How About That. [mission]

[Takahashi Aki]

Spoiler

Voice of Traci Daisuke

This city is afraid of me... or it used to be. A ring of smoke flew skywards. The chakra crystals were dimming down as what was thought to be evening was coming upon the fair residents of Suna. A single man awaited at the intersection of Main and Forty-Eighth. He wore a brown trench coat, a pair of black pin-striped pants, and a bowler hat. A lot of dark colours on the man, but that was to be expected. He was a retired Anbu. Back in the days of the last Sunahoshi he was nicknamed Agent Beholder. His mask was a very large eyeball. Most people couldn't get things past him due to his exceptional skills of observation.

These days he was known by his real name Traci Daisuke. Daisuke was nearly fifty-years old. He was a man who met his ends fairly, but oftentimes picked up a fair dollar or two from private investigating. These days it was him and that kid Takahashi Sousuke. Daisuke knew more about the kid's father, as he served under him. What he knew about his son was precious little. He could read the father, but not the kid. Something was wrong with him Daisuke figured. Surprisingly in the afternoon Daisuke received an employment letter from Sousuke. A double murder occurred last night, and the kid couldn't make it to have a look at the crime scene. Daisuke took a long drag from his cigar and breathed out. Another circle of smoke was sent skywards. "Kid sent me some of his friends to assist me. Heh. I hope dem kids have some manners." Daisuke muttered to himself. Two youngin were sposed to be helping him out. One was promised to be a bright, intelligent, and resourceful. The other? Apparently she was sposed to be exceptional, independent, and light fingered. Daisuke assumed that the dame was gonna be kinda rogue and not some dainty little thing that you touched and she broke.

 

[Kokomo]

It wasn't strange for someone to find her walking through the night almost every day, but today she was on a mission. Her long black hair braided back and down, and her body garbed in black spandex assassin garb that hugged her skin tightly-- similar to a wet suit, but with two belts that criss-crossed over her hips with supplies on them, and a black leather gauntlet on her right arm that would have a surprise later on in this story. Her eyes were a piercing blue, and her skin mock-white of the moon. She was slender, tall, and leaned, with blood red lips and long nails on her frail-looking hands.

She moved silently, as dually practiced with her line of work, down the street towards her directed destination. Sousuke himself had given her this so-called 'job' as some sort of reimbursement for her filthy history that he had discovered and frowned upon. Of course, who wouldn't look down upon the things the light-handed thief had done not only to him but other people. In reality, Sousuke had really gotten the better end of her personality.

"Excuse me," She suddenly asked to a man standing in a trench coat--he looked strangely dressed, but not so bad. "Are you Mister Traci? Traci Daisuke?" She asked, offering a hand, "Ms. Ijimeru Kitanai, at your service, sir." She said politely. Her posture was straight, and her chin level as her piercing cyan eyes locked with his. She had a confident overflow to her appearance, and clearly was a people person.

 

[Toraono Michino]

Tama never would have believed any of this was actually happening unless he was walking down this darkening street to the location of his first actual mission, but here he was...walking. There were many emotions that tried to topple the scientist when he found that letter that found him, considering he didn't have a permanent address anymore, with the words "from the desk of the Steward" scrawled on the front; the main one had been excitement. Had their illustrious leader found the kind of work that Tama had been waiting approval for? Had one of the many inventions he had sold lately finally caught the eye of their lord steward? Nah, they just needed his brain for a murder mystery.

The disappointment was still thick on his face.

Obviously the man hadn't forgotten about his intelligence nor the fact that he was a Genin first and a Scientist second as the letter clearly read, somewhat berating the boy for not following through with his duties after graduation. Mind you the boy had a damn good excuse as to why, but he didn't want to bother the man with those fact, deciding instead that it would just simply be better to actually do something for his home and country as he was "trained" to do.
Wearing little more than common street clothes with a beat-up lab jacket covering him like a trench coat, Tama and his long wild white hair shuffled in on his flip-flops to tip his head first at the detective who's image became a lot more clearer when he approached and.....her. Dear Kami why her?! What was his issue with assassins lately?
Slowly he followed up the path and stopped before the two and gave the man a half proper bow to show at least a little respect before muttering his name quietly; mostly due to paranoia. He doubted that this woman would try to break someone's neck in front of ex-ANBU, but crazier stuff had happened in his life.

[Ick, 3 days late, won't happen again for the mission I promise. Kat big post for Uzu/Tama coming in that other thread, just give me a little while to add the finishing touches.]

 

[Takahashi Aki]

Am I that obvious? Daisuke thought as he raised an eyebrow as Kitanai approached him. Daisuke merely nodded his head but refused her hand. "Nothing personal Buttercup. I don't shake hands. Reveals too many weak points in a person."<i></i> Daisuke said. There was a pause. "So. If I'm in the service of the Steward, and so are you, but you're at my service then what does that make you? It makes you a bit stretched for helping people. Don't be at the service of too many people, you won't know what you get yourself into."<i></i> Daisuke with a flick of his wrist revealed a zippo. He began to play with the zippo, as he was still smoking. Another puff of smoke came out and smacked Kitanai square in the face. "So you must be the dame. I wonder where the kid is..."<i></i>

Within a few more minutes Tama joined them. Daisuke looked the young man up and down. "Tama? Yeah it has to be you. You wear a lab coat like Sousuke does. I wonder who needs one more? Him or you." Daisuke reached into his coat and produced a disc. "Our employer has given us a public message I'm sposed to share with you. Told me it wouldn't work unless all three of us are present. So. We gots here a brain, a dame, and me. Smooth sailing this'll be--" Daisuke was interupted as the the disc at will flew out of his hand. It landed on the ground and a plasma project of the Steward appeared. "Will you look at that? Spiffy stuff if you ask me."<i></i>

The image of the Steward paced about. He paused half way during his second pace. "Salutations Traci Daisuke, Ryuu Tama, and last but not least Ijimeru Kitanai. I am most pleased you have gathered together long enough without having punched Mr. Traci in the face. I would advise against it of course because each of you have a special talent I wish for you to employ in this murder investigation. The murder in question is quite strange. The corpse and crime scene has been preserved by a barrier jutsu. It has yet to become contaminated, but once you enter the barrier contamination will begin. Mr. Traci is known for his observational skills, Tama has quite an intellect and mathematician and scientist, and Kitanai has exceptional skills in ... well that I have difficulty in explaining. I think Tama is quite capable of explaining it for me once given time to analyze properly.You are each dangerous in your own way, but I would like to think you are all equally dangerous."<i></i> The Steward paced about once more. "To your left about two hundred metres you will find a man with a gold ring with a starfire ruby. Hand him this disc, and he will get you past the barrier. We have five suspects right now who are being questioned by the Anbu. Unfortunately the Anbu have yet to figure out anything from these people. I trust once you have seen the murder scene, and the situation you may perhaps see something that I cannot. I wish you the best in this undertaking."<i></i>The image of the Steward fizzled.

"I've got more years in action that he's been alive, and he thinks us equals?"<i></i> Daisuke complained. Granted the disc image and this barrier thing sounded all too good to be true, but he saw at least one of the two items in front of him. Daisuke picked up the disc and handed it to Tama. "Well, we better get to work."<i></i>

 

[Kokomo]

A man dressed in strange clothes standing by himself at the exact point she was told to be at night? In a weird hat with a strange patterned pair of trousers? You bet he was obvious. In fact, Kitanai could practically smell the smoke a mile away, based off the skill he had with blowing it from his nose and lips.

He refused her handshake, which, in a way pleased her. From what she heard about this mission, he could easily tell she was a killer or thief from the way she shook hands. She was attempting to be polite, but it seemed that wasn't his style. Especially based off of the way he spoke to her. Calling her pet names which, had she not placed a facade of a face on, would have caused a disgusted snarl in her lips. Little did he know, she was at the service of many people, and quite willingly at that--oh ho ho ho~

It was at that moment that a familiar smell entered the room, her head turning to look towards a young man, a amused grin crossing her face as he entered, muttering his name as she stared him down with that seductive and devilish coy smile. "Oh, hello, my dear." Her voice chimed quietly to him before she turned her attention back to their older partner. She took very good note that he was highly polite to Tama, giving Kitanai a quick assumption about his overall social being.

They continued on with their business, a strange disc being used as a briefing, Kita getting a rough smile at the idea, Ah, Sousuke, you clever dog. She thought as his hologram hovered and shuttered before them. Her eyes watching it carefully, but not too carefully. She would occasionally dart her eyes over to the men, watching suspiciously. The mention of nearly punching Mr. Traci in the face caused a slight twitch in the corner of her mouth, Almost, Sousuke. Almost. She thought again, listening as he stumbled over how to explain her talent.

Exceptional skill in the ways of a hidden killer and thief, he meant. Which, was accurate. Who better to track a killer than an assassin herself? Someone who knew the tricks of the trade, and habitual issues. Not to mention if she was partnered with the paranoid twerp and some old guy who had a good eye and a cocky mind. Surely, together, they'd make a decent team, and Sousuke's briefing backed up the idea.

"Don't analyze me too much, blondie." Kitanai muttered to Tama beside her, giving a devilish smile at nothing, her gaze never going to him as Daisuke began to speak again. Her stare staying on the disk as the man picked it up and handed it to the other boy. Her eyes followed it as it exchanged into Tama's hand, before slowly tracing up his torso to gaze coldly into his eyes.

What the hell made him so special?

"Lead the way."

 

[Toraono Michino]

Now that the gang had been gathered it was time for the briefing, though, Tama had no idea that there was such a method to do it with. When the hologram appeared the young man crouched down to look at the device, reading how it was working without actually taking it apart but just with knowledge of how such things worked anyways. He had never had really any reason to build one, but the uses for such a thing were quite limitless. Not to mention mail between long distance lovers would be more…fun.
Having spent his brief curiosity on the device long enough he decided to actually listen to at least the last part of the instructions telling the trio that they would be part of a murder mystery; the attempt to find a killer. Such things were below Tama’s level of genius, he believed, but if he was commanded by his hero to go do it he went off with a skip. Gladly taking the device from the old detective he placed it inside a pocket of his lab coat.

“I don’t have too,” Tama spoke a little louder than he had been as he looked back up at Kit’s face for a second,”I know what you are, and what your capable of. That is enough,” then looked at Daisuke, “Best you let her lead, for your own safety I assure you. I personally wouldn’t trust her looking at my nice, vulnerable, backside…” he said trying to hint at what she did as a profession without outright saying that she killed people for a living. Not that he trusted Daisuke any more than he did Kitanai but at least he hadn’t seen him break someone’s neck with the speed of a hungry cat.

“So please! Lead on, Kit, and take us to where need to go to solve this mess and get back home. I think I left some volatile chemicals out close to the burner…”

 

[Takahashi Aki]

Upon approaching the man Sousuke spoke of, handing him the disc would things then get interesting. The ringed man would make a motion revealing that a portion of the street was ... a genjutsu. This was evidenced when the man placed his hand into a light pole and his hand would go right through the light pole. If Tama or Kitanai were to step forward as the ringed man would indicate for them to do, they would find themselves almost stepping into another world.

Spoiler

It wasn't so much as a world, but a giant bubble seal placed in an area of effect displaying a genjutsu of a calm zone on the outside and on the inside ... dread in the extreme. Two corpses would be lying with a large sheet spread over them. Daisuke would approach the sheet and remove it in a swift motion. The first corpse was in an awkward position. It looked like several internal organs were missing, and it looked as if a wild animal was the culprit. "Hrmph. I haven't heard anything about any wild animals getting out... but look here..."<i></i> Daisuke would point to where the chest cavity was caved in. Some creature of great weight must has dropped down upon the victim. Then said creature neatly cut a hole open. The hole was a perfect circle, but was done with such finesse that a larger creature could never have. The heart and liver were missing, and various ribs were pulled out and littered about. The ribs were very clean, and even more disturbing was a lack of blood being spilled. "Clean. Way too clean."<i></i> Daisuke spoke. He turned to Tama, "Between you and the Kid-Steward, you are science experts. Want to run some tests?"<i></i> Daisuke offered.

Daisuke next turned to Kitanai. "Look like anyone's handy work you know cupcake? You're not friends with a butcher are you?"<i></i> He joked about. "Random killing? Maybe a drug deal gone wrong? An Inuzuka went loopy maybe? There are two bodies, we'll give and investigate the next one once we're got a few ideas going. This is way too clean."<i></i> Daisuke repeated. "Where do you think all the blood went? Maybe once the loopy Inuzuka ripped this poor sap up, he had some ice techniques to freeze up the blood? Are we dealing with one of those heart stealers do you think? You know, they like to use multiple elements."<i></i> The rest of the corpse was a mess. Broken teeth were about, but that was to be expected as the victim had hit the ground head first, and was perhaps instantly killed from that.

(If this gets a bit much for you guys, let me know... I will proceed about this differently. )

 

[Toraono Michino]

The trip down to this dome was a short one to say the least and the scientist couldn't be happier for it. Traveling any length of distance with Kiti wasn't something the boy was very found of due to her natural skills and...rather curt manner with Tama. Strong females were about number one on the guy's terror list, the second being that Uzumoreru character he had the displeasure of meeting the other day. Seriously, if it wasn't super hyper children of the Stewart that was a natural forces of disaster then it was women who had the ability to kill anything instantly; it would be a sheer miracle if he lived to marry a female.

Once inside the dome Tama found himself somewhat distracted by the way the barrier was created. He recognized it instantly as a type of genjutsu barrier that would make everyone see something naturally in that spot unless they held on to an item with the creator's chakra sealed in it; no doubt it was the golden disc. His moment of ADD was disturbed once he heard the sheets being whipped off the bodies that the barrier was centered around.
Oh lo and behold, Tama just found his new career. To hell with science and inventing stuff, this was interesting as a free tour of the underworld. Here before him was a body that had obviously seen better days, though he was entirely unconcerned about the person at all. His bi-colored eyes circled around the wound in the chest cavity and studied the bloodless corpse. Everything was neat, kept in the lines like...well like a specimen on a lab table. Kitanai may not have been able to recognize any assassin's calling card, but the genius saw the work of a very patient hand.
How many human bodies had he dissected over the last few months to learn the full secrets of their species' mortality? More than he cared to count as he looked down at the corpse.

"I can give you a good hypothesis before I start the basic tests already. If you look at the flesh right on the wound it is a very evenly cut, far too even for even the sharpest blade. The heat of blood and meat can slow down a clean circle like this easy, and removing the blood before the procedure would just make it harder to cut. Chakra was used in this, though I doubt a lot. If we're lucky there might be some residue left over in the wound to at least prove the hypothesis. I also believe we might be dealing with a medical professional due to just how clean everything is. One with the ability to control blood, possibly a descendant of the Chigokai clan. I'll let you know in a bit..."

Reaching into his lab coat the young man pulled out a pair of latex gloved and snapped them on before taking one of the clean ribs between his index and thumb. With a quick jerk he snapped the tip off, enough to look and check for bone marrow to see just how far the blood drain went. He couldn't rule out that this could be some freak creation due to the incredibly high number of scientists that lived here. After examining the marrow, (I'll let you decide how much was there if you don't mind), He took out three vials from his coat filled with different color fluids, sat down, and one by one began breaking off bits of the rib to place in each one. One checked for foreign chakra types, one checked for toxins in the body, and the last checked for the radiance of his soul; cause you never know, it could be his old master but he wouldn't just eat anything.

 

[Kokomo]

And so the young man and the old man, both alike in sexism, agreed that the so called 'dangerous' woman was to lead the way. Which, was actually the worst idea they could do. Wouldn't you rather be stabbed in the back then lead blindly to your death? Perhaps, people felt safer when they were ignorant. Either way, there would be none of that today. The woman had no intentions on getting any closer to Sousuke's bad side.

Once inside the miraculous count-down dome, Kitanai couldn't help but stare dumbly. The two other getting to work right away, prodding and poking around as she lingered in the back, watching. Yeah, sure, it was a murder, that was easy to tell. But, the hand wasn't familiar. Honestly, that was all she was good for. Other than, of course, tracking. But at the moment, the cause of death or any other thing was totally useless to her.

Kitanai, scantily-clad and standing tall looking above and around. Her eyes focusing on exiting and entering possibilities. She was looking for a sloppy mistake by the murderers hand--mistakes that she was glad she never had to deal with as a Seikon. Bumping things, finger prints, sent, torn clothing, cuts, blood, anything. Hell, mucus from a runny nose gave people away.

Though, her mind couldn't help but think of Uzumoreru...

"No, sir." She answered him simply, her eyes flickering to and from as she stood uselessly. "But he's...or she...is no professional by any means..."

 

[Takahashi Aki]

A very disturbing and strange this happened when Tama snapped the ribs. A black oily liquid splashed upon him. It seemed quite incredible for the amount that came out considering he broke only a small rib. The smell of the liquid was revolting. It smelled like someone had burnt something, and then wanted extra punishment and placed it beside rotting fruit. Daisuke covered his nose with his hand. "Good lord. That smell is powerful and revolting."</B><i></i> He spoke gruffly as he watched Tama work. "Not what you were expecting eh kid?"<i></i> Daisuke reached into his coat and pulled out a hanky for Tama to wipe himself off with if he so desired. "Good night nurse."<i></i> He further commented.

Tama continued his experiment. More black matter spilled upon him. Still though he continued in the name of science. He placed each broke off rib into the three vials. The first one which checked for foreign chakra types came up with a very strange result. It registered as human, but someone else. In truth in registered as human and inspect. It suggested though something not so straight forwards as an Amburmane or a Hachiashi. No it was far more complex. It hinted at something like a praying mantis, but even then it read as if it was a hybrid of sorts, or a halfling of some sort. A strange occurence would happen though as the result would change and change again. One moment the result read human, then it read insect, then it read both, before once more proceeding back to human. "It doesn't seem to know what it wants."

The second vial would reveal something simple. There was no toxins or poisons used. The third though would reveal soul matter. The strange thing was that it revealed the soul matter to be very human, but very old. The radiance was off the charts though as it was registering itself as something of a higher power. Not a power to be confused with something compared to Tama's master.

Finally Kitanai spoke. Daisuke stroked his chin. <B>"Not a professional? Care to explain that to us? Do you mean it in the sense that we found these bodies? Or do you mean it in the sense that Tama boy here is drenched in black liquid and stinks to the high heavens? Something is foul about this in both the metaphorical and literal sense."<i></i>

Daisuke would next reveal the other body. This corpse was burnt to a crisp. The skeletal structure remained intact, and the flesh was burnt not black but violet. The mouth of the corpse was left open. The expression seemed to be that of a shout or of shock. The eyes were missing and so was the nose. Very oddly the clothing was left intact. "Someone cared about leaving this one's clothes on. quite strange, The clothing shows no signs of tearing or burning."<i></i> Daisuke spoke. He played with his zippo lighter. "The shoes. They're awfully clean. No dirt or mud on them. Wanna work your craft on this one too? Any opinions cupcake?"<i></i>

 

[Toraono Michino]

Oh Kami, why did it have to smell?

Tama was used to having all manner of fluids sprayed on him, some of them being acidic in their base, but not a damn thing he had touched ever smelled that freaking awful. It was like pure death and rot condensed into a black liquid form. Yet ever vigilant Tama finished his experiments and jotted down the notes before politely excusing himself to remove his coat and vomit behind a tree. When he returned coatless the smell was a little less, but the effect was still visibly messing with the scientist judging by his face.
He studied his notes a little closer now that his mind and gut were one once again. The oddity of the insect and human rotation told the genius a lot, probably a lot more than the other two and combined with the essence of the soul only further pushed his mind towards a theory.

Then the second sheet was lifted to reveal the dried up husk of a being that left little to be messed with. There wasn’t much that Tama needed to do to test anything except cut away a piece of the dried flesh and place it in another tube pulled now from a pouch on his belt, (this guy came all kinds of prepared for science), and combined the two with a bit of saline to test for dehydration both naturally or non. While he awaited the tests he continued to stare down at the woe-begotten person and decided to voice his opinions again,
“The further I look into this, the more I believe we’re dealing with something…other worldly. While the soul essence test concluded that this could be the work of a living Wraith, the work suggests that this was more likely done by a single powerful creature or a pair of them. I can’t conclude yet if this was a feast or something more though, I’ll need more evidence.”

 

[Kokomo]

"What?" Kitanai asked, scowling in his direction. "No, no, the person who killed her. The death scene is poorly constructed and messy." She corrected him, folding her arms as she watched the young man work awkwardly. She had no means to contribute at the moment, and, honestly, she was waiting for something epic to happen so she could slaughter the bad guy and save the day.

At the moment, the whole hide and go seek with evidence wasn't her thing.

The stench filled the room, and Kitanai pulled a black spandex portion attached to the neck of her outfit out and pulled it over her face, creating a mask that went from her neck up and over her nose, "Jackpot," Her voice muffled from behind the protection of the mask. "I wouldn't get that on your hands though--never know what our friend from the diner can plant in bodies." So, she was giving him a little spook. Yes, perhaps, it wasn't the best idea, but why not have a little fun while she's at it? "Shame you didn't bring a mask. Crafty guy sure makes one hell of an inhalant. " Kita mention, her manipulative ways working their ways into Tama's panicky side of his brain. The part that she new very well.

The one that made him think everything was trying to kill him.

"Though, your bravery is superb. Bravo, Tama." She gave a brief nod before her head would jerk towards Daisuke who used a slang nickname on her--something sweet, sugary, and delicious. "Don't call me cupcake." She said curtly with a brief scowl before jabbing her thumb in the direction of the body. "Like I said, inhalants are a common poison. You don't even need to touch someone to get a them that way. Perhaps edible kinds, implanted, blood--anything, really. You don't need to even touch the person, rattle their clothes, or get..." She raised an eyebrow, "Mud on their shoes." She wasn't sure what that had to do with anything.

 

[Takahashi Aki]

"Poorly constructed and messy..."<i></i> Daisuke spoke out loud as he stuffed his hands in his pockets. He wondered about that as he looked about. There was signs of a fight. Sure. There was a damaged light pole. A few cracks in the ground. Certainly these two had put up some small fight. "I do have to say that genjutsu field is hiding quite the mess. I wonder though..."<i></i> He paused and looked up. The cogs in old Daisuke's head was turning. He listened to Tama's results. "Kids got a point. It'd make sense this being a feast of sorts because like peapod said - this sure is messy. I wonder though about this being a ghost though. S'not like we're built on some sort of funeral ground of sorts. If it were we would have had this sort of thing happen more often you'd think."<i></i> Daisuke lit up another cigarette keeping his distance so as to not contaminate the bodies. "Let's let the kid here figure something out."<i></i>

Tama's new investigation would reveal unnatural dehydration. The test would also reveal that the dehydration occurred quite rapidly. Quite strangely, Daisuke picked up on what was going on with Tama's test. "Strange that."<i></i> He would begin. "The bodies haven't been here for that long, but you'd think it's take a lot longer for that level of dehydration to occur."<i></i> Kitanai brought up the concept that there could have been an inhalant. Daisuke let out a chuckle of sorts. "You don't seem to think much of your boss do you? You'd think he'd send us here to die without doing such a check first? Kid-Stew has a disc giving us a briefing n all. Heck, he's got this genjutsu bubble going on, and you think he'd forget about something such as an inhalent? Heh."<i></i> Daisuuke spoke reassuringly. Tama was having a go, and here was little missy trying to disrupt the poor kid.

The man with the ring who directed them into the genjutsu bubble popped his head in. "You got three minutes left, before you get to interrogate some real local folk."

Daisuke nodded his head. "Thanks Pal."<i></i> Daisuke waved him off. "Any things else you wanna do or suggest before we get to have a nice ole chat with some folk?"<i></i>

 

[Toraono Michino]

Upon hearing Kitanai’s words, a mild panic began to seep into the young man’s heart.

It was true that the properties of the smelly spray could indeed hold a terrible poisonous inhalant that could very well be eating out the scientist’s lungs as they tried to solve the mystery behind these gruesome murders. However without any real need for the detective’s encouragement Tama was able to shake his fear himself by forming a few simple seals and activating the super healing powers of his newest chakra coil. In an instant his body was cleansed of anything that would be considered deadly, and it was in doing that did the scientist find something interesting.
There was something deadly in the muck. A mild bacteria perhaps, one that was placed there not for the cause of death but to just throw him off. Reaching into a pouch on his belt the youth thought it wise to store away some of that fluid for a moment in case he needed to break down the bacteria away from the blood to test for evidence.

“Thank you, but I do believe I’m ready to move on with this mission. I have everything I can collect from this…scene. So far whatever we’re dealing with either isn’t human or has some kind of strange flare for making his deaths extravagant. A sociopathic assassin type who might do these kind of murders just to throw off regulars,” Tama eyed Kitanai the moment he mentioned the word assassin.

Without further delay the scientist of the group followed the detective and the killer when they were ready to move on.

 

[Kokomo]

"I was teasing him." Kitanai said curtly as Daisuke reassured them that there were no toxins in the air. Her hands smoothing over the black leather that held onto her luscious hips. Her eyes were watching Tama with a sort of devilish intent. Her jaw clenching for a moment as she ran her tongue over her raspberry lips as he stood. He seemed to be prepared and ready to move on, as was she. The young woman wanted to do some investigating that she could actually participate in, rather than torturing the young blonde lad before her. The way his eyes scanned over her as he mentioned a sociopathic assassin. "Oh come on, Tama." She groaned, rolling her eyes. "If I was going to do something like this, you'd be the body." That slow smile curved over her lips, almost as a threat, as her eyes narrowed on him and her chin tipped slightly downwards as the smirk teased him.

"I'm ready," Kitanai said, turning and moving out of the genjutsu bubble, tossing her hair lightly, and walking beside Daisuke, in front of Tama, for his paranoia reasons. She did, after all, just imply his assassination. "Are these people suspects or witnesses of sorts?" She inquired, those snake-blue eyes shifting to the leader of the mission.

 

[Takahashi Aki]

Daisusuke walked Kitanai and Tama out of the bubble genjutsu. "Beats me turnip."<i></i> He spoke as the man with the ring returned from before. He handed Daisuke another disc, which Daisuke threw on the floor. Another recording of Sousuke became active.

"Excellent. You three are in one piece. Well done." The image of the Steward complimented each of them. Daisuke snorted at the remark. "We have five witnesses and or ... criminals. I say this because I am slightly pessimistic. Someone must have seen something or perhaps they're hiding someone, if they're not the criminal themselves. First is one Lady Hashigaki Sakura. She is ... a word I will not use here and now to describe her profession. The second is a war veteran Hyuuga Saru. He is at best ... mentally unstable. Next is Nara Soyo - a child. I should say young child. Next after that is an Akamichi named Tomo. He is ... quite disturbing. Last but not least is a supposed medical nin named Shoruken Kenshin. Kenshin would appear to have been at the wrong place at the wrong time... but I think otherwise. I hope that I am wrong of course, but I am entrusting this to you.<i></i>

The image of Sousuke fizzled and Daisuke let out a sigh. "I think the word boy-steward is looking for is Lady of the Evening or Escort to describe Sakura. He doesn't get out much does he?"<i></i> Daisuke placed his hands in his pockets and his gaze shifted to the man from before. The ringed man would lead them to the first subject of interest.

Hashigaki Sakura. She looked to be twenty-eight, but who knew what techniques she used to preserve her youth. Her hair virtually ran down her back and down to the calves of her legs. Her hair was red, and she seemed to be constantly straining to look at people due to her bloodline's innate visual disability. Her skin was ivory in colour, and she very much seemed to be a poreclain doll. "Traci Daisuke? Is that you...?"<i></i> She would inquire as she strained her eyes trying to look at him.

"Ah no."<i></i> Daisuke would say quickly trying to hide something.

 

[Toraono Michino]

Tama watched in fascination as the disk played yet another part of the mission in the voice of the Steward.

So they would be interviewing people now? Well that was only the most obvious second choice to go to now that they had done everything they could with the crime scene, including losing some of their dignity. Nodding to himself more than to the others he looked up to meet eyes with the first of the people they would be interviewing – a whore. Something about her made the scientist switch his eyes over at Kitanai for a moment to give her that mocking glance before turning it back to the sound of Sakura’s voice speaking to the detective.
As well as his quickness to cover up knowing her.
Ryuu suspected that there was some kind of history, if even brief, between the two and instantly got the paranoid hunch that perhaps the detective himself could possibly be in on this. He had already ruled out Kitanai being the one to do this since every time he saw her attack it was quick and rather painless. Yet he would withhold his suspicions and just keep a wary eye on him until they finished interviewing everyone.

“Would you please tell us what you were doing at the crime scene and everything you have seen, mam.” he asked her, deciding not to call out the detective and his own knowledge of her.

Tama’s bi-colored eyes looked over the woman’s body and noted just how insanely perfect she was for someone that was a “whore”. That alone raised a little suspicion for there was little jutsu besides the easy to see through transformation jutsu that could keep someone with such a hard life looking so perfect.

 

[Kokomo]

Hey now, this whore had a nice body too!

Kitanai leaned back slightly as Tama's eyes shifted to her as Daisuke mentioned 'ladies of the night', her hand raising shamelessly to wack her palm against the back of his head, "Watch it, blue balls." Kitanai hissed at him as they approached the woman, who instantly called their leader out. Now, Kitanai wasn't a thoughtful person. She was bullheaded and self righteous, and couldn't help but laugh at the situation for a moment, "Oh, come on Daisuke," Kita gave away his name right away, knowing that doing so would spark an interesting story, "Say hello." The raven haired beauty insisted, but Tama followed up with a serious question, the bored young lady rolling her eyes as she leaned forward towards the woman, "Sakura is it?" The woman appeared a little familiar, and for a moment, Kiti wondered if she had worked with her in her younger days. Though the possibility was almost impossible. She looked too young to be one of the older women she worked with in her fucked up teenage years.

"Do you know the deceased?"

 

[Takahashi Aki]

Daisuke let out a cough as his cover was blown. "Good evening Sakura."<i></i> He said quietly as he didn't really wish to expose certain things in the literal or metaphorical manner. Sakura in the mean time looked back and forth between Tama and Kitanai.

Both of them had asked her the same question. Sakura would then stare into space for a moment. "The deceased? Oh that was a person dying? I heard burning noises, and I smelled burnt flesh ... I think? Didn't know people died. Wait... well... huh. Okay."<i></i> There was a long pause as Sakura seemed to be thinking it over. She blinked three times. "I was in the area because I can't see so well, and I was being escorted home. My eyesight isn't that good, and my apartment building has so many buzzers, it's hard for me to figure out which one is mine. I usually have a girl friend of mine walk me home. There was a big commotion of sorts. She went to go have a look at it, and the next thing I know is that I'm here being asked questions by all sorts of burly Anbu. Some of em were nice, some weren't."<i></i> There was a pause. "There wasn't anything at all to see, but I heard things. Blades cutting the wind, and then the crackles of flames... maybe a scream? Not really sure because it was muffled."<i></i>

It was now time to answer Kitanai's question. "Uhm... maybe? I'm not sure can you describe the deceased to me? Or the two of them? A pair? I'm usually good at voices - recognizing them you know? like I said I'm not sure because things were muffled. Hey. Maybe they were people who stayed at my apartment?! Oh no. If that's the case then... I'm going to miss them. Lots of nice people at my apartment. Always wanting to hold the door for me you know?"<i></i> Sakura bit on her lip. "Real sad to hear that people died you know? What did they die of?"<i></i>

 

[Toraono Michino]

The young scientist nodded as the call-girl spoke about all that she had seen…or more like heard. From the descriptions she was telling the trio Tama was starting to return to the possibility of this being done by a shinobi again. Not a lot of creatures would take the time to learn how to use swords if they could do that to the bodies, but then again there were no sword marks on the bodies where there?
Did that mean that the thing they were searching for could possibly be injured?

“Trust me, you don’t want to know,” Tama said to the girl as he turned to the old detective, “I’m thinking we’re looking at someone with a firm skill with heat techniques who may be injured, if she heard sword sounds. There were no weapon marks on the two victims that I remember seeing.”

The genius placed a hand up to his chin and his eyes squinted with the look of great thought passing through his brain. The entire scenario seemed too weird for it to be just a shinobi, yet so far all the evidence was pointing at something that had one hell of a control over elements. He just really didn’t want to believe that it could be something extraterrestrial.