《The Knights Himura》#51: The Third Degree
Advertisement
Tsuki dragged herself into the police station against Fumiko's wishes. The others were out celebrating their victory, but something was bothering Tsukiko.
The chief welcomed her in with little issue. It was the first time she'd entered through the front doors.
Her body was still burning. It didn't hurt as much as she thought it would, but she still felt tired. Her limbs stung, as they struggled to keep her standing.
"Has he said anything yet?" Tsukiko asked.
"No."
"What?" Tsuki narrowed her eyes. "Why not?"
"He's not interested in talking to us." The Chief looked down and sighed. "He says he's only going to talk to… Himura Tsukiko."
"Then let me talk to him."
"No way!" The Chief shook his head.
"Why not?"
"You're barely able to walk, let alone interrogate." The Chief hissed. "Not to mention the legality of it."
"When has the law ever stopped you before?" Tsukiko replied.
"Tsukiko, this is different. There are courts and--"
"Yeah, and you completely avoided them time and time again!" Tsuki raised her voice. "Are you planning on setting this one free too?"
The Chief spoke quietly. "This kind of work is a lot more complicated than you think it is."
"Just give me ten fucking minutes."
"I can't just give you everything you want." The Chief scolded her. "Besides, what could he even tell you that's worth hearing? It's done, Miss Himura."
"You're not the least bit curious?"
"Motive doesn't matter." The Chief shook his head. "What matters to me is what he did and what he gets in court."
"I can't just… forget!" Tsuki looked him in the eye. "I need to know why he did it. I need to know what this was all about."
"It's just a gang war, Tsuki." The Chief sighed.
"Haruka and Fumi both got stabbed. Lily got lit on fire!" Tsukiko shouted. "How the hell are you gonna motive doesn't matter?"
"He's gonna get what he deserves, Tsuki." The Chief sighed. "Nothing else matters now."
"Then why was I so important?" Tsuki countered. "Why did he need to fight me? This was between me and him, not him and Sylvie."
The Chief sighed. "Miss Himura. I've been an officer for longer than you've been alive. Trust me. If he had something worth saying, you've already heard it."
"Please." Tsukiko pleaded. "I need answers. Just this one thing, alright?"
"...you really want it that bad?"
"Yeah." Tsuki didn't look at him.
The Chief paused to think about it. His eyes closed as he gave his final answer.
"...you're the boss."
Advertisement
The Chief turned around. He started walking through the station slowly and Tsukiko did her best to follow.
Tsukiko was tired. Pain radiated throughout her entire body. She walked behind him with a limp, holding her right arm.
Every few steps, the Chief would turn back to make sure she hadn't collapsed. The other officers in the station watched in awe and remorse. None of them dared approach.
They entered the jail and approached Morgan's cell. He sat on a bench at the opposite end. He had his head down, waiting for his time to come.
The cell was dark, only illuminated by a weak overhead light. A filter over it diffused the light, only making it harder to make things out. Morgan was practically a silhouette.
"There he is." The Chief motioned. "All yours."
Tsuki turned and looked the Chief in the eye. "Thanks."
"Don't mention it. Shout if you need me."
The old Chief turned and started walking, stopping at the door. He watched quietly, just far enough to give them some privacy.
"Morgan." Tsuki called out.
Morgan looked up and his eyes widened a little. He got to his feet and approached the bars. A small smile appeared on his face.
His face was still bruised and marked red from the fight. He had a slight limp as he edged closer and closer to the bars. His clothes had been replaced by a simple uniform.
Tsukiko wanted to ask something but her mind drew a blank. She thought and thought, but nothing made any sense. A single world came out of her mouth.
"Why?"
"Why what?" Morgan cocked his head.
"Why… Why'd you ask for me?"
"Because I'm not interested in talking to another cop." Morgan sighed. "They're all useless idiots anyway."
"Why me? There's nothing I can do for you." Tsukiko asked.
"I'm already screwed." Morgan sighed. "They're gonna throw the book at me, so I'm not gonna keep any more secrets."
"...why was I so important?"
"Because you're the new one." Morgan shrugged. "A new Knight's a big deal. Had to know more about you."
"That's it?"
"No." Morgan shook his head and looked away. "I had to make sure you were strong."
"Why?" Tsuki narrowed her eyes.
"Because you're cool." Morgan laughed weakly.
"Seriously?"
Morgan still had a little smile. Tsukiko was deathly serious. The smile on his face faded when he realized the true tone of the conversation.
"...it's because I wanted to make sure the Knights were back for real." Morgan spoke bluntly.
"Why's it matter to you?"
"...the police in this city is corrupt and incompetent."
The Chief stepped out and closed the door. It was as if he was purposefully ignoring the subject. Either way, their talk continued.
Advertisement
"And you're a gang leader. Why're you suddenly so concerned about the city's well being?" Tsuki asked again. "It'd just make things easier for you."
"I never wanted things to get violent." Morgan paused. "I just wanted to run a gang of thieves, like the Damascenes used to be. I lost control, though. Just like Sylvie did."
"...and then Fumiko got stabbed for no reason." Tsuki glared.
"I'm sorry." Morgan hid his face. "I'm really really sorry. She didn't deserve it. Neither did Lily."
"It's too late." Tsuki shook her head. "That's not something you just… apologize for."
"No. It isn't." Morgan nodded slowly. "When it happened, I knew we were screwed. You don't do something like that without getting everyone in the city on your ass."
"So why'd you keep going?" Tsuki cocked her head.
"I knew the First Knight as a kid. I always admired her. You and the Second Knight too." Morgan shrugged. "They've always done whatever it took to protect the people of Tokyo."
"You want me to be a Knight." Tsuki confirmed.
"You're probably the best pick for the part." Morgan's fingers wrapped around one of the bars. "You brought the other two back from retirement. This city needs you guys."
"If you care so much about the Knights, why'd your men stab one while helping you escape?" Tsukiko hissed.
"They… stabbed her?"
"Yeah." Tsuki quieted down. "She's fine now, but…"
"Those motherfuckers." Morgan grit his teeth. "I wanted him to slow her down, not stab her!"
"Hmm."
"This town's going to the dogs and the cops aren't helping." Morgan sounded serious. "They let out the man that burned poor Lily Guillemot. How the fuck are you gonna let a guy like that go free?"
"So you know everything the cops are doing, but you can't figure out your own men?" Tsuki asked.
Morgan sighed. "It wasn't just the one cop in our gang, y'know."
"Son of a bitch." Tsuki made a fist. "Did you plan all this out?"
"I didn't even know you existed for the longest time. Not till you started fist fighting every Shakudo you met." Morgan admitted. "I knew you were a real Knight when you walked into our meeting and started making demands. That was some cool shit you did."
"...was the Chief in on it?"
"Nah." Morgan shook his head. "But he might as well have been."
"What do you mean?"
"His men mishandled the hospital, the bombings, the fire…" Morgan muttered. "If you weren't there, everything would've gone to shit every single time."
"Hmm."
"He knows it too. How many times did he have to pull you out of jail? His own didn't follow orders either!" Morgan asked rhetorically. "These cops couldn't find their own asses with a map. This city needs you, Tsukiko."
"How the hell am I supposed to listen to this?" Tsuki raised her voice. "You put innocent people's lives at risk. You're not any better yourself."
"That was never my intent. My men got… overzealous." Morgan looked her in the eye. "Look. I'm gonna rot in a cell for… who knows how long. If that's what you wanted, that's what you've got."
Tsukiko paused before speaking. "What makes you think you get to decide what's best for Tokyo? Or for me?"
"You're the one wearing the jacket. I didn't put it on you" Morgan said. "Besides, you've seen it. The streets are safer with you guys around. People are hopeful again."
The two of them went quiet. Neither of them knew what to say to each other. Morgan's eyes darted around while he tried to figure out what to say.
"You're no joke, y'know." Morgan chuckled a little. "You've got a mean punch."
"Huh?"
"You really kicked my ass, probably the best fight of my life." Morgan bowed his head. "Don't worry, I didn't pull any punches."
"...no kidding." Tsuki smiled a little.
"I wouldn't have it any other way."
"I wasn't gonna let you win."
"Shame we won't be able to fight it out again." Morgan scratched his head. "Maybe if you're still kickin' ass in like… twenty years."
"Was this all just a game to you?" Tsuki asked.
"...I have to keep myself happy somehow." Morgan sighed. "You start to think crazy shit when you realize you've already lost it all."
The door to the jail suddenly swung open. The Chief's booming voice was loud, only made louder by the echo of the concrete.
"Ten minutes is up!" The old man practically screamed. "Come on out!"
"...later." Tsuki bowed her head a little.
"Sorry about everything. Sorry about Fumiko and Lily and you sister." Morgan had a regretful look. "I'm sorry it all had to play out this way."
Tsukiko didn't want to say it out loud, but she did. "Thanks."
"Huh?"
"Thanks for apologizing." Tsuki didn't want to look at him. "I thought I didn't need to hear it, but… I guess I did."
Morgan had a defeated look on his face. "...yeah. No problem."
Advertisement
- In Serial99 Chapters
The Mortal Acts
The Mortal Acts is an epic progression fantasy with a lower focus on training aspects and a great focus on discovering new ways of using powers intelligently. I've always been drawn to stories where characters use their powers creatively to overcome opponents and obstacles, and I think all the possibilities can provide a great playground for twists and turns. It's inspired by a variety of media, including Will Wight's Cradle, Hunter x Hunter, and Bioshock, so if you like the creative power use elements from those, come check it out. This is my first serial, and please feel free to leave comments and feedback. For backstory, behind-the-scenes, and other fun stuff, come chat on my discord! Become a patron to read up to 20 chapters ahead here! Blurb: Riven Morell cuts short his regular life at school and home when his mother falls terminally ill. Desperate to find a cure, he travels to Severance Frontier, a desolate land haunted by hordes of ghosts, witches, and demons collectively called the Deathless. But a miraculous cure doesn’t magically fall into his hands. Things are worse in Severance Frontier than Riven had assumed. Ghosts are banding together into armies, demons are kidnapping anyone who strays out of settlements, and witches are enslaving everyone left and right. Riven, of course, gets embroiled in the mess. Missions to curb the Deathless activity are one thing, but when it starts to look like this is just the beginning of a war that extends beyond the mortal realm, Riven has a hard time focusing on why he came to Severance Frontier in the first place. His mother is inching towards death with every passing day, but if he doesn’t face down the Deathless, what little civilization the Frontier holds will be overrun and destroyed. Thankfully, it looked like the Deathless might just hold the secret of the elusive cure.
8 257 - In Serial34 Chapters
Corpse Crawler
Ludwig Lock wakes up in a hospital bed to find a weeping woman at his side. After some crying, more weaping and confusion, Ludwig discovers that that lady was his ten year old sister, and that he's been in a coma for fifteen years. He also learns that the world he had grown to know was no more since heroes, villains, and super powers inhabit the streets, being regarded as a lot of things withing an endless spectrum. Just when he was about to finally get started with his new life, Ludwig faced a streak of bad luck, the last event of this chain setting him up to die so a vigilante can save himself. After suffering the worst beating of his life and experimenting the incompetence of the law, Ludwig decides to use his own hands to achieve justice. He will face difficult challenges, traumatic situations, and probably horrible stuff to get his life rolling. But at least he's got a friend to help him. Not a normal one though. ---- IMPORTANT: I personally identify powers as a fantastical element, which is why I don't find weird the addition of other elements of the same vein if it stays within the logic of the world. New and old chapters get updated with relative frequency, (new chapter every week, though it may be delayed a day or more to problems or some other reason) and the story is in a draft-like state, meaning it will probably stay the same but there will be changes on the prose or writing. Also, I would apreciate if it is known to me (Respectfully) which points should I improve on.
8 113 - In Serial66 Chapters
Void Rifters - A sci-fi/fantasy mash-up
> Updates schedule: 2ch/week ! The fantasy storyline starts from a different pov in chapter 7 and the transmigration comes in the second book, from chapter 40 !Waking up in an unknown place with thousands of other humans, the specimen B213-84 does not know how he ended up here, nor does he remember his previous life. After being abducted by a superior race called the Scyllas to fight for them as a battle slave in a galactic war between 2 dimensions, after undergoing different modifications to both his body and mind and being forcefully fused with an unknown black matter, how this lowly lifeform, who was once a human called Jun-Yeob, will be able to survive the war and get his revenge ? Book 2 : After so many years fighting in vain and suffering atrocities, he was finally ready to die during what should have been his last fight, when suddenly, a new rift opens and behind it a completely different world awaits him. ___ Do not hesitate to comment the novel on discord, so I can improve it with your help.Discord: https://discord.gg/JxytpnN5m2 If you like my novel and want to support me for more updates, feel free to visit my Patreon. Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/NobleTalonTiers : 1$/chapter up to five premium chapters for now. More tiers will be added later. Novel published on Royal Road, Scribble, Webnovel
8 187 - In Serial22 Chapters
The Heavy
The Mystery Play business is a niche, but profitable market in the underground community of magical types that's sometimes known as the Occulture. Folks from the old magic families will pay big bucks to experience the sort of life that they imagine for an urban fantasy protagonist, and catering to their dreams puts food on the table. Raymond Doyle is a professional in his field- which is to say, he's the guy who shows up to threaten the star of the show on orders from an antagonist. He's the Heavy. The muscle. He's good at the job. And unfortunately, he may just have to play an entirely different part for this tour package, because the would-be detective turned up dead before he had a chance to threaten them.
8 252 - In Serial14 Chapters
Fall of the Queen of Shadows
This is the backstory of one of my main antagonists in my D&D campaign. The story depicts the life and evetual Fall of the one to be known as the Queen of Shadows.
8 130 - In Serial33 Chapters
the mr and mrs : e.d
it's not all teenage drama anymore. BOOK ONE: FOSTEREDBOOK TWO: HAPPY ENDINGS DONT EXISITBOOK THREE: THE WAKE UPBOOK FOUR: THE MR AND MRS
8 171

