The Knights Himura

#31: Point Zero

Tsukiko sighed. "So, why is he named Night Bird?"

Sylvie tapped her fingers on the table. "It was his favorite song. It's some old jazzy song from the eighties. It's all he ever listened to back then."

They were back in Aurelia's shop. They had asked to move away all of the piles of fabric so that they could see each other more clearly.

Kazuo sat with them, playing with a pen as he skimmed his notebook. Fumi sat next to Tsukiko, an arm wrapped around her. Haruka stood over Kazuo, trying to make sense of his scribblings.

"I thought you guys liked to stay completely anonymous." Kaz looked up from his notes.

"Some of us had names or nicknames. Everyone knew my name was Sylvie, everyone knew him as Night Bird, there used to be a guy named--"

"Wouldn't that get you in trouble?" Kaz asked.

"Not really. It's a nickname, isn't it? Honestly, I probably should've given everyone a nickname. Would've been easier that way." Sylvie tried to think.

"Why Point Zero?" Tsuki asked.

"The Shakudos started working security for some shops and clubs a few weeks ago. It's a pretty risky move, I wonder if they know what they're doing." Haruka rubbed her face.

"Security jobs are a good way of pissing off the cops. Their leader must be one arrogant son of a bitch." Sylvie chuckled. "He won't last a week."

"How do we know they're all following one leader?" Tsuki suggested.

"...do you know something we don't?" Haruka stared.

"Maybe I do." Tsuki grinned.

"You don't think he's behind this?" Kazuo asked. "You're probably right."

"Why do you say that?" Haruka put her hand on Kazuo's head.

"There are three leaders. A head, then a right hand and a... left hand. He got rid of the left hand, and left him behind. That's how I found out about Night Bird."

"And?" Haruka narrowed her eyes.

"...he got rid of him because of what he did to Lily. He was really angry about it. I don't think he was too happy about Fumi getting stabbed either."

"...really?" Fumi turned to Tsuki.

"Yeah... Weird, isn't it?"

"Let's focus on this guy for now, alright?" Kazuo put his hand on the table.

Tsuki turned red. "You're right."

Kazuo's revolver appeared under his hand rather suddenly. The group was caught off guard by the sudden shine of nickel and gold. Haruka jumped back in surprise.

"Where the hell did that come from?" Haruka regained her composure.

"It does that, remember?" Kaz grabbed the gun and inspected it.

"Doesn't it look... cleaner?" Fumi squinted.

"Yeah, what the hell?"

The revolver had been polished, with all of the rust and damage removed. A new layer of nickel gave the gun a mirror sheen. The barrel had something written in gold across the rather long, broad, flat barrel.

It read "Zeit ist das teuerste Kleinod" in thin, delicate cursive.

The gun was rather blocky, save for the grip and round cylinder. The gold writing and designs made it look more like an ornament than a tool.

"Why's it so... huge? Isn't it hard to carry that thing around?" Haruka asked.

"Yeah." Kaz lifted it up slowly. "It's so goddamn heavy. Had to work out just to be able to aim the damn thing."