Chương 17: I Enter the Garden
If there was one thing Naomasa Tsukauchi could say he hated about his job, it was the dead ends.
Those times when it seemed like no matter how much you searched, how many people you've asked, or how many sewer holes you poked your head into, nothing new appears to justify the blood, sweat, and tears you've shed. Only the taste of ash on your tongue. And being a detective, this was unfortunately a common occurrence.
"Uh, detective? Are you sure you don't wanna quit for today?"
The dark-haired policeman lifted his weary head from the desk and looked at his coworker's concerned face. Seeing the man slightly flinch, his fingers twitched. Did he look that bad?
He looked back to the desk, where the computer screen displayed a photo collage of various streets and rooms, with bodies wrapped in white filling each frame. Next to the keyboard was an open file with similar pictures, along with typed reports filled with highlighter marks.
He returned his gaze to the other cop and smiled. "Eh, don't worry about me. I just need to look at one more thing and then I'll head out, okay?"
His coworker nodded, albeit hesitantly and turned around. As soon as he was out the door, Tsukauchi's smile faltered as he took in what was on his desk and sighed. He really should go. The coffee was starting to lose its effect. And he was beginning to feel that old friend, the sleep demon creep up on him. But there had to be something. Something he was missing, or something that was so obvious he just couldn't see it.
A soft thump on the desk drew his attention. A wrapped muffin, held by a familiar stubbled face.
"The vending machine shot out two. Figured you could use the extra sugar to get you home."
He chuckled as he accepted the offered treat. "I get the hint. Don't you have any late-night patrols to attend to?"
Aizawa shook his head. "I got one of the others to swap with me. There are important UA matters tomorrow and Nezu said I needed a full night's sleep." He bit into his own muffin, chewing and swallowing before speaking again. "And so do you. Both of us know that investigating is better with a clear head, something that you don't have now."
"Heh. Sticking your nose into things will get in you trouble."
"Last I checked, that's my job description." The Underground Hero glanced at Tsukauchi's desk. "So you really can't find anything on him?"
The detective slumped and shook his head. "No. Not even the footprints we think we found are giving us anything. No witnesses, no prints, no audio or video other than that one. If he was a normal serial killer, we might've had more success. They usually have some kind of 'signature' or calling card or at least a rhythm behind their killings."
"He has a rhythm too."
"Yes, because 'criminals' is such a predictable thing to follow," Tsukauchi bit out. "The fact that he just kills them with a knife doesn't help either. The most we managed to figure out is the bit with extreme force, but even that tidbit of information isn't consistent!" His voice nearly rose to a yell, but then calmed himself down with another sigh. "Shinigami…he really lives up to his name."
Aizawa nodded. "Sure does. Not even my contacts underground can find out anything. A skull mask with a hood isn't exactly the most stand-out disguise." He finished the muffin and wiped his mouth with his black sleeve. "But they did manage to tell me this: they're scared, along with the rest of the underworld. Most of them sleep with the lights on like kids and stay out of dark neighborhoods. There are even rumors he can appear from shadows and he knows every sin you've done just by looking at you."
"A Symbol of Fear…" the detective muttered. The reverse analogy made disturbing sense; if All Might brought courage and hope to those in the light, then Shinigami was instilling fear into those who dwelt in the shadows.
"Let's not get ahead of ourselves," interjected Aizawa. "If we give him such a title, it'll only make hurt us and everyone else; people will start seeing him as more than just some killer. Which he isn't." He looked down at the photos and his tired eyes narrowed. "At best, he's some wannabe vigilante who keeps getting lucky. But his luck will run out; it always does for guys like him, both of us know that. And when it does, we'll be there to end this little horror story once and for all."
If his friend All Might had said that, then Tsukauchi's spirits would've been lifted. But coming from someone like Eraserhead…
"Should I be calling to report an impostor?"
The disheveled-looking man raised an eyebrow, only for his stare to turn deadpan when he saw the smile on Tsukauchi's face. He sighed and rubbed his forehead. "Was it that bad?"
"Eh, not really. The words were great, execution needed a little work but it's…you."
Aizawa shrugged. "Maybe it's that sugar boost from the muffin. Still, what I said is the truth. Go home and come back tomorrow for a fresh start."
Tsukauchi couldn't help but chuckle again. "All right, all right." He rose from the chairs and stretched, a slight crick coming from his spine. "A good shower would do wonders for me."
"Glad to hear it. I need to check on my cats." Aizawa made to leave but a photo on the desk caught his eye. "Hey, that one's recent right?"
"Hm?" The detective glanced at the photo in question. "Oh, that. Came in a few days ago, I thought it might be another one of Shinigami's hits, though I'm not really sure."
"Why?"
He shrugged. "I'm not even eighty percent sure, but compared to his other kills, it seems really off. Leaving a signature like that is not his style. That one's just the latest."
"All with that mark?"
"Yep."
"Hm." The Underground Hero picked up the photo and took a good look at it while Tsukauchi gathered his things.
"Say, do you mind if I go investigate this one?"
He tilted his head. "That one? Why?"
"I might find something you missed."
"We already moved the corpses to the morgue and collect any potential evidence. There isn't much there."
"Still, I'd like to give it a shot. I've been to that area a few times before."
Tsukauchi paused for a moment before shrugging. "Okay, if you feel like it'll help. I'll send you the morgue details if you want to look at those too."
"Thanks." Taking the picture with him, Aizawa left the room. As soon as his footsteps were no longer audible, the detective looked down at the table again and scratched his head.
"I really hope his luck will run out. Otherwise, there's no telling who he'll kill next…"
-x-
"I still believe that this is unnecessary, contractor."
"And I still believe that it is, so let's agree to disagree for once."
I hear and ignore Mawla's grumbling as I walk down the sunny street, un-Concealed for a change and in one of my hoodies. My outfit, gear and mask of course are in the gym bag slung over my shoulder. It's not a light carry, but thanks to constant training it's barely a bother.
But despite me just dismissing his words, I knew that the Old Man of the Mountain had a point.
"Even thou acknowledge this is a redundant course of action. Thou'st could be spending this time more productively instead. Time that will no longer be in abundance for thee."
I inwardly sigh. "Maybe, but something is screaming at me to check this out, at least for my own peace of mind. Worst case scenario I'll have wasted good minutes of the day."
He goes silent for a few moments, but eventually, he concedes. "As thou wisheth, contractor. I hath said mine piece."
Damn it, why is it that every time that I manage to win an argument with Mawla I still manage to feel guilty?
The next few minutes pass by in silence. I idly walk along the small river, enjoying the rather excellent weather. Best to savor it as much as possible; with school starting next week, my time both outside and on missions will be heavily limited.
Is it already April? Funny how time flies when you're having fun. Or have a job you enjoy. That involves murdering people.
…that was disturbing, wasn't it?
With an even pace, I soon arrive at the site I'm looking for…and to be honest, I'm kinda disappointed.
While I expect the bodies to be long gone, there's hardly even an outline marked on the ground. Only some yellow tape stretched around the area and a single cop idly typing away on his phone while leaning on the stone rail. A quick glance around and he seems to be the only one of note in the area. Other than that, there are a few pedestrians, maybe a few birds, and this weird hobo that…wait.
Hobo?
I blink to make sure I'm not seeing things. Sure enough, there's this guy who wouldn't seem out of place sleeping under this very bridge looking around the taped area. And the officer is completely ignoring him. So, either he's a really lazy cop – which is a possibility – or the hobo's not really a hobo. Hmm, yeah that one seems way more likely.
Still, what kind of hobo gets to poke around a crime scene? Only one way to find out.
I keep walking until the bridge's supporting arch blocks the view, and therefore me as well. With a quick application of my Quirk, I listen in.
"Still nothing?"
"Nope. Whoever did this knew how to cover their tracks. No prints, no foreign DNA, nothing."
"Expect a corpse. What about the symbol carved into his neck?"
"I haven't taken a proper look at the body yet, but I have a strong suspicion that this isn't a revenge killing."
"Vigilante, huh? It's that freak everyone at the station is so worked up about."
"I can neither confirm nor deny that."
"Hm. How is it that the public hasn't gone into total chaos by now? Isn't there like a new body every day?"
While I appreciate the compliment, I don't kill someone every day. It might leave a trail.
"In reverse order, no and plenty of All Might rescue shots."
"…that'll work. So, anything else?"
"No, I've seen all I need to. I might come back later though."
"Sure thing. See you, Eraserhead!"
Eraserhead? The name is familiar…don't think I've seen him on the internet though. Is he a Pro-Hero? It would make far more sense, especially with that outfit. Anyway, I take that as my exit cue and head onwards.
Once there's a good distance between me and the bridge, I let out a sigh of relief. Tangling with a Pro Hero, even if he looks like a bum, is not anywhere on my list of priorities.
"I stand by my point. Thou risked thyself into entering a confrontation with severe repercussions, and over what?"
'A possible murder on the loose?' Yeah, that's flimsier than a string on a rack.
"Thy hypocrisy is unbecoming, contractor. I have seen through thine eyes what these men were in life. Did the articles not identify them as lowlifes? One even a molester?"
As always, he's right. 'Look, I know I shouldn't – what's the saying? – throw stones. And maybe having someone else who thinks like us won't be so bad. But I at least want to get a better picture of this guy before moving on. If this turns out to be an isolated group of incidents, then I'll drop it.'
"So this is for thy own peace of mind?"
I shrug. 'Essentially? Yes.'
"…and why dost thou think thou art qualified to judge this matter?"
'I'm not. If he starts going on random killing sprees, then I'll stop him. At least then I'll know what to look for.'
"Hm. Too many 'ifs' in thy statements."
'Hey, I don't like it any more than you do. But what can I do?' I ask, idly kicking some gravel. 'Even if the hobo Hero wasn't there, it doesn't look like anything left in the area to investigate at all. I don't even know where to begin. I don't have the luxury of finding spare phones here.'
"Maybe now thou shall sympathize with the peacekeepers at their failed efforts of tracking thee" Great, he's joking. "Regardless, as I have said before, do as thou wish. I have said mine piece."
And he goes silent. I sigh and keep walking. After a few minutes, I see a bench and sit down. Leaning against the wooden rest, I take in the view.
Huh…it really is a nice day…so calm, so peaceful…
Probably worth losing a few minutes over.
I breathe in the air around me and focus. What to do, what to do…I still want to find whoever this mystery killer is if only to assuage any concerns. But with school around the corner, I can't take up too much time. A limited and hopefully quick investigation it is. Now, how do I go about it?
Gee, if I only had prior experience in tracking down criminals.
I unlock my work phone and pull up the news articles about the deaths that Dabi sent me. Scroll down the page, I mull over the facts. The bodies all had that yin-yang symbol carved into their necks, including the one from where I just was. It doesn't say it explicitly, but based on the times of the articles' posting and the wording – 'the bodies were discovered…locals found…a man encountered…' it's more than likely that they were killed at nighttime. It's what I usually do.
Biting my lip, I keep moving forward mentally. If this would be a normal gang hit for me, I would just find one of them that looks important and use his phone. Since this is far from the case here, I'm going to have to try something different.
Hmm…I think I've seen this several times on those funny cop shows. Maybe if…
I take a look at where each kill happened, and opening up a Maps app on my other phone, I place markers over each location. I have to go through different editions of the reports on different sites to get better locations, but in the end, I manage to create a rudimentary crime map.
I idly notice a jogger passing me by as I look at the map and another difference pops to mind. All of the killings were done in places that, while not completely discreet, weren't in the middle of the road either. Alleyways, in empty parks, under bridges. Taking the mark into account as well, then it probably means that the killer wanted people to see his work, but not immediately. I zoom out on the map a little bit and notice something else: the killings all took place within the boundaries of the Ward. There's one outlier, but it's very close to the edge. So he's a local.
I look at the images of the killings again, upon which something stands out to me that I didn't see before.
Hantei. Judgment. Carved onto the neck, the first and by far the most popular images of this whole mess.
So why does it appear on only one occasion?
Did the killer decide not to do the rest? Did he just want to leave a big impression for his opening act? Was there not enough time? And that's not even mentioning what else can he do. Skills? Quirk? Gear?
I grumble as I let my frustrations show. Still too many questions.
So, to recap: nighttime, local, a bit of a showman. Other than that, zilch.
I sit there for a while, staring at my phones before letting out a sigh. Guess there's only one thing left to do. Stuffing my work phone back into my pocket, I send a message to Mom.
When are you coming back?
I check her status and it says she was last seen a minute ago, so she should be –
An hour but I gotta sleep early. I wake up early tomorrow. Sorry.
…I can work with that.
"It appears as thou intend to forage on, contractor?"
'Just for tonight' I reply as I get up. 'If I don't spot him, I'll leave him be until he screws up. I hate it, but unless you have a better idea, that's what I've got.'
"While I share in thy displeasure, I also see that thou shalt not be deterred until thou hast done this. As for another way…given thy current information, the best route is indeed the direct one."
I allow the smile on my face to grow. "Perfect. Until then, I gotta figure out what we're having for lunch."
-x-
To my pleasant surprise, Mom decided that we should make katsudon. I guess she wanted one last throw of effort before she retired for the day. But we still had good fun. The katsu turned out nice and crispy, and to finish it off with dessert, she made my day by bringing in the divine cookies and cream! And not that disgusting hell-damned mocha!
I still didn't stop with the lawyer jokes. Those will endure until the end of days.
But two hours ago, she went to sleep.
I check the time. 22:00. Time to get to business.
Getting up from my computer chair, I go over to the gym bag and pull out my outfit. To avoid wasting time, I simply smuggled it to my room on the way back from my little scouting trip. As I put it on my nose tingles.
Yeah, one round of laundry for this first thing in the morning. Thank goodness Mom leaves early; I'm convinced that the laundry will be my downfall and not the cops or Heroes. The worst part is, Mawla agrees.
"There is nothing you can do but maintain constant vigilance. The wrong scent can give away thy location in an instant, especially in this day and age. Also, I shall not have my student smelling like a gutter rat."
…it's not like I want to smell. Where was I?
Donning the suit, gear and mask I head out Concealed. One discreet night train ride later and I gaze at the bridge from before.
'Well then, let's do this.'
One and a quarter hours later…
I try very hard not to grumble.
This isn't the first time. Hell, compared to others, this isn't even the worst time.
But I can't help it. Even as I keep wandering around, I am reminded of the most annoying -not painful, not horrible, but annoying- aspect of my chosen profession.
When you're out scouting, with only the moon and the odd late-night salaryman out? With your footsteps muted and only the breeze or the occasional rolled-up paper disturbing the tranquility?
It's peaceful. Calming. Much like the day, a rather pleasant night. But…it is also surprisingly BORING!
What's even more frustrating is that unlike previous scouting missions, I have little to no idea what or who to look for! Sure, I could start tailing the people I see, but to what end!? Though they all do look like they're in a hurry…
Both figuratively and literally going around in circles! It is starting to drive me nuts!
My fingers twitch next to my pocket. I try to hold back. Maybe one quick check on the Skyrim wiki-
OW!
I wince at the familiar sting. Should I thank or curse Mawla now? Eh, I'll do both: Thank you and damn you, Mawla!
No response. No doubt he is grinning behind that mask.
I sigh and keep moving. No use in complaining any further.
At some point, I cross the local river. After assuring myself that the guy in a tie running back home is not who I'm looking for, I notice something. Two somethings really.
One, everything has gone silent. This time absolutely no one is out. My Quirk can barely pick up anything. Well, it is rather late.
"And the fact that there's a killer on the loose is just cause for most to retreat into their homes as soon as possible."
That too. Not that I forgot that part. No way!
The second thing? This area seemed familiar. Very familiar Not just because I was here in the morning.
"I am surprised that thou hast forgotten. Not too far from here, thou have glimpsed the depth of human evil."
Human evil? Wait…
Blood. Blood on the floor. Blood a baseball bat.
I draw in a sharp breath. I slowly take a good, good look around. He's right. The bridge. The sidewalk. Even the trees. They're all the same. From that night.
How the fuck did I not see this sooner!?
"Our experiences can often veil the way we see the world, even obscure it. And the warmth of the sun is a far better feeling than the cold winds of the night."
I quickly take deep breaths. Okay Ritsu, calm down. There are no more cages. No more filth. The children are long gone from there. You're fine.
The churning in my stomach stops. God, was it that bad? Even though I made sure that those monsters got what they deserved? I shake my head; not now. I'm here for a different reason. With that thought in mind, I continue.
An hour passes, though this time I am far more alert. With the memory of the incident at the forefront of my mind, the silence is far eerier than before. Still, I persevere. It's done Ritsu, no need to dwell on it anymore.
…right?
I know it's done. I'll make sure something like that never happens on my watch. I will gut and carve through any scumbag that calls itself a human who tries to pull something like that off again.
Then why am I still thinking about it!?
KRRRRKKRRTT
Wha-
KRRRRKKRRKKKRRRRKTT
Static fills my ears.
One second. Flashes of blue. Everything seems to warp.
KRRRRKKRRKKKRRRRKTT
Two seconds. Lines blur. Shapes fizzle. Cracks form.
KRRRRKKRRKKKRRRRKKKRRRKRKRKRTTT
Three seconds. It all breaks.
It's only thanks to my training that I manage to avoid falling flat on my face. I barely register the feeling of stone under my palm as I force the bile that threatens to rise up my throat.
What…what was that!?
I look up. Everything's gone back to normal. The cracks have vanished and nothing's flashing. But I'm trembling.
Is it fear? Terror? Cold?
"Get up."
"M-Mawla?"
"Get up. NOW!"
Despite my shaking countenance, I do as he says. 'W-what's wrong? What just happened' He never sounded this before. It sounds like he's…dare I say worried?
"So it was not just I who felt it. As for what happened…" I hear him release a breath. "I believe thou hast glimpsed past the veil."
'Veil? What, like the veil reality and…whatever that was? Like in the movies?'
"I do not know to what exactly thee refer to, but yes."
…okay, WHAT!? 'Uh, can you elaborate on that?'
"I am not sure if I should. This subject is not one I wish to touch upon this soon."
By now my breathing has returned to normal. 'Well, this seems like a good a time as any no?' I reply sardonically.
"This is no time for jests, contractor. Thou hast seen something that none of my students had the misfortune of seeing."
'Misfortune? Wait, just to clarify: you, the wraith dwelling in the purgatory-like realm, had nothing to do with this?'
"Nay. Something else has triggered this. Or someone."
I gulp. Not ominous at all, nope. 'So, we withdraw?'
"No. Now silence please. I must perform Muraqabah."
'Mawla, I don't think this is the time for meditation.' He doesn't reply. The whine escapes my lips before I can stop myself, but he doesn't comment.
The seconds tick by as I wait for Mawla to finish. All the while my eyes dart around looking for anything remotely suspicious. Goddamn it, what a night this is shaping up to be. Guess asking for a routine scouting trip before the start of the school was not in the cards.
But what the hell is Mawla talking about? I only said the whole 'veil' thing as a joke! I mean, I shouldn't be surprised at this level of weird, considering I've been to what amounts to real-life Purgatory, but this is something else entirely. Like looking at a body and seeing everything inside, x-ray and MRI style.
And I'm still shivering. Great.
I hear nothing new, I see nothing new. Not even insects chirping.
"Keep moving forward."
I blink. What?
"Keep moving forward and do as I say. Thy attentiveness now is paramount."
Fighting back the questions that want to burst out my gut, I start walking. The light of the moon is obscured by dark clouds and the breeze has gone silent.
'What are we looking for?'
"I am not sure. But I will know it when I see it, and so will thee."
'Then where am I going?'
"I do not know. Turn left."
'…so you're just making me walk randomly?'
Even as I turn, the wraith doesn't reply. But I soon hear him sigh and he begins to speak again.
"When thou fell, for a moment, there was a hala, an aura, that should not exist in this day and age. A hala that is very similar to what thou emanate. I am trying to sense it and guide thee to it."
'I emanate an aura?'
"Yes, thanks to thy connection with the Valley. I did not inform thee of this because it is unimportant; no one alive should be able to sense it. But I saw something very similar flash in that moment. Right."
I frown. 'Is that bad?'
"Mayhap. But I shall not speculate further. Keep forward."
I honestly do not know what to make of this, so I just nod and do as he says. After a minute of walking, I enter a wide street. On one side there are house that seem to be typical for this neighborhood. But on the other is what looks to be a vast bamboo field.
"Forward."
I nod again, but before I do so I crank up my Quirk to the max. Wouldn't want anything to –
"Hic…c'mon…don't be shy."
I freeze. Drunk tone, falsely placating words…good. I was looking to blow some steam.
"Contractor, wait-"
I ignore him and dash forward, focusing on the sound. Just up ahead, turning left at the alley.
"There's a scaaary killer out on the loose y'know. It's not -hic- safe for a bird like you to be out."
I turn again. Come on legs, move it!
"Why don't I -hic- take you home and-gruk!"
Finally, I make it to-
…
…
…
(Play Kara no Kyoukai – In the Garden of Sinners (M01))
The moon shines on her. It is but a sliver, but it is enough.
No white kimono this time. A yellow yukata, the color of a summer field. Even then, she seems to just glow.
And the blood…the contrast is stark indeed.
It coats her arm, clutching a simple knife. The body below her feet is gushing it from the neck. If I took a closer look at its expression, I would consider it revolting. But I'm not.
Her short hair covers her face as she looks down on what's undoubtedly her kill. I cannot make out her expression. For some reason I cannot bring myself to think it is anything sympathetic.
Without a word, she leans down and with the swift motion of an artist, carves something on the man's chest. I don't need to look at it to know what it is.
She rises up. Taking a handkerchief from her sleeve, she wipes the blade clean with one stroke. Then, she turns.
I feel my breath hitch. Just like before, she stares right at me.
Her eyes though…there's something different about them.
"Hello."
My thoughts grind to a halt. What?
"It's you. I saw you on the news."
She can see me. Like that night. Did I turn off my Concealment by mistake again?
I check and sure enough, I don't feel it around my body. But how? Did that flash or whatever it was knock it out? Why didn't Mawla say anything?
"I didn't think you could use fire."
I snap out of my internal panic session and refocus on her. Her eyebrow is raised, like Mom when I get smartass on her.
"…it's a useful trick." Why am I answering her?
She doesn't reply. I take another look at the corpse beside her feet. The last vestiges of life have left him.
For a moment, I wanted to ask why did she kill him. Then the memory of what I heard flashes in my mind. I'd rather not have another lecture on hypocrisy by Mawla.
"He tried to hurt you, didn't he?"
If she was surprised, it didn't show. "Yes."
"What about the others?"
She shrugs. "Two tried. The rest tried on others."
Something stands out about her. Her voice, it sounds rougher. The gentle lilt from that night wasn't there.
"Aren't you afraid that the Heroes will try to stop you?"
She shakes her head. Then she takes a step toward me. My hand twitches, ready to draw a dagger at a moment's notice.
Two more steps. My mind is screaming at me to pull a blade out. I have no idea what she can do, what she might be capable of. Yet my body refuses to respond.
There's only a meter of distance between us. She looks me up and down. "There's something different about you."
"I got a proper outfit."
I have no idea what prompted me to say that remark. The deadpan stare she sends at me is very much deserved. Her gaze wanders down to my hand.
"Are you going to stop me?"
She can't see it, but I bite my lip. On one hand, she just killed someone in front of me, not to mention five other people. On the other hand, the part of my mind that's yelling 'hypocrite!' is also saying that this man and the rest of her victims intended to harm her, something I have little trouble disbelieving if what my Quirk caught was any indication.
But there's another reason, and heavens above I do not know what it is.
"I-"
Step. Step. Step.
Someone's coming.
I finally regain proper control of my body and peek around the corner. I bite back a slew of curses as the familiar form of the Hobo Hero steps from behind another alley and into the street I'm looking at. What is up with those goggles? Aren't they a little impractical?
He takes one more step before he freezes…and sharply turns in my direction.
Shit!
What I do next, I don't know why. (It seems like that has been happening a lot this night). But I grab the girl's arm and blot with her down the alley.
"Shinigami!"
Right! Concealment!
Letting the familiar sensation wash over me, I give a back glance to see how the girl is faring. Despite wearing sandals and her eyes being narrowed, she keeps up.
We reach the road with the bamboo grove. I let go of her and leap into the foliage after crossing it. The girl does the same with surprising grace. Is she an athlete?
I hear the Hero's rapid footsteps. Double shit, I need to hightail it out of here! Fighting a Hero is not on my schedule tonight!
"Follow me."
I barely manage to turn around before the girl sprints further into the growth. Hearing the Hero's breath hitch, I take off after her.
We keep running nonstop. The Hero's attempts are audible to my ears as we make our way through the green stalks. I'm sorely tempted to throw a dagger in his direction, but I have no idea if it'll hit. And further escalating the situation is not a great idea.
This keeps on for what seems like ages, but in actuality might have only been a few minutes, maybe less. My breath, while silent thanks to my training, is heavy. Running after crooks had nothing on this.
Then, the girl stops and raises her arm. I skid to a halt. Why? There's a Hero behind us!
But something's missing. Where are the footsteps?
Cranking up my Quirk, I hear rustling coming from somewhere behind me. The stalks make it difficult to ascertain where. But they're not advancing towards me; they're pacing.
"Officer, this is Eraserhead. Meet me on the road outside the old bamboo grove ASAP and form a perimeter around it. I've got a possible lead."
Triple shit.
"Psst" I swivel around to the girl. "Follow me" she whispers, and dashes forward silently, where the stalks are further spaced from each other.
I follow her again and check my Concealment. Could she see me again? Or did she just assume I was there?
We run for another minute or two until we encounter a cobblestone path. We keep running alongside it, all the while I stare at her running form. She moves fast, especially in that footwear. An amateur, she is not. That raises some questions, but I have little time to ponder them as we soon stop again.
In front of me is an old-style mansion, like the kind you see in the rich districts or in TV shows. Dark roof tiles, white walls with wooden supports, and I even see a bridge crossing a pond.
She returns to the path and walks toward the house in a leisurely manner. Doing the same, I take in the rather impressive structure. So she's rich. She has to be with a house like that.
Just before the wooden steps of her house, however, she stops and turns around. Other than the slight bobbing of her body, she doesn't look winded at all from that run.
"Can you show yourself? There's no one else here."
…okay, so can she see me or not? Still, I check with my Quirk, and indeed, it sounds like no one is out walking. While I hesitate to do this, I nonetheless drop the Concealment.
She stares at me impassively for a moment before she lightly bows. "Thank you. For not turning me in."
I nod in return. "Try to lay low. Heroes and cops are gonna be around for a while like rats." Truth be told, I don't know what exactly I was thinking. Maybe it was the hypocrisy in letting her get arrested for killing a scumbag, maybe it was in the heat of the moment, but I grabbed her.
"I know. Don't worry, they can't follow me here. But I have a question if you don't mind."
"What is it?"
"Do you enjoy killing?"
I blink. "Mind repeating that?"
"Do you enjoy killing? What do you feel when you kill someone?"
Where did that question come from?
My mouth opens to answer her, but nothing comes out. Do I enjoy killing? Whenever I kill a kalb and see his red liquid flow out his body, do I take pleasure in it?
La morte crudele, a tutti é infedele…
Huh. Why did that song pop into my head?
"…why are you asking me this?"
She keeps staring at me. "…it's nothing. Just a question."
I say nothing. My legs are starting to feel like lead. Her staring finally stops as she turns around and ascends the stairs. Midway, she points to the left.
"Don't go through the grove. Take the path that leads to the gate and make your way from there."
I look towards where she's pointing and sure enough, I see the markings of a fence. Nodding, I start heading towards it.
"Ryougi."
I pause in my tracks and turn to her again. She stares at the doors in front of her, her hand on the wooden railing.
"Shiki Ryougi. That's my name."
I blink again. Her name?
"Why tell me this?"
Silence is once more my answer. Without another word, she climbs up the stairs and vanishes into the house.
I stand alone in the garden, trying to process…well, just about everything that happened. My hand goes to my masked forehead and I sigh.
'The fuck is up with tonight…'
"Yes, quite an eventful night indeed. Thy time is done here, so I suggest thou leave posthaste. Come morning, we shall talk."
I idly nod and start walking. And all the while, out of this utterly bizarre night, more than the fact that I peered through the veil of death (whatever that was) or that I was close to tangling with a Pro Hero, one thing echoes in the vestiges of my skull.
"Shiki Ryougi, huh?"
-x-
Ritsu Ogawa (Assassin - Hassan-i Sabbah)
Stats:
Strength: D++
Agility: C
Endurance: D++
Mana: C++ (Only when using Power of the Valley. Otherwise, nonexistent.)
Luck: C+
Skills:
Presence Concealment D++: The ability to hide from others. A poor level for any Assassin, but against ordinary criminals and some intelligent ones it works well.
Throwing (Dagger) B and Throwing (Retrieval) B: The expertise for throwing projectile weapons; in this case, daggers. His daggers have the same destructive power as firearms when thrown, typically spelling certain death for human targets. He can retrieve them to his hand with but a mere gesture
Information Erasure C++: Erases all traces of the user's identity, physical or digital, after leaving a scene of assassination. It does not hide the user's identity in any other situation, and clues can be pieced together to deduce identity. If the user's identity is discovered, then the effects of the skill weaken. Rank increased thanks to multiple exposures outside of Presence Concealment.
Power of the Valley of Death C++: A unique connection forged as a result of finding a relic of Alamut. Assassin can draw power from the Valley to perform certain skills he would otherwise be incapable of doing.
Quirk - Super-Hearing C+: A power gained as a result of evolution. Allows the user to hear precise details within a certain range. Can extend the range in exchange for loss of detail. Also alerts the user of incoming danger provided they can react to it.
Muraqubah D+: A meditative state that enhances Ritsu's connection to the Valley. If used enough times/for long enough, combat specs have a chance of increasing. In addition, it also enables ?
Noble Phantasm:
Zabaniya - Delusional Judgment Rank C+
An 'ultimate assassination technique' bearing the same name as the angels of hell, a title which all previous 'Old Men of the Mountain' used for their own techniques. Unlike them however, who were forged by extensive modification of the Hassans' bodies, this technique is a reflection of the Assassin's desire to inflict what he deems true judgment. Calling upon his unique connection to the Valley in the Shadow of Death, Assassin drags his target's soul to the Valley, where the First Hassan awaits them. Their soul is laid bare before the Great Founder and should they be found guilty of whatever sin Assassin finds them to have committed, the flames of Gehenna will burn away their soul and body until naught but ash remains.
-x-
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