Disclaimer: I have nothing to do with the ownership of the Ronin Warriors.

It was cold, dark, and rainy, another typical day in the city. I thought today was going to be different. Better. Boy, was I wrong? Dead wrong. I should have known better than to take the case. But what else could I have done? I needed the money. Plus, the dame was in trouble. Some might say I have a hero complex. I don't care what they say. I see someone is in trouble. I'll help. As long as their story piques my interest, otherwise, forget it.

"Kento," Kaye said as she walked into my office, "I see you slept here again. How many days does it make now?"

I smirked when I looked at her from the bottom of my fedora, "A week. Why? Was that an invitation?"

Kaye laughed, "Only if you want it to be," She replied, leaning against a file cabinet with her arms crossed.

I reached up and readjusted my fedora. A memory came to me of how we met for a short moment. I ran across the doll face towards the end of one of my old cases. Kaye was a singer at a waterfront nightclub called the Torrent. Cye, a long-time friend of mine owns it. She helped me out of a sticky situation.

We've been partners ever since. It's unheard of for a gumshoe like me to have a dame as a partner in my line of work. Though most think a dame would be a disadvantage or a distraction. Our partnership works. If anyone has a problem with it, then they can answer to me. I'll be more than happy to knock their block off.

I didn't hear her approach, but I did feel her tap my shoulder. She looked at me, "Where were you now?"

A chuckle escaped my throat, which was surprising. Since there hasn't been much to laugh about nowadays. "I was remembering something."

She raised a brow at me, "Right, well anyway. You might want to take a quick shower and clean up. We have a case coming in soon."

"What? You're kidding me!" I couldn't believe it. We haven't had a case for almost a month. I rose to my feet and raced towards the bathroom. I saw Kaye had clothes set aside for me, ready to go. I shut the door and started the shower. "When did we get a case?" I yelled through the door.

"The call came in last night when you were out. She didn't give much detail. She wanted to stop by today and talk with you about it." Kaye answered as she was making the room presentable.

I hopped into the shower and did a quick clean-up. I then turned off the water and got out. I got dressed, "Why didn't you tell me last night?"

"Because you weren't in any shape to hold a conversation. The tangle you fought in last night, remember, I tried to get your attention." Kaye answered as she finished making the room presentable. I stepped out of the bathroom in my clean clothes.

I nodded as last night came back to me, "Right, now I remember. I guess I got too involved with it to hear anything." I looked towards her, "Sorry."

Kaye shook her head, "It's fine. Not the first time of your involvement with a tangle. More likely won't be the last either."

A knock interrupted our conversation. I watched Kaye as she walked to the door and opened it. I saw standing in the doorway was one heck of a looker. Her body looked like the devil made it himself. The dame's legs went on for miles, and her hair was black as night. She dressed to the nines from head to toe. Going by the way she dressed. There was no way she was hurting for money.

I cleared my throat, "What can I do for you?"

The dame glanced over at Kaye, "Does she have to be here?"

I narrowed my eyes on her. I didn't care for her attitude, "Kaye has every right to be here. If you don't like it, then there's the door. Make sure it doesn't hit you on the way out. I don't care for people who think they have a right to be toffee-nosed. Good day." I turned my back to the black-haired dame. I couldn't see her expression, but I did hear Kaye trying to hold back a laugh. I heard a chuckle from her instead.

I smirked a little and then gave a quick cough. I turned my chair around, and the dame was still in the room. "I'm guessing you're not used to people talking to you like I did."

The skirt crossed her arms, "No, I'm not. But I suppose you're not going to change your mind about her leaving. Then fine, she can stay."

I heard a touch of sarcasm in Kaye's voice, "Thanks for your acceptance of me being here." I don't blame Kaye for her annoyance. My annoyance would be obvious too if someone treated me the same way. Kaye has moxie. It's another reason why she is my partner.

I leaned across my desk as I studied her, "So, once again. Why did you come to me? I'm sure you could have found some other gumshoe to help you."

"I'll start from the beginning. My name is Kayura. Not long ago, I inherited a fight club called the Dynasty from my grandfather. He went by the name of the Ancient."

I glanced over at Kaye. We heard of the mentioned fight club. Heck, I've been itching to get inside for a long time. It's pretty exclusive. I turned my attention back to Kayura. "Still don't explain your reasoning."

"Someone is messing with my fighters. They're either taking bribes or sabotaging one another. Someone is tampering with them one way or another to where they can't fight. Last week, one of them landed in the hospital before his fight even started. Dais is still in the hospital. I can't afford whoever is doing this to soil my grandfather's good name. I run a legit and clean fight club, Mr. Rei Faun. I want the one responsible stopped any way possible."

I leaned back in my chair, arms crossed, "I don't know. I'd have to think it over," I was baiting the dame. Yes, of course, I am interested, but I didn't want to show her how eager I was to get inside of the Dynasty.

Kayura opened her purse and reached inside. She pulled out a large bundle of cash and laid it on my desk. "One thousand and fifty Gs upfront and the other half when the job finished, so do we have a deal?"

I almost fell out of my chair. Kayura had this amount of cash on hand? The dame was crazy to carry this on her. "Fine, we have a deal. But we'll handle this case my way. Do you have any objections?"

The dame stood as she shook her head, "No. I have no objections. I want this taken care of as possible. Now, if you excuse me, my driver is waiting. He isn't exactly the patient type. I'm on my way to the Dynasty. If you or your partner need to reach me, you can find me there. But I don't want you to reach me at my home."

Kaye raised a brow at her, "You don't want your society friends to find out you hired a gumshoe to fix your problem."

"You are correct, now, I bid the two of you a good day," Kayura replied as she turned and walked out of my office.

We heard the door close behind her, then I stood from my chair and glanced out the window. Kaye came by my side, and we watched Kayura get into her car. We got a quick look at her driver when he glanced up towards the window. I recognized the driver. It was Anubis. Back in the day, he was a top fighter until he became injured in a fight at the Dynasty. So, this is what happened to him. I've always wondered. We watched as Anubis drove away.

I walked away from the window and went to my desk. I picked up the money Kayura set down. It was all there. Man, it's been too long since I've seen this much money. I took it and walked over to the safe and started to open it. I placed it inside and then locked it.

"So, we're taking the case," Kaye stated as she moved from the window.

I nodded, "Yeah, I'm curious about her story, plus she paid half already, so I don't see what looking into it could hurt."

I saw Kaye smirk a bit, "Right, plus you have an open invitation to check out the one fight club you haven't been in too."

I chuckled since she knew me pretty well, "Yeah, you got me. It is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to see how the other side lives."

"If Kayura is any sign of how the other half lives. Then I'd rather not know."

I saw Kaye's annoyance of Kayura. I don't blame her, "Alright then, I'll work this case on my own. You don't need to worry about me, doll face. I'll wrap this up in no time." I saw a slight surprise on her face, and then she frowned a bit.

"Are you serious! Kento! I'm not going to have you go at this solo. Someone has to watch out for you, and it might as well be me since you've exhausted all your other resources." Kaye replied with a mischievous glint in her eye.

I winced as she hit me below the belt, and Kaye was right. I did exhaust the last of my resources a few cases ago. I'm surprised if my contacts would still talk with me. Considering what I put them through, even though they did deserve what they got. "Well then, it looks like we have a case, partner."

"Looks like it. So, we have a few options to start looking for clues. Providing Kayura is as legit as she claims. Then she or someone at her fight club would have filed a report with the cops. We could start with them or visit the hospital and see if Dais is ready to see visitors. Unless you want to go to the Dynasty?" Kaye offered and then raised a brow at me as I studied her. "What?"

I smirked, "She rubbed you the wrong way. You're suspicious of our client."

"Right, hey, I'm stating the obvious, nothing more."

I chuckled as I shook my head, "You're jealous."

Kaye turned her back on me, "No, I'm not jealous."

I walked up to her and turned Kaye around to face me, "You have nothing to worry about, Kaye. Kayura does nothing for me. Besides, she's married. I noticed the imprint on her ring finger. She took it off before coming inside. Kayura more likely thought if I am alone, she would try and seduce me into taking the case. She didn't count on you being here. Besides, you're my gal, and we have a case. Plus, I'm hungry."

Kaye laughed, "Alright, first we'll get some food. I wouldn't want you to starve. I know how cranky you get when you get hungry."

I winked at her, and then I walked over to the rack and picked up our trench coats. I handed Kaye hers as I put mine on. Once we were ready, I locked my office, and off we went.

When we hit the sidewalk, we headed for my car. I opened the passenger door for her, and Kaye smiled at me as she got in. I shut it and then walked to the driver's side. I opened my door and glanced around. My eyes narrowed as I took in the scene. I noticed another car sticking out from a block behind. It was black with tinted windows. I saw there were no plates on the car. Without the plates, it'll make it a bit more difficult to trace it back to the owner. I shook it off and climbed behind the wheel and started my car as I took off down the road. I kept glancing back in the rearview mirror every so often. The same black car kept following us.

Kaye glanced at me. She knew something was up, "Kento?"

"We have a tail."

Kaye raised a brow and then glanced in the rearview mirror, "We barely started this case, and we have a tail?"

"Looks like you were right. This case is going to be a lot more interesting than I thought," I replied. I could see she had the expression of 'I told you so' on her face. I was grateful she didn't voice it. Now I'm curious to see who is crazy enough to follow us. "Kaye, let me know if the ones behind stay with us or if they turn anywhere."

"Right," Kaye answered as she kept her attention on the rearview mirror.

I put my total concentration on the road ahead. I did a few quick maneuvers I picked up from a couple of cop friends of mine. I ended up cutting a few drivers off with the last turn. I heard Kaye tell me the black vehicle was still behind us. I knew the exact place I decided to lead them. I pulled into the parking lot at the cop shop and watched as the car drove by us at the next turn. It confirmed my suspicions they were onto us already. Wow, word hit the street pretty fast since our client visited us, not even thirty minutes ago.