“All this overtime should be criminal…” Yoriko sighed, yawning. “It’s so early in the m.” Beside her, Bunta-san looked annoyingly fresh and posed. The differeween a true Chosen and those of us who have only had Chirurgery, I suppose.

  “You said you were going out tonight, assuming we finish up. Just look forward to that.” Detective Reiji said to her, chewing on some nie-rept gum. “For now, we have a lead…” He scratched his head, seeming embarrassed. “…as if we sider random ce a lead.” I’m gd he stopped smoking, it was a disgusting habit. No wonder his wife and daughters were nagging him. I guess a near death experience will make a person resider things like that. Yoriko didn’t like thinking about that day, where she was sure he was going to die, and maybe her as well, but she had to admit, that day had ged everything for them. And hey, my pay is higher now too, which is nice.

  “You saw it as well as I did. I don’t know how many ks Tokyo lit up into… a huhousand maybe? But while there ended up dots everywhere, these six spots were way more uniformly coloured.”

  “It… doesn’t seem a ce.” Bunta-san agreed. “Mathematically speaking, the statistical probability of clusters f is very high, the same way that it only takes twenty-three people in a group before it’s just as likely at least one shares a birthday with another as not.” Oh yes, I fot he used to be an atant before this. He’s good with numbers. As they both listened, breath misting in the cold autumnal air of Tokyo, Bunta-san tinued. “You could certainly argue that clusters will form, it’s iable with enough iterations, but… that’s why the different colours were iing. The clusters formed were all individual colours, only one of each, weren’t they? The ces of that being ce… I wouldn’t bet against it.”

  “You certainly are more talkative when you are on a subject you uand.” Detective Reiji said, and Yoriko couldn’t help but agree. It’s surprising. He’s usually so quiet and nervous, despite having such power. But then, power doesn’t always e to those who are suited for it, I suppose. Otherwise we wouldn’t be needed.

  “I…” Bunta-san started to sweat, and Yoriko rolled her eyes. I’d have thought a yakuza atant, especially one bold enough to steal from them, would be less timid. I guess it takes all sorts. Anyway, he’s teically in the Poliow… “I just don’t want you to make a mistake, Detective. Besides, if you sider abilities we possess by on sense, you’ll get in trouble, just like Daizen-san did…” His fached at that. “Things like luck do exist. I don’t know how lud fate work, but… I’m not going to question who expi.”

  “Oh yes…” Yoriko said meanly, amused at his expected rea. “Shiro returned yesterday, didn’t she? I’m meeting her for drinks ter, assumi done here.” Yeah, like clockwork. As Bunta-san shuddered, face pale, Yoriko tinued. “I don’t see why you’re so scared of her, she seems perfectly o me.”

  “It’s not her, it’s the red thing inside her.” He spat. “You ’t even run from her, she has ways of finding Chosen. But…” He took a deep breath. “I’m safe now, not like Daizen-san. I swore my loyalty, and…” He narrowed his eyes, looking ever more like a rodent, though his expression was shrewd. “I try and avoid spending any time near her, but… she seems to have taken an i in the boss.”

  “Shiro? Isn’t that obvious?” Yoriko asked, and he shook his head.

  “No, the demon inside her. pared to how she treated everyo Arisugawa-sama, she treats my boss very differently. Curiosity maybe, but…” he shook his head, ging the subject. “ we just drop it? We’re here to work!”

  “Yes, we are.” Detective Reiji agreed. “So, what do we know and what do we expect to find?” They looked out over their target, one of the oldest shrine plexes in Tokyo, with a wealth of small buildings, tea houses and flardens, though the blooming azaleas were out of season, the bushes looking a little sad. “Officer Usui, if you would?”

  Why me? You ask Bunta-san too. “Nezu shrine. A histoing back two thousand years, though many of the buildings added since were from the fifteenth tury onwards. Supposedly in what used to be the Susanoo fa of shrines. I doirely uand the shrine politics, seems a lot of nonseo me, but basically it’s the group that suffered the most, right?”

  “That’s correct.” The Detective said approvingly, and Yoriko was slightly embarrassed by his expression, which looked as if he was talking to his own daughters. “We know of the first Kyoto i, though now we have the full picture from Hikawa-san…”

  They had interviewed him at Hikawa-Kawagoe shrine, as apparently he was the leading figure in former Susanoo in Tokyo. He had revealed that the deaths of the young people in the first Kyoto is had been provoked by the son of the leader of Susanoo, a powerful Chosen, the hope of that fa, who now was atose and had little ce of recovery. Worse, because of fa politid Susanoo being the first to support Akio-kun, all of the people who died were heirs to Susanoo shrines.

  “Yeah, though I still don’t see a motive for them to be involved in this case.” Yoriko said after thinking about it. “It’s hardly Akio-kun’s fault, is it? Even Hikawa-san admitted that.”

  “Yes, I don’t see it myself, but… three shrines showed up on the mae. I don’t believe in stuff like this, but then we’re here with a man who manipute shadows and make them tangible.” Bunta-san that. “Aerday we had tea with a Faerie. So… I’m not prepared to ighis. Two shrines were Susanoo fa, and one was of no fa, not a true shrine, as Hikaut it. If we set aside who is at fault, all we know is that Susanoo fa has rgely colpsed, and Oshiro-san, while not responsible, was definitely he tre of the i. Humans are seldom rational.”

  “But ohing we know is that the strength dispyed in the ret attacks isn’t normal. At minimum it would o be someone who has had Chirurgery.” Yoriko disagreed. “Nobody from Nezu shrine is on the list.”

  “Yes, that’s true.” Detective Reiji agreed. “The numbers of the faith which have been given Chirurgery is still reasonably low, due to Oshiro-san often being busy, and Shaeu refusing to perform it on men. But low isn’t none. Some visitors have been squeezed in, based on reendations from Saionji-san and Kudou-san, and others were predicated on their potential long-term. I don’t quite get it, but apparently some lingering abilities within bloodlines have value if enhanced.”

  “That’s like Izumi-.” Yuriko nodded. I ’t say I fully uand, but we’ve talked, and apparently she see mystical things occasionally, or feel emotions sometimes? Her dad jure a small fme too. “So, you’re saying that people reted to these shrines might have already received Chirurgery?”

  “Yes, the numbers are growing over time. It’s far from impossible.” The Detective scratched his cheek, thinking. “You know, my daughters are always nagging me, w when they have such abilities. I’m a touch flicted. They’d have to go on the list, and it’s not like they are going to be involved in any fighting, but…”

  “Trouble always e looking.” Bunta-san said darkly. “Just because you’re weak doesn’t mearong won’t bully you. I know it well. The yakuza love the weak. And so does…” He shut his mouth, troubled.

  “Yes, I know. Holy though, it’s hard not to worry. My you is a huge fan of Shaeu after seeing her on TV, she never used to like traditional clothing, now she’s alesterio buy her yukatas. My eldest… she’s… just troubling. Not that they listen to me. I remember Oshiro-san saying he worries for his sister at uy. And we’re Police. We know bad things happen to girls all the time.” he sighed. “I suppose I’ll have to bite the bullet. Besides, it is part of the reion package. Aher of them are ied in sport, where it might be an issue…”

  “Yes, I guess it might be sidered cheating.” Yoriko agreed. “Just give in. Your daughters won’t respect you if you keep this from them. Besides, holy, I agree with Akio-kuer to be strong than not. As for being on a list, well, it’s no different to a gun-ownier, is it? And it serves a purpose.”

  “Yes. For cases like this.” He agreed finally. “Well, we might as well go in, no?”

  ********

  “That’s very troubling, but I’m afraid I don’t see what I do to help.” The man in front of them was saying, dressed in the grey robes of the shrine priest.

  “It’s simply a routine enquiry, Bando-san.” Detective Reiji said professionally. “You have troubled yourself to get us tea.”

  The man, who was in his forties, and rather non-descript, little standing out about him, merely nodded. “Maybe not, but I have a great respect for the rule of w, and seeing three esteemed Officers here, a little hospitality is only natural.”

  Yoriko couldn’t help but snigger a little, though at her superior’s hard look she was able to keep it under trol, sipping at her tea. Sure, everyone loves it when the Police visit. Even the i worry, because nobody has truly dohing illegal, even if it’s as minor as speeding or littering.

  “I see. If only more citizens were so ined, we’d have a much easier job.” The Detective replied sunnily, though Yoriko knew him well enough to know he was being false. “In any case, you’re no doubt aware of the atta Shinohara-sama retly? It was all over the news.”

  “Yes, a bad busihat. Her phinthropic works show the world that the rich are not always bad people. pared to her, our charity work is hardly impressive.” Bando-san agreed. “I hope she recover, but I hear that her injuries were… severe?”

  “Lost an arm, amongst rave internal wounds.” Detective Reiji said solemnly. “It’d take a miracle for her to live a normal life after that. Well, being as you’re one who serves the Kami, perhaps you believe in miracles more than most?”

  “Of course.” The man nodded. “Though miracles are miracles because they are rare.”

  “Yes, excuse me, but… I’m not well-versed in shrine politics. I spoke to Hikawa-sama earlier…” Before they were granted audieh Bando-san, the head of the shrihey had blended in with the tourists, enjoying the culture and history, and the Detective had briefed them on their roles. Yoriko’s was to observe closely, seeing if she could see any tells in the expressions Bando-san showed when answering questions. Bunta-san was to carefully talk about Chosen matters if needed.

  “Oh, Hikawa-sama. Yes, I remember when he first came to us… I felt an outsider wouldn’t be wise to put our faith in, so I was not one of the shrihat supported Oshiro-san. It seems I was wrong though, as cve proved…” he paused for a nearly imperceptible moment. “…that he had the favour of the Kami. Of course, even Uchida-sama, in his grief, has agreed.”

  A bit of a pause there, but there’s still no indication of much more tha.

  “So, you’ve not beeed for Chirurgery, nor has a Nezu shrihe Detective observed. “Is there a reason for that?”

  “It’s simple. Our bloodline, while old, doesn’t seem to have any particurly worthwhile remnants of spirituality. Though of course, everyone is promised the blessiually.”

  “That’s not such a bad thing.” Bunta-san said, nodding sympathetically. “The sad events in Kyoto must have sounded some warning bells.”

  “Yes. Yes.” Bando-san agreed, taking a sip of tea. “A bad business. A bad business indeed.” He looked down, before sighing. “I am good friends with Hanabusa-san. Poor man. His daughters were so young. Too young. To lose them both in such a manner…”

  “It’s a tragedy.” Bunta-san agreed, and Yoriko was impressed by his ag, the ratty man actually looking sympathetic. I thought he only knew how to look out for himself. Though I guess w for the yakuza he would have to develop some ag skills, especially as he double-crossed them, so he’d have had to fool them. “I expect it must be frustrating, seeing them taken into danger, and this being the result.”

  Yoriko was watg closely, and there was another pause, before the man agreed. “Yes, they were too young. Children should be children, not getting involved in adult matters. It was a tragedy. Poor Uchida-sama. Yamato-sama was a shining star, blessed by Kannon. May she have mer them a him wake up. It’s a great failure, why did Yamato-sama have to suffer…”

  “Yes, though wasn’t it Yamato-san who led the young people of the Susanoo shrines into the danger?” Detective Reiji asked, a question that didn’t please Bando-san.

  “I ’t deny it, but he had the best of iions!” Bando-san said fiercely, before he realised what he was doing. Visibly calming himself, he apologised. “I got too heated. But I feel such grief for him. I… with Oshiro-san so skilled, it seems unbelievable that he was uo save them, bring Yamato-sama back safely. And now Amaterasu is in the asdant. Oh, do ignore my pining. I am gd that the faith is getting the reition it deserves.”

  “Of course. I’m a secur man, I don’t have muderstanding, so it’s iing hearing your viewpoint.” The Detective agreed. “I don’t know too much of the details about Kyoto or the spiritual world, but from what I have gathered, Kyoto is a dangerous pce, or at least it was.”

  As they tio talk, Yoriko watched for body nguage, facial expressions and other micro-indicators, and after a while, Detective Reiji finished up. “I’m sorry to take up your time. This has been iing, but I’m afraid it doesn’t help us.”

  “It’s no problem.” Bando-san said magnanimously. “Even nowadays, running a shrine leaves me plenty of time to meditate and rex. I’m not Hikawa-sama, ihick of things. So go with the blessings of the Kami.” As he rose to see them out, he paused. “Out of curiosity, I ’t imagine what could have brought you to my door, iigating such crimes. you say? I uand if you ’t, but…”

  Yoriko’s eyes narrowed at his casual tone. Obviously he’d be ied, so it means nothing, but… he’s pying it very cool…

  “Oh it’s . We just had a tip-off, anonymous, of course.” Detective Reiji lied. “A suspicious figure, armed of course, with a on matg what was used i attack. But as usual, like most leads, it came to nothing. Though…” he paused. “We do have several other tips. It’s puzzling. Just why would anyone be rep in multiple shrines?”

  “Multiple?” Bando-san asked, and Yoriko didn’t miss his sudden i. Yes, again he’s curious.

  “Yes, it’s strange indeed. We’ll of course have to follow it up, but it’s such a waste of time. Oh well, thanks for your aid…” He answered, and as they left, the Detective narrowed his eyes. “What do you think?”

  “I think I should go back.” Bunta-san said, frowning. “I hide myself in the shadows. It’s not perfect, but…”

  “No.” he shook his head. “We’ve no grounds for that. But… well, we should discuss this somewhere more private.”

  Yoriko nodded. “Yes, I don’t think that Bando-san is a murderer. He didn’t look the sort, but… he has a guilty sce, definitely.” There’s something slightly off about some of his responses. But I ’t quite put my finger on it…

  ********

  “This would be a lot easier if we could just ask Shaeu to use her winds on him. I’m told she pel the truth from people. She was bragging about her sword too, it snatches the voice of liars, apparently.” Yoriko sucked on her iced coffee through a strew, sighing.

  “We ’t do that. It’s tyranny and abuse of power.” The Detective shook his head. “Only in a situation where we have absolute cause to believe it could stop a crime with clear risk to someone’s life would we have such grounds. It’s like lethal force. It has to be used sparingly, and as a st resort.”

  “Why did you stop me going ba?” Bunta-san asked, and the Detective sighed.

  “Again, there’s no grounds for it. Besides, what do you think we’ll find? There’s no motive for the murders I see.”

  “Maybe not, but I do see ohing.” Yoriko pointed out, the caffeine helping her brain to fire. Chirurgery is good for more than just strength. I find it easier to notice the little things, and my thoughts are clearer than they’ve ever been. “He was more nervous than he should have been. Aes Akio-kun. His words say he doesn’t, but the look in his eyes, especially when Uchida Yamato-san was mentioned… you ’t have missed it.”

  “Oh I didn’t.” Detective Reiji agreed. “Hence why I asked about it several times. But what would be the e to the murders and attempt on Shinohara-sama? I ’t see the link.”

  “Me her.” Yoriko admitted. “Do you have any ideas, Bunta-san?”

  He shook his head, though he was frowning, narrowing his eyes. “No, but… if it was the yakuza…” he mused. “Uh, my boss, he’s to to fight, and he’s surrounded by monsters. If you wao strike back at him, it’s impossible. Ordinarily…” he paused. “…I just hahe money, I never did anything like this!” he insisted, and the Detective waved for him to tinue. “Say they were after a bigshot, ooo high-profile or secure to deal with, they might go after his family, or failing that, some acquaintahere’s always a weakness.”

  “Akio-kun’s family is well-protected. Guards with Chirurgery and bat skills, or they’re Chosen themselves. That won’t work. And I don’t think Bando-san has the power or es. Like he said, though he retty bitter about it, Hikawa-san is in Akio-kun’s camp, and so are what was the other two fas. It must piss them off. They supported him first, only to get screwed.”

  “Language, officer Usui!” the Detective pined and she snorted, sug coffee through her straw noisily.

  “I’m only speaking the truth. Anyway, they hardly get revenge directly. But none of the victims have aion to Akio-kun or anyone else in his group. We’ve checked, right?”

  “Yes, of course. Thhly.” Detective Reiji agreed. “So there’s no motive for the crime. All we have is a great dislike for him. Which while ly fair, is uandable. As close friends with someone whose two daughters were murdered, and Oshiro-san, while not to bme, was certainly the catalyst… it’s only natural to despise him. But taking a…”

  “So, now yoing to tell me that the Oracle Engine just happeo find us the location of two of the victims, and three shrihe first of which has someone who loathes Akio-kun. My intuition is screaming that there’s some e.”

  “Touché.” The Detective replied dryly, often having dragged her out following his own hunches. “I don’t disagree. But I’m certain that he’s no murderer. Nor the attacker who maimed Shinohara-sama.”

  “But then, I could have infiltrated…” Bunta-san began again, and he was once more denied.

  “Again, if we could take such extra-legal as, we might as well use Shaeu after all.” Detective Reiji sighed. “However… the thing is, ordinary people who try and it crimes are sloppy. And if he is involved, he’ll try and warn others involved too.”

  “Let me guess.” Yoriko grinned. “Then he’ll make a call to the other shrines.”

  “If they are ected, almost certainly. So, we’ll see if they aren’t surprised to see us. If so…” the Detective began. “…it still doesn’t prove anything in regard to the murders, but… we are also missing several pieces of the puzzle.”

  “Yeah, like what’s the sixth location. It’s in a residential area, so we hardly check every house, the Gods know that would be too….” Yoriko trailed off, looking at the printouts from the Oracle Engine. “Hey, are we stupid?”

  “What do you mean?” Bunta-san asked.

  “There’s no shrine here, nor any victim, but…” she poio the edge, where a small, unobtrusive building was located. “Our Lady Of The Sea, Saint Maria’s Church. It may not be a shrine, but… it’s a big ce.”

  “Hmm. It seems a stretch.” The Detective looked at the map again. “But I suppose we check it out. But first, we o see if there are any links between that and the shrines.” He pulled out his phone and made a call, leaving Bunta-san and Yoriko alone.

  “Personally, I’d have let you infiltrate. Assuming you .” Yoriko sighed, watg the Detective as he stood outside, talking quietly.

  “Yes, it’s foolish not to use everything we . But… I respect him, I guess.”

  That was surprising. Her eyes widening at his response, Bunta-san expined.

  “I’m not a brave man. And stig to your principles takes ce. It’s why I ended up w for the yakuza ts. I didn’t have the ce to say no. Then when I saw the ill-gotten money, while I was living a modest life… I didn’t have the strength to resist taking it. Then I couldn’t protect myself, so I fled, and I didn’t have the will to refuse the power I was given. Then White found me…” He shuddered, and Yoriko could see he still had geerror of her. “…nobody could be brave enough to resist her. Sure, Shiratori-sama….” He now khe name of his erstwhile boss. “…is beautiful, but with that monster inside her… I have no idea how he bear it. No, I’m getting off the subject. All I’m saying is, you see how a of weakness led me to here. I’m still scared, you know. Being strong just means you draw strength to you. That’s why my power be used to restrain, to hide and… to assassihough I haven’t!” he insisted again.

  “Don’t be such a baby, I believe you. And it doesn’t matter. Just like Oguro Daizen’s death was deemed an… act of God…” Her lips curled into a bitter smile, and Bunta-san couldn’t help but murmur that i was. “…your crimes would be likely extra-legal as they were itted in a time before spiritual matters were sidered. Besides, you’ve got someoo stand surety for you. Just like that ese woman, Nie Ling.”

  “And I‘m grateful. But my point is… having the ability to hold fast to one’s beliefs is precious. We should respect it. But… there es a limit. If he wants to protect people, then he has to be prepared to get down in the mud, use everything. I’ve learhat.”

  “No kidding.” I’ve seen it. A group of people willing to go to ahs for each other, for the good of Japan and the world. At the time all I saw was him killing a man to protect me, to protect the Detective, but now… now I know. “But following up on the Oracle Engine was a big step. And he’s right. If we rely on Shaeu now, and… something happens to her… then we may have solved a crime, but we’d have learnt nothing.”

  “Exactly right, Officer Usui.” The Detective had returned, and was smiling warmly. “I see you’ve absorbed a good amount of my teags. We, as a new branch of the Police, do indeed o learn new methods of w, of iigation. But methods that rely ile, single assets… not that I ever see Shaeu dying, but who is to say she won’t return to her home, wherever it is, and we certainly ’t ask her help stantly. No, we do this the old-fashioned way, but making use of what other abilities we muster.” At their nods, he tinued. “No e between the shrines and the church were apparent… at first. But…” he grinned. “I got a hit oer. Apparently a mixture of Japanese, ese aern religious facilities, a group of temples, shrines and churches, were involved in fundraising for disaster relief. There were a lot of floods st year, after all. It was one of the worst years on record…”

  “Let me guess. At least one of our shrines, and Saint Maria’s, were both involved?” Yoriko said, and the only answer she needed was his knowing smile. “In that case… I don’t see how this be a ce.”

  “Beware of seeing what you want to see. False positives are everywhere in policework. But… it certainly requires further iigation.” He agreed. “Finish up, and we’ll pay our other two shrines a visit.”

  Yoriko grabbed her half-drunk iced coffee and swilled it down. Yeah, I’m extremely curious. But I think I already know the ahey’re involved, but how? That Oracle Device may be a miracle, or is it Shaeu’s luck that just bends reality?

  ********

  “They definitely had been tipped off. They were trying to hide it, but amateurs are worse at c things up when their minds are on it.” Yoriko quoted her training. “So many tells. And my eyes are sharp enough to pick them up easily.”

  “Yes, the priests of both shrines were nont, and tried to cover up their anger, but prodding them about certain subjects, such as Oshiro-san and what happened in Kyoto, they weren’t able to keep it together.” The Detective agreed.

  “It still proves nothing, but not even yoing to tell me that it’s all a ow?” She stretched, yawning, gng at the small church they were in front of, led in a residential district of Tokyo.

  “We still have no e to the attacks. But… there’s something.” He agreed. “Anyway, let’s go.”

  The door to the church swung open, and the three of them crossed the threshold. I wonder what we’ll discover here…

  ShipTeaser