II
They both took a seat across from each other, with a small round table separating them. Usagi glanced at him for a moment, observing how he looked different from when she first met him. She noticed the gun in his hand and wondered who gave a madman such as himself a gun.
"What do you want from me?" she grumbled, keeping both hands crossed on top of her book. Seeing his face brought back terrible memories of her visit to Zhyun. It wasn't too far from her home but she couldn't dare venture back.
"What I need from you is your connections." he said. "You know so many people on this island, but I only need just two. It would have been three but..."
"Master Kusho died a few years ago." she responded emotionlessly.
"First, he tried to kill me and my art. Then he kills his master, who I so desperately needed for this grand performance." she could hear his voice tremble, not out of fear, but out of contained rage.
She knew what this man was capable of, it would be foolish to make him angry. "I don't know what goes on in Zed's head; why he killed Master Kusho."
"I watched you, Minoriko," she frowned when he used her other name. He leaned in closer, enough to make her retreat back to her chair. "You have a desire to chase, but only from a distance. Do you enjoy the chase?"
"What are you getting at?" she said a lot louder than it was supposed to come out. He gave her a sinister look; as if he finally trapped the bird in her cage. She realized what he was trying to do and calmed down, though her hands continued to curl in fists. "I'm not important to your performance. And you know that."
"I find every actor is important to my performance." she could feel the cracked smile through his mask. "And every audience loves a tragic backstory." Usagi tensed as he said that, the memory of her mother resurfaced in blurs. "Your father died before you were born and, your mother died in your arms. You almost died as well... tell me, how did you survive?"
Usagi could barely remember that day, all she could remember was that she ran for hours and hours until her legs grew numb and collapsed beneath her. She remembered it was dark all around to the point where she couldn't see her surroundings. Then... she felt something warm wrap around her body and lull her to sleep. Once she woke up, she found herself by a tree with a bunch of fruit by her feet. To this day, she wasn't sure who saved her.
"Someone saved me..." she muttered to herself.
Jhin leaned in forward as she retreated backwards. He stared into her face, suddenly noticing even the smallest bump and wrinkles, especially around her eyes. The desire to make her beautiful grew in him, not that he didn't find her pretty. Just that to him, four bullets through her body would make her perfect. One through her forehead, turning her green hair blood red. Another through one of her eyes, shattering the red contained there and letting it run down her cheek. Another bullet in her dominant arm, turning it into a twisted rose vine. The last one would go through her crystal heart, making a lovely blue and black rose. 'Perfect.'
"What are you looking at?" she snapped. She stomped on his foot hard, causing him to sit back down. He raised an eyebrow at her while she shifted her eyes away from him. "Keep your distance."
He chuckled to himself, then coughed. "So how long should I give you? Four days?"
"Four days? That's nowhere near enough!"
Jhin juggled his gun with one hand while the other tapped on his cane. Or at least, Usagi thought it was a cane. It had such an unusual shape that it was hard to figure out. "Ah, I did hang some lanterns across Jyom Pass. Sixteen in total, and every fourth one was red. How about sixteen days, my dear?"
"...I think I can do it in sixteen." she said, thinking of something else. Something didn't exactly add up with her. Usagi narrowed her eyes and asked, "Why can't you find them yourself?"
He froze, the gun almost slipping from his hands as he caught it just by the trigger. One bullet fired straight through the table and she instinctively moved her foot back. She glared up at him as he chuckled, unfazed by her foot almost having a hole through it. "They have me working behind the scenes in my own production. Could you believe that?"
"Working behind the..." her voice trailed off. Her eyes shifted as she was pulling predictions from all parts of her mind. "Who are you working for? I didn't think you'd be the type to work with others."
"I prefer working alone but when it comes to my work, I'd do anything." he tilted his head towards her, but she already knew it was meant to her. She hated how much he continued to dance around her questions.
He stood from his seat, tapping his cane against the wooden floor again. The sound was starting to get on her nerves, just like his voice. "Minoriko," he started, though there was a sudden change of tone. Jhin walked towards her, passing her graciously. She was about to turn to face him when she felt cold metal pressed against the back of her head, followed by a click.
"Don't disappoint me as how you disappointed the family you once knew."
Usagi clenched her fist, "You know nothing."
As a fiery aura enveloped her hand, she felt a sudden change in the air. Usagi thought she imagined it, but realized Jhin lowered his gun and cursed to himself under his breath. He let out a loud, deranged laugh that sent shivers down her spine. "It was fun talking to you dear, but it is time to make my departure. Au revoir."
He took out a grenade and threw it on the ground in front of him, creating a large explosion. Once the smoke subsided, he was gone.
Usagi sighed as her first thought went to looking out the window in her bedroom. She sprinted to the window and peeked her head out; the area outside had become darker than night. 'Well at least it scared him off.' she thought before closing in the curtains.
She lied in bed, her feet hanging off of the end. It had been a few hours since she'd gone to bed, but she lied in wake. Her thoughts were on the conversation between her and the demon. As much as she wanted to do what he asked of her, her heart was still tied to the past. Usagi thought of figuring out who he worked for, but where would she start? Not to mention, she would need help and there weren't many people she could turn to.
She rolled over on the bed, turning to her mother's portrait she had beside her. "What would my mom do?" she sat in the bed, recalling how many missions her mom had told her about. However, Usagi couldn't recall much other than her rebellious nature and her obsession for magic, which was still present to this day.
"This is useless." she let herself fall back onto the bed. Then her thoughts went to Sona. As much as she wanted to keep her away from this mess she was dragged into... 'Maybe I can ask Sona for help. I need a companion as well.'
Her mind went back to Jhin himself and who he worked for. She had first thought Noxians, but she remembered when they captured him and she asked, he said Noxians were 'unartistic' and 'drol'. She was curious as to who he worked for. If only he gave her a straight answer rather than trying to hit at her weak points. She knew Demacians wouldn't do anything terrible. Usagi thought maybe he was working for the legendary pirate Gangplank, but then she realized he would never be interested with working for them.
Her mind went to her own Ionian people. As good as they were, some of them had the potential to be evil. She didn't want to admit it, but this prediction made more sense than the others. She wondered if Shen, Zed and Karma all started their own investigations; chances are they did.
She finally started to drift off to sleep, her mind focused on the family she once had.
Sona knocked on the door a few times, then waited. It was early in the morning and Usagi planned for them to spend the entire day together before she had to leave for Demacia again. The blue-haired heard a few footsteps from inside, followed by the door opening. Sona smiled as Usagi answered the door, still dressed in her crop top and shorts which she used as pyjamas. Her hair was an unruly mess of green.
"Morning Sona." she grumbled as she tried to blow a few strands of her hair out of her face. Sona only responded with a brighter smile. As early as it was, the blue-haired was ready for the day with her beautiful blue and yellow dress that seemed to be made of silk. Her hair was combed into two ponytails as they both danced in the wind, the yellow tips blending with the sunlight.
"Sorry I didn't get a lot of sleep..." Usagi said as her mind drifted to the events of last night. "Actually, I need to talk to you about something that happened last night."
Sona tilted her head innocently, then entered the home. A saddened look dashed across her face as she sat down at the table. Usagi joined her as well, sitting beside her instead. However, she looked into her bedroom and out the window, seeing nothing but trees and green foliage.
"Have you heard of Khada Jhin?" Usagi asked. From the corner of her eye, she could see Sona nod. "Well, he came to see me yesterday. Asked me to look for Shen and Zed, I'm sure you've heard of them. He's working with someone, though he didn't say who. I'm wondering if I should do as he says or find out who he's working for."
She got up from her seat and went into her bedroom. She came back with some paper and a pen. "What are your thoughts on it Sona? What do you think is best?"
Sona spent the next minute or two writing away. Usagi glanced at what she wrote; it seemed as though it was going to be a large paragraph. She pushed the book to her friend as the green-haired started to read.
I think you should find out who he is working for. I know of this man, but I haven't met him personally. Though, he has sent me numerous letters saying that he's a better performer than me and all I am to him is "background noise". He threatened to kill me and claim his rightful spot as "the future of performance".
Usagi clenched her teeth and fist; it was one thing threatening her, it was an entirely different story threatening her friends. There was no way she was just going to let him get away with threatening her dearest friend she has met since she lost her family that day. She looked down on the rest of the sheet, seeing more to read.
Not only that, but you said he wants Zed and Shen? You're right, I don't know exactly who they are but I hear you mention them a lot more than you mention the others. I think deep down, you hold both of them very close to your heart. They were your second family, weren't they? Even if you aren't as close to them now, family is family and you should protect them. I'm sure they would do the same even if you're estranged from them.
The green-haired woman could feel her face get warm and her body get lighter. She didn't think of it that way; she was glad she asked Sona for her thoughts. Knowing her for a long time and trying to understand her condition, she figured she always did have a lot to say. Every time she did though, not once did she regret it.
"I guess it's time we figured out who he's working for." as she said that, Sona gave her that warm smile that made her feel at home. "Where would we begin?"
Sona held the book by the spine and shook it. Something fell from close to the back of the book and the blue-haired open the folded piece of paper. It was an entire map of Ionia along with red markings of important places on the island. There were also blue markings where people were located. "The Grand Library? The Placidium? How about some of the libraries nearby? Or we can even go to the Floating Palace! I've always wanted to meet that witch up there!"
Sona shook her head while she laughed and pointed to a different spot. Usagi froze in place, looking at where she pointed. "...When we said we were going to help them, I didn't have that idea in mind."
The blue haired took the notebook and scribbled in it. She flipped it over to Usagi and she read it. I think they can help you. They might know something you do not.
The green haired looked back at the map, seeing "The Order" written in red and the names, "Shen, Akali, Kennen" written in blue. She wanted to explain to her friend why that was a bad idea, but she held her tongue. She sighed; the trip was only for a little while but she still dreaded it. Even if they were once family to her.
"What about your mom? Won't she be worried?"
Sona waved it off; the green-haired figured she was used to Lestara worrying for her safety. The maven grabbed the notebook and pen and put them in Usagi's bag. She then floated to the door and opened it wide. The green-haired followed behind her closely, still wondering if this was a good idea.
Every time Usagi stepped out of her home, she was momentarily blinded by the sun's rays. To think, the vast amount of trees around her home would block out the sun. In reality it did little to curb the amount of light she was exposed to, even during the night.
Sona noticed her friend lagging behind and stopped so she could catch up. Once her green-haired friend caught up, she grabbed her hand and dragged her along. All Usagi wanted to do was run back to her home and lock herself in the closet. The blue-haired noticed her friend resisting and let go of her hand. She tilted in her direction, her face demanding an explanation.
"Sona! I don't think... maybe this isn't... a good idea. I mean..." she trailed off when she realized all the memories of her past with her second family, along with the guilt and remorse she felt caught in her throat. Usagi quietly looked down and shook her head. "I'm sorry, I just remember a lot. I don't know, if they'll accept me back."
The blue haired nodded, then smiled and put a hand on her shoulder. Usagi knew she was trying to reassure her, but she just didn't understand - and didn't know - what happened in the past. Though, she didn't want to be rude to her close friend so she shrugged and continued walking past her. "It's okay Sona, let's keep going."