Stray-Cats.
From the bar, Anya looked at the tavern as the people came and went almost rhythmically. A quiet morning. Not many of them stopped to talk with her, they were more interested in eating something quick before starting their days. The cat-girl yawn while pointing her eyes into an isolated table at the corner of the room. She looked straight into the lonely monk while he reviewed his research. Her eyes sparked and her lips formed a mischief smile with the mere sight of his concentration.
"Ah, poor big guy," she giggled in silence, "He doesn't know I've been messing with his things. It's so fun to watch him fighting with himself."
However, the look on the girl behind her wasn't as pleased with the situation.
"Anya… have you talked with Ryuu recently?"
"Nyah? Oh, Ryuu, right," she turned to watch directly at Syr, "Nyot really. She have been lonelier than usual lately, since she returned from that little trip with the silly giant overrr there."
"Do you think he…"
"Nyo, I don't think Little Rocky would stay quiet if that would be the case."
"Yeah, you're probably right, but…," rubs her forehead, "Things complicates every day, if you know what I'm talking. We're nyot exactly stopping the train."
She giggled and looked at her friend with a relaxed smile. "Nyou're worrring too much, dear. Nyour good friend Anya has everything under control here."
"Again, I appreciate your efforts, but this isn't a solution at all. And I don't think stealing papers from his night table would help us for much longer. What's gonna happen when he starts to suspect?"
"Then we're gonna throw the body to another's house," she replied with all naturality.
Syr's gaze locked into hers for a couple of moment while she tried to process the words that came from her mouth. "Are you implying… that we should incriminate someone else? Anya what t—"
"I knyow it sounds bad!" she went ahead, "But consider it for a mew-ment. He's nyot going anywhere until finding Gale… but he doesn't knyow how GALE looks like, does he? Nyow, Orario is full of terrible people, and I don't mean just idiots, but REAL terrible people. We could just convince him of—"
"Stop," she raised her voice a little "That is… a terrible idea. Things can go straight to hell if something goes wrong… but…"
The thought sank on Syr's mind for a moment. At first, she was all against the idea of punish anyone else for their own mistakes, but the more she considered it, more tempting it became. It could actually be a solution. However, the risk was also too high. There were many things to have in mind with this — it wouldn't be just the impression of a distracted monk anymore.
"No… no, what am I even doing thinking about this? Ryuu would never agree to something like this."
"But she doesn't need to knyow," Anya smirk with a hint of mischief. "Besides, we wouldn't be doing anything wrong. It's just a matter of finding someone who can also be responsible of other crimes."
"No… I mean, it does sounds plausible, but… What are we gonna do if the other members of the Buda Familia come to see the fake Gale?"
"Nyothing. It wouldn't be our problem anymore."
"Oh, dear heavens…" Syr rubbed her face between her hands, "Anya, you just… You can't… Go distract him for a while, ok? I do need to think about this and can't do it while he's literally plotting under my nose."
With a sigh, the cat-girl stretched her muscles and moved around the bar. "As I said, there's nyothing to worry about when Anya is on the job."
A smile was on the face as she walked away from her friend. The poor Syr couldn't let go that bad feeling on her mouth. It was like a bad augury, a premonition that something terrible could happen at any moment. Very different from the feline woman, who with both elegance and relaxation walked around the tavern until she was face to face with the shaven-headed monk.
"Hey big guy, how's the investigation?" the girl smiled with a teasing tone.
"Uh? Oh, good… good, yeah…"
"Nyou don't too convinced. What's bothering you? How can Anya make your work better...? or even worse?"
A soft laugh escaped his lips upon hearing the last statement, "I doubt you could help me in anyway, miss Anya. I'm a little… stuck, to say the least. With the information I have about Gale, the next move should be to find clues of where she could've gone after the Evilus-massacre. However…"
"…there's no clue to be found."
"Yeah, that pretty much summarize the problem," Cicada sigh, "If only I wouldn't had lost that letter… How could I left something like that to happen?"
"Don't blame yourself too meow-uch. Nyou're not the first, nyor the last searching for Gale. If there was something to discover about her, it has purr-obably already been done."
And then, something hit Anya — an idea, something that she immediately considered as brilliant. A great smile appear on her lips, and those cat-like eyes felt over the foreign with genuine enthusiasm. Cicada noticed this immediately, which made him a little uncomfortable.
"Ah… Is anything alright, miss Anya?"
"Off course there is!" she jumped right next to her, "I just realized what nyou're doing wrong. Nyou're searching Gale for what she WOULD have done, when nyou should be doing exactly the opposite."
Cicada's semblant frowned in confusion, "I'm afraid I'm not understanding."
"Nyah! Think about it! If nyow wouldn't want to be found, nyou wouldn't be hiding somewhere you mew-ight frequent…"
His eyes widen with realization, "…I would be in the exact opposite place! That's it!"
Anya smirked as the monk's face lighted up, "Exactly… Nyow, Gale is an elf, and one who was from the family of justice. If nyou rrreally want to find Gale, nyou would need to go somewhere dirty, sinful, cradle of crimes and excesses."
"Claro, eso es!" he furiously began to cross out and write over his own notes, "But where could be a place like that… Oh, geez, I need my guidance with me now!"
"Little Rocky isn't here to help you?"
"No, he had to attend some familiar matters… something related to the dungeon, and I think his goddess was also involve, I don't really understood what he said."
"Hmmm…" once again, Anya's genius shone, "Well… since nyou're alone, I meow-ight bring you to a place like that."
"What?" Cicada's smile disappear for a moment, "But… you're working right now, don't you?"
Anya's expression faltered, "Eh… nyo, I have the rest of the day free, nyou see? Syr… Chloe just offered to cover mew time."
In the distant, the ears of the other cat-girl tickled. "What?!"
"Nya! Yes, that's it! Syr agreed with the idea since… it was a long time since I don't have a free day."
The suspicious on Cicada's face was evident. He didn't took a single word at first, but then associated the sudden urgency of helping him as a way to escape the responsibilities of her job. She didn't know it, but in that moment, the unpredictable nature of Anya just saved her own lie.
And so, the monk sigh and looked at her with a nice smile, "I guess we're together on this trip. Does it count as—"
"Nope," the girl interrupted, "You still own me a date, mister. And for your own good I really expect it to be something magical."
The foreign chuckle, but wouldn't be a lie if he denied how fluttered he was for that affirmation. Both woke up from the table, and after putting all the documents in order (and giving in time for Anya to change her clothes), they started their journey. Cicada looked at the opportunity with expectation, while Anya had her own intentions in mind — after all, this was her chance to try that evil plan of hers, and maybe having a little fun with the bald adventurer.
-.-
Suddenly, the environment of the city took a darker tone. The streets became larger, and the buildings took an elegant oriental esthetic. There were red lights illuminating the people who passed by, and people dressed with revealing outfits that shot little kisses and not so delicate flatteries to the people who stop their looks on them. It was only noon, but the atmosphere of the place gave the impression of a perpetual sunset.
Cicada's jaw remained open as he observed the degenerations that surrounded his being. Off course, he was not anonymous to the existence of this type of place, but he had never attended one as prominent as that one. And by his side, Anya couldn't stop laughing at his reactions every time they stopped in front of a market or a cabaret.
"Haven't nyou heard of the Purr-easure District? Thought it was a common knowledge between adventurers."
"Actually, I did…" he wiped the drool that dripped from his lips, "I just didn't expect the rumors to be real. This is just… wow, it's too much, doesn't it?"
"Nyoh… actually it had seen better days. They had a little purr-oblem with the Familia Freya recently. Their goddess was sent back to heaven and nyow the place regulates itself."
"Really?" he turned to Anya with interest.
"Yeah. I also heard Little Rocky had something to do with all that."
Cicada frowned and crunched his knuckle with determination, "I will heard that story even if it's the last thing I do!"
The girl could barely resist the urge of laughing at the monk's intensity. As she mentioned Cranel's adventure in the district, all trace of interest about the place was suddenly replaced by the new topic. She found it somehow cute, but mostly goofy and laughable. However, as he continued mumbling about the importance of history preservation and the consequences of Bell's actions, she noticed something — a feeling, that persisted since the first moment they entered the district. It was like, a couple of eyes that were discreetly following their every move. At first it was only a foreboding, an idea that randomly hit her hear head, but as they continued moving inside those terrains the feeling became more and more prominent.
Anya's instincts kicked in. Her eyes inspected the area in a fraction of second. She tried to recognize any suspicious face, but in a place full of people with dubious morality, that was practically impossible. There were many who put their eyes on her, and every single one of those could had their hidden intentions. In normal situations, they wouldn't be a problem to dispatch, but being under the thoughtful sight of Cicada, she would be forced to leave the whole conflict on his hands. Mother Mia was very clear — while she's on his presence, she's just common and ordinary waitresses.
"Hey, I think we should… Big guy?"
After a quick look around, she noticed in the loneliness she were standing. There was no sign of the monk in the surrounded area, as if he had disappeared in place. Her ears pointed into the sky, and her legs began to run through the street on his search. She saw a lot of tall men, and a lot of bald heads, but none of them were dressing a suit like his — maybe because it wasn't the kind of place to go dressed like that. And then, after several moments of wandering, she swear to hear a familiar voice into the crowd.
"Ladies, I swear I'm not interested in your services. I'm here for business!"
Anya's eyes dart into a group of amazoness — eight ladies that eagerly surrounded a poor guy with a nervous expression and a shiny head. Judging by their expression, it was evident that their intentions weren't noble at all with him, but not in the direction expected for the women of their profession. Their eyes inspected his clothes with special interest, as if they were looking at something valuable and potentially dangerous.
"Business, yeah~"
"We hear that a lot in here. But don't worry, we know how to treat your people… outlander."
"Anyaaaaaa!" Cicada called her name for help as he started to get dragged.
"Nyaah! What trouble are you in nyow?!" she spoke and began to run towards them.
However, before the cat-girl could move more than a meter, she was grabbed by and arm and instantly pulled into a tight alley. Everything happened in less than a fraction of second, so fast that she couldn't react in time. Those wrapped around her body with the same strength of an adventurer of her same level. By that power, she realized it couldn't just be the act of a drunken pervert, but someone with a purpose. So, she let herself be dragged, pulled into the shadow, and when both were swallowed by them, she fought back.
Anya pushed back, getting to hit the back of her captor with the alley's wall. It was when she felt the strength of the grip fading that she took a small distance from her enemy. She turned to face him, noticing in that same instant the sharp eyes of a feline. Her hands flied towards his body, trying unsuccessfully to hit his body. Those movement where fast, agile, very similar to hers, but with a certain elegance that wouldn't be able to replicate. Then she felt it, a slim, yet sturdy impact on her abdomen, that immediately made her back. And, in an odd turn of event, the attacker also jumped back, taking refuge in the darkest part of the alley.
"Keep your claws for yourself, kitty. I'm not your enemy," the stranger whispered.
It was a feminine voice that got into Anya's ears — teasing, mocking, one of someone who only wants to make troubles. And as her eyes started to adjust to the darkness, her figure was revealed. It was another cat-person. Her hair was white as the snow, with a very messy and wavy style. Her tail was a couple of centimeters longer than Anya's, just enough for it to wrap around her waist.
The waitress hissed, still with the with the hair on her neck bristling, "Who arrre you and what do you want from meow?"
The apparition giggled and walked slowly into her meet, "Relax. I'm what you can call… your benefactor. I saw that you were helping that himbo over there. He's on big troubles right now."
"You were the one watching us!" Anya yelled, getting closer to attack.
"Yeah… We can say I'm a little curious. But isn't our race also?" she stopped at less than a meter of her and extended her palm, "My name's Rui'Anna, but you can call me just Anna."
The cat-girl didn't trusted her for a second. Her manners were calm, but her expression was on a constant smugness that made her distrust. She didn't take her greeting, but instead took a couple steps behind. In response, the stranger nodded and retreat her hand.
"You people from Orario are always so unsure? Pleaaase, it's not like I hurt you… yet~" she licked her fingers with mischief.
"You haven't answer… WHAT do you WANT?"
"Having a little fun, off course. Isn't that the reason we are on this forbidden land? Or maybe… that's not YOUR reason."
"I'm just helping that guy not getting into trouble. Which you're keeping me from, by the way."
"Ah, yes… Cicada."
Anya was already getting out of the alley when she heard his alias. She stopped in place as if her legs had been frozen in place. With a sharp gaze, her eyes felt over Anna with murderous intentions.
"Uh, bingo~," the stranger smirk, "We're getting into something in here."
"You know him…"
With lightning-like speed, she dashed forward while ejecting her claws from her hand. However, Anna's expression didn't changed at all, not even when she was pushed against the wall nor threatened with the sharpness of Anya's nails.
"You'll tell me everything," the girl whispered with coldness.
"I could… but how fun will that be? That will just make the big guy less interesting for you. And I could tell, by the moment you spoke with your natural accent, that he has your attention."
Anya's sharp slowly starting to cut into the stranger's skin. She shivered a little, but her mocking smile didn't disappear. Instead, she let out a sigh and continued speaking.
"Fine, fine… I'll tell you a little about him. What do you want know?"
"Gale!" she yelled, "What does the Buda Familia want from her?"
"Gale?" her expression glow with surprise, "Oh… so that's why he's here. That empty head is searching for the famous Gale…"
"Stop playing games. Tell me what you know or I'll cut your throat in this instant."
Anna chuckled, "The Buda Familia used to be very close to the Astrea Familia. Rumors say that there was some kind of romance between their captains, can't really confirm that though."
"W-What?" her eyes narrowed.
"Yeah, they were allies in the Dark Era of Orario. Back in that time, the pilgrim was not yet THE pilgrim, but he was someone trusted by the family of justice… I can tell by your expression that you're to spin the story."
Anya remain in silence for a moment, "You're implying that the Pilgrim is interested in Gale… because she was his friend?"
Once again, Anna's expression changed into a devilish one, "If that was the case, why would he sent a subordinated instead of coming by himself? That's the exact question that made me follow that bald himbo here. I wanna be in the front row when everything unfolds."
"NOTHING will be unfold!" the waitress pressed her harder against the wall, letting a thin string of blood to come out of the wounds.
"Well, that's even more interesting…" she replied muttering a painful moan, "You're at a crossroads then. Because if you want your little secret to stay like that… you'll have to betray the monk."
With a scream of rage, Anya threw the adventurer into the dumpster at the darkest side of the alley. And even if the impact was strong enough to dent the metal, it didn't stop her joy. Her eyes got locked into the waitress while she kept laughing, as if the situation were the funniest thing she have been in years. This irritated Anya — made her crunch her knuckles till the point of making small wounds on her palm. But it wasn't because of her manner or the fact that she was clearly lying… but the idea that, she was somehow right, and she was in a crossroad.
"We'll see if you keep laughing next time, we encounter…"
"Wait!" she stopped her while slowly stepping up, "We haven't finished yet. You said you wanted to know more about the monk, didn't you?"
Standing right at the exit of the alley, the cat-girl contemplated the end of the street. It was right there — she could have just walked away and forget about that strange woman, but something kept it from that. With a slow movement, her face turned in her direction, just to see once again that disgusting expression.
"What can you tell me?"