Beyond What We Think

The car we were in felt a little faster today. Me and Ridge took a cab towards the city the next day, towards one of the offices in Sendai. The port was on the outskirts, kind of like the one in Kochi, but here was the second office. I hadn't been here in quite some time; it brings back a lot of memories being here. As a kid or young teenager, the view of the city from the mountain area is what makes Japan special, to me at least. The variety in spaces. But we, me and Ridge hadn't talked much since he heard the story. It seems that he understands the mission more, and how real it is. It's much more than a fantasy, fable, or whatever it is we think. Way beyond that. And Shin has a lot to do with it.

"You haven't said much since yesterday. Have you talked to Shin anymore since you told me what was happening last?" It was the first thing that had been said between the two of us since last night actually.

"Do you really believe that? All this sto-" I simply shook my head. This wasn't the place to discuss that. Call me paranoid, but there isn't a length my father, or Shindo, wouldn't go to. You can never be too sure, he taught me that. "Answer me this, because he is my friend, is what we're doing the only reason you feel connected to him?"

That was easy. "Of course not. It was what interested me at first, because my father had raved and raved about him, something he usually never does. But after talking, and spending time with him, I'm certain we like the same things about him, enough to follow him to the worlds end."

***

Shindo Osaka

Age: 57

Astrological Sign/Birthdate: Virgo, August 27th

Height: 182 cm

Description: Short-cropped, dark black hair. always dressed business like. Fair skin with a shaved face and slight wrinkles around his eyebrows. Little bit of a wide chin

Hobbies: Gardening. Always goes down to one the farms he owns to keep himself grounded. Whatever that means to him.

Interesting fact: Doesn't want to share.

***

The car comes to a stop, and we roll right in front of the main office downtown Sendai. After bowing to the cab driver, Ridge pulled my arm as we were about to walk in.

"I don't know about this. It's dangerous." He says to me. Maybe it was a lot more than he could handle, but it's important that he knows the truth. Why I believe what I do.

"More importantly, what are we doing here? And now that we're outside," he looked around, "What makes any of this true?"

"Do you remember when I said you should go to Nagoya to check out the port?"

"Yes, of course. I was the one who called you about what I found."

"Okay, those red pills. What do you think those are?"

"I don't know, Rin. I don't have time for your rhetorical answers or psychological probing, or whatever."

That's fair. It's a habit being in this industry, explaining and overexplaining until it's understood. Moving towards a small bench that carried a few flowers, he followed me there, letting other people pass us by. 

"You say it's dangerous yet wonder the legitimacy of what you say is dangerous. Do you see how that sounds? Anyways, I was a meeting a few weeks ago, with the company, and I heard that the direction they're going in-"

"The direction you're going in. You're still apart of the company, no?"

"Yes, okay, we're going in, is in the pharmaceuticals."

"What? Since when does Osaka Industries invest on that front?"

"Oh no, this isn't an investment, it's a direct interest. They're building a plant to produce pills, medicine, things of that sort in the coming years, sooner than later."

"Wait, wait, wait. But doesn't that cross interests or can you even do that, is this approved by the government-"

"You understand why we're here. It's to get answers. And you say that this is dangerous, you're absolutely right it is. It's likely that the government is in on this too and contrary to popular belief, many people believe in the legitimacy of the story of The Seven Trees. They think there's going to be someone who has reincarnated to find all the seeds again and link the trees together."

"That's crazy."

"What's even crazier is according to how it goes, only one person can extract the seeds, just like only one person could plant them. It's a guess, just my personal one, that they would have to be of the same bloodline as the original. Super conspiracy, I know, but still. However, anyone can peel behind the tree bark and use the sap for their benefits."

"And what do you think Shin has to do with this?" He asked me.

"Let's go inside." This was known to me all along. The risks, the visions that have occurred to me about this, the fate and chance all lining up with this. It's worth betting my life on, certainly that's true. I just need to talk to Shin.

Ever since that day, two years ago, when I saw the Emperor at our house, it was something that couldn't be erased from my mind. Why? It's a major company, Osaka Industries, but it doesn't warrant the closeness of the relationship or a visit from the Emperor himself. And what about Tony, and the port in Kochi? Knowing him, it's almost no secret that he works with the Yakuza, getting and shipping illegal goods. I know the tree is real, even if I'm the only person who would believe it, but that's not true either, Rin?

We walk in, oh, they must've redone the floors. They weren't marble the last time I came. We go directly pass the front desk where three of the other women bow towards me, asking if I needed anything, who had I brought with me. As far as anyone knows today, Ridge is an investor checking out the business by the port to see if it is worth selling his small maritime company to be bought out by Osaka Industries. For luck, not too many people were at the office today, although there is someone that it would be nice to see.

Straight ahead, rounding the corner of the front desk, we boarded the elevator that extended all the way to 18 floors. This office actually was the first one before the one in Tokyo-

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"You really love him, don't you?" Rich threw at me, out of nowhere. "He's doing fine, and he told me last night that they arrived in Sendai, after some events, hm."

"I don't really want to know. And yeah, I do. There's a lot more to this than you think, and I don't know how much Shin has told you about this plan or whatever you want to call it-"

"Not much."

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The door parted to an empty hallway. Everyone was in their offices, toiling away at the work for the day. There is one cubicle like area towards the middle of the hall where conversation was still at a minimum, everyone looking at me and saluting me like I was the boss. Only the boss' daughter here, nothing special. At the end, there was one door slightly cracked where it sounded like a good conversation. It's always an effort of mine to not interrupt.

Knocking on the door, there was a hand that motioned for us to come in. 

"Hey, just let me do the talking, and I will update and translate as much as it permits, okay?" I whispered to him right outside of the door.

"Mm. mm. Yes, I understand. Keep it running at full speed and tell them we'll resume operations tomorrow. It can't be helped. Mm. Mm. Ok. Bye." 

"Ah, Rin-san, it's so nice to see you. I didn't know you were coming by today. Business from your father?" she stood up, bowing towards me, and me doing the same. 

"Ami-san, the pleasure is mine. No, no business from my father today. I actually came here to see you. May I sit?"

She motioned for me to do so, while Ridge had still been standing.

“Uh, excuse me but are you able to tell me your name sir? You are more than welcomed to be seated.” She motioned for him to take a seat, while I nudged him. "She asked for your name."

“Oh, uh, thank you for your uh, kindness. I am Ridge, thank you for having me.” He bowed then, whispering, “Dude, I never know how to act!”

You’ll get used to it, thinking to myself only giving him a smile of acknowledgment that I heard his response. Down to business.

“Actually, Ridge-san is a foreign investor from overseas, looking to expand into something bigger.”

“Bigger, how so? And what company is this?”

“Really just to sell, buy in to a bigger market and gain capital to venture off. Oh, the name of his company, it’s uh,” Maybe should’ve come a bit more prepared. “Ridgewater. Named after his sake. They mainly specialize in exporting building equipment, steel plates, and other things like maritime control and security.”

“That’s expansive, but I don’t think that’s the realm of Osaka Industries. Does your colleague speak Japanese?”

“Not one word.”

“Rin-san, does there happen to be another motive as to why you are here?” She asked, smiling towards us. "And are you able to translate between the two of us? I do not speak English, unfortunately." She remarked rather tenderly. It's not a requirement to know it, I hope she knows that. 

"That's not a problem, Ami-san. To answer your question, no. Not particularly so. Well, yes in the sense that I didn't come here behalf on my father, but rather my own accords." I said to Ami, then to Ridge, "Basically, she asked me why I came here, and I told her that I came for myself, not because my father told me so."

"So, what else are you going to say? Even I don't know what we're doing here." Ridge asked me, with Ami staring intently and focused.

"Remember, I got it. Let me talk and I'll explain later. I promise." 

"Ok."

"I came here to know how port operations were going and if you've noticed any... changes."

"Changes? I'm not sure what you would mean, Rin-san. Well, actually, we had to shut operations down for the day due to some complications with the equipment, but it should be resolved by tomorrow. Nothing out of the ordinary. Were you expecting something different from your question, Rin-san?

"Yes, actually. No routes have changed, or any public updates to the Natori River, activity that would be out of the ordinary?"

"No, not that I'm aware of. It would have to run by me and the team I have working down there in order for that to be the case. Plus, the city would have given us an ordinance for any such activity. It's been a steady rebuild, but you know, we've recovered a lot since the Earthquake that happened what seems like many years. It took so much from us and the people here."

"Of course, Ami-san. It has been and I'm glad things have recovered to a good point to rebuild tourism, daily activities, and the lives of the people who were affected." This is getting nowhere. But I don't want to raise suspicion. 

"Is it okay for us to speak like this while your colleague is here? You say he is here for business, this is still true, correct?"

"Yes, that's true. I will fill him in as much as it permits. You said operations are shut down for today, Ami-san?"

"That's correct, yes."

There's something I need to see for myself, with my own eyes. "Would it trouble you to take us down there and give a tour for the day, to see how we can better build connections with foreign investors such as Ridge?"

"If it is business related, not at all. When would you like to leave?"

"As soon as possible, Ridge-san has a flight to catch in the morning. He only came for the day."

"Of course, it would be my pleasure as Project Operational Manager of the Sendai port, Rin-san. I hope your father, Osaka-Shachou, will be hearing of this."

"I wouldn't have it any other way."

Off we go. I can taste it. The trail of the Yuzu tree is illuminating right before our eyes. Still, I can only wonder how Shin is doing. It's a weakness of mine; I must admit.

***