Dr. Hashimoto

Stepping into the office had made Eiji's hand squeeze tighter around the wicker basket handle and his other twitch at his side. His heart raced with nervous tension. Thoughts of kenpei storming inside to rush him out of the room for a torture room played on his mind. He was conscious of not letting this fear show on his face.

"No, can't think like that," Eiji said in thought as he shook off the horrid impressions from his mind.

The Americans wouldn't have gone to so much effort to bring him into the country only to surrender him. What happens if the secret police found out he was playing sides with the Americans? Who was this Dr. Hashimoto they were seeing? Was he an ally or an enemy they were going to trick? The Kei guy wasn't also a kenpei spy to weed out traitors? There was a strong possibility he could play for either side being a nisei.

"Soldiers who trash talk our country will wake up to the kenpei. Pray your soul leaves your body before they pay attention to you." Eiji remembered Yuri's warning to some men who had instantly shut down their gossip. It was one word that had guaranteed silence and absolute obedience. The other term was 731.

"Have faith in good things, Eiji." He constantly chanted Hinata's voice saying those words in his mind to soothe his fears and nervousness.

He took in the simple study desk of polished cedar that had no flourish or any importance other than being used for writing. The desk sat at the back of the room where the daylight shone through partially opened white Venetian blind slats. Behind the desk and around the walls were tall bookshelves crammed with medical journals and textbooks. There were no drips, devices, or machinery present that looked purposed for human experimentation. He felt calmer by this known fact.

"Hashimoto-sensei." Tyne cordially greeted the middle-aged wiry man wearing round spectacles and a white lab coat. He was writing out a paper on the desk.

Hans closed the door behind them. They stood before the man, waiting for him to acknowledge them.

Tama made a weak mew that made the middle-aged man rise from his desk, his attention on the black kitten trying to scramble out of the wicker bag that Eiji was holding tight.

"Neko." The man labeled her with a sigh.

"The cat is Tama." Tyne soberly declared ownership of her to the man.

"Pfft. It's just like you to adopt a stray cat." Hashimoto-sensei warmly greeted Tyne. "Been a long time my friend."

Eiji's widened with surprise, but this didn't allay his fears from being taken by the kenpeitai.

Tyne introduced everyone according to their cover identities.

Hashimoto-sensei's eyes lingered on Eiji longer than the others, a quizzical frown forming on his forehead.

"Have we met before?" He asked Eiji.

Eiji shook his head.

"The cat needs to stretch its legs," Hashimoto-sensei said.

Eiji got the hint and released Tama from the bag. She was happy to sniff about the room and then clean herself on the floor near a desk leg.

"I brought the new model specifications the Company is keen to promote," Tyne said as he opened his briefcase on the desk and laid out some official paperwork for Hashimoto-sensei to see.

The doctor cracked a weak smile. "I see."

He moved to one of the tall bookshelves and slightly pulled out a combination of books that revealed a small hidden door with a click.

The bookshelf swung aside to reveal the shallow closet interior with shelves of locked containers and safes. Taking up most of the middle shelf was a civilian brown hard-shell suitcase, which had the top shelves to accommodate around.

"This arrived within our shipment of prosthetic parts," Hashimoto-sensei said when he carried the suitcase out of the hidden closet, closing the door, and placed it on the table next to Tyne's briefcase.

Tyne cleared more of the desk area, so the suitcase could be laid flat. He unclasped the latches and opened the case to reveal a radio unit in a foam shell with attachments packed around it.

Eiji glanced over a radio unit he had seen enemy soldiers carry on their backs at Iwo Jima. It was far more portable than the boxes he had to carry by hand.

"This SCR-300 has a battery power to last a full day. Recharge it by solar for half a day to ensure a full day's worth." Hashimoto-sensei informed them and scooped up some papers to hand over to Tyne.

"I have the Company's reassurance that my family will be safe." The doctor eyed Tyne.

"An exchange," Tyne said when he handed a set of his own papers from his briefcase to the man.

Eiji frowned at the sight of the doctor's teary eyes.

"Thank you," Hashimoto-sensei whispered.

"Some credentials for our validation," Hans said to make himself known. Until now, he had been carefully observing their surroundings.

A tear slipped from the doctor's eyes when he received Hans' papers, his hand trembled with what seemed like joy.

"You have honored our promise. Although I never had any doubts you wouldn't Weber-sensei." Hashimoto-sensei sighed. "I have something else for you."

Eiji cocked his head to one side when the doctor slipped a piece of paper into Tyne's hand.

Tyne's composure slipped for a second when he read the paper and stowed it in his pocket.

"Your sales run sheets." Hashimoto-sensei handed data sheets to Tyne and Hans.

Impatient foot-tapping drew his attention to Kei whose boredom was obvious on his face. Eiji suspected the man's mind was already in the car to dump them somewhere vile and never look back.

"Sheeze. Don't we have some pressing appointments to get to doctors?" Kei curtly interrupted further exchanges.

"Hurried youth." Hashimoto-sensei groaned.

"Thank you, Sensei." Tyne respectfully thanked Hashimoto-sensei as he stowed his paperwork in his briefcase and closed it up.

He smiled at Tama's peaceful snoozing on the floor.

"Yes, Ito-sensei, we are heading out," Tyne answered Kei's question.

"Let's go Tama," Eiji whispered to the cat when he scooped her up and placed her protesting body back in the wicker bag.

He sighed when she lapsed back into sleep.

"Weber-sensei! One thing." Hashimoto-sensei called to Tyne as they were heading out the door.

Eiji wondered what the middle-aged doctor whispered into Tyne's ear. He frowned at the fleeting shock on Tyne's face before he resumed his business smile.

"Take care," Hashimoto-sensei said as he closed the door behind them.

They exited the building with the brown suitcase.

"So, that's my duty done. Now get out of my sight," Kei said as soon as they reached his car, keen to dump them.

"Don't think so. New orders." Tyne fished through his briefcase for a piece of paper and flashed it in front of Kei's eyes.

"What the f'ck you, shitheads, playing at!? This is a goddamn f'cking joke!" Kei ranted. "My orders were to take you to Hiroshima and get you a pass in Weismen's! I've done my job!"

"Ito-sensei. We are at war. Until the war is over, no one has done their job." Tyne soberly reprimanded the man, which was a curt reminder for everyone else.

"You'll have my sister and mother deported if I don't do this?" Kei fretted.

"Fulfil your orders, that scenario will never happen."

Kei faced the stern expressions from Tyne and Hans.

His eyes looked to Eiji with pity. "See what you've tied yourself to?"

"Fine. Get in the f'cking car you scumbags." Kei conceded as he entered the driver's seat.

Eiji heaved a weary sigh as he resumed his spot in the car and found himself sitting next to the radio suitcase, which acted as a partition between himself and Hans.

"Now that we understand our situation." Tyne gave Kei directions to a Ryokan in the Senda-machi area where they were to meet another allied contact for more orders.