Wolf's Rain Fan Fiction ❯ Broken Claw ❯ Chapter 8 ( Chapter 8 )

Broken Claw

Chapter 8

 

Hige lifted his nose high into the crisp winter air and then shuddered in disgust.

 

“What's wrong?” Toboe asked concernedly. “Do you smell Tsume or something?”

 

He could not answer. Whatever he smelled, Hige could not bring himself to say what it was. To do so would be so very cruel to both Kiba and Toboe's hopes. They both looked on at him, wondering why he fell silent.

 

Kiba sensed Hige's inner struggle. “Tell us what's wrong with you. What are you smelling?”

 

They needed to know and at last he spoke. “Blood…I smell blood…”

 

Toboe's eyes grew wide in shock. “Whose?!” he asked, already dreading the answer.

 

“There are two… One is further away, outside the city. The other is more nearby, but its human…” Hige sighed. He had to tell them. “The first is…Tsume…”

 

*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*

 

“How could this happen?!”

 

“I don't believe this! We're just not safe in this fucking hellhole!”

 

“Who will be next…?”

 

It was full on pandemonium when Nadeko finally reached the scene. A throng of people, all watchers on, surrounded the place. Horror stricken faces looked on unable to turn away from the carnage. The air was thick with not only curiosity but fear as well. It was disbelief hat kept their eyes, but it was terror that kept them all together. Police were there to instill a sense of order but could only do so much to quell the people's fears. The one in charge soon came to Nadeko to give her the details.

 

“Dr. Nadeko Shinishiro, I presume?” the officer greeted formally. He had short blonde hair kept tidy under his policeman's hat and an austere air to him. He was very tall and had a muscular build; along with his uniform it gave him even more authority. Even in his seriousness, his grey eyes revealed he was just as panicked as everyone else.

 

Nadeko nodded. “What happened here?”

 

“It's another attack…at least that's what I can gather. Your services as a doctor are no longer need, but you are also the city's coroner. We'll need a statement.”

 

“I'll need to get through then.”

 

“Wait—you wouldn't by any chance be related to Ken Shinishiro?”

 

“Yes…” she sighed. “He was my brother.”

 

“I knew Ken well…we were in the Academy together. My condolences to your losses…both of them…”

 

Nadeko smiled half-heartedly. “Thank you, Officer--?”

 

“Katsui Hitama—Sergeant Katsui Hitama.”

 

Within the crowd, another incident broke out. Two people, a man and a woman, were screaming at each other back and forth. The woman seemed to the upper hand, wailing at the top of her lungs and wearing the other down.

 

“Damn you, Ryu!!” she roared. “Damn you and your goddamn store!”

 

“Maia,” he responded calmly. “I'm sorry for your loss but—“

 

“But HELL!! IF IT WASN'T FOR YOU, LIU WOULD STILL BE ALIVE!!”

 

Nadeko and Katsui managed to break up the fight. Mrs. Asaka, her pale face red with anger and her greying brown hair mussed, was grieving the loss of her husband, and taking it all out on his best friend. Minamoto tried help her, but she was beyond consoling.

 

“What is going on here?” Sergeant Hitama demanded.

 

“IT'S ALL THAT BASTARD'S FAULT!!” Mrs. Asaka bellowed.

 

Nadeko had to stop it. “Mrs. Asaka,” she said in a pleasing tone. “You know that Mr. Minamoto cannot be blamed. It's not his fault!”

 

She then sobbed loudly and collapsed to the ground. “WHO COULD'VE DONE THIS?! WHO WOULD WANT TO HURT MY HUSBAND?!”

 

Nadeko then turned to Katsui. “Can you take her home? She's already seen enough.”

 

“What about the statement?” he asked.

 

“Well she's more important! Come by my house. All of the proper forms are there anyway.”

 

He nodded and scooped her up from the ground. Minamoto stayed behind, careful not to incur any more of Mrs. Asaka's wrath. Instead, he talked to Nadeko.

 

“How are you feeling, honey?” he asked.

 

Nadeko chucked mirthlessly. “Who cares how I feel? I'm more worried about Mrs. Asaka.”

 

“She'll pull through. I know this must be just as painful for you…”

 

“Yes, but I have to do my job.”

 

“Nadeko…if you ever need anything, don't hesitate to ask.”

 

“I know…you've told me this before.”

 

“And I mean it, honey.” He then smoothed back his hair. “I…um…I gotta go back home…”

 

“I understand. Just be careful.”

 

“I just can't believe I lost another friend…” Minamoto said as he walked off through the crowd, leaving Nadeko to finally do her work. She fought her way through, and soon wished she had stayed back.

 

Why? Was all she could think.

 

It was indeed the body of Mr. Liu Asaka in the center of it all. He had been mauled excessively and had chunks of flesh torn off from his corpse. He was also gutted open like a pig with his blood and entrails frozen onto the ground. Birds were circling above, ready to devour that whenever everyone left. Liu was left to point of being unrecognizable. His hair was the only thing that could tell who he was. Death was the best thing for him. No man should ever have to be left living in such suffering. She looked up from the body and saw a twinkle of green light up in the dark of the alley nearby…Nadeko just sighed and turned away.