Ark 20 Episode 32: Information at a Cost.


 * Don't worry he said... she nodded and put the phone away. She trusted Kin but this was very straining to her. She looked out at the evening sky and sighed.:: "Just... don't think about it and go to bed." ::It had been almost a week since the bite, the oni, and... the baby. She really hadn't been feeling any affects that would tell her that she was pregnant. She had been wondering if maybe, Tsukiko had been mistaken. Not knowing allot about that stuff, Suzume turned to books and the computer to find out. It's possible it could be a few weeks before she would know for sure. The first sign being she would miss her period, she still had a few days before that. Suzume heard a knock on her door.:: "Come in?" ::Moto walked in the room, after awakening from the encounter with the oni. Suzume had gone back home, she was lectured for hours on end about how worried her father had been and that if she had wanted to see Kin to please not do it behind his back again. "I trust you Suzume, you're a smart girl." Her father had said over and over through out the conversation. It only made her feel even worse, because she hadn't been smart about it and did something foolish.:: "Suzume... you've been awfully quiet lately... Is something wrong?" ::She loved her father so much... but was afraid to tell him what really happened while she was gone with Kin.:: "No, I'm fine dad." ::He nodded and sat down on her bed next to her.:: "Kin... must be really busy with work. I haven't seen him come by all week. That kids gonna get old before his time if he doesn't take a break. But I guess that nice little three day thing with you and his mother." :: He shook his head.:: "All of you kids.... it seems like you had to grow up much faster then I did at your age. You've all had to experience things in your life, that most adults my age would cringe at the thought of going through. I guess thats why I feel so bad when I have to treat you like a child... cause... I feel like you've already earned allot of respect because you've been through so much." ::Suzume scooted over next to him and rested her head on his shoulder.:: "Dad... did you and mom... do.... you know before you eloped?" ::Moto blushed, he'd never expected to be having this type of conversation with his daughter. He ran his fingers through his hair roughly, out of nervousness.:: "Geez... I always thought... this was a conversation you'd have with your mother... but I guess I'll just have to bite the bullet here." ::He gave out a heavy sigh.:: "Yes, Suzume we did... She... well... It was part of the reason we eloped... in the first place." ::Suzume lifted her head and looked up at him.:: "What do you mean Dad?" ::He looked at her, with a sad look.:: "Your mother.... became pregnant... around your age." ::Suzume blinked in surprise, she had never heard of this before.:: "But... you guys didn't have me until, later." ::Moto nodded.:: "Yes,... but your mother.... lost the baby early on in the pregnancy." ::Suzume noticed an almost angry expression cross his face.:: "Dad..?" ::He gave out a long drawn out breath.:: "When your mother.... tried to tell her family that she was pregnant. Her father became enraged.... and beat her. She lost the baby soon after that. That was why we ran away... and eloped." ::Suzume hugged her father tightly.:: "Oh daddy.... I'm sorry..." :: He hugged her back.:: "Awe honey... that was years ago, it's sad but we had you later. So he didn't take that away from us." ::Suzume nodded but her thoughts went back to the man she had ran into when they were in the slave camp trying to save her mother. The broken old man, who regretted everything he had done to his daughter. It was kind of sad that he had not been able to say those things to her mother himself. Still... her mother had every right to be angry if she had lost a child due to him.:: "Suzume... why did you ask me about that? You and Kin... haven't... have you?" ::She looked at him, getting so nervous she could feel her heart beating in her ears. Then shamefully looked down at the floor. Moto gave a frustrated groan.:: "So... you have... You're not... you know, are you?" ::Suzume shook her head.:: "I... don't know yet..." ::She didn't want to tell her father, that it had been confirmed by Tsukiko and the oni or that... She had become something more than human. Moto sighed.:: "Well... we'll deal with it if it comes... Once you do find out for sure... don't... keep it from Kin too long." ::He leaned over and kissed her on the forehead.:: "Whatever happens Suzume... I'll be here for you. I love you, and thats never going to change. But... I am a little disappointed. However... I can't be mad at you for doing something that I did myself when I was younger... It wouldn't be right. Just please... the next time... you know... use protection. Thats all I ask." ::He gave a heavy sigh.:: "I... need to go think for a while alright. You should get some sleep..." ::Suzume nodded and watched her father as he got up and roughly ran his hand through his hair. After he left, Suzume could hear him go downstairs. The front door soon opened, and then the scent of cigarette smoke wafted up to her window. She went to her window and looked down to she her father standing out in front of their home. He was standing there in his winter coat, she could see the orange glow of the cigarette in the darkness. She knew she had disappointed him, and it broke her heart to see him that way.:: "Im... sorry daddy." ::She said before turning off the light in her room and laying down for the night, not before wiping a few tears from her eyes.::


 * The next morning Suzume woke up to find her father downstairs asleep in his recliner, she leaned over and kissed him on the forehead. Grabbing one of the blankets that was covering the couch and covered him up. She then headed into the bathroom to shower quickly, and ready and out the door before he would wake. It was a brisk Saturday morning, she just had to get out and do something for once. She felt like she had been isolating herself, just because of all the drama that had been in her life lately.:: "The library maybe? Or... a bookstore... It's been a while since I actually bought a book." ::She sighed, and made her way to one of the few book stores in all of Kasaihana.:: (http://i1308.photobucket.com/albums/s602/themarvelouspen/9005e42c-23fc-49d0-b9b0-dcbef0739004_zps380d5848.jpg?t=1415738999) ::The city itself was blanketed in a thin layer of snow, and more was fluttering down in the early morning sun. It was kind of pretty and made Suzume think about the fact that Christmas was coming soon.:: "Geez, things have been so crazy.... thats the first I thought of it." ::She stood in front of the store. 'Once Upon a Time' the sign said above the store it wasn't a big shop but she could tell by looking through the front window that it was chalk full of books.:: "Looks like my kind of place." ::Thats when she notices a smaller sign in the window.:: "Help Wanted inquire within." ::Suzume blinked.:: "Hmm... That... might be worth checking out." ::There was a blast of warmth and the ringing of a bell on the door as she opened it. Inside was an almost fanciful looking place.:: (http://i1308.photobucket.com/albums/s602/themarvelouspen/23914ef0-fa06-4e8a-89d3-073bd4deb8d5_zps4daba74b.jpg?t=1415739338) ::It honestly reminded Suzume of some of the stories she read as a child.:: "What the hell... dammit hold on." ::Suzume followed the sound of the voice and ultimately found where it was coming from. There was a table and Suzume dipped her head down to look.:: (http://i1308.photobucket.com/albums/s602/themarvelouspen/my_NeNeNe_Sumiregawa_wall_by_Roswell619_zps93387af4.jpg) ::Suzume was met with the sight of a what she would call half naked woman crawling around on the floor.:: "Hey I told you-" ::The woman tried to get up and hit her head on the underside of the table on her way up. Suzume felt bad and stood up from where she had been looking. The woman stood next, rubbed the back of her head.:: "Hey, listen kid I've told you guys I don't carry that stupid "By The Pale Moonlight" series. Do you realize how gay those stories have made, vampires and werewolfs." ::Suzume cleared her throat.:: "Um... actually I kind of wanted to ask about the... help wanted sign?" ::The woman looked Suzume up and down.:: "Oh... okay kid whats your name and tell me a little about yourself basic shit.?" ::Suzume nodded still feeling a little awkward talking to this woman standing around half naked in her underwear in the middle of a bookstore.:: "My names, Suzume Yasutake I'm seventeen and I got to school at Kasaihana High School." ::The woman nodded.:: "My names Nadine Fowler... and you just wandered into my shop of horrors." ::Nadine gave a lound obnoxious laugh.:: "I'm kidding.... hmmm... Kasaihana high huh... my alma matre. Not that I really give a fuck." ::She laughed again and Suzume was beginning to wonder if maybe she should just politely leave.:: "Okay Suzume, dump your bag out on this table." ::Suzume looked at Nadine like she had horns growing out of her head. But then did as she was asked. Pens, paper, a cell phone, four books, a wallet, keys, and a pocket knife fell out on the table. Nadine picked up the books.:: "Library books are a good sign... and they're all books older then my mother an even better sign. Means I don't have to deal with someone arguing with me over things like whether they're on Team Edwin or Team Jason. The pencil and paper tell me you're not so dependent on your cell phone that you go through withdrawals like a crack head if you don't have glued to your hand. Wallet and keys tell me you have a place to live and I don't have to worry about you trying to live in my store, and the pocket knife tells me you're smart enough not to trust everyone you meet. So I guess my next question would be... can you run a cash register?" ::Suzume blinked, this woman talked a mile a minute and it was hard to keep up but once her brain caught up with what Nadine had said she shrugged.:: "Well I've never actually ran a cash register before but its basically a fancy computerized calculater that also holds money. So it shouldn't be too hard." ::Nadine chuckled.:: "Good, you do have a mind of your own and don't have a brain full of fluff and hairspray. I think we'll get along just fine. So... Kasaihana High School... don't you have some sort of club you're in that I should know about when it comes to scheduling you to work?" ::Suzume sighed.:: "I did... I was in Kendo Club last year... wait no... the year before last. My... hearts just not been into it this year." ::Nadine smirked and nodded.:: "I see... so you were one of those kids that died on the island and they brought back from the dead. Nadine giggled and feigned being a zombie for a minute then broke out into laughter.:: (http://i49.photobucket.com/albums/f283/joeschmo1of3/JoeschmoBlog/2014-Spring-SchmoBlog/OmakeGifAnime-SoulEaterNot-Episode8-ZombieEternalFeather_zpsa9cf57a5.gif) ::Suzume gave her another awkward look.:: "How... did you know about that?" ::She knew that it wasn't common knowledge how did this woman know about it.:: "Oh I have my ways. Well either way, you got the job kid, I seriously have been needing someone for a while. I'm backed up on my writing for Homemaker Monthly and they're chomping at the bit for me to get in the next installment of my story. But while I'm elbow deep in smut, I need someone to watch the shop for me. Not that its too hard of a job as you can tell by the way I'm dressed not allot of people come in here. You'd probably be pretty bored, but you can read anything on the shelf if you want I don't mind.... unless someone wants to buy it of course." ::Suzume smiled and nodded.:: "I'll come everyday after school, hows that sound?" ::Nadine took a drink from a bottle of green tea.:: "Eh, yeah sure that is until the world is destroyed or something.... But Im not too worried, there's always some person to come and save the day in this Rp, so Im definitely not going to close up shop. Those other idiots out there are gonna flip out and board shit up. Hah! I got better things to do." ::Suzume looked around wondering who the hell Nadine was talking to. The older woman rubbed the bridge of her nose.:: "Never mind kid, come in look around I'm sure you'll find something you like in here."


 * Joel and Kim pulled up in front of "Once Upon a Time".:: "She's always got some kind of dirt on somebody. I'm sure Eyebrows wont mind paying her price, she's not cheap... but her info is legit." ::Kim looked over at Joel.:: "Well as long as you trust she'll have info on this guy." ::Joel took a drag on his cigarette.:: "She has dirt on anyone thats important... and since this guy was a member of Heros for Hire once. I'm sure she has something." ::Kim stepped out of the car soon followed by Joel, he flicked the smoldering butt of his cigarette into a small pile of snow, while blowing out a mixture of nicotine infused smoke and steam from the cold. He then reached for the handle to open the door for Kim.:: //////// ::Suzume had found a quiet little nook to read a book, she was surprised at how many Nadine had. Some being quite old and worth allot of money.:: "Hey kid, I'm gonna run upstairs and take a shower. You think you might be able to do a trial run today. Cash register's simple enough everything has a bar-code, scan it... take their money... give their change." ::Suzume swallowed nervously.:: "Well uh okay... way to put me on the spot." ::Nadine laughed as she opened a door to an office behind the register.:: "It's not like Im going to be that far away kid, just howler up the stairs if you really need some help... I think you'll do alright, you seem to be a pretty smart girl." ::Suzume nodded and Nadine waved playfully and headed upstairs to her apartment.:: "Geez must be nice to live so close to work..." ::She took the book she was reading with her and went behind the register where she was asked to be. Finding a bar stool she sat down and went back to reading the book. Nadine had told her previously that she didn't get allot of business anyway, so Suzume figured it wouldn't hurt to continue reading. She was sitting there about five minutes when she heard the bell on the door of the store ring as someone came in. She sighed and set her book down.:: //////// ::Kim stepped through the open door in front of Joel and looked around the store. It really looked more like a library too her than an actual store. There obvious areas scattered around where people were aloud to sit and read. The only actual sign she saw with prices was a bin full of old paperbacks that said "Bargain Bin everything 3 tanz or less". Kim heard Joel clear his throat and walk up to a young girl who was sitting behind the check out counter.:: "Excuse me young lady.... is Nadine around. I really need to... talk to her." ::Joel said, obviously this young woman wasn't the person they needed to speak with. But that was kind of obvious considering Nadine Fowler was thirty years old and this girl appeared to be in her teens.:: //////// ::Suzume watched a girl come in followed by an older man. The man was dressed in a hat, trench coat and a shirt and tie. He reminded Suzume of one of those old detective movies.:: (http://i1308.photobucket.com/albums/s602/themarvelouspen/tumblr_m513xwRh3S1qfo270o1_500_zpswz4xnxz3.gif) ::The girl to Suzume, didn't look much older than herself, he guessed her possibly eighteen. She had long purple hair and was dressed in a tan skirt suit she thought it was odd that the pair was dressed so similar.:: (http://i1308.photobucket.com/albums/s602/themarvelouspen/hitagi-senjougahara-bakemonogatari-anime-mobile-wallpaper-1080x1920-12099-3776441548_zps57eae86d.jpg) ::The man walked up to the counter, as the girl looked around for a bit.:: "Well Um... Nadine's kind of indisposed right now, she went up to her apartment for a minute. I'm sure she'll be back down soon so feel free to look around until she does come down." ///////// ::Kim looked at the girl behind the counter, she was obviously nervous... but about what. Maybe this girl knew more than what she was saying. Joel on the other hand lazily stretched and started looking at the cover's of books that were set up around the store. Kim mentally groaned, he could really be so lazy sometimes. Kim decided to go and talk to the girl at the register and maybe get some information from her.:: "So... does Nadine leave you in charge allot?" ///////// ::After Suzume explained that Nadine wasn't available she expected the people to leave and come back later, or to simply just browse around till she came back downstairs. The man started to wander around but the female came up to Suzume with a rather... suspicious look on her face. Honestly Suzume didn't know what it was about this pair but she felt like she was being interrogated by police.:: "Um... well actually... This is kind of my first day here... I inquired about the job about an hour ago..." ///////// ::Kim got a puzzled look at the girls response to her question.:: "You mean.... you just inquired about the job today... and she already has you working?" ::Joel chuckled from across the room.:: "Yeah that sounds like Nadine... always looking for a sucker to do her job for her." ::Kim crossed her arms across her chest.:: "Wow, sounds like you two would get along well." ::Joel came out of an ile of books.:: "Hey I'll have you know I'm just fucking lazy, I do the shit on my own... just on my own time." ////////// ::There was a clearing of someone's throat behind Suzume, she turned around to see Nadine standing there with a towel wrapped around her head.:: "Ah... Joel... didn't I tell you the last time you came around here.... I'd have your fucking badge?" ::Suzume stepped back glad to see Nadine back.:: "Uuuum I guess I'll just let you take it from here...." ::Suzume tried to slip away, but Nadine managed to grab the back of her sweater stopping her before she walked away.:: "Stick around kid.... you might learn something. Besides... if you're gonna work for me you might as well see everything I do."


 * Suzume watched, the trio talk to one another with amazement.:: "Yeah, yeah you know what Nadine get in line cause there's a shit ton that want my badge." ::Nadine got an aggravated look on her face.:: "You ass hole, you tried to steal my locket the last time you came around here." ::Joel chuckled.:: "Hey, now you can't blame a guy for trying to get a little extra money on the side. KPD pays shit and you know it." ::Kim placed her hands on her hips.:: "Joel we really don't have time for you two to reminisce about how much of dick you can be. Listen Ms. Fowler we really need some information and I don't have time to play around." ::Nadine, glared at Kim and then back at Joel.:: "Hey Joel tell Tits McGee over there not to bitch or she's not gonna get a damn thing out of me." ::A stress mark formed on Kim's forehead.:: "What the hell did you call me?" ::Joel walked over and placed his hand on Kim's shoulder.:: "Whoa whoa ladies, now thats enough. Nadine you have to excuse my partner. She's a stickler for time and order." ::Nadine sighed.:: "Alright Joel, what the hell do you want? And make it quick I have an employee to train." ::Kim glanced over at Suzume.:: "Speaking of your... new employee. Do you think it's wise to discuss this all in front of her?" ::Nadine looked over at Suzume, who gave them all an awkward smile. Over the course of the conversation she had tried to slink over to the door to get out.:: "Oh Suzume, yeah she's fine, she's just a kid... and you might as well stick around now kid. I gave them your name. Nadine gave an almost devious look, as Suzume sighed and leaned on the counter.:: "Besides you'll see what I really do around here. Let me tell you, if you really need to make some money... this is the way to go kid." ::Suzume put her face in her hands, she really hadn't asked for the job to make money. It was more just a means for her to have something to do. Then the thought crossed her mind.... if she was pregnant, she would need money. Not that she really had to worry about it, Kin worked himself and like this pair that came into the store, he worked for the KPD like them. But still, she didn't want to have to rely on Kin for everything that wouldn't be fair.:: "I'm still waiting for you two tell me why your here, yet you're still standing aorund wasting my time. Joel nodded and sat down a file in front of Nadine. The store owner began to look over the file.:: "Damn... you two are fucking ambitious aren't you? Going after the Ticker... you're asking to get your asses blown up aren't you?" ::Joel leaned on the counter and began to tap his fingers.:: "Well you got anything on him?" ::Nadine gave an aggravated growl, slipping off the locket that hung from her neck. Opening up the locked she pulled out a minature disk. After her figers blazed across the keys of the computer in front of her she slipped the disk into a slot on the computer. Files, after files began to scroll up on the screen.:: "From what I have... I might be able to tip you guys off on his next target. But the big question is... how much are you going to give me for this. You know Im not cheap Joel, did you tell your sleazy boss that before you came here. I sure as hell better be paid this time, I know you're not working for Raph anymore. But is this former yakuza any better honestly?" ::Joel gave a half smirk.:: "Always business with you isn't it Nadine." ::Nadine's had hovered over the delete button.:: "Okay okay, damn don't bust my balls. You'll get your money this time I promise... and I'll make sure you get paid for the last time too." ::Nadine sighed.:: "Fine..." ::She copied the information onto another disk:: "It looks like to me... he's aiming to blow up The Grand Sahara hotel. But he's waiting, for that comic book convention to come around." ::Joel, smiled and nodded gladly taking the disk with the copy on it.:: "But remember Joel... you screw me over with out lube again... and I'll not only take your job... I'll make sure Ticker blows your ass up." ::Joel adjusted his coat on his shoulders.:: "It was nice doing bussiness with you again Nadine..." ::He then turned to Suzume.:: "Hey Kid don't let her work you too damn hard." ::Kim, looked at the teenager and Nadine just before she was about to leave.:: "Suzume... if I were you, I'd avoid this woman... she'll only get you in trouble. You seem like a nice kid, I'd hate to see you get into trouble." ::With that, the two KPD officers left the store.:: "Psh... Self righteous bitch.." ::Nadine growled, after the pair had left. Suzume looked over at her as she put the necklace around her neck.:: "So... you're a hacker and you sell information." ::Nadine smiled and laughed a little.:: "Yeah, what you thought I made all my money from this store." ::Nadine shook her head.:: "You're more naive than I thought you were."