Weiss Kreuz Fan Fiction ❯ The Hope Diamond ❯ Oligopolis - 6 ( Chapter 6 )

Chapter Six

After a week of the most intensive preparations I've ever gone through, Weiss is ready for action. To be honest, I do not like this mission at all. Sure we have done undercover operations before, but not at this level. For three days, we will be cut off from the rest of the world on a small island with no support and no hope of escape if something goes wrong, mixing around with some of the most dangerous people in the world.

I pray our disguises work.

Glamour is an easy art to wield. And to my relief, most of the guests wear glamour to enhance their looks. It is all too easy for a brunette charmer to blend in with the crowd. On this mission, I take the alias Miki Shinichiro, a prodigious entrepreneur, well mannered, glib of tongue and ambitious. As an additional detail, I quickly established Miki Shinichiro as a notorious flirt. If I have to lie, I may as well be comfortable and play it close to my nature.

The cruise boat that ferry the guests to the island is one of those cozy but expensive type. I drift among the guests, getting acquainted with my fellow partygoers. Members from all the influential families in Magnopolis have been invited, including some of the successful 'business stories' who aren't as rich or as powerful but wouldn't do well to ignore them.

I see Manx too, accompanying a tall heavy-built man with a beard and glasses. Hn, he must be Persia, if I'm not wrong. Never saw him before today. I pause when I notice the group of four silently observing the guests from the furthest corner of the lounge.

I immediately recognize them as Schwartz, the group that runs the Magnopolis branch of Estet Foundation. They are the most unlikely group of people to run a corporation but they are certainly effective in what they do. There is Oracle - the man who can glimpse the future, a very useful talent to have in the business world. The man with the long carrot-colored hair is Mastermind - the telepath who is sadistic and manipulative. His talent compliments Oracle's well. The teenaged boy with them is known as Prodigy - a telekinetic and a skilled computer hack. I honestly think he is a match for Omi in the hacking aspect. The last they call Berserker. What function he plays I don't know. Under ordinary circumstances, I don't think a corporation has much use for a psycho who can't feel pain and thrives on murder and slaughter. But Estet Foundation is anything but ordinary. And Schwartz is the proof of the Three Elders' sinister nature.

Speaking of which, I didn't see the Three Elders on board the cruise. I wonder where they can be?

"Why don't you ask me?" a nasal voice murmurs softly beside my ear.

I stiffen, resisting the urge to whirl around. Carefully, I glance back. Shit, how did he get behind me without my notice?

Mastermind smirks. "Hello. I don't recall meeting you before."

"Neither do I," I reply coolly and subtly tuck my thoughts behind my mental shields. "But I have seen your photos in magazines enough times to know who you are, Mastermind."

"Schuldich," he introduces himself, green eyes glittering with intense curiosity. "And you have superb mental shields. It makes me itch to find out what you're hiding."

"I'm sorry if I thwart your efforts," I say dryly. "I know I have to deal with Estet Foundation sooner or later, so I hired a Techno-Mage to train me in shielding my thoughts. It wouldn't do to have company secrets plucked out of my mind by a telepath, would it?"

Schuldich laughed, a biting sound that does not make me feel any better. "Spunk and guts. I like it. What is your name?"

"Miki Shinichiro. CEO of Shinichiro Corporations."

"The rising star in the silicon-industry? I'm honored."

"You flatter me."

"Not at all," Schuldich steps back from me, a mysterious smirk on his lips. I feel uneasy having that smirk directed at me. It's like he knows something that I don't. "Have fun during Takatori's party, Herr Shinichiro. I will be seeing you around."

I relax cautiously as I watch Schuldich retreats back into the crowd. That is the most unpleasant encounter I ever had. I have met a few telepaths in the past but this Schwartz telepath is much more dangerous than them. Dangerous not because of his power but because of the utter lack of morality and conscience I detect in his eyes. This man thrives on manipulating people's minds, abusing his talent just for his own sadistic amusement.

I have to watch my back during this trip. I am sure he will be watching me.

The ferry ride takes three hours. When we disembark, porters are waiting to greet us - each with a name card assigned to a guest. I walk over to my porter with my carry-on luggage in hand - a geeky-looking teenaged boy with dark hair and sky-blue eyes.

He flashes me a super-genki smile. "Shinichiro-san?"

"That's me."

"Welcome to Takatori's island. Boku wa Hiro Yuuki desu. Yoroshiku." The boy (better known as Omi) picks up my carry-on luggage and gestures for me to follow him. "Follow me, Shinichiro-san. The rest of your luggage will be delivered to your room shortly."

I follow the blond-turned-brunette boy as he leads me off the pier to the rows of golf carts lined up at the beach. Small as the island may be, it is still quite sizeable. All around us is nature in its glory, temperate trees and a river that flows to the sea. I see the beach to my right - a strip of white sand edged by pure blue oceans and a dense forest to my left. Up ahead, perched on the tallest hill is a huge mansion. I can see its white walls even from this distance.

"That's where we are going to be staying?" I ask Omi.

"Hai. Four levels, forty rooms including an indoor pool, two tennis courts and entertainment rooms to name a few. Behind the mansion is an eight-hole golf course and there is also a stable, if you like to go horse-riding. There are several trails for you to explore the flora and fauna of the island."

"Easy place to get lost."

"I agree. I will be your personal butler for the next three days. If you require anything, I am at your service."

For an irreverent moment, I thought to flirt with Omi but I decided not to. Ken will kick me for having fun at Omi's expense. So I say instead, "You're a bit young to be a porter, Hiro-kun."

"I'm just hired help for this weekend," Omi explains with a smile. "I'm a high-school student and I could always use the extra cash, Shinichiro-san."

After a few minutes ride, we finally reach the mansion. As I get out, I can see Reiji Takatori standing at the front entrance of the mansion, welcoming each guest. With Omi trailing respectfully behind me, I walk up to him.

"Good morning, Takatori-san." I greet with a smile and a bow. "I am Miki Shinichiro. Thank you for your gracious invitation."

"So you're Shinichiro-san," Takatori replies with a broad smile, returning my bow. "Welcome, welcome. It's a pleasure to finally meet the young head of Shinichiro Corporations in person. I have been watching your career with some interest. I must say I'm very impressed with your entrepreneurship."

"You're too kind."

"Welcome to my Gem's anniversary party. Do have a good time while you're here."

"I intend to."

After further pleasantries, I enter the mansion proper and am instantly overwhelmed by the sheer space of it. Damn hall is the size of a tennis court, with tall French windows and two massive staircases that wind up to the second level. A huge chandelier hangs from the ceiling in the middle and on the wall between the staircases hangs the massive logo of Takatori Incorporation.

Slightly bemused by the absolutely blatant flaunting of wealth and power, I follow Omi as he leads me to the room where I will be staying for the next three days. It is on the third level, tastefully furnished, plush carpeting and even has a balcony. I get a gorgeous view of the ocean from the balcony and there is a wonderful four-post king-sized bed with canopy and heavy curtains to keep out the chill from the ocean. Best thing is the room is completely free of magical influence.

"Is there anything else I can get for you, sir?" Omi asks politely.

"Yeah." I walk out onto the balcony. "How about telling me about some of the landmarks I can see from up here?"

"Can we talk?" I whisper when he draws close and begin pointing out the landmarks, pretending to be describing the view to me.

Omi nods slightly. "Your room is free of bugs, as far as I can tell."

"Anything to report?"

"The three Elders arrived yesterday, way before the other guests. They spent the whole day in talks and negotiations, from what I can see. No one else is privy to their discussion, not even the Blood Diamond, and I couldn't find a way to eavesdrop on them at all."

"Just keep an eye on them. We may have a second opportunity. Anything else?"

"Yeah. I found out Takatori has a private wing in the south side of this mansion. I went into his wing once or twice when I was put on cleaning duty. Our best chance of finding the right information is the computer in his study suite. There's where he works when he has business to attend to. Both his study suite is heavily warded. And with my mage talent suppressed completely, I can't even feel those wards, much less do something about them."

"And we have to get you in somehow to hack his computer. We'll think of something. What about the Blood Diamond? Did he suspect anything?"

"He arrived with Takatori two days ago and immediately shut himself inside Takatori's private wing. No one have seen him then, not even the cleaning crew."

"Not even outside the wing?"

Omi shakes his head.

"Good for us. I didn't expect him to be so anti-social though."

"From what I heard from the servants, the Blood Diamond hates crowds. And he also hates having his privacy invaded. Takatori is the only company he will tolerate, for obvious reasons. But gossip has it that he may be more than just his Gem. The servants are certain that the both of them…um, you know…that, at night."

By this point, I'm grinning openly at Omi. I know exactly what he means and I get such a kick out of seeing him blush furiously as he tries to convey his point in such oblique terms.

"I don't know. Why don't you tell me?" I needle him.

Omi splutters and turns even redder. "Mou!"

I laugh. "How is Siberian doing?"

"His scalp is still itching." Omi smiles wryly. "He swears never to go blond again."

"He should, just so I can laugh at his odd blond look."

"Yuriko doesn't seem to think that way."

"Who?"

"One of the extra waitresses hired for this weekend. I think she's attracted to him."

"And what does Siberian feels about it?"

"He's uncomfortable with the attention."

"Tell him to avoid unnecessary trouble."

"He knows, Balinese. I got to go."

"Ganbatte."

"You too." Omi hands me a thin folder. "Here's your itinerary for your stay here, Shinichiro-san."

"Arigato, Hiro-kun."

According to the itinerary, it's free-and-easy time until six in the evening when I have get dressed for the poolside dinner. Below that, printed in tiny letters, stated that there would be a 'pleasure' party after dinner to which everyone is invited.

Well, well…hope we don't have to do the mission tonight. It will be a shame to miss that party and all the beautiful girls Takatori has taken the trouble to hire.

From between the pages, I take out a folded piece of paper and open it. It's a hand-drawn map from Omi of the mansion, with the locations of Takatori's private wing, his study and the Three Elders' suite marked in red. I quickly memorize the map and then burn it. No point leaving potential 'bombs' around.

Leaving my room, I head downstairs again with the aim to familiarize myself with the grounds of the mansion. Outside the front entrance of the mansion is a long buffet table. Most of the guests have come down as well, and they are mingling about on the lawns.

"Champagne, sir?"

I blink at the waiter accosting me with a tray of drinks.

"Or do you prefer non-alcoholic beverage instead?" Ken, or better known as Tomokazu Seki on this mission, asks.

It is all I can do not to break into a grin. Ken with blond hair looks extremely odd. The first time I saw him right after he had dyed his hair, I nearly fell off my chair laughing. He was so embarrassed that he refused to emerge from his bedroom for a whole day. Gradually we all got used - that is, almost got used to his new look.

"I can't quite decide. Perhaps something…dark?" I can't help but tease. "Maybe coffee?"

Ken's face remains pleasant but there is a decidedly unfriendly glint in his green eyes. "With or without milk, sir?"

"Never mind. I'll pick something from your tray instead."

"As you wish." Ken leans forward slightly on the pretext of offering me to choose my drink from his tray. "Just got wind of this: the Three Elders and Takatori are going to have a meeting tonight, at midnight. Still trying to find out where they are having it."

I give an imperceptive nod as I choose a glass of orange juice. "Thanks."

"You're welcomed, sir." As Ken walks past me, he murmurs, "and quit teasing me 'bout my hair."

I hide my smirk behind my glass. Selecting a sandwich from the buffet table, I saunter about the lawns, casual as I please as I study the place from behind my shades.

In the distance, I can see three elderly people - two men and one woman - seated at a garden table beneath an umbrella. Crawford is seated across from them and to all appearances, seems to be having a quiet lunch with his bosses.

I study the elderly people with interest.

The Three Elders of Estet have the friendliest and kindly faces I have ever seen and their fashion is conservative, almost traditional. They don't behave like the typical powerful Techno-Mages.

Suddenly I am aware of Crawford looking in my direction. Even though the distance between us is great, his cold impenetrable gaze is uncomfortable. As casually as I can make it, I finish off my sandwich and leave. I can feel that piercing gaze digging into my back until I finally turn the corner and step out of sight.

Whew…what a relief.

How I am going to go about my mission in the midst of these dangerous vipers is becoming more difficult to answer by the minute. There is something about Crawford's gaze and Schuldich's smirk that tells me that they knew exactly who I am and what I am up to. Paranoia, to be sure. But when it comes to dealing with Schwartz, paranoia is good.

This side of the mansion is a huge lush garden with trees, carefully planted and pruned ferns and bushes. Unlike the front lawns, this garden is very shady and cool. I'm alone in this garden, standing on a narrow path of stones. From what I can see, the garden seems to go on around the mansion. If it does, maybe it will bring me to Takatori's private wing.

Cautiously, looking out for intruders, I follow the narrow stone path as it leads me towards the back of the mansion and snakes around to the south side. Here I can see a clear line of bushes where it grows more thickly against a tall wall. I can hear the sounds of a fountain, muted and quiet from behind the wall. If Omi's map is correct, this is where Takatori's private wing starts. I easily pull myself to the top of the wall and over it, after making sure there is no one around.

It is another well-tended garden, this one enclosed within tall walls. I crouch behind some thick bushes, bemused by the numerous flowering plants in this garden. Nowhere else on the mansion grounds have I seen a wider varieties of flowers than in this garden. I recognize most of the flowering plants, and I swear half of the varieties are blooming out of season. That has to be magic - literally. The center of the garden is an open area, shaded by the shadow of the mansion and dominated by an artificial pond complete with a fountain. Next to the pond lies a basket of gardening tools, a trowel and dirty work gloves discarded on the grass next to it.

This garden feels like a private sanctuary for someone. There is love and care here, in each flourishing plant, yet there is a kind of loneliness that is colored with lingering sadness as well. For some reason, the feeling makes the beauty of the garden seemingly more fragile and bittersweet.

The click of a door opening is loud in the bittersweet silence. I pull back behind the bushes, as soft footsteps rustle across the thick grass towards the pond. Then I hear some quiet splashes and a sigh that can be of relief. Cautiously, I peer out again.

I swear my heartbeat falters once before racing madly in my chest.

Aya...He is here, on this island, just a few feet away from me.

For a long while, I can't move, I can't think. I can only stare at the sight before me. Of Aya sitting at the edge of the pond, long bare legs dangling in the water. His plain white tee and denim shorts do nothing to hide his well-formed body unlike the thick bulky garments of previous times. I can't help but admire the sleek lines of his body, muscular yet lithe, the discreet strength in his shoulders and biceps, the graceful lines of his thighs. The profile of his face is relaxed and calm, eyes closed. One slim hand is pressing a glass of iced water against the pale column of his neck and I suddenly feel very jealous of that glass. How long I squat there, watching him, I don't know. When he finally raises the glass to his lips and drains it, I feel a rush of desire pooling in my pants.

I badly want to call out to him but I can't because I'm in disguise. It would raise suspicions if a 'complete stranger' calls him by name. And there are so many questions I want answers to. First of all, why is he here? And why didn't Omi mention him in the first place? The chibi has seen him before; surely he can't forget someone as striking as Aya. And I want to ask him about that girl in the hospital whom he shares the same name.

I watch, feeling terribly like a peeping tom, as Aya gets up, still holding on to the empty glass. The sight of those long sexy legs, bare and glistening wetly, entrances me and I can't seem to tear my gaze away. A discreet silver anklet about one slim, almost delicate-looking ankle only enhances his allure.

Does he even know how tempting he is?

I'm so fascinated by him that I barely register the cold brush against my hair as the glass goes flying from his hand to shatter against the wall behind me.

"I know you're there," Aya says in a cold hard voice. "Come out where I can see you."

Very slowly, making sure my hands are in the open, I step out from my hiding place. Judging from how he holds the trowel, it's obvious he has training in knife-combat.

"Who are you?" he demands.

"Miki Shinichiro. I'm a guest for the weekend."

"What are you doing in Reiji-sama's private garden?"

"Sorry, I must've taken a wrong turn somewhere." As though I'm being compelled, I let my gaze wander over him again, admiring the beauty before me.

"Do you mind?" Aya sounds annoyed and embarrassed.

I jerk my gaze away. "Sorry."

"You haven't answer my question yet. What are you doing here?"

"And I told you, I took a wrong turn."

"Over the wall?"

I just shrug. "So I'm curious."

I cautiously look at him again, valiantly trying to keep my gaze on his face. I don't need to be distracted anymore than I already am. He seems more perplexed than hostile, at least enough to lower the pointy end of the trowel to the ground. He is looking at me with faint puzzlement, as though he is trying to figure something out.

"Are you Takatori's guest too?" I ask awkwardly when the silence stretches on for too long.

"Iya. I'm…a member of Reiji-sama's staff."

I elect to ignore the slight hesitation in that statement. 'Member of Takatori's staff' is an understatement if he does what I think he does for Takatori. Right now, I got to extricate myself from this situation and maybe see if I can get him onto my side.

"You look familiar though. Have I seen you somewhere before?"

He scowls at me. "I'm not a woman."

I blink and then flush when I realize exactly what I have just said. "No, no. I didn't mean it that way. It's just that…" I pretend to think for a while. "Wait a minute. I know where I have seen you. Yohji once showed me an image of you."

"I don't know what you are talking about," he says guardedly.

"Yohji Kudoh? Blond guy, green-eyed, always wear shades? Here, let me show you." I concentrate. Posing as a Class-D, it is a simple matter for me to gather a tiny amount of magic, small enough not to alert the magic wards in the wing, and build an image of myself in my palm. I stretch out my palm, letting him have a closer view of the image.

It feels damn strange to be talking about myself in third person. Showing him an image of myself as a friend feels even weirder. But seeing how his purple eyes widen in recognition, I don't mind posing as Yohji's friend at all and seize the advantage to convince him further.

"He told me all about you," I continue softly. "Even showed me an image of you in a basin of water once. He told me how the both of you met in the supermarket, the incident with the apple. The three-scoop ice-cream treat and the café near Southbank Park."

Aya's glare softens.

"He also told me about that night he found you crying in Southbank Park." Aya flushes and looks away. "He's worried about you."

"Is he?"

"Yeah. He doesn't know why you were so upset that night, or why you refuse to see him anymore."

"I have my reasons." Aya's expression closes. "You should leave. If Reiji-sama finds out you're here, I cannot guarantee your safety."

"He wants to see you again."

"Tell him…that he should forget about me."

"He can't."

"He must." Aya's tone is firm. "Now go, Shinichiro-san."

I turn to go, sensing that he no longer wants to continue our conversation. But something compels me to turn back and says, "You should tell him, Aya, at least see him again to set things straight. He misses you."