Things had just gone from Bad© to Worse™.
Three staff members were out of commission, having spontaneously combusted within the last 24 hours, leaving the Shokan division dangerously undermanned, one of the Gushoshin brothers had been quarantined with what might possibly be bird flu, and, having just spotted a domino mask float by, Tatsumi was convinced HakuShaku was walking around the department naked.
"Tsuzuki, I can't give you the day off." Reiterated Tatsumi, having explained he was short of employees to Tsuzuki (who was still convinced he might make that chocolate sale if he just hurried . . . ).
Tsuzuki looked away, blushing, wondering if Tatsumi had figured it was him that had sent Elder Gushoshin (acknowledged hypochondriac) the avian influenza flyer so he [Tsuzuki] would have free reign to sleep in the library later today.
"But Tatsuuuuumi!" Whined Tsuzuki, recovering from his moment of guilt. "Weird things keep happening! Terazuma's trying to kill me! And I keep getting this feeling like someone's grabbing my butt, but no ones there!"
It was Tatsumi's turn to look away, wondering if Tsuzuki had any idea it was he [Tatsumi], that had called the Earl in on the grounds he might disapprove of Tsuzuki associating with the opposite gender. Unfortunately the Earl had been won over by Wakaba who had offered him tea, cake, and photo's of Tsuzuki in a poodle skirt to not get involved.
At that moment, Kanoe walked past the office door, sipping a cup of coffee. He looked in for a moment, waved, and spontaneously combusted.
Tatsumi felt a chill run down his spine, and instinctively pushed away, his own untouched cup of coffee. Tsuzuki being not nearly as intuitive, took a sip from his own.
Tatsumi took the opportunity to clear anything flammable form his desk. It was unnecessary however as Tsuzuki seemed fine. Deciding it was worth the risk, since he would probably need the caffeine to get through today, Tatsumi took a hesitant sip out of his own cup (while Tsuzuki offered medical advice to a rather frazzled Kanoe).
~~~ *** ~~~ *** ~~~
Three hours later found Tsuzuki and Wakaba investigating a series of murders on Chijou. Theoretically speaking of course, because they were actually seated in a café not doing much of anything at all. Tsuzuki had a theory that psychotic, soul-stealing killers wouldn't be doing much during the afternoon, except possibly drinking huge quantities of expresso to keep them up at night, and this particular café *did* advertise that they served the best coffee in the district.
Wakaba was suitably sceptical.
As fate would have it, Oriya chose that particular afternoon to enjoy a cup of coffee, not because he was a psychotic, soul-stealing killer, but because he ran a brothel . . . er. . . 'escort agency', and was required to keep late hours.
Tsuzuki looked suitably sceptical. Fortunately for Oriya, who was having a bad day, Tsuzuki had a short attention span, so the company wasn't completely unpleasant. Tsuzuki also being somewhat naïve believed Oriya ran a bar and was quite excited to receive a couple of free passes (Tatsumi was being tight again). In return he offered Oriya some chocolates that Watari had given him early that day.
Oriya didn't usually have much of a sweet tooth, and Tsuzuki was counting on this when he made the offer, however Oriya had had somewhat of a craving for chocolate (possibly related to Muraki storming through his establishment earlier that day covered in body paint) and accepted.
~~~ *** ~~~ *** ~~~
Three staff members were out of commission, having spontaneously combusted within the last 24 hours, leaving the Shokan division dangerously undermanned, one of the Gushoshin brothers had been quarantined with what might possibly be bird flu, and, having just spotted a domino mask float by, Tatsumi was convinced HakuShaku was walking around the department naked.
"Tsuzuki, I can't give you the day off." Reiterated Tatsumi, having explained he was short of employees to Tsuzuki (who was still convinced he might make that chocolate sale if he just hurried . . . ).
Tsuzuki looked away, blushing, wondering if Tatsumi had figured it was him that had sent Elder Gushoshin (acknowledged hypochondriac) the avian influenza flyer so he [Tsuzuki] would have free reign to sleep in the library later today.
"But Tatsuuuuumi!" Whined Tsuzuki, recovering from his moment of guilt. "Weird things keep happening! Terazuma's trying to kill me! And I keep getting this feeling like someone's grabbing my butt, but no ones there!"
It was Tatsumi's turn to look away, wondering if Tsuzuki had any idea it was he [Tatsumi], that had called the Earl in on the grounds he might disapprove of Tsuzuki associating with the opposite gender. Unfortunately the Earl had been won over by Wakaba who had offered him tea, cake, and photo's of Tsuzuki in a poodle skirt to not get involved.
At that moment, Kanoe walked past the office door, sipping a cup of coffee. He looked in for a moment, waved, and spontaneously combusted.
Tatsumi felt a chill run down his spine, and instinctively pushed away, his own untouched cup of coffee. Tsuzuki being not nearly as intuitive, took a sip from his own.
Tatsumi took the opportunity to clear anything flammable form his desk. It was unnecessary however as Tsuzuki seemed fine. Deciding it was worth the risk, since he would probably need the caffeine to get through today, Tatsumi took a hesitant sip out of his own cup (while Tsuzuki offered medical advice to a rather frazzled Kanoe).
~~~ *** ~~~ *** ~~~
Three hours later found Tsuzuki and Wakaba investigating a series of murders on Chijou. Theoretically speaking of course, because they were actually seated in a café not doing much of anything at all. Tsuzuki had a theory that psychotic, soul-stealing killers wouldn't be doing much during the afternoon, except possibly drinking huge quantities of expresso to keep them up at night, and this particular café *did* advertise that they served the best coffee in the district.
Wakaba was suitably sceptical.
As fate would have it, Oriya chose that particular afternoon to enjoy a cup of coffee, not because he was a psychotic, soul-stealing killer, but because he ran a brothel . . . er. . . 'escort agency', and was required to keep late hours.
Tsuzuki looked suitably sceptical. Fortunately for Oriya, who was having a bad day, Tsuzuki had a short attention span, so the company wasn't completely unpleasant. Tsuzuki also being somewhat naïve believed Oriya ran a bar and was quite excited to receive a couple of free passes (Tatsumi was being tight again). In return he offered Oriya some chocolates that Watari had given him early that day.
Oriya didn't usually have much of a sweet tooth, and Tsuzuki was counting on this when he made the offer, however Oriya had had somewhat of a craving for chocolate (possibly related to Muraki storming through his establishment earlier that day covered in body paint) and accepted.
~~~ *** ~~~ *** ~~~