Chapter 121

“Akari, don’t. Motoko, it’s Tyger Claw business like I said. Sorry if I’ve been distracted. We’re just busy. Give me some time, we can go get dinner or something later.” He tried to play it off.

 

“No, it’s okay, sorry for bugging you. Need anything? Want me to bring you guys food, or something?” I offered, I had definitely stepped in it, and Akari’s words rung in my head. Five of her subordinates had died. I don’t know how, and Jun was right. TC business. Not mine.

Jun shook his head, and he must be feeling okay because a moment later he pulled an XXL package out of his jacket pocket and started tearing into it.

 

Of course.

 

I watched as Jun and Akari settled back onto the couch, both teenagers putting their heads together. And I just… I should stay out of it. It wasn’t my business. I didn’t want to be involved in TC shit, but at the same time. This was eating at Jun, and I had never seen Akari so quiet, so downtrodden.

 

I liked Akari. Even if she was a literal Cyberpsycho, Jun liked her, and she liked him. I had a decision to make, and damn it. I was a busybody.

 

“Fuck it. Fill me in. You gonks definitely need help.” I said as I flopped on the couch beside Jun to look over the tablet he had been glaring at.

 

“Motoko, no. This isn’t your business.”

“It is when my brother is involved, besides, I’m not doing anything but hearing what is going on. I have skills you two don’t like netrunning and stuff. So hit me with what’s going on. I’m not saying I’ll act, but I can give you a new perspective.”

 

To my surprise Akari continued to be oddly quiet. Like kinda of scary quiet as she stared at me.

 

Jun sighed, rubbed his face. “Akari’s been given more and more responsibility by Fujimura-Sama. To expand her skill set.”

“He wants me to dechrome. But I’m useless at everything but killing.” She suddenly adds in sounding… Oddly mellow for the woman that was usually so frantic.

 

“So Akari’s been working as the boss for a drug business for Fujimura-Sama.”

Disgusting, and I want to help a whole lot less. “Go on.”

Jun turned towards Akari who finally jerked a bit in a nod and spoke. “It was a big deal. We had a lot of product. I had it stored away in the base, that should have been it. Sell it off the next day. In the middle of the night someone hit us. Stole the product, killed some of the guys. We don’t know who it was. Fujimura-Sama is… Not happy.”

 

“Okay.” I said mostly to say something at the long pause after she got done. “Any clues? Camera recordings? Were the bodies killed by a unique weapon? Any of your guys suddenly missing as an informant?”

“We have very little.” Jun cut in as Akari… Her face was mostly plastic but she was looking pretty listless at every question. “The cameras were hacked. Someone good enough that our netrunners that checked into it couldn’t find anything. Our guys were all shot.”

“With what?” I prompted and got a blank look from my brother.

 

Oh god. He’s a himbo. They put him in charge of an investigation, but he had nothing but burrito fluff in between his ears.

 

“The bullets that killed your people. What caliber? Was it accurate shots, or spray? How many shots in total, casings? All of this is stuff that gives us information on who did it.”

Jun looked to Akari and she instantly put up her hands. “Don’t look at me… Fine. Fuck… It was low caliber rounds. I think… 9mm? There were a lot of casings. I made the boys that were left clean them all up. It took a while.” She said speaking slow as she seemed to dredge up the memories.

 

“Okay. So spraying like that? Probably just off the street thugs. If they were professional you would have a lot less bullets, and a lot more accurate… Probably.” I muttered. Did the guys who die shoot back?

 

I shook it off. “Where did it happen? When?” I asked and Jun shook his head going to deny me, when Akari just flicked the tablet over to me.

 

“See for yourself little killer.”

 

“Okay, so you lost some drugs, that’s not the end of the world or anything. How much did you lose? You can probably steal it back from someone else if we really have to. Or-”

“It was about ten million eddies worth of Glitter.” Akari said dully and I jerked up at the same time Jun turned to Akari and glared at her.

 

“Holy shit. Glitter? That shit is awful!” I instantly denied. Glitter was a newer drug on the streets. The kind of stuff that literally killed people who used it. Not just on overdose or something either. Weak constitutions would lead to your nervous system failing.

 

Don’t even get me started on the incredible addiction.

 

“Motoko. I said don’t get involved in this for a reason. This isn’t the sort of stuff… It’s not the sort of shit you should be involved with.” Jun said, reaching out and pressing his hands on my shoulders.

 

Well he wasn’t wrong.

 

“Good riddance then. Hopefully whoever stole it kills themselves by using that poison.” I said shrugging off his hands, but more than willing to wash my hands of this.

 

“Only problem is that Jun-Boy put his neck out on the line with me to help.” Akari said with a dull monotone and I could practically feel my neck creak as I turned to look at Jun.

“What does she mean by putting your neck on the line?”

 

“Not like that.” He denied instantly. “But we will both be punished for failing.” I noted instantly that he was dodging what that punishment would actually be.

 

“Stop hiding it from me. What punishment!”

 

“Yubitsume.” Jun offered, with a shrug. “Nothing to worry about.”

“What the fuck is Yubitsume?” I demanded and Jun refused to answer.

 

“You cut a part of yourself off and offer it to your boss for fucking up.” Akari offered, fluttering her fingers for a second. Some of that manic energy she always had before shining through. “It’s an old Yakuza thing originally I think? At least that’s how it was explained to me. It used to just be fingers, but well. Chrome makes that less of an issue now yeah? So they tend to make it hurt.”

 

“No one is cutting anything out of my brother!”

 

“Of course not. You have to do it to yourself.”

 

“Fuck that.” I said instantly. I knew I hated gangs for a reason. “I’m going to make some calls and get this solved. Fucking hell. Can’t believe I’m gonna be part of a drug deal. I feel gross just thinking about it.” I hissed as I rose up to go make some calls.

 

“Motoko Just drop it. Akari and I will figure it out, or pay the consequences and that’ll be that. It’s not a big deal. Just some time at a ripper and I’ll be fine.”

“It’s not fine!” I yelled, actually losing my temper as I turned around from where I had been heading into my room to make a private call. “It’s fucked up! So I’m not going to let it happen! I care about you! You! You! Stupid himbo! Get a brain! Gonk!”

 

Then I turned and stomped into my bedroom. Closing the door behind me quietly, because I don’t like slamming doors even when angry.

 

“Fuck.” I took a breath and let it out and then made a call.

 

The author’s tale has been misappropriated; report any instances of this story on Amazon.

*Motoko! How are you?*

 

*I’ve been better, Hiromi, Jun is in some shit, but I had an idea. I want you to come over. I have something to run past you. I think I have an idea for how to start making some eddies. I’m going to call in Ichi and Malcolm too.*

 

*If it’s for Jun, I’m in! But eddies too? Now you have my attention!*

 

—–

 

Section 9 was united in my room. All of us were unfortunately sitting on the floor.

 

Jun and Akari had been confused when my chooms started appearing but I hadn’t explained anything to the two utter morons.

 

Instead I just hurried them over to my room and told them to wait until everyone was here.

 

Now we were. Sitting cross legged on the carpeted floor like we were in elementary school again.

 

“Okay. Now that everyone is here. Let’s talk about the situation. Jun agreed to help out Akari. Akari was apparently in charge of protecting a drug shipment. Ten million eddies worth of glitter.”

 

“Fuck.”

 

“Whoa.” Malcolm and Ichi’s eyes both widened in shock. It was Hiromi who frowned.

 

“That’s a big shipment… Well it’s worth a lot, but isn’t that big… Ten kilos? Give or take.” She muttered and I looked at her in surprise for a moment.

 

“I’m going to ignore how scary it is that you know that off the top of your head Hiromi. Drugs are bad m’kay? You’ll tell me before you ever try any right?”

“It’s important information for anyone! Why don’t you know this!?” She demanded pointing at me, but Ichi and Malcolm both looked like they didn’t know as well, and were doing their best to hide that fact.

 

“Because I don’t deal in drugs Hiromi… Well. I didn’t I guess. Listen. If Jun and Akari don’t find the shipment that was stolen then they will be punished. Badly.” I said seriously as I looked over my chooms.

 

“Alright. So we track down the thief. We can do that. I mean, your netrunning us backing you up. Should be easy enough.”

“The thieves had a netrunner as well, and scrambled the cameras. So that might not be as easy, but I have to try anyway.”

 

“Okay… One question.” Ichi asked cutting in, “I’m all for helping your brother Motoko. Don’t think this is against that, but you mentioned eddies.”

 

“Okay so here is the plan.” I outlined the idea and after a few moments Hiromi was practically buzzing with excitement.

 

“I’m in! I’m so in! This will look so good on my resume!”

 

“I’m glad we can help your corpo dreams Hiromi… I’m in too. If it works that would help. A lot. Plus it’ll make us useful.” Ichi said and nodded.

 

“Don’t look at me. I’m always down for this shit.” Malcolm agreed.

 

With all my chooms on board I threw my hand out into the middle. It took a moment to make me realize none of my chooms had any culture. “Put your hands out on top of mine.” I explained, definitely not pouting at their lack of knowledge. But after they did it.

 

I slammed my hand up, knocking everyone’s hands into the air. “Section 9!” I called out happily. It didn’t matter that my chooms hadn’t joined in. They would learn for next time.

 

—–

 

“Motoko?”

 

“Nope. Sorry Section 9 is too busy, can’t hear you!” I called out as the four of us all ran out of the apartment to our cars past Jun. I did poke my head back into the apartment before we disappeared for good. “Keep me apprised if you find anything! My team will be assisting in this investigation.” I informed Jun and then ran before he could ask any questions.

 

Sometimes you had to know when to run away so you couldn’t be denied permission.

 

We all traveled to the Straight Lane Apartments, and then down into my netrunning basement. Which I was glad to notice hadn’t had anyone try to sneak in.

 

We set up once again all of us at different terminals, although Ichi had actually stopped to get food and snacks before showing up. So my team wouldn’t be starving while I was in the net.