyes?''
''As the proverb says: 'The eyes are the windows to the soul.''
''Grrrrrr...''
Hyoko ignores Yujiro, who is in front of her, and is growling against Yasue in the corner.
''That woman...she is radiating strong hostility...''
''Mr. Jango...I'm sure that...that is my father.....''
''But...he doesn't seem to recognize me...has he forgotten about me?''
''He looks like my father, but he doesn't feel like the father that I remember...''
''..............................................''
''..............................................''
Yasue, with a condescending smile, is looking at us with malicious eyes.
She's got Yayoi held securely, keeping the girl from getting away.
Yayoi, tears in her eyes, is pleading for help.
But Yasue is holding onto her tightly, so she can't go anywhere...
''Jango! Everyone!''
Yayoi shouted with a scared expression.
''Yujiro Koizumi is just being controlled by this woman. Yasue is the real culprit...''
''What!?''
''Shut up, you little brat! There's no room for you to talk here.''
Yasue held her grip on Yayoi, hate in her eyes.
''You're that stupid Shikigami Master, aren't you? You're either very brave or very foolish to come here...''
''...Probably both.''
''Too bad people like that don't live very long. Sad, isn't it.''
''Unfortunately the drawing room is going to get all dirty with blood...but it can't be helped.''
''It'll be fine if you clean the room up.''
''Oh no! Don't litter the floor with your dirty scales!''
''That's mean! My wings don't have scales.''
''Shut up, Rakushi!''
''Are you really controlling Yujiro Koizumi? Why?''
''That's a stupid question. Can't you figure it out?''
''You used Yujiro as a puppet in order control Hachibishi from the shadow...isn't that right?''
''Clever Hitokata...''
''To have such power in your hands...do you know how good it makes you feel?''
''Humph, an outlaw like you can never understand...''
''I don't want to understand. I have no interest in such things.''
''Those kinds of thoughts are what distinguish the shepherd from the sheep.''
''Yes, Yujiro Koizumi is my puppet...he obeys me without question. For example...''
Yasue smiles cruelly.
''Yujiro...kill everyone in this room except for me and this girl.''
''..............................................''
''Don't move. You wouldn't want this girl to get hurt now, would you?''
''Ugh.....''
We can't do anything as long as Yasue is holding Yayoi as a hostage.
''.........................................''
''Father...!''
The uncaring pistol in Yujiro's hands is aimed at his own daughter, Mika.
Controlled utterly by Yasue, Yujiro won't hesitate to pull the trigger.''
''Shit...''
''Don't move. You don't want this girl to get hurt now, do you? Be a good boy and wait your turn.''
With that, she prepares to go through the door behind her into the next room.
''Well, this is last time that I'll see you...so long.''
''Jango...no!''
After Yasue and Yayoi disappear into the next room, Rinka whispers quietly to me.
''Master...I'm going to broadcast Mika's love for her father to Yujiro.''
I whisper back.
''Can you really do something like that? Can he regain his wits from that?''
''Probably not...but it can give us a chance...if you can take away his gun...''
''I see. Got it.''
Rinka casually touched Mika's hand.
''......?''
''........................................''
''....................................................''
The machine-like movements of Yujiro become erratic.
''Ah...ohh.''
''Now, Master!''
I rushed toward Yujiro at Rinka's signal.
Yujiro aims his gun at me, but he can't pull the trigger due to the feelings of love that Rinka is broadcasting into his mind.
I wrestled the gun away from Yujiro and threw it to the Shikigami.''
''Master, that was great!''
''Master, this is our chance. Now fight him using Tobanjan.''
''Good idea!''
__Part 15__
to Part 15; to Tobajan Mahjong 13; to Part 16