Chapter 2: Shiro: 002
Yuna Nate had powers. Ice powers to be specific. However, it was not just as a winter creature she made her living. The girl also had supernatural strength and outstanding agility. She launched a man who weighed as much as a bear against a concrete wall with a kick in the air and made him cross it as if it were made of styrofoam. That said, it is not necessary to add that she could beat up all present agents at that intersection, but she did nothing.
The hanyou continued to kneel on the asphalt, looking down and totally lost in daydreams.
Lost in daydreams…
As I tell you this, I must emphasize that Your Humble Narrator here, at that moment was in the same mental situation as our young hybrid girl. Because, while the agents approached Yuna as a visit approaches to pet a chihuahua, I sat on my motorcycle, wondering, who was the man that appeared out of nowhere?
That was one of the first questions I made to the hanyou, trapped in the same chair where her uncle was just over an hour ago.
Thanks to my incompetence, the Ogre into the Night operation remained open. So, I had a lot to do since director Tanaka put the beanie girl on my responsibility too.
Oh, and she was cataloged. I know most of you don't know what that means in Mythpool, but I'll explain. Her catalog means that she wouldn't be considered a dangerous peculiarity, but she would be monitored from afar by Mythpool, just in case of some Nazi ideals emerges on her head or even if any Alien threat invades the Earth.
In that same year we had cataloged a boy who wanted to resurrect his sister by delivering heads to another person... Anyway, something like that.
"I know nothing about him, douchebag, it's probably another youkai. They are quite united."
The girl seemed to be psychologically recovered, considering the way she felt at the intersection. It was as if nothing had happened and she appeared there in that cage with a magic trick. She got over everything and left it in the past… for now.
"Well, ok." I said. "That's not the point. Now that you are under my responsibility, I need to ask you some questions before I release you. You've cooperated with our tests and you didn't kill anyone, which was a surprise to us, especially knowing whose daughter you are…"
"If I didn't kill anyone it was because I didn't want to. I can end you all whenever I want to, ok?"
"Yes, Yes, we all know that. We studied your DNA and we know the extent of your skills very well, we don't want to upset you at all, however, we would like to know if you are reliable."
It is true we wanted to be safe around her. The scientists and specialists studied her DNA very fast and came up with a theory about the logic behind her powers. Basically, Yuna could transform oxygen molecules into ice.
As long as she makes eye contact with it, be it physical or visual. Following this line of thinking, her freezing powers are almost absolute, since we don't know if there is a limit that her body can stand or some kind of condition. And thanks to this theory we made some mystical modifications in the cage.
"What're you thinking about, huh? I thought we were in an interrogation."
"Me? Oh, yes, right."
"You weren't having any perverted thoughts, were you?"
"What?? No, no, no, no. I am a man of integrity."
"I can only imagine... so you weren't wondering if I'm wearing shorts under this long jersey?"
"What? No! Definitely no!"
"Hmph, I bet my reputation that was exactly what you were thinking about."
"Reputation? Who do you think you are? Steve Jobs? Don't make me laugh."
"Said the guy who pissed all over himself and was saved by a minor. Emphases on a minor to you."
"Hey, what're you implying? "
"Isn't it clear? I am sure you are one of those guys who goes to teen parties pretending to be sixteen just to be able to get lucky with girls like me."
"I never did that! I just turned eighteen!"
"There's no use in lying. You are at least twenty-seven."
"What do you mean? I don't even look older!"
"And there is your asset, right? You must've already bought the ice cream truck."
"Enough!"
"…"
The expression of satisfaction on Yuna's face for getting me mad was explicit.
"Let's go back to what matters, I ask and you answer, ok?"
The hanyou leaned back on the seat that was her prison.
"Okay, pedophile, I'm going to join your game."
"I'm not…" I adjusted my posture. "Well, I'll go straight to the point. Who do you work for?"
"I'm a freelancer. I have a website on the Deep Web where I charge around ten thousand yen for a murder. It's quite popular."
"Seriously?"
"Of course not, douchebag! Were you inclined to believe me?"
"Honestly, yes. In the beginning I thought it was very tiring, but I put myself in your place and ended up seeing that it was a good deal."
"Now you became an entrepreneur?"
"Look, the faster you answer the questions the faster you will be free. You must have realized that your powers are not working here in the cage. That's because we put an enchantment in it after your mother made a mess around here."
"Tsc…" Right, I'll be nice, I just hope this thing in your pants doesn't come near me. I may have no power in here, but I must warn you that my teeth are stronger than the human's, so…"
She bit the vacuum, tilting her torso forward in one quick motion. Right after, she leaned back on her seat which was also her prison. To that demonstration I took a step back.
"So, who do you work for?"
"To AAA."
"Small batteries?"
"No, douchebag. It's the Anonymous Assassins Association, I'm almost from the Elite…"
"Wait! Almost? You mean that there are more powerful people than you?"
"Not necessarily more powerful, but the Elite is usually limited to eight positions. Each position is specialized in some kind of oddities like youkais or shinigamis. To be able to join the Elite it is necessary a vacancy in one of the positions and an indication from another Elite member or even from the boss herself."
"And you were nominated?"
"Yes."
"So you're in."
"No. The nominated killer gets a mission that usually involves the position to be held."
"Ohhh, now I understand. Now I got it. You have a mission to kill your mother."
"You finally used the top head."
"Thanks... Hey! No!"
"Ok, Ok, now that I've cooperated let me go, I'm wasting time here."
"None of this. I need to know why AAA wants your mother dead. And also, what are your mother's ambitions. It seems she's not directly involved with Yakuza."
"I don't know why they want her out of the game, but it doesn't matter to me. I worked way too hard to be able to face her. Sooner or later, by the Association or not, I would hunt and kill her. This is my goal."
"Hmm. I need to know more about AAA before anything. And about your mother... well, I have to do some research."
"Hey! Wait! I already answered your questions, get me out of here!"
"See you soon, Yuna…"
"Ha! You son of a…!"
I quickly left the room. And locked the door behind me.
My intention is not to show how a girl can upset generations of her family when stressed out. Although she explained to me some things, there was no reason to go all over the world on a hunt for the Supernatural. In what she told me I concluded what seemed to be obvious: Yuki-onna and AAA are connected in some way, but it was all very vague.
She said the association wants to kill the youkai. But why? Does the Association kill freaks just for fun? It doesn't make sense if we consider their organization. Judging by what she said there is a hierarchy and departments like a company. If Yuna needs to kill a youkai to get a promotion it means this is a test and I don't think that a criminal organization who kills just because, would have positions, hierarchy and tests.
They would just throw bombs on everything, wouldn't they?
So, AAA it's not a terrorist group. Even though some terrorist groups have tests, hierarchy and positions this Association appears to be more individualistic. Each one has a task and that's that, like a freelancer group. What one does, doesn't interfere with the task of the other. They get their mission, do it and go home. That's it? And if it is, who gives the orders? She talked about a boss. If that boss is the head, so all of them are her employees. And if she decides everything, I can reformulate our question: Why does the boss want Yuki-onna dead?
To find the answer I first need to know who this boss is.
Knowing what I had to do I searched on the internet depths about AAA. What I found were stupid theories, fake documents, fake videos and black and white images that I didn't even try to hide the lack of veracity. But it wasn't bad to search the underworld of the international network. After going through an organ selling site, I ended up on a blog about shinigamis.
The assassins kill well, by Hideki Takashi.
'As a professional shinigami killer for years, I have observed that other mythical creatures are decreasing considerably. Back in the days, it was difficult to have shinigamis working in the city. Most deaths occurred in desert and rural places, which only brings us clients after they find the body and realize it was a god of death who performed that act. But now, AAA is killing the most urban supernatural creatures and shinigamis are getting more space in that area, resulting in more homicides and more customers. So, I give AAA congratulations.'
The blog only had three followers.
Well, it seems that AAA was doing nothing much. So why kill Yuki-onna?
What did the youkai do? She is not involved with the Mafia, at least not consciously. And it seems that she kept herself away from modern society, which does not fit her, according to Hideki, in the profile of creatures that AAA is taking care of.
Would the youkai be a victim in this case? Wouldn't be Yuna the wrong one for wanting to punish her own mother for being prejudiced? No, her prejudice deserves to be punished, yes, but with death?
Even if Yuki-onna has a dark past, the chief has no reason to give an order for murder. Yuna does have it, Ok, but not AAA. And if they don't kill just for the fun of it, I can only think of two things; AAA has a goal and Yuki-onna is an obstacle. Or, the youkai Did something to the boss.
But the Snow Woman was away from society and by the way she talks, it seems she stayed away for a long time, which means the option of her having done something against AAA can be ruled out.
We only have the fact that Yuki-onna is an obstacle to the Association.
"Shouldn't you be keeping an eye on the brat?"
At my back, director Tanaka entered the IT room.
"Oh, Mr. Tanaka, I didn't see you coming in… about Yuna, I questioned her but didn't get anywhere. However, I've already started some research…"
"And what did you find out?"
"What? Oh, Yes. I found out that AAA is chasing Yuki-onna. I think that's because the youkai is a threat to them so this Association sent Yuna after her to…" I ran my finger down my throat.
"The girl needs to run her finger on the youkai's neck?"
"What? No, no, no. It's an expression in my country, it means to kill."
"What a silly expression."
"..."
"Anyway, I think I know why AAA wants this woman out of the game. In fact, if the Association is involved…" He looked away.
"Do you know AAA?"
"Of course. As the director of the Japanese Mythpool I am aware of all mythological issues in this country."
"Yes, it makes sense"
"Come with me, let's talk a little."
He turned around and started walking out of the room. I followed him.
"To talk about what? If I may ask."
"I'll give you some useful information for your mission."
We entered the director's office. A cubic space with burgundy walls and a dark brown wooden floor, but glossy, since it was possible to see my smoky reflection on the floor.
"Sake?"
"No, I'm driving."
"Great, I don't drink, to tell you the truth. I just leave it there in case I need to get somebody drunk."
And he sat on his armchair behind his desk.
By the way, what kind of director thinks like that?
Whatever.
Kind of scared, I settled on the chair close to Tanaka's table. The man who has a very stereotypical Japanese look, placed the elbows on the table and intertwined the fingers in front of his mouth.
I started to sweat.
I looked to the side, away from the director's penetrating gaze and then I noticed one of the framed photos on his desk. There were two girls. And damn, where did I know those two girls from? It shouldn't be hard to remember, I don't know many.
"Lost something?"
"What? No, no. I was just looking at the photo, who are they?"
"My sisters. They are very naughty, but they are like angels."
"Oh, Yes. Nice, very cool…"
"Well. Let's get to business."
"Yes."
"The Yakuza, actually, a specific group of Yakuza, always longed to possess the Magatama jewel."
"You're saying that important little thing."
"Exactly. And as the youkai is a sister of a member of Yakuza, I do not doubt she is doing this favor for him."
"But wait, Isn't this jewel in the Imperial Palace? If she was after it, she would surely have got it. Look what she did to trained agents."
"I agree with you. And that's exactly why Mythpool hid this jewel in one place and left a replica in the Palace."
"Hmm, smart. And what AAA has to do with this?"
"The Association is the reason Mythpool hid the jewel. Once, they tried to buy the jewel because they thought it contained a magical force that would be useful to studies and private research. Clearly, there was no deal, and the Prime Minister asked us to hide the artifact. It is likely AAA still believes in this magical power and wants to keep it away from Yakuza. And as Yuki-onna must be on this mission…"
"She became a target. Knowing this story, it can be it. So, AAA and us are indirectly working against Yakuza."
"The director nodded."
"And where is the real gem?"
"I don't know. Just Suny knows that."
"Suny? Are you talking about Suny, that Suny? The katana one?"
"That's the one. Do you know her?"
I decided not to tell my weird relationship with Suny to the director and I just nodded.
"Don't worry director Tanaka! With this secret information I'll review my strategies for this operation! I am very grateful and … beautiful sisters."
A hundred percent motivated, I left before he understood the meaning of my last words.
As soon as the boss arrives at the HQ, I would put my plans into practice to figure this case out and maybe even start thinking about something like a promotion.
Oh, the boss.
I believe I was a little vague about my immediate superior.
He's technically not my boss. To be honest, he's only responsible for a few agents who had recently been hired for the American Mythpool. He's an American representative. He's been on his way to the Japanese HQ since the Ogre into the Night operation had started. However, it did not cross my mind he would arrive so soon.
"B-But what happened?"
I got in the small room, which the door was half open, giving off a strong odor of blood by its gap.
I want to make it clear that my relationship with the Chief was purely professional. I didn't nurture empathetic feelings for him, but seeing him all mutilated and sprawled on the floor managed to skip a beat of my heart. After all, he was my superior who had just arrived in Japan without me realizing it and ended up being murdered.
Yuna was held captive, it couldn't have been her. Even because she had no reason to kill The Boss. A random man, in case she had succeeded. And the body was hidden. That girl wouldn't have the luxury of hiding her victim. Not to mention the powers. If she were the author of this murder, I think the boss would be frozen to death, right?
Anyway, if it wasn't her… It might've been someone from inside Mythpool. In fact, it can only have been someone from the HQ. A double agent? Who would have reasons to kill him? Why did they want to kill him? That's the right question. The Boss was only a representative, commander of agents who were in the Ogre into the Night operation, a mission to capture a youkai member of Yakuza. Hmph, who would have any connection with this criminal organization at Mythpool?
By asking this to myself, the image in the hotel room where Oni was and where I saw the hanyou for the first time, came to my mind. As if I were reliving my recent past, I glance at the girls holding each other in fear in bed...and then the photograph on Director Tanaka's desk.
"Oh, Damn!"
I didn't have one more second to lose. I needed to act and I needed all kinds of reinforcements.
Therefore, I left the crime scene and ran back to the adamantine's cage.
The door burst open. She was sleeping. That image even in a situation like the one I found myself in was angelic. She didn't snore, just breathed as quietly as a forest at dawn. Believe in Your Humble narrator, it was very difficult to…
"Wake up! Wake up! Come on! Hurry up!"
Gracefully, like a princess waking up at twilight, Yuna squinted her eyes and opened them almost as if opening a garage door.
"What, douchebag?! You... you tricked me…"
"I'll set you free." I said. "It is dangerous here. I found out some information and my boss died. But now I have a clue of where I can find your mother, actually, a friend of mine does. Luckily, it is not far from here, I mean, in the country. So, here's the thing, I'm screwed, I need your help. I'm the only one who can get you out of here and take you to your mother who is probably with Oni, which is my mission. I complete my mission, you complete yours, everybody leaves happy. What do you think?"
She blinked her eyes almost in slow motion.
"You're kind of a sick person, aren't you?"
"I'm serious! Your mother must be after the jewel and I know who knows where it is."
"A jewel? What jewel?"
"The Magatama."
"Hmm...right, I'll form an alliance with you, you little pervert."
"Thank you… wait, why pervert?
"Your hands."
My hands?
No messing around, I'll just say that my hands were clinging to Yuna's thighs at the beginning of her waist... a little farther inward. How did they come down from her shoulders to there?
"It was totally unconscious, I swear."
"I'll let it go. For now. But I hope it won't happen again."
I shudder.
"It won't happen again."
"Yeah. Now set me free, I need to stretch my legs you seem to like so much."
"You're gonna make fun of me throughout the whole book, aren't you?" I went behind the chair to disable her handcuffs.
"That's for sure."
That girl could be the cutest thing sleeping. And this is just an observation. Seriously, until today I wish I knew how my hands were taken by the primitive animal instinct to touch there. As a Mythpool agent and mythological law officer, I was feeling filthy. And these thoughts about my rot as a human being were hindering me to figure out how to disable that damn chair.
"Want a hand?"
That phrase came from the cage entrance. The sound of the door closing came just after.
I swallowed. My head rose from behind the adamantine seat by the left side. And my eyes focused on the man entering the room.
"You douchebag, there is a man in here." Yuna warned me too late.
"Director Tanaka, it's been a while."
"I wonder, 3K1, why are you trying to free this girl?"
"Me…? No, no, director, it's the chair, it's defective...I think if I do it like this…"
And then, the lucky goddess smiled at me. With some alternative and desperate command, I managed to activate the unlock mode of the chair's handcuffs.
"Finally, huh."
Yuna Nate then stood up. She stretched out and snapped her neck. As her arms dropped, she placed both hands on her waist. The pair of sapphires aimed directly at Director Tanaka, a few feet ahead of her.
The director quickly drew a gun from his back and aimed without hesitation at the hanyou. But she remained quietly still.
"What are you planning to do, 3K1?"
I got out from behind the chair placing myself next to her.
"Sorry director, but your sisters are members of Yakuza. No, actually, you are a member of the organization. And I believe you're the one who killed my boss. I also believe that you are interested in the Magatama jewel. However, trying to avoid exposing yourself, you tried to manipulate me to get the relic before the youkai, or rather, before Oni. It's likely that you're in the Yakuza group that are fascinated by the jewel and the youkai is from an opposite group. Am I right?"
"Hmph, it looks like you're not an idiot. But how did you realize that?"
"Your sisters. They were with Oni last night. At first, I couldn't quite remember. But then I did the Math."
"Those bitches." Yuna said. "How small the world is. And thinking I left them alive."
"Yeah, I'm not going to fail like you did".
Director Tanaka shot the girl. However, the bullet whizzed over Yuna's shoulder since she simply tilted her head to the side getting away from the projectile.
"I hope you have more bullets."
"Tsc."
He fired two more times and Yuna dodged it in the same way she did before.
The director started to shudder. Stubborn, he was shooting again, his last three ones, in this case.
The girl, this time stood as still and cold as an ice statue. And Tanaka's three last shots, thanks to his shaking, didn't come close to blasting Yuna. I confess I almost got shot, but the lucky goddess was still on my side.
Finally, director Tanaka was out of bullets.
The hanyou took her hands out of her waist.
"What are you…"
And she sprinted. With that outfit she was like a scarlet demon running voraciously. She jumped in a bolt kick hitting Tanaka's face. The sound of the popping air came accompanied by the sound of breaking bones, which I heard clearly even from the bottom of the cage. With that kick, technically the director was already dead. And yet, the pressure of the supernatural kick, as if to be sure, tore the man's neck and his head was thrown to the adamantine's wall, exploding in brains, blood and crushed bones.
When Yuna touched her feet on the ground, the director's existence was almost null if it weren't for the erect body looking like a dummy in that room. The girl lightly pushed the body with two fingers, slowly collapsing it. The blood began to leak from the base of what was once a neck, just some seconds after the meat mannequin plopped on the ground.
"D-damn… such a scare…"
I fell on my knees and couldn't avoid seeing my breakfast again.
"Hã? Seriously douchebag? If you're going to be vomiting for every little thing like that, I think it's better to let me go alone on this mission."
"No, no… I'm fine. I just got a lot of information today and I think that's the only way my body found to relieve the pressure… shit."
"Are you sure it wasn't that puddle of brain over there?"
"Don't make me look again!"
Once again, the hanyou's expression of personal satisfaction emerged on her teenage face.
I got up, with no rush, and took a deep breath.
"I'm glad you admitted you have a weak stomach, pedophile. Accepting your weaknesses is the first big step, you little pervert."
She said that as a post graduate in the subject.
"As you're going on a mission with me, I can teach you how to be a murderer, what do you think?" She reached her hand to me. "This is how you do in the West, isn't it?"
A handshake. It could be used as a signature of a great pact in my country. Seeing this gesture, I smiled.
"Let's just get this over with. I still wanna see if I can get into college."
Weekly Power Status
-- Power
Ranking 
-- Power
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