The assistant manager brought some tea over for Alyx and Caz, placing it on the round table in front of them.

“No thanks. I’m not of a tea guy”, Caz said.

“Is that Chamomile?”, Alyx asked, pointing at Caz’s tea.

“Yes”, the assistant manager replied. “Vitadale imported. I hope it’s not too hot”.

“Don’t mind if I do”, Alyx said, taking Caz’s teacup too.

Mimi, Alyx, and Caz all sat backstage within a room set aside for the Scarlet Wings band. Mimi waved the assistant manager away, thanking him beforehand. She turned her head towards the pair, leaning on her elbows with locked fingers.

“Sweetie, isn’t he?” Mimi asked, tilting her head at the door where the assistant manager just walked out. “Name’s Arlin. So polite. He’s shy around girls haha. An Ecreville native all his life, so he’s never witnessed the hunter lifestyle firsthand. He’s the manager’s friend’s son who had apparently been a local tour scheduler for a different company at the time, but got laid off for no reason in particular. He’s been very good about his job so far and the others seem to like him.”

“What’s your point?” Caz asked. Alyx sighed. He probably didn’t mean to come off as blunt as he did.

Mimi still smiled casually. “The point is, I like what Ecreville brings. Something different from the busy oppressiveness of hunter culture. It feels almost serene in a way. And after getting a taste of this lifestyle, I would do anything to protect it. That includes whittling out threats such as the Trepidor twins from this city.”

Caz and Alyx looked at each other. She was impressive.

“Seems both brothers were involved after all. And you knew our target…how?” Caz asked. Alyx, on the other hand, had a hunch.

“You hear things here and there. People talk you know? I just keep my ears open”, Mimi stated. She tilted her head in a cute manner. “Last I heard, they’re at the storage warehouse located in the business sector downtown.”

She may act ditzy, but she befits the title of Shogun. The pair remained silent.

She puzzled out what they wanted and surrendered the answer. “You know, you could do a lot, spreading rumors around the city. Tell one person one thing, and another person hears. Before you know it, you have hundreds of eyes subconsciously noting the presence of two men with chiseled features, somewhere in their late 30s, with dark copper hair. Even in the night, you wouldn’t miss such an obvious sight, if you’re looking for it. And all because you put a word in one gossiping ear.”

“Little songbirds, I’m assuming?” Alyx noted.

Mimi looked to Alyx, and then passed a glance by Caz, who was staring back intensely.

“It’s okay”, Alyx said. “You can trust him.”

Mimi chuckled, “And here I thought I had strong connections. You always surprise me, Alyx.” She exaggerated a stretch, yawning. Every little action, made to disarm tension. “And yes, my little songbirds. You can never know too much.”

Arlin came in with some desserts. “Parfaits?”

“Yes please!” Mimi said, grabbing a napkin and snatching one daintily from the box Arlin held.

“Gimme”, Alyx said, taking one of the plates, and loading a boatload of parfaits on hers.

“No thanks, I’m not much of a desserts guy”, Caz said.

Stolen from its rightful place, this narrative is not meant to be on Amazon; report any sightings.

“Do you like anything?”, Alyx chided. “Anything at all?”

“I like moving conversations forward,” Caz retorted. Alyx sighed and Mimi only chuckled.

“That’ll be all dear”, Mimi said, smiling at Arlin. He blushed as bowed before walking out the door. Mimi took a few bites before placing her parfait down gently on her plate. Graceful, even when eating.

“Anyways,” Mimi continued, “my spies have been keeping their ears open, but it seems that there were more than a dozen men who entered that warehouse before the brothers supposedly did. As of just a few hours ago however, only two people were noted to have left the building, although the little birdie I had there was a bit too far to see who it was. Still, we can assume. Either they’re still in there, or something happened, and the brothers booked it. My bet’s on the latter.”

Mimi stood up and dusted herself off. “Regardless, all the businesses in the area are closed now, and from the looks of it, patrols outside have been watching us. I can slip you past them and get you to the warehouse to find out what’s really been going on.”

“I think there were at least two sets of patrols from what I’ve seen before we entered. Six guards each. And a group of four stationed a bit further out. Doesn’t look like they’re making a move yet”, Caz added. Alyx didn’t notice any patrols. Hunters really are something else.

“So long as we’re just here for the festival like they expect”, Mimi added, “I don’t think they’ll do anything rash.” She stretched and placed her headphones on and handed the other two a set of headphones as well. “Follow me. I’ve got a meet-and-greet with my fans at the arena. I’ll get you that opening you wanted.”

*******

Calli’s eyes opened, gazing at the white ceiling. Her body ached and her mind swam fuzzily. Where was she? Oh right, the Barbed Elite. That wasn’t the worst beatdown she’s received, but it’s up there.

“You’re awake, Calli”, a voice sounded.

Calli’s eyesight was somewhat blurry, but that voice, and that hazel-colored, pointed, bushy beard.

“Abe, did we win?” she asked. Abe looked exhausted, with more creases lining his eyes than usual. He was starting to feel the pangs of old age. Calli would’ve wanted him to retire with his wife and kids. Hunter life isn’t for someone like him, but Abe never backed down from the job.

“Yeah”, he said. “The Elite died trying to kill us. Would’ve seriously wounded Nyx if you didn’t step up.”

“She would’ve avoided it regardless. She’s quick on her feet.”

Abe’s lips drew into a line. Perhaps that was true.

“Don’t sell yourself short, okay?” he said. “All that matters is that we’re alive. The medic’s going to take another look at you in a bit, but I think you’ll be fine. A bit of stitching, and some Johrei patches to cover the hole where the injury is for the moment, but you should be able to get back on your feet in a few days.”

Calli just stared up at the ceiling from her bed. Perhaps she wasn’t cut out for this kind of lifestyle herself. She laughed in her head. What did Caz see in her anyways? It always seems that whenever the team goes out on high-profile missions, either Abe or Cyr have to save her from ruining everything. Still…

Do you think you’re not good enough? You shouldn’t doubt yourself. I don’t doubt you. So don’t make a liar out of me.

Caz had a funny way with words. He recruited her up like he did with most of the newcomers. Another urchin from the street who had nowhere else to go. When she first met him, she was just a teenager, a leader of a rag-tag group of misfits who swiped possessions from others and sold the objects or ate them, just to survive. Caz was surprised when she managed to steal one of his Johrei vials off of him. When he cornered her in the alley, she was scared half into heaven, until he reached out his arms and asked her to join his squad.

She thought fondly of the memory and coughed trying to laugh, groaning from the pain of the injuries instead.

“How’s the rookie?” she spoke, with some mild strain.

Curse the clans, this hurt.

“He did good. Natural hunter, even if he doesn’t see it. Nyx is taking the Elite parts to a shop with him to get some upgrades. I can’t believe we took him out to the Fringe with just a chest plate. Either Caz or Nyx, whoever put him up to it, must’ve been mad haha.” Abe regained some mirth and Calli smiled weakly.

Calli strained, “Would’ve been nice if I could’ve helped them out. There’s no way they can take all the parts on their own, even with Nyx’s enhanced strength.”

“Hey, don’t worry about it.” Abe said, placing a hand on her shoulder. “We got enough gear as it is. The kid’s the only one who needs it if anything. Once he gets it, I think he’ll be a force to be reckoned with.”

“Sounds like he’s already improving faster than I did. He’ll beat me in no time.”

“Hey”, Abe said, eyebrows creasing.

“Yeah, yeah. I know. I’m just being self-depreciating. I’m happy for Aio.”

Abe stared at Calli for a bit, and then nodded, standing up from the stool he was sitting on.

“I’ll check back later. Going to make a stop in the district for some additional vials. We’ve got a big hunt coming and Caz needs us ready as soon as possible.”

“Oh joy”, Calli said, before closing her eyes again and dreaming about the good times.