It was mid-day outside, the sun was shining through the treetops from its position in a cloudless sky. The air was silent and the leaves and grass were damp and filled whoever stood in the midst of it with a sense of content and easiness. Couples walked freely hand in hand, smiling, laughing, and being happy. On a day such as this, where the very essence of a smile was all around, no one noticed the redhead with a deep frown, they didn't want to, it would bring them down. It is unfortunate that the joyful so rarely make acquaintance with the dismal, because there is noone that the dismal need more.
So sat the redhead, in a casual red dress that fell just beneath her knees and dainty red shoes. Her lips painted red and her nails to match, with her eyes resting alone. They held no colour at all, they seemed so small and distant, and no one saw them. This is because she could not look up, it seemed, as though she had spent her entire life looking down. So she continued to stare down, and if someone were to meet her gaze they could see the fear and tears that filled those eyes as she sat alone. Not one person would try to, it would bring them down.
Quickly and suddenly she dried her eyes and looked up, a look of concentration and resignation replacing the once remorseful face. The park that had once surrounded her with people and animals now looked empty, but the presence of another could be felt not too far away. The faint rise and fall of breath mixed poorly with the aura that pushed up against her, making her want to pull back and flinch. Still she sat on her bench, and then he was next to her, the thin feminine figure seemed laid back and thoughtful. Easily and calmly he turned his head to look down on her.
"Tanaka." He greeted her.
"Sonic." She responded.
"Your mother's paying well for such a simple job."
"Well, you know. She's odd like that.
"She's odd in many ways." Sonic scoffed. "The lot of you are."
"Oh? And you're so composed. Come then, where's your usual confidence? You seem rather worried about something."
Sonic looked away from her, carefully considering what would be the best thing to say, if there was even a "best thing to say." This part about sonic was especially different, he always seemed much more ready to answer something, and rarely gave much thought to what he should say.
"My enemy is organized." He said, still not quite looking at her.
"Is that really such an unusual thing that it throws you off?" She asked with a tone that seemed to ask more than the question did itself.
"Hm, for him it is. He's become… efficient? Perhaps. He's been leaving just as soon as he's been showing up. There are few places I can challenge him alone and I never seem to be at those places at the right time."
"How ironic."
"Idiot." Sonic flicked the side of Tanaka's head as he spoke. "I shouldn't have said anything to begin with, come on, let's get this over with."
"Yes, that would be best. Do we have to deal with-"
"Of course, why else would I have cleared the place out. Come, the thrones a mile or two into the forest."
"Very well." She shuddered, already uncomfortable. She stood up, noting just how casual Sonic looked, he wore a baggy black T-shirt and tight track packs. He seemed so casual, in fact, that she couldn't quite pinpoint where he had placed his sword. He must have brought it with him, even if he was among friends, one does not simply deal with assassins of this capacity and not bring a weapon. Tanaka had personally placed two small, easily concealed blades on the outside of each of her legs, it wasn't much, but it would do if a fight were to commence.
Then they were off, in the blink of an eye, speeding into the nearby trees with Sonic leading Tanaka deeper and deeper. They stopped in front of a golden throne with velvet lining: empty. Out from behind a tree came a young man with pale skin and freckles, orange hair topped with a crown, and a long regal cape. He looked completely outlandish and ridiculous, but also happy and carefree. Slowly he focused his sight onto the two assassins, his large pupils quickly shrinking afterward and making him look surprised and deranged. His mousey face further betrayed any hint of rationality that he might of had. There was no way he was over twenty, yet his mere presence was enough to force those around him to do as he said.
"Well?" The boy said with a shrill voice. The two assassins glanced at eachother before bowing to him. He moved like someone of vast importance, but despite everything he was not royalty. However he was a very valuable asset and this treatment was a part of the price to deal with him. He approached Sonic first and outstretched his hand, which Sonic took and reluctantly kissed. He repeated the process with Tanaka, who was outright unnerved by the act. Finally, the boy retreated to his throne, where he was truly a sight to see. He could not have looked more out of place in the middle of a japanese wooded area, atop a solitary solid gold throne. He shifted in his seat until he seemed comfortable, finally resting his chin on his fist, never looking away from Tanaka.
"Hm. What an odd position we are in now. Surely you'll be punished." The boy said, decisively looking away from her and up to the sky. Speaking with him was infuriating, he was always so playful and coy.
"I completed my task." Tanaka responded.
"Poorly and sloppily. I'm sure you've already been told off? Hm, I'm sure the actual punishment is still to be executed." His grin grew wider as he spoke. "I wonder, hm. Perhaps she'll make you-"
"Prince," Sonic interjected, standing up, tired of the puppeteer Prince. "I have other things to attend to. Why are we here?"
"Peh, you're no fun Sonic. Fine, I have some information for you, the three of you, but where to start." The Prince scratched his chin in deep thought.
"The three of us?" Sonic asked.
"Me, you, and my mother, I am sure." Tanaka said, still kneeling.
"Indeed…" The Prince said before looking back to Sonic. "I suppose I'll start with you. It's the least important news considering you only tagged along as an unnecessary bodyguard."
Sonic clearly took offense to the claim that he was unimportant, scoffing and looking away. He grew more irritated by the second, this seemed to please the Prince. "Well then, what is it?" Sonic asked.
"You stay around her," The Prince pointed to Tanaka. "You'll run into your friend before the week ends. You're brother is looking for you as well, he has no defense."
Sonic seemed more content than before, but he looked back down at Tanaka confusedly. "Why? What the hell does he want with her?"
"Tch, what makes you think I cared to find out?." The prince shifted focus to Tanaka and retrieved something from his pocket. It was a small parcel, a steel box that made sounds with every little movement. He threw it to Tanaka, who calmly and easily grasped it out of the air. "Everything you're mother requested is in there, see that it gets to her." Tanaka responded with a nod and the Prince moved on.
"Right then," He said, his sly grin returning as he stared down at her. "On to the fun stuff. Sonic leave us for the moment, She'll find you afterwards." The Prince said smugly, Sonic hesitated for second and then reluctantly walked away. The Prince watched him until he was out of sight.
"...That little sneak, as long as I operate he will be the plague of me." The Prince said as he scratched his chin. "Regardless, you've made quite the name for yourself, even if no one knows who you are, it seems like heroes are lining up to find the one who killed the notorious Kana Toromia. I'm sure some of them will want to thank you, but many would rather simply kill you. Metal Bat in particular seems out for blood, which is unfortunate. Fortunately, none of them have know you who or where you are. This will be useful…"
"For what?" Tanaka looked up, her look of submission eradicated by curiosity and frustration. The Prince's smile grew even wider as he reached again into his pocket and tossed something at Tanaka.
"I know what you're looking for, Tanaka. It's beneath the association, You'll find it there, but you'll need that. That is all."
Tanaka caught the small item in her hand, standing up this time. She looked into her palm as she unclenched her fist, her eyes being filled with surprise and confusion.
"How… Prince, what is down there?" The Prince shifted back in his seat in response to her question, looking purely devilish.
"Oh, Tanaka…" He said with a chuckle. "I know what you're looking for."
Then he and his throne was gone as though they were never there at all. Sonic revealed himself and approached her curiously. She continued to stare at her hand."
"You heard everything." She said.
"Naturally. What are you looking for?" Sonic responded.
The bloodstained key the Prince had thrown to her began to feel heavier and heavier in her hand. Her heartbeat increased steadily, though she didn't know why, as she looked at the "B36" engraved on its head. She thought to herself, then responded to Sonic's question.
"I don't know."
