13-IIII

Koku was back at it again. Violin work has been much slower than usual, so it gave him more time to find new kills. Today wasn’t a murder for this person, though. Koku needed a strong understanding of what his life was like. So, in disguise, he began to quietly watch his soon-to-be victim.

Koku moves over towards the person, sitting next to them. He didn’t want to blow his cover, but whatever happens now, murder is out of the question. All he could do was get to know the victim. “So, what’s your name?”

No harm . . . yet. Sanzo shoots him a dry look at the “coincidence” comment. Like hell he’ll believe that. He’s experienced all sorts of crazy things but “coincidences” are normally staged and planned.

Letting a maybe-murderer or even a definitely-murderer follow him around is one thing, an interrogation is another. He did not agree to this. Still, he supposes that he should’ve expected the guy would want a conversation.

Edgar hadn’t touched the piano in what seemed like…forever. It’s been awhile. Too long. The last he had played was…

“The only instrument I know to play is the piano.” He eventually decides to answer with a soft huff. 

Edgar hadn’t touched the piano in what seemed like…forever. It’s been awhile. Too long. The last he had played was…

“The only instrument I know to play is the piano.” He eventually decides to answer with a soft huff. 

@looking-for-four

Sanzo had just been minding his own business, when he turned the corner and walked right onto a murder scene. Sure, he had sensed killing intent, but that was normal for him. Worst of all, some of the blood splattered on his robes and that was just annoying. 

“ ‘tch.” 

It wasn’t really any business of his. Besides, dead was dead anywhere except, supposedly, here (for only as long as the people in control wanted it to be).

But a dead body is a dead body, regardless of what the methods were. So, after a deep breath, he steadied the dull knife in his hand.

Slowly, he dipped the tip of the blade in the pool of blood. Tracing it on the floor, he left his signature calling card—a B. With that, he finally turns to the person behind him.

“Mind your own damn business,” he spits at the man he met earlier. “You wouldn’t get what I’m trying to do anyway. Keep quiet, or I’ll kill you.”

Heh. And people say his manners are bad.

“ ‘tch. His blood is on my robes. Keep your mess contained next time.” 

He continues forward, intending to continue on his way. Like he’s going to alter his route just because of this. Though, he does pause long enough to drape his white robe over the dead body.

“Even if they weren’t worth respect while they lived, the dead deserve some respect.”

“So, like, you make violins and all that?”

“I’ve walked every square inch of this city,” Koku chuckles. “I think I’d be okay here if I’d wanted to. Dangerous isn’t a big thing here, I’d say—Unless the Stars throw down an event on us, everything is okay. It doesn’t mean that it’s enjoyable, though…”

“Also, I don’t think you can own a spot that will inevitably be torn away or rebuilt as the Stars please, you know,” he points out. “Why can’t I just walk in peace? Please? It’d mean a lot to me. And if this place truly is dangerous, then I think I can try to take care of myself. I can’t find out if I’m over there, right?”

“Who the hell cares about those stars or some bastard running this place… i’ll make myself their problem when they take direct action.“ he let out a breath, patience running thin the longer their conversation goes.  As the adrenaline he had from the earlier squabble slowly subsides, he cant help feeling the already existing exhaustion double down in his system. It was getting troublesome.

“Oh…” Koku says. “Is that so?” He chuckles nervously. “I didn’t know that. I just tend to wander everywhere I can,” Koku says, with a chuckle. This would be true, if the serial killer hadn’t always come this way several times before.

“It must’ve been a coincidence. I just like walking,” he mentions. “Nothing wrong with that…right?”

     “Yeah shit, no one sane enough would casually walk in a place like this, dead into the night, that’s how corpses are found.“ they’re either a potential victim or someone planning something malicious. And Nagiri can’t find himself caring, he doesn’t even want to think about it, getting unwillingly involved with strangers is high and its something he’d at least want to avoid in this place. He’s already miserable as is.

Koku was back at it again. Violin work has been much slower than usual, so it gave him more time to find new kills. Today wasn’t a murder for this person, though. Koku needed a strong understanding of what his life was like. So, in disguise, he began to quietly watch his soon-to-be victim.

“I just would like to know more about you, is all,” Koku says. “Sorry if I’ve caused you trouble.”

Sanzo does not buy it. Not when the other’s nen is filled with bloodlust. But why wait? Stalling for backup, perhaps? No, Sanzo dismisses that idea. If there was backup they would probably have been lingering around the area, and Sanzo would have noticed that. Plus the other guy doesn’t seem the type.

Learn more about you . . . sounds like bullshit. But there is something he wants to find out, since he’s not outright attacking even with all that bloodlust.

“ ‘tch. Fine. If that’s what you want to do. But if you’re going to follow me, follow me like a normal person instead of like a criminal.”

Koku decided to set up shop in public today. Since business has been slow, he figured that he’d at least give it a shot. He didn’t know what else would happen, or it would help too much, but he packed his tools, and set foot for the Golden Ward. He had nothing better to do, at least. Groceries for this week were taken care of, and he wasn’t going to murder in broad daylight. He wasn’t that desperate — yet.

So, with a violin case and tools in tow and his satchel left empty for tips, he opened up the instrument casing and took out the untuned violin.

As he began to sand down the sides by hand, he felt a shadow come over him. Looking up, he listens to the person’s words

“Thank you,” he replies, with a small smile. “I wouldn’t trade my job for the world. I do play by the way…But I don’t actually like to flaunt it. I find that mending violins is much better, in my opinion.”

“Well, if you find yourself in need of an audience, you’ve come to the right place. Who wouldn’t like some nice music while they go take a lunch break? As for the morning commuters, it would help wake them up and make their trip a lot more enjoyable. The university has got plenty of music appreciation clubs and classes as well.” Raine looked around her at the residents. One thing she didn’t love about Golden Ward was that sometimes it reeked of the “big city” mentality. It was easy to feel run down in a place that moved so fast. “Just food for thought, really. Having a nice quiet hobby is also a wonderful thing to have.”

@looking-for-four

Sanzo had just been minding his own business, when he turned the corner and walked right onto a murder scene. Sure, he had sensed killing intent, but that was normal for him. Worst of all, some of the blood splattered on his robes and that was just annoying. 

“ ‘tch.” 

It wasn’t really any business of his. Besides, dead was dead anywhere except, supposedly, here (for only as long as the people in control wanted it to be).

But a dead body is a dead body, regardless of what the methods were. So, after a deep breath, he steadied the dull knife in his hand.

Slowly, he dipped the tip of the blade in the pool of blood. Tracing it on the floor, he left his signature calling card—a B. With that, he finally turns to the person behind him.

Koku walked into the alley where he usually prepped his items for murder. His little vacation yesterday was over, so it was back to the regular routine of murdering scum. He had to find Yuna—no matter the cost. So, in he walked into the usual spot, knife hidden up his sleeve. What he didn’t expect was someone to be there. That put a huge wrench in things.

Koku chuckled at the person, awkwardly. “H-Hello there,” Koku starts, putting the hand with the knife in its sleeve behind his neck. “You seem lost…Do you need any help?”

Either he’s getting sloppy from the lack of crimes to commit or the other was more skilled than how they sound. He’d like to doubt the stranger but if he knew anything, it’s better to not underestimate anyone at this point.

     “Nah, I just thought of taking a rest here after some group of thugs thought they can team up against someone like me.” Nagiri admitted, walking out from his hiding spot. Something felt suspicious looking at them but he kept it at the back of his mind as caution.

Koku chuckles nervously. It wasn’t every day that some rambunctious masked man demanded you to eat. It almost like he was being held hostage in a stick-up…but it was to his benefit. In any case, if someone was holding him hostage and he didn’t have power, he had no choice to obey.

“I’m honestly okay, sir,” Koku replies sheepishly. “I’ve always been a little bit skinny…I’m as healthy as I’ve ever been. But, you seem like the type to like physical intimidation, right? The idea that your prescence is important, I mean. Oh, sorry if that was rude. I was just asking.”

 “If you have it. FLAUNT it.” he’s utterly shameless in strongholding someone to eat for their own health, a little more meat on their bones would do the person some favors, especially in winter months. “Winter is upon us, a little more fat would go a long way to keeping warm! No matter how many layers you wear!” 

These days the professor was spreading herself pretty thin with all of the travel around Spirale she was doing, but this was a rare morning where she only planned to stay close in her own ward, because it was one that she was teaching classes at the university. She carried three textbooks and a folder of paperwork that had her lessons written on them, and walked quickly down the sidewalk lost in thought. When she looked down at her mobile phone she realized that she was much too early for class, and while it was great to be ahead of the curve, she had some time to spare. So, she figured that she would look around the area and try to get to learn some of the students, because most people hanging around the area would be here for the university, right? Maybe along the way she might get someone interested in an archaeology class with her in the future.

There, sitting on top of a low cement wall next to the stairway leading up to the school grounds sat a young man with a box of tools sanding down an instrument. Intrigued, Raine smiled and walked over to get a closer look. She was nosey by nature, but she had good intentions and genuinely got excited to see people engaging with their hobbies and passions. Raine didn’t know much about making instruments, and thought it would be a good opportunity to learn something new herself.

So, with a violin case and tools in tow and his satchel left empty for tips, he opened up the instrument casing and took out the untuned violin.

As he began to sand down the sides by hand, he felt a shadow come over him. Looking up, he listens to the person’s words

Koku has been taking it easy recently. No violin crafting, no murder, nothing. Just him and his groceries. He hadn’t even gone out for a long walk in a long time. He didn’t know what it was. He just kinda needed a break…or, at least, something like that. He knew that he’d be back on the grind tomorrow.

So, as he enjoyed his day off, holding his groceries, he heard someone approach him from behind. Slowly, he turned around to see who it was.

…This was strange. Some…masked man was offering him food? Haggis, by the looks of it. He had no idea why…but, slowly, he takes the bag, and, almost questioningly, replies with “Thanks.”

The lack of a structured police force bothered him, but thanks to his mask, he can’t show much emotions compared to his previous life. Perhaps in another life…in any case he’s offering a bit more food to the younger one. “Here here, eat some more. You look too thin to be healthy!” his voice is booming as hell.