I frowned, "Wait, what? Dead? When did he die? Do the coppers know who did it? Did the cutters already take his body?"

The receptionist backed away from her desk. She looked at me like I was a crazy person. She was not used to having so many questions asked her all at once. "I'm going to call security."

"Kento," Kaye scolded as she glanced at me, and then she looked at the receptionist. "I apologize. He tends to get excited about things. See, Dais was a fellow fighter from the Dynasty. Kento and I were only going to come by for a visit. recently found out about Dais' attack."

The receptionist studied us for a bit and started to calm down. It seems Kaye's story is working, I wasn't in the mood to deal with security. "The cutters came and went. It didn't take them long to retrieve the body. I'm sorry, but I can't tell you anymore."

"Thank you for telling us what you could. We appreciate it." Kaye answered as she took a hold of my arm and led me away from the desk. Then we walked side by side in the direction of my car.

"Kento, do you think this was why Ryo and Sage warned us about the case? Did they already know Dais was dead?"

I thought over what Kaye was asking. "I'm not sure. I guess they could have been warning us."

We made it back to my car. I opened the passenger door for her as she got in. I shut the door and walked over to the driver's side. This case was starting to rub me the wrong way. I opened my door and got in. I shut it and then laid my hands on the steering wheel staring out the window.

I could feel Kaye's eyes studying me. "So which do we do now? Go back to the station and confront Ryo and Sage? Or are we going to the Dynasty as we planned?"

I frowned deeper as my hands clutched the wheel. My knuckles turned white. My eyes closed as I concentrated on calming myself. When I felt myself to be calm enough my eyes opened and I loosened my grip. "We'll go to the fight club and then we'll go back to the station afterward. I can see Kaye was going to say something, but she stopped herself. More likely she saw how annoyed I am about the situation. I watched from the corner of my eye as Kaye turned her attention towards the passenger window.

Mentally I kicked myself. I knew she was trying to help me. I appreciated her for it. I do. I made a mental note to try and make it up to her some other time. At least I could count on Kaye when things started to go sideways. But also at the moment, this situation made me start to question a little bit of the bond I have with Ryo and Sage. I thought our friendship meant more than their jobs. Yeah, I understood the oath they took when they joined the force. But we were friends first. I thought it counted for something. I sighed and then pulled out of the parking lot. We were on our way to the Dynasty.

We arrived at the city center. I parked and started to get out.

Kaye hurried out from her side as she shut her door and looked at me. "Kento, the fight club is two blocks away."

I nodded, "Yeah, I know. But I thought it would go easier if we dressed the part. Because I don't think we'll get a lot of answers dressed as gumshoes." I smirked at her as I shut my door. "Besides, I need new clothes. The ones I wore when I was in my last tangle got torn up.

Kaye chuckled, "Come on Kento, admit it. You heard your supplier got a new delivery, and you wanted to check it out."

I chuckled as we continued to walk to the store, "Hey, those were my best fighting threads"

Kaye raised a brow. "If you think your best threads are what you wear during a tangle, then I'd be more curious to see what you'd wear to a date."

"Well then, I'll have to show you someday," I replied as I saw a bit of a surprise in Kaye's eyes. I chuckled as I held the door open for her. "After you."

Kaye smiled at me as she walked past. I smiled back as I caught up to her. This short time of teasing one another felt good. Little did we know our teasing one another wasn't going to last long. Everything was going to get real serious quick to our case. "Think it'll take you long to find what you need for our short play?"

"You're kidding me, right? I know this store as well as you do. I'll find what I need, plus changed and back here waiting for you before you even get done." Kaye replied with a mischievous glint in her eye.

I smirked, "Bold statement, alright I'd like to see you back up those words by having a small wager."

Kaye stood there not phased by my proposition. "Fine. What's the wager?"

I was a bit surprised at how she took on my challenge. I thought for sure she would have thought it over before accepting. "Alright, if you find your outfit, changed and wait here for me before I arrive. then I'll treat you to whatever you choose. But if I win, then you'll have to treat me."

"This should be interesting," Kaye stated.

I chose this store because of two reasons. One, it carries what I need for the clothes I look for when I get into my tangles. Two, the women's department is clear on the other side of the store. She's up to something, but I don't have time to figure it out. "Alright, on your mark, get set, shop!"

Before I even stepped towards the area I was going. Kaye gave me a quick wink and vanished into the crowd. I stood there for a few moments. I went up a few steps to scan for her, but there was no sign of Kaye anywhere. I smirked, she's been practicing some of the evasion techniques I taught her. Not bad. Then I dropped down and went over towards the men's department and started searching for what I needed.

I talked to the owner, and he directed me to the delivery of new clothing which I needed. I thanked him and waved as he walked off. I decided to take my time since I was already in the area I needed to be. I didn't need to pick up much. A couple of pairs of black gi pants. Some tank tops, as well as a couple of sports tops to wear over the tank top, and indoor fighting shoes. Since we're going to be spending time in an exclusive fighting club. I didn't think they would like their floors to get tracked in from outside.

I found a cashier and paid for my new threads. I made my way to the changing room and switched out my gumshoe clothes for my tangle ones. It was a good thing we left our trench coats in the car. Less to carry, as I put my other clothes in the bag with the rest of them, and started on my way to our meeting place.

I stopped here and there talked with a few people I knew from the store as I made my way. As I arrived, I glanced around and I didn't see Kaye anywhere. I smirked, I won and Kaye will be treating me. I was looking forward to this. But then my eyes caught sight of a dame standing a bit ahead with her back turned to me. Man, what a dame! I had to do a second take, the dame in front of me was Kaye. I was in a daze. It's been a long time since I've seen her dressed to the nines. The last time was when we met at the Torrent when she was singing, back then she was a looker, now it seems she is even more so. I got so used to her wearing gumshoe clothing.

Kaye glanced back as she saw me staring at her. She winked at me and smiled as she turned around. "Took you long enough."

I shook my head as I cleared my thoughts. Don't go there Kento, don't go there. "Heh, how did you beat me here?"

"I figured we'd come here sooner or later. So I called the owner and asked about when the next delivery was going to arrive. I made arrangements with him to set aside a couple of new outfits for me. I came here the other night and picked them out and had him hold them for me." Kaye explained as she readjusted her bags.

I raised my brow, "So you cheated?"

"Not so much, thought ahead. Which is why I talked to the owner about your clothes too. He was more than happy to work something out with me. Needless to say, he thought it was pretty funny. Plus, you didn't say anything about planning ahead of time."

I chuckled, "Alright, I guess you won."

Kaye thought it over, "Well, how about we call it a tie and we can treat one another as equals then it'll be fair."

I nodded as I walked up next to her, "Fine by me. But um, what's in the garment bag?"

Kaye smiled, "It's a dress to wear at the Torrent. I figured Cye would have no problem letting me do some singing while you talk with Rowen. It'll be less suspicious. Two fighters meeting up at a waterfront nightclub, having drinks, and talking."

"I like it. So then, we better get going," We secured our bags and started walking to my car. Once we arrived, we put our bags inside, and then I locked them as we start walking to the fight club. Since it was two blocks away from where I parked, it didn't take us long to arrive. I opened the door for her.

Kaye smiled at me as she walked through and then waited for me to join her. "You ready?"

I felt like a kid at Christmas. This was a long time coming. I've always wanted to step inside of this exclusive fight club. The Dynasty had one heck of a reputation of housing the best fighters from all over. A fighter could only fight here by invitation. So more likely they won't be too happy about someone like me waltzing in from the street. I didn't care, I felt my adrenaline rushing through my entire body.

I glanced around. I could see every fighter stop what they were doing as they stared at us, the ones who dared to enter their domain. I recognized the main ones in the ring Sekhmet and Cale finished sparring with one another. I glanced past them and saw Rowen doing speed drills with the jump rope. My eyes went towards the second level, and I saw Kayura's office where Anubis stood alongside her. It didn't take Anubis and Rowen long to come back here from the diner. They must have taken a few shortcuts to tail from the coppers. The other fighters, I never saw before, they must have been brought in as replacements or extras. Hard to tell for sure, but at the moment, I didn't care too much.

"Hey, who do you think you are coming in here? If you're here to try out, then you're too late." Sekhmet asked as he and Cale stepped out of the ring and approached us.

"Relax, I'm a fighter passing through. I've heard about the Dynasty and wanted to check it out." I replied as I kept my eyes on them.

"You can't come in from the streets like some open gym. You need an invitation." Cale replied with a hostile tone.

"As I said, we're passing through. There's no need to be hostile." I replied as I noticed from the corner of my eye Rowen putting down his jump rope and made his way over to us.

"Cale, Sekhmet, step back from them. Since we're one fighter short, why don't we give this guy a tryout?" Anubis suggested as he leaned forward resting his hands on the rail above.

The two glanced at one another and sneered at the suggestion, but they knew better than to cross Anubis. "Fine, but I'll take him on."

Sekhmet glowered at Cale, "Why you?"

"Because the last fighter you took on was him so it's my turn," Cale replied as he motioned back at Rowen.

Sekhmet grumbled as he walked away and narrowed his eyes at me.

Cale shook it off and turned his attention back to me. "You're going to stand there all day or are you going to enter the ring?"

I smirked, "I accept your invitation." I replied as I leaned in and kissed Kaye on the cheek. "I won't be long doll face." I took off my cover shirt and handed it to her.

Kaye blushed a bit took my shirt and held onto it as she smiled.

I entered the ring and turned around. I growled a bit when I saw Cale eyeing Kaye up and down. "Hey! Put your focus on me, scarface, and not on my gal."

Scarface entered the ring, "Your gal? Huh, well we'll see who's gal she will be once this fight is over. The little floozy is going to be my trophy."

My eyes narrowed as the two of us faced off, this guy made it personal. At first, I was going to mess around, but now it's business. I saw Kaye's uncomfortable reaction when Cale claimed her as his. I felt my blood starting to boil, but I had to keep my control otherwise I'd blow our cover and this fight.

"Hey Cale, show me some class! You know better than to lower yourself to tricks like those. Besides, the lady is not floozy and she's not a trophy. So stop being a barbarian." Rowen shouted as he stood by Kaye's side.

Cale took the opportunity and glanced at him, "Watch who you're talking to, blue boy! Or we'll throw you out of here real quick."

"Yeah, yeah whatever. Pay attention to your opponent in the ring and not me." Rowen stated as he motioned to me coming at him without warning.

Cale felt the sting of my hit as he stumbled back into the ropes. He stabilized himself and whipped his head around. His eyes narrowed as he glared at me.

I didn't care if it was a cheap shot, he got what he deserved. "Come on! Let's fight!"

Cale growled and then used the rope to help him speed up his attack towards me. Most of my tangles were on the streets, not in the ring. But I've seen more than my share of ring fights to know how to handle myself. I saw him coming. Then at the last moment, I dodged out of the way and whirled around so I'd be able to see where he'd come at me next.

While Cale and I were fighting in the ring, Sekhmet made his way up the stairs to Anubis and Kayura.

"Were you able to get the job done?" Anubis asked as he kept his eyes on the fight.

"Everything's done," Sekhmet replied, glancing at Anubis.

"Good, make sure no one finds out what happened."

"Do you think they know?"

"It's the only reason why it would make sense about why those two are here. They must have come from the hospital after you told them about what happened to Dais."

Kayura nodded as she watched, "It seems I haven't given them enough credit. I wasn't sure if he was going to take the case or not when we were there earlier this morning." She glanced at Anubis, "Keep your eyes on them. Deal with them if you have to."

Anubis nodded as he continued to watch the fight.

On the floor, Rowen was standing next to Kaye. She glanced at him, "Thank you for stepping in when you did. You didn't have to."

"Cale was out of line. There was no call to talk about you the way he did. Besides, it looks like your man is giving Cale the business. Scarface had this coming. He doesn't respect dames. Which is a shame." Rowen stated as he smirked a bit. He saw me slam my fist into Cale's ribs and then followed up with a hit to the side of his head which dropped him to his knees.