Old Wounds

Chapter 1
Old wounds

Osaka, Japan Winter 2016

“Even after twenty years the case of the Tengoku killings is considered cold, unsolved and a hot topic for theorist around the world. I’m Norinaga Toshinobu and this has been “The Strange and Occult.”

He was at a loss for words at what he was witnessing, and the stench was unbearable, but he couldn’t turn away. Instead, he supervised the forensic team as they went over every inch of the small apartment. Dusting for prints, taking photos. On his own he was taking in what he could at first glance, but his mind was elsewhere. The television programming and all its irony playing in the background. The man reached into his jacket pocket pulling out a pair of latex gloves, walking over to the television he put on his gloves and silenced the electronic menace.

“Thank you, detective Yoshimura this is already unnerving as it is, listening to THAT was making my job harder.”

“You can call me Shinji you know, you got to stop acting so green behind the ears Kai. That’s why the guys never invite you out for drinks”

Shinji knelt in front of the tv, staring at his reflection in the glossy black screen. Sprawled out on the wall behind him written in caked blood the kanjis for “Tengoku”. Using a pen, he sifted through the magazines on the entertainment center. He made it look like he was doing something, aiding the investigation. He wasn’t, he knew the M.O., he was actively scanning the apartment for any traces of Mana, any chance Magika had been used. Deep inside he hoped it was a copycat, the information was out there and easy to obtain if you knew where to look. He stood up and turned around facing the kanji on the wall behind the couch, behind the dead body on the couch. There was no mistaking it, the penmanship was the same and it made Shinji sick to his stomach. Worst of all he couldn’t wrap his head around how it was even possible.

The forensic team finished collecting and cataloging all the evidences and Shinji escorted them out. Taking the opportunity for some fresh air. Stepping out into the frigid night he instantly felt the cold wind biting at him. He buttoned up his jacket more, popping up his jacket lapels to protect his face from the chill. But also, to shield the flame of his lighter as he lit a cigarette. Shinji exhaled a cloud of smoke peering over the railing, down at the parking lot below. Watching as they loaded what remained of the decomposing corpse into the coroner’s van. The apartment complex was a circus, nosey neighbors giving their two cents about the victim. All the lights and sirens were giving Shinji a headache.

He finished his cigarette, flicking the butt over the railing and exhaling one last warm cloud of smoke. He didn’t go inside, choosing to watch and wait for everything to settle down before entering the apartment once again. Closing the door behind him Shinji let out a heavy sigh, grabbing at his necktie and pulling it lose. Advancing toward the utility closet he grabbed an old newspaper from the table in the kitchen. He spread the various sheets of paper in front of the door. Creating a makeshift doormat in the process. He kicked his shoes off, stepping on the paper mat before removing his jacket. He hung the jacket neatly over his arm, flattening it out, brushing off the dust and relieving it of its wrinkles. Opening the door to the closet Shinji walked in, emerging in the place he Once called home.

Hanging his jacket up neatly, he strolled around the place. Shinji looked at the collection of photographs littered along the walls. Nothing had changed since the last time he was here. The place still had that warm aura he remembered and often missed. He slid the paper door to his father’s study open and walked inside. He gazed at the assortment of awards on the wall. Some of them were his, some of them were Iori’s, most were Tokutomi’s. There was a new one, one he hadn’t seen before. Shinji looked at the engravings on the gold plaque and sucked his teeth and rolled his eyes.

“Kawabata Eisuke longest recorded threshold jump.”

He looked up at the plaque above it, his plaque for the very same feat.

“Show off.”

He stopped wasting time and grabbed what he entered the study for in the first place. Sitting in his father’s leather chair he applied pressure to a plank in the wood flooring. He heard the slight click and lifted his foot. Shinji slid back, leaning forward and fumbled around for a moment before sitting straight up. In his hand a bottle of Dassai Beyond, his father Seitaro had good taste, expensive but good. He grabbed the tumbler from the corner of the desk and poured a glass for himself. He took a long sip, placing the glass on the desk, he waited.

***

“Shinji…. Shinji.”

Iori’s eyes shot open, her vision focusing on the ceiling of her bedroom. Her sight became clearer and clearer with every passing moment. In the distance she heard her brother’s name, heard her mother’s voice, the two coinciding. She rose out of her bed to her dismay, her hair was a mess, and her body had no strength. Iori exited her room, down the hall, passed her father’s room and entered her mother’s room. There sitting up in her bed was Yoshimura Fumi, smiling, calling out her son’s name.

“Shinji is here; my baby boy is back.”

Fumi turned and watched Iori enter the room. Her smile never fading in the slightest.

“Iori, Shinji is home, did he find Tokutomi?”

Iori lowered her eyes, the moment didn’t last, as she looked at her mother, mirroring her smile.

“No, mom Shinji hasn’t been here in twelve years go back to sleep.”

She made her way to Fumi’s bedside, sitting next to her and wrapping her arm around her. She gently rubbed her shoulder and Fumi leaned in, resting her head on Iori’s shoulder.

“I can feel him, he is here.”

That made Iori second guess herself, Fumi’s dementia made her do random things at times. One of those random things happened to be using Magika. She needed to check for herself, but first she settled Fumi down to help her ailing mother return to sleep. Stepping out of the room and closing the door behind her, Iori closed her eyes and took a deep breath. Focusing her mind and channeling her mana, Iori started scanning the estate for foreign mana residuals. Shinji hadn’t stepped foot on the compound in years; any traces of his mana were long gone. Her eyes shot open, her face scrunched as she gritted her teeth. Like a cat burglar she tip-toed passed her children’s room, passed her father’s bedroom. Once the coast was clear Iori burst into a full sprint across the estate toward her father’s study. She slid across the hardwood floors, cutting around a corner, thinking of all the things she was going to say to the good for nothing.

“Gone for twelve years and showing up in the middle of the goddamn night. Upsetting mom, possibly waking up my kids, doesn’t he know it is a school night?”

Iori slid open the door with intent, but care, as not to wake the others and there just like their mother had said was Shinji. Sitting at their father’s desk, drinking his sake, the sake only Shinji knew how to find.

“The stones on you, showing up after all this time and like this.”

Holding his half empty glass with his fingertips, he snickered and took another sip before placing the glass on the desk.

“Took you long enough, I’m surprised Eisuke didn’t get here first, he must be sleeping. Get dressed, wear some clothes that you don’t care about”

He filled his glass a little more, feeling what he had in the glass wasn’t enough. He looked up, cocking his eyebrow.

“Why are you standing around doing nothing, get dressed.”

He broke the silence between the two, bossing around his younger sibling.

“You don’t have the right, not now, not after all this time. You can’t go bossing me around anymore Shinji we’re not teenagers anymore. What are you doing here? What’s the meaning of this?”

He took another sip of his drink, it was hard to say, he didn’t want to say it. Even if he did, it was something she had to see for herself.

“You have to see it for yourself, as Chairwoman of the board you might want to get ahead of this.”

Iori’s rage settled, if this had anything to do with the world of magika it was her obligation to see what Shinji wanted to show her.

“Alright, I’ll play ball Shinji after that, there are several things you and I need to talk out.”

“Your right about that.”