[ CH 1 ] the girl with the walkman carrying the crt; and ED

Beyond the synthetic mist and tiered clouds, and dwarfing the hapless half-wits who dare to climb its zenith; there stood a city to itself alone atop Shinjuku. 

 That city was a tower, and its name was Ziggurat I-F, and it was evil.

 Even locals had no idea what goes on in that illustrious media conglomerate’s building. What was its purpose? And why did it need to be so big? 

 And wouldn’t you like to know.

“If there is a heaven, it is closer to the ground at Ziggurat Plaza than it is at its top. And if there is a ‘whatever the other place’ is, you will definitely find it up there.” The tower has that kind of legend about itself.

Just think about it. What kind of man works at such a megastructure, where they are but a pin. An ant! What kind of man would volunteer their lifeforce and devote it to such a figure, knowing they may never be let down. And likely they would occasionally get lost in a back hallway, right? 

Definitely, they would lose themselves, to say the least.

[Highrise Apartment SECTOR 12 - Complex 48:]

Abandoned by its builders, and mismanaged by its less-than-thriving tenants, the high-rise was a great spot to be caught on your average Saturday morning confronting your money grubbing black market bosses that preyed on them. 

I, too, was about to be prey. Or was I?

*Tip-clack!* *Tip-clack!* *Tip-clack!* 

With a dizzying velocity, the heels of strangers rode along the circular stairwell. With 23 flights of stairs to climb, certainly the pace will slow down.

The elevator was, of course, out of service. That was part of their contingency plan.

Unfortunately for them, irritatingly for myself, no one prepared for what was to come.

*Tip-clack!* *Tip-clack!* *Tip-clack!* 

 Too bad. I was really planning on letting off some steam. Maybe putting an end to this charade and looking for another thread.

“So Crichton, let’s cut the filler, what’s the scoop about our missing compadre? Quickly—I'm getting impatient standing here in the mud," snarled that man they call Ryoma. This moment gave him a certain level of control he could never quite get from anywhere else in his life. Suffice to say, he was getting it in.

Ah, to be a loan shark.

There he stood with his six or seven guys, just biding their time before they tried to rough me up like they usually did. Call it hazing or ritual, it's all stuff I had been familiar with at my previous occupation. 

That too involved teambuilding exercises. I haven’t been a good team player. In fact, I’ve been playing hookey for the longest time.

 Regardless, I started my report.

“...Ah yes, Motozawa…” I responded reluctantly. “I’ve been keeping a few tabs on their acquaintances. It seems the daughter, Chiyo, was it? Yeah, Chiyo! She is still somewhere in town; but I don't have any information specifically as to where. You’ll have to forgive me.” I begged, acting idiotic.

“See, this is what I’ve been saying… We can’t use this guy!” one of the six or seven delinquents said as they stood behind their pack leader. I think the idiot’s name was…‘Mikey’?

“Crichton's been giving us the same basic report for two months. He’s trying to pull one over on us and take all the prizes for himself…!” Another one chimed in as he set himself in position to pounce.

“No, no, no…! Cut it out you lousy sons-a…!” Ryoma said passionately.

 He was about to start acting, acting idiotic.

*Tip-clack!* *Tip-clack!* *Tip-clack!* 

 “Crichton’s our friend. He would never do anything to hurt us…, right Edgar?!” Ryoma said, coming closer to meet me near the door of the rooftop. With his hands out to give me a brotherly hug, the rain began to drown out the mood with a pitter patter.

 “Let me tell you guys, there’s only one individual this man has ever betrayed. And that would be himself; and only for the sake of others—hell, that's why the boss hired him, right?” Evidence that Ryoma’s dirty mouth was going to make a detour to a place it ought not go.

I would be waiting at the end of the line.

 “Tell me, Ed. What was it about you that you betrayed your last boss? Time? Energy? Integrity?...or maybe it was your attachment to those close to you…” Go on Ryoma. I am waiting.

 “Like that pretty ex-wife of yours you keep so close to the chest. After all, it's not betrayal if they leave you…hah, right?” Ryoma tilted his head up to look me straight in the eyes. His teeth breathing ‘right’ through his mouth.

 “‘Hey, Edgar… If you need someone to console her…, look no further i’m your man.. right guys?!” a fiery uproar of support began as he began smooching the air.

 I will be quick to extinguish it.

 Fschwoom! 

 As my aura flared; I hooked my index finger into that idiot's jacket, and without so much as a flick; I knocked down his pinheads with the weight of his body.

 Unfortunately, they quickly recovered. 

 “Ah.., I see. So you are a Supath?! Haha-ha…, Wow, and daring?!” He slyly responded; fearfully.

           A supath, or superpath, is simply a really unfortunate person who became so devoted to one thing that it manifested in a powerful force they are now stuck with. I wouldn't recommend it.

 “If you want to go, let's go, old man…! I don’t care if you are a Supath, you can't take all of us on!” Number seven of the six or seven guys suggested; I’m pretty sure his nickname was ‘Gavin’.

           Hey, Gaijin names are in fashion for the criminally wealthy. Who am I to question it?

 An old man? in my early 30s? Hardly. 

           I stood there in my ready stance. The two middle fingers of my left hand beckoning the small mob.

 A whole six months playing Mr. Meek for some wannabe mafiosos has been an aimless endeavor. Every clue has been a red herring, and nothing has brought me closer to peace, not that I demand it.

 All I want to know is why my life turned around so drastically from that point on….I cannot be convinced that this was my fault!

 That I lost my everything all for nothing.

*Tip-clack!* *Tip-clack!* *Tip-clack!* 

*Click!*

All of us turned our heads at the overpowering sound of that *click!*. It seemed as if even the storm had hushed.

 In fact, like a Lightning bolt in the darkening storm, suddenly she was here interrupting my plans. 

 The girl with the walkman carrying the crt. Well, this time she was carrying a crt; that wasn’t a common occurrence.

 It also wasn’t common for her to have connected such an old device to the electrical unit using an extension cord.

 As bizarre as it was…It meant something even more worrisome.

 She knows something about me. Something that indicates she must know something I need to know.

 Before the men could even think; she unplugged her audiojack and held her device close to her heart. 

 Oh boy…

I had seen this before, unfortunately, and promptly closed my ears before running towards her.

 That song of hers began to play; one like any other.

 Ryoma and his guys buckled at the knee, stunted by the sheer mono-lithic sound of 90s J-Rock from a band so obscure today I dare not attempt to remember.

Before she fell from exhaustion, I carried her up and held her in my arms. She was rather light, which furthered my confusion as to how she got up that flight of stairs.

Nonetheless, It was no longer the moment to fight this battle. The next time I saw Ryoma, I would likely be dealing with his boss too; and frankly I would rather not deal with double the trouble.

I like to handle my enemies in environments of my choosing.

Nevertheless I followed the path laid out for me by the mysterious dame. After turning on the television, I stood in front of it; and then…

*Faaaaasshhhh* 

I never get used to phasing into screens.

Hours later, the lady would finally wake up.

“So this is where you run off to, Sato-san.” She stated as she laid on the white ground to the backdrop of dozens of stacked crts.

Startled, I instinctively turned around, “Don’t get comfortable.” I sternly warned. “The past few weeks….it’s been worse than usual; why do you keep following me and going limp; don’t you know that's dangerous?”

“But it was you, Sato-san, who saved me every time.” 

She did it again. Now I have to say something.

“That's not my name…!” I responded in protest 

“I thought you’d like that someone remembers you exist in this world.” She innocently responded.

Sigh.

“You’re calling the name of a man who no longer exists; the name of a man who would have never saved the likes of someone like you if it meant sacrificing for anyone other than…other than…” I couldn’t finish my sentence. I didn't know how to finish it as I resigned my gaze away and to the floor.

*grasp*

 She put her hand on my shoulder.

 “If it's any consolation; This is the only Sato-san that I know; I feel he is worth remembering, even for a short while.” She calmly stated.

           “And what gives you the credence to believe so?” I asked, bewildered.

           “After all…he is useful to my purposes.” The Woman answered again, now with crazed eyes.

 “W-what do you mean? And how did you know about the tvs?” I answered back, wearily..

 “You saw something that day; I want to confirm it. To eradicate it.” she revealed before removing her hand. She got up and turned towards the televisions.

 “Who are you; do I know you from somewhere?” I inquired.

 “My name is Gossamer. “ She said quietly.

        Hmm.

 “Can you cook?” I responded confused, tired, and hungry.

 *Tip-clack!* *Tip-clack!* *Tip-clack!* 

 *Slap*

 “Keep it professional, Sato-san.”