Jester's Stare

A clown showing up shouldn’t have been that surprising for what she had already seen in the establishment. Claiming it as a bar might have been overselling it a little. A fact that Yori would need to concede. Even if it wasn’t exactly wrong. It created a different image.

Before he could respond though, they stepped in, blocking the door behind them. “Never thought I’d see the day the cold Saioji scion would be in the company of a woman. Thought that was against your code or some silly notion.”

“You have fanciful ideas as always, Okamura. She’s teaming up with me on the latest head. It’s a troublesome one.”

Miho stared between them. Despite the appearance, Yori met the man earnestly. She grumbled some. It still felt she was being played with. “This is your intel?”

“I did say he had a legal job.”

“Yes…”

The clown dropped their business smile and pulled off the wig. “You have a ‘but’ hanging on your tongue.” Though he started to act more the part in matching Yori’s energy. She could still feel some mischievousness sneaking through. He turned his eyes back to Yori. “It would seem she’s got the same serious streak that’s a kilometer wide, like you do. And I thought I wore that out of you.”

“There are many things you wore out. But not everyone can adjust to you as quickly.”

“You do make it enjoyable.”

“Sorry, as much as bantering is fun. I need your nose.”

The info broker pulled out a chair and turned it around to sit backward, leaning forward into the back. “Yes, you’re not here for my children’s entertainment. What trouble you digging into this time?”

Yori checked on Miho for a brief moment, but was facing Okamura. “I don’t like unfinished business. I was hunting Arata Jumonji. He escaped, but his friends stayed behind. I couldn’t get much out of them, but convinced them to cough up a meeting tonight. I’d like to pay him a visit.”

“Jumonji? That worm, whose pool did he piss in to get a bounty on his head?

“Isn’t it your business to know that?”

“He’s a small fish. Not really the sort I deal in.”

“Well, he’s fallen into the ocean. Caught him smuggling.”

Okamura shrugged, leaning away from the chair a little. “Half the underworld smuggles in some form or another. That’s hardly a dip.”

Miho’s hands pressed into the jacket, straining it a little. “Hardly? He was stealin’ people from their homes!”

He piqued in curiosity, looking at Miho. “You hunt and kill for money.”

She realized that she spoke out of turn and in the heat of the moment. She tried to keep her annoyance with herself for slipping invisible. “I just meant that he’s scum.”

“Nothing shocking there.”

“My partner’s a little more personally invested in this bounty. It’s not about the money for her.”

“That’s an early grave you’re headed to. Stay focused on the money like your friend there, and you might survive.”

“If I want life advice, I won’t go lookin’ for it from parasites.”

“That’s some fine holier-than-thou energy you’re spouting, Missy. She’s going to be the death of you, Saioji.”

Yori tried to keep his frustration with the situation buried. ‘He’s just baiting her, and she’s falling for it.’ However, there was a fire in her eyes that felt like there was a story that she wasn’t telling. Okamura might be correct that she would be the death of him. It didn’t change his fate though. “If you didn’t know that Arata was dealing in the trade, you’re not going to be much help to me.”

Gesturing with his hands while leaning forward again, he looked to glow a bit more, seeing the negotiation beginning. “I’ll admit you got ahead of me on that. As much as it pains me as a broker. However, deals like that don’t go unnoticed. I can get you a location. But you’re going to be heading into the den.”

“I’m only after his head. I’m not looking for more trouble.”

“Yes, that is good to hear!”

“You’re awfully concerned for someone uninvolved. What’s your angle?”

Okamura smiled, but differently from the business one he had worn before. There was darkness hiding behind it. “I like good business. I can’t keep clients if they’re always dying. But what about you? You’ve got a curious smell about you.” He leaned forward a bit more towards Miho.

“Smell?” She hadn’t heard anything about sorcerers smelling. And she couldn’t have imagined that it was anything that she did. He unnerved her with each passing second. “I don’t smell!”

“No, you certainly do. Just not the way you think. Got a nose for these things.” He had the look of questioning her. The more that she spoke, the more it seemed to make him doubt her identity. She could feel it in his eyes.

Being cornered wasn’t something that she was wholly unfamiliar with, but the way he was doing it came with a different pressure. “It’s nothing special. I’m just a distant cousin. So drop it.”

That only seemed to make him glow more with interest. “Is that so?”

Yori sighed, watching her dig the hole even deeper. “They like their privacy, as you know. So I’d suggest you end your interest at that, Okamura.”

“Yes, they’re not exactly ones that enjoy nosey intruders.” He stood up from the chair, sliding it back against the wall. It seemed to have finally ended.

“How long you need?”

“Give me till the afternoon. These things won’t happen until late, so you won’t miss him.” Okamura slipped on the wig and fixed his hair before opening the door. As he walked out, he gave a cheeky grin back with a knowing wave, but disappeared before getting anything more.

Yori waited until they were back to the garage before stopping in front of Miho. “What the hell was that back there? Do you just not know how to lie properly?” She tried to walk around him, but he just blocked her.

“It worked out.”

“You basically spelled it out for him. Okamura ain’t dumb, and he’s got ears everywhere in Tokyo.”

“I didn’t say anythin’.”

“You said too much! And don’t lie about things you don’t understand. My cousin?!”

“What? It was believable.”

“You don’t know my family. That’s not an association you want.”

Miho stared at him, seeing a strong intensity. It had been a snap answer she made in her poor efforts. Even with him calling her out correctly, she remained silent. And it hit harder than she imagined. Like her to him, Yori was an equal mystery. One she had no intentions of exploring, but the gaps created more traps than she expected. Curiosity was hard to push back.

With no further fight left in her on the subject, she just gave an accepting nod to him. Any more felt like a loss that she refused to grant. “What now? We have to wait.”

“Waiting was always going to be the case, but we can get lunch and rest. I can’t imagine you’ve had much sleep.”

The mission came suddenly, and action was swift. The train ride was the longest rest she had had in a day. It was going to be an even longer night. A fight with the criminal sorcerers would be inevitable. Though it would be the first time she had to use magic outside of Mado. That unknown gave her a small stabbing anxiety every time it came to her.