Chapter Eight An Uninvited Alliance #2
"All of which places the matter under Accord jurisdiction."
"It also makes it Ishida business."
"You do not have jurisdiction over supernatural terrorism."
"No. I have responsibility for the people who live and work in this city."
Kael's gaze sharpened.
"Do not make this about civic duty."
"What should I make it about?"
"Pride."
Haruki considered that. Perhaps there was pride in it. Anger certainly. Humiliation too. He remembered lying in the passage unable to stop the attackers advancing, remembered their leader looking at him with pity. He could not deny that part of him wanted to answer the insult.
But he also remembered Toma being lowered gently to the ground after the blade entered him. Kameda collapsing beside the journal. Endo's hands pressed uselessly to his throat. Jun asking whether he would lose his leg. Pride had not followed Haruki from the chamber. Their faces had.
"You think I want revenge," he said.
"Don't you?"
"Yes."
The honesty unsettled everyone except Ayako. Haruki continued.
"But I want something else more."
"What?"
"No one else dies because we chose not to understand how they reached us."
Kael studied him.
"Understanding will not protect your people."
"I disagree."
"They are human."
"So am I."
"You say that as if it proves your point."
"It proves yours didn't stop me."
Kael looked towards the dressing visible beneath Haruki's open collar.
"It nearly did."
"Nearly is carrying a great deal of weight this morning."
Reina closed her eyes briefly. Ken almost smiled. Kael did not.
Haruki leaned back again.
"The Ishida Family will cooperate with the Accord. We will provide access, records and personnel. In return, we remain informed."
"No."
"We place one representative with your investigation."
"No."
"We retain independent access to the surviving historians."
"No."
Haruki looked towards Ayako.
"Mother?"
She took a slow sip of tea.
"Your proposal lacks subtlety."
"It is early."
"You are also medicated."
"Not enough."
"Clearly."
Kael moved towards the door.
"This discussion is finished."
Haruki spoke before he reached it.
"I have copies."
Kael stopped. That had not been true ten seconds ago. Haruki felt Reina's gaze cut towards him. Ken went perfectly still. Ayako's expression did not change.
Kael turned slowly.
"Copies of what?"
"The tunnel photographs."
"We seized the devices used at the site."
"You seized the ones you knew about."
Kael crossed the room in two steps. The speed was almost invisible. One moment he stood near the door. The next his hands rested on the table opposite Haruki. Reina stepped between them. Ken reached inside his jacket.
Ayako said one word.
"Enough."
Everyone stopped.
Kael looked down at Haruki.
"Where are they?"
"Safe."
The lie settled more easily than Haruki expected.
"What do they show?"
"Ask your retrieval team."
"You do not understand the danger of what you are withholding."
"And you do not understand how poorly I respond to being ordered out of my own affairs."
Kael's eyes shifted. For one instant, Haruki saw something ancient beneath the controlled exterior.
Not hunger. Not rage. Calculation. The Accord representative was deciding how far he could push without turning the entire Ishida Family against him.
That meant Haruki had something of value. Even if the copies did not yet exist.
"What do you want?" Kael asked.
"Partnership."
"You are not equipped."
"Then equip us."
"No."
"Keep saying it. It hasn't worked so far."
Kael straightened.
"You will receive limited briefings."
"Daily."
"When there are developments."
"One Ishida representative present during survivor interviews."
"Absolutely not."
"They trust us."
"They require protection from information they may not understand."
Haruki's mouth hardened.
"That sounds very close to what the Unveiled said."
Kael's face changed. Only slightly. But Haruki knew he had struck something.
"Do not compare us," Kael said.
"Then act differently."
The silence that followed felt like standing near a cliff edge.
Ayako broke it.
"One representative," she said. "No interference with Accord operations. No unauthorised entry to secured sites. Information shared only where it concerns Takamori, the attack or threats against this Family."
Kael looked at her.
"And the copies?"
Ayako glanced at Haruki. He gave her nothing. She returned her attention to Kael.
"They remain insurance."
There were no copies. Yet. Haruki loved her profoundly.
Kael considered the offer.
"Your representative follows our direction."
"They will listen to it," Ayako said.
"That is not the same thing."
"No."
Kael exhaled through his nose.
"Ken Hattori."
Ken frowned.
"What?"
"You will act as liaison."
Haruki answered immediately.
"No."
Kael looked at him.
"You asked for a representative."
"I decide who represents my Family."
"Then decide."
"Me."
Reina struck the table with both hands.
"No."
Ken followed almost immediately.
"Boss, absolutely not."
Ayako closed her eyes. Kael looked faintly incredulous.
"You can barely sit upright."
"I'm doing an excellent impression."
"You are medically unfit."
"So everyone keeps saying."
"You will not be involved in field operations."
"Fine."
"No site access."
"For now."
"No interrogations."
"Interviews."
"No operational authority."
"Unofficial partners rarely have much."
Kael stared at him. Haruki smiled.
"Unless you prefer Ken."
Kael looked towards Ken. Ken folded his arms.
"I'm less polite."
"That is not true," Haruki said.
"I can be."
Kael's attention returned to Haruki.
"Your involvement is limited to consultation."
"Agreed."
"You share all information."
"Relevant information."
"All."
"We can revisit the wording."
"This is not—"
"A negotiation?" Haruki asked. "You said that already."
Ayako hid a smile behind her cup. Kael saw it. He stepped away from the table.
"One representative. Limited briefings. No independent action."
Haruki held out his hand. Kael looked at it.
"You cannot be serious."
"I prefer agreements acknowledged clearly."
"We are not shaking hands."
"Afraid it will look like partnership?"
Kael's jaw tightened. Then he took Haruki's hand. His skin was cool. His grip precise. The pressure pulled at Haruki's injured arm, but he refused to show it.
"This alliance is temporary," Kael said.
"Most useful ones are."
Kael released him.
"The first briefing is tonight."
"Here."
"At Accord offices."
"Here."
"You are not dictating location."
"I'm not permitted to drive."
"That is not my concern."
"It becomes your concern if you want me present."
Kael stared at him.
"Six o'clock."
Haruki nodded.
"Bring the surviving evidence."
"No."
"Worth asking."
Kael turned and left. His companions fell into step beside him as the doors opened. The woman gave Haruki a look that promised future difficulty. Haruki smiled politely. The doors closed.
Silence remained behind them. Then Reina rounded on him.
"You lied to the Accord."
"Yes."
"We do not have copies."
"No."
Ken sat down heavily.
"They'll discover that."
"Not before we make them."
Ayako placed her cup on the table.
"From what?"
Haruki looked at Ken.
"The workers took photographs."
"The Accord seized their phones."
"Cloud backups."
Ken's expression changed. Toma had photographed the chamber. Toma was dead. His phone might have been seized, but automatic backups did not care who held the device afterwards.
"I'll check," Ken said.
"Quietly."
"You think Kael doesn't know?"
"I think Kael knows many things. I also think he agreed because the possibility was enough."
Reina stared at Haruki.
"You should be in hospital."
"I have been informed."
"You tore stitches getting out of the car."
Haruki looked down. A small stain had begun to spread beneath the dressing. Ken swore. Ayako's expression hardened. Reina stepped closer and opened Haruki's shirt before he could stop her.
"It's bleeding."
"Superficially."
"You are not a doctor."
"No, but I've recently spent a lot of time with one."
Reina froze. Ken looked up. Ayako's attention sharpened with terrifying speed. Haruki realised his error.
Reina slowly raised her eyes.
"Dr Takahara?"
"He treated me."
"I know."
"He is therefore relevant to my recovery."
"Is he?"
"Yes."
Ken started smiling. Haruki disliked where this was going.
Ayako spoke first.
"You were unconscious for most of your time at the hospital."
"I was awake enough."
Reina gave him a look.
"For what?"
"Medical discussion."
Ken turned away and coughed into his fist. Haruki pointed towards the door.
"You have cloud storage to examine."
"I suddenly feel this is more important."
"It is not."
Reina pulled Haruki's shirt closed.
"You flirted with your surgeon while dying."
"I wasn't dying."
"You had emergency surgery."
"The surgery was successful."
"That doesn't answer me."
"I was being friendly."
Ken laughed. Haruki looked at him.
"Leave."
"Boss."
"Now."
Ken stood, still grinning.
"I'll check the photographs."
"Do that."
"And not think about your medical discussions."
"Ken."
He left. Reina followed him with her eyes, then turned back to Haruki.
"You signed yourself out against his advice?"
"Not specifically his."
"Did he know?"
"Probably not."
"So you should return."
Haruki looked at her. The suggestion was too convenient. He distrusted it immediately.
"I can have the dressing changed here."
"You need assessment."
"We have a private physician."
"You were stabbed through the liver."
"The liver is not currently escaping."
"That is your standard?"
Ayako rose.
"You will go back."
Haruki looked at her.
"Mother—"
"You have achieved what you intended. The Accord has accepted our involvement. Ken can begin recovering the photographs. Reina and I will manage preparations for the dead."
The last words silenced him. Preparations for the dead. The bodies had not yet been released. The Accord had taken them.
Haruki thought of Toma. Of the engineer dragged into darkness. Of Kameda laid carefully beside the table after being murdered. Responsibility tightened around his chest.
Ayako saw it. Her voice softened.
"You cannot protect anyone by opening your wounds in a meeting room."