Kibe was making his way to Jun's home via taxi service. As he was in the backseat he got a phone call from Kiko. He picked it up and leaned back.
"I assume you got my gift." Kibe said
"Your gift huh? Well yes I did, they're pleased with what you did.
You did exactly as I told them you would." Kiko said as she sat on her cushions in her room. She was typing on her tablet and eating dry cereal.
"Ah right, the little group your so involved in-"
"We're involved in, remember what I said. You are a part of them too." Kiko said. Kibe leaned back in his seat before telling the cab to stop, he got out and walked towards the the nice hotel. He looked up at it, it was decorated with a nice place vanilla color, the colors of ghostly purples and ghastly reds complimented the decorum. The hotel was gorgeous.
"Alright, enough beating around the figurative bush. I need the information you promised me.
No lying." Kibe said
"Of course, buckle in. Cause this is going to be quite the dump." Kiko said as Kibe looked over and saw a flower stand, a man with a flower hat made of roses and orchids was selling whole bouquets. Kibe walked over and looked at them, still on the phone.
"The world of Intellectualism, its an organization thats isolated and very, very, very secretive. They originated in France, Dr.Abel. smartest man in the world. Though you won't find him on any magazines or news channels. No, he wanted to keep everything about him and his research into, stoicism locked down. He wanted to keep it all private, said. Knowledge should belong to those who are willing to write the checks; to get it.
Because the exchange of money is the most honest showing of desire and want." Kiko said, Kibe grabbed a bouquet and payed the man. He then walked into the lobby. He looked around and saw plenty of people walking in and out.
"So its a French organization, why am I getting old German or isolation camp feelings from this." Kibe said into the phone as he went the front desk and asked for Mr.Nakayama's room and floor number.
"Thats because it probably would be very comparable to it. Though, it was more so in the mental department.
Dr.Abel had some of the top geniuses in the world there, in that one mansion. One palace. The classes there, were only for children and toddlers.
The teachers there were very good, they estimated that by the age of 10 they could have a ordinary student reach an IQ of approximately 210. Not including psychological and neural science-based teachings, which can have those ratings skyrocket." Kiko said as Kibe got in the elevator and pushed a button for the 5th floor.
"Sounds like pretty easy to he a genius there. So how come there aren't more students of Intellectualism walking around?" Kibe asked
"Because the lessons are intense. Physic breaks, mental health decreases and of course permanent brain damage; were some of the more well known symptoms of the lessons. There were others of course, but those were the main few to know about.
The survival rate was less than 20%. Some sent their children there and would given back a vegetable, others? Well they got they're moneys worth. They got back CEOs, governors, politicians, lawyers, soldiers and so much more." Kiko said, Kibe exited the elevator. His brain going through this information like butter, but it didn't get put in a shelf in his memory palace. Instead. The gates that boarded off places in his memory palace, were beginning to break and restore old knowledge and memories.
Experiences that he had long since forgotten...or made to forget.
"...And the 1%, they could rule the world. Flip entire continents on their heads." Kibe said which suprised Kiko.
"Oh, you're starting to remember again. Fascinating, your mind is fighting back against the barriers they put in your head." Kiko said
"So that was them, thats why I can't remember anything. Someone has been in my head, but it wasn't sloppy work either. They made it seem like I just have a bad memory, which isn't true of course.
So...who was it; that had been inside my head." Kibe said as he started walking down the hall.
"Thats enough talking for now Kibe, we'll meet again soon. Also, stay away from Kenji. I don't need any reports on you two fighting." Kiko said with an annoyed tone. Kibe stopped at room 257 and knocked.
"Don't worry too much, if you do you'll end up shrinking some more.
Besides, Kenji owes me for deciding aginst having him put in the slamer. Then again, he may just escape...kill him. Yes. He should be thankful I didn't kill him. Anyway I have reservations Kiko, I'll call you when I need you again." Kibe said
"Need me? Excuse yo-"
"Bye now." Kibe said as he got ready to hang up the phone.
"Oh you little TW-" but before Kiko could shout at him, Kibe hung up the phone. Thats when the hotel room would open. Kibe would look up to see a women dressed in flowery dress, black heels and her nails were freshly filed and done. She had short hair, rocking a bit of a half cut hair sort of look. She had black eyeliner on and had a nose ring. She had gorgeous blonde hair, though it looked like she was a dirty-blonde; her eyes were just like Jun's. A oceanfront blue. She had a apron on over her dress though, she was messy looking. Just had gotten back from cooking...
Something.
"Yo, you Jun's pal?" Asked Mrs.Nakayama, Kibe looked at her studied her for a brief moment.
"Hair cut gives off the fact she still has a rebellious teen living inside her, she emits a feeling of love and warmth. She wanted to be a parent, but still questions of she's doing good by Jun and by her own parents.
The flowery apron, similar to the girl from the library all that time ago. She believes herself a intellectual, someone to be praised and looked to for guidance. She wants to he source of encouragement.
She has a PHD in teaching, academics and political studies. I can tell she reads from articles and doesn't believe them up front, instead she makes her own conclusions on them and then post her thoughts afterward.
She has a blog." Kibe thought to himself before he reached in his bag and pulled out some contained food. It was salmon and rice.
"Greetings, Nori Kibe. Jun, your daughter invited me. I brought some goods." Kibe said with smile, Mrs.Nakayama looked at him a bit unsure, she clearly was analyzing him before she grabbed the container of food and let him inside. Kibe walked inside and put his bag down next to the door and then took off his shoes. Mrs.Nakayama then extended her hand to Kibe.
"Tokyo." Said Mrs.Nakayama, Kibe shook her hand and nodded.
"Its a pleasure to meet you, I thought I'd heard and seen your face before." Kibe said, Tokyo looked at him with a curious face as she closed the door.
"Oh?"
"Yes, I've seen your blog before. I find your site on Japan's political underbelly to be very insightful." Kibe said as he walked further into the place. Tokyo was baffled.
"Oh...uh wow, I didn't know you read into that. Jun said you were smart, but I didn't think you were educated. Glad to see you pay attention to the world around you." Tokyo said following him. As Kibe looked around he noticed how bland the place looked. It seemed very rushed, like they just had moved in. Kibe looked around to see a few pictures of a young Jun and Mr.Nakayama. He stopped at a picture of a black haired woman holding Jun at a playground. He stared at it for a few moments.
"I always pay attention, mostly to things that I care to look into.
You know how that works." Kibe said
"Yea. I feel you there." Tokyo said, she then looked up at the same picture.
"You know Lil?" Tokyo asked
"Mr.Nakayama's sister right? Yea...I've heard a few things. Sorry for the loss." Kibe said, Tokyo and him looked at the picture for a few moments before they heard the flush of a toilet. They both turned they're head deeper into the hallway where they saw Jun walk out of the bathroom wearing some casual clothes. Tokyo looked embarrassed as she covered her face, Kibe looked at her and then Jun. She hadn't noticed them.
"Jun." Tokyo said
"Yes Mo-" Jun's mouth and body froze in embarrassment upon seeing her mother and Kibe. She looked at Kibe who gave her a coy smile while gesturing with his hands in a washing motion. She nodded as she walked backwards back into the bathroom. Tokyo giggled as Kibe put his hands in his pockets.
"Don't mind her, she's quite the tomboy. Something I couldn't quite educate out of her, but I believe she's all the better for it yaknow. Growing that own mental farm hers." Tokyo said as she and Kibe then walked to dinning room.
"Alright, you go ahead and sit yourself down. I'm making us some nice meatloaf." Tokyo said as She walked away into the kitchen. Kibe went ahead and sat down at the table. There he saw some papers on the far right of himself and a mug near the far left.
"So, Mr.Nakayama, this place is either some alternate place of residence or you actually live in an apartment/hotel.
This is a diversion or is in the hopes of being a diversion. Diverting my attention away from me. Whatever that may infact be." Kibe thought as he sat in his chair, holding his hands together as he sat down. Thats when Jun would walk out. This time having washed her hands.
"Sorry about that, I uhh didn't know you were here." Jun chuckled nervously.
"No foul, glad to be here." Kibe said as Jun came over and sat next to him. Jun fixed her hair as she looked over at him. Kibe was looking outside towards the balcony.
"Where's your father? Work I'm guessing." Kibe asked
"Yea. He should be here though. Hope the ride here wasn't too ba-"
"You guys don't really live here, huh? I'm just making a guess since you guys are very creative and well educated family. Yet you have no books, or hell even a office room." Kibe said, Jun rested her head on her hand as she looked at Kibe. Kibe smiled at her, he knew she was impressed with his observation skills.
"Heheh, that trick you have is really good. Astonishing actually." Jun said
"Just have good eyes I suppose." Kibe said, Jun nodded as she looked over to the kitchen at her mother. Saw her with ear-pods, listening to music as she cooks.
"Not dressed up for today, huh?" Kibe asked
"Oh uh, no. I thank you for saving my life, but I enjoy dressing casually. Never was one for get-ups." Jun said
"Thats quite alright, you should never let anything or anyone change who you are Jun. Never. Besides.
I couldn't ever see you in a dress anyway, or anything that doesn't involve sweat pants or a hoodie." Kibe said to which Jun chuckled. However outside the hotel, a black SUV car would drive up and park in the parking lot. The two front doors would open revealing Mr.Miyuki and Mr.Nakayama.
"Goodness, the office has been in a buzz recently. Naka, they're gonna want to start putting us on the other cases. Especially since the capture of the Trickster." Mr.Miyuki said as he closed the passenger door. He then looked over to see Mr.Nakayama was thinking, he was walking slowly. He looked puzzled and almost confused.
"Naka?" Mr.Miyuki said, Mr.Nakayama looked to him like he snapped out of a trance.
"What?" He asked
"Not paying attention, ok, uhh, get some rest. I'll message you in the morning." Mr.Miyuki said as he walked towards the hotel entrance.
"Wait, you mentioned other cases. I'm sorry. I've had a lot on my mind and now my." Mr.Nakayama said as he walked along with Mr.Miyuki into the hotel lobby.
"You mean the trickster case? Yea, everything was pointing at someone else, not that Takashi fellow. Yet we got a confession nonetheless, what do you think it means?" Mr.Miyuki said as he and Nakayama went to the elevator.
"It means that whoever the trickster really was had a means of getting out of these things once the leads got too hot. He had a scapegoat. Someone who fit the bill and would take the fall." Mr.Nakayama said as he and Mr.Miyuki waited for the elevator.
"Yea but why the sudden fear? He wasn't afraid of cops before. Why suddenly would he dip out now?" Mr.Miyuki asked as the elevator dinged open.
"I'll give you one guess." Mr.Nakayama said as Mr.Miyuki and him entered the elevator and Mr.Miyuki pressed a button closing it.
"The White Rabbit?" Mr.Miyuki asked
"Ding ding ding, give him a prize." Mr.Nakayama said
"But why? Wasn't he determined to get to him?" Mr.Miyuki asked
"Exactly, he got too close. Too close to the truth. When he witnessed it he got burned. Badly. He wasn't ready for what was coming or what had come.
When he had taken those students, he knew who they were. He knew they're connection to the white rabbit." Mr.Nakayama said
"So you believe he has a interest in these students from the reports?" Mr.Miyuki asked
"I do." Mr.Nakayama said
"So you believe he has a relationship with them?" Mr.Miyuki asked
"No, no I didn't say that." Mr.Nakayama said, much to Mr.Miyuki's confusion.
"I'm-uh, I'm confused." Mr.Miyuki said
"The White Rabbit is A psychopathic and sociopathic mastermind Miyuki, theres no other way to put it.
He doesn't have relationships, he has uhh...reservations for their lives. He checks them out and uses them when needed." Mr.Nakayama said
"So why save them? Why would he risk that?" Mr.Miyuki asked
"Theres no motive remember? Nothing to completely run with besides the fact that this is something; he needs to do. Or perhaps must do.
Either way hes been confirmed to be a student, a student close to those specific students." Mr.Nakayama said as the elevator opened and he and Mr.Miyuki began walking down the hall.
"Do you think-, do you think its him?" Mr.Miyuki asked
"...Perhaps, the only things in my head right now are the whys, what's his purpose for saving them? Why now? Why spare the trickster?
So many whys, yet no real answers. Though I have hard ideas to believe that he was securing his alibi." Mr.Nakayama said
"Alibi? But what for?" Mr.Miyuki asked
"After hes finished with the trickster there won't be anything else for a while. If this is Kibe, then hes finished his prey. Hes gotten rid of Takashi from the picture and has both doomed and saved the trickster. Hes playing the court both ways right now.
He aided the police as Kibe, but also aided himself as the white rabbit.
...Jun said he was studying criminal justice before, something on criminal justice.
Which can only mean that-" but during his sentence that's when Mr.Nakyama would stop in his tracks, Mr.Miyuki would take two steps ahead before looking back at him. He saw nothing but sheer shock on Mr.Nakayama's face. Yet it also had signs of unhinged joy as well.
"Ehhh, your making that creepy face again." Mr.Miyuki said, Mr.Nakyama then snapped out of it and looked Mr.Miyuki.
"Oh, uh my bad." Mr.Nakayama said
"What was it you were about to say?" Mr.Miyuki asked
"Miyuki, the white rabbit, wants to work with police." Mr.Nakayama said much to Mr.Miyuki's suprise and shock.
"WHAT!?" Mr.Miyuki shouted
"Shhh, calm down. Look, don't you get it? With the dragon gang gone, Takashi behind bars and the Trickster no longer around. There's a giant opening in crime right now. Which would make this city into a giant farming ground of crime and criminals." Mr.Nakayama said
"He did it to cause more crime!" Mr.Miyuki said
"Yes, all the new cases coming up, all the criminals coming now are because of him. Thats what he wants.
He helped Jun solve the case of the Trickster because he wants to prove he's reliable. The ultimate alibi, working with the police to eventually doom them.
Its ingenious, but goddamn does it work out well. He wants me to see that he's capable of being of good aid to us, which he's shown. Not to mention he saved Jun's life. Damn, the bastards twisted my hands...but he didn't count for one thing." Mr.Nakayama said
"And what would that be?" Mr.Miyuki said as he and Mr.Nakayama arrived at outside room 257.
"On how close I'd really bring him." Mr.Nakayama said
"...I don't like where this is going." Mr.Miyuki said worried
"The bureau asked for a new Unit to be on these cases. The petty crime rate has went up, leaving only you and me to work these, but maybe it doesn't have to be just us.
The white rabbit wants to work with the police in order to secure an alibi, though he also knows that by helping us he'll be leaving himself wide open to me.
And I am bearing myself to him, we've both gotten ourselves into a breaking wheel. Bending and breaking us into uncomfortable positions, but thats just what we're going to have to bare with. Because he and I both know that.
Which is why, the next member of our unit is going to be-" Mr.Nakayama opened the door to his apartment, and like he was opening the flood gates, he and Mr.Miyuki both looked into to see Kibe and Jun along with Tokyo all sitting and chatting at the table.
"Nori Kibe." Mr.Nakayama said, Mr.Miyuki immediately grabbed Mr.Nakayama and pulled him around the corner, out of the view of the door. Kibe noticed the movement and looked over.
"HAVE YOU COMPLETELY LOST YOUR MIND!? If our hunch on Kibe being the white rabbit is true and he is the guy. Then we'd be letting our enemy into our borders. He'd get to see all of our tech and worse, he could mess with forensics!" Mr.Miyuki shouted in a hushed voice
"True, but I'd know. I have a good memory. My memory palace is ready to document every detail of the station. No matter what.
Besides, they said they wanted us on special Ops for these too. We'll be doing work with the PSIA and they had another recommended member they wanted to send us.
Look, if Kibe is truly the white rabbit, then he'll be right under my thumb. He won't have anywhere else to go. He'll be working with me and for me. He won't be able to touch any of what he gets in there. He knows that subconsciously." Mr.Nakayama said
"Then, how would he-"
"The Cases Miyuki, every case from now. Will have something to do with the white rabbit I'm sure of it. Which means more leads, more evidence and more data.
I've let him get this close to me. He had no choice, but to go down this tunnel. Had he choosen to remain hidden, I would have found him.
Continue to do more crime and the same result. This was his only option.
Heheh, don't you see Miyuki?" Mr.Nakayama chuckled, Mr.Miyuki got a horrible vibe from Mr.Nakayama, it was like spider catching something in a web. It was actually scaring him. Mr.Nakayama put his finger to his lip, as his lips curled into a wicked smile as his eyes; stared down Mr.Miyuki.
"The White rabbit is running MY race now, and I get to watch from above." Mr.Nakayama whispered in a wicked and almost ghoulish tone.
"This is some hard cold reading, even for you." Mr.Miyuki said as he pointed to him. Mr.Nakayama's face went back to normal as he scratched his head.
"Very true too, if Nori Kibe does indeed turn out to be just a very insightful student, then we will have simply furthered his interest into the criminal field.
So, how long are you going to have me here? Or is this the part where we kiss?" Mr.Nakayama said, Mr.Miyuki looked at him annoyed as he backed away and the two then entered the apartment. Everyone at the table turned to them and waved besides Kibe who was drinking his tea.
"Hi Dad!" Jun said as she got up and ran over to him. Mr.Nakayama put his coat up as Mr.Miyuki took off his shoes. Jun ran over and hugged her dad, he embraced her tightly.
"How you doing my little detective? Ah, is this him?" Mr.Nakayama asked as his eyes went to Kibe who was also looking at him too.
"Oh yea, this is Nori Kibe. Hes a great guy dad I think you'd like him." Jun said as she grabbed his arm.
"I'm here too yaknow." Mr.Miyuki said
"Oh, hi uncle Miyuki." Jun waved, Mr.Miyuki nodded with Joy at his acknowledgement.
"Well I'm sure if you like him then I have to give him a shot. Otherwise I'll hear about it all day." Mr.Nakayama said as he took off his shoes and walked over to the table nearest to the kitchen; where he would find Tokyo and Kibe sitting down. Food was all finished and ready to be digged into. Kibe was drinking green tea while Tokyo some light beer.
"Hey Toky, how was work today?" Mr.Nakayama asked as he walked beside her and the two kissed one another.
"Oh you know, just the usual. Brats think they know everything just cause they got themselves into college.
Little do they know that real life starts now, I'm going to crack they're heads into shape for sure." Tokyo said with a smile as she took a sip of her beer.
"Then they better look out. Cause they got a smart woman as they're professor.
And you must be Nori Kibe, heard from Jun herself. Not only did you solve the Trickster case, but you also saved my baby girl's life." Mr.Nakayama said as he reached over and shook Kibe's hand. The two giving each other a firm handshake. Kibe noticed Nakayama's grip was fairly good and strong.
"...But thats one thing I can't overlook from you.
If you really are a monster, a criminal. Then why save her? You would have benefited from my madness had I lost my little girl.
So why save her Kibe? Why save my daughter?
...or.....are you really a monster afterall? Perhaps-..." Mr.Nakayama thought to himself on that, it was the one thing sticking out to him.
"Dad, your embarrassing me! Come on!" Jun said annoyed, her face a little flushed.
"Its alright, I'm glad to have saved her life. Such a aspiring young woman, I couldn't imagine a world without her brilliance.
So I made sure I never would have to." Kibe said, everyone nodded and smiled at such a beautiful response.
"Oh wow, what a man. Honey, I think he's trying to steal Jun from us." Tokyo chuckled.
"MOM!" Jun shouted, her face completely red now.
"Tokyo stop, your going to turn Jun into a tomato. Then I'll have to hear it.
Oh, Kibe. Mind if I borrow you for a second?" Mr.Nakayama asked as he walked towards a hallway.
"Dad." Jun said
"What? I'm not going to interrogate him. Geez, cut your old man some slack. I can't believe I called myself that.
Anyway, Kibe do you mind?" Mr.Nakayama said
"Not at all." Kibe said as he got up, as he did Jun grabbed his hand. Kibe looked back at her.
"If my dad tries anything funny or weird, please kill him." Jun said with an annoyed tone, Kibe smiled.
"I'll give it my best shot if things go south." Kibe said as he walked off with Mr.Nakayama. The two of them walked down the hall together, it was quiet. The sounds of Mr.Miyuki trying to eat some food and Tokyo threatening his life with a paddle soon became distant. Their footsteps being the only things they could hear for a while, it was eerie, almost haunting too. In that moment the two thought only one thing and one thing only.
"Does he know?"
Which was only followed by all they're theories, hypotheses, ideas, reads of the other's body language and tone of voice and of course choice of clothing. Though eventually thay brief few seconds of them leaving the table and walking down the hall would end.
"My office. I always like to have one. Please, come in and sit down." Mr.Nakayama said, Kibe nodded to him as he walked into Mr.Nakayama's office room. He looked around and saw it was rather empty. Two chairs, a rug, a desk of course. Covered in a few papers and books, but they were the same books that Kibe had read while he was at school. Was this Mr.Nakayama saying something? Did he know that Kibe would try to get to him through his daughter?
Did he know he'd pursue criminal justice in order to get closer to him? So many questions went through Kibe's head as he walked over and sat down in a chair. He watched as her Mr.Nakayama closed the door and walked over to the other chair and say down.
"I'll have to apologize for the lack of stuff in here, I'm sure you know this isn't my real home. This is just temporary. Moved us a bit closer during the trickster case. Figured it'd be nice to be getting to work much sooner than later." Mr.Nakayama said
"Seems right." Kibe said
"Anyway, your rundown and report from what Jun said about were highly impressive. Your capabilities are really good.
You have a knack for cold reading, a clear sense of the criminal mind and a surprising way of connecting the dots.
Very good I'd say." Mr.Nakayama said
"Thank you." Kibe said
"You remind me of my younger self, of course not as good on the eyes.
Either way, we could use you on the field Kibe." Mr.Nakayama said
"Your asking me to join your investigation into the wonderland case?" Kibe asked
"No, I'm asking you to help us cover the cases that will undoubtedly come now that the Trickster is gone. He controlled a lot of things along with Takashi.
The underground is very disorganized now, without a head they'll start doing they're own little...projects. We're going to nab them before too many cases arise.
I'm asking if you'd like to join our unit." Mr.Nakayama said, Kibe looked at him and then looked to the wall. His mind processing this next move. He lingered in it for a minute before looking back to Mr.Nakayama.
"Alright, I'll join." Kibe said, Mr.Nakayama smiled as he extended his hand and Kibe shook it.