Year One

Jin continued on her way as the crowd dispersed, with Dalia not too far behind.

[I wonder who was fighting. I guess I'll find out soon enough.]

*Eve continues on her way*

Taiyo: "Hi!"

On the next street, the pair cross making their way home.

Azuma: "Quite the self-control you showed there. Figured you'd have ripped his head off."

Mimiru: "It'll be worth the suspension if that losers vocabulary changes."

Azuma: "I wouldn't bet on it occuring right away. The crowd was a fair size and the parking lot camera lenses frosted over."

Mimiru slugs him hard in the shoulder.

Mimiru: "You idiot! What did I say this morning?"

Azuma: "I don't have a hair trigger temper behind my abilities. A little concentration is all it takes for me to do my thing. Either thing."

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George: "No, that's all right. I just have some paperwork to do. See you tomorrow."

"All right. See you tomorrow."

*She waves & sets off for home.*
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A"Umm...hello."

*Eve takes out her phone, and starts the timer before continuing to head home*

[Let's see how long this walk takes. Maybe I was just really slow this morning.]

Taiyo: "Do you want to walk home with us?"

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As the two walk home, they pass a pawn shop with various television sets in the window, all turned to a local news station, closed caption on on those with the function.

News Anchor: "Mutant Busters with the aid of the Manderlay Police Department apprehended a Mutant refering to himself as Dark Shot while attempting to flee from a jewelery store after stealing several thousand dollars worth of merchandice. Luckily there were no casualites, but three people were wounded. When asked to comment, no one from the MPD would comment, but Sergeant Daniel Winslow of the Mutant Busters was more than willing too."

The scene shifts to a tall, built male in kevlar with a large MB overtop the Manderlay Police Department badge ironed to his uniform top.

Daniel: "On behalf of the Mutant Busters, I would like to thank the brave men and women of the Manderlay Police Department for aiding us in the capture of this dangerous Mutant. That is all."

Azuma: "That was informative. What kind of name is Dark Shot anyways? Sounds like he was trying too hard to be intimidating."

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Ven passes Hitomi who is going in the opposite direction as her. A red sedan with a large TB spraypainted on the doors pass them too.

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Eve's journey is hindered by a couple of police officers and cruisers redirecting traffic. An ambulence is also present. One police officer not too far from her is in a heated argument with some reporters.

*Ven growls at the passing van when it dons on her what that stands for.*
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A"Uhh...sure. I'd love to."

*Aroma smiles.*

Jin and Dalia continued on their way.

*Eve tries to listen in to find out what's going on while she continues to walk home*

And so the three set off for wherever the winds may take them.

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The two enter their respective apartments. An older, taller male with shoulder length red hair wearing scruffy jeans and a t-shirt greets Azuma at the door on his way out.

Azuma: "Leaving again?"

Kentaro: "Off to pick up Kari. Then I gots to work. Such is the way of being the man of the house."

Azuma: "Yeah, okay. Pretty sure Kari is more qualified to be the bread winner."

Kentaro: "True, yet not uncommon. But my name is first on the rental forms meaning I'm the man of the house. Don't take this away from me."

Azuma: "Fine."

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She can't hear a whole lot, but she gets a nice view of three covered bodies, a weird looking visor with a folded paper beside it with a number, and some scattered shell casings.

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A black sedan with TB spraypainted in yellow passes Jin. Dalia passes a few people in The End Is Night and Judgment Is Coming sandwich boards.

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Hitomi looks over her shoulder at the growling Ven then continues on her way. A Mutant Busters van stops at a redlight near Ven.

*Ven ignores it & keeps walking.*
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T"So...why do you wear those gloves?"

A"Do...do you not like them?"

T"No. I mean...I didn't say that. I mean...."

*Thiera looks imploringly at Taiyo.*

Jin looked at the sedan as it passed, but did not stop walking. Dalia felt contempt for the people in sandwich boards, but did not show it.

"I'm sure she's just curious. They're real nice."

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Azuma appears in Mimiru's living room.

Mimiru: "Goddamn it!"

Azuma: "What? It wasn't your bedroom this time. Or bathroom. Both of which you were not in at the time. Which might make it worse."

Mimiru: "Why can't you use a door like normal people?"

Azuma: "Could be the whole not being a normal person thing. Just my guess. Grandma at a bridge game or something today?"

Mimiru: "Yep."

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The van's sirens turn on and it peels away, rounding the corner. She to passes me in sandwich boards bearing words of impending doom.

Hitomi arrives at her destination, the library where a couple of Tyranno Boys are loitering on the front steps.

=================================================

The two make it to their respective homes.

*Venezuela vaguely wonders why it's taking so damn long to reach her apartment.*
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A"I hope so. I made them myself."

*Aroma inspects one of her gloves.*

Taiyo: "Really? I'm barely getting through a set of pajamas."

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Mimiru: "So what brought this unwanted visit?"

Azuma: "I had nothing better to do. Not much to do on a Thursday anyways."

Mimiru: "You could stay at home. Or get a hobby."

Azuma: "I drop too many hobbies. And frankly, going outside and doing something is...displeasurable. Weirdos calling for the end of the world, weirdos killing for the joy of killing, weirdos moonlighting as heroes of sorts, some getting arrested. The city's dying, you know."

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Four red lights later, she's home. If it's something to be eager to get to.

*Ven takes a shower...like a boss...sexily.*
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T"So, both of you can sew?"

Taiyo: "I've been taking classes at school and my mom teaches me sometimes. What about you, Aroma? How'd you learn?"

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Mimiru: "Are you getting at something here?"

Azuma: "What do you mean?"

Mimiru: "Well, nothing you said made me want to hit you and it seemed like you were going somewhere with it. If this city is dying, why not do something about it?"

Azuma: "Because I'm one idiot who's one mistake away from a detention facility somewhere out of the city."

A"Umm...trial-&-error."
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*Having finished up, Ven moves on to the waxing.*

*Eve gets kind of freaked out, and starts moving a little faster*

Taiyo: "Really? That's awesome! What about you, Thiera, what do you do?"

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Mimiru: "When has being an idiot stopped you from doing anything? Just look at your brother. He's a bigger idiot and that doesn't stop him from doing anything. If anything it's a strength."

Azuma: "I don't want to be the one who gets the law coming down on all of us."

Mimiru: "Then don't be that big of a-"

Azuma: "Sh!"

He turns the volume on the tv that's tuned into a news report up.

News Anchor: "Three people slain at the east and thirty-eighth intersection by members of the Tyranno Boys. Also we have recently acquired a video tape from the Tyranno Boys leader known as Raptor."

The scene shifts to one of a poorly lit room lit just enough to get a solid outline of someone wearing a visor (the only truly visible feature of the person) who appears to have a massive build.

Raptor: "Greetings. As you know, I am Raptor, leader of the Tyranno Boys organization come to say that judgment day is upon Manderlay. My men and I will storm city hall and Central, slay Mayor Ditko and I personally will rend the flesh from Commissioner Morrison's bones and bathe in his blood. The Mutant Busters cannot stop us, the costumed 'heroes' prowling the nights are powerless against up. Manderlay belongs to the Tyranno Boys."

News Anchor: "When asked to comment on the video, Commissioner Morrison had this to say..."

The scene shifts to a police press conference where a tall, bald man in his mid to late forties in a beige trenchcoat is standing at a podium.

Morrison: "If Raptpr and his gang want to take me on, I'll be delighted to oblige him. Come get me."

Azuma: "At least somebody is willing to stand up to them."

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Due to the delay of the blockade, Eve gets home later than usual.

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Hitomi leaves the library, a trio of books in tow and begins to make her way home. The Tyranno Boys who were loitering outside the doors, following a way behind.

*Ven does not own a television, so she just finds her pile of blankets, curls up, & takes a nap.*
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T"Uhh...take care of plants? I mean, Mom grows medicine, so I...help take care of...the plants."

Dalia frowned at the television while preparing a cup of tea. This news meant more stress for her parents- people who would not benefit from the Tyranno Boys 'taking over'. She smiled a little when the Commissioner spoke. He did not took too formidable, but he seemed brave enough for his role.

Jin had turned on the television and set the volume almost to it's maximum so that she could listen to it while changing and freshening up in the next room. When she re-emerged she found her parents had turned the volume down and were grimly discussing the news. Jin had no real opinion on the matter except that the Tyranno Boys were bad, so she kept quiet and began making herself sandwiches.

Taiyo: "That's...cool. I'm sure it's very interesting."

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Mimiru: "Why isn't it you?"

Azuma: "What?"

Mimiru: "Why aren't you willing to stand up to them. You have as much of a reason as anyone to and you have the power to do so."

Azuma: "What the hell are you getting at? Are you saying I should join the ranks of the supposed vigilantes?"

Mimiru: "I'm saying you should do something. Why is this city dying?"

Azuma: "It's packed with those who'd wish to do harm for their own gain or just because they felt like it. Except I can't stand up to the mob or anyone with a gun for that matter."

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A third Tyranno Boy comes from the front, Hitomi turning into an alley. Two follow, the third hangs back as watch. The alley reaches a dead end and the Tyranno Boys each produce a knife.

Tyranno Boy One: "Chicken legs, licken legs. Slice and dice."

Tyranno Boy Two: "Spud's scared, Bud. Really easy when they scared. Show her we nasty."

Hitomi's back hits a wall, dropping her books.

Hitomi: "Go away."

*Thiera frowns & looks down. Aroma pats her on the back.*

A"Are you thinking of going into medicine too?"

T"Hm? Oh, yes."

A"I've been thinking of becoming a nurse, myself."

Dalia sat down with her cup of tea and continued watching the television.

Jin sat down with her sandwiches and began eating, hoping that her parents would go away so she could change the channel.