A Bar Full Of Spirits? (Open)

Posts : 84 Join date : 2014-07-04

There were times, she had to admit, when she wondered why the old man couldn't leave his apartment (for once) and do some of this work on his own. The only problems with that was One: that wouldn't leave her with very much to do to justify her scholarship. Two: he was so old, he would probably wind up drawing just as much attention to himself showing up at some of these establishments as she would.

Riko had considered going back home to change, but the message she had received from Mr. Ookami implied a sense of urgency. She had picked up the trail by the train station. Apparently, the fellow she was tasked with keeping an eye was under suspicion for some shady dealings. The company he worked for hired Nero to find out what he was up to and to report back with his findings Which would wind up being Riko's findings.

Up until now, his trip around town had been boring. Just a lot of walking, with a brief detour into a tea shop to grab a drink. Now, though, it was starting to get late. And his path was leading them towards the clubs and bars. Riko was starting to look rather out of place. A very disconcerting notion, considering she was supposed to be tailing this man. If he went into a bar, than she was in deep trouble.

'I hope he appreciates this.' she thought to herself. Riko soldiered on and acted as if it was normal for a girl, her age, to be walking around this kind of area. So far, so good...nobody seemed to be paying her any second guesses.

Then, the man walked into a bar. Just her luck. The establishment was called the Laughing Oni. Riko made a mental note of that and looked around. No curios eyes were pointed in her direction. So, she ducked into the alley next to the bar. Maybe there was a window where she could eavesdrop.

Posts : 14 Join date : 2014-06-25

So, here she was.

At a bar. Of all places.

She was outside the door, on the property. Close enough to take note of everyone who entered, but far enough as to not to be seen by the two buff security guards standing on either side of the large double doors. Her brown eyes peered over the lush rose bush she had ducked behind, curious and youthful in disposition. There was just something about this place... about this bar... that she couldn't put her finger on. Sure, it was exciting -- an underage girl wanting to sneak into an adult atmosphere of alcohol and dancing. But, there was something else. And, well, it wasn't like she had come here of her own accord...

Zeus had so fervently suggested that she follow him, and so she had let her avian ally lead her here. He had suggested that something was awry. And, now, he, too, was hiding... perched on a branch of a nearby tree... though not nearly as much of a sore thumb as Rima. What they were here for was never answered, never clarified, and Rima half-way wondered if he had just wanted an excuse to mate with the female birds that happened to visit the area from time to time.

But, it wasn't like she was complaining -- there were so many beautiful girls and handsome boys coming in and out of the club, that it made Rima's cheeks warm.

Still. There didn't seem to be anything out of the ordinary.

That was, until the brunette spotted a girl around her age sneaking around the building, backing into the nearby alley. Her brown eyes narrowed, and her mind ran circles. What is she doing, lurking around a place like this so late at night? Though, of course, she was one to talk....

Rima just didn't look suspicious.

So, with a keen observation of her surroundings and a running tiptoe, the Eagle Senshi took after the mysterious girl, determined to find her and discover just what she was up to. And, then, noticing her squatting in the alley and being the blunt brunette she was, Rima walked up to her in confidence and lady-like ego. "You know.." she subtly warned in a touch above a whisper, placing a hand on her hip. "You shouldn't be wandering around such a mature place at such a late hour. You could get in really big trouble if you get caught."

Posts : 84 Join date : 2014-07-04

The only windows she had found were lined a lot closer to the ground than anywhere else. The dirty surface didn't offer much of a look into the fine establishment that her suspect had entered. This wasn't good. Most likely these windows just lead to the basement, so unless he wound up down there, they weren't going to do her much good.

Maybe she could sneak in through a back door? She supposed that was a possibility, but it might require that she try and pick a lock...something she wasn't sure if she could actually do. So, that left her with the windows. Maybe she could get lucky and one of them would be open! Riko crouched down and reached out to give a testing push and/or pull. It would be a rather tight squeeze, but the young would-be detective would not have the opportunity to test out this theory of her's.

A voice broke the silence of the alley. A female voice that came with a quiet tone, but it carried a scolding comment. Riko shot upright with a slight "Eeeep!" She slowly turned and saw the girl, standing at the opening of the alley, looking rather cute, but also looking like she was about to give Riko a piece of her mind. Of all the times to be approached by a cute girl...

"Ah....Ah haha...hahaha." she laughed, nervously and rubbed the back of her neck, "You know, uh...would you believe I was just passing through?"

It was worth a shot.

Posts : 14 Join date : 2014-06-25

She watched as the girl before her practically squealed in startle and surprise. The brunette pursed her lips to keep the amused grin from forming on her face. True... she hadn't meant to frighten her, but it was funny all of the same.

"Ah....Ah haha...hahaha." "You know, uh...would you believe I was just passing through?"

Rima gave a sly smile, her brown eyes glimmering knowingly. She studied the girl's features from what moonlight swept through the alley. Dark hair. Brown eyes. Petite... hell, The Eagle Senshi would go as far as to say she was just plain adorable. Especially given the reaction and remark she'd just given.

The brunette found herself laughing. "No," she answered honestly. "i don't think I would believe that." Afterall, she had basically just caught the girl trying to sneak into the bar, or, at least, thinking about it. That wasn't something that happened sub-consciously.

But, it wasn't like she was going to hold the girl accountable. She had her own reasons for being here, too... even if she wasn't quite sure what they were yet. Though, perhaps she could find out for herself instead of allowing Zeus to explain... not to mention, she wasn't even sure where he was right now.

So, Rima decided to walk over to the girl, and casually duck down in a squatting position beside her. She winked, and with a cool peace-sign gesture of her hand, she said, "Whatever you're up to... count me in."

Posts : 84 Join date : 2014-07-04

It wasn't easy to make out much of the features of the figure that was blocking her only exit. Other than the fact that she was a girl. A girl who was probably close to her age, probably a little older. And by her voice, she certainly sounded like a cute girl.

Worst of all, she wasn't buying her lame excuse. Really, though, who would buy that? "Heh, can't blame me for trying." she offered, lamely. Well, she was busted. That was all there was to it. Although...if this girl wasn't supposed to be here, either, than just what was SHE doing here?

Riko was surprised to see her walk over and crouch down by the window, next to her. She certainly seemed to be as cute as she sounded. After flashing a quick peace sign, the stranger offered to join her in her activities. Without even finding out just what they would be doing!

She could picture a dark and dimly lit club, where they would sit and a booth and listen to some old jazz music. For some reason, martinis were sitting on the table in front of them, although Riko couldn't begin to guess who, in their right mind, would serve them. Her cheeks flared a quick red color, as she recalled her original purpose.

"Ah, right!" she said, "I...well, we need to get inside. So, let's see if any of these windows open!"

Having a partner-in-crime (for lack of a better term) certainly sent Riko's spirits high up. She grinned and tested out the window. And on the first go, it opened up. Riko had never had such luck, before! Not only did she find a quick way, inside, but now she had a cute girl to join in on the adventure! How could this night get any better?

Posts : 14 Join date : 2014-06-25

"Heh, can't blame me for trying."

Rima found herself smiling, amused. Maybe even a little flirting danced across the curvature of her lips, too. "Yeah, that's true. I give you two points for effort." She couldn't deny that this girl was something else.

Surprise, and then a bit of a dazed look crossed the girl's face as she joined her. Rima vaguely wondered what she was thinking about that made her cheeks brighten so, and almost asked, but dismissed it once the girl seemed to flash back to reality.

"Ah, right!" "I...well, we need to get inside. So, let's see if any of these windows open!"

Rima poised a finger to her lips in thought, going through the mental entrances and exits of the building. Obviously, the front doors were not a smart choice. They were both underage, and would most likely either be carded or caught.

But... let's see... windows....

She searched the walls they were hiding behind. Then... she spotted one window, close to the ground. "There!" She pointed. Rectangular. Small enough for maybe a medium-sized dog. It was possible they could both fit through it... though, not at the same time, of course. And... if it turned out they couldn't... well, there was bound to be a backdoor or a secret underground passageway, right?

And, now, as she glanced over to watch the girl's reaction, the brunette found herself noticing the girl's features. Short brown hair, shoulder-cut. Dark eyes. Petite figure, dainty features. Rima had to admit... this girl was sort of cute. Or, at least, what she could see of her in the half-darkness. And, no doubt, her replies made her even more adorable!

As she trip-toed toward the window she assumed they would climb into, it dawned on her that she had, yet again, forgotten her manners. Quietly cursing herself for being rude, she glanced over her shoulder at the girl and gave her an embarrassed grin. "Sorry!... I don't think I caught your name... I'm always doing that. Forgetting my manners..." she rambled bluntly.

Posts : 84 Join date : 2014-07-04

The window had opened, much to Riko's delight, but her moment of glory was short lived. The space it provided was hardly enough for her to squeeze through. Her brow furrowed in frustration. It never failed. Just when she thought she could look cool in front of a cute girl, the universe just HAD to find a way to throw it back into her face.

'We'll just have to see about THAT, Universe!' Riko thought, defiantly. Then, the cute brunette pointed out another window. That seemed like it would open just wide enough for them to slip through. That was a step in the right direction! "Sounds good!" Riko kept her voice to an excited whisper as she followed the older girl to their next option.

"My name?" she had paused at the window and was about to make an attempt at opening it, before she was interrupted by the other girl's brief rambling. Aha! This seemed like an excellent opportunity to look very cool. She just had to play right.

So, she reached into her shirt pocket and produced a business card. She did like to keep at least one of those handy. You never knew just when you might meet a potential client. Or, as in this case, a girl who wanted to know your name. She handed it over, with a quick wink.

"Cheung Riko." she replied, "And what might your name be?"

Posts : 14 Join date : 2014-06-25

Their fingers brushed as she reached for the card, a slight tingle of the interaction causing Rima to hesitate for a second longer than needed. She took the card and read it. As if expecting to find a clue or unravel a difficult puzzle. The words on the card were plain and pretty straight-forward.

Ookami Investigations
All Matters Handled Discreetly

Riko Cheung
Intern/Personal Assistant

So, she's an investigating assistant? Like a George Watson to a Sherlock Holmes? The brunette glanced back up to look at the petite girl with new interest and understanding. Her life must have been pretty exciting! Well, of course, not to say hers wasn't.... but... this girl's life seemed normally exciting. Something Rima could never compare with after becoming a senshi...

She blushed, slightly caught off-guard by her wink as she said her name.

"Cheung Riko." "And what might your name be?"

Rima smiled charmingly, resting her hands on the ledge. "My name's Washino Rima," She began, lifting and settling one of her legs inside the window. "and I'm glad to be diving into danger with you, Investigator Riko-chan." That's when she returned the quick, teasing gesture, then jumped through the window like she did it everyday -- candid in not only her speech, but also in her actions.

Posts : 84 Join date : 2014-07-04

Even though their finger's brushed against each other, Riko played it cool. Internally, though, she was ecstatic to be talking to a cute girl. As the touch lingered, Riko reminded herself that she needed to keep playing it cool let the card do the work. She was pretty sure that most girls couldn't claim (with any seriousness) that they were a detective! Well...assistant TO a detective. But, still! She did all the work!

Or at least she did the physical work. The girl who identified herself as Washino Rima blushed just enough to make Riko want to break out in a grin. But, she was halfway through the window when she looked back up and said,

"and I'm glad to be diving into danger with you, Investigator Riko-chan."

Before winking back and slipping through the window. Riko felt a brief pounding in her chest, 'I-I think she was flirting BACK!' she thought, using this temporary privacy to grin through a light blush of her own. Riko went back down by the window and slipped through the window to join Rima in the bar's basement. A perfect infiltration!

"OK, Rima-chan." she said, when she was inside, "Let's see about sneaking our way upstairs."

Posts : 14 Join date : 2014-06-25

Rima glanced around the filthy infrastructure. Dirt. Dust. Cobwebs.... or maybe those were spider webs. Oh, god. She really hoped there were none of them around.... she had a distinct distaste for spiders and all things associating with them.

In either case, there certainly were a lot shelves, in a neat row. One behind the other with just enough space to walk between and survey them, like dominoes. Stacked with beer bottles instead of black dots, of course. And, the worst part was... it was freezing! She was sure that, if she touched one of the stone grey walls, it would be just as frigid, if not more. Then... in the corner... there was a brown, wooden chest. A treasure chest, to be exact. I wonder what could be in there... Afterall, it was quite odd to have something like that in the basement of a bar, right? And, she was willing to bet it didn't contain gold.

"OK, Rima-chan.""Let's see about sneaking our way upstairs."

Rima nodded diligently, spotting them just as soon as the words had left the brunette's lips. Sure enough, in the corner adjacent to the large bark box, set a stair of concrete steps that led up to where all the fun and party was. She could even hear a catchy dance/pop song booming from up-top.

"Let's go!" she exclaimed excitedly and rather confidently. However, fearful of possible creepy crawlys, the eagle senshi stayed close to Riko as they tip-toed to the upper floor, both hands gripping onto the fabric of one of the girl's sleeves as she tried not to think about the eight-legged monsters that could be lurking about.

Posts : 84 Join date : 2014-07-04

The wooden chest was curious. Bars weren't well known for having large deposits of gold doubloons. At least not any more. But, as curious as it was, the bar wasn't part of the mission. No, she was interested in one particular patron. Well, honestly, she found Rima far more interesting than whoever that jerk upstairs was. But, she wasn't being paid to keep tabs on the brunette.

And she had already wasted enough time trying to find her way inside. Now that she was here, it was time to get in to find out what was going on. Hopefully she hadn't missed out on anything important. Although that wooden box was worthy of a little mental note to investigate later. If she got the chance.

First step was to get out of the cold and dusty basement and up to where the loud music was. That sure would make eavesdropping hard. Oh well. Carefully, the pair made their way up the stairs. And as she did, Riko felt a tug on her sleeve. Rima had the fabric in both hands and looked...well, frankly, she looked adorable. Riko flashed a quick grin, before whispering.

"Almost there. All we gotta do is act like we're supposed to be here and nobody should notice us." she advised. She kept her voice low, not wanting to take the chance of drawing any attention when they were this close to the door. Even if the music was loud, explaining their presence in the basement wasn't going to be an easy one.

Posts : 14 Join date : 2014-06-25

Her checkered vans lightly brushed the surface of each step, being weary of any possible old, creaky noises that could sound at any time. The fabric of her white flannel kissed Riko's as Rima practically clung to the girl, so much so that their arms touched and no personal space was recognized. It wasn't the fear -- it was the tension. The suspense. And, inwardly, she was loving every moment of it... especially having someone here with her to experience it with. Though, of course, what, exactly, they were investigating still remained much of a mystery, as well as the detective herself. Both of which the eagle senshi was eager to know more about.

"Almost there. All we gotta do is act like we're supposed to be here and nobody should notice us."

Her lips broke into an amused smile. That shouldn't be hard, considering she did it all of the time, right? "No problem, I can do that!" she whispered with a promising wink. They had made it all the way to the top now, and every step had felt like an eternity. Though, I don't think I'd mind being in eternity with her... She slipped a peek over at Riko, who seemed to be indecisive about opening the door that now was the only obstacle standing between two, cute underage girls and a loud, partying club and bar joint. Needless to say, Rima was not hestitant as she curled her fingers around the cool metal of the door knob with ease, silently, but filled with so much angst and blood-pumping adrenaline that she suddenly missed such moments of anticipation. It was true that she hadn't encountered a thrill like this in a while, not since becoming a senshi, and she often found enjoyment out of it.

She pulled it open toward them slowly, enough for the both of them to peer through a sliver of colourful lights and be sure the area was secure of any possible guards or watchmen. The brunette scanned the area discreetly, her back circumstantially against the detective's bosom. Then, in an inconspicuous murmur, she gave rise to a fairly important question that had been plaguing her mind. "Who... or what... are we looking for here?" Deeper meaning flowed within her words. What were they really here for? Of course, they both had different reasons entirely -- Rima's supposedly being senshi-related, and Riko's being the normal detective case. But, did Riko's mystery and purpose for being here have anything to do with the evils that lurked beyond the Earth? Could they... be connected in some way?

The brunette couldn't be for certain, but she was determined to find out.

Posts : 84 Join date : 2014-07-04

There were a great number of factors that could account for the sudden spike in adrenaline. Having a cute girl clinging on to her arm certainly wasn't the worst one. Sneaking into a bar also had to answer for some of it. And getting closer to her primary objective was coming in at a distant third. She WAS supposed to be here for work-related purposes. Not that any of the bouncers would pay attention to that reason.

And not that she was about to give it, either. The last thing she wanted was to tip off the man she was tailing that she was following him around town. Better to be just one of a pair of girls looking for a little misadventure in a place they weren't supposed to be. They'd probably just be shown the door and told never to come back. Riko hoped that's what her luck would bring her.

At the door, Rima took the lead and opened the door. Getting a peek inside, aloud the sounds of the bar to barge their way into the basement. Riko could only make out a few patrons. No bouncers or any other employees. But, she did catch her man at the end of the bar. Sitting by himself and nursing a drink. His briefcase was on the table, kept well within his sight. Was he waiting for someone?

Her thought process was interrupted by Rima's question. The girl was currently helping her in this little endeavor and pressed right up against her. She felt the beginning of a blush start up and tried to maintain her cool. "The guy at the end of the bar, there. His name's Yoshida. I have to keep tabs on him." she answered, all the while wishing she could forget the case and just go dancing with Rima. Or go do just about anything else with the brunette.

Stupid work.

"OK...I think now's our chance." she said. Taking Rima by the hand, she lead the way out of the basement and into the club, proper. The journey was quick, but the seconds it took lingered on for what felt like ages. Riko slid into a booth and shot a glance over to her target, before looking back over to Rima.

"See? Couldn't have been easier." she winked.

Posts : 14 Join date : 2014-06-25

Rima scanned the room. The dancefloor. The booths, the bar. There was a good amount of people here. Perhaps, just enough not to notice her and Riko. But, through all of that... none of them seemed particularly suspicious to the Eagle senshi, that is, until Riko pointed him out.

"The guy at the end of the bar, there. His name's Yoshida. I have to keep tabs on him."

The brunette followed the young detective's gaze, spotting an older man in a long, black trench coat, which, of course, reawakened her memory of James. How he used to cuddle her. Hold her. Tell her everything would be alright. How he loved her, and then... just like that, he-- no. Focus., she told herself, and narrowed her eyes to gather a more vivid view. This man was seemingly elderly, grey-haired. Dark eyes, and very, very pale. One hand held a beer in his hand, while the other rested upon a briefcase on the surface of the bar table. He seemed to scan the area, watch what was happening around him, almost like he was looking for something... or someone....

In any case, the Yoshida guy did seem totally guilty of something. And, he emitted a pretty dark aura, too. She understood why the pretty pixie girl beside her had been tracking him. Though, she couldn't help but wonder, what, exactly, he would have or could have done.

Rima opened her mouth to verbalize her thoughts, when --

"OK...I think now's our chance."

Suddenly, Riko had Rima's hand in hers, and they were bolting across the dance floor, across the room. Rima felt her cheeks warm at such an unexpected and surprising reaction, and she slid in fast next to Riko, sleeve touching sleeve.

They were still holding hands.

And.... she never wanted to let go.

"See? Couldn't have been easier."

She stared at Riko for a moment, a glimmer of happiness and adventure and excitement glistening in her eyes. She couldn't hide the slightest of giggles that escaped.

Then, she took a sneak peak back at the suspect, remembering what they were really here for. Wondering if he was the one she was on senshi-duty for, too. "What now?" she asked, adrenaline peaking. She beamed the brightest smile.

They were just getting started.

Posts : 84 Join date : 2014-07-04

Whatever it was Nero Ookami was keeping from her, Riko couldn't even begin to fathom. The old man was always pulling off stunts like this. Mostly, because he just liked to show off. And maybe because he wanted Riko to figure things out for herself. That to be part of it. A tiny part, but a part nonetheless.

The man couldn't have looked more suspicious if he had a giant glowing sign over his head that said "CROOK" in blinking letters. Riko would have to work things out, as she went along. At least she had someone to pass some of the time with. In their mad dash, she kept an eye out for any curious parties who may have been interested in their entrance. Her luck was holding out.

They made it into the booth and had a great view of the target. As Rima peaked behind her, Riko took a glance over in his direction. He was an edgy looking guy. And from the way he kept looking around the bar and over towards the bar, it seemed that this was supposed to be his meeting place. Whatever Riko was supposed to get evidence of, this was going to be the place.

She turned her attention back to , the brunette in the seat across from her and realized she was still holding the other girl's hand. She let go, with a sheepish grin and a blush "Heh...well, anyways," she said, "Now we just sit and wait."

Riko turned her grin into a wry smirk, "Maybe get a drink, even. Y'know. To keep our cover going." the detective suggested, "My buddy over there's gonna do something he probably shouldn't be doing. Once I find out who the partner in crime is, I'll let my boss know and we'll be all set."

Posts : 14 Join date : 2014-06-25

"Heh...well, anyways," "Now we just sit and wait."

Rima returned an amused smile, cocking her head to one side in admiration of Riko's cute reaction. Well, they didn't have to sit here and keep watch, did they? As much as the brunette liked being so close to the detective, it seemed like it would be much more fun to go over to the dance floor and let loose. This idea, of course, popped a new question into gear. I wonder if she likes to dance. But, even if she did... she's here for business. The eagle senshi wasn't sure if the brunette beside her would deter from her mission -- even for a second. She seemed like the dedicated type... but, that, of course, made her even more appealing.

"Maybe get a drink, even. Y'know. To keep our cover going."

Rima's lips broke out into an mischievous grin, nearly gasping, her brown gaze beginning to gleam with a desire of a new experience. "That's sounds fun!" She commented in enthusiasm. She never could turn down trouble. Plus, it was a great idea!

"But..." Hm... she wondered, her face turning into a question as the practicality struck her. "Don't we need IDs for that, Riko-chan?" She asked delicately. In the back of her mind, she hoped that her new ~~crush~~ friend would have some sort of back-up or solution to this. And, if she didn't.... well.... a certain eagle constellation senshi could barge into the joint and demand to be served alcohol.... afterall, who would deny a superhero?

"My buddy over there's gonna do something he probably shouldn't be doing. Once I find out who the partner in crime is, I'll let my boss know and we'll be all set."

She nodded her understanding, still curious as to what all of this was leading up to, but figured it was none of her business. She'd find out sooner or later.

Rima glanced over at the man again, still suspicious of him. It wasn't just the fact that a detective was tracking him. There was just... something off about him -- the same feeling she had gotten earlier when analyzing him. An icky, out-of-placeness radiated off of him, and it bothered her that she couldn't quite figure out why.

But, then he turned around.

Intimidating eyes glared back at her, glowing a malevolent red. His mouth opened ever-so-slightly to reveal a beastly forked tongue, rattling at her threateningly.

Her heart stopped. Her breath caught. Her face one of shock. She immediately knew what she was seeing was real, and that everyone in the building was in potential danger. It wasn't an illusion of the flashing lights in the bar... and she had done this too many times before to mistake it for a trick of the eye.

The man her and Riko-chan had been tracking.... the one that they had been spying on.... was, actually, a youma. And, he was certainly, definitely up to no good.

Posts : 84 Join date : 2014-07-04

So far, Riko was feeling pretty confident in her plans. They had all been going without a hitch and even had the benefit of sharing some time with a cute girl. In a club, no less. She smirked back at Rima as the girl seemed to be going along with her plan of "blending in". The only problem came when she raised a practical problem that they both seemed to be facing. Namely a lack of proper identification that said they should be permitted to drink.

Which neither of the two, actually were. So, that was one small hitch in her plan. Riko furrowed her brow in concentration as she tried to find a solution to this puzzle. Her focus had shifted away from the target, ever so briefly. Long enough that she did not notice the silent exchange between the two.

In the moment it took for her to try and cook up a plan that didn't involve running out to buy the first fake ID that was being peddled on the street, Riko looked back up to find the man's attention refocused on the drink before him. Gone were the signs of something otherworldly about him.

To the detective, he appeared to be a man with a secret. One who was on edge and knew that every moment that passed was one that would either bring him closer to his goal or closer to getting caught. And as far as the Hong Kong girl was concerned, they were still unnoticed.

"Shoot, that's a good point. I'm not too sure." she tapped her chin, thoughtfully, "Maybe that would be pushing our luck. Wouldn't want to do something to get kicked out, when we've come all this way."

As much as she hated it, her more practical mind was winning out. She was on the clock and probably shouldn't be drinking on the job. Probably. Although Rima was ready and willing. Maybe there was a way they could sneak an order in. Riko glanced around the club...perhaps if she found some empty glasses, she could flag down a waitress and put on a charade that they already had been carded. It seemed as good a plan, as any.

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