May 29th 2060 - Pet's Scoop Retail Store - Neo Domino City.
It was a beautiful day in Neo Domino city as usual. A day like this one could be described as "Uplifting" to say the least. The sun was shining in the sky, The birds were humming, Children were playing outside and the city was hard at work with expanding its limits.
Reishi was going to one of her favorite Locations - Pet's scoop! The store was wedged between two taller buildings. It looked squeezed as if the neighbors were closing in. The sign was old, some letters had become illegible in the peeling paint. But the window was clean and the artifacts on display were clearly antique. There was no theme to them or color coordination and they were crammed together rather than artistically arranged. She pushed the door and a bell rang.
Clerk: Yoooo!
The clerk shouted from across the room. They always seemed to grace their customers with a loud greeting.
Reishi: Good morning.
She waved back as she entered the store.
She then went over to the "Feline" section of the store and began Casually browsing the store's stocked shelves, She found one of the three items she needed. It was a large bag of cat food labeled "Mackerel Flavored Kibble."
It was suitable for Juno because it was one of the few things she would eat without complaint.
To her right, she saw a couple of dogs treat bags which were coated in a fine bag. She thought to herself "I wonder if hiro would like these." And soon picked it up.
The Last thing on her list was Koi pellets. She usually didn't like to buy processed food for her fish since she was a bit of an elitist when it came to what her fish ate. -But She was running out of money for the month and her parents hadn't been keen on keeping her allowance up.
She grabbed the bags and heaved to the three of them to the cash register.
Clerk: Beautiful day, Isn't it?
Reishi: Yup.
Reishi casually answered. The cashier clerk then hefted the two bags on to the balance table.
Clerk: Pet person, huh? Cat food, Fish food, and dog treats?
Reishi: Haha. I guess you could say. I'm not really a pet person as much as my pets are a human consortium.
She joked.
Clerk: Heheh. Your a charming one aren't you?
Reishi: I try my best!
She said with the utmost confidence.
Clerk: That'll be ¥500.05
Reishi pulled out her wallet and emptied several coins onto the clerk's hands. He then gave her back some change and thanked her.
Clerk: Thank you, have a nice day!
He exclaimed.
She nodded her head and left the store.
Neo Domino City - Eastern Province.
As the eastern half of the city was going through serious renovations, there were little pathways for most people to go home. The route to the subway and the kaiba express had been blocked off and you couldn't find alternative routes with a car as most traffic was backed up at this time of the day.
Reishi was going down an alleyway which would lead her directly to her shortcut back to her house.
*Woosh*
Reishi heard a sound of swishing coming from the rooftop of the surrounding buildings. She looked up and saw nothing. So she just shrugged her shoulders and kept on walking.
Reishi: *Humming*
She ignored the sounder and went back to humming her tune.
*Woosh*
It happened again! A sound of swishing air came from the building above her!
Reishi dramatically looked up and saw person leaping across the buildings.
Dropping - literally - from the roof, a masked man dressed in a red cloak appeared before Reishi, blocking her exit. The stranger wore a Victorian mask that covered their entire face, which they must have procured from the Store, so she ouldn't make out who it was underneath. Then, all of a sudden, the Cloaked Figure jabbed an accusing finger in Reishi's Direction
Cloaked Figure: Who goes there?
Reishi: W-Wha…?
Cloaked Figure: Aha! You! I demand that you bow!
Reishi: B-Bow? Bow to who?
Cloaked Figure: Bow to me,obviously! Bow, for you stand in the presence of the almighty Pathfinder!
The cloaked figure raised their arms by their side as if preening themselves before me. Even with their face hidden by their mask, You could almost envision a smug smile underneath it.
Cloaked Figure: I - the almighty Pathfinder of the night - am the silent guardian of this village! I am its unwanted protector, its unknown vigilante, its unprecedented hero, and its unwarranted guardian, keeping it safe from the terrors of the night that wish it harm! So...bow before me, citizen! Bow before the awesome might that is I, the Pathfinder!
Reishi: Wh-Who are you, exactly?
Pathfinder: Eh? Did I not make myself clear just now? It is I - the almighty Pat-
Reishi: You know that's not what I meant. How are you making your voice sound like that?
The Pathfinder's voice sounded robotic and muffled like it was being altered by some sort of voice-changing software.
Reishi: Take off your mask.
Pathfinder: The Pathfinder answers to no woman!
Reishi: Well, I don't know if you noticed, but I'm not a boy.
Pathfinder: The Pathfinder answers to no woman either! Unless, of course, we're talking about matters in the bedroom…
Reishi suppressed a shudder and a bit of cringe.
Reishi: Just who the heck are you? Take the mask off, seriously.
Pathfinder: I cannot do that! Not while there's trouble afoot!
Reishi: Trouble?
Pathfinder: Yes! Trouble!
The Pathfinder rolled in closer to reishi.
Pathfinder: Milady, It is quite dangerous around these parts! Thieves, Murderers, and rapists freely roam the streets of this fine province and You'll need someone to protect you!
He said.
Reishi: N-No thanks, I'm fine.
Pathfinder: I Insist!
The pathfinder pulled out a machete and pointed it at reishi. The Machete was a shining blade that had a sparkle from the sunlight. It was tipped with some purple liquid which reishi concluded was poison.
Reishi: ….!
Pathfinder: -But this "Protection" shall not come cheap! Oh no no no no! I'll need a heroic pension to keep you and the citizens of this fine city safe!
Reishi: ….Oh.
Reishi fully realized what was happening to her.
Pathfinder: For a Lowly fee, I will look after you as you walk along this path!
Reishi: *Sigh* How much do you want?
Pathfinder: 5000 Neo Yen!
Reishi: *Tch* you cheapskate!
Reishi took out her wallet and lifted several bills from it, totally about 5000 ¥.
Reishi: People like you are the scum of this city….
She said as she gave the pathfinder her money.
Pathfinder: Thanks for the money; proud citizen!
He seemed to ignore that comment.
Reishi: You know, If you're going to extort people you don't have to be so chivalrous about it.
Pathfinder: Oh That's just the fun of it, My dear.
The pathfinder exclaimed with a hearty but evil laugh. The madman who extorted people had just claimed another victim. .