*Thump*
"Ryu Masaru!" Eren kicked down the door of a shoddy, rundown apartment. Rotten garbage and stale alcohol flung outside as the wooden door was kicked in.
"Who the hell? What are ya doing in my house?! Don't ya know- ARG!" He was cut off; a bone whip lashed around his neck. Pulling the man to the floor in an instant, mixing with the filth and litter.
"Please no! I-I don't want to die!" He cried out, begging for mercy already before any demands had been said.
The man was lucky; Eren was on strict orders not to kill. A fate this man likely would not have meet, despite his connections.
"You. Have information for the detectives of the RCU." Eren pulled tighter on the coil.
"You...'re a cop? Cops can't use - ERGH." He was cut off again with another tug.
"Not a cop... I can do whatever the hell I want."
"Ah fuck! Fuck... Ok, ok!"
Eren let the coil loose, just enough for the man to speak. Ryu was a small man; no muscle and a gut from years of drinking. His eyes were sunken in and bloodshot. Teeth black or bent out of place, with several missing.
"Who's your boss?!"
"That's it... You didn't need ta hurt me. Here." He rummaged through the trash, pulling out a business card. On it was a name and an address; 'Toshiyaki Kojima - King's removal service.'
Eren looked it over with a keen eye. Nothing else was written, just that.
"Who is this?" Eren showed the card.
"Toshiyaki... Fronts as a removal service. But, really. He works in moving spice around ward's 5 to 8." The man was quick to give away everything. A little weasel that didn't need much to spill its guts.
Maybe he didn't need to come in guns blazing like he initially thought.
"Listen... Ya don't need to turn me over to the cops. W-we can work something - ARGH!" A swift kick to the forehead shut the man up.
"That's for Sora you bastard."
It was a low move to get a kid hooked in to moving drugs. At least now Ryu won't come calling anymore.
Reaching into his pocket; he picked the box with Mai's recently entered number. Snapping a photo of the unconscious man
~
Detective Mai?
Is this Eren?
Yeah, I've got Ryu Masaru. Come get him.
Is he dead? Deals off if-
His just out cold.
Fine, a car will be along shortly.
~
'Bitch.' Eren muttered to himself and put the phone back into pocket, the woman on the other side likely thinking some curses directed at her male counterpart.
An uneasy alliance struck between two warring factions. The cops and criminals. For now, they would have to tolerate each other.
*Vrooom*
Eren mounted his bike and took off. Not wanting to interact with police any more than what was needed.
"I've got time." Thinking out loud as the midday wind waved through him.
It's not as though the trail went cold; nor would these people be going anywhere. Eren had another problem to deal with.
What to do with Kaori.
***
'Club Eden.'
One of the most popular bars throughout the ward. A popular dive for the Silvermane guild members especially; originally founded as an alluring bar meant to capture the eyes and hearts of all who enter.
Under their previous stewardship, then under the rule of the crimson bandits. Back to its original glory. For all to enjoy.
Evident when Eren walked in. Guild members of all genders took up seats at the bar or private booths.
Each enjoying the drinks and more importantly the wandering women who could sway the gaze of any tightly wound relationship. Provocatively designed outfits that would make any monk blush.
Mei Jiao stood behind the bar; polishing the glass to upmost gleam.
She wore a white tank top that drew attention to her busty chest, black jean shorts and stockings that reached to the knee. Although, the way she says it. This is only her 'modest attire' for serving drinks. What some of the other women could pull off… A wonder this place didn't violate any decency laws.
"Oh, Eren. Welcome back. I'll go and grab Jun-"
"Actually, I'm here for you Mei."
"Oh? Me? What can little old me do for the mighty champion of the Silvermane?" She leant over the counter, squishing her breasts together in that tantalizing manner meant to attract the extra spending, a coy smile spread across her lips as Eren averted his gaze.
She enjoyed toying with Eren and all his prudes, like a lioness with its prey.
"Um... I'm having women... problems." He asked, awkwardly avoiding her seductive gaze. It was difficult, given her rather shapely figure she had no issues showing off.
"My, my. Eren has gone and gotten himself involved with a girl? Oh my, oh my. If only I were just that little bit faster to snag you up all for myself." She giggled; a playful smile spread across her face.
"Kaori. Yes?" She continued.
Eren's eyes went wide. How did Mei guess who it was?
"When it comes to matters of love; you can call me the oracle of Eden." She leant in closer.
"How did-"
"Her and Minami frequent this place with a few other Silvermane members. Quite the little group they are; gossiping about this and that, your name comes up from time to time amongst other… More, devious items."
"Women are terrifying..." Eren whispered.
Between the lusty bartender before him. The ever-strange stare of Minami or the analytical eye of Kaori. Even his dear sister with all her quite cunning…
Truly he was surrounded at all sides by guileful women.
"Using my telepathy... You thought of buying her flowers. But you feel that it's not quite enough considering the type of girl she is…" She gave a light chuckle as she continued to fill the role of oracle and now apparent mind reader.
"I... Yeah." Eren felt defeated, like Mei already read through the cosmic script. Thank the Gods he went to see the oracle first.
"Using my powers of precognition... I predict that she wants more; something personal from you. Something from the heart."
Eren began to scrape the very back of his brain. He had to give something personal. Tricky considering they have only been on three dates.
"But I also predict you already know what to get her." She concluded with a checky little smile.
Eren, for a moment was mislaid. He had no clue what could be a gift to Kaori.
Then it clicked; perhaps he did have something up his sleeve. He did not know why this object suddenly appeared in his mind but who was he to question divine communication.
"Thank you, Mei." Taking his leave. Glad to have consulted the oracle on such a delicate matter.
"Of course, handsome." She blew a kiss and waved the man goodbye.
Eren turned to leave, wanting to patch things up with Kaori before she likely took matters into her own hands.
"Eren." She called him back. "Get her flowers too, any girl loves flowers. I'll go get Jun to help you with them."
***
*Knock* *Knock*
"Kaori?" Eren spoke from the other side of the thick oak door that belonged to many of the higher management of the Silvermane guild. Nothing spoken, but he could feel the glum and grouchiness radiate from within.
He opened the door with steady ease.
There she sat, on a comfy ergonomic chair. Looking more like a child with how small the chair made her look. Knees up to her chest and arms wrapped tightly around her legs. Like an angry kitten, ready to pounce on the intruder.
"Hmmm." She grunted. As Eren bungled in; a bouquet as big as he. Colours of blues, whites, reds, and purples. Each flower handpicked by the expert in floristry.
Jun followed; carrying another bouquet of equal size.
"I'm sorry."
"Hmm." She grumbled again.
"Master... It's heavy." Jun complained.
"Oh. Right..." He set the bouquet down by her tableside. Not enough room on her desk to fit the two large bunches.
Jun by the door looked like a weight was lifted off him. The big strong boy, struggling to carry flowers.
Kaori's eyes wandered amongst the beautiful flowers, taking note of each one. Her frown lifted ever so slight. Although her brow remained tightly furrowed. She was not quite satisfied yet.
"Hmm." Like a petulant child. Arms crossed in defiance. Waiting for something that fitted her taste.
"Master, I can help if you need-" A hand gesture shut Jun up.
It was a silent sign for Jun to leave. Eren was going to have to face the wrath of Kaori alone. No matter how difficult.
"I'm sorry for ignoring you yesterday night." He apologised sincerely. A rare bow from the reaper.
Still hands crossed; eyes of a glunch and cheeks of pouty squirrel.
"I didn't think that the flowers would be enough... That's why..."
Eren took a small keychain from his pocket, dangling a weird looking hamster from it.
An orange stripe down its back with a black circle to its left and a white patch to the right and a pink little nose.
"Ahhhhh~! You've found him!" Kaori squealed in delight. Rushing to take the keychain like it was her newborn child. A look of pure joy as she stared into the tiny hamster's starry eyes.
"You've found the Orange Stripe Mr. Fluffers! This is one of the rare ones... How!?" She asked with uninhibited joy.
"I know a guy." A lie. Well, a lie by omission, several omissions.
Baelor, knew someone, who owed someone a favour, who just so happened to oversee the distribution of these rare Mr. Fluffer keychains.
Skipping over to a cabinet double her size; filled with other Mr. Fluffers. She had a huge collection going on.
At least 200 plus of weird little hamsters; all themed or coloured different:
One with cowboy hats, many of the same colour but with different patterns, everyone of them had some gimmick.
She placed this new addition in the centre. Like it was royalty compared to the others. Which was strange in itself as there was a couple with crowns and capes.
"You have a lot of them..." Eren noted the sizable collection, even though Kaori said it was hard to find Mr. Fluffer keychains.
"Yeah, I've been collecting them since I was a teenager." She giggled, skipping over to Eren with a much lighter step and happier eyes.
*Mwah*
Her lips pressed against the man's cheek. Eren's eyes shot open at the sudden and unexpected action.
"Thank you... For my apology gift." She smiled.
Eren was speechless, lost in the moment. Like a fish that just ate the bait and was now on the hook.
Although, with that kiss came another memory of his past was unlocked.
More Mr. Fluffers in an array of colours, shapes, and sizes. A girl, brown hair, and blue eyes, smiling brightly as she showed off her far smaller collection of 16. No wonder he knew what to give her… He had seen these before.
Kaori. But smaller and younger. Eren could see it clear as day. That bright smile was the same then as it was now.
"Kaori... You've shown me these before? How?"
"You're remembering more." Kaori commented on the small memory.
"I know I've met you when I was a younger. It's just so frustrating that I can only remember the little things. I still don't know you..." He admitted frankly.
*Mwah*
Kaori once again kissed the man's cheek. A reassuring that he will get there eventually.
"How about we try again? I can get dinner reservations for tonight at 'The Lotus Palace.'"
"Alright." Eren agreed without really thinking, having been dazed from the second kiss.
"It's got three Michelin stars." She added in. The concept not registered in Eren's mind at all.
"Ok..."
"That means you have to wear your best clothes, it's formal, incredibly formal." Kaori warned. Knowing that Eren was not quite the best dresser just by looking at raggedy bike jacket he wore.
"Alright... I'll find something to wear. What time?"
"8:30. I'll send you the address." Kaori agreed. Her frown was completely lifted. She even wore a slight blush on her cheeks, a little more bashful than usual, almost like a teenager with her first date.
Eren nodded and left the woman to her own devices. Feeling a sense of accomplishment at the end.
It was nice.
He didn't get to feel that often anymore. Not after the past few days or the past months with only fleeting moments that could fuel him.