(Note: Riho will be replaced with my own character, Hiromi Takabe, because
I don't really like Riho's totally innocent maiden attitude. Hiro is a
little bit more real. Also I often switch character prospective from Hiromi
to Shido: three stars indicate this)
Disclaimer: I own nothing.I make no money off this.don't sue me.I only have a quarter, and I like it. His name is Ryan! *Holds up Ryan* Say hello to all the nice people! *Mom off screen* Come on honey! Time for your medicine!
Hiromi distantly heard the door open, but all her attention was focused on Shido, her body tense, and ready to run if he moved towards her.
"This is stupid," her mind kept repeating, "Shido wouldn't do that to her. He's a good man."
"Yes," a sibilant corner of her mind hissed softly. "But what do you really know about him? How do you know he's a good man?"
"Shut up, shut up, shut up!" she thought, while a soft cackling filled her mind.
Suddenly, a black and yellow shape, Yayoi, cut off her view of Shido.
"Let me help you," she said, holding out her hand.
Numbly, Hiromi reached for the proffered hand, allowing Yayoi to pull her to her feet.
"I apologize for the appearance of the office, Mister...?"
"Shirikaba Ruishi."
"Mr. Shirikaba. As I was saying, we have just gotten in."
"Its quite alright, Sir."
"Please, my name is Tatsuhiko Shido. This is my partner, Matsumaga Yayoi, and my assistant Takabe Hiromi."
"Pleased to meet all of you," Mr. Shirikaba said, bowing to each of them in turn.
"Please have a seat Mr. Shirikaba."
"Thank you," he replied, gingerly sitting in the closest chair.
"Hiromi? Could you please pick up your sister's doll?" Shido said, nodding to Guni on the floor, "We wouldn't wan it to get stepped on," he said smiling.
Hiromi bent and picked the fairy up, her mind still turning over itself. Holding Guni in her lap, Hiromi sat in one of the four small chairs around the coffee table. "So Mr. Shirikaba, what can I do for you?"
Looking at Hiromi, Shirikaba shifted in his seat uncomfortably. "Its is rather a private matter."
"Mr. Shirikaba, I keep no business from those I work closest with, for their own protection, you see. However, I give you my word that whatever happens in this room will be held in the strictest confidence."
The man still looked unconvinced, so pushing her thoughts aside, Hiromi spoke up, "Sir, I promise that I will not repeat anything in this conversation, to anyone not present in this room."
Still looking unbelieving, but defeated, the man nodded, "Very well." Then he paused for a moment to organize his thoughts. "Recently my daughter, Minako, passed away. She had tuberculosis in her lungs, but she died of a drug overdose," he said, handing Shido a picture.
The detective looked at if, and put if facedown on his desk, "My condolences, Mr. Shirikaba."
The man nodded his thanks, and continued, "She became very emaciated towards the end. Some days, she was too weak to even get out of bed. After I admitted her to a hospital, she seemed to become more like herself, even though she was dying. But then one morning, I got a call from her doctor saying she died during the night. Minako had been hording her painkillers, and took them all at once..." the man's voice broke, and tears started to fall.
Yayoi took the box of tissues from the coffee table and handed it to him. After Shirikaba wiped at his eyes a bit, he calmed down enough to speak again.
" I live alone now, in a small house, in the suburbs. Two days ago, I was taking out the trash, and I saw her at the end of the street, still wearing the dress she was buried in, except it was covered in dirt and reddish brown stains. She looked at me for a moment then turned and walked away. I followed her, but when I turned the corner, she wasn't there. And last night, I went out again, just to prove to myself that it was just grief playing tricks on my mind, and the same thing happened again. I didn't know who to talk to; I've been going out of my mind. Then I saw your ad in the paper, and thought if I hired a private detective..."
"Of course Mr. Shirikaba," Shido said folding his hands, "I believe I know what happened to your daughter..."
"Could it be that she's still alive?"
"I'm sorry, but that is not possible," Shido said as the man's face fell. "Your daughter was very miserable before her death. Strong emotions like misery, anger, and fear, help open the human soul to demons. I'm not talking about demons from the fiery pit, however. I mean demons here on earth, called Nightbreeds. These creatures posses human bodies that are weakened or dead form negative emotions, and use these hosts to feed off others. One of these Nightbreeds possessed your daughter's body. If I am to take this case, I want your consent to cast out this demon, by any means necessary."
Shirikaba sat stunned for several moments before speaking, " If what you say is true, Minako's body has been taken over by one of these...Nightbreeds, I don't want that thing to stay there. And I'm sure that Minako would agree. Do whatever you have to; just get rid of the demon in my little girl."
"Of course."
"Mr. Shirikaba," Yayoi spoke up for the first time, "its possible that this Nightbreed has gotten access to Minako's most recent memories. It may use these memories against you. Perhaps it would be best if you weren't present when we deal with it."
"Just how are you planning to 'deal' with this demon?" the man asked, suddenly suspicious.
"To force the Nightbreed to abandon its host," Shido answered, "Minako's body must be made unusable to it."
***
"And that means?"
Shido struggled for the gentlest way to say the grim truth.
"It means, Mr. Shirikaba, that we must make it impossible for this Nightbreed to pass as a human with its current body. You see, a Breed's main defense and offence is the ability to remain unnoticed in the public's eye. We will have to...seriously damage Minako's body, so it will never be able to use it in everyday life. The Breed will then return to its base form, and I will be able to kill it."
The man sat in silence again, not moving, staring off into space.
"Mr. Shirikaba...Mr. Shirikaba...?"
The man looked up, his face haunted and pale.
"Would you still like this detective agency to handle your case?"
"...Yes, do whatever you need to..."
"Very well. Could you give me your address?"
A few minutes later, Shirikaba stood and shook hands with Shido, "Thank you, and sir."
"We'll be there tonight, around sunset," Shido said, as Hiromi led Mr. Shirikaba to the door.
"Not sooner?"
"No I'm afraid that Nightbreeds are unable to survive in sunlight, and until dusk, there will be no reason for me to come around."
"Alright, I'll expect you at sunset then," the man said as he bowed and left.
Hiromi sighed as she closed the door, and leaned against it.
"Hey! Let me go already!"
Guni, still held in Hiromi's hand, twisted in her grip.
"Oops, sorry Guni. I forgot you were there."
Finally slipping free from Hiromi's fingers, Guni floated to eye level in her usual cross-legged fashion, "Man, being a Barbie doll isn't as glamorous as it looks!"
"You make a pretty demented Barbie," Shido commented dryly, studying Minako's picture again. Guni stuck out her tongue at him in reply.
"So what's this girl look like?" asked Yayoi, coming up behind Shido.
"Hiromi came over too, craning her neck to see, careful to keep the desk between her and the vampire.
The girl in the picture was in her early teens. Short, blondish hair that just brushed her shoulders, framed a narrow, attractive face, which was dominated by large olive eyes. The picture had obviously been taken before the tuberculosis had ravaged her body. Hiromi sighed. Her mother had been in the medical field, and had sometimes taken Hiromi to work with her. Tuberculosis was a bad way to go; no wonder Minako had taken her own life, rather than face the pain...
..."Hiromi?"
"I'm sorry, I wasn't listening."
"Did you know her?" Shido asked again.
"No, I was just thinking of her disease."
Shido studied her face, "Are you going to be alright tonight, Hiromi?"
"I'll be fine," she said, a little too forcefully.
"How are we going to get the Breed to come out?" Yayoi asked, changing the subject.
"Minako's memories are obviously forcing the Breed to repeatedly come back to her home and her father. But soon, the Breed will completely take control and will most likely attack Shirikaba. We need to destroy it before that happens. Minako will probably come back tonight, so we'll attack then."
"Probably?" Guni asked, "And what if the breed *has* taken over and moves into its own territory, hmm?"
Shido gave a humorless smile and glanced at Yayoi. The woman looked confused at first, but then became absolutely furious.
"I have a little idea for that as well..." Shido said quietly.
Disclaimer: I own nothing.I make no money off this.don't sue me.I only have a quarter, and I like it. His name is Ryan! *Holds up Ryan* Say hello to all the nice people! *Mom off screen* Come on honey! Time for your medicine!
Hiromi distantly heard the door open, but all her attention was focused on Shido, her body tense, and ready to run if he moved towards her.
"This is stupid," her mind kept repeating, "Shido wouldn't do that to her. He's a good man."
"Yes," a sibilant corner of her mind hissed softly. "But what do you really know about him? How do you know he's a good man?"
"Shut up, shut up, shut up!" she thought, while a soft cackling filled her mind.
Suddenly, a black and yellow shape, Yayoi, cut off her view of Shido.
"Let me help you," she said, holding out her hand.
Numbly, Hiromi reached for the proffered hand, allowing Yayoi to pull her to her feet.
"I apologize for the appearance of the office, Mister...?"
"Shirikaba Ruishi."
"Mr. Shirikaba. As I was saying, we have just gotten in."
"Its quite alright, Sir."
"Please, my name is Tatsuhiko Shido. This is my partner, Matsumaga Yayoi, and my assistant Takabe Hiromi."
"Pleased to meet all of you," Mr. Shirikaba said, bowing to each of them in turn.
"Please have a seat Mr. Shirikaba."
"Thank you," he replied, gingerly sitting in the closest chair.
"Hiromi? Could you please pick up your sister's doll?" Shido said, nodding to Guni on the floor, "We wouldn't wan it to get stepped on," he said smiling.
Hiromi bent and picked the fairy up, her mind still turning over itself. Holding Guni in her lap, Hiromi sat in one of the four small chairs around the coffee table. "So Mr. Shirikaba, what can I do for you?"
Looking at Hiromi, Shirikaba shifted in his seat uncomfortably. "Its is rather a private matter."
"Mr. Shirikaba, I keep no business from those I work closest with, for their own protection, you see. However, I give you my word that whatever happens in this room will be held in the strictest confidence."
The man still looked unconvinced, so pushing her thoughts aside, Hiromi spoke up, "Sir, I promise that I will not repeat anything in this conversation, to anyone not present in this room."
Still looking unbelieving, but defeated, the man nodded, "Very well." Then he paused for a moment to organize his thoughts. "Recently my daughter, Minako, passed away. She had tuberculosis in her lungs, but she died of a drug overdose," he said, handing Shido a picture.
The detective looked at if, and put if facedown on his desk, "My condolences, Mr. Shirikaba."
The man nodded his thanks, and continued, "She became very emaciated towards the end. Some days, she was too weak to even get out of bed. After I admitted her to a hospital, she seemed to become more like herself, even though she was dying. But then one morning, I got a call from her doctor saying she died during the night. Minako had been hording her painkillers, and took them all at once..." the man's voice broke, and tears started to fall.
Yayoi took the box of tissues from the coffee table and handed it to him. After Shirikaba wiped at his eyes a bit, he calmed down enough to speak again.
" I live alone now, in a small house, in the suburbs. Two days ago, I was taking out the trash, and I saw her at the end of the street, still wearing the dress she was buried in, except it was covered in dirt and reddish brown stains. She looked at me for a moment then turned and walked away. I followed her, but when I turned the corner, she wasn't there. And last night, I went out again, just to prove to myself that it was just grief playing tricks on my mind, and the same thing happened again. I didn't know who to talk to; I've been going out of my mind. Then I saw your ad in the paper, and thought if I hired a private detective..."
"Of course Mr. Shirikaba," Shido said folding his hands, "I believe I know what happened to your daughter..."
"Could it be that she's still alive?"
"I'm sorry, but that is not possible," Shido said as the man's face fell. "Your daughter was very miserable before her death. Strong emotions like misery, anger, and fear, help open the human soul to demons. I'm not talking about demons from the fiery pit, however. I mean demons here on earth, called Nightbreeds. These creatures posses human bodies that are weakened or dead form negative emotions, and use these hosts to feed off others. One of these Nightbreeds possessed your daughter's body. If I am to take this case, I want your consent to cast out this demon, by any means necessary."
Shirikaba sat stunned for several moments before speaking, " If what you say is true, Minako's body has been taken over by one of these...Nightbreeds, I don't want that thing to stay there. And I'm sure that Minako would agree. Do whatever you have to; just get rid of the demon in my little girl."
"Of course."
"Mr. Shirikaba," Yayoi spoke up for the first time, "its possible that this Nightbreed has gotten access to Minako's most recent memories. It may use these memories against you. Perhaps it would be best if you weren't present when we deal with it."
"Just how are you planning to 'deal' with this demon?" the man asked, suddenly suspicious.
"To force the Nightbreed to abandon its host," Shido answered, "Minako's body must be made unusable to it."
***
"And that means?"
Shido struggled for the gentlest way to say the grim truth.
"It means, Mr. Shirikaba, that we must make it impossible for this Nightbreed to pass as a human with its current body. You see, a Breed's main defense and offence is the ability to remain unnoticed in the public's eye. We will have to...seriously damage Minako's body, so it will never be able to use it in everyday life. The Breed will then return to its base form, and I will be able to kill it."
The man sat in silence again, not moving, staring off into space.
"Mr. Shirikaba...Mr. Shirikaba...?"
The man looked up, his face haunted and pale.
"Would you still like this detective agency to handle your case?"
"...Yes, do whatever you need to..."
"Very well. Could you give me your address?"
A few minutes later, Shirikaba stood and shook hands with Shido, "Thank you, and sir."
"We'll be there tonight, around sunset," Shido said, as Hiromi led Mr. Shirikaba to the door.
"Not sooner?"
"No I'm afraid that Nightbreeds are unable to survive in sunlight, and until dusk, there will be no reason for me to come around."
"Alright, I'll expect you at sunset then," the man said as he bowed and left.
Hiromi sighed as she closed the door, and leaned against it.
"Hey! Let me go already!"
Guni, still held in Hiromi's hand, twisted in her grip.
"Oops, sorry Guni. I forgot you were there."
Finally slipping free from Hiromi's fingers, Guni floated to eye level in her usual cross-legged fashion, "Man, being a Barbie doll isn't as glamorous as it looks!"
"You make a pretty demented Barbie," Shido commented dryly, studying Minako's picture again. Guni stuck out her tongue at him in reply.
"So what's this girl look like?" asked Yayoi, coming up behind Shido.
"Hiromi came over too, craning her neck to see, careful to keep the desk between her and the vampire.
The girl in the picture was in her early teens. Short, blondish hair that just brushed her shoulders, framed a narrow, attractive face, which was dominated by large olive eyes. The picture had obviously been taken before the tuberculosis had ravaged her body. Hiromi sighed. Her mother had been in the medical field, and had sometimes taken Hiromi to work with her. Tuberculosis was a bad way to go; no wonder Minako had taken her own life, rather than face the pain...
..."Hiromi?"
"I'm sorry, I wasn't listening."
"Did you know her?" Shido asked again.
"No, I was just thinking of her disease."
Shido studied her face, "Are you going to be alright tonight, Hiromi?"
"I'll be fine," she said, a little too forcefully.
"How are we going to get the Breed to come out?" Yayoi asked, changing the subject.
"Minako's memories are obviously forcing the Breed to repeatedly come back to her home and her father. But soon, the Breed will completely take control and will most likely attack Shirikaba. We need to destroy it before that happens. Minako will probably come back tonight, so we'll attack then."
"Probably?" Guni asked, "And what if the breed *has* taken over and moves into its own territory, hmm?"
Shido gave a humorless smile and glanced at Yayoi. The woman looked confused at first, but then became absolutely furious.
"I have a little idea for that as well..." Shido said quietly.