Dark Soul Hunter.
A fan fiction by Aoi Kitsukawa
Disclaimer: Joker Game belongs to Yanagi Kouji and its related committees; I only borrow the characters in the manga/ anime (or related sources).
Author's Note: Many things happened that too much to say, but sorry for the very late update. So here's the next chapter of Dark Soul Hunter!
Summary: An organization called 'Hunter' that having its branches operated whole worldly; which associated with the Keishichou were responsible to deal with several unsolved cases that suddenly increased in Tokyo. It had a small section named 'D-Agency' to help gathering information after one big incident that happened 3 years ago.
Sakuma Yuuji, an Inspector and veteran of Hunter Division received another unsolved case when the team received several new members. Little did they know the meeting was either a fate or the consequences of the past karma…?
Hunter 03: Dreams and Strangers
"Dreams - as if the truth wasn't painful enough."
Odagiri jolted from his sleep, too shock with the dreams he had.
His sudden movement also shocked his wife –formerly known as Nogami Yuriko –from her sleep and slowly sat up. Seeing her husband breathed hardly and sweats all over his face, she put a hand on his chest, slowly gained his attention.
"Are you alright Susumu-san?" Asked Yuriko as she wiped the sweat off Odagiri's face. "You seem horrified…"
Gently grabbed her hand, Odagiri shook his head, "I'm sorry…it's just a nightmare…I'm too shock, sorry for waking you up…"
Yuriko frowned but said nothing. She knew her husband was keeping a secret from her, unfortunately as a 'normal human being'; she was unable to gain any chances to know what kind of secrets her husband had.
No.
If she also a normal human being.
Both of them were actually, not something people would call as "ordinary people".
True, if they just look from the profession view, it can still be consider as "out of ordinary". Odagiri Susumu was originally from Japan Self-Defense Forces (that was established in 1954 after WWII) before being recruiting into police force, courtesy of Superintendent Ajuro Iorry and Chief Superintendent Yuuki Masaru, along with Sakuma to Hunter Division. While Nogami Yuriko was only a low-paid waitress at one club in Ginza. Many of their acquaintances and colleagues have negative view upon their relationship.
She met with Odagiri when she was only 19, freshly graduated from high school and in desperate need of money to pay the debt her parents left after their sudden death in car crash. Odagiri, whom at that time, just reached 21 as he served the JSDF less than 2 years. When the two superiors from Hunter Division recruited (taken away according to his former officer in JSDF) him, he became the subject of jealousy and hatred among the colleagues (because Hunter Organization is been consider as 'cool and mysterious' organization and usually women are interested with men who work there), while her colleagues felt jealous to her for able to get such handsome and 'rich' guy, accusing her for selling her body to get the man.
She was grateful that Odagiri never believed such rumors.
Their first meeting was during Odagiri's first mission as Hunter member, yet both of them felt like they had been meet before. The curiousity and deja-vu feelings had led them seeing each other, again and again, before falling in love and married. Despite Odagiri was facing bullies in the police force and being accused on crime he never did, he never let go of her hand. Everything ended when one of his superiors step in, doing something that Odagiri did not know what exactly happened, and then everything was calm.
She knew that something must have done for the sake of hers and Odagiri, since she knew; there was a reason why she said herself too, was not normal. When she met her husband-to-be for the first time, flashes of memories suddenly assaulted her, haunting her days and nights; the image of Odagiri went to the studio she worked in Manchuria, watching her play, his smile, his calm smile…
…And the shock feeling she felt when she remembered receiving a telegram from a soldier was the sign of her past memories returned to her.
She did not remember what the contents of the telegram, but she did remember trying to run while crying under the cold breeze, carrying her small child along with the unborn one inside, trying to search for her husband. She finally gave in and slumped against the wall of an abandoned house, unable to accept whatever she was told in the piece of paper. Until someone appeared in front of her and called her name.
That was when she woke up from her sleep, with tears strained down her face and quickly grabbed her phone. Dialing the number of the only man who accepted her, she cried, begging Odagiri to come as soon as possible.
What she did not know was that he also having the same condition as her.
That was when they both realized that they once had met, married and lived together in their past karma, during WW2. They were reborn into this world again, as new people and met with each other, with love and memories still intact in their heart.
They both reluctant to say their real reasons for being together when one day, Odagiri's superiors called him and Yuriko to the office and asked them if they want to get married. At first, they tried (at least, Odagiri was), but one of the superiors; one with cool and calm black eyes just kept on staring at him and Odagiri finally gave up, telling the real reasons. To their surprise, none of them said they were crazy etc., instead happily accepted the news along with Sakuma and the rest of Hunter members.
Despite the truth of them being reborn into this world, which actually sounds crazy.
But not for them.
Therefore, when Odagiri said he was fine, she knew her husband was lying. There must be something in the past that still haunting him, except he appears to unable to remember what kind of past is. It made her frown, which not unnoticed by her husband. He reached out and kissed her forehead, then her cheeks. Soft and gentle; Yuriko looked at her husband who was looking at her with love in his eyes. She let a small smile crafted on her lips, as she wrapped her arms around his torso.
"Don't worry," He said, as Odagiri kissed her hair. "Or the baby will be moody."
He ran his hand on the swollen belly, feeling the new life that was growing inside Yuriko. She was entering her second trimester, and their son will have another sibling in couple of months. Yuriko sighed in content as they both lay down once again, as she snuggled closer to Odagiri, before she drifted away.
While Odagari stared at the ceiling, thinking about the dream he had that night. It was the memories of him almost dying after a bullet went through his body, when this mysterious woman came by and asked something to him. He tried to remember but the headache slowly throbbing his head, and he decided to stop thinking about the dream.
Despite of that…
Why did he feel like it was as important as equal as his life?
-Somewhere in Tokyo's neighbourhood-
"Why you useless brat!"
WHAM!
"I told you many times to clean up the dojo after training! Such simple task you can't even do properly!?"
A man with white shirt and black pants was screaming towards a small figure, slumped against the wall of the dojo. Messy brown hair with trail of blood at the corner of his lips, he slowly wiped the blood as he glared at the angry man.
"The hell…why I'm the only one has to do the cleaning…? Why don't you ask brothers as well, curse father…?" He said as he intentionally provoked the man he called as 'father'. The man, his face went red with rage, quickly grabbed the boy's hair and yanked him by force, ignoring the hiss of pain from his son.
"What the hell are you saying, huh? You damn brat! Are you trying to show that you're far better and superior than your father huh? HUH!?" He slapped the boy's face hard; causing him fell on the ground harder, scratching his palms and right elbow. Not enough with that, he repeatedly kicked the boy as much as he wanted, screaming curses and foul words, sometimes hitting him with a stick.
Behind the commotion, two young adults were snicker and laugh, watching their father beating the boy as if they were watching some kind of entertainment. The boy screamed in pain, yet those two were laughing and pointing to him, saying how useless and idiotic their brother was. After some time, the father gave one last kick to the ribs, before he panted heavily and screamed to the poor boy,
"No dinner for you tonight! Don't bother to come in either if you don't clean up the mess, you lazy bone brat!" With that, he slammed the door close, leaving behind the injured and bruise boy who were struggling to stand up on his own.
His brown eyes became cold and dull, as he breathed slowly. He slowly walked away from the dojo, grabbed his fallen bag and uniform and walked away from the area. He ignored the task he was given before, rummaging his bag as he found his cell phone. He flipped open and saw one message and five missed calls:
From: J-kun
Hey, sorry that I couldn't walk you back home. I have lots of work today. I tried to call you but you wouldn't answer it. Is something the matter? I hope you're alright…
By the way, I heard that there's an old guy met with you at school before. People said he wore white glove and walked with a cane, could it possible that he's the man we saw in that photo during last night gathering!? I want to see you tomorrow, so I'll wait at the usual place.
He smiled before he hissed in pain, as his lips were hurt. He walked limply, holding his side as his breathing was getting heavier than before. His whole body was aching, his head is throbbing painfully that he almost vomited. He was sure that bruises slowly emerged on his already 'black and blue' skin that almost unable to heal in time.
He did not know where to go. He just walked and walked, without any directions or aims where to go.
He started to feel dizzy; it seemed one of the attacks hit him on his head. He felt painful throbbing started to torture him merciless, and he walked unstably, almost hit the ground.
He did not realize that he was in the middle of the road.
He did not hear the loud horn that appeared in front of him.
He only saw a bright light that suddenly appeared in front of him, followed by the sound of hitting break, and stop.
He barely knows what happened.
It was because, after that, the only thing he ever remembered was the pain that kept torturing him, and he felt that his body became so heavy that he started to fall down, and his eyelids were too tired to open up again.
He heard something was open and a man shouted to him, followed by running footsteps.
After that, he was completely unconscious.
-Hunter Division, Tokyo Metropolitan Police Department, Kasumigaseki, Tokyo-
Sakuma narrowed his eyes as he watched the photos of the victims in front of him. It was already midnight, yet he decided to pull all night to find any clues for the division's current case. 'The U-Students Murder Case' was what the case had been called due to the victims were all from various universities in Tokyo. Also, the other significant of the case was the victims were all female students. It made many investigators ended up on dead end, not knowing what they should do. Most of the victims did not know each other, if there were only once or twice meeting. Due to the inability of Division 1 to solve the case, it was handed to Hunter Division for solution.
CLIK.
A mug with hot coffee was place on Sakuma's desk and he realized it was Amari who handed it. The widower with a daughter gave Sakuma his gentle smile as he sat next to the inspector.
"Stop frowning too much, Sakuma. It's not good for the skin," He said as he took a sip of his own coffee.
"Amari? I thought you already called it a day. What are you doing here? What happen to Emma?" Asked Sakuma as he was a bit surprise to find Amari still at the office. The single father raised his eyebrow as he calmly said to Sakuma.
"I asked Odagiri a favor tonight. Besides, Emma had always wanted to come to his house so that she could play with Kenji-kun," He put his mug and glanced at Sakuma. "You're not the only one whose head is spinning around, trying to solve this case."
Sakuma just chuckled weakly as he took another sip of his coffee, "Yeah…everyone does."
Both of them became silent, as Amari took a file related to one of the victims while Sakuma looked at the photos of the victims. Slowly, the door was opened and revealed a young man, with features almost resembled Superintendent Ajuro Iorry, walked into the room with a box of snacks on his right hand.
"Another all-nighter? Sakuma-kun, you're already lack of sleeps for three days," Said the young man as he placed the box on the table. "Amari-kun as well?"
"It can't be help Akira-san, until this case is solved, I don't think we'll have enough rest," Said Sakuma as he chuckled. The man named Akira just smiled, as he made himself a mug of coffee for himself.
Ajuro Akira is Superintendent Ajuro Iorry's younger brother who is also one of the Hunter Division's upper echelon, having the same rank as his eldest brother. He was responsible on the welfare and infrastructures of the said division; from the furniture to the medical equipment (standard infirmary), as well as public relation and diplomatic since it was an international organization that also dealt with other countries. Just several months ago, they just cooperated with France's Hunter Division where they investigated a serial killer who found pleasure to rape and killed young boys and ran away from France to Japan after its crime was discovered by the said organization. It took some times to capture him since he used many methods that managed to get him away from being caught until their supervisors stepped in and captured him after they fought him half-beaten. Detective Alain Lernier was heavily injured along the way, and almost got killed if not another help came unexpectedly. Even Sakuma, Odagiri, Akira and Iorry suffered serious injuries too.
Most of the members who involved in the case had to receive counselling supports due to the brutal way the criminal used to torture his victims, yet several people like Kitami Naoko and some people react like nothing happened. Despite their cool actions, Sakuma knew Naoko also got involved with the brutal fight with the said criminal and mostly the one who delivered the attacks in vicious ways; something unusual for a young girl like her. While she is almost reaching 19 (her birthday in April), he knew never to underestimate Naoko's ability to fight. Her partner Suzuki Asato, was her frequent 'punching bag' due to his slacking off attitude, but still managed to be their division's top agent…
After the death of their previous no.1 top agent of Hunter Division, 3 years ago.
Aside from his PR skills, he was also one of the few people who managed to calm down people who were under PTSD effects, including Naoko. Sakuma, Amari and Akira were at the same age, but his experiences and skills were more than the two men's skills and experiences. Still, he never acted arrogant and humbly befriend them and everyone in the team.
"So…Sakuma-kun, how many victims we had since the first case?" Asked Akira as he opened one file contained the information of the first victim.
"Seven in two weeks," Said Sakuma.
"Three from last week," Amari clicked on the screen, scrolling the number of the victims.
"And four this week," Akira closed the file and grabbed another one. "A friend of mine gave me a suggestion."
"About what?"
"Profiling."
"Huh?" Both adults looked at their supervisor, eyes were required his explanation.
"Make a profiling for our suspect," He said. "My acquaintance said that the links are invisible but not missing. She told me to use profiling to list down our suspect' MO so we could find the lead."
"Well, easy to say than to do," Said Amari as he sighed. "Can't we just use psychometry Akira-san? That way we can find the evident easier without any delay."
"Not without Tatsuya," Sakuma and Amari stopped whatever they did, finally realized the error.
"He's best at handling the ability, but without him, we can't read the vision as clear as him. Besides…" Akira frowned as he looked at one of the tables in the room. "His injuries still not heal."
The two adults said nothing, as they remember their other supervisor. But the guilty expression was quickly changed as they both looked with each other with determination and stared grabbing whatever files or papers, and faced Akira.
"Let's start it," Said Sakuma as he opened a file.
Both Akira and Amari smirked.
"First, his victims are young woman, aged within 18-25."
"Pretty face," Said Amari as Sakuma and Akira chuckled. "What? It's true right?"
"University students; different place."
"Different course."
"Two short hair, the rest long hair."
"A fetish?"
"Maybe."
"All of them attending goukan," Said Amari.
Sakuma narrowed his eyes as he remembered something. "Amari, you said all of them attended goukan, right?"
"Yes, why?"
"No…I think I remember something…etoo…AH!" He cried suddenly, shocking Akira and Amari a bit. "Do you have the copy of the CCTV videos?"
"I do," Amari quickly typed the keyboard and revealed several videos on the screen. Sakuma looked at the screen before his hand touched one face that was shown on the video.
"This guy."
"Why? What's wrong with this guy?" Asked Akira as he took a closer look.
"I always felt that there is something missing, now I remember why..." Said Sakuma as he started typing at his table. "This guy, he's always on the crime scenes wherever we found the victims! Even with the latest victim -Ayatsuzi Marina, he's also been there!"
"Did you get his identity?" Asked Akira as he stood up and went to the shelves, grabbing some files. "In CODIS? INTERPOOL Data?"
"I'm trying...DAMN IT! His face is too far away!" Cried Sakuma as he slammed his hands.
"We're so close to find him!"
"So he's our suspect?" Asked Amari as he took a dark blue cable. "Akira-san, permission to connect to our 'extra cable'?"
Akira and Sakuma looked at Amari who was ready to insert the said cable, before Akira nodded his head. He narrowed his eyes as he said to Sakuma, "Sakuma, make copies of his face whenever you can see it clearly. Then combine his face and re-create it until it become a complete face!"
"Yes sir!" Said Sakuma as he started his work.
Akira looked at the two agents before he frowned. He had a bad feeling upon the suspect they found, but most of all, he was worried if he had to show the suspect to everyone once the re-creation was complete. Especially when it comes to the other supervisor named Tatsuya, who was absent from.
He had a feeling the suspect had some sort of relationship with Tatsuya and it was not good at all...
Especially if those new recruits-to-be will be coming to their place in mean time.
He don't remember how did he get into this place.
A young teenager, wrapped in bandages and plasters, lay on his back; looked at his surrounding with confusion that boiling inside of him.
He was confused.
He was scared.
He did not know how he got himself into this place.
A strange place where he himself did not know anything about it.
The last thing he ever remembered was, when he started to feel dizzy; it seemed like one of his father's hits hit him on his head. He felt painful throbbing started to torture him merciless, and he walked unstably, almost hit the ground.
He did not realize that he was in the middle of the road.
At that night.
That cold, empty night.
He growled as another pain stabbed his head merciless.
He was sure his head got hit hardly.
But who was the person who help him?
Judging from the condition of him; wrapped in bandaged almost all over his head (he didn't hit himself hardly after he fainted right?), his neck, arms, torso…
A sound of sliding door being opened shocked him from his world and instantly he glanced up to see that was entering the room.
"Are you awake?"
A gentle, male voice greet him in calm manner, however it did not stop himself from looking at the newcomer with suspicious eyes.
However, he felt strangely calm…
And safe.
He looked at him again, the newcomer.
He was a man in middle 20s. His eyes were black, shone as if a crystal bathed with the sunrays. His hair also black, with bangs that cut in the middle; the bangs however seemed a bit longer to each sides with some strays in the middle. He was tall, yes, but still, he looked thin.
He had this gentle expression as well as his aura.
That young boy once again felt safe, and calm…
"How's your body?"
His question startled him. Hesitate, he slowly looked up, stared at other black eyes that felt cool but gentle, almost as gorgeous and fascinating every person who looked directly into them.
A sudden touch jerked him, a lot. Suddenly, he seemed to see a vision of strong hand, slapped his face hard, followed by several curse words that was aimed to him, scared him terribly.
He did not hear the voice of the man that spoke to him panicky.
He did not want to feel the touch of other hands that started to make a contact with him.
He did not hear his own scream, or other voices that started to fill his surroundings.
He only realized that he was crying when he felt strong arms held him in tight hug and held him closer to him.
Upon in this embrace, the soft voice kept saying to him gently to calm down and not be afraid; everything is going to be all right.
His breathe slowly calm down, and closed his eyes as he felt warm hand stroke his hair gently.
Then he remembered what had happened to him.
He was beaten by his father because he skipped his cleaning duty at the dojo.
He left the house after he was beaten badly, and walked aimlessly through the night.
He just wandered without knowing where to go, all alone in the middle of night.
He did not realize that he already walked to the middle of the road.
He did not hear the loud horn that appeared in front of him.
He only saw a bright light that suddenly appeared in front of him, followed by the sound of hitting break, and it was stop.
He barely knows what happened.
It was because, after that, the only thing he ever remembered was the pain that kept torturing him, and he felt that his body became so heavy that he started to fall down, and his eyelids were too tired to open up again.
He heard something was open and a man shouted to him, followed by running footsteps before he lost his consciousness.
That was how he ended in this unknown place.
The man who was holding him kept reassured him that everything will be all right, and nothing to be afraid of.
It was strange; they were strangers but it seems that he felt more safe secure with him.
It was their first meeting in awkward way, but he never felt so safe like this.
When was the last time he ever remember being safe in his life?
Perhaps, only 'that' time…
That he ever feel safe.
As he lay down (the man made him do that), he looked at the man with curious eyes. He realized that the person, who held him before, had his face half wrapped with bandage. He was not the first person who greet him, this person was different. His left eye was covered as well, and he could see his left arm was bandage wholly. But it never stop him from comforting him, since he knew the boy needed some comfort. He wanted to say anything but his throat felt pain; the wound that he received from the last attack was not healing yet.
The said man shook his head slowly, placing a hand on his head as if a comfort gesture. The young boy closed his eyes for a moment, before he looked at the said man again.
"Sleep," He said. "Your body needs it."
He just nodded his head when the man asked him to take some rest and sleep. He unconsciously grabbed his hand as the man wanted to leave the place, and he said to him;
"Please don't leave me alone…"
Like a parent, he stared at him with shock, and then his eye turned gentle and nodded his head, agreed to stay with him…
For that moment.
As he was about to fall asleep, he wondered why he felt so safe with the stranger, because this was their very first meeting with each other.
They were strangers, and yet, he knew that he felt safe whenever he was with this person.
Knowing that he finally safe, Hatano Ryousuke let his eyelid closed and let him to be submitting into the world of unconsciousness.
End of Chapter 3
I wonder if fate was trying to mess with me...apparently someone was trying to mess up with me and co-workers last month during one of the important events held by our HQ. Naah, better to tell this next time, urgh!
By the way, the next chapter will have the investigation happen at the same time the new recruits-to-be coming to Hunter Division and D-Agency. There will be more people to appears but regarding Hatano's condition in the last part, yes his father abused him. His situation was mention during Yuuki and Iorry's conversation in Chapter 1.
I'm sorry for being late. Thank you for those who read this story, I really appreciate it.
–Aoi Kitsukawa.