Close Encounters of the Combustible Kind

[saitoh_hajime]

Date: February 6, 2060
Time: Evening
Location: New Meiji Department of Justice (Parking Garage)
Characters: Saitoh, Tokio

 

DING

The elevator chimed faintly as the doors opened. Saitoh allowed Takagi to go first then followed her into the section of the DOJ Complex that housed the employee parking garages. As they walked through the nearly deserted hallways their footsteps timed to each other, Saitoh’s mind replayed the events that had occurred at the armory and shooting range. So much had happened this evening; so many needful things had been said and explained. Some of the disclosures had been difficult for both of them, while other aspects of the mutual discovery had been nothing short of delightful.

Saitoh glanced down at Takagi’s face. Though no longer tucked tight against his arm, she’d chosen to remain close, so that as they’d made the long walk up from the shooting range and through the deserted, maze like corridors of the DOJ, their hands and shoulders had occasionally brushed up against each other.

One against the enigmatic female had caught him off guard. He’d assumed that she would want to discuss more of her thoughts and memories with him, that her penchant for speaking her mind would translate into more conversation. Instead, she’d kept mostly quiet during the long walk up from the shooting range. He’d been the one to initiate conversation, when he’d answered her question about who Tsutomu was. When she’d learned that the name in her mind belonged to an all too serious seven year old boy, and that this boy had a three year old brother, her tender reaction had deeply touched and relieved him. One of the reasons he’d been loath to even consider pursuing a relationship with another woman had been the risk that his motherless children would not be accepted and loved in the manner that they deserved- an intolerable idea to be sure.

(I wonder how the boys will react when they meet her?)

While Tsuyoshi had thankfully inherited Yaso’s warm and personable nature, the child had no memory of his mother. He did well with strangers though (too well in the cautious policeman’s opinion) and Saitoh suspected that Takagi would easily bond with the laughing, demonstrative child. Tsutomu on the other hand, DID remember his mother, particularly the way she’d been taken from him and had, with the exception of Katsu and Watanabe, taken pains not to form any attachments with other adult females.  

The shock of seeing his mother lying dead on the kitchen floor and then having his father withdraw and become a sullen, useless drunk had done no small measure of damage to Tsutomu’s still developing personality and the boy would likely struggle with any changes to Saitoh Family dynamic. Saitoh set his concerns aside for a moment as he and Takagi took one last elevator to parking section A7 (his sedan was located two floors down on A5). There would be time enough for him to plan and consider the best way to make these critical introductions.

 The elevator door opened again. He held it open and then followed the attorney into the dimly lit garage. Out of habit, he carefully scanned the nearly deserted section. There were six cars remaining, all unoccupied. Her car, a black rather sedate looking Honda was in the middle of the section parked where the lighting was the brightest. Saitoh approved of this, but made a mental note that when he was able and if their schedules permitted it, he would make sure to walk her out to car every evening going forward.

Takagi took out her keys and pressed a key pad that deactivated the locks on the vehicle with a mechanical click and a flicker of the car headlights.

 It was time to part ways.

.