[closed]

[trustheart]

Who: Chris Yukine, Tsubasa Kazanari, and Rita Mordio; Chris Yukine and D2
When: March 30th, and March 31st
Where: The Far Shore
What: "Taking on organized crime", and "Stopping a ruckus"

Comments

Tsubasa, Rita

[trustheart]

Chris wondered if perhaps she was biting off more than she could chew with answering this first prayer. But then again, that's why she had asked Tsubasa and Rita to both help her... and specifically asked for Dark Precure to not be included, because this is the sort of situation that Chris feared someone like her would only make worse.

The prayer was to try and help find the location of a local group of yakuza. Chris had identified the source of the prayer as a Detective Terasawa Yukina, who had been trying to identify these criminals for months. How had it reached Chris? Because she was a god of justice, and these particular criminals had killed Terasawa's partner.

Chris had done everything she could to research the case. These thugs weren't like the romanticized, sometimes heroic characters from video games and anime. They were ruthless, and not only had they killed Terasawa's partner, but they'd also been involved in trafficking and caused the deaths of numerous civilians.

People had lost their lives because of these men. Children would have to grow up without their parents because of what they'd done. Chris... Chris couldn't forgive that.

In any case, Chris was waiting outside the precinct where Terasawa worked, in the area the group was active in. Her being virtually overlooked actually helped with stealth, and being forgotten as soon as someone looked away from her allowed her the chance to get some details on the latest leads. All there was now was to wait for Tsubasa and Rita to arrive, so they could get to work, which she did by leaning against a wall with both of her arms crossed. Luger was already in his vessel form, sitting in a holster around her waist.

[beyondtheblade]

After solving one small altercation recently, Tsubasa was finally starting to feel like she was doing something in this place. Of course she'd received and was fully willing to help Chris with this particular problem. Honestly, receiving the details, there was a small part of her in the back of her head that was a little bit concerned.

How close did certain elements of that hit home, she wondered? As if she didn't already have a very good idea, given some of them do for her, as well.

Still, she arrives inevitably. She's not used to working through crowds and not being noticed. Normally it requires thin disguises at a minimum. She sort of wonders if there is some vanity in how much it throws her off, but she greets Chris as they approach.

"Yukine. Have you found anything out yet?"

[blahblahblah]

Rita, for her part, isn't quite used to stealth yet; evidently she hadn't ever needed it in life because it sure wasn't coming to her now, though she's learning. Of course, being supernaturally good at it means she doesn't have to worry so much about screwing up. That frees her up to privately freak out about the job some more, given they're going to be taking on organized crime. How organized? How dangerous? She'd looked up general information, but that's nothing compared to the real thing, right? She's been a little nervous this whole day, and while she's trying to push it aside now, it's at least a little visible in her posture now.

There's no need to ask the same question again, so after a polite nod to Chris, she just turns back and forth, looking for anything out of the ordinary. Occasionally she peers into the precinct and makes sure nobody's particularly suspicious in there, either.

[trustheart]

Chris pushes off the wall as Tsubasa and Rita arrive, giving them both a nod. "Hey senpai, hey Rita," she said. "I did find out some stuff."

She took out her phone, and held out some snapshots of some case photos she'd made. They showed a weaseley looking man sporting a goattee. "Here," she said. "Terasawa has been investigating this man as a suspected contact, or even a member of the gang she's been tracking. His name's Fudou Makoto."

She frowned, and lowered her phone. "Unfortunately, she thinks she was made during her last stakeout observing him. I think Detective Terasawa might be taken off the case if she doesn't get results, and soon."

[beyondtheblade]

Tsubasa eyes the photo for a long moment, gives a look to Rita, and then eyes Chris.

"And that is who you heard the prayer from." She frowns. She's still not used to filtering all these things out. Such a cry for justice is something she'd hoped she would hear too, so she's almost a little disappointed she hadn't heard it earlier, herself. But very glad Chris had brought her in on it.

"That very much begs the question of what we are to do about it. Apprehending the suspect ourselves would have no legal hold, especially given our United Nations or Japanese government status holds no sway in this world..."

She taps her chin.

"However, it is much harder for us to get... 'made,' as it were, isn't it?"

[blahblahblah]

Rita peers at the photos, nodding, grimacing a little at the apparent suspect. "So we're here because if something doesn't happen, he'll get away... yeah, makes sense."

Tsubasa's explanation initially seems good, but after a moment, Rita pauses, thinking a bit. "So... what, we go scope things out, and then just leave her a note or something? Since they'll basically forget we were ever there?" Ugh. Logistics.

[trustheart]

"Mordio has kind of the right idea," Chris replied. "I mean, she's already desperate enough to pray for divine intervention, so I'm pretty sure she won't question it if we find it out for her."

She put her phone back in her pocket. "I was thinking we'd tail Fudou and see if he doesn't lead us to those gangsters."

[beyondtheblade]

"Tailing should be easy enough," Tsubasa says, and considers something for a moment. "Do we know where to look?"

She thinks for a moment, before mentioning something else.

"As well, even if we are not prone to be noticed, we should still be extremely cautious. We're still not technically invisible. This type is liable to be extremely paranoid and cautious, I would imagine... You might be able to eat a bullet transformed, Yukine, but I do not want to test just how tough a god is otherwise first hand tonight."

[blahblahblah]

"That seems like a decent plan," Rita agrees easily enough. The last part of what Tsubasa says makes her pale, though. Given they're both gods, and she's pretty sure none of that toughness passes on to her. Just the whole being light thing. "And I don't really get that at all, so I've gotta watch my back across the board. Maybe I'd be better off as a scarf after all... no, we might need the extra hands..." She leans against the wall herself, deliberating with a grumble.

[trustheart]

"I don't want to take any stupid risks, either," Chris said. "But following him is the only thing I can think of. If we do, yeah, I'm gonna do my absolute best to avoid getting shot."

She turned to Tsubasa. "Terasawa's notes say he frequents a bar across town. I was able to photograph the address. She's got witness testimony he's been there since she last saw him, so I don't think he's gotten spooked and stopped going there."

[beyondtheblade]

Well, Tsuabsa's satisfied with that much at least. For the moment. She nods to Chris's affirmation, before listening as her friend addresses her. "Then, we should head there immediately."

Simple, to the point. There really wasn't any other immediate route to take. They'd see what the situation was when they go there.

She notices Rita pale though, and turns her head to her, smiling reassuringly. "Do not worry about that, though. The fact I can remove you from immediate danger pretty much instantaneously is to your benefit. Trust me."

[blahblahblah]

Rita continues to grumble, but the plan coming together is sound enough... She stands back up off the wall, doing her best to smile back at Tsubasa but probably not doing a very good job of it. "It's always the bar, isn't it. And, uh. I hope we don't need it, but I'll be counting on you if that does come up," she adds, usual bravado a bit lacking at the moment. She'll get there, give her time. Or expose her to some violence and she should perk right up.

[trustheart]

Chris gave Rita a look. She was awfully genre savvy for someone who didn't really have any memories to speak of. Nevertheless, she nodded.

"We're all set then," she said. "Let's head out."

Chris led them off, and before long, they reached the bar. It was like the typical sort of Japanese bar, the kind typically frequented by salarymen. In this, case, however, the majority of the patrons were all clearly criminals and their girlfriends. Chris let out a "tch" as she entered and surveyed the scene, looking uncomfortable as she tried to ignore the things that we're being said and done by the drunken n'er-do-wells towards their partners.

"Don't bother trying to get someone to seat us," she said. "We're too young to be in here. We need to take advantage of the fact we're barely noticeable..."

A quick glance through the bar would confirm that Fudou wasn't present yet. But that didn't mean he wouldn't be.

D2

[trustheart]

While at the precinct the day prior, Chris had also overheard some reports about civil disturbances in a nearby neighborhood. That reminded her of a prayer she'd received about too much noise keeping a woman's baby awake, and she'd connected the dots in her head to realize that something might be up.

What's more, it was an opportunity for her to try a prayer with D2. The two of them had been interacting quite a bit, getting to know each other, and she was ready to make him her shinki. Of course, that required her hunch to be correct, but tonight would see whether they could both prove themselves.

Her theory was that it was an ayakashi, because when authorities came to respond, the disturbances quickly dissipated, almost as if they never happened at all, only for them to start all over again once the police left. The people making the reports were even being accused of making false reports, and no one in the neighborhood could say how or why they'd suddenly gone out into the streets and raised a clamor each night.

In any case, when Chris and D2 arrived on the scene, it was clear what was going on. It was like an impromptu block party had risen up in the middle of the street, and tonight, it was worse than ever. There'd be no easily dissipating this time, because they'd set a large bonfire in the middle of the road, and had several loud speakers playing music everyone was dancing to.

But there'd be no police coming. The witnesses had all been discredited.

"Yeah, either this neighborhood is full of assholes, or something unnatural is going on," Chris observed, motioning towards an older lady who was among the people raging in the street, tapping her feet to the loud, raucous music being played.

[smilingbullet]

The neighbourhood was certainly lively. He's seen a lot of lively things over the years, but the way people were acting in this place, causing such a ruckus, covering it up and continuing on like nothing was out of the ordinary and the bonfire, it was almost new. You saw a lot of things over the years when you did a lot of traveling. But this was not really aligned with any cultural knowledge that he had about Japan. Hippies, maybe. That was a fun era. Was that a thing here though? Or is it some rave culture that's sprung up, courtesy of ayakashi?

It's not that he's let his guard done, he generally doesn't while on the job, but he's showing more curiosity, than he is showing how he's taking in every detail, superior positions, weak positions.

"To be fair, it could be both!" D2 might be a little too chipper. He was always happy to go out on missions, it made him feel useful and that was a feeling that he needed. "What is that music? There's so much sound in it."

[trustheart]

"It's by a new band I think," Chris replied. This song at least. She was new to this dimension, but she'd taken to music almost instantly. "It's a rock band, called 'Cake or Death' I think. Song's name is 'Myway Highway'."

She smirked. She actually rather liked it.

"But you're right. Maybe they're what drew the ayakashi here. But at the same time, we should probably find for sure if that's what's going on or not, before we try to disperse everyone."

[smilingbullet]

"I don't get the title but 'Cake or Death' is an amazing band name." Modern song titles are really strange, but they can also be hilarious.

"So," D2 stretched and then folded his hands on his back. "investigation first of all, before we actually take any sort of action."

[trustheart]

"Right? I totally wish I came up with something like that myself."

She snickers, before focusing on business. "But you're right. What do we do first? Try and ask questions or check the places an ayakashi would be?"

[smilingbullet]

What order of business.. Well.

"We could do both. It's not like we're so familiar with the area that we can just go straight for the hiding places, so asking questions while keeping an eye open for hiding spaces is more effective than just going with one or the other."

[trustheart]

Chris nodded. That seemed sensible.

"Alright," she replied. "You take one half of the gathering, I'll take the..." she paused to look out over the crowd, "... the left? That sound good?"

[smilingbullet]

Efficiency and a proper plan is important, even if this particular plan isn't...that high stakes. He won't fail this much, at least, he's sure.

"So the right is for me to process. Yes ma'am, that sounds perfectly fine to me."

[trustheart]

Chris nodded. "Alright then. And don't call me ma'am... it's Chris, alright?"

With that, she headed off to take care of her half of the gathering, leaving D2 to cover his half and approach people.

[smilingbullet]

Miss would be more appropriate due to her age...she's still his trial-god though. "Ah, yes, if that's what you prefer." It's a bit strange to call a person he's supposed to try out to be a shinki to by just name- not that he doesn't do the same with Alex, but they have been friends for a long time now. And Hibiki, he's rarely called her by name, and she has not objected to being called God Apollo though he's not sure she completely understands that it comes from the more sarcastic angle than respect. Although she did complain the time when he did call her by name when they were cornered and she had to name him. He doesn't really have those sort of relationships with Chris.

He came from a pretty hierarchical background, having been in the military since he was 18, so he's used to referring to his superiors appropriately, and not simply by name. But... He'll do his best to get used to it.

A few moments after Chris set off, D2 shook his head to clear his mind, and went to gather intel and keep an eye out for shifts in the shadows.

[trustheart]

It's less that Chris is more informal; the only person who calls her by an honorific is someone she's incredibly close with, so the meaning she attaches to that sort of thing is the reverse of what people usually expect.

As they separate, and D2 eyes the shadows, he might notice a flicker of something abnormally shaped about the shadow of the DJ at the forefront of all this.

[smilingbullet]

The way honorifics can mean such different things to different people is an odd thing.

But never mind that. D2 slips into work mode, and because he has trained his vision for his old job, he can pick up slight changes with little trouble. He notices the shadow behave unnaturally, and he fishes out his phone in case he might need it while he searches the shadows around the DJ more intently. And there is something shifting again, but he's not entirely clear on what it is yet. It could be an ayakashi, but it could also be an animal. Still, he has a finger near her number on the speed dial, and a hand on a gun with holy water bullets.