Chapter 24: Deja Vu

Jason frowned, why did mockingbird feel so familiar? He hadn't noticed at first but there was this creeping feeling of deja vu whenever he looked at Hagire's new body. Like he had known it's previous occupant, or even just met him at some point. It had really started to bother the young man two days ago when he first noticed it. He had been reading one of the classics he had gotten over the years. It was about a scientist and a dead body or something similar, Jason could barely read english. But that wasn't important to him at the moment as an uneasy feeling had dawned on him on him. Like he was being watched by something or someone... Lowering the book he saw Hagire was indeed watching him, rather intently in fact.

"Can I help you?" He asked, trying to not sound accusatory. Jason knew better than anyone still alive that Hagire had some... Quirkes.

"Oh just watching." They just stared at one another after that. Neither of them blinking or even moving they just watched like a pair of animals waiting for the other to make the first move. And that was when Jason's mind started to wander, and then that rough thought of 'Do I know him?' Flashed by. Jason had managed to bury that particular thought at the time but now that he had time to wonder about it, it had it bothered him more and more. He'd have to look into this, and he knew just who to start with. It was just a shame he hated the fox-faced man-child.

Hunter sat next to Chaplin in the open park area. She had practically dragged him there even though Hunter just wanted to sleep, between Senji somehow convincing him to start working out and Shiro not letting him fall to the ground in order to pass out he was close to passing out. But apparently this was pretty important to Chaplin so he forced himself to stay on his feet until they reached their destination.

"So what do you think?" She asked gesturing around. Hunter in his half asleep state couldn't put two and two together and after waiting just long enough for it to become awkward felt the need to ask for clarification.

"Of what?" Chaplin sighed and reworded the question.

"The park, Is it a good spot for a party?" Some gears in Hunters head started turning and he came to the conclusion that he had zero Idea what the woman before coming to the conclusion that he had no Idea what she was talking about.

"Party? What party?"

"Toto's party, the one I-" She paused realizing her mistake. "Oh sorry I forgot you weren't here for that." She chuckled much to his confusion

"Wait, here for what?" She smiled and started her story, though she regretted how she would need to leave some parts out.

"I'm telling you Chaplin you need to throw a party for Toto." The tipsy Rin announced out of the blue. Haru who sat in between her and Chaplin raised an eyebrow at this sudden suggestion.

"What gives you that idea?." The tipsy girl smirked wide at the question.

"Well I've been thinking 'bout it-" She was cut off by Chaplin who had her own theory as to this sudden interest in parties.

"Rin sweety, be honest. You just want to get drunk so you have an excuse to make out with Falcon again don't you?" The young blond buried her bright red face into her arms and groaned out her frustrations.

"I'm never going to live that down am I?" Chaplin laughed at the womans embarrassment. She wasn't going to push it too far but she was going to have some fun.

"Not if I get a say in it you won't." Rin drunkenly pouted at the older woman.

"Well why aren't you giving him shit over it?"

"Because the poor boy doesn't even remember it." Rin visibly relaxed hearing this.

"Oh thank god!" Haru turned and said.

"I know it probably wasn't a good kiss but isn't that a bit cold?" Rin rolled her eyes at this.

"Look, Hunter's a good kid. But he's a kid I don't want him getting the wrong idea y'know."Before anyone could question her further she continued. "Now back to this party, you and Toto used to be friends so why not?" Chaplin had to admit it sounded like a good idea, Toto liked to have a good time and where better to have a good time then at a party?

"You know what, you're right."

Of course Chaplin abridged the conversation to just the parts about the party. As much as she wanted to tease the young man she unfortunately owed Rin a favor so her hands were tied. Hunter seemed to agree with the idea nodding and saying.

Yeah, I think a party would be nice, nothing too big just him and some friends." Chaplin smiled back and said.

"That's exactly what I had in mind."

Alex frowned at the bloodied bandage just under Minatsuki's chest. She didn't know why, it's not like giving it a mean look would make anything better.

"What's with that pissy look on your face?" Alex glanced up at his friend who seemed rather relaxed for someone who had had a sharp object miss her internal organs by centimeters. "Don't tell me you're looking like that cause I got a little scratch during my Carnival Corpse." There was a lot Alex felt he had the right to be 'pissy' about but he felt he should at least try to see how she was doing.

"Does it still hurt?" He She didn't laugh at this but that's only because it would have irritated the stitches. To his credit he did seem genuinely worried but that just irritated her more. She had gotten by on her own too long to need pity.

"Like hell, but I'm used to it." With that established he felt it was time to do his job as her friend and bitch at her until she promised not to do something that stupid again.

"You need to be more careful." She laughed at him and like she suspected it hurt. Whatever, it was worth it.

"And you're starting to sound like my brother." This earned her the same look he had given her wound just a moment ago.

"Well maybe he has some good points." Alex's tone gave the very distinct impression that he really wanted to yell at her or at least chew her out. "That should have been an easy win for you, what happened?"

"I thought it would be fun to give him a fighting chance." She dismissed annoying the hell out of Alex.

"Well it was fucking dumb." Her eyes narrowed at this. He wanted to get into it huh? Okay she could play this game.

"Like letting yourself get grabbed by a psychopath." Alex rolled his eyes and retorted.

"That was part of a plan and I had backup." By this point it was obvious she wasn't listening, not really she was paying just enough attention to come up with a comeback that was meant to piss him off. Not being an idiot Alex picked up on this and decided to throw out a verbal jab. "You were just stupid enough to let someone with a blade get close enough to hurt you."

"You know what, fuck you!" This took Alex off guard as he didn't think his comment deserved that level of a response.

"Oh grow up Minatsuki." She didn't respond simply storming out of the room.