Hey, it had to be done some time, right? ...Right? Okay, maybe I should explain myself. I've had this game for ages (I think it was my brother's, actually, but he never played it and it found its way to my shelf somehow), but I only tried it out last week and HOT DAMN it's addictive. And also amazing. So anyway, what with me agreeing with that hilarious comment from a bystander in Mannen-Cho (admit it, you think Dahn is wild and dreamy too), this was birthed from the dark recesses of my brainnn. So there.

When I started writing I realized it was pretty hard keeping the Raidou personality (because, like some awesome person said on some Youtube video-HE'S LIKE AN ASIAN BATMAN)...but I'll try not to let her get too out of character. Of course, fem!Raidou can't totally be the cool, hollow shell that is the Raidou Kuzunoha the 14th we see in the game, so she'll actually have some humor here. And react to things with an expression other than one that says "Huh. This ain't no thang." Because Raidou's cool that way, you know? Also, this follows the Chaos path of the game.

Gouto's a little more protective here, too. I mean, I know he isn't old-fashioned just because he's a thousand years old and he's supah cool that way, but he still can't help but worry for his first female successor. (Good thing Tae can't hear him, or she'll go crazy.) I'm assuming fem!Raidou's the first. They never mentioned having or not having a female Raidou before, so I'm free to pretend she is, right? Heheh...

Oh, and fem!Raidou doesn't have as much of a Naoto complex as...well, Naoto from P4. She keeps her hair up in her hat and she'll lower her voice outside the detective agency (though she does use masculine parts of speech when speaking, Japanese-wise) so it won't be hard to deal with bigots, but she won't deny being a girl if someone asks (and then she switches back to using feminine inflections with the person). Raidou hardly gets out of that cape, anyway, so it's not as hard for her to act like a boy.

READ ON

Sparks

Chapter 1: Home, Sweet Home

The clouds floated lazily about the sky, shielding the sun from the natural dullness of the Capital below. Carts went about their daily rounds, businesses still opened and closed at the right hours, and shrines were just as abandoned as ever. But there was an eerie buzzing around the Capital that day, something the heavens did not so much ignore as overlook, and its inhabitants felt the chill despite the perceived normalcy of the day.

In Tsukudo-Cho, a small figure cloaked in black moved across the Ushigome-gaeri bridge with calculated exactness. To those around her, it seemed innate, something so instilled in the figure that it felt almost ancient. In truth, it was the presence of the black cat trailing her that affected them, though they would never know.

"How long has it been, Kotone?" the cat asked the girl as they walked together. They were allies, old friends, and only she and those of her profession – or his – could hear him.

Kotone looked down at him fondly. Only he and a few others called her by her real name outside the village. "A year, Gouto," she replied quietly, so no one would see that she was speaking with a cat, but she received some odd looks anyway. "I never thought I'd say it, but I missed the company in Tsukudo-Cho."

"So did I," chuckled Gouto. "Pity we only get to come here when there's some threat to the Capital."

"We should travel here, then, when this is over," she suggested, fixing the boy's schoolcap over her head. "Have a sort of vacation…if that's possible for a Raidou Kuzunoha."

For Raidou Kuzunoha the 14th, to be exact, and the first female one at that, but the clan had never made a fuss about it. Kotone was the only daughter of the previous Raidou and the only one in the clan deemed worthy to inherit the title, whether or not she was, according to the Yatagarasu, a blossoming young lady. The clan was different from the rest of the country in that aspect.

"Aren't you still in high school?" Gouto asked. "The 13th told me before that he wanted his child to finish at least that level of education. Although, judging by the grueling Kuzunoha clan training, I can understand why you want a break."

"I am still in high school." The 14th kept her peripherals on people's feet ahead of her so she could speak with Gouto without knocking anyone over. "I don't mind being summoned by the Yatagarasu for a mission, of course, though my schoolmates are beginning to think I'm a slack—" Kotone stumbled forward. When she caught herself, she looked up to see the face of whoever had bumped into her.

Curly hair – not the uniformed sort of curly that obediently turned inward, but the chaotic kind that stuck out and refused to be combed down – was the first thing she noticed about him. He seemed normal enough, with a plain shirt and trousers, but there was an intensity in his eyes that Kotone wondered about and a wide grin on his mouth.

"'Scuse me, little missy," he said, smirking as he made the motion of tipping a hat, and ran off.

"Judging by his accent, I would say he's new here in the Capital," said Kotone, watching him go. "And it's a wonder he could tell I was female at first glance. What do you think…Gouto?"

The cat was staring at a traveling fish vendor walking around past them.

"Gouto?"

"Ah—" Gouto shook his head. "Were you saying something, Kotone?"

"Did you see that man; the one who bumped into me?"

"I'm sorry," Gouto frowned. "My mind was…elsewhere."

Kotone breathed in amusement and started for a familiar building in the district. In a sense, it was like coming home. With a foreboding sense of danger looming over her shoulders, certainly, because of the vague assignment the Yatagarasu had given, but it was home sweet home all the same.

"The Narumi Detective Agency," Gouto read when they arrived before the steps of the Ginroukaku building. "It certainly doesn't feel like a year now, does it?"

Nodding, Kotone approached the door. It was never anyone's habit to knock and wait for the Agency's namesake to open it, however, and the two let themselves in.

There was someone behind the table holding a newspaper over his face. He turned a page once before greeting, just as languidly as Gouto and Kotone remembered, "Welcome to the Narumi Detective Agency…"

Gouto grunted indignantly.

"Gouto is wondering if you treat all your customers this way."

The newspaper was slammed on the desk, already forgotten. Somewhat obedient, curly hair, half-lidded eyes, pursed lips – Shouhei Narumi. "Raidou! Gouto!"

Kotone gave a small wave at the detective's wide eyes. "Hey, boss."

Narumi stood up with the half-irritated, half-amused smile only he could pull off. "Had I known you two would be here so soon, I would have prepared some coffee. Come on, why are you two just standing there? Make yourselves at home. Just like old times, huh?"

Exactly.

It wasn't always lively in the Narumi Detective Agency, Kotone remembered later that afternoon. There were times like these, when they were pondering on what to do next while she and Gouto stood against the staircase and Narumi sat behind his desk, reading the paper and (allegedly) being intellectual. Today Gouto had taken to curling and uncurling his tail around her arm, and Narumi was still reading.

Minutes later, her boss set the newspaper down, a cigarette lodged in between his teeth. Kotone never understood what it was with men and smoking. Her demons in particular didn't like it, that was for sure, which was why she never tried the stuff. Taking the cigarette from his mouth and putting it out over a pile of at least fifty more used cigarettes, Narumi stood and poured himself a cup of coffee before perfunctorily wiping the butter on his knife off a pile of toast.

Kotone crossed her arms. Gouto stretched his neck without taking his eyes off Narumi.

Taking his seat, Narumi stared back at the cat. "What's with that stare, Gouto?" He glanced at Kotone for a moment. She shrugged. "Ohh, I see… You've finally taken a shine to me, haven't you?" He chuckled. "I have a natural way with animals…and ladies."

Kotone concealed a snort with a cough, which Narumi chose to ignore. By all accounts, she was still only a girl. "Well, don't just stand there, Raidou. Come over here with Gouto. I made some coffee, so why don't we all have a drink together? It's my own special Narumi blend! You know, it's good to see the three of us working together again."

"However idly, as usual," Kotone replied, but not completely without humor, and took a seat beside Gouto on the table.

"Still a pair of stiffs, eh, you two?" Narumi joked, then raised his coffee cup. "Let's have a toast to our reunion! …A coffee toast."

"A coffee toast?" Gouto thought out loud, staring at the coffee cup poured out for him. He sighed. "Well, far be it from me to take away the little happiness he gets from seeing us again. All right."

"What's with that look?" Narumi glanced between Gouto and Kotone. "Are you two talking about me?"

"Gouto says we should humor you and have this coffee toast."

"Thanks," said Narumi with obvious sarcasm, but they had the toast nonetheless.

There was an uncomfortable silence afterwards, with Gouto and Narumi taking sips from their coffee (rather, with Gouto licking the coffee from his cup, what with his lack of opposable thumbs, he later complained) and Kotone fiddling with her cup's handle. She preferred water.

"Listen, Raidou…" Narumi didn't like calling her by her real name, should he run the risk of sounding unprofessional. He also thought she was more of an equal with that title than just a little girl playing detective with a cape and a boy's school uniform, but he never said that in front of Tae. It made him feel less guilty or protective, too, when he sent her around doing legwork and left her to fight those demons on her own. "You probably already know this, but you can relax here. Sure, I've got orders from the Yatagarasu to watch over you, but you're still young, and you've been training as a summoner at Kuzunoha village ever since you were a tyke. I'm just here to make sure you don't fall in with the wrong crowd out here in the big, bad world."

"I know, boss," Kotone smiled gratefully.

Narumi returned it kindly. "But hey, you've never caused me any trouble, and my philosophy is: a man's job – and a girl's, of course – should be fun. No need to stand straight up like a ramrod, is what I mean. Just sit back… loosen up… and—"

His stomach let out a desperate rumble.

Kotone reached up to stifle a chuckle; Gouto snickered along with her.

Narumi tugged at his collar. "Sorry, but I'm gonna have a bite before we start. Break time here is whenever you feel like it. No need to worry about any clients busting in… It's the middle of the day, see?"

"Okay, boss," said Kotone, still feeling humorous as she stood and entered the kitchen. "I will try to make us three something besides toast."

"Really? That'd be great," Narumi sighed contentedly, lying back on his chair. "I really missed having you around."

Gouto chuckled. "Everyone likes an errand girl."

The detective narrowed his eyes at the cat. He was starting to at least understand Gouto's emotions whenever he meowed. "What was that, Gouto?"

"He says you're a slave driver," Kotone translated, poking through the dusty cupboards. "I see you've only been eating out."

"Oh, well, that's okay, then," Narumi shrugged. "And the truth is, I'm getting into butter and toast these days. I've decided to be the modern man now, see? …Although some curry rice never hurt…"

Kotone picked up an unknown ingredient hidden at the back of a cupboard. "I think I can make do with these ingredients. Somehow."

"Great!" Narumi clapped his hands and took the newspaper to the kitchen counter. Gouto followed with a leap. "Now then…Hmph. The headlines haven't changed much since yesterday. Every article in this rag's moaning about good luck and bad luck… This luck stuff some kinda fad?" The detective scoffed and turned the page. "Hey now! Listen to this one, Raidou: Blimp Goes Down in Flames! It's a strange one… Here, I'll read it to you."

Kotone paused for a moment and watched Narumi's expressions change as he read on.

"Let's see… Halfway through the flight, the pilot started on the lunch his main squeeze made him. He dropped his umeboshi, and when he went to pick it up, his elbow hit the pressure gauge. The blimp went down in flames, but the pilot survived…with some pretty bad burns, though. Huh. Should we chalk it up to an unlucky break that came as pure coincidence? Or should we be happy that the fella survived such a dangerous situation? I can't tell if the guy was lucky or unlucky…" Narumi frowned and read through the paper again.

"The pilot should take responsibility for it," Kotone said, returning to their food. "After all, it isn't proper to eat while doing something else."

"That's my take on it, too," Narumi agreed. "Raidou, make sure you learn from his mistake, okay?"

Kotone smiled politely, only because she had learned over a year ago that the detective hardly followed his own advice. "Of course, boss."

"What?" Narumi knew what was going on the girl's mind. Still… "As far as anyone out there knows, you're my apprentice. So make sure you're nice and polite to everyone you meet, or they'll get the wrong idea about me, okay?"

Gouto gave Kotone a look that said just humor him for the sake of the Yatagarasu. The practiced expression on his descendant's face didn't change.

Narumi knew her well enough to understand that the look meant he got the Tawara-Ya management angry with him all by himself, but he didn't like to think about it and rolled his eyes. "Yeah, all right. Now then… that butter on my toast ought to be nice and melted by now. A modern sort like me has toast for lunch, see? Not that any man minds curry rice for seconds. I've gotta keep up with the news, though. Well, nothing wrong with a little reading while I eat…"

Gouto and Kotone glanced at each other, then at Narumi. "Boss…"

Narumi laughed a little and shook his head. "Look, I'm a grown man, and I've got things to do. It's okay for me. Do as I say, not as I do, got it?"

"Yeah, a real role model for you, Kotone…" remarked the cat, watching Narumi move back to his desk. "I'll go keep an eye on him. He might knock everything over while he eats and does his modern activities," Gouto added, mockingly, and leapt off the kitchen counter.

Kotone went on cooking, wondering what would come of this experiment. She wasn't even sure she knew how to make curry rice. Whenever she came home from summoner training in the day, her mother had tried to instill the qualities of a good wife in her, despite her father's insistence that the only man his daughter would marry was a devil summoner and that her groom would be man enough to cook on his own without ragging on his Great Summoner of a wife for a meal. Of course, that ended up with her mother refusing to cook for her father for a week, but he got his point across somehow. That and she was only ever truly successful at frying eggs and boiling rice.

"Ah, damn!"

"What happened?" Kotone asked, running out into the main office. Gouto was on Narumi's desk, in a position after a skillful pounce, and her boss was gritting his teeth on his seat. His cup lay knocked over on its side, the last drops of coffee spilling out over the desk.

Gouto leapt back to the coffee table without a trace of guilt on his feline features. "There was an odd looking bug on his shoulder," he said. "When its face opened, it – looked almost as though it had a mask. I knew there was something wrong."

"Ah." Her eyes flew back to Narumi, who stood abruptly, butter all over his thighs. "Buttered slacks—trousers of the modern man?"

Narumi had a ha ha, funny expression, though it quickly turned to urgency as he motioned to something behind Kotone. She turned, her right hand flying to her sword hilt, but it was only a pretty lady with brown eyes that were oddly familiar.

The woman bowed respectfully, a desperate look on her face. "I need your help."

Kotone tilted her head curiously, unable to take her eyes off the girl. She didn't have Kaya's silky straight long hair, but hers was interesting nonetheless.

Curls. The chaotic kind that stuck out and refused to be combed down.

She was much calmer than Kaya, if Raidou remembered the past year's events correctly.

Her name was Akane Narita. She wanted the Narumi Detective Agency to look for a man named Dahn, but that was all the information she was willing to give. Narumi had taken the man's photo she gave with him when he went to change into pants less covered in butter, as Gouto had suggested.

Having given up on cooking for her modern man of a boss, Kotone had taken to watching the older female move uneasily in her seat, her eyes darting around the office. Perhaps she had a calm countenance, but she was clearly anxious to find this Dahn. "Miss Narita, would you like some coffee while you wait?"

Akane seemed surprised she was even there. "Oh. Yes, please…Raidou, did Mr. Narumi call you?"

Kotone nodded, pouring her a cup. She waited for Akane to ask her if that name was masculine, as most did, but the older female was mannered enough not to. "Here. But you can call me Kotone, if you like, Miss Narita." They didn't get female clients often, and she didn't have many female friends in the village. She was always much too busy and tired to keep close friendships with the other girls in school, too, and she hadn't heard from Kaya for nearly two weeks. Was this a desperate attempt to socialize outside her circle of friends in the dark realm?

"Kotone, then," said Akane politely. "You work for Mr. Narumi?"

"For the time being. Mr. Narumi will be back shortly. We had a little accident before you came in, you see…"

"No need to tell her all the details, Raidou," came Narumi's voice, and the man entered with a clean pair of white pants with a matching suit to boot. "But with that out of the way, it's time we had a little chat about your request… Miss Narita, was it?" He crossed his arms. "There's a man you wanted us to find?"

"It's urgent, you understand…" Akane clasped her fingers together. "It must be done quickly."

"Well, no need to waste shoe leather coming out here. If you need a man found, I recommend the police."

"I…I couldn't…" Akane delicately tucked a curl behind her ear. "I don't want there to be a big to-do."

Narumi sighed, looking thoughtful for a moment. "Wait here, please," he said to Akane, and then dragged Kotone into the kitchen. Gouto followed suit. "What do you think about all this, Raidou? Gouto? Is it just me, or does something smell funny here? A mysterious dame, all grown up, comes looking for a man…"

"Do you believe she is lying to us?" Kotone asked, peeking outside to take another glance at Akane.

Narumi shook his head. "Seems like penny-ante love-affair stuff to me… I don't think we should take it, do you?"

"I think we should," Gouto shrugged. "After all… what would people say if they found out slick detective Shouhei Narumi turned a nice lady down?"

"Gouto says she looks like a nice enough lady, and turning her down would be downright villainous."

At Narumi's sullen glance, the cat frowned. "Kotone!"

"Raidou, you know as well as I do that just looking nice doesn't cut it with me."

"But it is something to think about, isn't it, boss?"

Narumi looked unsure now. "Uhhh, well… Of course, the dame looks serious, and I want to play it sweet too, y'know? But love affairs... I have a strict rule on those: it's between the guy and the girl, not me."

Kotone glanced behind Narumi. Apparently, Akane was perplexed enough not to leave them alone. "I can't stay long," she said, on her feet as she took something from her small handbag. "Here. A little downpayment – it's yours."

"Now see here, Miss Narita, I never agreed to take this– hm…?"

Kotone blinked. She hadn't held that much cash in a while. The village stressed simplicity, of all things, so all the money she earned last year, she had hidden with one of her most trusted demons. (Speaking of which, she hadn't summoned them in what seemed like an eternity.)

Narumi's jaw dropped. "Wait a cotton-pickin'… Is this the down payment or the entire wad? You're giving me all this!?"

Kotone cleared her throat. "Us." Protecting the Capital didn't come cheap, after all.

"I've never employed a detective..." Akane shrugged him off, but Kotone could see that she was a little embarrassed. "I have no idea what your type costs. If it's not enough...say the word."

"...Raidou, fix our guest some coffee. And make it snappy, she's come all this way to see us."

"Sure thing, boss," said Kotone, taking the pitcher and leading the rest out of the kitchen, but after her second serving, Akane decided she had to leave.

"Well, thank you for the coffee," she said, smiling sincerely at Narumi and Kotone as she approached the door, "I'll be going now. I hope you can find him…"

"Have a good day, Miss Narita," Kotone waved, and closed the door for her. Taking a seat on the stairs, she turned her mouth up slightly. "You certainly played it sweet, boss. Not that you are to blame. Even Gouto looked surprised by the amount she gave us."

Narumi walked past her, taking a seat by the coffee table. He looked almost offended, but some of it was jest. "Just so you know, it wasn't the money that swung me. Let's be clear on that. As she talked about the job more, I started to twig it... Our Miss Akane is the only daughter of that Narita. As in Tasuke Narita, councilman in the Diet."

"I've heard of him." Kotone had no interest in politics, but the Clan had bidden her learn what she could of the Capital before her actual immersion a year ago. "The man had obscure beginnings, but…"

"Yep. Now he's the standing chairman of the Finance Committee," Narumi continued. "Every cent this nation has flows through him... You do something nice for a dame like that, and who knows what kind of doors it might open for you?"

"And here I thought he was doing it out of the goodness of his heart," said Gouto, pawing his face softly: a feline facepalm.

"What?" Narumi frowned. "It's the truth."

"Gouto says you're brimming with kindness."

"Sarcasm, right?" The detective stared at the cat. "I'm starting to understand your meowing, Gouto, see?"

Gouto flicked his tail in reply and jumped beside Kotone. "I don't understand why you can't just translate me properly."

"It's more interesting this way," the Kuzunoha replied. "Don't you agree?"

"Anyway," Narumi cleared his throat. "No wonder Akane refused to go to the police. A dame in her position has to mind her father's career... Either that, or this is still a love affair, and not one that Daddy's wild about. I mean, look at the guy..."

Narumi took the photo from his suit and threw it at Kotone, who deftly caught it in between her fingers. "That's the photo she showed me. Said that fellow's name is Dahn... Kind of a shady character, wouldn't you say? Somehow, I don't see him as the honest living type..."

The first thing Kotone noticed about the man in the picture was his hand. He was trying to block the lens, as if taking a picture of him would be taking his soul, and he didn't look very happy. There was a frown on his lips she found so foreign from his face that she wanted to just wipe it off forever. And then her eyes traveled to his hair.

"Curls…" she mumbled.

"What was that, Raidou?"

"I think…I may have already seen this man. When we were crossing the Ushigome-gaeri Bridge into town." Only he'd had that grin when they met, Kotone realized, which was why his frown had affected her so.

"Well, that's just dandy. We find the man before he's asked for and now we have no idea where he is…what luck. Then again, maybe I should have thought twice about this… A lady's one thing, but poking after a brute like him?" Narumi rubbed a hand over his face. "Ugh, I've got a whopper of a headache. Raidou, I'll let you handle this…keep the photo," he coughed, rather affectedly, in Kotone's opinion, but she was used to Narumi leaving all the work to her. Not that she minded; no matter how hard he tried, her boss always seemed to treat her like a little girl one way or another.

Gouto jumped onto Kotone's lap. "I think I'll tag along on this hunt for the missing Dahn. I'm worried about something... Have you noticed it, Kotone? Lately, I feel like luck has been coming up in conversation around the Capital way too much, and not only that. Everyone's luck seems out of whack."

"I understand," she nodded. People from the Capital didn't quite have indoor voices, so she had heard the same as Gouto. "The consensus is: those lucky get even luckier, and those unlucky..."

"Right. It's too hard to shake off as simple coincidence. I want to see what's going on with my own eyes."

"I think we should start around the Tawara-Ya area. It is a popular restaurant around here where boss had the biggest tab ever…do you remember?"

"How could I forget?" Gouto chuckled, leaping towards the door. "Come on, now."

"By the way, Raidou," Narumi called out, "remember that the first step to sleuthing is to ask around. Do some legwork, and have patience. Make sure you listen to what the man on the street has to…Ah! My pants! I better get a wet rag on those or the stain won't come out!" Narumi scratched his head and sighed. "Figures it had to land butter-side-down… Talk about your bad luck!"

"All right, boss." Kotone tipped her hat and opened the door for Gouto. "Good luck cleaning that stain out…"

"Narumi's got the right idea," said Gouto, hopping out into the busy street. "I'll come with you. You've got the sword, but I've got the pen. Behold, my Detective's Notebook!"

Kotone watched the cat pull out a small notebook from between his collar. "How do you write without opposable thumbs?"

"Patience, my young successor…" Flipping the notebook open, Gouto forced a nail out of his index finger and scratched the name Dahn on the first page. "See? All I have to do is scratch a nail on it. It has its own ink, in a way." Gouto appraised his writing and nodded appreciatively. "Hrm…excellent penmanship, if I say so myself. Luck is on your side today, having such an avid writer for a mentor. Well, if you're all set, let's get this caper started."

Starting for Tawara-Ya, Kotone gave a mock-salute. "Yessir."

Two and a half hours, lots of questions asked, little answers received, a trip to the dark realm, and a boring train ride to and from Shinoda later, Kotone and Gouto stepped out of Konnou-Ya.

"Come back with pocket money next time!" the balding owner yelled out to them, shaking his cane at them.

Gouto frowned. "And all we've got is…"

"Virtually nothing," Kotone answered. "I'm unsure why Dr. Victor puts the boss ill at ease. It was certainly nice of him to let that disturbed Inugami stay and work at his laboratory, though he could have told us he was still working beneath Konnou-Ya instead of having us travel all the way back to Shinoda. I thought he'd moved… We could have tested the box from the Agency, after all…"

"You're the only one he doesn't put ill at ease," said a floating figure behind them, her little pointed wings flapping and her horned tail curling about seductively. She barely wore a thing, but she was decent, and had just recently returned all of Kotone's past earnings, proving herself trustworthy to the devil summoner once more. "He's incredibly creepy."

"And that is something to say, especially from you, Lilim," said Kotone, grinning at the demon.

"Oh, is that all you have to say?" Lilim rolled her eyes. "We missed you! Have you even met with the others?"

"Not yet," Kotone replied, patting the tubes on her chest. "I will have to, sooner or later. But you demons have always liked surprises."

Lilim's eyes darted around the place. Tucking loose strands of hair behind her ears, she bit her lip nervously. "Well, since you summoned me, I might have happened to tell Leanan and Undine…"

"Demons of your ilk never could keep secrets," the cat remarked.

"Hey!" Lilim pouted. "That isn't nice."

Gouto chuckled. "Are you really picking a fight with a cat?"

Kotone ignored them. Gouto did have a habit of teasing her demons, especially Lilim. She supposed it came from his having been a summoner himself, but with that attitude she wondered how he could ever have negotiated with their lot. "I believe we've earned ourselves a bite to eat. How about it?"

Lilim licked her lips. "Yum. I'm in the mood for a good snacking."

"It still sounds odd, coming from you…" Kotone thought aloud, earning her a playful slap on the shoulder.

"Didn't this cat ever teach you the right way to show someone you missed them?"

"The way you're getting all worked up about it now should give you a clue," said Gouto, who ran off to Tawara-Ya upon Lilim's hiss.

"Now, now," said Kotone, but did nothing to stop the demon from chasing Gouto to the restaurant.

"Oh, hello, Raidou!" Tawara-Ya's owner, Mr. Iwata, greeted the girl upon her arrival. He had always been kind to her, especially after she paid off over half of Narumi's tab last year. "You were looking for a young man, weren't you? I just saw a boy going toward Tamonten Shrine. He was a young foreigner about your age… a tourist, maybe?"

Kotone and Gouto glanced at each other.

"Come on, Kotone, let's go eat!" Lilim insisted, tugging at Kotone's right arm. With her free one, Kotone sent the girl back into her tube.

"A lead, you think?" Kotone asked Gouto, turning away from Tawara-Ya. The Tamonten Shrine was just beside the restaurant, but it was going to take a while if she still had to speak with the foreigner. If he was a demon in disguise, she might even have to fight him, and she didn't feel like battling as much as she did eating at the moment. Narumi did say break time was whenever she wanted, but she knew to know better.

"Anything's a lead at this point," said the cat, and they trudged their way over to the Tamonten Shrine. Kotone appreciated this place. It was much more colorful than the Nameless Shrine in Shinoda, this warrior shrine where she could feel somewhat proud, and though there were no talkative Ukanomitama spirits here, it was a nice spot from which to watch people go about their daily lives.

"Raidou!" called a man standing by the shrine. He wore sunglasses, not that there was much sun to shield his eyes from.

Raidou could already see the blond at the shrine steps, but she was always polite to the elderly. "Hello…?"

"You found that precious stone for me a year ago, remember?" said the old man, "How could I forget that face and that cape of yours?"

"Ah, yes," said Kotone, though she had aided so many in the past year that she could barely remember everyone. If her memory served her correctly, however, this man had always liked his shades. "How may I help you?"

Oh no, she was an errand girl.

"No, child, I'm just here to give you a bit of advice. I'd steer well clear of Fukagawa-Cho until the dust settles!"

"Why is that, sir?"

The old man sighed. "Some guys there got the bright idea to raise a ruckus with the Kantou Haguro-gumi punks. They talked with that telltale drawl, so you can tell they weren't from around here. Unfortunate for them that Satake targeted them right after they got to the Capital."

"I see…" Kotone thanked the old man and went on into the shrine, the words telltale drawl and the picture of Dahn in her mind coming together. He spoke with that accent. It wasn't as thick as the slur of most provincials, but it was present. Could he have been the one that dared rile up Satake's goons? He did seem new around the place. But he was alone when they met, and what did it all have to do with Miss Narita?

The young man was waiting for her at the shrine, it seemed. He was handsome, truly a foreigner, with his sky blue eyes and blond hair, most of which was covered by his beret.

"It would be apropos to say Nice to meet you here, yes?" he asked in perfect Japanese as soon as their eyes met, and without waiting for Kotone to reply, continued, "This encounter with you should 'spark' something or other, I suppose. If there's anything you desire, I'd like to know. Perhaps I can provide a 'spark' for you too…"

Gouto looked up to Kotone, startled. "What sort of spark does he mean? I hope he knows this isn't the Red Light district."

The young man looked down at Gouto disdainfully before turning back to Kotone. "What is it, then? What do you desire?"

Kotone reached into her cape and showed him Dahn's photo. "His name is Dahn. Perhaps you've seen him?"

The foreigner barely looked at the photo. Instead, he fixed the tie between his collar and stared at her intently. "The fact that you and I met here, that I served as your 'spark'… This is what you'd call fortunate, yes?"

"To an extent, I suppose," Kotone replied, unsure as to what the young man wanted to hear from her. "Why do you ask?"

It also seemed as if the foreigner had made it a point to give completely non-sequitur answers. "I've seen that man," he said, staring at the photo with obvious disinterest, "at the place your people call Fukagawa-Cho."

Gouto sighed. "Finally, a lucky break in the case."

"Indeed."

Kotone glanced up at the foreigner in surprise. "Excuse me?"

"Ah, I was only thinking to myself," he said with a smirk. "I have provided you with your 'spark'. Shouldn't you be on your way?"

"The Daikoku-Yu bathhouse…" Lilim read with a dreamy tone in her voice, floating around Kotone before the establishment, "I have fond memories of this place."

"I certainly don't," said Gouto, frowning. "I don't appreciate my only female descendant so far running around in but a towel."

"Satake seemed impressed enough," Lilim huffed. "It was my idea, you know. And we got his information thanks to it!"

"We know," said the devil summoner between them, heaving a sigh and approaching the façade. If there was anyone who knew where to find missing people, it was Satake. She wouldn't put it past him to be the cause of some missing cases, either. Reaching the entrance, Kotone greeted two familiar faces with a bow. "Good afternoon."

"Hey, if it ain't Raidou!" exclaimed the guard at the right. "It's been a while! Where have you been?"

"Training in the country," replied Kotone. "And you?"

"Standing guard, y'know," said the guard at the left. "Ha ha, I still remember that fight you had with some of our guys a year ago…they still can't believe they got beat by a high school girl…"

"They shouldn't dwell on it," said Kotone with a small smile. Although the clan tenets taught that pride would be a summoner's undoing, she found satisfaction in having beaten two Kantou Haguro-gumi punks. "Is Satake in?"

"Yeah…" the singular expression of the guards turned sour. "But he's not in a good mood. I wouldn't go in there if I were you."

Kotone pursed her lips, turning her back on them and facing Gouto. "Satake might not respond to me even if I give him a good beating."

"You don't always need to beat the answers out of people," Lilim sighed. "Haven't any of our fights together taught you anything, Kotone? Come on, just get into the bathhouse. I'll take care of things – even if you still haven't gotten rid of that habit of stuffing me back in my tube while I'm still talking..."

"Didn't you hear the guards?" asked Gouto. "The king of the goons isn't feeling peachy. If we burst in on him now, he'll probably chew Kotone's head off."

Lilim lowered herself to block Kotone's vision of Gouto. "Kotone, do you trust me?"

"Of course," replied the summoner, albeit somewhat reluctantly. "What's on your mind?"

"I'll tell you once we're inside," said the demon, attempting to push Kotone into the bathhouse. "Stay here, Gouto."

Kotone sighed. She did want to get back to the Agency early, and if she wrapped things up with this case quick, maybe she could even catch the stars on the roof tonight before falling dead asleep. Turning back to the guards, she said, "I'll do my best to, er, avoid getting him angrier."

One of them sighed. "I don't know, Raidou…but okay. Get in."

"Oh, please take care of Gouto for a moment," she said, motioning to the cat, who glared up at the guards.

"Sure thing, Raidou." The guard at the left bent down and beckoned to Gouto. "Come on, little kitty…"

"Meowr!" Gouto hissed, scratching at his face. Lilim shoved Kotone inside before she could intervene.

After some protest, Kotone strolled into the changing room with Lilim giggling quietly at her side. "Lilim, what are you planning?"

"Just follow my lead," said the girl, helping Kotone undress. "Ooh, you've really been training hard, haven't you? Your shape has really improved. And you're growing!"

"If you don't mind, I don't want to hear this."

"Oh, it was just a compliment! I don't toss those out every day, you know."

Kotone shook her head and went into the bathhouse. It was as steamy as she remembered, and it was starting to get hotter with her nerves. Satake wasn't the kind to get beaten into giving out information. He was impressed by her strength before, but he had been in a good mood then. And he was probably too surprised at her wearing a cap and being a female to bother with being annoyed. She didn't know how he was when he wasn't happy, but judging by the reactions of his goons, he was something to be feared. Well, so was she, Lilim insisted, but Kotone had always left the calming down bit of the negotiations to her demons.

"Everyone's staring at me again," Kotone stated, covering her chest with her arms though she was in a towel. She could always sic the men with a nice dose of Mamudo, but that wouldn't be fair. "And Satake is in a bad mood. Why did I allow you to talk me into this?"

"Because I'm one of the best negotiators on the team," Lilim sighed, as if it were the most obvious thing in the world. "Now come on, there's Satake. Ooh, he's gotten so much manlier since we last saw him, don't you think?"

"Shh," shushed Kotone, wading through the water to reach the king of the goons. To be fair, his tattoos were intimidating, and added to his brutish charm…but he was frowning, his gaze distant and his arms crossed.

"Hello, Satake. How have you been?"

The well-inked man snapped out of his thoughts and stared up at Kotone. He looked surprised for a moment until he realized who she was, and sighed. "A woman in the bathhouse wearing a school cap… Shoulda figured it'd be you, Kuzunoha."

"It's nice to see you again," Kotone said, forcing a smile. "You look well."

"Yeah, yeah, and you've gotten curvy. So what's so important you gotta bug a man like me when I'm in the tub?"

Kotone's face flushed at his straightforwardness. No one had ever commented on her femininity before (it was usually on her lack of it). Lilim, on the other hand, clapped her hands merrily. "He noticed your figure! It means he sees you as a woman now. This'll be easy, Kotone."

"Hey, Kuzunoha, hello," said Satake, waving a hand in her face. Kotone turned back to him apologetically. "Don't waste my time. What do you want?"

Next chapter quote sneak peek time!

"You touched him where!?"

REVIEWWWWWWWWWW

(IMHO, Shin Megami Tensei: Devil Summoner 2: Raidou Kuzunoha vs. King Abaddon could've been shortened to Just My Luck. Then it'd be like that one movie with that girl and that guy with the good luck bad luck stuff only it didn't have crazy giant insects with crowns and dark android summoners and wild and dreamy guys with eternally unchapped lips. AMIRITE)

(...)

(kidding)