Fifteenth Jump (Blazblue) Part 5

Yankaka Strikes Again

            Yankaka hummed softly as she climbed up to the window of the beastkin’s house, having followed her home from her afternoon shift at the restaurant. She had seen Tadek talking to her again, so she was obviously another one of the four. This just wouldn’t do, especially since she had spoken to him TWICE without so much as a thought about Yan. “Yankaka find you… Kill you, nya. You in the way, nya.” She whispered to herself as she used one of her claws to quietly cut through the latch on the window.

            Once the latch was severed, the Kaka quietly pushed the window open and climbed into the small apartment, lucky enough to not be seen in the process. At least that is what she personally thought. The feline woman stepped through the apartment, checking every room until she came upon the beastkin sitting on her couch. Yankaka grinned widely to herself as she realized just how easy it would be to… remove the competition.

            With a little growl, Yankaka stepped out from behind the corner that she had been hiding behind and slowly advanced upon the beastkin, who eventually noticed the intruder just as Yan allowed her claws to spring free. “Beasty stepped over Yan’s line. She got close to My Guy… She too close…”

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            I sighed softly, my fingers reaching up to take the cigarette out from between my lips as I wandered through the city around the middle of the day, simply enjoying my time alone. I had informed Bang of what happened with the NOL Agent who had died, but he had no idea as to who could have done it. Taking a moment to think, I stepped into a restaurant, being mindful enough to at least toss away my cigarette as I did. “Hmm… Claw-like marks, an inch deep… Stab wounds, though. That’s the odd part.”

            With a huff, I dropped into a seat and ordered a cup of coffee for the moment. That seemed to be my schedule these days… Eating and relaxing. While I waited for my coffee, I glanced over toward the TV. “Hmm… Another murder?” I asked aloud as I took a hold of the mug, paying attention to what was being said.

            Eventually an image of the beastkin waitress popped up, my fingers suddenly snapping closed, shattering the cup of coffee in a spray of ceramic and hot liquid all over my hands and the counter. “What the fuck!” I called out, almost as a reflex. I found myself standing, everyone looking at me as if I was about to kill them, but instead of making any more of a scene, I simply retook my seat.

            “What’s wrong, sugar?” I heard from this lady that sat down across from me, her dress dictating that she was either of higher society… a prostitute… or simply dressed well. Hard to tell around here. “I knew that woman… Well, in passing. Nothing important, though. Just surprised me.” I commented, handing some money over to our waitress to pay for the coffee and the shattered mug with a little apology on my part.

            “I am sorry for your loss. Anything I can do?” She asked simply, one hand reaching over to set one hand over top of my own. I quickly pulled my hand away and climbed up to my feet. “Nah. I have something I need to take care of, I think… Thank you for your odd concern, though.” The red-headed woman gave a small nod of her head and allowed me to leave.

            Yankaka found me soon after, her usual smile plastered on her face as she grabbed me by the leg and attempted to pull me to the ground. “Sweet Guy! Come with Yankaka!” I didn’t budge, but instead simply reached down to grab the back of her hoodie, pick her up, and set her down in front of me. “Heh, afternoon, Yankaka. I am not that sweet… Trust me.”

            The Kaka moved to try and take my hand and, with a begrudged sigh, I allowed her to tug me along. “Yankaka found festival! Yankaka take Sweet Guy there.” She stated happily, dragging me along to this so-called festival.

            It was about an hour walk and, during said walk I pulled my hand away at one point. The Kaka took it surprisingly well, simply skipping along a short distance in front of me as we walked. “How was Sweet Guy’s day? Is Sweet Guy happy, nya?” She asked to kill the silence… Well, relative silence. “Eh, half and half. There have been murders within the city. Both people I have actually met and spoke with, which worries me considering they died in similar manners.”

            I spoke, thinking back to how they described the death of the beastkin. Throat torn out, face hanging on by only a few ragged pieces of skin, and her chest had been torn into so fiercely that her ribs were shattered in a few places. To make matters worse, she was found with her hands torn apart as if she had tried to catch blades worthy of short swords… but, it was all done through similar weapons to the first one from the descriptions.

            Yankaka’s smile lowered a little, her ears following suit for a moment before she cheered right back up. “Yan is sure that it has nothing to do with nyou. They simply unlucky, nya.” She stated and, before I could comment on how callous those statements were, Yankaka turned a corner and ran off into the festival that she had directed me to.

            I followed along, pushing her obviously less-than-wholesome comments to the side for the moment. It was rare that I got to enjoy such celebrations these days, so I spent the day handling that with Yankaka. I had a plan this time around. Two people died within 48 hours of interacting with me. That was enough for me to at least worry that it was, in fact, involving me in some way. My plan was simple… If I speak with a woman for a while or hang out with them, I was going to follow them. Was it a creepy idea, yes… but, it was my best chance.

            Back to the situation at hand, I spent the day playing games with Yankaka in the festival, which was oddly enjoyable all things considered. She may be annoying, constantly hungry, and extremely talkative… but, she was entertaining and, after about eighty two years of knowing her, she had managed to soften my heart a little. She wasn’t always annoying… I honestly found some of her antics cute, primarily when she tried to leap toward me or explain how to properly eat those curly noodles she seemed to enjoy.

            We parted at the end of the day, however. I had work to do and she said that she needed to mend some of her clothing. I didn’t even realize she had multiple outfits. Oh well, none of my business. I had murders to solve and be proactive for once… After all, this might just involve me.

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            Later that night, while Yankaka was sitting at home, she was staring at the little, stuffed catfish that Tadek had won for her at the festival. It wasn’t a huge prize, but it warmed her heart none-the-less and brought a wide, fanged smile to her abyss-of-a-face. “Sweet Guy gave Yan a present… The lack of competition is obviously working, nya He’s being nicer… but, he knows…”

            Her smile started to fade as the realization dawned on her. Her target of affection knew of her behavior and disapproved. Oh, she tried to cheer him up, but she saw that stern look in his eyes… He couldn’t hide his feelings from Yankaka! She could read him like a book! “Yankaka have to kill… Yankaka won’t have Sweet Guy if she doesn’t, nya.” She stood up from where she was sitting and glanced over toward the jacket she had been stitching up, an idea suddenly came to mind.

            “He doesn’t approve… but, Yankaka have to. What if Yankaka wasn’t Yankaka, nya?” Her smile returned, her red eyes gaining a little, malevolent line above them to indicate a glare. “Yan disguises herself, nya. Kill the competition and Sweet Guy won’t know, nya.” She took out the wooden carving she made of him, one of her paw-sleeves reaching up to run along the surface.

            “Don’t worry, Sweet Guy… Yankaka will remove those that keep us apart, nya. You’re so cute when you sleep… but, I can’t watch Sweet Guy tonight. Yankaka has to make a disguise so you won’t be mad if Yankaka gets caught, nya.” She stepped over toward the jacket and thought it over for a moment as she put away the wooden carving for now.

            “Yan will have nyou. Yan remember when she was alone, when rocks were thrown, and the cold rain, nya. Never again, nya.” She picked up the jacket and took it along as she stepped out into the night so that she could try to find a late-night tailor’s shop. Even she was aware of how similar Kakas looked to non-Kakas, so if she dyed her clothes and hid her fur, no one would know.