The plaza beneath the Tokyo Tower was a kaleidoscope of flashing red lights and deep shadows. The wind whipped through the steel web overhead, making the massive structure grin like a dying beast.
Kenji Sano lay with his cheek pressed against the cold paving stones. His wrists were handcuffed behind his back. A young patrol officer had his knee dug into Kenji's spine, pinning him down.
"Stay down!" the officer shouted, his voice cracking with panic. "Do not move!"
Next to him, Manjiro was shouting, struggling against two other officers. "We are detectives, you idiots! The killer is still here! Let us go!"
"Secure the perimeter!" a sergeant barked, ignoring them. "Nobody in or out! Get the tape up!"
Kenji stared sideways along the ground. Ten meters away, the wooden stake stood alone in the circle of floodlights. The severed head of Ichiro Tanaka stared blindly at the tower, his hair matted with blood, the duct tape still sealing his final scream.
It was a scene from a nightmare. The Gokumon. The public shaming.
A white van screeched to a halt at the edge of the plaza. The side door slid open.
"Forensics!" a voice shouted. "Make a hole!"
The wall of uniformed officers parted. A team in white and grey suits hurried out, carrying kits and cameras.
Leading them was Dr. Kaori Sato.
She wasn't wearing a suit yet. She was in her civilian clothes—a trench coat over scrubs looking like she had been dragged out of bed. Her face was pale, her eyes wide with shock as she took in the scene.
She stopped when she saw the stake. She covered her mouth with her hand, swaying slightly.
"Dr. Sato," the sergeant ran over to her. "It's... it's bad. We need a confirmation on the victim."
Kaori nodded, swallowing hard. She forced herself to walk toward the gruesome object. She moved like a sleepwalker, her gaze locked on Ichiro's dead eyes.
Kenji struggled against the officer holding him. "Kaori! I think it's not safe!"
"Quiet!" the officer slammed Kenji's face back into the stone.
Kaori reached the stake. She reached out a trembling hand, perhaps to check for warmth, or perhaps just to comprehend the reality of it.
The plaza went silent, save for the wind and the crackle of radios. Everyone was watching the Medical Examiner and the Head.
Then, a voice cut through the silence.
It didn't come from the shadows. It didn't come from a hidden speaker. It came from the edge of the crowd of police officers.
"KENJIIIII!"
The shout was loud, cheerful, and terrifyingly familiar.
Kenji froze. The blood in his veins turned to ice. He knew that voice. It was the voice from the penthouse. The voice of the young man who had smiled before dropping off the balcony.
The officer on Kenji's back flinched, looking up.
Kenji used the distraction. He bucked his hips, throwing the officer off balance. He rolled onto his back and kicked the cop in the chest, sending him sprawling.
"Where is he?" Kenji roared, scrambling to his knees, ignoring the pain in his shoulders from the cuffs.
The crowd of police turned.
Standing on top of a police cruiser, casually balancing on the light bar, was the figure.
He wore the grey hoodie. Dark pants. No mask.
The floodlights hit his face.
It was him. The stranger. The kid from the apartment. The Shogun.
He stood there with his arms spread wide, enjoying in the attention of fifty armed police officers. He looked like a conductor about to start a symphony.
"There he is!" Manjiro shouted, kicking his capturers away. "That's the killer!"
The police froze. They were confused. They saw a young man, unarmed, smiling. They didn't shoot.
The Shogun looked directly at Kenji. His eyes sparked shine with amusement.
"You dropped something, Detective." the Shogun called out, pointing to the ground where Kenji's gun lay.
Then, he moved.
He didn't run away. He didn't flee into the park.
He jumped off the police car and sprinted toward the center of the plaza. Toward the stake.
Toward Kaori.
"STOP HIM!" Kenji screamed.
Kenji lunged for his Sig Sauer lying on the concrete. His hands were still cuffed behind his back. He threw himself onto the gun, grasping it blindly with his fingers, trying to twist his body to bring it around.
"Shoot him!" the sergeant yelled.
But nobody fired. The killer was moving too fast, weaving through the stunned officers who were afraid of hitting each other.
Kaori turned around, hearing the commotion in disbelief.
She saw a blur of grey rushing at her.
"No..." she whispered.
The Shogun slammed into her.
He didn't tackle her to the ground. He just spun her around, grabbing her by the hair and pull with jerk her head back.
He pulled a knife - a long, tooth-like edged blade from his belt and pressed it against her throat.
"BACK!" the Shogun roared.
The laughter was gone. His voice was now a weapon.
The police circle collapsed inward, guns drawn, but they froze. The blade was digging into the soft skin of the Medical Examiner's neck. A single drop of blood trickled down her collarbone.
"Don't shoot!" Kenji yelled, finally getting down to his feet. He had managed to took off his cuffed hands down past his legs, stepping through his own arms so his hands were now in front of him. It was painful but he held the gun.
He pointed the Sig Sauer at the killer's head. His hands shook violently.
"Let her go!" Kenji screamed.
The Shogun stood behind Kaori, using her body as a human shield. He concentrated on Kenji over her shoulder, his eyes locking with Kenji's.
And then, he laughed.
It was a cruel, high-pitched laugh that sounded like glass breaking in a quiet room.
"Kenji-kun," the killer smiled, tightening his grip on Kaori's hair. "You look terrible."
Kaori was in pain, her hands clutching at the killer's arm. "Please... please..."
"Look at me!" the killer whispered into her ear, loud enough for Kenji to hear. "Look at the head, Kaori-san. Isn't it beautiful? I made it for you."
"You sick bastard!" Manjiro yelled, aiming his shotgun. "Let her go or I swear to god..."
"If you shoot," the killer's smile vanished, replaced by a dead scary stare. "I open her throat before the bullet hits me. You know I'm fast enough."
Kenji knew. He had seen him on the balcony. He had seen the zip line. This man moved with a speed that wasn't normal.
"Everyone back down!" Kenji ordered the uniformed police. "Nobody fires!"
The plaza fell into a terrifying scene of scare and agony. The wind flown through the Tokyo tower legs. The severed head of Ichiro Tanaka watched them all with dead eyes.
"Why Kaori?" Kenji stepped forward, the gun aim unwavering. "She's not on the list! She's not part of the legacy! She's just a doctor!"
The killer tilted his head. He looked at Kaori's terrified face.
"She is the audience." the killer said softly.
He dragged Kaori backward, step by step, toward the base of the Tower.
"You want to know why?" the killer asked Kenji. "You want to know the motive?"
"Yes you fucking bastard!" Kenji shouted, desperate to keep him talking. "Tell me! Tell me why you butchered them! Tell me why you tore a girl apart!"
"Then listen close," the killer grinned, the knife glinting in the floodlights. "Because the answer... is going to break your heart."
What scary things are awaited in Shogun words which break the heart?
Chapter 32 Ends - Why?