Ch. 34

New York City never sleeps; believe me, I know. A pity for them because they often fail to remember what lurks in the darkness of night.
~

The rain ceased to fall at sunset and a heavy mist hung over New York City as darkness fell. All in all, nothing had really changed in the Big Apple during the course of a day. Buildings still glowed with lights, the colors swirling in and out of the fog. Horns honked as people rushed to whatever nighttime entertainment awaited them and the pavement was pounded by restless souls either returning home after a long day or headed out to a nighttime shift of work. Children were sent to bed- some easily and some protesting- while their parents carefully locked the doors and windows of their homes. Though no one spoke of it, more than one worried glance was exchanged between families that night as they could only wait for the reckoning that was sure to come.

Perched on one of the highest skyscrapers in the city, three dark shapes sat huddled together. Though they remained well-hidden thanks to the shadows and the fog, their bright golden eyes easily put any neon light to shame. For a while, they simply sat and listened to the sounds of the city, observing the streets below them and feeling the ebb and flow of New York's night life.

"Humph." Kenta scowled and stretched out his wings a bit. "Rain or not, this place reeks. How can humans stand to live here?" Though the bat demon spoke in his native Japanese, the displeasure etched on his angular face needed no translation.

"A question I've often asked myself," Rin replied. The half-demon brushed a clawed hand down the front of her freshly washed shirt, pleased that her garments had been returned to her free of bloodstains. "I would say that their sense of smell has been dulled, but even Mother complained of certain scents back in London."

"Live anywhere long enough and you get used to it," Souske replied with a shrug. "If the humans were raised in such a stench, they probably don't even register it now."

Kenta hissed with laughter. "Ahhh, how fitting for them. So used to their own filth that they can't even see how far they've fallen. And to think, this is the same race who thought they could eradicate the Yokai. Oh-ho, I would love to see them try!"

"Most humans would prefer to pretend we don't exist," Rin answered, curling her lip back from her fangs in disgust. "I may not have been welcome at the school back in England, but I overheard the lessons from time to time. There is a good amount of history the majority of humans would rather forget."

"Well now, that is foolish." Souske drummed his claws against the rough cement of the roof. "True, most of our kind shun cities, but I know for a fact that Tokyo not only expects Yokai from time to time, but that there are accommodations for us should we have the need to travel there. I thought New York City welcomed people from every country; shouldn't the citizens here expect the same?"

"That would imply that they consider us people, Souske."

"The same could be said about them." Kenta grinned and stood up, his massive black wings melding back into the shadows. "Ah, well, they'll learn their place soon enough. But come, let us see what the city has to offer."

The bat demon jumped from the roof, his spread wings catching the wind currents and sending him shooting forward like an arrow from a bow. Souske chuckled and followed suit, easily catching up to his brother. Rin watched her cousins soar off, giving them a good head start. The half-demon stretched out her arms, spreading her own powerful wings and jumping into the night sky. Pulling her arms in tightly, Rin shot forward and swept past Kenta and Souske before flapping her wings again to send her soaring upward. The half-demon flew up higher than the spike of the Empire State Building where, only yesterday evening, she and James had sat together. Now, the half-demon hovered in midair above even the highest building humans had built, higher even than the crane they had used to craft that building and Rin knew she could fly higher still with little effort.

Kenta and Souske clearly felt the same. The two bat demons chased after their cousin, their wings beating in almost perfect sync. Rin waited for them to get close enough for her to see their fanged smiles before darting away, circling around the Empire State Building's spire and speeding off into the night. Kenta's delighted laughter rang in her ears as the elder of the twins sped ahead in an attempt to catch her, but Rin dodged around Kenta and flew off in another direction. The half-demon glanced behind her to send her older cousin a triumphant grin, but her ears caught the sound of something heavy rushing toward her.

With only a fraction of a second to react, Rin rolled to one side, but Souske still managed to barrel into her, his arms seeking to encircle her and trap her wings. In response, Rin folded her wings, let her arms hang limp and fell toward the streets below. Shocked, Souske involuntarily loosened his grip on the half-demon and Rin slammed against her cousin, knocking him back just enough to allow her to spread her wings and fly off in the opposite direction. She only barely managed to dodge Kenta's next strike and she felt his hand graze her wings as he nearly collided with his brother. Laughing, Rin flew away as the brothers quickly righted themselves and resumed their pursuit.

Seeking a refuge from the heavy grimy air of the city, Rin followed the scent of damp grass and rich loam until she was hovering above the massive expanse of Central Park. From above, the shadowy trees were just barely visible under their crown of fog, but Rin could hear the faint strain of voices drifting up from below. The lamps, set at regular intervals along what was obviously a path, offered some guiding light, but the half-demon wasn't interested in being where humans would take an evening stroll. Hearing her cousins approach yet again, Rin flew over a deserted patch of grass and hovered in midair, waiting.

She didn't have to wait long.

Like a bullet, Kenta shot toward her, his clawed hands outstretched and an eager grin on his face. Rin waited until her cousin was nearly upon her before flapping her wings hard and flying straight up into the air as fast as she could. She heard Kenta's annoyed growl at missing his quarry; in response, the half-demon folded her wings and dropped like a stone directly onto him. Kenta's growl turned into a shout of surprise as Rin's clawed hand grabbed his right wrists and his throat as the two fell to Earth. Kenta struggled beneath Rin, his clawed hands swiping at her, but Rin dodged his attacks and focused her energy on keeping Kenta beneath her as the pair fell faster and faster.

KA-THUD!

Kenta slammed onto the grassy ground, gasping as the wind was knocked clean out of him. Rin crouched over her cousin, her hand still at his throat. Kenta struggled a moment more, then let out a wheezing laugh.

"I yield! I yield!"

Grinning, Rin released her hold on Kenta's throat and stepped back, allowing her older cousin to rise to his feet. Souske flew down to join them just as his brother stretched out his wings and took a huge gulp of air. The younger twin shook his head in amusement.

"I could have told you that would happen, Kenta nii-san."

"And I wouldn't have listened, Souske ototo-san."

"And thus, you lose. Again!" Rin retorted.

All three Kurosakis laughed, but their mirth was cut short at the sound of a sudden panicked cries.

"That came from the path over there." Souske sniffed the air. "Humans."

"Let's go." Rin took off running, her cousins following behind her. The three kept to the shadows, peering around trees at the sight that awaited them on the well-worn cobblestone path.

Despite the fog, Rin was easily able to make out what was happening once she was close enough. Standing in the light of a lamp, a man and woman were clinging tightly to each other with expression of fear on their faces. Circling them were three young men, all of them dressed in dirty clothes and wielding sharp knives. Rin frowned at the sight; while she had no intention of letting the three would-be thieves cause harm to anyone, it was easy to see why the couple had been targeted. The woman was wearing a white suede coat over a shimmery green dress and enough jewelry to add eat least ten pound to her slim frame. The man, meanwhile, was garbed in a tailored grey suit and silk tie with a leather coat fastened around his waist. In his right coat pocket was a hefty bulge, hinting at a well-stuffed wallet. For anyone who made their living as a crook, these two were an opportunity that couldn't be passed up.

"Look, we don't want any trouble!" the man was saying, barely able to keep his voice from trembling. "Just... just let us go and we won't call the cops."

"Oh, I don't think you'll want to do that anyway," one of the thieves said, licking his lips as his eyes roved over the woman's lithe form. "I can be very persuasive."

"Stay away from me, you animal!" The woman clutched her white purse, which was just as stuffed as the man's pocket.

"Animal? Well, if you insist..." The three men started to close in on the hapless couple, but they only had time to take a single step forward.

With a furious roar, Rin barreled out of the shadows and swiped her claws at the man closest to her. The man in question, a thick fellow with dark greasy hair, fell to the ground with a howl of pain. His knife clattered onto the cobblestones as the thief clutched at his bleeding limb, where five deep scratches were already gushing blood. Souske, meanwhile, had grabbed onto a youngish man with a scarred face and had dug his claws into both of the man's shoulders. From the way the man was screaming, he would likely have several new scars before he was much older, especially as he tried to twist away from the demon's grip and only succeeded in scouring his flesh further. The final man, the one the woman had called an animal, was being held by this throat in Kenta's grip. The bat demon easily lifted the man clear off his feet, holding his tightly enough to cause the man to gasp for air, but not enough to allow him to pass out. The thief's eyes bulged in his reddening face as he started with utter terror at the bat demon. Kenta's fangs glistened in the light as he smiled.

"Well, well, how fortunate for us. I was just getting hungry."

"Indeed. It is not often a meal presents itself to us so willingly." Souske chuckled and clutched his victim harder, causing the man to let out another scream of pain.

"You... you..." The well-dressed man clutched the woman toward him as he started at his rescuers. Rin kicked out at the bleeding man at her feet and turned to frown at the pair.

"Yes, we saved you. But what the hell were you doing here in the first place?"

"We... we were taking a walk!" Being scolded had snapped the man out of his shock. "As anyone is free to do!"

"And free to reap the consequences," Souske retorted. "A stroll in the night fog is indeed pleasant, but you presented yourselves as quite the target, as you nearly found out to your detriment."

"Are you saying we were asking to be robbed?" the woman snapped, her green eyes flashing as brightly as her jewels in her anger.

"My cousin is saying that you put yourself in danger." Rin gestured to the deserted park. "You're quite a distance from the entrance, there are no policemen nearby, the only light comes from the lamps, and what's more, you're carrying a great deal of money. One of those things might be excusable, but all of them? Now you're just being stupid!"

"Hey!"

"That being said, I'll escort you back to the front gates to make sure no one else attempts to harm you. I suggest you get a cab home."

"I... yes... we will." The couple seemed to visibly deflate in front of the Kurosakis as the man spoke. "We... we just came from dinner and the theater and.. well..."

"And you had to carry your life's savings with you?" Kenta asked, the man in his grip still gasping for air.

"This is what we usually bring for an evening out!" the woman replied, hefting her purse slightly.

"And you haven't been robbed before?"

"Well... not exactly... but the last time someone approached us, a police officer was right by and..." The woman's voice trailed off.

"Next time, we may not be here." Kenta narrowed his eyes at the pair. "Count yourselves lucky."

"Come with me." Rin gestured at the couple. "I'll stay with you until you get a ride home."

"Thank you. But what about them?" The woman pointed at the two thieves restrained by the bat demons and the third one writhing on the ground. "Shouldn't we call the police and report this?"

"No need. As I said, we're hungry." Kenta flashed the woman a fanged smile as his eyes took on a reddish hue. The woman gasped, sagging against her partner as he swiftly pulled her along after Rin. The half-demon didn't bother looking behind her as she led the pair down the path, but she heard the brief terrified screams that died quickly at the sound of fang and claw meeting flesh and bone.

"Are they... are they really going to...?"

"What do you think?"

"Oh my God!" The woman's face was as white as milk. "Oh my God!"

"Three less thieves in the world." Rin peered over her shoulder at the horrified humans and flashed them a fanged grin. "Ah, well, at least they were good for something!"

"Are you...?" The woman couldn't finish her sentence.

"No. Being half-demon means eating human meat is a little too close to cannibalism for my taste! Hah, get it?"

"Uggghhh." The woman looked like she was about to throw up whatever fancy meal she had eaten.

"Hmm, I guess that joke was in bad taste!"

"Must you?"

"My cousins and I just saved your lives. I'll say whatever I damn well please!"

The humans fell silent and Rin kept her gaze on the gloom in front of her. The half-demon's ears twitched as she made out the sounds of Central Park at night. The occasional flitter of a bird's wings or the skittering of a mouse. The animals in the Central Park Zoo some distance away seemed peaceful and even through the fog, Rin was certain she heard the occasional muted footstep of a zoo employee working the night shift. But there seemed to be a lack of law enforcement close by. Even as the gates of Central Park finally loomed into view, there wasn't an officer in sight. The half-demon growled; once again, New York City had failed and this time, they had failed their own people.

"Is... is everything alright?"

"Just something else I'll have to report to my uncle when he arrives tomorrow."

"Your uncle?"

"Hai. Lord Takashi Kurosaki of the Southern Bat Demons. Count yourselves lucky; it is not often we concern ourselves with the affairs of humans, but I think you know you have quite forced his hand."

"I..." The man gulped. "I didn't think those women were telling the full truth, you know."

"No I don't know because you kept silent." Rin whirled around to fix the human male with a glare. "The only people who had the courage to speak up were the children whose parents kept trying to silence them. Tell me, did you do the same?"

"We don't have children."

"And nor do you have the strength to speak up when you see wrongdoing happening right in front of you."

"Hey now-"

"That being said, you were just faces in the crowd. I doubt you'll have anything to worry about when Takashi oji-san decides to pass judgement."

"Judgement?"

"Oh yes. And as you've just found out, we Kurosakis aren't known for granting mercy."

The couple glanced over their shoulders again, where only silence met their inefficient ears. Rin smiled as they looked back at her.

"Like I said, you haven't anything to worry about. You were merely one of many and, I admit, the mind of a crowd tends to flow in one direction. But I would take more care in the future if I were you. And if you're going to remain in the habit of taking nighttime walks, keep to a more populated area."

"Y-yes. We will." The man and woman skirted around Rin and hustled out of the arched gates that marked the entrance to Central Park. Rin remained where she was, her ears tuned on the couple as they stood on the curb. Thankfully, it didn't take long for a cab to rumble up to them and the half-demon listened until she was certain both humans were safely inside the vehicle before turning back into the shadows of the park. Sniffing deeply, Rin could scent the coppery tang of blood through the fog, but she doubted the stains on the pavement would be discovered anytime soon. And if they were, well, so what? The three thieves likely weren't going to be missed and if the idiotic police force wanted to complain, then Rin would was certain they would be happy to explain why she and her cousins had been obliged to step in and save two citizens while their officers- who were paid to do so- were nowhere to be seen.

"I'll leave that to you, Takashi oji-san."

Rin unfurled her wings and soared into the air. She would leave her cousins to their meal and speak with them afterward. The half-demon had a sneaking suspicion that more than one city official would want to talk with them regarding the Bat Demon Lord's arrival and if they wanted their heads to remain attached to their bodies, they would need to be given a few pointers in dealing with the force of the Kurosakis.

Of course, whether they actually did what they were told was up to them, but then again, Lord Takashi could just decide to execute them on principle and leave it at that.

Oh well, tomorrow would come whether people wanted it or not and Rin had a feeling a good many people were terrified of what the new day would bring.

Good!
~

I admit I wasn't feeling very charitable toward the officials of New York at the moment. I didn't want the city to be razed to the ground, true, but a hefty dose of fear can humble even the proudest of men.