Chapter 6: Sheer Heart Attack, Part One
Red Scarves HQ, Outskirts
A small car drove near the entrance to the gates to the Red Scarves headquarters, and soon, Shane had stepped out and saw a large, imposing gate. "Hm... This had better be the place..." Shane spoke as he soon walked around, looking for a way to get past the gate. "I swear if she was lying about this one..."
A young dragon-rabbit chimera, being around 10 years old or so, was at the top of one of the nearby trees, hidden from Shane's view at the moment. He had dark cerulean hair, and dodger blue fur with white hands, feet, tail, and muzzle. His horns were a near-maya blue, and his eyes were a vibrant lime green. He was wearing a myrtle green vest with dull light green chevron motifs, dark green shirt, and dark green shorts with dull light green vertical stripes. His shoes and fingerless gloves are also myrtle green with dull light green chevron motifs on the front of the shoes and the back of the gloves, and the shoes would have black soles. He also wore a dark gray belt with a silver buckle with a blue cyclone-esque emblem on it. Of course, he would also be wearing a red infinity scarf, a telltale sign that he's one of the members of the Red Scarves. The chimera was immersed in reading his comic book, but once Shane spoke, he was quick to shove the book into his backpack and zip it up before looking towards the crow, watching his moves from the top of the trees. Welp... Now's a good time to ask what the heck he's doing here. The blue chimera thought before he put his backpack on and began leaping between the trees, getting closer to the gate. After he landed on a tree branch that was close enough to the gate, he stood up on the branch and looked towards Shane. "Hey you! What are ya doin' here? You lost or somethin'?" he spoke out to the crow.
Shane blinked twice, looking for who said it, only to find the dragon-rabbit calling to him. This kid... Isn't he a bit too young to be in the Scarves? Shane thought, although he brushed that thought aside. "Oy! I need someone's help!" Shane called to the dragonblood. "I'm trying to look for someone!"
"Alright, but who are you?" Kaito asks as he jumps off of the branch and lands on the ground safely, looking towards Shane and walking towards him. "Also, who are ya lookin' for, anyways?" He then asks, stopping when he's close to the gate that separated the two. The dragonblood then begins tapping his right foot and placing his hands on his hips as he waits for answers from the crow.
The crow sighed. "Shane Thompson, Federal Investigator for Jinzhen." Shane responded, flashing a badge. "I'm looking for a suspect implicated in an assassination. I've reasoned that it can't be one of you, but given your connection to the criminal underworld, I thought it'd be okay to ask and see." Shane cleared his throat. "Do you happen to know of a white, female avian with ice powers? Probably in her late teens or early twenties?"
"Oh wow, you're far from home, aren't you?" The dragonblood quips. "Anyways... Yeah, we know about her. That ice queen isn't with us, and because we lost a lot of people to her, the head honchos here gave us orders to leave her alone. Last I heard, that ice queen killed like... What, around 75 of us?" He then spoke.
"What?!" Shane blurted in surprise. "H-How can... Hrm..." Shane then paced himself. "Alright... So you know who I'm talking about. I was going to look for someone who can surveil her and take notes to pass on to the proper authorities, but since you're here already, can you get someone for me?"
"Actually, I can go out and do that myself." The chimera answered. "I know that sounds crazy, but I can handle myself in a fight. I even have wind powers!" He then exclaimed, summoning a ball of compressed air above his right hand to prove his point. "See? That's not the only thing I can do, but that should be enough to tell ya I'm not making that up." He continued as he despawned the air ball. "I know what I'm gonna be getting myself into if I accept, given how dangerous that ice queen is."
Another Affinity user... Shane noted. "Look, if you're that absolutely certain about it, then I guess you can go." Shane spoke. "If you succeed, I'll pay about..." It was then that the crow looked into his wallet and found a few credit cards. "...How's 10,000 sound? If you can not only gather detailed notes but also somehow capture her, I'll pay double." Shane spoke. ...It feels horrifically wrong to do this, but it has to be done if we are to catch her...
The chimera's eyes widened, and he blinked incredulously at Shane's offer. "Okay, that's a lotta gems... Although can you excuse me for a moment while I talk to my boss about your offer?" he then asked Shane. "I've got a headset, so I can stay here and talk to him."
"Alright, go ahead." Shane spoke, leaning back on his car.
As he turned around and took a few steps away from the gate, he put his fingers to the base of his right ear, and pressed a button on the earpiece he was wearing. "Tornado here. Nothing's wrong, but a federal investigator's offering me 10,000 shards if I manage to get info on that white falcon lady with ice powers." he then spoke into the earpiece. "I was wanting to get the A-OK to accept it."
"Kaito, are you crazy?! We're to leave her alone! Who is that investigator and where are they from, anyway?!" An older male voice, sounding like he's in his late twenties, exclaimed on the other end.
"His name's Shane Thompson, and he's from Jinzhen, sir. He's willing to double the payment if I capture her, though." Kaito answered.
The voice sighs, regaining his composure. "...Are you sure you know what you're getting into, kid? If you screw up, you'll wind up dead like the poor saps who tried to fight her before."
"I know what I'm getting into, sir." Kaito responded. "I'll admit my odds of survival against her are low, but... I'm willing to give it a shot."
"So you're set on accepting, then?" the voice asked.
"Yes sir." Kaito answered.
"Alright. Here's some advice: Don't make it obvious you're a Scarf, and just run if she spots you." The voice suggested.
"Way ahead of ya, sir. In fact, that's part of my plan." Kaito answered, with a bit of a smug smirk on his face.
"...I see. If you're set on accepting his offer, I suppose I can't argue against it. Go ahead and accept. Good luck, kid. You're gonna need it." the voice concluded.
"Alright. Tornado out." Kaito concluded, then pressing the button again to hang up. Kaito turned back to face Shane, and walked towards the crow. "I got the A-OK to accept, and so... I accept." he then spoke.
"Alright. Good luck." Shane nods. ...If this kid dies, I am definitely getting fired. Or killed. Maybe both.
"Thank you." Kaito responded. "Although... Is there anything else I should know before I head off?" he then asks.
"Not as far as I know, no." Shane spoke. "I know literally nothing on her aside from the fact she's in Shang Mu."
"Alright. Well, I'll be going now. See ya!" Kaito answered before going into the Scarves HQ to begin preparing for the mission.
Central Shang Mu, 3 PM
The white falcon walked into the Shang Mu Coffee Emporium, waiting at the register for the cashier to... Wake up from a deep sleep.
"Hey!" The falcon snapped. "Wake up!"
"WH-Huh?!" The cashier yelled, stumbling backwards. "U-Uhh... Welcome to the Shang Mu Co-"
"Iced coffee." The falcon simply spoke. "No sugar, no cream, dark."
"A-Alright, ma'am, just give me a moment..." The cashier yawned, going to make the iced coffee as the falconess waited. How the hell this thing didn't collapse thanks to this fuck is completely beyond me... The falcon thought, sighing...
Soon the cashier gave her the coffee. "That'll be-" She put down the around 20 Gems before leaving the building. "...Aw maaaann... I got short-changed again..." The cashier sighed. "Should've gotten... Like..." He then dozed off again.
Meanwhile, Kaito was walking on the sidewalk that the Coffee Emporium was next to as he actively looked around for the white falconess. Kaito had changed into a more civilian outfit, now wearing a mauve green graphic tee and black shorts. Kaito also opted not to wear his fingerless gloves, and had to refrain from wearing his red scarf, given the nature of the mission. The only thing that didn't change with Kaito's outfit was his shoes. Kaito also had his green camo backpack on his back, which served a dual purpose. Not only is it helping Kaito carry his supplies, as any good backpack should, but it also helps in passing himself off as a schoolboy. Kaito's eyes widened when he saw the white falconess he was looking for cross paths with him. Wait... That's the ice queen! Kaito mentally exclaimed as he turned around and began following her, but keeping a good distance away from her to minimize suspicion.
The falcon pulled out a phone and began scrolling through it. But there wasn't really much to scroll through, since… Well, her social life was sparse, to put it lightly. That, and there wasn't much in the way of jobs, either. Things were rather slow, so she may as well take the day and enjoy it. She got on a street car and paid the toll, sitting down as she played a game of Columns while the car drove away…
…Unfortunately for Kaito, that means she was getting away at more than just a walking pace. He would have to find some way to catch up to her before she got away without raising suspicion.
Oh shoot! How do I catch up to her?! Kaito thought as he was in a mild panic as he racked his brain trying to think of what to do. Jumping between the rooftops of buildings? Nah, that's too noticable... Wait a minute... I could just get the attention of the streetcar's driver, and get into the same streetcar as the ice queen! I have the gems to pay for the toll, but getting a seat that isn't close to the ice queen's is a heck of a gamble. Guess I'll have to play this by ear, then. Kaito concluded as he began running down the sidewalk, swerving around people as he tried to stay close to the driver's window while he was pursuing the streetcar. "Hey! I wanted to get on!" Kaito shouted to the driver as he frantically waved towards them in the hopes of getting them to stop.
"Huh?!" The street car driver shouted, braking the vehicle as he opened the door for Kaito. "Listen, kid. You can't be late like that again. Also, where are your parents? Shouldn't you be in school?" The falcon looked up from her phone to see why the car stopped. Hm. It's just some brat. She thought, continuing to play on her phone.
Kaito ran up to the door, panting a bit as he got on the streetcar. "Sorry about that... I was running some errands for my parents, that's all." he spoke to the driver as he paid the toll. Kaito manages to find a seat that was far enough from the white falconess to avoid suspicion, yet close enough to keep an eye on her. As Kaito sat down, he had a mildly melancholic look on his face as his excuse reminded him of something. However, he soon shook off the expression he had as he looked around, noting the white falconess among the other people on the streetcar.
Unfortunately for Kaito, his excuse was not only overheard by the falcon, but he would notice she was looking dead on at him for a bit. Hm. I wonder why the kid looked so sad for a second there. The falcon thought as she looked at him. Something happened to his parents, so it must mean his whole excuse is bullshit... Oh well. None of my business. The falcon then resumed her game, not bothering to say a word.
...The ice queen spotted me, didn't she? Kaito thought, sweating slightly as he noticed her looking at him for a moment. Kaito then twiddled his thumbs and looked at his hands, trying to keep his composure. She might've seen me being sad after I sat down, so she might think my excuse to the driver was a total lie... Then again, she might be the only one on here that didn't believe it. Regardless, it's okay. Just stay calm and focus on the mission.
The car drove for a while, hitting several stops until the falcon got off, going towards... A seafood restaurant?
Once the streetcar stopped near the restaurant, Kaito got off and followed the falcon, trying his best to keep enough distance away from her to minimize suspicion. So the ice queen likes seafood. That might not be too important to know, but it's something. Kaito thought as he continued following her
When the falcon got to the front desk, she was greeted by the clerk. "Hi, welcome to Longyuu Palace!" The lady smiled. "Do you have a reservation?"
"No." The falcon responded.
"Alright, well, we do actually have some tables available! Let me get them set up for you!" The clerk smiled as she walked over to the dining tables. The falcon then sat down, waiting for her table...
Kaito goes into the restaurant, looking around for the falcon as he approached the clerk. I need to make an excuse for why I'm here... I guess I'll say that I'm saving a table for two of my friends, and I'll leave saying that they had a change of plans. Kaito thought.
"Alright, you'll be at the back booth, ma'am!" The clerk smiled.
"Hm. Thanks." The falcon responded, putting her phone away, but not before getting a glimpse at Kaito. Hey... WAIT A FUCKING MINUTE, IT'S THAT KID! The falcon would glare directly at Kaito as she walked over to her table.
"Eheh... Well, I don't know what sort of problem she has..." The clerk chuckled. "Now, how can I help you, young man?"
Kaito became somewhat unnerved, blinking and sweating slightly as he saw the falcon glaring right at him. ...That ice queen's getting suspicious of me, isn't she? Kaito thought, and it took a moment for him to register what the clerk asked. Whatever, just answer the clerk. "Oh! I don't have a reservation or anything, but I'm wanting to save a table for some of my friends." Kaito answered to the clerk. "They'll be here in about 30 minutes or so."
"Alright, let me get a table set up for you!" The clerk smiled, immediately grabbing a few menus.
Meanwhile, as for the falcon, she had a cold glass of ice water in front of her as she waited for her food, yet she wasn't drinking it. I'm being followed. I fucking knew that nothing from the kid's story added up. She thought. But who is he a part of? Can't be the Shoheki or he'd be a bit less nervous around me. Can't be a former Kakuchu member because then he'd be trying to kill me. The Red Scarves gave up a while back... No. Something else is going on here, and why he isn't directly confronting me... Wait... Her eyes narrowed. ...He's working for the fucking law, isn't he?
Kaito sat down and he waited for his table, twiddling his thumbs again. I'm really hoping I don't get a table close to the ice queen... That would be a bit of a problem, given she's already suspicious of me. Kaito thought, then took a deep breath to keep his composure. Just stay calm and you'll be fine.
The clerk came back. "Alright, sir! Your table is ready!" She smiled. "Right this way, please!" She spoke as she led him to his table, which, thankfully, was practically across the entire room from the falcon.
Kaito got up and followed the clerk to his table. Once Kaito was at his table, he looked around for the falcon, and found her across the room. Oh thank the ancients this table's far from that ice queen... Kaito thought as he took a sigh of relief. He then picked up a menu and looked through it, occasionally taking a moment to look at the falcon to see what she was doing. I might as well plan on ordering something so I don't look too suspicious to the restaurant staff... Kaito thought as he went back to looking at the menu.
The falcon, however, was still glancing over at Kaito. Hm. I need to keep an eye on that kid, figure out what he's doing... She thought, when one of the waitresses came to her.
"Hello, ma'am, how may I take your order today?" The waitress spoke.
The falcon thought about it. "...Glass of seltzer water and some raw salmon." She simply responded.
"...Um, excuse me ma'am, we don't serve raw food here..." The waitress chuckled nervously. "Did you mean you wanted it cooked rare?"
"Look, if there's some bullshit health reason, then fine. Rare." The falcon spoke. "Alright..." The waitress then jotted down the note. "Anything else?"
"...How about the fried shrimp? Never had anything like that before." The falcon responded. "Ooh, excellent choice!" The waitress then added the order. "And will that be all?" The falcon simply nodded.
"Alright, shouldn't take long at all!" The waitress smiled before walking away.
Another waiter walked to Kaito. "Hello, sir, may I serve you something to drink?" He smiled kindly.
"Yeah, I'd like some lemonade, please." Kaito answered the waiter that walked up to him.
"Alright, coming right up!" The waiter spoke, leaving the rabbit chimera to himself. Meanwhile, the falcon would be on her phone, yet taking occasional glances at Kaito, just in case she catches him looking at her...
Kaito would pick up a menu that was placed on the table and he began looking through it in an attempt to blend in. I probably won't be able to order anything today, but at least I can figure out what to get the next time I'm here... Kaito thought as he looked through the menu. Kaito took a quick glance at the falcon to see where she was before going back to looking at the menu he had in his hands. The ice queen's already suspicious of me, so it might be a good idea to keep my glances to a minimum... Kaito mentally concluded as he flipped through the menu.
It took a while, but the waiters came with drinks for the two at almost the same time. The falcon got her seltzer water, while Kaito got his lemonade.
"Sir, when are your friends coming over?" The waiter asked Kaito. "Are you going to order for them?"
"Oh, they should be coming over in 20 minutes or so." Kaito answered the waiter as he grabbed his lemonade. "We're planning on ordering together once they get here." he spoke, then took a sip of his lemonade before setting the glass down.
"Alright, sir." The waiter smiled before leaving Kaito to himself. Meanwhile, the falcon was still waiting for her fish and fried shrimp. ...Not ordering anything. Looks like I'll have to eat quick. She thought...
Kaito put the menu down and unzippped his backpack to grab an issue of the Captain Novastar comic he had on hand and began reading it in an attempt to look busy. While Kaito was reading the comic book, he would take quick, occasional glances at the falcon to see where she was at a given time. When the ice queen leaves, I'll leave some gems to pay for the lemonade. Kaito thought as he was reading his comic book.
The waitress approached the falcon, giving the falcon her fish and shrimps. "Enjoy!" The waitress smiled before leaving... ...And the falcon then began to absolutely scarf down her food.
Kaito took another quick glance at the falcon, and he noticed her quickly eating her food. I take it she wants to get out of here ASAP. Guess I'd better finish my lemonade while I'm here... Kaito thought as he picked up his glass of lemonade and took a few gulps. Kaito then puts the glass down and goes back to reading his comic book, still taking occasional glances at the falcon.
And thus, the falcon finished her food, leaning back and waiting for her check...
Kaito noticed the falcon having finished her food, so he take a moment to finish drinking the last of his lemonade. After setting the empty glass down, Kaito puts his comic book back into his backpack, zipping it up. It might be a good idea to pay for the lemonade, since I'm going to be leaving soon... Kaito thought as he reached for one of his pockets. The dragon-rabbit took some gems out of his pocket to pay for the lemonade, and he put them right next to the empty glass. Kaito then twiddled his thumbs while still taking occasional glances at the falcon.
As soon as the falcon swallowed her last shrimp, the waitress soon walked over to her and received the payment for the food. After that, the falcon left... Somewhat slowly. She was walking, yet somewhat slower than normal. The waiter then got to Kaito. "I notice you've already got your money out. Are you sure you want to leave?" He asked.
Kaito cleared his throat before speaking to the waiter. "Yeah, my friends had something come up. Hoping you don't mind me headin' on home, then..." he spoke as he got up, put his backpack on, and began following the falcon out of the restaurant, keeping his distance while watching her. Stay calm and follow the ice queen. I've got a feeling she'll notice me at some point, so I'll have to run when she does. Kaito thought as he followed the falcon.
The falcon then turned to the alleyway next to the seafood restaurant and began walking into it...
Kaito followed the falcon into the alleyway, still keeping a relatively safe distance away from her. I've got this gut feeling the ice queen's leading me into a trap... Kaito thought as he continued, trying to keep calm as he kept on following the falcon.
The falcon then turned a corner, going out of sight of Kaito...
Kaito walked a little faster, noting where the falcon turned towards while still following her. I better not lose sight of her now... The dragon-rabbit thought, keeping his focus on the mission.
As soon as Kaito turned the corner to follow her, however, he was slugged straight across the face by a cold fist. He never saw where it came from, but it left him sprawling across the pavement.
"Aaaaagh!" Kaito yelped as he was punched in the face by the cold fist and fell backward. Owwww... Great, my cover's blown! I gotta get out of here! The dragon-rabbit thought as he got up, grimacing and groaning as he tried rubbing his face to soothe the pain.
"I know you're following me, kid." The falcon spoke to Kaito, turning around to face him. "Ever since I got off that damn car, I knew something was up."
"S-Stay back!" Kaito exclaimed as he materialized two balls of compressed air to his hands and threw them at the falcon before sprinting out of the alleyway. Keep running and watch out for the ice queen. Hopefully I can lose her behind me… Kaito reminded himself as he ran, looking back for a moment to see if the falcon was chasing him.
To Be Continued...
