A lot of strange things have happened since Faitsu fully integrated into the Tokyo Violent Crimes department, most notably the article in the local newspaper that praised her 'mindfulness' to the criminally laid-back investigations of today, and her ability to 'hear' the people.

Faitsu was sure these same newspapers would be the first ones to condemn her when the time came, and if things continued as they were now she was bound to have a difficult time very soon.

"I don't think I've seen that one yet."

"You haven't?" Rakutsu merely rolled up his shirt sleeve and pulls up another plastic bag for inspection, he frowned as he looked at the contents, "These things just come and go in the market. We only managed to put a stop on the purchase of 'ecstacy' a while back."

Faitsu was sure that couldn't have worked out. "I thought they only sold them in side-streets and stuff. It's not gang-related. Hard to keep track-"

"No- you're getting it all wrong," Rakutsu said, finally getting rid of the tweezers, "you don't have a light or something?"

Faitsu lifted her head out from the chair, almost hit her head against a table in the process, in her hurry to give him her phone light, "I think the security guy's asleep by now."

Rakustu looked around, and sure enough, the security guard had his head comfortably dangling off his shoulder in a nearby chair.

"He really doesn't have any sense of responsibility."

"How could he?" Faitsu whispered, "He literally let in half a tonne of drugs overnight."

"I guess he's had some himself." Rakutsu said, wryly, "Just look at his state."

He was in a bad state, certainly. But the surroundings were worse. They were in a restaurant in central Tokyo. Vases displaced. Tables and chairs knocked down and the air reeking of sweat, or, more imperceptibly, urine.

"It doesn't look like a high-end restaurant-"

"It doesn't look like any restaurant," Rakutsu hummed as he continues to graze a second-hand brush to collect up some of that shimmering substance, "yeah, there we go."

"What did you find, superintendent?"

"Dust, probably."

She groaned, "Don't joke around like that."

"Listen," he said,, holding up a gloved finger for her to look, "look at this."

Faitsu inched closer, "What is that?-"

"Meth," he finished musingly, taking out his phone to take a picture of the entire glass plate, now clearly showcasing a dusty layer of white powder, "did it rain drugs in here or something? They probably had a party."

Faitsu was slowly getting annoyed "Do you find it funny, or something?"

He smiled a little, "Of course not."

"You seem pretty excited."

"That's because we've finally got a real case, officer."

"If I were you I wouldn't be that happy," she muttered, "people are literally dying-"

"-From drug overdose," he said, humorously, "excessive indulgence."

"Superintendent!"

"I'm just telling the truth." He bent himself down to collect some more of the powder, "It's upto you whether you believe it or not."

Faitsu felt out of breath with anger. The lack of sympathy he had for these people! Those addicts probably couldn't help themselves if they wanted to. "You really think you're all that, don't you?"

Rakutsu didn't answer. He actually crawled a little bit under the table to look for some more evidence. He must either be very stupid or very dilligent, Faitsu thought.

Now Faitsu resisted the urge to look. "You've got it, right? We can leave now, superintendent?"

"We'd be leaving a lot early if you were of any help."

It seemed just the right time for a retort, when Faitsu caught the sight of an empty chair, just where the security guard had been sleeping before.

"Superintendent?"

A groan, "What is it now?"

"That guy- the guy from before, he's just- gone." Before Rakutsu could reply Faitsu's straight up followed him out of the door.

She skidded at a few places, before catching sight of him. The security guard was running past her by quick lengths, jumping over vendor cars and streetfood carts. She guessed it must've been the drugs, otherwise he could hardly skip over a puddle.

She nailed him right down to the ground in a wristlock when he was about to take a turn. He wrestled and struggled in her grip as she forced a pair of handcuffs between them.

"You have the right to remain silent."

"Finally," Rakutsu said, appearing at the sight, slightly breathless, "you did something right."

Faitsu was still sprawled over the man, restraining him, "You could help me right now couldn't you?"

"Sure," Rakutsu said, hauling the guy back with surprisingly little effort.. Faitsu guessed the high must've eventually worn off. "You made a mistake running off in front of officers like that."

"Fuck you," the guard said, then turned to Faitsu, "fuck you, too."

"We should get him to the station."

"Come along," Faitsu said, half-dragging the guy and fanning herself.

Faitsu was beginning to get a little scared. Ruri kept coming in and asking if anybody wanted a coffee. Meanwhile, Faitsu was on the brink of a nervous breakdown.

"What is he doing?" Faitsu said frightfully.

"He's a MULE."

"A what?"

"An m-u-l-e," Burrakku said, wiping his hands on his handkerchief, "he's going to vomit those drugs out in no time."

"Vomit?"

"Rakutsu's making sure of that."

From the glass-pane Faitsu was already sure she could see the security guard gagging. Rakutsu stood behind him with a glass of water. She sighed, "Why is superintendent being so harsh?"

Burrakku let out a high-pitched laugh. "He isn't being harsh," he said, "that's just how it works."

"And you expect me to believe that-"

They were interrupted by the guard making a wretched noise. Rakutsu was definitely holding him by the nape as he dragged him to the nearest basin.

"Now I can't unsee that."

Burrakku looked at her a bit cynically.

"Faitsu," he said, "the world is a tough place, you know. Empathy might not get you everywhere."

At that time Rakutsu pushed his head out of the interrogation room.

"What?"

"He slipped up," Rakutsu said, "and we'll have to test the sample."

"I'll drive by the forensics lab tomorrow."

"That won't be of any help," Rakutsu answered, impatiently "do you know how hard it is to incriminate people these days?"

"Then what do you suggest we do?" Then Burrakku saw him raise a judgmental eyebrow, and turned to Faitsu, "What? This woman?"

Faitsu was oblivious, "What?"

The two men looked at her again. And it was with a bit of self-consciousness that Faitsu again asked, "What? Did I do something wrong again?"

"Faitsu Chan?" Burrakku asked, so humorously it seemed like a joke at the time, "Do you know how to dress like a girl?"

Faitsu obviously didn't. "What kind of an-awful question is that."

"The restaurant is basically a disguise for a pleasure-club," Rakutsu clarified, as if Faitsu didn't already know, she was growing tired, "what officer Burrakku means is, we'll have to set up a sting."

"So now you're asking me?"

"Do see you any other women in here?"

"Men can be gigolo too."

"Yeah," Rakutsu said, pointedly, "that's why you won't be the only person going. I'm coming along."

"Count Ruri out, though," Burrakku said, "she's like- the daughter of Buddha."

"Buddha didn't have a daughter-"

"Shut-up." Faitsu whispered, with surprising severity. Was it any wonder that they couldn't get anything done? "So what about that? Do I have to prepare, or anything?"

"If you can't act even Buddha won't be able to save you."

"Burrakku San," Faitsu finally spoke up, "you're such a blabbermouth. This is all you've done half the time we were here."

"Okay," Burrakku said, almost happily, "I guess you won't be needing me, then."

"Yeah," Faitsu said, snappily, "yeah, yeah, go ahead."

Rakutsu was actually going to resign.

After their eight-hour-shift Faitsu found Rakustu stationed at his work desk, checking off some papers with the utmost concentration. No surprise there.

He eventually noticed her fidgeting beside the filing cabinet, "Anything you want?"

"Oh," she said. She could basically feel herself burning up, "Not at all. Is there anything you want?"

A delectable pause.

"I thought name-repeating was for people with poor memory," he said, "not this- sentence-repeating."

Faitsu coughed, "Actually, I did have something to say. I um-"

"You what?"

"I won't able to come to work tomorrow," she said in the lowest possible voice, "let alone tomorrow morning."

Rakutsu laughed, a little, covering his mouth as he did it.

Faitsu thought that was just fell.

"And why don't you," he prodded next, expression normal again, "not want to come to work tomorrow?"

That question was even more difficult to answer. Faitsu made herself stand taller, although she barely squeezed in the answer, "I have to attend my cousin's birthday party, superintendent."

Rakutsu took off his glasses, looking to all the world as if he might actually be considering her offer, "And how old is this cousin of yours?"

"I'm sorry, does it even matter?"

"I guess not," he said. Then he abruptly closed his laptop, scaring her. "You're free tonight though, right?"

"Superintendent?"

He stood up from his chair, "No pesky little cousins bothering you about their birthdays this evening?"

There were only two ways this conversation could go. One, he was going to give Faitsu some terrific offer of a romantic endeavour (which Faitsu would gracefully and officiously decline because office romance was forbidden and liable for charges of misconduct under section twenty-three), or-

"You could fill in your shift now if you're interested." Rakutsu said.

Faitsu blinked. Stood back a little.

"Fill in shift my right now, superintendent? Yeah, sure." Faitsu said. She had honestly learned to expect things from Rakutsu.

"Lucky for us, the best pleasure clubs are often open at this time of night," Rakutsu took the coat off the back of his chair and slipped it on, with his winter gloves, "now we'll just have to make reservations at this so-called 'restaurant' to see what we can find."

"We actually have foreign guests quite often."

Rakutsu's guess was right. Or was it even a guess if he was practically sure of it? The place was a damn pleasure club.

The lady bowed, "I hope you have a good time."

He sat down in one of the tables, and got surprised when he saw three girls quickly coming in. One of them might even be underage.

"Hello!" The first one said, "People call me the Sunshine Princess, because I can drink a lot in the mornings. It's nice to meet you!"

"It's nice to meet you too," he said, adjusting his mike. He hoped Faitsu was recording all this, but no one knew what she was prone to doing sometimes, "B1? I have a cough in my throat."

"The best thing you can have is aspirin," Faitsu answered, and he felt himself relax a little.

"Where are you?"

"I don't know."

"You don't know? Then why did you-" but Rakutsu stopped, realised where he was, and took a deep breath. "Stay there," he said, quietly, "don't move."

"Alright, superintendent."

"You should work the four-hour-shift, you know. It's only natural since you're the newest to come here."

"Of course." Faitsu said, fixing one of the straps above her shoulder a little, "Where should I begin?"

She honestly did not know what she was doing here. It was a gift from the heavens above that the manager mistook her for a newbie entertainer.

""You don't really have any customers yet," the manager said, "I don't think anyone would remember you. But I guess we have no choice-" she took Faitsu's wrist in a tight grip and lead her to a room near the end of the hallway, "take care of Fairy," she said, "make sure to empty all her wine glasses before she can even touch them. We don't want her fainting again." And then she left Faitsu alone inside the room.

"Kanpai, mister, kanpai!"

Rakutsu took another shot, or pretended to. He didn't know how long this could last. It seemed like Faitsu had already ditched the plan and went off on her own. That was risky. He was itching to get away.

Then one of the girls left his side to get a quick bottle of champagne. Rakutsu made an excuse to leave when another one of the girls laid a hand on his shoulder and asked him to sing karaoke.

Rakutsu laughed nervously, "You see, I can't sing very well-"

"Really? Do you want me to teach you, then."

"No," he said, "thank you. But I've really gotta go-"

"Not even 'baby-doll?"

"He's the president of Sunny Corporations."

"Is that so?" Faitsu said, smiling, "I heard the company's Korean." She turned to the other man, "I should call you oppa, then."

"Oh, stop it," he said, "that's cute."

She looked back at the man from before, "But I guess you're really Filipino. You have the cute nose."

He blushed a deep red, but smiled, "I've never been complimented so much by a woman."

"Well, you deserve it. Where did you say your father worked, again?"

The Korean man did a high-pitched laugh, clinking his glass against Fairy's- a pale-white ethnic beauty.

The Filipino man also laughed, "I'm afraid I can't say."

Faitsu poured him more sake in his glass, "You can't say? I guess you're a hard worker."

"No, not at all. I- uh-" his fingers shook a little from the lack of body-coordination, "-deal with finances."

"Money?" She pursued, "In a bank, right, mister? You wouldn't mind teaching me some tips and tricks?"

This time the man's laughter had a hint of dark humour with it, "It's not the type of money your kind usually deals with."

"My kind?" She said, inching closer, "Do you think my kind is all that different from yours?"

"Why? What do you do?"

"I-" she leaned forward to whisper the answer, when the door suddenly opened.

There was a series of shouting and suddenly cut off exclamations. Then she saw Rakutsu standing there in the hallway, with a gun poised at the incoming security guards.

And before she could think she had a gun to her head as well.

"Don't you dare move an inch," the Filipino man said, "-Sangyeol."

"What?"

"What the fuck's happening right now?"

Faitsu tried to move away, that is until she felt a solid grip almost tear the hair off her head.

Fuckity fuck. Faitsu's felt tears coming to her eyes from the pain.

"Don't- fucking- move. Unless you want me to throw your head across the wall like a fucking cannonball, got it?"

"I think some police officer's putting a show in there."

"Come," he said, clutching Faitsu's shoulder with a death-like grip, "Where's Fairy? I knew you couldn't trust these bastards. Let's go out the back door."

There was another exclamation, when someone had been suddenly hawled across their door and Rakutsu cocked his gun a second time before aiming at her companions.

"You knew, didn't you?" Rakutsu said, slowly, "That she isn't one of them?"

"Fuck off. What's it to you?"

"Nothing," he said, "just wondered how you knew we slipped in-"

Faitsu again tried her best to slip her hand into the man's pocket.

"And if you think you can outsmart the police, and a female one at that-"

Rakutsu paused.

"-I guess you can think again."

Faitsu gently pushed the back of her heel into the feet of her oppressor and heard a blinding scream.

Before she knew it she'd overcome the force of the Filipino man and cornered him with his semi.

Rakutsu effortlessly shot down a couple more security guards trying to make their way in- which for some reason scared the shit out of the Korean.

"Superintendent," she managed to say, in the middle of all the chaos that was going on, "I'm sorry."

There was a pause.

"Focus on getting out of here first," he said, pushing back the trigger and looking around, "and then we can talk."

The police car arrived to catch the perpetrators at just the right time.

"Do you need help?" Rakutsu said, bending low over the taxi.

"Uh no, it's fine."

Rakutsu noticed her shoes, it wasn't the first time he'd seen them, Faitsu had worn them on her first day in the department, "I think they're ruined now."

"Yes, superintendent."

"I found them last-minute." He said, "You're not sad about this or anything?"

"Of course not," she said, "I'm not sad about a stupid pair of shoes. I'm just glad I'm alive right now."

"Are you going to Ichiban? It isn't so far off-"

Faitsu finally rolled down the window. "Thank you, superintendent," she said more kindly, "but I can go myself." She actually had a lot of grocery shopping to do, thanks to her mother.

"Alright," he said, smiling with a softness thar escaped her, "good night, officer."

"Faitsu Chan, you were out so long- did you buy the things I told you to?"

Faitsu made a face, "First time I enter the house in a week and this is what I hear."

"Well, what else do you expect me to say?" Her mother still had that same smile on her face, "It seems like you always come home late at night these days- I'm waiting for good news now-"

"Mother," she said, desperately, "please get your head out of the gutter."

"You can put the bags in the kitchen," she said, voice lilting with joy, as the other dragged her shopping back to the kitchen, "and Faitsu Chan?"

"Yes?"

"Did you finally get a secret admirer?" She said..

"What are you even talking about?"

"It's just that a very handsome man, probably of your age, stopped by-"

"Man my age?" Faitsu said, stopping by the dining table. At this rate she was just hoping she didn't get kidnapped or something.

"Well, he just said that he was your superior-"

Faitsu nearly dropped the tomatoes, turning back, "Superintendent? Superintendent was here? What did he say?"

"You sure are excited, aren't you, Faitsu Chan? I knew there was something going on."

"Please, don't-"

"I think he brought you a pair of shoes or something-"

"Shoes? Why?"

"Saying you must've lost them or something, and I do think those looked very familiar to the red ones you got on New Year's-"

"Not lost." Faitsu managed, she didn't really know what to say, "Ruined- at any rate, you shouldn't have accepted that from him."

"Why not, Faitsu Chan?"

"Because he's my boss! I'm not supposed to be accepting presents from him-"

"He seemed such a gentleman," her mother crooned, "it's only natural-"

Faitsu thought her mother was already gone. "He's not just a gentleman he's- my superior! I should treat him as such- but I don't know what I'll do, what I'll say-"

Her mother only laughed, "It's not as big as a deal you think," she said, nudging her, "besides, you can't return a gift- oh, my daughter- already getting gentlemen callers-"

But Faitsu had made up her mind already, "I'll return them first thing when I go back to work tomorrow."

"Why?"

"Because it's- strange!"

Perhaps her mother was a little unaware here. You were never supposed to receive such gifts- especially as a single woman unless you wanted to start rumours in a workplace. And now inappropriate! Thought Faitsu. He can't be a gentleman or else he wouldn't have thrown her in such a dilemma in the first place.

And Faitsu consequently decided that Rakutsu wasn't simply a not-a-gentleman, but the most ill-natured human being on the planet.

For moxie-strike/

This is the start of a cult.

Thank you for reading!

(✿◠‿◠)