Chapter Two: The Okami of Virginia
Will Graham was glad that his class was over, not feeling all those eyes watching him as he talked at them. Again discussing the Hobbs case, a case he wished he had never been apart of. Still haunted by him now and then when he dwelled on the serial killer. Going to Jack's office he wanted to get the newest reports turned in and done with wishing for nothing more then to go home and spend some time with his dogs. His family.
The office was simple as most offices where, there was a chair and a desk to which Jack Crawford was already seated behind, two chairs in front of it for other people to sit on and to the left of him was his usual bulletin board of his current case. Will took his usual seat the second one to the right of Jack nearest the Bulletin board, but kept his eyes on the desk. He noticed a slender case on the desk that hadn't been there before. The details carved upon it was vivid of real wolves. Snagging his attention as he watched it as if waiting for one of the carvings to come alive.
Jack caught where his gaze went to smirking.
"It's for Agent Rhea Blackston, it came for her from her aunt from Japan," he explained as he opened the case.
It was a Katana and a shorter looking sword. Both looking at the details they were black, red and silver the etching on the handle was an actual coat of arms with those colors and a wolf.
"That is a Katana and a Wakizashi, based upon the Edo period, " a smooth voice said making Jack look up and Will flinch.
Looking Hannibal Lecter was watching the blades more so then either of them as he approached. Hesitating barely a moment and slowly reaching down to let his fingers trace the design.
"It is expertly crafted, well taken care of and balanced," he said appreciatively.
He had used a Wakizashi before to get vengeance on the butcher who had caused his Uncle's heart attack and insulted his Lady Murasaki. He had heard what Jack had said a few seconds more he would have missed to whom the blades belonged.
"These seem too authentic to just be for decoration," he looked to Jack who smiled at him.
"That's because they aren't just for looks, Rhea uses them on special occasions, like the tournaments for sword fighting. Of course she can't do it now until her leg completely heals, she had them made for her during her time in Japan during her hiatus and physical therapy," he mused.
Hannibal looked back to the blades as he sat down in the other chair beside Will. The intrigue he felt built a little more due to this new development, a sort of kinship between him and Rhea.
"She invited me to Dinner, as I'm sure she has invited good Will," truth was he had already seen Will's invitation.
Jack smirked at Hannibal, "and she invited Alana Bloom as well."
Hannibal arched a brow but gently in surprising approval. She seemed to think ahead and had chosen people that were not of dull character. Will pushed up his glasses he had no intention of taking the invitation looking to the side window behind the bulletin board. Blinking. He saw a dog, a small dog. It was ranging from ten to twelve inches tall at the shoulder and was maybe twenty-five to thirty-eight pounds. It was a beautiful Marble color with rich brown amber eyes. It had a low long body, a prominent breast bone and big rounded alert ears. Will titled his head as he got up and stepped out ignoring Jack calling him.
Hannibal watched will and saw the dog to watch as his head tilted a little. Will faced the dog in the hall and slowly knelt down.
"Hey…" he said softly, it's tail moved in response.
He smiled putting his hand out slowly not wanting it to take off wishing he had carried a treat or something in his pocket. The dog came to him and sniffed his fingers before sitting in front of him, letting will pet him. Will smiled and really pet him to feel a collar and saw the tag.
"Eisner." He said softly tracing his thumb against his name.
"After Will Eisner creator of the comic strip The Spirit," will looked up to find himself face to face with Rhea Blackston.
"He likes you, he doesn't just go to anyone, you must be a dog person." She smiled looking to her dog his tail wagging even more.
"What kind of dog is he?" Will asked as he pet it still.
"He is a Cardigan Welsh Corgi, very hard to come by, but I'm sure he wouldn't mind playing with you if you come to dinner tonight." She smiled.
Jack watched Rhea speaking with Will in the hall to smirk.
"That's one way to break the ice, she's kind for the Okami," he mused
"The wolf," Hannibal translated it easily and smirked looking at her blades.
He didn't feel like she was a wolf, she was something more, something that held more swift mystery and had something sharper than fangs. Closing the case after wiping down the sheath he relaxed back as she left and Will came back for his bag, Jack held up his invitation he took it, he was going to go. If anything he could hide and spend time with Eisner if being around everyone required him to be sociable and he got too uncomfortable. Going home to get a shower, her place was 30 miles from his own also isolated so at least he was still around the countryside. Hannibal took his invitation tracing the unique writing the calligraphy was steady with flowing lines. A writer within perhaps hiding under the surface. He went home listening to his music as he too got a shower and picked out his suit looking at his wine cellar for the perfect gift wishing in a way he knew what was going to be served.
His thoughts were interrupted by the sound of his door bell ringing. Going to the front door he opened it to find no one there but a box on his door step with a glyph of the Fox from Japanese Mythology. Taking up the box he felt the contents weren't heavy but went inside to put it on his counter and took his knife carefully opening it, arching a brow after opening it. Pulling away the tissue paper taking out the object it was a stuffed Raven on a totem, a carved one. Of the Fox becoming the Raven, the designs upon the totem were victims, the last before becoming the Raven was the talons in the heart and lungs of the wolf that was becoming a man. This was the victims the fox came running to from their screams but didn't save, changing at the last confrontation. Killing the wolf and killing the Fox within. Ravens were lone predators, a gathering of them was known as an unkindness and a gathering of Crows was called a murder but both was called the slaughter.
There was no sending address and the writing was different from Rhea's or any he had seen. Far more elegant like his own, something in the beak he pulled the string it's wings spread up and apart to show the pattern of the wings the red becoming eyes. The rest of the string slipping out with a scroll note. Carefully unrolling it that same writing flowed. 'You've been watching me…Can you see me now? No. You will.' Looking back at the sculpture this wasn't Rhea, this was someone else…but who…
