2 months before an event was about to occur. (Hostage Crisis Incident.)
Shiki was at Café Uzumaki, located on the first floor of the building where the agency office is.
She sat with her hands neatly folded in her lap, one leg elegantly crossed over the other, waiting patiently for her usual tea.
"And here you are, Masaoka-san. Your tea is all done." The café owner said with a warm smile as he set the delicate porcelain cup on the table, filled with Hojicha.
Hojicha was a tea that Shiki favored most from the café. When it's brewed it is reddish-brown, and for its taste, it's a nutty, toasty, sweet flavor. It has no bitterness, a flavor Shiki disliked in foods and drinks, the sweeter the better she says.
"You know me too well!" Shiki clapped her hands in glee, enjoying the smell of the caramel liquid.
Shiki holds the curve of her cup with her index finger, middle finger, and thumb pressed to the porcelain cup. She sips the sweet tea with closed eyes and drinks gracefully.
This place was home to Shiki, where she could enjoy herself while being with the agency. This wasn't a cage, it was a place where she felt safe.
Even if she couldn't be seen in the public eye, Shiki worked within the shadows.
She often took cases that required to be headed further or minor ones that needed little to no work. Her roles were minor yet impactful in some way.
The café felt quiet, the music playing softly in the background didn't work.
One thing that Shiki enjoyed was the company of her co-workers.
How'd both Yosano and Shiki would gossip to each other about some of the locals, how Ranpo so eagerly would talk about the numerous cases he had solved over sweets and drinks, and how everyone truly made smaller moments bigger to Shiki.
Atlas the peace was soon ruined by a siren, possibly a police car.
The café owner looked up in concern, he was going to speak but Shiki held up her hand to stop him from speaking. "I suggest you take a break, your service won't ever be matched." She held her teacup in praise, a sign of her respect, and an enigmatic smile was present.
Now that the café owner went through the back exit. It left Shiki alone, knowing this would be the last time she'd drink Café Uzumaki's tea.
What a pity, truly a pity.
The door's bell rang signaling the arrival of guests. Yet those weren't friendly guests, it made their presence unwelcoming.
"Masaoka Shiki! You are under arrest!"
Oh, wonderful timing.
Suits, serious and stern looks, and the Special Forces kept behind in case any force was needed. How monotonous their job and attire are, made Shiki almost bored even.
"You are telling me this now? At least wait while I'm finishing my tea." Shiki replied curtly, shaking her head with a fake frown.
"You shouldn't act this nonchalant when you are about to get arrested, we are taking you to the division building." Replied a middle-aged man, he had dark hair with a few strands of grey and brown eyes, he had eyebags and wrinkles underneath them.
"You can stop running now. We are giving you the choice to come with us without any use of force."
Shiki felt herself grip the thin handle of the teacup harder, just almost enough to break it.
They would still use force regardless of her answer, that's how the Special Divison For Unusual Powers worked. They are just mere puppets for the Home of Ministry Affairs. They always worked in secret and no one questioned them. Behind the scenes could never be sought.
"Unless you are willing to fight back we won't hesitate-"
A wry laugh came from Shiki, she stood up from her seat and approached the middle-aged agent. "I'm not going to fight back. Do you think I'm that dumb? I wouldn't want to make a mess in this place." She gestured with her finger.
"I'm only turning myself in because I know if I were to keep flying, you'd never stop to chase me. No matter where I went." Shiki walked out of the café, taking one more look at it before meeting with the Special forces and police officers.
'That was easy..' Thought the agent, he followed behind Shiki and asked one of the officers to bring in handcuffs.
A tall officer made his way over to Shiki, her hands already held out for the officer. Shiki couldn't get a clear look at the officer's face but saw his hair was white, as pure as snow but had a grin that screamed malice.
Their hands brushed briefly before the snap! The handcuffs were now on Shiki's wrists.
"We will take it from here, thank you for your cooperation." The agent guided Shiki to one of their sleek black cars, where she was seated. Shiki looked at her wrists, feeling the cool metal against her cold skin.
Shiki knew that she could escape them by using her ability.
That would lead to more conflict.
She sat in silence till the agents came in the car, the engine started and they were off.
"Wouldn't it be better to take me to the Meursault?" Shiki questioned.
The agent glanced up at the rearview and then back at the road. "The Meursault takes dangerous abilities users into their prisons, yes but they wouldn't be able to contain you there."
"So what makes you think the division can keep me?"
"That is because we know you Shiki. Better than any other prison there."
The car ride was quiet as they ascended the mountains to get to one of their bases- SKIF.
It is a facility on the outside that looks like a library but inside its security is tight like a nuclear facility.
Guards were everywhere, other agents walked the opposite side with folders containing important documents.
Some agents whispered about the tall pale blue-haired woman who walked with the Special Forces.
People tend to lie to cover up what they truly feel about others.
It can be hidden well or seen in plain sight.
You can never know who to trust, the person who holds the knife hurts more than how it twists.
Humans are fascinating indeed.
The forces led Shiki into an interrogation room after she met with the director: Santōka Taneda, yes he is a very.. ridiculous man. His orders are just those from the government.
Once they finished with that, they led her into one more room.
One that was pure white with padded walls. There are no windows, vents, or beds, and only cameras.
It's a lovely home!
A new home that was shaped like a birdcage.
The forces told Shiki she couldn't wear her uniform anymore; instead, she had to wear a grey sweatshirt and pants.
Shiki's attire for the agency was a simple white button-up, black tie, and slacks with flats. Paired along with her gloves, she'd never take them off.
"Shiki. You must remove your gloves. Your clothing is to be checked for any weapons."
"I'm not removing them." Shiki held her wrists firmly, no matter how often they told her. Those gloves stayed on regardless as if they were the only thing she could cling to.
Surely Shiki put up a fight to hold on to her hope.
It felt like that was false hope she was holding on to.
2 weeks passed, and Shiki was sitting in the same cell.
Eat, get tested, sleep, and, repeat.
So-called "researchers" come once a week for 1 hour and a half to check on Shiki. They usually draw out her ink (blood) to see its substance, other times they insert drugs into her system. Those drugs cause Shiki to feel sick or her head to throb, sometimes even losing her sense of mind.
She knew no one was coming.
While the researchers were doing their tests one day, Shiki overheard them discussing the Armed Detective Agency shown as terrorists.
Being seen on live television can make anyone believe what's not true.
They were framed and now everyone who watched believes that they are terrorists.
Each day felt like Shiki was losing a piece of her sanity, those pieces faded away like specks of light disappearing when you hold them—a perfect disillusion.
Shiki felt the stares of the researchers, guards, and other agents. She was kept behind steel bars, away from everyone else. The gaze that lingered more was from a sniper and a timid agent.
Out of all of this, where was her bird of salvation?
Shiki sat on the padded floor, her fingers itching to the anklet tag around her ankle. The division recommended this device on Shiki's leg, it could track, hear, and even alert them if something happened.
She remembered a moment from long ago, back with a friend.
Shiki was cleaning the windows of the agency's office, she could have gone home but Shiki often stayed late to help around just for her enjoyment.
Little did she know.. that Ranpo was watching Shiki in a corner. He made sure nothing made much noise that could alert her.
The only mistake was after he shifted his position with his foot.
"Ranpo, need anything?" Shiki asked, not bothering to look back.
Oh no! He got caught! But then again it was best knowing Shiki had already heard him moving to his hiding spot.
He cleared his throat. "Shiki-kun, Uhm.. do you want to join me? I made some tea and got these yummy snacks I wanted to try!"
Tea? Snacks? Now that is something Shiki couldn't possibly ignore, she nods her head rapidly. "Count me in!"
Although Ranpo and Shiki were good co-workers and friends, something about Shiki sometimes made Ranpo uneasy in the stomach.
Ever since the day she joined the agency, Shiki herself in general just felt off. Yosano and the president felt the same way but never questioned it.
To Ranpo, each time she was near it made his skin crawl, it wasn't a good feeling but she just seemed so calm.
Calmer than any other person would be, at the sight of death and anything grim. Something was off, and he didn't like that.
Ranpo had the teacup to his lips, opening an eye as he watched Shiki enjoying her cup of tea. Maybe it was time to ask her-
"You allowed me to drink tea with you because you have a question. Isn't that right?"
That statement Shiki made didn't surprise Ranpo. With a sigh he set his cup down, his expression was neutral.
"Correct." He paused. "Shiki.. you are hiding something. Aren't you?"
Shiki sets her cup down, her smile unwavering. "Well, I wouldn't say you're wrong but I won't truly answer that statement."
Ranpo raised an eyebrow.
"But Shiki-Kun, you barely take any cases with a person, you hardly go outside and always avoid speaking with me and Yosano-san when we ask you..!"
Shiki paused, set her cup down, and placed her hands on her lap.
"I know many of the questions you want to ask me. But I promise later on, I'll tell all of you."
In the end, Shiki never told them.
Snapping out of her reverie, she was greeted by the sound of the doors opening.
"Shiki. Someone is here to see you." Replied the guards in the room, revealing a figure.
The eyes of a calm sky met those of void.
"Ibuse-sensei.." Shiki murmured, standing up and walking towards the bars.
Ibuse did not speak until she reached Shiki's cell, her expression downcasted as she gripped the folded clothes.
"Shiki-san...You don't belong in this prison. You don't belong here at all. I've failed to protect you Shiki, haven't I?" Ibuse's hand gripped the steel bar. "After years of being by your side, I failed the one thing I promised."
"Forgive me." Ibuse's hand let go of the bar, falling onto her knees, folding her legs underneath her thighs, and bowing her head to the floor.
"Forgive you? For what? Why would I forgive my guardian for doing the job she has been doing since the day I was born? Now it's quite silly that you are apologizing. Now get up."
Shiki's tone was nothing more than innocuous, a mere jest. Shiki sat the same way as Ibuse, looking at her.
"Don't feel hard on yourself."
Ibuse slowly lifted her head, fixing her posture and sitting up straight. "You've grown so much, not just in height but as a person. Even so, I still cannot get through your mind."
"Maybe it's because I learned from the best." Shiki's gaze flickered down to the clothes Ibuse had brought, wondering what they were for.
"Consider this your new uniform, knowing how you are picky with certain items. I find myself surprised that you managed to keep your accessories. The division would have confiscated everything if you were not careful."
Shiki reached out to touch the fabric of the clothing in front of her, her hands caressing the leather of a waistcoat.
"While the agents were driving me, I removed my clip and replaced it with a regular tie. Removed my earring and pin, placing them with Ana-gui."
"You trust it will keep your items safe?"
"I do, It knows its place."
Ibuse let out a small sigh, she placed her palm on top of Shiki's hand through the bars. "I wish I could stay here longer. Unfortunately, my time is limited for my visit." Ibuse's hand slipped from Shiki's.
When Ibuse's hand left Shiki's, she closed her palm, setting it down on her lap.
"Could you ask Sōseki-sensei to visit?"
"I don't need to ask him, he will come unexpectedly."
"Keep doing what you do best, Shiki. I'll visit soon."
2 months (Now.)
The sound of their footsteps crunched down on the dry leaves. Loud and heavy their steps were, as crushing an ant with a star.
Tall trees loom over the area, their roots submerged deep within the ground underneath the earth's rich soil. The mountains have been living since ancient times.
"We've got company here, these footprints seem fresh." Takagi gazed down at the tracks, feeling the dirt clenched in her fist and letting them fall back to the ground. "Have your monsters found anything, Murakami?"
Murakami held his hands close to his chest. The term 'monster' to describe his ability wasn't what he took lightly, they weren't monsters to him. "Kiku is sure to find anyone he finds on the mountain, he'll bring them or drag them out." He fidgeted with his fingers, the golden coin in between them.
"It better find something," Takagi replied gruffly, going off alone to find traces. The skilled sniper had the characteristics of a hunter, for a deadly shot cannot be done without deadly eyesight.
As a sniper, Takagi was 17 when she started working for the division.
Recruited by an elderly man who was once the most skilled sniper, now handed that task to Takagi. The only person she saw as family left his hat and weapon.
His death didn't change Takagi over 8 years, rather in fact it made her worse.
Takagi's boots made crunching sounds against the leaf-covered floor, tracing her fingers against the wood of the trees. Her hazy pale green eyes searched for any movement.
To get a better look, Takagi opted to climb a tree.
A chorus of insects chirping and buzzing fills the air, fluttering of wings of those birds in the trees.
After an unbearable amount of time standing, Murakami crouched, burring his face in his legs.
Waiting for Kiku was starting to concern him, it showed as seeing his fingers twitch.
He was starting to worry about Kiku, thinking about what might happen to his ability.
'Kiku hasn't come back yet...He can't be lost.. can he? I should have been the one out searching not him.'
"Murakami?"
"Huh?" Murakami looked up to see Shiki tilting her head to the side and gazing down at him with observing eyes, eyes that reminded him much like a bird of prey.
He gulped, gripping the cuffs of his suit jacket.
"Ah," Shiki clasped her hands behind her back. "You are worried for your... ability?"
"Well..I-I guess I am worried about Kiku, I just feel like something bad will happen. I shouldn't have sent him out. What an idiot I am."
"That's quite funny, Murakami. You are the first person I know who worries about your ability and treats them like actual children."
"Ha..haha... I do, huh? I've always been comfortable around kids. Back when I was in my 3rd year of high school, I used to work at a daycare. I remember how bright those smiles were when I entered, they were always so kind, kinder than the people I knew."
Shiki listened as Murakami spoke, placing a hand on her hip and using a finger to tilt down her glasses. "It seems to me, you find humans difficult to talk to," Shiki mused, a smile creeping onto her lips. "Children are far more truthful than adults. They don't place on masks, it makes them easier to tell what they feel."
"They don't see you as the coward you are, and won't tell what you are flawed, unlike the adults. They are not able to see how much work you put in just to not let your superiors down. They do not even know about your greatest fear of being a failure to those around you."
Shiki's words made Murakami's heart drop. He looked with wide and unblinking eyes. Each word uttered was like a mirror getting shattered.
In a way, he felt like he had heard those words before.
But from Shiki, that feeling he always felt, made his chest tighten.
Murakami wanted to speak but all of a sudden his throat ran dry, preventing him from speaking.
"Don't take my word for it, you hear those words in your head daily while you are at work," Shiki replied with a dismissive wave of her hand.
Murakami looked off to the side, and a small sigh escaped his lips. Shiki was right, he heard those words in his head all day but not from others, but rather himself.
But then he felt something tugging at his hair, It was like teeth nibbling the dark strands on his head.
Would you look at that? Kiku was chewing on Murakami's hair.
"Nomnomnom"
"Oh my"
"KIKU!? HEY!- OUCH! OW! STOP IT!"
Murakami pulled Kiku off his head and held the baby at arm's length, an irritated look on his face. The child simply looked at him while chewing on some strands he ripped out. Murakami let out another small sigh but his eyes softened. "Kiku...At least you're safe."
"Did you find anything?" Murakami asked, Kiku's spider-like legs dropped, and shook his head, gesturing "No" feigning disappointment.
"It's fine, all that matters is that you tried your best." He placed Kiku down on the ground, giving him a pat on the head and letting him enter back into the coin locker.
Shiki observed as Kiku went back to the locker, a spark of amazement was in her eyes. She wondered how kiku and Hachi fit in the small locker.
That train of thought came to a halt when footsteps other than the trio was heard.
"It's Mimic!" Takagi shouted from the tree, alarming Murakami and Shiki.
"How do you know it's them!?" Shiki yelled back.
"I don't know! They just look like the guys that we blew up!"
"But they could be different-" A bullet was shot neat Murakami's foot, just an inch near the coin locker. An instinct to protect the locker came to his mind first, the bullet didn't occur to him.
Takagi leaped off the brach, shaking the tree sightly. Landing on the agent's head with the end of her head, digging it into their head.
"I saw more coming this way. Its best they dont interfere with our mission." Takagi muttered, closing her fist tightly.
"You're right, we should get rid of them. The less cluster the better." Shiki spoke amusingly, clasping her hands behind her back.
'They are kidding, right..? They can't be possibly be thinking..' Murakami thought to himself, picking up the coin locker, he held it close to his chest. Then again, he knew what they were thinking. He saw it clear in what their eyes said. 'These two..they are insane!'
By the time he was done thinking, Shiki and Takagi took off, leaving Murakami alone.
"Great." Murakami held the coin locker tighter, a deadpan painted his expression.
The expression left when a knife landed sharply against the tree he was standing in front of. Although his head was tilted, the knife grazed Murakami's cheek. A thin line of blood formed, small drops made it down his skin.
He looked at the Mimic agent coming his way, his heartbeat picking up pace. He wanted to run but his legs were frozen. The kite-shaped pupils of Murakami were shaking in those peach irises.
He stood lost like a rabbit.
Why couldn't he move? Why did this always happen to him? Murakami felt like a failure.
A dread of not being good enough, a guilt of thinking that pleasing others will make you feel more comfortable in the party you are forced to attend known as life.
Can you possibly fail more as a human than anything else?
Murakami hated failing, the smallest mistake made him want to end it all. Protecting the coin locker was the only thing he could think of, if he failed at that?
He'd kill himself.
Grabbing the knife from the tree, Murakami pulled it out and slashing the knife against the agent's chest horizontally. He dashed off, placing the knife in his pocket.
Murakami ran from his problems often but he ran away just for protecting Hachi and Kiku.
Meanwhile..
Bang!
Said the sniper as Takagi shot down a Mimic agent. The sliver bullet dancing in the sky and landing into its target in a bolt.
Short range–Was not typical for Takagi to use. In a crowded area with people trying to attack you isn't suited for a long ranged weapon. More or less, this is Takagi.
Anything can be used as a weapon if it can be hit or thrown hard enough.
Smack!
An agent's face was greeted by the rear of Takagi's firearm, a brute uppercut. Then swinging it towards another agent's sternum with the barrel.
Takagi managed to outdo 11 Mimic agents. That statement felt off with her though. They were weak, flimsy, and cowardly. They didn't put much of a fight.
"HAAAAAH!" A agent charged towards Takagi with a dagger in hand but as reaching towards her, they were greeted by her fist, knocking them into a tree.
Now that was 12.
"You play with your food too much, Masaoka." Takagi checked her sniper, her fingers against the body to look for scratches.
"You're right, I'm not as bellicose as you. I do admire that trait of yours." Shiki poked a finger at a unconscious agent's forehead. "But I believe patience is virtue."
All Shiki did was taunt and torment the agents rather than fight. She's still bored.
A branch snapped.
"We seemed to forgot one." Shiki stood up, her movements slow, graceful. Her hands caressing the trees lazily.
A young woman standing behind a tree, trembling with a weapon in hand.
"Found you!"
"Ah!"
"Join me! Let's dance!" Shiki exclaimed, tugging the agent's arm. They soon began to spin around in a waltz, Shiki had a gentle yet firm hold on the agent, it was in between the line of harmful or friendly.
"You don't need this anymore." Shiki laughed while she swiftly tangled their intertwined fingers and pulled the knife out from the agent's grasp, tossing it carelessly to the ground. She led the agent away to the center of the forest where with a flourish Shiki dipped her. "You have such beautiful eyes," The pale-blue haired woman caressed the agent's face, forcing one of her eyes open. "It makes me want to pluck them out and put them in a jar for me to admire."
"Just kidding." She jests, pulling the agent back on her feet, keeping her close. "I do have something I need to ask."
"My dear, you are here for the Man'yo-shū, aren't you? Sent as decoys. This group of agents were trained to be killed, isn't that a pity?" Shiki's tone was pitiful mixed in with derision.
"It.. it was because we were told to.." The agent finally spoke, her voice small as a mouse, lips quivering. "He promised us that we will be happier with our selves once the new world is created. That's why we need the poem."
Shiki snickered, happier with yourselves? That man must be full of himself.. or who ever he was. "He seemed to promise so much yet so little about the people he so cares for."
"So please! I beg of you! We just need the poem then we will leave!-"
Shiki slience the agent, a finger over her lips. "I'm afraid I cannot allow that, the Special division requires the poem as well. And.. I can't let you live. You have all the information you need."
One last twirl was met with the cold of something sharp against the agent's chest.
The agent looked down at her chest, pierced by the blade of a katana. The black steel now coated in with crimson. She began to cough, drops of blood dripping down her lips.
"I did not want to kill you but if I were to let you go, you'd run back to your master to tell him all about us." Quickly, Shiki pulled out the sword from the agent's chest, a hand holding the small of her back.
"Rest easy."
Shiki held the back of the agent's head and slowly lead her to the ground, the life in her eyes were becoming duller to grey. Using two fingers, Shiki shut the agent's eyelids, she did not have a smile this time but it was neither a frown.
The androgynous woman stood up with blade in hand, it slowly faded away into ink, it's original form. Shiki wiped the blood on her cheek eith the back of her gloved hand.
Takagi was spiraled with a scene, it made her gut tell her that maybe she should just eliminate Shiki as told to. That was only if she did anything bad, still everything about it made her uncomfortable.
"Masaoka-san! Takagi!" Yelled a familiar voice, there he was, Murakami running towards them with a small splatter of blood on his suit jacket. Once he arrived near them he placed his hands on his knees, panting heavily.
"Murakami-San! You're back!" Shiki said gleefully, clapping her hands. "You look terrible!"
"I know.. thank you very much." He said semi-irritated. His suit covered with dirt, mud, and blood. It even covered small parts of his face, but after all that he managed to protect the coin locker, tucked safe away in his pocket.
"Has someone ever told you that you reek?" Takagi chimed in. "It looks like you rolled around in dirt along with shit."
"I was running for my life! how DARE you assume such a thing! I'll.. I'll..! I'll.." Murakami trailed off.
"Don't think about it to hard, pipsqueek."
Murakami slumped his shoulders, feeling an ache in them. He felt his stomach wanting to let it all out from the sight of the unconscious Mimic agents.
Beep. Beep Beep.
"There's trackers on these guys." Takagi stuffed a hand into on of the agent's jackets, finding the glowing device.
"They are planted on all of them I believe." Shiki waved the tracker around, although it made the tracker beep louder.
"Watch where you wave that." Takagi grumbled. "The best thing right now is that we start moving. As Shiki said these were nothing but playthings for the real deal."
"They are going to send more..?" Murakami mumbled, disappointment in his voice.
"How exciting is that! I can just taste the sweet.. oh so sweet, Adrenaline!" Shiki said dreamily, clasping her hands together.
"As we are speaking they might as well send their hounds. It was like this was planned before hand." Takagi crushed the tracker in her palm effortlessly, letting drop to the ground.
"The wind is picking up. It means we are closer to the top than I imagined. Let's hurry now." Shiki skipped on her feet, Takagi following behind.
"Wait guys! Before we go I-"
Murakami vomited near a bush, both women stopped, looking dumbfounded.
...
"I'll carry him." Takagi grabbing Murakami by his collar once he finished his business. He was under her arm.
"Bleh..." Murakami's body went numb, putting no struggle in Takagi's grasp.
"He's knocked out."
"I'm surprised you can carry him." Shiki remarked.
"He isn't heavy at all and I carried much more heavier things."
"Oh you did? Do tell."
Takagi went quiet for a second, she kept her blank expression on her face before speaking up.
"I've carried grown men before, even those twice my height."
"You're bluffing!"
"The list goes on."