soul_campaign | [ 08: April 19th, Video ]

[The feed turns on to a bright and sunny day. The sun is having a blast, laughing away in the sky. But then it turns downward to the person filming, and... oh. Oh.

If looks could kill, anyone watching this video would have keeled over dead right now.

It's Kanji, and he's not happy in the slightest. The slicked-back look with his hair is gone, weighed down by some sort of juice. In fact, the guy's covered in what looks like chunks of red fruit that fell from his hair and any part of his skin that it was clinging to.]

If I find the son of a bitch who put up those damn 'Seven Mystery' flyers... I'LL--

[Splat! A tomato hurtles in from off the frame and smacks the back of his head, followed by another. He's seeing red, baring his teeth as he turns.]

"There's a girl I really like! I wish for the courage to ask her out!"

"I wish I was taller! Accept my offering, ancient being!"

You're gonna be wishin' for some painkillers in a few seconds!

[With a roar from Kanji the camera is jostled, and there's the sound of a shockwave, followed by a pair of panicked screams. The feed cuts here.]

[ooc: Mysteries of Death City post for reference.]

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

[She nods with a frown. He really shouldn't slouch like that. It will cause back problems.]

... What did Tohno-san say now? [She raises her eyebrow]

I'm holding up well enough. A number of my co-workers are busy with the thief, but I'm still working on the vigilante case. I was being mistaken for one of the mysteries at some point, but I sent those confused citizens on their way so to speak.

She says we're privileged, and that's part've why people around the world are starting to hate us. I don't wanna think about that kinda shit bleeding into Death City's civilians, but... I think she's right.

It sucks because I just found out I'm in the Top 5 when it comes to Meisters among people BREW brought in. Top 5... heh. I don't even bring in test scores that high, Naoto. So I feel like, if I'm one'a the best Meisters in the City, is there more I should do? So then it all started stewing in my head and it gives me a headache after a while...

[Yet despite his troubles, he managed a grin her way.]

'So to speak', huh?

That's too simple. This war has been going for eight centuries. Personally, I would be more frustrated by the fact it persists. Even those that would be considered more privileged in our world would be angered. For Death City's citizens, we're hope. They are-- were expecting us to end the War, but we haven't. Instead, we've begun to torment them. The vigilante is an example of such case. If they wanted to, they could revoke everything they've given us such as the free lodging, but they wouldn't disobey Shinigami-sama.

More? Not yet. We still can't perform Witch hunts. If we can get that far, we'll be able to accomplish more.

[She stands up and moves to join him]

Yes. You don't want to know really.

...If ya say so.

But you said it yourself, right? Eight centuries. That's a long damn time... they really think it'll just wrap up right now? I mean, that'd be cool, but... [He let it go with a sigh.]

[But she was right. There wasn't any more he could do, and they still were sitting ducks if they ever came across a Witch. The only ones who stood a chance outside Shibusen agents themselves were a guy he was still iffy about and what had to be the last man who needed to reach Deathscythe status. But he'd given his warning. Kid knew the dangers. But could he just sit and be okay with that?]

So we'll keep workin' at it and turn us into Witch hunters. Y'know the Demon Gunblade's in the Top 5 too, right? Not too shabby.

[She would stick by her own words even if Kanji didn't follow her train of thought.]

Yes. Still have quite a few missions to do before I can reach Deathscythe status.

Man... Would they really give us the boot, though? I get the feeling they don't wanna piss on Kid's old man's legacy, but that seems kinda harsh.

[He looked her way and nodded.]

But we gotta earn our keep, whether the alternative's harsh or not. I always got your back when it comes to missions... but lemme help with that vigilante case, too.

If we catch the guy, then it'll put a lotta weight off everybody's shoulders.

Death City won't. I can't say much for the rest of the world.

[She stares, giving a half nod to the missions, but hesitating at the vigilante]

... I'm not sure. Any errors in an attempt to catch him might result in someone getting killed.

[He was thinking of that mountain, of the Loch Ness when he reached for her hand between them and took it. The fact that her hand was warm, and that she was able to be here like this, steeled his resolve.]

I ain't gonna let it happen.

[A firm nod.]

Not to the others on the case, to me... o-or t'you. We'll nail the bastard with everything we've got!

[She doesn't say anything, frowning still.]

... Their logic isn't as twisted as Adachi's. Still, I... I believe they may be an agent. Whether it's the Watch or the Agency, they're getting their information through our sources. It's the only way we're not detecting them.

Seriously? ...Damn it. That explains how he'd know criminal records!

[That worried him even more. What if his motive changed, and this creep was someone Naoto worked and spoke with regularly? That didn't sit well with him one bit. He had to hope it wasn't someone like Raidou... or, as much as he still wasn't a fan of the tightwad, Edgeworth.]

But if your hunch is right, that makes it worse. Who's sick enough to decide they wanna be judge, jury and executioner?

[She doubted it was Edgeworth or Raidou. Yako too was off her list, but that still left a number of suspects]

I don't know. [She had an inkling from Kotetsu, but not much else.]

Not exactly an easy thing to guess. That's okay.

[But he scratched the side of his head.]

Coulda sworn somebody said somethin' about... I dunno, 'he's not called the Crim Cutter, he's actually somethin'-or-other'. Like they knew the methods. You remember?

His name is Lunatic. And yes, I know.

[Still, they hadn't known his identity and their witness was still missing.]

Right, Lunatic. I couldn't remember the word. [But man, no wonder nobody could figure this out. Knowing his killing method was a good start, but knowing what he's called doesn't bring them any closer.]

Anyway... I ain't much of a detective, but I can get info outta people. When you figure out some kinda lead, I can make 'em sing!

I'll leave 'em in one piece. Promise.

I know you will. However, you should still be careful. Who knows what sort of rumor would be spread if you were too rough. [And annoyingly, people would believe it like these flyers.]

As if the current rumor wasn't bad enough, right? [But he nodded.]

...But thanks for hearin' me out. I dunno, I guess I wanted to hear that I was on the right track somehow, but really I should quit bottling things up and let it all bother me. I ain't gonna smile and take the tomatoes to the face, but... least I can do is tell 'em to stop and that I don't grant wishes.

And I'm glad you're feelin' a little better, too! I, uh, got a casserole in the oven for tonight... just feels like a 'comfort food' night, and I still had a bunch of stuff left over from the soups.

[It just felt nice to be able to do this again, throw something together and have it ready for when the roommate came home. Not the manliest habit, but who gave a damn.]

You're welcome, Kanji.

[Did someone give a damn? It certainly wasn't her. She smiled and nodded]

Sounds delightful... [She had considered suggesting a temporary disguise to end the tomatoes, but this was a problem to probably be confronted. And maybe he was correct; maybe some people were throwing tomatoes for the opportunity]

[ 08: April 19th, Video ]

Action

Action

Action

Action

Action

Action

Action

Action

Action

Action

Action

Action

Action

Action

Action

Action

Action