A few weeks would pass by, shadow's Kiss would be put on delay due to the events that happened with Takashi. Kibe would continue with school, not making any moves or doing much of anything. He figured since he's in the PSIA now, that it'd better to watch his moves from now one. Not that he wasn't already.
Mr.Nakayama and Mr.Miyuki however, continued to do they're own investigations into Kibe still, but having him around more made that difficult. The double edged sword was beginning to show itself. Brandon Wright on the other hand had been making a name for himself amongst the force.
Complaints rose dramatically about him, stalking other coworkers when leaving work, sleeping in weird places and even interrupting interrogations with suspects on other cases. Cheif of police had to almost suspend him on the first week. However some good things did come from Brandon, after being asked to take the PSIA and FBI test, he took them and got a solid 100% score rate on all of them. The language barrier didn't stump him at all.
Brandon's physical test weren't anything special, but still acceptable. He is a remarkable agent. When Nin came him to the office to give Brandon a second psych eval, she described him in a few words to Mr.Nakayama afterwards. Calling Brandon; unscrupulous, unethical, dishonest and even said a lot of his actions always seem...premeditated. like every word he said was something he had given thought to. Later on though, Brandon would grow a fascination with one of the cases in the PSIA's catalog. One that was deemed "impossible" and unsolvable by legal means. He had laid down some theories previously before and even spoken to Mr.Nakayama on getting on the case.
Kibe and Brandon were sitting down in Mr.Nakayama's office with Mr.Miyuki standing near by. Mr.Nakayama's moved from them to the case file in front of him. He leaned back in his chair.
"I see, so you both have agreed to take on the case of imaginary killer case. A case with no suspects and with no leads.
The quick summary of the case is as follows. A little girl in Kobe; Nishinomiya. Name is Ikuko Endō. Age 6, Ikuko has been a bit of a psychic in this case. A few days before the killing started, Ikuko's mother had brought her and her daughter into a police station saying that Ikuko had been drawing some strange pictures in her classes.
Pictures of people dying that she didn't know. She would write their names on the top left of her drawings and then would draw that person dying either via a gun or stabbing. In her own words "My imaginary friend tells me when the bad things will happen.".
Every time she has drawn one of those pictures, someone has died.
So far in the 3 - 5 months the case has been active. No leads have been discovered or when they are, lead to dead-ends.
Thats what the case file says." Mr.Nakayama said
"Thanks for the rerun through it. I assume that's all there is on the case as of this time.
I'm aware there is a officer whose familiar with the case. A man by the name of, officer Takahiro Itō." Kibe said as Brandon was sucking on his thumb in the next chair.
"Mmmm, the possibility of the imaginary killer being a police officer is too obvious. Its not a good angle." Brandon said
"And why is that? One of the many professions that criminals, especially sociopaths and psychopaths like to take are things related to law enforcement and psychiatry.
It only seems right to look into the police." Mr.Miyuki said
"I say its not a good angle; because I have reason to believe the police are either heavily unreliable or crooked." Brandon said, the room got quiet for a moment at the mention. Brandon's eyes looked to Mr.Nakayama who was staring down at the case file.
"You believe that too don't you? Mr.Nakayama." Brandon asked, to which Mr.Nakayama nodded his head.
"I do, the officers there have kept they're mouths pretty quiet on investigations having to do with the mother of this girl. Including close relatives of them too.
Its only safe to assume that they're either scared shitless or could be taking bribes from the killer themselves." Mr.Nakayama said
"In which case it sounds like this really will just be me and Brandon after all." Kibe said
"Which reminds me. Why is it that you requested for Kibe again Brandon?" Mr.Miyuki asked, Brandon took his thumb out of his mouth and wiped it on the chair. He then put his hands on his knees. His face looking to Mr.Miyuki.
"Kibe has shown hes perfectly capable of reasoning and deducting plausible dead ends and managing possible leads
Not to mention, his capability to cold read these sorts of spotty situations are highly impressive. If he were doggy I'd give him a treat. Hehe.
On a serious note. I just want to get to know him some more, and what better than investigating a serial mastermind." Brandon smiled, Mr.Miyuki looked to Nakayama who just shrugged as he put his hands together.
"Well then, if theres nothing else. Then-" at that moment a officer would barge into the officer room alerting everyone to look at him.
"MR.NAKAYAMA! A HOMICIDE JUST CAME IN!" shouted the officer.
"What?!" Mr.Nakyama said as he got up, later all of them would be standing at a TV screen. There they would be watching a tape that had been delivered to them anonymously. It was a video, one of the officers played it. It then turned to a alley wall, with blood on the wall. The word "Alice" written in the blood. Then the video on a voice came up.
"Hello there, my name is Alice! I am a devoted follower of the white rabbit! Hes shown us something special. I will show you something special. I want to show you that in life, we all have only one life. I however, Alice, have nine.
Nine beautiful lives. Nine beautiful bodies, nine beautiful ways to die. The white rabbit may be the ring leader, but I am the wild animal that he can't control.
I will kill again, when I want. Goodnight officers." Said Alice, her voice was static and almost hard to hear as the audio cut out. Everyone looked at one another and began to talk, the whole office erupted into conversation.
"I want officers around the clock looking for the street and alley that this video was taken in! Nothing is left unchecked!" Mr.Nakyama shouted as he pointed and pushed officers in certain directions
"Nakayama, what could this mean? Is she trying to get the rabbit's attention? Or is she trying to put herself as a new murderer?" Mr.Miyuki asked
"No, she wants to get his attention. Who knows how many of these other tapes are out there. Being sent to other places where they can put them up or be eager to get some publicity." Mr.Nakayama said as he checked his phone for anything on the news, yet found nothing.
"Nothing on the news channels sir, this seems to have been just targeted towards us." Said a officer sitting nearby.
"Which means she is looking to get our attention. She wants us on this. Perhaps she may even be looking to get caught.
She's peering. She wants to get someone to see her." Mr.Nakayama said, thats when he'd take a breath and the commotion of the office began to grow less. The noise soon turned into nothing. Voices became nothing, the sounds of footsteps became nothing and all others.
His eyes slowly opened as he was then on the street. Looking down the alley. There he saw a black shadow walking to a innocent, using a weapon and gutting them.
"The sickness in this killer is parental. Was done by the way the-...No.
She was born this way.
The world didn't change anything about her, she changed the world. She wants to get someone's attention, but isn't looking to expose who that is." Mr.Nakayama said as he turned around to see Kibe and Brandon still looking at the monitor. Brandon's mouth was a wide smile while Kibe had no feelings on his face. Mr.Nakayama then walked away with Mr.Miyuki as the situation began to die down a little. Brandon stared at the blood and the victim on the video. Kibe just stared at it.
"Someone who wants to get my attention. Interacting with this Alice is to be the least option I should take.
She sent this video here, which means she most definitely knows me or has an idea. My first thought should be Kat, however with the audio from the video being distorted and it being...well a video. This all seems to be too over the top for her.
If she wanted my attention. She would have just gotten to the point or came here herself with how unhinged she is. This clearly can't be her work." Kibe thought, thats when he saw Brandon right next to his face looking at him. Kibe's eyes lingered on him.
"You recognize that voice at all?" Brandon asked.
"No. What are you getting at?" Kibe asked.
"What I'm saying is that I think you recognize that voice. Mainly because of the fact you didn't have much to say on the matter." Brandon said
"Theres nothing to say. The video was made by a clearly psychopathic person. She wants the attention of the white rabbit." Kibe said as he looked at the screen of the scene.
"Then why send it here?" Brandon asked
"Because the white rabbit case has been handled here before. No doubt she believes that with us on her case and mentioning him. That we will focus on two cases at once.
Hoping to separate our unit into two.
But you aren't thinking that way...are you?" Kibe said as his eyes slowly moved to Brandon. Brandon gave a wide smile before nodding and walking away. Kibe watched him for a while before he also made his exit. Soon he'd leave the station. Putting his school unfirom back and walking out with his school bag. Thats when he got a text from Mi. He looked at it before closing his phone.
Later he'd walk over to a martial arts building. It was next to a clothing store and a retail store. He briefly looked inside and could see Mi in there, training with a martial art teacher with other students as well. Kibe just watched until eventually walking inside. As he did Mi's attention would go to him. She would smile and give him a small wave with Kibe nodding to her. He'd walk over to a empty seat next to a woman and sit down. His bag in his lap. Kibe's eyes watched everything. He could see the small details of every person around him and make a profile of them so accurate, most detectives and even psychiatrist would call it "inhuman" or borderline "mind reading".
Kibe could see a female student, brown dark hair, fake of course and her outfit was tight around her. A sign of her liking comfort and security. She was a blue belt, it was worn though. Perhaps a sign of putrid progress, she doesn't want change and is afraid of the expectations of what the future may bare on her. So she stays in one place. Another student, a boy was sitting down more comfortably than the rest. Though his belt was yellow. Slack, laziness and a sense of disinterest. He isn't here by his own accourd. No. Infact, he was brought here. One of the women sitting beside Kibe, likely his mother or aunt? A close relative even.
They want him to learn how to fight, but he doesn't feel he needs it. He feels man enough to do without it. Even though judging from the way he holds his wrist on occasion and fiddles with his fingers. He is clearly afraid of confrontation. Kibe's eyes then moved to Mi and the the dojo master. He noticed how the master often would help Mi with her stance, she clearly had been here for a few weeks now. No doubt due to the incident before at the warehouse. She didn't want to feel useless or helpless, Kibe was impressed.
However looking closer at the dojo master, he could see a level of perversion. The man's hands sometimes lingered on Mi's waist a few seconds longer or his eyes would move to her chest for a moment when no one else was watching. He was clever. He had clearly done this before. Kibe had no doubt that if no one was here the man would simply grope Mi to please his wants. It wasn't obvious to others, but Kibe could make it out clearly. The man was like a open book.
He noticed what Mi was learning, a bit more of an advanced type of karate. She was a brown belt, very impressive. It wouldn't be long before Kibe may have to watch out for her...not really but the idea was there. He watcher practice session for 2 hours. During that time he got around to reading and profiling everyone in his vicinity. They were practically family now he knew them all so well. It gave him a very familiar memory. He remembered a time while he was still in france, when he was a young boy.
His mother once hoped to calm down his ever expensive mind and ability to read people, she did so by sending him to a psychiatrist, not they're family one, but one recommended by a friend of hers. Her name was Sachie Itō. Her office was a peachy color, marbles in a jar near her desk and flowers decorated her walls. She had tendency to test him, he sent her to a mental institute. However not before he broke her mind and split it into thousands of pieces, tossing each one to a different corner of her subconscious.
After the recollection he saw Mi standing in front of him.
"Kibe, its so good to see you. How you been? I heard about them putting you in with the police." Mi said as she sat down next him.
"Yes well they supposedly could use the extra hands, even though they seem chalked filled with them. Though. Such times likes these, too many hands in the cookie jar can often leave results...inconclusive." Kibe said as he put his bag down looking to Mi. He looked at the dojo master who averted his eyes from the two of them once Kibe looked his way. Kibe's eyes held on him for a long moment. He then looked back to Mi.
"How are you? I mean after everything that happened, I'm sorry I couldn't have gotten there sooner." Kibe said
"Its ok really. Stop saying that. You visiting me every other day. I guess...I just wish it was sooner." Mi said, her voice was a bit shaky, she looked away for a moment. It was clear she was still dealing with what had happened at the warehouse. Kibe placed a hand on her wrist. Gently pressing and rubbing his finger. She looked at him.
"Mi, I owe you a great deal for that day. You called the police that day. That day you gave me security. Gave me a mat of which to fall on if things went ugly." Kibe said to her, Mi looked at him, her eyes with slight worry in them. The people around them began to leave, taking they're children and friends with them all the while Kibe and Mi stayed. Eyes focused on one another.
"...we-....were you going to make things ugly?" She asked, her voice more unsteady, but Kibe's reassuring rubbing of her hand kept her tame and focused.
"No. I was there to. Confirm something. To confirm my suspicions on something." Kibe said, Mi looked down for a moment.
"I want you to forget that day Mi, something like that shouldn't be haunting you." Kibe said, even though his words sounded like corner and reflected care. He still had that cold and distant sound in his voice. Like a machine.
"I don't think I can." Mi said
"Don't worry, I'll help you." Kibe said as his eyes then went to the dojo master again, the man's eyes was looking at them for a second before moving away the second Kibe looked to him again. Kibe then got up.
"I'll be a minute, can you wait here for me?" Kibe asked to which Mi nodded, Kibe then walked over to the dojo master.
"Greetings, Nori Kibe. You?" Kibe asked as he and the man shook hands. Back at the police station Brandon was sitting down with a recording of the previous message from Alice on constant repeat. He was leaning back in a chair, his feet on the desk as he was eating a banana.
"Nine lives, nine bodies and a nice addiction to a white ball of fluff. Heh." Brandon chuckled as he finished his banana and then grabbed another one next to him. As he kept listening Mr.Miyuki would walk nearby with a report, he'd look over to see Brandon smirking to himself as he ate his snack. Mr.Miyuki rolled his eyes before walking over, lightly cursing to himself.
"Brandon." Mr.Miyuki said getting Brandon's attention.
"Oh hey, how's the kid?" Brandon asked, Mr.Miyuki just looked at him annoyed as he dropped the file on Brandon's lap. Brandon looked down as he finished his banana quickly and picked up the file. He began to read it.
"Forensics didn't get any fingerprints, but found traces of leather. They're guessing gloves possibly. What do you think?" Mr.Miyuki asked, Brandon looked at the file before looking up with a intrigued look.
"...Can I get a hold of the tape?" Brandon asked.
Brandon would be given the tape, he held it in his hands, but instead of simply studying it. He would smell it. His nose trailing over it, like a dog over a pork rib.
"Mmmm, I smell ginger, a hint of jasmine too.
She's polish, parvenu. I can get a hint of a lifestyle resembling some form of respect. She admires him.
I also smell beauty, sensual.
She doesn't like this though, she hates the beauty; wants to break away from this. Her reality was fabricated for her. Our killer is unsatisfied with herself, she dislikes the others around her that play with this reality too. Jealous type." Brandon said as he put the tape down, Mr.Miyuki was just staring at him, his arms folded in disbelief.
"You got all that from the smell?" Mr.Miyuki asked tilting his head in curiosity.
"Yes. You didn't?" Brandon asked, but Mr.Miyuki didn't have anything to say.
"I can tell our killer has a problem with they're image. They hate themselves. Openly I might even say.
...is there a hospital nearby by any chance?" Brandon asked.
Across the city later in the day and nearest to night, in Mr.Nakayama's hotel room. Tokyo was finishing with filing some work and doing reports for her students and they're college papers. While Jun was in her room, tinkering and rebuilding yet another computer from the ground up. She was installing the CPU and rewiring some of the graphics cards she had made herself. Jun was wearing some sweat pants, a tee shirt and a baseball cap.
A smile was on her face as she did her electronic passion. Thats when she'd get a call. She stopped what she was doing and looked over to the called ID. It was Kibe. She rolled over in her chair and picked it up.
"Kibe, what a suprise. I didn't think I would be hearing from you. Seeing how you're so busy with the PSIA work now." Jun said
"I apologize for the informal call, but I just wanted to check on you. Since the incident, everyone has been reasonably. On edge.
So I thought I'd check with you. No nightmares?" Kibe asked
"No, no nothing. I still can't believe Takashi manipulated Ryota and Kenji into all of this. It seemed so...real. it really felt like it was Kenji behind it all." Jun said
"Yea it sure did. Even I was convinced." Kibe said
"Hey I'm, I was wondering if-"
"Oh I'm very sorry Jun, but I've called you at a very awkward time. I won't be able to make any plans. I'm already drowning in them. Like today, I have to do some stuff with Mi. I hope you can understand." Kibe said
"...Oh uh yea sure, no problem. So, what kind of stuff are you guys doing? Hopefully not more karaoke heheh." Jun chuckled, as Kibe was in the alley behind the dojo. There he could see other apartments behind it and a fire escape attached to it. He then turned to see the dojo master, his face severely beaten in and hanging from the fire escape by his belt.
"Oh nothing to beat yourself up over." Kibe said as he took off his black gloves.
"Oh its fine, well. I guess I'll let you go then." Jun said
"No, I should make it up to you. Afterall without you I wouldn't have solved the trickster case. How about something this weekend? Obviously once I'm done with work." Kibe said, Jun subconsciously smiled as she put some of her hair behind her ear.
"Uh yea, that sounds great, what did you have in mind?" She asked
"The gun range. Seeing how you were so good with firearms last time." Kibe said
"Thats a great idea!" She said
"Great, I'll call you the day before with the details. Goodnight. " Kibe said, he then looked up at the dojo master and then to the exit of the alleyway. No one was coming and going. It was like as if no one existed outside of this alley. Kibe then looked back to him.
"Karate is a defensive art, but I guess in case. Defense didn't really save you this time around.
Next time, or in the next life, you are religious right?" Kibe asked, but obviously the dojo master gave no answer.
"Right. Well in the next life, I must advise. Keep your eyes to yourself.
Goodnight." Kibe said as he walked away, and right around the corner, waiting at the front entrance of the dojo, was Mi. Dressed in casual clothes. Her eyes and face beamed when she saw Kibe. Feeling more safe than ever.
"Shall we?" Kibe said
"Yes, lets." Mi said as Kibe began to walk her home. The two walked togther through the streets as Kibe studied the people around them. Mi was on her phone for a moment before she looked to Kibe.
"So, police work, how is that?" Mi asked
"It helps to stop bodies from piling in the streets.
Its good work. Very educational, if I do say myself." Kibe said
"Thats great, I can say the same for my martial arts. It really helps me feel...strong. I want to feel reliable. When you got to that place, when I heard you were there when the police arrived, I was worried." Mi said
"Oh, nothing happened. It was just...distracting." Kibe said, Mi nodded as she looked down. Her thoughts then went to what that girl had said before. Himmy's words rang through her head from what she had said at the warehouse.
"Kibe...what is your relationship with Himmy? She was there with us. When I asked her about you she..." Mi didn't know how to continue her words. Kibe simply looked at her, his eyes acting as if he was shocked at the sudden question, but really. He couldn't have been more aware of her feelings on the matter.
"Himmy is impertinent, and impertinentness is unbearably inconvenient for me. That has been her main role in my life at the moment, unlike you." Kibe said
"Me?" Mi asked
"Yes, you bring a joy to me that I haven't had since the first time we met. I only regret that we don't get to chat more often or get to know each other. Closer." Kibe said as he placed a hand on her back.
"Himmy is attempting to delude you. She is a cog in the wheel that is our relationship. I'd hate for her feelings towards me and her feeble attempts to manipulate you; to ruin our growing understanding for one another.
I hope you feel the same." Kibe said, Mi's hand grabbed Kibe's arm. Her face turning red with blush. Kibe's hand went to her ear and whispered to her.
"To let her ruin your attempts at healing our old life together, would be like as if you had gotten shot at that warehouse. Its like you said, you won't be helpless anymore." Kibe said as he backed away from her. Mi had a tear going down her face, she had never felt so close to Kibe as she does now. Was this a confession? She thought to herself. She didn't know how to feel about what was happening. Yet her head was being filled with new views on Himmy and brighter thoughts on Kibe.
Kibe then got a call on his phone.
"Thag would be the PSIA. Can we talk again? Soon?" Kibe asked to which Mi nodded automatically. Mi smiled at Kibe and he returned it to her.
A cab would drive up behind them. With Kibe opening the door and gesturing for Mi to get in.
"You called one? But how did you-"
"I know you want to try hard to be better on your own, but I can't help but look out for you. In extension, us." Kibe said as Mi got into the cab.
"Till next time, Mi." Kibe said
"Goodnight Kibe." Mi said, Kibe watched as the cab drove off with Mi. He then picked up the phone.
"Greetings." Kibe said
"Kibe, good news. I got us a lead on the Alice case. How fast can you get to the Swan River General Hospital?" Brandon asked
"Don't worry, I'm rather resourceful." Kibe said as he started walking.
"Well be here quick, hopefully we'll get this freak before another body drops." Brandon said
"Lets hope so." Kibe said as he then hung up as he made his way to the Swan River General Hospital.