Tsukiko sighed. "So, why is he named Night Bird?"

Sylvie tapped her fingers on the table. "It was his favorite song. It's some old jazzy song from the eighties. It's all he ever listened to back then."

They were back in Aurelia's shop. They had asked to move away all of the piles of fabric so that they could see each other more clearly.

Kazuo sat with them, playing with a pen as he skimmed his notebook. Fumi sat next to Tsukiko, an arm wrapped around her. Haruka stood over Kazuo, trying to make sense of his scribblings.

"I thought you guys liked to stay completely anonymous." Kaz looked up from his notes.

"Some of us had names or nicknames. Everyone knew my name was Sylvie, everyone knew him as Night Bird, there used to be a guy named--"

"Wouldn't that get you in trouble?" Kaz asked.

"Not really. It's a nickname, isn't it? Honestly, I probably should've given everyone a nickname. Would've been easier that way." Sylvie tried to think.

"Why Point Zero?" Tsuki asked.

"The Shakudos started working security for some shops and clubs a few weeks ago. It's a pretty risky move, I wonder if they know what they're doing." Haruka rubbed her face.

"Security jobs are a good way of pissing off the cops. Their leader must be one arrogant son of a bitch." Sylvie chuckled. "He won't last a week."

"How do we know they're all following one leader?" Tsuki suggested.

"...do you know something we don't?" Haruka stared.

"Maybe I do." Tsuki grinned.

"You don't think he's behind this?" Kazuo asked. "You're probably right."

"Why do you say that?" Haruka put her hand on Kazuo's head.

"There are three leaders. A head, then a right hand and a... left hand. He got rid of the left hand, and left him behind. That's how I found out about Night Bird."

"And?" Haruka narrowed her eyes.

"...he got rid of him because of what he did to Lily. He was really angry about it. I don't think he was too happy about Fumi getting stabbed either."

"...really?" Fumi turned to Tsuki.

"Yeah... Weird, isn't it?"

"Let's focus on this guy for now, alright?" Kazuo put his hand on the table.

Tsuki turned red. "You're right."

Kazuo's revolver appeared under his hand rather suddenly. The group was caught off guard by the sudden shine of nickel and gold. Haruka jumped back in surprise.

"Where the hell did that come from?" Haruka regained her composure.

"It does that, remember?" Kaz grabbed the gun and inspected it.

"Doesn't it look... cleaner?" Fumi squinted.

"Yeah, what the hell?"

The revolver had been polished, with all of the rust and damage removed. A new layer of nickel gave the gun a mirror sheen. The barrel had something written in gold across the rather long, broad, flat barrel.

It read "Zeit ist das teuerste Kleinod" in thin, delicate cursive.

The gun was rather blocky, save for the grip and round cylinder. The gold writing and designs made it look more like an ornament than a tool.

"Why's it so... huge? Isn't it hard to carry that thing around?" Haruka asked.

"Yeah." Kaz lifted it up slowly. "It's so goddamn heavy. Had to work out just to be able to aim the damn thing."

"Just leave it behind."

"I can't. A detective needs his gun." Kaz inspected it.

Claudia appeared next to him with a smile on her face, staring at the gun as well.

"I was trying to keep this thing original, damnit."

Claudia shoved a paper covered in red ink in front of his face. "I made this gun! It is original!"

Kaz read the note. "You made this?"

Claudia pulled the gun out of his hand as if it weighed nothing. She pulled the barrel and grip apart, opening up the cylinder, and pointing to an obscured part of the gun.

"Why'd you make it?" Tsuki asked.

"She did..." Kaz stared at the obscured part. "Here's her signature... I always wondered what that said."

Claudia hugged Kazuo.

"Why'd you make it so heavy?" Haruka asked.

Claudia walked away, refusing to answer any more questions.

"It's probably for precision competition shooting." Fumi chimed in.

The group turned to her.

"I did some research! It's a break action revolver, a really old one. It's weighted for extreme accuracy, and it's got some light damascening."

"Damascening?" Haruka asked.

Tsuki took over. "It's a type of European metalwork, where you punch gold onto the surface of metal. Shakudo's the same thing, but Japanese, and it's black instead of gold."

"Man, you guys actually looked it up?" Kazuo laughed. "We're way off topic."

"Oh, shit, you're right."

--

Tsukiko, Kazuo and Fumi stood together outside of a rather garish looking establishment. The music playing inside was loud enough to break through the soundproofed doors. Empty plastic cups and other garbage lined the asphalt just outside of the door.

Bright yellow neon signs advertised the place. They were so bright, they were painful to look at for extended periods. Despite the gaudy appearance, trash and discarded cigarettes lined the asphalt outside.

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"This the place?" Tsuki asked.

"I dunno, Tsukiko. I'm having a little trouble reading the big ass neon sign that says Point Zero." Fumi rolled her eyes.

"Yeah but--"

"Yep, that's it." Kazuo checked his phone.

"So, where would the dude be?" Tsuki

"Somebody mentioned he had his own spot in the club. Maybe it's upstairs?" Fumiko suggested.

"But how do we know which room? Or if their lounge is even upstairs?" Kazuo kept checking his phone for details.

Tsukiko approached the door. "Let's find out. He's security, right? Maybe he'll come to us?"

Fumi grabbed Tsuki's shoulder. "You okay?"

"What do you mean?"

"...I know how you get, man." Fumi shook her head.

"Fumi..."

"Don't lose your cool again, okay?" Fumi pleaded.

"If I lose it, just knock my lights out again, alright?" Tsuki smiled.

"This isn't a joke."

Tsukiko sighed. "Sorry."

Kazuo tried to reassure them both. "C'mon, just stay calm a little longer. We've almost got him."

As they approached, they could hear muffled eighties pop playing inside. Tsukiko swung open the door and stepped into a completely different era.

Everything was either covered in wood grain or some sort of gold looking metal. Tables were covered with flashy, colorful drinks in small glasses. The bar was lined with numerous exotic liquors and spirits.

In the middle was a lit up dance floor, with a gold divider around it. Lights above flashed all kinds of bright shades of pink, blue and green. Speakers hanging from the ceiling blared the odd music they'd heard outside.

"Where is everyone?" Fumi looked around.

"It is pretty early." Kazuo put his hand in his pocket.

"What time do people start packing in?" Tsuki scratched her head.

"...like an hour from now?" Kaz sat down at the empty bar.

"Do we wait?"

"None of us can drink, huh?" Fumiko's head sank in sorrow.

Just then, the music stopped. The door slammed open and a group of men in black masks burst in. They swung around baseball bats and shouted.

"We'll give ya one chance to skedaddle the fuck outta here!" A female one shouted.

Tsuki stood up straight. "And if we don't?"

One of the Shakudos moved forward, holding its bat. "We'll just have to send you back to mommy and daddy in a bag."

The bat-wielding Shakudo moved forward. It put all its strength into a mighty swing aimed for Tsukiko's head. She raised her hand and caught the aluminum bat in mid-flight.

The robed figure tried to pull the weapon away, but Tsukiko's grip wouldn't yield. She pulled the bat away and turned it on the masked man. A single swing was enough to send the figure flying to the ground, writhing in pain.

"Get 'em, Tsuki!" Fumi ran off to avoid the fight.

"You ready, Kaz?" Tsuki turned to him.

"Yeah!" Kazuo pulled up his sleeves.

A Shakudo wielding a pipe came running, holding it over their head. Before the figure could swing, Tsuki lowered herself, punching it in the stomach. As the robed person curled up in pain, the Knight grabbed them and slammed them into the ground.

Tsukiko was suddenly taken from behind. She tried to call out to Kazuo, but he was too busy fighting to hear her.She struggled and pried at the Shakudo's grip.

The figure's grip suddenly weakened. Tsuki felt the weight of the person behind her slowly slip away onto the floor. She turned slowly to see Fumiko with a slight smile on her face.

"What're you doing?" Tsuki motioned for her to leave.

"Hey, don't act like you didn't need my help." Fumi walked up to Tsuki. "I wanna be useful for once!"

An unarmed figure ran toward Kazuo. He took the offensive, throwing out several quick jabs. He forced an opening that let him put all his force into a single haymaker.

The figure fell down to the ground. Kazuo followed up with a powerful kick to their side. The masked person rolled away and went limp.

The private eye turned to his next opponent. It was another armed Shakudo, swinging a wooden baseball bat. Kaz managed to dodge a sudden swing.

Fumiko turned and saw Kazuo struggling to defend himself from a Shakudo wielding a bat. She grabbed a chair and ran forward, pinning the masked man to the ground with the chair. Fumi kneeled down and grabbed the bat, pointing it toward the remaining figures.

"...Whoa. Nice work." Kazuo stopped to watch this unfold.

Tsukiko and the others defeated the rest of the Shakudos with ease. After the last one fell, they all stopped to catch their breath for a moment.

"The fuck's goin' on here?" A voice echoed from around a corner.

The group's gaze turned to the source of the voice. A tall figure appeared from a set of stairs that were hidden behind the bar.

"So, you're here after all?" Kaz glared.

The figure looked around before locking eyes with Fumiko. "Oh, you finally came around. You even brought that Knight girl with ya too. It's a good thing I didn't kill ya then, huh?"

"Shut up!" Tsuki shouted.

"I'm not here to babysit, so you'd better make this quick." Night Bird hesitated.

As Fumiko and Kazuo tried to join in, Tsukiko waved them off. "Don't get involved, this is between me and him."

The figure stepped forward and held its arms out in a triumphant pose. "C'mon, come get me, ya dumb--"

The back of Tsukiko's boot met the side of the figure's head, sending it straight to the floor.

"Wait, wait, hold--." Another kick knocked the wind out of it.

Kaz grabbed Tsukiko by the shoulder. "Yo, calm down."

Tsuki ignored him, standing over the figure.

Night Bird got away, staggering back onto his own feet. "You think I'm scared of a kid?"

"Shut up!" Tsuki approached the figure.

The last Shakudo reached into his robes and revealed a switchblade. "I'd back off if I were you."

"Tsuki, be careful!" Kazuo shouted.

Night Bird laughed as he played with the knife. "Don't make me do it again!"

Fumi shouted across the room. "Tsuki, don't!"

"I'd like to see you try!" Tsukiko stared him down.

Night Bird ran forward, holding the blade again.

"No don't!" Fumi cried.

Time seemed to move slower. As the knife wielding man ran forward, neither Fumi or Kaz could look away. Tsukiko let the man run into her.

"Tsuki!" Kazuo ran forward.

Their cries were in vain. Tsukiko didn't back down. He grasped the blade with both hands, thrusting it forward at the last second.

Night Bird fell to the ground, gasping for air. The Knight had moved forward at the last second with a strong strike to the gut. The Knife fell out of his hands and onto the floor, sliding away from him.

The figure tried, in vain, to rearm himself. He reached out, trying to drag himself across the floor. Tsukiko crushed the figure's hand with her boot, making the masked man scream in pain.

"Down already?" Tsuki rubbed her heel into the figure's hand.

"Get offa me!" The figure grit its teeth.

"Not so tough now, huh?" Tsuki shouted.

The figure struggled, hitting her in the leg. He grabbed the knife and held it out again. "No more games!"

Tsukiko grabbed an aluminum baseball bat from the floor and held it up. "You think I'm done?"

"Tsuki, calm down!" Kazuo grabbed her arm.

Tsuki shook him off. "Back off, Kaz!"

"Come at me!" Night Bird shouted, playing more defensively.

"Tsuki, stop! Don't!" Fumiko panicked.

Tsukiko moved the bat behind her head. The figure moved back. When she swung at full force, Night Bird instinctively hid his face, moving the knife away.

Taking a hint from her sister, Tsukiko used the motion of the bat to carry momentum to her leg. She kicked the blade out of the man's hand. As the blade bounced and slid across the club, Tsuki subdued the figure once more.

Tsuki turned and sighed. "Fumi, I'm fine, I'm fine."

"Are you?" Fumiko stuttered.

"Something wrong with my face or something?" Tsuki laughed.

In the middle of this distraction, the figure broke free yet again. Night Bird made a mad dash for the knife again.

Fumiko ran over to Kaz. "Gimme your gun!"

"No shooting." Tsukiko glared.

Fumi grabbed the revolver by its barrel. She brought it back, then threw it forward. With remarkable accuracy and strength, it went straight to its target.

The revolver tumbled through their air, until its grip hit the escaping man in the back of the head. The revolver made a loud thud as it hit the floor. The Shakudo fell quietly.

"Fumi, what if he caught the gun and shot us?" Tsukiko scolded her.

"That was some quick thinking!" Kazuo patted her on the back.

"Huh?"

"You didn't want me to use it, so I left it unloaded, Tsuki." Kaz chuckled.

"...oh."