as written by Verse and Imehal
Roughly two months, at least for him, had passed since his initial arrival here; wherever this was. Valore, the planet had been called, was home to countless, myriad, bodies of individuals, many not normal. He'd already been familiar with the concept of realm crossing, but not on a scale such as this. The day he found himself caught in that kinjutsu was the day he'd truly learned the meaning of what a 'Multi-Verse' was. Unlike Vegeshin, and Kazura, Rizukumei hadn't been the same to exist in Wing City. Unfortunately, that poor fool was lost in the resulting cataclysmic collapse of the Multiverse. Instead, Rizukumei, as he stood now overlooking a section of Van Leugen, was yet another lost soul in a sea of disconnection. The Omniverse, he'd heard some of them call it and yet others were totally ignorant of its existence.
"Kanahashi!" A sharp, heinous, voice called out. "This is where you meet your end!" The voice continued. A symbol etched into the ground pulsed to life as a vortex sprung forth, spiraling madly, whilst the nexus darkened and became a portal. Rizukumei, trapped in what appeared to be razor wire, remained still as his enemy began to gloat. "I've done it! After all these years, you pathetic fool, I've the opportune moment to make you pay. You thought that taking my eyes would stall me? I replaced them. That sealing my arms would prevent me? I replaced them, too. That burying me would silence me? My voice is now louder than ever before." He prattled on, pacing around the Kanahashi youth before stopping behind him. "You have met the one to end you and the rest of your pathetic family." And with a swift thrust of his foot, Omei Akito had his laugh as Rizukumei fell into the portal. Despite his genetics, there had been something strange about that razor wire, as if it were buffed to incredible levels. The more he struggled, the tighter it became and lacerations began to appear across his body. By this point, it was far too late.
He'd found himself lifting himself from the dirt only to discover he was no longer home. That had been two months ago, or so, by now. And as he cast his gaze out across as much of Van Leugen as he could see, he had already acclimated as best he could to this new lifestyle. His first some odd days were spent floundering in search of stability. His natural skills, alone, earned him recognition from a body of individuals who employed those with his talents. He was pulled in, taught their trade, his skills already proving invaluable, and was swiftly molded into what they called a Scouter. An individual who kept eyes on potential targets, individuals who were considered high risk. Those who were high risk chose to live their lives recklessly, causing pain and suffering to countless individuals. Once a certain point happened to be crossed, they'd appear on the list of targets and any information gleaned from their habitual routines then becomes that of the Assassin's. This evening, Rizukumei would have eyes for a Teddy Sergight.
A man known to be a wife beater, heavy drinker, heroine abuser, rapist, and to top it off, a loan shark who loved to play with matches. And on top of that, played judge by day. Tied up in an organization known as the Skull Society, he made their problems go away when they deemed it necessary. Recently, though, he'd gotten into some serious business, and it came at the cost of several innocent individuals lives; a handful of children. But it didn't bother the man. And that was what bothered the collective body that oversaw a different type of order. A balance. He'd crossed a line and had now come under the scrutiny of this group.
Having been standing horizontally, his feet fastened to the surface of a buildings side, Rizukumei had spotted his target. The Voodoo Chile. It was said to be a particular bar the man frequented with the assumption he wound up fiddle to the man who ran the place. Rizukumei wasn't too clear on such things just yet. His first night on this individual, he was bound to learn quite a bit tonight. With a leap off of the buildings side, he swiftly fell through the air before catching hold of a single flag pole jutting out from the side of another building. As he spun around it once for momentum, he let loose and soared through the air before tucking into a roll and clambering back to his feet along a rooftop. The overcast sky already had the evening dim, vastly bleak, in appearance leaving the wandering eyes of individuals far from his figure as it crossed building tops and defied physics in ways others could only hope.
Roughly two blocks from the target location, he came to rest on a nearby rooftop. From the sounds he heard, and the very vibrations beneath his feet, he stood upon a local nightclub. It'd be the perfect opportunity to reread specific details on Mister Sergight.
"Five eight, two hundred and twenty three pounds. Scarred face and a missing left ring finger. Walks with a limp and tends to dress in suede. Slicked back, greased, hair and usually smoking a cigar." He spoke under his breath to himself.
____
“He, if it’s helpful, likes plumper women.”
The maze of roofs that had been Rizukumei’s mode of transport that night was not his alone. The source, a young woman, was sat on the rooftop next to the nightclub’s, straightening from a crouch about half a foot away from the edge that ended in a freefall to the street below. The burgundy leather coat that she wore, buttoned at the front, fluttered in the wind but she paid it no mind, half-smiling at the man before her with a slight shrug.
“Oh, and he hates to lose at cards. But all this is just hearsay, of course.”
Another moment’s thought, then she inclined her head respectfully as if in belated greeting.
____
"I sensed I wasn't alone. You're rather talented at keeping unseen." Rizukumei returned, bleached eyes, akin to platinum, honing in on her. Adjusting his glasses, he's take them off and stick them away, clung to his collar for the moment. "I assume you work for the same individuals I work for." He continued, slipping the small document away. "Scout, like I? Or are you the ever elusive Assassin who takes over when I'm finished?" He inquired, sidling across the rooftop to the edge. Glancing down into the street, his eyes fell to the side alley instead. The streets were a bustle during the eve, the nightclubs and other attractions drawing plenty.
"I suppose that's interesting enough information. I'll keep an eye out for gentlemen trying to court heavier women, and men throwing fits over card losses, then." He mused, aloud, only to glance her up and down. "What has you out and about in Van Leugen? Target?" He inquired, inching over toward the side alley. Leaping over, he landed upon the fire escape with a gentle thud. His journey wasn't about to stop. She'd merely find herself coming along if she so chose; his job stopping for no one, even a fellow member of the organization he worked underneath.
____
Anna did not miss a beat and took after him with practised lightness of movement, suspecting that she was correct in her silent assumption that he did not mind her coming along as she found her place beside him on the fire escape, a hand out to steady herself on the nearest railing.
“You’d guess right then on both counts. Assassin though. Not as used to this place as I’d like to be, so I thought I could learn more from tailing a few Scouts than wandering the streets aimlessly like a civilian.”
He progressed, and the quiet moments in-between as they moved were only broken by the tinny sounds that their footsteps caused on the fire escape. A smile, then she glanced down at the busy streets below. They were not completely oblivious like the common populous had been back home, but they were oddly carefree considering the seedy environment they lived within. A part of her wished to be like them at times, but most could not do much against the least threatening of the problems with this city let alone the worst. She had been that helpless once, but time and time again Anna had realised that she could not be someone so normal if she really wanted to change her world.
Of course, being here made that goal even more impossible but one problem at a time. “They call me Eminor, by the way.”
____
As he glided from step to step, his descent ever cautious but prompt, he listened to the sound of her voice as it trailed along after him, learning what he could, admiring her train of thought, and finding interest in her as best it came to him. Approaching the final landing of the fire escape he slid over the railing, falling the half story to the ground with a ginger thrush of air and an audible tak as he landed. Glancing up and back, as he waited momentarily, he offered a curt nod.
"Very understandable. It wasn't too difficult to deduce the green nature you possess. But those who haven't been at this type of career for awhile probably would have missed it due to how well you carry yourself. It's prime nature that members usually avoid one another during jobs, in case things go awry. You play it off well, though." He explained, offering a wry grin. Turning toward the street, his figure swiftly pressed to the wall, facing it before inching into the sliver of light from a nearby lamp post. Folks usually don't just slip out of the alleyway without drawing attention. Instead, he slid a cigarette into his mouth, merely just a slip of paper filled with cotton and dried leaves, before lighting it and playing it off as if it were real. The guise of using the building for cover, because of a light breeze, would do well to fool nearby bouncers that were bound to be stationed outside the door.
"Pleasure, Eminor. For now, you'll know me as Kutsumei." He explained, slipping a pair of glasses up the bridge of his nose. With a swift wink, he turned around the corner, slowly un-cupping the false cigarette as he slowly ambled toward the entrance of the club. As he closed the distance, he feigned the loss of his cigarette and watched it tumble along the pavement before it, surprisingly, managed to fall into a storm drain. Cursing his luck, he offered her the opportune moment to slip out of the alleyway herself without calling questionable attention from the bouncers who, at the moment, where now fixated on Rizukumei and his irritation.
"And I just lit the blasted thing. Can you believe that, guys?" He questioned, before turning his attention to them. "It's a damn shame. Things cost an arm and a leg anymore these days." He continued. "You don't mind if the missus and I sidle on in, do you? Heard it's kind of happening tonight." He finished, flashing a charming grin.
____
Only once Anna had been emotionally affected by someone calling her an amateur. Never had she expected to feel even the tiniest bit similar, least of all here with a complete stranger who knew nothing about her but a general skillset and a false name. It was not that she was insulted, or even offended this time. More... amused. Grateful too, that she had made the right decision in tailing this Scout over another. Instead of chiding or becoming confrontational this Kutsumei (a better nom de plume than hers to be sure) had offered advice as they had continued their descent.
They were going to ground level, presumably to enter the nightclub to observe the Scout’s target from a safe distance. Despite being a touch nervous at the idea, Anna was reassured by his apparent willingness to take her along with her newness plain to him. It meant that she could learn as well as facilitating his plan to get inside the club without too much fuss.
Hanging back from sight, Anna tore off her overcoat to reveal a simple strapped black top and matching tight jeans beneath, and tossed the discarded garment over a railing. If she could come back for it later? Excellent. If not, she would not lose sleep over it, though she was careful to make sure that that the chain that held a pair of dark red rimmed glasses was still looped around her neck.
The instant she stepped out behind Rizukumei into sight Anna lost her outwardly observant nature, focus caught between her newly assigned beau and the men who whom might bar their entry into the Voodoo Chile. And it felt far too familiar and awkward all at the same time. She said nothing, but slid a hand around Rizukumei’s wrist before taking his hand in hers, smiling disarmingly and appearing as harmless as possible to the bouncers. Just a girl besotted with a guy and looking for a good time.
None of her nerves showed as the bouncers looked them over once, twice and then nodded to let them into the already bustling bar. “Thanks,” Anna called to them airily with a delighted smile, squeezing the hand she held once as they passed the bouncers.
The noise within the bar greeted them with all the welcome of a herd of elephants. Deafening music, shouted conversations unless you were pressed up against a person to whisper, sticky floors from split drinks. Anna grimaced; she had only suffered such places since arriving in Westeria City, and hoped that they never surfaced back home. Their only advantage? It gave her about half a dozen roles ‘to play’ when required, which was why she never released Rizukumei’s hand as she looked around inquisitively. Let them think she was looking for a table, a space to stand as she caught sight of the skull balaclavas and their guns. No one seemed to notice them, so they must have been normal. Still, they mattered if things went south.
Anna quickly began to weave her way towards the bar having not caught sight of his target, glancing back to smile at the Scout innocently. “Drinks?” she asked, hoping that lip-reading was part of his repertoire as her free hand fished out a slim fabric square out of her back pocket.
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As he felt her hand join his, Rizukumei casually strolled into the location with Anna at his side. She was as casual as was he, something he found a profound satisfaction of. He may have considered her green, but she wasn't absolutely so, which was pleasing. He could only suspect she'd need to learn finesse at this point, understanding she had a greater knowledge of things than he previously considered. But that was all something to think over, and ponder upon, another time. Instead, he had to focus on the current events at hand.
The interior was packed; filled to the brim with young adults and middle-aged folk all having a good time. The deafening roar of the music did little to break his concentration, though, as they carved out a path toward the bar. He'd already mapped out a vast array of individuals inside that posed little to no threat versus those who'd be troublesome if things did happen to travel south. Thankfully, he had no inclination that such a thing would happen. He was but a lowly man out with his other half, after all. A grimace did happen to find its way onto his face, though, as he seemingly managed to step in something he wasn't too sure of; his hope that it be something from a cup rather than any other object, especially a living individual.
As his figure pressed against the railing of the bar, his gaze flit over upon her and caught her swift words. As he made them out, he held up a hand and fished out his own wallet; he was the gentleman afterall. "I've got this round. What'll you take?" He called out in return, eyes searching the floor for his target. He shouldn't be that difficult a discovery, but in such a crowded establishment, it'd still take some time to find the guy to fit the description completely. A few seconds later, and he took a moments reprieve. He'd likely resume after receiving drinks and finding a booth location, or the like, to sit with her. "Absolutely jam packed tonight, eh?" He commented with a grin.
Turning, he let his back rest against the rail of the bar while he continued to survey things, likely waiting for the tender to make their round to them. Quite a few interesting looking characters, many of which were peculiar and warranted close studying, of course with skillful tact behind it all. But of all the individuals he'd seen thusfar, the one he'd been tasked with keeping tabs on and learning things about hadn't yet been spotted. At one moment, he thought he'd spotted the man after spying an individual fall into a woman; he fit most of the bill, at least, but it wound up in vain as the guy was discovered to be balding. It was a shame...
It was as he caught the bartender from the corner of his eye that he, again, rounded before extending a large bill. Though he'd already asked, he instead figured on her calling out her order anyway. "I'll take a '57 Chevy, and whatever my lovely lady over her is after, too."
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There were already glances her way. That had been the intention behind ditching the coat. Nothing about her appearance – tousled hair, casual dress, a gentle hand on Rizukumei’s forearm as she leaned on the railing – suggested anything threatening. Outwardly she smiled disarmingly, burying every single misgiving about each glance deep down.
When she was out by herself this was never a problem. Putting aside the fact that she was not a cheap date – Baileys Artic Orange cocktails - there was always the back-up of being able to defend herself if things went south. Years of breaking up, and occasionally starting, fights had contributed to that adequately, and beyond that-
“A White Russian, pretty please,” she offered to the bartender that Rizukumei was addressing with a grateful smile flashed at her beau. At the same time, she slipped her fabric wallet back where it belonged. “Only if you let me get the second round.” It was not a question; more of a statement. On the outside they were hooking up, or a new couple but beneath that they were associates. Anna was loath to end up indebted in to anyone around here, even in a small way.
She shifted closer to Rizukumei as the bartender moved to sort the drinks, all movement a show of affection. “There might be card games going on in the quieter spots.” Only uneven breaths betrayed uncertainty that had nothing to do with the task at hand, but they eased as Anna leaned back against the railing beside him. A brief cheeky smile, then half a shrug. “Just a thought.”
