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Chapter: 13

Falling Pieces

Apricot took her usual route to the morning train, her eyes heavy and her head foggy with sleep. The sidewalks bustled with pedestrians while cyclists sped by on the side. She trudged along sleepily, mumbling to herself. “Heh, darling, you look nearly dead. A late night on the town?” A male voice asked. Turning her head, she saw a man in an elegant suit standing on the curb. She recognized the coy smile on his face as Shiori’s. “You won’t be returning to school today. Come, we’ve got much to talk about.”

“This rich brat has another thing coming if he thinks he can order me around.” Apricot scoffed, “And why would I do such a thing?”

“Because I’ll make it worth your time. Now, now, darling, just get in my car.” Apricot sighed, feeling as if she had been getting into quite a few strange men’s cars lately. Still, she was curious enough. Worthwhile meant a lot of things to a noble, and she had to admit he was attractive—and, most importantly, wealthy.

The car’s seats were more than comfortable, perfectly shaped to her body curves, with a material that seemed like a combination of leather and vinyl. It felt like lying on a cloud. The armrests were made of a clear material, and as Apricot surveyed the luxury car, she murmured, “It’s nice.”

“I suppose a commoner would find this impressive. However, I find it quite boring. It’s a little too flashy for my liking,” Shiori said. The irony was not lost on Apricot. “Hands and feet inside, my dear.” Shiori pressed a button on the dash, and the doors swung down slowly. He sighed heavily as he continued, “Yet how can you resist your mother’s flamboyance when she is so persistent?” Shiori shifted the car into drive, letting the internal AI systems handle the driving. “I’m really frustrated with you, darling.”

Her brows furrowed. “What? Why? What did I do?” she asked.

Shiori dragged out “That,” trying to either be dramatic or find the appropriate phrase, “The thing, was a reliable informant. Those who live on the other side aren’t all enemies, Apricot. At least, not directly. I was in contact with that monster last night, the one you slew, about what was happening on the other side. Your actions have harmed the entire society.”

“Society?” Apricot barked. “What society?”

Shiori cocked his head and leaned forward. “You’re not the only one who hunts these creatures. As I recall, I had clarified that earlier. In fact, quite a few of us do that. I must admit, you were reckless when you started out.”

Apricot blushed. “Thank you for the compliment.”

Shiori rolled his eyes and said flatly, “You still are.” That had been his plan from the start, she thought. How snobby.

“That phantom almost killed me,” Apricot said.

Shiori looked up at the ceiling, relaxing into his chair as he said, “So you say.” With crossed legs, he turned his head to one side and gazed directly at her.

“I was going to be ripped apart.” He simply sighed in response. “You weren’t there!” she replied. “You have no idea.”

“In his domain, you were reckless, as I said. You were a trespasser from that moment on. Imagine how offended you would be if someone entered your home and began asking you questions?” Apricot shrank back into her seat. The girl lowered her chin in shame and played with her fingers. To her, the creatures were horrible monsters, so she never considered whether they were good or evil. “Oh well, at least you can learn from your mistakes, no matter how grievous they are. From now on, you are my pet.”

What a condescending way to address someone, Apricot thought to herself. Her fists curled, and she prepared to strike him for his blatant disregard of her feelings. “What the hell does that mean?” Apricot shouted, nearly jumping from her seat.

Shiori laughed, “It means you’ll do what I say. In addition to going to school and studying, you will be working with me at night. As someone of potential, you’ve attracted attention. By following the path you are on, you will attract the attention of others, even more than you already have.”

“How did you find out about that?” Apricot asked.

“I am a noble and keep track of persons of interest in regard to the Okabe family. I will keep you from getting into trouble. Consider me a friend of yours. The royal guard knows your name now. Did you know that? They have been keeping a close eye on you, missy. What the hell did you do to get that kind of attention?” Shiori scorned.

Apricot murmured. “It turns out my suspicions were correct.”

Apricot watched as Shiori raised his eyebrow, and his eyes hid something at that moment. Was he concerned? “And what would those be?” he asked.

Apricot pointedly said, “The nobles know about the phantoms.”

“Well, they are not ignorant. Yet, you continue to call them phantoms. Does that name have any significance, or is it just shorthand you adopted?” Shiori chuckled as Apricot shook her head. “Of course, I have secrets as well.”

“Why would I work with you?” Apricot asked as she turned her attention to the window. Old buildings surrounded them. Though it was probably less than a decade old, she assumed the locals would refer to it as an ancient part of the city.

“First of all, I’ll pay you…hmm…hmm, what is a journalist’s salary? About eight thousand marks per job, I guess. And bonuses if I think you deserve them.” Apricot nearly fell out of her chair when she heard that number. It was more than she could have hoped for after laboring for months.

Apricot said, “That’s over six figures a year.”

Shiori looked unamused. “Girl, accept it. I’m not inclined to negotiate.”

“No, no. That’s fine.” Apricot raised both hands.

“Now that that is settled, it’s time for you to meet the rest of society.” Shiori turned his head and placed his legs on the steering wheel.

Apricot felt ashamed to have been so easily purchased. She said, “You know, you’re a right ass.”

“Darling, I can afford that opinion,” Shiori replied.

Dusty old antiques and trinkets crowded the market tent, creating an atmosphere of mystery and intrigue. As she walked through the inner-city labyrinth, Apricot was unsure about her decision to trust Shiori, but after sizing him up, she was confident that he wasn’t a threat. Surveying the displayed goods, she found it hard to determine whether they were worthless junk or items of value. Regardless, they were a testament to time, covered in dust and a layer of patina that seemed to be growing on them. Ancient artifacts and old technology formed a unique blend, fusing together as if by overgrowth.

“Don’t forget this location, darling,” Shiori said.

“What is this place?” Apricot asked, her voice laden with confusion. Despite the items appearing to be junk, she couldn’t shake the feeling that they held significant value. She resisted the urge to touch them, fearing she might damage something precious.

“It’s a friend’s place, and if he likes you, it’ll be yours too. You might be able to win him over if you show a little more cleavage,” Shiori teased. Apricot blushed, feeling the sudden urge to switch shirts. With a casual flick of his finger, Shiori rang a bell. A man with gray hair hidden beneath a black ushanka emerged from behind a pair of curtains.

“Hello, my friend,” the man greeted Shiori, extending his arms. His gaze briefly shifted to Apricot. “And who is this?” He eagerly inquired. “Come here, girl.”

Apricot hesitated, glancing at Shiori for reassurance. He smirked, nodding at her to approach the stranger. She reluctantly stepped forward, and the man enveloped her in a warm embrace. His deep brown eyes were inquisitive, seeming to probe her very soul. “Is this the one everyone’s talking about?”

Pulling away from his grasp, Apricot replied, “I don’t believe I am.”

“She may well be. How about showing her around? Give her special treatment,” Shiori suggested, dropping a stack of cerulean bills on the table with an air of nonchalance. “This girl needs an upgrade.”

Curious and slightly suspicious, Apricot looked back at Shiori, who was leaning against a painted black metal pole in the tent. “What do you mean by ‘special treatment’?”

“That dreadful pistol of yours is far too loud, not to mention illegal. That silver pipe you have is clever, but you need a real weapon,” Shiori replied, gazing upward.

“How the hell did you know about that!?” Apricot exclaimed, her voice rising in disbelief.

Shiori laughed heartily. “I told you, I keep an eye on subjects of interest. You seem so shocked.” The notion of Shiori “watching” her was deeply unsettling. It also implied that others might be keeping a close eye on her as well.

“Introductions! Darling, this is Harjal. Think of him as your outfitter. Harjal, this lovely young lady is Apricot. She’s a student journalist. She tells everyone that, more than once. I’ll save her the trouble,” Shiori winked, grinning as Apricot’s annoyance flared. “Pity the girl’s entire identity is that clichéd trope.”

“I am standing right here!” Apricot thought to herself, her cheeks flushing with embarrassment. “And I don’t say that… that often.” She couldn’t deny that Shiori was right, but she wished he wasn’t so blunt about it.

“Fair enough. Welcome, Miss Apricot. Let’s find you something worthy of Shiori’s patronage,” Harjal said, taking Apricot’s arm and leading her into the back room. The space was filled with weapons of all kinds – spears in barrels, swords hanging from the walls, and various firearms, some with long chains of bullets. Apricot couldn’t name half of the weapons, but she knew she was looking at a collection of highly illegal items. “Pick your poison, Missy,” Harjal suggested. “I recommend sticking with silver. Shiori believes it kills them.”

Apricot browsed the aisles, feeling as if she were in some sort of post-apocalyptic grocery store. She struggled to comprehend the situation. “You’re not planning to kill me, are you?”

“Only if you have loose lips,” Harjal replied. “I provide a service. One that your group needs. I don’t discriminate against my clients. You’d be surprised how many people from different walks of life use my services. But I stay silent. We’ll be the best of friends as long as you do the same.”

Her eyes were drawn to a set of throwing stars, which fascinated her because they reminded her of ninjas. However, she lacked the skill and time to master them. She spotted a short blade and grasped it firmly, but the length left her unsatisfied.

“You seem to know what you’re looking for,” Harjal observed.

Nodding, Apricot traced her finger along the edge of a knife. “I used to fence, so that might explain it. Are you a member of the society?”

“The society? I have no clue what you’re talking about,” Harjal replied, his expression unreadable. Apricot couldn’t determine if he was playing dumb or genuinely in the dark. A whip caught her eye, but it seemed too clichéd for a girl, and she didn’t want to feel embarrassed wielding such a weapon. Besides, she wasn’t hunting vampires.

Across the room, a decorative straight blade caught her attention, bathed in a shaft of light streaming through an opening in the tent’s roof. It seemed as if it was made just for her. She picked it up by the handle, appreciating its balance and weight. “It’s perfect,” she thought. After a few practice swings, she found it comfortable and easy to wield. The simple cross guard made it easy to conceal. Turning to Harjal, she declared, “This one.”

“Ah, a fine choice. It’s not only functional but also quite attractive. I acquired it from a sword maker in Eindzaal,” Harjal said, tossing her a black armband fitted with several hidden throwing knives. “You can wear this under your shirt. The knives are pure silver. They’re perfect for solving problems from a distance, quietly – as long as you hit your target. Miss, and you’ll hear metal clanking, so don’t do that.”

As Apricot exited the room, Shiori glanced at her. “Took you long enough. Did you find what you needed?” She nodded, showing him the blade. “I see. You went with a sword. At least you have taste. We’d better get moving. The Spookhouse is about to open. It’s almost noon.”

The Spookhouse was dimly lit, nearly empty, aside from a bartender and a few staff members chatting. Apricot felt a mix of anticipation and apprehension as Shiori guided her through the vacant bar, his hand on her back. “This, my darling, is the Spookhouse. Many of the patrons here are well informed about what is happening in Blue Ash. Most importantly, I will always be here as I own the business. You can think of this as the resistance’s headquarters against the phantoms. Our efforts have been tireless in securing this refuge. Not even the Okabes can reach us here. Not without starting an international dispute between the clans. You are therefore free to express yourself here. Upon entering, we will let you know if a stranger is present.”

Apricot’s curiosity piqued. “You must be away from the Okabe family for some reason,” she suggested.

He stroked his chin. “If you have to ask, then you’ll never know.” He turned to a woman with long black hair and said, “No point in explaining. Just a moment, dear. I have some business to attend to. Have a seat. I think you will find Togashi to be a wonderful conversationalist.”

As Apricot walked towards the bar, she could feel her heart rate quicken. A man in a stylish waiter suit polished a glass, his grin almost cat-like. His white-bleached hair contrasted with his polished blue eyes. “Hello. How do you say, a friend of Shiori’s?” he asked with a thick accent from a country she couldn’t place. The man appeared to be of Uchellan descent, which intrigued Apricot. She nodded and plopped down on a bar stool, resting her arms on the long stretch of polished wood. “Care for a drink, yes?”

“Just a glass of water would be nice,” Apricot said. “So, you’re Togashi?”

He took a glass and walked over to a black slate polished fridge. “Indeed, I am.”

“Where did you get your accent?” Apricot asked, feeling a sudden surge of anxiety. Was it insulting to ask where an accent came from? His eyes turned up towards her as that sly, cat-like grin grew. “I meant nothing by it.”

“No, my dear. How you say, it is fine.” He popped the cap off a blue bottle from the fridge and poured a decent amount into the glass, topping it off with a few rocks of ice. “I hope you don’t mind the ice. But you are Castor, are you not?”

Apricot half-smiled, feeling an odd mix of flattery and embarrassment. “Oh, how could you tell?”

“No Uchellan would have such fair skin.” Apricot felt a blush creeping up her cheeks. “I am not native to Uchella. I hail from Sarlimar. My father is Uchellan, but my mother is an Estarius.”

“Wow, how did you end up back in Uchella?” Apricot asked as Togashi slid the glass towards her.

Togashi smirked. “All the questions are we, dear? Ah, I see, I know you. You must be Apricot, the reporter girl. Am I correct, no?”

Apricot blushed deeper. “I am, but how did you know my name?”

“You are, how do I say this, a topic of interest around these parts. However, to answer your question, I am a chemist, and in Sarlimar, chemistry is viewed as witchcraft, you may know. Sadly, my mother and father were murdered by locals. They viewed my father’s sciences as weapons of evil. I escaped the attack and was left to fend for myself as a teenage adult. I searched for my family name, traveled to Uchella, and was accepted by my father’s family. Togashi Siochiro, not a famous house but a servant house. Still, it’s a life far better than I could have dreamed of having in Estarius.”

“I had no clue. Your story is amazing. Would you mind if I wrote an,” Apricot was swiftly cut off by Togashi’s white-gloved hand.

Raising his index finger, he shook his head. “Not the slightest words. I tell you why! I am a vassal of Lord Kinjo. My mission is to protect him. Any mention of me would bring unwanted attention to my lord. So no, no interview, no story, no topic of interest.”

The tug on Apricot’s shirt nearly caused her to fall out of her seat. When she turned her head, she saw a raven-haired boy of about eight or nine years old looking up at her. “Hey Miss!” he shouted. “You’re Apricot, aren’t you?”

“Ah, who are you?” Apricot asked, slightly baffled.

His grin spread across his face. “It took me a while to research you. I’m Akagi. I’m probably the finest hacker in Okabi, perhaps even the world.” He beamed with pride. “By the way, I suggest that you tape your webcam,” he added. “Your computer is extremely vulnerable. By the way, heh, do you always sleep nude?”

“What?!” Apricot shouted, feeling violated by the young deviant’s words.

As Shiori entered the bar, he yelled, “Akagi, leave her alone, and he is only joking. Go play some video games or something. It’s time for the adults to talk.”

Furrowing his brow, Akagi stared at the ground. “I was just introducing myself,” he said. “Gee, Shiori, why are you being such a jerk?”

Shiori pointed to the back and said, “Go.”

The young hacker sighed. “You know I will just listen to you anyway using your cell phone.” As Akagi walked out the back door, he smiled smugly.

“I left it in my office,” Shiori replied, grinning. Akagi stamped his foot and left. “Let’s talk business now, now that the little terror is gone,” he said.

“So, what now, Shiori?” Apricot sipped her water and looked into his calm face.

“You addressed me by my name, I believe for the first time,” Shiori replied warmly. “Right now, you can rest. We need to decide what to do next. There is no clear answer. It seems we need to look into this further. Could you please explain why you chose this path? You know my biggest secret. I am trying to make sense of these strange events.”

She felt a lump growing in her throat. However, she was comfortable all the same. Apricot described the events that led up to her meeting Shiori. Initially, he appeared distant, but as the conversation progressed, he became more interested. Even though it seemed like Togashi wasn’t listening, he too seemed to be intrigued when she told them about the attack at her house. She left out the reaper and Cortez in her story.

As Shiori drummed his fingers, he said, “That’s an interesting story.”

“It looks like you’ve got a pretty good network going on. Who else is involved?” Apricot inquired.

Shiori paused for a moment of reflection. He took a deep breath and glanced at Togashi, who nodded in agreement. “I’m not quite sure,” he admitted. “There are others who aren’t in my network. Unfortunately, some of them aren’t very good. I was hesitant to pursue you at first because I thought that you would soon die. But I was proved wrong. When did you discover Apricot?” the bartender smirked.

“About the time she broke into East Way Park. You can thank Akagi for notifying Shiori of your wandering.” Togashi said. “There is, how you say, a fondness for you around these parts.”

Shiori nodded in agreement. “You’re right,” he said. “Our team has been watching and protecting you for quite some time. When you were recorded by their surveillance systems, we have disrupted the police’s operations frequently so they couldn’t collect data about you.”

Apricot sighed. “It’s a lot to take in, but I’m glad someone has my back.”

“Truly, it is a double-edged sword. While it may be comforting to know someone is protecting you, it does mean that we have violated your sense of privacy. I apologize for that. I had to know if I could trust you.” Shiori paused. “I do, by the way.”

Apricot rocked her head in a slight nod. “Now, when you say not all of them are good, do you mean they work with the phantoms?”

“No, I don’t think so. At least, that’s not my impression. A lot of them are just killers. It is a way for them to live out their fantasies. Sickos. However, there is one insane person. That person is Natsukawa Okabe. A dirty, little-known secret of the Okabe family. As well as being a serial killer, he also deals with phantoms. Basically kills everything that comes his way. Sincerely, he scares the hell out of me.” Shiori said, grimacing. “They should really put him down. It’s no life to live as a mad dog.”

Togashi laughed. “So we call them phantoms now?”

“Can you come up with a better name for them?” Shiori laughed. “We will count it as Apricot’s first contribution. She is our shorthand maiden.”

Apricot blushed at being called a maiden. “I know someone who knows something about the phantoms too,” she replied sheepishly. Shiori raised an eyebrow at this. “Well, sort of. Honestly, I am not sure. I have no idea what’s going on. He probably has no idea as well. I’m sure something terrible will happen if we don’t stop it. The more information we can gather, the faster we can solve the problem. I also believe he is trustworthy, though.”

Nodding his head, Shiori continued. “All right, let’s find this friend of yours. With their help, perhaps we can figure something out.”

The dim glow of a single wall light bathed the narrow alleyway in a murky haze. Apricot leaned against the cold brick wall, while Shiori perched atop a nearby dumpster. A shadow emerged from the depths of the alley, materializing into the form of Cortez.

“Hey. You had something to talk about?” he asked, his voice echoing off the walls.

“It’s been a while,” Shiori said, waving a casual hand. “I didn’t realize you meant him, Apricot.”

Shiori scrutinized Cortez as he hesitated in his approach. “Oh shit, what is he doing here?” Cortez yelled, slicing the air with a vehement sweep of his arm.

Surprised by his reaction, Apricot stammered, “Oh, you both know each other?”

“Sort of,” Shiori replied, his eyes never leaving Cortez.

“What are you doing hanging out with noble scum?” Cortez spat, his voice dripping with disdain.

“Excuse me!” Apricot retorted, affronted by the accusation.

Laughter bubbled up from Shiori as he slapped the top of the dumpster with a gloved hand. “Listen to the bark of the common dog.”

“Shut up!” Cortez shouted, his face reddening with fury. “Apricot, if you expect me to tell him anything, you’re crazy!”

“What? What’s going on?” Apricot asked, her confusion evident in her furrowed brow.

“He’s a user, Apricot. He doesn’t care about us. Shiori isn’t like us!” Cortez raged, his eyes blazing with anger. “He thinks of us as his puppets. He flashes his money around like it’s something special. He lives above everyone else, but gives us common folk table scraps.”

“Such is the rightful place for impure mutts like you,” Shiori replied coolly. As Cortez advanced, he stared down at Shiori from his elevated position on the dumpster.

“Our families fought in your wars!” Cortez shot back, his voice shaking with emotion.

“The masses are nothing more than animals,” Shiori scoffed, his eyes narrowing. Cortez, unable to contain his fury, grabbed Shiori’s leg and yanked him off the dumpster. Shiori stumbled and crashed to the ground. “Is the dog about to bite me?” he taunted, rising to his feet.

“You’ll regret that!” Cortez roared, lunging at Shiori with a clenched fist. But before his punch could connect, a metal claw seized his fist in a vice-like grip. A reaper materialized between them, its sudden appearance casting an ominous shadow over the scene.

“Thee fools, wherefore doth thee speaketh such ills for each other?” the reaper intoned, its voice cold and foreboding. “Doth thee not see that thee art allies? Cease thy combat at once.” With that, the reaper flung Cortez backward, causing him to crash into the alley wall.

Shiori’s jaw dropped in disbelief as the reaper turned to face Apricot. “Haven’t thee desired a meeting with me, Apricot?”

“Do you know this freak?” Cortez stammered, backing away with his arms raised defensively.

“How shameful,” the reaper grunted, its voice laced with disdain. “Cortez, lay down thy guard. Thee art mine ally. I seek not to harm thee.”

A grin spread across Shiori’s face. “So you finally decided to show yourself to us. Why didn’t you tell me you knew claw fingers?” he asked, his tone dripping with mockery. “It seems like you are allying with us. Please, prove it.”

“Claw fingers? Is that what they art calling me?” the reaper remarked, its tone tinged with amusement. It turned its gaze toward Apricot before continuing. “I cameth to giveth thee a treasure in the form of knowledge. Hark, thither is much to be done. Thee art hunting the phantoms and has’t done well so far, but thou has’t been doing so without direction. Blind, in the dark. Allow me to pardon your burden. The phantoms hath cometh for thy world. Thither art people assisting them for their own ends.” The reaper’s eyes shifted toward Cortez.

“Coequal now, these phantoms buildeth an army. Thither art warlords leading the phantoms through the threshold. ‘Tis not with their own power, however. Thither art witches that direct these beings. They assist the phantoms crossing ov’r from the other side. ‘Tis thee that must cease those doing so. The Okabe family hath refused the calleth and art not worthy to carryeth out their duty to cease this.” The Reaper slowly approached Shiori, its movements calculated and deliberate.

“‘Tis by their meddling the phantoms entered this world, as you must know. In thy words, the ‘Blue Ash Crisis’ caused all this. A passage between their world and yours was opened and ne’er closed. Now the phantoms lay in between worlds, as ghosts until they art manifest as flesh.”

“You want us to kill people?” Cortez asked, his voice laden with disbelief.

“Sadly, if ‘t be true, that is what must beest done.”

“How do we know we can trust you?” Shiori inquired, his eyes narrowed in suspicion.

“Prove me wrong. If ‘t be true I has’t lied, then I must not beest trusted. But if ‘t be true I has’t given truth, then thou has’t no choice but to trust me.”

“Why reveal yourself now?” Apricot asked, her voice trembling with fear.

“Time is short. I cannot sustain the situation much longer. If ‘t be true something is not done, all wilt beest lost and in the hands of careless ones who seek to maketh a new world and consume this one. This cannot beest allowed. I seek to returneth home myself. I cannot doth so until either this world is restored or destroyed. I seek to save this world, don’t thee?”

Shiori pondered for a moment. “So these phantoms, where do they come from?”

“The phantoms art the original inhabitants of the world ere this one. They cursed themselves and destroyed their world. When the new world was born, all who hath lived in the old one wast sealed. Now, these beasts seek to devour this one and taketh this world for their own. I tire, I must leaveth thee now. At the old shrine on the hill, thee wilt findeth me. Thither I rest; please hie, time is short.”

With these words, the reaper ascended into the night sky like a shooting star, disappearing behind the buildings. “What do we do now?” Cortez inquired, his voice uncertain.

“We work together,” Apricot murmured softly.

Snarling, Cortez turned his back and stalked out of the alleyway. Shiori stared at the starry night sky before addressing Apricot. “Cortez is a coward. At the first sign of trouble, he will run. Remember that.” With those parting words, he too left the alley, disappearing into the darkness.

Apricot stood alone, her gaze drawn to the sky above. She sighed, her breath visible in the cool air, and considered the gravity of the situation that had just been revealed to her. The weight of responsibility pressed down on her shoulders, and she knew that the path ahead would not be an easy one. The thought of working with Shiori and Cortez, two individuals who seemed to harbor deep animosity for each other, left her feeling uneasy.

She knew, however, that if they were to stand any chance against the powerful forces that threatened their world, they would have to put aside their differences and join forces. As the thought lingered in her mind, Apricot steeled herself for the challenges that lay ahead. It was time to forge new alliances and fight for their world, even if it meant working with those she had once considered adversaries.

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