Storming the Diet Building ~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~ Kushinami Arcade School was out. For Yui, the day went by as quickly as it came. Ever since hearing about the assassination of Sakamoto Gendo, the Daigishi whom had probably been one of the few members of Diet in opposition to the Koga... things had been moving swiftly in Yui's mind. Though she spent most of the day with Haruko and tried to concentrate on her schoolwork; the deep mind of the Morioka girl couldn't help but plan out her next mode of action. The Hirotsugu Issue could not wait. Yui was not only being paid to end his life... but she had her own issues to deal with as well. Which was why she wanted to get to the Diet Building as soon as possible. Of course; this was easier said than done with Haruko around. Once classes ended, Yui had tried to make a break for home. They she would get changed and head straight for the Diet. But Haruko apparently had other ideas. She insisted that Yui come with her to Kushinami Arcade again. Yui had protested a little at this, saying simply that she had 'issues' to take care of at home. But one stern and demanding look from Haruko put that all away. And Yui could hardly say no to her. There weren't many who could say no to Uchida Haruko when she had set her heart on something. So the girl from the north followed the Tokyo-borne class rep straight from Kimagure Gakuen to Kushinami Arcade. It was less of an Arcade and more of a mix of one; slashing the games machines with tables and chairs. At which people could sit and order something from the fast food vendor on the other side of the Arcade. It mostly sold all those junky, greasy foods that had piled up in Japan since the rapid westernisation it underwent from the late 1980's onwards. Places like this were even more popular today than they once had been. Which was one of the reasons why Haruko had wanted to get here quickly. They weren't the only people from school who came here. And it was often hard to find a decent table at Kushinami Arcade during weekday afternoons. Just like it was on a busy Saturday. But Haruko and Yui had scored big time when they found a free table just a little ways south of the games area. To be fair, since Haruko was paying for all this; Yui decided to pick up whatever food Haruko wanted from the front. Which it as it turns out; were a cheeseburger, fries and a shake. Yui really didn't take Haruko for a girl into the dishes of the west. But that was what she asked for; so that was what she got. Yui herself didn't bother to buy anything else for herself other than a glass of water. Her mind was sort of locked on what she had to deal with later on. But not so much that Haruko could see that something was wrong. The last thing Yui wanted was for Haruko to question her about that. After all... she was trying very hard to keep her double lives as separate as possible. The last thing that Yui would have wanted would be to involve her newest friend in the violent and bloody activities of her alter ego, Shiki. Yui brought the food order around to her and Haruko's table. They quickly sat down; and Haruko ate. With disturbingly polite manners. For a girl who went to arcades, Haruko came off awfully reserved. But they managed to talk a little and enjoy themselves. Yui still felt a little drawn to her duties later on, but spending time with Haruko did managed to cool her down a little. It was another one of the reasons that Yui valued Haruko as much as she did. They hadn't known each other long but the class rep had grown important to the country girl. Haruko nibbled on one of her fries as she watched a few of the boys (from the neighbouring schools of Kimagure Gakuen) try out the games of Kushinami Arcade. And one particular scenario had caught her eye. Some guy was trying to rack up a high score in one of those mini-basketball games. Every time he reached five or six though; he missed his target and had to start again. Haruko giggled at that. She liked it when people made an effort and stuck to it. And it was (truth be told) a pleasure for her to see a guy get so scrambled over something so unimportant. "Hey Yui-san," Haruko whispered, pointing to the right, "Check out that guy. He could use some real help don't you think?" Yui placed her glass of water down and looked around to where Haruko had been pointing. She saw the young man that she had been pointing to. He threw another few slips of yen to the guy who was manning that mini-basketball stall. Then got another selection of b-balls to chuck through the hoop. He failed again without beating his previous score. He then scowled and began fishing out more money to buy more balls. Yui blinked. "What's up with him? What so special about that game?" "Who knows," Haruko quipped, shrugging, "But you know what guys are like. They never want to be outdone at anything. Even if they're not actually competing against anyone." Yui tilted her head to the side. "You really think that about boys?" "Oh yeah, of course I do," Then the blonde Haruko looked over her shoulder with an irritated smile. So look who had shown up... "Speaking of which..." When Yui saw that Haruko's attention was lost to someone else again; Yui followed the look. She peered over her shoulders and took a glance at the front of the Arcade. The long glass doors parted as a tall figure strode through them; his image obscured by the brightness of the sun behind him. Once he walked closer to the table, Yui made out who he was without fail. None other than Uchida Hibuki, the elder of the Uchida Siblings. Hibuki gave a confident smile to the two friends; ignoring those large waves of attention he was getting from the female members of the crowds in Kushinada Arcade. Hibuki walked up to Yui and Haruko's table, pulled out a chair and took a seat, leaning back with a breath. Haruko shook her head with irritation. "Look, big brother dearest. I don't know how many times I have to say it before it sinks into that thick skull of yours. When you agree to meet with me... don't show up late!" "Geez," Hibuki slung one of his arms over the back of the chair, "Do we have to go through this every time we meet up? You know I just can't help coming late sometimes, Haruko-chan. It's hard work for me to get here. Late buses and all that." Haruko looked away with a pout. "Sounds like nothing more than excuses to me. And while we're talking; do you mind telling me where you were last night? You came home so late that Okaa-san was getting worried. And then you zoomed out this morning like a flash." Though Yui only caught it for a split second, there was a hint of seriousness in Hibuki's eyes from hearing that. Something that almost tinged on... sadness. "...I had a few things to clear up for my part time job up in Shibuya. I explained it to Okaa-san last night. And I left early this morning because I have to work on my Art Project. And you remember that don't you? The project that counts for half of my grade in my Art class? The one you refuse to help me on?" Haruko scowled at her brother. "I know you're not trying to blame me for that! You're my senior at school, you should be setting an example for me! I swear, Hibuki-kun. You are so lazy when it comes to schoolwork." "Yeah, whatever you say, little sis," Then the eased young man looked to his left, locking eyes with Yui. He gave a her a bright smile, and realized that he hadn't even said hello to her yet, "How's it going, Yui-san?" Yui smiled back and nodded. "Fine. It's nice to see you again, Hibuki-san." "You do not have to be so nice to my slacker of a brother, Yui-san," Haruko said, giving her brother a cocky smirk, "He'll probably try and rope you into helping him complete his Art project or something." Hibuki shook his head. "No, of course not. I'm not that type of guy. And Yui-san's new to the school. I doubt that she could help me on it. Besides..." Hibuki stopped himself when he saw that Yui's attentions had switched to something else. That mini-basketball game that Haruko had been point at. Hibuki looked over at it too. Then Haruko did the same; just to be a part of the club. By now the guy whom had been manning it before had gone. He probably ran out of money. At this time; the prizes for the game were revealed. A few stuffed animals mostly. Which pretty much confirmed to Haruko that the previous schoolboy was on an ego trip. Unless he had a weird fondness for plush teddy bears and pink monkeys. Hibuki then looked back at Yui. "...You wanna try that game out, Yui-san?" "...Well..." The Morioka girl looked downwards, bashfully, "...I'd like to have one of those stuffed animals... but I'm not so good at those kinds of games. I guess it doesn't much matter." "Now, now," Hibuki cast another look at that mini-basketball stall, rolling up the sleeves of his large white school shirt, "If you want something then I can't let you leave empty-handed. Especially when you're one of Haruko-chan's friends. You have to have the patience of the gods to put up with her." Haruko scowled at her brother once more. "What did you say?!" "Lighten up!" Hibuki stood up from the table, leaving the irate Haruko and the giggling Yui to walk over to the mini-basketball game. He went into the pocket of his school trousers. He withdrew his wallet and pulled out some slips of yen. But just enough to buy one ball to use. The person at the side of the stall took Hibuki's money and gave him the one ball he bought. Maybe a little thrown by the Uchida Brother's confidence. There was no way he could get far with just one ball. Haruko seemed to have the same opinion in the matter. She gave a disbelieving smile at the sight. Her lazy brother could never get that done. Yui remained more curious to the bravado rather than cynical. People did tend to surprise you when it came to Tokyo life. The older of the Uchida siblings stood ahead of the mini-basketball stand. He positioned the basketball between both hands in an awkward but focused pose. Then he took the shot. The ball was launched from his hands and rang straight down the hoop. Score! Haruko blinked. "Meh. Nothing but dumb luck." The ball rolled back down the blue fabric of rectangular plastic compartment. Till it reached Hibuki's hands again. And then he did the same thing; taking his shot. And he scored. The cynical expression on Haruko's face melted slowly in one of humoured surprise as Hibuki repeated the process again and again and again. Each time he sunk another basket. Yui gave the older youth a warm smile as he began racking up a huge, untainted tally. Some of the nearby girls gathered around with charmed expressions. While the other boys looked on at the skill this seemingly vacant senior was using. He kept up that great run until he finally landed his thirtieth basket. Top score! And with only one basketball, too! The worker of the mini-basketball stall gave an astounded look, just as the crowds that had begun surrounding him did. "...Uh... well what would you like as a prize...?" Hibuki looked over at his table and yelled to Yui. "Hey Yui-san! What one do you want?!" The impressed brown-haired girl made her choice. "...Um, how about that stuffed panda...?" Accepted. Hibuki looked over at the owner and pointed out what Yui had asked for. The stuffed panda on the side shelf of the mini-basketball stand. The worker went over to it and took it down and presented it to Hibuki. The Uchida boy nodded in thanks then strode over to his table. Where a grateful Yui and a stunned Haruko sat. Hibuki handed the panda to Yui and then sat down. "There you go, Yui-san," The older youth said, grinning, "Piece of cake." Yui took the panda with thanks, gave it a warm little hug, then smiled at the man whom had won it for her. "Thank you so much, Hibuki-san. You were amazing!" "Naturally," Hibuki waved his hand at Haruko, "So is there anything I can get for you, Haruko-sama? Some humble pie, perhaps?" Haruko shook her fist at her brother. While Hibuki just chuckled to himself. Yui watched to two bickering siblings with a smile. Experiencing moments like this just served to drive her passion even further. These people were her friends now. She had to protect them from harm. She had to stop the likes of Hirotsugu. ...To keep safe those she cared about most. ~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~ Outside the National Diet Building In the long stone-paved path to the central Diet building, many news reporters had gathered together. It was pitch black. Almost ten o'clock at night. Puddles of wetness had settled into the pavements from the build up of rain that had poured down since the late afternoon. It was a grim time to be involved in Japanese Politics. Something that Prime Minister Fujiwara had learned for himself; first hand. An elongated limousine pulled up to the long path that stretched from the Diet Building to the circular roundabout that had been erected a good fifty yards from the main building. The second that it came to view, the dozens of reporters and Japanese paparazzi gathered around the limo sharply to speak with the man inside. Their cries and demands to know what Fujiwara's true opinion was were loud and frank. Nobody could have ignored them. The crowds of media vultures grew in the fervour as one of the back doors to the limo began opening. Two burly black suit bodyguards peeled out of the front of the limo and walked back to stand before the opening back door. Then emerged the powerless Prime Minister of Japan, Fujiwara Jiro. Bright flashes from cameras soon took the fold. As did the usual jeering questions, "Fujiwara-san, what additional comments do you have for the Shakai-minshu tou?" "Fujiwara-san, some of your peers have claimed that this brutal killing is too convenient for you and your current Hoshutou-led government to be a random occurrence. Do you have anything to say in reply to that?" "Fujiwara-san, do you have any words of sympathy for the family of Sakamoto-san?" The usual questions expected when dealing with such a sensitive issue. But he was unwilling to say anymore than he had done at the morning media conference. More of the media hounds surrounded the PM as he made his way towards the Diet Building. They all clambered around him; not just Japanese media, but reporters from foreign countries, such as America, Britain, China, Korea, Germany, Russia, etc. It was a world affair now. And nobody could ignore some of the more glaring facts of the case. Sakamoto had been one of the staunchest members of the Shakai-minshu tou (Social Democratic Party) and one of the most vocal of those apposed to Fujiwara's Government. Few as they were. The assassination seemed to play right into Fujiwara Jiro's hands. That was the outside, unknowing view. These people could have had absolutely no idea that Fujiwara was completely uninvolved in the murder of Sakamoto. He was irritated by it. But he knew that it could not be helped. He knew how politics (both national and international) worked in this day and age. They lived in a comfortable world. Where the slightest graze to the national skin was abhorred. Dozens of his political enemies would clamour around this tragedy and use it to twist the fabric of their arguments against his leadership. It was probably anticipated by Hirotsugu. This effect of Sakamoto Gendo's death. The impact it would have. Just to make things harder for him. To make it harder for him to refuse the proposal that the Honshu Koga had 'offered'. The Prime Minister made his way through the roving band of reporters (both foreign and home-grown) with his bodyguards to either side of him. All the questions, banter and camera flashing was ignored while he strode up the large front steps of that large symbol of Japanese democracy, the National Diet Building. From this point onwards, no common member of the public was allowed so Fujiwara left all of his budding crowds back at the front steps. Those who tried to force more out of the PM by following him were held back by a selection of hulking security officers. Fujiwara stepped into the building's front doors and vanished from public sight. Far from the very steps of the building, a good 200 metres away, were the surrounding buildings and the traffic beneath them. One particular skyscraper stood out. But not because of its design or what the people inside it did for a living. It stood out from the rest because of the determined shinobi on its roof. In that wet night sky, with her body fully adorned in her ninja clothing; was Shiki. The murderous alter ego of Hazumaru Yui. The kunoichi pressed her foot into the ledge of that tall building and smiled from behind her facial wrappings. Looking over the scene to the Diet Building. She was a fair distance from the building itself but could see all that had happened. Her eyesight had been one of the things improved in her training. Nothing could escape her vision. But the most important thing now would be to speak with Fujiwara himself. Shiki knew full well that the PM had to have had some sort of contact with Hirotsugu at some point. He would know where to find the bastard. And to be brutally honest, Fujiwara was in no position to hide anything either. If Yui didn't kill the Honshu Koga soon, then Fujiwara would probably fall to the Six Orochi in the same way that Sakamoto Gendo had done. Now. To get inside. It would be tough with all these guards around. Shiki guessed that she probably should have come to the Diet Building earlier, and wait for Fujiwara to arrive. But there was no time for regrets. If she couldn't sneak in under the power of her stealth then she would have to rely on her Ninjutsu. The Shunhenkou technique. If she could switch bodies with someone in the building and then make her way... that would work. Shiki quickly made the two-fingered sign of the shinobi and shut her eyes. She had to search that place out with the power of her Mind's Eye. Shiki's mental vision remained blank. Her senses had to stay fixed on the inner workings of the Diet Building if she ever stood a chance of getting inside it. The mental vision of hers soon grew stronger. In her psyche she could start making out... the layout of the building. Some of the rooms and halls. Heavily guarded from the outside... but not so much on the inside. Typical. Security was always tight around places as this after dealing with a politically-inclined assassination. Shiki soon realized that she couldn't find the exact room in which Fujiwara was going to be. But that didn't really matter. As long as she found a way to get inside; she could wing it from there. Her Mind's Eye kept searching until she found someone she could switch with. A sole security guard in the west wing. Perfect. She couldn't meet eyes with him for the Shunhenkou; but her Mind's Eye was strong enough to compensate for that (unlike with Ryoko's Ninjutsu fog; which blocked both her Mind's Eye and her regular eyes). Just the right man and place for the job. Shiki shot her free hand downwards. "Shunhenkou!" The kunoichi of fire disappeared in thick puff of greyish smoke in that instant. Once the smoke disappeared into the damp night air; a burly security guard was left in her place. He gave a surprised glimpse around his surroundings and then gasped as he realized that he was standing on the roof of a gigantic skyscraper. And with that note... Shiki was inside the Diet Building.
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