Vespertine City: The City Of Twilight (Ongoing)

[ArachnosX]

The following is a story. It's a story of a cyborg in the big city, of a man arrayed against Corruption on not only a mundane
but a supernatural level.

To understand Vespertine City, one must understand the world in which it exists. Termed "Super Media Wars", it takes a page from the Super Robot
Taisen series of games, merging and meshing various worlds and medias into one coherent, living, breathing universe. Be it Star Wars, Gurren Lagann,
Transformers, Big O, or whatever.

The nations of the world, too, are altered. They are:

The Holy Empire of Britannia: It is the Britannia of Code Geass in which our story takes place. Vespertine City is a Britannian City; most of its people are
honorary Britannians. Taking up most of Europe, Africa, and Asia (if not directly, then with sub-nations called AREAS), Britannia is an empire ruled the
Emperor Charles zi Britannia, considered by many to be a ruthless and cold man. Whether this is truth or not, the fact remains the Charles is the rightful
ruler of the Empire, and is the driving force behind many of its programs, including the abolishment of the Gundam Fight, the establishment of the
International Police Organization and its Experts of Justice, and the promotion of big business. On the flip side, of course, Charles has also initiated
attacks on most countries, has America locked under a series of horrible tariffs, and spawned the entire Order of the Black Knights in Area Eleven (formerly
Japan) via his cruel actions. Britannia is also supported by the mighty Knights of the Round, whose members include the infamous Cloud Strife and the heroic
Captain Britain.

The Free Nation of Central Germany and its Vassal Ishbal: One of the few free nations of the world, Central Germany is a place that - instead of pursuing
technology - pursued the study of Alchemy. They are consequently one of the few nations able to stand against Britannia's hellish armies, and the vast
majority of their soldiers are alchemically-powered agents trained at one of the many establishments across the land. They also count as their own the nation
of Ishbal, crushed in a horrible war earlier in the century - World War One, to be precise.

The United States of America: Taking up the entirety of North America, the United States remains a powerhouse even in its last days. Funding such organizations
as SHIELD - America's answer to IPO - and Londo Bell - the American Space Defense Fleet and some of the last mecha still functioning - America has
nevertheless fallen on hard economic times. In the midst of a second Depression, President Steve Rogers (secretly supersoldier clone Solidus Snake) fights an
uphill battle against the money crisis, the Britannian trade tariffs, and the state of the world in general. Supported by the PATRIOT Network, the Avengers,
SHIELD, and others, America nonetheless remains the most superhero-concentrated nation in the world, with the highest rate of superhumans to humans in
existence. Moreover, the loss of Kansas after the explosion of Captain Atom has generated a new phenomenon - the LOST LAND, a place fundamentally removed from
the laws of America (as well as physically elevated high above the ground), where mutant birth rates are exponentially higher than anywhere else in the world.

Hyrule: The least-well-known continent, Hyrule replaces Australia, and is the sole magic-centric land on Earth. Removed fundamentally from civilization, it is
a wild land where magic roams free, and titanic clashes between Good and Evil shake the landscape on a daily basis. Made up of several independant nations, it
counts upon its soil Hyrule (a mishmash of all Hyrules past and present, but drawing primarily from the Hyrules of the N64 and Wii), Termina (directly removed
from Majora's Mask), and the nations of the Laguz and Beorc human subspecies (taken from the latest Fire Emblem Games). There's also an island chain
south and west of it (broaching America and the Antarctic Seas) referred to as the "Great Sea" (pulled almost directly from Wind Waker). Hyrule also
counts among its number the Village Hidden In The Mists, which sits on Hyrule Lake and vanishes with the sunlight.

Japan: Now called Area Eleven, Japan is "properly" a sub-nation under Britannia. Controlled with an iron fist, Japan is one of the few nations that
actively fights back against Britannian rule, under the enigmatic ZERO and his ORDER OF THE BLACK KNIGHTS. It still struggles against economic failure and the
tyrannical master it finds itself under, with many smugglers finding a home running supplies to the ruined city-slums.

Latveria: One of Vespertine City's close neighbors, little has been revealed about Latveria in-game. However, it exists, and therefore, it deserves its
place here.

Now, on to Vespertine City itself.

Vespertine City is a city of twilight. Built very near the border of Central Germany, it is the very model of a modern Britannian city, with one small
exception: it is almost entirely funded by the company known as VitaTech. A biological engineering corporation, most of the money flowing through the city
finds its way back to VitaTech eventually. It's a peaceful city, overall, with a decent crime rate and generally low rate of unemployment.

But at night and in the alleyways, Vespertine is a different place entirely. Monsters stalk the streets - be they the gang known as ENDGAME, the horrible
monsters called REQUIEMS, or simple mortal horror.

The factions of Vespertine are:

Endgame: Mostly teenaged punks, Endgame is made up of those who, in the words of Adam The Lightning, "are trying to become monsters." Little is known
of Endgame save for the fact that they have fantastic powers and name themselves after monsters. Known members are Roc the Wing, Fenrir the Cutter, Adam the
Lightning, Reaper the Slaughter, Hel (title unknown), and an individual known as the Dragon.

Shadowkind: Those who hunt monsters. While Tom's only encounter with Shadowkind has so far been in a dream, Shadowkind still exists and still remains a
powerful force on the streets. They count among their number a young man named Simon who wields a whip.

Requiems: Monsters born from mortals. Little else is known of them.

Ryouzampaku: The World's Strongest Martial Artists reside in Vespertine City. Seven of the strongest humans in the world congregate in this dojo;
Ryouzampaku is also the last bastion of Britannia's International Police Organization and its Experts of Justice, though this aspect hasn't come up
yet.

A Few Local Faces:

Roger Smith: Negotiator and private eye, Roger Smith is the half-brother of world-renowned defense attorney Phoenix Wright. He lives in his manor outside
Vespertine.

Rock, Tronne, and Roll: The owners of a machine shop Tom Magnusson frequents.

Shinjiro: A local tough on the side of justice and childhood friend of Akihiko Sanada. He's become somewhat close with Tom.

Skull Man: The boss of the Twilight Detective Agency. His mysterious powers are as of yet unknown.

Thomas Magnusson: Britannian citizen, hero on the side of justice, boxer, cyborg, and professional criminal psychologist, Tom Magnusson has led a hectic life.
His conversion into a cyborg is only the start of the unusual things that have occured in his life, and he comes to Vespertine City looking for
answers...let's hope he finds them.

And with that introduction out of the way, and without further ado, we now present: Tales from Vespertine City!

[ArachnosX]

Please forgive the presence of Timestamps on this and the next log.
Requiem 01: The Agency
It's the middle of a dim morning at the Twilight Detective Agency. A thick blanket of fog lays across the area, giving the eerie place an even darker feel than one might expect. It's likely a bit much for Thomas - the letter of hiring in his hand aside, it's an intimidating place even if you're supposed to be there. The door's painted over, the windows tinted so one can't see through them. There are a few lights on inside the windows, but this simply enhances the eeriness - it's like staring at a giant monster with a thousand eyes ready to devour unwary travellers in an instant. Still, the sign on the door and the plaque at the entrance confirm that this is the right place, and the old-style hanging sign above it doubles that confirmation.
It was enough to put his teeth on edge. There was definitely an eerie sort of vibe coming from the office. He had heard that there were some pretty strange people working here, but now that he was actually here, well...
We'd be lying if we said he wasn't having second thoughts. But some things were more important that his well being. The letter of invitation- employment, even- for example- promised a decent pay, or better than the off-and-on work he did for the police, and besides that, it was a good opportunity to find out... His mechanical arms shrugged in his coat, time to bite the bullet.
Heavier than he appeared, his steps were heavy against the ground. Heavy, and loud, "Hey, I'm here for that interview!"
The door opens to reveal a girl in her late teens, with medium-length brown hair and bright brown eyes. "Oh, hi!" she says cheerily, an up-beat voice to match her upbeat smile. She's a stark contrast to the otherwise freakishly dark aura of the place, in her pink pinstriped top and black miniskirt. "You must be Thomas. They're expecting you. Come on in!"
A brow quirked at the beacon-of-joy-made-flesh. Well, if a strange place could get any stranger, one needed only to provide an eye to the storm. "Uh, right. And you are...?"
"Yukari," she offers, the door swinging open to reveal the pleasantly lit, just-light-enough-not-to-be-dim office. The scent of lemon spray is a welcome contrast to the cold and chill of the fog outside, and the room is similarly pleasantly heated. "I do all the important stuff around here. You know, paperwork, filing, phones...the stuff they're all too lazy to do." She laughs and gestures for Thomas to follow her in, waiting for him to enter before shutting the door behind them.
"Well..." the cyborg's heavy footfalls were all but deafened by the office's carpeting, "It's very nice to meet you, Yukari. That's a district 11 name, isn't it?"
His eyes glanced about the room. Well, the sinister aura was surely dispelled... Somewhat. It reminded him of those old Film Noir flicks, somewhat. Well, minus the greyscale, plus a terribly cheerful secretary.
"I'm from Japan," she agrees, "My parents moved up here a while ago." Still, far too chipper. She leads Thomas back through the waiting area, past the desk with a picture-frame pushed down against it, past the wooden chairs with plush cushions, past the little table with flowers on it and a card that's been ripped in half, past the picture brutally torn and missing faces and figures, and past the hanging poster of a man named Dio, right up to the door with a metal skull knocker and a skull carved in the top. "They're inside." She says, opening the door for Thomas. "Good luck! I'll be rooting for you!"
It all really made him feel naked without a proper hat and trenchcoat. His eye glanced down at the toppled frame- who could that be? And the torn picture? Interesting... If sinister. "Heh, yeah, thanks..."
"I guess I'll see you if I'm still in one piece," his gaze darted back to the picture missing its faces, before stepping into the office proper. "Hello?"
The office is black, or very nearly so. It takes Thomas's eyes a moment to adjust before he realizes that one wall is actually a massive window, and that what little light is coming through is being dispersed by the intense fog just outside. As his eyes adjust even further, he can two figures - a man in what seems to be a trenchcoat leaning against a wall, and a thin, slight individual sitting at the desk, elbows against it, hiding the lower half of his face with his hands.
The cyborg shuts the door behind him. Rules of interviews: Be yourself, don't do anything you're not permitted to do... "I'm Thomas, I think you two sent me something about a job offer?"
"That's correct," the man in the corner replies.
 The thin one doesn't move. However, his voice - icey cold - chimes in a moment later.
 "Thomas W. Magnusson, age 25. 6'2", 110 kg. Britannian. Cybernetic enhancement of the legs and arms. Boxer and criminal psychologist graduate."
"Is this correct?"
A smile slips across his features, "You've got quite the intelligence network... And what can I call you?"
Criminal psychologist, and a pretty damn good one. It wouldn't be the first time he was faced with such a frigid tone.
"Minato." He says bluntly.
 "You're hired," the tall man says after a moment, waving his hand over his shoulder and striding forward. In the dim light, it almost looks like he's got a skull on his head. He strides past Thomas. "I don't want to waste time with this interview. Fuuka can get him acquainted. Come on - I feel something's wrong in downtown." Minato stands, and only now can Thomas see that he's only about 17, wearing a blue jacket, pants, and headphones around his neck. Minato, similarly, walks past Thomas, but he says absolutely nothing, simply closing the door behind him and leaving Thomas standing in the dark room.
Blink. Once, twice... "Th... That's it?" A mechanical arm rose to rub at the base of his skull, "Well... I guess that's that..."
Yukari peeks her head in, a welcome light to the otherwise black office. Dim light isn't enough to stretch far, but it's enough for Thomas to tell that the room is mostly...well, it's not really in the best of repairs. "Congratulations!" She chirps.
 Awkward, but not too awkward... Perfect, "Yeah, I guess so. But I kind of wanted to know what exactly it is I'm supposed to do around here."
"I mean, that kid was pretty eerie on his own, and the other guy looked like he didn't have a face. Heh, just glad there's one normal person around here."
"Well, Fuuka's here, too, but you haven't met her yet. Minato's..." A black cloud sort of passes over her face for the briefest of instants. "...different. And Boss is, too."
"Hey, we should celebrate your success. C'mon, let's hit Akihiko's - it's right across the street, best place to get a drink in the whole city!"
"Boss, huh...? Heh, well alright."
Yukari closes the door to the office behind them, opening a second door to reveal stairs leading downwards. She shouts, "Fuuka! I'm going out! Keep an eye on everything, okay?"
His hands slipped into his pockets, "Quite the wallflower, is she? That's fine, I don't mind that either." A mental note scribed- bringing up Minato puts her on edge.
"Fuuka's the lab tech here - you'll probably work with her a bunch," Yukari says, leading Thomas back out into the foggy street. The chilly air hits like a ton of bricks, and she shivers momentarily before walking forward, right across the street, and over to a pleasant-looking bar with the sign 'Akihiko's' hanging over it in a similar style to the detective agency's own. She pushes the swinging door open and heads inside.
One of the benefits to having those arms- his core temperature never had to adjust for the sake of preserving his limbs. A shiver, yes, but nothing earthshattering.
His legs carry him just a foot short of his (unfortunately, likely underage) guide and coworker.
The bar is an absolute twist of its dimly-lit counterpart. It's bright, it's fun, and it's musical. The jukebox in the corner is playing a friendly song, and there are quite a few people sitting at the booths. At the bar itself is a guy in a cap and heavy jacket, a sultry-looking redhead in a white pinstripe suit, and  the barkeep, a white-haired guy around 20, polishing a glass. He holds up his hand at Yukari. "Yukari! It's been a while."
She smiles. "It has," she agrees. "I'm just over to help the new hire celebrate."
"New hire?" The guy in the cap and jacket tilts his head back to look at Thomas.
Still wearing a smile- though now a degree less forced, Thomas takes a seat at the bar, "Hey. How's it going?" His coat rolled atop his shoulders, loosening up the joint... Though it was now wholly unecessary. Just call it habit,
"Call me Tom, I'd shake your hand, but I'm afraid I might break it."
"Shinji." The guy replies, hunching back over and taking a drink from his mug. The redhead raises an eyebrow and spins back to lean across the bar. "I'm heading out, Aki."
"Have a safe night." She stands and makes her way out, hips swinging under the black dress the whole time.
 "Night, Mitsuru." Akihiko comments. Yukari quickly steals her seat.
Another girl, another five seconds lost staring after her. Were all the women in this joint that attractive?
"So what'll it be?" Akihiko inquires, turning to look at Thomas.
"Gotta say, this is a pretty hopping place... Hm? Oh, just a bit of guinness for me."
"Coming up. Yuka-tan?"
"Don't call me that," Yukari sticks her tongue out at him, "And the usual, Aki."
"On it."
"So what made you want to come to this dump of a place?" Shinji inquires.
"Dump? Heh, I'm not sure, anywhere you can get a good drink about five steps from your dayjob is a good place to be."
"How long you been here?"
"Not long. Just arrived the other day."
"Mmm." He dusts off his drink, and stands up, stuffing his hands in his pockets. "Gonna go check on Koro," he says over his shoulder. Akihiko nods.
"His dog," Akihiko explains, "He's pretty attached to the little guy."
"Anyway, welcome to the city. I'm Akihiko." He holds out his hand.
"Doesn't strike me as the type who would, but there's surprises anywhere you look, eh?"
Another shrug, his mechanical palm extends to the bartender's. Careful now, careful...
Akihiko blinks at the cyborg hand, but shakes it anyway, a firm grip. He releases Tom's hand shortly after. "So what made you want to come down here, anyway?" He asks, repeating Shinji's earlier question.
"The city, I mean. Not the bar."
"Heh, well, it's a little thing I call curiousity, my friend."
"Curiosity, huh." He slides the guiness over to Tom. "Well, good luck." And with that, he heads down the bar to serve some of the other patrons.
"That, and I got a job offer better than my old sort of work."
A blonde girl with a prosthetic arm in a waitress outfit comes out to help him serve drinks to the patrons. Yukari swings around, crossing her legs in either an attempt to look suave or just to prevent anyone from looking up her skirt. "I'm surprised," she says, picking up her drink and taking a sip. "Not a lot of cyborgs this far out...you must really need the money if you're willing to come here."
"Mm. So..." Tom's hands rest atop the bar, "You guys seem like you know one another really well..."
His fingers tap against the counter, heavy, and with a bit of a metallic tinge, "Yeah, I'm out here for leads, more than just the job."
"We went to school together," she replies, "Aki, Mitsuru, Shinji, Ai, Fuuka...we're all sort of bound up by fate, you know?"
"What kind of leads?"
"About these limbs."
"You mean...wait, that wasn't voluntary?"
"Yeah, I woke up in an alley one morning, couldn't feel my arms or legs."
She takes a sip of her drink. "Creepy."
"Can't remember anything of who did the surgery, or why, but I figure working for a detective agency would turn up leads faster than working for the police as a consultant."
He'd try, again, very careful as to not crush the glass in his hands. Success.
"Really creepy." She amends, taking another sip. "So you flew all the way out here because you think Boss can help you out?'
He takes a sip of his beer. Dark, bitter, cold. Just right, "Well, besides even that, I might be able to find people who know about my operation like this, either through clientelle or... other contact."
"Well...I hope you find something!"
"Yeah. I do too."
"So how old are you, anyway?"
"And, if not, I still get to spend time in the company of some pretty decent people- though the mental integrity of those two could be brought into question..."
"You mean the Boss and..." she stops and takes another sip. "Boss isn't so bad." "Hm? Oh, twenty-five as of this past April."
"Yeah, I can tell they're pretty decent people at heart. I think... But they still put off some weird vibes."
"Close enough," she agrees.
"So is it just you and Fuuka working there? I mean, besides Boss and Headphones."
"Oh, no...there's also Stu...er, Junpei. He's the janitor."
"Heh, the Janitor, huh...?" He takes another sip from his can of booze, "Do you think there's anything else I should know about this place?"
"I mean, the city. I expect I'll need to lodge at the office 'till I can find myself an apartment, so..."
"Y'know, if there's a seven eleven or something nearby for some rations..."
She nods. "There are rooms in the building, actually. Most of us stay there."
"Oh! Well, that's a reprieve. Looks like I can keep the funds stashed away for a little longer."
Yukari smiles. "Well that's good."
"Yeah, I'll have to get the stuff moved in sometime, though. So when will they have me working?"
"Oh, probably as soon as they get back. You're going to be pretty busy...you should enjoy what relaxation you've got while you can."
"Ahahaha... So they'll be working me to the bone, will they?"
"More like the city will..."
"The city? Oh, right. Detective agency, clients..."
"So they get a lot of jobs?"
"You could put it that way."
"Mm. And there's that whole thing with the neighbors..."
"Which ones?"
"Oh, the countries near here."
"Ishbal and Latveria."
"Oh! I thought you meant...oh, well. They don't bother us too much." She takes another drink. "Even other countries don't want to come here."
"Huh? With such gorgeous women around everywhere, I don't see why not..."
She laughs. "Weird things happen here."
"Weirder than the norm, huh?"
"That's right," she agrees.
"Guess I'll find out soon enough, won't I?"
She nods in agreement. "We're in the center of it, too."
"This bar, or...?"
"No...the agency. Didn't you notice? On the map, it's in the middle of town."
"Huh? Is it?"
"Yup."
"...Well, I guess that's good for business."
"It is."
"We get tons of it." She grins over her drink.
"Good money, but I'm assuming it's pretty dangerous work, huh?" He rests his can, now three quarts empty, onto the countertop.
"Maybe. I don't know what they're going to want you to do yet."
"You might get a desk job or something."
"Here's hoping I don't end up like the other faces, then- yeah, maybe."
Her face darkens again, and she finishes off her drink and sets it down on the counter. "...I'm gonna...go back. Fuuka might need some help."
"Though I can't help thinking they could have just brought in anyone if it was just psychological work."
"You want me to walk you back over?"
She shakes her head and walks out the door.
A few moments later, the cell phone in Thomas's pocket starts ringing.
Reinforced for personal use. It was one of the few things he had to worry about breaking.
It goes out of his pocket, flips open, and presses to his ear, "Hello, Thomas speaking."
"Welcome to the tower of oblivion."
 An unfamiliar voice, chillier even than Minato's, colder than ice in the dead of winter.
 "This city lies on the gulf between man and death. Will you be the one to drag it away?"
"Return to the Detective Agency. Your destiny is awaiting you."
Click.
"Tower of obli-? Hey, wait!"
...Too late...
"Tch," A quick swig of the can finishes off his guiness. He rises, and moves to press out into the foggy night.
The door to the agency is open.
Click. A step forward into the unknown.
It's horrifying - a girl one can only assume is Fuuka is lying against the wall, clothing semi-ripped and blood all over her body, some of it maybe not even her own. Yukari, similarly, is hurled against the wall, by the...thing...out of the basement doorway. It can't be described in any other way - it's a thing, a monster, a beast, black as night with maws gaping and claws and fangs dripping with what could only be Fuuka's blood. Seven horrific red eyes turn to stare at Thomas, locking on with the sick, twisted bloodlust a creature of the night should have, and it slithers forward, like an enormous snake with arms and spikes and God only knows what else, sensing new prey...
"Wha..." Struck dumb, what the hell -IS- this thing? His eyes quiver in their sockets, his heartbeat quickens. They have to be okay, but... What's he to do...
What's he to do... But...
Instinct takes over. Boxing, bounce, bounce. Get ready to weave and punch like a beast, rocky...
Speed's on your side! One of his cybernetically enhanced limbs pushes off the floor, a fist projected forth, using his own momentum to put force behind that punch. His limbs could take it, he knew they could, they just needed to hit.
The blow strikes the beast straight in the face, and the blackness of its body shines - they're scales, not shadows, Thomas realizes as his punch strikes it right in what might be the nose. It opens its maws and screams, spiked arm swiping down towards his body The strike goes wide, sticking in the ground.
"Hey, Fuuka-chan, what's going on out...holy crap!" A guy in a baseball cap with a broom practically falls over in terror at the sight of the monster. However, a moment later, he sees Fuuka lying on the ground. "Don't worry, Fuuka!" He cries. "Junpei POWER!"
The broom swings down...and shatters on the thing's head.
"...Crap!"
"What the hell are you doing? Get back!" Here he goes again. Fists striking at this... this... Whatever the hell this thing is!
No dice. Quite literally, no dice. Whether it was a jam in the arm or a otherwise, his punch slides cleanly off to the side of the monster.
The monster shakes what's probably its head and roars, again.
At least he didn't have to worry about dodging this time...
Junpei grabs at the broken broom, swinging it down again. He fails, falling flat on his ass. "Crap! This thing's tougher than it looks!" That might be because Junpei hasn't actually hit it yet.
That would be very likely.
Punch! Connection, but...
Apparantly onto something extremely tough. Chitin?
The creature's scales are simply too tough. It swings all seven eyes back at Thomas, noting that this one is the actual problem.
As he could actually hit, yes.
It swings down and swats at Thomas with all its considerable might, spiked arms hitting him with the force of a locomotive.
And he...
Doesn't flinch. Much.
His knees pull downwards, but to absorb the shock.
The mechanical man smirks up at the alien monstrosity. Gonna have to do better than that...
Junpei stands up and swings his broom handle again. "Taaaake thiiiiiis!" he shouts, bringing it down...right in the monster's middle eye. The broom penetrates, and sick-looking viscous blue ooze pours out onto the red carpet;
Junpei looks quite proud of himself as he rips the broom handle out of the now-extinguished eye.
"That's what you get for messin' with Junpei the Great!"
Nice shot, now let's try another!
SLAM!
...Not.
The chitin on this thing was THICK.
Another swipe of the arm goes down for Junpei, but the capped man stumbles backwards, the claws stabbing right between his legs - fortunately, only hitting the ground, and not anything important.
Junpei flails at the claw with his broom-handle, but to no effect.
Another punch- you'd think if the thing was facing away from it...
But...
Lots of armor.
His blow knicks a plate and glances.
It thrashes and swings around, trying to remove its claw from the floor, but to no avail.
However, as it rears up to its height, it roars, a sick roar of numerous gaping jaws screaming in pain. Its tail whips around, and Junpei goes flying, skidding to the ground against Fuuka.
"Bastard, let's see how you like..." The Cyborg slams his fist into the beast's tail as it drops. This should do it some hurt...”
It thrashes willdy in pain, screaming its horrible scream.
"The One-Two Punch!" His second punch rises from the ground, using his legs as propulsion to slam his knuckles into the beast's jaw.
The blow sends the creature to the ground. Another twitch, and it gives a final, screaming roar and falls dead.
His teeth clench as the adrenaline hits his bloodstream in full force. While still in mid air, he extends his leg...
...And drops his ankle into the monster's now dead throat.
Ring, ring. Ring, ring.
The cell phone rings again in his pocket.
Slip, flick, to the ear.
"Very good." Click.
A withered sigh.
Was this what the city had in store for him?
He regarded the two most injured...
The blood has already disappeared, as has the damage to the ground, sort of. The Boss throws the door open, dragging someone behind him, and Minato follows, hands in his pockets and an ice-cold demeanor. They take one look at the room, and now, in the light, it's quite obvious that the Boss is in fact wearing a skull. "Hm."
Thomas turns suddenly toward the door, "You had... a guest." His voice is interrupted by breath.
"One of them got loose," Minato says idly. "It's nothing to be concerned about."
With that, he walks past Thomas and into the dark office.
"Uh, two of your employees are bleeding out! We need to get them to the hospital!"
"And tell them what, exactly?" The boss asks. "That they were beaten up by a monster? They'll live. It's happened before."
His teeth grind. That one was going to be a pain, "Hell if I know, knife fight, I don't know..."
He holds up the man he's dragging. The guy looks absolutely brutalized.
"How many scars?"
"That's not your concern."
He dangles the brutalized criminal from his hand.
"Keep this one unconscious. See what you can find out from his wallet."
"Don't let him wake up. We'll need to do a Removal later."
"At least tell me where the bandages a-" A tilt of the head, then his pupils begin to dilate... "A removal?"
The boss gestures at the fading corpse of the monster.
"Those things... Are in people?"
"That's correct."
 The cyborg's arms take the brunt of the criminal's weight... "...I understand. I'll keep him out."
"You got any bandages?"
"I'll take care of that."
"Go downstairs, lock him up, and make certain he remains unconscious."
"If he wakes up, we'll have another one of those on our hands."
"...Right, Alright, just..."
"They won't die."
"...Alright." Too much for one day...He'd pop open the door to the basement- the one Yukari called down earlier, and began on his way.
"I'll explain later. But you seem to be able to handle yourself. Welcome to the Twilight Detective Agency."
"Right... Thanks. You should... Think about getting a face."
"It's a helmet." He sounds amused.
 "Though I guess it's iconic, huh?"
"Hurry up."
 "Yes sir."
With that, the boss turns and disappears into an adjacent room.
The door shuts; Tom hurries downstairs.
[13:29] The downstairs lab is filled with strange things, but the one that any idiot can figure out is the holding chair.
[13:29] It would take him no time at all to latch the man in and prevent him from leaving.
[13:29]  All he'd have to do is keep him from waking up.
[13:29] So after an hour or so of watching the man, rifling through his pockets, and similar, Fuuka comes down the stairs. She's heavily bandaged and holding one arm in a sling.
[13:30] When she sees Thomas, she gives a little 'oh' sound and looks down at the floor. "H...hello."
[13:30]  His eyes rush to the woman at the foot of the stairs, "Oh! Damn! Are you alright?"
[13:31] "I'm...I'm fine..." She says. "It just...got loose..."
[13:31]  "I'm sorry, I said I should have walked with Yukari back to the office, if I had known, you might've not had the cast..."
[13:31] "Oh! No...it's...it's not your fault..."
[13:32]  "That's what they said about the droids and accidental human deaths in I-Robot, but that doesn't make it right..."
[13:33]  A sigh. His mechanical limbs filter once more through the man's credentials.
[13:33] "I...I think that's the wrong comparison," she says after a moment, a bit of a smile on her face. "But you didn't hurt me...you had no way of knowing."
[13:33]  "I guess, but that doesn't fix the injuries. At least you got patched up well enough..."
[13:34]  "This guy..."
[13:35] "Who is he...?"
[13:35]  "I can't see any reason why he'd have to be brought in by force."
[13:35] "Oh...it was probably...one of the Requiems..."
[13:36]  "Requiems?"
[13:36] "What you saw."
[13:36]  "So this guy got attacked by one of them?"
[13:36]  "I mean, family, relatively steady job...
[13:36] "No..."
[13:36] "He...probably is one."
[13:37]  "...How does something like that happen? Can we help him?"
[13:37] "We don't know...how it happens, I mean. But it happens...Skull Man thinks it has something to do with the city..."
[13:37] "I think...I think they're the darkness in peoples' hearts. But...we don't really know."
[13:38] "They're brought in, and we do a Removal, and keep the Requiems here."
[13:38]  "I... Did you get a phone call when you arrived here, too?"
[13:38] "A phone call?" She sounds puzzled.
[13:38]  "I see. I guess not, then..."
[13:39]  "Some weird voice keeps calling me."
[13:39] "Weird...voice?"
[13:39]  "It told me to come back to the office."
[13:39] "That's...really creepy..."
[13:39]  "Something about a tower of Oblivion."
[13:39]  "Yeah. Tell me about it."
[13:40]  "He calls me again afterwards- if you can call it a he- and says something along the lines of 'good job.'
[13:40] "That's...that's really scary..." She repeats, hugging herself.
[13:40]  "Like someone watching me, you know?"
[13:41] She nods.
[13:41]  "I'm almost wondering if it's my limbs, or if it's the city itself."
[13:41]  "Either one could be possible, I guess. Anyway..."
[13:41] "That's...let's not talk about this anymore, okay?"
[13:41]  "Yeah. I agree."
[13:42]  "I'll deal with it if it pops up again... I found this guy's home phone number."
[13:42] "...we can't call them..." She says after a moment.
[13:42]  "Do we tell- Oh..."
[13:42]  "Alright."
[13:42] "What...I mean...what do you want to say? 'Sorry...he...he got possessed by a horrible demon'?"
[13:42]  "Heh, I guess so, huh?"
[13:43]  "Not many people would believe it without seeing it."
[13:43] She nods.
[13:43]  "Are there any similarities in the details between cases?"
[13:43]  "Family, workplace, associates?"
[13:43] "No...well! ...maybe..."
[13:43] "I don't remember who that one you killed belonged to..."
[13:44]  "If the cause can be isolated, then... Well, I took down this one's information for later reference, do you have anything else lying about?"
[13:44] "Ah, no...the last one, she didn't have any information..."
[13:44] "She was just a little girl..."
[13:45]  "A... little girl?"
[13:45] "Uh-huh."
[13:45]  "...Kids, huh?"
[13:45] "And a dog..."
[13:45]  "Did any of the others have close relations with children?"
[13:45] "I...don't remember," she admits.
[13:46] "Minato...Minato might."
[13:46]  "That's fine... I'll have to ask him when I see him."
[13:46]  "These things, do you know where they reside- when they possess someone, I mean."
[13:48] "Uh-uh."
[13:48] "Inside them, I think."
[13:48]  "Physically, then?"
[13:48]  "Mm... Well, I can draw up a few theories..."
[13:48] "It's okay...we know how to remove them."
[13:49] "We just need to stop it from happening."
[13:49]  "But more than anything, I'd need to know more before I could piece anything together."
[13:49]  "Right... By the way..."
[13:49]  "I forgot to introduce myself. The name's Thomas Magnusson, Bachelor in Criminal Psychology and new employee."
[13:49]  "Nice to meet you, Fuuka, right?"
[13:49] "Fuuka. I'm the...the lab worker." She nods.
[13:50]  "Well, I look forward to working with you."
[13:50] She smiles.
[13:50]  He returns the gesture. At least there was some sort of anchor of normalcy...
[13:51]  Even a little something like that, his studies have taught him, can make all the difference in a person's life.
[13:52]  "Well, I couldn't find the sleeping gas...
[13:52]  "So besides bludgeoning the poor bastard over the head, how do we keep him out?"
[13:53] "That's how we usually do it..." She admits, a bit of a smile on her face.
[13:53] "But...there's some tranquilizer in..." She opens a drawer, draws a needle, and slides it into the man's arm quite cleanly, pressing down on the stud.
[13:53] "This is...generally more humane."
[13:53]  "Heh... Well, if it's possible to reduce the trauma to their bodies, then all the better. Tranq works- yeah, I agree."
[13:54] She smiles. "But Skull Man and Minato are rarely...interested in that sort of thing."
[13:54]  "I'm no doctor, but I think he's got enough bruises to be held accountable for."
[13:54]  "They're a bit different, aren't they?"
[13:55] "They are."
[13:55]  "I think I prefer that Skull Man over Headphones."
[13:56]  "It's just a matter of vibe, I guess."
[13:56] "Minato..." She frowns and looks away. "Skull Man is a good director."
[13:56]  "..."
[13:56]  "Did something happen, to that boy, I mean."
[13:56] It really seems like no one wants to talk about Minato.
[13:56]  "Someone his age shouldn't be so sullen, but if you don't want to talk about it, it's fine."
[13:56] "He's not sullen..." She whispers.
[13:57]  "I'm sorry. What would you describe him as? You've known him longer than I, after all."
[13:57]  "But only if you're comfortable with talking about him, I mean."
[13:57] "...dead inside." She murmurs, still staring at the unconscious guarde.
[13:57] *guard
[13:58]  "Dead... inside?"
[13:58]  "Heh. Almost sounds like a brand of computer chip."
[13:58] She doesn't reply.
[13:59]  "So..."
[13:59]  "Let's swap stories, huh?"
[13:59] She brightens up just a bit at that, the cloud of Minato passed away.
[14:00] "You first."
[14:00]  His fingers slide the wallet back onto the table, his notes scribbled neatly onto a note card are laid to rest atop the leather piece.
[14:01]  "Well... Where to begin?"
[14:01] "The beginning is usually good..."
[14:01]  "I'm a born-and-bred liberal Britannian, went to college for a year and a half or so in general studies before switching over to Criminal Psychology.
[14:02]  "One day, I was on my way home..."
[14:03]  "Took a train 'cross the continent to get there. I passed out sometime in the midst of the trip."
[14:03]  "My family is fairly well off. My mother and father live comfortable lives with my younger siblings. A brother and a sister. They call me, sometimes."
[14:04] She smiles. "That's nice...you must have nice parents."
[14:04]  "Got a little house in the country, with a great garden, and green hills and other little houses dotting the landscape... Yeah, they're great people."
[14:05]  "They raised me right, I think," said with a smirk, "But I'm digressing a bit."
[14:05]  "On the way home, I pass out..."
[14:06] "And...?"
[14:06]  "When I come to, it's already three days past. And in an alley of a town along the train's route... With these things in place of my real limbs."
[14:07] Fuuka covers her mouth with her hands.
[14:07]  "I was a boxer, you know. Used to fight a lot in the ring, but I can't really do that so much anymore- not with normal people, anyway."
[14:07]  He chuckles. At least he's in good spirits- despite... Everything, "No, it's fine. They were able to save lives today."
[14:08] "MIne, Yukari's, and Junpei's..."
[14:08]  "I guess you can call them a blessing within a curse? Yeah. That's right."
[14:08]  "He's pretty good with that broom, I gotta say."
[14:09] "Junpei?"
[14:10]  "Yeah."
[14:10] "He's a good guy." She agrees.
[14:10]  "You probably weren't concious, but he got that thing right in the eye before he got a tail to the chest."
[14:10]  "He's alright, right?"
[14:10] "I, um...I heard."
[14:10] "He was describing it...in...um...in great detail."
[14:10] "He said you softened it up for him."
[14:10]  "That's good... Huh? Heh, was he?"
[14:11]  "Hahaha, I guess I did."
[14:11]  "And he helped me out, too."
[14:11] "...that's..." She gives a bit of a smile. "Not what he was saying."
[14:11] "He said you nearly got skewered when you fell on your butt."
[14:11]  "If it wasn't for him, I probably couldn't have gotten that last punch in."
[14:12]  "...Uh..."
[14:12]  "That... Kinda was him."
[14:12] "I thought so," she nods.
[14:12]  "Unless I suffered another bout of memory lapse, y'know."
[14:12] "Thomas." Comes Skull Man's voice. "We need you upstairs."
[14:12] "I want a more...accurate...description of the fight."
[14:13]  "Heh, we were just talking about that, actually."
[14:13] "Also, your first client is here."
[14:13]  He felt lighter now, at least. Having someone to talk to always helps...
[14:13] "So we have a job for you to take care of."
[14:13] Fuuka nods. "I can take care of this..."
[14:13] "You go ahead, okay?"
[14:13] "And...don't be too mad at him."
[14:13]  He turns for a moment to Fuuka, "Well, looks like I'm being called off. See you later, wish me luck!"
[14:14]  "Ha! It's fine. I know a few guys back home like him."
[14:15] Upstairs, the sultry redhead from earlier is talking with Yukari.
[14:15]  Again, back to the floor above...
[14:15] She gives Thomas the once-over with her visible eye, and it's vaguely like being sized up by a predator.
[14:15]  Just close behind the Skull Man, it seems... "So what do you look like under that thing anyway...?"
[14:16]  A shudder.
[14:16]  Jeez, that felt almost as bad as being stared at by the monster...
[14:16] She purses those full red lips. "So you're the one who killed the Requiem, too."
[14:17]  At least with the monster you could ignore it and punch, but... Well, to be frank, she was dead hot, "Heh, yeah. I got the last punch in."
[14:18]  At least he could be thankful that the arms didn't betray his heartbeat.
[14:18] She strides over, smooth as silk, and leans in for a better look.
[14:18] "Britannian...you'll do."
[14:18]  "I'll... do?"
[14:18] She slips a card into his hand. "I'm heading out, Yukari...see you later."
[14:18]  I'd do her...
[14:18]  No! Bad thought!
[14:18]  "Oh, uh, thanks!"
[14:19] With that, she walks out, hips swaying from side to side like a far-too-seductive palm tree.
[14:19] "Later, Mitsuru!" Yukari chirps.
[14:19]  It was like a black hole.
[14:19] "The case details," Skull Man notes.
[14:19]  And his eyes were light.
[14:19]  "Right, right.
[14:20]  Tear... your eyes... AWAY.
[14:20]  ...Only possible once she left the room.
[14:20] Minato heads out the door without a look at anyone, closing it behind him.
[14:20]  After wards, he'd have flipped the car over in his fingers, eyes scrolling carefully over the contents.
[14:21] The card has a place and a name scribed on it.
[14:21] The address is 1772 Browning Street.
[14:21] The name is Michael O'Hara.
[14:22] Underneath both, in neat, black handwriting are the words "MISSING PERSON."
[14:22]  "So uh..." He conscribed the contents to memory and glanced up, "You needed to confirm the results of the combat?"
[14:22]  Missing person...
[14:22]  Interesting.
[14:22] "No," Skull Man says, bemused. "Minato had a few questions, but I think he figured it out for himself."
[14:23]  "Oh, heh, I needed to ask him about something, too..."
[14:23]  "Maybe when I get back."
[14:23] "Mmm?"
[14:23]  "I'm trying to figure out if any of the victims have anything in common."
[14:24] "Not that we've been able to tell."
[14:24]  "Like children, workplace, work district..."
[14:24] "They work for different companies, or no companies. They pop up all over the city."
[14:24] "I can sense them. So can Minato."
[14:24]  "Is there any pattern to the appearances?"
[14:24]  "I mean, geometrically, not just geographically."
[14:24] "No, I'm afraid not."
[14:25] "Why? Do you think you have some idea as to what's causing it?"
[14:25]  "Well, I was thinking if it was a geometric pattern, then the cause was an intelligent, propogating force."
[14:25]  "If it wasn't geometric or geographic, then it could be based on victim mental state prior to the affliction."
[14:26]  "...Or even predicted state once the affliction passes."
[14:26] "It doesn't pass," Skull Man replies.
[14:26] "It's removed, or it takes up root in them and can't be removed without death."
[14:26]  "It's recurring?"
[14:26]  "I see..."
[14:26] "No. Once a Requiem is removed, we've observed that it never returns."
[14:26] "We have a list of people being watched. Yukari can get it for you."
[14:27]  "Mm. So the body or the mind develops an immunity for it."
[14:27] He pats Thomas on the shoulder. "Or a person can only ever have one requiem."
[14:27]  "Yeah. I'd like to see if their psychological states have anything in common."
[14:27] "I'm going to head out and follow Minato - when he starts acting like this, it means he's got a lead."
[14:27]  "That might be, too. Though... Hey, I'm curious."
[14:27] "Mm?"
[14:27]  "Did you ever get a weird phone call?"
[14:27] "A weird phone call?"
[14:27]  "Like, just a really, really strange voice on the other end? Says something, and hangs up?"
[14:28] "I get a lot of weird phone calls."
[14:28]  "Yeah. I got a weird phone call telling me to get over here."
[14:28] "No. Nothing like that."
[14:28]  "It mentioned a Tower of Oblivion."
[14:28] It's impossible to tell if he blinks or not. "I see."
[14:28] "Unusual."
[14:28]  A chuckle, "Even for around here?"
[14:29]  "Yeah. I think I might be being watched by... Something. It called me after taking that thing out- 'Good Job,' it said."
[14:29] "I'll look into it." He agrees.
[14:29] "Anyway, I'd best catch up with Minato. Your room key is in the desk - Yukari can get it for you."
[14:29]  "Thanks for that, boss. Speaking of Good Jobs, I better get to doing mine, huh?"
[14:30]  "Alright. Good luck with him."
[14:31] "Thank you."
[14:31] Skull Man heads out.
[14:32]  "Well..."
[14:32] "Going to bed?" Yukari offers, dangling the key out.
[14:32]  His hands slipped into his jacket pockets...
[14:33]  "Heh, after today...?"
[14:33]  "Well, is there any rush to get to this job?"
[14:33]  "I mean, in your opinion."
[14:33] She gives a bit of a grin.
[14:33] "What do you think?"
[14:33]  "Heh."
[14:33]  "I think I might be in for a long night."
[14:33] "Sleep well."
[14:33]  "And you."
[14:34] "Not likely."
[14:34] She kicks back and puts her feet up on the desk.
[14:34] "I don't get off for until sunrise."
[14:34] *off until
[14:34]  "Yeah, you're probably right. I'll be out trailing some guy..."
[14:35]  "I got a ton of sleep on the way over, anyway. A whole four hours."
[14:35] She laughs at that.
[14:35]  The first rule of Forensics...
[14:36]  The longer a trail is left untouched...
[14:36]  The colder it becomes.

[ArachnosX]

Requiem 02:Fitting In
[08:23] Dreams of darkness always give way to the sunrise, and this one is no exception. Thomas can't remember quite what the dream was about - there was running, and panicking, and similar, but he doesn't recall.
However, what he can quite easily make out is the incessant sound of Knock-Knock-Knock-Knock-Knock on his wooden door, and the unforgiving light of the sun is shining in at a most
[08:24] unpleasant angle. Knock, knock, knock, knock. Sunlight. Quite the way to start the morning.
[08:25] After such a horrible night, too. Yeah, that's one way to start a morning. He was definitely going to need some coffee. Once, twice he turns over in his bed.
[08:25] Before, finally submitting to the will of the planet's ever-oppressive day-star, throwing the covers off his chest and struggling out of bed.
[08:26] It is, after all, terribly difficult to sleep on one's side when you have a metal slab for an arm.
[08:27] Yawning, he'd attend to his door. Just a pair of pants and a white undershirt, this morning. He'd get the rest on as it progressed.
[08:28] "Hey," he says, the morning grogginess still sticky in his throat, "G'morning."
[08:30] "Go-od-mor-ning!" Yukari chirps as the door swings open. "Get dressed! We're going shopping today!"
[08:30] "Shopping? For what?"
[08:31] "Food, clothes, supplies...lucky you, huh!" She laughs and points down the hall. "Bathrooms are that way, by the way. You don't look like a morning person, after all."
[08:32] "Yeah, heh, just a few nightmares is all. Wasn't too restful last night," another yawn. Yeah, lots of coffee, "Give me a few minutes, I'll get ready."
[08:32] "Maybe a shower'll fix me up."
[08:33] "You have thirty minutes! I'm counting!" With that, she skips down stairs, still far too chipper for anyone to be in the morning.
[08:35] "Alright, alright!" he manages to grumble, pulling back into his room to collect the necessities. Clothes (not badly sweated on. Yey mechanical limbs and the chill of night!), toothbrush...
[08:36] He then pushes back out of the room, and sulks over toward the shower... It was a damn good thing these things (arms, legs) could handle shower water. He'd be in a real mess if they couldn't.
[08:37] It doesn't take him too long to finish showering and dressing, and Yukari is downstairs waiting for him - as is, surprisingly, Fuuka.
[08:38] The towel was draped over his shoulders- despite the fact that he was already dressed. It was to keep whatever water was left in his hair from staining the duds... At least he felt substantially more alive.
[08:39] Though he is surprised to see them both up and active, considering last night... "Oh, hey. You guys cleaned up well, I see."
[08:40] "We had help," Fuuka admits. Yukari nods vigorously, snatching a purse off the hatrack and slinging it around her arm. "This is great! Normally I have to do all the shopping myself...but now I have carriers!"
[08:40] With that, she's out the door. Fuuka gives a bit of a sigh. "I...probably shouldn't've volunteered..."
[08:44] "...Carriers? Please say she isn't going to max out today..." A long, drawn out sigh accompanies the end of his statement, "Well, at least you're not alone, huh?"
[08:44] "Actually..." She says after a moment, "I...I volunteered to help you....she was going to rope you in anyway..."
[08:44] "And that wasn't fair..."
[08:45] "Heh. Well, I appreciate it."
[08:45] "These arms can carry a lot of load, but I doubt even they could withstand the result of a zealous shopper given free reign over the cash."
[08:47] "Skull Man's pockets are really deep, and Yukari's happy to take advantage of them..." Fuuka agrees.
Said Yukari sticks her head in the door. "C'mon! We're wasting daylight!"
[08:48] "Alright, alright. We're coming," The cyborg locks his fingers behind his head. He should probably get the name of a local mechanic...
[08:49] "Heh, deep enough to not run dry with her around? That's pretty deep."
[08:49] "...Jeez. She reminds me a bit of my younger sister like that."
[08:49] "Your sister's like Yukari...?"
[08:50] "Similar in shopping habits, anyway."
[08:50] "Well, that's the vibe I get, anyway."
[08:50] "...Ugh. I must be tired. I said 'anyway' in two sentences in a row."
[08:50] "It's okay...I forgive you." She smiles and heads out the door.
[08:51] Ladies first, cyborg last.
[08:51] Thomas follows out the door, shutting it as he exits.
[08:51] At least this time he'd be able to keep an eye on them.
[08:52] The daytime's almost completely transmogrified this city. From creepy, eerie, dark, and shadowed, the city's come alive with people, and the streets are filled with pedestrians of all sorts. Here a young man and his
[08:53] loved one, there a cute little girl tugging her mother's arm to buy candy from a street vendor...a panoply of sights.
Made all the more disturbing by the thought that any one of them could become one of those...things...at
[08:53] any second.
Still, it doesn't seem to bother Yukari much, at least. How she got that chipper on what must only have been five or six hours of sleep is beyond Thomas, and apparently beyond Fuuka, as well.
Yukari
[08:54] leads them down the way, until finally, they round a corner into a lush open-air market. It's rather unusual to see such markets in a Britannian city, but
[08:55] then Vespertine City is an unusual Britannian city, too. Yukari immediately goes to work selecting foodstuffs, a critical eye cast upon all fruits and veggies daring to look succulent or delicious or appealing in any way. Fuuka
[08:55] sighs. "This...is going to take quite a while..."
[08:56] "Bargain shopper, way too active in the mornings, probably a haggler too, isn't she?" Another sigh. "Yeah, definitely way too familiar. But I don't mind the wait, gives me a chance to stretch my legs."
[08:58] "Enjoy it while you can," Shinjichiro's voice comments. When he appeared there, it's impossible to say, but then again, the crowds are pretty thick.
[08:59] *Shinjiro
[09:00] "I suppose you could say that, but I prefer 'enjoy it whenever I can,'" Thomas turned to the other man. Slouched, hands in the pockets, dark clothing... Trauma? "Don't believe we were formally introduced."
[09:01] "Shinjiro." He replies blankly.
[09:02] "Thomas. Good to meet you."
[09:03] "Mmm." He removes his hand from his jacket and taps the side of his head. "You're crazy."
[09:03] "It takes one to know one, right?"
[09:04] "After all, everyone's just a bit crazy, sometimes."
[09:04] He snorts. "Don't get killed." With that, he departs into the crowd.
[09:07] "Hm. Friendly chap, that one."
[09:07] "That's...pretty friendly for him..." Fuuka agrees.
[09:08] "Heh, I guess it's better than getting into a fist fight, right?"
[09:08] "Anyway, how's the intrepid shopper doing?"
[09:08] Yukari seems to be haggling over a melon.
[09:09] He chuckles, scratching at the base of his scalp, "At least she's being frugal..."
[09:10] "She's...good at this." Fuuka nods. "We should probably move along a bit...we're in the way of traffic..."
[09:12] "I guess so, huh?" Thomas steps back a bit, trying to pull away from the thoroughfare, "This place is really different in the daytime."
[09:13] "It's a nice day today, yes..."
[09:15] "Even the atmosphere in the streets. It's like night and day."
[09:16] She nods again.
[09:17] Yukari catches up to them shortly after, dropping the melon (as well as Assorted Other Goods) into Thomas's arms. "Here. Carry these!"
[09:24] Having Yukari's melons dropped into his arms felt slightly less amazing than he figured it would. But hey, the stuff wasn't TOO heavy...
[09:24] "Uhh... Alright then."
[09:26] "Yukariii! Who's your handsome friend?" One of the shopkeeps - an older lady, maybe in her early fourties, calls over at her. Yukari bounds over, dragging the hapless
[09:28] pair with her. "Ahhh, Miss Toriumi! This is Thomas. Thomas, this is Mana Toriumi...she's practically the head of this place!"
[09:30] Despite being 'dragged,' Thomas retained his composure. Though he probably couldn't be seen all to well behind those bags... "Hey. Nice to meet you."
[09:33] "Nice to meet you, too, Thomas. Are you in town for the festival?"
[09:41] "Huh? Oh no! I work here."
[09:41] "Well, I do now, anyway. With Yukari and Fuuka, actually."
[09:43] "Ooooh...well, that would explain how you know them," she considers. Her phone rings a moment later, and she swears. "Sorry...I need to take this. Excuse me!"
[09:43] With that, Miss Toriumi heads into the building behind her. Yukari shakes her head.
"She's always busy."
[09:43] "No problem! Take your time!" He was sure not to mention Minato, this time around. A touchy subject, that one, "She looks like the kind who could handle it, though."
[09:44] "She is," Yukari agrees. "Ack! What are we wasting time talking for? We've got work to do!" With that, she takes off back down the market.
[09:53] "Heh. She's a firecracker, isn't she?" He says, from behind the mound of produce, "Better not let her get too far, huh?"
[09:53] Fuuka takes some of the produce from Thomas's hands and nods. "Let's try to keep up..."
[09:54] A few hours later, and the three are sitting in the 'kitchen' of the Twilight Detective Agency building. Yukari is whistling cheerfully as she stacks cans and shelves and replaces [09:55] foodstuffs, and Fuuka is sitting quite politely with her legs crossed, hands in her lap, and a bit of bewilderment on her face. How Yukari can have so much energy after purchasing so much and running about is almost
[09:55] impossible to determine.
[09:55] ...While Tom is forced to carefully set down each of the many, many purchases she so vigorously fought tooth and nail for.
[09:55] Hell, he didn't even see what half the stuff was.
[09:55] Only that they were in bags.
[09:56] "Good run this week!" Yukari chirps.
[09:57] "Yeah..." Can. Can. Can. Something that probably shouldn't be mentioned. Can. Brocoli... "I'll definitely need the name of a local mechanic."
[09:58] "I think I felt a bolt pop on the way home," a joke, or perhaps a complaint? It was difficult to tell.
[09:59] "I can give you the number..." Fuuka offers.
[10:13] "Can you? I want to see if I can't get these things tuned up, too."
[10:13] "I mean, if there'll be more of those Requiems lurking about..."
[10:13] "Might need one."
[10:14] She nods and heads out of the room to find the phonebook.
"So what do you think of the place?" Yukari asks.
[10:24] "Hm? This place in general?" A hand rests on a hip, his work in organizing the groceries complete, "Well, it's not bad."
[10:24] "Certainly not the worst place in the world."
[10:26] "It's really different from last night- today, I mean. Everything seems so much more alive..."
[10:26] "Well, there's something to add to my notes."
[10:26] "Hmmm?"
[10:26] "Just the difference the time makes..."
[10:27] "Night and Day. It feels like it's more than just the light saturation that changes."
[10:31] "Does it?"
[10:37] "You really think it's that different, huh?" Yukari purses her lips.
[10:39] "Yeah..."
[10:39] "It's strange, isn't it?"
[10:39] "I'm sure you must have noticed as well."
[10:40] "The feeling of the place- it's different at night, right?"
[10:40] "Anyway, let's stop talking about that, hey? So what is there to do around here, besides work?"
[10:44] "Well...go drink at Akihiko's...and there's a festival coming up, like Miss Toriumi mentioned...although I'm surprised she's still thinking about it..."
Yukari stops for a moment.
"There's a park, there's..."
[10:44] "...actually quite a lot to do! I'm sure you can visit the civic center if you want some helpful guides."
[10:44] "But that's all tourist stuff! You're a resident now!" She beams at Tom as Fuuka returns, handing a piece of paper with a phone number and name on it over to Thomas.
[10:45] "Heh, I guess so, huh?" He returns the smile with one of his own. Perfect dental record- despite his history as a boxer. Who knows how many were fake?
[10:47] The cyborg's mechanical fingers wrapped carefully about the note, "Thanks Fuuka, I appreciate it. These arms need some work after carrying Yukari's bountiful baggage."
[10:47] Yukari giggles as she walks out of the room, slinging her feet back up onto her desk and leaning back. Fuuka sighs and shakes her head.
[10:53] "It's like Miss Toriumi...they're both so...energetic...after all that's..."
She cuts herself off quite abruptly.
[10:54] "Is... something wrong, Fuuka?"
[10:54] "It all comes back to Minato somehow," Fuuka answers sadly.
[10:55] He glanced for a moment at the contents of the note, consigning them to memory before shoving the paper into his coat pocket, "Yeah..."
[10:55] "I thought as much. You know Miss Toriumi for a while, too?"
[10:56] "She's...practically the heart of the city." She murmurs. "She's very kind....she taught at the school before it went wrong, and she's...she's very well-known around here."
[11:02] "...I see."
[11:03] "Well, if she's any indication, the city's doing pretty well. Though from what you describe, I can't help thinking that whatever happened in the past scarred her, too."
[11:03] "Probably..." She agrees.
[11:03] "I'm sorry...I keep bringing it up...and nobody wants to talk about it...even me..." She shakes her head vigorously.
[11:03] "I know it might be tough to talk about it, but if ever you become comfortable enough, I'd like to hear about it."
[11:04] She nods and breathes in a deep sigh. "..I...I'll keep that in mind..."
[11:12] "Hey...Thomas...do you have any ideas about your missing person from Mitsuru?"
[11:14] "Do you think it's a...it's a Requiem?"
[11:15] "I'm not sure, honestly."
[11:15] "He may be, he may not be. Without anything to look for..."
[11:15] "Well, I'll need to investigate more, let's just say that."
[11:17] She nods. "Will you be alright?"
[11:21] "Yeah, I'm sure I will."
[11:22] He smirks, hands shoved in the pockets of the coat, "After all, I've got people to take care of back here. How could I not make it back in one piece?"
[11:24] "Speaking of people to take care of, Thomas," Yukari calls in, "You have a phone call from Mitsuru...she's got a bit more information for you."
[11:27] "Huh? Oh! Her! Right, is there a phone that connects around here?"
[11:36] Fuuka lifts it off the wall and delicately hands it over to Thomas.
[11:41] Daintiness wasn't becoming of a man.
[11:41] However, plastic phones were never reinforced well.
[11:41] Carefully, he closes his fingers about the reciever and lifts the phone to his ear.
[11:45] "Thomas?"
[11:46] Her voice, even over the phone, manages to convey the utter sultriness of the air about her.
[11:51] Keep it together, Thomas... "Yes? How can I help you?"
[11:51] "I have some words about the vanished man. Would you meet me at the following address?"
[11:52] Hark, what voice, from yonder reciever calls? "Oh, of course. I'd be happy to."
[11:52] In many more ways than one.
[11:52] "Good. And be quick about it. I do not like to be kept waiting."
[11:52] She rattles off the address, and then 'click'.
[11:52] "You sound...eager..." Fuuka notes.
[11:53] "Well, there are some things best experienced first hand..."
[11:53] "Like...?"
[11:53] One of them being Mitsuru. "One of them is exactly what I'm getting into with this case!"
[11:53] "I don't understand..."
[11:54] "You know, back in university, they taught us that to catch a criminal, you need to know how they think."
[11:54] "Do you think he's a criminal...?"
[11:54] "Get into their heads, understand motivation and life. No, I don't. But the best way to know whether he is or not is to get to know more about him."
[11:55] "It's a great way of identifying suspects. Some people are mor cautious about certain subjects than others. From there the list of suspects can be narrowed down."
[11:55] She nods. A moment later, she heads downstairs, returning with what looks like a black-glass monocle. "Here."
[11:55] "Everyone lies sometimes, and the trick is to know when and what about. That's what they taught- me?"
[11:55] "What's this?"
[11:55] Spirit device number one!
[11:56] "It's a Composition Sheet. You should be able to use it to see if a Requiem caused the event...it's made out of the one we Removed from the guard."
[11:56] "You uh..."
[11:57] "Requiems leave tracks that aren't visible to the human eye. But this isn't a human eye, it's the film from the Requiem's."
[11:57] "Craft stuff from their Requiems?"
[11:57] Fuuka sounds quite confident about this. She nods. "It's my specialty..."
[11:57] "...Oh. I see."
[11:57] "Heh, you're quite good! I could never do things like that."
[11:57] "The best way to hunt it is to dissect it, after a-" She goes bright red and stares at the floor.
[11:58] "My hands weren't made for precision or art, so it's hard for me to make things in general, but even so, to be able to turn the body of a monster into something beautiful is a real talent."
[11:58] "Thanks, Fuuka," he carefully recieves the lens, being very, very sure not to crush it.
[11:59] It seems quite sturdy. Sturdy enough, surely, to stand up to his fingers, even.
[11:59] Perhaps the monster in the guard was tougher than the one that got loose.
[12:00] But then, that might almost make some sense, if one looks at it from his occupation. Maybe it was stronger, because it had a more powerful guard?
[12:00] Or perhaps Fuuka's simply a very skilled craftswoman.
[12:00] "Oh!" She stops. "Don't...um...don't look through it at night."
[12:06] "Huh?" He peers cautiously through the lense of the monocle, "So there is something special about night... Why do you say that, Fuuka?"
[12:07] "It's not about the night...it's about the monocle..." She frowns. "You don't see what you want to see at night."
[12:07] "You see like one of them."
[12:15] "Oh... I..."
[12:15] "I see."
[12:15] "It's very disturbing."
[12:16] The monocole is stored away into a secure pocket of his coat, "Some things are more disturbing in imagination than fact."
[12:16] "This, I'm pretty sure, is not one of those things."
[12:16] She shakes her head.
[12:17] "You should hurry...Mitsuru probably is waiting..."
[12:17] "Yeah... I guess so. You take care, alright?"
[12:17] "Stay safe. If I come home to a bloody mess again, I might just have a heart attack," was that a joke? Probably not.
[12:18] She nods.
[12:24] "Right. Well..."
[12:24] "Best be getting on the road. See you!"
[12:24] True to form, the sultry sex-goddess of a femme fatale is waiting at the address, just as she noted. She's still wearing the white pinstripe that still manages to flatter her curves, and her black dress-skirt somehow manages to hide
[12:24] just enough of her legs to make them look even sexier than they have any right to appear. She purses her lips as he arrives.
"You're here," she says needlessly.
[12:29] "Well you told me to come," but I was already there, "So..." He shifts in his shoes, moving weight from his left leg to the right, "What's up?"
[12:30] "This." She hands a business card to him.
It reads 'VitaTech.'
"I thought you'd like to do a bit more hands-on investigating."
[12:30] "This is..." Eye to eye. Keep it eye to eye. Don't go Deer in the Headlights on her- oh but how dear it would be to be in her headlights... "This is very familiar."
[12:31] "It's my uncle's company." She replies smoothly. "The man yesterday worked there as a guard - or so Fuuka told me earlier."
[12:31] "I think this was where the last vict- Yeah."
[12:31] "So I can get in with this?"
[12:31] "No."
[12:32] "Oh. Looks like I'll be doing some sneaking, then."
[12:32] "Not so fast, shiny." She says, licking her lips in a way that's oddly...predatorial...again. "There's a fundraiser ball coming up. You can do some investigating...and get in quite easily...if you come as my date."
[12:40] She could be my predator any da- wait, date? "Date? Oh, but of course- if you're willing to have, me, that is."
[12:41] "Consider my other options," she says dryly, "The janitor or the stone-cold recluse." Interesting. Does she not know about the Skull Man? "You're the only one I can count on for this."
[12:41] "Besides...it's your case..."
[12:47] "Heh, I guess I can see your point. So when is this ball?"
[12:48] He did make a mental note about 'Boss,' though. But perhaps there was another reason she did not mention him?
[12:48] "Tomorrow." She purses her lips again. "Can I count on you to have cleaned up and dressed up?"
[12:49] "I'm pretty sure Yukari covered most of my clothes, but if I can't find a suit amongst the mountains of fabric, then I'll get myself fitted right away."
[12:49] "Very good."

[ArachnosX]

Requiem 03: Calling

The encounter with Mitsuru yesterday notwithstanding, the rest of Thomas's day was fairly
peaceful. The night falls, and Minato and the Skull Man depart for whatever mission they're undertaking this evening. Yukari looks up as Thomas enters the
room from the upstairs - probably after scouring for clothes. "Evening!" She chirps cheerily. "How'd the meeting with Mitsuru
go?"

Thankfully, he did manage to find SOMETHING formal. It took a bit of scrounging, but yes, a suit. He
wasn't wearing it at the moment, though... "Oh, it went well..."

He moved down the short flight of stairs, a heavy 'thud' announcing each step, "Looks like
I'm supposed to be going to a party with her, a ball."

"Oh really?" Yukari chirps, leaning forward on the desk. "Hmmm...you don't strike me as
Mitsuru's type," she notes after a few seconds, "What's her angle?"

"Process of elimination," he says with a sigh... "She said that, even if I'm not
necessarily her kind of guy, I'm still better than the alternatives..."

"But hey, I'm not complaining. It gets me more information in the end." An a chance to be with
Mitsuru. Jackpot, indeed.

Yukari laughs and leans back on the desk, withdrawing a nailfile out of her desk and scoring it across her
fingers. "You're pretty on top of this, huh? You must've done this back home a lot."

"Haha," he rubs gently at the base of his neck, "Which, rub elbows with the upper crust, or
investigate monsters popping out of people's chests?"

"Oh, wait. No, they're generally the same thing, aren't they?" A joke to liven up the
evening. A distinct hunch weighed upon his shoulders- that this night wouldn't likely prove the most peaceful of evenings.

Yukari laughs at that. "I meant the investigating and stuff. You're a lot less direct than the
Boss." Minato's name remains conspicuously absent.

"Oh right, well..." His ass plants itself at the second step from the foot of the stairwell-
makeshift chair, "Often, being too direct means missing a lot of the subtle clues."

"The best way to pull information from a large group of people is to keep them casual, relaxed, and to
not get too confrontational. When a person is pushed into a corner, they get defensive."

"...And if you threaten someone, often they say what you want to hear to get out of the situation, but
then, that information may be false."

"I've found that the key is making people -WANT- to share information with you. It's much
easier for both parties, that way."

She thinks about this for a moment, rubbing her fingers against her chin. "Makes sense," she
decides after a moment, "But you're really going because it's a date with Mitsuru, aren't you?"

Her face splits into a wide grin. "I'm good at reading people too." She
confirms.

"I guess you could say that you'd make a pretty good investigator yourself, Yukari," a chuckle
accentuates the beginning of his sentence. "But even if you're on the money, there are other reasons, too!"

"So be honest with me..." Yukari leans forward, pointing her file down against the desk and
spinning it back and forth under her finger. The sound grates a tiny bit, but not so much that it gets on his nerves. "

Do you think this party's gonna get you any closer to your missing person?"

"After all, with Mitsuru, there's a vibe of 'watch, but if you touch, you lose an arm...'
And yeah, possibly," The cyborg's arms cross over his knees, a cold shiver creeps up his spine at the sound. Not as bad as nails on a

chalkboard, but getting there. "The last guy, the guard, worked at Mitsuru's family's company,
after all."

"I want to see if I can't find any leads there. The thing about the wealthy and powerful: Alcohol
is an indescriminate poison. It loosens the tongue of anyone who imbibes it."

"That's pretty wise...I never pegged you as that kinda guy." She gives a low whistle and
points the nail file at Thomas. "Do you think VitaTech has something to do with the Requiems?"

"Parties with the powerful usually involve booze, and I'm wondering what they have to say about all
this," Silence, for a moment, then he starts again, "It's altogether possible."

"Science is always testing the limits on what's possible and impossible. Who knows what's going
on in those labs, really?"

"I mean, for all we know, they could be spawning floating, tendril brains or miniature power cells in
the form of an adorable housepet."

She nods and sits back up, a frown crossing her face. "Yeah," she agrees, "But I hope not.
It'd be terrible if Mitsuru got caught up in this stuff because of her family."

"Yeah. If she's innocent, then it'd be horrible to get her involved with the shitstorm
that'd follo- wait, what do you mean 'that kind of guy?" He tilts his head mildly, an inquisitive, perhaps mischevious smile on his
features.

"Well, you know. Insightful, intelligent, poetic...that kind of guy." Yukari flashes him a wide
grin. "I figured you to be a nose-in-the-book kinda guy."

"Hey! Behind this pasty, limbless, yet amazingly well toned shell beats the heart of an
intellectual!" Thomas snickers, "I mean, we've all got our masks, right?"

"Mine just happens to be that of a Chess Boxer."

"A chess boxer, huh? That's a heck of a persona," Yukari teases, "What other secrets are
you hiding behind your mask, Tommygun?"

"Ahh, that's for me to know and you to find out!"

She sticks her tongue out at him. "Nyeh!"

He responds by, almost, biting his thumb. But the fact that his arms were made of metal quickly trumped that
idea. Instead, he just harumphed, defeated in mid-retort, "That's why I don't use those bloggers, you know!"

"It's no fun to know what people want other people to see. It's what they're trying to hide
that's more interesting, and often more fun to explore."

"Hmm. I wonder what Yukari's really thinking right now? Heh... Nah, I wouldn't pry into people
I like. Now, Boss and Headphones, maybe..."

"Boss less, Headphones more."

She looks away at that. "Good luck, then," she says quietly. Her whole demeanor, quite
predictably, shifts, and she goes back to staring out the window.

"Well, nobody's impervious."

"No. Wait. There are SOME PEOPLE who are."

Here's looking at you, Plastic Man. "Even then, nothing can remain a closed book. I can tell he can
relate with others, it's just a matter of getting a foot in the door."

"Anyway, let's stop talking about him. I haven't asked how your day went yet,
Yuka."

"Like?" She asks, sounding vaguely interested, but at the same time quite....distant. She looks up
at him. "Oh...you know...I took phone calls...I

handled filing...the usual..." She still sounds incredibly distant, though she does smile after a
moment. "The boring stuff nobody else wants to do."

"And I convinced Fuuka to come over to Aki's for a drink with me, so that's a personal little
victory."

"Haha, there's the ticket, though. Gotta get someone obsessive compulsive enough to clean on their
own... Fuuka's a hard one to get out of the house, I understand?"

"Heh, yeah. She seems the type to enjoy a quiet evening in front of a warm fireplace with a book and a
cat."

She nods. "Almost impossible. She's really mousy, and shy...like me if I were nothing like
me." She makes a face.

Another snicker. He seems to have brightened back up as well, not that he ever really dipped. Just a bit,
when a reference to 'him' slipped, "Well, I'm glad she opened up to you, Yukari."

"Actually...I think it's because of you," she amends, leaning forward across the desk. The
pink outfit really accents her figure quite well, if one was looking at such things. "She was talking about your conversation with her, and

"We all need someone to connect with. That's how people warm up to each other, after all. Gotta put
some umph into it sometimes, but in the end, it's as good for her as it is for you... Oh?"

I think it really cheered her up to be treated like part of the team instead of the lab
assistant."

...Was he talking about relationships or -relationships?- Some of those word choices were... questionable in
meaning, "Oh, yeah. I really do value her work. He's really great with her hands, you know?"

Yukari's eyebrows skyrocket, and she starts giggling uncontrollably at the poor choice of
phrasing.

"She comes up with things I'd never dream u- What? What're we laughing about?" He smirks.
Poor choices, or ones right on the money?

Who knows?

She finally calms down and waves the thought away with her free hand. "It's nothing...heh...so hey,
are you going out tonight, or are you taking a breather before your big date, stud?"

"Heh, I'm not sure! I don't think any amount of rest will get me ready for Skadi and the rest
of Valhalla tomorrow, so if there was anything you wanted to do..."

"Not really..." She amends, "I have to stay here all night."

"Oh, well that must be a real downer on your social life."

"Pffft. I make up for it by active day-life!" Yukari flashes him a grin.

"Hah, I bet you don't often see attractive young ladies drinking barside at nine in the
morning."

"Who says 'attractive young ladies' these days?" She jokes.

The phone rings, and Yukari picks it up with a cheery 'Twilight Detective Agency!'

'I do, sometimes...' mumbled, his thumbs twiddling with one another.

The voice on the other end of the phone is that of a woman. Kindly, motherly, producing a vibe that says
both 'You knew me your entire life' and 'What was that just now on your computer screen?'

"Hello? Is my Tommy there?"

"Uh..." Yukari looks up at Tommy and holds up the phone. "It's for
you."

"Huhm?"

"Uh. Well. Unless that thing's steel reinforced... Do you got any speakerphone?"

Yukari taps the speakerphone with a bit of an (exaggeratedly) suffering sigh.

He rises with a grunt, moving closer to the phone, the desk, and the woman seated behind it,
"Hello?"

"Hello?" The voice on the other end of the phone responds, "Is that you, Thomas?"
"Mom?"

"Oh, you're quite the ladykiller, having a woman answer the phone for you. Didn't I teach you
better man-" "Mom, she's the office's secretary, it's her job to-" "Nonsense! I didn't raise you to not pick up the phone
for a lady!"

Yukari leans back, simply content to enjoy and be amused by it.

No more embarassment necessary this time, thanks. He cautiously lifts the reciever and switches off the
speaker, "Yes, I know, mom. No, I haven't unpacked everything yet. Yes, yes. I saw where you put my-

"No! Of course I've been keeping them clean! What? Margie did -WHAT!?" Crack. Shatter. The
reciever is snapped in twine at the neck.

...He looks sheepishly at the mass of plastic and circuitry. His cell phone rings. Slide, click,
"Hello?"

Yukari chuckles at the phone's destruction.

"...Yes, I broke another one. No, no, I got this one, I'm getting paid now too... Tell her I said
congratulations, and please call on my cell from now on..."

"Alright, alright. Love you mom. Bye."

Click.

"Big news?"

He sighs, setting down the mess of a phone, "Sorry about that... My little sister just got herself a
scholarship."

"...Among other things. Sorry about the phone! I promise I'll pay for it!"

"It's okay," Yukari confirms, "Congratulations on your little sister's
scholarship."

"Yeah. They're all really excited."

"Kinda makes me miss home a bit, they're throwing a party for her. Did you grow up around here,
Yuka?"

"Yeah...most of the people who live here grew up here. A lot of families moved here when it was first
founded..."

"Britannia was promising lots of jobs for people to work, but it wound up basically getting bought out
by Mitsuru's uncle."

"Heh, isn't that always how it is, though?"

"So Elevens like me," she continues, making a face, "Can hang out here without fear of
getting bullied, because the town is basically an Eleven province anyway."

"Yeah. It's one thing I like about the place. You don't see the Ghettos, or anything like that.
Everyone lives together peacefully."

"Well. More or less."

She nods.

"Even as dangerous as this city gets, it's still better than a lot of places in Japan...sorry, in
Area Eleven."

"No, no. Japan, Area Eleven, it depends on what you want to call it."

"I mean, they're both names for the same place, right? I call it Area Eleven, you call it Japan,
but if we're talking about the same thing, then there's no reason to fuss over it."

"Compared to most Britannians, you're okay, Tommygun." She offers another grin. "You
should head out. You're burning the midnight oil!"

"Heh, you're probably right! I've got myself a case to work on!"

"And yeah, we've all got our nations, right? It's perfectly natural to feel pride for it, and
to want to protect it."

"But, that being said..." He pulls toward the door. A flapping of fabric signals the retrieval of
his jacket, "Britannia's my country, so I'll protect it."

"Or maybe, to be more accurate, protect the innocent people who call Britannia home, native or not. See
you!"

[ArachnosX]

Requiem 04: A Dance To Remember



The promised night is here - VitaTech's dance. Mitsuru arrives nearly at 8:00 o'clock, dressed in a dress so black and slinky it's like she's
got on spandex. She leans against the door, watching the interior of the detective agency with a critical eye as Yukari gives a whistle.

"You look great, Mitsuru!" She cheers. "You really went all-out, huh?"

"This?" Mitsuru smiles. "Oh, it's an old dress. I just had it laying around."

"I wish I had things like that just laying around," Yukari sighs wistfully.

Old dress lying around? That's not the best way to have put it. Thomas sat in a nearby armchair, black suit and tie- the classic formal attire.

He tries to disguise the stupor that so firmly affixed itself to his mental faculties, but is likely doing poorly. Any man would have been floored by Mitsuru-
more so now, in that skintight dress.

Hands were nearly necessary to keep his jaw shut.

Mitsuru leans off the doorway and turns, crossing her arms. Her hips jut to the side, and she looks Thomas over for a moment, once again as though he were a
piece of meat in a butcher's store. "You'll do,"

she approves after a few moments. "Come on. There's a limo out front."

"Keep your hands to yourself, Tommygun," Yukari chirps, pointing her finger at him like a gun and making a 'bang' motion.

'I'd hope so' he wanted to say. He feels that 'bullet.' Right in the nerve, "Yes ma'am!" Whipped, without even trying. He
carries himself out after her, apparantly dull to everything else.

Mitsuru's swaying hips are certainly an easy target to follow, especially in that godlessly sexy black dress slit all the way up to the thigh and just
tantalizingly, achingly attractive. She moves over to the limo, waiting for the driver to open the door - which he does in short order. Mitsuru slides into the
seat first, and the driver waits for Tom before slamming the limo door shut. Mitsuru holds out a piece of paper - a very small, but very helpful, floorplan of
the facility. A few doors are marked 'off-limits' on the map, and seem to be heavily monitored, if Mitsuru's map is any indication.

At least in the relatively dim limousine he's able to avoid accidentally glancing at Mitsuru's curves. Most of them. What's left is still enough to
sideline his mind into the redzone... "S-so this is the place, huh?"

"That's correct," she says, her tongue running across her lips as she pulls down a mirror. It's the most perfect meeting of oral devices
since the first man realized how to kiss a woman without hitting her over the head. "The VitaTech corporate building. You're going to leave when my
uncle starts his speech - until then, we'll dance, drink, and socialize. Don't talk too much. And don't tell them who you

are. Your cover is that you're a Britannian tourist who moved here recently - you're not employed yet, but you're looking at a job with
VitaTech." Satisfied, she pushes her mirror back up.

"What am I supposed to be looking for?" Besides his lost psychological innocence, and Mitsuru's missing modesty... "Alright. I
understand."

"Find the personnel files - they'll be in the office." She points at something with her slender finger - a spot on the map. "You know the
man's name - find it, find the file, and see if there's anything you might be able to glean."

...Wait a sec. Dance? Dance with... Mitsuru?

A maelstrom of violent and provocative images fills his mind. Each and every one assailing just a bit more at his ability to restrain himself, and each totally
safe for work.

...If you work in a brothel.

What could go wrong, he tells himself: It's the perfect excuse to be with her. Nothing is possibly going to ruin this night...

Except... She's the CEO's daughter. Shit.

"Are you listening?"

Shit. Shit. Shit. Was he listening? What was the last thing she said... "Uh, right. Head to the office, find the file."

"Very good," she says, sliding one leg into a crossed position - oh man, the way that dress is interacting with her legs ought to be illegal. And
just look at that soft skin. "You can be discreet, yes?"

Discreet? Oh yes. Definitely discreet. Discreet like he, and her, in a closet at her parents' home. Yes, yes, discreet, "Oh, yes. Definitely,
don't worry about that."

"Very good," she repeats, "Do you know how to dance?"

"Of course I can dance, even with these legs. I've just got to be careful." With the way his heart was pounding? MUCH easier said than done.

"And you can, of course, avoid crushing any of my bones or backside with those." She waves a hand at his mechanical arms. "Right?"

"If not, you can put your hands on my hips instead."

"No one will look twice. They'll simply assume you don't know how to dance properly."

"I'll try my best," Hurt her? Impossible. He couldn't hurt her. Ever, ever hurt her. Precioussssss....

Bruising that skin is a mortal sin.

"Mmm. Use my hips, then."

Damn. "Alright."

The limo pulls up to the corporate office, and it's quite impressive - it dominates the skyline, thrusting high into the sky and commanding attention. An
enormous VT stands out high above. The limo

driver opens the door. "If you're certain," Mitsuru says, sliding out, "That you can avoid crushing my fingers, I'd prefer to dance
properly. It makes you look less like a yokel."

He'd thrust high and command attention with her...

Mitsuru taps her foot, waiting for him. "Well?"

"Of course! Of course! I'd not even think to hurt you!" -r ass, or fingers, or skin. He steps out of the limousine, thankful that his mechanical
limbs were incapable of quaking in her presence.

She sighs. "Are you going to take my arm and lead me in, or not?"

There's a very faint whirr as his arms finally move again, crooking about hers. Similarly, faint well described how he felt. Mostly because of the
'holyshitshe'stouchingme' reflex.

She starts walking, doing an excellent job of escorting him despite it obviously being him escorting. The doors open, and the lobby of VitaTech's corporate
office looms before them,

polished black marble as smooth as Mitsuru's skin. Mitsuru leads him over to an elevator, pressing her finger to the up button. The doors open with a
'ding',

revealing lush red carpet and warm lighting. Elevator music plays as the pair ascends up the massive building, Mitsuru's face the model of patience. Not
that it's likely that he'd be looking at her face,

when so much cleavage and thigh is exposed - but it's only so much, just enough to tease and tantalize with false promises and wishes and dreams that
likely would never come true. She purses her lips

and frowns. "Are you ready?" She asks.

Smooth as Mitsuru's skin? That's blasphemy! He'd have to sort that out later. By breaking it. "Of course." He wasn't- really, but he
could damn well look like he was.

The doors open to a hallway, and Mitsuru leads him down to another pair of double-doors. She pushes them open...to reveal a massive party. A huge gathering.
People from the upper crust, clad in black suits and beautiful dresses.

The thing about being a Crim.Sci major, or studying anything that had to do with criminals is that you're great at looking like you're doing one thing
while in fact doing another. Such as looking quite proper and formal while simultaniously taking snapshots of your woman's best features and fawning over
them in the mi- But Mitsuru still stands out nonetheless, stands out like a jewel in the rough, and most of the eyes turn to the pair as they enter. She puts
on a gorgeous smile - it practically changes

the way her face looks - and leads them into the middle of the room.OHGODMITSURUSMILE.

Some of the men in the crowd practically pant, earning them smacks in the back of the head from their dates. Mitsuru nods to various people, saying "Yes,
yes. Hello. Lovely to see you, too." And so on. After a few moments, the band starts up again, and Mitsuru slides her hand into Thomas's metallic one,
pressing up against him. And oh dear sweet Christ how she presses. Mitsuru tucks her head under his chin, practically toe to forehead touched to his body. The
black dress is even more apparently slinky now, in this luxurious, dreamy position.

It was as if something was flicked 'on' inside his brain. And, damn nearly, in his pants. But no, come on, mental fortitude. He gently adjusts his
position as well, an arm about her body- for once, he was thankful he couldn't feel anything in those. Else he'd be on the floor by now. Likely with
Mitsuru.

Whether she would have agreed or not.

Mitsuru dances, and she dances divinely. Which one of them is leading and which is following is impossible to tell, but for a good half-hour - no, scratch
that, an amazing half-hour - the pair dances, the

center of nearly all activity. The band winds down to a close, and Mitsuru pulls herself away, her arms crossed beneath her bosom as her uncle takes the stage.
Noticeably, they're near an exit - the better for

Thomas to sneak away.

He'd never.

Ever.

Forget that thirty minutes.

Best. Thirty minutes.

EVER.

"Go," she hisses as her uncle taps the mic.

They'd play in his dreams, now and likely for the rest of- YES MISTRESS.

The exit opens behind him easily, sliding into a hallway. It closes once he's through, probably by Mitsuru's hand.

He looks about the hallway for any sign of patrols. Hopefully, they were all too concerned with the ball to bother with the halls... The map is retrieved from
his pocket, he unfurls it and begins to find his bearings.

It takes him a few minutes to locate his position - it's on the opposite side and two floors up from the personnel office.

A sigh. Looks like he has some walking to do.

Good thing his muscles don't feel pain- not his legs, anyway.

Time to go. Where is that quickest route?

The quickest route seems to be to the left - it'll cross him to the stairs, which may be guarded.

And the safest...

...is a long route around the right, circling the conference room to another set of emergency stairs.

Time was limited. Perhaps a combination of the two?

Straight ahead down the utility elevator.

That would have to do.

He pockets the map once again, and makes his way down the center of the hallway.

As he makes his way down....uh-oh. It seems the guard detail changed from Mitsuru's map, as a pair of guards round the corner.

"Hey!" One of the men cries.

'Hey' what? A reflexive signal pulses down his nervous system, into the command receptors in his legs...

Flight- but only if necessary, "Yes?"

"What do you think you're doing in here?"

"I'm not sure. Is there a problem, officer?"

"Are you authorized to be here?" The man asks, walking forward.

"If I wasn't, I wouldn't be here- I'd be in the ballroom.

"Can I see some ID?"

Had he gotten out of the way of the stairs...?

The man moves forward another step.

He would too. And another, and another, and another- at mind numbing speed. The guard would probably feel nothing but a swift breeze as Thomas sped past his
side, and for the 'fast' route...

The few potshots the guards manage to take are nothing compared to the speed Thomas is moving; he makes it down the stairs, but not before he hears -
"Intruder alert on the ballroom floor. All guards to laboratories 1-10."

Ballroom floor, eh?

A few minutes later, and Thomas is standing at the door to the Personnel Office - all guards have been diverted to Labs 1-10.

Well, he wasn't there, anymore... Time to move. Move as fast as he possibly could- to his destination.

Hopefully, that route hadn't changed since Mitsuru handed him the map.

The door appears to be locked, unfortunately.

Locked, huh...? Well, he had two choices...

Break the lock- not hard, what with his arms, or wait for and knock out a guard to steal his keys.

Now, which was worse: Assault, or Break-in-and-entry?

...Or he could just...

Mess with the lock.

But what to use as a pick?

No time. Forget it. He was already caught, anyway.

He'd twist his wrist about the door's handle, just needed to snap it, and...

Click, SNAP.

And the lock falls apart in his hands. At least they only had to replace the knob...

Now, to find the files.

Files, files, files- just like back in College, eh?

There are several file cabinets - they too, however, are probably locked.

There's a file laying on the desk entitled 'classifications' - but that probably has nothing to do with this case.

He glances about, time to go to work...

A few minutes of rifling and breaking open locks, and he's found the files. It details quite a bit about the man - birthday, position, so on - and on the
second page,

it's a bunch of indecipherable statistics, including one very mysterious one marked "R-2."

R-2? Well, that was certainly interesting...

Time to grab and dash. Dash, very, very quickly.

If he got caught with the files on his person- in his suit, actually, he'd be dead.

Well.

Not dead.

Just in a very, very bad way.

Back up, just to make sure...

His phone flips out of his pocket, taking quick snap shots of each of the files.

...Before shoving them all in his coat and getting the hell out of dodge.

It doesn't take long for him to return to the ballroom through the exit. Mitsuru is waiting for him, and the speech has wound down - something about a new
generation of biotechnology for the

city. Mitsuru leans back into his arms to whisper into his ear.

"Did you find it?"

He nods, adrenaline negating much of her- OHGODSHE'STOUCHINGME, "Y-yeah. Everything's here."

She reaches up to trail her hand down his cheek, giving an excellent performance and generally causing a few people to look away - the desired result, of
course.

"Excellent." She murmurs.

Aaaand causing the blood in his brain to vacate for greener, firmer pastures. At least it wasn't obvious.

Though that would also mean he'd probably be unable to stammer, or speak, much at all.

"Let's go," she murmurs, turning in his arms and opening the door. It's an extremely convincing show - several people roll their eyes at the
'young couple's

enthusiasm as she slides him out the door. As soon as it's closed, however, she extricates herself from his arms. "Come on. We need to leave."

Ah~! Such a passing night, but oh how he'd cherish it so. "R-right! After you."

She crosses her arms under her chest and starts walking for the elevator.

In mere minutes, they're outside in the limosine. Her legs are crossed, and she's extracted the files from his suit, and is now paging through them
curiously.

"So..." He sighs, content to even be breathing her air, "What do you think?"

"This second page is very interesting," she muses.

"You mean about that R-2 thing?'

"'R-2' corresponds to one of the classifications in this file."

She opens it, revealing a bunch of pictures of those horrible Requiem monsters, as well as a large number of, well, numbers and statistics.

"I would assume this means that VitaTech is conducting research into the Requiems."

"I see. I had figured that was the case..."

She flips through the pages before passing them back off to him.

"These'll come in handy, then."

"That said...according to this information...they're only studying them."

She purses her lips. "The Requiem phenomenon is unrelated to VitaTech."

"You've done very well," she says as the limo pulls to a stop. The door opens on his side to reveal the Detective Agency.

He slides the files back into his coat, "Even if this lead is dead, the research they put into classifying these things will come in handy..."

"Thanks, and uh..."

Mitsuru leans over, favoring him with an excellent view, and a tender kiss on the cheek.

"Now get out. And tell Yukari I said hello."

"Thanks for having me along. I-"

He didn't get out.

He fell out.

The door closes, the driver returns to the driver's seat, and the limo pulls off.

Thomas is left lying in the middle of the misty, foggy night.

A perfect end to a perfect night.

The door swings open, with Yukari peeking down at him. "I heard the limo pull up. So how'd it go?"

"It was..."

"Perfect."

Her kiss may have left a mark on his cheek- if that was any indication.

"...so the plan went off without a hint?"

*hitch

"It went better than I could ever have expected."

"Well. You sound cheery. But you should get up - Boss wants a word with you."

"Just... a few seconds longer."

"Better hurry. I bet it's bad news."

"Nng..."

He pushes himself onto his feet, even Headphones couldn't possibly break his spirits- grin wide on his face, "Mitsuru said hello."

"Glad to hear it, Tommygun," Yukari chirps as she closes the door behind them.

Inside, the Skull Man is leaning against the interior office, arms crossed. Minato is sitting predictably at his desk.

"Thomas." Skull Man says after a moment, tilting his head to face him.

Thomas nods back to 'Boss,' "Hey there, Bossman. What's going on?"

"Minato and I returned about ten minutes ago." He says calmly. "Listen to this."

He reaches forward, tuning an old radio.

'4461 - All officers are advised to keep watch for a cyborg guilty of breaking and entering VitaTech laboratories. Male, multiple cybernetic limbs."

"Huh? What is i- Oh."

"That."

Skull Man turns the radio off.

"What happened, exactly?"

"Yeah. That was my bad."

He retrieves the mass of files from his coat...

Skull Man tilts his head to look at them. Minato simply stares.

And sets them onto the desk before Minato, "Mitsuru had me grab all the information I could from their archive."

Skull Man snags them off the desk, flipping them open.

"Looks like VitaTech's been doing their homework."

"..."

"Hn."

"This is worthless," he says after a moment, "Classifications of features that never manifest the same way."

"I'll take another look at it. There might actually be a pattern to these things."

"Do it. Hand it off to Fuuka."

"Not just Classification, but in terms of if there's any relation to their victims. Roger."

"You two can go over it together."

"I also found the files on our suspect."

"Did you?"

"It looks like he's one of them."

"A Requiem? Impossible."

"Yeah," Another set of files is retrieved from his coat.

"Not according to VitaTech's research team."

"Neither Minato nor I detected any disturbances."

"Maybe that's his 'Feature.'"

"Escaping our senses?"

"Possibly." Skull Man considers it.

"Or perhaps they have a means of detecting their identity before the Requiem's emergence."

"That...that would be even more interesting, wouldn't it?"

"Yes, yes it would."

Skull Man taps the side of his helmet.

"If we could determine that, and get a hold of it, it would be an invaluable tool."

"...good work." He says after a moment. "You deserve a rest. Head upstairs and enjoy your sleep."

"Thanks, Boss. I'll just drop this stuff down with Fuuka quick."

"Sleep well."

The door closes behind Thomas as he leaves.

"Well..."

"Good news? Bad news?" Yukari asks.

"Both."

"I'm apparantly being looked for by the police... BUT!"

"...but?"

"We have a lead on the suspect!"

She claps her hands together. "Great!"

"Also, more files to review."

"Alright...want me to take them?"

"I was going to head downstairs and drop them off with Fuuka, a few more minutes of not-sleep won't hurt me."

"If you say so."

"I appreciate the offer, though!"

The files are run down to Fuuka, the papers are handed off, and she gives a smile as he heads back up the stairs.

[ArachnosX]

Requiem 05: Kiss Of The Night



Once again, the bright sunlight streams in through the window. This time, however - luckily for Thomas - no Yukari wakes him up at the crack of dawn,

no knocking on the door, and nothing to spoil his happy dreams (probably Mitsuru-related) until the alarm clock starts going off an hour after the dawn
actually occured.

Probably? After last night?

He could barely constrain himself to sleep, with those memories still rampant in his mind.

Alas, he could only imagine how she felt- the one thing his arms and legs denied him was touch.

And, early in the morning, the ability to nearly destroy your clock as you shove the 'off' button on that damned alarm.

The denied clock explodes when his hand slams down onto it, leaving the room peaceful and silent.

But, it also means he needs to get up, and pull open the box of clocks he had lying around.

He slides off the side of the bed and onto his feet. Another fine day... At least he had a good night's sleep.

Nothing appears to be urgently occuring this morning.

Therefore, he could also manage to relax and slow his pace a bit that day.

Good, good.

He needed a break.

Once he gets himself showered and dressed, he begins to make his way back downstairs into the office...

Yukari looks up as he enters. "Morning, sleepyhead!"

"A whole seven hours - that's pretty impressive."

"Only seven?" He yawns, "Well, that's under par... I usually go twelve."

Yukari starts laughing.

"That is cute!" She giggles. "Absolutely adorable!"

"It is?"

He blinks, "Why's that? I like my sleep."

"Thinking you're going to get twelve hours of sleep in this line of work?"

"Hey now, time's all relative, anyway."

"If you say so."

"So what's on the agenda for today?"

"Nothing, believe it or not."

"Really? Huh."

"Well then, I might be able to get back to sleep..."

"Oh, come on. Where's your sense of adventure?"

"Somewhere lost between Mitsuru's things and my pillow."

"Woah woah woah. What?" Yukari's eyebrows skyrocket, and she leans forward, pencil in her mouth. "Mitsuru's things?"

"Just what happened last night, Tommygun?"

"Heheh. Secret!"

She starts tapping the pencil on the desk. "Spill."

"Or I'll call your mo-om."

"No, no. Last night is forever consigned to my mind as the Best Night Ever So Far.'

"I can't have just anyone know about it."

"Oh, so I'm just anyone, huh?"

"Well, no."

"But I still can't say."

"And why not?" She makes a sound like 'harumph'.

"Because this is more fun."

"Nyaaaah!"

"And you're cuter when you're flustered."

"So I've got no reason to tell you!"

Immediately, her frustration shifts to embarassment as her face goes red. She waves the blush away and turns away. "Hmph."

"Fine. Keep your secrets."

"Heheh... So then!"

He cracks his 'fingers,' more of a reflex than any sort of real source of comfort. They don't snap, only grind against one another with the sound
of chafing metal... "What to do today?"

"Oh, right. Mechanic."

"Sounds good. Did you call and make an appointment?"

"Uh, I've been kind of caught up in the work lately..."

She sighs. "Fiiiine...I'll do it."

She picks up the phone and starts dialing.

"Thanks!"

A spring in his step, he makes for the basement. Time to check on Fuuka!

Fuuka is where she always is - downstairs, poring over the files. Does she ever sleep?

Noticeably, the janitor - what was his name? Junpei? - is sweeping up in the corner, and not being terribly subtle about glancing over his shoulder to check
her out.

He casually pushes the door open, grinning and beaming at the world, "Hello there Fuuka!"

Fuuka looks up from the files. "Oh! T-Tom. Hi!"

"And how are you this morning?"

"Exhausted. I've been going over these files nonstop..."

"Looking for a pattern or even a hint that there's some logic behind the manifestations...it seems like there is, but it's all jumbled-up and
encoded."

"...Encoded, huh? Care to elaborate? I love a good puzzle."

"Oh, well..." Fuuka turns one of the papers towards him. It's in her own neat, tidy handwriting.

"It's alphanumeric but it goes backwards and then inverts itself in a negative-two pattern."

"So there's a definite, or at least an apparant scaling, right? I mean. From this, we know it's not random..."

"Huh? Oh..." She blushes. "I meant the file itself."

"OH!"

"Their explanation of the manifestations."

"Heh! Okay then. I thought you were talking about the manifestations. So they encrypted the files too?"

She turns the other file towards him. It is indeed gibberish.

She nods.

"Well, that's a problem. I'm not a coder, myself..."

"But hey, there doesn't seem like there's anything happening today, you should probably get at least a little bit of sleep."

"I'll have it cracked in no-time," she says after a moment. "But...here...here's the R-2 decryption." She holds it up for him to
look at. "It's fascinating."

He runs his eyes over the text on the page, what do we have here?

"It describes R-2 as being a suicidal type, manifesting in people with suicidal tendancies," she summarizes.

"Consequently, R-2 Requiems tend to be berserkers, caring little for their own safety."

"And then there's a list of anomalies and ones who aren't berserkers and didn't have suicidal tendancies, but are still R-2 based on the
traits that manifested, and then there's a list of R-2s

with none of the common R-2 traits but the suicidal tendancies in the hosts..."

"So that's what we're up against now, huh? What does it say about our current suspect?"

"Well..." She rubs her eyes and yawns.

"...Get some sleep. I'll look this over.

"I'm fine!" She protests.

"Hey Tommygun!" Yukari chirps down the stairs, "Mechanic says he can squeeze you in in half an hour."

He calls up the stairs, "Alright! Thanks a lot, Yukari!"

"And Fuuka? If you're exhausted, then it's alright to sleep. If you get a bit of sleep, you'll be able to review the files with fresh
eyes."

"I'm not tired yet...I'll get some coffee..."

"I'm sure Junpei is strong enough to keep watch over everything here while you're asleep."

Junpei narrows his eyes at Thomas.

"Caffiene is no replacement for sleep. Please, I know you're tired, don't push yourself so hard."

He's been getting those looks a lot lately... Why?

"Let's moooove, Tommygun! If I'm gonna walk you there we need to go now."

"Alright! Alright! I'm coming!"

"I'll do it, Yuka-tan," Junpei volunteers. "Got nothing better to do."

"Oh, fantastic! Thanks, St...er, Junpei!"

"Heh, that works, too!"

"So, we ready to go, Junpei?"

"Yeah.'

"I know where we're headed."

"C'mon."

"Alright. Let's go."

Junpei leads him up and out of the detective agency, down the street. About a block down, he turns around, walking backwards.

"So what's up with you, anyway? You come in here and you save the day and everybody just totally loves you."

"What's the deal?"

He chuckles, walking at a very easy pace, "With me? I guess I'm just what you'd call 'likeable.'"

"Yeah, well..." He makes a gesture with two fingers from his eyes at Thomas. "I'm watchin' you."

"That's cool, man, but I don't swing that way."

"Wha...are you callin' me gay?!" Junpei starts.

"I dunno. You're the one who said you'd be watching me.

"'cause I don't trust you, idiot!"

He turns back around, sliding his hands back behind his head. "Besides. It's not like you're from this town. You don't know what it's
really like."

"Well..."

"I guess that's true."

"But back there, you did help me out quite a lot."

"...yeah, you did a pretty good job helping me kill that thing," Junpei agrees.

"Heh, yeah. I guess I did."

Well. It's sort of an agreement.

That brightens him up.

"So Junpei, you've got a thing for one of the girls, don't you?"

"And you've got a thing for all of 'em, what's your point?"

"Huh? What makes you think that?"

"Pffft...I listen."

"Oh, well... I dunno. My mom just raised me to be good to women, I guess."

"I mean, I only generally have one woman in my dreams at any given length of time."

"...Right now, that's... Heh."

"Whatever," Junpei says dismissively, folding his hands back into his pockets. "Listen - just keep your hands off Fuuka, okay? And...be careful
around Yukari. She's had it rough."

"Fuuka's hard on herself. And I can tell, with Yukari."

"...What do you think of Mitsuru?"

"I think good freakin' luck." He snorts.

"She's cooler than ice cream at the North Pole."

"Well, seems to me she likes the obedient types, if you catch my drift."

"Maybe. Maybe not." He shrugs. "I've known 'em a long time, and Mitsuru's never been the type to let herself have a minute of
weakness."

"Hmm... Maybe, but she's still smoking hot."

Junpei gives a bark of a laugh at that as they round the corner.

"She had her eye on Akihiko for a while in high school, but they never got together - Akihiko's gay as a two-pound bill and he and Shinji..."

"He and Shinji what?" Shinji asks as he closes the door he was exiting.

"Are everywhere at once?"

Junpei gives a sharp yelp.

"Hmph." Shinji shakes his head. "Just unlucky coincidence. Now then...what are Akihiko and I doing?"

Junpei swallows. "Nothin', man."

"No no. I'm curious now."

"Heh, don't worry about it, Shinji. So how's today going for you?"

"Better than usual," he agrees, sliding into formation behind Junpei. "Where are we going?"

"To a mechanic's, I'm going to get my gear checked out."

He's apparantly relegated to being behind Shinji. Akihiko would kill him.

Whether by cosmic coincidence or simple understanding of the laws of amusement, Shinji relegates himself to Tom's side. Junpei walks a bit quicker now.

"I heard they were looking for you." Shinji notes.

"You mean the police, right?" He sighs, a metal hand rubbing idly at the base of his skull, "Yeah. I was following up on information Mitsuru
gave me and got caught by a patrol she didn't tell me about."

"Mitsuru's probably beating herself up over it," Shinji notes idly, a Xanatos cell phone sliding into his palm. He holds it up to the light,
checking something. "This mechanic?"

Xanatos cell phone? "Huh? I'm not sure. Why?"

"Is he crazy, or something?"

"Does his son streetrace?"

"No, he's just...eh, nevermind. You'll see for yourself."

"Right... Nice phone, by the way."

"Thanks."

"Mp3s, too." Whatever he was checking, he slides it back into his pocket. "Anyway."

"So this mechanic's got something odd about him?"

"You'll see."

"I take it you're having a shitty run with those arms, huh." Shinji notes.

"Shitty run? Nah, they serve me well."

"Shame I can't feel anything through them, though."

"I break alarm clocks, phones, can't feel anything when my hand's on Mitsuru's ass..."

"Woah woah woah." Junpei turns around mid-walk. "What?"

"Yeah. The place I grabbed that intel from? I got in as her date for a ball."

"..."

"...dude."

"Best night ever."

Shinji just chuckles as they turn another corner. "Here we are."

Thomas looks up at the building. A sign, maybe?

The sign reads 'Bonne Family Mechanics.'

Shinji chuckles.

"Good luck."

"...Oh. Thanks."

"...Why do I need luck again?"

"Heh, heh, heh."

"I have a bad feeling about this..."

He knocks at the door to the garage, "Bonne Family, huh..."

The door swings open to reveal a brown-haired woman in a pink shirt with black coveralls. She looks over Thomas for a moment. "You the cyborg?"

"The Cyborg I am," he says, rolling up his sleeves to reveal the cybernetic components underneath.

"ROLL!" the woman shouts in, "Tell Rock the borgs here!"

"Kay!" A cheery girl's voice replies.

"So... The name's Thomas. And what might yours be?"

"Tron." She blows a bubble from the gum she's apparently been chewing. "Tron Bonne. I'm the owner."

"Well, it's nice to meet you."

"Likewise. Get in."

"We're on a tight schedule. SERVIES!" She shouts inside, "I need units one through four, and where the hell is-"

"Right here." A brown-haired guy in a blue shirt and pants replies, "Sorry about that, Tron."

Servebot 42, then. He moves inside, glancing about at the workshop.

The workshop is indeed filled with about fourty-one robots running all over the place, little lego-like drones taking care of various menial tracks. The guy -
probably Rock - rolls up Tom's sleeve.

"What have you been doing with these things?"

Naturally, he's unable to feel it, "That's... Complicated... I work for the Twilight Investigators, if that clears anything up."

"What'd you punch, a wall?"

"Or a car?"

His eyes follow one of the servebots around the floor, "A living one, yeah. What are those little guys?"

"Servbots," Rock notes, "Tron made 'em for the repair work."

One of the little guys bumps into Tom's leg and immediately starts pulling it apart. A swat with a newspaper from Tron, and it waddles off.

"...there are a few problems," he admits.

He shifts his weight to his 'good' leg as he feels himself slip, "Uhh... They seem really eager."

Tron kneels to fix it as the cheery young girl from earlier wanders over, looking over Tom after a moment and giving a whistle. "Cute!" She admires.

A slight dash of crimson colors his face, but only slightly, "Thanks. You're not so bad yourself."

She flashes a grin at him as she kneels to check his other leg.

"These are pretty cheap-looking. Are they factory models?"

"Actually, I don't know."

"You...don't know?"

Tron raises an eyebrow at that.

"How could you not know?"

"Tell you the truth, I was knocked out once upon a time, and came to with a set of mechanical limbs.

"So... I don't know."

"...hu~uh."

Roll drums her fingers on the knee.

They're pretty sturdy, though, for 'Cheap-Looking' parts...

"Well, we can't let you walk out of here with these. Tell you what - you leave these with us, and we'll do this right and custom-build you some
new limbs."

"Uhm... I'll be a torso with stumps for a while, then?"

Rock shakes his head. "You two can't resist this, huh?"

"How long has it been since we had another cybor-" Roll looks up at him. "No way! We have loaner parts."

"They're really basic but they'll let you get around and manipulate."

"Oh. So... Uh..."

"Will they be done by tonight? Another uh- wall might need punching again."

"Uh." Roll looks up at Tron.

"It'll take a day on the outside. But the loaners are fine - they're sturdy."

Tron examines his arm. "Probably sturdier than these pieces of junk."

"Tron," Rock hisses. "Customer, remember?"

"Right, right. Sorry. Pieces of expensive junk."

Rock just sighs.

"Hey now..."

"These pieces of junk can punch through quite a bit, you know."

"Ignore her," Rock replies, "They're obviously not junk."

"She doesn't like factory models."

"Well, I'm not even sure what they are."

"I mean, they MIGHT be factory models, but then, I'm not the expert."

"All the more reason for us to rip 'em out and replace 'em with better models." Tron answers.

"Well..."

"How are we sure that they aren't just looking like Factory Models?"

"Take your shirt off," Tron says.

"Ooooh."

"Roll!"

"Sorry."

"First time I've been asked that here.

"Wish it were under different circumstances."

"I need to see the connectors." Tron says with a sigh.

He'd slide the coat off his shoulders, then the reinforced undershirt from his torso, "I gotcha, just kidding."

Roll stands up and gives another whistle, a hand on her hip.

Well, at least the joints didn't seem standard. They appeared to be comprised of scarce, if any wiring at all- rather, the joint itself was a revolving
ball within a pair of sockets: one in his shoulder, the other at his arm.

It became obvious that the cybernetics didn't stop at the joint, but were attatched by plates to his torso as well.

Curiously, they were not connected by cable or by gear to the arm and body, but hovered, it seemed, about a central point while the two pieces moved
independently about the joint. Despite the apparant looseness of the link, the arm was quite firmly attatched to the joint, as if by magnetism. The bicep and
forecep were more organic than one would imagine- armor plating resembling flesh over muscles-

was set atop a mass of wiring that, upon closer inspection, would in fact be a set of countless pistons and pulleys, effectively acting as a very dense set of
'muscles.' The trend of designed continued toward the wrist and-

-out toward the fingers. If she would put a finger to the 'pistons,' she'd also notice that they were covered by a nearly transparent, but dark
mesh of reinforcement.

It looked as if one could inspect the inner workings by removing one of the armor plates, though.

Tron gives a bit of a frown as she examines the interface. "Interesting." She says, examining it carefully. "The interface is really..."

"Huh?" He says with a slight tilt of the head, "What's up?"

"...unique." She admits.

Roll grins. "She can't bring herself to call it fascinating."

"Shut up!" Tron retaliates, waving a hand at Roll. "I'm trying to analyze it."

"Well, I don't mind if she wants to take a closer look, or anything. I mean, unless I get a call back to the office, I'm pretty free today."

"It really comes down to, 'do you want a new set of limbs'?" Tron notes. "These are pretty...I mean..."

"You can't feel anything, can you?"

"Nope," he replies, "Not at all."

"But right now, that may be more help than a hinderance."

"I think I can fix that, if you give me a few weeks...but this is...it's primitive, but it's unusual at the same time."

"One misaligned piston and it's toast."

"So it's like a heart? How are they right now, though?"

"Looks like it's working," Tron replies.

"You mean you've really never actually looked at it?" Roll asks.

"Is there anything we can do to like... Make sure it DOESN'T blow up on me?"

"No, not really... I mean, I have, but I haven't ever really taken a long, hard look at them, or compared them to anything else."

"Not short of replacing it, no."

"It's delicate crude mechanics."

"Don't get me wrong, it's very...unique...crude mechanics...but it's just a piston system, it looks like."

"Like I said, she can't say 'interesting'," Roll chirps.

"Heh, it's fine. Even if she doesn't say it, we can tell, right?"

Rock, meanwhile, is already peeling off his shirt, revealing that he, too, has cyborg arms - however, his are quite convincingly disguised with synthetic skin,
except for the bulging arm joints.

Tron glances over at him. "Something wrong?"

"Just going to change my equipment real quick, get a better look at his arms."

"No need. I can already tell that this is a piston-system."

"I wanted to see if I could find anything wrong with it."

"Rock, if anything goes wrong with these things, they're just going to stop working."

"As long as it's working, it's okay."

"Heh, they've got plenty of power, I'm just worried that I might have damaged the shells at all..."

"Doesn't look like it."

Even then, there could possibly be something... more about the arms, beneath the pistons, "Well, alrighty then. Looks like they're good for another
while, then."

"I have a few ideas on improving on this model...but fortunately you don't need the extent of tuning that most cyborgs do. Probably because of this
interface." She frowns at it. "Honestly...who uses magnetics?"

"Just odd."

"Huh? Don't magnets usually mess with computers?"

"That's why it's odd and not widely-used," she snarks back, fingering the joint idly.

Roll grins. "She's just cranky 'cause she hasn't had her coffee."

"So uh. If they don't have computers..."

"How are they moving?"

"Oh. Yeah. I get like that too- at night."

"Hence, unique," Tron replies almost acidly - well, it would be, if the tone was a little colder, "I'm not sure."

"I'd have to disassemble your shoulder and arm to see how it's moving, and while I know I could put them back together again, it'd probably be
intensely painful for you."

"...Uh. I can't feel anything in these, remember?"

"I assume the shoulder would hurt like hell, but you can do whatever you want to the arms as long as you put them back together again later.

"...My legs, too."

"Intensely painful for you," Tron notes, "Because your shoulder would be open."

"Customer," Rock reminds her sharply, passing off a mug of coffee to her.

"Oh, well."

"Yeah. That would kind of suck..."

"Mmmm," she replies.

"Soooo..."

"Well. As far as I can tell, there's no actual tactile interface in your arms...and with a magnetic link, no way to install a nervous uplink..."

Roll taps his shoulder. "Unless, of course, you hand-built a nervous system for these things."

"...thank you for cutting me off."

"I was just trying to help." The younger girl sniffs.

"...anyhow...I can't do that unless I take your whole arm apart."

"...Ooch."

"And I can't give you a loaner because we have nothing that would fit with this interface."

"Well... It probably wouldn't be the first time. Just gotta hit me me over the head first."

Rock unplugs his hand, setting it on the table and picking up a scanner-like object before plugging it into his hand.

"I'm going to take an internal shot of them with this," he says, "So we can take a look at what's going on in there."

"Ookay, then."

"As long as it won't give me cancer, or anything."

"It's not an X-Ray." He replies. "X-Rays wouldn't work on lead-based polymers."

"And believe it or not, a lot of factory borgs have lead in their bodies."

Tron rolls her eyes. "Cheap crap."

"Anyhow...this is a sonar imaging device."

"Oh. Huh."

"Ah, so just to get a look at what the insides are like."

"Gotcha."

He holds up his arm to the arm, slowly scanning over it. Rock repeats the process with each arm and each leg, then nods as he unplugs the sonar device and
returns his original hand. "That'll do it."

"Who made those? These two?"

"Your cybernetics, I mean."

"Grandpa," Roll replies.

"Grandpa?"

She wiggles her fingers. "Mine too, though mine are later than Rock's."

"You can't even tell, right?"

"Grandpa Baryl," Rock finally answers, moving his fingers in a systems-check.

"Really? Huh... Yeah, I can't tell they're even mechanical."

"I can feel and everything through them, too." Roll says cheerily. "They're practically real."

"Wow... Your grandfather must be an amazing mechanic."

"Their grandfather was an absolute genius. Roll got most of it..." Tron comments. "...not that Rock did."

"Hey!"

"Yeah. Even I can appreciate how much work he put into those parts."

"This might by prying, so don't feel obliged to answer, but what happened to require replacement anyway?"

"Rock's were voluntary to better fit his old profession," Roll answers.

"And Roll's were...caused by an accident."

"...I see. You don't have to go any further than that, if you don't want to."

"Nah, it's okay." Roll grins up at him as she stands, dusting herself off.

"Well, if you say so."

"Rock and I were exploring some ruins, and my arm got caught in a cave-in."

"It was totally crushed."

"I see. So your grandfather made a replacement... You two did a lot of spelunking?"

She nods.

"I was a professional treasure hunter back when that was still profitable," Rock adds.

"Oh, I see. So what did Tron do before you guys opened this shop?"

"...privateering."

She gives a bit of a grin. "Those were the days."

"...Uh. You guys don't look too old. How long ago was this?"

"Oh...'bout...five, six years ago?"

"...-Huh.-"

"...You guys must have been pretty young back then."

"We were just kids." Tron agrees.

"Anyway, we have a big workload coming in soon."

"Oh? Well, if you guys need me out of here..."

"We'll call you if we find anything out."

"I might call you before that," Roll teases.

He chuckles, pulling his clothes back on, "Well, I guess I have something else to look forward to today, don't I?"

Roll laughs.

He adjusts his coat one last time, before pulling back towards the door, "Thanks folks! I hope to hear from you guys soon!"

Junpei and Shinji are waiting outside. Shinji's lit up a cig.

Again, he makes to crack his knucles. Naught but the sound of grinding metal is produced, "Well, looks like I'm alright for now."

"Good for you." Junpei replies. "Can we go now?"

"So I still want to know," Shinji says as they start walking, "What you think Aki and I are doing."

Junpei coughs. "Ah..."

"Uhh... Well, that's not TOO important, right?"

"Anyway, if we've got nothing to do, I was going to head out and investigate the suspect's whereabouts while it's reasonably safe."

"Not too. Call me curious.

"

"Hn. Which one?"

"Give me his name. I'll go ask around some friends of mine, see if they heard anything. Enjoy your day off - you won't get many."

"Huh? Oh, the guard that- Oh! Well, thanks for that, Shinji."

"His name was... O'Hara. Michael O'Hara.

"Got it." Shinji diverts off from the group into an alley.

Junpei shakes his head. "The world's only openly gay bandit," he mutters.

Once he's out of earshot, Thomas starts again... "Yeah, but at least his heart's in the right place."

"He quit after all the stuff happened with Yukari." Junpei frowns.

"It all comes back to that, heh. Ah, but what am I talking to you about this for, outsider?"

"It's like I said, I guess I'm just a likeable person."

"Doesn't matter...it's not my place to talk about it."

"If Yukari wants you to know, she'll tell you."

"Yeah. I understand."

"I'm just the new employee, it's not my business to pry into."

"You got it." He pushes the door of the detective agency open. "Hey, Yuka-tan, we're back."

"Hey guys! We're home!"

"Welcome back."

"Anything interesting happen while we were out?"

"Mmmm...nope! Not so far."

"Well, no news is usually good news."

"Maybe you'll get to sleep in after all, Tommygun."

"Heh, maybe!"

"Provided that the quiet keeps up."

Ring, ring. Ring, ring. Ring, ring. Ring, ring. Ring, ring.

Whose phone, though?

Yukari picks up her phone, then shakes her head and sets it down, pointing at Tom.

He slides his cell out of his coat, and slips it open, and puts the reciever to his ear, "Hello?"

"The Skull Man still walks the Tower of Oblivion, and the hunger grows each day in us all. The Festival draws near - will you sink or swim?"

Click.

Dialtoooooooooooooooooone.

He pulls the phone away from his ear and stares at it for a moment...

"I need someone to write something down for me."

"Hm?"

" 'The Skull Man still walks the Tower of Oblivion, and the hunger grows each day in us all. The Festival draws near - will you sink or swim?'
"

Yukari stares at him for a moment before nodding and writing it down.

Junpei just kinda edges away.

"...Why did it mention Boss but not..."

"...Damn. I should have thought of that sooner," He fingered the lens in his pocket, "If I can ever catch them in the morning..."

"Hello?" Yukari picks up her phone after a moment.

"Oh! Hi!"

"That's great news!"

"Huh? What's up?"

She sets the phone down gently. "So Phoenix is on his way over with the confirmations!" She chirps at Junpei. "Official badges and operating
permits and everything!"

"...Pho-ohno."

"If that's the Phoenix I think you're talking about... Is he a lawyer?"

"...Is his last name 'Wright?'"

"Yeah!"

"You've heard of him?"

"...I think part of me died inside."

"Why? He's never failed us!"

"Yeah... He's... Famous, I guess you could say, among crimenologists."

"Yeah... But he's totally..."

"...Incompetent! I mean, the guy only ever really wins because he's lucky! I hear he's never even picked up a law book."

"It's like... Like..."

"I don't know, like he's blessed, or something."

"All the better for him to be on our side, huh?"

"We hired him after an incident that nearly cost him his badge."

"I guess, but..."

"Oh, I heard about that."

"We hired him on retainer."

"He got to keep his attorney's badge and we got a top-notch defense attorney!"

"'Top-notch' huh..."

"Top-Notch Luck, maybe."

"Well...we hired you because you had a good record..."

"It's not like some of that wasn't luck, I'm sure."

"I guess that's true, but..."

"What difference does it make if it's luck or skill?"

"Well, I guess he does get results."

"Bingo!"

"So relax!"

"Hey, if you're that worried go crash."

"You don't even have to meet him."

"It's more that he tends to give us all at the crimenology departments somewhat of a collective hangover."

"No, no, it's fine."

"I need to catch the Boss and Minato if they get home early.

"Boss isn't in, and...erm..." She looks down. "Minato is asleep."

"...Oh."

"Neither of them gets in until nightfall."

"Well, I can catch him, potentially."

"Yeah. I noticed, but in this case, I need to find them before then."

"I... Need to make sure they're alright."

"Minato's upstairs."

"Nobody has any idea where Boss goes when he's not in."

"Right. I'll be back in a sec."

"Well. Provided he doesn't kill me, or something."

"He got a key to his room?"

Reluctantly, Yukari hands it over.

He carefully recieves them in his mechanical hands, "Right. Thanks Yukari."

"I'll be back soon, hopefully."

Upstairs, the door to Minato's room is easily opened. Minato himself is...

...asleep. Just as stated.

Never in the dark... Did he have a reasonably dim light?

The room itself is pretty shabby, in a fair state of disrepair.

Most interestingly, though, is what's passed out against the wall.

Was it... WHAT was it?

That is, the black coat, skull mask, and general form of the Boss.

However, his eyes are black instead of the gleaming red, and there's no visible face.

He blinks... What... in the world?

Instead of disturbing the form, he carefully pulls the lens from his pocket, and takes a glance at Minato's body.

There's no visible Requiem taint in the room.

Minato and the Skull Man appear to simply be sleeping.

However, it's impossible to tell if anyone is actually in the suit at the moment.

He sighs and slides the lens back into his pocket... Before taking a quick snapshot of the 'Boss-like figure' in the corner of the room. With his
camera, of course.

His cameraphone.

Nothing happens.

He humms, then decides to try a bit of an... Experiment.

By placing the lens over the aperture of his cameraphone and taking a second snapshot of the armor.

There's no taint visible, on either the picture, nor the lens.

The whole room is clean.

He nods at last, exiting the room as quietly as he could possibly manage.

A sigh escapes his lungs as he descends back into the lobby, "He's safe, for now."

"That's good." Yukari nods.

Though...

He flips his phone open, selects the armor's picture on his interface and hands the piece of tech over to Yuka-tan, "What do you make of this?"

Yukari's eyebrows skyrocket after a moment. "...Boss sleeps?"

"That shouldn't shock me nearly as much as it does."

"I don't think so. It doesn't look like he's even IN that thing."

She narrows her eyes, holding it up and looking closer.

"Well..." She concedes. "It's not like this is the weirdest thing about Boss."

"I mean, he MIGHT be, but I didn't want to go any further to take another look. If he's not in that suit, then he really doesn't sleep- and
the reason we can't ever find him is that he doesn't act as Boss during the day."

Yukari nods.

After a moment, a huge grin spreads over her face.

"Oooh...or maybe Boss is a ghost seeking vengeance and can only come out at night!"

She wiggles her fingers at him. "Spooooooky."

"Yeah, and maybe Minato dances to disco in his spare time."

"..."

"All I'm saying is that it's possible!"

"But now you're thinking about him with a fro and a bad suit, point-dancing."

He begins to sing, "Dance, Boogie Wonderlaa-and."

"...I'd rather not think about him at all."

"Oh..."

"Sorry."

"'sokay. But come on! The ghost theory totally holds water."

"He doesn't sleep, he's not in his armor during the day, he knows where trouble is..."

"Yeah, I guess. But he might ALSO be..."

"You know... A woman."

"You're just making fun of me now, aren't you?" She pouts.

"Or, hell, he could be a bunch of symbiotic organisms. I don't know what Boss is... Heh, but it's more fun to see you flustered."

"Well, I know a little secret." She glances over at Junpei, who is cleaning the wall by now, and gestures for him to move closer to whisper it.

"About Mitsuru~."

He complies immediately, sliding over with the celerity of a virgin's first sexual experience.

She leans up and plants a deep-ish kiss on his lips, holding it for a moment before pushing him away, a grin on her face. "And now you don't know if
that means anything at all."

"Or if I even know any secrets about her." She pulls down her eyelid. "Nyaaaah!"

He blinks...

"Don't mess with the Yuka-tan."

Tilts his head, blinks again... "Wha...?"

Obviously, he's probably left the building.

"...Junpei, I think I fried his brain."

"Fried like... Bacon."

"Apparently, my lips are powerful." She grins at Junpei.

He shakes the mess of thoughts out of his head, "Graaaah..."

"Heheh! Like I said, don't mess with me!"

"I dunno."

"It wasn't bad at all, actually."

"Of course it wasn't bad."

"Maybe I'll just have to push you a bit more," He smirks, chuckling to himself.

"Don't expect me to do something like that again."

"Besides, anybody with eyes in their head can tell you've got it bad for Mitsuru."

"Damn. There goes MY plan."

"I didn't know that until he told me," Junpei grumbles.

"Well, yeah, Stupei."

"Yeah, well..." He rubs again at the base of his skull.

"Am I wrong?"

"Well, no."

"So why would you want another kiss from me?"

She makes a face. "What you want is a kiss like that from Mitsuru."

"...Feh. Stop calling my bluffs."

"The all-seeing eye of Yukari is unstoppable!" She wiggles her fingers at him again.

"Besides, you're an awful kisser. I don't know why anyone would want to do that with you."

"That's usually what happens when one's brain breaks."

"Ffft."

She kicks back and picks up the phone. "Hello?"

"Ah? Okay, I'll tell him." She lowers the phone. "Mitsuru wants you to meet her for dinner tonight to discuss the files you got."

Click. Switch-on! "Uh, oh, s-she does? Well, I should probably get my suit ready..."

"Amazing how fast you recovered from that 'brain-breaking' kiss...Hey, Mitsuru, you won't believe what just happened..." She gives a sly
grin at Thomas.

He twitches at that...And storms back upstairs.

She sets the phone down and calls up, "She hung up, you know!"

[ArachnosX]

Requiem 06: Dreams Are Forever

Last night's kiss with Yukari (and subsequent teasing) are still fresh in Tom's mind as he prepares for his dinner with Mitsuru.

Yukari is downstairs, chatting amiably with Fuuka.

Boss and Minato left as soon as the night fell.

Thomas is, again, in his suit: freshly washed, dried, and ironed. He saunters down the stairs, straightening his tie as he draws toward the ground floor,
"Hey guys."

"Evening Tom."

"How am I on time?"

"Uh..." Yukari looks up at the clock. "Should be okay. Why? Planning to get your nails done, too?"

"Fssh. Don't have any and not minding one bit," that sound, grinding metal is heard again as he mocks cracking his knuckles.

"Anyway...she'll be here soon. She called ahead." Yukari perks up a bit. "And we'll have the place to ourselves! Right, Fuuka?"

"You'll have it to yourselves, huh?" He chuckles, hands sliding into his pockets, "Well, as long as I get to hear every little detail
later."

"Yeah right. Go on, get out of here! You should be waiting outside, like a gentleman."

"Alright, alright. Don't let me stop you two..." A snicker, he moves to the door, stopping at its foot, "...If anything strange happens,
call me right away, alright?"

"We'll be fine."

"Well, alright..."

He pulls open the door, stepping out into the night, "Have a good time, ladies!"

After a few minutes, the limo pulls up. Mitsuru isn't inside.

"Miss Mitsuru is waiting at the restauraunt." The driver confirms.

Not at her house? Damn. He nods and slides into the back of the Limo, "Thanks."

The limo heads for a rather expensive restauraunt. It takes a bit to arrive - the city's a fair bit bigger than one might expect - but finally, the driver
gets out, opening the door for Tom.

Tom steps out of the limo, straightening the wrinkles that managed to distort his coat, "Thanks again."

"My pleasure, sir."

So, this was the place? His eyes look for the sign as he approaches the door.

There's a doorman standing outside. He welcomes Tomas with a friendly nod and opens the door.

Mitsuru is sitting inside, legs crossed, the same black dress from before. She looks up at Thomas's entry. "That took longer than I expected it
to.'

"There was a bit of traffic on the way," he says, just managing to keep himself from stammering at the sight of her, "Sorry I'm a bit
late."

"If it wasn't illegal, I would have thrown cars out of the way."

She stands up as the waitress comes over. "Are you ready for your table now?"

"We are," she confirms.

He nods, "After you, Mitsuru." Really? He just wanted to be able to look at that ass.

Mitsuru starts walking, those hips saying left and right just as perfectly as the prior day. She settles down at the table and lifts a menu in one seamless
motion.

He figured he could probably count time with those gyrations. His descent is slightly less graceful- mostly because he had to be very careful to avoid sitting
too suddenly, lest the chair shatter under pressure.

At least it seems sturdy... He, too, grabs a menu for review.

"You look nice," Mitsuru says after a moment, perusing the menu and probably not really actually looking at Tom at all.

"I try my best," Tom put on his best 'chill' face. The one that said he already knew... Despite the fact that his insides were squirming at
her compliment, "I'm just glad my suit was in one piece."

She glances up, but not at him; she's looking around at the mostly-empty restauraunt, lowering her voice. "I apologize for inconveniencing you,"
she says after a moment, "But I can't eat at home at the moment, and this is the best way for us to meet without it looking..." She purses her
lips. "Suspicious."

"I guess my antics at the office didn't help any," he says, suddenly feeling just a bit sheepish. A roll of the shoulders- nervous twitch,
"I'm sorry about that. I didn't mean to cause such a ruckus."

"It's not your fault," she replies smoothly, "The fact that the files disappearing was covered up is proof that they suspect me, not
you."

"I see..." The cyborg's fingers steeple together, he releases a breath- mourneful, perhaps? Or regretful? "Either way, I've caused you
trouble. I'm sorry."

"But those files are what were needed, right?"

"You didn't cause me any trouble. Blame the Requiems if you want to blame something." She folds her menu up. "That's right."

"What did you want to talk about? Regarding the documents..." Among other things.

"Hold on." She flags down a waiter. "I'll have a steak. Well done." The waiter seems a tad flabbergasted - that he was on his way to
another table is plainly obvious.

Mitsuru, frankly, doesn't seem to care. "A salad and a bottle of something from mid-1900 would be helpful as well."

"Y...yes ma'am. And for you, sir?"

"I'll take one, too. Medium rare," He liked his bloody, yes indeed, "And a greek salad. As for drink, water will be fine. Preferably in
something sturdier than glass, I'm a bit clumsy." He twitches his mechanical fingers as if to push that point home.

The man takes a glance at the fingers, then gives a nod. "Right away, sir, ma'am." And with that, he scurries off, leaving his original
table...well, to suffer, because they didn't have anyone as demanding as Mitsuru.

"We should take care of the food before we begin conversation that could be overheard," Mitsuru notes.

Domineering personalities tend to be great for ordering about weak willed public servants. "I agree. Talking about such sensitive information in a place
like this might not end well for either of us."

"So eliminating a bothersome waiter is probably a good idea."

"Only if people are paying attention," she replies coolly, "Restauraunts have always been a place for information to be exchanged."

"The case of rival spies, for example, exchanging mutually beneficial information over a bottle of wine, several loaves of bread, and a flight of geese,
then?"

Tom thinks back to all those movies, and books... There were always ducks, weren't there?"

"Are we rival spies, then?" She inquires, a hint of amusement playing across her voice.

"Perhaps, but in those old stories, neither is usually aware of the other's intent until it can no longer be helped," Score. Amusement was better
by at least sixteen magnitudes than cold indifference.

"So who knows? We might be, we might not be. It all depends on what our motivations are."

"To get rid of them." She replies calmly, flicking her eyes over towards the kitchen. "That's all that matters to me."

"For me? Well, let's just say that if eliminating them didn't make me feel warm and fuzzy every night, I wouldn't be doing this."

"...And maybe I'm just a bit too curious for my own good."

"Mmm." She non-answers, as she does so often; those perfect lips press together, either in thought or from habit.

Fingers tap idly against metal knuckles to pass time. If he knows anything about women like Mitsuru, it's that guys who proved too talkative often prove an
annoyance...

"...how was it?" She asks after a very long moment.

"Hm?"

"Your kiss with Yukari."

A light flush of blood rushes to his cheeks. Was she jealous? No, couldn't be... "It wasn't bad, though I can't really say for sure- it
wasn't for too long."

"I see." There's no jealousy in her tone - it's more like odd consideration for something she's never particularly thought of before. And
then the waiter sets their food down before them and hurries off to avoid more conversation with the

terrifying devil-woman. Mitsuru picks up her knife and fork delicately, ascertaining that the area is clear. "...tell me about the files." She says
immediately, whatever kiss-related thoughts may have been running through her head

absolved in a heartbeat now that the chance is open.

Tom's knife released a thin broth of juices from inside the slab of beef. Perfect, as he expected from such a high-class restaurant. A switch activated in
his mind, recalling from the depths of his long-term memory information regarding the files in question, "Well, the guard's file only confirmed much
of what we know.

He's been a bit erratic as of late, and it seems the company is aware that he's a Requiem. But the other folder was much more interesting. It seems
someone's been doing research into the Requiems. They've even got a classification system going."

"Yukari's working on cracking it, now. I just hope she doesn't overwork herself... We're also a bit worried. They've obviously spent a lot
of time doing work into researching these things, and it seems that Boss and Headphones might have begun to find trouble in detecting some of the beasts. We
think a more advanced detection device might be in development somewhere in the company, but aren't yet certain."

He slides a piece of the meat into his mouth, being sure to swallow before continuing, "Though, I'm not sure how we'll be able to confirm that if
security's been alerted."

"I don't want to put you in the way of any unecessary harm, to your body, or your reputation."

"I s-"

Mitsuru's voice freezes. In fact, everything freezes.

Freezes, and then goes black.

It's a most unique experience, sensory deprivation; not like Tom doesn't experience a mild form of it

every day, but this is the first time he's been completely deprived of everything. And then, slowly, he's aware of a voice, a murmur, really, in his
ear - 'tonight'.

"-ee," Mitsuru finishes.

Tom manages to make out a 'Wha-', turning to the source of the sound...

"...Oh, this can't be good."

"...are you alright?" She asks.

"Either I'm going insane, or something really nasty is going to go down tonight."

"Sorry. There've been... voices as of late. On my cell phone, usually. This is the first time it's actually come to my ear, though."

"..." Mitsuru swallows the piece of steak and nods. "I understand."

Well, at least she doesn't seem to see Tom as a crazy man.

His rate of consumption only hastens with the odd message, but not to the point of rudeness...

"Will you be alright, or do you need a ride?"

"I'm not sure..."

"Maybe... To where the guard might be this time of night. People might be at risk."

"If there's something on the loose, those two will take care of it. I'm be more worried about the girls at the agency itself." She rubs her
arm, the first display of actually human emotion she's shown in ages. Clearly she's pretty close to Yukari and Fuuka.

Images of that first night, of the girls in bandages and bloodied by combat, bones broken flood back into his mind, sending a chill through his spine and into
phantom limbs, "I'm sorry. My curiousity got the better of me. You're right, they need the most help, right now..."

She shakes her head, finishing off her steak - when the hell did she do that?! - and leaning forward. The amount of cleavage that dress shows should be
illegal...or not, goddammit. "Do you believe this voice?" She asks after a moment.

If it was illegal, that legislator should be shot, "It hasn't steered me wrong yet..." He says, just moments before finishing off the rest of his
steak... And again, "It... lead me to them, the first time."

"...will you be alright alone?"

"If I didn't know you could handle yourself, I'd say no."

"Mitsuru, be careful."

She nods and stands, leaving the money (and a generous tip) on the table. "You too." She says after a moment. "Don't let anything happen to
them."

"Of course. Knowing that they were hurt would wound me more than any gash," He, too, stands, metal legs pushing the chair away as they again bore his
full weight... "You can count on me."

"I'm glad to hear it," she says, and means it. With that, she makes her way out.

He'd follow her... After all, he probably needed a ride.

She obliges, and as it nears midnight, he's home at the Detective Agency.

Yukari looks up from her desk-work with a wave. "Almost-morning!" She chirps.

Tom is significantly more somber, still bothered by the message, "Hey Yukari... What's up?"

"Fuuka just went to bed. She said she almost has the code cracked."

"So how was the date? Anything steamy happen?"

"Heh, you wish..."

"Is Junpei around here anywhere?"

"He's cleaning up." She makes a face. "He threw up in the bathroom."

"Food poisoning!" She quickly amends. "He tried one of Fuuka's lunchboxes."

"Nothing Requiem-related."

"I got a message again today..."

"It said 'Tonight...'

"You're sure nothing weird's been happening?"

"What about Akihiko and Shinji?"

"Quiet as a churchmouse," She replies, looking over at the clock.

"Are you able to send them any messages?"

"I'll probably have to send a text down to the engineers, too... I hope Mitsuru's alright," Don't pop a vein, Tom...

But he's talking to nothing. Yukari's gone, the agency's gone...everything's gone. Tom is standing in nothingness; absolute, utter blackness as
far as the eye can see.

He blinks, and blinks again... What- where was he?

"Hi there." A voice says from behind him.

The sound of metal against nothingness- something like one hand clapping, as Tom turns toward the voice, "Huh?"

It's a young man, maybe eighteen, nineteen at the most, with pale skin, black hair, and a really, truly outrageously horrible yellow scarf wrapped around
his neck. He's holding a book in one hand, and a pen in the other.

Tom's eyes take a moment to focus onto this figure, fixating first on the face, then the scarf, then the face again, and decide, with long agony, that
looking at a corpse was better than that thing, "Hello?"

"Hi." The young man repeats, looking down at his book, then looking up at Tom again. "It's nice to meet you, Mister Magnusson. Did I say
that right?" He frowns.

"Uhm, yes you did..." Well, this is indeed certainly odd... What was that book? "Who are you?"

"I'm a writer," he says after a moment, a smile blooming on his face.

A chuckle winds its way from the cyborg's throat, "We're all writers, in a way. So, what do I call you, Author?"

"Morpheus. I write peoples' dreams for them." He scratches something down in his book.

"It's not my name, but I like it enough to keep it."

"Ah, a nom de plume? So this is a dream?"

"...Are you the one who keeps sending me those messages?"

"No." He answers, "I just write dreams. I don't call people on cell phones...but dreams are supposed to help people figure things out."
He sits down, crossing his legs, and gestures for Tom to do the same. How he can sit in nothingness is...well, a little weird.

"And I have some questions for you, too."

Tom thought that for a moment, as well... But then again, he fought off what looked like something from a Lovecraftian nightmare, so this couldn't be
worse.

"Well, it looks like I've got quite a bit of time..." He says, setting himself on the floor, legs crossed one atop the other, "What did you
want to ask?"

It's a strange feeling, sitting on nothing, but Morpheus seems to be doing pretty well for himself.

"You've had a lot of good dreams recently, right?"

"I guess you could say that..." Good, Mitsuru-and-home-filled dreams.

"I don't have dreams myself," Morpheus continues. "I don't sleep. I have to keep writing. So I like to ask people about their
dreams." He gives a bit of a shrug of the shoulders, parroting Tom's own motions. "But people don't usually remember me."

"I know what happens, in all of them. But I like to hear what people think of them too."

"I see... Well, they've been keeping me sane, so I guess I have you to thank for that."

"You really like Mitsuru." It's a statement, not a question. "So I've been writing a lot about her for you. I'm glad you like
them."

He shifts a bit. "Now...do you have any questions you want me to help you try and figure out?"

"Yeah..."

"Actually, it's more of a request."

"I've never had a request before."

"Fuuka's been deciphering something important... You said dreams help figure things out, could you maybe help her out- even a bit subtly?"

"Oh, I have! She had a dream about you the other night, and the two of you sat down and decoded the whole thing."

"I thought she'd like that. She's very cute. It makes me miss them a lot."

"Y-yeah, I guess she is... Anyway, I'm glad you're helping her out... I am curious though..."

"What is it that scarred these people so badly? I know it relates to Headphones but..."

"He killed me." Ryoji offers a smile and looks down at his book, scratching something else in.

"But I can't tell you any more than that. I promised Yukari in one of her dreams."

"I see... From your tone, you don't seem to have minded it, much. I mean, you're taking death rather well."

"The Shinigami were very nice. They let me have my book, and the job was open."

"I didn't mind it, but everybody else took it very badly."

"Especially Headphones. That kid looks like he's a walking corpse."

"He is." Morpheus folds his arms across his chest, book resting in his lap. "I think it hurt him the most of all."

"By the way," Morpheus adds, "You're going to wake up in the hospital. It's been two days since you went unconscious because of me -
I'm sorry for the inconvenience, but I have something really important to tell you."

"Yeah... I've noticed that. He's got a lot of pain under there. I'm getting the vibe that he's cold because he doesn't want to face
that pain," Tom sighed, rollion his shoulders again, "T-two days?"

"The Tower of Oblivion is steadily sinking into the Earth." He purses his lips. "That is, Vespertine City is falling apart at the seams. I
think...you were brought in to help stop that. Minato and his partner didn't choose you, but they think they did."

"But...I have a request for you, since you had one for me. Gosh," Morpheus cocks his head, "I've never given a request, either. This is a
real first for me."

"Is that alright, Thomas?"

"I mean...Mister Magnusson. May I call you Thomas?"

"Yeah, sure, and please..." Tom shifts his weight again- two days, huh? "Call me Tom. So, what's up?"

"Tom. Does that mean we're friends, then, Tom?"

"If you like, sure, why not?"

"I'm glad. You're special, Tom - your arms are part of the reason we like you so much." He smiles. "I'd like to test them."
With that, he stands, and writes something in his book; the blackness disappears, replaced by a huge arena full of screaming Romans.

"So if you'd please, would you fight with me?"

"I want to see the full strength of the Shadow Syndicate's favorite experiment."

"Shadow... Syndicate?" Tom rose to his feet, glancing about at the arena, "Fight you? What are you talking about?"

"My request is that you allow me to fight you," Morpheus says.

"Will you, please?"

"Well, since you said please..."

Tom slides into a more battle-ready stance. Let's hope those Romans didn't feel the urge for too much blood... "Let's see what you've got.
Maybe if I win, you can tell me more of that Syndicate thing."

"I'm sorry, I can't. Your mind doesn't hold all the clues yet."

"But if you win, I'll make sure to write more good dreams...you'll need them!"

He settles his pen against the page. "Are you ready?"

"Well, that's all I can ask for, I guess. Sure, let's rumble."

Morpheus taps his pen to his chin and writes something down in the book. "If you win, though...I'll tell you my real name...and tell you a little
about what happened that night."

"That's good enough for me!" A quick hop, then a rushing straight. Let's see if the kid could dodge...

The punch lands, smashing Morpheus in the face; however, he steps back at the last minute, soaking a lot of the damage into his motion and throwing the punch
off badly.

Connection, but nowhere near as solidly as he likes. Still he wagered that the strange lad would be feeling that one...

"Huh." The young (dead) man touches his cheek where the metal fist landed. "I actually felt that...it looks like they used something really
strong in your arm." He puts his pen to paper and starts writing again.

"Uh..."

"Alright then!"

Another punch!

Unfortunately, the whole 'punch me moar!' thing throws our intrepid young cyborg off. Just a glancing shot, this time, off the arm.

One Morpheus doesn't even apparently feel; maybe he's tougher when he's writing in that book.

He looks up at Tom, and removes his pen from his paper, stowing it in his pouch.

The ground around Tom reaches up, grabbing at him as hands of stone; fortunately, there's no significant damage, but...still...

"Wha-" That really threw him off. What just happened?

"Do you like it?" Morpheus asks, hope in his voice. "I took a nightmare and used it as a weapon!"

"That was..."

"That was just kind of weird!"

"I like that. Let's keep going!"

PAAAANCH!

"You do? I'm glad!"

"I've never had a friend before. At least, not in this world." He laughs.

He keeps laughing, even as he twists with the punch once again, his pen drawn out of his pocket for a half-parry spinning into his writing again.

"Heh, maybe we can do this again sometime?"

"I'm glad they did what they did to your brain, Tom. Otherwise, you wouldn't be able to remember this."

"I'd like that!"

"...To my brain?"

Again, his words threw him off, this time, right out of range... "Who did what to my brain?"

"They messed with your brain," Morpheus says, and an image of a brain being slowly picked apart and shuffled around appears in front of Tom, a
resonating pain in his head as the brain's tendrils reach out to grab him with shocking nerve endings...

He'd wince a bit, shaking out the cobwebs... It would take more than that... "Who messed with my brain?" Another pot shot...

...But it was enough to throw both of his attacks off center.

"The Shadow Syndicate," Morpheus replies as a horrible monster - a zombie Junpei, it looks like - slams its broomstick down over Tom's head,
shattering it. Probably Fuuka or Yukari's nightmare.

Only to pass straight through him. A ghost attacking reality, "They did more than just my limbs..."

"A lot more."

Another punch, this time, more focused. More... 'Tom...' "Like what?"

Another sliding, glancing blow as Morpheus twists himself at a very odd angle. "I'm not allowed to tell you. You know that by now, right?"

"Yeah, I figured!"

Morpheus's next attack is another stone hand to the balls. However...it does absolutely nothing, passing through Tom once again.

That's what he gets for using other people's nightmares...

The next hit, though, is one strong enough to knock Morpheus back; the arena explodes in a puff of smoke, and everything goes back to that infinite void. He
stands up, unharmed, and still smiling. "Thank you!" He says after a moment, clapping his hands together and bowing in the traditional way for Area
Eleven.

"I had a lot of fun fighting you, Tom."

Tom would have been panting, if he weren't dreaming all this... "Yeah... That was a good bit of fun. Let's do it again sometime."

"So..." His knuckles mime a cracking motion. No sound but creaking metal... "What's your name?"

"Okay. Oh! My name!" He taps his chin. "My name is Ryoji. Tell it to Yukari, and maybe she'll tell you what happened."

"Ryoji... Alright, I'm sure I'll remember. Come by any time, by the way. Just... Don't knock me out for two days straight next time,
alright?"

"There are rules. Igor would be upset if I broke them."

"He's very interested in you."

"Rules?"

"...Igor?"

"They're for me to know!" He waves at Tom. "I'll be sure to give you a really great dream tonight as thanks!"

And then he's gone, the darkness is gone, and Tom is awake, lying in a hospital bed and staring into the faces of Yukari, Fuuka, Mitsuru, Junpei, and -
strangely enough - Shinji.

There's a dog sitting on Shinji's lap, wearing a t-shirt of all things - must be the 'Koro' mentioned at the bar.

The girls breathe a collective sigh of relief - even Mitsuru - and Junpei crosses his arms. Shinji just snorts, as if he was never worried and didn't
expect Tom to do something as stupid as die.

Tom blinks into the ceiling- and consequently, the wreathe of people- amusingly, mostly composed of elevens... "What a strange dream..."

"You passed out from exhaustion while we were talking," Yukari says, "Right at twelve o'clock, you just keeled over."

"Yeah... And..." He looked at Junpei, "Yeah, you were there..."

"...you had a dream about me?" Junpei makes a face at him. "That's pretty gay, man."

"Yeah... Well, you were trying to hit me over the head with a broom."

"...Kinda looked like a zombie, too."

"...freaky."

"Yeah..."

He wonders whether or not he should bring it up...

...Well, everyone was here...

So he may as well...

"And, uh..."

"Ryoji says 'hi.'"

It's like a gigantic fucking hammer just descended on everybody's head. Mitsuru turns and stares out the window, Junpei backs up against the wall,
Fuuka freezes and puts her hands over her mouth.

Yukari...Yukari's hand snaps up and slaps Tom across the face. "That's not funny!" She shrieks, storming out of the room.

A flabbergasted orderly drops some of his paperwork as she stomps past him.

"...how do you know that name?" Shinji asks after a long moment of very, very painful silence.

Ow. Yeah, he felt that... "...He's the reason I was out for two days."

"He wanted to talk to me."

"Ryoji has been dead for years," Mitsuru's helpful insight informs.

Not that everyone in the room didn't know it already.

He presses his metal fingers against the warming mark on his face, "Yeah... He told me that it was Minato that did it..."

"No shit." Shinji says after a moment, sounding vaguely thoughtful.

"But I think he wants you guys to know that he's alright with it, for whatever reason. He's still watching, y'know."

"...that's fuckin' creepy, man," Junpei mutters.

"Don't say that to Yukari." Shinji says as Koro's growl turns to a high-pitched whine.

"Yeah... I should have thought more about that one. 'Course, it was him that told me to ask her..."

Tom sighs, sinking his arms back into the bed, "All I know is that he's been watching you guys. Helping you sleep soundly at night, stuff like
that."

"...fuckin' creepy..." Junpei repeats.

"They were dating." Shinji informs him after another awkwardly silent moment.

"Hey...dude, that's not really your-"

"He has a right to know. It ain't like she's ever gonna get over it." Shinji rebuffs.

"Y...yeah, but..." Junpei's at a loss for words.

"It's alright, I understand it's none of my business..."

"But I can't help thinking that, somehow, this thing with Ryoji is related to what's going on with the Tow- er, Vespertine."

"I doubt it." Shinji replies. "But here. Here's the info I promised you."

"I dug up that missing person yesterday. He's dead, by the way - shot in the head."

"No taint. Totally mundane."

"...A standard murder?"

"Yup."

"Koro didn't whine or anything."

"...I see. So he was clean..."

"Uh-huh."

Mitsuru's hands clench at her arms.

"Well, if that's a dead lead... What about the guy who killed him?"

"No way to tell."

"Could be all kinds of motives."

"Then I guess that's one dead end..."

"How rotted was the corpse?"

"Couple days." He shrugs again and pets Koro.

"A recent slay..."

"That's a bit coincidental..."

"That was the day I was KO'd."

"And the day that the voice told me 'Tonight.' I'm also curious as to why the body was buried. Someone would have noticed unless it was done
very quickly."

"...Even then. An unthorough job, coupled with a missing man means that the corpse would have been located. The family should have put out a missing
person's report... How well hidden was the burial?"

"You mean the dumped corpse washed up against a riverbank outside the city?"

"Heh, so that's where you found it, or are you being metaphorical?"

"That's where I found it. Some local thugs did the dumping - I had to beat it out of them."

"I see."

"Well, then I suppose it's fairly dead of a lead, isn't it...? So where do we go from here?" ...Was it Mitsuru? It could have been...
Possibly...

"Dunno, don't care." Shinji sets Koro on the ground and stands. "Your problem now."

"Yeah... Thanks, Shinji."

"Eh."

"Listen."

He glances at Tom. "Don't dig too hard around here. Things have this fucked up way of being connected to other things...and it gets more and more
fucked up the deeper you go."

"Yeah, I've noticed..." Rustling. He was scratching at his scalp- an art perfected... "But I feel like I owe it to Ryoji, too. He puts up a
pretty good fight, you know."

"...I don't know what you're babbling about." Shinji admits. "But be careful anyway."

"Yeah. I will. Thanks, Shinji."

With that, he heads out, leaving Junpei, Fuuka, and Mitsuru.

Thomas sighs to an invisible facade on the ceiling... "So, what else did I miss?"

Fuuka's still kinda getting over the shock that a dead guy was talking to them, Junpei's still just hanging at the wall, and Mitsuru is still staring
off into space.

Nobody seems willing to volunteer much information.

"So..."

"Fuuka, did you sleep well?"

"..."

"..........the....code's been deciphered." She finally says.

"I see... That's good."

"I knew you could do it."

"...it's really disturbing."

"Huh?"

"The...the analysis."

"Are you... up for talking about it?"

"I won't force you if you aren't."

"Not here," Mitsuru reminds him.

"Public."

"...Right."

There is a pair of heavy thuds on the floor as his mechanical limbs press against the hospital... "And Junpei?"

"...sup?"

"Sorry about bringing that up like that."

"...whatever, man. I think you're just some kinda nut...you probably read about his death in a paper or something and dreamed the whole thing."

"Then again, we did do that thing that night the girls were out cold..."

This gets both Mitsuru and Fuuka's attention.

"...the Requiem! Jeez! What is it with you people?"

"Yeah... Unless we fought off that thing with the power of man-love, I wouldn't get any weird ideas about that night, you two."

"...the what?!" Fuuka goes pure red at that.

"Yeah, you know, love-love."

"But nah, we just beat it senseless."

"...."

"............"

"........................"

"...What?"

Three different people manage to stare at him in complete silence for three different reasons.

At least it dispelled the funk!

"...Hey. I'm a ladies man. I don't do that kind of stuff."

"A ladies man." Mitsuru says dryly.

"I meant that in that I'm not interested in guys... Man. I'm foot-mouthing a lot today..."

"You and Junpei should compare notes."

Ouch.

Yeaahhh... "Ack. Felt that one..."

"Right in the Ego..."

"Mitsuru's got a talent for breaking people."

"Oh. And... You were able to get to safety that night, right Mitsuru?"

"Nothing happened that night, Magnusson." Ahhh, back to the last names.

"Absolutely nothing."

"Well, as long as everyone's safe, that's fine by me."

"Glad to hear it."

"Um...Tom..."

"I'll get you the notes when you get out, okay?"

"So then, let's get out of here?"

"Uh... I think I'm alright..."

Fuuka wrings her hands together, looking away, and suddenly, Tom really doesn't want to know just what sort of dreams inspired her.

"The hospital wants to keep you overnight." Mitsuru replies.

'...They were solving it... together.'

...Suddenly, he had the vaguest idea. And it made him just a bit pink, "I'm pretty sure I'm fine, unless they can check for hearing dead
people."

"Probably not," Mitsuru offers. My, she's full of bite today.

Maybe it's a release of tension now that he's woken up.

...probably not.

Something definitely upset her, it seems... Or maybe she lacked someone to keep on a leash, "Yeah, probably not. Maybe they can check for cold shoulder
instead."

At that, she actually gives a bit of a chuckle and heads out. Junpei does as well, leaving Tom alone with Fuuka.

My, that can't possibly uncomfortable.

Dammit, Morpheus.

Noooot comfortable at all...

"...um...Tom?"

"So... Uh..."

"Yes?"

"...was he...happy?"

"He didn't seem unhappy... Yeah, I'd say so."

"That's...that's good. Yukari...she'd like that..."

Fuuka wrings her hands again, blushing. "..."

"Yeah... Losing someone like that... It's always better to know they're happy, wherever they are."

She nods again.

"So, um, I heard a really weird rumor while you were...meeting with...him!" She perks up a bit.

He blinks at the normally reclusive Fuuka... A rumor? "Huh? A rumor? What kind?"

"About this guy who shows up every full moon looking for a fight." She wrings her hands again. "They say he shows up by the fountain in the
square with a sword as big as he is, and takes on all comers with a promise of 'a wish to one who beats me'."

"But supposedly he just...disappears...after...."

"...Well, that's interesting..."

"I just thought...you know...break the ice..." She blushes again and looks down.

"...Maybe I'll have to check it out!"

"When's the next full moon up?"

"Um, this sunday...the day before the festival."

"S...speaking of..."

"...are you...going with anyone...?"

"Hmm... No, I don't think so..."

"Did you want to come with me?"

There's no words to describe the color of red that Fuuka's face takes on. It's really, truly epic. However, she manages a nod and stands up.
"I...I'd like that...very much!" She squeaks.

Kamina would have called it 'Redder than the flame of manhood!' - or something like that... "Good! Then it's a date." Tom grins, idly
scratching at his nose. His face had taken on something of a... perhaps lighter shade of red...

Hot damn, not even a month into the job, and he's got a date!

At this, she looks like she's about to pass out; she quickly scurries out.

The orderly comes in to check on him, hands him his paperwork, and so on.

And... Homework. Brilliant.

Just to make sure he wouldn't sign anything he didn't want to... And in part because he had nothing better to do...

At least it's not difficult, unless his encounter with Ryoji scrambled up his brain to the point of not remembering his name.

It's time for a read.

The most significant thing he recalled...

Was that Syndicate...

There's not much to the paperwork that a half-brain wouldn't be capable of.

And thus they would be looked over, and completed in relatively short order.

The pen is fortunately reinforced.

Apparently someone read somewhere in his paperwork that Yukari checked in that he was a cyborg.

One that regularly broke things, too! He likes this hospital.

Waaaait a minute. Weren't they looking for a cybor...and he was in a...oh, fuck.

The realization isn't quite fast enough to prevent a man in a very typical detective outfit, followed by a very typical pair of cops with very typical
handcuffs.

Apparently, someone wasn't quite smart enough to figure out that very typical handcuffs were really not very useful when dealing with cyborgs.

"Are you Tom Magnusson?" The man in the coat asks.

"Me?"

"No. The other cyborg in the bed."

"Oh. Sorry, I think I was too rough with her. Yeah, I'm Tom."

"Funny." The detective removes a badge from his jacket, flashing it at Tom. "Listen. You're in seriously hot shit, kid."

"So if you wanna joke, be my guest, but know that people who joke with the law in this town get tossed in the slammer." Tossed in the slammer? What
the hell era was this guy from?

Pre-noir. Very much pre-noir... "Uh, sir?"

"No offense, sir, but, uhm... You are aware that my arms are made of metal, right?"

"Yeah, and?"

They haven't actually handcuffed him, so maybe they were slightly smarter than that.

Truth be told, he half expected a french thief in a bad red suit to pop out of a cupboard or something.

The detective messes with his hat. "Look, I don't have time to dick with you. But I'm not under orders to arrest you."

"Oh! Okay then. What's up?"

"I'm looking into the incident at VitaTech."

"And you, frankly, are number one on my list of suspects. But I don't have orders to arrest you." He leans forward.

Tom tilts his head... "Oh. Okay then."

"I've got this saying, kid." He rubs the side of his head. "If you break the law, somebody, somewhere, is gonna get you for it."

"I thought you were here over the whole monster thing..."

"...monster?"

"What monster?"

"It's really, REALLY complicated."

He just kinda stares at Tom.

"I'm an investigator, myself."

"...I dunno what the hell you're talking about, but...yeah. I know. I did some digging."

"You work with that Minato guy."

"Well."

"Cold piece of work. I don't trust him. And I don't trust you."

"I wouldn't word it like that."

"Yeah, I've noticed the whole cold thing, but I don't think he's capable of lying."

"Look, this ain't a social call, alright?! I don't care how you'd word it." The detective stands. "I've got places to be. But
I've got my eyes on you."

"Oh, one thing..."

"...ngh?"

"There was a gang shooting just about the city limits."

"...how the..."

"..."

"A guard was killed."

"...fine. I'll look into it."

"I was planning on informing you folks... Thanks."

"Don't let me catch you slipping up."

"The second you do, I'm on your ass like that queer barkeep and his beanie-loving boyfriend."

With that, the door slams shut.

...Yeesh.

Someone had a badger crawl up his ass...

Talk about a hard-ass.

Shinji could probably fix that.

Well, if there's nothing to do but paperwork...

Time to do paperwork.

The paperwork is otherwise finished without incident, and he's wheeled out by an orderly in a lovely little wheelchair.

'All patients leave in wheelchairs,' eh?

Apparently.

Well, at least his ordeal was (mostly) over.

Now it was a full moon warrior and a date with the scientist girl.

Not to mention the mysterious festival mentioned in an earlier phonecall...

And the dead kid, of course.

That was important. Probably.

Well, yes.

Not to mention the list, the investigator, and the whole 'Tower Sinking' thing.

Yes, it looked like Tom's schedule wouldn't be clearing up for some time now.

Well...

Like Yukari said...

Sleep will be rare.

...Speaking of which, that was the first thing he needed to attend to.

The city seems determined to make sure he doesn't get much. Fortunately, Morpheus seems similarly determined to make sure that what he does get, he enjoys.

One might expect dreams of Fuuka and Mitsuru to frequent his sleep tonight.

Simultaniously, perhaps?

That would be strange.

...But maybe not unwelcome.

[ArachnosX]

Requiem 07: SEES

Thank God for good dreams, it can be said; or perhaps thank Morpheus. He certainly knew how to please a...

Well perhaps that thought shouldn't be finished. In any case, it's a good morning as Tom is wheeled out of the hospital. The sun is shining, the birds
are chirping, and the city almost

feels like a normal place. He's left unceremoniously outside to stand and walk home on his own; the hospital determined that nothing was wrong with him
beyond a severe case of exhaustion, and no one else happened to visit that night, mysterious or otherwise. No phone calls, no nothing. It's been quite
peaceful, in fact.

Well. This was certainly a change of pace. Why, the place almost seemed... Welcoming. Nothing like what it was like at night... Or when covered in the
everpresent, noir-like fog. It wasn't an unwanted feeling- but this feeling of normalcy was, perhaps, even more unnerving than the usual strangeness.

Regardless, walking wasn't much of an issue- not when you had mechancial limbs.

Now... How far was it to 'home?' He wasn't about to pay a taxi, that's for sure...

He had a few options; he could always head to Akihiko's and see if Shinji had turned up any new leads, or he could head on down to the machine shop to
visit the happy trio; the Agency's open of course, but Mitsuru's probably not there (and Minato and the Skull Man are almost guaranteed to be asleep);
alternatively, he could just wander about aimlessly for hours.

...The Machine Shop should prove interesting. After all, the reason he came here was to learn about his limbs. And he figured that Shinji would find him if
anything strange turned up.

The guy did seem to be everywhere at once.

Schrodinger's Thug?

So then... The Machine Shop it was, 'Come on legs...' Click. Mobility up, acrobatics done.

'Let's get going!'

It's not a terrifically long walk there...at least, Tom doesn't think so. Hopefully, the hospital's in an easy-to-find locale.

...unfortunately, Tom's sense of direction is quite miserable. He winds up not even near the machine shop. Actually...he can't remember ever having
been here before.

That might have to do with his above-average speed. But hey, whatever floats a boat... But where the hell -WAS he?

It looks like it's a run-down part of the town, but there's an old-looking private school (very much closed and locked-off.)

A private school...?

Otherwise, there's nothing particularly stand out-ish.

...Curiousity killed the cat...

But Tom was definitely not anywhere near the genus of Felis. Time to do some detective work!

It's easy to jump the fence.

Quite like jumping a shark- but not quite as serious. It was a strange school, to be certain. Out here in the middle of nowhere...

Well, not quite the middle of nowhere. More like the middle of the crappiest part of the city. The old, run-down part, anyway.

No one seems to be in the school. The door comes open easily, and the front hall is deserted and dusty.

A cautious eye is cast about the ruined hall. Curiouser and curiouser. Now... What exactly was in here, anyway? Anything interesting...? Buried in the dust,
perhaps? The thought of it sparked wonder in the young Britannian's mind. He began by sweeping the school in general, dusting off anything of note...

There really truly is not much. There's some old papers, some stuff that didn't get cleaned up, and a copy of the last class's yearbook.

It's dated roughly...mmmm, five years ago.

Well, that could be interesting...

First the papers... Any names of note?

Not a one, sadly.

And the yearbook?

Quite a different story.

Ryoji's face is sitting inside the cover. It's dedicated to his memory.

Apparently, it's from that year.

To his... memory? So, maybe it was true...

Let's see, last names...

...Arisato.

Bingo.

So, what did the comments have to say?

Seems he and the others were part of something called SEES. It doesn't go into any detail, but it's listed as an "After-School Club".

There are, strangely enough, no comments.

...SEES?

...What could that stand for?

Perhaps this book was the one that couldn't get sold because the one who would've bought it was...well, departed.

So this was -his- book. Ryoji...

That, or it was the book that belonged to the person who didn't care enough to buy it.

If it was an After-School activity, maybe the office could shed some light?

Minato, perhaps.

It would be curious to see what his reaction would be. If any.

The office is empty.

Not a single paper, or missing desk?

Not a one.

So they got rid of everything...

Or someone did.

Well.

If anything...

He could ask questions.

Either way, it was probably high time he get out of there.

Interestingly, though, there's more than just them listed as SEES members.

Oh?

Somebody named Seta Souji...a girl named Chie...another named Yukiko...Kanji...Naoto...Teddie...there's a whole bunch of them.

Does it say anything else about them?

Where they may now be?

It's very limited.

After all, it is a yearbook.

True, but it might have things like plans for the future, contact details...

Anyone who might know them...

Teachers... Wait, there -WAS- a teacher he knew.

...It was time to get some answers.

He began on his way out of the school.

...And try his best to get himself home.

As he opens the door, he's greeted not by the sunlight but a blue brilliance.

In fact, behind him is blue too. And everything else.

...h~uh.

...Too much blue! Tom winces at the sudden change of scenery... "Wh-what?"

"..."

"You..." It's an old man's voice. "...aren't supposed to be here."

Once the shock settled, he'd glance about again at his surroundings. "...Damn. Second time in a month."

"Huh?" He tilted his head at the source of the voice, "Uh, yeah... I kinda figured. Where is 'here?'

"Welcome to the Velvet Room." The old man is sitting in a weird chair, twisted upwards. "A place where your kind does not belong."

He has an enormous nose.

"And you shouldn't be here, in this place between fact and fiction, truth and lie, reality and dream."

It was the first thing he noticed. And, to be honest, he couldn't seem to avert his eyes from that thing, "Yeah... Sorry about that. I kinda... Fell
in, I guess?"

"Whatever made you want to go to that school?"

"Curiousity."

"...And I got really, -REALLY- lost."

"I see." The old man relaxes his posture and waves his hand to the side. "I am Igor. Now that you are here, I suppose I have no choice but to
act as the host that I am."

"Igor?" Tom settled into a much less 'where the fuck am I' state, "Huh. Ryoji mentioned something about you."

"Well, it's nice to meet you. The name's Tom."

"No it isn't." Igor replies, a smile on his face. "But you don't know anything about that."

"Uhm... Huh?"

"Yes, I know what transpired between you and Morpheus." Igor swaps tracks entirely. "I have the record here." He gestures to a piece of
paper that certainly wasn't there five minutes ago.

"I... see," Tom couldn't help but raise a brow at that... "So, call me curious, but what exactly is it that you do here, Igor?"

"Many, many things." He replies cryptically, his fingers waving dismissively. "But more importantly...how are you enjoying your time in
Vespertine City?"

A roll the shoulders, "Well, it's interesting, to say the least... I've never been in a city quite like it before."

"No, you haven't." More of that double-talk and cryptic crap that makes absolutely no sense.

"...But beyond the monsters, the most interesting part of this city has to be that Minato character."

"Ah yes...Minato. He and Souji both found their way here after my call and accepted the contracts they so valiantly were presented with."

"Souji Seta, am I correct? Did something happen to him, too?"

"I mean, I get the feeling that Minato wasn't nearly as... Shut in as he is today, so this Seta guy... Is he the same way?"

"No." Igor gives a bit of a smile.

"Well," Tom replies with a grin of his own, "Would you happen to know where I could find him?"

"You ask too many questions." He says after a moment.

"Hahaha... Well, I am a detective, sir."

"No you aren't." He says again, picking up the papers and reading through them.

"Crimenologist, is technically what it says on my diploma."

"No you aren't," Igor replies for the third time, fingering the papers briefly. "But it isn't yet your time to discover the truth you so
desperately crave."

"Yeah, I kinda figured that."

"But hey, a man's got to reach out for the truth."

"If it's there, it's there. If it's not, then I've just got to look harder."

"A man does." Igor...agrees? Maybe? The words are there, but there's something to the tone...

Maybe it's simply Tom's imagination.

"In any case, you may leave through the door behind you. Please do not return - you will find yourself unable to enter."

"When the time comes, you will know."

"I'm sure I will."

"Well, it's been nice talking to you, Igor..."

Igor doesn't reply, absorbed in whatever it is he's reading.

Sure enough, there was a door there...

"Have a good day." Click. Open went the door.

And out he was dumped unceremoniously in front of the Twilight Detective Agency.

Blink. How was the sky?

At least he had a few dozen new leads...

Apparently the Velvet Room transcends such simplicity as space and time; the sun hasn't moved since he entered the room.

...And it seemed, still some time to get to the mechanic's! Though...

...He probably shouldn't leave again without a guide.

Lest he get hopelessly lost.

...Again.

He'd turn the knob to that oh-so-familiar door. Let's hope he didn't end up in Halloween town next.

Nope. Just Yukari's front office.

Which is in and of itself strange enough.

True enough. It was a welcome change, though...

So, with yearbook in arm... "Hey, I'm home."

No one is manning the front office.

Well, that was interesting...

What about the basement?

Fuuka is down there, but she's asleep on the table.

Best not to wake her...

Who the hell was around?

Junpei?

Maybe the boss?

Well, it was worth a try to check the office...

Nope. It's still daytime; neither of them are up.

Well.

That was a load of 'goddamnit.'

He could always check across the street, at that bar... Provided he didn't get lost again.

Since nobody was around, that seems his only course of action.

Back to the streets, into the bar...

Akihiko is tending the bar, but it's very empty. He looks up as Tom enters and gives a half-assed wave. "Good morning."

"Hey there. People seem to be missing left and right."

"Don't joke like that, I'll get worried."

He'd set himself on one of the stools, "Heh, sorry. Yeah, Yukari's not at the office. I still need to apologize to her..."

"So how's everything been?"

"Pretty usual."

"Customers and stuff."

"What about you? Any nice leads on any good cases?"

"Yeah..." That conversation went nowhere... "So uh... Do you know if Shinji found anything?"

"Actually, yes."

He'd slide the old yearbook onto the countertop, "I got a little lost, but look at what I found."

Akihiko's eyes grow three sizes that day; wide, super-wide, and !!!!!!-wide. He stares at the yearbook for a moment before crossing his arms and leaning
across the bar. "I never thought...I'd ever see this again."

A sheepish grin- like one worn by a child who just got caught with his hand in the jar, "Yeah. It was pretty interesting. Someone cleaned the school out-
but this old thing was left behind."

"...yeah."

He's just sort of staring at the book.

"I assume this belongs to Ryoji... Or Minato."

"So, I don't mean to pry- so you don't have to answer if you don't want to. But what was this SEES thing? And where might I find the other
members?"

"SEES." Akihiko says after a moment. "...something else I never thought I'd hear again."

"I'm sorry if I'm dredging up unwanted memories, but..." Tom flipped open the page. Souji Seta, "This guy. Is he still around?"

"Not in Vespertine. He and the rest of Team 2 moved away."

"...I see. So I guess it'd be difficult to contact him."

"Sorry."

"It's alright. I'll find a way somehow."

"Not that SEES is something you want to look too closely into..." He looks down at the book again.

"The internet's a powerful thing... Hm? Why's that?"

"SEES was...you wouldn't believe me if I told you." He gives a half-chuckle.

"The things I've seen in this town? I'll believe anything once."

"It has to do with...well." Akihiko pours himself and Tom a pair of drinks.

He'd probably need that...

"...the afterlife."

"The afterlife?"

"Well, that's significantly more believable than hearing about giant shadow creatures emerging from people's subconcious."

Akihiko chuckles.

"I can't tell if you're kidding or not."

"I'm not, actually. Compared to the Requiems, talk of the afterlife is a lot more common. Many major cultures have one belief or another."

"Not like this." He takes a swing from his mug. "Anyway...SEES is the 'Special Exploration and Extermination Society.'"

"It was founded as a 'school thing' as a joke, sort of."

"But it wasn't a joke to us."

"I see... So I take it that this was when Minato's- and Souji's abilities began to manifest?"

Akihiko heaves a sigh. "It's complicated."

"Well..." Tom's eyes glanced at the clock. It was still fairly early, "There's a whole slew of hours in the day, and I've got time
to kill. If you don't mind lending a voice to my ear, that is."

"See...that school...it wasn't. It closed down after a certain incident occured."

"The school was built on a rift."

"A rift?"

"Between this world and a dimension we called ShadowSpace."

Straight out of a comicbook, "I see."

Akihiko snorts. "I know. It was a stupid name. Junpei came up with it."

"I assume that, given the identity of the man who this yearbook was dedicated to, the incident that occured there was the same that scarred Minato- and
all of you."

"...no."

"No?"

"No."

"-Huh.-"

"Well. That's something I didn't expect."

"What happened with Minato and Ryoji wasn't related to the Shadow incident."

"...the school was built on a rift because of a plan to use the kids in the school as bait."

"The owner of the school was attempting to bring forth the Shadows into our world."

"...Shadows?"

"Even more complicated."

"...That's just... Who would use children as bait like that?"

"A very sick man."

"It must have been..."

"Heh...all I cared about was fighting. Getting better. And then that happened."

"...we lost a bunch of friends and classmates to them before SEES managed to shut the door."

"...So they finally came through."

"Anyway..."

"What we found over there was...incredible."

"Hm?"

"It's complicated."

"Heh. I keep saying that."

"It just gets me more and more curious, that's all."

"Yeah, well..."

"Do you think... That gate has anything to do with the Requiems?"

"No."

"Requiems...I've seen them. They're nothing like Shadows."

"Shadows are..." He shakes his head and takes another drink.

"I don't know. But I know they're different. In the pit of my stomach."

Tom takes the first of his- the top of the cup, something to wet the throat, "It's alright. Take your time."

"It's just different."

"...So..."

"These shadows. What are they?"

"They're all over the other world. I don't know what they are, exactly."

"But they seem to be natural to that place."

"I see... So why did this person want to lure them here?"

"He wanted to destroy everything."

"That seems mighty antiproductive."

Akihiko sets his drink down. "He lost his wife. And she got "killed" on the other side, by a Shadow. So...I think he went crazy."

"...I see."

"I don't know. But I can't imagine knowing that Ai or Shinji wouldn't be able to move on."

"What do you mean?"

"As I understand it...the other side is basically a waiting room."

"For the real afterlife."

"So if you die in the 'afterlife'...what happens?"

"A purgator-"

"Yeah."

"What happens if you die in purgatory?"

"...Logic says that, death in the afterlife means Oblivion."

"The two possibilities are oblivion or rebirth."

"I'm not sure exactly what you're getting to, though. Why would they be unable to move on?"

"...They lost someone important, on that other side?"

"No."

"That's what happened to his wife."

"And I can't imagine what that must feel like."

"I see."

"Nothing, I assume."

"I guess knowing that, even in death, you shall be apart from the one you love would drive most people off the deep end.

"That's what I think."

"But...the deaths of students had the school closed down."

"I see..."

"The circumstances are listed as Unknown, but those of us who were in SEES know."

"They were consumed by those Shadows."

"You got it."

"...This is just a guess, but do people who die from those Shadows return to the afterlife?"

"Or do they vanish?"

"I have no idea."

"Curious..."

"Heh. Maybe these Requiems are visitors from Oblivion, then."

"I guess I'll find out someday."

"Who knows?"

"I'd say God, but I doubt any deity is crazy enough to let this happen."

"But I might be wrong. Ryoji- and that Igor guy seem pretty solid proof of SOMETHING out there."

"Igor?"

"And, hey, you wouldn't happen to know of something called the Shadow Syndicate, would you?"

"Yeah..."

"No, sorry. And I don't know who Igor is."

"He said he signed contracts with Souji and Minato a long time ago."

"I don't know anything about that."

"I'd ask the source, but I'm pretty sure he'd bite my head off."

"I doubt it."

"I expect he'd say nothing at all."

"I was being metaphorical..."

"Anyway, if you have any means of contacting Souji..."

"I'd be most appreciative."

"I'll look in the phonebook."

"Thanks for that."

"Oh- and, uh..."

"I was kind of on my way to the mechanics' when I got lost... Anyone around here know how to get to the Bonne's?"

"Heh. Sure, I'll point you in the right direction."

"Thanks again."

"No problem."

The last of the booze is sent hurtling down Tom's throat, a mechanical hand carefully replacing the mug on the countertop. It then retrieves the yearbook,
storing it in an unseen compartment of Tom's jacket, "Thanks for the drink, too."

"Heh. Next time I'll have a steel mug for you."

"Hey, steel's pretty soft. Maybe Titanium's a better fit for this grip."

"Hah. You don't come often enough for me to spend that kinda money on you."

"Yeah, at least I'm not asking for one made of Sakuradite."

"Small favors." He chuckles.

"I guess I'll just have to settle for steel."

With that, he slides off his stool, landing with a distinct clink of metal against the bar floor. "I should probably get over there before it gets too
late."

"Probably a good idea." Akihiko gives him a grin. "But, uh."

"You didn't pay for that."

Tom would stop in his tracks, "Oh- uh..."

A wallet, simple and black, is flushed from one of his pockets, "How much was it again?"

[ArachnosX]

Requiem 08: Endgame

It's not a terrifically long walk from Akihiko's to the Bonnes' Machine Shop now that he's actually got directions, and the odds of Tom winding
up at a weird school in the dead-end of nowhere is pretty low, unless geography decides to play

ring around the rosey with him against all known laws of physics. Granted, in this town, that's not impossible, considering what he's seen...

Tom makes his way there quite easily - Akihiko's shortcut proves to be a nice timesaver.

The shop window has an 'open' sign turned towards it.

Considering everything that's happened to him so far, it's not too out of the question for a cyborg-swallowing sinkhole to suddenly conjure itself into
the world. Hell, it wouldn't be the first time common sense breaks for the sake of damning Tom. At least he made it there without being sidetracked too
much.

Roll looks up as he enters, a grin spreading over her face. "Hiya handsome," she chirps, wiping some of the engine grease off on a nearby cloth and
standing from the vacuum she was repairing. "What's up? I don't remember you having an appointment with us today..."

"Oh, hey Roll," Tom says as his legs carry him into the garage proper, "Yeah, I'm sorry I didn't call. I got a bit lost on the way back
from the Hospital." The telltale whirring of his mechanical parts halt as he grinds to a stop, "I'm just checking in- to see if you guys
discovered anything interesting about these things."

"Well..." Roll slides her hands behind her back. "Rock's kinda out of it at the moment, and Tron's been taking care of him the whole
day...so nothing's really been found yet."

She adds "sorry" as she wipes off the rest of the grease.

"Oh, well..." That was discouraging. Even after coming all this way... "Well, is there anything I can do around here? I really have nothing
planned until later on tonight."

"Well..." She thinks about it for a moment, tapping her chin. "One sec!"

She darts off into the back room, shouting 'Tron!' at the top of her voice.

A few minutes later, she runs out, passing Tom. She strings a piece of paper over the 'open' sign and grins, turning on her heel. "You can buy me
lunch. I haven't eaten yet."

"Been working on this computer for Miss Toriumi all morning."

'...Taking care of him the whole da- Toriumi?' Well well... "Sure! I've got enough time to spare. So, where do you want to go?" He
follows her exit, halting the door with a metal sole, "I'm pretty open when it comes to food."

"I like Chinese. There's a place down the street..." Hint hint.

"Chinese is fine with me. Northern or Southern?" Hint recieved!

"I'm pretty partial to dimsum and noodles myself, but I can go with the southern rice dishes, too."

"Southern."

Ten minutes later, at Ba Kensei's Excellent Cooking Palace...

"Mmmmm...the chef here cooks the best rice," Roll cheerily says as she swallows another mouthful. "The best in the city!'

"It's soooo good. Thanks for treating me!"

Ba Kensei... Why did that sound so familiar? Well, if it's southern, then he's probably having a seafood dish, "Huh. This recipe is... Fukien
Province, I think." He shovels a spoonful of rice into his mouth. Savory, served with seafood and sauce. Definitely from that province...

"You've travelled a lot, Tom?" She asks.

"Haha. If you call a love for global cuisine traveling."

"But yeah, I've done a bit of traveling in my time."

"I had no idea." She takes another bite of her rice.

"You don't seem like the kinda guy who knows that much about food. Or anything...but I guess you can't be fooled by a pretty face!"

He takes in another mouthful, chewing for a moment before swallowing, "Well, I'm certainly pretty... Wait, are you calling me dim?"

She laughs and finishes off her rice, moving to the next bowl (goodness, she can pack it away for such a small girl). "It's a real change from when
Rock, Tron, and I lived in Pendragon."

"Fish, chips and curry with chicken all day long was it?" He chuckles, sipping at the house's black tea. Oolong, good stuff, "I hear that.
No offense to my own people, but our cooking is pretty horrible."

"Well...Pendragon doesn't have many other places to eat, either," she agrees sadly. "So it wasn't till we moved here that I got a taste
of other cultures."

"Yeah, but that's what happens with imperialistic cultures. Everything is either localized or diluted. The chinese we have there is..." A visible
shudder. Seems that once you try the real deal, there's no turning back...

"One thing... Isn't Ba Kensei..."

"...Uhm... I've heard of him somewhere before."

"...Anyway, you said that Miss Toriumi has a vaccuum over at your place?"

"He was the winner of the Gundamfight about ten years back...he was the Chinese Federation Gundamfighter until Master Asia took over."

Roll swallows more of her rice. "You know, before we won and called it off for good."

"I need to visit her sometime, have a few questions... Oh! That's right!"

"I remember watching him fight..."

"Man, those days were pretty dangerous, with robots coming out of every other building, but I kind of miss it."

"He's still a really strong martial artist, he does demonstrations at the festival. Hey, speaking of the festival..."

"...you got a date yet?" She leans forward, resting her chin on her hands.

Ah crap... "Uhm... Well, Fuuka already asked me earlier today..."

"Oh. Well, that's cool. I'll find somebody." She makes a face. "I just hate being a third wheel to Tron and Rock."

Lord almighty, two in one day. Either men are few and far between in this city, or Tom is hot as all hell.

"Yeah, I know how you feel."

"Hey, what about boss?"

"...Or Junpei. I think he's out a date, too."

"...you're joking, right?" She makes a face. "Junpei's not my type."

"Who's 'boss'?"

He chuckles, ruffling his short blonde hair, "Yeah, I figured. Poor guy. Oh, my Boss."

"Um..." She thinks for a moment. "...who?"

"Boss, he's the guy I work for... Well, one of them. He doesn't get out much, but it's more than Headphones does," Tom pops a shrimp into
his mouth...

"Headphones I wouldn't wish on anyone. Not 'till Yuka wakes him up anyway. But Boss is a pretty alright guy- and I can see if I can't convince
him to 'investigate' the festival."

"Ah...hah..." She mutters. "If it's all the same to you, I think I can find my own date..."

"But hey, a girl like you? I'm sure you'll have no trouble finding a date."

"You'd be surprised how few guys find it attractive to be covered in engine grease." She makes a face.

"Heh, you'd be surprised how many guys are more obsessed with cars than they are with finding a girl."

"We don't do cars," she says after a moment, looking down. "We're more specialized."

"Huh? Specialized?"

"I know you guys do cybernetics... If it's not cars then boats? Planes?"

"No, home machines."

"Vacuums, computers, that kind of thing."

"Ah! Okay then!"

"Hmm..."

"There's actually a lot of demand for it here."

"...Is there? You guys don't have much competition?"

"Nope!"

"And VitaTech gives us a lot of contracts, so that helps."

"Small business being supported by big business isn't something you see in Britannia too often."

"VitaTech does? Interesting, I've been looking into them for a while. Got any juicy stories?"

"Not really," she laments. "They just bring us computers a lot."

"Computers......Mind if I take a look later?"

"We don't have anything in-shop right now. They've been pretty quiet lately with the tech support."

Miiiight have been his fault... "Well, there goes that lead... Hey, if you've finished that vaccuum, I could go deliver it for you. I needed to talk
to Ms. Toriumi anyway."

She finishes off her rice and holds up her finger. "Can I get some more, please?!" She asks as the waiter passes. She turns her attention back to
Tom. "Sure."

Hole in pocket. Burning. Tom twitches juuuust a bit. On the inside. Where she can't see, "Awesome. There's a student I need to ask her
about."

The rest of lunch continues rather uneventfully; the price is rather fair for such good food, and the way back to the shop is mostly okay...

...well, at least, until Shinji falls out of an alley, rubbing his jaw. "Bastard," he hisses, pulling himself to his feet. He looks rather bruised
and bloody.

Tom stops in his tracks. Well, he wasn't expecting that... Priorities first, he'd hurry to close the distance, "Shinji, what happened?"
Genuinely concerned, and probably significantly worried. Thugs? Or...

"Not your problem. You better leave..." He glances back at Roll, who makes a little 'oh' sound as he pulls a dagger out of his pocket.
"It's nothing to do with them."

He had better leave? Not with Shinji in bad shape he wouldn't... "Hey, I'm crazy enough to punch a chestburster, so don't worry about
me,"

Tom threw a concerned glance at the young girl over his shoulder, turning back toward Shinji after a quick moment, "Anyway, if I'm leaving, you're
coming with. I doubt Akihiko would let me drink at his place again if he knew I left you here."

Roll's hand goes into her purse, no doubt to fetch some form of pepper spray or another; Shinji frowns. "Look, this has nothing to do with you."
He hisses.

From the alley, someone laughs.

A man, or at least, someone over sixteen; a half-mask, white and featureless, hide the left half of his face, but the manic grin, black hair, and bright blue
eye are still visible. "Friends of yours, Shinji?" He practically purrs.

Of note is the cleaver in his hand. A large butcher knife, and it's got blood on it. Probably Shinji's. "I didn't know you had any...this
makes it a whole new sort of fun!"

Tom swivels himself about to face the man with the butcher. That could hurt a bit- actually, more like a lot. Let's hope it couldn't cut metal as well
as it could cut flesh, "I'm sorry, and you are?"

The man with the butcher knife's grin widens, and he licks his lips in an altogether creepy way - the way that screams 'Hi, I'm a serial
killer' to most sane people.

"You haven't heard about me? Shinji, I'm so depressed! I guess I'll just have to..."

And at the word 'to', his hand suddenly flicks to the side, and he hurls the meat cleaver at Roll. "Introduce myself!"

An attack on a lady? Not on his life. The cyborg's legs propel the rest of his body toward the apparantly defenseless young woman. Specifically: Between
her and the cleaver. Let's just hope it hits something not soft and vital.

The Cleaver fortunately slices him in the side - nothing vital, but not particularly soft, either.

The man laughs, a mad, high-pitched sound, and yanks his hand backwards. A string gleams on the cleaver, and it goes flying back to him, snagging in his hand.

His tongue falls out as he licks some of the blood off the blade. "Mmm...delicious. I approve."

He presses his finger against his mask, adopting an informal stance. "My name is Fenrir the Cutter...I'm the torture specialist for Endgame.
How-do-you-do?"

Blood pools against his shirt. He actually winced that time- the first time in a while. And just out of the hospital, too. "Fenrir? Fitting, only a dog
would attack a woman like that." Tom rights himself, assuming a more defensive stance, "Thomas Magnusson, Cyborg."

"A dog?" The man shouts, eye widening. "I'm a WOLF!" And with that, he charges, cleaver swinging upwards, ready to be brought down on
Tom like a sword of damocles.

The blade swings down, but it isn't Tom he hits - it's one of the metal arms. He snarls. "Die!"

Clink.

And this is why he wears jackets. People always seem to go for the arms when they miss the head- The cleaver slides cleanly off his shoulder, shearing the
sleeve of his coat, but otherwise not even scratching his chromed limbs.

His turn. It would be a swift jab to the face- faster than most people could blink, and probably with more force than the standard heavyweight.

Fenrir manages to tilt his head out of the way, keeping the mask intact, but the blow strikes him full in the head, sending him flying.

As he thumps against the ground once, twice, three times, Shinji moves behind Tom. "I'll keep her safe." He mutters. "You fucking
idiot...you didn't have to get involved."

Fenrir pulls himself to his feet, brushing his hand across his bloody forehead. He licks the blood from his fingers, a wicked laugh erupting from his mouth as
he stands, wobbles once, and drops the meat cleaver. It hangs there from its string like a bee's stinger as he laughs, his hand going for his pocket

"Yeah, probably not. But I'm the kind of idiot who doesn't let crap like this up and hurt a lady," He slides the rest of his arm out of his
sleeve, "Go, now! And... Thanks, Shinji."

to draw forth a handkerchief. Slowly, he mops the blood from his face, still grinning as he stows it away and draws his cleaver back into his hand.

He laughs again, charging as his cleaver spins on its string, a deadly, heavy helicopter blade ready to slice Tom into itty bitty pieces.

And by god, does it hurt - the cleaver falls, slicing deep into Tom's shoulder once, twice, three times, four, five, each time digging deeper and deeper
into the bone and metal. Ouch.

Roll and Shinji are on their way down the street already, though - so at least Tom doesn't have to worry about that.

It feels like his arm's being hacked off. Again. Not that it was ever hacked off before. Not with him concious, that is. Regardless, the fact that he was
about to use that arm probably meant that the attack he launched wouldn't quite hurt enough.

Not to do any real damage, though.

Indeed, Fenrir tilts backwards, laughing as the fist simply grazes his face. He's still laughing as the butcher's knife snaps into his hand, rises,
and...

Falls. The string snaps, the butcher's knife goes flying backwards, falling to the ground as he'd expected the string to still be there. His overuse
with the spinning seems to have snapped it; the annoyance on his face is plain.

It's the opening he needs. Even with that blood loss, and the fact that he was more than just a little bit dizzy, a real boxer always waits until just the
right moment...

To punch the other guy's living daylights in.

The momentum he launched into his straight carries over, allowing his hand to slip around 'Fenrir's' wrist. A shift in body weight hurls the other
fighter's body into the air, feet first...

And head facing the earth.

And, of course, an uppercut with an uninjured arm.

He lands with a sickening "crunch", falling to the ground and flying across the street over a car and into a crowd of onlookers (who quickly part to
allow the body to land).

Shinji and Roll return, Shinji's knife stowed back in his shirt. "...nice shot," he mutters, nursing his own (bleeding) arm.

Tom winces as he spins with his own attack, clutching at the gaping hole in his shoulder. Even through the pain, he looks relieved- and maybe just a bit
prideful, "I just hope nobody cares to ID the freight train he took to the face. You guys okay?"

"We're fine," Roll replies, "Besides, if he'd gotten near me, bam!" She mimes hitting someone in the face. "I'd've
kicked him in the balls and sprayed him in the face!"

"Hahahah..." Tom chuckles- weakly, maybe, but none-the-less, he laughs, "Yeah, I don't doubt it- not with legs like yours."

Flirting and bleeding- defeating the stereotype that guys can't multitask well. Intentional, or is it accidental?

"Yeah, tha-"

Splort.

It's a horrible sound, a bloodspray - it always means, invariably, that something was cut, deep, and near a piece of the body involving pumping blood. So
when Roll's eyes widen as her shoulder splits open, blood splattering on Tom and Shinji's faces, it's understandable that she takes a moment to go
"...ew..." before she faints.

Across the street, Fenrir the Cutter is standing - though how, after such a brutal assault, remains to be seen. His mask is shattered, blood is pouring down
his face...

...and the half his face revealed is pitch black, eyes of malevolent red. Like a Requiem.

"Hahahahahahahahahahha!" Fenrir shrieks as he charges, two fingers extended from both hands, "Endgaaaaame!" Another sweep of his hand, and
Shinji barely manages to dodge the unseen attack (through sheer luck) as it nicks across his sweater shoulder.

It takes a second for Tom to realize what just happened. His train of thought was 'What the fuck' followed by 'Shit, Roll,' and lastly,
'How the hell is he still alive?'

It's at that moment that a knee meets Fenrir's face out of nowhere - a man in a black cloak, a similar white half-mask over the right side of his face,
and a piercing bright blue eye staring out from the visible half. Fenrir makes a 'whoof' sound and falls into his arm.

The man turns to look at Tom. "You win this round," he says calmly, bowing his head as the pair vanishes.

Shinji stares at his torn sleeve, grimacing as more blood spills out of his arm. "Shit..." He mutters.

There's a sound of metal clattering. It only becomes obvious in a moment that it was Tom's arms that were shaking. He was stunned, tremoring not only
out of shock, but rage toward that Fenrir bastard, and fear for Roll- and Shinji's lives.

It's enough to get him to ignore the shards of agony embedded in his shoulder. There were more important things...

"We need to get to a hospital.

Speaking of Roll, she's currently bleeding on the street, a pool of blood forming from her very badly sliced-open shoulder. Fortunately, she's still
breathing, but it's ragged.

Tom immediately goes to her side, ripping his torn sleeve from his jacket.

Unfortunately, the cut is extremely deep - and there's no easy way to bind it with just a sleeve. She needs immediate medical attention.

He wraps it as best he can around the wound to at least try and staunch the bleeding. It likely won't do much, but it should buy time. Careful to keep her
shoulder as un-ruptured as possible, he lifts her up, strength of will allowing him to render the wound in his own arm silent, "Shinji, get on my
shoulders."

"I don't want to get lost."

Shinjiro, however, is doing the smart thing - calling someone on his StarkPhone.

Can't blame Tom. He's pretty shaken.

He slams the phone shut as ambulance sirens can be heard nearby. It's a good thing the hospital's at least somewhat close.

Well, alright. It's a good thing the city isn't too fucking enormous.

He glances around- ambulance? Good. That'll do, too.

It's no Metropolis, that's for sure.

...Well, Pendragon, in this case.

Shinjiro similarly starts making his way for the alley.

It would leave Tom there with Roll, keeping her body warm for the EMT. What else could he do? Too shaken to think rationally, too worried to put her down...

And his own blood loss would begin taking its toll as well.

It's as Tom's blacking out that the EMTs arrive. The sound of people, and the feel of himself being lifted into the air...

When he awakes, he's back in the hospital, the same group of people (sans Shinjiro) looking over him.

"Twice in one day, Magnusson," Mitsuru informs him idly.

"That must be a new record for stupid stunts."

"Nggh..." This time, he's actually in pain. Less pain than before, but still pain, "If saving people is a stupid stunt, call me
Neandrathal." He props himself up with his good arm, leaning somewhat against the limb, "Sorry about doing this so often, guys."

"I don't date neanderthals," Mitsuru idly notes. Fuuka looks down at that, and the group files out of the room as an orderly shoos them away,
informing them that 'visiting hours are over'.

Fortunately, the paperwork goes by faster this time.

He's directed to a room four halls down from his, and it's noted that that's where 'that girl who came in with you' is being kept.

Probably because he was a repeat customer. Records and such- liscences. But again, he wasn't much worried about that. He glances into the room's
window, knocking once and allowing a moment to pass before entering.

Roll is hooked up to some sort of IV, but she's awake.

However, that's not what he should be concerned about at the moment. What he should be concerned about is Tron, whose hands quickly close about his
throat.

"How could you let this happen!?" She practically shrieks.

The half of Rock in the chair (it's a rather disturbing sight, but he's a full conversion cyborg, so it's not like it's that disturbing) has a
similarly irritated look on its face.

Well, that's not a very good thing to have happen. Ever. Really. He chokes on his own words before they pass his throat. If she wants to scream at him, she
can probably do as much as she wants now.

It seems that's all she wants to do right now, as she's now devolved into incoherent shouts about how he let the girl who was practically her little
sister nearly get killed and how terrified she is that she won't make it and a whole host of other things that really don't make too much sense but are
quite plainly irritations nonetheless.

It takes a little while until he's able to speak- whether it's that he grew tired of her exclamations, or that her grip loosened, "I'm so...
sorry."

...Either way, he's able to speak- somewhat, "The bastard was something else. I don't even know what... I was sure I knocked him out. Hit him into
the sky, but..."

It's probably the second, as now she's breathing heavily, her hands lowering to her sidees.

"Just...tell me how it happened," Rock says slowly.

He rubs at his throat. That's going to leave a mark. A nod, he goes over just what happened at the encounter. Roll taking him to chinese, having the bill
forced on him. Shinji falling out of the alley, Fenrir...

They listen with a grim silence. Finally, Rock nods.

"...I'm sorry. I guess you did the best you could."

The cleaver hurled at Roll from the get-go, the details of the fight, and... "He disappeared with this weird guy. Kneed him right in the face, and said I
had 'won' this round. Funny, I don't think I 'won' much at all," he says with a sad tone, eyes drifting to Roll's ravaged
shoulder, "I'm the one who should apologize. I should have checked if he was really down before relaxing."

"...They mentioned something about Endgame. Is she going to be alright?"

"I don't know what that is," Rock admits honestly. "The doctors said she should be okay, but she's lucky to be alive. She might not be
able to use her arm again without cybernetics."

"If I thought she wasn't going to be alright," Tron mutters hoarsely, "I'd've put you back in that bed."

"It's not his fault."

"I know," she mutters bitterly, "But tell that to my angry side."

Tom scratches at his bandage, "I wouldn't actually blame you if you did. Hell, I'd be pissed too, if my little sister had her shoulder torn
apart."

"Trust me, if I see that asshole again, he's going to get more than a black eye."

She nods. "He'd better."

It dawns on him, then, that he wondered back there in that alley why the other guy wasn't -DEAD- yet. Dead? He wasn't normally someone to wish death on
anyone. Was the city starting to get to him too?

Rock, too. Being decapitated from the torso down is generally a bad thing, "...Uh. I'm guessing that's not just a flesh wound."

"I'm fine." He replies, "I'm a full conversion cyborg. The only reason I'm here like this is that we got the call while Tron and I
were fixing my legs."

"Oh. I see," that's a topic he figures he better not touch, "I was asking Roll if I could take that package to Miss Toriyumi's back when
she and I were eating. It's the least I could do for you guys now."

"H...hey..." Roll's eyes open. "Tom..."

She cracks a bit of a grin. "If...I'm out of here by next week...will you go to the...the festival with me?"

"Sorry..." Roll admonishes after a moment. "...that was mean of me. I know...you have a date already."

She calls, he answers, moving slowly toward her bedside. Ohhh boy. This'll be hard to do. "Tell you what. If you can get out here by then, I'd be
glad to. But I'll also need you to get me a way to explain it to Fuuka."

"It's okay," she murmurs, "I probably won't...be out of here by then, anyway. You don't...have to take me. I was just teasing."

"You know....lighten the mood."

"...Well, if you're not out of here by then..."

"I'm...going back to sleep now, okay? Night, hot stuff..." And with that, she drifts off.

Rock rubs the side of his head, looking annoyed. "We'll keep an eye on her," he promises.

"You don't have to deliver the package. We'll close down the shop for a few days."

"Thanks for protecting her."

"...Damn. Missed it. Mind telling her that I'll get her noodles as soon as she recovers?"

"Sure."

"Be careful, alright?"

He blinks, chuckling a bit. A hand is stuffed into his pocket- the one that's not torn up, "Don't worry about it. I'll be glad to deliver- I
need to make it up to you guys, and I'd be going over to Toriumi's anyway." 'Be careful?' It makes him feel better at least, "Yeah, I
will. Thanks."

"...the package is on the desk," Tron replies.

"Lock up behind you."

"I will," he replies, turning toward the portal, "You three take care of yourselves. If anything happens, call my cell. I'll leave the
number in the office."

"Uh-huh."

Click. He shuts the door after himself. This was really an interesting day...

And he still needed to apologize to Yukari.

Shinjiro is waiting a few blocks down. His arm is in a makeshift sling, but other than that, he seems okay.

"She alright?"

"Yeah, she's fine," he nods. Somber, still, from the sight of Roll and her injury, "How about you?"

"Aki bandaged it up."

"That's good. So I need to ask..."

"What the hell is Endgame?"

"A gang." He answers, one hand in his pocket.

"I had a contact in them...but when we met today, Fenrir tailed him."

"Found out about me and gutted the guy from head to toe with that fucking cleaver."

"I see," Tom humms, rolling his shoulder to pop the joint. It wouldn't- metal and all, "Yeah. It didn't look like he needed a cleaver
though. That bastard was weird."

"They work for VitaTech, at least informally," Shinjiro replies.

"I think the higher-ups let 'em fuck around with their bodies in exchange for power."

"VitaTech? That might explain why his eye looked so creepy."

"You think they're performing experiments with Requiems?

"Dunno."

"You think they were involved with that body you found?"

"Maybe."

"Guy might've known too much. Gotten himself in over his head, and Endgame took care of him." Shinjiro shrugs. "Just a theory."

"It makes sense. Guy was a guard, after all. And he was listed as a possible Requiem."

"...Interesting, that. If the Agency can extract Requiems and possibly put them who knows where, perhaps VitaTech simply killed two birds with one
stone."

"Mmm." Shinjiro shakes his head. "Dunno."

"Not a detective."

"I'll take it up with the boss later on. Will you be okay?"

"Yeah."

"Alright. Be careful out there."

With that, Shinjiro departs, leaving Tom alone in front of the Twilight Detective Agency's familiar, and at least semi-inviting (kinda?) front.

"Are you Tom Magnusson?"

"I am."

It's a female voice from around the corner, and she rounds it a moment later - her face is obscured by a full white mask much like the one worn by Endgame,
and she's got...well, hell, she's got a Mitsuru-level body. Her hair is obscured by a hood and cloak, but...well, hell.

"I'd like to hire you."

"My name is Hel. I'm a member of Endgame."

"You people really like the Norse motif. What do you want?"

"It isn't just norse. It's monsters." She makes her way over, her hips swinging back and forth. "I'd like to hire you to handle
something for me."

"You've heard of the Full Moon Knight, yes?"

"I have."

"I'd like you to kill him."

"Or, at least, get him arrested."

"I don't care which. But he needs to pay."

"And why should I help a bunch of people who just sliced open a good friend of mine?"

She clenches her fist. "It isn't for Endgame."

"It's for my brother."

"And how can I be sure I trust you?"

"If you beat him," she says after a moment, adjusting her stance, "I'll tell you everything I know about Fenrir the Cutter...including where
he hangs out." Her hand traces across Tom's cheek. "I'm sure you wouldn't mind that trade."

"Considering what I heard from Roc about his little stunt with that poor girl..."

His arm trembles just slightly, "Now, that's the problem, you see."

"Besides. If you beat the Full Moon Knight, he grants you one wish, doesn't he?" Her hand returns to supporting her cleavage, a finger rising.
"You could wish her back to health."

"So what do you have to lose from helping me?"

"Dignity, self-respect? That guy, that Moon-Knight, what did he do to your brother anyway?"

"I just..." She looks away. "...he's in a coma right now. Room 406."

"The doctor said he wouldn't ever recover. His brain was damaged by the attack."

"The only reason he's still on life-support is that I wanted to use the wish to bring him back to life."

"But I can't beat him. It's all I could do to get away with my life intact."

"I'll look into it."

"That's all I ask."

"But I want to know something first."

"What is it?"

"What does Endgame have to do with the Requiems?"

"I..." She starts. "...I can't tell you."

"I'm sorry. If you beat the Full Moon Knight, maybe."

"That's fine. You've told me enough."

"...thank you." She moves, miming kissing him on the cheek, despite the full-face mask.

Tom sighs inwardly. He's too damned nice sometimes.

"I suppose I'll see you after the full moon."

"...thank you. Excuse me...I have to leave now."

"I have somewhere I have to be."

With that, she heads off, walking down the street - quite a change from the other guy's disappearance.

"I'd say be careful, but I doubt you'll need it," he murmurs, turning toward the path to the Bonne Garage. He's been down the road
before, so it shouldn't be TOO bad.

It's not. It's an easy find, the package is there...

And, hopefully, Miss Toriumi's address.

It's listed right atop the package.

At least something's going right tonight.

He hoists the package under his un-injured arm, and scribbles his phone number onto a scrap of paper.

He leaves it, quite unobtrusively in one of the desk drawers.

...And leaves. Time to talk to a teacher. He still has that book, right?

It's not long before he finds his way to her apartment - she's in a decent part of town, so that's, at least, a nice change of pace.

It was better than downtown- or the slums around the school, anyway.

He makes his way into the lobby. Elevators, elevators...

He probably needs to check with the clerk, too. If there's one there.

...Who isn't asleep.

She isn't. She helpfully informs Tom of the apartment number and calls ahead to note that there's a package and all that nice and proper stuff one
never expects a clerk to actually do competently.

That night, Beelzebub enjoyed a cold run across Cocytus. Tom proceeds to the apartment number he was given. Knock-knock...

"Hello?" Miss Toriumi opens the door, staring at him for a moment. "Oh, hi! Tom, right? We met at the outdoor market."

He nodds an affirmative, "That's right. It's good to see you again."

"Uhm, I hope you don't mind, but Roll and Rock are a bit out of it, so I'm delivering tonight."

"No, no problem at all. Thank you." She takes the computer, nearly dropping it from the weight, and grunts as she lifts it back into her arms.
"Oof."

"Do you want me to carry it in? I don't mind..."

"You're...oof...so helpful! Yeah...whoof...if you don't mind?"

He chuckles, carfully recieving the computer with his mechanical arms, "I actually needed to ask you something... So uhm, where do I put this?"

"Um...in here. Desk." She leads him inside - it's a messy room. "My roommate's a little out of it, I'm afraid - old friend, she just
got moved here - and we were having a bit of a party when, well...heh." She laughs, rubbing the back of her head. "You know how it can be."

"So what did you want to talk to me about?"

The computer settles onto the desk with a soft thud, "No problem at all. I had my share of messy roommates." He hid the fact that he wasn't too
sure she wasn't the one who did all this. "Oh, I was going to ask..."

The book is slid out of his coat and flipped to the appropriate page... Souji Seta, "I'm looking for an old student of yours. I think he might have
information regarding a case I'm investigating."

"Seta..." She makes a 'hrm' sound. "He moved away a really long time ago."

"I got a christmas card from him...I think he's in Area Eleven these days."

"I see. Japan, huh? That's pretty far away..."

"Did it come with a return address? I might be able to find his phone number, or something."

"Sorry...I threw it out." She gestures at the apartment. "Not enough room to keep stuff like that."

"Wait till next Christmas maybe?" She offers, a grin on her face.

A sigh. That lead was dead, it seemed... "Heh, I might have to. Do you know if anyone he was close to might live nearby?"

"Mmmm...not really."

"I didn't actually teach them directly, I was...how do I put this...his class had me for composition, but I didn't have them for homeroom, so I
don't know who he was close to."

"Ah. Well..."

There were others they mentioned...

"Yukiko, Chie, Rise, Kanji, Naoto- how about them?"

"I'm sorry...I didn't teach any of them."

"I understand. Are any of the other faculty in the area?"

"Hoo...well, um..."

"...sort of."

"Um... Sort of?"

"My...roommate."

"Oh. Well. That could work."

She was probably a cougar.

Y'know- if Tom's luck was to be trusted.

If the beer cans all over the place are to be trusted, she's actually more of a lush.

"She just got back from New London, actually...military thing."

"Oh. Did she?"

"Heh, I didn't think people in the military drank this much."

"Misato's an exception," she agrees.

"So's her penguin."

"...Penguin?

"I... Uhm..."

"...She has a penguin?"

"Like, as a pet?"

"Yeah."

"It's complicated."

"I... see. Will she be home soon, or should I check back another time?"

Said Misato seems to be in her late 20s, half-naked (well, bra and short-shorts), and very, very hung-over. She enters the kitchen, slumps down at the table,
and immediately knocks back yet another beer as a hot-springs penguin waddles past.

"Make the lights go 'way," Misato mutters.

Miss Toriumi shakes her head and flips a switch.

Now that the lights have dimmed, Misato straightens, making the fact that the bra is not hers (probably stolen from Miss Toriumi) far more apparent.

That it's sizes too small is even more apparent.

Tom surmised that those hills were less mounds and more mountains. The everests of breasts. He hasn't, of course, met Kalen yet.

"Uh..." An almost-whisper, "That's her?"

...Awwwkward.

"That's her," Miss Toriumi whispers back.

"I'm getting the feeling she's the kind of person to force you into embarassing situations for shits and giggles."

Still a whisper.

...Things like Synchro-Dance.

"You have a good intuition."

"I'm a criminal psychologist."

She just sort of nods, not terribly surprised.

Tom clears his throat, slow and deliberate in his approach. Heavy thuds on the floor, though, "Uh, hello, Miss Misato?"

"Who...?"

"Misato... That's your name, right?" Oh boy. She was wasted.

"...I know who I am," she mutters, "Who are you?"

"Oh. Sorry. I'm Thomas Magnusson. Investigator."

"Would you mind if I asked you a few question regarding some old students of yours?"

"Goahead...just keep it down."

"Alright..."

He popped the book onto the desk. A page was open- with the members of SEES. Photos of them- most of them... "Do you know of anyone who might have a way
to contact Souji Seta?"

"Uh-uh."

"Perhaps one of these individuals?"

"Not at all?"

She leans over the page (and it looks like her boobs are about ready to blow that bra clean off as she does, too) and sleepily looks over the list.
"Mmm...oh! That Naoto kid...she's a detective now. Works in...the big city. Pendragon."

"Dunno about Kanji or Yuki...Chie...Chie..." She thinks long and hard, a frown on her face. "...OH!" She nearly shouts, immediately
regretting it if her wince is any indication. "Think she's working in a movie."

[ArachnosX]

Requiem 09: Further Enlightenment

"Working in a movie?" Tom blinks, she didn't look like the type to be an actress... A bit too tomboyish, maybe, "Uhm, well, what about
Teddy? Or Yosuke?"

"Teddy..." Misato scratches the back of her head, wincing again. "Hmmmm...No...I don't know where he is, either...and Yosuke..." She
trails off. "...hang on. Why...?"

It seems her drunkenness is slowl

y working itself off.

"Did they do somethin' wrong?"

"No, no. Nothing like that," Tom's eyes trail away from the page before realizing that they accidentally worked their way into her cleavage. He
returned to the book, "I just need to ask them questions in regards to the incident at the school- and regarding Minato.

"Minato..."

Isako (Miss Toriumi) looks away at that, a bit of a flush on her face as his name is mentioned.

Misato frowns. "...oh...that."

The change of atmosphere isn't not lost on Tom. Looks like he just touched a nerve... "Yes, I believe it may somehow tie into current events within
the city. Anything you know- anything- would be helpful."

Misato looks over at Isako as the other woman finds her way out of the room, closing the door. The blue-haired ex-teacher focuses back on Tom, a frown on her
face as her hangover clears. "...ehn..."

"I need a beer. I don't know that I want to talk about this sober."

Tom winces as the door shuts behind him. Yeah, definitely touched a nerve. "I'm sorry, this must be painful for the both of you... But there are
things happening in this city- I understand. Go ahead."

She cracks open one of the beers from the fridge after a moment bent over rooting around in the bottom box, then turns back to stare at Tom, a serious
expression on her face despite the nigh-naked state she's in. A very unbashful woman, apparently.

"Minato was a good kid. Very straight-and-narrow." She takes a swing. "Popular. Outgoing. Bright. Lots of people liked him."

"Including Isako," she adds meaningfully, jerking a thumb at the door. "He was a nice, smart, unobtrusive kid."

Nigh-naked, and thankfully not too cold. Tom wouldn't be able to handle that- not today, and not well enough to be convincing, "Please, go on. What
happened to change him?"

"...I mean, in regards to Ryoji."

"Ryoji was the other big, popular kid at the school. He did a lot of reading, was practically Minato's best friend. But Ryoji was dating that
girl...what'sername...Yukari."

"I don't know what happened, but Minato just snapped one day. Word is he ambushed them on a date, beat Ryoji to death, and...well..."

"It was never proven, though."

"That was a little ways after graduation."

"...I see. Please, tell me, how well did Souji know Minato? Were they close at all?" Connections, connections. He had to find the connection...
"And Minato, he just snapped? Was he acting strangely before then at all?"

"I don't know how well they knew each other." She takes another sip of her beer. "And I don't think Minato had been any different...I
mean, besides that pretty much everybody knew he was in love with Yukari."

"Was he?" Well, there's something interesting, "But she didn't necessarily share the same feelings?"

And he just 'snapped...' So it's possible...

"I don't know if she did or not."

"I see. Was there anyone else Minato was close with who might still be around? Besides the club, I mean."

"A lot of people leave this city." She replies quietly, "A lot of people...." She purses her lips, wrapping one arm around her stomach.
"...well, people just can't take the weird stuff that seems to happen so often. So most people just move away. I came back, but only because I got
sick of dealing with giant robots invading the city."

"New London, I mean."

"...Uhm. Giant robots invading the city?" One would think he'd be used to that sort of thing- giant robots. Really, he wasn't. He generally
stayed well away from the Knightmares back in college... "Er, nevermind. So there's probably nobody around here who might know more?"

"Not that I can think of offhand."

"Is there anything else you might know? It doesn't have to be anything that might seem relevant. Just anything will do."

"Mmm...well, the guy who prosecuted the case is still around...so's the policeworker who found Ryoji's body."

"...I see. Could I have their names, if you know them?"

"Miles Edgeworth is the prosecutor...and, ah...Roger Smith is the freelancer who found the body."

"Edgeworth and Smith... Alright. Thank you very much for your time. I'm sorry for dredging up such unhappy memories."

"Salright." She takes another pull. "It's life."

"Yes, and it's a harsh reality, but that's why we need to make it just a little bit easier," He rises, gathering the yearbook into his coat,
"Thank you again. Please give my regards to Miss Toriumi."

"Will do. Take it easy."

"You too," With that, he offers a short nod, turning to leave the apartment- not, perhaps, with the information he was looking for... but at least,
something to go on... "Edgeworth and Smith... Why do those sound familiar?"

Tom wanders out of the apartment complex, glancing up at the sky to ascertain an idea of just what time it was.

It's starting to get very, very late. Nearly Requiem-time late.

Then it's probably a good idea to get back to base before anything strange happens... After all, he doesn't know where to find either Smith or
Edgeworth yet anyway.

A bit of a walk later, and Tom makes it inside the comfortable Detective Agency as the mist so common to the area closes in, nighttime settling across the city
like a blanket. Yukari seems to have gone to bed - it's Fuuka sitting at the desk, diligently writing something.

Comfortable being the key word. Tom pushes inside, shrugging his coat from his shoulders to hang on a nearby... something. A coat rack, hopefully,
"I'm home."

There's always a coat rack. "Evening," Fuuka says, looking up. "Are you...um, are you feeling better?"

Tom chuckles, rubbing at the section of shoulder that was just earlier in the day bleeding most profusely, "Yeah, I'm fine. How's everything been
over here?"

"Oh, um..." She frowns. "Minato went out with Boss again...Yukari's asleep...and Junpei started cleaning about a half-hour ago."

"Ah, I see..." Tom strolls to the counter after extracting the yearbook from his coat. Future reference, after all, "Uhm, Fuuka, you
wouldn't happen to know how to contact Souji Seta, would you?"

"U-hm..." She thinks, long and hard. "Hm..."

"No...I don't have his number. Uhm...what did you need it for?"

"Oh, I just wanted to talk to him about something, that's all... What about a Miles Edgeworth, or Roger Smith?"

"I...um..." She looks down. "I...can....ask Yukari tomorrow..."

"Thanks a lot Fuuka. I think I've got a pretty good lead on... Well, on a whole lot of things. I'm sorry if I've been worrying you."

She smiles. "It's...it's okay. You're...still taking me to the festival, right?" She lights up red as a Christmas scarf.

Tom chuckles, giving her a broad grin, "Of course! I said yes, didn't I?"

She nods and goes back to whatever it is she's writing.

It's getting awfully late. At least nothing's happened yet.

Nothing he knows of, anyway...

"So, uhm..." It looks like he's in the mood for conversation, "What are you writing?"

"Just...um, just doing..." She looks away. "...a psych profile..."

A tilt of the brow, "Erm, for whom?"

"The...the agency."

"Oh, I see."

"...I'm...trying to find out who...might turn into what." She murmurs guiltily.

"Oh, you mean in terms of Requiems."

He tosses her another grin, "Well then, what does it say about me?"

"You're...type...um...R-0." She answers, pressing her fingers together. The young analyst frowns. "...suicidal impulses manifesting as
recklessness leading towards erratic behavior and the ignorance of wounds, as well as high tolerance for pain."

"...Soooo in other words... I'm crazy enough to plough through pain in order to accomplish a goal?"

"...uh-huh."

"Similar to R-2, but without the actual suicide implication."

"Is there anything about traits in those files? I mean, in regards to the Requiem produced."

"...And for that matter, I wonder which one you are."

"The traits are really varied," Fuuka informs him, "Psychologically, they tend to be magnified from whatever they were in life...but physically
they seem to have a lot of variance."

"I see. So there may be another factor affecting physical ability- or perhaps, that is an entirely random matter."

"So you're saying that if I were to produce a requiem, it'd more likely jump off a bridge to, say, destroy a target than others."

"Sort of...not more, because R-2s are blatantly suicidal berserkers...yours is more likely to jump off a bridge for no reason at all than others."

Well, that was certainly reassuring, "Ah. I see.:

"It's...weird. Requiems don't seem to care about their own deaths...or anything but eating, really."

"But this list goes all the way up to R-10s...Requiems who died peacefully, in their sleep, and for no reason at all, but psychologically somehow still
produced Requiems...and the R-11s they mentioned on the last page are even more unusual."

"...Really? So perhaps it's not mental trauma at all... What are the R-11s like?"

"...there's no information on them. It just says, 'See File 148'."

"...And we don't have that file."

"That's right."

"I wonder if Mitsuru could help out with that... Probably not. They likely increased security since I pulled that one out of there. So uhm..."

"How about the rest of the agency? I'm curious!"

"I...haven't finished." She looks down. "I was just bored and...well...started thinking about it...and you were the first to come to
mind."

Another chuckle, "I'm flattered!"

"...you seem to get nearly-killed more than anybody else."

"I can't help it if my mind slips into Heroic Mode every time I get into a scuffle!"

"...'heroic mode'?"

"Erm, I tend to rush into harm's way to keep others out of it."

"Oh! Yes....that's...true. Which...is unusual, because you're a psychologist and all..."

"Unusual? How so?"

"...you're not exactly a specialist in a, um, combat-intensive field...?"

"Oh, well..."

"Just because it says I'm a psychologist doesn't mean I don't do other things- After all, I used to box quite a bit back in Pendragon."

"And besides that, I was raised well, so I'm a bit inclined to do that sort of thing."

"I...see." She smiles at him. "Well...I think it's really cool...ah!" She blushes again, burying her head back in her work.
"...a-anyway, it's getting late...I should probably go to sleep..."

And this is why Fuuka is adorable, "Go ahead. I'll probably be heading that way myself soon- if boss and Headphones don't get home before
then."

She nods and stands, heading upstairs with her papers clutched to her chest.

Tom watches her leave, chuckling to himself before settling down onto one of the couches.

Comfy couch.

Comfy couch indeed. The question now is... What was going to happen?

...apparently, absolutely nothing. The night goes on, and as the clock strikes midnight, it becomes increasingly apparent that the fog is not supernatural in
nature - it's just fog.

And the other two haven't returned either... About time to turn in, Tom feels. If they aren't home by now... Then there's no point in waiting any
longer. He'll just end sleepless.

The next day...

A pleasant awakening is otherwise spoiled by an alarm clock going off in his ear, but it seems the Twilight Detective Agency's still standing when he opens
his eyes. The unfriendly alarm clock, however, is probably not the worst way in the world to wake up, all things considered.

It is, at least, an awakening. Better awake than not, and better a rising sun than a not rising one. He does, however, make a note to smash that alarm clock
one of these days,...

...And probably would have otherwise been able to when he shut it off- except for the fact that his was reinforced.

The alarm clock is shut off, and Tom is allowed to go through his morning rituals without any interruptions from any of the myriad folks living at the Agency.

Surprising, all things considered. Then again, he's quickly becoming just another resident. Another strange, cybernetic, mildly suicidal one, but another
part of the day none the less.

Downstairs, Yukari is manning the phone and in a heated discussion with someone.

He moves himself downstairs once properly dressed. Was anyone even home?

Tom's heavy footsteps wind their way to the kitchen. He was hungry- was there any food?

There's a fair bit of food in there. Enough to make himself a decent breakfast.

Then it was time to begin! No day can start without an ample breakfast.

After breakfast, it seems Yukari is still talking on the phone. However, it seems to actually be a client, which is far more interesting than just some
girl-talk arguing. Finally, she sets the phone down, yawns, and waves.

"Morning, Tommygun."

Tom waves back, swallowing what remained of the sandwich he put together for breakfast before responding, "G'morning. How's everything
going?"

"It's okay. Just...dealing with some organizational stuff."

"Oh, I see. So who was that on the other line?" He lands himself in that couch again. Mm. Couch.

She grins. "A client."

"A client? Well, that's interesting..."

"What's the case?"

"A disappearance."

"Police say it's nothing to worry about, so they turned to us."

"A disappearance eh? Let's hope it's not another Requiem case."

"Oh, right, I was meaning to ask you... Do you know where I might be able to find Miles Edgeworth or Roger Smith?"

"Crossing our fingers." She agrees. "Edgeworth's the city's prosecutor-on-call, actually. And Roger's Phoenix Wright's
half-brother."

"Edgeworth's usually at the district courthouse, and Roger lives a bit outside the city in his mansion."

"I'll have to pay them a visit sometime. I've got a few questions for 'em both."

"Anything about the case that's interesting? I might be able to lend an opinion or two."

"I'll let you know when they drop off the stuff. The police think it's gang-related."

"...Is this gang called Endgame?"

"They're not sure," Yukari replies, wiggling her finger in his direction as she blows a bubble of her gum. "Just think the disappearance is
gang-related. Anyway, Fuuka left the note for me about Edgeworth and Roger, so I wrote down their addresses."

"And got you a map, and highlighted it," she adds wryly, "So you can get there like a big boy instead of wandering all over the city."

Tom chuckles. But inside? A wince. Ow, so she heard about his little run through the city, did she? "Heh, thanks a lot. I appreciate it."

"...And if you guys need me to, I'll keep an ear to the ground about that case. See if anything pops up."

"Good idea, Tommygun. See you later." She picks up the phone as it rings, mouthing 'gotta take this'.

He deftly slides the map from the table, nodding a goodbye before turning to leave himself, "Oh, I need to talk to the Boss and headphones later. Thanks
again Yuka." A mechanical hand runs itself through his hair, as he moves through the portal out of the office. Time to get the day started.

Yukari's map is actually quite helpful - it seems to lead him to Edgeworth's apartment first, as the Smith Manor seems to be outside Vespertine proper.

Understandable. Something like a Manor would have been a bit too... obstructive in a town like this one. He glances up the facade of the structure for a
moment, moving forward only when he has a pretty decent idea of this guy's living standards.

Edgeworth is in the higher-class of citizens. His apartment complex is nearly a penthouse (only beaten out in that the penthouse is owned by someone else), and
according to the number, is fairly high up there...making him one of the important people who doesn't want to get burgled.

Or, perhaps, bothered.

The doorman holds out his hand to block Tom's procedure.

A smirk creeps across his face. One of these kinds- should be interesting. He makes his way inside- wait, guess not... "Uhm, is there a problem,
sir?"

"Identification and business, please." The guard replies blankly.

Tom slides his wallet from his coat pocket, flipping through the layers to get to that... Where was it, that card...

There. Driver's liscence, Brittanian, of course, "The name's Thomas Magnusson, currently in the employ of the Twilight Detective Agency. I need to
ask one of your tenants a few questions regarding a case."

He looks at the license for a moment, then hands it back to Tom, still barring his way. "No can do."

Tom slides the card back into his wallet, and the wallet back into his coat, "I take it that there's a no Sleuth policy?"

Simultaneously, the man nods his head, removing his hat to tip it at a man in a horrendous pink-and-white tuxedo as he opens the door for the man.
"Morning, Mister Edgeworth. Picking up some of your books?"

"Can you at least make a call up to Miles Edgeworth's sui- Oh! Just who I needed to see!" Tom tried to pry his eyes away from the suit, just
barely succeeding... Then it gets caught in the ruffled collar, before finally looking the man in the eye, "Hello sir, my name is Thomas Magnusson,
detective. Could I ask you a few questions regarding the case of Ryoji Mochizuki?"

Edgeworth stops. "A detective?" He asks slowly.

"That's right. I'm actually in the employ of the man you prosecuted way back when. The thing is, I think there are details of that case that might
pertain to one I'm currently investigating."

"...Well, one of the men you prosecuted. I've heard you've got quite the track record."

"Go away." Edgeworth pushes the door in. "That case is over."

"Yes, I realize that, but there are forces at work in this city- things that need uncovering. That is the job of the prosecution, is it not? To pursue a
truth?"

"The job of prosecution is to punish the guilty."

With that, he slams the door behind him.

'Hmph, figures,' Tom humms to himself, 'this'll be a bit tougher than I thought.'

...Well, there was still one more link he could pursue before he went -THAT- far.

Tom sighs, pulling away from the apartment complex... Next stop, Roger Smith.

THAT one requires a taxi called.

About half an hour later, the taxi deposits him at the gate of a large manor.

...An impressive manor, if Big-O memories do not fail this one. If there's an intercom system, he looks to use it.

The intercom is hanging right outside the gate.

He pushes the page button and awaits a response.

"Hello?" A very Pendragon-accented voice inquires. "Who may I say is calling?"

"Hello there. I am Thomas Magnusson, detective. Would it be alright if I came inside to ask a few questions of Mr. Smith regarding a case I am currently
investigating?"

"Are you wearing black, sir?"

He looked down at himself. His coat was black... "I'd say yes. Mostly black, at any rate."

"I could take off what isn't black, but then I'd be shirtless."

"Very good, sir." The door swings open. "I will announce your presence and meet you at the door."

"Buttoning whatever you are wearing above it shall suffice."

"I will do that. Thank you."

"Of course, sir." The call system blinks off.

Tom makes his way up the manse's driveway, buttoning his coat together as he went. Thankfully, it wasn't -TOO- beat up these days. Spares did quite a
bit to help, after all.

Heavy footsteps brought him to the doorway of this mansion, knocking gently as he arrives.

At the manor's actual door, he is met by an older gentleman in a handsome black tuxedo. "Good morning, Mister Magnusson. Master Roger is in dining
room - allow me to take you there at once."

"My name is Norman - I am Master Roger's faithful servant and guardian." He turns after this little introduction is complete, heading into the
house with a beckoning for Tom to follow.

"Good morning, it is good to meet your acquaintance." He nods in agreement, following the aged manservant into the house proper itself. Norman looked
old, but something about him was nagging the detective- like this one could fire heavy weaponry barehanded, or something to a similar effect.

As he follows, Tom takes the opportunity to observe his surroundings. It wasn't every day you were able to walk about inside a mansion, after all.

The manor is quite impressive. As Norman leads him into the dining hall, piano music can be heard from upstairs, drifting through the huge halls with an
impressive acoustic.

In the dining hall, Roger Smith sits, calmly eating pancakes in a black tuxedo (goodness, who wears a tuxedo at breakfast?). He looks up as Norman and Tom
enter. "Is this Mister Magnusson?"

"Yes, sir, Master Roger."

Obviously, someone who really liked his suits. It's either that, or this one was a fan of the noir setting to the point of obsession. Tom gives his host a
polite nod, "Hello sir. I am Thomas Magnusson, it's an honor to make your acquaintance."

"Nice to meet you. Want some pancakes?" Roger gestures to the stack in the center of the table.

Norman departs, probably to do something else. "Feel free to have a seat," Roger continues. "And tell me about why you're here."

Tom chuckles, sliding into an unoccupied seat, "Thanks, I'd be glad to have some, if you don't mind," Fork, knife, plate- were they nearby,
or set for a meal already? "I'm actually here to investigate an incident that may be possibly related to one I'm currently pursuing."

"It is in regards to the death of Ryoji Mochizuki."

The table is actually set for four - Norman, the piano player, Roger, and (presumably) company.

Roger frowns. "That was years ago. Why are you investigating this now?"

Tom slides a spare pancake onto his plate and begins- carefully- to slice it into squares before adding whatever was on hand as a topping, "The killer is
my boss, and the incident that occured at his highschool may be related not only to the reason behind Ryoji's death, but also to the rash of disappearances
in the city as of late."

Roger wipes his mouth with a napkin in a manner of dress altogether unseen these days. "I never thought he was the killer." Roger informs Tom after a
moment, setting the napkin down politely. "There were too many flaws in that case that didn't make sense to me."

"It was only because of Phoenix that he was acquitted, and it was a close one at that."

"Mm, nor do I," Tom pops a section of pancake into his mouth, swallowing before beginning again, "I've heard that Minato held quite a fair
bit of affection for Ryoji's girlfriend, Yukari Takeba- and also that Ryoji was evidently Minato's best friend back in class... It doesn't make
sense for him to have simply snapped like that."

"There's more than that. The murder weapon itself." Roger folds his hands in front of him, putting his elbows on the table and settling his chin
on his hands. "He wasn't beaten to death or shot, or anything else a teenager might be able to get their hands on."

"He was ripped apart. The only reason I was able to identify him is that said girlfriend was present at the murder, and she's too traumatized to
discuss it."

Roger presses his hand in his face. "It was horrible."

Tom nods, swallowing more of the pancake on his plate. After several bites, he wipes some of the syrup from his lips, "...Ripped apart.
That's..."

"Not possible. Not for a human being."

"I'm sorry, sir. But that is uncharacteristically similar to what I've come to face in the city since my arrival."

"I agree. It isn't."

"You have to understand something about Vespertine City." Roger frowns. "I take it you're new here, by the accent."

"Yeah, I've only been in town for a week or so."

"But the things I've seen... Of a gang by the name of Endgame, and creatures that stalk the night- this city isn't normal."

'But that's why the people need help."

"Vespertine City is a city of willing amnesia. People come here to forget about things, and they close their eyes to a lot of what goes on in the
streets."

"VitaTech owns over seventy percent of the city - literally - and people just like to pretend that things could never happen to them so long as
they're not on the streets too late at night."

"I'm sure you've noticed," he continues, pouring himself a glass of orange juice, "That the only people outside at night are thugs and
drunks, and even the drunks tend not to be out when it gets truly dark."

The image of Edgeworth slid as if a slide into his memory- So was it just that he didn't wish to remember? "Yeah. It's like the city's dead at
night. Has it always been like this, Mister Smith?"

"For a long time," he replies. "And please, call me Roger."

"You're a guest, which makes you a friend here."

"It's appreciated, Roger. Then please, feel free to call me Tom," he says with a smile. Another friend in this strange city of fog and shadow,
"I feel like I can trust you, so I need to ask, have you ever heard of Requiems, Roger?"

"..." Roger frowns at this. "There are monsters that walk the night," he says, "And not all of them are people. But not all of them
are Requiems."

"This is a city of rumors, myths, legends, and shadows."

"Of monsters masquerading as men. I had a run in with one of them, myself," Tom touches at the wound in his shoulder. It still stung, that one,
"A requiem almost killed three of my coworkers, and a man by the name of Fenrir nearly took the life of an innocent girl."

"Fenrir...Fenrir..." Roger's frown deepens. "You don't mean Fenrir the Cutter?"

"Even then, there's another asking for my help in vengeance toward a knight in moonlight. It's a strange city, Roger."

"That's the one."

"He took a bite out of my shoulder- I had thought I took care of him, but..."

The eye. His eye, that image pushed itself to the fore of his memory, "...His face, it's not human. Not totally human, anyway. He sliced her open
without a weapon. Glowing red eye, pitch black skin..."

"I don't know which is more dangerous, the Requiems, or this Endgame group."

"I've never seen what's under Endgame's masks." Roger informs him, "But Endgame, Endgame can be negotiated with."

"That's my job. I'm a negotiator. So if you ever need someone to back you up, feel free to call me."

"It's appreciated. I might actually need your services soon... Depending on what happens in the near future."

"Tell me about the Moonlight Knight."

"There's a rumor going around town- or maybe a legend, of a knight who grants wishes that appears on every full moon."

"The only way to be granted your wish is to defeat him in combat. The thing is, there's this girl who wants it dead- for vengeance..."

"And she's a member of Endgame," Roger finishes for him.

"That's right."

"She requested to remain anonymous, so if it's alright, I'll keep my word on that. Yes, she has a brother in intensive care, comatose now, because
of the knight. At the same time, I'm unwilling to go through on my end of the deal- I still don't know much about this knight. If it's not truely
malicious, I'd not want to end its life, and I can think of a way to appease her without killing, but I need to investigate that as well."

Roger nods.

"There's always the thought that this person might be risky to awaken, or if I do, she may refuse to cooperate. After all, I know better than to wish
for a solution to this case from a genie or fairy godmother, or anything. Those never end well for any involved."

"There's also the case of the incident that followed Ryoji's death at that school. The one that led to its closure."

"I've been told that there were... experiments on those grounds. Ones regarding pulling creatures from beyond the veil into our own, or something like
that. I've got a feeling that it ties into the Requiem as well."

"...Speaking of which, you wouldn't happen to know how long they have been appearing, would you?"

"I'm not sure. For as long as I can remember - it's always seemed to be a sort of natural thing."

"And they strike so rarely, nobody really cares to stamp them out."

"I see. But the thing is that they're apparantly interesting enough to merit research from VitaTech."

"I'm not surprised."

"We're looking into what they're after in regards to the Requiems now, but so far, we've come to a bit of a dead end."

"Again, I'm not surprised. VitaTech is rock-solid when it comes to their security. You'd have to be a family member to get to the really secret
stuff."

"Especially since that recent robbery."

"What we have uncovered is interesting, though. They seem to have attributed certain personality traits to the appearance of Requiems, and on top of that,
a VitaTech security guard we have been investigating was recently found dead."

Tom neglected to mention who exactly it was that made the robbery, but he figured that Roger already had an idea.

"I heard about that. But there's no suspect."

"Yeah, we've noticed that as well. The best way to get more info is really to tap the net, or someone inside the business itself. Otherwise, it'll
be impossible to follow that thread... But if it's as you've said, and VitaTech controls much of the city, I'd not be surprised if they had a hand
in manipulating Endgame as well."

"His body was found far enough out of town to avoid the authorities for quite a while. The guy who found the body for me was chased down by Endgame
following the investigation."

"He's pretty tight lipped, so I'm not sure if there's any relation, but it's possible. That's about when I encountered Fenrir."

"...I'm wondering if VitaTech's research into the Requiems has gone so far as to implant aspects of the creatures in human test subjects. If
Fenrir's any indication, it seems pretty likely."

"So you think Endgame is VitaTech's personal research group?"

"It's a possibility. And if they are, they'd also make a great team of hitmen, in my opinion."

"That's a pretty good conclusion. Like I said, I've never been able to get under their masks, but at least they can be reasoned with."

"Killing two birds with one stone seems like the kind of thing a corporation that powerful would do. On top of that, I haven't seen much police
investigation into the matter, so it's possible that VitaTech's hand is influencing them as well."

"That's almost certain," Roger agrees, "That's why I quit the police force."

Tom smirks, finishing the pancake on his plate, "Yeah, I can see that. You seem like the kind of person to detest corruption."

"...Speaking of which, there's another factor in the case who I need to ask about. Miles Edgeworth- is there any way I could convince him to talk to
me?"

"He's a hard man to get to if you're interested in a case like Minato's."

"Yeah, he snubbed me off earlier today," A sheepish grin, "But what you said earlier, that this city is one of willing amnesia- I think he's
trying to forget that case."

"You said it came close, and he was the prosecutor... And on top of that, the gruesomeness of the crime itself. The loss must have hurt him quite a
bit."

"It's more than that. Edgeworth is a man devoted to punishing the guilty - he goes into the course determined to get a Guilty verdict every
time."

"I see. So it was also a blow to his pride- one he'd rather not want to remember again."

"More than that...he genuinely believed that Minato was guilty."

"..."

"I see."

"So he feels he need to live with the guilt that he let a killer roam free."

"That's right."

"I doubt that guilt will leave him any time soon. I wonder if showing him Minato as he is now might work?"

"That kid... He's about as dead as the city's nightlife. I mean, he's -alive,- but there's nothing behind the eyes."

"...is he?"

"Yeah."

"It's like all the life's been drained out of him. I don't think he wanted to kill Ryoji, if he even did."

"And if he didn't, his friends and Ryoji's friends needed someone to blame."

"They're all around him now- the ones who stayed. But they're also very unwilling to talk about it."

"They seem to believe he killed Ryoji, but if that opinion has been distorted, feeling betrayed by everyone you trusted must have scarred him
deeply."

"Interesting." Roger rubs his chin. "You're not a detective, are you?"

"Detectives would give me hard evidence, tell me the links that set this off and got them pursuing this line of thought."

"I'm actually a criminal psychologist, cyborg and ex-boxer, but I'm working as an investigator at the time being."

"Quite a profile." Roger takes a sip of his OJ. "But that explains a lot."

"I'll admit that what I've got is mostly assumption, and the evidence I do have would never be accepted in court."

"Call me crazy, but Ryoji? Talked to him before I even knew about him."

"It's a good thing you're not working for a court case, then." Roger chuckles. "And crazy's not uncommon in this city."

"Elbows off the table, Roger Smith." A female voice informs him, a pale woman in a black dress walking in, seating herself opposite Roger on the
table. "In front of company? You're a louse, Roger Smith."

"Thank you, Dorothy," Roger replies, a bit of a smirk on his face.

"Tom, this is Dorothy R. Waynewright. Doroth, this is Thomas Magnusson. He's-"

"A cyborg. I know." Dorothy stares at Tom with an inordinately dispassionate gaze. "I can tell. You're like me."

"Dorothy's a full conversion-type," Roger informs Tom patiently.

"Heh, does it? I don't know whether to be flattered or insulted," Tom chuckles, scratching at the base of his neck, "I'll admit,
you've got quite the keen sense of people, Roger-" Tom glances up at the woman. Pale, perhaps even deathly pale- he gives her a smile none the less,
"Good morning, it's an honor, Miss Waynewright... And you've got quite an eye for the mechanical. Was it my hands?"

"It was your back." She replies, articulating every, single, word. "You arch over slightly, carrying weight on your shoulders. This implies an
unusual formation of the upper limbs."

Perhaps just a bit unnerving, that, but he chalked it up to the full-conversion bit, "So it's either I was a cyborg or missing a chromosome," He
chuckles, cheery in contrast to the color of the day, "I'd rather take the former any day."

"Roger!" Dorothy reprimands sternly as Roger leans forward again. He straightens instinctively at this show of emotion. "Dorothy! In front of
our guest!"

"You are a louse, Roger Smith!" She repeats emphatically, crossing her arms in front of her chest.

"Anyway, Tom..." Roger rolls his hand. "I'd like to help you with Miles, but he's one person who's too closed-lipped even for me to
talk to."

Tom nods again, smirking inwardly at this very, very odd couple. They seemed to fit, though, "I understand. Would there be anyone who might be able to
talk to him about it?"

"Phoenix, but he's out of the country at the moment."

"I see. So I'll have to wait on that one..."

"There is one last thing... I need your opinion: Do you think I can trust this individual within Endgame?"

"No."

"Then I'll have to watch my step."

"I trust women, as a rule," Roger continues, "But Endgame is an altogether different beast."

"Is that literal, or metaphorical? They seem keen on naming themselves after monsters."

"They are. The top members I know of are Fenrir the Cutter, Roc the Wing, and Hel the Death."

"There are a lot more than that, but I don't know anything about them."

That last one sent a chill down Tom's spine... "...Tell me, this Roc, does he have a habit of appearing out of the blue?"

"He does."

"I may have met him. In a way."

"Is that so?"

"He told me that I had 'won this round.' Knocked Fenrir out and probably saved the three of us in the process."

"I'm thinking there's definitely some tension between the upper echelons."

"Probably," Roger agrees. "Gangs tend to have a lot of tension in this city between each other and within themselves."

"Endgame is the biggest, but there's also a sect of the Brotherhood here, and a small group of imitators called Shadowkind."

"...Pardon, Brotherhood? Shadowkind?"

"The Brotherhood of Mutants. They tried to settle in in Pendragon, but, well, you know how the Crown tends to be about lawlessness in Pendragon."

"Allegiance or Death, it seems to be."

"And Shadowkind is a group of imitators who think they're monster hunters. Better than the other gangs, but they're still just vigilantes."

"Heh. Now you sound like those Big Fire lunatics." Roger leans forward, prompting Dorothy (who had been sitting silently) to whack at him with a
newspaper.

"At least there are none of them in Britannia."

"I see... Even if they are just vigilantes, monster hunting seems to have become a bit of a- Oh what? No, I'm not -THAT- crazy," Tom chuckles,
"Nor am I willing to wear a hood."

"...But yes, I think I might be able to persuade that Shadowkind group to maybe share some information. You wouldn't happen to know where to find
them, would you?"

"Sorry. I don't make a habit of negotiating with gangs."

"I understand. Who knows, maybe I'll run into them? Things that go bump seem to find me quite often these days."

"Heh. It sounds like you've got some pretty bad luck."

"Maybe you should visit the old Eleven shrine."

"Or good. I'm still alive, after all... Shrine?"

"Just an old cultural place that was built before Japan became Area Eleven."

"A lot of people still go there for good luck."

"I think I will. In this city, I'll be needing all the help I can get."

"Sounds like a good plan," Roger agrees wryly.

"Well, in a city of shadow-monsters, corporation-run-everything and a cadre of who-knows-what-else lurking around out there, it's always good to have
friends in 'high places.'"

"Heh. I guess it is, at that."

"Well, it's been good speaking with you, Roger. You've been a great help with the case, and I hope we can talk again sometime," The cyborg
turns his gaze to the woman at the table- pretty sure she's always been a woman, anyway, "And it's been wonderful making your acquaintance,
Dorothy."

"Have a pleasant day, Tom Magnusson."

Tom rises from his seat after dabbing what is left of the syrup from the corners of his mouth, "And you, Miss Dorothy." He nods one last time in
farewell and recognition, "And thank you both for the hospitality."

Norman shows Tom out quite briefly, bidding him farewell and reminding him that if he wants to visit again, he needs to wear black.

He chuckles again- fond of laughter, this one- and informs Norman that he'll be sure to do just that next time he's in town. Tom makes his way back
down the courtyard and out of Mansion grounds...

...It's time to visit a shrine!

A taxi seems to have (thoughtfully) been called, and arrives within a very short bit.

Tom steps into the rear seat of the car and provides the driver with his destination of choice. Hopefully, he or she knows where to go.

He does. Tom is deposited unceremoniously at the old shrine - and it really does look old. Fortunately, it's within walking distance of the city.

A good thing. Taxis are costly after all. Tom gazes up the steps of the shrine and cautiously makes his way into the grounds...

Old things are, after all, tremendously suspicious.

Nothing unusual about this one.

It is, admittedly, quite old.

Just old, eh? If that's the case, he simply pushes on ahead. Was there an altar, or an offering box, or something nearby?

(Or a fox?)

No fox, but an altar and an offering box quite plainly sitting in the middle of the shrine.

Tom slides an offering into the chamber, and turns to the altar for a short prayer to whatever benevolence may have been listening.

Good fortune and protection from danger for both himself, and those who he has found himself surrounded by.

If there is one, it doesn't seem inclined to be particularly chatty. Nothing happens - no magical effects, nothing indicating that this is built on a ley
line or anything.

Still, the very act of prayer is always somewhat comfortable, and the shrine is at least a nice place to do it. It's blatantly obvious why it hasn't
been torn down or modernized, or even Britannianized - it's simply comforting.

Even though the culture is so very alien, it's a nice place.

It's just an eye of calm in the midst of the tumultuous city, and it was one Tom appreciates. Even if there wasn't a being listening, the fact that
such a place still existed- even if it was aged- means quite a bit for the aspiring detective.

A comfort to any who wish to come to get away from their day to day stress. Even after a short stay, he feels significantly psychologically rejuvinated.

After a while at prayer, Tom decides it high time to continue investigation...

But where first? He had so many questions...

The most logical course of action would be to check the hospital.

After all, he needs to verify that there in fact IS a boy, comatose, with relevant history in the Hospital's care.

[ArachnosX]

Requiem 10: Yuka-Tan

The hospital is easy to find with Yukari's map (what a useful little thing), and once again the familiar sight of the front desk is before him.

Tom meanders up to the desk, to the (surely, in a hospital) clerk at the helm, "Excuse me, could you possibly help me find a patient?"

"Certainly. Name please?"

"Actually, I'm here investigating the cause of the lad's coma, and I'm not too sure of the name. Was there anyone who was admitted with heavy
slashing or puncture wounds, or is currently in a coma?"

"...your name, please?"

"Oh, sorry. Thomas Magnusson."

"Thomas Magnusson...you've been admitted for both slashing wounds and exhaustion...is this correct?"

"That's correct."

"And your insurance is...alright...and you're looking for a boy admitted with heavy slashing or puncture wounds, or in a coma?"

"Or a combination of those traits. I'd assume it's been a while since his admittance."

"I'm afraid I can't actually tell you who fits those specific qualifications," she says after a moment, "Due to legal problems."

"Would it help if I were to tell you that I've been currently investigating his sister? Actually..."

"But I can inform you that there are people who meet some of those qualifications here."

"Could you tell me if any of those patients have a recurring female visitor?"

"I can't."

"Violation of privacy, I'm afraid."

"I understand."

"Is there anything else I can do to help you?"

"Hmm, well..."

"Not really, but I do have an unrelated question. Have you heard anything of strange cases of disappearances as of late?"

"Just what I read in the paper, Mister Magnusson!"

"That's fine, then. Thank you very much for your help."

"Have a nice day. Hope we don't see you again soon!"

"You won't miss me? I'm hurt," Tom smirks, turning to leave. That's one errand down... Now he had some questions to ask his coworkers.
Back to base for a bit, it seems.

That map is just the best thing that ever happened to him today. Easy to find, easy to return to.

Yukari's still sitting at the desk when he enters.

Tom shuts the door behind him. He hasn't gotten lost ONCE today! That's a good track record! "Hey there Yuka! Anything fun happen while I was
out?"

"Not a damn thing. You're home early, Tommygun - must be pretty boring out there. Or did your date stand you up?"

"Edgeworth's got a sharp tongue, but Roger was a wealth of info. Speaking of information, is boss home?"

"Asleep. Why?"

"I needed to run a few ideas by him."

"I'll tell him to wait around in his office tonight, okay?"

"That'd be great. Thanks a lot, Yuka. Oh, and uh..."

"No, Mitsuru hasn't called for you recently."

Tom's eyes drifted to his shoes, returning to her only a moment later, "I'm sorry if I brought up anything painful the other day."

"Reel the tongue in, I can practically see it hanging out your mouth every time she comes aroun..." She looks away.

It's like an utter shift in personality to the Nth degree. From light, cheery, peppy Yukari to a somber frown.

Tom rubs at his scalp- ouch, wrong topic. "I'm sorry, I'll stop bringing it up."

"No...it's...it's okay. It's not something I really wanna talk about, at least not with you, Tommygun." She leans forward and sighs.

"I talk about it with the people I need to talk about it with. So don't worry about me."

"I understand."

"...I'll just ask Minato about it later. So let's talk about something else, huh?"

"Sounds good to me."

"So... Any progress on that disappearance?"

"Nope...Fuuka's not up yet, so I can't analyze the stuff the police lab sent over."

"I'm dumb." She makes a face. "I spent all my time in school trying too hard to be normal and wound up as a secretary."

Tom chuckles, resting his hands in his pockets, "She's still asleep? Must be tired... And don't worry too much about that, you're a pretty
damned good secretary. That map you gave me's been really useful."

"I figured. You seem like the sorta guy who can't find his head from his ass without a map."

"No offense."

"I won't lie, I have the navigational ability of a lone lemming."

"I'm good at pegging people's problems down."

"I'd probably be a psychologist if I didn't have so many of 'em myself."

"Well, they say that being able to relate with a patient is one of the most vital advantages a therapist can have..."

"You and I both know that's not what I meant."

"Anyway. What are you looking into so closely, anyhow?"

"Uh, I think that it might hurt to hear."

"Then we'll skip it."

"Yeah... So Fuuka's not up yet? It's getting pretty well into the day."

"...Then again, she's really been at it lately."

"She doesn't usually go straight to sleep. And she'll come downstairs a lot in the middle of the night if she has an idea."

"I see... So has she at least had anything to eat?"

"Probably. She tends to take food down with her, you know?"

"Yeah, I guess that's true. So when does she usually get up?"

"There isn't really a 'usually' with Fuuka."

"Aha, eclectic in hours, huh?"

"She doesn't have a 'cycle' so much as 'random up and downs.'

"

"Huuuh..." Tom sighs, popping his shoulder, "I needed to ask her about that Knight, too."

"You mean the Moonlight Knight?"

"Yeah."

"It's a pretty romantic story." She gives him a lopsided grin. "But he's sort of a local fact of life around here...I guess myth is more
appropriate, but people keep going to fight him, and they keep getting dragged away..."

"Do the stories say anything about where this Knight is from?"

"You know as much as I do, I'm sure. Shows up on the nights of the full moon to challenge people to fights, says if they win they get a wish..."

"But from what I've heard, not many people have actually won."

"Nobody that I know of."

"I see... So maybe it could be a trap?"

"I doubt it."

"It's just been going on for way too long, you know?"

"Yeah, I get it. So what happens if someone DOES beat the knight? I mean, if nobody's ever actually won, how do we know it actually grants
wishes?"

"I guess it's just the sorta thing people hold on hope for, you know?"

"I say 'you know' a lot," Yukari chirps after a moment, a bit of a grin on her face.

Tom chuckles, pressing against the base of his skull, "Yeah, and I think way too far into things."

"Sometimes you just have to live for the moment, Tommygun."

"Heh, I guess I do, sometimes. Life's too stressful otherwise, right?"

"Mmmhmmm."

"You're living the good life, Tommygun - enjoy it! You work too hard."

"I only work hard because there are people who need me to work hard. Can't just leave them without answers, after all."

"Trust me, I'm not really a workaholic ALL the time."

"That's good to hear. Fuuka won't shut up about the festival, so you better not skip it to work or something."

"Unless a monster pops out of my chest, or something, I definitely won't."

"That's also good to hear," Yukari adds.

"Heh, she says I'm an R-0. Suicidal tendencies with a hint of masochism."

"Huh?"

"It's probably true," he snickers, "Oh, the Requiem directory."

"She was doing profiles on everyone. I asked her what she thought I was."

"Oh."

"She hasn't said anything about that to me yet."

"Heh, we only talked about it last night..."

"And she said she more or less just got started. We both went to bed after that."

"Ah."

"...I wonder what she thinks of her own profile? Or yours, for that matter?"

"It's like one of those online quiz things, except several tiers more serious."

"Dunno," she replies cheerily. "I don't like thinking about that kinda thing."

"Do you do a lot of those?"

"I used to do them once in a while, back in college."

"Mostly just to see how accurate people could be. I kept rolling up either 'Strength' or 'Star' or 'Tower' for those tarot ones,
though."

"Weird."

"I tried this one once that said 'Magician and Hierophant,' but they're just tests. Kinda like horoscopes."

"I guess we just have to trust Fuuka to know what she's doing."

"Yeah, she's a hard worker, I'm sure she'll do a great job."

"You better take care of her, Tommygun."

"One false move and-" She mimes shooting him in the chest. "Bang!"

"...I will. I wouldn't break her heart conciously."

"Not even for a certain sultry redhead?"

Tom glances behind him to make sure nobody was listening.

Nobody.

"...Like an ice sculpture, nice to look at, painful to touch."

"You'd be surprised."

"I take it she wasn't always like that?"

"Well. No. She's more or less always been like that."

"...Aha."

"...Huh."

"But people see her as the 'babe' and I guess it's a defense mechanism or something."

"The ice-queen thing, you mean."

"Right."

"Huh."

"Well it makes sense."

"True. Drive away the guys who only want her body and all."

"She's rich, she's got looks most girls would kill for, she wears clothes most girls would kill her for..."

"She's bright, clever...how do you compete with that kinda woman?"

"Truth be told?"

"What I look for in a woman is the same thing I look for in work: truth."

"That was the corniest thing I have ever heard a man say in my entire life, and I've heard some pretty awful lines before."

"Looks are always a help, and brains are practically a prerequisite, but if I feel they're putting up a barrier, it's like they don't trust
me."

"Heh, I can be pretty corny sometimes, I guess. Call me a romantic, maybe?"

Yukari shrugs. "I'm just worried. I'm protective of Fuuka. Mitsuru's my friend, too, though, and I know she likes you at least a little bit -
she wouldn't've even bothered using you if she didn't, trust me. She could find better to use."

"Erm, no offense."

"I don't want Fuuka to get hurt, though."

"She's fragile."

"That she asked you out at all is practically a miracle."

"She's a bit withdrawn?"

"Normally, I mean."

"You've seen what she's like."

"...Yeah."

"How about you? Junpei more your speed?"

"I might have to hit you for that."

"Please don't, I'm fragile."

"Liar."

"Hey, I'm already injured!"

"You're not fragile."

"I'm not sure about that. Never punched anything so hard I broke yet."

"I'm sure you are."

"Fragile? Got that right."

"I have the body of a behemoth but a heart of glass, you know?"

"..."

"...not really."

"Fine, don't believe me."

"I don't."

"Anyway, I've got some calls to make."

"Alright, that's fine. I'll probably head downstairs and look over stuff, or something like that."

"Fuuka locks the door by day, actually."

"...Damn. Well, is there anything else to do around here?"

"I'd ask for a console, but I'd break the controller."

"Nothing," Yukari replies. "This is a pretty bummed-out place when you think about it."

"Huh."

"Well, that's no fun."

"You guys should invest in a punching bag, or something."

"Well."

"You're getting paid."

"You buy one."

"...Yeah, but I need that stuff for medical bills."

"Gotta pay off the insurance premiums."

"You mean they haven't told you yet?"

She just sort of stares at him, phone in hand, slowly setting it back down.

"...No?"

Tom recalls a mention about the insurance, but...

"Told me what?"

"Well...the agency is a private one, technically...but we're still a business. We actually get paid a lot to look into things the police turn down,
and because of that, we have...well, really good insurance."

"You're pretty much covered, Tommygun."

"Really, you didn't know what you were getting when you signed on?"

"...Honestly, I only looked at the paycheck."

"Also, the chance to travel."

"...you are, an utter and complete bonehead, Tommygun."

"Having a hard head is useful. Keeps the concussions at bay."

"Cute."

"Anyway...you're free and clear on the insurance, at least for the most part. I'll call ahead to the hospital and let them know that you're on
our plan, not whatever you were using."

She sighs. "One more thing I have to do today...better quit giving me so much work, Tommygun."

"Hey, I'd rather be doing work than waiting through the day. Speaking of which, I seem to have money to burn..."

"Any idea where I could drop by to pick stuff up?"

"Might as well kill some time in the commercial district, if you have to go spending money. Me, I'd...well, okay, I was gonna say I'd 'put it
in a savings account', but that's only true half the time."

"Hah, avid shopper, are we?"

"Actually, I need to pick up a new replacement coat. My other one got torn to bits... And a punching bag. Or maybe a Television."

"...I'll need to save up for the TV, probably."

"I'm not an AVID shopper..." She admits, "Just...I tend to be frugal. And when sales come, that's good frugality."

"Uh...electronics, well, I'd point you at Tronne's...they sometimes sell old stuff people give 'em."

"Or ask them to build you a custom if they're not too busy."

"...Oh, yeah, I would, but..."

"Uhm, I think they might still be closed after what happened to Roll. I could go check though."

"What happened to Roll?"

"She was... Cut open pretty bad by this thug that was after Shinji."

"Fenrir, Endgame."

Yukari gasps, covering her mouth with her hands and once again dropping the phone.

"You're kidding! Is she okay?"

"She's concious, last I checked, but she got hurt pretty badly."

"I would have taken it myself, if I had seen it coming. I think she's still on the mend- and Rock was without his lower half, so I'm pretty sure
they're taking a break to get everything back together again."

"Oof...well, that's...wow." Yukari slumps. "Well now I feel bad for pointing you at 'em."

"Don't worry about it. I'm sure she'll be fine."

"...Speaking of which, I totally forgot to ask about her at the hospital. Poor girl, she's probably going through a lot."

"How thoughtless of ya, Tommygun."

"Well, I was kind of absent minded then..."

"I guess it was, just a bit."

"I'm sure she'll forgive you."

"I hope so. Else I'll have to pay for her lunch. Again."

"Good thing you have money to burn."

"Yeah, I hope so- after this trip."

"Well then, I'd better let ya go."

"Yeah. Call me if Boss and Headphones wake up, kay? I need to pester them for a few answers."

"Will do."

[ArachnosX]

Return of the evil Timestamp!

Requiem 11: Shadowkind

[05:19]  It's two days till the festival, meaning today is Saturday. Tomorrow's the full moon and the appearance of the Moonlight Knight; moreover, the saturday morning is a wet and rainy and dim one, making it
[05:21]  an unpleasant thing to join as Tom's eyes open. Even with the new stuff in his room, it's still not the best sort of morning to be...well...alive.
[05:24]  Well, wet and dim... wasn't always necessarily unpleaseant. Just foreboding, and in a place like THIS city...
[05:26]  Forboding is very, very not good. Regardless, Tom rises from his bed, taking a gander at his... collection. Punching bag, a few shelves, books for the shelves, a moderately sized television...
[05:28]  And a rug, to add a bit of color. It's not much, but it's something. Without anything to stretch to any real extent, he pulls off the covers and trods into his morning ritual.
[05:31]  Yukari's downstairs again, and the door to Fuuka's basement is still locked.
[05:32]  Tom yawns as he descends the stairs... "...Fuuka's not up?"
[05:32]  "She fell asleep downstairs."
[05:32]  "...Uhm."
[05:32]  "...Should I... Go wake her up?"
[05:33]  "Why?"
[05:33]  "I guess not. I just haven't seen her in a while is all. So did anything interesting happen?"
[05:35]  "Nothing but the rain."
[05:35]  "...Well, that's mildly discouraging, how about Boss?"
[05:36]  "They left before you got up."
[05:36]  "...Damn. Did you tell them I needed to talk to them?"
[05:36]  "Not together this time, though. It's weird, normally you'd think they were joined at the hip."
[05:36]  "...Really? Well..."
[05:36]  "Yeah. Boss had stuff to do, and Minato..." She frowns. "...did what he usually does."
[05:36]  "That's... Strange."
[05:37]  "I see. Well, what does Boss DO when he's out anyway?"
[05:38]  "No clue."
[05:38]  "...I wonder if he's got a wife."
[05:38]  "I doubt it."
[05:39]  "He just doesn't seem the type."
[05:39]  "You'd never know..."
[05:42]  "I guess."
[05:42]  "Anyway..." He maneuvers to the kitchen, hands in his pockets, "I'm making breakfast."
[05:43]  "Sounds good."
[05:43]  "I try."
[06:02]  "So what's on the plate today?"
[06:02]  Apparantly... "Pamcakes."
[06:03]  Pancake cravings. Blame Roger.
[06:03]  "No, I mean investigation-wise, Tommygun."
[06:04]  Tom swallowed the last of his pancakes, setting the plate down on a counter, "Oh, I was thinking I'd run a few errands around town, maybe try Edgeworth again."
[06:07]  "Sounds good."
[06:07]  "He was kinda tight lipped though... Know any way I can get him to talk?"
[06:10]  "I don't know him personally, but the best bet would be get him in a courthouse, I guess?"
[06:10]  "Huuhh... Does he have a court meeting today?"
[06:10]  Yukari makes a face. "Do I look like his secretary, Tommygun?"
[06:13]  Tom chuckles, a smirk on his face, "No, but I'd bet he'd make a better boss. Or not. Kind of a jerk, from what I know. I'll head down to the courthouse to see if they've got him in today or not."
[06:15]  "Sounds like a good plan. You really think these through in advance, huh, Tommygun?"
[06:15]  "Heh, I don't know if you're being honest or sarcastic."
[06:16]  "Sarcastic."
[06:16]  "Extremely." She grins.
[06:17]  "And here I thought you were actually giving me a complement. There's a shot to -my- ego."
[06:18]  "I'm sure you'll get over it."
[06:18]  "I told you, I'm fragile."
[06:23]  "Sure you are."
[06:23]  "Like a china doll."
[06:25]  "Get out!" She shoos, "I've got a phone call."
[06:26]  At that, Tom utters one more chuckle mid-turn, for the door. "I'll see you later then!"
[06:28]  The streets are as wet as the outside makes them appear, and the constant, pounding rain is no better; however, at least it's not hail or something actually painful. Just thick and hard to see in.
[06:30]  And damp, of course. It's good he wears that coat everywhere he goes. It's not TOTALLY waterproof, so... He slips inside for a moment, retrieves an umbrella, and sets of on his way.
[06:33]  Said umbrella is an enormous help.
[06:34]  As umbrellas generally are!
[06:37]  After a bit of wandering (the map shouldn't be damaged in such weather, so he's forced to relegate himself to wandering again), he manages to discover the courthouse.
[06:37]  Unfortunately, it seems it's closed today.
[06:37]  Well, that's a bit of a downer...
[06:38]  Stop one is crossed from the list. Time for stop ZWEI!
[06:38]  Specifically: The Bonnes'.
[06:39]  Still closed, though this one helpfully informs him that it's a family thing.
[06:39]  Which can only mean she hasn't recovered yet.
[06:39]  ...Which leads to stop three.
[06:39]  The hospital. Again.
[06:43]  Unfortunately, the way to the hospital isn't quite as easy to find with all the rain and fog. So he's forced to wander a bit.
[06:43]  After maybe an hour's worth of wandering, Tom comes to a most brilliant conclusion:
[06:43]  He's lost as hell.
[06:44]  Again.
[06:44]  This made the second time in under a month.
[06:44]  It really is becoming a bit of a hobby.
[06:44]  It was really just not his day.
[06:44]  Almost as much as being sent to the hospital.
[06:47]  The question of the day is...
[06:47]  'Where am I?'
[06:48]  It appears to be, after much observation and recognition of landmarks, one of the districts nearer to the VitaTech building.
[06:48]  How he got there, he wasn't sure, but at least he had a vague idea of the surroundings...
[06:48]  Unfortunately, it's also one with a bit of a 'reputation', in that it's supposedly where Endgame's gang headquarters is.
[06:49]  Police haven't been able to do much about that, but then again...
[06:49]  ...And that the aforementioned 'vague idea' translated to 'I need to get the hell out of here.'
[06:49]  Well, no. He couldn't just run away. After all, it was definitely... Strange that they had their headquarters so close to Vita Tech's.
[06:53]  Not too strange, although it was just a rumor. After all, this was also fairly far away from the police station and most other people who gave a damn, in a low-rent area of town that wasn't maintained too well, and generally not particularly
[06:53]  cared for.
[06:57]  But if the rumor WAS true...
[06:57]  Well, then it's all different kinds of interesting.
[06:57]  Tom nods, steeling his nerves. It was time to take a look around.
[07:00]  It's not long before he gets out of the "HQ area", but it's still not terribly comforting. He's more or less still in their general "territory", and he's still not sure where in the hell the hospital is.
 Couldn't they have designed this city with brighter colors?!
[07:01]  He mumbled, hypothesizing that if VitaTech wanted Requiems, and if they WERE triggered by depression, this sort of architecture? This is exactly how they do it.
[07:03]  It is at that moment that a man with a whip is cast ruthlessly across his path, slamming against the opposite wall. The man with the whip has a big 'S' on his jacket.
 He moans, pulling himself to his feet. "Damn..."
[07:04]  Maybe 'man' isn't the right word. He's more like a 'teenager'.
[07:05]  'S?' That could mean... "Shadowkind, huh?" Tom hustles to the teen's side, "Hey, you alright?"
[07:06]  "Stay back!" The guy shouts, pushing Tom to the side as an electrical jolt crackles down the water puddle. The kid only barely manages to avoid it himself.
[07:06]  "Who the hell are you?!" He strings his whip between his hands, keeping his eyes on the alley.
[07:08]  Tom recoils at the electric shock. Metal limbs and water and electricity definitely do not mix. This is most certainly -NOT- his day... "Name's Tom, Twilight Detective Agency. Provided we both survive this, I'll need to ask you a few questions."
[07:10]  From the alley, an absolutely hulking man - he's about seven feet tall and just as bulky along - carrying two tasers. "So you are the one who forced Fenrir's hand." He rumbles.
[07:10]  The white half-mask makes it quite clear - this is a member of Endgame.
[07:10]  ...He mustn't run away, he mustn't run away... And so he puts up his dukes... " 'Forced' his hand? He damn near killed me."
[07:11]  "Not to mention a friend of mine, and an innocent bystander."
[07:11]  "You nearly crushed his face." The huge man says. A deep, echoing laugh wells up in his chest, booming like a cannon through the rainy streets. "Well done."
[07:12]  "He's got a pretty ugly mug, if I do say so myself. So what do I call you?" Odd, this one.
[07:12]  "Step to the side, little Tom - my business is with Shadowkind. Afterwards, I would like to talk to you."
[07:12]  "My name is Adam the Lightning."
[07:14]  "Well, before you two duke it out, mind if I ask something?"
[07:14]  "Of course." Adam doesn't seem to be in any hurry.
[07:14]  "Alright, so first... What happened to incur your wrath toward this one here?"
[07:15]  "You have never been in a gang war, have you?"
[07:15]  "Honestly, no. But I'm familiar with wartime tactics, to an extent."
[07:15]  "It's territory," the guy from Shadowkind hisses. "They're trying to expand and we don't want them in our area."
[07:15]  "Not to mention the basic 'they're monsters, we hunt them' thing."
[07:16]  "Are we the monsters?" Adam rumbles, "Or are you?"
[07:16]  "Ahh-hah. So it's territory, is it?"
[07:17]  "And basic philosophical differences, at that."
[07:17]  "We have dreams." Adam says ponderously, pounding his fists (and the tasers!!!) together. "We have goals. You are destroyers."
[07:17]  "You are the enemy, and you must be defeated for the safety of Endgame and our dreams."
[07:18]  The Shadowkind guy lashes his whip against the ground, trying to move out of the puddle and onto a drier area.
[07:19]  Tom sighs, tilting his umbrella to allow the water to flood off, "You seem like the sort of person to give everything for an ideal, and I can respect that, Adam. But I've got to ask because I'm curious, what is it? And even more specifically, what is yours?"
[07:20]  "The goal of Endgame...is to become monsters." Adam hunkers down, waiting for Simon to make the first move.
[07:20]  And the other one is a Belmont, brilliant, "Yeah, but what does that mean?"
[07:22]  "I'll be quoting Jekyll and Hyde here, because it's a damn good play, but we all live a facade, anyway. Monsters can be men and men monsters, the question is how you define either."
[07:22]  Sense of justice... Attempting to... Override... Common sense!
[07:22]  "It means to transcend!" Adam shouts, raising his voice for the first time, punching forward with his taser at the Shadowkind kid. "It means to become more than we are! More than God made us!"
[07:23]  "It means we are not content to be no one! We aim as high as the skies themselves!" Simon dives out of the way as the taser impacts the wall behind him.
[07:23]  "More than God made us? Adam, we make ourselves."
[07:23]  "It means we are men and women who seek to become powerful!"
[07:23]  With that, he finally manages to backhand Simon, sending him flying into the wall across the way.
[07:24]  "Seek to be powerful? The only method to power is that which is carved through your own two hands, through conquering challenges with the sweat of the brow and the opportunities life deals you."
[07:25]  "That is what I do," he intones, "I take advantage of the opportunity I am given and with my own two hands reach for a future!"
[07:25]  He advances towards Simon, who's already getting up (kid can take a lot of punishment...)
[07:26]  "I will tell you now, becoming a monster is no means to strength. The one thing that can fell a monster will always be man, do you understand me?" Tom's limbs actually begin shaking, quivering with perhaps just a bit more rage than they can tolerate before motion, "Only a man can destroy a monster because once one becomes a beast, he ceases to be himself!"
[07:27]  "That which sets man apart from beast his his ability to recognize himself amongst all others, and to declare 'I' amongst the infinite multitude of others upon this earth. It is not my path to tear you from yours, but think of what you will become before you chase blindly for it, Adam!"
[07:29]  "Then I suppose," Adam says slowly, "That what I had to talk to you about no longer matters."
[07:29]  "Hrmph, about joining Endgame? No, I suppose it doesn't. Leave that child be, or I will be forced to act upon you as well."
[07:30]  "They made the move into our territory." Adam replies. "Should I ignore my enemy because an enemy of my enemy told me to do so?"
[07:30]  "The one who remains standing is the one who is right!"
[07:30]  “You have it backwards.”
[07:30]  "And you only have fought Fenrir - I am as highly-ranked as he is. Do you think I am so easy to scare?"
[07:31]  "Scare?"
[07:31]  "You don't understand. If you sacrifice others on the altar of your own ambition, then you are what I call evil."
[07:31]  "You are what I call naive." Adam gestures to the weather. "Do you think you could fight me now?"
[07:32]  "I am an electrical specialist. My weapon is twin tasers, and it is raining."
[07:32]  "You have metal limbs."
[07:32]  "Even if heaven stands against me, I'll stand for my beliefs until my body is rendered into oblivion."
[07:32]  "That's just my style, you know?"
[07:33]  "Enough!" Someone says, and the man - that damned Roc - appears between the two, hands outstretched. He slowly crosses them both as Adam stops, tasers switching off as he bows his head.
[07:33]  Thank God, a voice inside Tom sighed, salvation. Maybe. Hopefully.
[07:33]  "Adam. Fenrir has declared this one his prey, and Hel has begged that none of us touch him. Dragon himself enforces this word. No matter what he challenges, he is not yours to fight." Roc reprimands him sternly.
[07:33]  "When Fenrir is recovered, speak to him yourself." Roc turns to stare at Tom. "Twice now."
[07:34]  "It's you again. I didn't have the chance to thank you for saving my ass the last time."
[07:34]  "I did not save you, Thomas Magnusson. I saved Endgame."
[07:34]  "Fenrir exposed his identity to the entire world, and such a thing is not tolerated among us."
[07:34]  "Roc, right? Either way, your actions did probably save my life."
[07:34]  "I am aware of that side-effect."
[07:35]  "I understand. It's what's behind the masks, right? I need to know, is it the Requiems?"
[07:35]  Adam is looming behind Roc, literally twice as huge as the smaller man, but he still seems cowed by Roc's presence. What this could mean...who knows.
[07:36]  Tom's umbrella is quite thankfully shielding him from the rain. That, at least, he was happy for.
[07:36]  Roc simply nods, his hawkish face still stern.
[07:36]  "And I'm assuming Vita Tech might be tied up in all this somehow."
[07:36]  "As Adam has almost assuredly told you, Endgame's goal is to become powerful. Whether you agree with us or not is not our concern."
[07:36]  "But if you side with Shadowkind, you are our enemy, and I will not protect your life the next time - Fenrir's Blood Pact and Hel's Plea will be denied, and even Dragon himself cannot overturn an act of war."
[07:36]  "It's not my place to force another individual from his path, only to seek out the truth and defend the morals I hold, myself."
[07:37]  "If you side with Shadowkind, I will kill you myself."
[07:37]  "I understand. Let's see what cards life deals us, eh?"
[07:37]  Roc turns, placing his hand on Adam's arm. Adam immediately nods. "We are leaving now. If you are wise, you will prevent their footsoldier from striking our backs."
[07:38]  "If more to protect his life than my own, certainly."
[07:38]  Indeed, the Shadowkind kid has started advancing, but he stops at that.
[07:38]  The pair of Endgame members turn, walking down the street until they disappear into the rain.
[07:39]  As soon as they do disappear, Tom breathes a sigh of relief... "That," he wheezes, "Was way too close."
[07:39]  "What do you mean? I could've taken him."
[07:40]  "Yeah, in this rain?"
[07:40]  "Jeez, even without metal limbs, you'd have gotten fried."
[07:41]  The kid frowns. "I'm wearing rubber boots." He notes, "I was careful."
[07:41]  "We don't hunt monsters we don't know anything about."
[07:41]  "Then what do you know about that Roc guy?"
[07:42]  "...nothing." He answers, looking down.
[07:42]  "Look, I'm not exactly experienced or anything, but I could've taken that guy!"
[07:42]  "He was short-range. I could've stayed out of his reach with my whip and taken him down."
[07:42]  "Well, there you go..." Tom rolls his shoulders, the limbs clicking into submission, "He knocked you into a wall."
[07:43]  "...I let him knock me into a wall!" He retorts, "To get into the open street where I could dodge!"
[07:43]  "And then you got in the way and screwed that up!"
[07:43]  "Besides, that one was definitely a fanatic..."
[07:43]  "Do you know what they had to do to stop the ones in Area Eleven?'
[07:44]  "They needed to develop a whole new -GUN- to take them down. Not because the normal ones wouldn't kill them, but because even in death, they wouldn't stop."
[07:44]  "Even if you did do enough damage to kill him, he'd have come after you anyway."
[07:45]  "Fff." The kid looks away. "Whatever."
[07:45]  "Anyway, who are you, kid?"
[07:45]  "You're obviously not a friend to the gangs in this city, so..." He wraps his whip. "Simon."
[07:45]  "You already heard who I am..."
[07:46]  "And that's not always the case. Like I said, I search out truth."
[07:46]  "My brother got taken out by that guy!" He snaps.
[07:46]  "...I see."
[07:46]  "What was his name?"
[07:46]  "So how about you not tell me about what to d-it's none of your business."
[07:46]  "Please, did he die?"
[07:46]  "And does he have a grave?"
[07:47]  "Like it's anything you need to worry about."
[07:47]  With that, Simon turns, sticking his hands in his pockets.
[07:47]  "If he's dead, even if you don't have the body, he needs to be remembered."
[07:47]  "I'll remember him myself."
[07:48]  "You want to be careful with Shadowkind," Skull Man offers as Simon departs. "They have the best of intentions, but everyone can get lead astray by vengeance."
[07:48]  God only knows where he came from.
[07:48]  Tom jumps just a bit at that... And yes, that was EXACTLY what he was thinking. The whole 'God Knows where he came from' thing, "Watch where you pop out from. Nearly gave me a heart attack, Boss..."
[07:49]  "...And yeah. I know, but that kid- it's not healthy for someone to carry a burden like that all by themselves."
[07:50]  "So hey, Boss man, where's Minato today?"
[07:50]  "That's what Shadowkind is." Skull Man replies, an umbrella of his own now visible. "A group for vengeance to be spread."
[07:50]  "I don't know. He left before I did."
[07:50]  "I see... I needed to ask him a few things."
[07:50]  "I went to the school by accident, you see..."
[07:51]  "Is that so?"
[07:51]  "That guy, I don't think he killed Ryoji."
[07:51]  "Neither do I." Skull Man answers.
[07:51]  "Yeah. I talked to Roger over it..."
[07:51]  "The problem is, I don't think the others think so, too."
[07:51]  "But he did rape Yukari, or so I understand." He shrugs after a moment. "I don't know that it was intentional, or entirely non-consenual, or if it was true or just implied by the situation."
[07:51]  "But it traumatized her badly."
[07:52]  "...I see. Was there any evidence to suggest it was him?"
[07:52]  "She woke up, they were both naked, lying in an alley and covered in blood."
[07:52]  "... I see."
[07:52]  "Please bear in mind, I don't know that he actually did anything."
[07:52]  "...That might not have been rape."
[07:52]  "That's what I keep thinking."
[07:52]  "Yeah, I know. Neither do I, but..."
[07:52]  "I suspect it's far more complicated."
[07:52]  "But I don't know."
[07:52]  "Seeing him now, he doesn't seem like the kind to have been ABLE to rape her."
[07:53]  "There's that, and the fact that she's physically stronger than he is."
[07:53]  "She'd be able to fend him off with a good strong kick. I've seen her kickbox."
[07:54]  He snickers... "...I didn't think she had it in her. I mean, she's spunky and as a guy, I've gotta say her legs are pretty damn good looking... But I didn't think she'd be able to do something like that."
[07:54]  "...Anyway, yeah. There's too much pointing the other way."
[07:54]  "Not the other way so much as...in all sorts of directions."
[07:54]  "But at least between that speech and your dedication, you're proving that I made the right decision in hiring you."
[07:54]  "And I'm assuming she didn't have any recollection of the precise circumstances of the event."
[07:55]  "Psychologists say it was traumatic repression."
[07:55]  "I don't think she was conscious at all."
[07:55]  "Well, I appreciate that, Boss. It's not every day people see me do something like that, but..."
[07:55]  "...Not... concious?"
[07:55]  "Think about it."
[07:55]  "Boss, are the Requim's hosts concious during their 'events?'
[07:56]  "Requiems don't have hosts, Tom."
[07:56]  "Ah. Misunderstanding, then."
[07:56]  "People become Requiems, they don't host them."
[07:56]  "And Minato can seal them away, from what I understand."
[07:56]  "Yes. And we can extract them as well."
[07:56]  "That not only explains Endgame, but also a possible cause for Ryoji's death."
[07:57]  "You think that Yukari transformed into a Requiem?" Tom can almost hear the Skull Man's eyebrows rise.
[07:57]  "It's altogether possible," Tom surmises, his own brow furrowed in thought, a mechanical hand rubbing at his chin, "But it's also possible an outside force attacked all three of them."
[07:58]  "There are too many maybes. Now you know why I haven't been investigating it." Skull Man chuckles.
[07:58]  "We don't know what causes people to become Requiems, to my knowledge, but if Yukari did become one, and killed Ryoji..."
[07:58]  "Hahaha, so we've got the same thoughts on the matter. Good, good..."
[07:58]  "There's no way to know without getting Minato or Yukari to talk about it, and both of them adamantly refuse."
[07:58]  "Forcing them could be traumatic to their psyches."
[07:59]  "...Fuuka gave me a lens that is able to percieve things as a Requiem would."
[07:59]  He taps his mask.
[07:59]  "...That is a...?"
[07:59]  "The lenses."
[07:59]  "You deal with seeing like that all the time?"
[07:59]  "Several filters."
[07:59]  "I see."
[07:59]  "I've checked."
[07:59]  "...I see."
[08:00]  "It's a good lead, but the traces don't last that long."
[08:00]  "Still. I don't believe he would willingly hurt her."
[08:00]  "But if Minato sealed, and then extracted that Requiem..."
[08:00]  "Yes, neither do I."
[08:00]  "But I believe he blames himself for whatever happened."
[08:00]  "From what I've heard, he was infatuated with her."
[08:00]  "And I believe she blames him as a defense mechanism."
[08:00]  "Yes, and being almost declared guilty for it..."
[08:00]  "That's an exaggeration."
[08:00]  "And being considered so by his friends..."
[08:00]  "Was it?"
[08:00]  "I was there. A lot of the evidence was fake."
[08:00]  "...Did Edgeworth know?"
[08:00]  "I don't know."
[08:01]  "I don't know him very well. I don't think anyone does."
[08:01]  "Perhaps that's why he's so reclusive on the matter."
[08:01]  "Even Phoenix - who might be the closest thing I know of to his friend - doesn't know much about him."
[08:01]  "Roger mentioned that Phoenix might be able to get him to open up."
[08:01]  "What that me- oh. I see."
[08:01]  "Mmhmm."
[08:01]  "They're friends, but they're friends like Minato and I are friends."
[08:01]  "Acquaintances who share the same place of work and get along well enough."
[08:01]  "I understand."
[08:02]  "...I know it would probably push them to drive me out of their lives, but..."
[08:02]  "I feel like they need to know, you know?"
[08:02]  "I mean, the others."
[08:03]  "I think..." Skull Man begins. "I think that no matter what happens, they'd like some form of closure."
[08:03]  "I think so, too."
[08:03]  "So they can finally move on."
[08:03]  "If I need to be the scapegoat for that, it's fine by me. They've been suffering for too long over this."
[08:04]  "I doubt they'll ostracize you for that. At the least, Fuuka's taken a liking to you."
[08:04]  "Anyhow. I have to be off. I can tell something's going down across town, and I'd like to make certain it doesn't get any bigger than it is."
[08:05]  "However...I expect you want to follow that Simon boy."
[08:05]  "I've heard that's quite rare," he chuckles again. It's probably lost in the rain, "...Alright. I understand."
[08:05]  "Yeah, I need to talk to their... leaders."
[08:05]  "I doubt that'd be seen as colluding, after all, I've spoken to Roc more than once."
[08:05]  He points down the street after him. "That way is the fastest way. Take a left five alleys down and then it's the first door on the right."
[08:05]  "I know. I was watching."
[08:06]  "Thanks, Boss. I'd say to be careful, but I'm pretty sure you can hand-... But you were talking to me this whole time."
[08:06]  "I mean your discussion."
[08:06]  "...I swear, one of these days, I'll figure out how you keep track on- Oh, okay then."
[08:06]  "But I can tell anyway." With that, he takes off, actually running up the side of the building and disappearing across the rooftops.
[08:07]  Clearly Skull Man's abilities are much more than meets the eye.
[08:07]  "Thanks again, boss..." Tom watches, mildly bewildered, as the masked man ascends a structure without so much as a sweat. That's...
[08:07]  Really, really cool.
[08:07]  Tom shakes himself out of his reverie and proceeds down the alleyway...
[08:07]  He had a boy to follow.
[08:11]  Following the directions does indeed lead Tom to a door. How did he know?
[08:12]  Tom mused that it was probably because, even if there was no God or no Devil, there was still Skullman. He tests the lock with a dry section of his coat, using the sleeve to turn it- slowly.
[08:12]  ...After knocking, of course.
[08:14]  The door is opened by a young man, who narrows his eyes at Tom. "...somethin' I can do for you?"
[08:14]  "I understand there's a boy named Simon at this residence. I am Thomas Magnusson, Twilight Detective Agency."
[08:14]  "You might have heard of me- the guy stupid enough to punch Fenrir in the jaw."
[08:18]  "..."
[08:18]  "..."
[08:18]  The door closes for a moment, and footsteps can be heard.
[08:18]  Tom checks the time on his phone.
[08:19]  ...And then slides it back into his coat.
[08:19]  The door swings open again.
[08:19]  "You're okay."
[08:19]  "Well, I normally try to be more than that, but I suppose that's good, too."
[08:20]  Tom's allowed to enter, but the person doesn't actually say anything about that.
[08:21]  Tom coughs, and slowly, surely steps inside, "I don't suppose you people mind if I ask a few questions, eh?"
[08:22]  "You're being allowed in. Don't push your luck."
[08:23]  The inside is utterly...well, unremarkable is the best thing that can be said.
[08:23]  It looks more or less exactly was one would expect - a run-down-looking unused storeroom.
[08:24]  "It's not that. I need to know about the Requiems. And Vita Tech..." Tom glances about. Sort of bare bones, eh? And he thought his room was bad...
[08:25]  There are maybe five, six, seven members in all - Simon; a blonde girl about nineteen years old; a man in a black hat, facemask, and trenchcoat, another man in a hat and longcoat, though no facemask and long blonde hair; a man wearing a hood with strange-looking gloves.
[08:26]  "What the hell?" Simon practically shouts at the kid manning the door, "I told you not to let him in, Quinn!"
[08:28]  Tom cleared his throat, "...Quinn is it, nice to meet you then, Quinn..."
[08:28]  Quinn just backs away as Simon advances.
[08:28]  "You followed me?"
[08:28]  "What is wrong with you? Do you not get that I wanted you to leave me alone?"
[08:29]  "More like -MY- boss followed you. With weird, Skullman power."
[08:29]  "Simon-"
 "Shut up, Siegfried! This has nothing to do with you, okay?"
[08:29]  The one in black holds up his hand. "Skullman?"
[08:29]  "That's more or less it, yeah."
[08:29]  "You know the Skullman?"
[08:29]  "Twilight Detective Agency."
[08:29]  A silence fills the room.
[08:30]  The one named Siegfried - the blonde in the hat - turns to look at the one in black. "What do you think, Gil?"
[08:30]  "I think...that Simon needs to back off." Gil's eyes lock onto Tom's - bright blue things staring out from under that hat. "And that Mister Magnusson should be invited to sit with us and explain himself."
[08:31]  After a moment, everyone (but Simon) nods. They cross their legs (in the girl's case, she sits on a crate with her legs crossed - not that she can be blamed in that black shortskirt).
[08:31]  Simon leans against the wall.
[08:32]  "I don't mind. I understand his position. It always hurts to lose a brother," Tom nods, and rests himself against a crate, "So then, I understand that my position is currently one of being outnumbered about one to... seven? But how about we do a little exchange? You guys ask me a question, and I'll ask one in return- but only if we can answer."
[08:35]  "Very well."
[08:37]  "Go right ahead then, this is your territory, after all."
[08:38]  "Why did you follow me?" Simon spits.
[08:38]  "Truth be told? Because I was curious as to what you guys know about the monsters around here, and because Skullman was able to point out where you went for me."
[08:38]  "Directions aren't my thing."
[08:39]  "Very well."
[08:40]  "Now, it's my turn. So then, what do you all know of the Requiems and the possible connection they have to VitaTech?"
[08:41]  Gil tilts his head to the side.
[08:41]  "I hadn't heard any of that before."
[08:41]  "Ah, then would you mind if I waxed a bit expositionary for a few minutes?"
[08:43]  "I've reason to believe that VitaTech is looking into the Requiems within this city for reasons I'm swiftly growing concerned over. The fact that my employers are capable of extracting and molding Requiems into tools for investigation purposes indicates that it may be possible to use them for other means, as well."
[08:43]  "Mind you, I'm not sure what those other means are, but the fact that they may be considering them is reason enough to be suspicious."
[08:43]  "Is that so?"
[08:44]  "It is. But please, I ask that you not go on a trip inside their offices. Their security has been... Reinforced since the last break in."
[08:45]  "I seem to have spoken for a while, and I wasn't even asked anything... Well, at any rate, it's your move."
[08:46]  "Why did you get in the way of my fight?" Simon snaps.
[08:46]  He doesn't seem to be in a good mood.
[08:46]  "Because I can't let someone throw their life away."
[08:46]  "Not someone so young, not because of vengeance."
[08:47]  "Your brother died, I'm guessing to save you from the same fate. If you throw your life away in order to avenge his, what would he think?"
[08:51]  "His brother was a member of this gang as well," the blonde answers, "And he died to avenge their parents."
[08:51]  "He tried to take on Dragon and failed."
[08:52]  "I see, then what Boss said wasn't necessarily off the mark."
[08:52]  "Then let me ask all of you, what did you lose?"
[08:53]  "My friend." Quinn answers.
 "My boyfriend," the blonde girl says.
 "My family," the blonde man says.
 "My sister." The hooded one answers.
[08:53]  Gil still hasn't spoken.
[08:55]  Tom's eyes fall on that one, the one who seemed like the leader of these 'kids,' "If it's too much to say, feel free to just tell me. I won't ask further about the subject."
[08:55]  "If that's the case, go ahead and ask me what you like."
[08:55]  "It's a complicated story, and I don't care to speak of it."
[08:56]  "I understand. Alright, your turn."
[08:56]  "Why do you want so badly to know about us?"
[08:59]  "I'm not sure, curiousity, I suppose? I'm a psychologist of sorts, you see, so things like trauma interest me a bit. And besides that, I feel like there needs to be something to life beyond just vengeance and war."
[09:00]  "We're fighting to protect people," the blonde girl speaks up after a moment, "So they won't go through what we had to."
[09:01]  "I can respect that. I do it regularly."
[09:01]  She cups her arms under her huge...tracts of land...and frowns at him sternly.
[09:03]  "But I don't do it just because it's happened to me before. Compared to you all, my life has actually been pretty calm and until lately, without tragedy. I share that urge to protect others, but out of opportunity rather than vengeance. Like you, I fight to protect, but I do it because my body can take it, and my limbs are strong enough to be used in the service of others- I'm sure many of you share similar... traits. Not similar, perhaps just 'unique' traits, then."
[09:04]  "Mmmm."
[09:05]  "I'll ask, then, if you fight monsters, what do you define them as?"
[09:06]  "People who prey on innocents."
[09:06]  "That seems terribly broad, but I suppose it's not a poor definition. Even so, I'm curious as to how far one can transgress before being considered a monster."
[09:08]  "It's complicated," Seras huffs.
[09:08]  "Seras...calm." Gil pats her on the arm.
[09:09]  "Alright, your turn."
[09:09]  "No...I think we're alright."
[09:09]  "You're certain?"
[09:10]  "...Oh. There's one more thing I needed to ask, though..."
[09:10]  "Well, no, two more, technically."
[09:10]  "Would you mind if I did so?"
[09:10]  "...go ahead."
[09:12]  "Right. So... Do the names: Minato Arisato, Ryoji Mochizuki, Igor or Hel mean anything to you? By that, I mean, can you tell me anything you know regarding them? Especially that last one, and the brother she may or may not have."
[09:13]  "Hel...the Death?"
[09:13]  "Is that her title?"
[09:13]  "Yes."
[09:14]  "...So, does she have a brother?"
[09:14]  "I don't know."
[09:14]  "I see. Is there anything you do know of her?"
[09:16]  "Not much."
[09:16]  "I see."
[09:16]  "Her powers have never been demonstrated, her strength level is unknown. She's the most mysterious of the group besides Roc the Wing."
[09:16]  "Well then, how about this last one... The Shadow Syndicate."
[09:17]  "No...sorry."
[09:17]  "It's alright. I suppose it was more a hope. They're the ones responsible for my arms, you see..."
[09:18]  "...And if there's no grave for those who have died before you, it wouldn't trouble me to try and put one together somewhere. Everything that has died and carries significance with death deserves to be remembered."
[09:18]  "There are graves. You don't have to worry about us."
[09:18]  "Alright."
[09:18]  "Well, if there's nothing more you want to ask me, then I suppose I'll be off."
[09:19]  "Mmmm."
[09:19]  The door explodes behind Tom, and immediately, the entire group scrambles to their feet, drawing various weapons.
[09:19]  Tom pushes himself to his feet, pistons engaging and drawing upwards... "Now, what could this be?"
[09:20]  "So...this is where you've been hiding." It's a voice carrying a great deal of chill, but the face is impossible to see - like Hel, this person is wearing a full facemask. Unfortunately, he's also wearing long black robes...not to mention a hood that's been pulled down.
[09:20]  "Reaper the Slaughter," Seras murmurs.
[09:21]  "...Reaper the Slaughter?" Tom almost has to hold back a laugh... "...I'm sorry, but that name is just..."
[09:21]  Reaper places a hand over his chest.
[09:21]  There's no visible motion beyond him squeezing, but Tom suddenly feels like his heart is about to explode.
[09:22]  "His name's well-chosen," Gil notes, drawing a blade from his coat.
[09:22]   "Just... Kh..." Tom clutches at his chest, that was most definitely NOT a good sign...
[09:22]  "Duly... Noted."
[09:23]  "I would appreciate you respect a man named 'Reaper' regardless of his title," Reaper offers idly, releasing his grasp on Tom's heart.
[09:23]  Or his own. Who knows how that's working?
[09:23]  Tom imagined it was much like a voodoo doll-effect...
[09:24]  "Dragon has tasked me with exterminating you all...but I have no interest in such a thing." His hands disappear into his robe. "Tedious."
[09:24]  "To pick each of you off one by one is simply uninteresting."
[09:24]  "So I will allow three of you to escape. Go on. Pick three. I'll wait."
[09:24]  Tom coughed, a smattering of blood stained his sleeve.
[09:24]  "Not you," he says to Tom after a moment, "You are of course exempt, so long as you don't raise a hand to me."
[09:25]  "Fenrir would be saddened if I killed you."
[09:25]  "He wants to drink your blood down his own throat."
[09:25]  "I imagine... Hel would be, as well."
[09:25]  "I don't really care," Reaper admits. "I outrank them both."
[09:25]  "So I've noticed."
[09:25]  "I'm waiting."
[09:26]  "Three of you get to go free."
[09:26]  He holds up ten fingers. "I'll count off the minutes for you."
[09:26]  He reduces it to five.
[09:26]  "Or all for me. How does that sound?"
[09:26]  "In other words, you can kill me as much as you like."
[09:26]  "You aren't my concern."
[09:26]  "So long as these live. That's just my way of doing things, you see."
[09:26]  "Wiping out the low-level pieces of scum is."
[09:27]  "It's a tedious, boring task, but thankfully, you helped me accomplish it."
[09:27]  "I can tell that you're a man of greater caliber than that."
[09:27]  "You're very indiscreet."
[09:27]  "I finally got bored of waiting you to finish talking, so I broke the door down." His thumb sinks into his hand.
[09:27]  Gil nudges Seras and points at Quinn and Simon. "Go!" he hisses. "We'll-"
[09:28]  Reaper claps as Gil points them out, dropping his hands back to his sides.
[09:28]  He steps away from the door. "You four can go." He says, pointing at Quinn, Simon, Seras, and Tom.
[09:28]  Tom winced, "How can I... leave them to die like this?"
[09:28]  "Surely there must be something else, something that I can give."
[09:28]  "Go!" Gil mutters.
[09:28]  "We'll survive."
[09:29]  "It's not just survival..."
[09:29]  Hermit drops into a combat stance, as does Siegfried. "Shut up and get out while you can."
[09:29]  "This is our fight."
[09:30]  Seras and Quinn are already making their way out the door, silently assenting to the others. Simon's whip is drawn.
[09:30]  "To sacrifice one's own self to save another..."
[09:30]  "Those are the words of a true man."
[09:30]  "You wanted to know what we call a monster?!" Simon shouts, "That's it! That right there!"
[09:31]  Tom makes his way to Simon's side...
[09:31]  ...And attempts to hoist the boy over his shoulder.
[09:32]  "I respect your path. Gil, if you die here, these ones will be without your guidance."
[09:34]  Simon's hoisted over his shoulder (despite protests). Reaper's arms are crossed now, and he seems to be waiting for them to leave.
[09:35]  "...But trust me. I will protect them. Godspeed."
[09:35]  With that, Tom makes his way out of the warehouse, casting one last look back into its hall before finally following the other two out.
[09:36]  The door closes behind them as Reaper's foot pushes it shut.
[09:37]  Seras might be crying, but it's hard to tell in the rain.
[09:37]  He doesn't set the boy down, yet... "...I'm sorry. If I knew I was being followed... If he would have accepted my sacrifice, then I would have been more than totally willing."
[09:38]  "Let's go," Quinn mutters. "We shouldn't stay here."
[09:38]  From the alleyway, the sound of footsteps in the rain.
[09:38]  "Is there anywhere you can go to hide for now?"
[09:38]  Minato casually pushes the door open, shutting it behind him as he enters.
[09:39]  Seras just blinks at the situation, then shakes her head.
[09:39]  Tom glances at Minato, "...Headphones. It's you."
[09:39]  As he's talking to the door, this doesn't accomplish much
[09:40]  "...If it's him... Well, do you?"
[09:40]  "We don't really have anywhere to go," Quinn answers despondently. "The other cells in the city are kept secret."
[09:40]  "I see."
[09:40]  "Until that point..."
[09:40]  "I'll need to ask Boss of it, but until that point, you can likely stay under the protection of the Agency."
[09:41]  Seras nods.
[09:41]  "Alright. Let's get going then."

[ArachnosX]

Requiem 12: Ryouzampaku

It's the middle of the morning, and Tom's just waking up from...

...from...

From...wait. What?

But...Shadowkind...Reaper...what happened?

The sheets are there, the covers are there...but the floor is black as night. The walls are missing, nothing but a black hole.

Nothing but a bed in the middle of nothingness.

And sitting at the end, of course, writing away in his book of dreams is none other than Morpheus.

He looks up and frowns at Tom. "Evening."

Tom's mind goes into 'what the fuck mode' for just a moment. Until, you know, noticing his companion... "Oh. Hey, we meet again."

"...Something wrong?"

"Well...sort of."

"I ran out of dream."

He holds up the book, displaying that he is in fact at the last page.

"...Uhm... What?"

"This book is your dream book. It's all your dreams for all your life."

"It lasts until the day your heart stops beating."

Tom blinks for a moment... "...So... That's not good, is it?"

"It wouldn't be, but you're not dead."

"Believe me," Ryoji says, swinging around to stand on the black dreamstuff. Flowers spring up where he walks, dying in a heartbeat as he leaves the
space.

"Yeah... I noticed..."

"I know dead people."

"...So what does it mean?"

He rubs his chin. "It was right about after the Skull Man left that it started, so I had to fill in the blanks to keep your mind from going into
shock..."

"I dunno," He admits honestly.

"...I see."

"I'd guess a coma, but that's just one long dream. And they really hurt my arm after a while."

"So does that mean I'll stop dreaming altogether?"

"I dunno." He admits again, "I've never heard of a case like this."

"I see..."

"And I've read all the prior Morpheuses cases."

"Morpheui?"

"...And nothing like it?"

"Nothing."

"You're a very unique person, Tom."

"Well, that's mildly disconcerting."

"Heh, so people tell me..."

Ryoji sits down on the bed as the scenery changes to a pleasant beach.

And Tom is still in bed. Unfortunate, that. "Oh hey, I needed to ask..."

"Hm?"

"...Was it really Minato?"

"What?"

"I mean, your death."

"Was it really Minato that did it?"

At that, he smiles. "You know the rules."

"Heh, I don't suppose you can bend them either, huh?"

"Uh-uh."

"Ah well. That just means when I find the truth, it'll be more rewarding."

"I'm glad you think that way."

"So if I run out of dream, does that mean I just start popping up here more often?"

"You know what I'm gonna say."

"Well, of course I do. That's my style."

"Heh... 'I don't know,' right?"

"That's fine, too. If it's the unknown, I'll rush in head first to chase after it."

"It's mildly unnerving, really," Morpheus notes as a couple of women (approximations of various women Tom's after) run past along the beach.
"I mean."

"I know what happened to you, and why I had to start writing so fast, but I don't know why you're 'not dreaming'."

"I can only assume that somebody shunted you out of your dream and into the space between dream and reality."

"...You mean the Velvet Room, right?"

"Yeah. Igor wasn't pleased with that."

"In this specific case, I mean here."

"The Velvet Room is part of this place too."

"Wait."

"Oh, is it?"

He stops, frowning at Tom. "How do you know about the Velvet Room?"

"Huh?"

"...I guess I fell in, once."

"I think it was at your old School. I opened the door to leave, and there I was."

At that, something changes. Ryoji stands up and shouts, "IGOR!", and the world shifts blue, leaving Tom sitting in the bed with Ryoji standing on the
blue carpet and Igor staring at the both of them.

Tom blinks at the sudden shift of reality. At least he was still in his bed...

"You seem so surprised," Igor offers, holding out his fingers. "Did I do something to upset you, Morpheus?"

"There are rules about throwing people into my realm," Ryoji answers, "You know them as well as I do."

"I thought it was preferrable to allowing him to die so soon."

"Then you get to explain it." Ryoji steps aside as Igor locks his eyes on Tom.

"I'm lost here, folks."

"But yeah, I like being alive a lot more than being dead."

"As Morpheus no doubt informed you, you are sitting in the realm that is both dream and truth."

"The rainbow bridge to Asgard, as it were."

"Yeah... This place feels pretty 'real' to me."

"...So if I get through here, I get to hang out with a legion of Valkyries and eat meat and drink booze until I get to smash faces all night long..."

"Right?"

"No."

"Damn. I thought so."

"You cross the bridge each time you sleep."

" I see..."

"Fantasy and reality are one and the same within these corridors of the Bridge, and nothing that occurs here is truth or fiction," Igor informs him
in that irritating double-talk.

"The last thing that occured in reality was your encounter with the Skull Man, you see."

"..."

"So the whole thing about Reaper..."

"Was just me in here?"

"Was a dream," Ryoji answers helpfully, "Made to cover the horrible trauma you were put through."

"Had I allowed you to remain in the world, your heart would no longer be beating."

"...Anyone wanna tell me what Trauma that is?"

"The trauma was the shock of being ripped from the waking world in the middle of the day."

"Instead, I had to trick Morpheus into fabricating a believable journey."

"I see."

"...So what the hell happened to push me through into here?"

"You see, I saw the future." Igor notes, holding out his hand, "And had I allowed you to meet with the 'people' you met with in here,
you would have been murdered."

"And so would they."

"..."

"I see."

"So to save both mine and the lives of those people, you pulled me here."

"You and they are still of use to the hands manipulating your life." He folds his hands in front of him, leaning forwards.

"It was not my choice, I assure you.

"

"I take it you mean the Shadow Syndicate."

"There are higher things at work than they."

"Higher things?"

"Yes, higher things."

"Does this have to do with the incident at the school?"

"The one nobody seems to want to tell me about."

"It does, but in the way that all things are connected in this city of sorrow."

"All part of a much larger picture, huh..."

"It is not an immediate presence, nor is its link a powerful one."

"But each stone in the lake ripples."

"And further and further they ripple against the bounds of the lake until it bursts forth."

"You mean this entity, or power 'pulling the strings,' right?"

"I mean reality itself."

"Is it the one who keeps calling me?"

"...Aha."

"I cannot answer that."

"I understand."

"I am under a contract, you see." He waves his hand at the table. "Contracts are the most sacred of things in the Bridge."

"And I take it you also can't tell me what my running out of dreams implies."

"It implies that Morpheus instinctively knew something was wrong." Igor replies, "You are not dead, nor will you die any time soon."

"When you are returned to your own world at the hospital, and go to sleep again this night, your dreams will be restored once more."

"...I see."

"However," Igor stresses, holding up a finger.

"Hm?"

"Do not think that I will intervene again."

"I do not like you or appreciate your existence, and it is only by the contract to which I am bound that I interfered in your death this time."

"I won't think it, but somehow, I doubt this is our last meeting."

"The next time I call for you, you will be aware and awake."

With that, Igor waves his hand, and the velvet paradise is dismissed, leaving Tom and Morpheus standing in the black.

"...So then..."

"...That was foreboding."

"I take it he's like that a lot."

"I'm sorry." Morpheus apologizes.

"He is. But he saved your life either way..."

"Don't worry about it," Tom chuckles, pushing back his hair, "Yeah. I'm thankful."

"And to you as well, for keeping me alive then."

"Don't worry, I won't let Minato fall any further."

"I trust you." Ryoji replies. "No matter what you may be, who you are is what counts."

"If he isn't responsible... Then he doesn't deserve any of this suffering."

With that, he pats Tom on the shoulder...

...and Tom stumbles out of the bathroom at the hospital.

Second floor, if his memory serves.

Tom catches himself in mid-step. That was a terribly sudden transition...

...Is he at least in good shape?

He seems undamaged.

And in his proper clothes?

Still sopping wet from the rain, still holding the umbrella.

...But what Ryoji said... 'What I am?' he muses, 'What I am is what I am, but yes... Who I am is what counts. Still though...'

...He had other things to do. He was in the hospital anyway, so...

Roll. Where was Roll's room?

Second floor, just down the hall. How kind of Ryoji.

Or maybe Igor...

...no, probably Ryoji.

Well, in either case, kindness was always appreciated.

He'd start down towards that room, knocking on the door before trying anything else, "Hello, is anyone in there?"

The door swings open - Roll seems to be there, but the other two don't.

She looks up as he enters and waves with her good arm.

Tom shuts the door as he enters, a warm smile on his face, "Hey there. Feeling any better today?"

"A little."

"That's good. I was worried there for a while."

"...But then I remembered you're Roll, so that sort of vanished."

"Nyahhhh."

"Hey, that was a compliment!"

"Hard to tell." She teases, patting the chair next to her bed.

Tom chuckles, dropping gently into the seat, "So I heard the food here's something else."

"Yeah, it's something else alright - something else entirely from food."

"Euch. That bad, huh?"

"It's edible..."

"I'll have to get them to bring in instant noodles, or something."

"At least you know that's safe."

"They won't let me."

"They say they wanna make sure I don't get food poisoning or something to complicate it already."

"...But it's instant noodles."

'If those aren't safe anymore, I don't think I want to leave my room."

"I know, right?"

"Well, hey, how about I sneak you a cup next time I come?"

"I'd like that." She smiles.

"I can even pick up a bowl from Kensei's."

"Oh God yes! I've been craving some of those noodles since I got my arm cut open."

"And don't remind me that it was just after we left, 'cause those noodles are addictive!"

"Heh, I'll make sure to drop by before I come next time around."

"What're you craving for? Beef? Wanton?"

"Beef, definitely."

"Right then! I'll pick up a bowl for you. That's payback for letting you get cut up."

"Yeah, then we'll be totally equal." She smirks.

"Hey, I'm risking my head by dropping by that guy's restaurant. With the things I've run into so far, I wouldn't be surprised if Ba Kensei
wants my head, too."

"Nahhh...he's a nice guy. I'm sure you'll be okay."

"But you better hold to that promise!"

"Hah. Don't worry! I've still got a day before that Knight guy shows up, so I've got time."

"I'll probably drop by tomorrow morning."

"Okay."

"...Actually, what time is it now?"

"Kinda late, actually. Why?"

"...Huh. Weird, I guess the day just passes by quick when you're wandering town."

"Then again, it's raining, so I probably didn't notice."

"I was thinking I'd bring you a bowl for dinner, but it looks like it's a little late for that. Tomorrow it is."

"Sounds good."

"Well then..." Tom pushes onto his feet, "I'll let you get some rest."

As Tom leaves the hospital and reenters the pouring rain, he can see that it is indeed late - streetlights are flickering on, and it's generally becoming a
bad sort of darkness.

Well, in this city, Tom didn't seem to find very much 'Good' darkness.

Either way, he'd hurry himself home.

On the way home, he's met by Shinji, who directs him into Akihiko's across the street after a brief moment.

The air inside is nice and warm - a real comfort at a time like this - and Mitsuru is just departing, a nod of her head as she slinks on by.

Shinji sits down at the bar and gestures for Tom to do the same as Akihiko moves over.

Tom nods and places himself in a seat, arms idle across the bar table, "Hey there guys... What's up?"

"I heard about what happened with Adam," Shinji informs him as Akihiko sets a steel mug down in front of Tom.

Tom sips the contents of the mug, gathering his thoughts for a moment... "Yeah. That was..."

"Reckless," Shinji finishes.

"Stupid," Akihiko offers.

"...Yeah. I got lost."

"Thick-headed," Ai-chan puts in from where she's gathering messes off tables.

"The point is," Shinji returns, "You get into a lot of deep crap."

"On a more or less daily basis," Akihiko agrees.

Tom tilts up at the other cyborg (not that he knows yet) "Hey there, I don't think we've met..."

"...And yeah. I've noticed that."

"Hey, pay attention!" Shinji snaps. "Chase girls later."

"Anyway." Akihiko coughs. "I pulled a couple strings with some old friends of mine, and I think it'd be wise of you to..."

Tom chuckles, "Sorry! I guess skirt chasing's just hard for me to break."

"...how can I put this delicately...learn to actually fight."

"I know you were an amateur boxer, but that's not enough to cut it here."

"Uhm..."

"Okay then..."

"So what do you guys suggest?"

"Oh, come on, Tom." Shinji mutters, "You saw what Fenrir could do."

"Hey, I never said I disagreed with you. I do need to get stronger..."

"I'm just wondering what you guys have in mind."

"The dojo I used to visit when I was learning how to box," Akihiko answers.

"I'll take you when we finish our drinks," Shinji offers. "Your track record at getting around in this city is pathetic."

"No offense," Akihiko adds.

"No, I meant to offend him."

"...Oh! Okay. I thought you were talking about something crazy like locking me in a cage with a few dozen tigers."

"I accept that completely. My sense of direction is horrible."

"It's...awful," Akihiko agrees.

"Yeah. I couldn't find my way out of a paper bag."

"If just half of what I've heard is true...yeah."

"Drink up," Shinji urges, "You'll need it."

Tom blinks, and does as he's told.

He took a sip anyway, so it was too late to ask if it was on the house or not.

"You'll like it," Akihiko agrees, "It's a nice place. By the way, that'll be five bucks."

Tom sighs, "I knew it."

"I need to pay for that steel mug somehow."

"Hah. I guess so!"

Once drinks are done (and a bit of discussion about how Tom should be much better after this), Shinji stands up and gestures for Tom to follow.

Tom shrugs and, again, does as he's told.

Getting lost at this time of night is a VERY bad idea.

"Just be warned," Shinji informs him slowly as they make their way through the dark streets, flickering light and rain the only 'comfort'.
"They may not take you."

"Is there a test or something?" Tom asks, his umbrella shielding him from the rain.

"Maybe."

"They may just decide they don't like you."

"...I'm going to hurt tomorrow, aren't I?"

"They're a weird bunch."

"Weird as in...?"

"You'll see."

"...Okay..."

As they near the dojo, it's blatantly obvious just how insane this place is. The door itself is twice as tall as Tom, maybe larger, and just as wide;
Shinji is forced to reach up and knock.

"HEY!" He shouts, "I BROUGHT THE GUY!"

Tom is indeed forced to won- Oookay, that was sudden.

The door opens inwardly - standing there is a man, a short Chinese man in a cheongsam with a bowler hat.

"...Hey... I know you..."

"Ba Kensei. You're the cyborg, the one that eats with that nice Roll girl."

"Very firm." He nods and stands aside. "Come on in. You look frigid."

Chinese man, bowler hat... "Oh right! Yeah, that's me."

Shinji turns away. "Good luck."

"Heh, thanks..." nodding, Tom tries to do just that, "Uh, thanks Shinji... Don't run into anything on the way home."

He waves over his shoulder as he departs into the darkness. Tom's lead inside by Ba Kensei - the dojo is extremely old, wooden, and very clearly
hand-built.

It's charming, Tom would admit, extraordinary in a way different than Roger's Manor, but none the less amazing. The fact that it was still in one piece
is actually astounding.

"Welcome to Ryouzampaku."

"Ryouzampaku? Well, thanks for the welcome."

"Hehe." He chuckles into his hand.

"It's rather cold out today."

"I expect everyone is practicing inside."

"...At this time of night?"

"Dedication, huh?"

"You expect wrong, Kensei!"

From the rooftop, a man - sorta - in a red-yellow-and-black mask, grey coat, and...spandex?...leaps, landing next to the pair and falling in stride.

"Ah, Schwarz. Speaking of dedication..."

"Schwarz Bruder, Tom Magnusson."

"Guten Tag," Schwarz replies, holding out his hand to the side.

"Schwarz Bruder is the best ninja in the world," Kensei informs Tom helpfully, "But that's not saying too much - at Ryouzampaku, if you
aren't the best, you don't deserve to be part of it! Hah!"

"Schwarz? I know a Schwarz..." Tom ponders for a moment before realization strikes, "...Schwarz- like, Gundam Fight Schwarz?"

"That is correct!" Schwarz crosses his arms. "I was the Gundamfighter for Central in the last Gundamfight."

"...My lord. It's an honor, sir!"

"Hah!" Schwarz grabs Kensei by the scruff of his neck. "You say it as if this isn't a city of unusual things."

Kensei slips downwards, and Schwarz's knee slams up into his face.

As Kensei rubs his nose, he protsts, "I was only going to see if the girls were practicing outside."

"I know what you were planning! I'm fairly certain I just saved your life!"

"You have no soul."

"Uhm..."

"I think I'm lost. I do that a lot... Anyway, it's a great honor to meet you both. Tom Magnusson, detective and trouble magnet, at your
service."

"Schwarz Bruder!" Schwarz reintroduces himself. "Student of every village!"

"Sand, Leaf, Cloud, Mist, Sound - I know their secrets all."

"I take it you are the new hopeful who wishes to learn from our dojo!"

"Yeah. That's me. A couple of my friends suggested it..."

"And truth be told, I agree completely."

"I'm sure you do! But we may not accept you!"

"After my run in with Fenrir... I think I do need to be stronger, to protect the ones I care about."

"That's fine. Whatever you need me to do, I'll do it."

"Hiko! You can come out now!"

A man in a huge white cape with flowing black hair leaps from the tree, landing in stride behind them.

"It isn't a test! No test can probe the heart as deeply as learning about the person!"

The man called 'Hiko' is a monster of a man, certainly, and how he's even able to move in that cape is a mystery. "Magnusson, hn..." He
murmurs, "Seijurou Hiko the 40th."

Tom does ponder that. That was, indeed, a huge cape. For a huge man. He figured that was the reason they had such a huge door... "Hello there, sir."
Not a beat missed, "It's good to meet you."

Schwarz opens the door. Hiko says nothing.

Inside, a pair of women, an exceedingly huge old man, a man in green and yellow, and a guy in blue sit directly on the wooden floor around a table.

The first woman's brown hair is extremely long, matched only by the determination in her eyes; her black skirt and white sports bra combo do a great deal
to accent her *ahem* assets, but she certainly doesn't get by on looks alone if her

posture is anything to speak of - in fact, she seems to be a boxer just based on the way she's sitting.

The second is a woman in red, with similarly long hair done up in a ponytail; her outfit is similarly 'distracting', but again, she's clearly not
one to get by just on her looks.

The man in yellow and green is the only one not 'reclining' in some fashion or another - his legs are crossed, his spine is ramrod-straight, and the
mask over his face does little to hide his fighting aura.

The last is a man in blue, a sake bottle sitting next to him. He looks like a cap would belong on his head were he maybe ten years younger, but his eyes are a
picture of stubbornness, and his own killing aura radiates outwards so fiercely even Tom can sense it.

The last is the old man, whose muscles are clearly those of someone who's been fighting his whole life - and a long life it is. He must be older than the
entire group put together.

Tom swallows. Harshly. And not just at the cleaveage. That guy was just creepy, like something was about to reach out of the air around him and land a punch in
the poor Britannian's face...

"Akihiko called ahead about this one," Kensei informs the group, "It's Magnusson."

Tom nods, cautiously, "As I've said a great many times, it's an honor."

"Aki? How's he doing?" The brown-haired woman looks up. Boing.

"He said he'd like to come back for a bit more training if it's alright with you."

"Oh, it's always fine with me!" She waves her hand dismissively before focusing on Tom, narrowing her eyes at him.

It's vaguely similar to being eyed by Mitsuru - that predatorial gaze - but a thousand times more severe. This woman probably could take him apart with
little more than a motion.

Boing and then OHGODDAGGEREYES.

In any other case, Tom would oblige, but this seemed a bit more literal than not.

"Try not to scare this one off, Tifa - we need the money."

The other woman turns to look at Tom as well, a much more passive, flowing stare.

"I don't like him." The one in blue says after a minute. "Cyborg."

"No upper body to work on."

"Hoho...you'll have to forgive Jotaro." The old man laughs.

"He doesn't take well to anyone."

Tom rolls his shoulders, "Hey, no problem. I'm used to it, floating around the alleys in this city," He chuckles, awkwardly, perhaps a bit
nervously.

"Sit down."

Tom nods and does so, one mechanical leg over another.

"Legs, too?" Jotaro snorts.

"Yeah. But it wasn't really my choice, these."

"Something called the Shadow Syndicate hacked off my arms and legs and replaced them."

"A fundamental part of fighting," Kensei informs him, "Is learning how to-"

At that, everyone goes silent.

Tom blinks...

"Uhm... Did I say something?"

"Are you telling the truth?" The old man asks.

"Pretty sure I am. He's generally a pretty reliable source, and I've been looking into it as well."

"They do seem like the most likely."

"Tch. How can we train somebody who can't ever get stronger?" Jotaro asks the room in general.

"...what do you want to learn?" The man in green asks after a long moment.

"I want to learn to become stronger. There are people in this city who deserve protection from Endgame, and from Requiems... And they deserve to know the
truth."

"Is that so?"

"I need to give them that, but to do that, I need to keep living until I find the answer."

"...Someone who trusts me is already in the hospital because I couldn't defend her in time."

"Very well." The man in green replies, standing.

"Heh, heh." The old man chuckles. "Iron Fist seems to have taken to you. Then I guess you're in."

Tom nods, smiling, "Well then, it's good to be on board. Thank you for taking me in."

"Hmph. You're expected to show up at least once a week."

"And then we'll..."

"Put you through hell." Is it just Tom, or did the whole room get darker?

[Black Aeronaut]

Dude. You know that if you put this through a word processor, like MS Word, Abiword, or even Open Office, then copy-paste the text over into Yuku's posting
form, it'll carry over the indents. It also makes it hella easier to edit this beast down. I honestly had to stop reading when I saw that you left in the
time-stamps. I only do that sort of thing when I'm pointing out the highlights of commentary over a collaborative project.

The fact that these timestamps do exist intrigues me. Are you working on this with the help of a friend? If so, then let me point you in the direction of
several useful tools.

If the both of you use MS Word, then CoWord would probably be the way to go. It is an add-on app that turns MS Word
into a real-time collaborative word processor. However, it requires some understanding of how a server works, as you gotta set up one computer to act as the
host machine.

Another alternative that requires a little less fuss is Abiword. Abiword is another MS Word clone that has recently
added integrated real-time collaboration. Best of all, it is available for all platforms: Windows, Mac, and Linux.

Finally, if you want a minimum of screwing around and don't mind your stuff being in plain-text format, there is Etherpad. Etherpad is an entirely web-based text editor whose sole purpose is to provide a venue for real-time collaboration.
Disadvantage, though, is that it requires a very low-lag connection for the best performance. Otherwise you keep on getting dumped from their synchronization
server.

As for the story istelf, it's a very interesting idea. I'd read more into it, but it becomes a chore when I have to guess who's doing the talking.
Try opening up a book, preferably a good one (I recomend Diane Duane or Mercedes Lackey - they're awesome authors), and try to emulate how the dialogue is
presented.

[ArachnosX]

The indents you see are actually the ones that are there. The reason it's not terrifically formatted is that what this is is, quite literally, an ongoing
log of an online game.

Hence the timestamps. I forgot to remove them on three occasions, so they got stuck there. And these logs, being irritatingly big, just aren't worth it
to me to cut down.

The other person in this is @Stormgear, on City of Heroes; he plays Tom. I GM.

EDIT: Moreover, AIM is a pain in the butt with its 200-word limit, so the flashier descriptional prose is longer and broken up. You're going to have to use
the ol' "context clues", I'm afraid. Blame AIM's word limit.

[Black Aeronaut]

I figured that you were using an IM like AIM. It's why I suggested Etherpad. You could probably run your game there. It conveniently has numbered lines,
plus a seperate chate window in the sidebar so you can use that for OOC commentary.