Missions
Everyone has their own mission. Sometimes they help each other, sometimes not. But when it comes to a certain prosecutor and a certain infamous thief, crossing paths is more dangerous than anyone ever anticipated.
a.n.
This is a story about the Yatagarasu.
Prelude
They met at midnight, as was tradition, at the place to which they were all connected, the place that had drawn them together. Some might call it coincidence that they had this place in common, but luckily, none of them believed in coincidence.
They arrived in shadow and they remained in shadow. They formed a triangle of denser darkness, each standing at a vertex of the shape and facing the other two. There was absolute silence save for the crickets chirping merrily in the late August air. They stared at each other, standing stock-still as though locked in the spell cast by the warm summer wind.
Then the first shadow spoke.
"At midnight, when no other birds dare fly . . ."
The spell was broken; all three shadows laughed. They moved in unison, sitting on the dry ground. It had always been like that: three people, one entity. Three names, one identity.
The Yatagarasu.
The second shadow produced a bottle and three glasses as though from nowhere. "Let's celebrate!"
The first shadow accepted the glass and took a long drink, but the third shadow hesitated.
"I . . . I can't."
The first two shadows shared a glance and a light chuckle. "Don't worry," the second shadow urged. "Just drink."
Looking wary, the third shadow took a tiny, nervous sip, but then grinned broadly. "Grape juice." They all laughed again.
Then the third shadow's glass was in the air, and the other two followed suit and raised their own tumblers high.
"To our fiftieth successful heist!" the third shadow declared.
"To our dedication to the truth!" the second shadow added emphatically.
The first shadow stared at the glasses, the blood-red liquid turned black in the moonlight. The cups connected in the centre of the circle, representing the three of them forming one.
"To the Yatagarasu."
a.n.
More will be explained in later chapters. I had to try very hard to keep this as vague as possible XD. Feel free to guess about whatever you like.