The tires of the two vans rumbled against the rough tarmac. The agents sat quietly cradling their weapons by their side. Nui was doing the best she could to entertain herself, popping about the van she resided within erratically, observing and messing with the agents who sat stalwartly against her annoyance assault.

Mikisugi sat close by, eventually drawn into Nui's attention, "Hey Mikisugi?"

Her sudden acknowledgement of him was met with a "Hm?"

"I've been wondering... you've been real relaxed about having me around despite you were friends with Isshin, the guy I offed, Right?" Nui asked with a curious tone.

Mikisugi appeared to be remarkably inconvenienced by the question, "This isn't really the right time to talk about that Nui..."

However Nui was persistent in her questions, "But I mean every time I met someone who was related to a person I murdered they always seemed to get real pissed at me, even Satsuki was hiding a crap ton of rage underneath that cold exterior of hers, I would normally use that rage to my advantage but when it comes to you, I can't tell if you just buried your anger or are a complete idiot, or both!"

Mikisugi sighed as he crossed his arms, "Look Nui, the world is more complicated than murder and hatred. People are more than the sum of their parts and I think its better to learn from the past than to dwell on it."

Nui appeared rather confused at this answer, "I guess... but I don't get how you can just act like you don't hate me after everything."

Mikisugi began to brood over this remark, "I think... I hate what you are more than what you did Nui..."

Nui appeared to ponder internally about this remark inquisitively, uttering the words inside her own mind, "does he mean the life fibers?"

Suddenly the hatch at the front barrier separating the back of the van and the front swiped open.

An agent in the front passenger seat looked back through the hatch, "Yo we're almost at the target location."

Mikisugi spoke in return to the agents he sat with, "Alright, time to get to work, get ready to move out!"

The agents followed the command with "yes sir!"

Nui replied with her own little "yes sir~" And a playful little salute.

The vans pulled to a halt, the back doors opening and the agents marched out in single file, Nui followed along with her own "march" which was more akin to a playful waltz. The agents formed up, Nui messing around in the background as Mikisugi stepped in front of the group to command them, Tsumugu following close behind with his arms crossed and usual serious look, Nui then joining them standing proudly with her hands on her hips.

"OK boys and girls, this is a simple raid operation, we get in pacify all combatants and we prep all the target gear for extraction, any questions?" Mikisugi's command and question provoked Nui to join the ranks of agents.

she then suddenly bounced up holding up her hand, "Oh I got a question! Do we get to keep any souvenirs? Like guns, drugs or severed body parts?"

Mikisugi appeared to stop for a moment acknowledging the question before continuing like the question never happened, "Alright, lets get this show on the road."

This act provoking a disappointed pout from Nui.

The many agents were in position ready to breach the doors to the inner compound, Nui standing along with them twiddling with her hair impatiently. Mikisugi stood at the front of his group of agents on the right hand side of the double doors.

Tsumugu walked up to him past the other agents provoking a response from Mikisugi, "Well how we looking?"

Tsumugu responded in his gruff tone, "Main entrance is sealed off, and there's no visual into the interior."

Mikisugi nodded comprehensively before asking another question to surmise Tsumugu's reconnaissance, "Any guards patrolling the perimeter?"

Tsumugu shook his head stoically, "Nope, not one."

This response seemed to aggravate Mikisugi, "Shit... Could be a trap set up by this supposed informant..."

Tsumugu leaned against the wall almost casually, "So should we retreat?"

Mikisugi replied with his own question, "And you completed the interior scan right? There's definitely guys in there?"

Tsumugu nodded causing Mikisugi to contemplate, the different possible scenarios. The silence prevailing through the scene as he continued to think.

He then finally spoke up to Tsumugu's expecting gaze, "We can't risk retreating due to our possible lack of information... Looks like we're gonna have to fall into this trap but we go carefully..."

Tsumugu stepped out of his leaning position in affirmation, however the sound of the doors suddenly opening interrupted any further discussion.

"Carefully? Laaaaaame!" Nui's voice rang out as she dashed through the doors before any of the agents could respond.

Mikisugi only being able to throw out a surprised "Nui?!"

Nui dashed through the area, before reaching the main hall of what appeared to be an abandoned car factory. A group of rough yet average looking men appeared to be relaxing on different parts of the old broken down factory equipment. Some of the men were smoking cigarettes, another shuffled through a deck of cards while a few others did various other relaxed activities.

"Time to kill!~" Nui sung happily gathering the attention of the men who made up a group of 12 in total, who were shocked at her sudden arrival.

She unveiled one of her claws, dashing forwards to the closest man. She reached out with her claw getting ready to to strike when...
She suddenly stopped in front of the man the end of her claw less than an inch away from the man's eye.

"HUH?!" Nui reached to the man with disappointed surprise, "Fight back! Come on!"

The man was frozen in place, the only movement from him detectable was subtle fearful shaking and an as terrified gulp. The men surrounding them was as frozen with the combination of fright and surprise.

Mikisugi walked into the room speaking calmly, "come on Nui, you know that's not how we do things."

Nui sighed as she retracted her claw, "Ugh I know... but I do have a point though..."

Mikisugi suddenly realised what she meant, "Wait... no weapons?"

The agents followed suit, beginning to apprehend the group of men.

The man Nui acted like she was about to strike was the first to speak up, "what the hell is going on!?"

Tsumugu arrived immediately expressing his angered iritation "god damn it Nui!"

Mikisugi spoke up to quell his rage, "relax Tsumugu."

However Tsumugu merely diverted the direction of his rage towards Mikisugi, "Relax?!"

The reply from Mikisugi was followed by him looking calmly in Tsumugu's direction, "Yes, relax, it may not have been according to my orders, but Nui going in wasn't a bad move, since if there was a greater trap, she would be the one most likely to come out unscathed. Unless you suddenly grew an aversion to putting her in harms way?"

Tsumugu didn't reply to this, as he merely closed his eyes and crossed his arms.

Mikisugi turned to his right as an agent approached him from that side before saluting, "finished searching the perimeter?"

Mikisugi's acknowledgement immediately provoked the agent into replying, "Yes sir! No signs of the anti life fiber weaponry."

Mikisugi returned to his contemplative state, this time with a hint of frustration, "looks like we were mislead after all..." He suddenly raised his voice, "Alright! Round 'em up, we're taking them to the station!"

Many of the men appeared apprehensive about this with one of them speaking up, "You can't do that! We ain't done anything!"

Mikisugi turned to the man actually responding to his exclamation, "funny you should say that since we haven't accused you of anything, just want to ask you some questions, so it shouldn't be a problem, if you got nothing to hide that is."

The men's malicious outset began dissipate, as their faces began to point towards the ground and their marched along to the guidance of the agents.

Tsumugu stepped forward joining Mikisugi's side, "what're you thinking?"

Mikisugi took another moment of contemplation. He spoke up calmly and analytically, "Smells like a ruse to me... well we'll find out soon..."

The gruff man that spoke out first was sitting in an interrogation room. He sat on a steel chair in front of a matching steel table. His features were well defined with his scruffy poorly shaven chin and his almost bald head. He bore lines over his face, perhaps made throughout his life through stress or in general difficult experiences. He wore a shirt and sweater vest beneath a light brown open trench coat. One of his legs was crossed over the other as he sat back in his seat twiddling his thumbs as he stared into the large mirror in front of him. On the other side, Nui, Mikisugi and Tsumugu stared back, Nui was reminded of the room she would sew in for Ragyō but thought nothing of it.

"We got anything on him?" Mikisugi questioned seemingly to no one.

The police captain stepped forth into view to answer Mikisugi's question, "A few misdemeanours in the past, mugging, cons and the like, all of which he served punishments for, even jail time, but nothing to tie him to the high Akuma."

Mikisugi continued looking into the interrogation room stoically as he replied in affirmation, "Thank you captain, we'll take the rest from here."

This reply causing the captain to calmly leave the room.

Tsumugu, stood at the back of the room leaning against the wall in his usual arms crossed and cold demeanour, "We're wasting our time, informant gave police the run around, we should get back and continue looking for the servants."

Mikisugi took a moment before he sighed as he replied, "yeah..."

However before the could leave Nui suddenly remarked as She continued looking at the man, sharpening her gaze, "He knows something..."

Tsumugu and Mikisugi turned Nui in surprise with a combined, "Huh?"

Tsumugu continued in surprise, "And how the hell do you know that?"

Nui turned to the two nudists with with a casual smugness, "Lets just say I've done some... premium persuasion in my time..." Nui jumped up happily, "Oh I know! How about I go in and interrogate him?!"

Mikisugi seemed somewhat troubled by the notion, "Nui I'm not sure that's..."

Nui spoke up again persuasively, "I won't hurt him if that's what you're worried about! at least not physically."

Tsumugu was next to object, "you can't be serious."

Nui was persistent however, "Oh come on! if you're worried that I would go against my word or something you can just have the kill switch on hand!"

Tsumugu seemed irritated by even the possibility of this taking place, "How about I pull the trigger right now, rid us of your pain in our asses..."

However, Tsumugu's stoic outset was interrupted, "Alright."

Mikisugi's voice shocked Tsumugu, "W-what?!"

Mikisugi continued to the delighted Nui, "you can ask a few questions, but if you harm him even slightly..."

Nui dismissively made her way out of the room, "yeah yeah, off with my head..."

As Nui left the room and through the corridor she whispered to her side causing clone Nui to appear, "follow my lead..." She said, as both Nui Harimes made their way into the interrogation room.

The man let out an exasperated sigh as True Nui made her way into the room, "Tch its you, the little girl."

Nui acted in pretend surprise, "oh you still think that? Well looks are rather deceiving huh?"
The man seemed rather irritated, "ugh fuck this I'm out of here..."

He stood up out of his seat until suddenly Nui shot a cold malicious look in his direction, "I'm sorry, did I say you could stand up?"

A drip of sweat rolled down the man's forehead as he quietly sat back into his seat.

Nui's face changed back into her usual cheerful self as she replied "Ah there it is!"

The man peeped out a confused "Huh?"

Nui sat on the metal table in front of him casually, "Another peek under the façade, funny thing about looks, they used to be my whole life!" she gestured casual, her onset making the man noticeably uncomfortable as she continued, "well clothing to be precise, they represent how others see us, rather a useful tool since as I said... Dreadfully deceiving." Nui grinned maniacally unveiling her razor sharp teeth as her gaze bared down on on the man who froze with fear. Nui began showing her malevolence... "What you see when you look at me is a little girl, when others look at you they see a nobody in the wrong place at the wrong time however when I look at you... I see a lying piece of trash!" The man couldn't respond as he continued to be stuck in his paralysed fear which only served to amuse Nui, "Oh my you're doing that thing again aren't you? where you get all petrified with fear! Its so funny when humans do that, but I need answers."

The man uttered out, "I don't know anything..."

Nui began pretending to ponder on the situation, "hm... how do we make you a bit more talkative? Oh! I know! I'll show you a trick!"

The man looked at her with confusion mixing into his fear.

Nui continued as seemingly careless as always, "You ready?" The man didn't respond but Nui took that as a yes nonetheless. "ok... lets go!" Nui unveiled one of her life fiber claws and in one swift motion she... cut off her other arm.

"WHAT THE HELL!?" The man screamed as Nui's stump for an arm spewed out a geyser of blood.

"Tadaaa~" True Nui careless sung as her severed arm dropped onto the table, "but wait! There's more!" She gestured with her eye to clone Nui at her side.
C
lone Nui looked worried at true Nui's actions but as requested she played along. She attached red threads to the severed hands before pulling on the strings. The hand moved, much to the man's shock, as clone Nui manipulated the hand's movements like a puppet invisible to the man's eyes.

"Say hello to little miss hand!" True Nui said cheerfully, the hand crawling across the table's towards the edge.

The man inched on the chair away from the table, absolutely terrified, "Keep that away from me!"

Nui merely smiled as she said, "Then tell me what I need to know."

The man whimpered, finally relenting, "Alright! Alright! I'll talk! The factory... Its a decoy..."

Nui appeared to take it in inquisitively, "oh?"

The man continued, "They were moving some kind of gear from it's original storage space... I don't know where! They got me because I got barely any connections to the high Akuma, They got the informant to feed the police misinformation so while they chase red herrings, the real business goes on somewhere else..."

Nui nodded with acknowledgement, "Hm I see... and you don't know at all?"

The severed hand unveiled it's life fiber claw causing the man to shriek, Tsumugu was ready to press the trigger but was stopped by Mikisugi.

"Alright! Alright... I can think of a few places where your shit could be..." the man panicked as he answered.

Nui casually picked up her arm off the table placing it against her stump causing the wounds to reform and reattach, "Okie doki! you boys can take the rest from here!" she yelled out into the mirror.

"Good keep this bitch away from me!" The man blurted out in premature relief causing Nui to glare back at the man with malice, making him shriek once again.

Nui then changed back to her usual joyous self, "be careful with your words mister... And no lying now!" she said as she waltzed out of the room.

The man was quick to draw up the locations of the different hideouts for the gang he knew of. Mikisugi and Tsumugu watching over him stoically as the man was panickly scribbling down on a rough piece of paper.

The man's hand shook as he held out the paper towards Mikisugi who snatched it out of the man's hand before proceeding to leave the room saying smugly, "Thanks for your cooperation."

Tsumugu glared at the man as he followed Mikisugi out of the room. "Alright, so what's the plan?"

Mikisugi read through the the drawn up note. "got it."

Mikisugi pointed to one of the location's names causing Tsumugu to take out of his hands inquisitively as Mikisugi continued. "A restaurant that's a front for the group, has a large underground complex, police lit a fire under their asses so they are gonna want to hide the gear as much as possible."

Tsumugu chuckled slightly, "Looks like they're borrowing our tech and our base building strat's."

Mikisugi proceeded to walk down before turning back to Tsumugu, "You coming?"

Tsumugu replying with "Sure, as long as you keep that dog of yours on a chain."

Mikisugi chuckled a bit in response as the two made their way out of the police station. They entered the black vans joining the waiting agents "Alright! Move out! We haven't got time to waste!"

The vans began to roll along, Nui happily bouncing in her seat budging into the agents who sat by her, "I get dibs on the cocaine~"

Mikisugi sighed in exasperation, "This ain't a drug bust Nui and cocaine is the last thing you need..."

Nui reacted with prideful self assurance, "Aha! that's where you're wrong Mikisugi! plenty of non-related busts can have drugs with them!"

Tsumugu in the other van was listening in to their conversation through Nui's kill switch choker, he decided to put it on speaker as in his brash uncaring ways, "Ugh they're starting to sound like a married couple."

The agent that sat beside him on his right spoke up tentatively, "Er sir? I don't know what couples you're thinking of but that doesn't sound like one at all."

Tsumugu replied in his irritation, "Shut it, its the sentiment, not the fact."

The agent responded worriedly throwing up a salute, "Y-yes sir!"

Tsumugu seemed to dwell as he held the device in front of him. "You see what's happening don't you?"

The agent replied obliviously, "huh?"

Tsumugu continued while he closed his eyes in frustration, "Victory's made Aikurō soft... And now he's starting to forget who the enemy is..." He raised a hand to his face as the agent's look changed from confusion to concern with Tsumugu's voice unveiling a hint of pain, "I won't lose another... never again..."