The Color Red

A Lead

Akoi's POV

Dammit. It was going to take to long if I waited here. Fist clenched in the pockets of my black hoodie, I glanced behind me and saw one of the drones scanning the crowd. It was heading this way. Shit. The train stopped and I followed the flow of people entering the car and took a seat in the back next to a woman who was watching whatever was on the news.

"Your psycho pass is a bit cloudy. Please go get counseling." A robotic voice carried through the intercom. I froze, too scared to move when I noticed a guy across from me grinding his teeth. Something was on his mind as he stood up, eyes wild.

"This is all a lie! None of this is real! They're lying to us! What is the fucking Sybil System?"

"Please calm down, sir."

"Don't tell me what to do!" He slammed a fist into the drone that followed me and knocked it over. People around us gasped and backed away. The drone was now being slammed over and over, little bolts of electricity buzzing in the air as the voice deepened and fell away. "This world is fucked up but nobody wants to talk about it!"

I had to do something. This was attracting attention, and no doubt the police force would be here soon. And they might see me and take me in. My psycho pass couldn't be read. I don't know why, but it stayed white. Pure white.

Too late. The subway door burst open and a tall dark haired man stood up. A dominator was pulled out and aimed at the man's head. "I'd hate to make a mess, so calm down and come with me."

"You're just being used. The Sybil System is a lie!"

"This is your last warning."

"Fuck you!"

A bolt of electricity flew out the end of the gun and hit the man. He seized up and fell to the ground, twitching slightly. The doors to the train opened and a short brunette came in and looked around. Her eyes landed on me as I slowly crept to the next car. "Hold on, who are you?"

Instead of answering, I sprinted and jumped out the window. I wasn't going in. I wasn't going back to that place. I wasn't going back to hell. You'll have to kill me first. The platform outside was now clear as I dashed up the stairs and turned right. Tall building loomed over me, blocking out the afternoon sun, chilling the air.

"Stop! This is the MWPSB!"

I ducked behind a parked car just as something hit it. They were firing? What did I do? I wasn't a criminal. I was framed! Another jolt shook the car and I dove to the next one. Where to go? Where?!?

I couldn't run forever. I turned anther corner and got tackled to the ground. A red head looked down at me before yelling over his shoulder. "Got him!"

Just great.

Kougami's POV

Kagari dove toward the runaway and managed to tackle him to the ground. We arrived just as the guy slammed his fist into the red head's stomach, making him let go. Escape was futile then, anyway, because I grabbed the back of his hood and yanked it off.

"You have the right to remain silent. You're being taken in for questioning." I turned the person around and blinked in surprise. A pair of bright orange eyes glared into mine as a pair of legs swung in the air trying to kick me.

"Let go! I didn't do anything! You can't do this!"

"We can and we just did." She was placed in the cruiser and into Akane's care. Maybe she'd be able to calm the girl down. We Enforcers, on the other hand, had to ride in the MWPSB security vehicle. We were 'too dangerous' to be around common citezens. The drive back to headquarters was quiet as Kagari, the practical joker, nursed his wounds.

"Why were we chasing her again?" He asked.

"Her Psycho Pass wasn't normal. It was pure white. That's not possible." I answered, looking up at the ceiling. "Only a person who did not feel anything at all could maintain that, and that can't be."

As we pulled into HQ, we could already hear sounds of struggle up ahead. "Hey! Keep your goddamn hands off of me! I didn't do anything!"

"There she goes again." Kagari muttered.

"Yet another example of how her Psycho Pass being white can't be possible."

Through the window of the interrogation room, the girl was tied to a chair. Akane walked in and sat across from her. "Calm down. Nothing is going to happen to you."

"That's a damn lie and you know it."

"I'm Soudamori Akane. You can call me Akane. What's your name?"

The girl blinked and frowned. "Why?"

"It'll make this easier."

"O...kay." The girl shifted in her chair. "Akoi."

"That's nice." Akane looked over at us and Ginoza sent the name down to the info desk. What we got back was surprising. Akoi disappeared when she was seven when there was an earthquake in Tokyo. She appeared later on an illegal show Carnival Corpse. She was not only a witness, but an active participant. We finally had a lead.

"Now, I get to ask a question." Akoi sat up, now more relaxed. "Why is it so dark in here? You got any food?"

"Um..." Akane looked slightly lost. "We keep it dark because it helps to create an intimidating aura so that we can get more information from people. As for food, um...we can get something. How about you answer questions and then we'll see?"

"Depends on what you ask."

"We've recently been informed that you were...a part of Carnival Corpse. Is that true?"

Akoi didn't answer for a moment. "In a way. Why?"

"We would like to shut it down. Could you help us?"

"Depends. Can you clear it off my transcript? Make me forget all I had to do? All that happened to me? Can you bring back my friends? Bring back my family?"

"We'll clear your transcript, but for the rest...we'll have to start with some therapy. How is that?"

"Will there be candy?"

"Candy?"

"Yeah. As much as I want." Akoi smiled.

"We can arrange something."

"Let me know when you do." The girl leaned back. She seemed to be about fourteen or fifteen. Long curly black hair escaped from her hood and she smiled. "Well, if that's all, I'll be going now."

"Well, you'll have to stay with us. Otherwise we won't be able to contact you."

"You won't need to."

"How can we work?"

"Um..." Akoi frowned. "Hadn't really thought that far."

"You can stay here. I doubt you have a place to stay."

"Excuse me? I am NOT homeless. I have a perfect place to stay, thank you very much!" Akoi huffed. "You and your police assumptions are making me reconsider our deal."

"If you did live in a house, we would have known."

"Well, then."

Ginoza chose this moment to walk in. "You'll be both Akane and Kougami's responsibility. Enjoy."

Oh shit. Babysitting.

This was going to be a long day.