Colors in the Dark

Special One: Glass, Marble, and Bronze

The train had jolted to a stop, and Hayako was the first to step off, arriving in the Kyuushuu station. She was completing her rounds again, like she did every month. A specific series of locations she traveled between in each city she found traces of before disappearing to the next. Wandering the back alleys; searching.

The Fukuoka Prefecture was most notable for being the hometown of the likely-now-Number 2 Hero Hawks, a far more kind and youthful hero when compared to the previous in Endeavor.

Hayako disappeared from the lights of the station as soon as possible, sliding through back streets and alleyways she knew like the back of her scarred hands. Looking for a flash of pulled-up auburn hair and sinister silver eyes, a lifeless light-gray-haired figure beside her with helpless, empty ultramarine eyes and covered in spreading tattoos that formed webs across her skin, worn from forced overuse.

She hurried through the route with practiced confidence, at a faster pace than usual. Gotta be quick today. On the off-chance she's here, it can wait, but I doubt it'll happen. I have somewhere to be; some less-than-reliable sources- like the neighborhood gossip of my career- leaked some info and I want to check it our for myself. Damn fools tipped me off about something that's actually worth my time, and the sad part was I don't even think they were lying.

Her black braided hair thumped against her back as she walked faster through the cover of night. (She didn't usually wear it braided, either, but she needed it out of the way to get a full view.) She made her way around the city in record time, making a full round by midnight.

Huh, guess I really do want to investigate. My inner journalist drive is getting to me again; never finished this route before one-thirty, though I'm usually late to the station. No matter; I'll retire my search for the night and investigate the rumors.

Oh how my old boss would be shaking if she saw me now. "Hayako, stop pursuing your own topics and start doing what I say" Old hag didn't realize I'm preparing to shape the future, and to do that I'm busy searching for a criminal never convicted and for those I grew up with, who will lead the next generation. Glad I finally found a group of kindred spirits; Miss Kidzuki is certainly a better person to be apprenticing for.

Hayako slowed as she followed the signs to her destination, Shimetetsudo Memorial Park, she believed it was called. The small, open forest only interrupted by grassy fields and walking paths was a welcome change to the chaotic jungle of metal and concrete.

Lanterns lit her path as she traipsed past signs and bushes, only meeting more on the way. Arches began to appear in the distance, and she finally reached it. A few benches lined the area, which was surrounded by tall trees and bushed on either side before giving way to urban buildings. There was a clearing with a railroad track cutting through it before the actual memorial section was set up, with a few chain-link fences around it.

She took a deep breath, enjoying the breath of fresh air- literally- and the gentle breeze that reached her. A few minutes to rest, she reasoned, taking a seat to enjoy the night before she'd continue. There were birds everywhere; many sleeping in their nests, while the nightfowl were out on the hunt.

Every now and then she'd hear an owl hoot, or notice a night heron hopping between branches before disappearing into the darkness again. A small fountain had been set up in the center of the slightly-raised platform, the sound of water being sprayed into the air before hitting the surface below completing the relaxation factor.

With a long sigh, the glass-bending girl heaved herself back to her feet. Now, to find what I'm looking for. She had already caught a glimpse of the memorial area ahead, walking off the platform and down the bike path through the clearing before reaching the fenced area. The center was taken up by a large, almost awkwardly-shaped building, made of a few stories of scaffolding before being filled in and dotted with empty window slots and protrusions.