Broken Contracts (Hana ✗ Sen)

[Hana]

For someone who hardly showed interest in any people, Yinbao was being uncomfortably inquisitive towards her. Selene inwardly frowned; had she made a wrong decision in deciding, as she had so far, to continue on interacting with the prince? Somewhere along the way, from the very first moment they recognized each other as skilled archers, to the competitions they had against each other, he had decided that she was the most interesting thing to come to the palace - outside of archery and hunting. Whether it was purely intellectual interest or whether he wanted to further develop a relationship with her past mere acquaintanceship, that was the question.

The huntress lifted a cup of hot sake, surprised at first that this was the drink the servants had served at this feast. Her eyes narrowed slightly at his words, and the unreadable staredown the two men on either side of her had. Sipping and feeling the smooth liquid slide like silk down her throat - she mused that the quality of this sake was vastly different from the sake most in the land had - she took a moment to stare at the prince with a gravely thoughtful look.

"I am sure that after years of fighting side by side and going through situations dealing with life and death has brought me and my partner as closer than just a mere working relationship, but I'm aware of what boundaries there are." Her answer was delivered in a noncommittal tone. Not that those boundaries had even been in place for years, but Yinbao didn't know that.

He could glean whatever meaning he could from those words, in an answer that was not an answer. Whatever he meant, it wasn't as if it was any of his concern what she was with Phynex.

Even if the fine trembling in her partner's arm was something she had to still with a grip around his wrist.

Dealing with this prince while in the presence of Phynex was proving more trouble than she expected.

~
​

"You're quiet," Selene murmured, hearing no reply from the fire demon as he stared at something only he could see. His fingers were rhythmically stroking her hair, rubbing the strands in between his fingers. She closed her eyes and sighed, wondering if she should just nod off to sleep lulled by the fire demon's hand. The fight with Arashi was by far one of the more exciting - but not the most - battles she had and after such a week of hellish training, she was admittedly tired. Even if she never showed it during the week. And after a soothing bath and now lying on one of the softest futons, she was more than ready to sleep. It was a comfortable position to be in, facing him on the bed with his arm around her to reach for her hair, but his eyes were far, far away.

When the fire demon didn't reply, only murmuring something and stroking her hair, she admitted defeat. If he was going to do some deep thinking on his own, she was going to leave him to it - they both had those times to themselves. He was here, and if he needed to talk to her, he would speak up on his own. Selene was going to get some sleep. That, and his stroking was making her feel sleepier...
​

~
​

They rose bright and early in the morning to change into clothes more fit for Neo Edo - and for traveling long distances. Selene was just pleased to wear her usual clothes again, which wouldn't look out of place in that city. Her black coat, shorts, and a turtleneck meant she could once again feel more like herself instead of being some dolled up diplomat in elaborate kimono attires. Yet for some reason Kusamaru had miraculously delivered yet another parcel - when was he going to stop referring to her as his muse? - containing fine clothes... With slits at the side. After he had heard of what the huntress had done to her kimono when fighting Phynex, he had apparently taken that as a personal challenge. At least he wasn't insulted. Hakama, a kimono top, and Eastern-style tops to wear with shorts or boots - what was he thinking?

She glanced at Phynex as he finished dressing himself, having already finished on her own. "You look well-rested," she commented with a blank stare. He had slept well past when she had last night, but for some reason he looked like he had slept a full night's sleep instead of looking tired.​

 

[Mu]

For the first time in a while, the fire demon was finally dressed in clothes he felt comfortable in. They were tight but not too tight, loose but not too loose. It gave him more freedom to move without excess cloth flapping around and obstructing him. He found himself smiling a lot as well, and looking at the huntress as she busied herself around the house more with a fond expression on his face. He didn't seem to care when she took notice or when Crow and Kimyotake - the latter seeing them off with tears in her eyes - saw as well. Phynex had woken up energized and happier than usual. Selene seemed to have noted this as well, and the fire demon only grinned at her. "I'm just excited." They were going to go to a new place, said to be similar to Nora.

It was Kimyotake who saw the three of them off, waving her goodbyes until her home disappeared as the hills swallowed her up. Despite her size and how small she was, Phynex felt like she had been a doting mother to him and Selene as well, always worrying about his wellbeing here in the East. After the figure of the Old One vanished, Phynex made himself comfortable in the carriage, one hand encased around Selene's out of habit as the vehicle trudged on down the road. It was going to be a long way to this technologically advanced city.

For countless days, the three of them traveled down the same winding road. They battled heavy downpours and harsh sunlight, stopped by every so often to build a campfire to cook with - usually Crow - while Selene and Phynex went off nearby to spar against one another. They needed to keep their skills sharp and continue to hone them, since they only had a week's worth of training. Some days, Phynex would take over the driving while Crow studied. Or Selene would drive while Phynex studied with Crow or napped away, lulling away the time that never seemed to end. Despite the endless drawl of time, the fire demon never found himself bored. He was filled with new determination, and it was clear in his expression. He talked often with his lover, about subjects that they liked to talk about. About new things. It was as if that brief and dark period of paranoia and fear didn't exist.

Soon, they found themselves approaching the skyline of the outermost city of the cluster of electrically-run cities. Neo-Edo. For some strange reason, the skies were always thick with dark clouds yet it did not rain a lot, casting an eerie and foreboding look over the entirety of the skyline. It was creepily cold, and it felt like eyes were always on them even though they were not yet in range of the city boundaries. As they approached, the fire demon realized that there was, of course, a thick set of walls acting as a perimeter around the city. The air around it seemed to shimmer and shine like glass, a barrier set up using some sort of invention or possibly magic, invisible against the dark sky until a rare burst of sunlight through the clouds shone against it. It was beautiful, like a dome encasing the entire city. It reminded Phynex of what Nora might have been like, if not besieged by demon invasions and attacks.

Tall buildings that reached for the sky stood tall and proud, lights sparkling and twinkling around them like fireflies. They blinked and winked at them from afar, surrounded by a forest of concrete towers. His ears could pick up the sound of cars honking and sharp dress shoes clicking against the pavement. The absence of rustling trees, instead replaced by flickering street lamps. The smell of pollution, the smell of the city - cafe food and car fuel - met his nose. "It's... more beautiful than I thought," Phynex commented. "It really does look like Nora."

As the barrier drew near, the horse that was leading them began to neigh with unease. It was nervous, nervous of grossing the barrier. Phynex could feel a strange energy radiating from it, and it did not go well with the horse bred to live and serve outside of these cities were the environment was so different. After some encouragement from Crow, the creature steadily but slowly moved forward, breaking into a gallop to speed through the barrier. The fire demon gasped, not knowing what to expect, but was instead met with a force that pushed against him ever so slightly. The carriage shuddered, but settled down as if nothing had happened. What was that about? He shared a look with the huntress, but stayed silent as they slowly let the atmosphere of the city envelop them.

A flickering sign displayed the name of the city they had set foot on. "Welcome to Neo-Edo."​

 

[Hana]

As similar as the first impression of this Eastern modern city was to her birthplace, it still wasn't Nora. "... Similar, yes. But so different." The youkais and traditionalists of the Eastern kingdom were incredibly close to nature and its aesthetics, and the dark and foreboding cloud that spoke of pollution and smoke didn't bode well for those who valued the environment. She could spot the trails of both light and dark smoke that spoke of industry far in the distance, rising past buildings that were made of steel and glass, or concrete and cement. The high-rise buildings were the most noticeable similarity, blinking in and out with lights in the open windows that showed the many lives that were so close but would likely never touch. So many human and youkai lives clustered in one place, yet with the hustle and bustle of the city, they barely brushed past each other if it weren't for familial ties. Or ties that began when they were young and grew together in school and similar environments.

The city had its own sort of polished, manmade beauty. She never once thought that man couldn't create beautiful things though they tended to destroy more than they created, and Neo-Edo was likely a place of both destruction and creation. How many trees and terrain had been leveled to create a city of this magnitude?

The magical barrier that rippled against them as they passed felt strangely invasive. "What are the workings of these?" Turning around, she caught the fire demon's eye and frowned. She was more sensitive to picking out the fine workings of magic if it was used on her, and that one felt like probing eyes at the back of her head, hands unwelcomely drawing close to inspect.

"A seal by Crane-sama that's powered by someone from the Azuma Police Agency. It lets them know who comes and goes from the city and if they have negative intent - but powering a seal that actually stops all of those is another thing," Crow muttered from in front of the carriage, having heard them. "That's the workings of it, anyway 0 among other things. It was a special commission and rather tricky too, considering the workings of this city is different from traditional magic."

The graceful and traditional carriage and its horse looked out of place in Neo-Edo. Upon first entering they were hit by a sudden callback to the streets of Nora with its scent of smoke and people form all walks of life. Seeing the welcome sign blinking blearily at them, as if the lights itself felt worn out beaming the sign for all to see for days on end, Selene sighed.

"Let's get to work, then."

 

[Mu]

As they neared the center of the city, Phynex began to notice the odd looks citizens were sending them. The carriage and its vibrant colors did not match the grim and dark outlook of the city. There was plenty of room for them beside all of the cars and bikes, and Crow surprisingly managed to guide the horse well through the winding streets, making sure that they kept at the same speed - ensuring they did not block any cars behind them. More and more lights began flashing in their faces, a rainbow of colours flickering and displaying advertisements and videos of the strangest things. It was a more colourful version of Nora, Phynex didn't even remember this many electronic screens propped up everywhere, stacked on top of all the sky high buildings. Phoenix Industries would have never allowed it.

Set away from the chaos of crossing roads that intersected each other, but not too far from the crowds of people, was a brightly lit building that from what Phynex could tell, was a host of mingling auras. Written on a small tiled wall that stretched in front of the building like a concrete nametag were golden characters, reading; Azuma Police Agency - Neo-Edo Headquarters.

"Is this where the police work?" Phynex questioned, cocking his head at the building. He expected something more extravagant, but it looked like a regular police station hub, except with plenty of youkai presence inside.

​

 

[Hana]

"Too many electronic screens." For a city that was less advanced than Nora, Neo-Edo did like to use a lot of entertainment platforms. Videos played out on a multitude of screens in the high-rising buildings and platforms all around them, some buildings entirely covered in nothing but brightly flashing billboards and neon signs. The entertainment district of Nora looked similar, but as a rule the environment was more discreet. An obscure nightclub here behind a nondescript door, that when one managed to buy their way in or get past the bouncers, showed dizzying colorful lights and bodies that undulated with abandon against each other to music that blasted through surround-sound speakers. The only sign showing it would be a nightclub was the single neon blinking letters positioned above the door.

Human and youkai milled around the busy streets, the familiar sight of lit up smartphones and electronic devices in their hands another similarity to Nora. The youkai walked freely in either their human forms or their demonic appearances with no shame, yet adapted to the types of clothing that the population favored - modern shorts and skirts, pants and slacks, shirts with splashes of color or completely monochromatic. Hats and caps, backpacks and handbags bejeweled with accessories fit for wives of rich businessmen. Faces that were distinctively Eastern, no sight of anyone with Western origins. They peered curiously at the carriage that somehow managed to wind its way around the hectic roads, but otherwise dismissed it as a temporary spectacle and returned to their lives.

"Yes, you've met one of them already, remember?" Crow carefully led the horse towards the building, letting his passengers get down from the carriage to approach on foot. "You two go first, I have to make sure this horse is - uh, parked - properly." He waved them off to enter the building.

The huntress glanced at Phynex before pushing the door open, leading to a normal lobby inside. It was clean and neatly arranged, a front desk with a female clerk greeting the two. The woman was busy tapping away at the keyboard, eyes focused on the screen of her desktop computer, when the sound of the door opening caused her to look up. Adjusting her glasses from behind two completely black eyes blinked at them, she spoke politely. "Good evening. This is Azuma Police Agency, what do you need?" Behind her desk, up on the wall, was different slots that held cards for the police workers timed in.

Selene stared at the youkai female. She was wearing a typical uniform for an office lady, a white shirt and a black pencil skirt, an idenfification card pinned to her breast that read 'Arita'. Before the lady could speak or the two could state their reasons for visiting, the door at the wall behind the lobby desk suddenly opened.

 

[Mu]

Sitting behind the desk tapping away on a flat was a woman with eyes like black holes, they seemed to suck away light itself, perfect for such a brightly lit environment like the city. The more the fire demon looked at her, the more she almost seemed to be glowing, radiating the light she was absorbing like a lightbulb. Dressed in appropriate clothing for an office lady, she stared at the two foreigners with a passive expression. The fire demon rested his arms against the counter, leaning forward to speak with a friendly tone."Yes, we're here for-"

"They're both mine, Arita." A voice called out to the lady, a figure stepping out from beyond the steel white doors that opened in an arc. He was tall, slightly taller than the fire demon but clearly lean, from the way his suit seemed to stretch against his body. The stranger was donned in many shades of blue, midnight blues dancing with royal blues, flecks of neon blinking out from his clothing as accents. A dark navy blue dress shirt with a sea blue vest thrown on top - similar to how Phynex used to dress - although this one had a cravat with a handsome royal blue. A tattered coat was thrown on top, a cross between a customized blazer and a policeman's uniform, it fluttered around him like a cap at the opening door.

"You must be Selene and Phynex, I was waiting for you." He held out a gloved hand, his wrists bound with bracelets and watches, each one with a bright blue stone set within. There was something about this man that radiated coldness, the fire demon was feeling a physical chill from him, though it did not intimidate or seem unfriendly. It was just like how the fire demon had an aura of warmth. "The name is Tiger. I'm a Police Captain around these parts and we'll be working together. Shall we go upstairs for your debriefing, then? There's someone I need to introduce you to before we partner up."

 

[Hana]

"Tiger-san, Imeru-sama specifically had a receptionist stationed at the lobby to receive inquiries. I could have sent them to you and your partner after proper protocols." The receptionist sounded a little perplexed and annoyed, looking from the new arrivals to the police captain. "You could at least let me do my job of taking down their names." With a sigh, the lady sat back in her chair and watched the two foreigners interact with a curious stare, fingers ever fiddling with the edge of her glasses. "Especially visitors with the imperial jade." Her eyes lingered a second longer on the jades that the two wore somewhere on their clothes with surprise, before she spoke with a bit less snappiness than earlier. Even strict receptionists, it seemed, had room for being curious. "Are these two the ones Dragon-san has been talking about?"

Selene reached out to shake the newcomer's hand, arching a brow at the feeling of coolness that lingered on the man's gloved hand. Gripping the man's hand told her a lot about what the man did, the calloused fingers and the roughness on his skin under the gloves tellingly on places where it would have gotten if he often handled a sword, and not just the usual pistols. His grip was also quite familiar. After firmly shaking his hand twice, she immediately pulled back with a polite nod.

The doors at the entrance swung open once more, drawing everyone's attention to another visitor. "Why must cities be so crowded?!" Crow stepped in with a hassled look on his face and stared at the four people in the lobby blankly, before focusing on Tiger. "Uh. I'm with these two," he nodded at Selene and her partner with a shrug, holding up not his own jade, but a rolled up scroll tied with red silk. "And Crane-sama has a letter for Imeru-sama that came in the other day. Something about the barrier seals here."

 

[Mu]

"My bad," the man said, awkwardly chuckling as he stood aside to keep the automatic door open. "But you're already so busy, Arita. I wanted to make it a bit easier for you." He beckoned the two foreigners over, letting them pass what looked like a bright room that was reminiscent of a sterile hospital. After giving Selene a firm handshake, the strange moved to shake Phynex's. It was an odd sensation, to have the warmth of the fire demon meet with the chilliness of this police captain. "Sign them in for me, Phynex and Selene from the capital... diplomats, I remember." The man took once glance at the jades around their waist before chuckling lightly. "Best hide those, you'll be wearing a more effectively intimidating police badge soon." He leaned forward to get a close look at Arita's screen, scratching his cheek. "People here don't like seeing them- don't you have a companion?" The police captain was just about to turn around and ask them when Crow stepped in, all faces turned to blink at the apprentice. "Did you... have trouble finding a parking spot?" Tiger asked, a twinkle in his turquoise eyes. "Sorry, we should have had that prepared for you."

Something Phynex had noticed during the five minutes he had been in Tiger's presence was his casual behaviour. Unlike the people in the far East, his tone was more friendly and less riddled with honorifics. A city person and much less a person governed by the rules of the court and palaces. Though the fire demon had a feeling that if he were to act like this outside of these high-technology walls, he would be killed on the spot.

The man took the scroll from Crow, nodding at the apprentice. "Nice to see you again, Crow. Haven't seen you since the last inspection... what, a few years ago?" Tiger offered the tengu a smile. "I'll pass this along then, Imeru has been a bit busy lately. Alright, come in." He moved aside to let him in, sliding a key card that he had been clutching in his other hand down a reader to close the doors. It was then Phynex had realized they were in some sort of elevator, an incredibly white room with flickering neon blue lights. Tiger pressed a single button before the floor shuddered once, smoothly travelling upwards to a location the three of them could not see. "Thanks for coming, by the way. We have our hands full with these ruffians and we're stuck on what to do." He turned to look at Selene and Phynex with curious, probing eyes. They seemed to glimmer in the light, like a feline stalking its prey. "Fresh minds are always good."

They arrived at what looked to be quite an ordinary office floor. Except, unlike Phynex's experience with the Phoenix Industries, the floor was incredibly loud and alive with chatter. People sat in groups around tables surrounded with files and papers and cups of coffee, and almost no one looked up to see who had arrived. Phones were ringing constantly followed by strange beeps on worker's tables, everyone was proactive and moving about doing something like they were in a rhythmic trance. Those that did notice Tiger's presence bowed and murmured his name with respect or 'sir', before returning to their work. Phynex could only assume that he, as a captain, was in charge of this floor of workers, like a manager of sorts.

Continuing down the hall, they stopped at a polished door with a golden nametag nailed onto the front - reading 'Tiger - Police Captain'. "This is my office, make yourself at home. There's already someone waiting inside," he stated before pushing the door open. "Hey, I'm back."

Inside was a woman dressed in what Phynex thought was the most extravagant, colorful clothing in the world. It definitely stood out in the city of Neo-Edo, and it looked as if she had just come back from the far East. It was even more bright and colorful than the Emperor and his children! If Xiyu liked to clothe herself in fashionable clothing, this new stranger had an even deeper love. The fire demon wondered what Kusamaru would say if he ever saw what Phynex was. Her kimono did not look like it had a huge amount of layers, rather it had many add ons and silks that were attached to her obi. From what Phynex could see, she had 3 thin layers, the outer one the most patterned and thick, embroidered flowers and waves and swirls of colors decorating her sleeve. He spotted frilly laces and golden accessories lining her silk cloths and her hair. Long brown-black hair was pulled back, hiding under the umbrella hat that pooled a thin veil over her body.

"This is Dragon," Tiger introduced with a beaming smile, as if he was excited as the prospect of introducing her to the foreigners. There was a brilliant gleam in his eyes, a spark that reminded Phynex of how Selene would sometimes look at him...

The woman bowed, taking off her umbrella hat as she did so. "Nice to meet you," she said. Her voice was soft, but was definitely a voice that was not afraid to give commands. "I am Police Inspector Dragon, an honor to meet you. We are of the same rank... but I happen to do more field work. I hope we get along... oh, I have the case right here. I'll debrief you."

Tiger, with his face still glowing and eyes shining, guided the three to chairs. "I'll go get us something to drink, would you like anything?" He asked, inquiring Selene, the fire demon and Crow.

 

[Hana]

"Doing so." Arita's reply was pointedly short, her fingers flying across the keys as soon as the police captain had given the visitors' names. She glanced at the imperial jades once more, before tsking at Tiger with all the air of a nagging mother. "Make sure you and Dragon-san don't forget to have their identification photos taken as well before registering for the police badge." Spinning around in her chair, the woman faced the drawers behind her and pulled one open. The woman sifted through the many papers filed inside, before turning back with two plain white folders. "Fill out this paperwork if you may during the debriefing, Averill-san and Phynex-san. We keep a database of people who join the force, even if only temporarily." She raised a brow at Tiger with a shrug. "Make sure not to forget the other steps of the process. You also have paperwork to be delivered on your desk and signed later today. You know the ones."

For a receptionist in the lobby, the woman held an air of command towards the police captain, as if she was used to keeping the people in the headquarters on track and on schedule. Likely, she was the one who ran things like taking calls for the officers outside of emergency calls as well as arranging meetings, along with providing information to visitors who were there to inquire about the police. Accepting the folders from the woman's hands, Selene passed one over to Phynex.

"Is that so?" Selene arched a brow at Tiger's off-handed comment about the jade insignias they currently wore on them. The atmosphere in Neo-Edo was markedly different and non-traditional, but a dislike of the Emperor and his court servants seemed suspicious. As Crow approached them with an exasperated huff, the captain greeted the young man with an air of familiarity. For someone who looked and sounded all business earlier, Tiger was beginning to sound less and less like the serious police captain he first presented as he talked and smiled.

After disembarking from the elevator, they followed him through the almost familiar office surroundings. The respect in the people's eyes as they greeted or acknowledged Tiger was clear loyalty, the man commanded the entire floor. For someone who looked young, he was accomplished but then again he was a youkai who might have been older than he looked. Stopping in front of a heavy door with a nameplate that clearly showed the man's name, Selene glanced at the man. The sooner they got debriefed on what they needed to do here, the better.

The door opened to a neat yet luxuriously appointed office, showing his rank in the agency. Sitting at a comfortable armchair at what was an arrangement of a sofa and the said armchair was a lady that stood out in the room. Compared to the cool blue walls of the interior, the woman was a bright supernova of colors - and strangely, traditional Eastern clothing that didn't fit in with the clothes usually worn in the city. Selene had only known of another woman to wear luxurious clothing and that was an Old One who preferred such things, but Crane could let herself go unseen if she wished.

Politely nodding at the woman, she glanced at Tiger. "Water would be alright." She wasn't about to trouble the man further to go look or get her a drink aside from that. They needed to discuss the work they would be doing with these two, these two who seemed to be partners in this line of work.

 

[Mu]

As Tiger disappeared back out to the main office, the lady sat herself back down, opening one of the files on the police captain's desk. "Shall we get started, then?" she pulled over several papers, handing several to the two foreigners before she began to speak. "This has been an issue for several months already, but I'm afraid we still don't have many details on the perpetrators. We may not be aware of who they are exactly, but we know they have been hoarding a shocking amount of drugs." Dragon held out a plastic bag for them to see, showing what appeared to be some sort of dried grass. "It's called Yangcao. A highly addictive drug that is usually sold in underground youkai markets. It... is an energizing stimulant, like some sort of incredibly potent caffeine, except it leads to inevitable death." She looked down at the drug in her hands, blinking at it expressionlessly. "All the bodies we have managed to find have all died from overdose, and their innards are all charred. Physical symptoms include burnt flesh, which they all hide under their clothing. It's a terrible fate."

It was at that moment when Tiger returned with cups, handing water to Selene and Phynex and Crow, sitting down on the office chair and settling down quietly listening to his partner speak. The fire demon looked down to examine the papers he had been given, a profile of the deceased they had found and another profile of what appeared to be the master behind all of their troubles.

​

A man with an intimidating red oni mask, donning what looked like traditional armor was the only somewhat decent photo they had managed to take. What skin he was showing was free of these so-called burn marks, leaving the fire demon to wonder whether or not the leader himself was a user.

"As you can see, we've never seen his face before." Tiger continued the debriefing. "You can get a good look at his build and other physical details... but that's all we have. As far as we know he's not very fond of travelling out in the open, not even in the markets, as Dragon has noted herself."

His partner nodded. "What concerns me the most is that this group used to deal with firearms, not drugs. I'm not sure what the reason for such a change is." Dragon's eyes darkened, anyone would be able to see that she was trying to think of any reasoning behind the motives of the criminals. "It may be the barrier..." she stopped talking, realizing the two diplomats may not be following her. "Ah, you see, the barrier prevents all weapons manufactured in these cities from working. All weapons have the same core that deactivates once it passes through, which is that push you probably felt on the way here. That's why there are no firearms or any weapons like that in the far East, it's to protect everyone. Criminal gangs haven't managed to get through, so that makes our job easier. However..." she trailed off.

Tiger stepped back in, "The barrier can't stop drugs from being smuggled out, if they do manage to get past security," he finished for her. "So, we're worried that they've been mass hoarding yangcao and giving it to the far Eastern population."​

 

[Hana]

Once they got settled down to business, Selene glanced down at the files that the female investigator had handed over, eyes skimming over the documents to seek out the important details. She was listening intently to Dragon as the other woman spoke, but stayed silent, arching a brow as the problem came to light. A drug cartel had been troubling these parts, especially the lower-class sections of Neo-Edo. While most of the city was quite well off and affluent, prosperous in business and in work, there was a certain portion of the population that had always had it more difficult. The half-youkais were considered second-class citizens, and there living sectors often harbored the youkai underground due to how most people stayed away from it. A notable portion of the city was host to what was known as the Underground, where the black market thrived - and secret dealings were born.

As Tiger walked in with their drinks, the huntress set the documents down on the coffee table, thinking deeply. There was something nostalgic about this, but she wasn't sure if they were memories she enjoyed. That particular mission was quite gruesome even by their standards, and knowing that people would willingly put such substances in their bodies, even knowing the consequences... There was a reason why Jeanne had been quite distressed as she tried to treat people whose flesh had begun to rot and fall off. All because of a drug that could be produced cheaply and distributed to the poor population in the city, or... Forced on them by demons. It was an easy way to kill someone. The drug caused an addiction that normal humans couldn't have easily resisted, the high provided by it something that can only be relived by taking it - and how they craved it.

She shook herself, blinking away the memories. It wasn't much different to the underground of Nora, down to the problems with drug cartels. "And your agency has been chasing leads but so far they've proven elusive," she murmured as her gaze drifted down to the dried herb encased in clear plastic. "I recall a similar undertaking in Nora that my squad has taken down." Selene tilted her head in remembrance, no doubt drawing a curious look from Phynex. They were beginning to learn about each other's lives in the past three years, but the huntress had always been rather quiet about the sort of work she took with her team. "Though I suppose that was shut down only because it was run by demons." Otherwise, the hunter association wouldn't have bothered sending an elite squad for such an undertaking.

"Burns... That drug caused the skin and flesh to become necrotic or dead while still clinging to the body, though it could be sloughed or fallen off." Shifting her attention to the leader of the drug operation, Selene burned the man's appearance into her mind with a narrow-eyed stare. "I can shadow you when you investigate, but this might call for a deeper look into the workings of the underground." They had to understand the social hierarchy, who was who and who knew a lot about other people, to get their answers. The underground had its own informants, but their information always came with a price. "And most likely we will have to infiltrate. No doubt, you, Dragon-san, have already done light infiltration." She stated it as a matter of fact.

Azalea had never been quite as flamboyant as Dragon had portrayed herself now, but she was familiar with people who worked in information gathering. The question now was if Dragon was the infiltrator type, or someone who just did partial info gathering due to her work as a detective. After all, the hunters were never a police organization meant to kept the peace - they were a killing force against the demons... And their investigative work had been targeted towards knowing and seeking out the weaknesses of such demons as well as notable ones who needed to be cut down.

 

[Mu]

At Selene's words, Phynex turned slightly to look at her with minor confusion. She hadn't spoken much about her past, and Phynex had wanted to give her time for her to feel comfortable with talking about it. The fire demon was aware she had made many friends in the years he had been missing, and had formed a team of demon hunters with the white-haired huntress as their leader. From what he heard they were quite successful, but something had happened. It scarred her, and she kept quiet about the details. He didn't want to see her suffer alone, but he did not want to push her to talk about something she did not want to.

Dragon folded her arms, nodding. "I agree, but first we will need to find a lead. Thank you for helping us with this investigation." The woman's face was grim the entire time the huntress spoke. "Yes, I have been exploring the underground, but without anything to lead us it is pointless. Everything is a little shady down there, but we have never had plans to shut it down, even if we did have the manpower to do so. It just... caters to strange tastes. The majority of the underground markets and places like that are not considered illegal. Plus, it makes good bait for future criminals," she stated.

"Yeah, there are a lot of businesses that connect to the underground. It will take us a long time. Though actually...." he exchanged a look with his partner. "We recently managed to snatch someone who seems to be involved with this group. We've tried to poke him as much as possible, but he refuses to speak. Maybe you two have some..." he waved his hands around, exaggerating his movements, "Western way of doing things? Oh, but first we'll need to get you your IDs, have you signed your papers yet?"

Realizing he hadn't the fire demon quickly borrowed a pen, filling in the papers. Surprisingly, it was laid out in sections, one form for humans and one form for youkai. Shuffling the papers, he began reading and quickly answering the questions provided for the youkai, though adding in a note he was actually a Western demon. Filling in his age, his 'alias', his species, his birthplace... it was a standard procedure. Ending the paper with a signature he had practiced many times, he passed it to the police captain.

 

[Hana]

It was as she had come to expect - the underground markets were a necessary evil even in this place. Selene knew that those places were the perfect hotspots for rare weapons or items, not just drugs. There was also likely to be a slave trade somewhere deep inside the networks making up those places, and she wondered if these two were already aware of such a problem. As the police agency operating here, they would have had noticed any odd disappearances or missing person reports. But considering how difficult it would be to effectively shut down such operations... Were they able to oversee or help the people victimized by this as effectively as they could?

"Are you suggesting that I may torture or interrogate this informant, Tiger-san?" Selene murmured silkily, with a hint of amusement as she tilted her head to regard the investigators with calculating eyes. "Because as a hunter that's the 'Western' way of getting information out of an enemy for us." Of course these Easterners might forbid such methods, but considering the scope of this and how high-profile the target was, would they really be able to keep from doing such things for long? She said nothing more on the matter as she accepted a pen from the investigator, filling out the questions and spaces on the forms in an elegant hand.

Finishing up with her signatures, she pulled the papers back into its folder. "Crow-san is also going to help us with this if you allow him, but it seems he doesn't need to get papers or an ID." The half-youkai was going to be a good guide around the underground markets, though he disliked Neo-Edo's urban environment. Half-youkai scouts and people involved in the shady businesses - or even victimized - would be more willing to speak to a fellow half-youkai.

There was a shuffling movement from her other side where Crow sat beside her, the apprentice looking at every face in the room. "I don't know Neo-Edo's layout as well as my master, but I can help with talking to any half-youkais."

 

[Mu]

"Interrogate, yes. Torture is our last resort." Dragon interrupted, meeting Selene's eyes calmly, her brown eyes calculating and analyzing the voice she had used to speak to the detective. She sighed, looking down at her nails as she muttered the next few words. "Besides, I like to think we are more merciful than what those onmyoji do." The woman pursed her lips, frowning slightly at the subject of the spiritually gifted members of society. "They aren't as friendly as everyone makes them out to be. The Exorcists of the old days were better, but..." she shook her head, "they're all gone."

She suddenly stood up, taking her hat with her as she gathered the folders from Phynex and Selene. "I'll go retrieve your IDs, you'll need them before going anywhere." Swiftly gliding to the closed doors, she nodded to everyone in the room. "Tiger, I'll meet you in the interrogation room. Please excuse me..." she murmured quietly before exiting, the lingering scent of the woman disappearing along with her.

Her partner chuckled nervously. "She's been a bit frustrated with the current case, so she's a bit grumpy. Hopefully with you three here, we can finally put this to rest." The man smiled at them, standing up from his chair. "Thank you, Crow. That would be appreciated. Shall we go, then?" Tiger offered, opening the door after the investigator had already left, letting his guests out first.

The fire demon had not missed that strange look on the man's face when he had spoken that line. He was truly thankful, but Phynex's ears had caught onto something else hidden under his tone. Something like relief, but he wasn't sure. Mentioning it would be awkward, nor was it necessary. But talking about it with Selene after work was an option. Quietly, he and his companions followed their guide back into the elevator, this time taking a smooth trip down. It went even lower than the lobby and ground floor, sinking beneath the ground to a place where the interrogated were not allowed a chance to escape. Phynex had done some light reading on the Azume Police Agency before the mission. Although these were their headquarters - or their hub for this particular big city - they did not have their prisons connected to the main building. To ensure safety, all criminals were thrown into a high security prison that was a city of its own. From what the fire demon knew, it was a foreboding place that sounded as if it belonged in a novel.

 

[Hana]

So it was straight into an interrogation room, to question a lead that had been keeping silent for days. Selene hadn't missed the looks or the tone of voice the female investigator had taken with her, but she neither particularly cared nor noticed at this point. It made the air around the three men in the room awkward, so Dragon was likely not this curt with other people if it weren't for the frustration she faced with this case. Tiger's words just further confirmed that, and the huntress wasn't about to poke into personal matters. She could tell that Phynex was inwardly thinking upon it, but talking about their colleagues like this was hardly a helpful activity. Standing up, she nodded at them. "To the interrogation room."

An interesting piece of information she did manage to catch slip between Dragon's lips was about the exorcists of old - and the disdain this woman, and possibly the police force, held for the current onmyoji employed by the empire. The woman's eyes had darkened at the mention of them, but what could possibly cause such dislike? A dislike of the royal guard, and a dislike of the royal onmyoji. It looks like the people in court aren't as well-received by these people as it seemed at first. She had known the dislike between the royal guard and the police agency to come about due to a feeling of rivalry. The onmyoji only handled cases regarding youkai that were usually unresolved by the police, should it come to that.

The lower levels underneath the agency's building was a network of holding cells for prisoners as well as routes for the agency to take. Shortcuts around the city of Neo-Edo were likely found here if one had the right access card and credentials. Imeru could possibly get to anywhere in the city using those tunnels, but that wasn't their priority now.

Tiger had led them to an interrogation room with a one-way window, letting the people outside see what was going on inside. It was a typical interrogation room with the blank white walls, the desk, and the handcuffed person who was going to be questioned quite thoroughly. Had it been in Nora - her mind flashed back to a similar room, but with several metallic implements glinting almost innocently under the cold sterile lighting. Selene had slipped on gloves then with almost excruciating slowness in front of a trembling demon, before picking up a specially crafted knife... Did you know that the pads underneath the fingernails are especially easy to torture?

 

[Mu]

Sitting along on a chair in front of them was a gruff looking man, dirty and drab. Donned in clothing that clearly marked him as some sort of traveler, perhaps around the city or the underground, his straw hat still sitting on his head. His brownish clothing helped him blend into the darkness of wherever he may have roamed, though they held a traditional touch. It was strange seeing citizens wearing the clothing of the far East in such a high-tech city. The fire demon suspected it had something to do with job, or whatever the man did in his morning life away from crime. Raising his beady dark eyes at the couple, he frowned at the appearance of the demon and huntress, as if he was not sure what was going on. A silver glint betrayed the handcuffs that bound him, they blinked with blue lights, and Phynex guessed they had some sort of gimmick that did not allow the man to move.

Tiger's voice was low and cautious as he spoke, handing a folder to Selene to share with Phynex. It contained all of the details of his arrest and his identification. "This is Soushin," there were no pleasantries this time. "He's a drug mule we managed to arrest the last time we raided a small household that has been storing Yangcao for their boss." The man moved off to the corner, leaning against the wall comfortably. "He works as a merchant, so he's been hiding the stuff with his wares." Throwing a pair of gloves at the fire demon and the huntress, he pointed at Soushin. "Look at his arms."

Unfazed, Phynex moved to see. Selene was usually the more... calm in interrogations like this. He often would get too fiery, sometimes making the situation worse. He was hot-headed, hot-tempered, he wasn't sure if he could control himself even if he promised himself to behave. Pulling on the gloves he had been provided with, he approached the guard, grabbing at one of his bound wrists. The cold steel of the handcuffs winked up at him, a rhythmically blinking blue like an alarm. Meeting the man's eyes with dark pits of fire, the criminal seemed to shrink. Ah, had he not seen a demon before?

As Phynex pulled back his sleeve, he tried not to retch. Peeling, cracked skin like fissures of a dry earth showed itself to the world. It stunk of blood and pus, of scars that could not heal. It was obvious he frequently scratched it, making it worse. Underneath the blood, he could see blackening flesh, and the faint aroma of smoke. So this was the effect of the Yangcao on a user. There was a look of disgust on Phynex's face as he dropped the man's arm, "I didn't think it would be that bad."

 

[Hana]

Selene caught the pair of gloves thrown her way out of the air, without looking away from the captive man bound in the chair. His handcuffed arms were covered in those long sleeves characteristic of eastern clothing, but the telltale glow of blue around the cuffs spoke of a mechanism - magical or otherwise - that kept the man from moving. But no, it was something else that caught her eye. A hint of skin that even before Phynex had pulled back the sleeve had already been blackened and peeling, something that was impossible for her to miss. As the fire demon moved forward to take a look at his arms, the huntress set down the folder on the table and slipped on the pair of gloves with an elastic snap. Surgical gloves...

The sight that greeted her, along with the smell as the man's arm was revealed didn't surprise her. Nor did she show any outward reaction as Phynex dropped the man's arm. "This is more than just burnt flesh. The flesh has already begun to rot as well as show signs of gangrene," she observed, tone detached and clinical. "Should he continue to take Yangcao perhaps his arms would have rotten off at the elbow, though I would not be surprised if they already need to be amputated." There were patches of flesh already revealed to have gone necrotic.

While it wasn't the exact same effects as she had seen in the drug notorious in Nora, it was similar enough. Hard drugs had a tendency of causing the body to deteriorate, but Yangcao and that drug shared the trait of being alarmingly deleterious to the body even with only a few doses. Highly addictive meant the users would continue to take them even as their flesh started to rot. A look of clear terror had shown on the drug mule's face as Selene spoke about his arm, had he really expected no consequences? Even as he continued to support this drug's circulation, he was going to get himself killed well enough on his own without her or the police's intervention.

"Though perhaps, with the right treatment and surgery, his arms could be saved." Her expression was deceptively blank as she reached out to tilt the man's chin upwards, looking down at him. "That is, of course, if he chooses to answer my questions for your agency." Bring his hopes up, dangle a prize in front of him for his cooperation... "Or we could let his arms rot off without even torturing him. Perhaps other parts of his body have already been affected, we should let those rot off as well." Tilting her head, she stared at him. Or bring his hopes crashing down if he didn't cooperate.

"Well, Soushin-san. Should we save your limbs or leave them to fall off of your body? You will likely die without the right surgery and medicine." Ruthlessness.

 

[Mu]

Though the man's eyes widened, he swiveled his head out of Selene's grasp. The confusion in his eyes were still there, but there was steadily growing hatred in them too. He may not have known Selene or Phynex's true identities, but his mind had already registered them as enemies. "You are lying," he stated simply, meeting the violet-blue eyes that peered into his with utter calmness and level-headedness. "He said that it would make us stronger than ever before, this is only a side effect that will go away eventually." Soushin shook his arm, indicating he was talking about the steadily growing burning flesh that seared through his system. The fire demon raised an eyebrow at the man, incredulous at the fact that the drug mule had believed his employer's words. "It's good cash to sell something so potent, you know? Those people who have died just took too much and were weak," he hissed.

"You must be joking," Phynex chimed in, blinking at the man disbelievingly. "That is going to be permanent on your body. No matter how much you take, it's going to kill you in the end." His tone was flat, void of any emotion or sympathy for the man. He had comitted a crime and he was going to pay for it. Either by being incarcerated or die a painful death. According to the file on the Yangcao drug, users would first experience a burning, heated feeling like their body was on fire. Excessive use would increase this heat until it was unbearable. It would send the user into a manic frenzy, the heat adding to their adrenaline. They would feel energized, their stamina and strength increasing for as long as the drug lasted until they worked their high away.

Soushin snorted, rolling his eyes. "Who do you think I'm going to believe? My boss, or a stranger working for the police?"

 

[Hana]

So this man was going to continue on being a stubborn one... Selene let her partner deal with the yangcao dealer for the moment, stepping back and mulling over the man's words. He wasn't as careful as he thought, letting slip what the man - their boss - would fool people with. Considering that Yangcao was now a known drug... She would have to step outside with Tiger later. Where were the informative posters and warnings that should have been spread around Neo-Edo by now? Did they not want to cause a collective panic about Yangcao? If there were people that had died to it already, and lots of them judging by this captive's contemptuous words, they had to spread information one way or another. Most likely Yangcao was already viral on the online boards here and they might get information from there as well.

"Very well, if you will not open your eyes to this..." Her gaze met the stubborn one of the man. "Then let me do so for you." Before the eyes of the man, incorporeal-looking chains that glowed an eerie blue appeared underneath the huntress. They quickly snapped forward, curling around tightly around the man's legs, arms, and held him fast and even tighter than the glowing cuffs. Despite their partial transparent appearance, they were stronger than reinforced steel and could even cut through it if she willed them to be. The chains were situated around his limbs in such a way that the forearms could be cut off at the elbow, not that the man knew that.

There were no provided knives or implements in the room. Selene was going to provide her own for herself. Having her usual clothes and equipment with her meant that she could hide weapons underneath her coat once again, and she merely twitched her arm before a knife appeared in her hand and pulling back the man's sleeve, she sliced off a portion of the already dead and burnt skin. It peeled away like she had cut through butter, sliding off the arm with a sick, slick sound as it fell wetly to the ground. The extent of the damage was clear as it peeled almost on the entire forearm, revealing the swell of the lower layer underneath the epidermis, all fat and blood and pus caked together.

"This. Is going to rot off. And you cannot do anything about it. You are also not going to get it treated and nor will you even escape this place. So tell me, how do you plan on getting stronger while the gangrenous mass in your flesh spreads?" She stared down at him coldly, before her knife tenderly traced the quivering fat and muscle. "You have not just been terrible with taking care of open wounds on your body, it has also gotten infected. Considering where you deal your business, it must have been an unclean place for gangrene and rot to occur. No, this is not just an effect of the Yangcao - bacteria and infection have reached your arm. It would be safe to say that if your blood vessels and your blood had gotten infected you would have died of blood poisoning."

"Your boss is no doctor or physician, while I can have medical personnel confirm these. In fact, why have they not informed you of these? Have they not noticed? Or perhaps they haven't experimented on you." Implying that Selene wasn't above doing it herself to get her answers.

 

[Mu]

The man almost screamed at the appearance of the chains, looping and wrapping themselves like snakes around him. Even Tiger, who had been silent the entire time standing in the corner, raised an eyebrow in surprise. Their superior knew how their magic was different, as well as rumors of this white-haired huntress and their fiery-eyed companion, but he had never seen it in action before. It was eerily beautiful, like ghostly lights in a haunted mansion.

Soushin shivered and shuddered, trying to pull away and get out of his seat. But the blinking blue light simply flickered faster, and the two foreigners realized he could not stand up no matter how hard he tried, tied down by the strange technology of this city. As Phynex moved back, letting Selene replace him, his movements became frantic the closer she walked towards him. There was the flicker of silvery light, the white room's brightness reflected off of the knife the woman had in her hands. The police officer stiffened, raising his bright blue eyes to peer into Phynex, worried and concerned. The fire demon remembered that torture was not a common thing to do in interrogations, unlike Nora and the West. But Phynex simply shook his head and smiled. He needn't fear. Selene was good at intimidation. She'd wheedle the truth out of him if she had to.

With a quick motion and a shrill scream, the knife swiped through the air, taking a piece of the man's flesh with it. Blood did not leak out. His scream was not of fear, either. It was not painful. It fell off of him like scrap paper. Yet everyone in the room could see scarlet liquid and pus welling up underneath, swimming with the blackened flesh. The outer layers of his skin had gone to the point where no feeling ran through it. Though if Selene were to stab right through, Soushin would feel excruciating pain.

He almost spat at her face. "Fuck off!" he shouted, trying to wrench his arm away. "He said he would have an antidote to those who were going to back off. And I believe him. His best minions are strong, I have seen them demolish humans, half-youkai and youkai alike!" the man hissed. "I am more scared of him than of you, white-haired girl, yukionna, whatever you are." He gathered up spit, slathering it over the chains that bound him, "Definitely not scared of your silly magic. You're those pathetic onmyoji, aren't you?"