Chapter 5 : Cursed
Tsukudo-cho, Narumi Detective's Agency
Oto was back at his house; the traumatic event with the succubi had erased all of his memories about his encounter with Kizami and the assault of the succubi due to the Dark Realm's influence, but not of the payment he promised to Narumi. The detective was trying to figure out the report of Raidou's investigation and the chalice he found.
''One thing's for certain, that thing must be worth a lot of yens.'' described Narumi with a greedy grin. ''That thing isn't cursed, right?''
Raidou shook his head. The chalice seemed to have lost its magical properties when it was knocked out of Kizami's hand. Narumi inspected the object with great care.
''I'm not a jeweler or anything, but those gems shine a lot.'' He continued to comment on the jeweled golden chalice. ''Speaking of this chalice, you're saying Kizami had it in her hands when you found her, right?''
The apprentice nodded and the master pondered.
''She was holding a demon by a chain, a chalice and summoned several other demons... Nope, that's not something unusual. I'm already used to giant locusts and red soulless soldiers, and this seems to be a typical possession case.'' resumed Narumi.
''If Narumi had half a brain, he would have figured out by now what we are really facing against.'' cried Gouto in desperation.
''Although... Kaya's possession was very different than this.'' He recalled. ''Seems to be getting too big, too suddenly. You should check on what sort of spirit or demon we have to face, Raidou. I'll go in the archives to see if I can find something similar to what's going on.''
The white-dressed detective took the chalice and headed to the safe.
''Just to be sure nobody will take our only lead of Kizami.'' He finished after he locked the safe.
Tsukudo-cho, Raidou's room
A hour passed and Raidou was still looking through the old scrolls and scriptures of the Kuzunoha's compendium in the comfort of his bed. All the data of all existing and reported demons were in this thick book. From gods to the weakest of ghosts, any information on the demons and supernatural beings were written down in there for centuries.
He was halfway through the book, losing hope of finding the culprit of Kizami's possession.
''The possession must have happened not too long ago, although its surprising how powerful she got in a single week.'' Gouto said to Raidou. ''It might be a powerful demon.''
Raidou kept reading through the papers. In the middle, he found a strange photo. It was the drawn picture of a woman in a purple and red dress, riding a seven-headed beast and holding a particular chalice. A golden chalice with jewels around the cup.
''Gouto, I found the demon.''
At those words alone, Gouto jumped on the youngster's shoulder and saw the drawing. He frowned at the picture.
''It's the Mother Harlot.'' He told him. ''Also named the Whore of Babylon. There isn't a lot known about her, except she can subdue any animals with her presence alone and that she is an incarnation of the feminine evil."
''It would explain Kizami's power to control Garm and the chalice she was holding.'' Raidou added.
''True, however I wonder how she got ahold of the Mother Harlot's chalice. That artifact was secretly hidden somewhere in Rome.''
''Or maybe, someone gave it to her.''
''What are you getting at, Raidou?'' asked Gouto, looking skeptical.
''The one mimicking Raidou Kuzunoha must have given the chalice to Kizami and then she began to have the powers of the Mother Harlot. Which means...''
''Kizami is becoming an incarnation of impurity and chaos. She isn't possessed, she transforms into the Mother Harlot.''
Raidou closed the thick book and placed it in its rightful place, before going to announce to Narumi the bad news.
When coming out of his room, he heard a loud noise coming from the bureau. He still had his gun on him and prepared himself for the worst.
He silently walked to the door and checked through the door's crack. Through it, he could see Narumi sitting in his desk and... Tae with her hands on the desk. He put his weapon away and came in as if nothing had happened.
''Good afternoon, Tae.'' He said to the angry woman.
In a flash, she turned from mad to fearful. She was holding the daily and her notebook, maybe going to give them to Narumi to help them with the investigation.
''Raidou, I'm glad you're here. I discovered something disturbing about the double murders.'' She told him with a small fragile voice.
''Hey! Why are you always gentle when Raidou is around!'' growled an angry Narumi, after he let out a short hissing sound at the end of his sentence.
She ignored his question and turned towards Raidou and Gouto.
''I asked around to the eye-witnesses of the murders, you know, the basic questions and all. However, they all gave the same similar information.'' She said to the youngster.
''And that is?'' Narumi questioned impatiently.
''I'm getting there!'' She took her breath back before continuing. ''All the wives had, let's say, a secret relationship with a male student with a black outfit and a black cap.''
Something twisted in Raidou's stomach; it was painful and sudden, but his face kept indifferent to the pain he felt. It was if Tae had stabbed him with a knife and turned it in his skin.
''Raidou, do you know anything of this?'' She plunged the knife deeper into the wound and her eyes didn't move from his.
He only shook his head, but he suddenly ducked his head, avoiding Tae's gaze. She saw the head movement and knew something was wrong.
''Raidou, I don't know what is going on with your cases, but if you know anything you have to tell...''
''I don't know anything.''
Narumi and Tae almost jumped out of surprise. Raidou just cut her off. The woman was stunned by this and so was the caretaker. Raidou was now looking at Gouto who curiously meowed at the young Devil Summoner.
Narumi stood up from his chair and grabbed Tae's shoulder.
''Tae, you should go. Thanks for the info.'' He said, and accompanied her to the exit.
On the way out, she asked if she said something wrong and Narumi answered with a 'no' and gave a half-assed excuse for Raidou's attitude. Gouto didn't ask or question anything. The cat might have been a small animal, but it felt the emotions of the youngster and what he felt wasn't good at all.
A minute later, Narumi was back in the bureau and Raidou was still in the same spot. The detective got closer to the youngster and folded his arms in an agitated manner.
''It's not like you to interrupt Tae.'' He pointed out. ''It's the first time I've seen you do it and it's really out of character. Raidou, what is going on? Are you involved with the murders?''
There was a moment of silence between the duo, before Raidou found the strength to lift his head to meet Narumi's eyes. He answered with a shake of his head. Narumi took a deep breath through his nose and forcefully sighed.
''I found the demon who took possession of Kizami.'' And here was the classic avoiding the subject from Raidou. ''But, it's larger than we thought.''
''Why?''
''Kizami isn't going through a possession, she becomes a demon named Mother Harlot.''
Narumi's eyes widened.
''Mother Harlot? I don't like the sound of that.''
''She's a demon incarnated into the feminine side of evil. She can tame all beasts.'' resumed Raidou.
''That's bad news. On my end of the rope, I managed to find out something about each victim. Thanks to Tae's research and of mine, the media changed the truth about the double murders. In all the victimized couples, there was a partner who was missing. It could mean, that someone is turning one of the partners into demons.''
Narumi collapsed into the nearest sofa; his face turned white when he understood what he just realized.
''You'll have to stop whoever is doing this, Raidou. Someone is going to find out and if that happens, this is gonna be worse than the locusts and giant robot. From now on, this is demon business.''
Raidou headed to the safe as Narumi was digesting the plan of harmful truth of Kizami's fate. He took out the chalice and closed the safe.
''Good luck, Raidou.'' He managed to say before Raidou and Gouto left the man alone.
Special thanks to Bonnia for the beta-reading.