Chapter 16

After, Riko's death, both Elena and Atsushi had agreed that working outside the organisation with other scientists would be a good idea. Atsushi had wanted to ask the boss for the permission, right away, but Elena insisted to wait when their second child would be born, and besides they still had Daichi and Moriko, and boss certainly wouldn't let them to leave if they still had two test subjects. Elena wished Daichi and Moriko could run away, but she knew that even if they would manage to escape the organisation would catch them anyway.

Atsushi didn't think he and Elena should worry since Daichi and Moriko would end up like others anyway; they had tried different methods of creating the drug, and all of them had failed. Elena hated this fact it seemed for her that the experiments on Vermouth and the homeless people were good for nothing, and Elena wouldn't accept it. They didn't need to complete the drugs just to make the world a better place, but they also had to finish it, so the Vermouth's suffering, and the deaths of those homeless people wouldn't go in vain.

Elena truly believed that working in a different environment with different scientists might actually help to finally complete the drug. Elena couldn't understand why they couldn't finish it, sometimes Elena thought that the answer was in front of her and Atsushi's nose, but they just couldn't see it.

The day when Elena and Atsushi were going to ask the boss for the permission finally came.

Elena and Atsushi again had a girl, and they named her Shiho. Elena had spend the first three moths in the house with Shiho and Akemi, but when she had found out that Maiki Daichi had died due to tests, she knew that it was a time to talk with the boss.

The boss didn't sound surprise when Elena and Atsushi showed up in the room which the boss had been using to talk to his members.

"I suspect it is about the experiment on the homeless people. I heard that you just left with Sanda Moriko to experiment on," the child's voice came from the television. "I'll ask Pisco to bring more human test subjects."

This was it. This was the moment where Elena and Atsushi would ask the boss for this permission. The air was getting heavier in the room. Elena and Atsushi had prepared themselves to this conversation, but now they were afraid that the boss might suspect something.

"We want to ask you for something," Elena started, she kept her voice casual. She didn't want the boss to hear any fear from her voice.

"Yes? What is it, Elena-san?" The curiosity could be heard in the boss' voice.

"Atsushi and I met the scientists from United States during the science conventions, and their research is similar to ours, so they could help us with our project," Elena said.

"All right, give the names to Pisco and he will check their profiles. If they are suitable to work for this organisation, then I employ them," the boss responded.

"I'm afraid you didn't understand." Elena felt as every of her muscle was stiff, and she could hear Atsushi's heartbeat. "Those scientists live in USA, they cannot just leave their country, but Atsushi and I could go there and work with them."

As the boss didn't spoke, Elena continued, "We could say we're interested in their research, and in a right time, we could introduce our ideas to them, and show them some of our research. Maybe, they could help us to create the drug, since unfortunately, we have problems with it."

"Perhaps, you have problems with it, because you are not so talented as I thought before, perhaps I should fire you."

Elena felt as anger rose in her chest. Obviously by 'fire you' the boss meant killed them, however, Elena was angrier at the fact that the boss questioned their skills.

"You could do it, but please remember the drug we want to create, it's something that no one before had a luck in creating it," Atsushi explained.

"It passed over six years since we did the experiments on Vermouth, and we thought we would create the drug, right away, but perhaps we were too full of ourselves." Elena tried not to show signs of any anger. "Without those experiments, creating the drug would take longer than with those experiments; however even with those tests, it still can take a very long time."

"Considering that those scientists that you talk about doesn't have a clue about our research and obviously you will not show your research, right away, to them, it may indeed take a long time," the boss didn't sound convinced.

"But it's worth it, and we can gain so much from it," Atsushi said.

"It may take a long time, but even if it will, at least the drug will be completed. I believe the patience is a key in this research," Elena added.

"Trust me, Elena-san, I've been patient for a long time."

The boss didn't spoke a word for a long two minutes. Elena and Atsushi figured that the boss was considering what they had told the boss.

"How do I know you won't betray me?" Of course, the boss would ask this question.

"Why would we do it now? We believe in this project and we have been following every of your order." Fortunately, Elena couldn't detect any insincerity from Atsushi's voice, and she hoped the boss didn't detect it, as well.

"Including those orders that we didn't like." Elena referred to using Vermouth and homeless people for the experiment. "We only wish to create this drug and thus meet this organisation's goal. We do not think of betraying you, on contrary we want what the best for you. After all, if it wasn't for you, Atsushi and I couldn't even have a chance to create this drug."

"What about Sanda Moriko? Don't think you will avoid doing the tests on her," the boss warned them.

"Of course we still do the tests on her, but honestly I doubt they would bring any results, unless some miracle would happen," Atsushi said.

"There's also one more thing we want to ask you." Elena came up with the idea that would make the boss less suspicious about them wanting to work outside the organisation. Elena didn't like this idea, but she believed the boss would let his guards down, because of it."

"And what would it be?"

"If you give us the permission to work with those foreign scientists in the USA, we would like to leave our daughters, Akemi and Shiho, here. We would like to fully focus on the research and with two daughters, it would be impossible. And the organisation is doing a good job with raising Ichirou-kun, so I believe it will not have the problems with our daughters," Elena explained.

Elena believed that the boss wouldn't think that she and Atsushi would try anything against, if they would leave the most important people to them in the organisation, and the organisation wouldn't try to hurt Akemi and Shiho, because then they would lose two of their most skilled scientists.

"Would you just leave your daughters here?" the boss sounded surprised. "You may spend many years overseas, and you may hardly have a time to visit."

"Unfortunately, sometimes the sacrifices have to be make," Atsushi said.

"And working with those scientists could really help us. We cannot lose that chance." Elena's voice sounded firm.

Elena and Atsushi hoped that they convinced the boss, and they didn't suspect that Elena and Atsushi wasn't going to give them the drug, when they would finish it. Atsushi had suggested that they should kill the boss in a right time. He thought that after they would complete the drug, the boss would show up to them in person or Atsushi and Elena would convince them to show their face, after all, they would be the ones who would complete the drug, and they should know the identity of the person they would create the drug for.

Even though, Elena didn't like the killing part, she had to admit it that they didn't have any other choice, if they didn't want the boss to have the drug.

"Of course, if I agree then Akemi and Shiho would work for this organisation including working on the project. I do not intend to just stop the research when you will be away, the other scientists still will work on it, here," the boss informed them.

Elena bit her lips. She wasn't too surprised that the boss wanted her daughters to work for the organisation. However, she wished they would have a normal life. It was hard to talk about normal when you spent most of your time in the lab.

"Would it be possible, if Akemi and Shiho wouldn't need to get involved in the organisation's activities?" Elena pleased. "It's just, we wish for our daughters to have a carefree life."

There was a short pause, before the boss responded, "Well, I guess one of your daughters could have a carefree life, like... Akemi, but the other, Shiho, I would expect her to work on this research, after all she's your daughter, so surely she must inherit some of your intelligence."

Elena didn't feel they have any other choice, but to agree.

"Does it mean you allow us to work outside the organisation?"

"Yes, I do," the boss responded and then added, "Of course, you'll give the names of those scientists to Pisco so he can check them, and you will do the last tests on Moriko. If those tests will not help you to create the drug, and I will not find any suspicious about those scientists, then I will allow you to work with those scientists in USA."

A smile appeared on Atsushi's and Elena's faces, even though Elena had this weird feeling that this conversation went too easy.

"Of course, when you will be overseas, I will expect a report every two weeks, and you may expect one of the organisation's members coming there to check on you," the boss informed them.

It didn't sound as they would be supervised twenty-four seven, which Elena was happy about.

"Before you go, you need to remember if I will find out you are plotting against me, I will kill you," the boss had a serious voice.

"Of course, we always remember that, and please remember that you promised me once that you won't hurt Akemi, no matter what, and I want to include Shiho to this promise, as well." Elena kept her voice calm.

"Of course, I remember."

It didn't made Elena at ease.

During next month, Pisco checked the scientists and he agreed that there was nothing suspicious about them, and thus the boss allowed them to work overseas. They just had to do the last tests on Moriko. Elena asked Atsushi if they could procrastinate a little with it. If Elena would be honest she wished that Moriko wouldn't be used to those tests, unfortunately, it couldn't be avoided.

Moriko most likely would die, if she would survive those tests, then it would be a miracle. Besides, Elena couldn't imagine what Moriko would do if she would live. She couldn't leave the organisation, because she knew too much, and she couldn't just stay in the organisation, and do nothing, and there didn't seem to be a third option. Elena had to accept that Moriko most likely would die.

Elena also had this fear that something wrong would go. Atsushi told her that she shouldn't worry too much, but instead be happy that the boss allowed them to work outside the organisation. Maybe, Atsushi was right, maybe Elena indeed worried too much.

Elena glanced down at her daughter, Shiho, who was laying in her crib. Elena gently caress her cheek. Shiho shifted in her crib. Elena and Atsushi didn't know how long they would be away, and they didn't want to make any guesses. However, Elena wanted to leave a message for Shiho.

She created the tapes where she left the messages from eleventh to nineteenth years old Shiho. Perhaps, she and Atsushi would be back by that time, but Elena thought it was better to leave those messages just in case. Besides, Elena was afraid that something wrong could happened.

However, there was a problem of where Elena could place the tapes. She didn't want anyone especially the boss to hear what was on the tapes, especially the tape for Shiho's nineteenth birthday. Elena had revealed some stuff that the boss wouldn't like anyone to hear about it.

Atsushi came into the room. He kissed Elena and he shook Shiho's hand. Shiho cooed.

"She's so cute," Atsushi smiled.

Elena explained Atsushi about the tapes and ask him if he had any idea where she could leave those tapes without anyone finding them.

"Hmm, it had to be outside of this house, and definitely it couldn't be in the organisation's building." Atsushi bit his bottom lip. "What about Dejima's house. The organisation wouldn't check there."

"Well, I wouldn't like Dejima to know about those tapes."

"He doesn't need to know, you just need to hide those tapes in a place where no one would find them," Atsushi said.

"I guess you're right, and I could send Akemi into the house, so Dejima and others wouldn't suspect anything."

Elena thought it would be good if it would be Akemi who would hide the tapes, since then she could give them to Shiho in the future.

"I'll go now," Elena informed Atsushi.

She went to the living room where Akemi was playing with Ichirou.

"Hi, mum." Elena would miss Akemi's smile.

"You and I are going for a small trip."

"Cool! Where're we going?" Akemi asked, curious.

"I'll tell you on a way, now go say goodbye to your sister, and dad."

As Akemi went to her sister's room, Elena glanced at Ichirou with her sad eyes.

"What is it, Elena-san? You look sad," Ichirou said, concerned.

"I'm sad, because I would need go away for some time, but I want you to promise me something." Elena took Ichirou's hand in hers.

For a moment, Ichirou looked at her with his curious eyes, but then he said, "Anything."

"Promise me you will look after Akemi and Shiho, and you make sure they would be safe."

"I promise," Ichirou grinned.

Elena sighed in relief. It was weird that a kid's promised made Elena more relieved than the boss' promise.

"I'm ready mum, we can go." Akemi appeared, and she and Elena left the house.

After few months since Akemi had left the tapes for Shiho at Dejima's house; everything was arranged for Elena and Atsushi to leave Japan. They only had to do the tests on Moriko. Atsushi and Elena did some changes in the research during the last months, even though they doubted that Moriko would react positively to the tests.

Atsushi and Elena was in the lab going through some stuff. It was just them and Moriko in there.

"I wish I could have a better life." Atsushi and Elena wasn't sure if Moriko was talking to them or to herself, but they decided not to interrupted her. "To have both parents who would love me and care about me; friends whom I could tell everything; maybe even a boy I would love. But mostly I wish you, Atsushi-san and Elena-san, and everyone who was responsible for my friends' death would get punish." Moriko's eyes were full of hatred.

Neither Elena or Atsushi responded. Atsushi gave a look to Elena and she nodded. It was a time to do the test on Moriko. Elena felt horrible about it, but they didn't have any other choice.

Atsushi took a needle and gathered a substance into it. He took Moriko's hand, and he inflicted the substance into her.

"Well, I see you don't stop yourself in your research." Atsushi and Elena heard someone's voice behind their backs, they turned towards this person.

"You? What ar-" Atsushi couldn't finish his sentence as the bullet went through his head. After it, the shooter sent the next bullet through Elena's head, before she could say anything.

Moriko looked, horrified, as Atsushi's and Elena's dead bodies fell on the floor. The shooter glanced curiously at Moriko and asked her, "Who're you?"

Moriko was so lucky that that person showed up. She was able to convince that person to let her leave the building, they even brought her outside the building. Moriko didn't know why they helped her to run, and that person gave Moriko a strange answer to her question. They also told her, Don't think anyone would believe you about the organisation and what they did to you. You may not even have a chance to tell any one.

Moriko understood what they meant by, not even have a chance, whatever Atsushi inflicted into her didn't have a good effect on her, she didn't even know how she was able to run, maybe it was because of an adrenaline. However, the pain was becoming too big, and Moriko ran slower. She wondered how far she was from the organisation. She wondered what would happen to her.

She stopped running. Moriko's body was burning inside, her vision was becoming blurry. She fell on the ground. The pain was unbearable. Did Riko and others felt the same pain? Would she died here?

I don't want to die, Moriko thought before her eyes closed.

A young marriage couple was driving back home. They had a three hours journey ahead of them.

The woman yawned, when she was about to take her palm away from her mouth, she noticed something on the road. "Ginishoro, pull over, there is somethin' layin' there."

The man did as he was asked. He also saw something strange laying on the road, though it probably was just some rubbish.

They get out of the car, and they went toward that strange thing. To their surprise, it was a baby girl put into over size clothes.

The woman took the baby into her hands. The baby started to cry and the woman tried to calm it down. "I cannot believe it, who would be so cruel to leave a baby on the road?" The woman was disgusted.

Toyama Ginishoro didn't know the answer to his wife's question, but he knew that the baby had to be taken care of.

- To Be Continued -

A/N: Here is the end of the first part, and if you still ask yourself then yes, Sanda Moriko is or rather will be Toyama Kazuha.

When I write the first chapter for the second part, I will update it (not sure when it will be). The second part of this story will be uploaded separately from this story.

The title for the second part will be: "The Wonder Drug Part II: The Effect"

The second part will take place during the present times. I think it will be after the Tennis Case (the one after the Mystery Train case).

Here I also have three spoilers for you for the second part.

1. Shrinking is not the only effect of the substance that Atsushi inflicted into Moriko (Kazuha). However, the other effect will be more visible for Kazuha when she'll be getting older.

2. Ichirou is not OC character, and you will see him again.

3. Ai will find out some useful information from her mother's tape for her nineteenth birthday.

Last but not least, thank you everyone for reading this story, reviewing it, following it, and favourite it. Big thanks to each of you :).