Inside a police car, two men dressed in police uniforms with long coats sat with tense faces. The driver was a young man with slit eyes, Officer Ryozo Kinjo. Sitting beside him while smoking a cigarette was a middle-aged man with a scruffy beard as well as his superior, Detective Motoki Obi.
The latter frowned deeply, throwing the almost burned cigar out of the window, something the police should've never done. But he didn't care about that as his anger nearly exploded.
"Fuck. Why the fuck did they make a commotion at such times! Those fucking yakuza!"
"Now, now. Aren't they making a commotion at such a time because they are yakuza, Detective Motoki?"
"Shut up, Ryozo! You know about our encounter two nights ago! They nearly flipped the city in and out to chase after those fucking shadows! And you were there when we made an agreement not to bother each other until the situation calmed down. But look! Fuck them!"
"Hahaha…" Officer Ryozo only laughed dryly, facing his superior's anger.
It wasn't like he didn't understand the situation. He also thought it was strange that they would make a commotion, even shooting a gun, in the middle of the city at noon. But as police, they couldn't ignore what they did and needed to check it.
"I hate this job." Detective Motoki clicked his tongue and leaned his elbow against the door. "Even more so after the Catastrophe."
"But we also get Supernatural ability, isn't that cool?" Officer Ryozo spat out, driving the car wildly.
"There is nothing cool about danger." The Detective retorted.
Silent descended. Only the siren above the car blared loudly as they traversed the snow-covered road, sliding crazily as they arrived near the entrance of Arashiyama Bamboo Grove. They couldn't continue as a group of men in black coats and a girl with white hair blocked their way.
Both men held tightly onto something as the car tried to stop.
"Brake! Hit the brake!" Motoki shouted to his subordinate.
"I already hit it to the limit!"
The car kept sliding toward the group of people without any sign of stopping. Instead, it began to spin around due to the friction of the tires and the snow and the fact that Ryozo pressed the brake hard with his feet and even pulled the handbrake.
They stopped just before they hit the group of people. Motoki spat out a curse before reaching the car drawer, taking out a gun, and hiding it underneath his coat. Ryozo did the same, and both nodded at each other before stepping out.
Due to the familiarity with the other party, Motoki didn't stand at the ceremony and closed the door loudly. He noticed ice that covered the wheel.
'That is…' He frowned and looked at the white-haired girl who waved her hand at him. 'It is her doing, huh? What a scary girl.'
Without any choice, he began to walk toward them. Ryozo followed right beside him.
"Detective Motoki… How should we proceed?" Ryozo asked nervously as he focused his gaze on the group of yakuza.
"We just ask and leave. Nothing can be done with the two of us." Motoki answered in a low voice. "The other police officers are busy dealing with the other commotions in the city. We're too understaffed when there is something like a Catastrophe."
"Right… They heard gunshots and only sent the two of us. How unlucky."
"I know." The Detective sighed.
They stopped a few meters in front of the group. The girl, Misaki, smiled coldly at them. Her gaze could freeze even the hottest fire. Even as someone way older than her, Motoki could feel the danger emanating from her due to his experience of dealing with criminals.
"We meet again, Heir of Fujiwara." The Detective greeted her with an unfriendly tone, "So, care to explain what happened? You know… For reports and formalities thingy."
"Detective! Can you really say something like that?!" Ryozo retorted in a low voice at Motoki's nonchalant attitude.
"Just shut up and let me talk, alright?" Motoki spat back, not bothering to look at his subordinate.
"Nothing happened, Detective Motoki. Also, the real Heir has returned, so don't call me that." Misaki replied with a voice devoid of emotion, totally different from when talking to Atsuku.
Motoki's body shuddered as a chill wind hit him, sending a shiver down his spine.
'The real Heir returned?' He thought, fighting the chill that came not from the snow but from the girl. 'I need to investigate it more later.'
He did his best to nod to acknowledge he understood, and only then did Misaki smile again and continue.
"Just some flies trying to get a sweet treat. We just protected the sweet from oblivious people who tried to bring disasters."
"Disaster?"
"Yes. They are trying to get something they don't know the danger it can bring. You should thank us, Mr. Detective. We do the job that you ignored." Misaki said coldly, "So, I'd appreciate it if you turn around and leave. Or do you want to ignore our peace agreement 2 days ago?"
Detective Motoki narrowed his eyes dangerously, ignoring the nagging feeling that said it was dangerous to proceed further. The fact that the girl now mentioned 'brother,' the real Heir, and flies was enough information to know what happened.
Besides, the men around her had their fingers close to the trigger of their guns, ready to drive holes into the two police officers' bodies. Ryozo also understood that and didn't say any words since the Detective and Misaki began talking.
"Don't make any more commotion, got it? Do remember that we allow your family to exist not because we are afraid of you but because you're relatively tamer. But if you make any more commotions–"
"I know about that, Mr. Detective. But can you blame us when the world is in this state? Aren't you busy with those transformed people that just popped up around Kyoto and the world?" Misaki questioned with a straight face, essentially telling the Detective that she knew about something.
It made Motoki frown deeper, making his already scary face look like an Oni from Japanese mythology. But Misaki wasn't finished yet.
"Let me tell you something. They are called Demons, and they transform because of something that you should investigate yourself."
"So your family does know something…" He concluded.
"Guess? Just remember to aim at their chests," Misaki grinned with a hidden meaning, confusing the police officers. "You better go now and close the road leading to this place. We don't want any flies to be burned alive anymore."
"Thank you for your information. Excuse ourselves." Detective Motoki pulled up his coat's collar and turned around, dragging Ryozo, who was dumbfounded, with him.
"Be careful on your way. The snow is slippery." Misaki bid them farewell and controlled the ice around their car's wheels to allow them to move again.
The Detective glanced back for the last time before entering the car, ordering his subordinates, who asked many questions, to leave. At first, the car had difficulty, but it managed to drive through the snow without any problem after the engine was heated slightly.
As they left, one man approached Misaki and asked, "Is it okay to let them go, Young Miss? Also, that information…"
"It will be fine." Misaki shut the man down immediately and turned around, looking toward the bamboo grove lit by a yellow light from inside.
"Demons are our common enemies, so giving them information and letting them deal with them is ideal for us. We can gather our strength and focus to survive the next Trial. That way, our family can get stronger than the others. And when the world changes completely, we will use that chance to rise."
"I see… Please forgive my previous question." The man bowed deeply, ashamed of his short-narrowed sight.
"No problem." She said.
Then, her face turned serious, "Now, don't slack off and patrol the area! Atsuku is trying to advance inside, and it's an important time for him. Threaten anyone who gets close, and kill those who don't listen. I don't want anything to make any noise!"
"Yes, Young Miss!"
The men in black coats began to move and scatter in every direction, making a pair of two in every little team.
As for Misaki, she walked toward the ice wall and made a little hole for her to peek inside. What she saw was her brother, sitting in the middle of the bamboo grove with a pained expression as if he was combating something in his mind.
"If you fail, then I will take responsibility and kill you, idiot brother. So just trust me."