HIRO AKASHI “Well, I guess the first order of business is to feed you, the second is to follow Sashiro’s advice and make some coffee.” REN BLACK “After thinking about it Victor might be right. I’m going to hop in the shower. HIRO AKASHI “What! You can’t just walk around in a towel like that.” REN BLACK “What? Why not? I’m covered.” HIRO AKASHI “That’s not the point.” REN BLACK “Remember, don’t touch anything, I’ll be quick” HIRO AKASHI “Give it to me straight Asmo, Is he always like this?” HIRO AKASHI “ Great, let’s get you that food, this giant can of chicken can’t be yours, right?” ASMO “Meows and purrs” HIRO AKASHI “I guess so then, now where are the can opener and dishes?” HIRO AKASHI “There we go, Talk about Old Mother Hubbard, those cupboards are bare, I found a half-eaten bag of chips, some long forgotten loaf of bread, and as for coffee, he has sugar, but no coffee.” ASMO “Meows” HIRO AKASHI “Maybe he will be in such a rush that he’ll forget.” HIRO AKASHI “Thanks for the support Asmo” REN BLACK “See, I told you I wouldn’t be long.” HIRO AKASHI “Well then let’s keep this ball rolling, the sooner we leave the sooner we get there.” REN BLACK “Storm of swords Akashi, let me grab a cup of coffee first.” HIRO AKASHI “Do we really have time for that? I’m sure they have coffee at the office, besides you have nothing.” REN BLACK “Look, I need coffee to function.” HIRO AKASHI “Aren't you overreacting here?” REN BLACK “Energy levels are running low” HIRO AKASHI “Take this.” REN BLACK “I can’t without the coffee. ” HIRO AKASHI “Come on! I need to get you to the station. Is this what I have to deal with from now on? You’ve got to be kidding me!” REN BLACK “Well, you’re the one that signed on for this mission. Now you're telling me that you want out? Best you cut your losses and run while you have the chance.” HIRO AKASHI “I thought you were a professional?” REN BLACK “See that was your first mistake. I never said I was a professional.” HIRO AKASHI “Clearly, Is this going to be the norm from now on?” REN BLACK “Depends, are you going to let me have my coffee first?” HIRO AKASHI “I told you, that you do not have any coffee, zero, zip, nada, you Sir are devoid of coffee.” REN BLACK “Oi, did you have to just drop me like that?” HIRO AKASHI “What the actual hell Black!” REN BLACK “That is the dog’s bollocks. If it will stop your whining, I’ll go, just don’t expect me to like it.” REN BLACK “Uh… Akashi? Do you even know where you are going?” HIRO AKASHI “This place isn't that big. I’m sure the station can’t be that far.” REN BLACK “Looks can be deceiving, this place is bigger than you think” HIRO AKASHI “Look, I just drove here with Victor. It didn’t seem that far.” REN BLACK “Will ya do me a favor and Come on, Akashi, just get in the car.” HIRO AKASHI “I’m fine, I am a grown man who just so happens to be in great shape.” REN BLACK “ ok, I’m not sure why you felt the need to mention that, but that is not the point. Look, just get in the car and we can talk about this.” HIRO AKASHI “Now you want to talk?” REN BLACK “Storm of swords Akashi, I’m trying to extend an olive branch here. Look I know this wasn’t the best way start to the day, but don’t make this harder than it needs to be” HIRO AKASHI “Fine, but I'm not doing this for you.” REN BLACK “Sure, sure, whatever you need to tell yourself, kid.” EXT. - DETECTIVE OFFICE BUILDING – MID DAY REN BLACK “Akashi, look, I’m sure you don’t want to be saddled with a wretch like me, so I need you to understand where I am coming from. Giving myself a second chance with you feels like giving Gabriel another bullet to rend my soul apart. I don’t know how (I’m supposed to)…” HIRO AKASHI "That's why I am here. This feels like my second chance as well. I'm not saying that I know exactly how you are feeling about everything, but I'm no stranger to regrets or heartache, so how about we take this jump together and see where it takes us." REN BLACK “Well, big boy, if you’re just gonna come into my life like a storm, make sure not to leave a trail of devastation in your wake.” INT. OFFICE – OVERHEAD LIGHTS - MID DAY HIRO AKASHI “What was that?” REN BLACK “Nothing really, (Shrugs) just your average protection spell. Oi oi kid hello,” HIRO AKASHI “HUH?” REN BLACK “...follow me and stop behaving like a jester.” HIRO AKASHI “Seriously? Nothing about that is average.” REN BLACK “What a warm welcome, Now now, don’t all get up at once, you might make me blush. Hey Rachel, where’s the bossman at?” RACHEL KNIGHT “Same place as always down the corridor of death and into the abyss Victor likes to call an office. Black, you… It’s good to see you back here.” REN BLACK “Thanks, Rachel, and thank you for your calls. Sorry, I can be an arse sometimes." RACHEL KNIGHT "It's time to pull yourself together." REN BLACK “Is your caring and blunt way of speaking common with paladins or is it just you?” RACHEL KNIGHT “Kurwa Black, you really put the dick in detective.” HiRO AKASHI “Hehe, like a dicktective.” SASHIRO MINAGAWA “Dick in detective.” HIRO AKASHI (Laughs) REN BLACK “I would love to banter for a bit longer, but Victor is probably waiting for me, patient as death - which is to say if I'm not there shortly he'll come for me; so unfortunately I must take a raincheck on this lovely conversation.” RACHEL KNIGHT “You're a pain in the ass.” REN BLACK “Storm of Swords Rachel. I get it!” INT. VICTORS OFFICE - LIT HIRO AKASHI “Handler Akashi reporting for duty. I managed to get him here Sir. Even though I had to literally drag him out of the house.” REN BLACK “Yaa, my new handler is great. He even fed Asmo, but I picked out my own clothes like a big boy.” VICTOR CROSS “Can't get dressed without a handler now?” “Here” “It was left along with a child's hair pin. I hope you don’t mind that I opened your mail, but with the circumstances with your new handler and all, I felt that I had to.” REN BLACK “Sand?” HIRO AKASHI “Sand? Aren't we over an hour away from any beach? Come on what does it say?” REN BLACK “Storm of Swords, Akashi. Let me read it first.” (He clears his throat) “Greetings once again Ren Black…” GABRIEL VO. “I am not sure if you miss me, but I do miss you and our little game of hide and seek. It seems my work is not yet complete, and I have other tasks at hand that I am sure you will see as horrific, but to me they are divine sacrifices. We have much to catch up on. After Shiro graciously donated his life's blood to open the portal, I have had endless work to do. I know that must get your blood boiling and set your little fox heart aflame with rage and Oh, how I wish I could be there to see the look on your face right this moment. I suppose I shall have to just imagine it for now and enjoy it all the same, but I digress. One day you will fully understand the importance of what I am doing, and how upon completion the world will change forever. My father’s Master calls for what was taken from him to be returned. I am tasked with retrieving these “pieces." The men with false faces will pay for what they have done. Their bloodlines bare the mark of my master's bite. Their fate and their inevitable destruction has been woven into the fabric of time. I look forward to seeing if you can find them before I can. I suppose you need a place to start. Your first clue is the hair pin. Now isn’t that generous of me? “Sincerely, Gabriel” REN BLACK (Outraged) “That arrogant evil prick! Shiro “donating” his life! (scoffs) What the hell! He murdered him, “sacrifice” my arse! When I catch Gabriel I swear I’ll consume him with my fox fire until his soul shatters!” HIRO AKASHI “Wait, what? You can do that?” REN BLACK “There’s only one way to find out. First thing we gotta do is figure out what the hell he was talking about in this letter. It’s different from his previous ones. This feels more… personal." VICTOR CROSS “I have Sashiro working on who this “master” could be. She has a few hunches and is talking with Rachel on this as well. He gave the word ‘pieces’ a sense of importance.” HIRO AKASHI “I also find it interesting that he refers to men with false faces. He then talks about a bloodline. There is a connection there I’m sure." VICTOR CROSS “Correct, that is why I have our two best researchers on it. Luckily, we live in the age of technology, and it will be easier to track some things down." REN BLACK “The rest is done the old-fashioned way. “Victor, how is my line of credit? Seems my bank account has seen better days and it looks like I have someplace to be." VICTOR CROSS “I can advance your salary Black, but don’t make me regret this. You can get some new things for Akashi while you're at it. Seeing as he has nowhere to stay and you two will be spending some time together, he might as well live with you. From today he’ll be your new roommate. Thats final." REN BLACK “What now? I don’t think I could hear you. You see I’m hard of hearing in my old age, care to repeat that?” HIRO AKASHI “I didn’t have the chance to mention it earlier. We had a rocky start.” REN BLACK “I never agreed to any of this. You must be joking, right Victor? You are joking, right? VICTOR CROSS “It's final.” REN BLACK “And you’re dumping him on me because…?” VICTOR CROSS “Because, Black, fates´ dealt you an unfair hand before and you turned it into something better. You came over it, things settled down and your feelings changed. Now, here you are and I'm asking you to catch that lightning in a bottle once again. For your sake, I suggest you take it." REN BLACK “Don’t you start with that? *sigh* Fine I’ll take him in…” HIRO AKASHI “I Promise to always make time for coffee. What’s our first move?” REN BLACK “Well, we must gather some information and I guess get some of your things. How much did you bring? You better not have any furniture because I do not have room for it, mate." HIRO AKASHI “A wise poet once said, " Everything you own must be able to fit inside a single suitcase.” REN BLACK (Groans) VICTOR CROSS “Black, I am only going to say this once. Don’t look back and turn into a pillar of salt. You get me? Now get out of my office. Some of us have work to do. I have a call to make" REN BLACK “Fine I get it, Pillar of salt, no, walking towards the light and all that mumbo jumbo yes. Akashi, let’s go and talk to Sashiro and Rachel before things get all emotional here *shivers*.” HIRO AKASHI “Thank you, Mr. Cross." INT. VICTORS OFFICE - DAY VICTOR CROSS *sigh* “If he only knew what I go through to keep him here. Still here, Leo?” INT. VICTORS OFFICE, CLOSET - DAY - SMALL SPACE LEO “Yes, I am.” INT. VICTORS OFFICE - DAY VICTOR CROSS “What do you think?” INT. VICTORS OFFICE, CLOSET - DAY - SMALL SPACE LEO “The kid? He certainly has potential. I think he’ll grow into the role admirably.” INT. VICTORS OFFICE - DAY VICTOR CROSS (Pensive) “We will see. I am getting dark premonitions about Gabriel's “master.” INT. VICTORS OFFICE, CLOSET - DAY - SMALL SPACE LEO (Wisely) “We have a lot to be worried about, I will play my part and see what I can find out.” INT. VICTORS OFFICE - DAY VICTOR CROSS “Are you invisible?” INT. VICTORS OFFICE, CLOSET - DAY - SMALL SPACE LEO “No Victor, I am in the closet.” INT. VICTORS OFFICE - DAY VICTOR CROSS ...Why are you still in the closet? INT. VICTORS OFFICE, CLOSET - DAY - SMALL SPACE LEO I like closets. INT. VICTORS OFFICE - DAY VICTOR CROSS “Enough fun and games. Unless Odette is in there with you, come out HERE and talk” LEO "As you wish, mon capitan. Was there a reason for me to hide?" VICTOR CROSS “Yes. Because we didn't need Black asking questions about where you've been - about what you've been digging up." LEO "Ah, yes, the serious calamity. We’ll get to the truth of it I’m sure.” VICTOR CROSS “Now that we have kept you a secret, I will need you to go out once again to collect a few things for me.” LEO “No problemo. I’ll get whatever you need and, of course, I’ll go consult the ORACLE about our sinister friend.” VICTOR CROSS “The first item is a rare spindle wool collected from the somnium ovium. The second item is a small metal box with a triangle on it. This next item will be no walk in the park, my friend. Cerberus is not your average household pet. ” LEO “Oh good, Cerberus’ Saliva.” VICTOR CROSS “See, you’re cleverer than you look.” LEO “Still, better clever than snarky.” VICTOR CROSS “I want you to take Odette, you will need her.” LEO “Have I ever had a problem with her tagging along? I’ll ring her, she would be delighted to go see Fluffy. VICTOR CROSS “I’m sure she will be.” LEO “We will gather the other items before making our first appearance in hell. I have a feeling that the fallen star will not be so keen on my presence.” INT. MAIN OFFICE ROOM - LIT SASHIRO MINAGAWA (Teasingly) “Ahh, the prodigal son has returned. I see you made it here in one piece, good for you." REN BLACK (Bravado) “Bask in my presence.” HIRO AKASHI “I did say I was good at completing difficult tasks and this grim-looking guy didn’t make it easy.” REN BLACK “Grim? I like to think of myself to be more like the Cheshire Cat, you never know what my expression is hiding. I could just eat you.” HIRO AKASHI "I would like to see you try, but first how about we have some cake and ask the door mouse what she found?" REN BLACK (Playful) "There's cake? Hmm… Alright door mouse, what have you got for us?" SASHIRO MINAGAWA “Door Mouse would like to convey my deepest sympathies to your new partner.” REN BLACK “Where are MY sympathies?” SASHIRO MINAGAWA “Locked away deep in my heart.” RACHEL KNIGHT “Come, come now children, we have some interesting leads. Sashiro and I have been looking online for any historical figures that fit the narrative Victor gave us. There are several folktales from Japan and encounters from the past that refer to the villain being cut up into “pieces”. I will dig a little deeper into those today.” HIRO AKASHI “Could you message me the weblinks for those? Let me give you my number” SASHIRO MINAGAWA “Already got IT! I did a complete workup for your personal file. I noticed you didn’t put an address.” REN BLACK “She doesn't miss a beat, this one.” HIRO AKASHI “Always an admirable quality.” RACHEL KNIGHT “One of my favorites, and Akashi we will send you those links soon. Until then we will leave him in your special care.” REN BLACK “It’s too early for this and thanks to Akashi over there, who showed me no mercy, might I add; … did not get my coffee.” SASHIRO MINAGAWA “I can feel him draining the energy of the room with his GLOOMY aura. I will drop off some stuff when I am out later. Unless you two want to go and do it together.” REN BLACK “Oi mate, you're projecting hard.” SASHIRO MINAGAWA | RACHEL (Laugh) REN BLACK (Amused) “Come to think of it, Asmo ate the last of my pizza, so I’d be down for a bit of cake." SASHIRO MINAGAWA “And whose fault is that, hmm? Well, you know where the dungeon is. Drezz still makes a mean cup of coffee, not that you would know because you have not been around here lately." HIRO AKASHI “You have a dungeon?” REN BLACK “Yaa kid, that’s where we stay up all night playing that game fighting imaginary creatures into the wee hours of the night. ‘hope you brought your dice, ‘cause it’s gonna to get crazy down there.” HIRO AKASHI “I feel like you are just pulling my leg now." SASHIRO MINAGAWA “Tug tug” REN BLACK “Now what gives you that idea?” RACHEL KNIGHT “I think you are going to fit in here Akashi. Have fun guys / Bawcie się dobrze, chłopcy.” REN BLACK “And we’ll keep it all to ourselves” HIRO AKASHI “It’s been a pleasure” INT. BASEMENT HALLWAY – DIM LIGHT - HALLWAY DREZZ DECKARD “Absolutely disgraceful” DREZZ DECKARD “ Humming ” REN BLACK (Nonchalant) “Hey there Drezz, how’s it going? Long time no see." REN BLACK “Now is that the way you treat an old friend? I was told that you still make a mean cuppa coffee.” DREZZ DECKARD “Some friend you are! You all but vanished and never once did you return my calls. I should smack you for that, but then that might be considered animal abuse, so let’s just put that on the shelf for another time shall we.” REN BLACK “Storm of swords, It was like I was walking in the dark after what happened.” DREZZ DECKARD “I know Ren, we all feel that hole in our hearts. Some more than others.” HIRO AKASHI “Greetings, Drezz was it? My name is Hiro Akashi, I am Black’s new partner. It’s a pleasure to meet you." REN BLACK “Oh, ya I forgot to mention. Victor saddled me up with a new partner.” (mumbles into his cup of coffee) “Not that I need one." DREZZ DECKARD “If that's what it takes to pull you out of that hole you call a home then I welcome him." DREZZ DECKARD “Welcome to the crazy train we call Darkness Falls. Yes, my name is Drezz Deckard and I am the official resident Alchemist, caster, technomancer… I could go on.” REN BLACK “Please don’t.” DREZZ DECKARD “Like I was saying before I was so rudely interrupted, I am also head of the missing persons department. Not that I have anyone else here with me, but I like it that way." HIRO AKASHI “I look forward to working with you. If you will excuse me for asking, what exactly do you do here?” REN BLACK (Chokes on his coffee) “What a waste of coffee.” DREZZ DECKARD “Gladly, I am more than a handsome face here, I am the one responsible for creating the potions and other enchanted items that help in the field. My ideas are like water, ever flowing and Victor gives me a bottomless well to pull from.” HIRO AKASHI “Then will I be getting something special? You know, now that I’ll be working in the field?” REN BLACK “Come on now Drezz, I know you are chomping on the bit to give out one of your new toys. I might have been gone for a while, but I still remember how hard-up you get to show off, or are you keeping all of that for someone else now?” DREZZ DECKARD “Black, are you always a smart ass or is it only when you are trying to get a rise out of me?" REN BLACK “Are the two mutually exclusive?” DREZZ DECKARD “Charming. Akashi, I will have something ready for you by tomorrow. Leave me your weapons. I promise to return it in better condition than it is now.” HIRO AKASHI “I’ll be keeping one on me, but you can have your way with the other one” Thank you in advance for this.” DREZZ DECKARD “Geez Black, maybe Hiro's good manners will rub off on you.” REN BLACK “‘guess we'll see you tomorrow then. Oh and try not to blow anything up between now and then, will ya?” HIRO AKASHI “Blow something up?” DREZZ DECKARD “That was one time, and you know it." REN BLACK “So you say. Let’s go, Akashi. We have a lot to do. Apparently, we need to go shopping because this kid didn’t bring anything with him except for his “go-get-em attitude." DREZZ DECKARD “Careful Ren, you just might enjoy it, and we wouldn’t want that” HIRO AKASHI “Coming, Thank you Drezz.” HIRO AKASHI “We’re not going to use the front door?" EXT. - The sky is overcast - light rain falling – early evening dusk. REN BLACK “I hope you like the rain, Akashi because we get our fair share of it. When given the chance to walk through that tension again or slip out the back, I would choose to make a quiet escape every time.” HIRO AKASHI “I have no problem with the rain. I like the way the air smells after. It’s relaxing to hike through the dense woods.” REN BLACK “I knew someone who felt the same way about the rain and how it smelled like fresh life… or something like that. It’s not important right now.” HIRO AKASHI “I know we’ve only known each other for a handful of hours, but you can talk to me. I mean everyone needs a shoulder to cry on.” REN BLACK “I don’t need someone to lean on. What I need to do is put Gabriel down like the dog he is. On the subject of Shiro, I will say this once: It’s none of your business and if we’re going to work together, you better swallow that fast and keep it to yourself.” HIRO AKASHI “As you say, boss man”