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"What do you mean, Fubuki is missing?"
Halara puts the newspaper they've been reading down and adjusts their glasses. Yakou has been rummaging through the desk for a good ten minutes now, which already alerted them that something must be off.
Yakou shrugs and waves his hands. "It's probably nothing. She might have just gotten lost on the way back, you know she's kind of a clutz." He scratches his head. "I'm kinda busy, but maybe..."
"That should not be taken so lightly either. And you did not think to say so earlier?" They sigh. "Fine, I will do it. For a price."
Yakou's eyes widen, his voice immediately incredulous. "Seriously? She's your colleague!" He swallows hard, visibly sweating already.
Halara tilts their head to the side, smirking. "Friend's discount it is. I shall remind you. Do not think simply because Yuma has been neglecting to pay me back, I would be this kind to the next person too."
Yakou groans and runs a hand through his hair. "You know, whatever. Someone probably should check on her and you're better equipped for that than me. Would you?"
Halara folds the newspaper and puts it away entirely. "Thought you'd never ask. Gladly."
Truthfully, Halara does not really intend to be paid for looking for their colleague, however, Yakou shouldn't grow comfortable with the thought Halara would work for free.
They set out, leaving the submarine to enter the city.
"Now, where could Fubuki have went?"
They really have very little to go on. The cafe comes to mind, so that's where they are headed. Asking the owner, it turns out Fubuki did pass by a while ago, seemingly in a hurry. He instructs Halara into the direction and they set off yet again.
This part of the district is a little less dense with witnesses, and Halara slows down. A perfect spot to abduct a person. Or worse.
"Please! I haven't done anything!"
And just as they imagined, Fubuki's distressed voice sounds from a dark side alley. Halara draws close and peeks around the corner.
Yomi is standing there, flanked by two peacekeepers, his whip pointed at Fubuki, who's on her knees. "You, detective scum, innocent? I think someone didn't get the memo! I don't want filthy rats in my city!"
Fubuki bows her head. "I will do anything, just please do not hurt my friends."
"Anything, hm?" A disgusting smile spreads over Yomi's face. "Sounds like something I can work with. Get her." The peacekeepers get up and motion to capture Fubuki.
"Not so fast."
Halara can't wait until the situation escalates. Yomi is a violent person, and they don't want to linger too long and watch Fubuki get hurt. They step into view, their arms crossed, impatiently tapping their foot against the wet concrete.
Yomi's head whips up, his smirk morphing into a scowl. "Another one of those? Maybe I need to exterminate the city after all!" He discards Fubuki with a kick of his boot against her shoulder, turning to Halara, swinging his whip. "Well? Afraid?"
Halara feels anger pulsate in the back of their head. Nobody hurts their fellow treasured colleagues on their watch.
Yomi sends the whip flying through the air, and Halara easily dodges. That seems to surprise Yomi, his features briefly derailing, before he grits his teeth. "What are you standing around for?!", he yells at his peacekeepers, "Attack!"
Halara has dealt with worse. The two peacekeepers closing in on them go down in two easy hits against each of their necks. Yomi growls and charges towards Halara, who takes him head on. Grabbing his arm, they swirl around and pull Yomi against their back, before throwing him over their shoulder, slamming him to the ground.
For someone this hostile, they imagined a bit more from him. But Yomi only squirms on the ground, mud staining his uniform now, groaning in pain. All bark and no bite. They scoff.
"Halara-san!" Fubuki comes running towards them, staggering to a halt. "Oh! Oh, no! Chief Yakou will get into so much trouble because of me! I shall use my forte to revert-"
Halara holds their hand in front of her face. "Don't. He deserved it."
"But-!" Fubuki leans up and down on her toes, obviously torn. "Um! Then I have to compensate you, at the very least-!"
"Don't do that, either. Are you okay? He kicked you."
Yomi spits to the ground, and Halara swings their head around, gifting him a sharp glare. He falters immediately, and Halara grimaces. What a pathetic sight.
"I'm alright", Fubuki says quietly, "I'm sorry. I shouldn't have been so careless! I walked into him..."
"Don't be sorry. Come on. The chief is waiting for you."
They turn away from Yomi, not granting him another look while he curses under his breath, kicking his legs against the puddle on the ground.
"Chief Yakou was worried about me?", Fubuki asks, "Ah, he certainly already paid you, then! I'm glad."
"No." Halara shoves their glasses back up. "He does owe me, but not for this. It's the least I can do."
Fubuki pauses, before she suddenly jumps Halara, wrapping her arms around them. "Halara-san, my hero! Thank you!"
"Fubuki... Personal space?"
Fubuki ignores them, hugging them tight, and Halara sighs fondly. Maybe just for the moment, they'll allow it. It's not like they don't like the praise...
Their face feels a little warm, and when Fubuki looks at them again with her bright, sparkling eyes, Halara thinks they are most definitely blushing, quickly averting their gaze and picking up the pace when she lets go of them to clap her hands.
Fubuki prances at their side, a swing in her step that causes a smile to tug Halara's mouth. Hardly ever does anyone willingly stay in their company, given their personality, but Fubuki has a way to so effortlessly navigate their interactions that Halara finds themselves oddly drawn towards her.
They look up to the sky. Fubuki silently wraps her arms around Halara's, they they quietly lean into her touch. Even though she's quite the airhead and lacks ability to read the room, Halara... Really likes Fubuki.
And them working for someone without payment sure means a lot. They certainly wouldn't do this for just anyone.