thenearshore | [closed]

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.

Edited 2019-01-30 03:52 (UTC)

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?"

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.

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.

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."

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?"

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.

"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."

"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."

"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.

"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."

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."

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.

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.

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."

"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."

You know, this guy's name would be Fudou, Tsubasa mentally notes. Still, she crosses her arms and more or less shadows Chris. A tall shadow, by comparison, but all the same.

She frowns, scanning the place herself. "And we are... certain he is supposed to be here?"

Rita is even less effective at stealth, but she manages; it's a bar, and thankfully the patrons don't seem to take particular notice of her. It's a spot of luck she's not going to complain about. A third set of eyes scans the room; no, the target's not here yet, not that her companions haven't already established that.

She shakes her head at Tsubasa's question. "If he doesn't know anything's wrong, he wouldn't have changed his habits, right? And even if he does and he's watching our officer, she's under pressure and probably won't be able to tail him, so maybe he'd go back to his old habits if he thinks he's okay?" It's said slowly, as if she's feeling out the idea as she voices it.

"Like I said," Chris said, leaning against a wall. "Terasaw has witness testimony he's been here... he may have caught wind of that and stopped showing, but it's our only l-"

Chris finds herself cut off by the door opening, and who should walk in but Fudou Makoto himself. The sharp-eyed, weasely looking man scanned the bar, clearly more discerning and suspicious than normal like Tsubasa said.

And so, he eventually catches sight of three people who don't look like they belong here at all: three young women who are clearly too young to even be in here.

Panic draws across his face, and he spins on one heel, moving to leave the way he came in. Chris's lips curl into a snarl, and she can only say one word in response: "Shit."

Tsubasa frowns, not moving for a moment. "Someone paranoid, looking for something wrong... That would track, I suppose."

She sighs and pushes off, breaking into a sudden run, darting out the door. She's, well.

Fast.

She also doesn't know how well Rita will keep up.

Chris...

Well.

...

Chris will catch up eventually, she figures.

It would track that, right after she and Chris comment on it, their mark comes in. She's read enough books during her short time here to notice the trend. When he bolts, though, Rita spins on her heel with the others, going after him with a grimace.

...At her own pace. She's chasing, but she's certainly no Tsubasa. Hopefully he doesn't run far, or this isn't going to be pretty.

For what it's worth, Rita is probably going to get further than Chris is. For a Symphogear user, she's out of shape when untransformed, having lost a lot of endurance since she stopped being in Finé's thrall.

In any case, Fudou is small and quick, but Tsubasa is a trained warrior. It wouldn't take long for her to catch up to the rat-like man at all.

Edited 2019-02-06 06:34 (UTC)

Tsubasa isn't inclined to let him run far. She's definitely light on her feet, and goes into a sprint without even really having to check her breath. She's not entirely sure what she'll do when she catches up, but she fully intends to.

Not that they're law enforcement themselves, at least not here.

Still, once she's within reach, she snaps out an arm to grab for the back of his jacket.

Tsubasa shooting ahead of Rita is expected. Chris falling behind her isn't, but she doesn't dwell on it, there's no time. In the distance ahead of her, she sees Tsubasa gain enough to reach for him... will that work? It can't be that easy, can it? Rita pushes herself a tiny bit faster so she can help if something goes wrong, but for a few precious seconds, Tsubasa's on her own.

Fudou lets out a rat-like screech as he's caught by the collar. "Let me go!" he screams. "I haven't done anything wrong...!"

Chris... catches up to Tsubasa finally, huffing and puffing and clearly winded. "Good... good job senpai," she manages to wheeze out.

[closed]

Tsubasa, Rita

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