nformation on gangs, Ju San thought to herself. How was she going to do that? Well first off, she had to find them. She figured shady ghouls would be in… shady places. Ju San had heard Naki talking to Eto, and apparently, the fourth ward was a very dangerous place.
She took a shaky breath and began heading in that direction. Ju San tried to tell herself she wasn't afraid, but it was all in vain. She was terrified. The servant made her way into the fourth ward no problem, and she crept around in the shadows. Now what? She had no idea.
Ju San strolled into an ally, and she could feel her heat rate increasing by the second. Why had she agreed to do this? She stumbled over something metal, and a loud clang broke the silence. She cringed and was about to take another shaky step when someone spoke.
"You're not all that good at sneaking around," the man said.
Ju San jumped and spun toward the source of the voice. Her kagune prickled, and she was prepared for a fight.
"Relax, I won't hurt you," he said.
The man was sitting on a fence, and he wore a mask. The mask was odd, it was flat and had a beaklike projectile coming out of it. Four holes were bored in an arc around the 'beak'. The man was of medium height and wore a gray tank top underneath a black wrap sweater. He also wore harem pants and black sandals, along with a black necklace adorned with white, round gems. He was covered in various tattoos, but the ones that caught Ju San's eyes were strange letters around his neck and a sun on the left side of his chest. He wore his black hair in an undercut. Based on his scent, the young servant automatically identified him as a ghoul.
"What do you want?" Ju San asked carefully.
The man pulled off his mask, and Ju San almost bolted. He had a handsome face, but it was the fact that his kakugan was active is what scared her.
"I want to know why a little thing like you is in such a dangerous place at this time of night," he said. He remained expressionless.
"I—I'm looking for someone!" Ju San said, clenching her fists. She inwardly groaned, she was failing at being intimidating.
"That's not much of a mask," the man said, gesturing to Ju San's ski mask.
"It's whatever," Ju San huffed. "What do you want, what's your name?"
"I already told you what I want, and my name is Uta."
"Well, Uta, I am awfully busy."
"Tripping over garbage cans?"
Ju San rolled her eyes and let out another huff. "No."
"What's your name?" Uta asked.
"Can't tell you," the servant said, crossing her arms.
"I have to call you something," he said.
"No you don't."
"Yes I do, Hanakurai."
Ju San blinked. "That's not my name."
"Well, that's what I'm calling you."
Hanakurai. It was an interesting name. Ju San ran through all the kanji combinations in her head, and she finally found one that made sense.
"Flower Crown," Ju San said. "That's what that name means."
Uta nodded. "So what are you really doing here?"
"I'm looking for a gang."
"What gang?"
"Any gang."
"Ah, I see," Uta said, hopping down from the fence. "You're being paid to take out ghoul gangs and find out info on them, like a assassin. Or spy."
Ju San blinked. "Yeah, I guess you could say that."
"And they hired you?"
"They didn't have many options," Ju San muttered.
"I can tell."
It was silent for a few moments.
"I can help you," Uta said. "You need a better mask; I make masks. You need information, I know someone who can get you all the information you need and more."
"Really?"
Uta nodded. "I need you to come with me though."
Ju San hesitated. She had just met this man. However, he seemed friendly, and she needed help…
"Okay."
"Come with me," Uta said, pulling his mask back on disappearing into the darkness.
Ju San followed the man through alleys and down many winding staircases until they reached a little shop.
"HySy ArtMask Studio," Ju San said, struggling to read in the darkness.
"That's it," Uta said, walking inside.
"What are we doing here?" Ju San asked. Uta flicked on the lights, and the servant gasped. Rows of masks became brightly illuminated, and the checkered floor gleamed.
"I'm going to make you a mask," Uta said, sitting the short woman down into a chair.
"But I don't have any money," Ju San said.
"You get paid for spying, right?"
"Yeah. But this is my first time."
"You can pay me back when you have money."
Uta went to pull off Ju San's ski mask, and she quickly swatted his hand away. He did not look surprised at all, and Ju San decided she had never met someone so stoic.
"Don't take it off," Ju San ordered.
"I need to get your measurements," Uta explained.
"Do it with it on."
"Hanakurai, you're an odd one," Uta said, but he obliged to her request.
"So, did you want to stick with the white color?" Uta asked as he measured.
"Um, sure I guess."
"And the flower crown? You want to keep it?"
"Yes."
"I could get you a better one."
"I like this one."
Uta shrugged and continued with his work.
"I take it it's uncomfortable having your hair in the mask."
Ju San nodded. "Yeah."
Uta soon finished, and he made her get out of the chair.
"Okay," he said. "It should be done in a few days."
"Alright. Thank you."
"Come on," Uta said. "We have somewhere else to go."
"Where are we going to go?"
"To get information."
"From who?"
"My friend Itori."