Jinhong Eijirou's P.O.V.
Sitting opposite Lan Wuxian we drank the warm liquor and talked about the developments with Mitzuki. I looked at the roof towards where the brunette's room was.
"Do you think Mitzuki's gonna be okay?" I asked, worried about my soft-hearted friend. I knew a little of what he'd been through with his ex, that he'd been to hell and back from the snippets of information he'd told me. I wanted to know more of what he'd been through but at the same time I really didn't want to know what else the brunette had experienced. Lan Wuxian smiled, looking towards Mitzuki's room as well.
"Mitzuki will be fine. He is... unbalanced now but he'll come right after a while. Kaard could be good for him but it depends on how he reacts to what Mitzuki tells him, if Mitzuki tells the whole story and whether or not he will stand by our boy when his ex-boyfriend comes to call." My eyes snapped to meet Lan Wuxian's steely violet ones, I searched them for truth.
"His ex will come, here? Why!? But doesn't that mea-" The black haired male opposite me held up a hand for silence.
"I don't know specifics just that my Lan Zhan told me he will come. Lan Zhan said 'He will be called here and that our Mitzuki will be in danger.' Lan Zhan thinks we should go to Gusu but I believe the devil would follow us there so it is better to face him here than to take trouble home to GusuLan. That's what my husband said, so that is what we shall do. I wonder though what he meant that the devil will be called here? Lan Zhan didn't say, or he wouldn't say because he knows I will try to do something before Mitzuki's ex-boyfriend comes." Lan Wuxian trailed off, musing more to himself than speaking to me anymore. I wonder if he meant for me to know this so I can help to look out for Mitzu or if he was warning me.
The brunette upstairs was someone I'd grown to love very much, not in a romantic way or anything like that, but he was my best friend and I'd do anything to keep him safe. He was an important part of the family at Wàng Jī Lǚdiàn and if anything happened I know we would all be devastated. Me and Cordelia especially, Gods, Cordi is an absolute riot! She refuses to dye her gorgeous espresso hair or even get highlights in it, she claims that her boyfriend Jimin tells her all the time in the letters he sends her while he's away in the military that her long coffee coloured hair is one of his favourite things about her...
Wait, wait.. Hang on...
Write. Letter. Information. The paperwork!!
"Lan Wuxian! The paperwork - it has to be because of the paperwork you said you'd send away!" Puzzled eyes met mine, head tilted and his ponytail fell to the side. He hummed, raised his chin and telling me to continue, I saw the gears start to work as I spoke.
"I had an idea, don't diss it yet, just listen for a minute! What if Mitzu's ex-boyfriend is coming because of the information you're sending to that detective or whatever? What if he can track where it's come from or something - can it have something to do with that?" I'd lowered my voice and was speaking quickly, knowing he'd hear everything. Lan Wuxian, the ever cheerful boss, was frowning and it concerned me that he would worry. He pulled out his phone and called someone, speaking quietly he repeated what I'd speculated.
I must be right in something I said if he was phoning his beautiful (but scary as hell) husband, after about a minute he hung up. Pouring himself a new glass of liquor he shot it down. He poured a second glass then stared at me as if considering his words carefully and I wasn't sure if I wanted to hear what he was going to say. He poured me a glass of the burnt amber fluid and nudged it across the table to me. The silence dragged for what was only a few seconds but I already had butterflies in my stomach.
"Lan Zhan thinks you are right." My skin crawled hearing this admission. Goosebumps flared over my arms and pricked the back of my neck at his words and I was sure the room temperature dropped a few degrees, chilling us. He studiously contemplated the liquor he was swirling in its jar, pouting as if it had done him wrong. Lan Wuxian left the shot glass on the table, abandoned, as he drank deeply, swigging the Emperors Smile from the mouth of the jar.
"Lan Wuxian, we need to protect him, we need to make sure this guy can't find Mitzu and... and... We have to do something Wuxian!" I was at a loss as to what we should do, only that I knew we (I) wouldn't be able to sit aside and watch anything happen to my closest friend. I cried out, hitting my head on the table in frustration.
I didn't see Lan Wuxian's eyes move to the person who had just entered Wàng Jī and sat at the bar, speaking to Gem. I didn't see his violet eyes glossing over though the next time he spoke his voice was almost inaudible - but I heard his next words clear as day.
"Lan Wang Ji.
The game is afoot, be wary, be warned.
Beware the pale devil disguised as a friend,
Changes like the tide steadily ebb and flow.
A stranger will come with hair of green mint,
Enemy or ally, friend or foe?
He's not all he seems and not all he wants,
Hearts being tested in long days to come and go
Love so deeply buried, his soul doesn't believe,
Not 'til the final trigger is pulled will he truly know."
* * * * *
The Mechanik's P.O.V.
I rolled my motorbike up to the kerb in front of the serene looking inn I'd booked myself in for the next two weeks, my mind was a riot of thoughts. Wàng Jī Lǚdiàn. I smiled at the name because it meant peace above the fray inn.
I hoped I could get this issue sorted and honestly I wasn't sure if I hoped more that I would or wouldn't find what I was looking for. I wondered if Trancy's intel was any good. Boss seemed to think the information of an alleged sighting was good enough to send me on a wild goose chase. I sighed taking off my leather gloves and my helmet, running a hand through my mint green hair. I'm relieved to be off the road since my ride had taken almost four days from where I was before this. I unzipped my leather jacket to reveal the white t-shirt underneath to let some air flow over my chest. Leathers were hot as fuck.
I can't believe I've been sent to check for Kim Mitzuki. No way the kid would have survived that last... session. BamBam had held me as I wept when he told me how bad he'd looked as he'd gotten away. The description Trancy Alois gave didn't even match how I remember the kid but.. Doesn't matter what I want, the Boss wants me to make sure it isn't the kid and if (by some fucked up, insane miracle) it is then he wants me to 'fix' the problem. I snorted at the thought. The Boss's definition of fixing his problem meant I'd be murdering an innocent kid. That's why I'm a mechanik, I fix things. No loose ends and all that shit.
Fuck this. Fuck him. I'm not going back after this. I finally have enough money to start over.
I only have myself to blame for landing myself in this shit. It's like I'd screwed up one too mamy times and fate decided to punch me in the face by ending up as one of Izuka's lackeys. The lackey with the most value to him currently... But the sooner I can quit this "job" the happier I'll be.
Fuck it, Trancy was wrong. He just had to be. The kid's been gone for a year, I'm sure he must've just mistaken someone who looked like the kid or something. I mean he was never the sharpest tool in the shed so maybe he was wrong... Gods, I really hope he's wrong. The kid wasn't a bad dude, only naive enough to be taken in by the Bosses empty promises. I hope for the kids sake he's dead because if Trancy gets his hands on the kid he'll be worse than dead.
Walking into the inn I admired the interior. The style reminded me strongly of a beautiful place I'd been once up in the mountains though it was a lifetime ago now, Gusu it was called. Ancient Chinese stylized with open spaces that allowed you feel like you can breathe properly. The clean whites and palest blue hues that crisply contrasted with the rich and warm redwood colours of the exposed framing and floors. The simplicity and serenity it brought to your mind and spirit when you walked in was refreshing.
Yeah, once all this shit is over I'll find myself a husband and retire to a small place in Gusu and raise dogs or something. I sighed again, wishful thinking wasn't going to get me anywhere. Approaching the curvy bartender or waitress behind the bar, I carefuly placed my helmet on the seat next to me. She nodded and gave me a friendly smile, making her way over to the bar where I'd sat myself.
"Hey there handsome, what can I get you?" She flirted subtly, leaning my arm against the bar I gave her my best smile. I didn't want to be on bad terms with any of the staff during my stay, they work hard enough and don't need to be given grief by an asshole like me.
"Hello beautiful. I have a reservation to stay for two weeks. I'm Min Suga."