Page 58 of Pandion

“You,” Harumine butted in. “You caused all of this!”

It hadn’t felt right when Kagesawa had been arguing with Takazaki. Harumine would have made more of an effort to sort it out then, but he’d been on his meds. The feelings of regret and anger flooding in from Kagesawa’s side were overwhelming mixed with his own.

“It was slightly more effective than I’d hoped. I didn’t foresee all of this.” Yajima gestured at Takazaki’s corpse and the restof the apartment. “No one deserves to go like that.” He glanced down, his demeanour a strange mix of aloofness and caring.

“What?” he asked.

“You were linked to him, but you sound like you’re talking about a sandwich that fell on the floor.” Harumine wasn’t sure what he’d expected, but it wasn’t this.

Kagesawa had believed Takazaki had betrayed him, yet he’d been devastated when he’d found out about his death.

“We weren’t that fond of each other, but it was a convenient partnership. He was always a bit too into all the organism and tech stuff. Not my cup of tea. I thought he would have been better suited for you, Tsuyoshi-kun.” Yajima shrugged.

Kagesawa ignored him. “What now?” he asked instead.

“I guess I need to find someone else to work with. What’s the point of having this thing in my head if I don’t make use of it? I’ve got a few projects I’m working on. Need to get those wrapped up before I can hit the road and get the hell out of here.” Yajima paused for a moment before he continued. “I don’t suppose you’ve checked if it’s grown a lot since? In light of the recent data and considering the growth-rate, it wouldn’t surprise me if that thing actually gained sentience inside your head. That would give the JufO something real to chase.”

“Wouldn’t say if it did.” The corner of Kagesawa’s eye was twitching.

“Figures. Well, I’d love to stay and chat, but since this wasn’t the warm welcome I was expecting, I think I’ll take my leave.” As he passed them, Yajima politely nodded to Harumine. Harumine nodded back out of instinct and watched Kagesawa, worried.

Are you all right?he asked, though it was obvious through the link how Kagesawa was feeling. Any plans of doing something about it, though, were interrupted by Yajima sounding the alarm from the front door.

“There’s people down there.” He doubled back into the hallway.

Harumine checked the corridor. A group of people, difficult to say how many, had returned.

Shit, didn’t they do enough damage yesterday?Harumine tried to make out what they were saying. Someone was answering all of their questions. Knowing how well-liked Kagesawa was by his neighbours, it was difficult to imagine why anyone would give them anything.

Who is it?Kagesawa joined them at the door.

The people somewhere downstairs were having a conversation:

“I called you as soon as I saw him. I’ve seen him here occasionally, going into apartment seventy-eight.”

“Seventy-eight. Was that where we found one yesterday?”

“There should be a pair in seventy-nine as well.”

“It was empty, but we did find empath tech in there. Maybe they’re back.”

The prospect of having to jump out the window again did not appeal to Harumine, but it seemed where this situation was heading.

Who the hell is it? I know this voice.Kagesawa tried to see behind the corner and down the stairs without attracting attention.

Does it matter? We need to get the hell out of here.

“Guys, they’ll head up soon.” Yajima was looking for an alternative route out of Takazaki’s apartment.

Take Yajima and go to seventy-six. Noguchi-san will let you in. I’ll be right there.Kagesawa headed back into their apartment.

“What’s he doing?” Yajima had time to ask before Harumine pulled him along down the hall.

As they passed the stairs, Harumine could see enough to guess which door the people downstairs had knocked. It being at an angle from the stairs, he and Yajima had no trouble passing by undetected.

It’s Nishimura.Harumine rang Noguchi-san’s doorbell.

That can’t be right.

---