"Mmmmm... what is it?" I answered the phone vacantly, sleep still present in my voice as I rested the phone between my head and shoulder, silently yawning into my other hand while blinking the bits of gunk out of my eyes. I shuffled around in the bed, trying to untangle myself from the constricting sheets that bound my body. Once free from the irritating sheets, I moved around from the bedroom I had accidently fell asleep in the night before and moved into the small living room of the apartment I was renting. The main area was littered with laptops, monitors, surveillance footage and wrappers of all kinds covering the floor area. I carefully stepped between the rubbish, making my way towards the red couch in the room and sat on it cross legged, stretching my arms out and hearing the satisfying pops that accompanied the stretching.
"It's nice to know you're still alive my dear," an elderly male voice spoke after chuckling at my greeting. His voice surprised me and a small smile graced my pale, chapped, bitten lips; "I wanted to know of the progress you had with your last venture." He told me kindly as I leaned back against the couch's stiff cushions, fully awake and alert.
"It was interesting to say the least," I hummed while picking out the gunk in the corner of my eyes, "I apologise for sound so brutish when I answered." I told him softly, closing my eyes a bit and started to nibble on my bottom lip, pausing as I scratched behind my ear, "I finished that project around four months ago and am once again within the shadows." I informed him lightly, which was partially true. I had actually gotten a day job with the local police force about two months ago, it was another job I was working, a personal one this time, for something felt peculiar in Japan when I arrived there and decided to make camp for the time being before heading to my next location. I looked at the clock that hung on the wall in the apartment and mentally cursed, I seemed to always be lacking in time, "I apologize for cutting this chat so short, but I am required to depart soon. I have some pressing matters to attend to." I felt guilty about breaking the connection so soon, for it had been a year since I had talked to him last.
"Yes, I understand, I will check in on you soon" He told me kindly before chuckling softly in understanding, "and no, I won't let him know that we've talked." He assured me, wishing me well, before hanging up.
Letting out a small sigh, I turned my phone on stun before heading back into my bedroom, grabbing clothes so that I could go to 'work'. Really though, I was only there to keep tabs on the string of convenient heart attacks that have been slipping through the criminal world in the past week. Walking into the bathroom, I took a quick shower before changing into a pair of black slacks, a pair of one-inch heeled black ankle boots and a deep purple blouse which accented my dark grey contacted eyes. Looking at my hair, which I had dyed orange upon entering Japan, made my already almost white pale skin look a bit healthier as I pulled the waist length hair back into a low ponytail, tying it with a black bow, before parting my chin length bangs to the right side so that they would overlap one eye.
Walking through the apartment, I picked up my satchel, which held my personal computer and tablet, as well as my black trench coat before heading outside, grabbing my black fedora just before I left. Pulling the hat down over my face, I passed by people heading out for to their jobs, nodding to each of them as I normally did. Since I came to my position, a forged letter of recommendation; one that was not uncommon for me to create to get where I wanted, I was quickly admitted onto the force, fitting in almost effortlessly, which for me it was. I could blend into any type of society and class without much thought or hassle. The last job I had done I had to blend into a stripper joint over in America; not one of my better jobs mind you, but the government had specifically asked for my expertise to gather specific information on any illegal trafficking that was going on behind the scenes.
The walk to work didn't take very long and I was greeted by those at the front desk once I entered. I nodded in greeting as I made my way up to the floor where my station was at. Greeting other co-workers with the same fake, but believable smile, I headed to my desk, which was placed in the corner of the room. Pulling my laptop out of my satchel, I booted it up while grabbing the folders waiting to be viewed by me and started looking through the information that had been gathered. This never took very long for me due to the fact that I was use to such work, mainly disclosing fact from fiction in the terms of this particular case.
Considering how long I had been working with and against criminals, plus the fact that psychology was a large part of my life; I knew the mind like the back of my hand and then some. But as I gazed at the pictures of the bodies, which the cause of death had been heart attacks; and the times that they happened, I had already a sizable list of possible reasons why this was happening. I had also come up with the assumption that this was murder, instead of just a coincidence as many have already assumed. There was also my assumption that the murderer was of high school age, one that could kill with only the name and the face of a person, this idea had immediately been frowned upon by those around me. This was based on the information given to me and what I had corresponded with other cases that were tossed aside due to the nature of the death. Near the start of this case, I had warned the director of these possibilities, though asked him to keep quiet about it since I was still considered 'new' to the office and there were many who were opposed to the idea of me being there since I was a woman.
Now, with the threats of 'heart attacks' towards those who do wrong and with the word spreading like wildfire throughout the internet, it seemed like it was only a matter of time before a meeting with the forces of the world would come into play. Then my job with staying under the radar was going to become much trickier than before, since the possibilities of working with him were not only endless, but extremely high. Pinching the bridge of my nose, I couldn't help but let out a deep sigh and closed my eyes a bit.
"...and that would not be good..." I murmured to myself while resting my chin in my one of my hands while I scrolled through the pictures once more, tapping my foot against my knee while pursing my lips together.
"What would not be good Shika?" a young male voice asked me curiously from behind. I lazily turned my head, which was resting on top of my hand since my elbow was resting on top of the desk; I looked at my co-worker and acquaintance Tota Matsuda. He was another new person, one who had literally just started on the force a month before I did. With black hair hanging around his shoulders and kind, curious dark brown eyes, it was a wonder sometime how he and I got long since I tended to be colder towards others.
"Missing the chance to catch the person who is killing all of these criminals before they're rightful sentencing. Sure he's doing the world a favour by killing those who have done serious crimes, but he's also not considering his actions when killing them. The families that have been victimized by said criminals deserve to see justice done by the death penalty if that is their final judgement." I sighed while shaking my head as I turned around, motioning for Matsuda to come closer as I brought up the list of deaths from around the world, "but this guy... is just doing petty things. If you really think about it, his first two victims were just a test for his new 'power'. Not to mention that they were only stationed here in Japan..." I sighed a bit at that, my mind working on figuring out the full thought process of the killer.
"What do you mean by power Shika? I don't understand..." Matsuda asked me curiously while looking over my shoulder at the screen as I brought up two more, lesser known criminals. Even though I highly disliked it when people watched over my shoulder, I had dug the disgruntled feeling I had down, letting it simmer until it was ready to explode; which could be at any moment. Though I was quite good at keeping my emotions in check and out of the way, so I was often called an 'empty canvas' since it was hard if not impossible for others to get a read on what I was feeling or thinking.
"I mean this; see, the first one to die from a heart attack was that Otoharada Kurou," I stated, smiling a bit as I saw the confused look on Matsuda's face, "he was the one who held up that daycare last week." I clarified watching as recognition entered his eyes before continuing, "That night a second death occurred; now normally people would assume this was a traffic accident. It was that street gang leader; Shibuimaru Takuo drove straight in front of an oncoming semi that was coming down the street. But I have suspicions that whoever this Kira was... is, was there and possibly manipulated Takuo in driving in front of that semi..." I told him before letting out a quiet hum to myself while my fingers flew across the keyboard for any similarities between the two.
"I hope you two are working hard on this case." A strict voice stated causing Matsuda to yelp in surprise, for he had been watching me intently that he hadn't heard the footsteps coming towards us. I looked over my shoulder to see Director Soichiro Yagami, "I was looking for you two. Matsuda, you were supposed to bring Tsukiko into the debriefing room as soon as she came in. Tsukiko, I hope you are ready for what's coming up." The Director stated as he started walking away with Matsuda following behind, his cheeks painted a light pink from embarrassment while I got up from my chair, after saving my work and followed behind them, making sure to take my bag with me.
Once the three of us entered the debriefing room, which held a few dozen bodies in it, we were seated. The Director stood in front of everyone and began the meeting, as he spoke about the case, I couldn't help but find my attention lacking in this department. It wasn't. I pulled out my tablet from my bag, scrolling through the information I had gathered on my own, half way listening as the Director spoke of these crimes reviewing what we already knew. But one part of his speech caught me by surprise; and that was when I heard that the ICPO was holding a senate meeting with the other heads to talk about this uprising murderer. The chief then stated that he was going to be taking two people with him to the Interpol. Looking up from my tablet, one that was created for me, I watched as everyone else stiffened, all of them wanting to go, except for me. I would have been quite happy to stay behind since it would keep me under the radar and out of his eyes.
"Those coming with me will be Tota Matsuda and Shika Tsukiko." The Director stated, causing everyone to uproar in protest within the room, while I silently cursed my luck. As Matsuda and I hesitantly looked at each other, we both knew that things at work would become a lot tenser after this. After settling everyone down again, the Director cleared his throat a bit as he began to give the reason for his choice, "The reason I have chosen the two of them is due to experience. Matsuda needs it and Shika has it, also the two of them have been working hard in discovering the nature of this serial murderer..." the rest of the reason fell to deaf ears as I looked down at my tablet again, this time I was calculating my chances of staying below the radar.
This seemed to silence the others, who just looked at each other, murmuring to each other. Matsuda was looking around nervously until I placed a reassuring hand on his shoulder. He looked at me in surprise, but smiled at me in silent thanks while I nodded my head to him a bit. The Director dismissed everyone except for Matsuda and me, and then once everyone was gone, we walked up to the Director to see what he wanted to talk to us about. Motioning us to follow him, Matsuda and I were brought to the Director's office, where we closed the door behind us to give us some privacy.
"Now, I know you both would like a more reasonable explanation for why I chose you two. That reason is simpler than I would like to admit." He sighed as he turned to Matsuda, "Matsuda, you truly do need the experience since you're still new to the force and this will be good for you." He stated before turning to me, "And Shika, your experience dealing with criminals, despite your young age, will be quite helpful since your specialty is psychology; you can help us get inside of this killer's mind and figure out who they are." He stated and for the first time since I was a young, I felt my careful shrouded world crash down on me.
'Damnit,' I couldn't help but think while mentally cursing myself for I was putting myself out too much and it was being noticed. My original plan was to pass on the information I gathered onto someone else, letting them take the glory for I was to remain in the shadows, out of sight of him and the one who showed me how to use my gifts, 'Oh well, I guess I just have to keep an extra eye open on my movements until things have passed.' I mused before speaking, realizing that both the Director and Matsuda were looking at me.
"I am grateful for the chance to prove my services, though, if I may ask, when is this senate meeting?" I asked simply, not portraying anything on my face to give away my thoughts.
"Tomorrow, I will see you both there. You two are dismissed." The Director said, and with a stiff nod, I walked out of the office with Matsuda following behind me. We went our separate way, Matsuda going to his cubical while I went to my own. For the rest of the day, I spent searching my databases for any clue as to what the power and force behind 'Kira's' killing rampage.