Chapter 1: The Blind Phoenix

Lacy doesn't let her surprise show, but the fact that Takezo recognized her catches her off guard. She quickly searched her memory ... His face does look familiar beyond her recent research ... Formal event? ... Hmmmm ... she thinks as her mind begins to put the pieces together. The one time she had seen Kabuki Theatre was awhile ago when she had first moved to Japan. She had been looking for something to do that would teach her about traditional Japanese culture and had been invited to a performance by one of her first student-clients. The memory flooded back now. After the show, they had attended a fundraising after-party. It was a very fancy black-tie event and many of the Kabuki performers joined over the course of the evening. Yes, she had met Shinmen then ... His memory is incredible! ... she thinks enviously ... Although, I am very 'memorable' ... unable to contain her vanity.

A more concerning thought crosses her mind ... I was only an Initiate for the Agency back then. As I recall, I was not very good at hiding my secret identity from those with an experienced eye. Takezo may have recognized that I was a ninja in training and kept track of me since then ... Alternatively, he might have predicted that he would be pursued by other shinobi given the value of the phoenix and prepared accordingly. If the Agency has records of suspected ninjas from other clans, it's entirely possible Kurama Shin does as well and I might be on that list.

Lacy's thought process only takes the blink of an eye ... Well, at this point, it's not the worst if he knows I'm a shinobi. I just needed to get close enough to confirm that he is the thief and assess the options. I was worried he might run if he suspected a ninja coming from a far. I must be careful, but no reason to blow my cover yet in case he doesn't know. It may yet be an advantage ... she concludes.

"Oh, you remember me! Wow, I'm so flattered! That fundraiser event was a while ago. I wasn't even really a fan of you then as that was my first show, but you captured my heart and I've been learning about Kabuki ever since," she lied. Although since identifying Takezo as her prime suspect, she had researched a lot about him, his performances and Kabuki in general. She had become very intrigued by the art. She remembers his performance and how impressive it had been. So it was an easy lie.

Lacy excitedly sits down to join Takezo and asks, "What role are you currently preparing for?"

Takezo smiles wryly, "Well right at this moment I am preparing for a very important role, as a most consummate dinner partner to a very beautiful lady." The tea arrives and he nods to the waitress, a simple gesture but she knows had he wanted to order he would have said more. With a practice graced and measured movements, he proceeds with the tea pouring for them both. Letting her choose which cup she wanted. "So how much have you learned about Kabuki, may I ask?"

There was something about his manner and familiarity that suggested that perhaps there was a bit more to his statement than having met once at a fundraiser or that he might know she was a Shinogami. He seemed completely relaxed in her presence as if he believed no harm could come to him by her or he would not care if it did. This was not the way of most Shinogami, as there was always at least a level of guardedness when in a social setting. Further, all the details she had read about him had him being a highly trained Shinogami who paid very close attention to detail which would definitely carry that slight edge she had come to notice in other Shinogami but it was not there, at least not right now but why? Did he discount her, no, that did not match his profile at all then what? There seemed to be a mystery within a mystery here and yet he seemed as if he were content just spending time with her.

Lacy smiled. She was beautiful, but she never got tired of hearing someone else tell her because she made an effort to look her best. At least when it seemed sincere. She explained what she had learned about the rivalry between various tachiyaku and that she personally thought Bando out classed Nakamura by a long shot with a wink. His manner made her relax and enjoy the rendezvous. She asked how Shinmen kept his edge in the epic artistic battle between rival tachiyaku. Lacy became absorbed by the in depth conversation. She was taken by the charm of Shinmen, his knowledge of the story lines and the motivations of various characters including others' roles and the potential meaning, philosophy and commentary on society. He explained many of the dances and moves and the long journeys in personal growth that it took to accomplish some of them. They almost seemed epic adventures in their own right. Lacy was impressed and captivated.

Lacy had asked Shinmen for his recommendation for the meal and it did not disappoint either. It was perhaps the best 'date' she had been on in ages. She chuckled to herself at the humor in that. She got the impression that Shinmen felt the same way, although she kept in mind that he was an actor, so it could all be a performance ... Might as well enjoy the show while it lasts ... she thought to herself. Regardless of how this whole phoenix chase turns out, perhaps they could find some mutually beneficial relationship. It was sometimes advantageous to work with shinobi from different clans when goals aligned.

As the meal was coming to an end, Lacy picked her timing carefully. She wasn't sure whether Shinmen knew there was more to Lacy than she was letting on, but if it was to be a surprise then she hoped it was clear that she was not here to start a fight. She had lots of opportunity to do that already. She wanted information. Perhaps a fight would be inevitable, but that could be determined later. Right now, she wanted to learn the story behind Shinmen's interest in the phoenix, so she could plan her next move.

Before finding Shinmen, she had envisioned changing the subject to the phoenix and had anticipated that the interaction would turn deadly serious. However, now she felt more like it would be like revealing a practical joke to a friend.

Maintaining the flirtatious mood of their conversation, she leaned in closer to Shinmen and lowered her voice to a whisper, "What I'm really interested to know is everything about your most recent performance." She pulls out the peacock feather that she had taken from Kenzo Hayashi's art studio, one of Lacy's previous suspects, and placed it on the table between them. She had dyed it red to match the decoy phoenix. "The one about the tachiyaku who stole a mystical phoenix, replacing it with a red-dyed peafowl." Lacy stares carefully at Shinmen's face, ready to interpret his reaction. Her smile was playful and mischievous.

Takezo was enjoying the dinner, it was pleasant to have company for a change and it was even more pleasant to finally have her company. When it came to ordering he had simply asked her a few questions about her preferred taste and then conveyed that information to the waitress. All the dishes were particularly good but certain dishes on certain days were exceptionally good due to the numerous parameters that can affect the flavor of the dish as such he usually had that which the waitress recommended for that day based on the parameters for his tastes which she already knew.

Everything about what he was projecting was genuine although he understood that she might not be aware of that as he was a performer after all. Still the truth generally had a way of finding purchase even within the most suspicious of minds and he counted on that being true with Salacia.

When she presented him with the red-dyed peafowl feather he smiled warmly, "Ah yes that was a fairly interesting performance, with such a tragic ending. So are there any particular aspects of the performance you are wishing to discuss or are you simply interested in its conclusion?" His manner was the same as when he discussed the more intricate aspects of Kabuki as if the the potential significance of the situation did not concern him or that he was perfectly comfortable with the outcome regardless of what it might transpire into.

Tragic? ... Lacy thought, her face furrowed slightly with sadness or concern about what she was about to learn, "Yes, the conclusion, I think I've pieced together the first two Acts, but what is Act 3, what have you done with the phoenix and why? What's your motivation?"

Again Takezo casually relates things to Salacia as if describing the meal they just ate, "Well it is a fact the current world is no longer a place for individuals such as you and I, nor is it a place for the Oni. As such it is necessary to make sure that both of these stay hidden from the mainstream. Sometimes it is a simple measure to keep things in check, other times more serious measure must be taken. In this case, due to what the Hasuba did, it was determined by our scholars that the only way to release the creature from their control was to terminate its existence here within this world thus permanently breaking any ties the Hasuba had upon it. These were the measure I was assigned and these were the measures I implemented. As I said, this turned out to be a tragedy but within the tragedy existed kindness. I freed it from its physical cage and made it a comfortable bed to lay upon, I had a short pleasant conversation with it, and then I played it some peaceful melodies which I sensed it enjoyed even though it was too weak to even raise its head. So while it is a shame this had to be done, it is done. Going forward we will be monitoring the Hasuba more closely in order to prevent them from exploiting further Oni, perhaps your Agency should do likewise."

Terminated?!? ... The news hit her like a stone! She couldn't believe it initially, but a combination of Shinmen's sincerity, the knowledge that the Kurama Shin were Oni Hunters and the old witch's foretelling from earlier in her investigation, which said she would not find what she was looking for, made Lacy believe Shinmen's story. She couldn't hold in her reaction, "What!?! Are you crazy? Do you know how much that bird was worth? This isn't some play, this is serious! There will be some powerful organizations looking for it, some of them banking on the potential power of the creature. If they discover that you destroyed it they will be out for revenge." She wasn't upset with him, her tone was concern.

It occurred to her that she might not be the only one to have found Takezo's trail. She didn't realize in the moment, but she suddenly felt a desire to protect Shinmen. She looked around the restaurant, a suspicious glance towards the other patrons, wondering if any were shinobi waiting to strike. There was nothing obvious but her senses were now on full alert. When she turned back to Shinmen, she found that she'd reach her hand across the table to hold his. Looking at their interlocked hands, she was confused. Was she holding it for his sake, or for herself?

The Agency was going to be angry, but to be honest, they will be much happier with this outcome than if the power of the phoenix had fallen into another clan's hands, so she thought she would escape the worst of the reprimand for failing the mission. Shifting her gaze from their hands up to Shinmen's eyes, she noticed that he seemed resigned to his fate or confident in his own skills. She thinks he is being a silly idiot. He's either needlessly sacrificing himself for what he thinks is the greater good or simply being overconfident that he'll deal with whatever comes his way. He's clearly a special shinobi, but if the other organizations team up for revenge, then he'll have no chance. He will need a partner.

The fortuneteller's deep ethereal voice echoed in her mind:
"YOU WILL NOT FIND WHAT YOU ARE SEARCHING FOR DURING THIS INVESTIGATION ... BUT IF YOU CONTINUE THE ENDEAVOR, YOU MAY DISCOVER SOMETHING EVEN MORE VALUABLE."

The phoenix was only one part of her mission. She was also ordered to uncover the secret behind the Oni Sumono. Is it a coincidence that she had made this connection with an Oni Hunter or was it fate? Or perhaps the foretelling was referring to Shinmen himself ...

"I need some advice about hunting an Oni. If you help me now, then when the inevitable happens and they come for you, I'll have your back," Lacy suggests squeezing Shinmen's hand to emphasize her feelings behind her offer.

Almost immediately after the words had left Lacy's mouth, a crash from above interrupts any chance for Takezo to reply. Looking up at the noise, she sees ceiling tiles falling towards them. Lacy dives to the side, out of her chair onto the floor. Her arms over her head to protect it from the falling debris. Rolling over she sees a tall ninja clad in matching black head wrap and pants fall from the ceiling and land over her. His chest is bare showing intricate and colourful tattoes ... Yakuza! ... Before she can react a second ninja grabs her from behind, a rope cinches around her torso and she is pulled quickly up through the ceiling and into the guts of the building. She can see multiple yakuza taking part in the ambush, but can't see what happened to Takezo before she vanishes into the darkness above.

Two of the ninjas ascend with her, one on either side holding her bound as she struggles to gain her bearings. Lacy and her captors are being pulled up a shaft at high speed. She can see daylight from an opening at the top of the building with more similarly black-cloaked heads peering down towards them. Recognizing that she's about to get even more outnumbered, she quickly makes a move. She reaches out towards each of her captors, who easily grab her hands to control her only to discover that her hands have transformed into spiky sea urchins. Both ninjas recoil in sudden and drastic pain from the stinging spines that have penetrated deep into their flesh. The distraction is just enough to allow Lacy to somersault, loosening the twist of the rope enough for her to slip out and fall back down the shaft head first. She sees two more ninjas ascending towards her. Completing her somersault, Lacy lands momentarily with her feet on their shoulders to break her fall. However, the impact is so hard that their ropes give way immediately. Lacy pushes off of them with her legs to jump up just enough to grab onto the ledge of a branching horizontal ventilation shaft.

Lacy Scrambles through the vents to escape, she kicks open a grill covering to exit the building and jumps down into the side alleys of the neighbourhood where she can hear distant sirens approaching. It's probably the police responding to the sudden attack at Ippudo Roppongi ... What the hell was that? Must have something to do we the Phoenix ... Lacy thinks as she emerges back onto the busy streets of the city with no signs of pursuers behind her. Shifting her focus to her next task, the shinobi Sumono, Lacy curses the fact she won't have help discovering the Oni's secret. Lacy's thoughts linger on Shinmen and she wonders if he managed to safely escape the strange ambush, and whether their paths will cross again ...

Takezo was about to respond when the crash sound came from above. In almost one fluid motion he rolled backwards in his chair and brought it up over his head protecting him from falling debris and putting a weapon in his hands. As the bodies begin to drop, Takezo launches into action and before the nearest one can touch the floor he whips the chair in a circular motion that causes them to be impaled upon two of its legs. He then lets go of the chair letting it and the body connect with the floor driving the legs through the body. As this happens he is grabbing weapons off that body. He launches towards Lacy but is intercepted metal on metal rings out as slash is met with parry. Then the real dance begins, multiple opponents from all sides, with numerous objects to partner with. He is able to dispatch a few more before the remaining make a quick departure back up the way they had come.

Standing up he focusses upon the amulet he wears about his neck and under his clothes but nothing. So he picks up a cloth napkin and dips it into a still standing water glass and proceeds to clean his hands as he walks to the proprietor and says, "Do not touch anything, call the police, make sure you have the names of anyone still here if they decide to leave and I would suggest temporarily closing things down until the police have finished. Let the police know that I will speak with them as soon as I can, however, my schedule is tight and I have some matters I must attend too." He then makes his way through the kitchen and out the back. Whomever, had attacked had not wanted him but Lacy and he could not help but wonder what trouble she had gotten herself into this time. Still she was safe and that was all that really mattered. In case, however it was a well acted misdirection, he made sure he was not being ghosted by someone or had been tagged by a tracker prior to heading back to check on his most recent charge.

Taizo, after seeing Aaron drive away, looks at his phone, opening a certain app. The fact that Aaron was not conducive to his warning was a shame. But a Minamoto never walks away disappointed. Taizo, while breaking into Aaron's car, had planted an array of his personally designed bugs throughout the car. With this, he should be able to keep tabs on Aaron.

Taizo nods with satisfaction when data starts streaming in, filling up the display of his phone app. With this information, he should be able to handle the old man's dog just fine.

Aaron, after leaving Taizo behind on the street, parks around the corner from Tesla and calls into the Agency asking for the current location of Takezo using the information provided Shinjou. Then peels off in that direction.

He arrives at a restaurant in chaos. The wonderful smells of broths and fried meets waft in the surrounding area. People mill about outside as if something catastrophic had just happened. An aura of danger fills the air as rubble continues to occasionally clatter to the ground.

While slowing the vehicle, Aaron spots his target, Shinmen Takezo. His plan is to follow him to whatever base he's set up and find the Phoenix that way.