Hiding a yawn behind a delicate hand, Kagome had to wonder why she was being... what was the word again? Accosted? Well she was sure that whoever got her to take this trip wouldn't agree with such a term, but the fact of the matter was, she was being called to do something.
She had yet to figure out what that something was. But whatever it was, it was dragging her to Starling City. And away from her archery tournament.
Her head rolled against the head rest of the back seat of the car she was in to look out the window. To think, she had finally gotten back to a normal life, using the skills she acquired in the past to further herself as best she could in the present, she pretty much gets kidnapped.
And by the Starling City Police Department.
Though it did make her wonder what the hell was going on that she was in the situation to begin with. But there had to be another way to figuring it out.
"We're almost there Ma'am."
"That's great. Would be even better if I knew where and why." she muttered as she watched the world outside pass by.
She tapped the back of her fingers against the glass, a headache growing and she stocked it up to jet lag. Something she could really use an aspirin for. Hopefully she could get that and some coffee at wherever she was going.
Though she had a pretty sure idea that it would end up being a police department. One of the many in Starling City.
Within the next 15 minutes though, they finally arrived at a Police department, where a middle aged man immediately opened the door she sat next too and allowed her out of the back seat of the car.
"Miss. Higurashi, sorry for the inconvenience, but you were the one I was told that could help us."
Kagome raised a brow at the man, wondering whatever it was she was supposed to help the man with.
"Oh? Is that the reason why I got this escort out of the tournament I was participating in?"
The man opened his mouth as if to answer her but shook his head and asked her to follow him inside instead. She raised a brow again and simply followed him, as she took his appearance in.
He wore a dark suit, it looked just the smallest amount on the worn side. In fact, his entire being looked a little on the scruffy side. Dark hair combed back with graying at the temples, even his stubble showed signs of gray. His dark eyes looked shadowed and were slightly red. He was obviously a man who was putting himself into his work for a certain reason.
She followed him through the department office, ignoring the various other officers that were busy working until she wound up in an interrogation room.
Crossing her arms and raising her brow, she looked at the man. "This doesn't explain anything, really."
"I'm sorry for the inconvenience, Miss. Higurashi, but I wanted this done with discretion."
"Okay. Wanted -what- done, with discretion?"
He simply indicated one of the chairs to which Kagome's only option was to take if she wanted any answers. With a sigh, she walked forward and took the seat across from him and sat down.
"Before we start, would it be alright if I had an aspirin and coffee? Seems I'm suffering jet-lag."
"Ah sure, could you hold on for a second while I have someone to get that for you?"
She nodded her head and relaxed her posture. So this man wanted her cooperation and was willing to do whatever he could to get that cooperation. Even if it meant having a co-worker running errands and delivery.
"So while we wait for that, can I at least learn why I'm here?"
He nodded his head and moved forward. "For the past few months Starling City has had a... vigilante running through it's streets."
"Okay... and how do I fit into all of this?"
A knock drew both of their attention to the only door. The man stood up and opened the door, allowing another officer in with two things in his hands. A small bottle of aspirin and a mug she hoped was filled with some coffee. Preferably drinkable coffee.
She nodded her head in thanks, and quickly took two pills before handing the bottle back to the officer and watched them leave while taking a swig of coffee. She had to bite back on a slight grimace. It was a bit more bitter than she had thought, but she had drunk more vile things in the past.
The man that led her in went back to his spot, carrying a long cylinder where something rattled inside of it lightly.
"Before we continue, my I have a name? You know mine, but I don't have yours."
"Detective Quentin Lance."
"So Detective Quentin Lance, is this where the mystery of why I'm here be revealed to me? Other than the fact it seems to involve a vigilante?"
"It's because of the vigilante, and that you're considered a professional. I was hoping to gain your opinion." while he was talking, he unscrewed the top and pulled an arrow out of the cylinder.
Taking another quick sip of her coffee, she placed it to the side as the arrow was placed on the table before her. She reached out, but quickly looked up to see if it was alright to actually pick the evidence up. When the detective nodded his head, Kagome picked it up and began taking the arrow in.
It was at first sight, it looked like a standard modern carbon fiber arrow, with green and yellow fletching. The head was a pretty standard looking two bladed broadhead that was was green in coloring. In fact, the shaft itself was either a dark green or black. It was hard to tell in the lighting.
She took in the arrow's length, weight, balance, even tested it for flexibility. All in all, she was impressed. It was good craftsmanship, obvious custom made. And decided to share her observations.
"Basic targeting arrow. The shaft is made of aluminum, maybe carbon coated. Hard to tell with it being painted. Basic two bladed broadhead arrow point with a screw on heft, also aluminum. No serial number anywhere, so your vigilante knows how to cover his tracks. And the fact that the arrowhead is custom made, shows that he not only knows what he's doing, but he's very good at it."
"What do you mean?"
"I highly doubt that your vigilante is simply to a local hunting and game shop. So he either is making these arrow heads himself, or has someone doing it for him. Either way, it has to be made within certain... boundaries. It can't be to heavy or to light or the flight will be off and miss the intended target. The heft has to fit the shaft properly, or the head will simply fall off during flight."
She put the arrow back down and reached for the mug of coffee to take a sip, keeping her eyes on the arrow the entire time.
"Has anyone seen what type of bow this vigilante bow is using? Long or short? Shape?"
"Is there any significance?"
"Longbows are usually as tall as the archer, allowing the archer to draw back as far as the jaw, may have slightly longer range but that's about it. It's usually a prestige bow, and used more for show these says then anything. Short bows, while not allowing much in drawback, allow the archer to be in tighter places and more speed. Not only in the arrow flight, but in also drawing their arrow." she took in a deep breath, she looked down at her coffee, swirling the contents of her mug.
"As for the the shape, it is also telling. Recurve bows, the ends curve away from the archer when the bow is unstrung. It stores more energy, has more accuracy, and is the choice of bow for beginners and veterans. That's just an example."
The Detective nodded his head, seemingly going over the information he had just received from her. It allowed her to sip at her slightly bitter coffee, allowing it to warm her slightly and the burned caffeine jolt her system into a slight better awareness.
"That sounds about right." he started muttering to himself, seemingly forgetting she was still in the room with him. Either way, it was very revealing. "Bastard's quick, and manages to get into tight places..."
He suddenly looked up, seemingly coming back to, not only himself, but to the reality of where he was. He looked up at her and offered what one could call a smile.
"Thank you for all your help, Miss. Higurashi. Sorry about how we acquired it, that it required dragging you away from your tournament, but your help was greatly appreciated."
Kagome merely nodded her head and stood up. Offering a tired smile before leaving the room and making her way out of the building.
Unaware to one tired miko, she was being observed by said vigilante and his 'associate'.
"So she's the one that Lance brought in? I don't see what's so special about her."
Oliver took a quick glance at Diggle with a raised brow, not really all that surprised. Looks like someone needed to do their homework.
"That's Kagome Higurashi, she's the female archery champion. On an national and international level. There's a tournament just outside the city. Could be why she's in the States." Oliver turned back around to the woman of their conversation.
She was standing on the sidewalk, talking into a cellphone.
He would say, from this vantage point, she was a looker. Her black hair fell freely down past her shoulders, contrasting against the cream colored sweater she was wearing. The jeans she was wearing allowed all to see the amazing set of legs she had, and the ankle boots she wore only added to them. She quickly fished out a cell phone and pressed it to her ear, obviously answering a call.
From the way she reacted, it obviously was not a happy one. She angrily ran a hand through her hair and hung up and glared at the small hand held device. Running her hand through her hair again, she pressed a few buttons before bringing her cell to her ear again.
"Are we going to just sit here and watch her all day? Or are we going to try and figure out why she was brought here?"
Oliver blinked as he took the other man in, raising a brow trying to figure out where Diggle was trying to go with his questioning.
"She's not only an archery champion, but also considered an expert on the subject. So it's safe to say that Lance brought her in to get her opinion on me."
"I get that, but why are we just sitting here watching her? There are things that need to be done. Your words exactly."
Their conversation was brought to a halt as the subject of said conversation began to walk in their direction, still talking on her cell.
"Listen, I just called from my trainer, seems the tournament was canceled. Apparently the sponsors have been caught with some sort of shady background, dealings or whatever." she walked right past them into the small cafe they were sitting outside of.
"I don't know, guess I'll stay for the duration. The tournament may be over, but I can stay here until my flight back at the end of the month. But my trainer is already flying over, meaning I'm out of a room and bed, think I can bunk with you until I find a better place?"
She stood just before the doors, taking in the menus that were behind the counters. They watched as they nodded her head as she covered a yawn with a delicate hand.
"Oh it's nothing more than jet lag. So exhausted and a slight headache, nothing to really worry about. About to get something rich in caffeine." her face perked up a bit, a smile slowly tilting her lips upward, that Oliver was unaware that his own twitched and followed.
"You know you don't have to do that, I wouldn't mind sharing a coffee with you, but-" they watched as she rolled her eyes and took a step back to take in the cafe's name and then the the street name it was on. The address was shared and she bid her farewell and quickly hung up and walked into the cafe.
Oliver watched as she ordered her drink only to come back outside and sit at a table not that far away from the one himself and Diggle were sitting at. After a few minutes, he decided to get a little closer and try and figure her out.
Ignoring Diggle's protests on how that it was a stupid idea, Oliver walked the few short feet and stood next to her table. Up close as he was, he took in how she looked. A really Japanese beauty, pale sun kissed skin, soft round features, bowed lips beneath a delicate nose.
"You know, just standing there is what one would consider creepy." a single eye cracked open and landed on him.
Shocked wasn't a word he usually would have used. Instead of the dark brown, he was greeted with deep blue. When she raised a brow, he cleared his throat and offered a smile as he indicate to the seat that was free. He watched how she took the seat in before returning her gaze to him. After a few seconds, she waved her hand towards the chair.
"I was just shocked to see you here." when he saw the look on her face, he quickly tried to save himself. "Sorry. You're Kagome Higurashi, champion of the female archery tournaments."
"Are you a fan of archery?"
"I've recently become interested in the sport."
She hummed as she took a sip of her drink. "I think I may know the reason behind that. And archery is not a sport. At least not for me."
"Oh? What is it then? For you that is?"
"A life saver."
Oliver watched as she took another sip of her drink as he went over the answer. There were so many possible ways to interpret that sort of answer, especially after everything he's been through. Did she mean simply getting her out of a bad childhood situation, or literally saving her life?
"Life saver?"
Before Kagome could answer, a car horn honked, drawing their attention. Kagome smiled when her sights landed on a person she obviously knew and raised her hand in greeting and also to indicate that she would need a moment. The man leaned against the jeep, nodding his head and crossing his arms over his chest with a smile on his face.
Oliver then watched as Kagome went through the motions of flagging down a waiter to pay for her drink and pull out her wallet. He followed her as she stood up and put her wallet away.
"You're a smart man, I'm sure you'll figure it out." she lifted her head and gave him a playful smile. "Have a pleasant day, Mr. Queen." with that she left him standing at the table and made her way to the man and jeep.
Oliver stood there, far too intrigued with the woman to let her out of his sights just yet. Stuffing his hands in his slack's pockets, he hummed to indicate that he was aware of Diggle's approach. Nothing was said between them as they both watched as Kagome enter the front passenger seat and the jeep disappear down the street.
"Find anything?"
"Well, she knows who I am, even without introductions. She has a friend in the city, if not a few of them. The tournament she was a part of was canceled for unknown reasons. But other than that, it seems I'll have to do some digging up on her."
Diggle rolled his eyes when he caught 'that' look on the young man. The woman had caught his interest. Usually that would mean bad news, perhaps it would for himself in the end, but he knew for a fact that Oliver Queen would find all that he could on the young woman.
With a tired sigh and a shake of his head, he directed them back to the car. Seems like they had some research ahead of them.
AN: Like I said on my Facebook page, discovered Arrow and got hooked. This is probably only the first idea of many to come from this new series. Which I suggest you all go and watch. Other than that; read, enjoy, and review!