Dark Soul Hunter.
A fan fiction by Aoi Kitsukawa
Disclaimer: Joker Game belongs to Yanagi Kouji and its related committees; I only borrow the characters in the manga/ anime (or related sources).
Author's Note: This is my very first story in Joker Game fandom with AU setting and some supernatural-fantasy-magic themes. I hope everyone can give a try to this story, thank you.
Summary: An organization called 'Hunter' that having its branches operated whole worldly; which associated with the Keishichou were responsible to deal with several unsolved cases that suddenly increased in Tokyo. It had a small section named 'D-Agency' to help gathering information, but facing difficulties after one big incident that happened 3 years ago. The team received several new members, but none of them wonder if it was a fate or the consequences of the past karma…
Hunter 01: Dreams and Omen
"What did you say at that time?
Words that can't reach me dance in the air"
Departures ~Anata ni Okuru Ai no Uta~ by Egoist
"Obaa-chan, what are you holding?"
A young boy, no more than 7 was sitting next to an old woman, who was sitting on her futon. Despite her old and fragile body, her face has the nicest smile that made her face looked younger than her real age. She was holding a key in her hand…
But it was not an ordinary key.
"It's a key…" She said as she smiled kindly to her grandson. "It was given to me by your late great grandfather looong time ago."
"Heeeh…!" Said the boy, excited. He stared at the key when the light bathed upon the key, and it slowly glimmering.
"It's beautiful…" He said. "May I hold it, obaa-chan?"
"Of course Yuu-chan. Here, hold it," She said as she handed the key to the boy named Yuu-chan. He gently took it from his grandmother and rose up to the air. The key was shining and gleaming beautifully, fascinating everyone who sees it.
"Is it a crystal?" He asked, returning it back to his grandmother. "Where did great grandpa got it?"
The grandmother smiled bitterly. She knew very well, the history of the key she was holding. There was a secret that had been passed down in her family along with the key, which only the ones being chosen as the keeper of the key will know. No matter how closed the relationships between the siblings or relatives, only this one thing that the keepers been forbidden from sharing its information.
She was one of the keepers as well.
Due to the secrecy of the key, somehow it made some of the family members felt distant or hurt for unable to know the secret of the key. Actually there were several requirements needed to be the keeper, but only the possessor who wanted to point his/ her successor knew the criteria's, made it as if it was such a huge responsibility that not any ordinary people could bear it. Therefore, anyone who had been chosen as the keeper will had a distant relationship with the family.
She never regretted it, at all.
She gently stroke her grandson's messy hair as she spoke, "Actually, he's not the very first time to receive it Yuu-chan."
"EEHH!? Why?"
"According to your great grandfather, he got it from his late father who died when he was young," She said as she chuckled. "His late father said that someone important to him gave it to him, who's previously owned by its previous possessor."
"Huuh? I can't understand…!" Whined Yuu-chan as his grandmother chuckled.
"You'll understand it once you grown up," She said. "He said that this key, is mysteriously made from garnet; a type of stones that been used in jewelries."
"A garnet?"
"Yes, and it appears to hold some sort of powers that only can be use by certain people. In the past, the real owner of the key was killed due to reasons unknown to us even now. Even your late great, great grandfather refused to tell your great grandfather why. However, he entrusted the key to his only child and requested him to pass it on certain members that met the requirement, and quietly passed away…"
"Ooh…" Yuu-chan looked at the key curiously.
"What do you want to be, Yuu-chan?"
"A police officer! Just like Ojii-chan!" He said excitedly, eyes full of life…
The old woman realized it almost identical to her late husband's eyes.
"Oh my, that's nice to hear that Yuu-chan…" She smiled fondly to her grandson. She looked at her beaming young grandson, before she closed her eyes. After some minutes, she opened it and smiled, reaching out Yuu-chan and placed the key around his neck.
Yuu-chan looked at his grandmother with surprise as he touched the string that attached with the key. "Obaa-chan, this is…!"
"Remember Yuuji…" She said as she slowly stroke his hair. "Whatever happens, you have to be kind and honest, gentle but brave, smart and strong…"
"…So that no matter what had happen, you'll never lost your sight in life…" Yuuji let his grandmother held him closer as she kept on stroking his hair. "I won't be able to be at your side always, but no matter what, remember what I said to you, never lose your sight in life and protect this key, even at the cost of your life…"
…And I pray…
May this child gains his happiness that I and the previous ones hadn't…
So that no more sacrifices appear in the future…
-Spring 20 years later, somewhere in Japan-
Black eyes suddenly snapped; the owner of the eyes was a man in late 20s, sat up from his unrest slumber, as he took deep breathe. Beads of sweats slowly appeared on his forehead, before he wiped it away and threw away the blanket to his right side. He quickly grabbed a clean glass and poured a white water into it, before drank it greedily. After finishing the water, he put the glass back on the small desk next to his bed, which also contained a jug of white water. He felt his throat was better than before, then stood up to the window before he opened it widely.
He was having that dream again, he thought, as he let the morning breeze kissed his face and flew away his long hair. His jet-black hair, which has long bangs and reached his neck flew gently. He grabbed some of it and thought that he will cut his hair before going to work; he had an evening shift today unless something unexpected happened.
His house was silent; of course, he lived alone at this luxurious place, inherited it from his paternal grandmother's side. Large space and patio with many rooms as well as with modern design within the traditional; he only managed to clean the house during weekend; if nothing unexpected happened that time as well. So far, he only managed to clean the house during the first weekend of the month; now it almost entering April and still unable to do the cleaning. Lately, many things happened that required much of his time to deal with, but he won't complain it because it was his job as a police officer.
He sighed as he looked at the medium whiteboard on the wall, with soft board as well. He checked through it and then spotted a small note, and smiled.
Tonight; 07.45 PM.
Hanabishi.
P/S: DON'T BE LATE!
"Yeah, yeah, like I ever late before, old man," He said as he left the board and grabbed his towel for early shower. "I've got more things to do too, before going to work," He looked at his bed when his cell phone was ringing with odd sounds. He knew who exactly was calling for him.
"Those things which started happen lately and 'that' incident…Tracing that 'traitors' is already a pain in the neck," He grabbed the phone and looked onto it. His eyes narrowed with small stress.
We've got company, again. Hurry up.
-A. Makoto.
'Crap!' He quickly went to the bathroom and opened a small cabinet, grabbing a pair of scissor.
"By hook or by crook, this has to be done NOW!"
Is it the time…?
Those people…
-Spring, dawn, Yamate Dori, Chiyoda Ward, Tokyo-
Founding a death body of someone else was the least thing every human in the world would want to.
Especially them.
It was dawn in the last week of March, when several police cars were parking at one place somewhere near the Tokyo Gakuen High School at Yamate Dori. Several policemen were scattered around the area where small bushes and trees were lively grown, creating small darkness around the area. Some yellow tapes had been placed at the area; their trainers to detect any missing evidence at the crime scene pulled dogs. Some people had gathered at that place, looking curious and confused.
The fallen snow had not stopped them from kept on looking at the crime scene.
A young man in late 20s walked into the crime scene, bypassed the line pass that barred people from coming in. He had short black hair with long bangs; a pair of black glasses was placed over his eyes, hiding them from the main view. His auburn coat and soft yellow scarf was not that revealed, but it was enough to show his authority and mysterious aura that came from him. He placed his hands into his pocket; his black leather shoes stepped on the snowy ground, making a small crushing sounds.
The tag on his left chest showed that he was an officer.
From his solemn and serious expression, it was obvious that he was not happy with the finding in front of him. Although it was snowing, however it was not enough to hide the horror scene in front of him. His eyebrows knitted together, showed that he was curious as well as angry and hate.
Lying in front of him, was a body of young woman who was found death and half-naked, with horrible wounds.
Her lifeless brown eyes were half-open, with frozen tears in her eyes.
Being tied up at the tree in the small forest near the school, it must very agony the death woman, as she was force into painful intimacy that finally leaded it to her death.
The glasses man sighed as he ran his hand over his front bangs, hardly thinking. The snow however, was luckily fall a little since it was late March. However, there was a huge possibility that the corpse probably had been disturbed by other things such as animals or by the nature itself.
He stared at the pitiful corpse, when he suddenly heard someone was calling for him. Turning around, he saw one of his colleagues was walking to him with worried expression. He quickly reached the said man and saluted.
"I'm sorry for being late, Superintendent Ajuro Iorry-san!" Said the said man firmly. The man, named Ajuro Iorry, was one of the superintendents who worked at Tokyo Metropolitan Police Department (Keishichou), which located in Kasumigaseki (1). The said man smiled a little before he suddenly covered his mouth, earning question from his subordinate.
"What's wrong, Iorry-san?" He asked when he saw Iorry really couldn't able to hold his laugh anymore. Still, he managed to control his laugh bare enough for him and the other man.
"What the hell…what is it with that hair style, Inspector Sakuma Yuuji?" Asked Iorry as he pointed at Sakuma's hair. He instantly blushed as he touched gingerly his hair.
"…I was about to go and cut my hair at saloon when I received a message about this case," Said Sakuma, after a long pause. Apparently he was not that happy with his current hair style (the one we saw in the anime!). "So I had no choice but to cut it in light speed."
He heard some muffles and turned around to see some of his colleagues were also there, behind him all these time. One of them, brown hair with bangs at side and grey suite; escaped small chuckles as he came by and patted Sakuma's shoulder.
"You know, it's really suit you Sakuma," He said, before he tried to cover his laugh again, earning angry vein popped on Sakuma's head.
"Are you going to laugh me here like idiots or doing your job?" Growled Sakuma.
"Well, at least this looks better than the previous style," A young girl appeared behind the brown-hair man, left hand was holding a board clip. "By the way, we already confirm the victim's identity. It's just like you expect, Sakuma-san, Iorry-san," She said as she glanced at the place where the poor body was lay, with some coroners gathered around it.
"What's her name, Kitami Naoko-kun?" Asked Iorry after he calmed himself. The truth is, he was not very happy to see such sad finding; it hurt him so much that he always reminded himself of his sisters.
"Ayatsuzi Marina, 22 years old. She is the third year law student of Koku Gakuen University," Explained the girl named Naoko, who was no more than 19 as she eyed her superior.
"A university student again…?" He said. He looked at the board for some information before handing it to Sakuma. "How's the autopsy, Amari Makoto-kun?"
The brown-hair man named Amari sighed as he titled his fedora, "Still in progress, but judging from the condition she had gone through, rape is not out of question."
Sakuma could see that Amari was a bit upset with the case; however, he tried his best to look professional in handling case, not by just some swing of emotion. It was due to the fact that Amari was a widower with a daughter name Emma, thus this case had a bit effect on him. Besides, this is not the first time they found death victims with rape as one of the death causes.
"Iorry-san!" Everyone turned around and saw a man in early 30s was walking to the group. He approached the said man and gave his salute.
"I'm Kayama Satoshi from Division 1's 11th Team (2)," He said as he lowered his hand. "The high-ups have decided to give this case to Hunter Division."
"The patterns fit the requirement?" Asked Iorry as he narrowed his eyes.
"Yes, unfortunately. We'll send the information later, but one of the causes is because the victim had been missing for days yet until last night, nobody saw the victim in this area."
"With no sounds at night and no witness in the area…" Said Iorry, slowly.
"Obviously belongs to our case…" Said Naoko as she sighed.
"How many case like this we got this week?" Asked Sakuma.
"Four…I guess?" Said Amari.
Everyone sighed as they realized it will be another all-nighter. While it was not uncommon to receive special cases especially without any clues to lead, the progress can be a pain in the neck!
"Well…I guess we have to return to the headquarters. But before that, I want you, Suzuki-kun, to check on certain matters –"
"He's not here…" Said a deep tone male, and everyone snapped their heads towards a man in middle 20s; cladded with black coat and fedora.
"Susumu!" Cried Sakuma as he realized who it was. "Where have you been?"
"I've been here long time," He said calmly. Apparently everyone was so engross with the discussion that they totally forgot the other member of the team!
"By the way, Odagiri-kun…where's Suzuki-kun?" Asked Iorry as he looked around. The man called as Odagiri Susumu immediately frowned as he said,
"He went to buy De Champagne at Hotel de Marseilles (3)…"
It was silent for a while, but both Kayama and Odagiri had stepped back before…
"HE'S WHAAAAT!?"
They silently pray so that Suzuki is still alive when he comes back…
Is it the right sound?
He never was one to be startled.
He decided that he must have gotten it from having to live with his calm yet chaotic life where his father absent almost from his life; their parents were forcedly being separated from each other and his siblings were entrusted to their mother's siblings temporarily as a result, then being friends with the children who possessed the same kind and abilities as him, gotten involved with fights and wars that almost claimed their lives several times. Therefore he suddenly being in the darkness was something that he found not very amusing at all.
Superintendent Ajuro Iorry calmly looked at his surrounding before the environment begun to shape its own shapes and revealed the scene of the latest case. He blinked several times before his eyes could adjust with the starling night that shone beautifully under the dark sky. How he missed such beautiful night; ever since he worked in the police force the only thing he could see was nothing but blurry images when he had to move fast, the files on the desk, victims' faces and families, crime scenes, list goes on and on almost to the point of him almost getting sick of it.
Iorry walked along the path that slowly revealed to be a tar road, leading him towards the tall blue building in front of him. He could see many people, in dark blue uniforms and caps walked in and out from the building, get into the parole cars and motorcycles, people in suit walked with frown and stressful expression; he could sense that these people must be busy with something that they had such expression on their faces. It took him for a while that he saw an emblem on the chest that showed them as a police.
So he was standing in front of the police station.
He smirked; of course he was at the headquarters. He was about to enter the building after returning from the crime scene when suddenly darkness engulfed him out of nowhere and entrapped him inside. Yet, he felt no evil presence or ill intention coming from the darkness, casually took his stroll towards one metallic door that located outside the building. Judging from the condition he was in, apparently someone was eagerly wanted to meet him. He opened the door and the darkness finally left him, revealed in front of him a tall man with grey hair, combed backwards with cane and white glove at right hand.
"My, fancy to see you in such matter Chief Superintendent Yuki Masaru-san…" Said Iorry as he grinned darkly and the said man turned around to face him.
"No…"
"You're formerly known as Lieutenant Colonel Yuki of D-Agency, the founder of the Imperial Japanese Army's spy agency during the World War 2…"
The man, named Yuki Masaru narrowed his eyes as he stared at the young man in front of him. There was no need to be hostile, he knew already Iorry was not any ordinary person…
Since he was one of the people who held the highest authority even in the Tokyo Metropolitan Police Department!
"Is there something the matter, Yuki-san?" Asked Iorry as he bowed slowly. Yuki gestured him to sit down, and the said man followed. However, he decided to make some tea and managed to make Yuki accepted his actions, since he was a guest in the first place.
"Suddenly use your shadow power just to take me here in the current D-Agency of Keishichou's 'Hunter', surely something unpleasant had happen, isn't it?" Said Iorry as he turned on the kettle.
"As expected of you," Yuki said as he clasped his hands together. "I believe you already know my past background?"
"You mean you past karma…" Iorry grabbed two tea bags of Earl Grey Tea and put them into a jug while waiting for the water to boil. "Don't tell me our current cases related to your past as well…!"
Yuki smirked as she said, "Hmp, you're really intelligent, aren't you Iorry-kun?"
Iorry glared the said man with dark clouds all over his head, "I appreciate your praise, but just now we received another case fit to our requirement to take and THAT IDIOT SUZUKI left the crime scene just for some sweets! ARGH! We're already understaff and that idiot is playing hooky!"
Yuki just grinned as he watched the young man making the tea despite his mouth kept on muttering curses on his subordinate. Yuki gazed down to his cane and held it up, earning a glance from Iorry.
"They have awaken."
Iorry widened his eyes, before calmly put the spoon down and grabbed the tray to Yuki's table. He put a cup in front of Yuki and poured the tea.
"You mean, those 6 agents of yours?"
"Indeed. However, unlike the trio who work here, I don't know whether they had their past memories as well, or not," Said Yuki as he put his cane on the table. "Being reincarnated into this world, along with the past memories is not something pleasant…"
"Because you'll be torn apart to live as your past life or your current life," Said Iorry as he poured his. "I already experience that kind of situation though…"
Yuki did not saying anything as he took a sip of his tea. He always like Iorry's handmade tea; it was slightly bitter but not too sweet. He also liked his brothers' handmade tea but he preferred Iorry's more.
"What are you going to do, Yuki-san? Recruit them back? Or you want me and the others to trace them down?"
"No, I already know where they are and what they are doing," Said Yuki as he put down his cup. "I guess I still need your help to convince them to join this agency. As you aware, we're no longer live in the early 20th Century (4). We need to convince them to join us but without attracting unwanted commotions. The current rules are different, and from the sources that I had, apparently these 6 people are having difficulty in lives…"
"You mean like Sakuma-kun, Amari-kun and Odagiri-kun?" Asked Iorry as he took a sip. "I already know they're half awaken, especially Sakuma-kun. But they're the earliest who manage to get some of their past memories, so surely the others had some as well. What's the big deal?"
"I'm not sure about that, since I just return from meeting this young man," Said Yuki as he handed a file to Iorry. The Superintendent took it and opened the file, before his eyes widened.
"This is…!"
"The situation is complicate," Said Yuki as he frowned. "Apparently this child was born into a broken family. His parents divorced when he was 4 and left in his father's custody. Being a martial art master, he was very strict to his own son but not to the stepchildren. The new family was not helping him at all, so he went through hard time and somehow lost trust to the adults."
"No wonder why you're saying it's difficult to recruit them…I'll try to discuss this matter with the 'supporters' and see what can we do," Said Iorry as he took the file. "Anything else, Yuki-san?"
"Send my regards to your mother and father, and tell your mother I would like to have her heavenly dessert again," Iorry laughed his head off as he nodded his head and left.
It became silent again.
Yuki sighed as he touched the mouse and scrolled down the page. He narrowed his eyes as he read the file and then his cane. He raised it up and stare at the holder, which apparently was made of hidden gold. An image of a young woman, clad in western shirt and long skirt slowly appeared in his mind…
"Happy birthday, ojii-chan!"
Along with a key hung around her neck.
"It's been such a long time…" He sighed as he slumped against the chair. "Who thought that this cane still survived even after our death…?"
He glanced at the screen once again, which was showing a profile of a young man…
"Tomiko…"
Named 'Hatano'.
Is it the right sound?
Those jingling, echo sounds…
Of an omen.
End of Chapter 01
Hints or Explanations:
(1) The Tokyo Metropolitan Police Department (警視庁 Keishichō) serves as the police force for the entire Tokyo metropolis. Founded in 1874, it is head by a superintendent general, who is appointed by the National Public Safety Commission and was approved by the prime minister. The Metropolitan Police, with a staff of more than 40,000 police officers and over 2,500 civilian personnel, manages 101 stations in the prefecture. It is the largest urban police force in the world. The number of inhabitants per police officer amounts to 290:1. The main building of the Keishicho is located in the Kasumigaseki part of central Tokyo. Built in 1980, it is 18 stories tall, a large wedge-shaped building with a cylindrical tower; it is easily seen from the street and a well-known landmark.
Sakuma and his colleagues are working at this place. The Keishochou's Hunter also located in the same area.
(2) Division 1 of 11th Team – In Keishichou, there are several divisions that work in different cases. Division 1 is the important group, divided into several teams. Team 11 is more like a frontline team to be dispatch into the crime scene.
(3) De Champagne at Hotel de Marseilles – Has anyone read or watch Pet Shop Horror? Count D loves desserts and in episode 3 of Pet Shop Horror OVA, Leon bought the said cake for Count D. Since it seems like a heavenly dessert, I decided to use it as an example.
(4) "As you aware, we're no longer live in the early 20th Century" – The original story took place in autumn 1937 (as mentioned in the anime as well), several years before the World War 2 broke out. However, from the conversation between Yuu-chan and his grandmother, it was more than 50 years since 1937. Since the setting of this story is the modern AU world, the exact year this story is unclear. Therefore Yuki tried to recruit the aid people would be difficult if he used the same method he had in the past.
Dark Soul Hunter is originally my own story based on 'Yami no Matsuei', when I was a very clueless youngster regarding the said story and did everything according to my own ways without any references on anything! Although the characters and some plots are in mess, I just proceed to use it in this story for JK fanfics. Sorry if there are some similarity with Yami no Matsuei.
In case if everyone is wondering who were the people include in this chapter, here are the brief introduction:
Yuki Masaru – Head of D-Agency of Keishichou's Hunter Division. Is confirmed to be the reincarnation of Lieutenant Colonel Yuki of D-Agency in Imperial Japanese Army. Ranked Chief Superintendent.
Ajuro Iorry – The superior of Keishichou's Hunter Division as well as Division 1 of Crime Scene Investigation, ranked Superintendent. Apparently his authority is more than his rank as he holds the whole police force according to Yuki.
Sakuma Yuuji – One of the Hunter Division's members. He was mention as one of the trio who reincarnated earlier than the other D-Agents along with past memories. Ranked Inspector. Has long hair before the current case.
Amari Makoto – One of the Hunter Division's members. He was mention as one of the trio who reincarnated earlier than the other D-Agents along with past memories. Ranked Inspector, he is a widower with a daughter named Emma.
Odagiri Susumu – One of the Hunter Division's members. He was mention as one of the trio who reincarnated earlier than the other D-Agents along with past memories. Ranked Inspector, he is quiet and often lost within the crowd.
Kitami Naoko – Member of Hunter Division of Keishichou. Age 19.
Kayama Satoshi – An Inspector from Team 11 of Division 1, Crime Scene Investigation.
If anyone was wondering where the others are, don't worry they will appear in the next chapter. Thank you for those who read this story, I really appreciate it.
–Aoi Kitsukawa.
