Collecting Dinner Funds

[Kyori]

Kyori smiled to herself as she entered Loier Strip before. She recalled the last time when she was here and had stolen some rather beautiful precious glass statue from a rich person's house and then met that girl with the bird that she chased down.

It seemed like no matter where she went, something interesting happened around her. Kyori continued to smile to herself as she walked into the area and started looking around for good places to steal from.

As she walked around, she noticed a few rich looking people around her and "accidentally" bumped into a few while picking the money from their pockets and swiftly stashing the bills in her bag.

She eventually came upon a really nice looking jewelry store that actually had some of their items out in displays without glass protection. Being the middle of the day where traffic was the heaviest was also the perfect time of day to steal from stores. There were too many people for the clerks to keep track of that a few things could easily disappear with the swiftness of her hands.

She found her way in among the small crowd in the store and kept a little close to some people, using their bodies to sort of hide herself as she pulled a few really expensive looking necklaces off the display and stashed them in her bag. She walked around the store a bit more, trying not to look suspicious and mostly keeping out of sight of the store clerks by remaining close to some other customers before finally leaving the store.

A few eyes noticed that her clothing was quite different from theirs but it looked as though nobody noticed her stealing the necklaces. A smug grin grew on her face as she was walking away until she heard the declaration behind her that always seemed to make her day more excited.

It turned out that one store clerk noticed some necklaces missing and, assuming the only obvious person to have stolen them to be the girl with the most out of place clothing, he yelled "thief" at her from the door to the store and demanded she return the precious necklaces at one.

Kyori grinned in a playful manner as she turned around to look at the clerk. "Sorry, mister! But I've got to eat tonight!" She shouted in reply before running away from the area at high speed.

Speed and agility being her strong points, she didn't have any worries about being caught, especially seeing the general appearance of the people in the area. Because of this, her speed was just slightly lacking from normal and, to her surprise as she rounded a corner, she slammed into someone who refused to let her escape any further.

[TAG JEAN!]

[Deleted]

There stood Jean Cross arms folded across his chest with a serious look on his face. As soon as the incident had occurred Jean had been contacted instantly, and he looked down at the girl that looked like she was up to mischief.

“And where do you think you’re going? Have you been doing something that you shouldn’t have? If so I will give you a few chances to tell your side of the story. Why are you in such a hurry? “

The headquarters had been pretty busy lately so there were a lot of things he had to attend to both in his professional life and his personal life with his daughter. His tone toward the girl that was up to mischief wasn’t friendly but stern.

His arms were still folded across his chest. The clerk that had caught her stealing started to rave and rant saying how she was the one that stole a necklace from his store. Jean made a gesture with his hand for the store clerk to calm down.

Jean was patiently waiting for an answer but he clearly wasn’t happy.

“I do have to say that IF you were stealing how would you feel if someone stole something precious from you? You wouldn’t feel very good now would you? If it turns out that you were stealing there will be consequences. Remember this: Every action has a consequence. You can go to jail for stealing you know.”

"If you tell me that you aren't stealing than perhaps you wouldn't mind me checking your belongings?"

[Deleted]

Mitsuko who was doing some last minute errands had seen some people gather around watching a certain situation unfold, standing there was her father Jean, and knowing how Jean was feeling right now, because of the lack of sleep he has gotten due to his work load the angel knew that Jean would be highly agitated.

The angel pushed her way through beside Jean and she automatically knew where this was going. She placed a hand on his shoulder, and started to try and diffuse the situation before it escalated.

“Dad… Did I hear right? This girl was caught stealing? But I am sure she has a reason. Maybe she has no money. I feel the way you are handling this is all wrong, why would you confront her here in front of people? I can tell that you are agitated but humiliating her isn’t going to help solve the problem. You really need to go home and rest.”

The people that was around them wanted Jean to serve justice but Mitsuko in a way defended the girl that had done the wrong in a way.

“Please listen. I don’t condone crime but if we could just hear her reason perhaps we can figure out a better course of action that doesn’t involve her going to jail. Maybe if she gets a job and earns money for what she stole would help.

I can sense an innocence about her, I wouldn’t feel good for allowing her to get a harsh punishment. The innocence that I sense in her is a free spirit. Maybe she chose the life of stealing to make ends meet, but something inside me is telling me to tell you dad not to throw her in jail!”

[Kyori]

Kyori looked up at a man with glasses who stood with his arms crossed. She was about to run away when she noticed that a crowd had quickly formed around them and she was trapped. "Tch" A glare formed on her face as she made a sound, her eyebrow twitching slightly at the predicament she was in. Truthfully, it was the first time she was ever really caught, especially by such a crowd and a very serious man threatening jail time.

Kyori was debating between cracking some kind of wise ass joke or just straight up refusing to let him accuse her or look into her belongings even though she really did steal the necklace. She felt rather annoyed by this man and the crowd around her, but didn't feel any better when someone else just showed up and began asking about her reasons for stealing.

Kyori didn't consider herself a charity case. She could take care of herself. It just so happened that taking care of herself, for her, meant stealing. It was all she knew.

Despite what this other girl was saying, Kyori was finding the crowd more and more unbearable and eventually snapped at them. "AH, SCREW OFF!!" She shouted to the main crowd then pulled the necklace out of her back and threw it at the store owner. "Here's your fucking necklace, now get lost!" She then turned back to the two that seemed to be together, though the fact that the girl called him dad seemed to fly totally over her head.

"I shouldn't have to explain myself to the likes of you. It was just a stupid necklace. These people are so rich already, so what the fuck does it matter if I take one or two things from them?" She argued, rather annoyed at them and annoyed that she didn't pay better attention while rounding corners like she usually does.

[Deleted]

“Miki, a crime is a crime you know that. Of course I can show some leniency but when a person acts like this and throws in a few F bombs here and there with such disrespect and not take responsibility this is when I get angry.

Veyyard is full of people that swear but I wasn’t expecting more than one F bomb. She doesn’t want to handle this maturely so what do you suggest we do? I know of an easy solution but allow me to ask her one more thing.”

“Rich or poor people need to make a living why doesn’t she get a job or something Miki, and make a living honestly? And you young lady have every right to explain to me because I am a bounty hunter, the chief. I had hoped that you would take some responsibility for your actions but you leave me no choice.”

Just as Jean was about to take out his handcuffs to arrest her Mitsuko once more got in his way almost shielding her in a way. Jean was surprised by his daughter’s actions but perhaps there was something deeper to Mitsuko’s actions.

His eyes widened as he has never seen Mitsuko protect someone from getting arrested, well with the exception of Duo’s case, that took place a few months ago, in where she was Duo’s lawyer and in the end the bounty hunters and Duo were to come into an agreement with a suitable sentence that didn’t require jail time.

[Deleted]

“Have you ever thought about the fact that this maybe the only thing she knows how to do is stealing? It may not be right but you, as a parent know that there is a reason for everything that happens and reasons for why people behave the way they do.

I’m sure even this girl has something that is precious to her that she would never, allow to be stolen. I’m sure everyone has a keepsake that is dear to them.

For example Zero’s ring that I gave him was stolen from him years ago but I ended up finding it back and giving it to him on our anniversary, and ever since he experienced the feeling of losing it he has made it his business of never losing it ever again. Stealing is a crime, but compared to the murders that go unsolved…

I think an innocent person being murdered is worse. Dad you know that because I was almost murdered by my biological father. I think if I spend some time with this girl I can help her.”

“She isn’t the only person that steals, in fact I am sure it’s common, please allow me this chance with her. I’ll take her out to go buy something to eat hopefully by then she can have that time to calm down and collect her thoughts. I think she is just acting out since she knows that she’s caught, so I believe that it’s natural for someone to go out on the defensive. It’s hard to admit when a person is wrong, but instead of me questioning her I’ll just be a friend.”

Mitsuko stepped in front of the crowd in order to get them to disperse.

“That’s all for today everyone, you got your necklace back right? No harm done.”

The angel than turned to face the girl and just smiled at her gently.

[Kyori]

Kyori crossed her arms, glaring at the two as they talked about her, complaining about her cursing and mentioning Veyyard, a place that she had long since left behind. Hearing the man then say he's the chief of bounty hunters caused her face to cringe slightly again. She had been told stories about those bounty hunters while growing up in a house closely connected to crime in Veyyard. They weren't regarded as particularly kind or forgiving people.

Kyori cringed a bit again at Mitsuko saying that Kyori probably has something very meaningful to her when, in truth, there's nothing tangible that Kyori owns that means anything to her. She looked down and to the side a bit at this with a sort of glare and crossed arms. Kyori's eyes widened slightly for a moment as the girl in front of her said that she was almost murdered by her biological father. Without changing her expression due to a hint of stubbornness at the moment, she glanced over at the two and thought that he did indeed look a bit young to have a daughter of that age, whatever it was.

"Tch" She uttered again at the girl claiming that she can help, glaring back at the ground again. Her glare lifted up again to look at them as the girl was talking still about helping her. "Hey! I'm not a charity case, okay?! I can handle myself!" She tried to butt in amidst the girl's speech. Kyori's face cringed again slightly at the girl's claiming that her attitude was her acting out. It rather annoyed her all the assumptions people kept making about her today.

Kyori looked up at the girl who was now smiling at her, still holding a sort of disgusted glare at her. Her arms remained crossed and she looked off to the side again, away from them. The crowd was just beginning to disperse and Kyori figured that once enough people had cleared the area, she'd probably be able to make a break for it. She didn't want to have anything to do with bounty hunters or their daughters.

[Deleted]

Mitsuko spoke her mind to the girl, and she remembered her name because of what Remi told her. Once she saw the somewhat orange hair it clicked in Mitsuko’s mind of who she was.

“I’ll give you sometime Kyori you clearly need your space. But please let me ask you something. When was the last time you had a friend, someone that actually listens to you, stands by you, and doesn’t curse at you?

Jean isn’t my biological father but he is more to a father to me then my real father ever was. I know death, I know what its like to be alone and to feel alone, my brothers? They aren’t present in my life but the one person that I love very much is. He has been my best friend for years because of him I don’t know that loneliness anymore.”

“it isn’t just materialistic things that important in this world Kyori. If using me as your verbal punching bag is the way to get all your emotions out of your system is the way to go, then please say whatever you want to say to me, but do not insult my dad.

Just remember one thing. Words hurt, and it can actually make people take an emotional tumble. You have your reasons and I have mine. But I am not going to let this person down I said to Remi that if I met you I would help you. I expected that you may be resistant to my help.”

“A person has even has used me as a physical punching bag when I was helping someone else. I got through the physical punching bag, and I guess now I have to get through the emotional punching bag. I was only a bounty hunter temporarily but I turned in my badge.

Now I am just an angel that has done the things she has always done. Never abandon someone; even if you hate me for the rest of your life without even knowing me, I’ll be fine with that. Bounty hunting doesn’t suit me; I only did it because they needed my help. I always got scared of shooting a gun, and thankfully I never did have to shoot, I had to heal.”

“You may not care about what happens to me because you don’t know me and you and I are strangers to the other, but negative energy does not do an angel well. It actually makes me very sick because I do take things to heart, but if you want to use me as your emotional punching bag then I’ll find a way to recover..”

“People come from all walks of life and everyone deserves someone to have their back, I couldn’t stand the fact that my father wanted to arrest you. But even though you are a stranger to me, I care about you in my own little way. Everyone on this earth despite the difference of beliefs, backgrounds, race, or even jobs deserves to have someone reaching out to them, so even if you are angry at me or my father then that is how you feel I can’t change that. I sure hope you can channel that that fire that you do have within you into something more productive instead of arguing with me and my dad.”

As the angel was saying all this she was calm, she wasn’t kicking and screaming, but stating her mind to Kyori.

“You know when I get angry I cry, but I cry and I look at the things that are most beautiful to me. Flowers. White iris is my favorite. I actually grow my own flowers. Whenever I look at flowers I feel calmer, and I don’t feel as sad.”

The angel made the blossom of an iris flower appear in the palm of her hand and then placed it in Kyori’s hand.

“Flowers, plants, trees are living things and we have to take care of them just like how we have to take care of ourselves.”

“My father, my biological father didn’t treat me well and he nearly killed me. I think one would assume that because of my experiences with my real father I would hate humans. But the opposite happened. I didn’t hate humans. I befriended them as I wanted them to know all the good things in life.”

“Humans are fragile like flowers, if you don’t take care of each other than things can take a turn for the worse. You have a free spirit don’t you? Make use of your free spirit but try to channel it where it doesn’t require the life of crime.”

[Deleted]

Jean listened to Mitsuko’s words but chose not to say anything else to Kyori, instead she decided to let Mitsuko handle the situation. He then went over to his daughter and asked if she was okay, as some of it was hard for Mitsuko to say.

The angel didn’t speak her mind very often to other in fear of hurting someone else’s feelings, but sometimes people had to speak their mind in order to reach someone. He noticed there was a tear in Mitsuko’s eye, he knew how much she wanted to help her.

“Don’t worry, I am sure she’ll come around and be more respectful. She’s just angry. Don’t take it personally Miki some people are more resistant than others and because she was caught and didn’t get away well, that just pissed her off.”

[Kyori]

Kyori's eyes widened slightly as this girl said her name. She was almost one hundred percent certain that she did not give her name out. "Woah, wait. How did you know my name?" She asked in response while ignoring the question about having a friend.

As she went on talking about being able to be with loved ones, Kyori's head lowered with a glare and her fists clenched as she thought of Remi and how she hadn't seen him in years now. She thought he had left Veyyard and that, along with all of his stories, was why she decided to leave Veyyard also.

As soon as she heard the name Remi come from this girl's lips, Kyori's eyes widened, looking up at her and almost beginning to tear though she tried to hold them back. "You saw him...?" She asked, almost breathless and glad to know that he is still alive despite not knowing where.

For the most part, Kyori didn't listen very closely to the girl's words, merely picking out words that stood out to her. She held a quizzical sort of look as she called herself an angel. Still not completely listening, Kyori looked confused at the flower that was soon after placed in her hand. Her mind was still on how she met Remi and that she called herself an angel.

Kyori stared down, past the flower, thinking more and more on the fact that this girl claims to have met and spoken with Remi. As the thought grew more prominent in her mind, her hands clenched around the flower, almost forgetting that it was there. "Where... did you meet Remi?" She asked a bit quietly after that, a slightly concerned look on her face as she looked down.

She had been travelling for so long now and still had not found him. She was almost beginning to wonder if he never left Veyyard in the first place. The thought worried her as she wondered what he could be doing there as all he ever talked about with her was about the wonders of the outside world. If he was still in Veyyard, however, she thought that she would have to go back for him.

[Deleted]

The tear that Mitsuko had in her eye escaped and was now streaming down her cheek. Feeling that she was crying a little she took the sleeve part of her outfit and wiped them away before answering Kyori. The angel was going to be honest with her and tell her where she met Remi, and what he had said that Mitsuko could help her with.

“I met Remi at the cathedral in Veyyard by chance. I was there looking after a child who was sick with the flu. As I was healing the child I had sensed a somber presence enter the cathedral.

He wasn’t receptive of me at first but eventually the lines of communication began to open a little, when I had proved to him that I was an angel. He told me that you finding a friend in an angel would help you. He came to the cathedral to pray for you.”

“I can tell just by the tone of his voice that he is deeply concerned about your wellbeing, and he cares about you a lot. I heard his prayer and he said that if someone was out there listening please watch over her and protect her. That is when we met and I said to him that I would help you if I ever met you. In a way I promised him, and I genuinely want to get to know you and to help you.”

“He also told me that you are very clever, capable, and a little childish. So I already know that you are capable, but in my opinion it isn’t considered a weakness to have someone helping you in some stages of your life. So let’s just say you didn’t respect me, I would never turn my back on you, regardless.

I can’t force people to like me, but respect is so important. In Veyyard the word doesn’t even exist but to those that do have that respect it goes a long way.”

Mitsuko looked at Kyori’s body language and knew right away that Remi was important to her too. She then knelt down in front of Kyori looking up at her.

So what do you say? Are you willing to give this another shot?”

[Kyori]

Kyori felt her heart sink a bit as this girl said that she met Remi in Veyyard. So he's still there... She thought to herself then turned in the direction of where Veyyard was beyond them, contemplating her return to find him. As the self proclaimed angel went on, Kyori clenched her fists and held a concerned glare on her face as she said that Remi went there to pray for her, despite knowing that Remi never believed in any of that kind of stuff.

Her head lowered as she thought of Remi praying to something he doesn't think exists, just wishing for her own sake and the concerned glare frew more intense and her fists clenched tighter at her sides.

Not fully paying attention to most of what the girl was saying, her mind only focused on things entirely related to Remi, she stared out over the expanse of land that separated her from Veyyard. "I have to go back..." She finally said, a bit quietly as her fists tightened a bit again. "I have to return to Veyyard..."

[Deleted]

“Kyori… I don’t know how to tell you this.. but you can’t go back to Veyyard, Remi told me to tell you this he said:

Never to come back to Veyyard again, that I wish never to see her again and if she returns against my wishes he said that he will hate you for it, and not to look for him.

But… As a fellow woman Kyori I don’t think he means everything that he is saying.

I know he truly does love you but in his eyes he maybe protecting you from something. I know you want to go back, I know you will insist to go back.. But for now do you think you can honor his wishes?

Sometimes what usually happens is that the one that does things like this by pushing the other away, there is usually a deeper reason. I can’t tell you NOT to take it to heart because I know you care about him too.”

Mitsuko was prepared to give Kyori a hug if she starts crying. That message could break anyone’s heart. She couldn’t stand to see someone in pain so the angel with time would try and reunite these two in the future.

The angel can’t promise it for now as Remi will be hard to find, and since this situation is very emotional the angel couldn’t meddle too much, but if there was ever a silver lining in which she could reunite them you can be sure that the angel will try her hardest to make it happen.

To her it didn’t seem fair the angel herself had the love of her life, Kyori deserved hers too. For now some things were out of the angel’s hands and all she could do was comfort Kyori, and what makes it harder is the fact that an angel can’t lie just so she doesn't hurt anyone.. but this angel stands for truth..

[Kyori]

Kyori felt her hands turning white from clenching her fists so tight as she heard the message Remi had passed onto her. "Of course he doesn't fully mean that... He's a goddamned liar... He'll tell me anything to get me to stay out of Veyyard..." She said quietly after a moment, her eyes fixed in the direction of Veyyard. A part of her felt nervous about returning as she left that bit of her life in the past. However, she had never once thought of letting go of Remi.

"Even if I were to wait longer... He would never come find me... So... I've got to find him myself..." She said quietly, her fists still clenched and the concerned glare still on her face. Kyori thought a bit longer, about where she might stay should she return to look for him. She wouldn't feel right barging back into the house that she had left. They were not her real family and had no obligation towards her, despite all of the years they spent together. She would never return there. With that thought, Kyori's expression relaxed for a moment, thinking that Remi's feelings towards not wanting to see her may be similar to her feelings of not wanting to return to that house.

Her hands loosened for a moment also as she hung her head silently in thought then clenched them again. No matter what it is... I have to find him... She thought then turned back around to face the bounty hunter and the self proclaimed angel with a look of determination on her face. "I'm sure you must have a place there, being bounty hunters. I'll help you in whatever way if you'll let me stay with you while I look for him." She finally offered, a little disgusted by the idea of helping the bounty hunters that she heard so many bad things about, but feeling as though it was her only current option to find Remi again.

[Deleted]

“Tell you anything to keep you out of Veyyard? Like terrible things about bounty hunters? Not every one of them is bad, so if you can give them a chance. Please don’t pass judgement before you even get a chance to know them. Okay so I’ll call over my dad hang on.”

Mitsuko called over her dad and explained what Kyori had requested. The angel could tell that he was hesitant but agreed. She then went over to Kyori and smiled at her, and she than looked at Jean as a sign of what they should do next.

The angel had turned in her badge of being a bounty hunter on her 23 birthday due to a few events that were upcoming in her life. The angel also knew that Jean would have to spend some time with Kyori and break her in slowly in the bounty hunting business.

This was Kyori’s life after all and Mitsuko couldn’t convince her otherwise. After all last year Mitsuko was the same way in joining Zero in the bounty hunting because she wanted to help and be close to him, as well as the fact that whenever he got hurt it scared her.

Now a year later she had turned in her badge and had to also focus on huge milestone in her life as well. The angel will guide Kyori the best way she knows how to and hopefully along the way Kyori learns something as well as grow as a person.