Lalalala~ Yay, chapter 4. I haven't been updating as much as I'd like, but then again...yeah. It will take time for me to write the next few chapters before I upload anything. Please be patient x3 Thank you for reading!

Chapter 4

They were in the town of Rian by midday, and Len was "negotiating" (bribing) with a local innkeeper over the prices of staying overnight at the inn. The rest had already been tasked to investigate the town and get as much information as possible, and had permission to do anything possible to get it. Rin, as normal, was required to be supervised by Kaito so she wouldn't go overboard with her threats, which she normally did anyway.

"Bitch, you sure you got no info for me to wheedle out of ya?" Rin growled, tapping her sheathed katana on the shoulder of a passing civilian. The civilian was obviously terrified, and was shaking his head furiously. Kaito nearly had to rip Rin's yukata collar to get her off the poor man's case.

"Dude, cool it," Kaito muttered, after they were at least a billion miles away from the man, who had collapsed from fear and people were dragging him away. Rin flipped around and glared at Kaito.

"Oi, our job was to get as much info out of those guys," Rin spat, pointing over her shoulder at a crowd of people, not looking back at them. They were all muttering suspiciously at her, pointing small fingers at her as the whispered – Rin didn't seem to notice anyway. "Plus, you still need to thank me for saving your ass from Len the other day."

"You mean yesterday."

"Yeah, whatever." Rin rolled her eyes. Kaito sighed and ran his hands through his hair. Thoughts of the night before still haunted him in a way. Meiko looked genuinely angry and frightened. She didn't want him to meet her. Was she afraid of him? Scarlet Tiger did take away her parents, and he definitely couldn't blame her for hating him for being a part of it.

"Shion, Kagamine." Len stood in front of the arguing pair and they looked up (or down in Kaito's case) to him. "You two. If you see the others wandering around like headless chickens, tell them that we got a room in the inn. I'm off to meet the mayor," he grunted, flicking a lock of his hair out of his face.

"For how much, sir?" Kaito asked, nearly biting his tongue when he realized he answered in such a mocking manner.

"Less than the usual price. Nearly had to break his leg for it," Len grinned menacingly and chuckled to himself, turning away from the pair and walked off.

Kaito nodded and watched the General leave. Rin stuck her tongue out at him from behind his back and stormed off before Kaito could follow her.

Damn, that ninja, Kaito groaned, scratching his head. Where did she go? There wasn't really any point looking for her now, besides, the only thing she would do is snap back at him. Yeesh.

He shrugged awkwardly and started to interrogate another poor civilian who happened to be within eyeshot.

"What I do with my life sometimes," he mumbled.

Kaito was sitting down by the river bank, and was once again indulging himself with nature as the cherry blossoms floated down onto his face and clothes. Young children were playing with each other, and observant mothers where quietly gossiping, most likely about a foreign blue-headed man being there, his eyes closed peacefully and was somewhat enjoying himself.

"You little SHIT. HOW DARE YOU TAKE THE FOOD WITHOUT PAYING?!"

Kaito slowly opened his eyes and noticed that the sounds of children had faded and he was alone. A girl with bright yellow clothes ran into view, her long blonde hair flying into her face as she ran. She started to cross the small and shallow river but he was way too fast for anyone.

He grabbed her wrists and pinned her down in the shallow water. She screamed and struggled, and she had cut her face on a rock and blood began to spill from her wound.

"Oi, don't struggle, or I'll have to break your arms," he said coolly. The girl looked up at him angrily then her eyes widened.

"Scarlet Tiger?" she asked. Kaito looked at her curiously and realized she was staring at his Scarlet Tiger tattoo that had been drawn on his neck. It was of a red tiger face with red stripes criss-crossed over it that looked like blood.

"Yes…?" he asked.

"She's ours. We're going to be dealing with her later." The men who had been chasing her finally caught up and glared menacingly at her and started cracking their knuckles.

"Don't let them," she whispered. She turned to look into his eyes.

"Why shouldn't I?" Kaito glared at her and stole a glimpse at the men. Most of them were fat looking bastards with nothing better to do with their lives, and he started to realize that the girl might have not actually stolen anything and that those men were chasing her for different reasons.

"About the massacre. I think I might be able to help you."

"So. What information do you have for me?" Kaito asked as he sipped his tea. The girl glanced at him and looked down again.

After plenty of bribery with the 3 men from before, Kaito and the girl had managed to escape and were now sitting in a small shop and were drinking tea.

"Oh, I haven't asked you for your name yet," he continued, looking up at the girl.

She breathed in. "My name's Lily. I was meaning to tell some of you about the massacre, but then those men started chasing me."

Kaito nodded and lightly plunked down his cup. He propped his elbows onto the table and rested his head on his hands. "Continue."

"Well. About the massacre… I'm sure it wasn't just a massacre," she continued. He eyed her suspiciously and noticed tiny beads of sweat appearing on her forehead.

"We've worked that out. Please continue." Lily nodded and placed her hands in her lap.

"I saw demons eating the bodies of people. They burnt the village down after that."

Kaito's eyes widened in shock. Demons? He then remembered what Len and Luka had said earlier, that they were doing that sort of investigation, an exorcist's investigation. But that didn't mean any new information right? Kaito's eyes darkened in utmost disappointment.

"As a part of Scarlet Tiger, an exorcist's army, we're already aware of that," Kaito sighed and ran his hands through his hair. Lily looked at him and brushed some of her blonde hair out of her face. He was starting to get up from his chair when Lily's hand darted across the table and grabbed his sleeve. She shook her head and Kaito, not really understanding, sat back down.

"Yes. I know that. But I saw a woman there as well. She wasn't being eaten or even touched by the demons. She was standing in the middle of the place."

Kaito stared at Lily and grabbed her shoulders.

"…Watch it! That hurts you know!" She winced and accidentally scratched the small wound she had received earlier.

"This woman. Describe her." It couldn't be Meiko could it? Kaito's hands clenches around Lily's shoulders and his eyes narrowed.

"Black hair. Bloodied skin. Blue robes," she stuttered. Kaito's grip loosened on her shoulders and he would have breathed a sigh of relief but he had to keep focused and show no emotion at all.

"I see. Thank you. Is there anything else you know?" Lily shook her head and Kaito smiled. "Thank you for your cooperation. I'm sure that this will help us."

DUN DUN DUN. yeah, scarlet tiger is actually an organization of exorcists~ I'll leave you to speculate what happened to Meiko's parents and the new character(s) of Lily and the lady with black hair and blue robes.

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