Sleepy to the Max - Open

[datmass]

Max smiled at the comment about the Gaki and said "Yeah, they are basically just eating machines. Not much interest in anything else, really." before getting back to it. The work was like some people: Harsh but fair. He didn't like the fact that they now required extra steps and that no one would collect the bodies anymore, but he'd been prepared for it, just in case, so it was no biggie. On the way back to the car, Momoji remarked about getting a drink and then about his food preferences.

"Heat does bother me, so I tend to eat cold things. I actually know some people who will mix me a good cold noodle dish. Not to say that all food must be chilled, just that I can't really take the hot. It needs to let stand in that situation. I get around that problem in restaurants by engaging in conversation, letting the meal go to merely warm."

It was clear that, apart from talking because they had alot TO talk about, Momoji was getting her mind and her senses off of what they were dealing with here. Dead bodies were unpleasant, period. There was no way around there. Best way to handle it was to disassociate yourself from it, like it was just an object, and let it go. Really, even this incineration wasn't a terrible thing to do to them. They were dead and their souls had passed on. No reason to worry about somehow angering the yokai...usually. Well, at least nothing from THIS band of critters held a death curse. Max didn't notice, meanwhile, whatever chill she was feeling. He just didn't, period. That's when she mentioned somee demons being de-organed, which he replied to quietly, not going over the Night Parade end of things, at this time. His mother had a different view from humans about that. But as for the organs...

"Is it a specific organ, other than the brains? Certain dietary requirements can expose the perpetrator."

And it was always possible that those of this group that he'd dispatched were its toadies, say. They just didn't know, as of yet. Going back to the incinerator, talk of missing organs would be held off for now, as it was a word spoken in confidence, not to be spread around. As for remarks involving Kenji...

"Really? What'd I do? Tonight was nothing special. It's really a better day when I get them to submit willingly so no one and nothing needs to get hurt. So, tell me more."

He'd known a few people in the industry who were in charge of things. Some were highly friendly and receptive. Others were stern and efficient. Max uhh...kept chill around such people automatically. They deserved fair treatment, didn't they?

[mermalaide]

" From what I understand, some of them have been the brain and liver, but there have been a few that just look munched in general. Though, I feel that is a gaki or ghoul." She felt her senses swim, which she hated. It was the Inugami manifesting itself. "Then there are the bodies that are just missing." She kept her voice down. "What I didn't say earlier, was that the reason that they are asking hunters to dispose of everything like this is that cleaners have gone missing. We have only have one person that has come back, and he has been in a coma since Friday." It got more and more sinister, as far as she was concerned.

As for why she would trust him with all this, "I believe that we inspire trust by trusting in return. You have trusted me with something important to you. But also, I think you should know. You fell asleep in that park, granted it's the most dangerous spot in the city. But, my hunch is that by Night Parade, a lot less places will be safe, even if the Shinsengumi and law enforcement are working double time. The truth is that a lot of folks have been disappearing. If you look around at some of the boards around town, there seems to be a lot more missing persons as of late."

She sighed. Maybe she had said much. But, she felt she could trust Max. He seemed somewhat unique, even among hunters."I am actually fairly worried. If the Shinsengumi has been on high alert or seemed maybe a bit more gung-ho than normally, that is why." She moved to open up the gate again, so they can keep going. She got quiet again when they had approached the man and woman that were feeding the incinerator.

[datmass]

The news of cleaners going missing, with the only survivor being in a coma, was definitely not good. Suddenly, Max's impromptu sleep out in the park didn't seem like so hot an idea. He didn't know, of course, and maybe the fact that he'd been sleeping in the neighborhood of four dead bodies gave something else in the area pause...but he wouldn't know that for sure. He didn't like it, though, and the fact that there were more missing people around the latest Night Parade was a bad sign. It harkened to the notion of a group effort, or that many were acting at once because of the time involved, some using the parade times as cover while others were all-in. Max didn't say anything, at first, because they were on their way back to the incinerator people. Momoji had quieted down for that very reason.

"Just one more, after this. We'll be right back."

Once away and safely out of range on their way back towards the Subaru, he spoke more freely again.

"With the liver-munching, I was prepared to say a Gumiho was involved, or at least be open to the possibility. This, however..."

He shook his head. Gumiho were the far bad end of the kitsune scale, sometimes worse than the Nogitsune. Think evil fox, but then add vicious eviceration by practice and liver-and-organ eating by diet. It was a real shame, because they could easily be mistaken for a normal kitsune, sometimes. Even still, this was not simply that. There was far too much going on at once to be one yokai at work.

"This seems like one among many, that the boss of these four is just one thing going on, and then might have the Gumiho, and then there are others, and the people are being taken in for something involving the Parade. It's not good, Momoji. They keep rising up like a tide, and come crashing down. I know that ALL of yokai-kind isn't to blame, but alot of them DO seem to act out."

One more demon from the roof, slid onto the wheelbarrow by Max. It landed with an unceremonious Thunk! and rested there silently. Max looked at his car and sighed. The blood that'd come from their wounds stopped a long time ago, but with the heads taken off, there was fresh bleeding, and now his car had blood on one side. Here, there would be a brief passing over of his hand to freeze the blood, and then hit it to send the pieces clattering to the ground.

"Much better."

[mermalaide]

"I had thought of something similar. We have a list of possible yokai types that could do this, with Gumiho being on it, but the hard part is that nothing quite sticks out enough to tell." She paused. "Now, is our witness wakes, well, then it would be a possibility. But, all we can do is try to keep it from new sources for now." The loud thunk made a few people look as they were trying to wrap it up.

She grinned at the ice trick. "Very handy."

"This seems too odd, you know. Of course the Night Parade always has tons of people and yokai alike, which would be a Smorgasburg for something like that, or even somethings. What bothers me is how random and almost animal like this seems. Like something got loose." She followed him a bit, still helping. I should file another report and get in touch with my mentor after this. Let's get you paid."

They were stuffing the previous one into the furnace when they came up with the last. "Sorry it's slow, you have some big kills there. No problem though." Truth be told, it was a good little set up for being somewhat impromptu. Momiji's stomach growled, "If they don't immediately call me back, I am definitely stopping to eat something."

"Maybe not Barbeque though."

[datmass]

The matter of the one cleaner who came back alive concerned Max. People get into comas, of course, but when you involve people dead, an unknown yokai devouring things, AND someone in a coma, you hope it isn't some sort of hex or curse keeping him quiet. He thought about what Momoji said, once again keeping his thoughts to himself while they were approaching and leaving the others, so as not to worry them with what might be a problem. She was right about the Night Parade being a feast of yokai and human alike, but...he wented if even an animal would do that. And to be clear, we're not talking simply animal yokai who could have clear intelligence. We mean, 'What if this thing was just an outright monster, and we don't know what?'. Max pondered that, but he shook his head to himself. They soon finished with the last body, and would be heading for the actual office entrance now as he spoke up.

"The Night Parade could be a feast, but I don't think even a vicious beast without a brain would go for that. Far too many things going on, to much potential for danger. Animals have instincts, and they pay close attention when it feels something could get them killed. I'd like to know that list of what you all think it is, just in case I get blindsided, sometime. As for the coma victim..."

That one was more complicated. They would be heading up the steps to the entrance now.

"I don't know if there are any curses involved - I assume he was checked for that - but if he's not getting up, it might be time to find someone with powers of the mind or dreams, if you can. I don't know anyone, but if this man were a computer, he'd've crashed his OS without recovery, and we need someone to supply their own to read the harddrive."

And now, entering the establishment... Yes, he did kind of time his speech, there, and now they were on the subject of food for him.

"You make that report. Then, we can both eat. Thinking a breakfast sandwich, something quick and satisfying."

In the meantime, the guild house was largely like any other hunter guild office he could go to. They just needed the space, and they setup whatever desks and whatnot that was needed for staff. Much of the budget for this operation was spent for what was important, which was the hunt.

[mermalaide]

"No, thankfully no curses.." She shook her head almost wanting to hang it a little out of sadness. "He lost so much blood. I think the doctor was saying that he will likely lose the use of two of his limbs." It was a shame, the man was an older man, but it was still pretty terrible to have happen. It would be likely that he would have to retire, if he lived. And, even then, what had he seen? It was likely very traumatic. "We brought in someone from the Shrine network. Even to just see if it had left a miasma or curse mark. But this was mostly heavy damage, and what looked like the residue of something unclean. Currently a group is studying some of the bile that he was covered in."

When they got through the door, she quieted a little. "Sounds like a plan. I can tap out a few messages and an email from my phone. Let's grab something cold." Her shoulders felt the weight of a day that had started since five this morning. Between the High School Shinesengumi ROTC which was led by first years for high schoolers that wished to join, to a long string of cases. She wouldn't be home at the manor until late tonight. She thought of a strong coffee, but decided on maybe a cold root beer instead when they were ordering. Momiji found a table they could sit at that seemed a little apart from the big banter going on closer to the bar.

She worked to type out on her mobile, moving with a lighting speed. One was a note to her mentor, another was to the records keeper. If she could have things pulled up for when she got back to the manor, that would be fantastic. The last thing, which was what Max was involved with, seemed cut and dry. She had taken a few picture snaps on her phone to accompany the report. She spoke to him in a quiet tone to where only the two of them at the table could hear. "the residue was some kind of black, semi transparent sludge. When they tested the chemical makeup, it was a digestive enzyme."

The guild house they were in was fairly nice, albeit, small. They did have an inn connected, though, a good deal of the rooms were full for now. Given what was happening with missing people, few hunters wanted to take a chance during their downtime. There was also a bath off to one side as well as somewhere to wash gunk off clothing via a small laundry mat. The barroom was pretty large, and a bounty bar area was set up with a weigh in station. That in turn had a board for new and claimed bounties, as well as a bunch of computers and files. People were moving about while others ate, and for what it was, the atmosphere seems cozy.

She was thinking about what Max was saying about an OS needing to be recovered. "I think there is someone in the Shrine network that recovers memory from people that have either died or been incapacitated. I will have to ask about it really quick." Momiji decides to shoot off another message to her mentor regarding that while they sit there.

[datmass]

The state of the man was a sad state, indeed. If it'd been a bit more magical, he might've lucked out with the right help, but sadly...it was just a brutal monster attack. Just another victim without any hope. He hated it, and he hated that as much as taking out that group of four was a worthy thing, it probably wasn't the end of it. It was like grabbing the tail of a very large snake, and finding out that the body has extended all the way around to bite you in the ass. Ordering didn't take too long for Max, though he did strike up a bit of conversation regarding how he wanted his coffee. The man seemed a bit put off about him drinking it luke-warm or cold. He said "It tastes better hot, and I heard there was a study that heat makes the caffiene absorb more.", and while Max wasn't sure if that was true or not, he got the man to understand by making reference to Spaceballs.

"You know how Rick Moranis in that movie with the big helmet is with coffee? That's basically me. Thanks alot, though."

He'd be there with indeed a very protein'd sandwich along with coffee, that he just held his hand over for a second to reduce the temperature. Little parlor tricks like that had no effect on Max, whatsoever. It was the equivalent of a D or E-Class power, whereas he could make an ice sculpture in this room and still be okay. So, Momoji would get off her messages, and then address the man at the table with her as he ate. She explained that there was apparently a lab report now on the stuff the coma victim was coated in. It was a black digestive fluid. As she sent off another mention about his earlier thought about getting a mind or dream reader, Max paused in thought.

If that black stuff was really for digesting, and he was covered in it, I can think of only two things. No, three. The first is that our beastie is just sloppy and slobbered him something fierce during the attack, like with a big tongue. There are yokai who are like that, specifically, but I dunno if this is their thing. Have to check the files. The second idea is that it was some sort of fly or insect, in particular, the kind that have to break down a body outside of its own, and then suck in the remains. That seems unlikely, because the acid needed to do THAT is very strong, and so he'd be dead. The third possibility is...he may've been in this thing's stomach, but somehow got himself out, and the demon fled from whatever pain was inflicted inside. That seems much more likely.

He looked over to the Shinsengumi agent now.

"Momoji, if he was covered in it, he might've been almost swallowed nad blew his way out, somehow. That'd leave him in a bad state, but one where the beast abandons him while nursing a stomach ache. There are other theories, but I think this has the most possibility."

Not that he was expecting to somehow crack the case just by spitballing, but throwing out the right theory can get other people thinking, and then all these thoughts will come together and point towards and answer, regardless of how it turns out.

[mermalaide]

She wasn't sure what he meant, maybe Rick Moranis was a samurai if he had such a very large helmet. She cocked her head in confusion the way a German Sheppard would. "Moranis-san?" Kenji brought a few things by personally, heard that and laughed. "Ah, Lord Helmet."

"No, I think you are right on that." A sandwich with a lot of meat seemed very good so she got the same but took hers with a strong coffee. It was terrible to think about, but that man had probably survived by sheer will and grit alone. Now he was clinging onto life. His mother and his girlfriend were the only two people that really had come to see him thus far and both women looked wore out from crying. At first, the doctors didn't let anyone in, mostly due to risk of contamination, but a nurse pushed her way in and demanded that family and possibly a priest of some sort be omitted to see him. She argued with the doctor and made a good case for his motivation to survive versus the very real fact he could die. It was all pretty sad.

"You know, the whole thing is something I can't help but be angry about the whole thing." She shook her head and took a sip of hot coffee, closing her eyes to the taste, letting the full effect of the aroma wash over it. "Whatever this thing is, I want to get it and bring it to justice or kill it before anyone else gets hurt." She didn't think something like that had the ability to reason, not really. But she was constantly surprised.

"You can sleep at your dojo right?" She looks very concerned. "I don't want to hear about you sleeping in Ueno park. That place has some nasty stuff in it. I think the tengu that used to live there is gone or was tainted. There is just something about it." She put down her cup and took a bit of sandwich.

"Oh! I messaged records about some of the files regarding what you wanted to know, and they are going to bring them up for me when I get back, so I should have something for you faster than you think." Another bit of sandwich meat made her feel better and the coffee was waking her up. "We will get to the bottom of this and find that monster as well."

[datmass]

Momoji's choice in movies and media must not have extended overseas much, since anyone who'd seen Spaceballs - like Kenji - instantly knew without much context. This was not a serious matter, but Max would briefly mention "Spaceballs, classic sci-fi comedy." before things moved on. No one should be left out of that movie. It was a small tension-breaker in the heat of 'The man in the coma probably fought his way out of a creature's stomach'. Nothing, but nothing, was even remotely pleasant about that, save only the fact that he'd somehow managed the feat. Frankly, the more he thought about it, the more Max wanted the man to be alive, so he could probably accept his kudos and make his bragging rights. This wasn't the fate he deserved, but sadly...if there was some procedure they could do, some healer who could undo the damage, they would have, clearly. This was just another tragedy of life, a cruel cutting down of a man before his time.

"You know, the whole thing is something I can't help but be angry about the whole thing. Whatever this thing is, I want to get it and bring it to justice or kill it before anyone else gets hurt."

"Now, you sound more like my sister, which isn't exactly a bad thing. I'm an open-minded guy...but I have little mercy for an unthinking beast."

Neither would Shiro either, but if anyone spoke both about justice AND the killing of a target, it was Anri Fuyunaito.

"Those who commit crimes must be punished without fail, whether they're human or yokai. It's the only way to be fair, Max. We have to be willing to make the kill, when necessary."

He was musing on his sister's words when Momoji brought up his most-recent sleeping placement. Max realized what a mess his nap might have been. It wasn't a full-blown faux pas, but he was a bit in the wrong for that, and fortunately didn't have to pay for it. He began to explain.

"Ueno Park wasn't really planned. I just didn't figure I was okay to drive with the fatigue I weas feeling, at the time. That won't happen again. I have a proper apartmenr and a cot in the dojo for when I work late."

It was actually a common practice in Japan for people to have sleeping arrangements not far from or even IN the workplace. Max often found that one to be weird, but what can we say? People do it! Still, as he was finishing off the last of his meal, his new friend piped in that she might get info back on his search alot sooner than expected. That surprised Max, wondering if she got what he needed so soon. He nodded to her.

"Yeah, we'll crack this soon. Is there somewhere I can drop you off, perhaps?"

[mermalaide]

"I will have to look it up. The Dorm for recruits at the castle has a place to watch movies when everyone is in their down time." She nodded about it, making a mental note. "Admittedly, I am more of a Kurosawa person, I also enjoyed Wolf and Cub, but I have not seen a lot of movies. My father and uncle used to take me with them to some of the shows, but as I got into my last leg of High School, I was able to come home less and less." She was fairly young, and it wasn't uncommon, but it was a little sad all the same. The next time she would get off might be New Year's. A lot of the recruits at least got to visit family then. Older Shinesengumi stayed in the castle more, as did the orphans that had no ties whatsoever.

"Sometimes thinking beasts don't deserve that mercy either, but then I have seen some people go into some very dark places." Momiji sighed. Sometimes things made her feel pretty old. It was a hazard of working, even a short amount of time in law enforcement. You had to brace yourself, it made even the most optimistic men bitter with remorse and regret. "It's always a last resort though, at least for me. unless you know there is no other way around it."

She listened about Ueno park. "I am glad to hear it. That park hasn't been safe for a very long time. A lot of the old timers have stories about it. They typically make us rookies take shifts there, and the worst times are usually taken by a senior member. I have had to patrol that place for a few months now, you can't let your guard down for a second." Momiji thought for a moment at his question. "Well, if you wouldn't mind dropping me back by The Yagi Masion, I would be grateful. It would save time on the train." Most of that would be time waiting, when she could use that time to read through files and fill out paperwork.

[datmass]

There was an immediate sage-nod at the mention of Akira Kurosawa, and not simply because he was more local. The man was a master at film, no question. If you wanted to compare him to someone like Mel Brooks, Mel would be the absolute genius of funny while Akira was an absolute genius of serious. In this way, they were comparable to one another, because what they did was beautifully craft a scene for their art, and the audience will eat it up. Lone Wolf and Cub were also well-known, but Max stated that "I've never actually seen it." as Momoji spoke about it. She then went on to speak about mercy for a beast, and how some people went to far darker places than any creature. That...was something Max knew about very well, ever since Anri, Shiro, and the fire... He wasn't talking about it, but he did nod quietly in agreement with her.

Hearing that Ueno Park actually hadn't been remotely safe in a long time definitely solidified the fact that he'd dodged a damn bullet, and also that there might be alot of situations where a group might take refuge before plotting to do some damage. Now, when Momoji said she'd like a ride back to the Yagi Mansion if at all possible, he pulled out his cellphone when he hit a stoplight and unlocked it before handing it over to her.

"I've never been there, so enter it in and keep it on full audio while I drive."

Once it started giving directions, he'd get a move on, trying hard not to think of the thing that Momoji was thinking about in connection with his own investigation.

No. Not ever. Trying to eat her would be like eating dirt. She would never become a meal to some voracious creature. It would want meat and blood, not the body of a fox who can just become a boulder. At least, to god, I hope so...

Then, a thought hit him. It probably wouldn't go anywhere, but it'd be useful to know, in any case.

"Momoji, this creature you're after... Have you had any ability to trace its patterns via the attacks you can confirm or at least fit the evidence? IF it doesn't have a transport ability, we can at least narrow down its where it could and could not be."

It was something else she could look into, if she didn't know the immediate answer. They didn't have the time to discuss it in full, right now.

[mermalaide]

"Sometimes the old movie house down the street from the manor runs a marathon of old movies and usually Wolf and cub are on the menu." She wondered if she should bring up such dark things.Talking of movies certainly helped. Though she was sure both of them had a good deal on there minds. Momiji wanted very much to get him his closure, whatever that would end up meaning, well she did not know. However, she was chomping at the bit so to speak about going through those papers. Hopefully as early as tonight. Typically there was only a few record keepers on duty, and they got bored if there was nothing else.

"Yes, I certainly would,"She looked at him concerned, though it was mostly about the fact that he seemed to power down and sometimes in the worst of places. "Ueno park was safe very long ago from what I have heard. That was when there were tengu that lived there. Likely the ones that taught Masamune and a few other men of note. They would train on the mountain and in the park there. It was also a place where people would have Cherry viewing and star gazing parties and write haiku back then." It must have been an age. She could only imagine from books really.

Upon being asked about the creature, she woke from drifting thoughts. "Well, not exactly.It has been all over town but as of late, we believe it is moving westward. Which could mean that it has a hunting path, or it was turned loose in that general area. So far, we are tracking each attack and I think we are marking missing people on the map, but that one is a bit harder given that not all missing people could be from this thing, but it is likely that a handful of them are."

[datmass]

"Ah, old theaters playing classics. I could get behind that."

The topic of dark movies didn't seem to bother Max. He was a man who liked media, and the watching of anything from them didn't bog him down or anything, so there was no big deal. He wasn't being incredibly vocal about things right now, as he drove, merely nodding at the Ueno Park fact and saying he did not know that. Tengus were not a specialty of his, though he still knew enough about them in general. As they rode on, the most he was really commenting about was in regards to the case that Momoji and her group had on their platter. It was a menace... He wondered how it took so long for it to even be mentioned by the Hunters. Perhaps they were in their investigation phase, as well, unable to confirm enough for a bounty. It's attack pattern... Wild but westward? A problem, if they couldn't narrow it down.

"I understand. Such a seemingly erratic attack pattern would make it difficult to be sure what is what. I'm sure there's a line in there to follow there somewhere. He may be heading west, indeed, just sticking around some areas before moving onto the next."

It sounded right, in any case. This was a creature that hunts. Whether it did so intelligently or not, it sought prey and avoided danger. Maybe not all danger, but it wasn't so bold as to be flagrant in its actions. Something about this didn't speak of a destination, but rather a journey to do exactly what was implied: Grow strong with repeated killings. As he thought on this further, the car was soon homing in on its destination, and soon...

"We're here."

...there was a large building looming before them.

[mermalaide]

"Ah! So we are!" The Yagi mansion was still lit. Many were coming and going into the night. Thankfully she did not have to patrol the park tonight, she had done so the last night and they were switching up the guard a little. She would mostly be on call until her mentor needed her, or if there was a call. So reading could definitely be done, though, tomorrow came early.

"You can send me a message if you need me or if you see anything odd. I will be here."

Momiji made sure everything on here was together and got ready to step out of the car when it rolled to it's stop. "I do mean it. If you see anything, remember anything, or just need some help." She got out of the car. "It was good meeting you. I mean that." She seemed like such a serious and stoic person, but there was a kindness there, one that really wanted to make the world safer, maybe even a bit more just.

With that, she gave a wave and turned to walk up the walkway and steps to the Yagi mansion. The place had gotten a serious face lift in the last few years, but it was still a spooky old Japanese style mansion. One that had been retrofitted in the days of yore to accommodate the Shinsengumi in it's infancy. As she walked into the lantern light, she and a few other members greeted each other and then she went inside. Much had been revealed this evening about the thing that was hunting people and yokai alike. Hopefully more light would be shed on what had happened to Max's loved one, Selina.

(Momiji makes her exit)

[datmass]

"You can message me, as well. And once again, I'll make sure Shiro is put in the picture. I owe him that."

It was an oversight that he intended to undo, soon enough. Not today, but soon, when they both had enough extra time. Once Momoji was out of the car, she re-affirmed that he should contact him if anything happened, any point where he needed help. Max nodded his understanding, feeling that it was good to find someone in the Shinsengumi who was more sympathetic. Maybe, in time, she might actually learn all the truth about him and his heritage. But not today. She was on a trial basis, and if she came through on this, that would be a step in the right direction.

"You've done me a great deal already, Momoji. I hope to continue that streak, but also don't push yourself too hard. The thing you hunt will take any advantage to overcome you and those at your side."

He bid her good night, and from there drove off, heading back to the city proper. He wasn't going home, however. He'd done this frequently enough. His heading was the dojo.

He pulled up to the traditional-style building as it started to lightly rain, and parked. Keys in, keys out, and he was inside, locking up behind him, keeping the lights out. Having done this plenty of times now, the movement was memorized now. He went directly to the back office and stepped inside. It was his private sanctuary, where he could eat, sleep, and go over any files he wanted to. Technically, this was his yokai hunting office, and in the file cabinet in the corner he kept many files pertaining to dangerous yokai...except for one, which was always locked.

"Don't be afraid of your heritage, Max. You are a child of Fenrir, a noble beast to be sure."

Opening it, he pushed aside the carved fox charm and the Maneki Neko 'standing guard' to pull out his copy of the enchanted book, Metropolis, and a file folder. Putting this down, he stepped over to the food area and pulled out a bottle of sake with a traditional serving cup. He sat down with them at the desk and opened the file There were many papers here, all correlating information on possible sightings that led nowhere, potential suspects who would be able to tell him how to locate and gain passage to The Valley, and at least a few musings on how a fox's realm had ever been pierced in the first place.

"I should be alright, for now. I can never thank you enough for what you've done. I'll let you know, later on, how things turn out at home. And also..."

All of this was alongside an official-looking document - written in case he needed it, with the word 'BENIGN' underlined somewhere on the page - along with a photograph of an attractive brunette with fox ears next to a younger Max Fuyunaito, arms around him with a smile while facing the camera. He poured over this info, sometimes adding to it, here and there. Some nights, he just sat and thought in their presence, having a drink as he was now. Max did not drink heavily, but when he was feeling down, a little chilled sake made him feel a bit better. Right now, he let out a deep sigh through his nose, almost like a wolf in a mood, as the memories surged again.

"...if I come back, it will be for you."

He placed his hand on the photograph as he poured his drink, downed it, and placed the cup down, looking back down at the photograph.

Why...? Why did I ever let you go? I would've defended you from the world, if necessary.

His eyes screwed shut, feeling that deep hurt, once more in his chest.

One word. One word would've done, just to know how you are, but I don't even know if you're still alive.

He felt the tears he always did when he tormented himself like this, wondering the what-ifs that could've happened, and always questioning the reasons why. His family would have understood if he ran away with her, protected her, loved her... But no, he had responsibilities, and she had to go where no other being was allowed to go, now more than ever. And yet, he had now looked into methods of entering that peaceful domain for himself. For now, he had exhausted all of his own leads, and needed to depend on others, or else he might never find her. Max picked up the photograph, looking over the woman's features, knowing that they will have changed, and yet...not changed in all this time. Five years to a kitsune were nothing, whereas he felt the pull of time as a human, quite often, especially in not knowing whether she was safe or not.

Please be out there, Selena, and let me find you...

END