Onward

Murder Business

I apologize to the few readers of this story for the long wait. You are welcome to criticize. Please enjoy.

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Azalea awoke to the sound of a sliding door, she felt a warm light stream through the room along with a sea breeze.

"You need to wake up dear." Came Nasuki's voice from the terrace. Azalea opened her eyes only to squint at her, the sun rising behind her.
"The gallery doesn't open till nine." She said as she slowly sat up, rubbing the sleep out of her eyes.
"Yes child, I know but, I was thinking that maybe we could do you up in a kimono. One from when I was younger, but still in great condition." She said as she began pulling azalea to her feet. Azalea seeing no harm in appeasing her grandmother went and followed her out.
" first take a bath to help wake you up dear." She told her. Azalea bathed and when done pulled a bath robe on, tying the front. She left the bathroom and went back to her own, Nasuki had already put away the futon and was laying out a light pink kimono. Flowers flowing up from the hem as they did from the tail of the sleeves that were nearly as long as the kimono. She hadn't expected one this gorgeous, Nasuki wore calm kimonos, neutral colors with little design.  
"Grandmother...... It's... Are you sure?" She asked in aw.
Nasuki then turned to with a bright smile. "Of course dear. I would rather it worn by a beautiful young woman than not at all." She said as azalea went to her suitcase to pull out a bra and underwear.
" start getting dressed, I left a part of the obi in my closet." She told her as she left. Azalea pulled on her underwear and bra then went over to the kimono, she picked it up and slipped her arms into the sleeves. They hung down slightly passed her knees, as she looked at the length she noticed a pair of socks on the floor, designed to were with the wooden sandals. She went on ahead pulled them on, then finished wrapping the kimono around her.
" we don't even have the obi on you and its beautiful." Said her grandmother coming in. 
"Is it?" she asked uncertain
"Beautiful" Nasuki whispered as she began wrapping the obi around her waist. A few tugs and loopings later azalea was being guided to the dresser where Nasuki pulled a mirror from behind. "Look at you" Nasuki said as she pulled a Brush out of no where and began pulling azaleas hair up loosely. She felt beautiful in the kimono, the pink flowers of the kimono seemed to bring out her light green eyes just as the blond strands that framed her thin face did. Nasuki stepped back to view her work as azalea tilted her head to see the hair ornament her grandmother used and heard a bell. There on the end of a long hair pin were three strings of green leaves smaller then her pinkie nail. A fourth string half the length of the other three had a silver bell tied at the end, jingling with each tilt of her head as she examined the hair ordainment.
"Beautiful." Nasuki whispered as she looked at azalea lovingly through the mirror.
"Just like your mother." spoke Frank. Azalea looked from her grandmother to the doorway of the terrace where her grandfather stood with a bowl of rice in one hand, chopsticks full in the other.
"Rice is done. If you women are, I'd like to have an omelette as well." He said as he began walking away, "We know what happens if I attempt to cook it myself, Azie you remember the stories." his voice disappearing as he rounded a corner on the outer walkway. The only other time Frank had ever mentioned her mother was in a single letter where he said she was cursed to be mated to my father, his son; said she was to wonderful for such an idiot. Azaleas mother was an amazing woman in every way; to be said like her was a meaningful complement to azalea. Nasuki smiled at her as she began to follow after Frank.
"We've best hurry or he will try and I can't say how many more renavasions this old home can take." she said disappearing around the same corner as Frank. Azalea smile to herself as she followed suite and slide the door shut behind her. She at the sight of the endless ocean and ships leaving, some blew their horn overcoming the sound of the waves that hit the side of the cliff. She slide her hand along the wooden railing as she made her way around a corner and down a set of wooden steps that lead to the back garden and the other side of the kitchen. Nasuki was already in the fridge getting the eggs. Frank sitting at the table eating his rice while looking over what appeared to be files, he glanced upward at azalea when she entered.
"Come take a look at these Azie, potential artwork to display at the gallery." He said looking back down. Azalea came around the table to stand behind her grandfather and looked over his shoulder, the works of art were marvelous. Each one as unique as the last; a ballerina made out of copper, a canvas of colorful butterflies morphing in and out of each other, a charcoal of a women in the rain, and an oil painting of children playing in a wheat field. Each unique and full of emotion, that Azalea was leaning forward to better examine them.
"Azie dear, I love you, but I've had this stable bubble for decades, and it's for one. Out."  Frank said as he waved his chopsticks in her face till she had moved back. At this point Nasuki had finished the omelets and was serving them out.
"No work at the table, how many times do I have say it? " Nasuki scolded as she pulled Azalea to her sit before sitting opposite of Frank, who put away the files. They ate quietly with Frank making faces at Nasuki when she wasn't looking at him with suspicion and Azalea held in her giggles. The family ate and Azalea followed her grandparents out as they walked past the garage entrance.
"Where is the gallery? we're a good thirty minute out of town" asked Azalea as she looked at more boats coming into port.
"500 feet from the house. Past those trees." Frank answered pointing straight ahead. Closer to the pine trees she saw a white building through them, and through the small patch of pine forest was a rock slave pathway. The building was two story and the roof slanted. In front, was a statue of colored ribbon warping together.
"I'm going to open the gates." Frank said as he toward a smaller building toward the side of the gallery. Inside the gallery was white from slanted ceiling to the stone floor, and yet; with couches placed in corners, cushions in some windows and gentle lighting, the gallery had a warm feel all-around it. The exhibits standing out with special lighting as it should be and were beautiful.
"We'll introduce you to some of our artists who'll show later. In the mean time we're changing out paintings." Nasuki told her as they walked toward the back and went into a small office. Nasuki have her a painting and it's new location. They had replaced paintings that had been sold. People began to show about an hour later, and Azalea was introduced to fellow artist bringing in their own work and important buyers. Azalea's grandparents were the only ones who worked the gallery; Frank, not willing to waste his precious art time interviewing strangers (desperate part timers), wouldn't hire any on. When azalea wasn't being introduced she was admiring the painting with the other visiters and potential buyers. It was around 5 p.m. when they closed the gallery for the day and Azalea want to look up hooker bars.
She was in an office above her grandfather's art studio When he popped in.
"Have you found anything yet?" Frank asked coming in and standing behind her.
"No, I haven't." she sighed leaning back into the office chair.
"Well, dinners done. It's curry. You can finish this up later. Hooker bar's don't move..........much. Come on." He said pulling her up. They went down and joined Nasuki at the table.
"You were looking for the hooker bar, Azalea?" Nasuki asked as she ate."
"Yeah, but I'm not finding it." Azalea replied looking at her.
"I'm sure you'll find it tomorrow."
"Or tonight."
"No, for the next two hours before bed is 'family lazy time'. I have fudge ice cream in the fridge." She told her as Frank slowly looked up. He had stopped eating and was now staring intently at Nasuki.
"Since when have we had frudge ice cream? You never let me pick it up." he asked almost like a child.
" I've been saving it for a lazy evening with azalea." she informed him as she finished her meal and stood to take toward the sink. Frank and Azalea finished and made their way to the living room and began finding something to watch as Nasuki came out with the fudge ice cream. Nasuki placed down three spoons and bowls on the coffee table them knelt into the cushion next to Frank.
"Lazy family time" she said "we need to do this every Friday."
"I hold no complaints with that suggestion." Frank said opening the ice cream and handing the remote off to Azalea.
"Neither do I." Azalea agreed smiling.
"Good" Nasuki began. "Cause I wasn't suggesting." she finished grabbing a spoon and bowl.
"Well, then" started Frank "a very nice demand." he finished laughing. And then pulled Nasuki over and kissed her on the lips.
"We should watch a detective series." Nasuki proclaimed When he pulled away. Frank nodded then turned toward Azalea who had been preoccupied with the titles on the TV missing their entire exchange.
" What say you, granddaughter?" he questioned.
"What say me what?" she asked facing him.
"A detective series." Nasuki outbursts.
Azalea tossed the remote toward her grand mother and began spooning ice cream in her bowl.
" have one in mind?" she asked.
"Yes, of course." Nasuki replied with much enthusiasm. Azalea didn't have to look up at the screen to the know the show. His narcissistic voice was all she needed to know the high functioning psychopath.
"Sherlock" she breathed and looked up at the TV.
"Who doesn't know BBCs' Sherlock?" Nasuki giggled to herself while Frank sighed to himself about women and their oppression with smart men. That's how the evening went and not even an hour later Azaleas grandparents made the decision to retire for the evening. Azalea cleaned up and decided to claim the same while in truth she was going to continue her research and if not to late when she finds the place head out to it. Nasuki wouldn't allow her to go but creatures of shadow only show themselves in the dark. Azalea didn't want to worry the only mother figure She had Since her mothers death, whom of which she barely remembered. Just through the letters she revived from her  was enough love for a lifetime. Azalea washed off her face after having her grandmother help her out of the kimono, she made it look easy. Nasuki wore nothing but kimonos; thus untying one was  as easy as waving your hand. She slipped into a pair of short shorts and cami then puled out her futon as if going to bed, and once everyone were in their rooms and lights were out Azalea quietly made her way to the office and picked up where she left off. It was midnight when she found the place and despite how tired she was; she very quietly made her way back to her room to retrieve a long sweater and a pair of knee, heeled boots. Azalea waited till she was on the first floor terrace to put her boots on and as she was doing so a voice interrupted. 

"where are you going granddaughter?"  Frank asked as he was sitting to her left on a cushion and smoking a Kiseru, a long-stem bamboo pipe with a wolf carved into the silver mouth piece and chamber.  Azalea stilled bent over adjusting her boots turned her head toward him, her hair more in her face than it was before. Through her hair she saw that he hadn't even been looking at her, his face tilted up toward the moon and star filled sky; smoke of the pipe lifting up into the air.

"You look like you've been waiting for someone." 

"Do I?" he questioned nonchalantly before taking a breath then breathing out more smoke through his nostrils. "You've yet to answer my first question." he stated.

" I believe you already know the answer to that question grandfather." she said as she finished putting on her boots then straightening. 

"any way I can get you to not go at this time?" 

" We both know when the demons come crawling out, and I'm on a time limit."

"Hate when I'm right. Take these." he said as he pulled something from his pocket and slide it across the floor to her. They stopped at her feet, two black, thin chain bracelets with a red sword charm on each. 

"bracelets?" she asked looking down at them slightly confused.

"Don't leave them on the floor, pick them up." he said puffing out more smoke. Azalea went to pick them up, her fingers hovering over them, and she felt it. The magic omitting from it. She slipped them on and they formed to the size of her wrist. At her will chain extended the sword charm to the floor then back up to its original length.  When she looked up toward Frank she met his gaze. 

"Be safe, granddaughter."  He said. Azalea nodded her head then left, there was a bus stop not far from the house and using money left over from her 30 minuets at Tokyos' airport; she took an hour long ride into Sapporo. The bus stop she needed was in the middle of a bunch of love hotels, and the moment she stepped off drunken men swarmed her. As she got closer to the hooker bar street, she began seeing things like flash backs to the night. But, nothing useful except that he knew the street, knew the area enough to attempt to loose the demon. As Azalea neared the ally she saw the neon green sign; she also noticed the name of the hooker bar above "The kittens' club". The moment she read that sign she froze as a vision filled her senses and saw the man going in. As quickly as the vision came to her she is brought out by someone pushing past her. Azalea stumbles forward a bit before steadying herself and her eyes following a man running ahead. 

"heeeeeey, your suppose to state your name before pushing people around." she yelled after him in irritation. Azalea watched as the man looked back at her briefly as he ran, and met her gaze before continuing on with what ever had him running in the first place. Pale skin, raven black hair and very blue eyes; a familiar face she couldn't place, till she recalled last night at the airport. The man with the stick up his ass and the man she couldn't exactly picture in the red district area based on his stiff behavior from then. Azalea decided to follow the running man she still had in her sights and attempted to remember his name that she clearly remembered insulting out of him. As she ran after him she noticed him looking up ever so often and followed his look. A figure jumping from one roof to the next and a shadow like scythe trailing behind in their shadow. Azaleas' breath stopped for a moment and she began running faster doing her partial shift in the process. Within seconds she was beside him tapping his shoulder,  needless to say but this slightly startled the young man. Looking from her to the demon to her front to see where he was going.

"you!" he said realizing who she was.

"aye sir, me. Why are you chasing a demon?" she asked 

"that is none of your business." he panted out slightly

"it is actually, and you are about to go out. Humans can't hunt down demons." she told me as she began pushing him forward slightly. "To hunt a demon you have to follow their trail." she said as she ran on ahead. 

"stop." she heard his distanced yell. "This is FB business. Not civilians!"

"your about to loose him, thank me in a few, and this is my murder business!" she yelled back at him as she ran toward a building to follow the demon like a demon.