FSE

Furry search engine

formerly SoFurry search engine

"Sources are unclear as to why the gas leak occurred," began the news report, "witnesses say they first saw the fire spread through the second-highest floor of the Pyongyang hospital, before the devastating explosion. Four-hundred-and-thirty-seven are confirmed dead, including seventy staff. An outpouring of grief from the community has followed at the remains of the hospital site, and an investigation has been ordered by the council. Following this, Plectrum Developments, a subsidiary of King Financial, has offered to rebuild the hospital as an act of charity, with the help of the Kankoran authorities."

Murata heard none of this, sitting in the break room with his hands behind his head as he stared at the envelope he had received. The eye was mocking him, the black triangle with two blades beneath that made him feel the tiniest of daggers stab in his heart as he took a deep breath to compose himself.

"Murata."

Sauressy stood at the door gesturing to him.

"Room's ready, she's waiting."

"Thank you."

The monster stepped to the room behind the one-way glass, to watch Gaho stare down the red-winged killer in interrogation. Her smile was toxic beneath her muzzled beak, her cuffs jangling in her wings bound as Murata presented the letter.

"What is this symbol?"

"Mmm?" Kaneyama looked over. "Kinda hard to see past the muzzle, maybe if ya took it off I could-"

"When we first brought you in, you asked to send out a letter. A letter with THIS marking on it."

"Yeah," she rolled her eyes, "because I've a club to run, what you think I got some special stamp only I'm allowed to use?"

"Jin Gerumba is missing from her home and this symbol was painted on her door. She is one of your employees, now where is she?"

"Awww, are you mad cuz someone cockbwocked you Muwata-kun?"

She made a kissy sound flicking the tongue in her beak.

"That sounds a good trade, I'm locked up here, you don't get pussy."

"ENOUGH!" his fists slammed on the table. "I'm not playing around, Kaneyama, who in your club took Gerumba?"

"You sure she didn't just take up graffiti in her past-time?" she shrugged leaning back. "If some jackoff at the club went off and did something, I'm not responsible for it, they're free thinkers not like you cops."

"Answer the question, Kaneyama, or I'll add conspiracy to kidnap on the list!"

"PAH, hahahaha, like you have any evidence that says I directly asked someone to kidnap her huh? Do ya?"

He said nothing, putting his hands together in quiet contemplation. The blood-winged kaiju smiled with her eyes, watching Murata stew in his thoughts as she crossed her legs beneath the table.

"Thought so. You got jack shit, and you're just mad cuz someone out there went off on their own, took Gerumba somewhere an' you're lashing out cuz you haven't had a good fuck in years."

"Hhhhhh...alright." Gaho looked up with frowning tusks. "Thank you for your time, you'll be escorted back to your cell."

"Pleasure doin' business...Murata-kun."

She waved goodbye through her cuffs, the turtle joining Sauressy in the side room behind the one-way mirror.

"She definitely did something," Murata snarled.

"But she's right," Reed shook his head, "you have nothing to directly tie her, it coulda been somebody else-"

"No, she HAS to have done this, she can still contact others, she knows that Gerumba is helping me-"

"But you can't prove it. So take a step back and think from another angle, what other parts of her group can we access?"

"The Eye Behold You should still be around," Murata rubbed his chin, "I'll head out on patrol, put my ear to the ground."

"Sounds good," Sauressy nodded, "I'll get to work on the warrant, let's hope they haven't covered their tracks.

They went their separate ways, Reed heading back to the Homicide office and Murata out on the streets. The first thing the turtle did was make a beeline to Zennyo Avenue, remembering the hideout Kaneyama had behind the generator. The door was still easy to open, and with flashlight in hand he headed into the depths once more beyond the abandoned maintenance rooms.

The bed and fridge were still there, untouched since their owner's capture, but he found no sign of Jin Gerumba. Not even the drawers had anything, this time they were cleaned of everything that could have given him a potential clue, as he sighed with regret and lumbered back up towards street level. He decided instead to try Showa Street, an idea cooking in his brain for one potential source he had.

Along the side of the motorway where taxis stood waiting for passengers, a sea of bicycles were parked in front of travel agencies, restaurants and chartered accountants with colourful fronts. There also lied two entrances to the subterranean mall, that ran under the length of Showa Street as Murata stepped up towards an old sushi restaurant with its sliding wooden door.

"GUH, L-LET ME GO!"

"Huh?"

He turned his head towards the subway entrance as the sounds of a scuffle came from beneath. Heading down quick he found the underground mall, a narrow strip with a clothing store, a bar and a few other shops for odds and ends. In the midst of the mall, a moth with green-and-orange wings was trying to fight off two punks wearing hoods, who tried to wrestle him to the ground.

"HEY, POLICE!"

Murata shouted showing his badge as the thugs ran off, throwing the young Leonardo Shoji down hard as he stumbled trying to run after them.

"N-NO, GIVE IT BACK, OFFICER HELP!"

"What happened?!" Gaho pulled him back.

"THEY, TH-THEY STOLE MY GIFT, MY MOM'S GIFT!"

"Alright, stay here I'm going after-"

"NO I'M COMING TOO!"

"WAIT, STOP!"

The moth charged ahead with burning eyes of jade from his white-feathered head, the officer chasing after due south as he clicked on his radio.

"Central this is one-eight-three-two, signal thirty-eight at Showa Street!"

"Ten-four, description?"

"Two suspects, black hoodies, pursuing towards Zennyo Avenue over and out!"

Pounding his shoes on the pavement, the turtle raced after the hooligans as Shoji tore off in front of him. Pedestrians dodged out of the way as the thugs strafed between bodies, grabbing bikes to throw behind themselves with the moth flapping over and Murata stopping to put the bikes back in their racks.

The two thieves ran into Zennyo Avenue, a mantis driving towards them on a scooter, balancing boxes of soba noodles in the backseat before he suddenly swerved in panic. One of the punks jumped on the scooter and climbed on the bug, who turned even harder in a donut spin with full-pelting scream.

"H-HELP, HEEEEELP!"

"SHUT UP AN' DRIVE, BUGBOY!"

The boxes flew off the back when the other thug wrenched them off, spilling soba across the pavement as they took over the vehicle and tore off heading north.

"Central!" Murata cried. "Suspects commandeered a scooter, heading to North Zennyo!"

"I'LL STOP THEM!" Shoji cried.

"KID, NO, LET ME HANDLE THIS!"

But the moth was already running, his wings out in full with shining emerald and ruby straits as he suddenly picked up speed. His body became a shining light as he ran with such incredible pace up the street, that a howling gust followed behind causing citizens to stagger, bikes to fall over and windows rattle in his wake.

Jumping high, Leo started flying low to the ground and landed on the back of the scooter, grabbing one of the thugs and wrapping himself in front before slapping both sides of the punk's body with his wings that suddenly shimmered with an eerie green light. A single jade bolt formed from his scales to launch the hooligan off.

"GA-AAAAH sh-SHIIIT!"

The punk rolled onto the tarmac with a crumpling groan, gasping as the motor kept revving off into the distance. Unmasked of his hood, the gangly-looking iguana was about to take off, before he was grabbed from behind and cuffed by Murata.

"HEY, GET OFF ME YOU BASTARD!"

"You're under arrest for theft and grand theft auto!" said the turtle. "I'll let backup handle you while I get your friend! SIR!"

He turned towards a white tiger slowing down on his bike.

"Apologies, I'm a police officer and I must commandeer your vehicle to chase a suspect!"

"U-uhh...for real?!" The feline stepped off and handed it over. "A-alright, at least you asked, not like the other asshole who just took it last month and broke the damn thing under a rickshaw-"

"Thank you, I'll return here shortly!"

Hopping onto the bike, Murata pedalled fast as he could towards Shachifuku Street, the sounds of the scooter and the harrowing screams of its driver guiding him as his feet became a blur with pumping stocky legs. His eyes bleared against the wind as he raced through the upper half of the district and round the back of the Millennium Tower, the pedalo in sight as it wildly careened back and forth with young Shoji fighting the other punk, who in turn was latching onto the driver like some demented chimera.

Heads were turning at the sight of the chase, Murata trying to pump his legs faster with gasping snarls but the motor was too fast. The moth looked back seeing the officer in pursuit, and motioned to him quickly with a U-shape, then pointed down towards Theater Square and a clashing of fists. Gaho understood, nodding back as Leonardo grabbed the handles and turned sharp towards the square, the punk and the driver shrieking at the savage squeal of tires underneath.

"H-HEY, HEY, THE FUCK YOU DOING KID?!"

"OH GODS, OH GODS I DON'T WANNA DIE, I DON'T WANNA DIE!"

With a wild tear through the Theater Square, the crowds of kaiju suddenly separated with screams of fright at the scooter burning rubber over the tiles, launching off the kerb and carving through to the other side of the Stega arcade in a long U-turn, bringing it back towards Shachifuku Street. The thug finally managed to wrest back control just in time with an elbow-slam into Shoji's face.

"SIT THE FUCK DOWN!"

"GA-AAAAGH!"

Falling off the bike, the moth flapped his wings to stop himself hitting the ground as he watched the scooter race off to the north. The punk with his hoodie off was revealed to be a russet fox, smiling with cackling whiskers back at Shoji before he heard the mantis shriek.

"The fuck's your problem nooOOOOWWWAAA-KRRRAAAAGH!"

Recoiling with fright, the driver saw Murata come sliding on the side of his bike, the turtle leaping off to grab it in his hands and lift it up high for the crushing blow. The mantis ducked as Murata slammed the wheel of the bike through the fox's skull to knock him straight off the motor, and down into the dirt.

"YOU...are under arrest, punk."

"F-fucking PRICK!"

The fox staggered on his feet with a bloodied jaw and swelling cheek, the mantis bringing his scooter to a halt so he could catch his breath, and feel his life stop flashing before his buggy eyes.

"You stole something from that moth," Gaho accused with a pointing finger, "hand it over."

"Like hell I am!" snapped the punk. "You know how pricey this shit is, why pay it myself when some other dumbass can buy it for me, shit's like a charity!"

"Then I'll donate some cuffs and a free room in the cells," Murata cracked his knuckles, "now get on the ground with your hands behind your head."

"BITE ME SHELLHEAD, THIS SHIT IS MINE!"

"THAT BELONGS TO MY MOM!"

Before the vulpine could strike him, he suddenly felt a voice and a shadow on top of him as a pair of wings landed on his back. Wrenching himself upright, he tried to punch the first thing as Shoji parried his swinging arm with a scoop of his wings, throwing the hooligan back in a stumble before the fox roared with blistering rage.

When he tried to lunge with a haymaker, Leonardo ducked with a hard backfist with two of his four arms crunching into the fox's stomach, but the thug countered with a football kick straight to the youth's fluffy white head that sent the moth flying backwards. The fox came swinging with another hard swing as the moth jumped with a flap of his wings, planting his feet on the thug's head to make a higher jump and start spinning in the air.

"ROLLIIIIING SHINE!"

Shoji's body took on the appearance of several jade rings forming around him, before he came crashing down with his knee straight to the fox's skull. With a groaning pop of his neck, the punk crumpled hitting the floor so hard that a shockwave of dirt formed round his body. The passersby gasped astounded at the scene, along with Murata who rubbed his head in disbelief.

"Woah...that was...a hell of a move."

Shoji rolled the now-barely-conscious fox over to his side in a recovery position, but not before grabbing a small box from his thieving pockets with a sigh of relief.

"Are you alright?" Gaho asked stepping forwards.

"Yeah, yeah I'm fine," the moth bowed, "thank you for helping me, officer."

"No problem...I'll just deal with this guy first."

Putting the cuffs on the fox as he called the ambulance before the police, the turtle and the bug walked over to the mantis driver who kept waiting on his pedalo.

"You okay sir?" asked Leo.

"Yeah uh...sorta," said the deliverybug rubbing his long-bladed arms, "my life got six years taken off and this is definitely coming outta my paycheck."

"I'll explain to your employer what happened," said Murata, "I'll make sure that you're reimbursed."

"Ohhh thank you, it's hard enough doing this job without having to worry about being highjacked."

The mantis handed him a card from his pocket.

"Here's my company's number," the mantis handed him a card, "my name's Kirishima, if you need it."

"Noted," Gaho bowed, "thank you sir, you were very brave."

"Sorry about the trouble!" Shoji bowed in turn.

The driver waved and headed off, the ambulance soon arriving to take the fox away with Murata getting a radio call that the other thug had been apprehended. He turned towards Shoji with a smirk disapproving.

"You know it's not your job to chase down criminals."

"I know," the moth rubbed his antenna, "but I couldn't let them get away, it's my mom's birthday in a couple of months and I found the perfect thing!"

"What is it exactly?"

"THIS!" he brought out a make-up kit. "A Kamen Spider Shining Maker Box! My mom's a big fan, actually both of us are, and one time they made a limited edition series of these with some really cool options!"

"Hah...that's very cute," Murata nodded, "when's her birthday?"

"December 14th!" Shoji put the box away. "I uh...hope I didn't do anything wrong chasing after that thief."

"Well, considering you were attacked first, and he did kidnap a driver, I think we can jot this down to a citizen's arrest."

The moth drooped his antennae with a sheepish grin.

"I do have to ask," Gaho added, "what was that move you did at the end, the downward kick?"

"OH, that's from Kamen Spider!" Leonardo rocked his heels. "I always liked doing those hi-yah high-combo kick moves, they're real fun."

"You're quite the martial artist for your age."

"Heheh yeah, my mom says I get it from my dad, he always loved high places she said, always flying around the city."

"Well, I won't keep you, I might need your statement later on so where can I reach you?"

"Uhhh, the Kaijuro Waste Management," Shoji pointed up the street, "my boss is cool with taking messages, you remember we talked about fluoride?"

"Ohhh yeah," the tortoise smiled reminiscing, "alright, if I need you I'll ask for you there, good luck and wish your mother a happy birthday from me."

"Thank you sir!" the moth saluted. "I will!"

Heading south through the square, the sergeant detective put his hands on his waist with a small grin through his tusks.

"Well, glad at least one good thing happened today...that was a hell of a move though, I wonder if I could do something like that."

Taking the bicycle that was thankfully undamaged, Murata returned back to Zennyo Avenue and handed it back to the tiger still waiting. With a grateful bow he went back on his route as Gaho headed off to his original destination. the Sushi Gin restaurant on Showa Street.

Inside, the yellow cat at the register bowed to him and showed him to his seat, but instead he offered his ID and asked for the head chef, the clerk pointing him out the back door. At the rear of the restaurant was an old service alley, a tiny passage between buildings where the rumbling of ventilators echoed above his head.

"Durond-san."

"...ugh, merde."

The chef snorted towards the turtle, the tall thin-headed shark smoking a cigarette down to the last nub as he leaned against the wall. His chef's hat rose two feet above his eyes, which sat either side of his head with one staring at Murata.

"Would you rather I bother you when working?" Gaho asked.

"I rather you not bother me at all," Durond snorted, "I heard you captured Kaneyama, congratulations."

"That's what I wanted to talk to you about."

Murata leaned against the opposite wall. The sound of police sirens drifting faintly from beyond was a gentle lullaby to him, amongst the gaggling mutter of pedestrians passing the end of the alley.

"One of her associates has kidnapped someone," said the cop, "you know how she operates best, I need to know if there's any places she likes to hold creatures hostage."

"Mmmm...quelle surprise," the shark puffed his smoke, "never did kidnapping before, she is learning new tricks, yes?"

"This is serious, someone's life is in danger!"

"Everyone's life is in danger." Guy Durond smiled cruelly. "So many things in this world can end our lives in but a minute, did you hear about the hospital in Kankoran?"

"Yes," Murata sighed rubbing his tusk, "but what does that have to do with-"

"They said the gas leak happened in the maternity ward. Gives me le cafard, thinking that even if the fire had not happened...all of those infants had suffocated already, beyond hope. C'est tragique."

An odd laugh emanated from Durond's throat. It was not sincere, but nor was it wicked as he tightened his eyes, as if trying to hold back his tears.

"The only blessing was that they went peacefully, as little angels should-HRRKH!"

The turtle grabbed the chef with both hands and shoved him against the wall with fingers round his throat.

"I do not have time to deal with your creepy SHIT, Durond! Either you know something that helps me, or you tell me to get lost, but someone is about to die and if YOU want to make amends for your sins, then you'll help me!"

"Oh?" the shark raised his brow. "You are a priest now?"

"Just, TELL ME what you know!"

"Hmmph. Eh bien." He put up his hands. "I know something."

Murata stepped back as Durond pulled up his hat, showing the long cruel shape of his bladed forehead when he scritched its side.

"There is an old office on the rooftops near Pink Alley, used to belong to a...to a, uhhh, comment appelles-tu ceci, they draw ink on your flesh?"

"Draw ink on your-OH," Gaho nodded, "a tattoo artist."

"Oui, a tattoo artist, he died some years ago. Kaneyama took his office for a small storage, to move drugs and such under your beak."

"Why didn't you tell me this before?!"

"It is not a good place to live," Durond shook his head, "not since the fire, you remember? That is where you caught us."

"Ahhh...you're right," Murata rubbed his chin, "it was pretty frantic that night, you gouged the wall pretty deep in the alley when you tried to fight me."

"Eheheh, I think the scar is still there. It shall guide you, n'est-ce pas?"

"Alright, I'll look there," the turtle stepped out from the alley, "thank you again, Durond-san, have a good day."

"Bonne chance!"

The shark went back to smoking his nub, taking time to breathe in and close his eyes whilst staring at the sky in a long heated breath of nuclear smoke.

Heading towards Pink Alley, one street over from Zennyo Avenue, Murata checked along the cramped insufferably-tight passage to where he remembered first facing Guy Durond in his younger days. Sure enough, the scar in the alley wall was still there, a vile cut that went 6 inches deep into stone as Murata traced his finger inside. There he found the old door to the tattoo parlour, which he noticed had no dust upon its handle.

His eyes cast upwards to the twisting labyrinth of girders and beams that crossed over the city streets, as he slipped down Showa Street to head up over to Nagamichi Alley, where a set of stairs took him to the rooftops. For the most part only the winged kaiju lived up here, the sky their domain as they perched upon buildings sharing drinks and smoking after a hard day's work.

Murata headed east to where Pink Street's alley was located, taking an old tarp and covering himself as he slinked between rooftop exits and small office properties before finding the old building of the tattoo parlour. The scars of fire had torn across its top, leaving it black and charred in various places to look practically condemned.

Amongst the humming generators and ventilating fans that dotted the urban hills, Gaho saw a familiar-looking goblin shark, with sharp silver snout and grey-flippered hands wrapped in a barker's suit of striking green.

"You think they'll raid us tonight?" he asked talking into his phone. "They said he was very angry at her......no, I don't think he would come here."

The shark turned to Murata's direction as the turtle hid in a pile of trash.

"I don't know how he found Kaneyama's bed," continued the barker, "but you're right, I wouldn't put it past him to come here if he somehow remembered this place......she's fine, Gerumba is sitting tight, my friends will move her when Kaneyama says. Do you want me at the club to deal with them, Vaichi?"

Gaho wrote down the name and took a picture of the shark with his own phone.

"Alright, that's more sensible," the barker nodded, "the club's not important, long as we get both madams back to Lady Iris. I'll see you soon, brother."

Finishing the call he went inside the rooftop entrance of their hideout, the door screaming with old hinges as it closed behind the shark, whilst Murata slinked back the way he came.

Once he was back on street level, Gaho spent the rest of his day patrolling on the beat checking for hooligans to disperse. With the rain now gone, the streets felt lighter, despite the leftover damp of the pavements giving a dull sheen in the faint light of the afternoon, as the turtle wandered around the Millennium Tower.

Autumn was now in full swing, the shop windows shedding their vibrant yellow signs to fill the streets with brown and orange motifs and spicy pumpkin flavours springing up here and there. Murata however was distracted by someone sitting under the Tower, a familiar-looking hairy mole with a beetle's face in a blue jumpsuit.

"Zura-san?"

"Mmm?" the mechanic looked up from the bench. "Oh...Murata-san."

"Didn't expect to see you out here, slow day at the garage?"

"Ehhh, yeah, kinda, sorry just on a break."

"No worries, I'm just doing my route."

Zura straightened his back as Murata noticed he was hiding his hand.

"I was actually about to go on break myself," said the turtle, "you wanna join me?"

"What?" the beetle squinted. "Like, fer lunch?"

"Yeah why not, you can tell me about what new cars you got fixing."

"Uh...alrigh', sure."

With no means to argue, the long-haired mole straightened himself with a crick in his back and followed Gaho towards the Kaijuro Mall just west of the Tower. Inside the ground floor was a cosmopolitan cafe, with an open veranda where wooden tables stared out towards Shachifuku Street. Murata paid for both their meals, himself having pancakes and Blue Mountain coffee, whilst Zura took some scones and a blended brew.

"You didn't have to pay," the mole-beetle grinned.

"Just making sure my ping-pong pal's alright," Murata nodded, "so what new vehicles you got?"

"Well, there's this Monsterati, that's already the worst thing I have to deal with."

"Which model?"

"The uh, 2011, damn thing hydrolocks all the time, there's some kinda leak where water keeps getting in the combustion."

"Was the RPM high?" Gaho smeared syrup on his pancake.

"No, thank fuck," Zura shook his head, "the pistons're all fine, it's just findin' the leak or else the piston can't retract as good."

"And that makes the fuel less flammable, right?"

"Hah, right, you remember!"

"Of course, I like your gearhead talks," Murata scarfed down his food, "mmmhh, the syrup here's incredible, you ever had this?"

"Nope."

Gaho offered his pancake as Zura wolfed it down much quicker than either had expected, syrup dribbling down his hairs that he wiped off fast.

"MMMHH, wow that's good shit!"

"Heheh, yeah," Murata smiled, "I try not to come here too often for my sweet tusk."

"I don't blame ya, these uh," the beetle held up a baked treat, "the hell you call these?"

"Scones, they're Scottish I think."

"Well these skoans are damn nice, I'm a real fan o' oatmeal."

"That so?" the turtle drank his coffee. "Were you that sort of kid who actually liked oatmeal for breakfast?"

"Haha, yeaaah," Zura rubbed his neck, "my parents always said I was weird, least dad liked the fact I got into cars, I dunno, I always just liked gettin' gritty, whether it's the stuff I eat or what's on my...hands."

There came a brief silence as he looked down at his fingers. Zura had tried to hide his bandaged hand, but it was too late in his gesturing and Murata sighed.

"What did the doctor say?" he asked first.

"It's...it's nothin'," Zura pulled back.

"You got blown back pretty hard in the tournament, but I've noticed you've been having problems for a while."

"It was just a bad shot, i-it'll be fine-"

"I saw you coming out of the clinic." Murata's eyes softened as he reached forward. "Is it serious?"

"N-nah it...just," the mole-beetle rubbed his hand, "it's somethin' personal."

"Do you want me to tell Majuma-san you might drop out?"

"N-no, no I still wanna come...ping-pong helps me."

"What's wrong Zura-san? Is this a medical issue?"

"Murata come on," the mechanic groaned cupping his face, "I wanted to take my mind off all this-"

"But you can't, can you?" The detective clasped his hands. "You can tell me. You have my word I won't repeat what you say to anyone."

"Hah, what, do cops have client confidentiality now?"

"I'm not here as an officer." Murata pulled off his police jacket and slipped it back on the chair. "I'm here as your friend. I'm worried about you, I want to help."

The mole-beetle felt his tears start to come as he wiped his eyes quickly. Taking a few moments to collect himself, he shifted in his seat and ate another scone to mentally brace his fortitude, before washing it down with coffee.

"A few years back...I went under an operation."

"For what?" the turtle asked. "Something serious?"

"It wasn't like that, it was uh...it, it was a hysterectomy."

"Wait, a hysterect-...oh!"

Murata carefully controlled his surprise and nodded firmly.

"You were transitioning?"

"Yeah," Zura sighed slumping forth, "sorry I didn't bring it up earlier-"

"Hey, don't apologise, it's not my business to know your life Zura-san. So what's the problem?"

"Well...I got some complications from the hysterectomy. I didn't wanna worry about that shit cuz that's not...me, you know?"

"Right, so what complications exactly?"

"I uh...well," Zura grabbed his neck with a clench, "you know what...menopause is, right?"

"I'm aware of it," Murata nodded.

"So when they took out all the...stuff," the mole gestured vague, "that stopped all the oestrogen in my body. Problem is, if your menopause comes in too early, that puts up a higher risk of osteh...ostero-porous, some kinda Latin shit-"

"Osteoporosis?" Gaho squinted.

"Yeah, that. The doc just confirmed that I'm getting it. I dunno how to tell anyone, my work it...it relies on me having steady hands, being a mechanic, you know what this means Murata?"

"Ohhh." Murata rubbed his head. "Oh...gods, Zura-san I'm so sorry."

"Then there's the damn ping-pong," Zura clenched his fists, "how the shit'm I gonna compete if my wrists are made of glass?!"

The beetle clutched his head in his hands. A soft sniffling came as his body shook with a shivering gasp as Murata reached over to pat his back.

"I'm sorry Zura-san. Is there anything they can do?"

"I-i don't know," he muttered, "they said that, they could put me on some oestrogen boosters cuz that apparently helps, but, what's the fucking point then?!"

He shot up with tears down his cheeks.

"I just w-wanted to have a body that fits me, you know? N-now they tell me my bones are gonna crack to fuckin' dust if they don't put back in the damn shit that they took outta me in the first place!"

"I'm sure it's not as simple as that-"

"WELL THAT'S WHAT I'M HEARIN'! S'like I'm gettin' fucking punished fer transitioning in the first place, I just wanted to be normal, I wanted to NOT feel like my body was some foreign object I'm dangling around with my hands, I just wanted to feel like ME! And now I...I-i..."

Zura broke down, partly thankful that they had picked a table in the corner of the veranda as he pressed his face against the table and wept even harder. Gaho offered a handkerchief from his pocket, the mole-beetle daubing his beady eyes with a shivering snort as the turtle tried to piece his words carefully.

"Are you going to take the treatment?"

"I-i have to," Zura blubbered, "if I don't, my hands're fucked an' I got nothin', but what the shit does that make me?!"

"It makes you Zura-san." Murata nodded. "You were Zura-san when you were a kid, and you're Zura-san now right?"

"Y-yeah, I mean, it's my family name course I was."

"You know what I mean. You've always been Hanemichi Zura to me, this body you have is not going to change back completely just because of a little oestrogen, not after all the years of work you put into it."

"I-i know that, I just...I got scared." Zura kept rubbing his eyes with his claws, "when the doctor started talkin' about it I just couldn't stop thinkin' the fact that my hands're gettin' fucked up because I dared to change myself."

"Surely that doesn't happen to every trans creature," Murata shook his head, "otherwise that would be common knowledge."

"Well, the doc said it was a rarity-"

"Then it's fine. You don't have to give anything up, not your hands, not your body, you just have to take longer to find the perfect balance for what makes you, Zura-san."

"...I just don't want to lose this." The mole wrapped his claws round his body. "I've worked so hard to get this far, an' things were lookin' up, my work at the garage is in full swing, the ping-pong helps me destress an' now we're in the damn semi-finals!"

"I never did ask," Gaho grinned tapping his tusk, "how did you get into ping-pong?"

"I uh, used to do it at school, had a lotta fun but none of the other kids wanted to go against me because of my power drive."

"Ahhh so you're a veteran!"

"Pretty much!" Zura nodded drinking the last of his coffee. "Then I stopped once I left high school, and didn't get back into it 'til I met Majuma-san an' she brought me in."

"Makes sense," the turtle chuckled, "that's how she brought me in, we met at the station while she was fixing the vending machines."

"Mmmm...she's a li'l high-strung but she really helped me get my head back in the game...but-"

"I won't tell anyone what we talked about," Murata shook his head, "I gave you my word."

"Thanks," the beetle sighed, "and uh, thanks for the free lunch too, these scones are damn tasty."

"No problem, you can always find me for some more guy-talk."

"Hahah, right...I appreciate it, Murata-san."

"Lemme know how that Monsterati goes next time we meet."

"If the damn thing doesn't shit itself," Zura cackled getting up, "see you around."

The mechanic gave his farewell, looking brighter with a gentle smile between his mandibles as Gaho finished his beat and want back to the station. Heading up the pale halls between other officers that stomped, slithered and waved to him in passing, the turtle found his partner still sitting at his desk working through reports in Homicide.

"Any luck with a warrant?" asked Murata.

"Just finishing now," said Sauressy tapping on his PC, "we should get one the next couple days, what time's good for it you think?"

"That's what I've come to talk about," the turtle showed his phone, "I saw one of the barkers from the Eye Behold You, on a rooftop talking about moving Gerumba."

"Shit," the sea serpent rubbed his head, "so they really do have her?"

"According to him, he mentioned his brother Vaichi who works at the club, but Gerumba is being held at an old office in Pink Alley, where the tattoo parlour was."

"So if we go to the club, they'll get a heads up?"

"Sort of, they said Kaneyama would tell them when they should leave, which I assume is when she sends them a letter."

"Sauressy, Murata."

The voice of Baruti Gondo came from behind as the chief lumbered through the office with his long nasal horn.

"Heard on the wire you boys are seeking a warrant for a club."

"We found where Gerumba is," said Gaho turning to him, "she's holed up on Pink Alley, I got a lead and one of the barkers from Eye Behold You was there."

"Wh-WHAT?!"

The chief looked startled when Murata showed him the picture of the shark.

"He said they'll move her when Kaneyama says," added Reed, "so the next time she sends out a letter, we gotta move in and surprise them."

"That...hmm, that makes sense," Baruti gritted his teeth, "so what's your plan?"

"Does anyone own the old tattoo parlour on Pink Alley?"

"Not that I know."

"So we wouldn't need a warrant for that, technically," Murata tapped his beak, "I'm thinking one of us leads a group into the Eye Behold You, whilst the other goes undercover to their alley spot and grab Gerumba."

"So a bait-and-switch on their bait-and-switch?" The chief rubbed his horn. "Alright, who's going where?"

"I'll do the club," Gaho nodded, "they're expecting me there, need to make them think I took the bait."

"I'll take the old parlour," Sauressy patted him, "don't worry, I'll get Gerumba-san out and safe."

"I know you will, partner."

They bumped fists as the chief nodded.

"I'll let you know next time Kaneyama sends off a letter, set up a warrant to arrive in the hour to catch them."

"You think we can get Kaneyama on kidnapping charges?" Reed asked.

"Depends on the letter, if we find it at the place it can be used for evidence, but we'll see."

"What's important is getting Gerumba back," said Murata tapping his knee, "whatever happens next is secondary, but a creature's life is in danger, first and foremost."

"Agreed."

They went back to their work, the chief returning to his office pulling out his old phone as Reed gave a look to him curious. Gaho compiled his report and made sure to square everything away before their big plan would commence. Two days would pass as they arranged the warrant and waited for Kaneyama to send another letter.

On the same afternoon that letter was sent out, Gaho Murata waltzed up to the Eye Behold You with a few officers for backup. At the front of the door was the daytime barker, a tall-headed squid in black suit with silver skin and a sharp beak, showing his head separated into three fronds.

"Good afternoon sirs," he bowed smugly, "party of four today?"

"Sgt. Detective Murata," the turtle showed his badge, "we have a warrant to search your premises."

"On what grounds my good sir?"

"We believe someone on your premises is involved in a kidnapping."

Murata brought forth his paper verifying such as the squid took it and nodded.

"Well, that is most unfortunate my good sir, I hope in earnest you are wrong so please, come this way."

He stepped aside with a sweep of his hand as Murata entered, the three officers behind him composed of two kappas and a thin pale dog who started sniffing the place out. Down into the depths of the club, the smell of cleaning fluid struggled to hide the musk of those who passed through the brothel, a flowery artificial scent coagulating in the air.

In the underground parlour, was a few straight halls and one larger reception front that was oddly vacant of customers which emphasised their prep well ahead of time. They checked through seedy rooms where crimson lamps hung over plump luscious sheets. Some of the rooms were more elaborate, with chains on the walls and ceiling but they found no trace of Gerumba, other than her being registered on the employee list.

"May I ask," the barker stepped beside, "what exactly are you looking for?"

"Evidence of kidnapping, if any has occurred," the officer brought out his notebook, "may I have your name?"

"Yes, Vaichi Rasuda."

"Do you own this establishment?"

"No, that would be my brother, Zhinga, but he is currently away on business."

"Have you had any unusual activities the past month?" Murata scribbled.

"Not especially," Vaichi shook his floppy head.

"Have you, or anyone else, ever been associated with the Daiei Alliance?"

"Yes, we are managed by the Daiei Alliance."

"So you admit, you're being run by a criminal organisation?"

"I...fail to see the problem sir." The silver squid brushed his suit. "It is well-attested many properties in Kaijurocho belong to the Toho, another a criminal organisation."

"And if any of them had allegations of kidnapping I would investigate their businesses."

The turtle tapped his pencil against his notebook, watching his officers check through rooms and turn over beds for any signs of suspicion. They were laborious and slow under Murata's orders, a fine-toothed precision that made Vaichi suspicious as he squinted at their dragging feet.

"When was the last time you saw Jin Gerumba?" asked Murata scribbling his notes.

"Two nights ago," the squid closed his eyes, "is she involved in this kidnapping?"

"I cannot confirm at this time, was she popular?"

"Oh yes, she's one of our best girls, she can be either sweet or spicy...I would not kinkshame but, there are quite a few clients who found themselves aroused by the sight of her nasal horns."

"Did anyone ever target her? Any stalkers, if that happens?"

"Certainly not," the cephalopod crossed his four tentacled arms, "my brother and myself personally ensure that any disreputable types who do not respect our staff, are dealt with and ousted from the premises."

A shrill beep came from Murata's pocket, his cell phone ringing as he quickly answered seeing Sauressy's name lit up.

"What is it?"

"MURATA, GET HERE NOW!"

"What?!"

"SHE'S HERE, GERUMBA, THEY'RE LOADING HER IN A VAN!"

The tortoise looked towards Vaichi Rasuda who suddenly smiled from his small beak. One of his hands had a small gas mask he planted on his face, the other hand carrying a remote. Before Murata could stop him, there was a soft click, and a deafening explosion filled the halls that blasted smoke through their eyes from every single part of the brothel.

Murata and his officers staggered from the blast, the vents in all the rooms bursting open with black smog that suffocated them with heaving cries of burning mist, that stung their eyes and clogged their throats. The turtle stumbled his way to the exit first, grabbing one of his fellow officers as they dragged themselves into the street, with no sign of Vaichi.

"ARE YOU ALRIGHT?!" Murata cried.

"HHHHRKH! A-AAARGH, sh-shit!" the kappa choked.

"SUSPECT'S ESCAPED!" the dog shouted. "Where is he?!"

"I know where he went," Gaho said taking off, "I'll call for backup, you all wait here!"

Despite his stunning headache, the sergeant detective was less affected by the gas being the first to escape the brothel, tearing off towards Zennyo Avenue.

"Central, this is one-eight-three-two, signal...haaah, twenty-five R, on Pink Street, request medical assistance over!"

"Ten-four, sending assistance, danger of spreadng?"

"No, controlled, on pursuit of suspect, heading to Zennyo Avenue, over and out!"

"Ten-four, sending backup."

Charging down the lane he headed east soon as he could into Pink Alley, the claustrophobic passage now filled with the sounds of fighting as he heard Sauressy on the roof. Amongst the savage blows raining down back and forth, there was the sound of a motor being started up on Zennyo Avenue as Gaho rushed out onto the larger street.

A van came tearing towards him, heading north to East Taihei with peeling white coat and shrieking tires that burned with hot rubber as Murata pulled out his gun and badge.

"STOP! I ORDER YOU TO STOP!"

The van refused to comply, gaining faster as he clenched his arm and bared his tusks to steady his aim and fire at the seat next to the driver. He shot twice, hoping the glass fracturing in icy webs would frighten the motorist, but they refused to slow down as Murata was forced to dodge back into the alley, the van tearing past him in a flash.

Turning sharp, the vehicle almost collided against the old Shangri-La building in order to face east towards the boulevard's end. When Murata stepped out to try and shoot the wheels, he was violently assaulted by a piercing shriek focused into a single gold beam. He stumbled against the wall, blinded with a head ringing of sonic force that scrambled his senses. But he knew exactly whose scream that was.

"What...no...it can't be."

"YOOHOOOO, TURTLE BOOOOY!"

The driver was Kaneyama, waving smugly from the van along with another hand of bronze scales pushing through the rear slat.

"MURATA, MURATAAAA!"

"NO, GERUMBA! NOOOOO!"

"TOO SLOW MOTHERFUCKERRRR!" Gyao Shin gave him the finger and pumped the pedal. "THANKS FOR THE GIFT, KHAHAHAHAHAAAAAAA!"

With a screeching cloud of dust behind her, the killer tore off east heading out of Kaijurocho. Murata grabbed his radio and hurriedly memorised the licence plate.

"CENTRAL, THIS IS ONE-EIGHT-THREE-TWO, SIGNAL SIX COMMITTING SIGNAL THIRTY-TWO!"

"Ten-four! Description?!"

"GYAO SHIN KANEYAMA, WHITE VAN, WHISKEY-EIGHT-NINE, INDIA-GOLF-FOUR, OVER AND OUT!"

With shock and frenzy burning up inside, Murata's hands trembled with a growing fury as he raced back to the alley. Kicking the door of the tattoo parlour off its hinges, he raced up the flight of stairs to the sound of his partner's voice, but in his path was a one-horned bull and a scar-headed crab that tried to shove him back.

"YER LATE TO THE PARTY, COP!"

"DON'T WORRY, WE SAVED YOU A SEAT!"

Grabbing a plastic folded chair, the ox swung down on Murata's head as he blocked with both arms and threw his entire weight forth to crush the thug against the wall. Driving his knee into the bull's crotch, the cop grabbed the chair and whacked the crab beside him hard enough to send him crumpling down the stairs. The bull managed to throw him back, as from a higher flight came a badger who made the daring choice to jump down the stairs with his fist out flying.

Murata suddenly recalled a move thinking of another mammal who flew through the air, as he backfipped againt the wall to put himself in a handstand. The badger found himself suddenly bouncing on top of Gaho's shoes when both thumped into his stomach, vaulted him up to the ceiling and in a panic he tried to grab Murata's legs, which was the worst thing he could have done.

For a second he handstood upon the cop, who swung his body hard using the punk's momentum to flip himself upright in a scooping motion of his shell, and kick the badger hard across the chest to send him flying straight into the bull. Both went tumbling down the stairs before Murata landed back on his own feet, the world becoming dizzy briefly from the effects of Kaneyama's sonic shriek.

On the roofs of the alley, Sauressy was fighting a small gang of thugs who had him surrounded. Two crows, a ram, and both Rasudas were bashing his face and stomach, while a wolf grabbed Reed from behind to hold him still for further beating. The serpent slammed his elbow in the canine's face to stun him, grabbed one of the arms restraining him, and threw him over his shoulder in a hard crunch to the asphalt.

The ram charged with his horns as the monster dodged to one side and drove his fist into the sheep's stomach, the woolly thug dry-heaving from the pain before Sauressy grabbed his face and slammed him to the dirt. The crows swooped up above to start divebombing with brutal kicks that crushed Reed's head, battering his jaw in aerial strikes as he fell to the ground.

"Thought you were clever, didn't you?"

The shark Zhinga Rasuda smiled, straightening his flashy suit.

"You've lost the girl, now you'll lose your job when I dump you in the sewer."

"So you're adding...murder, huh?" Sauressy gasped pushing himself up.

"We're already at the precipice," said Vaichi the squid adjusting all four of his cuffs, "might as well tie up loose ends whilst you're here."

"Bite me you fucking asswipes."

Snorting blood from his green snout, the monster put up his fists and waited for the crows circling above him. When one tried to swoop down again to strike his head from behind, a steel pipe was hurled like a javelin straight into their chest, knocking them out the sky in a clean hit as the other tried to dive in a panic.

"SAURESSY!"

Murata rushed onto the scene to deal with the downed rook, whilst Sauressy faced the other crow and dodged her diving kick before battering the bird's body with a savage combo of fists, five furious hits that ended with a solid left hook into her beak and knocking her out.

"Alright...now you," he turned towards the Rasuda brothers, "let's make this fair eh? Two on two."

"Sounds reasonable," said Vaichi grinning, "what say you, brother?"

"That's fine by me," said Zhinga cricking his neck, "one dead cop each, it's like Christmas come early."

"You're all under arrest," Murata stepped up with his partner, "for the kidnapping of Jin Gerumba, aiding a prisoner's escape, arson, and assault for-"

"Shut the FUCK UP you insufferable prick!"

Zhinga shot a beam just beneath his long piercing snout, a sharp orange tint striking the air as Murata dodged swiftly out its path.

"I'll deal with you first," the shark gritted his teeth, "Kaneyama said you were a real brown-beak but fuck did she undersell how much of a shit-eating bitch to the system you were."

"If I'm a servant," said the turtle, "that makes you the dirt on my shoes."

The barker in green came out swinging with a hard kick to come in close, karate chopping with his webbed hands that almost resembled bladed fins that came for Murata's throat. The turtle swerved to punch in low, stunning the thug briefly who countered with a hard kneestrike to the sergeant's softer belly. Murata stopped himself from reeling back, grabbing Zhinga's arm before the shark slammed his other fist twice into Gaho's beak, the cop sweeping the barker's legs to elbow-slam the back of his head.

Rasuda rolled up fast and lunged with a daring headbutt to frighten Murata with his sharp-bladed skull, the officer dodging too late as the piercing snout scraped his shoulder and peeled off his scales with a fresh cut of blood down his arm. Grabbing the shark's throat, Murata lifted the head back to keep it away before pounding Zhinga's stomach thrice to try and weaken him.

But the thug started shimmering a dark red heat from what Gaho saw was a small jewel-shaped protrusion between his snout and his jaws. Then it gleamed with a burning crimson that shot past the sergeant's head and buried into the ground, where it suddenly caused a part of the roof to crack in a tiny spurt, like someone punching through paper.

The shock of the small explosion caused Gaho to fall, a seismic blast that threw him off-balance and forced him to release Rasuda. Trying to regain his stance, Murata watched the shark come dodging close with a knifehand strike that he ducked, taking a second punch to the face before another karate chop that he deflected with his elbow, driving into the side of Zhinga's jaw to push him back.

"NNNGH!" the barker rubbed his chin forcing a smile. "Were you not satisfied with our Gerumba-san?"

"WHERE IS SHE?!" Gaho barked. "Tell me where you've taken her!"

"I'll tell you...IF you survive."

The shark glimmered with his gem sparkling a vicious amber sheen.

During this, Sauressy took on Vaichi who had the advantage of twice the arms and twice the punches. Trying to block the first two, Reed managed to take four more hits when the barker in the black suit hammered across his face left and right two times each to try and break through his guard.

The serpent staggered letting the punches throw him off so he had more reach for a violent swing, crushing hard into Vaichi's side with a monstrous uppercut that made the cephalopod shriek with a coughing spurt. Rasuda turned with a hammerfist from above as Sauressy dodged back, ducking the next two punches like a boxer when he found an opening between the third and fourth, and bopped Vaichi in his beak.

Startling the squid, the monster rushed in with a vicious six-hit combo, four blurring punches across the face followed by two kicks to the stomach that pelted Rasuda hard enough to stumble back. Waiting for Sauressy to come in close, Vaichi grabbed his arms with two of his hands before crunching the other two into Reed's stomach, double-fisting hard enough to make him heave.

"If you are dissatisfied with our SERVICE!"

He wrapped two hands round Sauressy's throat.

"You are welcome to leave a COMPLAINT, when you are DEAD!"

Driving his knee into the monster's crotch, Rasuda sent him flying back before the squid took a deep breath and clenched the muscles in his head, tightening the floppy trifecta of tentacles that formed his cranium as they stiffened together to form one single point as sharp as a spear.

Lowering his head, he charged with a piercing thrust that Sauressy dodged before Vaichi swung his head towards him, clipping the monster's face with a scarring glance across his cheek as blood dripped down Vaichi's head. Lunging with two fists striking left, he bashed into Sauressy's wounded cheek, following with two more punches to the right and three fists coming underneath in a triple-uppercut that pummelled Sauressy's belly.

The dark-suited squid swung out a hard turning kick to crack into Reed's skull and send him staggering. But in his hazy mind of pain, he saw Murata get shot by an orange beam from the goblin shark that suddenly paralysed the turtle, the sharp amber glow wrapping round his throat as Gaho started to make choking sounds.

His eyes tightened and his body became stiff as a nail, his beak sputtering with a gasping scream as his neck muscles shut down, and his windpipe was frozen with his tongue starting to thicken. The monster barged past the squid and with all his might gave a flying fist straight into Zhinga's jaw that crunched him so far back, he almost fell off the roof with a roar of fright.

"MURATA!"

Sauressy ran over to the kaiju, sputtering coughs almost retching as he felt his lungs restart with a hard breathing that hurt his chest. Clutching his partner, Murata pulled himself up with a groan as Vaichi had grabbed his brother to pull him back from the edge, the two turning towards the officers.

"You alright?!" Reed asked.

"Y-yeah," Murata groaned, "just...don't let his beam hit you."

"Great, glad to hear that from the guy who's faster than me and got hit-SHIT!"

He dodged swerving his neck when a scarlet beam whipped past his head.

"One of us, is dying on this roof," snarled Zhinga showing his teeth, "and it's NOT going to be ME!"

Blasting another beam towards their feet, he tore the ground apart with a sudden explosive quake that ripped a 7-foot gash throwing both detectives back, rolling onto the ground to dodge another burning magna-beam. Zhinga Rasuda marched towards them with a foul rage, blasting across the roof with shattering holes that exploded like mines in a field as Sauressy and Murata ran opposite of each other.

The monster tackled Zhinga from the side when the shark tried to shoot the turtle, thrown to the ground and savagely beaten to a pulp until his long silver snout turned dark with bruises. Vaichi tried to grab Sauressy to throw him off, but the reptile slammed his elbow back just before Gaho tackled the squid and came hammering down with his own raining blows.

Vaichi grabbed Murata's fists with two of his own and punched him off with his other two arms, throwing the tortoise back against the wall of the rooftop door before he charged with his spearheaded skull to try and stab the officer deep. Murata dodged as Rasuda punched a hole through the wall, hammering the back of the squid's head with his fists before he pulled out two pairs of cuffs.

"You have the right...to remain silent," he breathed hard clamping them on. "Anything you say...can be used against you in court, you have the right to...appoint, guh, a defence...counsel."

"I know my rights," the squid muttered beneath, "but your right to live has been revoked, Murata."

"Huh...that's a new one." He pulled Rasuda onto his feet. "Not the first yakuza to give me a death threat but, that phrasing's new, good job."

Murata turned his head towards his partner, the now-concussed Zhinga Rasuda being pulled up in his own pair of cuffs as the rest of the thugs tried to stagger in escape. Both detectives pulled out their guns and made them put up their hands and wings to stop them in their tracks, until backup arrived with a few squad cars to take them all down to the station.

Driving back to the precinct, Murata and Sauressy had their wounds patched up and met with the chief in the head office. Gondo spread his hands wide, astonished at the report they gave him, their arms and shoulders bandaged with red spots peeking through.

"I can't believe they planned this," Baruti shook his head, "I'm glad you two are alright but things could've gone really bad."

"How did Kaneyama escape?" Gaho asked.

"We're still looking into it, I wish I had more answers right now."

"She almost ran over Murata!" Sauressy slammed the desk. "How the shit she even get out the station without being noticed, what she sneak out of a laundry chute?!"

"Don't take that tone with me," Gondo pointed with a threatening finger, "a lot is happening with this case, we have a serial killer out on the loose, an informant kidnapped and a brothel pumping smoke out on the street."

"I know where Kaneyama went," Murata clenched his fist, "with your permission, chief, I want to follow her out of the city and bring Gerumba back."

"Really?" The chief pulled back in his seat. "Where is she then?"

"Osaka. The Daiei Alliance operate out there, Gerumba-san told me about it in our talks, a district called Shutenbori."

"Damn...Osaka?" Reed rubbed his neck. "I've never been, is it any different?"

"They have their own ways," said Baruti twiddling his thumbs, "unfortunately we're overworked and we need all the hands we have, so I can't send many officers down south-"

"Sir. Gondo-san."

Murata stood up and bowed deep to his superior.

"I need to stop them. Something is wrong, they put too much effort into this, and now Gerumba's been kidnapped, they could have just killed her, but they didn't, and I need to know why-"

"That's not your call to make-"

"SIR, please!" Gaho put his hands on the desk. "We can't let this case disappear, a mother and her child are in danger, our job is to protect the weak and vulnerable!"

"And what if I say no?" Baruti raised his brow. "Would you go off on your own and disobey me?"

"...if I have to."

Reed gasped beside him, his jaw dropping with a soft blink as the turtle crossed his arms staring down his chief with the coldest stare.

"A family is in danger, a child especially. I can't ignore this, no matter what you say."

"You know...I've always liked you Murata." The chief smirked with a curious glint. "You've always been the true model of a police officer, doing even the gruntiest of work if it meant protecting the community."

"I took an oath to protect and serve the public," said Gaho nodding, "whether they have no job, no name or even a house to live, they are the public and I am here to protect them."

"I understand." Baruti stood up from his chair and patted Murata's shoulder. "This is the first time I've seen you so determined...more than usual, which is why I'm sending you to Osaka, alone."

"Wait, what?!" Sauressy stood up. "Sir, is that safe to send out just one officer?!"

"I need as many hands here to keep up our work, it's a struggle to let even one officer head out of the city. Budget cuts, you understand, so I hope you don't mind if you take over Murata's workload while he's out on his task, Sauressy."

"Of course, chief," the serpent rolled his eyes, "if it's to help save the life of Gerumba, I won't complain too much even if I wish I was going with him."

"Thank you, both of you," Gaho bowed to them, "I'll head out as soon as the paperwork's filed, we'll have to contact Osaka PD too."

"I have some friends down there who can help you slide in," said the chief nodding wisely, "I'll have you shipped out in the week, make sure you're ready soon as the order comes."

"Yes chief." Murata took his leave. "Thank you again."

The officers went back to their desks, setting up their plans as Gaho sighed with relief at his opportunity. He closed his eyes and sat himself down, staring at his report with the faces of Kaneyama, and Gerumba staring back at him.

"I promised you," he muttered to himself, "I promised...I won't fail you."