RiverlineCity

Volume 2- The Ryuichi clan rises

Two months had passed since the fateful night when Aiden had tangled with Ryuichi on the rooftop. The killer had managed to elude capture once again, and his reputation continued to grow as a dangerous and elusive figure. But things were not as simple as they seemed. Ryuichi had not been idle in the past two months, and he had been scheming and gathering allies in the shadows. The attacks on humans grew larger and more frequent. Every time it was like they were plotted and targeted taking out celebrities to government officials even some of the human police chiefs amongst the city. It's causing there to be human only residential zones now. The city was in an uproar as the attacks continued, fear and panic running rampant among the citizens. Humans were starting to feel unsafe and threatened in their own city, leading to an increasing demand for stricter security measures. The government was under immense pressure to take action, and tensions between humans and the supernatural population were at an all-time high. "Aiden-" a voice echoed as Aiden sat in his cubical spaced out at the report records for Ryuichi. "Aiden-!" There it was again... "God damn it boy- Will you focus-" Alex snapped furious. Aiden's head snapped up, pulled out of his thoughts. "Sorry, boss," he said sheepishly, putting down the report he had been reading. "I was just... lost in thought." "Lost in thought, huh?" Alex said, raising an eyebrow. "Or just spacing out again? You've been distracted lately, kid. What's going on in that head of yours?" "Nothing, just... thinking about the case," Aiden said, avoiding Alex's gaze. He knew that he had been off his game lately, but he couldn't help it. Ever since the encounter with Ryuichi, he hadn't been able to get the killer out of his mind. "Sure, sure," Alex grumbled, clearly not convinced. "You've been acting strange ever since that incident on the roofs. Do I have to reassign you to desk duty if you can't focus on your work?" "No, no, I'm good," Aiden protested, sitting up straight in his chair. "I just... need a break, that's all. I've been working non-stop on this case. It's just wearing me out, you know?" "Yeah, I know," Alex replied, a bit of sympathy creeping into his voice. "But I need you at your best, okay? This Ryuichi guy is a slippery one, and we need all hands on deck to catch him. We can't afford any distractions." Aiden nodded solemnly at Alex's words. He knew that he had to keep it together and stay focused on the case, but it was easier said than done. The memories of his encounter with Ryuichi still haunted him, and he couldn't shake the feeling that they would cross paths again soon. As they both were speaking a female colleague ran into the room to them. "We have information that Ryuichi has an organization of some sort, Like a gang. He calls it his clan." She spoke up. Both Alex and Aiden were taken aback by the news. A gang? A clan? The idea that Ryuichi had been working with others this whole time was not one they had considered before. "Are you sure about this?" Alex asked, his voice grave. "Where did you get this information?" "An anonymous source tipped us off," the colleague replied. "They claimed that Ryuichi has a whole group of followers, all dangerous individuals. Apparently, they have been following his orders and helping him spread chaos in the city." Aiden's ears perked up at this revelation. A group of dangerous individuals... Followers... Everything was starting to make sense. He had always suspected that Ryuichi wasn't working alone, but he never would have guessed that he had an entire clan backing him. "This changes things," Alex said, his face hardening. "If Ryuichi has a clan, that means he has more manpower and resources at his disposal. We need to take this threat seriously and find out more about this organization." The colleague nodded in agreement. "We're working on gathering more information as we speak," she said. "But it seems like the clan is starting to make more frequent moves lately. It's only a matter of time before they cause some real damage if we don't stop them." "We can't afford to sit around and wait for that to happen," Alex growled, rising from his seat. "We need to get proactive and take the fight to Ryuichi. We need to find his hideout, shut down his operations, and take down this clan once and for all." Aiden nodded, feeling a surge of determination rise up in him. This was the break they had been waiting for. They were finally getting closer to catching Ryuichi and bringing him to justice. He stood up as well, ready to take on whatever challenges lay ahead. "Where was the latest crime scene-" Aiden demanded sat her getting up from his seat to pull his jacket on. The colleague pulled out her tablet and scrolled for a few moments before answering. "The latest incident was at a warehouse on the outskirts of the city," she said, pointing to a location on the map. "No casualties, but the building was severely damaged and all the security footage was destroyed." Aiden was immediately on high alert at the mention of a secured location. "That's too close to a residential zone for comfort," he said, his tail swishing in agitation. "We need to get there and investigate as soon as possible." "I'm going out, I will be in touch." he spoke rushing for the door. "Aiden, wait-" Alex called after him. "You can't just go in by yourself. We need to plan this out and have backup." Aiden paused at the door, a determined look on his face. "I can handle myself, boss," he said firmly. "I know Ryuichi's patterns better than anyone. I can't afford to wait for backup. Every second counts." Alex looked at Aiden incredulously. "Aiden, this isn't a game. This is a dangerous criminal organization we're dealing with. You can't just charge in there like a one-man army." "I know it's dangerous," Aiden said, his voice taking on a frustrated tone. "But I can't just sit here and do nothing. People are getting hurt, and we can't just wait around and hope that Ryuichi will mess up. We need to take the fight to him, and I'm the best chance we've got of doing that." Alex let out a heavy sigh, knowing that he couldn't stop Aiden once he got an idea in his head. "Alright, fine. But you be careful, you hear me? I don't want to have to fill out any more paperwork for your reckless stunts." "I'll be careful, I promise," Aiden said, giving Alex a reassuring nod. "I won't do anything stupid. I just need to get out there and investigate. I'll check in with you as soon as I have something." Alex let out a disgruntled huff, clearly not happy about the situation. "Alright, fine. But don't you dare get yourself killed out there, you hear me? We need you in one piece, kid." "I won't, I won't," Aiden assured him, already halfway out the door. "I'll be back before you know it." "You better," Alex called out after him, shaking his head in frustration. He knew that he should have known better than to let Aiden go running off on his own, but sometimes the kid was just too damn stubborn for his own good. As Aiden stepped outside into the brisk air, he took a deep breath and steeled himself for what was to come. He knew that he was putting himself in danger, but he also knew that it was a risk worth taking. He couldn't just sit back and watch Ryuichi terrorize the city any longer. It was time to take action. With determination in his heart and his head held high, Aiden set off towards the crime scene reported to check the place out. His eyes shifted about as he approached the officers getting his badge ready approaching the older apartment building. As Aiden approached the crime scene, he was stopped by a police officer who was standing guard. "Can I see your badge, sir?" the officer asked gruffly. Aiden quickly pulled out his badge and showed it to the officer. "Detective Aiden Knight," he said, identifying himself. The officer studied the badge for a moment before nodding. "Alright, Detective Knight," he said, stepping aside to let Aiden through. "But be careful in there. The place is a real mess." Aiden nodded in affirmation, stepping past the officer and into the crime scene. The building was indeed a mess, with windows shattered and debris scattered everywhere. The air was thick with the smell of smoke and dust, and officers were scurrying around, collecting evidence and taking photographs. Aiden paused a moment when he found snake skin looking like a shedding and recent too, "You said the victim was human correct." Aiden questioned. The officers nearby looked up as Aiden spoke, a mix of surprise and confusion on their faces. "Yeah, the victim was human," one of them responded, looking quizzically at Aiden. "Why do you ask?" Aiden's mind replayed the statement of Ryuichi having followers... "This was a half human's work. " He spoke raising the shedding. "We should do a DNA background check on this." The officers exchanged glances, clearly surprised by Aiden's observation. "A half human?" one of them asked, taking the shedding from Aiden and inspecting it. "How can you be sure?" "Trust me, I just know," Aiden replied, his mind already racing with possibilities as his eyes shifted to the body noting mentally the puncture wound to the victims neck. Clearly it was a snake half human... The idea of Ryuichi having such strength in his clan. The officers were still skeptical, but they trusted Aiden's judgment. "Alright, we'll get this sent in for DNA analysis right away," one of them said, taking the shedding from Aiden and carefully placing it in a evidence bag. As the officers busied themselves with collecting evidence, Aiden continued to survey the scene, his mind going over the possibilities. Ryuichi's clan was a new wrinkle in things, and he was starting to realize just how big of a threat they were. He needed to find out more about them, and fast. Buddy perked up from the laundromat across the street from the complex. His eyes shifted about as he slipped to a back room shuffling his phone out to call Ryuichi. After a few rings, Ryuichi's voice came through the speaker, cool and calm as usual. "Hey, Buddy," he said. "What's up? Everything okay at the laundromat?" "Remember that detective you warned us all about-" Buddy murmured into the phone. There was a pause on the other end of the line before Ryuichi spoke up. "The cat half human?" he asked, his voice a mixture of intrigue and annoyance. "Yeah, I remember him. What about him?" Buddy shifted nervously, his eyes still scanning the area. "I think he's onto us," he said, keeping his voice low. "He's at the apartment complex where Julio took out the news caster." There was a moment of tense silence before Ryuichi's voice came through the line again. "Are you sure?" he asked, his voice taking on a steely edge. "Did you see him there, personally?" Buddy nodded, even though Ryuichi couldn't see him. "Yeah, I saw him walk in with his badge on," he said, his voice shaking slightly. "He was talking to the cops and everything. I think he's on to us, man." There was a heavy sigh on the other end of the line. "Damnit," Ryuichi muttered. "Alright, I'm on my way. I'll deal with the detective. You just keep an eye on things until I get there." Buddy's tail tucked between his legs when he heard Ryuichi murmuring words in his native language all very likely insults of frustration. "Y-yes boss-" "And Buddy-" Ryuichi added, his voice taking on a more serious tone. "Not a word to the others about this, you hear me? I don't want to cause any more panic than necessary. Just keep your head down and stay sharp until I get there." "Y-yes boss, I won't say a word," Buddy stuttered, trying to control the shake in his voice. He was terrified of making Ryuichi angry, and the thought of facing off against the detective scared him even more. Meanwhile at the crime scene Aiden's ears flicked as he moved around the rooms taking photos even finding some dried snake venom on the carpet. As Aiden moved through the rooms, he noticed the faint traces of dried snake venom on the carpet. His ears perked up, and he knelt down to get a closer look. "Looks like our perp left a little something behind," he muttered to himself, taking pictures with his camera. He crouched down next to the stain, studying it intently. The smell of the venom was faint, but still noticeable to his heightened senses. "Not exactly stealthy, are we?" he mumbled to himself, his eyes narrowing as he continued to take photos. "Likely an amateur, Lower classed criminal. Not a professional for sure." he muttered softly. One of the officers nearby overheard Aiden's muttering and approached him, a quizzical look on his face. "You say something, detective?" he asked, raising an eyebrow. Aiden looked up, breaking out of his thoughts. "Just thinking out loud," he said, standing up and showing the officer the pictures on his camera. "Looks like our perp left traces of venom behind. Probably an amateur." The officer looked at the pictures, nodding in agreement. "You're probably right," he said. "This doesn't seem like the work of a professional. You think this Ryuichi got the easiest criminals to find?" "Maybe," Aiden mused, his mind racing with possibilities. "But I doubt it. From what I've seen so far, he's no amateur. He's got a whole clan at his disposal. Full of half humans. Chaotic one's likely more set on chaos than caring about being clean and professional." The officer raised an eyebrow at Aiden's words, clearly surprised by the details he was privy to. "You seem to know a lot about this Ryuichi character," he said, a hint of suspicion in his tone. "How'd you get so informed?" Aiden glanced at the officer, a hint of a smirk on his face. "I have my sources," he said cryptically. "Let's just say that I've been doing some research of my own." "Hey your the kid who went toe to toe with him on that rooftop few months back ain't you-" One of the officers chimed. Aiden's ears flicked in acknowledgement, his expression hardening at the mention of the event. "Yeah, that was me," he said gruffly, trying to keep his emotions in check. The officer let out a low whistle, clearly impressed. "Damn kid, you got balls of steel," he said, shaking his head in disbelief. "Not many people can go chasing after killers and such." Aiden shrugged, feeling a mix of pride and bitterness at the compliment. "It's just part of the job," he said, trying to play it cool. "Somebody's gotta do it, right?" Aiden then shifted his eyes to his phone noting the text message of another crime scene location for him to check out over on Wickerbolt street which wasn't too far away. "I must be off-" Aiden nodded firmly as he made haste. The officers around him exchanged glances as Aiden made his way towards the door. Clearly, the young detective was motivated and driven to do his job. "Where you headed in such a rush?" one of them asked, raising an eyebrow. "You got another crime scene to investigate?" "Yeah, another location just came up," Aiden replied, not slowing down as he walked towards the door. "Can't afford to waste any more time." Buddy stiffened watching the windows. He casually texted Ryuichi's cell the location Aiden was going. Buddy's eyes followed on Aiden when he walked passed the laundromat going west. Ryuichi received the text from Buddy, a hint of frustration flickering on his face. He was starting to grow impatient with this cat half human detective. He couldn't have him sniffing around and getting too close. But he knew he had to handle things carefully. He couldn't risk drawing too much attention to himself or the clan. "I'm on my way. Just keep an eye on him and keep me updated," he responded to Buddy's text. "Damned kitten can't mind his business..." Ryuichi insulted from the inside of his vehicle as his driver was focused on the road. Ryuichi's driver glanced in the rearview mirror, a knowing smirk on his face. "Looks like the cat's on your tail, boss," he said, trying to lighten the mood. "He must really have a thing for you." Louis stiffened in his seat listening at the conversation. "I blame Julio. All amped up at the hotel that night. He went overboard." Louis coldly spoke. Ryuichi rolled his eyes, clearly annoyed by the situation. "Yeah, Julio gets carried away sometimes," he said, rubbing his temples. "But we can't afford to draw any more attention to ourselves than we already have. And this detective is getting dangerously close to uncovering things we don't want him to know about." He leaned forward, fixing his gaze on the city street outside. "We need to take care of him, and fast." "You're right, boss," Louis said, his voice gravelly. "We can't let this detective mess with our plans. But we also can't be too careless. We need to be smart about it. Otherwise we'll be risking everything we've built up 'till now." Ryuichi nodded in agreement, his expression darkening. "You're right," he said, his voice cold and deadly. "We can't afford to be sloppy. We need to be smart, calculated. But we also can't take too long. The longer that detective is on our trail, the more danger we're in." "So why haven't we..." Isaiah scoffed in his seat. Ryuichi shot Isaiah a sidelong glance, annoyance etched on his face. "We will, in due time," he said through clenched teeth. "But we can't just rush into things. We need to be strategic. We need to make sure we don't make any mistakes that could come back to bite us in the ass." "Come on Isaiah you know the boss wants to make the kitty cat watch our plan thrive duhhh~" Torien sang purring from the front seat with the driver. Ryuchi rolled his eyes at Torien's comment, clearly irritated by his lighthearted tone. "Enough, Torien," he snapped. "This isn't some game. We're dealing with a serious threat here. We need to focus." As much as he hated to admit it, Torien had a point. The idea of making the detective watch their plans unfold was appealing. But he couldn't let himself get distracted by such impulsive desires. "We have to stay focused," he reiterated, his eyes narrowed. "We'll handle the detective in due time. But right now, we need to be focused on our plans and executing them flawlessly." Isaiah let out a derisive snort, clearly not convinced by Ryuichi's words. "We've been waiting for weeks, boss," he said, his tone disrespectful. "How much more patience do you expect us to have?" "As much as it takes," Ryuichi snapped back, his patience thinning. "We're in this for the long haul, not some quick and dirty job. We need to play the long game if we want to come out on top." Torien chimed in, unable to resist adding his two cents. "Besides, it's more fun this way, don't ya think?" he said, his voice taking on a singsong tone. "Making the detective sweat, watching him run around like a lost little kitty..." "No No please mister Ryuichi don't hurt the evil mean humans~ Ohhhh Nyoooo~" Torien dramatically acted out like an idiot mocking the dectective. Ryuichi clenched his jaw, his eyes narrowing at Torien's antics. "Enough!" he barked, his voice booming through the vehicle. The rest of the crew fell silent, sensing the tension in the air. Even Torien, for once, was rattled into silence by Ryuichi's harsh tone. "Enough with your nonsense," Ryuichi continued, his voice low and dangerous. "We are not to underestimate this detective. He's smart, capable, and dangerous. We need to be careful and strategic if we want to come out on top." "He is a half human just like the rest of us. When we succeed he will see the right side of things." Ryuichi nodded. The rest of the crew nodded in agreement, falling silent as they absorbed Ryuichi's words. They knew that he had a point. They were all half humans, fighting against a world that saw them as lesser. "You're right, boss," Louis said, his voice firm. "The detective may be a threat, but he's also a potential asset. Once he sees the truth, he could become a valuable ally. Or at least someone who understands our cause." "Exactly," Ryuichi said, his eyes flickering with determination. "We need to approach him carefully, make him see our side of the story. But we also need to be prepared to act quickly and decisively if necessary." Torien spoke up again, his voice more subdued now. "But what if he won't listen? What if he won't see things our way?" "I said you can't kill him... Said nothing about roughing the boy up." Ryuichi mused. A slow, dangerous smirk spread across Louis's face. "Rough him up a bit, eh?" he said, cracking his knuckles. "I like the sound of that." Isaiah chuckled, clearly liking the idea as well. "Yeah, he could use a reality check." Even Torien looked a bit more interested now, his tail twitching back and forth. "Yeah, maybe a little bit of pain will help him see things our way." "Our sweet little Buddy tells me our pal is headed to the west side where Rosco and Julio handled the news team who caught us on video trying to spy on us. Why don't we pay him a small visit... Humble him." Ryuichi cruelly purred. The crew members' eyes widened with excitement, their grins growing wider. They all nodded in agreement at the suggestion. "Hell, why not?" Louis said, his voice eager. "He needs to know what happens when he sticks his nose where it doesn't belong." Isaiah chuckled, a cruel glimmer in his eyes. "Yeah, let's teach him a lesson he won't forget." Aiden huffed taking a shortcut hoping to get to the next crime scene faster making haste through the dingy mildew scented alley way. As Aiden hurried through the dark, damp alleyway, he couldn't shake the feeling of being watched. There was a strange stillness in the air, a sense of danger lurking in the shadows. Suddenly, a low, mocking voice called out from behind him. "Aww, what's the matter, little kitty? Lost on your way to the litter box?" Aiden spun around, his ears flickering in alarm. Standing in the shadows was a group of four figures, all of them half humans with various beastly attributes. Their faces were hidden in the darkness, but he could sense their predatory gazes on him. "You've been a bad kitty from what i was told..." Ryuichi came waltzing through the dark through the group. Aiden took a step back, his eyes fixing on Ryuichi's dark figure. He couldn't see his face, but he could sense the dangerous aura radiating off the man. "Ryuichi," Aiden said, his voice steady but tinged with tension. "What are you doing here?" Ryuichi chuckled darkly, taking a few slow steps closer to Aiden. The other half humans in the group closed in on him as well, circling him like predators closing in on their prey. "Just thought I'd have a little chat with the detective who's been sniffing around my business," Ryuichi said, his voice dripping with menace. "And maybe teach you a little lesson while we're at it." Aiden's ears flattened against his head, his muscles tensing in preparation for a fight. He knew he was outnumbered and outmatched, but he wasn't about to back down. "You're not going to scare me," he said, his voice firm. "I'm here to do my job, and I won't be intimidated by the likes of you." "You think you get an option?" Louis sneered stepping forward with Julio beside him. Aiden stood his ground, his eyes darting between Louis and Julio. He could sense the menace in their stance, the power they radiated. But he refused to back down. "I always have a choice," he said, his voice low and firm. "And I choose to stand up to scum like you." Louis let out a scoff, his eyes narrowing. "You think you're some sort of hero, don't you?" he sneered. "You think your badge and your gun make you invincible." Julio smirked, cracking his knuckles. "We'll see how heroic you feel when we're done with you." Aiden clenched his fists, his heart racing. He knew he was in a dangerous situation, but he wasn't going to go down without a fight. "You don't scare me," he repeated, his voice strong and steady. "I've faced worse than you lot." Ryuichi chuckled darkly from the shadows, his eyes flickering with amusement. "We'll see about that, kitty cat," he taunted. "You talk big, but I have a feeling you'll be singing a different tune once we're through with you." "B-boss i'm not sure this is-" Buddy awkwardly stammered flinching behind Ryuichi at the smacking sound from Julio punching Aiden in a right hook hissing. "You should have just stayed out our way-" Louis insulted as he started circling Aiden with Isaiah as Julio stood over him. Aiden stumbled back, his head spinning from the force of Julio's hit. He gritted his teeth, blinking the stars out of his eyes and trying to focus. "You'll have to do better than that to stop me," he spat, his voice full of determination. He could feel the adrenaline rushing through his veins, his senses sharpened and on high alert. Julio let out a cruel laugh, his eyes gleaming with sadistic pleasure. "Oh, we'll do a lot better than that," he sneered. "You're not the first half human we've dealt with, and you won't be the last." Louis and Isaiah chuckled alongside him, clearly enjoying the feeling of power over Aiden. "Wouldn't have to hurt you if you just joined us." Louis sighed softly giving a nod resulting in Julio roughly tail whipping Aiden's face bruising his cheek. Aiden let out a grunt of pain, his cheek erupting in a burning sensation. He stumbled back, trying to keep his footing. "I'm not joining you," he ground out, his voice laced with anger. "I'll never join you. I'm here to stop you for good." "Our boss is trying to make things better-" Isaiah roughly barked out glaring. Aiden looked at Isaiah with a mixture of confusion and disbelief. "Make things better?" he repeated, his voice skeptical. "You think hurting people and causing chaos is going to make things better?" Isaiah sneered, his eyes narrowing in annoyance. "You don't understand," he snapped. "You don't know what it's like to be treated like a second-class citizen, to be looked down upon by humans just because we're different. We're fighting for a better world." "A perfect world..." Ryuichi coldly snapped from his spot as he crossed his arms observing. Aiden's ears perked up at Ryuichi's words, his mind racing with the implications of what he was saying. "Perfect world?" he repeated, his voice tinged with sarcasm. "Sounds more like a world where you're in charge and everyone else suffers." Ryuichi chuckled darkly, a chilling smile spreading across his face. "Oh, my dear little kitty cat, you have no idea what we have planned. Trust me, the new world we're creating is going to be... perfect." "What a world of division- Your just as bad as the politians don't you get that-" Aiden snapped up causing Isaiah to snap roughly punching the side of Aiden's ribs to the concrete. Aiden gasped in pain, the air forced out of his lungs as he landed hard on the concrete. He struggled to sit back up, clutching his ribs in agony. "You...you're just creating more fighting and chaos..." he gasped out, his voice strained. Louis chuckled darkly, leaning down to get a closer look at Aiden. "Oh, that's the point, kitty cat," he sneered. "We want chaos and fighting. We want the human world to fall apart so we can take our rightful place at the top." "No more signs keeping us out." Julios hissed deeply. "Actual freedom..." Isaiah commented. Aiden gritted his teeth, trying to ignore the pain in his ribs. "You call that freedom? You call terrorizing people and causing chaos freedom?" He struggled to his feet, leaning against a nearby wall for support. "No more of us being muzzled just to enter a damned deli-" Ryuichi snapped loudly causing Buddy to bristle tucking his tail between his legs knowing he was referring to how Ryuichi met him. Aiden's eyes flicked to Buddy, noticing the tension in his body language. He could sense the fear and unease radiating off the other half human. "So that's it, huh?" he said, his voice heavy with disbelief. "You just want to be treated like everyone else, but you're willing to hurt people and cause chaos to achieve it?" Ryuichi stepped out of the shadows, his eyes narrowed at Aiden. "Don't act like you understand, little kitty cat," he sneered. "You've never had to live as rough as us, facing discrimination and prejudice every day of your life. You don't know what it feels like to be treated as less than nothing. I know all about you, Youngest detective half human to get into the Bronx police department... Also one of the few to have been adopted by human parents. I saw your little description plaque." Aiden bristled at Ryuichi's words, his heart racing with a mixture of anger and suspicion. "You've been looking into me?" he asked, his voice tinged with annoyance. "What right do you have to pry into my personal life?" Ryuichi growled deeply charging forward gesturing his hand up. Louis and Isaiah nodded moving to hold Aiden still by his arms. "You pried into mine first..." Ryuichi snarled leaning into Aiden's face blowing smoke from his cigarette at him. Aiden coughed and sputtered as the smoke hit his face, his eyes watering. He struggled against Louis and Isaiah's grip, but their hold on his arms was strong. "I was doing my job," he managed to gasp out, his voice strained. "Investigating you is part of my job as a detective." "You are going to watch us succeed, even if you like it or not-" Ryuichi spoke with venom as he grabbed at Aiden's chin forcing it up. Aiden winced as Ryuichi grabbed his chin, the grip firm and possessive. He tried to pull away, but Ryuichi's hold was too strong. "You can't force me to watch you succeed," he gritted out, his voice full of determination. "I'm going to catch you, Ryuichi. I'm going to stop you and your crew." Ryuichi's eyes widened at the statement. His eyes scanned at Aiden's face before busting out into laughter. Aiden's eyes widened in surprise at the sudden change in Ryuichi's demeanor. His laughter filled the air, cruel and mocking. "You really think you can stop me?!" he taunted, his grip on Aiden's chin tightening. Aiden's heart thudded in his chest, uncertainty and fear starting to take over. He tried to wrench his chin out of Ryuichi's grip, but the man's hold was too strong. "I'm not afraid of you," he lied, his voice wavering slightly. "Anata wa sou de aru beki desu..." Ryuichi snarled irritated. Aiden flinched slightly as Ryuichi's voice took on a harsh, irritated tone. He didn't understand the language Ryuichi had just spoken in, but the tone was clear. "What did you say?" he asked, his voice a mixture of confusion and defiance. Ryuichi's grip on Aiden's chin tightened further, his eyes flashing with anger. "You're nothing but a naive little boy," he sneered. "Thinking you can take down a seasoned criminal like me. You're in way over your head, little kitty cat." "Hey leave him alone-" A feminine voice echoed into the alley being followed with camera flashes. All heads swerved at the sound of the feminine voice echoing through the alleyway. The other half humans in the crew backed away from Aiden, their attention now focused on the newcomer. Ryuichi let go of Aiden's chin, his eyes narrowing as he turned towards the voice. Aiden stood up straight, taking a few deep breaths to calm his racing heart. He recognized that voice...Clarissa White. She was a self-claimed reporter, and had been following him around lately trying to get an interview. He looked to where Clarissa was, seeing her standing there, camera in hand, the flashes of her camera bouncing off the dingy alley walls.
Ryuichi sneered at Clarissa, his eyes scanning her from head to toe. "A reporter, huh?" he mocked. "What are you doing here, princess? Looking for her next big expose?" "Police are on their way... " She shouted up causing Rosco and Torien to get alert looking to Ryuichi from their positions. The mention of the police caused the other half humans in the crew to tense up, their eyes darting nervously between Ryuichi and the shadows at either end of the alley. Ryuichi's expression darkened as he heard the statement, his eyes narrowing even further. "You better not have called the cops on us, princess," he growled, his voice low and menacing. "Scram and leave him alone OR wait rough him up even, Maybe even rough me up but get busted. Your choice." She huffed snapping another photo or two. Ryuichi let out a low growl, his irritation clear. "You're a real pain in the ass, you know that?" he snapped, his eyes flickering between Clarissa and Aiden. The other half humans in the crew looked to Ryuichi, unsure of what to do. They clearly didn't want to get caught by the police. Clarissa stood her ground, her camera at the ready. She wasn't intimidated by Ryuichi's irritation or threats. "You heard me," she snapped, her voice firm. "You leave him alone and go before the police get here. Or you can wait and get arrested." Ryuichi let out a low growl, his knuckles cracking as he clenched his fists. He was clearly tempted to go through with his threats, but the thought of getting arrested clearly had him hesitant. The other half humans in the crew fidgeted nervously, their eyes darting between Ryuichi and the alleys, clearly hoping for their boss to make a decision. Finally, after a tense moment of silence, Ryuichi let out a frustrated sigh. "Fine," he grumbled, his voice laced with irritation. "We'll leave for now." The other half humans in the crew let out a collective sigh of relief, and the tension in the air seemed to ease a bit. Clarissa watched with a small sense of satisfaction as the half humans started to move away, heading deeper into the alley and out of sight. Aiden let out a breath he hadn't realized he'd been holding, his heart still racing with adrenaline. He looked to Clarissa, a mixture of gratitude and frustration in his eyes. "You could have gotten yourself hurt," he admonished. "Could say the same to you. I heard your boss saying to get backup more often." She mused. Aiden rolled his eyes at her comment, feeling a mix of irritation and amusement. "I was handling myself just fine," he muttered, crossing his arms. "You didn't have to step in." Clarissa chuckled softly, a small smile forming on her lips. "Oh please. I saw you get thrown to the ground. You call that handling yourself just fine?" she teased. Aiden grumbled under his breath, annoyed at being helped but also grateful for her assistance. He could hear the police sirens growing louder. "Thanks," he muttered, his voice gruff. "You could've gotten yourself in trouble, you know." Clarissa rolled her eyes, a small smirk on her face. "Please, I've gotten myself in worse situations than this and come out unscathed," she replied dismissively. "I'm a big girl, I can handle myself." she gently fixed his glasses back onto his face. "Bit cracked... Might need some new ones." Aiden couldn't help but chuckle at Clarissa's confidence. He leaned back against the wall, wincing slightly as the pain from his earlier injuries flared up. "You really are a pain in the ass, you know that?" he teased, the corners of his lips pulling up in a slight smile. Clarissa let out a laugh, shaking her head at his comment. "Oh, you love it," she joked, lightly nudging him with her shoulder. "And hey, I did just save you from those big bad criminals. You should be thanking me." Her words paused short when fellow officers acquainted and familiar of who Aiden was started entering the alley to check on them. The sound of footsteps approaching caught their attention. Aiden looked up to see several of his fellow officers cautiously entering the alleyway. They looked relieved to see him physically okay, but curious about the situation nonetheless. "Aiden," one of his fellow officers, a stout brunette named Officer Taylor, said, her eyes flicking from Aiden to Clarissa. "You alright, man?" Aiden nodded, wincing slightly as he tried to stand up straight. "Yeah, I'm okay," he assured her, though the pain in his ribs told a different story. Officer Taylor looked skeptical as she took in his disheveled appearance and bruised cheek. "What happened here?" she asked, her voice firm but tinged with concern. "Ryuichi kicked his butt and i saved him." Clarissa proudly stated. Officer Taylor's eyes widened slightly at Clarissa's blunt statement. She cast a skeptical look in Aiden's direction. "Is that true?" she asked him, her tone tinged with disbelief. Aiden let out a frustrated sigh, knowing that he couldn't deny the truth. "Yeah, she's right," he admitted, his voice a mix of annoyance and embarrassment. "I got caught off guard and they roughed me up a bit before she chased them off." Officer Taylor raised an eyebrow, clearly finding the situation amusing. "Caught off guard, huh? You're usually more careful than that," she teased, unable to hide the hint of amusement in her voice. Aiden rolled his eyes, feeling his cheeks heat up with embarrassment. "Yeah, well, I wasn't expecting a surprise attack in this alleyway," he grumbled, crossing his arms defensively. Clarissa paused a moment picking up a piece of paper from the ground as Aiden stepped to the side with Officer Taylor. "Hey Aiden... What is project rabies..." She muttered holding up a slip of paper that had Ryuichi's handwriting with a date marked. Aiden's ears perked up at the mention of Project Rabies. He glanced towards Clarissa, his eyes narrowing in concern. "Where did you get that?" he asked, a sense of unease creeping over him. "Found it on the ground here," Clarissa explained, holding up the slip of paper. "It's got some writing on it, looks like it's something to do with project rabies. You know anything about it?" Aiden's expression darkened as he took the slip of paper from Clarissa's hand. He quickly scanned the writing, his mind racing with possibilities. "No... But we should get this to the station. I need to look into Ryuichi's files..." Aiden's expression darkened as he took the slip of paper from Clarissa's hand. He quickly scanned the writing, his mind racing with possibilities. "No... But we should get this to the station. I need to look into Ryuichi's files..." "He said something about making me watch as they succeed... To fix the world... Whatever project rabies is... Must have to do with their plan." Aiden theorized. Officer Taylor raised an eyebrow at Aiden's theory. "Making you watch as they succeed..." she echoed, her voice filled with curiosity. "And fix the world..." She paused, considering the weight of what Aiden had said. "This sounds bigger than just a small-time street gang," she mused aloud. Aiden nodded in agreement, his mind racing with possibilities. "I think you're right," he said, his expression growing more serious. "Project rabies...it's not just a code name. It's a plan. A plan to do something drastic. Something big." Officer Taylor frowned, the gravity of the situation slowly sinking in. "We need to find out more about this project rabies," she said firmly. "We need to get to the station and start digging into Ryuichi's files. We can't afford to wait any longer." Aiden nodded firmly glancing to Clarissa. "You gonna tag along?" He questioned offering a hand to her. Clarissa looked hesitant for a moment before sighing and accepting Aiden's hand. "Yeah, I'll come with you," she said, a determined look in her eyes. "This could be the scoop I've been waiting for." Aiden chuckled at her eagerness, his respect for her growing. "Just stick close to me, okay? These guys aren't playing around," he warned, a hint of concern in his voice. Clarissa rolled her eyes, a smirk on her lips. "Oh please, I can take care of myself," she retorted, but her voice held a hint of playful tone to it. Aiden gave a half hearted laugh. "Right-" he started leading the way heading to the police station. As the three of them walked towards the police station, Aiden couldn't help but steal glances at Clarissa. Despite her determination and confidence, he couldn't shake off the feeling of worry creeping up on him. He had seen first hand the lengths Ryuichi and his crew would go to achieve their goals. And with Project Rabies seemingly on the horizon, the stakes were higher than ever. They reached the station, the familiar building looming in front of them. The sound of hustle and bustle filled the air as officers went about their business. Aiden led Clarissa and Officer Taylor through the station, heading towards the records room where Ryuichi's files were kept. "Right then, If you two need anything give a holler." Officer Taylor nodded to the two as they went into the records room. She patted the doorframe before going on her way to return to her duties. Once Aiden and Clarissa were alone in the records room, Aiden turned to Clarissa, a serious expression on his face. "Alright, let's start looking through Ryuichi's files. We need to find out anything and everything we can about Project Rabies and what they're planning." "What are we looking for though? key words?" Clarissa questioned as her tail fluffed a bit flattening her ears. Aiden thought for a moment, considering her question. "Yes, key words would be a start," he agreed. "Look for anything connected to the name Project Rabies, or any mentions of plans to 'fix the world'. Also keep an eye out for any locations or timelines. Any information we can get is helpful."

~The end for now~