Two Wheels or Four? [inv]

Disgusting! Staining her ivory flesh, an onyx liquid clung like a corrupting taint and with an pure cloth, she massaged her hand to cleanse—Rising to her feet from her knees. Her ebony heels dug into the same corruption that seemed to paint the pavement, with the better end of balance and the lack of consider for the oil consuming her clean garage. That damned hollow had been too bold, dug its talons right into her bike and she wasn’t the slightest bit sure what it punctured and with some luck, it wasn’t the fuel. Those ruby orbs examined the three solid lines that scarred her bike, the ruined paint and all. What a mess.

“Practically, I destroyed the brakes too.” Drier than the desert, Sayuri spoke into a device coiled around her neck and a gentle blink of a blue flickered every twenty seconds and without a single thought, she was talking to someone. She demolished her brakes too. Wonderful. Her windscreen was nothing more than shattered remains too. Her tires got to grind quite the faces, if she had to add, lucky, those were not popped and heavily worn down. Ugh. She didn’t want to think about the internal damage… She really didn’t want to think about it. Nonetheless, the bike did start… But… Without brakes? It’ll be quite an interesting ride. Ah. Not that she cared.

Tossing the cloth to the left, right into the sink held with more colors than white, she stepped to grab her helmet and fit right into it. “That is quite the recommendation. I will pay him a visit. I wish not to have Sarah installed with a tracker—The Mare are sly.” She stated with her index finger pressing into the square button with a phone symbol etched it, effectively ending the conversation. With that same index, she hooked the loop of her keys and choose to make the tactical mistake in her judgement, one that may cause her life someday. Just not someday today.

Farthest thing from purring like a kitten, as her key found itself within the slot and she choose to turn it—her ruined ebony paint of a bike coughed like it was choking on its own blood. Pulling her the shield down, her fingers strapping the chin piece and with the kick of her foot combined with a press of a button, both the garage door and leg stand rose, allowing her to back out onto the pavement. After a second click of a button, the garage closed. “If I am correct, going east road through the harsher side of the city will be faster.” She murmured those words to herself, exhaling quite sharply as she prepared herself to take the road. With a bit of hope, the tape would hold whatever was dripping. It couldn’t be that serious—No, it was pretty serious.

---

---

To each direction the voice of her navigation gave her, she followed to the T, she hadn’t quite been on this side of the town, at least, not for awhile. This was not a path she traveled to get to the park, a place she went quite often. An hour venture straight from the heart of Naruki, ended with Sayuri entering Karakura and with luck in favor, all in one piece. To the keen ear, the stress of a motorbike was all too clear when she turned the corner without the slightest pause for that stop sign—Not like she could really stop, she didn’t have the brake for that. However, she had the control to know when to release her acceleration and when to sway to cause a decent enough stop.

Speaking of stop, she had too. Keeping her speed a consent thirty-five in these streets, that was going to be quite easy. As her fingers released the grip, her hues looked from the flashing lights upon her board and to the street beyond her—Hitting up the side of the road, gliding straight into the parking, she slid right into the first fit. Her hand slipping to her black pocket to pull her cellular device for the directions with her other hand lifting the shield of her helmet, was this even the right place? Was she lost? Yes and no. As a sitting eyesore, the sweet lulls of a beauty called to her numb heart. Grabbing her attention for a moment, she stared to the better model of her own bike.

Both in condition and design. Her numb heart almost sunk a bit more. If she could feel the shame or discontent for what she did to her bike, she couldn’t begin too. After all, she did save a children, plus souls from being devoured by a pack of hollows, which was an interesting display all together. Taking her hand to the key, she cut off her bike before she got a noise violation for how annoying the sound was. Tapping her screen a few things, she choose to phone a friend for a bit more details through a text message. Was she nervous to get a repair? No. She just didn’t want the disheartening news of possibly needing to buy another one.

Kicking the stand to prop her bike, she turned and angled it in a way it wouldn’t choose to run away. Unstrapping her helmet, kicking one leg over and pressing her feet into the pavement as she rose—Adjusting her pink strings within her ponytail. Her helmet under her right arm, she turned to bike named Sarah, a name her brother adored and canted her head with the tilt of her body. She’ll worry about it another time, the tape was still there and it seemed to be fine.

“Do I trust this person?” She whispered to herself. Turning away, she motioned to the store in a brisk pace. Crossing the parking lot to do so.

W O R D S
982

M U S I C
Here is something.

T A G
@gage

N O T E S
xxx

“Hm?” Gracing the knob of the door, she paused with her gentle grip and choose not to pull. Her attention had been caught and to such a greeting, her head turned to peer upon a man with quite the question. Did something seem wrong? Befalling the obsidian haired man, her was met with a ruby gaze and a dispassionate expression and only a second of silence lingered, almost like she was trying to find something to say or a way to answer. There was not hostility in vibe from her, but she kept quite the strict demeanor, a well guard one too. Possibly, her silence came from judging him the man from toe to head.

“Hello.” composed without the slightest inch of warmth, she greeted him. Her head turned with her body to face her bike, which seemed to be in anguish. It seemed impressive to be able to drive, but she wouldn’t lie to say she didn’t alter some of the world around her to ensure she could make it. “Compared to my bike, I am in one piece.” She humored him with an answer. In the whole truth, she could fake it until she made it—She hoped he wouldn't ask for a story. Both due to it was hot outside and she was in solid black and he couldn't begin to believe it. Her attire made her seem like a business official. The sleeves covered the bandages, the gloves hid the torn flesh of meeting everything else and she didn’t want to reveal on the damage to her ribs.

“Though.” She turned her attention from the bike, back to the man with a straightened posture. Her arms moving to cross underneath her bosom, she tried to avoid rubbing or resting against any direct wounds. It was quite discomforting, but she was quite good at pretending not to be in pain. Not like that mattered. She didn’t have the ability to think too much about it, her body may have been in pain, but she, herself, couldn’t register it. “Is that your bike?” She canted her head to where he choose to park.

W O R D S
333

M U S I C
Here is something.

T A G
@gage

N O T E S
xxx

Poor Sarah, a blender would’ve been much kinder to her bike. “A shame.” She said, quite dull with a small pause. Ah, this must’ve been the person her friend recommended, he seemed interesting and with interest, he was something she should avoid. It was those with personality and smiles that caused her the most trouble. Ugh, she hated small conversation, but she didn’t seem to mind that much to talk. “I do hope he is a rider, it would be a bigger shame for it to collect dust. It is too pretty for such a fate.” She hummed those words, almost offering some of her opinion to his words. She didn’t want to seem that unfriendly, nor rude really. A friend of her friend, was someone that deserved a bit of kindness from her.

Despite her collected expression, the moment her asked for what happened, her hand moved to her mouth and pressed against her lips—She needed a reasonable lie. No, if she was caught in a lie. That’ll be an issue within itself. Choosing to ignore his question, she simply exhaled with heaviness. This was going to be a mind game and a half. “It is quite the long story.” She choose to cover it up, everyone knew better than to push an excuse like that. “One that is too long for me to care to tell.” She added. Easing her way over to her bike, to a trained eye, she stepped lighter on her right foot than her left and she walked more stiffer than proper in terms of posture. They were not easy things to tell due to her being well versed in hiding these things, but they were there. However, none of her wounds were visible.

“I do hope---.” Her words were short rather short. At first, she was quite easy in mind. It was just a normal human doing his job, but that shattered like glass at a realization. But no. That was not the case. For a hair of a second, her eyes moved to follow the light produced from him clapping, but she had to show some self control over herself. Even trying to keep contact to her bike. She made no expression of being impressed and choose to use her peripheral vision. Oh yes, she was very aware to these things. Did she almost fall for that? Did she fall for that? “You can handle this.” She looked to him, almost questioning his ability. Oh yes, she was trying to play oblivious.

“My friend recommended here.” She admitted, “Or I would’ve choose someone in Naruki.” Changing the conversation.

W O R D S
433

M U S I C
Here is something.

T A G
@gage

N O T E S
xxx

Close. That was a bit too close. Had her friend not recommended this place, along with being an extremely trusting person to those she called ‘friends’, she’d not believe he’d put her in direct danger—Her reaction would’ve given a few things away. Aside from her standard field of work, she had to live an honest and normal life, or try to, which was never easy due to some humans willing to test their abilities against her. It was something quite normal to her, that she’ll preserve her abilities and take a hit, especially in the daytime. As such, she’ll fake it until she was either called out or was forced into a situation to use it, not counting her on patrol. Still. She needed to be careful. In more ways than one.

“Alright.” She answered, hiding her sense of uneasiness in all forms, even her own agitation. Looping her helmet upon one of the bars, her right foot connected with the propping stand for her bike and with a gentle turn of the bike, she followed along behind, keeping quite the gap and space. She choose to be a bit more distance, coupled with the fact she couldn’t quite use soul communication to ease the process of moving her bike and thus, she was physically straying herself, her body without trying to give too many hints away. Befalling her bike, she tried to make sure there wasn’t any crimson that stained and when she thought about it a bit more, if he was truly aware. He’d easily be able to tell this wasn’t no normal or single ‘fall’ or ‘crash’. Ugh. She was overthinking it again. She liked having escape plans, but she was caught off-guard.

Easing her way into the garage, her head canted a bit with her gaze being cast upon all the interesting bikes, their colors ranging and varying—They looked ten times better than her own bike. Looking back to her own bike, she made more of a notice to the dripping through some of the peeling tape. It hit her, she should’ve looked deeper into her bike to remove any traces, she remove quite a bit, but she knew she didn’t remove all of it. Pushing her bike to a reasonable area, she kicked the prop for it to stand and plucked her single key, held to a loop with a pink traditional chinese chopstick. She choose to unloop it and stick it up her sleeve, between a bracelet and bandage wrap without lifting her sleeve to high.

To which, she removed the gloves from her hands. In both respectable mannerisms that was beat into her and the fact she was no longer driving, these gloves were placed into her back pocket. “Sayuri Suzume. Pleasure.” She replied with a simple form of her name. Greeting Gabe with her right hand extending, she didn’t mind offering a handshake in the slightest and placed in his hand was quite the delicate hand with a gentler grip, but a shake to the hand nonetheless! Just he seemed to put more effort into it while she tried to keep her arm loose and less tense to avoid the sudden tension in pain that would’ve rose. She also placed a bit more effort in concealing her own reiatsu and teeth, her fanged canine located upon the top and bottom of rows of her mouth. She took a bit more from the hollow side than most Fullbringers.

Compared to Gabe, she was easily a few inches shorter than him, but not enough to make a great difference. “His name is Adam. He is a patrolling officer in Karakura with quite the range in exotic bikes and cars as a hobby, he is also the reason I tend not to get a ticket. Though, he can never seem to catch me.” If she could have a sense of emotion in her tone, she would’ve almost sound a bit humored. And unlike Adam, she was not so keen on revealing her nature like he was, he used his own abilities to combat hollows where needed and she often helped too. Her brother wasn't around to do it anymore, aside from that, Adam was almost the only family she had left, just not blood related. “He tends to patrol around Tsubakidai and Yumisawa.” She admitted, with holding the 'at night' part. Offering with her other hand, held upon her index finger, she offered him her single key. Once he took it, her arms returned under her bosom in a cross. An idle habit and she stepped a few inches away. If she completely avoided conversation, she’d be unfriendly and if she came short answers, she’d be suspicious. How annoying.

W O R D S
802

M U S I C
Here is something.

T A G
@gage

N O T E S
xxx

Problematic—The more she listened. The more issues she found and with the more issues, the more she wanted to leave faster with little care of having to walk back to the city. The easiest thing to deal with was the money, in fact, that was the only thing that was not an issue to her! Oh! And it seemed to get better too! Upon the moment he went to fetch the contract, her right hand lifted to her mouth and with her never-dying habit, her canine dug into her index nail with her internal debate. She didn’t want to rush, but she didn’t believe she could wait too long and with simpleness in mind, she needed her bike to deal with the arising issues in Yumisawa.

Biting at her nail harder in thought, she paused for a single moment upon him asking for the story and even for a police report on the accident—Damn. Lifting her drifting gaze, she stared directly to him without the slightest word for a moment. Like she was considering something quite heavily. This was getting too complicated due to her dodging, but before she choose to spill anything. “Humor me.” She said with a pause, a heavy and deep exhale escaped her lips. “If I choose to refuse to disclose anything about the incident, would you refuse to repair my bike? Even if I doubled or tripled the payment?” She asked, quite serious in tone. She may have seemed a bit under twenty, but she seemed to have the pockets and also seemed quite desperate in two ways. Going as far as to find someone outside of her own city and even suggest paying for silence.

“If not. It appears I have no choice.” With those words leaving her mouth, with how stoic and apathetic she seemed. That could’ve easily been considered a threat of sorts. In truth, it was just her tired of dancing around a bush. “And I will have to assume you are trustworthy.” She paused, waiting. With a hundred yard stare aimed to Gage. It may have seemed hostile, but she was just standoffish. There was no form of hostility or rudeness, just directness.

W O R D S
378

M U S I C
Here is something.

T A G
@gage

N O T E S
xxx

“Mutual respect?” She questioned that as if the concept was new to her, but that was not the cause as her hand moved to collect the pen. With the simple motion of her left hand, she wrote her name to the waver—Along with filling any contact information, outside of her number. She was weird like that. “That is quite the concept.” She stated, it reflected not in her voice or face. But, she started to almost feel bad for causing his annoyance. Just a little bit. Though, she could was impressed the man didn’t refuse to repair her bike with such a notion she made.

“It has nothing to do with mutual respect. It is more trust and risk.” Slipping the pen between the clip of the board, her hand motioned to her pocket to pull a card. It was a black card with a few numbers and seemed to easily be something used for paying, she slipped that through a few paper and left it there. Her concept of money and care for it seemed non-existent than her ability to explain a single situation. That or she had a plan in mind, she was a bit curious. Was his denial out of a kind heart… Or… hm.

“Thus. Don’t take it personally.” She stated with a sharper tone to her voice, placing the clipboard on a surface that didn’t seem to be in the way of anything. She moved to stepping to leave without so much as anymore words to share. Oh yes, she was not going to show any kind of identification if he needed that. As soon as he started to take apart her bike, she wanted to leave with haste. So. She placed a little speed to her steps, ride home or not. In her mind, she assumed nothing else would be questioned or asked, but her bike had quite the story to tell from way beyond the time she choose to be the rider.

W O R D S
332

M U S I C
Here is something.

T A G
@gage

N O T E S
xxx

She paused. A gentle breath escaped her mouth as her head tilted upward, her ruby hues scanning the ceiling for something, maybe an answer? Or possibly a better way to interact. Debating on if she could say something or just walk out? Nonetheless, she did stop in her steps with her arms returning to fold over her chest. Adding a spin with the pivot on her heels to face Gabe, she chewed on her words for a moment. “I cannot accept calling in must fashions, thus. I choose not to offer my number.” She admitted to him, almost giving him a vague reasoning. As much as a business person looked to be, she was quite difficult and it could’ve been a wonder if she had a business, how was it running.

“Thus. You have full ability to charge my card as you see fit. I care quite little for the price so long as the bike is working.” She explained drier than salt in tone. Possibly, she was being too difficult, but it was how she was and she was these ways for a reason. “Upon charging, I will get a notification. Which is easier than a call or a text message.” She paused for a moment, her gentle sigh compared to last time became quite harder.

“I will admit, I am tossing a few of my issues within your way by not explaining my situation. Due to that, I wish to apologize.” Digging her delicate fingers into her elbow, the one that seemed to hurt. Ah yes, when she reflected on that bite to her arm, she was in luck to still have it. “I will not pretend to favor the situation I am in, both a desperate and annoying one. Along in spite of my need, I will not place any more stress upon you and I wish the rules to repair. I just cannot bend on some aspects of them.” She admitted in a thought out apology, going as far as to do a small head bow to Gage.

“Thus, I apologize. I do not choose to be this way. I just am. And I am grateful for your cooperation. If I am to offer my number. My situation would become more unfavorable as well. Do understand.” She stated with a gentle tone, one that was not as dry as a desert. But she did apologize without a single expression being made. He had no idea how hard she was dodging any and all aspects of reasoning and conversation, even knowing she, herself, was being difficult. With those words, she turned on her heels and went to leave.

W O R D S
442

M U S I C
Here is something.

T A G
@gage

N O T E S
xxx

Shoo? Oh, she was already out! Stepping back into the grace of the sun, her hand moved to grab her gloves and laced them up into a snuggly fit—It took a bit longer than she thought. That was fine. Crossing the parking lot, she trailed the sidewalk. Slipping a single finger over her phone to call a person, it pressed with gentleness into her ear and as soon as ringing stopped with a voice speaking, she cut them off completely. “What is it?” She asked with a sharpness to her tone, an aggressive tone held to nothingness and equaled to being hit by a bat.

“You are in such a wonderful mood. I see you are enjoying your time outside the city. So.” The voice stated, not giving context on how he knew, but oh well.. She was not upset at the fact she was surprised, but more than having to deal with another possible issue. She’d cross those bridges when she got there, her most important one was the situation at the playground.“I have done the honor relocating your performance for the next few days, after all. You seemed quite interested in that playground. I will send you the contact information and simply show.” He informed, with those words. He hung up.

“How annoying.” She sighed in her thought. Turning her hues to her screen paying attention to that around her, she managed to see the location and actually know where that is. Both the hotel and this… Place to entertain. Was it dancing, singing or… something a little extra? Shaking her body became trivial, it was the wounds she was concerned about. She may not feel them, but her body acted a bit different when she was hurt. So. Evening to late night entertaining. Studying in a room. Seemed like the idea.

Hotel first! It was too hot to wander with this uniform on. Though, she couldn't help but wonder about that Gage guy. She'd do well to avoid him, but if she keeps exhausting her options. She'll have nowhere to do her repairs.

W O R D S
358

M U S I C
Here is something.

T A G
@gage

N O T E S
xxx

Ah, yes! It tickled her delicate flesh, such a pleasant feeling and she could’ve purred in delight—A shower did well to renew the soul! That single string she held onto felt like a rope. With a hand ruffling a white shirt through her hair, squeezing with gentleness, her other hand pulled the door and gracing the room, the icy air kissed her skin as she walked her way over to the bed. It was nothing short of a moment, once her body was dry enough. She proceeded to place herself in more of a casual attire, something that noone could easily spot her in outside of her uniform and business outfit. Because someone choose to leave her ‘adorable’ clothes over formal or modest, something she wasn’t going to complain about. Slipping into the more important parts, such as supportive underwearing. She slipped into a smokey black skirt with a set of thigh high stocking to match.

Pulling her white based button down over her body, a gentle flash caught her rosy hues, the light pink hues that seemed less distance to the world—That is a payment transaction verification. What..? She blinked for a moment, how long has it been? She did step into a space void? Too bad she was a bit too serious to humor herself with such thoughts! In her mind, she thought more on the lines of what abilities the man could use that would ease such a task… Her only thought was Soul Communication, which in theory should work in those tasks, but… She wasn’t sure on that. But, there was quite a bit of gifts in the world. She wasn't going to limit him to what she is.

As that thought hit the wall of her brain like a dagger, she buttoned up her shirt within a haste, pulling the sleeves over her breathing wounds and marched right into her shoes. Flipping her screen open, she was almost curious of what the price wa—Steak…? Tugging her fluffy white purse and blue throw over coat, she cared not for her hair, she simply tossed a brown chick hat on and walked right out of her house.

Was he.. Done with her bike? Naturally, someone like her should’ve been upset, but she didn’t seem to hold that in heart or mind, considering she GAVE him her card. In truth, it took something personal to get her in such a ray of emotions… Did she have such strong emotions like that anymore? She had a little influence, but not much. Just surface. With those thoughts in mind, she got a drink on the way out of the hotel. It was going to be quite the walk…Hopefully, this time people don’t stare that hard at her.

Speaking on how long it would take, she choose to get a taxi this time! She was going to walk that far again, that was a good few miles of not trying that again. However, when she did make it. Her hand extended to offer the diver quite the bit of cash, quite literally overpaying and to his expression, he thanked her in surprise. Right foot forward, she graced the pavement with the clack of her heel and like that, she started to walk the corner sidewalk. Her head canted downward with one hand holding a drink and the other looking at her phone, flicking through a message or two. Was there going to be another meeting? Of course not.

In the more important matter, her friends were telling her about the interesting increase of hollow activity and speaking of doors. She wandered straight up to his, not quite yet there!

W O R D S
618

M U S I C
Here is something.

T A G
@gage

N O T E S
xxx