D9 | EN | Into the Dark | Closed

[Kitsuki Ichitaiyo]

Ichitaiyo had awaited like a predator on the shadows of a building, parked on an alley, binoculars on her hands as she surveilled the exit to the Magistry's parking lot, her mark to soon appear.

Kuni Ayako.

When she had appeared, she expected to follow her car over to some home in the residential district, not to dive under the darkness of the jungle trees as the secretary took the road away from the city. It had been hours of driving, until finally, among the tall plantations of Tenjin Town, her car had stopped.

Ichitaiyo tuned off her headlight and parked a fair distance away. Ensuring her sidearm had full energy and her coat was well secured, she ventured forth to find the Truth that Nakahama kept to itself.

[Boogiepop]

Kuni Ayaka had been rather scarce after that evening talk that Ichitaiyo had with Junpei. Maybe it was a coincidence that she had been suddenly feeling under the weather after the long and unforgiving hours at the office or she potentially had her ear to the door. Either way, she wouldn't have been since for most of the day at the office, merely dropping by enough to deliver some reports for the day's work before heading out again. That was perhaps when Ichitaiyo could tail her...

To be clear, what Ichitaiyo was doing was extremely dangerous. As Junpei mentioned, accusing the magistrates was much like accusing their hosts. Ayaka had regional authority and rank over the lowly Dragon as a Yoriki

Eventually, Ayaka's car would stop at an unsuspecting large house sitting on a steep hill, likely chosen specifically for its elevation to monitor the farmlands and avoid seasonal flooding. There was a sign on the drive-up that would signify that this was one of the regional offices of the Public Works. Presumably, this one managed the affairs of Tenjin Town and its surrounding area.


Kuni Ayaka

Kuni Ayaka would exit from her car and make her way to the door to unceremoniously bang on it with her fist, demanding immediate answers. "Magistrates! Open up!"



The door would open up to reveal a Yasuki woman in a Public Works work uniform, looking like she had been caught sleeping on her night shift. "Sorry, Kuni-sama?"

[Kitsuki Ichitaiyo]

Kuni Ayaka had been rather scarce after that evening talk that Ichitaiyo had with Junpei. Maybe it was a coincidence that she had been suddenly feeling under the weather after the long and unforgiving hours at the office or she potentially had her ear to the door. Either way, she wouldn't have been since for most of the day at the office, merely dropping by enough to deliver some reports for the day's work before heading out again. That was perhaps when Ichitaiyo could tail her...

To be clear, what Ichitaiyo was doing was extremely dangerous. As Junpei mentioned, accusing the magistrates was much like accusing their hosts. Ayaka had regional authority and rank over the lowly Dragon as a Yoriki

Eventually, Ayaka's car would stop at an unsuspecting large house sitting on a steep hill, likely chosen specifically for its elevation to monitor the farmlands and avoid seasonal flooding. There was a sign on the drive-up that would signify that this was one of the regional offices of the Public Works. Presumably, this one managed the affairs of Tenjin Town and its surrounding area.


Kuni Ayaka

Kuni Ayaka would exit from her car and make her way to the door to unceremoniously bang on it with her fist, demanding immediate answers. "Magistrates! Open up!"



The door would open up to reveal a Yasuki woman in a Public Works work uniform, looking like she had been caught sleeping on her night shift. "Sorry, Kuni-sama?"

Ichitaiyo prowled slowly into the tall plantation to conceal her infiltration into the boundaries of the public works, away from the lights it projected, ensuring to not do sharp movements, and keeping just the distance so she could overhear. As soon the speaking began, she pulled an holorecorder from a duffel bag, and set on to capture the Yoriki's every movement and word.

Or the moment of her death, should come to that.

If the Yoriki went inside, the next move would be to find a window into wherever conversations took place to set the camera in place, or if that was not possible.. to find a way into the house without calling attention to herself. At least the heavy rain would help hide her steps.

[Boogiepop]

Kuni Ayaka



Ayaka seemingly pushed the other woman aside and stepped right into the house like she owned the place. The other woman would close the door behind her and rush after Ayaka, limiting the sound of the conversation through the windows. The yoriki would walk into a living room that was converted to host an administration office of some sort. The other woman would try to stop the Kuni from riffling around the filing cabinets and overturning some of the paperwork that was sitting on people's desks. It seemed like she was the only one here.

After some fuss, Ayaka seemed to say or demand something of the other woman, who looked perplexed for a moment and frozen in place. There was a tense moment before Ayaka reached for her communicator, and the other woman held out her hands, wanting to de-escalate the situation before going upstairs. The Kuni would pace around as she waited and looked out the windows...

***
Please make a Stealth(Sneaking)/Agility check against...

Day 9 - Early Night, Investigation/Perception | 4k3 ⇒ 23

[Kitsuki Ichitaiyo]

ANXIETY AAAHHHH

Ichitaiyo slowly made her way, careful to not be on sight of the windows to come closer to the home.. but she wouldn't be able to gather evidence without placing the recorder close to the Yoriki's words. Thus, she crawled under the rain and mud until she made to the room, just noticing that the red-marked woman peered out ocasionally. Taking a deep breath in, she awaited for the moment where the suspect would turn away from the angle she was under before shooting forwards in a sprint, steps deafened by the heavy rain, and managed to find her spot right besides the window. Ayaka would have to push her head off into the rain to see her.

Carefully, she placed the recorder as close as she could, and overhear..

==

D9 | Sneaking about... | Stealth/Agility | TN: 15 | I BELIEVE IN KANNA WHO BELIEVES IN ME

Success!

[Boogiepop]

Kuni Ayaka

Ayaka would get an inkling that something was off. Was there a possibility that someone could be so daft as to follow her to the middle of nowhere? There was just the natural Kuni paranoia that anything bad was just quite likely to happen if she ever let her guard down.

Must have been just the wind... She thought to herself as she distanced herself from the windows.



The Yasuki woman would return with a box, looking a bit winded from Ayaka's request. The sort of box that stored files that Ichitaiyo had likely become very familiar with after a few hours of working in Junpei's office.

However, when presenting the box to Ayaka, the Kuni would instead draw her sidearm and tell the woman to leave the building with the box of files. Under the threat of death at gunpoint, the woman timidly obliged to her request and made her way toward the door...

[Kitsuki Ichitaiyo]

Choices!

Ichitaiyo saw her future split this very moment, she either went in and confronted Ayaka, lest she erase more important evidence, or let her go, and take the risk of the Truth being lost forever. The recording of Ayaka pulling some Magistry files from a random location under, her own word, would not be enough to convince Kuni Junpei.

Resting the holorecorder the best she could on the window, trusting her skills and abilities for the first or last time. She brought up her holocommunicator and wrote her message, directed to Kaiu Nagisa and Tamori Kanna, it would contain her current location and the place where she had hidden the recorder.

If I don't show up tomorrow, there is a holorecorder here. Take it to Magister Kuni Junpei and presume the worst for me.

And wondered if she should even involve them, get them tangled on this mess of her own making. They could be free of this, unsaddled by her obsession by the truth. They would honor her. They would dishonor themselves.

She gave them the decision. Message sent.

It was time to confront her fate.

Thus, she would prowl around the house over to the door, await for the Yasuki to open the door, hide, and await for the moment to make in without the Yasuki's notice.

[Boogiepop]

The door would open, and the Yasuki woman would get out first with the box in her arms.



"...I really don't understand what's going on, Kuni-sama. This is really not necessary..."


Kuni Ayaka

Ayaka maintained the sidearm on her and urged her forward. "Just get in the car. We're going for a ride. And...Does anyone else know that you're here?"

It didn't seem that either woman had noticed the Kitsuki hiding around the bend just yet, especially with Ayaka making a pushy departure with the other woman.

[Kitsuki Ichitaiyo]

The door would open, and the Yasuki woman would get out first with the box in her arms.



"...I really don't understand what's going on, Kuni-sama. This is really not necessary..."


Kuni Ayaka

Ayaka maintained the sidearm on her and urged her forward. "Just get in the car. We're going for a ride. And...Does anyone else know that you're here?"

It didn't seem that either woman had noticed the Kitsuki hiding around the bend just yet, especially with Ayaka making a pushy departure with the other woman.

That odious question. She knew what fate awaited the poor Yasuki if she didn't intervene. No witnesses.

But, should it come to violence, a witness is who would save her standing.

Thus she waited until Ayako was ten feet away, too far for an response in melee, and unholstered her sidearm to aim at Ayako's back.

"Kuni-sama! Drop the weapon now!" Ichitaiyo bellowed with the authority of justice. The holo was recording, everything had to be clean.

[Boogiepop]

That odious question. She knew what fate awaited the poor Yasuki if she didn't intervene. No witnesses.

But, should it come to violence, a witness is who would save her standing.

Thus she waited until Ayako was ten feet away, too far for an response in melee, and unholstered her sidearm to aim at Ayako's back.

"Kuni-sama! Drop the weapon now!" Ichitaiyo bellowed with the authority of justice. The holo was recording, everything had to be clean.

Kuni Ayaka

Did the Kitsuki get the jump on Ayaka, though?

***
Roll Initiative!
Day 9 - Early Night, Initiative! | 4k2 ⇒ 7

[Kitsuki Ichitaiyo]

Did the Kitsuki get the jump on Ayaka, though?

***
Roll Initiative!
Day 9 - Early Night, Initiative! | 4k2 ⇒ 7

The barrel of her radiant weapon was firmly set on the woman's back, no hesitation.

"Put your weapon down, and let go of your hostage, Kuni Ayako-sama!" She bellowed once again, for herself, and for the camera.

==

Yes she did at 29! | I'd like to state that I didn't intend this post as a turn take, I need confirmation that combat is on for good good :X.

[Boogiepop]

Kuni Ayaka

Ayaka would groan at first before shoving the Yasuki off toward Ichitaiyo and making a break for it!

***
Ichitaiyo can shoot first if she wishes at ATN 15, Ayaka is merely leaving the scene.

[Kitsuki Ichitaiyo]

Kuni Ayaka

Ayaka would groan at first before shoving the Yasuki off toward Ichitaiyo and making a break for it!

***
Ichitaiyo can shoot first if she wishes at ATN 15, Ayaka is merely leaving the scene.

Ayaka needed to be questioned, Ichitaiyo needed to assure that no more evidence would be destroyed, she needed to withhold co-conspirators for longer.

If there were co-conspirators, letting her go would mean reinforcements if she stayed for too long.

But.. pressing the trigger would mean too many problems and explanations to give.

So, she relented.

Ichitaiyo reached over to the woman, taking the box with one hand, and trying to help the Yasuki with the other. "Come up! Inside! Go!" She tried to usher everyone into the safety of the house. She only needed to corroborate that these were Asataka's missing files before they could leave.

==

Simple Action: Pick Up Item (File Box)
Free Action: Speak to Yasuki
Simple Action: Move towards house.

[Boogiepop]

The Yasuki would quickly comply with the order and go back into the safety of the house. When standing closer to the woman, there was a visible name tag on her uniform that noted her as 'Yasuki Fumi', an administrator for the Public Works office.


Yasuki Fumi

She gasped for breath after that bit of excitement, making herself lower and taking cover in case the danger wasn't gone. "...Thank you, Kitsuki-san. I-I don't even know what that was about! She asked for regional tax and income reports, then pulled a gun at me!"

***
Combat is over! Or rather avoided!

[Kitsuki Ichitaiyo]

The Yasuki would quickly comply with the order and go back into the safety of the house. When standing closer to the woman, there was a visible name tag on her uniform that noted her as 'Yasuki Fumi', an administrator for the Public Works office.


Yasuki Fumi

She gasped for breath after that bit of excitement, making herself lower and taking cover in case the danger wasn't gone. "...Thank you, Kitsuki-san. I-I don't even know what that was about! She asked for regional tax and income reports, then pulled a gun at me!"

***
Combat is over! Or rather avoided!

"Don't thank me yet. We're not safe.." And Ichitaiyo began to riffle through the documents... and apparently no investigative folders. But dirt was surely going to be there, at least if Ayaka was willing to kill for it.

"Are there other documents she did request of you? If so, which ones? We should take them as well, and I'll ask you questions on the ride to the Magistry. Don't worry, you did nothing wrong."

If it came to it, Ayako had no witnesses. That should cover her ass a little.

[Boogiepop]

In the box, there was an accumulation of paperwork of taxation, income, revenue and other financial paperwork of a specific ward of Tenjin Town. The ward in question seemed to be the one where the Temple of Light was situated and the few surrounding houses. The collected paperwork itself didn't mean anything when looked at individually, but when added up over time, it seemed to present an inconsistent history.

The Temple of Light, for years, has been functioning on the verge of poverty. The building they claimed as their headquarters was an impressive piece of real estate, but it was mired with problems of maintenance. It was upheld by the small donations of the heimen worshippers and the few samurai who could only give a portion of their stipend. However, something changed in the last year, and the Temple suddenly prospered. It seemed that Asataka, over time, sent building inspectors to evaluate the building and started the work to have other aspects of the Temple of Light questioned. Handwritten accounts off the record would indicate that there was a large amount of spending on items that the Temple just couldn't afford.

There was a high likelihood that this was Asataka's last case, seemingly dropping his attention on the heimen murders to devote his time to this.

[Kitsuki Ichitaiyo]

In the box, there was an accumulation of paperwork of taxation, income, revenue and other financial paperwork of a specific ward of Tenjin Town. The ward in question seemed to be the one where the Temple of Light was situated and the few surrounding houses. The collected paperwork itself didn't mean anything when looked at individually, but when added up over time, it seemed to present an inconsistent history.

The Temple of Light, for years, has been functioning on the verge of poverty. The building they claimed as their headquarters was an impressive piece of real estate, but it was mired with problems of maintenance. It was upheld by the small donations of the heimen worshippers and the few samurai who could only give a portion of their stipend. However, something changed in the last year, and the Temple suddenly prospered. It seemed that Asataka, over time, sent building inspectors to evaluate the building and started the work to have other aspects of the Temple of Light questioned. Handwritten accounts off the record would indicate that there was a large amount of spending on items that the Temple just couldn't afford.

There was a high likelihood that this was Asataka's last case, seemingly dropping his attention on the heimen murders to devote his time to this.

Ichitaiyo couldn't avoid but leaving a long sigh of relief. All the work.. finally. Something to hold into. Something to put the Magister in a position where he either has to help or face the consequences of negligence.

But each minute was vital.

Ichitaiyo covered the files with a trashbag to prevent more water damage, and took her holorecorder from outside, putting an end to the log. Then she bowed before the Yasuki, asking a deep request.

"Yasuki-san, I am Kitsuki Ichitaiyo, and I am currently investigating the matter of a conspiracy.. that means we might have enemies within the governance. It is not easy to take upon more than expected from your duties, but at the moment you are a key witness of Kuni Ayaka-sama's wrongdoing. I beg of you to come with me to the Dragon Embassy to stay, as I arrange for you to give a personal statement to the Magister. There, both of us will be safe and able to do our part to protect Nakahama."

The Investigator bowed deeper.

"Please."

[Boogiepop]

Yasuki Fumi

"P-please, get me out of here!" Fumi was more in agreement and filed into the Dragon's rental car in short order!

With Asataka's trail of paper and adequate suspicion on the Temple of Light, both women would be able to leave the farmland with their lives!

/scene