The cell was icy cold, so empty, black and barren that when Saras opened his eyes he forgot they were open. Finding nothing else to do but stare up at the ceiling,the fox couldn't help wondering why he was here. For starters he was innocent of any crime, so that ruled out any of this being legal. Secondly he, nor the Bat Cave had any conflict with the gangs of Gongmen City and third of all he hadn't done anything since arriving save for making sure a bunch of alcohol wasn't frozen altogether. He sighed and watched in the darkness as his breath curled into a wisp of grey and vanished into the air. He heard footsteps followed by the clattering of chains, he heard the door unlock and sat up. He decided against trying to escape and allowed himself to be lifted into the air and carried by a wolf who's rump and tail were now bandaged tightly. Saras decided it was a bad idea to start chatting up to someone you put in under the effects of his 'sedation',Saras was too tired to take note of the surroundings.
Which was a shame because Tin Zu's new base was quite the colourful place.
Danzaburo stopped himself from laughing as he stepped into the large, square looking brick house, currently disguised as the guard he put to the ground in roughly two seconds. There was one main room, a staircase that led to a single door upstairs and a minute landing, and a staircase that led down into the earth. The room was carpeted plainly, with a large roll of black wool that covered the floor, the walls were simple plain mud bricks, that showed someone hadn't been bothered to paint it, there was a pile of unused bricks in one corner, which indicated a lack in mathematical skill from whoever had bought all of it, and a pile of steel rods in the opposing corner. To Danzaburo's left were a pile of scrolls, and to his right stood a weapon's rack. The place stunk of bad management, and Dazaburo couldn't help wondering why anyone who lived in a place as rundown as this, would want anything to do with a shapeshifter.
He heard footsteps, and morphed into a rat, a species that was small enough to hide with ease amongst the old, unused bricks.
He watched as a wolf, his lower half bandaged profusely, led the way, holding Saras at arm's length away, as if afraid he was going to get a few more bandages. The wolf headed up the staircase and Danzaburo followed silently behind. The lupine reached the second floor's minute landing and knocked on the door carefully. The door was opened and the wolf made his way in, closely followed by Danza, who squeezed in just before the door shut.
Compared to the dank cell he had resided in for the past couple of hours the office was a welcome breath of fresh air. It was small, and made even smaller by all the people crammed inside. Saras was allowed onto his feet, the wolf nodded and made his way outside. He opened the door, tripped suddenly and fell screaming all the way down to the first floor. Saras gulped and shivered, the office was colder than his cell had been.
"Sit down, if you please, there are many things which I am eager to discuss with you", a deep voice commanded. Saras obeyed wearily and sat on a chair that made him feel even smaller. As if that wasn't bad enough, he noted the ape across the desk from him. Tin Zu was accurately described in one word. Big. His arms were huge, and bigger than some logs, his hands were massive and bigger than your usual wok. Saras forced a grin, as if he was talking to an uncle, rather than a known crime lord, and one Aang had told him almost specifically to avoid. Saras glanced around the office. The walls were painted light blue, the floor was carpeted red, the desk was oak, the chairs were huge, and consisted of more cushion than actual wood, so much so that the fox was slightly worried he would sink into it and be lost forever. Along Tin Zu's desk were several pictures, a life sized rat model and a knife stuck into the oak. Saras blinked and the rat model suddenly vanished. Had it even been there ? Saras looked keenly at the photos, deciding there had never been a rat model. One was of a lady gorilla, who wore too much makeup, but smiled quite sweetly and held a bundle of cloths motherly. Another was Tin Zu's wanted poster and the last five were of a baby gorilla who Saras suspected was Tin Zu's son.
"Admiring the scenery are we"? The ape asked.
"No sir, I just got, er- distracted".
Danzaburo would have facepalmed. How did that kit even get to Japan, let alone rob the Silver Fang Clan's vaults ?
"I understand, you've been through a lot today. But sometimes kid you can't find an escape route. That's what you really were doing, am I right"?
Well, we have one dumb kit and one blind ape.
"...Sure".
"Okay, I'm just gonna cut to the chase. I heard from sources that you work for the Bat Cave, small fry, but . I heard you had vodka for sale, I think I'm going to be the one to buy it".
Danzaburo did facepalm this time. The chinese really are idiots sometimes. The gorilla just staged a kidnapping in broad daylight to buy alcohol ?
"You staged a kidnapping in broad daylight to buy alchohol"?
Okay, at least he has some common sense.
"I assure you, I'm beyond suspicion, the Gongmen Council have my son hostage in the Tower of Sacred Flame. They think I wouldn't do anything now".
"...Right. So, a price"?
"Not now, later on. I will give you a visit personally in two days. For now retrieving my son is top priority. So expect a deal and have the stuff ready. I'm sure you can show yourself out".
"I'll, manage", Saras answered after a pause, before getting up and exiting slowly, being careful to go down one step at a time.
Danzaburo followed suite.