Coming around to pick up the plates from breakfast the following morning, Aza paused for a moment in front of his eldest daughter. "You look like you want to ask something?"
"Hmm?" Kagami let out while glancing up at him. "N-No, I mean, yes." She sighed and handed him her plate. "I don't know. I've just been thinking."
"About what?" His head tilted.
Taking a deep breath, she pushed her chest forward. "Was mom really like that all those years ago? The courage and fighting spirit?"
He chuckled at that before lightly shrugging. "I wouldn't know. She was never like that after she moved here. She'd just mention how family is more important than fighting to her now. So we ended up here like this." He gave a second shrug before going to take the rest of the dirty dishes from her friends. "Some days are better than others."
"What do you mean by that?" Cheyenne asked. Handing him her plate, she gave a courtesy nod.
"It's nothing you kids need to worry about." He waved his hand. "There's just a fucking dumb ass running a resturaunt he stole from his teacher running about. He makes shit hard sometimes with his dumb semblance that makes you hungry like a fucking dog."
"Well that sounds like cheating in this business." Kris held out her plate to him.
"Exact-fucking-ly." He let out an irritated groan. "He says it's because the street is full of crime but that's fucking bullshit and he's a dick."
Glancing at her leader, Elise grinned a little before looking up. "You know, maybe we could help clean some things up over there. Maybe make a deal with him?"
"Hmm." Aza quietly let out before walking off. "I don't know."
"Why nooot?" The brunet protested.
"Because I have a D and D session tonight." Kuro suddenly leaned over. "Someone needs to watch Gurin. Mom and dad both got work and the ladies are going to the spa."
"Not willingly." Baren interjected.
"Sooo," He continued. "You girls get to babysit."
"...anything for you..." Kris whispered under her breath while staring up at the dark hair boy. In her eyes, his black hair looked like silk and was sparkling.
As he walked off, Kagami furrowed her brow a bit before leaning over towards her sister. "Want to go stop a man who's being rude to dad without their approval?" She smiled.
Grinning back, the younger jadette nodded. "Definitely."
On a busy street later that day, the five of them stood next to a restaurant that had actual flames burning on the sign. "Grimm's Kitchen... huh." Elise blinked while scratching at her ear. "I guess that's a pretty unique name. People will remember it at least."
"So what's the owner's name?" Cheyenne softly asked while looking over.
"Agni Blaze." Kris replied while on her scroll. "He... hasn't really done a whole lot. Was on a few shows and wrote a cookbook. He seems kind of boring."
"Then it should be easy to talk to him." With narrowed eyes, Kagami stepped towards the door while holding her sister's hand.
"Okay, well, we should still be..." The Faunus trailed as she saw her friends storming inside the restaurant. "...careful." She sighed. They never were even when she recommended it. She smiled a bit before following them.
Inside, a man in a black tuxedo glanced at the incoming group. Turning his body to face them, he held his hands in front of himself. "Good afternoon." He spoke with a faint accent. "I apologize, but right now we are fully packed. If you wouldn't mind waiting." He gestured towards a few cushioned seats.
"Actually, we would mind." Kris smiled while cocking her head to the side. "We're going to go have a talk with Blaze. If you don't mind."
"Um," He was slightly taken back. "Actually um..." He raised a finger.
"Thank you for your cooperation." Kagami tapped his chest as she walked past him. Making her way through the busy dining room, she narrowed her eyes at the kitchen. Behind the hot plate, a man stood placing several plates of food on trays for waiters to take. His hair was slicked back and faded from a blonde to orange to a bright red.
Looking up, the chef raised an eyebrow as he was approached. "Can I help you?" He asked while grabbing a towel to wipe his hands. His left pinky was missing. "PJ, who are they?" He eyed the man in the tuxedo who came running up.
"I'm not quite sure, chef." He took a few deep breaths. "They just came in here demanding to see you. And talk to you."
"Really?" His face scrunched. Looking back over, his eyes trailed to Gurin before up at Kagami. "Ooh, you're Aza's kids, huh?" He paused for a moment. "Goodbye." He turned around as he went back to serving dishes.
"Hey, hey, hey!" Elise stepped up. "You didn't even let us speak!"
"Order something or leave." He waved his fingers at her.
Blinking a bit, the brunet raised an eyebrow just as her stomach grumbled. Slouching, she crossed her arms. "Well you know," She stuck her tongue out at him. "I'm always hungry so screw you." She held up her middle finger.
As the chef snickered, the finely dressed man tried to usher the girls out. "Please. If all of you could just leave right now."
"Not yet." Kagami stepped around him. Placing her hands on the hotplate, she leaned forward. "You and I need to talk."
"And why would I?" He placed a few plates on a tray. "You can go." He gestured to a waiter before looking back at her. "Can't you see I'm busy?"
"I don't care if you're busy." She crossed her arms. "You're cheating by making people hungry so they'll eat here more. Meanwhile my parents are trying to run an honest business."
"I'm simply playing to my advantages. kid." Blaze scoffed. "Do you know how hard it is to keep a restaurant up on its feet when you're in the middle of a city like this? There's thieves and crooks ruling the streets and driving away my customers. I have to do something to fight against that. If Aza can't handle the heat, well then he needs to step out of the fire."
The jadette let out a very quiet growl. Gripping her arms, she held on tight. "Okay. Fine. What if I clean up these streets then? We clean up these streets? Then will you stop?"
"Hah!" He shook his head as he began to plate. "Don't make me laugh. Even if I said yes, you can't rid this area of The Nanny. She'd rip you all to shreds. She controls the streets around here. It's her territory."
"Uhhh..." Kris leaned over with raised eyebrows and wide eyes. "The who what now?" She asked before being pulled away by Cheyenne.
"Say we do it though. Hypothetically?" Kagami tilted her head. "Hmm?"
"Sure, fine, whatever." He rolled his eyes before ignoring her.
It was going to be easy to prove him wrong and she knew it. Turning around, she grabbed her sister's hand. "Come on. We're going to help dad."
"Do I get to fight?" Gurin smiled exactly as they began to leave.
"Mhmm, no." She poked her nose. "Well, maybe. Don't tell mom though." She chuckled.
"That actually went better than I thought." Cheyenne mumbled before glancing back. "Oh..." She trailed off as she eyed Elise watching the chefs cooking closely while drooling. "We'll stop at a noodle stand." She grabbed the brunet's wrist and pulled her along.
Watching them leave, PJ adjusted his sleeves before turning to face his boss. "Are you actually serious, chef?"
"Of course I'm not." Blaze snickered. "But if they can manage to get The Nanny out of here, that just means more customers for us. We might need to add more tables. Soon, my debt will be paid and I'll be free."
"Very well then." He gave a nod. Twisting around, he headed towards the customers to ask them how their meal was going.
Having to take a small break to get food, MACE and Gurin were all sitting at an outside noodle shop. Slurping down her third bowl of ramen with pork, Elise let out a sharp exhale and leaned back. "Damn food is sooo gooooood!" She leaned back while closing her eyes. With her stomach growling once again, she leaned forward. "Another! Please." She smiled innocently.
Blinking rapidly, the shopkeeper stared for a moment before nodding. Stepping to the side, he began to prepare another bowl.
"Kuro and I come here a lot when mom and dad work late." Gurin spoke as she kicked her legs back and forth. "Usually after his weird magic monster card tournament things." She shook her head and used chopsticks to slurp a few noodles. "I don't understand what they do but the cards are pretty. He let me have some of them."
"Gods, your brother is so hot but he's such a damn dweeb." Kris faceplanted on the table next to her bowl. "His hair is long and lucious, he's completely jacked, but he's a useless nerd!" She groaned. "A stupid useless nerd!"
"Again, that's my brother." Kagami held up a hand. "Could we maybe not?"
"But he's so hooooot!" She flailed her arms.
"He is rather cute." Cheyenne interjected.
"He's a hunk." Elise mumbled with a mouthful before swallowing.
Blinking a few times, the jadette slowly brought her hands to her face with a sigh.
"What... what's happening?" Gurin tilted her head as the shopkeeper handed her a cup of boba milk tea.
"Nothing you need to worry about, kid." He nodded.
"I guess we should pay and get going. Crime lords won't stop themselves. Who exactly is this nanny?" Kris pushed her empty bowl forward before standing up. As she did, she grunted softly as she was bumped from behind. "Hey!" She snapped while glaring over her shoulder.
Stumbling away from her, a boy with short blue hair shook his head. There was a distant look in his eyes. "Sorry, ma'am. I didn't see you." He slightly bowed his head before rushing off.
"Uh huh." She groaned while rolling her eyes. "Whatever." She reached into her back pocket only to freeze. Snapping her head to the side, she glared at the blue haired boy who was rummaging through her wallet. "Hey!" She shouted. "That's my wallet!!"
"Wait, are you five going to try and fight The Nanny?" The shopkeeper seemed more concerned over that rather than how he was going to get paid. "Hold on." He eyed the blue haired boy who started running. "Wait. Wait! Don't!" He extended an arm but it was too late. In an instant, MACE and Gurin were sprinting after the thief.
"We're going to lose him!" Cheyenne panted softly as they rounded a corner.
"Like hell we are!" Kris roared with her nostrils flaring.
Running up beside her, Kagami held out a hand. "Okay, but like, he's just a kid. Don't and I mean don't hurt him!"
"Do you guys do this a lot?" Gurin let out in a curious tone as the five of them followed the boy into a dark alley. Though as they turned into it, they all skidded to a stop at a dead end. There was nothing but a brick wall.
Glancing up, Elise smiled as she spotted a small air vent. Looking over, she eyed her leader. "You thinking what I'm thinking?"
Smiling back, Kagami nodded as her eyes met hers. "I am." She blinked as her eyes became a darker green. Turning around, she knelt down in front of her sister and grabbed her hand. "This will be weird. But don't worry."
Inside the building, two trails of smoke exited a vent and swirled around the rafters on the ceiling before the five girls formed from the smoke. Crouching on a wooden beam, Kagami held out a hand to steady her sister who swayed softly.
"Infiltration is easy..." Elise whispered as she glanced around. They were in an abandoned swimming center. Looking down, her eyes grew wide.
In the middle of a drained pool, a slightly overweight woman sat on a throne made of all sorts of items. Weapons, fine jewelry, lien cards, toys, cushions, alcoholic drinks, makeup. Everything. Her dark hair was pulled back into a very tight bun and she had a large mole on her upper left lip. Her clothes were tight and very professional. All around her, dozens of young children were bringing her items they had clearly stolen. The ones that weren't were either getting her something to drink or eat or waving folded fans at her.
"Well... I think we found The Nanny..." Cheyenne gulped a little. She was clearly disturbed.
Staring, Kris watched as her wallet was thrown onto the horde pile. With wide eyes, her face twisted in disgust. "What the fuck!?" She audibly let out.
As if on cue, every child looked up at the same time. Their eyes locked on the group. Very slowly, the woman who was enjoying herself looked up. The corners of her lips slowly curled up.
"Oh... shit." The redhead chuckled nervously as her shoulders dropped. This wasn't good.