Chapter five, 2017, leverage, segment six

What the hell? “Down Ryu!” Christina backed away from her attacker. “Down!”

From the corner of her eye she saw how Ryu sank down on his knees, and then she jumped over him, down the escalator. It would probably hurt later, but she desperately wanted to get away from that knife.

Below her Yukio screamed at the top of his lungs.

“Kill the bitch!”

She landed on one foot, lost her balance and crashed down metallic steps still moving upwards. Then all of a sudden she was saved in Yukio’s embrace, and the entire world came to a stop and they both fell.

What?

Yukio let go of her, and she saw him staring up the escalator. Surprise turned into rage in his eyes and then he rushed upwards, stepping on her arm on his way. It hurt, but Christina didn’t care. Somewhere up there Ryu stood facing the attacker she had fled from.

When she followed Yukio’s dash with her eyes, understanding that someone must have pushed the emergency stop dawned on her. That was the reason the world stopped earlier.

Above her a red blazer swirled, then it was hidden behind Yukio’s back.

Ryu shouted, Yukio shouted, and behind her, clearly audible through a bedlam of hard heeled shoes running up the escalator, her personal body guard shouted.

She tried to get up only to be brusquely shoved to the side by her body guard as he ran past her. With both hands against the glass wall she righted herself again and started climbing the unmoving stairs.

Ryu, what’s happening?

Her foot hurt. The foot she had landed on, and her arm hurt where Yukio’s foot had clamped down just moments earlier. Just like she had done during the brutal first years as a model in her previous life Christina pushed the pain away and marched up the stairs.

Kill the bitch? I’ll give you bitch!

She barely made all the way up when Yukio backed into her, almost pushing her down the escalator. For a few moments Christina balanced precariously, feet halfway outside the step she stood on, before she grabbed the hand rails and righted herself again.

She began her ascent again, but Yukio was in her way, and when she tried to pass him he held her back.

“Stay here!”

She tried to pull away, but Yukio didn’t let go.

“I said stay here!” he repeated. “You should let your body guard handle this.”

“You just ran up there yourself.”

“I’m… I was stupid.”

Christina knew he really meant to say he was a boy and she a girl, but she respected him for changing his mind. Then panic took hold of her again and she forced herself free.

Ryu! Ryu!

Two steps was all she needed to leave the escalator, and doing so she realised she should have been able to see him even from where Yukio tried to keep her safe.

“Miss Ageruman, he’s safe.”

Christina whirled in the direction of the voice.

Her body guard stood shielding Ryu who sat on the floor clutching his arm. One assailant lay prone on the floor and another two Red Rose uniforms were manhandled by the body guards Vogue provided.

“Ryu, what happened?” Christina said and rushed to him.

“He cut me,” Ryu said and pointed at the prone body.

“I’m sorry for resorting to violence, Miss Ageruman,” her body guard said. His smile belied his apology.

She looked around at an unnatural scene of normality. The place was crowded, but no more so than the mob that usually flocked around her. Nothing smashed, nothing torn down, just her body guards trying to handle everything as discreetly as possible while they waited for police to arrive, and Ryu sitting on the floor bleeding from his arm. Behind the crowd some people were even shopping as if nothing had happened at all.

“Miss Ageruman, if I may suggest, you should probably escort your boyfriend to hospital.”

Christina nodded numbly. Of course, hospital. Ryu was bleeding. Hospital was probably a good idea. She looked at him. He was bleeding.

“What the bloody hell is going on?”

Ulf? Yes, we were going to 109. I have a job to do here. She turned and looked at Ulf for help. They said the job was important. Should I finish it before we go to hospital? No, Ryu’s bleeding right now. She searched for an answer in the eyes she probably would love until the day she died. Maybe just do part of the job?

“She’s going into shock. Get an ambulance here!”

Ambulance? Why? I was told to escort Ryu to hospital.

“Hamarugen-san, it’s on its way.”

“Thank you!” Ulf turned and looked behind him. “Noriko, could you get hold of Thomas and Jennifer? I’ll stay here so we know which hospital they’re going to.” Then he turned again. “Ryu, you OK?”

Ah, I forgot. He belongs to Noriko now. Christina beamed at her friend who came into her field of vision. And I love Ryu now. There was warmth in that thought, and a sense of security. But he’s bleeding.

“Urufu, will he be OK?” Noriko asked, and Christina could see how scared she was.

“Ask him,” Ulf said.

“I’m fine sis. I think.”

At the edge of her vision Christina saw the two standing Red Rose uniforms being led away. They vanished through a door into the heart of the building where only personnel had access.

I should be signing autographs. She rose on wobbly legs and made for the crowd.

“Miss Ageruman?”

“Christina, what the hell are you doing? Stay with Ryu! He needs you.”

“Kuri, do as Urufu says!”

“Kuri-chan, what’s going on?”

Ko-chan?

Christina’s world went white, and then black.