[Mushverse, open to anyone] Yet another rider joins in...

[halfboiledjoker]

This place seems just like any other city. Maybe a bit more hustle-and-bustle than Fuuto, granted, but it doesn't seem like the sort of place to be rife with crime and underground activity.

Then again, I never thought Fuuto could be that way, either.

I park the bike in a spot and pull off my helmet. It's weird, somehow, to think that those rumors of caped dopants could have drifted all the way from here. If it were any other sort of crime, I wouldn't have even been tapped. But the rumors had gotten even Jinno a little nervous, and I owed him a favor or five anyway.

Now if only I could find my way to this high school he wanted me to check out. What was the name again? I check my notes - ah, Amanogawa. It's late enough in the day...I wonder if there are any students wandering about?

Comments

[breakthelimit]

Miu hooks her arm in mine, and my feathers are more or less unruffled with that gesture. Sometimes she makes me feel like the younger sibling.

I watch the man leave, waiting until he's well out of earshot to turn my head toward Miu again. "We don't know who we can trust yet. We need to be careful."

[sparklingworld]

He's a little calmer. Good. His voice so close, so soft, sends a delightful little shiver down my spine.

"Talking to him about the problems at the school isn't exactly giving away my bank account details," I sigh at him. "Ani, really."

[breakthelimit]

I hum thoughtfully, wanting to click my tongue at her, though I restrain the impulse. She's a grown woman, and I have to let her be her.

"That's not the point," I protest as I let her go when we reach the car, opening the passenger door for her. It's a nice enough day that I have the top down; I always love driving with the top down.

I settle into the driver's side and glance around before I look back at her, my voice low and serious. "You know that's not what I mean. We don't know who's working for the darkness gathering here. They could look very appealing."

[sparklingworld]

I smile at him when he opens the door, and I slip into the car gracefully. He always keeps it immaculate.

Oh, Ani. "But if we don't trust anyone at all, even a little, we won't find out what they know," I note, taking my sunglasses out of the glovebox. It's getting late, but the sun's still quite bright where it's setting.

That was an interesting word choice. "'Appealing'? Are you worried he might appeal to me a little too much?" I ask blandly, though my mouth twitches.

[breakthelimit]

I catch that little twitch of her lips. I want to kiss it away, but we're still in public, and, much as I love her, I know that's still not acceptable conduct in nearly every part of the world.

"You know I respect your freedom," I say pointedly as I start the car and peal out of my parking space. "Just as I respect Sousuke's, I just." I sigh, passing a slow car so I can go as fast as I please as we head for our estate.

"I think we need to be cautious. At that school. Jum-bowhale says there's a great darkness brewing there. We need to be extra careful."

I reach across to her with my free hand as I drive, gathering her hand in my own and gripping it tight.

[sparklingworld]

"It would be problematic not to respect Sousuke's," I agree with a laugh, eyes sparkling at him. He is so very stuffy and cautious sometimes.

He is also the reason I'm alive, over and over and over, and one of the reasons I want to be alive. I love him.

"All right," I give way gracefully enough. He takes my hand. I cover our joined hands with my free one and smile at him. "It was an interesting day."

[breakthelimit]

I glance at her briefly, then draw her hand up to kiss her knuckles, hoping she knows I'm not really upset with her, just being protective. It's my right as her brother.

Just like she has the right to tell me when I'm being a complete idiot.

I offer her a quick smile, keeping my focus mostly on the road. "Tell me about your day."

[sparklingworld]

He kisses my hand, absurdly gallant. I smile at him for it. This is all part of him. Debonaire and suave at society dinners, which he sometimes likes to pretend is all an act, because he's so world weary and beyond being interested in everyone else... except he truly is gallant, and charming, and lovely in private.

"It was diverting," I say ruefully. "I don't know how teachers do it. I broke up three fights and had to explain to someone about a hypotenuse. The latter was the more exhausting."

I sigh. "And I identified four potential students, one teacher, who might be willing to fall to darkness."

[breakthelimit]

I laugh softly at her comment about the hypotenuse, then my face quickly becomes serious again. "I wish we knew what was causing the rise in dark activity, especially centered around a school."

Gaiark, Zangyack, some other organization. I like my enemies to have a face. It's a good focus for quiet, righteous hatred.

"Sousuke called today." I try to change the subject as gracefully as I can, I find it's better for my driving if I don't focus too much on invisible enemies.

[sparklingworld]

"We'll just have to keep trying," I agree wearily. I like his laugh. I wish he'd use it more often. "We'll figure it out, Ani."

I brighten at the mention of that name. "He did? What did he have to say?"

[breakthelimit]

"He's coming home soon," I pause, and clear my throat, trying to remember what all he said. He was extremely chatty, and when he wasn't been excessively chatty we were being talkative in... other ways.

"I think he mentioned something about bringing a friend with him?" I smirk to myself, lightly, though I'm sure if Miu is looking at me she can still catch it. "Though knowing him that could just mean he has a pet goldfish."

[sparklingworld]

I know that expression. "You two had fun without me," I say, sticking my lower lip out just a little. I'm mostly teasing. It's not as if I'm never involved.

I laugh at the goldfish comment. "Well, as long as it's nice to our Sousuke, I'll greet it politely."

[breakthelimit]

I laugh softly, somewhat sheepishly. I'm not particularly embarrassed, just a little flustered that I was being so transparent. Though, it is her, after all. She could always read me.

"A little," I admit, then give her a small smile, and a silent promise that we'll make it up to her soon.

[sparklingworld]

I tuck my hand behind his upper arm and lean my head on his shoulder. "I'll forgive you just this once," I tell him lightly.