Koji - The White Dragon - 7. Chapter 7

Chapter 7: An Honest Conversation

I - The Truth about Koji Sukiyama

Koji insisted on taking Maki back to Hotel Ume. He did not trust her alone, and frankly, Andre didn’t either. Maki needed an appointment with a psychiatrist, and her mother around her. Andre’s gaze shifted to Koji.

Koji looked tired, exhausted.

When they entered the dining room, Tomoyo ordered a cup of hot tea for Maki, and settled her at the dining table. The place was quiet, investigators already out chasing leads. Koji sat at the head of the table and rested his head on his folded arms. Andre frowned when Tomoyo patted Koji’s shoulders.

“I’m going to the kitchen,” Tomoyo said. “Koji, you need food to restore your energy. Rest for now before you talk to Maki.”

Koji nodded but didn’t raise his head.

Andre frowned.

Koji really did look too tired.

Andre thought of the traces of blood on Koji’s nose earlier and wondered if they shouldn’t take him to a doctor.

Luc touched his elbow, and Andre turned to him.

“There is a call from Lacome Villa. Confusion with a supplier, I’ll deal with it.”

Andre nodded, watching Luc hurry out of the dining room to find a private place. He hoped it was nothing too serious.

Ogun followed Tomoyo to what Andre assumed was the kitchen.

Andre watched Maki sip her tea. She looked drained too, tear tracks staining her cheeks. Left in a room with a young man with a mysterious identity, and a woman who clearly wasn’t sure about living, Andre could only sigh.

Fantastic turn of events.

Koji lifted his head from the table, his attention on Maki.

“Maki,” Koji started.

“Koji, I thought Tomoyo said to rest?” Andre asked. “Are you sure you shouldn’t take a nap?”

“There are children missing. Who has time?” Koji asked, his gaze still on Maki.

“But—,” Andre started.

“Andre, help out and get Maki a sandwich from the kitchen. It is way past lunchtime, and I’m sure she’s starving. Tomoyo only knows to worry about me.”

Andre knew Koji was sending him away, and wanted to protest, but then Koji turned his blue eyes on him.

Oh, what did he know?

Andre decided to find Tomoyo and bring her back to deal with her strong-willed charge.

“Maki, why don’t you tell me your version of the day Sakura disappeared?”

Andre heard Koji prompt Maki as he headed to the kitchen.

Maki spoke in a low tone, so Andre was unable to hear her answer. He hurried to the kitchen wanting to get Maki’s sandwich fast and stopped short when he found Ogun and Tomoyo arguing in the kitchen.

“Don’t include the suicidal witness in your report to Tama,” Tomoyo said, her tone severe. “One word and you’ll have him coming here to take Koji back home. Ogun—”

“I don’t need you to tell me what to keep out of my reports,” Ogun snapped. “I’ve looked out for Koji a long time. I know what to say and what not to.”

“Yeah, then how come he ended up in a shootout the other day?”

“That’s a low shot,” Ogun said with a scowl, he leaned on the counter, watching Tomoyo slice egg sandwiches. “Anyway, why is Koji so tired today? I thought I saw a nosebleed. Is something wrong with him?”

Tomoyo kept silent, and Andre leaned on the wall outside the kitchen doors, curiosity turning him into an eavesdropper.

“This Seiryu Academy jobs drain him too fast. Anyway, I think his abilities are growing stronger, or have grown stronger, and he has hidden it from Saya and Tama. We were in a small shop today, and he stood there for a few minutes. I could tell he was doing his mind-reading thing. His eye color changed too fast, and I had to shove dark glasses at him to hide them.”

“The eyes are always a surprise,” Ogun agreed.

Andre bit back a laugh at the conversation in the kitchen.

Mind-reading thing? Did they know he was eavesdropping? It seemed like a thing to makeup if you thought someone was eavesdropping on you.

Yet, he could not stop eavesdropping, watching the two through a gap on the door.

“How does it work?” Ogun asked, taking a small slice of egg sandwich and taking a bite.

Ogun started to sit on to the counter but Tomoyo smacked his arm, stopping him. He sighed and concentrated on eating the sandwich.

“I mean, I know what he is capable of doing, but not how or why. Tomoyo, is he really possessed by some sort of dragon? Does it come out when he’s sleeping and haunt the house? I wouldn’t be surprised. Weird things happen in the Sukiyama house, you know. And who can ignore Saya, she’s creepier than everything else.”

Tomoyo burst out laughing.

“She better not hear you say that,” Tomoyo said, shaking her head. “No, Koji doesn’t have a dragon that comes out when he’s sleeping. That’s absurd.”

“Everyone in the Seiryu Academy sure thinks so. It’s the freaky blue eyes,” Ogun said, finishing his sandwich. He leaned closer to Tomoyo and in a dramatic whisper, begged. “Please…tell me. I don’t want to freak out every time his eyes turn. It hurts him, but I can’t help it. It’s weird thinking that a dragon is looking back at me.”

Tomoyo finished with the sandwiches, and placed them on two large plates. She took the kettle and went to the sink to fill it with water. When she placed it on its pad and turned it on, she stared at the red button.

“Let’s just say that Koji is blessed with great genes. His mother’s bloodline guards what they call the Seiryu Spirit. A guardian spirit, or will, a serious large force of good karma. If you have Koji on your side, you will always have good fortune. This is why the Sukiyama clan is so prosperous no matter the era. One like Koji is born as a second child in each generation.”

Tomoyo turned to face Ogun, her dark gaze seeing through him, and resting on the kitchen door. For a second, Andre imagined she had seen him when she didn’t speak, but then she shrugged and continued.

“But the gift of sight comes from his father’s bloodline,” Tomoyo said, with a bit of reverence. “Coupled with the Seiryu spirit, it turned Koji into a very powerful telepath. With a touch, Koji will tell you your past, what you’ve been up to today, or might do tomorrow. That’s why he is perfect for these types of cases, though they tend to wipe him out. Koji overextends himself in an urgency to solve the case. I imagine using your brain to invade thousands of minds for too long, will take a toll.”

Andre stepped back, remembering Koji sitting on the ledge, his hand on Maki’s leg, blood running down his nose. Koji turning away from him to hide it.

“That makes sense,” Andre heard Ogun say, as though it was perfectly normal to discuss a man who can read thoughts. “No wonder Tama-san is always worried. This case, I wish it ends fast.”

“We just need to find Sakura,” Tomoyo stated as the kettle stopped.

Andre stepped back from the door, thinking them crazy.

Koji, a telepath?

An unbelievable explanation, what was crazy was that he believed it.

Or wanted to, somehow, wouldn’t it make clearing Henri’s name easy?

Deciding Tomoyo would bring out the food when she was ready, Andre returned to the dining room to find Maki alone with Luc.

“Where is Koji?” Andre asked, wanting to talk to Koji alone.

“He went upstairs, something about washing up,” Luc said.

How perfect.

“I’ll be right back,” Andre said, heading out of the dining room.

“The flower room is on the third floor,” Luc called after him, and Andre gave him a thankful grin.

Andre took the stairs one at a time. It wasn’t until he reached outside the flower room that he wondered how he was to get in to Koji’s room. The door was closed, and for a moment, he hesitated. Then he tried the lock, and the door opened easily.

Entering Koji’s room, he paused, taking in the subtle elegance. Papers scattered on the glass coffee table at the small living area. The bed was neat, and beyond that was a small balcony with a view of the river below.

No Koji…

Andre started to turn, thinking he had missed him on the way up, and then he heard water running in the bathroom. Andre let a soft sigh of relief escape and moved to the balcony to wait for Koji.

***

II – Andre Lacome

Koji washed off blood from his nose. When it was clean, he cupped his hands under the water and splashed cold water on his face, hoping to clear his head. Shutting the water, he stared into the mirror. His eyes were back to normal, the dry blood gone. His headache was still present, though manageable. Maybe a nap was in order, and a pair of painkillers.

He thought about Maki waiting downstairs, and the missing Sakura, and sighed.

Maybe just the painkillers, he thought, opening the cabinet above the sink.

Koji found the bottle he had brought with him and swallowed two with water directly from the tap.

Wiping his face with a small face towel, he closed the cabinet, meeting his gaze in the mirror. He wanted this case to end fast. Wanted to head back to Tokyo and talk to the woman who knew his mother. The woman who might give him some small insight into his mother.

He spent so much time doing what other people wanted: what Saya wanted, what Tama wanted…what about what he wanted?

“Okaasan,” Koji murmured. “I only want to know who you were, and where I fit.”

Such a simple want. Why was it so hard to achieve?

Koji dropped the face towel into the laundry basket in the corner and paused when he heard movement in his suite. He couldn’t seem to get a minute to himself on this trip. If it wasn’t Ogun, it was Tomoyo, or one of the academy staff bringing him information.

He needed to finish with this case.

Opening the bathroom door, Koji paused when he saw Andre sitting on of the chairs by the balcony windows.

“Feeling better?” Andre asked, looking him up and down.

Koji slipped his hands into his trouser pockets and stared at Andre Lacome. While he couldn’t read anything from Andre, Luc Baptiste was easy prey.

Luc had returned while Andre was in the kitchen looking for Tomoyo. All it had taken was a handshake, and Koji discovered all there was about Andre Lacome and his dear younger brother, Henri.

Looking at Andre now, he wondered what he should do about a suspect’s brother meddling in a missing person’s case.

“Koji?”

“Much better,” Koji answered Andre’s question, looking around his suite.

They were quite alone.

“Ogun and Tomoyo are still in the kitchen. I snuck up here.”

Andre confessed with a playful grin.

“You also forgot to lock your door,” Andre provided.

There was no point locking his door with all the traffic that passed through it. Koji shrugged and went to sit in the chair on Andre’s left. The silence in his head was welcome, it was blissful to sit and simply watch the river flow, no stray thoughts intruding in his head.

Andre was both a treasure and a torture.

Andre cleared his throat when Koji settled and broke the silence.

“I think we should get to know each other. I have many questions about you, and this case—”

“Andre Lacome.” Koji stated, his gaze still on the flowing river below. Thinking it was better to set boundaries with this one.

Koji did not want to rely on Andre and the comfort he clearly represented.

“Your younger brother is Henri Lacome, owner of HL Capital, an investment firm involved with the child trafficking mess in Kobe. The warehouse where the children were found is said to be owned by your brother.”

Andre stilled, shifting to face Koji.

“Why are you in Kyoto?” Koji asked.

Koji lifted his hand to stop Andre when he started to talk.

“Henri is framed by Daye Chang,” Koji said. “Daye Chang is using HL Capital as a shield. You should be worried. The people behind Daye Chang are quite capable. You want to clear your brother’s name, and the Lacome name, and then return to your Lacome Villa in the French Riviera and tend to your many family businesses.”

Koji smiled.

“Your friend downstairs, Luc Baptiste, is your business manager/cum lawyer. He is quite capable and very loyal to you and your family. I’m inclined to like you, as your favorite investment preference is art. You own a painting named A Woman’s Heart, auctioned at a private function in New York. It didn’t come cheap, but you love art so you bought it.”

“For someone I met last night, you know an awful lot about me,” Andre said, chilled by Koji’s speech.

Thinking about Tomoyo’s explanation downstairs, Andre found he didn’t like not having any defenses against Koji. The absolute lack of privacy unsettled him.

“You walked into a high profile investigation, asking questions about a victim. If we can’t figure you out, we have no business finding missing children.”

Andre folded his arms against his chest unable to argue with that logic.

"What is intriguing is why you are so curious about Sakura Toshiro? Why is a man here to prove his brother’s innocence, interested in a local girl's disappearance?" Koji continued. "I should pursue it, but not yet."

"Why?" Andre asked.

"Because, you're a piece that doesn't fit the puzzle, yet. So, I will let you stay close."

“Hmm…" Andre frowned. "What about you, Koji Sukiyama?”

“What about me?” Koji asked, finally looking at him.

“You seem to know everything about me,” Andre said, unable to keep accusation out of his voice. “Won’t you tell me about you? What do you gain from being here?”

“I gain nothing here. I'm helping find lost children,” Koji answered, his voice thoughtful. “Sometimes, I find people and things.”

Andre narrowed his gaze.

“Do you like it?”

“Like what?”

“Finding people and things?”

“I—”

Koji broke off, thinking. Then he stood up from his chair and gave Andre a small smile.

“I’ll tell you when I find little Sakura,” Koji said, moving to take a green sweater over a suitcase in the corner. He seemed to favor the color green.

As Koji wore the sweater, Andre stood too.

“Will you help me clear my brother’s name?” Andre asked, knowing this was the request he had meant to ask. The request that had brought him up here to find Koji.

“Henri,” Koji said, testing out the name. “Is he innocent?”

“Henri is many things, but he is no child trafficker.”

“You love him.”

“He’s my brother.”

Koji smiled.

“You remind me of someone.”

“So…” Andre prompted when Koji remained standing without answering his question.

“Will you help me?”

“Depends,” Koji said, stretching his arms above his head.

“On what?” Andre asked, frowning again.

“On where this case takes us,” Koji said, dropping his arms and heading to the door.

“I’ve made a gamble focusing on Sakura, while there are fourteen other children missing. It could be the wrong choice. I might be on the wrong track, and have to start again. I won’t know until it’s too late. If I’m wrong, then this will take longer—”

“You think following Sakura’s last day will lead you to the rest of the children.”

Koji flashed him a smile as he stepped out of his suite.

“You catch on fast.”

“You still haven’t told me about you,” Andre noted, watching Koji lock his door this time, and then they headed to the stairs. “Only that you find people.”

“What more is there?” Koji asked, taking the lead down the stairs.

Is it true you can read people’s thoughts? Andre wanted to ask.

For a second the words were on the tip of his tongue. He swallowed the question though. It seemed too crazy, even for this situation. Tomoyo and Ogun must have been putting him on for eavesdropping on them.

“Where are you from?” Andre asked instead.

“Japan.”

“Ok, I deserve that.” Andre chuckled. “You seem too young to be involved in a police investigation.”

“I’m a child genius.”

“Really?” Andre stopped. Koji was clearly playing with him. “That’s not an answer.”

“Isn’t it?” Koji asked, looking at him, as he continued down the stairs. “I’m twenty. Of course, only elites are allowed into Special Investigations. I’m helping seasoned police officers solve a case. Don’t you think that makes me a genius?”

“Way to be modest,” Andre scoffed, and followed the child prodigy down the stairs. “All the twenty year olds I know are neck deep in college debt, and getting hammered in underground clubs.”

“Depends on which twenty year olds you know,” Koji answered.

“You’re frustrating,” Andre decided.

“So I’m often told.”

They got to the ground floor and Koji reached for the exit door into the main lobby.

“Hey, there is a thing to know about me since you’re so curious. I’m a frustrating child genius.”

Andre grabbed Koji’s left wrist, stopping him from opening the door.

Koji’s gaze fell on the spot where Andre held his hand. His gaze shining brilliant blue for a moment, but then it could have been a play of light, Andre couldn’t tell.

“Koji.”

“Don’t,” Koji said, meeting Andre’s gaze then. “Don’t try to jump into the deep end. The deep end is full of sharks. Where you are now is safe. Stay in the shallow waters, Andre. I’ll do what I can for your Henri; get you out as fast as I can. Then you can go back to Lacome Villa. It feels like a happy, warm place.”

With that speech, Koji pulled his arm out of Andre’s hold, opened the door and headed to the dining room.

Andre followed him at a much slower pace, his heart uneasy at the clear rejection in Koji’s eyes. So intriguing and frustrating at the same time. Andre sighed, and then stopped in the middle of the hallway.

If he were to believe Tomoyo about Koji reading people’s thoughts with a touch—

Andre gaped, his hand covering his mouth.

What had Koji read in the moment Andre grabbed his hand just now?

For a millisecond, his heartbeat sped up, but then a laugh bubbled out of him in the next minute at the ridiculous thought. Tomoyo had gotten him good.

***