Long shadows stretched through the city; fading light a creeping whisper along the t skyscrapers. Detective Akiko and Mori returo their prect; exhausted from their day of chasing false leads and w up dead ends.

  With weary steps, the detectives eheir headquarters; void of life as people had left for today, crime has been on the downturn sihe gates have been introduced to the world, or so it is reported.

  Inside, a rge lobby area with a high ceiling and a huge delier in the tre. The floor marbled dark blue with lighter shades of white swirling through. There are a few leather sofas around the room and ay reception desk at the far end of the room. There are many portraits of previous chiefs and political officials, famous rankers, hunters, and heroes. Above the desk is a big picture of prime minister Kentaro Ito, he looked stiff and strict with short slicked back hair. The man had no soul in his eyes, bck like deep caves.

  Down several sets of hallways, through a maze of doors and staircases, they arrived in a small ba, away from the light of the world.

  "You two. Meeting room now." A stern voied through the empty hall; Captain Shimada's anding voice echoed throughout the hallway.

  "Yes sir." The tired detectives responded in unison, dragging their feet towards the Rit's office, (Ranker Crimes Unit). A tiny office built for a department created to monitor ranker reted activities. Long since obsolete.

  There is no ranker crime any more. At least that’s rime mio wants everyoo believe.

  Through the door a small room illuminated by the setting sun and an office light dangling off the roof. Loangur window frames divided the small offito smaller squares. A rger meeting room led at the back wall of the office.

  "Good evening you two." An entlemaed the duo. Senior detective Takeshi Yamanaka, a veteran of the Tokyo police department and RCU. Thin greying hair, eatly and sharp eyes like a hawk. Years on the job have worn him down, evident by the sags and folds that formed on his face.

  "How was your day in this great city of ours?" The older man stood up to greet the duo with handshakes and a sly smile.

  "Not good." Akiko began. "There were no leads on the murder, we searched the and asked around but there was nothing. No one saw a thing or was just gd that his dead."

  "And our new serial killer friend? Any leads on him?" Takeshi inquired, his sharp eyes sing their faces. "Again, nothing. They're a ghost," Kenji answered, exasperated from the long day.

  "Hey, meeting room now." Shimada's voice cut through the hallways. Two more officers trailed behind Shimada. Detective Mai Kaizaki, with her short bob cut hair, dyed a dark purple and yellow eyes, lit up by a dark eyeliner and mascara. Apanied by her young partner; junior detective Luano, sleek dark brown hair, styled to the side and dark blue eyes. An import from Italy.

  "Evening everyone, I brought us all a lil treat." Mai reached int, throwing everyone a ed coffee.

  "Ahh thanks." Everyohanked her in response.

  "All right, detectives report!" Shimada boomed signalling the start of the meeting. Captain Shimada, with his deep anding void trademark scowl, stood at the head of the table. A grumpy old man in a suit and tie, his presence dematention. The detectives straightened in their seats, listening with i.

  "I'm being hounded by the suits above, demanding to know our progress on the masked serial killer." Shimada sternly asked each member. Gaze sweeping across the room.

  "We need results, and we hem now. This Reaper is making us all look inpetent. What do we have?"

  "What is there to update sir? We know nothing about this guy." Mai remarked, finishing off her coffee.

  "We don't know if it's a guy irl Mai." Luca chimed in.

  "Please, that much rage and power. You think these arms are capable of that age." Mai retorts flexing her right arm.

  "What we do know sir, is that whoever this reaper is, he is ing like a fox. Stig to the shadows, his singur purpose; exterminating the crimson bandits. My sources on the inside say that at least 300 or so bandits have been firmed dead or missing." Kenji answered .

  "300? That's far too many for just crimson bandits."

  "300 is not just for the bandit’s sir. But uilds that were caught doing business in bandit territory, another source has informed me that their guilds are to scared to dare step foot in bandit territory." Kenji replied to the captain's question.

  "This brings me back captain, long nights, coffee fuelled runs to crime ses, chasing elusive criminals..." Takeshi sighed pensively, reminisg about the old days. Shimada eyed his aged veteran.

  "And I seem to remember you fast asleep at your desk most of the time." The captain remarked dryly, although he too had nostalgia in his eyes.

  "Anything else?"

  "Some witnesses say that the reaper could summon soldiers from the shadows. Others say they are a one-man army who doesn't need soldiers." Luca added.

  "So, you wao tell the higher ups is that our serial killer is possible a man or a woman, very ing, quite possibly is a neancer css or quite possibly not?" Captain Shimada rubbed his temples in frustration.

  "Captain, I uand that you're in a tough spot, and we're grasping at straws here, but there's someone else. We have a POI (Person of i)." Akiko announced.

  Akiko tapped her phone, projeg it to the s mou the back of the room. A younger image of Ere dispyed, a mug shot.

  "Sir, meet Ere. This was the only image we could find. Just imagine him with u white hair, and the grumpy eyes of the captain's mug." Akiko held back a smile as Shimada's brows furrowed.

  "And why has this man caught your i detective?"

  "He saw through Aki's psyetry, captain." Kenji interjected.

  "I offered him my card; to get a glimpse into his ret memories and he shut me down."

  "It wasn’t just the psyetry,” Akiko added. “There is something off about him. He is ected to the Crimson Bandits somehow; I feel it. But we need more to go on."

  The table look at each other with intrigue, "Is he in the system?" Luca asked.

  "A k warrior, level 14, nothing that screams suspicious..." Mai went through her phone.

  "He has a record!" Luterrupted.

  Co-detectives turning to their junior partner with inquisitive brows.

  "Oh, well not a criminal record per se but, he is in the system."

  "...Luca, what is it?" The captain sighed.

  "14 years ago, he was arrested for assaulting his ma a fast-food restaurant." Luca tapped his phone sending the photos to the main s.

  A fat balding man appeared on the s, the type you would see iain types of films. His right side covered is and bruises, a slight snt in the eye.

  *Phhht*

  Takeshi whistled. "He did a number on him, why wasn't he formally charged?"

  "The man dropped the charges, said that he fell dowairs." Luca tinued.

  "However, there were several pints about him toug the female staff. He is also currently serving time for possession of kiddie porn, to which he cims it nted."

  "Good looking, a bad boy and a man of mystery." Mai leaned closer to the s, rubbing her .

  "Aki why do you get all the luck?" Mai teased causing Akiko to redden, bringing herself bato the room with a cough.

  "A keen sense of justid willing to put it into a, he would have made a fine poli." Takeshi chimed in giving an approving nod to the mugshot.

  "A man that takes justito his own hands is not worth having on the foro matter how noble his iions may seem." Akiko interjected with a bite, her eyes afme with disdain towards the mugshot.

  The RCU detective always hated vigintes and it was one of her reasons for joining the RCU; quitting her ranker job to pursue this career.

  "Aki's right. I doubt that this reaper is taking out criminals from a moral high ground. If anything, this man is a criminal with an infted ego and a superiority plex." Luca stated towards the group.

  "Perhaps, but it must be said that the ward was in a desperate need for a ing. The bandits are responsible for a lot of misery in ward 4. Nothing wrong with a few vigintes making em fear the shadows." Takeshi offered.

  "And one man decide who lives and who dies? Unatable to a themselves? That's anarchy." Akiko shot back heatedly.

  Takeshi gave a smug smile and shrugged his shoulders, amused by his junior’s vi.

  "Oh, to be young and akeshi snickered. Akiko was furious, mouth about to foam but the captain quickly stopped the rising tension in the room.

  "Detectives!" A pause. "You argue ethical and moral dilemmas when your off duty but for now stick to what we knht now, 'Uhe w.'" Eyeing Takeshi directly. "The reaper is a serial killer with little regard for life or the w, no matter who he targets." Captain Shimada asserted.

  "Thank you, Akiko, I bring to the higher ups OI." He paused looking at each member in the eye.

  "You and Kenji will tinue your iigation into the reaper case."

  "Mai, I want you to pile all the eviden the deaths of the crimson bandits, anything that links back to the reaper."

  "Luca, I'm reassigning you to assist Aki and Mori. I want you to keep tabs on this 'Ere', until we clusively tie him to the killings."

  "Finally, Takeshi."

  "Yes sir." Replying dryly.

  "Stay out of trouble you old bag. And help your juniors, don't piss them off even more Takeshi."

  "Good work today detectives, go home a some rest. We will start again tomorrow. Dismissed." Captain Shimada got up ahe room, disappearing down the halls back to his office.

  Takeshi yawned, rising from his chair. "It's been a long day, time to head home a up for tomorrow." Mai pushed off from the table, throwing her into the trash.

  Aki and Kenji, left back through the warren of offices, chatting in hushed tones. "Why didn't you back me up back there?" Aki whispered to Kenji.

  "You’re a big girl you fight your own battles." Kenji gently held her shoulder. "Plus, Takeshi is an old dog, all bark." He replied calmly as they stepped into the brisk, chilly night. Their breath misting in the air. The hum of the bustling city slowly fell silent as night nearly fell upon them.

  "WAIT!" A voice called out. Turning, Aki and Kenji satain Shimada emerge from the headquarters. Apanied by the department. "He's struck again."

  "Again... The sun's still up-"

  "I know, we have a live ooo. The locals are holding him at the moment, let's go before the bandits up." Captain Shimada ordered the department.