CHAPTER I

I saw his slicing savagery first hand when I was just at the feeble age of 12. I had returned home late, after being gravely beaten by my classmates. When I returned home late I was beaten once more and thrown into the basement. It was a punishment for being home late. I was down there for who knows how longe. I awoke to a dripping sound, as it fell onto my nose that trickled down from above. It was too dark to tell. I sat up, my sight hazy. as I searched out for the stairs. as i trembled at each step. as the closer to the i got the more louder I could hear crashing of things and screams. As I reached out to the door handle, I was welcomed by the blood drenched walls and the crimson metallic atmosphere. The light dull the lamp flickering. Blood splashed onto my face as my mother fell not too far from me reaching out. My father not in sight.

As a creature stood before her. Its iris cold like dark pits, its pupils white slits something otherworldly. Its eyes bloodshot as it glared down at me.

Frozen in place. As the human shaped being ripped off her limbs right before me. One by one; blood sprayed like fountains, It sounded as if wood would have sounded like if it snapped. Sharply.

I stood looking at it as the human shaped being began gnawing into her, tearing the flesh off her bones of her dismembered body. A real human monster, a cannibalistic maniac.

"She is already dead." I muttered watching on at a loss. He stopped before me, glaring at me. "Please kill me, I beg of you." I fell to my knees, my expression dead, I was lost within. "Its all my fault..." tears began to trickle uncontrollably. The human figure stood up, now more seeable his body tattered, wrapped with bandages his knuckles bloodied as the skin seemed to nearly peel off them. As he was draped in an old hospital-like gown. His forearms were red like he was wearing gauntlets. As some of the bandages seem to fall off his hands. As he approached stepping on her dead corpse like a path. He stood before me; I closed my eyes and waited for the end. My hands clenched tight praying to the non-existence above. The footsteps faded. As I opened my eyes once more. As he disappeared in the distance out the front door, as I reached out in desperation."Don't go, I saw you kill them, wait!" I cried, my hand trembled as I tried to scramble to my feet; the door slammed behind him as he never looked back.

"Why didn't you kill me? I had seen you kill them. Yet you killed them. You must be coming back right?" As I sulked down my back hunched on the floor staring into oblivion. Sinking my knees and fists into the running blood of my fake mothers carcass. Tears welled in my eyes. Unable to believe what happened.

The police arrived. I was brought into custody of a police officer. Which offered me a way. To find it. that man. "I want to find that thing." I lowered my head before him as if it was the end.

He let out a drafty sigh. "Then would you like to become a detective? To solve this case?"

"Yes." I promise that I will find you no matter what hell this world drags forward. My eyes dry from the tears. I will not stop searching. I will get information on you even if it's-

I jolted awake, cutted off my obnoxious alarm, the warm light seeping through the blinds, blinding me, as I arose from my deep sleep turning towards the tiring light. I guess it's time to get up anyway. I'll get given hell if I am not one of the first ones to arrive. They've started acting strange all of sudden. I don't have time to do anything anymore because of their unusual behavior.

I walked out of the door, carrying my suitcase in-hand. Blinded by worry. *Bang. I fell to the ground unsure of what happened. 'Watch where you are going low-class!' As he rushed past. I stumbled to my feet about to begin walking then, suddenly the blood curdling snap pierced my ears. I turned to the alleyway that I fell in front of. Drawn to the repetitive noises. *splat. The noises of- I ventured deeper, deeper into the darkness. *Ring.. ring-

My phone- 'Hello? I'm sorry I'll be there!' as I rushed away. That sound was too familiar, just like then. When they were eaten by that murderer. I ran as fast as I could. To make it on time and yet I was still late. 'Kiiromi! Why are you late?!' my supervisor spat. As I looked away to avoid his glare.

'I apologize sir. I was caught up with something.' as I dipped my head, in disappointment of myself. 'Hurry up kid, get in place.' as I hurried in line with the others lined up to welcome the head of the department. 'welcome head of department.' as we all bowed as he walked down the line inspecting for any insignificance. We all pray that that the old man does not chose any of us. the phrases that were used often were: Please don't call me. I don't want to deal with it. I now understand that.

'Kid.' he growled, glaring at me.

"Yes sir." as I lifted my head.

'Get your shit together. Get here earlier.' as he jabbed me with his pipe.. 'Take better care of yourself, put some meat on those bones, you look pitiful.' as he loomed above with a painted pitty-look upon his face.

'Of course, Head of department.' as I lowered my head once more.

That kid who the hell are you? As the head of department ventured onwards towards his office. "Kuruma, who is that scrawning kid? He looks too girly." the head of the department grumbled. He became lost within thought. "His appearance looks like that girl that went missing after her foster parents death. I can't be sure."

"According to sources he's linked to the head of the resource department, so its not that possible." as he snached his paper out of his hands.

"My enemy huh." he snarled. "Run a deeper investigation out of that kid's identity."

'As you wish sir.' as he left, leaving him alone. "That kid. It's a girl huh? Got you, you spy!" he snarled, smacking the sheets down onto his desk. "This will really be useful to throw a little dirt on that bastard. to prove that he really is spying on me. Also call in Hidemi before you leave." He grumbled.

"yes Sir." he smiled.

-------

I guess we will have a meeting after lunch. I drooped my head, still drowsy from waking up.

"Hey, Misaki. Would you like to go on a date?"

"Are joking right now i'm not in the mood." he leaned close after the refusal of his little joke.

"I know your secret." As he loomed over my desk.

"If you think so then you must be right." as I stood up. "We are going to be late if we keep chatting." as I walk forward. "Really? Are you not sure? That you're not a man?" he glares, smiling sinisterly. "No reaction huh am I wrong?"

"Of course you are. Don't you know women aren't allowed to work here in this department. Are you sure you are not one?" I snarked back. "Hidemi?" I smiled back.

"Why you-" he grew with anger-

"Hey you two the meetings starting!"

"Lets go." As I opened the door of the meeting room ahead. Ignoring his infuriated gaze.

Hours passed of nonsense rambling until they were mentioned. The person I await to hear about all this wasteful time. 'The Nocturnal killer' is the name given to the unknown 'Dismembering cannibal' who takes people's limbs without a trace. The head of the filing department gave him the name due to the limbs of victims being unable to be found. Killings take place at random.All of the victims die when we find them exactly or see them. It doesn't matter when. Apparently to sources missing people cases had been occurring in the celestial sector originally. "Sir, so you're saying that the k-killer came here? Why did he come here?"

We are not sure if this probably got bored of celestial and moved on. "That's absurd! And stupid-" everyone glared at him. "I mean Sir. is." We don't have a lead on who this could be but recently the number of dismemberments of people have risen making this case more serious than ever. Important people in this sector are concerned for their own life at this point. So we must do our best to solve this case. "This is horrible Sir." I glared at the stacked pile of paper. Moving about from their neat pile. "But how are you supposed to find them?" They are all wimps.

"Yeah, how are we going to identify him?" as I slumped down in my chair.

"You are going to join his little following." The Nocturnal killer huh?

"You mean a cult? That's crazy!" one yelped, as I spaced out. pointless.

"It's your job as detectives to sometimes go undercover to find the missing information needed. To identify the killer!" as he smacked the table roaring like an animal. "But this is risky." Another sprouted. Complaining.

"I know but we must take this risk even if it kills us." another whined out the boss's persuading.

"But Sir." one proceeded.

"No buts. We have taken this case because no one else was willing to. But I assure you that if you live through this they are going to get paid a bit extra." he proposed. The room hit dead silent. "Fine. if no one else here will take it I will go myself!" I spouted, annoyed by their cowardliness.

"Misaki Kiiromi?" one added shocked by my willingness to do this.

"Haven't you even seen a crime or detective show before, do you know what you're doing!?" one spat-

"I have watched them all before! As I child long ago," I sigh-

"Misaki you are still young, don't do this you are really throwing your life away, this young?" one pestered, like an annoying bug.

"It doesn't sound that bad." I tried to shake it off by sounding interested about the person behind these bizarre killings with worshipers with an unknown amount. "I don't mind, I don't have any family to mourn my passing, so I just want to end these killings!" as I glared into the head detective's eyes.

"Misaki. But Sir he's nothing more than a newbie here-" of course downgrading me. "Please Sir allow me to take this on," I begged like a little spoiled brat.

"Of course you are our only chance and hope,"

"Thank you, Sir," I jolted out of my seat. As I acted as cheerful as I could.

"I will send out more information to you about the cult we have discovered."

"Thank you, Sir!" I ran out the door in painted excitement.

"Finally we have gotten rid of him." I stopped at the door cupping my ear against it, my excitement faded realizing the truth once again, 'I know that you lied, I only accepted to get away from you're abuse and downgrading of me, it's unfair here the old men get paid for way more than they should, and they bloody creep me out.' I sighed as I walked away, I've been working longer here than most of them. I left the building cheerfully carrying myself along, but at least there is the chance I don't return, I really want to prove him wrong with this case. I took the bus home that day, back to my cheap apartment.

I checked the fridge, the cupboard and the extra storage. No food was found. 'I need to get more,' I left locking the door on the way. As I swirled down the stairs, down the corridor out onto the noisy bustling streets. I skipped a few streets down to the convenience store.

I laundered in the aisles looking for some snacks. That's a bit pricey, as I flipped the tag above the cupped noodles in annoyance. I have to go with these cheaper ones then? "Hey, give me everything you have!" I turned and saw two men dressed in black, holding guns, I froze in fear. I looked onwards at the front counter 'why now...' I whined, "hey! You woman over there!" they had to notice me now,

"Come here and help this idiot! At the counter! HURRY UP I'll shoot!" as he waved the gun viciously in the distance. I need to survive this. I need to prove to them that I am worth it. I slowly made my way over to them frightened, I need to be better than this, I need to be calm. "I said hurry up!" the gun went off as the bullet grazed my arm. I've never dealt with something like this before. I am a detective not a bloody negotiator. As I held my arm in desperation, the gun went off again! I closed my eyes in fear. Nothing happened to me, I opened my eyes, to a man that stood before me with the vibrancy of his sky blue hair, as he fell due to the impact, his glasses shattering as they hit the ground, tinted ones at that, 'h-hey are you ok? SIR!' I trembled in panic. "Say something!" I cried as I knelt before him, unsure of what i'm seeing. Shit. "You lucky this time, woman." The guy yelled, chuckling briefly. As the man got ready to shoot once again.

The man rose to his feet, staggering enough, fine. He didn't respond to my words, as he began walking towards them causally. Like he never got shot. He was tall, mysterious. his faced shaded covered with his bangs, and his face mask. He walked straight towards the armed men. As he looked down on them, as he whispered something to them. They dropped their weapons in a instant, as they both walked out the door with the most horrid petrified expression ever. As I stood up, shocked at what had just happened. As I looked down at the ground. He had left his glasses behind. I quickly picked them up.

Those two men. Who is he? They were both arrested later on for an attempted robbery. I stayed behind as a suspect of the attempted crime, and that blue haired guy that had saved me had vanished. I bet he wouldn't want these glasses back. I wonder who that was. And who the hell did he somehow maneuver his way in the line in the fire. And act completely fine like nothing happened. I didn't even know he was even in this store. I didnt even realise he left the scene without anyone noticing. He reacted quickly covering his face with his hair making me unable to see. What was he hiding? Don't tell me hes some big-shot around here?