binches, this is the third chapter, i can't believe. im shooketh. yet, there's still no makoto makimura yet. sowwy about that but i promise she shows up. i p r e. just give her some time, she'll be on her merry way over to yall soon. plus, i want to make sure that i properly flesh things out first and would rather have shorter chapters that flow better than have long chapters that don't go anywhere. me no like that. anyways, enjoy this chapter of kori. 3
"An ice castle? Well sweet Jesus doesn't that sound like a dream! It's so hot here, my sweat is sweating!"
"Listen man, I don't use euphemisms. If it's your way trying to get some drugs, I ain't your guy. Now the guy across the way…."
"I hear that if you don't bring a sacrifice to the castle, the dragon will use it's laser eyes to get you to your bones then it'll make them ice picks to then eat like a popsicle!"
When Goro took on this mission from piss brain, he didn't expect everyone else on this journey to also have brains made out of piss. No matter how many times he mentioned that he was looking for a castle with a deadly ice dragon, they would just look at him like he was filled with crazy. Not even shoving his finger down on a map helped with understanding.
So he just kept moving. After all, there's only one way he could go.
Time soon left all meaning for him. Only the mere seconds of the present carried weight. He couldn't focus on the intricate sights that passed as he went from city to city. There was a job to do and he couldn't waste anything in his arsenal. Maybe one day, when Taiga was finally free, he could write letters to Goro and show pictures of everything he was seeing now. But that day wouldn't come unless he got to work.
Plus, he really had to enjoy the comforts of the shadows more than usual. While he brought a sack of coins with him, this was a longer journey than any of the other missions he was sent out to do. He had to be resourceful and tactful. Through the darkness, he managed to steal some fruits and bread delicacies from local food vendors that propped themselves up on the streets. By no means were they a gourmet meal but they satisfied Goro enough to keep moving.
Frustration from lack of information kept building up in his stomach as he went from town to town. No one seemed to know about this iced prison or a jewel or even a monstrous dragon. Until he reached a bar miles away.
Entering in, Goro automatically felt at home. It was dark and shabby with the only light coming from candles set on the table. There were all sorts of people, ranging from fully cloaked slim men to burly men that wore tattoo sleeves but none made a sound. Cigarette smoke clouded the air inside the bar, creating even more of a mysterious glow in the bar. Caution blurred in each inch.
Slowly, he walked over to the counter, his eye wandering to the patrons. While they didn't move, he could see their eyes following him. Watching him let his guard down and boring holes into his back as he sat down at the stool. "An umeshu please," Goro ordered cautiously, muscles stiff while his eye flickered from the bartender to the others.
The bartender wore dark sunglasses indoors but he nodded his head before turning away to make the drink. His movements were slow yet precise. Careful yet knowledgeable. Goro didn't like that.
"There you are sir," he said, sliding over the drink to Goro. A calculated slide as well.
"Thanks…." Goro muttered under his breath, still watching the bartender in the peripheral in his eye. Unlike other bars, something felt off but it wasn't a bad off. Rather, it was one that he could possibly profit from. "Um," he called out to the bartender. He flickered his eyes up to Goro. "Can I ask ya somethin'?"
"Depends on what it is."
Goro swished his head a bit to check his surroundings. Ears still prickled up. "Have ya heard anythin' about a castle encased in ice?"
Suddenly, the bar became quiet. All eyes turned to Goro, watching his every muscle move. The silence began to suffocate him further. His hand gripped the handle of his knife, ready to pounce-
"You don't have to worry about that," someone said next to him. Goro turned to the source and saw a middle aged man in a tan trench coat sitting at the bar table. Yet, unlike most men who wore those kinds of coats, he didn't look dangerous or anything of the sort. His hair was dark but casually slick back, contrasted to Goro's tight ponytail. He looked warm and friendly, completely different to the patrons here who were friends with darkness. "They may look scary but they're not going to hurt you."
"Who are ya?" Goro asked, his eyebrows furrowing in concern.
The strange man gave a friendly smile. "I'm Makoto Date." He reached into his pocket and pulled out an officer badge. "I'm an officer around these parts but maybe I'm not the best kind since I hang around areas like this." Officer Date put the badge back in his pocket, still giving that look that made Goro squirm with how unsettling it was. "What's your name? I haven't seen you before. Are you a traveler?"
Goro squinted his eye. "What's it to ya? How do I know yer not gonna rat me out?"
The officer laughed. "Trust me, if I wanted to do that, you wouldn't even be in this bar. I'm only here to help." Date leaned onto the bar, moving his waist to be more forward towards Goro. "So, you mentioned an ice castle?" He only got a glare in return. "I'm going to take that as a yes," Date snickered, grabbing the drink that the bartender slid by him. "Pretty dangerous thing to be going after. Is there a reason you'd wanna risk going all the way there?"
Goro continued to stay silent, analyzing the guy and his intentions for this sudden interest in his trip. On one hand, he had to stay stealthy and a guy, let alone an officer, kept protruding into his business that needed to be kept under wraps. He couldn't afford having this trip wasted. For Taiga's sake. On the other hand though….he didn't have any leads except a poorly drawn map and the guy didn't seem that bad. He knew what Goro was referring to. Maybe it wouldn't hurt to beat around the bush with him. As long as he was careful….maybe he could get away with it.
"There's somethin' I gotta get in there."
"Like what?"
"Nah, yer askin' too many questions now," Goro retaliated. "How do you know that castle? Most of these dumb fucks I came across didn't know jack shit of what I was sayin'."
"That's because I got a personal connection with the owners of that family," Date revealed, taking another sip of his drink.
"What? How?"
"I'm good friends with someone who used to work for that family until that greedy bastard took his place," Date growled the last part. "The guy was exiled for no reason and I can't even blame the king for that. He didn't want to let him go but that weasel of a man got in there and wreaked havoc."
"Who's the guy?"
"Now you're the one asking too many questions," Date smirked back, using Goro's line against him. He scooted the bar stool closer to the latter, that nice looking face turning into a hardened scowl. "Listen, I can help you out with whatever you need if you promise to help me with something."
Goro leaned forward. "And what makes ya think I'm gonna help you?"
"Because I'm asking nicely?"
"Don't make me laugh ya old geezer. Even if I did agree, how do ya know that I'm gonna live up to that? I could easily fuck ya over if I wanted to."
"I got enough faith in you, especially since it looks like you live with the consequences of your actions," Date countered, pointing to his eyepatch. Goro flinched. "Plus, I got my sources to make sure it gets done. I think you might have met them before?"
Now that got Goro taken back. "Whaddya talkin' 'bout?"
"That eye of yours. I think I remember speaking to the Dragons of Dojima one time and they told me about a punk that tried to go against them and it cost him an eye. Sounds oddly familiar, wouldn't you say?"
FUCK fuck fuck FUCKING FUCK. Why was it that Goro attracted all the people who could fuck him over in just a mere second!? His scarred eyelid pulsated from the memory, hurting just like it did back then. There was only one real dragon in that group but that's all they needed. One look at him and they could burn if he willed it. They were some of the most terrifying beings on the planet and the run-in he had with them years ago still haunted him at night. His stupidity towards them was what led him to the situation in the first place and now, this prick was dangling a double edged sword in front of his face.
FUCK. Fuck!
"How do ya know those guys?" Goro asked, his voice pitching in ways that he wish he could shut it immediately.
"Ah, you'll find out eventually. But," Date shot his hand out towards Goro, a mischievous glint in his eye. "Do we got a deal?"
Goro wanted to say no. He wanted to punch the living fuck out of the guy and run out of the bar with no hesitation. He was done making deals, done with shady people who would only fuck him over when the time was right. No amount of reasons could make him justify teaming up with a guy who just stalked him to this bar.
But would Taiga take that risk for him? Sure as fuck he would; Taiga wasn't afraid of anything. In fact, he made fear fear itself, whether he wanted it or not.
So he had to push forward, for Taiga's sake.
"Deal," Goro agreed, squeezing Date's hand and giving it a firm shake. Though he didn't let go right away. "But just so ya know, I too got my sources. So don't try funny shit on me either."
Date tightened right back. "Don't worry, didn't cross my mind." He let go of Goro's hand, reached into his pocket to toss coins on the bar counter, and turned back to him. "Ready to go?"
Goro's eyebrows shot up. "Go where?"
"To get that information you need. We're taking a trip to see the Florist."