Moon Cats: Fearful Symmetry

Chapter Four

Detective Hiroshi Shimaka and Artemis "Yui" leaned back as they waited for the light to change.

"So how many left on the list?" Shimaka asked from behind the wheel.

"Just one more. Who knew there were so many Jewelry stores in Tokyo!"

"Not cops or cats, that's for dang sure." Both men chuckle. "Well, I take that back. I bet Luna and Ms. Mahara did."

"It's a female thing, I'm sure." Artemis grinned.

"By the way, I haven't had a chance to talk to you before now, as busy as we've been. I wanted to thank you for everything you and Luna did all those months ago."
"You don't have to thank me."

Shimaka glanced at the white haired man out of the corner of his eyes. "I talked to Koneko and Kasumi. They both outright told me you were the ones that saved them when they were kidnapped the first time, which is more then enough to earn my thanks Artemis."

"But then you save not only my life when the Gaki attacked that first time, but you and Luna saved my wife and child a second time"

"It's just..."

"I'm not finished, tomcat." Shimaka interrupted. "Because you weren't finished either! You saved them again, and from what Hibuki said, you were fighting the Gaki up until moments before the ship blew up! All to keep him away from my daughter." Shimaka shook his head, hitting the gas as the light changed.

"Actually, I just really wanted to beat him down there near the end." Artemis admitted, causing the detective to chuckle.

"Seeing how you look at Luna when you think no one's watching, I can guess why."

The light changed as Artemis chuckled sheepishly. "Is it that obvious?"

"Only if ya got eyes, brother! Oh and one question that comes with anther thank you..."

"Um. Okay, shoot."

"Do you know who the Senshi are? You fought with them outside elegant seas and then WITH them at Precinct 5. What happened?"

Artemis silently thanked the Senshi for their almost Universal love of Manga and Movies. "Don't you ever read the funny papers? It's traditional for super hero's to have fights when the first meet, only to work well together later! We must observe tradition."

"So you don't know?"

"Can't say I do, no." Artemis answered, intentionally vague.

"Oh well. I was just curious how they knew to call us."

"We HAVE been in the papers, buddy. If I was a superhero... I mean one who didn't work for us, I'd call us just because of who I am."

"Good point." Shimaka nodded. "Here's the place."

The car quickly parked, the two men walked through the doors of the store, looking around 'Quicksilver Dreams'. There were three counter attendants and a couple of customers inside, happily meaning the two tired and hungry cops didn't have to wait. Walking up to the free counterperson as she was cleaning a glass display case Shimaka pulled out his ID. "Excuse me Miss, my name is Detective Shimaka and this is Officer Yui. Could we speak with the owner or managers please?"

The woman examined Shimaka's badge and I.D. before looking at the two men. "Of course. Wait here a moment." She said, then walked through a door behind her.

"Hey Artemis, now's your chance."

"Huh?"

Shimaka pointed at a case filled with engagement rings. "You can make an honest cat out of Luna."

Artemis glared at Shimaka, who couldn't help but chuckle. "Hey man, you want to end my fence yowling days or something?"

"Oh god, if it's you outside my house yes!"

A few minutes later a short, over weight man wearing a leather apron over a dress shirt and tie followed the woman back out. "I'm the owner, can I help you?"

"I hope so Mr...."

"Tokoro Echiro."

"Mr. Echiro, could you tell me if you've seen something like this before?" The detective asked, holding out a picture of the Electrum pin they had found at the scene of the first victim.

"Why yes. I made one just like it a few weeks ago."

"They we need to speak in private sir." Shimaka said, glancing back at Artemis. "This pin was found at the scene of a murder."

'Of.. Of course. Please come." The older man was obviously flustered as he led the two CAPPA officers behind the show room, into his small but well kept workshop. "Now, how can I help?"

"We need to know who commissioned this piece."

"Let me look in my records." The shop owner sat at his desk come worktable and flipped through a file drawer. "Here it is." The older man handed the officers one of two manila folders. "I keep a spare copy of special commissions for Insurance companies. If it will help, it's yours."

"It will." Artemis said, taking it. "Can you tell us what the customer wanted it for, or what your impressions were?"

"He didn't really say what it was for. He did tell me it was Vietnamese for 'Cool Spring.' and that it was good luck."

"Not any more. Not for him at least."

____________________________________________________________________________________

"Okay, you three, what did you want to see me about." Lt. Ichiro Hibuki looked at the trio of Reika and Mamoru, and Luna as he entered Reika's workroom.

"We think we've figured part of what they are doing out." Reika replied.

"Go ahead."

"Each of the crime scenes has a large number of symbols in common. These symbols are all focused toward either invoking energy, containing that energy, or focusing energy into something all at once." She paused, waiting for Hibuki's reaction. When he nodded she continued. "However each scene also had several symbols Unique to that scene. All of the symbols had elemental significance."

"The Quarry and ship were both obvious. Earth and Water respectively. The warehouse was empty because of a fire that gutted the business that used to operate out of it six months ago, killing three employees', which is why it's not occupied even though the building has been very well, repaired."

Hibuki nodded. "And the Airport expansion is why the apartment block is condemned."

"Exactly. Now if they stay true to form they will commit one more murder." Luna took up the explanation. "The fifth element in Asian lore is wood, and we think they'll try to do it in Hotonomi Park, in the 'Wooded Walk' area."

"How sure are you?"

Mamoru shrugged. "About the Ritual they are doing, fairly sure. The next site we can't be sure, but the wood walk contains a tree of every type in Japan, as well as being closed due to the construction of an observatory on the hill above it. The picnic area half way through is a perfect spot."

A knock on the glass door distracted them, and Artemis waved a victory "V" sigh from outside while Shimaka pulled open the door.

"I take it you found something?"

"Oh yeah, Lieutenant. The last guy on our list was the brass ring, and gave us a copy of his work order and the address and name are even in the phone book."

"You're sure they didn't give information they just pulled out of the phone book?"

"Yep. The guy asked to be called when the piece was done, and was in a bit of a hurry. It's for real." Artemis held up a computer printout. "And our friend here is even Vietnamese, by way of the United States. It seems he's here on a student visa. We already have a couple of uniforms keeping an eye on the building, and they tell us he's even at home."

"Then lets go pick him up."

____________________________________________________________________________

Officer Maya Shin knocked on the apartment door, expressly ignoring Lt. Hibuki and Detective Shimaka on either side of the door in front of her. "Flowers!" She called, simulating cheerfulness in her voice. The tight T-shirt and blue jeans she wore was well in line with the delivery person she was imitating, and her sprightly figure which had barely passed Tokyo PD's height and weight minimums made her seem far more non-threatening then her two black belts would suggest.

A minute passed, and she knocked again. After another minute Shimaka lifted his Radio to his lips and quietly spoke. "Shimaka here. Are you sure he hasn't left the house?"

"Yes sir. Me and Suki can see both building's entrances between us."

Hibuki looked over and hissed "Fire Escape?"

"Um... No sir."

"Damn!" Hibuki cursed, raising and kicking in the door, rushing in with Shimaka and Shin on his heels. All they found was an emtpy room and an open window.

Shimaka crossed the room and threw open the bedroom door, then the bathroom and shook his head. "He's gone, and he packed first. He's been gone for a while."

Hibuki glanced into the bedroom and agreed with Shimaka. A pile of hastily dumped schoolbooks and half-opened drawers was making that pretty damn apparent. "Artemis, you get Mamoru and Reika up here." A glance out the window caused him to groan. "The Nuggets parked the black and white in view... That's why he ran."

"Roger that." Artemis wasn't real happy with that bit of news.

"Shimaka, you get that PC booted up. Shin, you and I will look through the living room."

"I'm sorry, Lt. Hibuki. I..." She started apologizing.

"No. I knew they were green and I didn't check their positions. We'll work on training later. For now let's try to salvage this mess."

Shin nodded, and went to work.


AN: What, you thought they wouldn't have problems? I'm not that nice...actually I've been called sadistic recently...heh.