Hats are cool

Kato leaned in, nodding in rapt attention as Gerald spoke, by the time he was finished, a small smile crossed his features. ‘It seems you can leave the life, but the life will always find a way to drag you back in.’

It was a robbery, and a big one if Gerr or Gerald as he claimed to be, was to be believed.

“And that’s where this comes into play.” Gerald pointed at Kato’s hat.

“My hat?” Kato asked.

“My hat,” Styx muttered under her breath.

Gerald gave Styx an odd look, before turning back to Kato,” yes, your,” Styx coughed lightly, “sorry” he continued, glancing at Styx who was now pouting, “the hat, is going to be of the utmost importance.”

“The hat is going to be of great importance?” Kato looked at Gerald strangely, ‘this is why I always used to work alone, too many crazies out there.’

“That is what I just said,” Gerald snapped, irritated, any semblance of authority rapidly disintegrating.

“Why?” Kato asked.

Gerald threw his hands up in there, “I was getting to it,” he paused and looked at Styx, “is he always like this?”

Styx mumbled something under her breath, no doubt it was an eloquent defence of Kato’s persona from this villain he had found ahead of him, but because of her sulking, he didn’t hear it.

“Right yes, well, the hat is very important-” Gerald continued.

“You’ve already said that.” Kato interrupted him.

Gerald’s eye twitched, “thank you for pointing that out,” Gerald spoke through gritted teeth,

“You’re welcome,” Kato smiled at him and waved a hand for him to continue.

Gerald looked at him for a moment his tongue ran along his teeth, his irritation was palpable.

Kato waved his hand again, “come on Garry, I don’t have all day.”

“Gerald.”

“What?”

“My name its Gerald, ok?”

“Yeah, I know.” Kato looked at him strangely.

“Not Garry.”

“Ok?” Kato drew the word out as he stared at Gerald, perplexed.

Styx raised a hand to her mouth, stifling laughter.

‘Hmm so he remembers his fake name, couldn’t catch him out that easily,’ Kato continued to stare at him, his face giving nothing away, ‘we’ll see how long you can keep this up for Gerr.’ He smiled at Gerald, “are we finished?”

“Why would we be finished, we only just started,” Gerald growled at him.

Styx’s laughter, not so subtly increased in volume.

“You were saying something about a hat?” Kato prompted him.

Gerald straightened his shirt, “I was, but now I’m not so sure I can take you seriously.”

“Come on Garry,” Styx whispered, “give him a chance.”

“How many times do I have to say, its Gerald,” barely contained rage, bubbled beneath his exterior.

“Relax, it was just a joke,” she put a hand on his shoulder, reassuringly. Apologetically, she looked at Kato, “sorry” she mouthed at him, silently.

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‘Quarry?’ Kato looked back at Styx, mouthing “what about a quarry?”

Her forehead wrinkled, as she looked at him confused.

Gerald cleared his throat, “as I was saying, the hat is important.”

Kato fought against the urge to speak, this was the third time Gerald had said this, did he really not realise, or did he think he was being funny?

“The man it belonged to is as I’m sure you are already aware a high-ranking member of the Church of Hardship.” Gerald continued.

Kato’s entire body tensed, and he stood up, “he’s what?” he shouted the words out.

Styx looked up at him alarmed, “Kato?”

Gerald sneered at him, “this changes nothing.”

Kato shook his head, “this changes everything and if you don’t know why, you are far too dangerous for me to work with, have a good day,” he tipped his hat and made to exit.

Gerald stood up, “you’re a practitioner?” he demanded, barring his path.

“Not of them no, Kato moved to get around him.

Gerald stepped to the side, blocking him once again, “you have moral objections?” He demanded once again.

“No.” Kato stepped to his other side.

“Then, what? Gerald stepped to the side blocking him once again.

Kato’s fist clenched, it was getting harder and harder not to solve his problems with violence. Styx stood up, “can’t we talk about this?” She stepped in the middle of the two men, separating them with her arms, “please?” she asked, exasperated.

Both the men towered over Styx their eyes locked together over her head as they sent death stares, each other’s way.

“Give me my hat back,” Gerald spat out.

Kato made to speak, but Styx was faster, “it’s my hat asshole.” She reached up and plucked it from Kato’s head, tousling his black hair into a rough, unkempt position.

Kato shook his head slightly, letting his hair readjust into a more natural position.

“You said you would stay,” Styx looked at him expectantly.

“The key word there is said, now I’m saying I want to go,” Kato made to move forward, but Styx’s palm pressed against him with surprising force arresting his movement.

“You didn’t even let Gerald finish,” she looked up at him.

“Didn’t need to,” Kato looked back, letting out a resigned sigh, ‘she’s not going to let me leave, is she?’

“You owe me an explanation!” Gerald snapped at him.

Kato’s eyes snapped off Styx and back to him, “I owe you nothing,” his fist clenched again, he would not let himself be taken advantage of.

Styx grabbed his clenched fist and gently brought it down, “of course you don’t,” she looked at him pleadingly, Kato felt his heart melt a little.

“Fine,” he muttered, releasing the tension in his fists, “I will hear you out and then, then I will leave.”

“I don’t want to explain it anymore,” Gerald said pettily.

“Then I will leave, “Kato stated, firmly.

“Both of you stop it. Stop it now!” Styx glowered at them in turn, “you,” she pointed at Gerald, “speak, and you,” she turned and pointed at Kato “listen, and don’t just pretend to listen, actually do.”

“I-” Kato moved to speak, ‘I listen.’ He thought, dejectedly.

But Styx was too quick, “I don’t want to hear it.” She paused, “well?” she looked at Gerald, then clapped her hands, impatiently.

“So,” began Gerald “the hat is important.”

Styx raised her arms in frustration, “seriously Gerr, that’s the fourth time you’ve said that!” she exclaimed.

‘She slipped again, unlucky Gerr, your secret is no longer safe,’ Kato thought to himself.

Gerald apparently not catching on that Kato had heard his false identity, continued, “ok bare bones it is, hat important…”

In harmony Styx’s and Kato’s faces twitched, ‘is he serious?’

“Hat DNA, DNA gets into building, steal object, and there, that’s it,” Gerald finished.

“What object?” Kato winced internally, ‘back off you know what that church is capable of,’ he shuddered, he certainly did.

A slow, smug smile crept across Gerald’s face, “I thought you weren’t interested?”

“Just say it already,” Kato retorted, ‘stop,’ his thoughts whispered, ‘they are too dangerous.’

“A sceptre, mad of pure gold and rumoured to power level you in any skill of your choice.”

Kato’s eyes narrowed, ‘what is this guy waffling on about now, levels? Skills? What type of insane place have I got taken too. Kato looked around, searching for any stretchers or straitjackets his hosts had forgotten to hide. Even scratches on the walls would have done, but his perception refused to oblige, seeing the same old wooden, bookcases, illuminated by the dim flames of candles.

“Yeah, I think I’m going to have to pass, “he finally said, after coming up fruitless from his troubles, “you guys are insane.”

“What?” Gerald smirked, “are you a chicken?” He looked at Kato for a moment, before flapping his arms up and down, “pawk, pawk pawk.”

Kato’s eyes blazed, he was no coward, “I feel no fear,” he spat out at Gerald, “I’ll do it right now!” The words came out before his mind could stop him.

“Great,” Gerald responded, “that will work”, picking up a pale, green book, he left the room, with it crooked under his arm and a slight shuffle in his steps.

‘What did you just do?’

Styx stroked Kato’s arm gently, “thank you.”

“Yeah, no problem,” he muttered back absently. ‘NO PROBLEM! They nearly killed you last time, they should have. The voice isn’t going to be there to save you again.’ Kato rebuked himself internally, but he was a man of his word and there was no backing out now.

“They don’t have pews at this place do they?” Kato turned, asking Styx.

She looked at him oddly, “of course they do it’s a church.”

Kato buried his face in hands, ‘of course they do it’s a church.’

Kato turned to Styx, “so how do we get there?”

She looked at him for a moment, then smiled slightly, “we are already here.”

Kato’s heart stilled, claiming he got lost along the way, was hardly going to be an option now.