Paul lay in the hotel bed, reflecting that perhaps he should change his cologne, or body wash or something, given that he seemed to attract foxes, specifically kitsune. He found himself trapped in a way that anyone who’s lived with a cat or dog would find familiar. His right arm and leg pinned down by a sleeping Inari.
Which was fairly typical of most mornings recently… however today he found his left arm had also been claimed by the sleeping form of Tamamo-no-Mae, who was curled up in child-like slumber next to him, using his arm as a pillow.
Inwardly he wondered just how exactly was this his life? He’d gone to bed early last night, having spent the prior day stiff and sore from the combination of unaccustomed exercise with a fight on top, and then sleeping on the hotel room’s sole sofa the night before, which was rather too small to accommodate his almost six foot frame without bodily origami.
Inari and Tamamo had both conceded the bed to him last night as a result. Preferring to curl up on the floor in a pair of nests made of the extra blankets and a couple of futons provided surreptitiously by Izumi. Paul had tried to suggest that Tamamo might be more comfortable in a room of her own, but had been vetoed by Inari and strangely enough Tamamo herself. Apparently the two kitsune cousins had reconciled and were loath to be parted now.
Also apparently at some point in the night they’d relocated to sleep next to him and it would seem that night attire wasn’t something either of them considered wearing. Paul had mostly gotten used to Inari’s casual nudity, but Tamamo-no-mae was a whole different level of perturbing, given her rather small size and paucity of womanly attributes, making her look only just pubescent, at best.
He was just contemplating how to extricate himself, without disturbing either of them, so he could get dressed and throw a blanket over the pair, when there was a tap at the door. Paul froze, hoping they’d go away if he didn’t speak, but the door opened and Izumi walked in, and seeing them, opened her mouth.
“Don’t scream!”
Izumi shut her mouth with an audible click of teeth, and then hissed at him.
“Just what are you doing!”
Paul rolled his eyes and in quietly calm tone he didn’t really feel replied.
“I am trying to escape! For heavens sake, I’m still far too knackered even now, to engage in any of the lurid acts of debauchery you are no doubt imagining to have taken place. I went to bed alone and woke up like this. Apparently it’s a kitsune thing, sleeping together in a pile. Now if you’re done jumping to conclusions, could you give me a hand please? I’m rather thoroughly pinned down here.”
Izumi went bright red, and without a word came over and gently lifted the sleepily protesting Tamamo off Paul’s arm. Once he’d extricated himself the rest of the way, throwing a robe on himself and drawing the sheets over the sleeping pair, Paul led Izumi out onto the balcony and mostly closed the door so as not to disturb the sleepers within. It was still early enough that there was a slight chill to the air, but the sun was warming up the little space quickly enough it was tolerable. Paul sat down at the small table and waved, indicating Izumi should take the other chair.
“Ok, I’m assuming there was a good reason you needed to barge in, using you staff pass key at a guess?”
Izumi blinked, visibly wrenching her train of thought back onto the rails.
“Ah, yes! You and Inari need to leave with Tamamo-no-Mae today!”
Paul raised an eyebrow, enquiringly.
“Why so precipitously? Has the hotel management caught you fudging the reservations for us or something?”
Izumi glared at Paul, and shook her head.
“No… although the manager is suspicious of what’s going on. Unpaid for guests are not allowed and if he knew I’d helped you smuggle her in… but that’s not why. There’s been a death in the park, at the same time you were there. The police think it was murder and although they don’t know it was you two, they are looking for you.”
Paul sighed.
“I’m guessing they came here to question the staff about suspicious persons?”
“How…?”
“It’s a logical first move, given the hotels proximity. Did they mention who the victim was?”
“Someone out for a run the night before last, that’s all I know. But there is a rumour that it wasn’t just a murder, that the person was killed in some unnatural manner.”
“And you think the police will link it to Tamamo.”
Izumi nodded.
“They were asking if we’d seen anyone answering her description, without saying that’s who they were looking for. But they they also wanted to talk to two people that fitted yours and Inari’s description.”
Paul nodded thoughtfully.
“That makes sense. They would’ve gotten descriptions from the joggers we passed that night, and not being able to account for us, they’d have us down as possible witnesses at best, potential suspects at worst.”
Izumi nodded vigorously.
“That’s why you three have to leave, now!”
Paul shook his head.
“No, running is the last thing we should do. The police will be watching the stations for a start, and secondly all I have to do is tell them that yes, we were there, and no Tamamo isn’t involved because she was in custody at the time.”
Izumi stared at Paul for moment aghast, a disbelieving expression on her face.
“You can’t just walk into the police station with your fake badge and..”
“It’s not fake.”
“What?!”
Paul sighed.
“Izumi-san. Please calm yourself, I don’t want to deal with you having a heart attack on top of everything else. Firstly, the police already know who I am, and secondly, the badge and the identity that go with it are quite real. Suffice it to say, Inari and I have government support at the highest level, and they are already quietly creating a genuine division four of the special police divisions department, it’s just not public yet. So, yes, I can just walk in there and talk to them. After breakfast and a cup of tea however.”
Izumi opened and closed her mouth a couple of times, then her shoulders slumped and she sighed.
“I must seem foolish to you.”
“On the contrary you’re keeping a level head, more or less, under some very trying circumstances. It’s hardly your fault you reacted the way you did, given that you had incomplete information at the time. Now, if you’d be so kind, I’d like to get dressed and get something to eat, before those two wake up and make my day infinitely more complicated!”
Izumi giggled, and smiling spoke in a sympathetic tone.
“Kitsune do make life harder…”
Paul grinned.
“But it’s worth it… and not in any lewd way I mean!”
Izumi’s cheeks stained red and she looked down at her lap.
“Umm.. sorry for jumping to the wrong conclusion earlier...just…”
Paul raised an eyebrow.
“Let me guess, Tamamo tried to seduce you?”
Izumi swallowed and didn’t answer, just looked more uncomfortable. Paul smiled slightly.
“Amend that, Tamamo succeeded in seducing you.”
“That’s not why I helped her though!”
“Of course not. But that was why you jumped to the wrong conclusion, and were jealous.”
Izumi nodded, then almost inaudibly added.
“I didn’t think I was like that. I...I think I might love her…”
Paul smiled.
“I wish you good luck then, and if Inari is anything to go by, kitsune do have a way of making you question things about yourself… Tell you what, those two sleepy heads aren’t going to stir anytime soon I suspect. So I’ll get dressed and then go raid the breakfast bar while you stay here and watch over them. That way you can tell Inari or Tamamo, whichever wakes first, where I am.”
“But I can’t, my manager…”
“I’ll pull rank and have a chat with him too. How long have you been working here?”
Stolen story; please report.
“Nearly eight months, why?”
Paul grinned in a rather predatory manner.
“Because I’m about to tell him you’re an undercover police agent, on assignment here, which at the very least will make him wonder what you might have noticed in passing that he’s been up to.”
Izumi’s eyes went wide.
“B..but… I’ll lose my job!”
“And I’ll find you a new one… there’s a ryokan opening near Inari’s shrine. I’d like to have someone there I can trust, who knows how to keep an eye open for trouble and who won’t be tempted to try and intervene herself. Would you perhaps be interested in that?”
Izumi’s eyes if anything went wider, and then she nodded hesitantly.
“Th..that might be acceptable. My family used to run a ryokan, so I know how… Can I think about it?”
“Of course. Take your time. It’s a big decision I know, you’d have to pack up your life here and move.”
Izumi laughed slightly, mirthlessly.
“That’s the least worry. Not much here to pack up. But helping run such a place is a big responsibility and I’m not sure I’m up to it.”
Paul smiled lopsidedly.
“I’d argue that thinking that is why you would be ideal. Level-headed and pragmatic, as I said. Of course, you’d have to be in tip-top shape, and I’ll talk to Kiko and make sure she prioritizes healing you so you’re up to the challenge physically. Not that I wouldn’t anyway, just in case you were thinking I was trying to sway your decision.”
“Oh.. of course yes. Thank you! I promise I’ll have an answer for you by the end of the day.”
“Take your time. Now, if you don’t mind?”
Paul nodded towards the door, and Izumi nodded, leaving him to get dressed quickly.
An hour and a half later found Paul hesitating outside the local police station. Not that he wasn’t confident he could talk the police out of regarding Inari, Tamamo and himself as suspects, but rather he was wondering just how much he would need to get involved in whatever was going on. He couldn’t investigate every crime or incident that might involve a yokai, which was partly why Division four was being set up. But he wasn’t confident that the local police would take the possibility of something supernatural being involved seriously. Which would hamper their investigation at best, and could prove fatal at worse.
That is, if there was anything of the like involved. It could after all be a quite ordinary fatality and with everyone being on edge, they might be jumping to the wrong conclusion.
Paul squared his shoulders and strode into the police station projecting confidence he didn’t entirely feel.
It didn’t take him long to talk his way into seeing the Inspector in charge of the case, one of the three holding that rank in what was after all, a small local force. He sauntered in and regarding the individual in plain clothes, smiled slightly.
“Heard you’ve been looking for me and my partner.”
The Inspector looked up from the laptop he’d been typing on, and frowned.
“And you are?”
Paul took his badge out and showed the slightly rumpled looking man, reflecting that he looked like someone who’d had less sleep than was good for him.
“Detective inspector Pōru Hōmuzu, Division four. Here to answer some questions in connection to the possible murder case you have.”
“Division four? There is no division four!”
Paul smiled.
“There is, but only on paper so far. You’re looking at half of it’s entire personnel currently. Because it’s only just been created and they’re still ramping up recruitment. However my partner and I were tasked to deal with the Tamamo-no-Mae case as a matter of priority. So, here we are, weeks ahead of when we’re officially supposed to start.”
The Inspector snorted.
“Well, that’s a wild goose chase. The park manager faked it.”
“Really? That’s your conclusion? Well, I’ll call my partner and tell her she can let Tamamo go then, since she doesn’t exist.”
The man stared at him for moment, incredulity written large on his face, then he shook his head.
“You mean, she does exist?”
“Most assuredly, but we’re happy to go with the cover story you accidentally created. Part of our remit is to keep this sort of thing quiet. Now… since our business here has concluded early, how may I help you?”
The Inspector frowned.
“What makes you think we need your help?”
“Well, how familiar are you with yokai and magic for a start? Also, we were in the area, so we might have seen something. Although, depending on timing you may have to rule out Tamamo-no-Mae out, since she was bit busy being detained.”
The Inspector sighed, and nodded.
“Fair enough… lets start over. Detective inspector Itsuki, pleased to meet you.”
Itsuki stood and with a slight bow presented Paul with his business card. Paul reciprocated with one of his, which the Inspector glanced at, then frowned.
“Would you mind if I verified your identity?”
“Of course not, one cannot be too careful. If you call or email the special police divisions head quarters they’ll confirm it.”
Itsuki nodded, and typed on his laptop for a few moments, before speaking.
“While we wait for their reply, perhaps you could explain why you think we need help from Division four?”
Paul smiled faintly.
“Frankly, a hunch and a rumor. I heard you were looking for individuals that sounded like myself and my partner as well as Tamamo-no-Mae. I also heard it was in connection with a death that might have been murder, and may have been rather.. shall we say, unusual. I had a hunch that it was yokai related perhaps. So, I came to inquire and offer what small assistance I may.”
“That sounds rather vague.”
Paul nodded.
“It’s about par for the course for this line of work actually.”
Itsuki’s laptop pinged, and his eyebrows rose as he read the message.
“Well… your identity is confirmed, and there is a note from the head to extend you full cooperation and courtesy?”
Paul shrugged.
“Department politics, the department head had to call in a favor to get me reassigned. I would assume he wants to get his money’s worth, so to speak, and is making sure I can do my job without hindrance.”
Itsuki pulled a wry face and nodded.
“That sounds about right.”
“So, since my assumption is that the rumors were correct about yokai involvement, since you didn’t deny it, what are the particulars of the case?”
Itsuki tapped on his laptops trackpad, and then swiveled it around so that Paul could see the screen. Displayed was an image of an old lady resting on a mortuary table. Paul judged that her age had to be somewhere south of ninety at least, given her appearance.
“The victim is Askai Ito, a local resident. She was found collapsed early last morning on the street, apparently she routinely goes for a evening run after work. Initial examination indicates she died of a heart attack, although as the coroner put it, it would be more accurate to say she died of heart failure due to extreme old age. Her identity was confirmed by the identity card for the hospice she works at upon her person, and her dental records and DNA match.”
“Okayyy… and why do you suspect yokai involvement?”
Itsuki grimaced.
“Because she’s only 27.”
Paul blinked, flicking his glance between the image on the screen and the Inspectors unsmiling face.
“Right. Fair enough. Hm… I can think of a couple of things that could have this effect. You said she worked at a hospice? Is it for the terminally ill, or geriatric patients?”
Itsuki frowned, and turning the laptop back round, worked for moment.
“General mixed use it says, but she was part of the geriatric care staff. Is that relevant?”
Paul shrugged.
“Hard to say, but considering she seems to have had her life stolen from her, literally, I perhaps would check to see if any of her patients have gone missing…”
“I don’t follow?”
Paul sighed.
“Well, you have a person who was youthful and now isn’t, so I would suggest looking to see if any of the elderly individuals are suddenly youthful again… but since they would beunlikely to stay around at that point, I’d look into any that were checked out or transferred recently. Failing that, she was perhaps attacked simply because she’s young and healthy in which case you’re dealing with something that can literally suck the life out of an individual.”
Itsuki stared at Paul for a moment, then shook his head as if to clear it.
“Ok… so your hypothesis is that someone or some thing drained the life out of her, and either consumed it themselves, or transferred it to one of her patients?”
“That’s about it… even yokai have elderly parents, and it’s not too much of a stretch to imagine some devoted and desperate son or daughter doing this to buy their parent a few more years. Equally, she could be the victim of a random attack.. but I think the former is more likely than the latter. Besides, if it was just a random attack, the killer is not going to be in town anymore and could be any one. It would be hard to trace them unless you get lucky.”
Itsuki nodded slowly.
“Regretfully, you’re not wrong. Ok, I think you’re right, we’ll pursue that angle first. Do you wish to take lead on this?”
Paul shook his head.
“No.. the rest should be fairly normal police work, and it’s your patch not mine. I don’t want to tread on any toes here.”
Itsuki nodded, a relieved look briefly flickering across his tired face.
“Good… nice to know some big city inspector isn’t going to steal the credit.”
Paul chuckled.
“Trust me, that was furthest from my mind. In fact, I’d be quite happy if my name is left out of it entirely and you take all the credit. Although I do have one request.”
Itsuki regarded him warily.
“And that would be?”
“Don’t forget, although you’re dealing with yokai, they are people as well. I think you’ll find that the recipient of Askai Ito’s life is just as much a victim too.”
“I don’t understand?”
“Well, consider this scenaro. You have a yokai dying of old age, who although they could drain the life from someone and restore theirs, either due to their ability or an artifact they posses, nonetheless didn’t. In which case I suspect that you’ll find the actual perpetrator is a relative that acted against the recipients wishes, because they were unwilling to let them die.”
Itsuki nodded.
“I see… any other advice, hints regarding their abilities perhaps?”
Paul shook his head.
“Probably nothing you can’t handle. It’s entirely possible they’ll come quietly. I think given the nature of it, they acted in a moment of weakness perhaps. The fact they left their victims body on the street would argue against it being premeditated.”
“I see … and if it was a random killer instead of someone connected to the victim?”
“Call us… because then you are dealing with an entirely different creature, and you’ll be well and truly out of your depth. The other possibilities would involve yokai that are ancient, deadly and used to regarding humans as simply cattle. They don’t care if they leave their victims littering the streets, because they know that there’s nothing we can do to stop them. Or at least, there didn’t used to be.”
Itsuki stared into Paul’s eyes for a second, then looked away, shuddering, chilled by what he saw there.
“I don’t think I mind leaving you to deal with it if that’s the case.”
“Smart guy. I’d do the same if I were you.”
“Yeah, yeah… don’t blame you. I don’t think I’d want your job Division Four. Too many things that go bump in the night for my taste.”
Paul smiled slightly.
“And we’re the ones that bump back… Well, let me know how it turns out, one way or another. I still have to fill in reports, and my superiors will probably want to know the truth of the case.”
Itsuki frowned.
“Before you leave, how should we play this if the press get involved? Keep it quiet what they are, or…”
Paul frowned in thought for a moment, then sighed.
“I’m tempted to say keep it under wraps… but firstly there’s already rumors swirling about and covering up the fact a yokai was involved will just make it worse. Secondly, yokai aren’t a secret any more, they have the same rights and legal protection as humans. They’re just citizens. So… if the press gets involved, which they will very soon I think, then be open about it. Yes, you’re looking for, or have arrested a yokai, no it doesn’t mean they’re a monster, or that other yokai are a threat. They’re just people...with a special ability perhaps, but still a person who made the wrong choice and will pay for it.”
Itsuki wryly smiled at Paul.
“That’s official Division four policy?”
Paul shrugged.
“Well, I’m half of division four, so I guess so.. until you hear otherwise. Most yokai are just people with some odd abilities and different customs. Fundamentally, they have the same drives and desires, flaws and weaknesses. So, treat them as such, after all everyone is equal before the law.”