Takaba placed the note back onto th

Takaba placed the note back onto the forehead of the bust, laughing through his dry tears.

"Gyles, you tenacious bastard…"

He fingered the apartment key and placed it beside the marble bust.

And I run from you as well, Gyles…

He had no tears left to shed as the lights went out.

Gyles spotted Mr. Merrett in the reception hall. He had arrived about half an hour or so late, having taken the time to write the last minute note for Takaba. The documents, the passport, the old photos were all still vivid in his mind. He could still feel the rough texture on the aged passport in beneath his fingertips. And he could still picture Takaba's distraught form. How could he have done that? Walking out when Takaba needed him the most.

Unforgivable.

Now that he could think levelheadedly, Takaba had probably given it a lot of thought before coming to the decision of revealing himself. He probably turned himself inside out, knowing his personality. And he had left Takaba there, broken down and shattered, his head buried in his palms, the papers scattered all around them.

"Mr. Merrett!" he approached the old man with a plastered smile.

"Finally here, Mr. Tennison." Mr. Merrett pat Gyles on the shoulder a few times.

"Some things held me back."

"Of course, of course!" he looked around, "Why, you don't have a partner!"

"Well, no. Not tonight."

"What a pity. Oh, I almost forgot, I would like you to greet a guest from Japan. He's outside on the courtyard terrace, I believe." Mr. Merrett was a bit jumpy, more nervous than usual, "I've got some, uh, business to take care of."

Japan…that's where Se-…Akihito is from…isn't it?

"Is he…"

"He's a close associate of mine."

Gyles made his way through the reception hall, shaking hands with a few more of the guests before finally making his way to the other side. Cold air blasted him when he opened the door and stepped out into the terrace. Snow crunched under his polished black shoes.

Asami drew in a lungful of smoke. It was a relief to finally get outside and take a breather in the hotel courtyard. The day had drawn to a close hours ago and night had crept in, along with the frost that came with it.

The happy faces those buffoons put on was disgusting. He couldn't stand it too be perfectly frank; at this point. All he wanted to do was pack up and go back to Japan, where he wouldn't have time to think about those petty unnecessary things people thought about when they had too much time on their hands.

His sharp senses picked up the sound of footsteps from behind and he turned.

Oh my God…that's…

It was unmistakable. The aura, the composure, the stance. The power and control he emanated. The very still demeanor made it more than obvious. The distinct trademark posture he had seen in the photograph, it was like an explicit sign declaring the man as him, as who he was. Except, he was…he loomed large in real life.

"Excuse me."

Asami turned, dropping his cigarette and digging it into the snow.

"You are the guest from Japan, correct?" Gyles extended his hand, "Gyles Tennison."

That's the…exhibit owner…he's the one that knows Akihito…

"I didn't quite expect to be defined by my nationality. Asami. A pleasure, Mr. Tennison." He took the hand, knowing it must have touched Akihito's.

"Mr. Asami, it's quite an honor to have you here with us tonight."

"It's been a rather serendipitous visit actually." There was a subtle smirk, barely detectable, across Asami's lips.

Jesus…does the man know?

"Well, there's always surprises around the corner, aren't there?" Gyles remarked off-handedly, to see how Asami would react.

"Indeed there are."

The tension was there, inevitable and present. But their privacy was cut off when one of Asami's men rushed out and whispered into his ear, the whisper hushed and urgent. Gyles caught at that moment, the change in attitude. It was such a contrast from the man he had just been exchanging innuendos with to the man he saw now with a stern expression, nodding to his subordinate.

"Mr. Asami, we need to move out of here immediately. There's some suspicion as to whether Mr. Merrett can be trusted at this point. We've already prepared for the departure and arranged an emergency flight out."

Asami turned to leave, but just as he passed Gyles, he whispered, "Keep a tight leash; he likes to run away."

Mr. Carthen jumped at the sound of his phone ringing, wide awake from his unintentional nap.

"TIMES human resources, Carthen speaking."

"Mr. Carthen. I'm the photographer, Tanaka. We spoke yesterday at the gallery."

"Ah! Mr. Tanaka, what a surprise. I wasn't expecting to hear from for another few days. Have you made a decision then?"

"Yes. I'll accept the proposal, but on one condition."

"Which would be?"

"I want my plane scheduled for tonight."

"Tonight?" he stood abruptly from the table, holding the phone with his shoulder and typing furiously at the keyboard. A flight for…tonight…

"Yes, tonight."

"Ah, just one moment." Takaba could here rapid clicking and typing, "There's a flight to Berlin in…just under an hour. You can pick up the ticket at the airport, will that be alright?"

"Perfect."

"Are you sure you can make it? The luggage and everything."

Takaba zipped up the last bag. "I'm sure I can get there in time"

"Do you need a ride to the airport?"

"No, thank you. I've called a taxi."

"Well then. We're very excited to have you in the project."

"As I am." Takaba looked out his window as the taxi stopped before the apartment building, "I must really be going."

"Of course, do contact me when you arrive."

"I will be sure to. And one more thing."

"Yes?"

"Keep my locations confidential please."

"Of course."

"Thank you."

"You will regret what you have done today." Asami's hands released Mr. Merrett's throat. The man coughed as he sank down the wall, "Let's see how much of that reputation of yours is still there by tomorrow morning."

Asami left the hotel room, his men close behind him. He ignored the polite greetings of the hotel employees, as he crossed the lobby.

"Where did you set the destination?"

"I'm afraid the next flight to a country where we have immunity was Germany."

"Munich?"

"Berlin, sir."

"Perfect," he ducked into the car. This was one reason why he liked being a major stock holder in certain airline companies. Enough leverage and a flight could be arranged disguised under "commercial" purposes. It did tend to tangle up the runway schedules in airports though sometimes.

Kết quả (Việt) 1:

Takaba đặt ghi chú lại lên trán bust, cười thông qua của ông nước mắt khô."Gyles, ngoan cường khốn..."Ông fingered chìa khóa căn hộ và đặt nó bên cạnh bức tượng bán thân bằng đá cẩm thạch.Và tôi chạy từ bạn là tốt, Gyles...Ông đã không có nước mắt trái phải tỏ khi đèn đi ra ngoài.Gyles phát hiện ông Merrett tại hội trường tiếp nhận. Ông đã đến khoảng nửa giờ hoặc muộn, có lấy thời gian để viết ghi chú phút cuối cùng cho Takaba. Các tài liệu, hộ chiếu, các bức ảnh cũ đã tất cả vẫn còn sống động trong tâm trí của mình. Ông vẫn còn có thể cảm thấy các kết cấu thô trên hộ chiếu tuổi ở bên dưới trong tầm tay của mình. Và ông có thể vẫn còn hình ảnh Takaba hình thức distraught. Làm thế nào có thể ông đã làm đó? Đi bộ khi Takaba cần anh ta nhất.Không thể tha thứ.Bây giờ mà ông có thể nghĩ levelheadedly, Takaba đã có thể cho nó rất nhiều suy nghĩ trước khi bạn đến quyết định của tiết lộ mình. Ông có lẽ đã chuyển mình bên trong ra ngoài, biết nhân cách của mình. Và ông đã rời Takaba có, chia và tan vỡ, đầu bị chôn vùi trong lòng bàn tay của mình, các giấy tờ rải rác xung quanh họ."Ông Merrett!" ông tiếp cận ông già với một nụ cười trát vữa."Cuối cùng ở đây, ông Tennison." Ông Merrett pat Gyles vào vai một vài lần."Những điều một số tổ chức cho tôi trở lại.""Tất nhiên, là của khóa học!" ông nhìn xung quanh, "Tại sao, bạn không có một đối tác!""Vâng, không. Không phải tối nay.""What a pity. Oh, I almost forgot, I would like you to greet a guest from Japan. He's outside on the courtyard terrace, I believe." Mr. Merrett was a bit jumpy, more nervous than usual, "I've got some, uh, business to take care of."Japan…that's where Se-…Akihito is from…isn't it?"Is he…""He's a close associate of mine."Gyles made his way through the reception hall, shaking hands with a few more of the guests before finally making his way to the other side. Cold air blasted him when he opened the door and stepped out into the terrace. Snow crunched under his polished black shoes.Asami drew in a lungful of smoke. It was a relief to finally get outside and take a breather in the hotel courtyard. The day had drawn to a close hours ago and night had crept in, along with the frost that came with it.The happy faces those buffoons put on was disgusting. He couldn't stand it too be perfectly frank; at this point. All he wanted to do was pack up and go back to Japan, where he wouldn't have time to think about those petty unnecessary things people thought about when they had too much time on their hands.His sharp senses picked up the sound of footsteps from behind and he turned.Oh my God…that's…It was unmistakable. The aura, the composure, the stance. The power and control he emanated. The very still demeanor made it more than obvious. The distinct trademark posture he had seen in the photograph, it was like an explicit sign declaring the man as him, as who he was. Except, he was…he loomed large in real life."Excuse me."Asami turned, dropping his cigarette and digging it into the snow."You are the guest from Japan, correct?" Gyles extended his hand, "Gyles Tennison."That's the…exhibit owner…he's the one that knows Akihito…"I didn't quite expect to be defined by my nationality. Asami. A pleasure, Mr. Tennison." He took the hand, knowing it must have touched Akihito's."Mr. Asami, it's quite an honor to have you here with us tonight.""It's been a rather serendipitous visit actually." There was a subtle smirk, barely detectable, across Asami's lips.Jesus…does the man know?"Well, there's always surprises around the corner, aren't there?" Gyles remarked off-handedly, to see how Asami would react."Indeed there are."The tension was there, inevitable and present. But their privacy was cut off when one of Asami's men rushed out and whispered into his ear, the whisper hushed and urgent. Gyles caught at that moment, the change in attitude. It was such a contrast from the man he had just been exchanging innuendos with to the man he saw now with a stern expression, nodding to his subordinate."Mr. Asami, we need to move out of here immediately. There's some suspicion as to whether Mr. Merrett can be trusted at this point. We've already prepared for the departure and arranged an emergency flight out."Asami turned to leave, but just as he passed Gyles, he whispered, "Keep a tight leash; he likes to run away."Mr. Carthen jumped at the sound of his phone ringing, wide awake from his unintentional nap."TIMES human resources, Carthen speaking.""Mr. Carthen. I'm the photographer, Tanaka. We spoke yesterday at the gallery.""Ah! Mr. Tanaka, what a surprise. I wasn't expecting to hear from for another few days. Have you made a decision then?""Yes. I'll accept the proposal, but on one condition.""Which would be?""I want my plane scheduled for tonight.""Tonight?" he stood abruptly from the table, holding the phone with his shoulder and typing furiously at the keyboard. A flight for…tonight…"Yes, tonight.""Ah, just one moment." Takaba could here rapid clicking and typing, "There's a flight to Berlin in…just under an hour. You can pick up the ticket at the airport, will that be alright?""Perfect.""Are you sure you can make it? The luggage and everything."Takaba zipped up the last bag. "I'm sure I can get there in time""Do you need a ride to the airport?""No, thank you. I've called a taxi.""Well then. We're very excited to have you in the project.""As I am." Takaba looked out his window as the taxi stopped before the apartment building, "I must really be going.""Of course, do contact me when you arrive.""I will be sure to. And one more thing.""Yes?""Keep my locations confidential please.""Of course.""Thank you.""You will regret what you have done today." Asami's hands released Mr. Merrett's throat. The man coughed as he sank down the wall, "Let's see how much of that reputation of yours is still there by tomorrow morning."Asami left the hotel room, his men close behind him. He ignored the polite greetings of the hotel employees, as he crossed the lobby."Where did you set the destination?""I'm afraid the next flight to a country where we have immunity was Germany.""Munich?""Berlin, sir.""Perfect," he ducked into the car. This was one reason why he liked being a major stock holder in certain airline companies. Enough leverage and a flight could be arranged disguised under "commercial" purposes. It did tend to tangle up the runway schedules in airports though sometimes.