Chapter 42 - Drunk
It has been a week since Matsuri has been admitted to the hospital due to a supposed injury and was now supposedly fully healed which was why she was going to be discharged today. That was the official statement of the officer that handles the PR of the police force, but the truth was she was placed there to hide her from the media. She was ordered to lay low and not cause a stir after what happened in the hospital. Her partner John was also under house arrest.
While she was in the hospital she saw on the news about the death of the Harada Family. Even though most of the people seem to believe that it was a rival of the Harada Family, that killed them, Matsuri knew the truth. It was Fade who has claimed their lives. It was also him that rescued the kidnapped families of those the Harada Family blackmailed.
'He saved those people but he killed the Harada's... I really can't...'
...
It was during the afternoon, back at his house, Loki who was the topic of everyone's conversation was playing a video game with his younger brother Liam. The two were playing a popular fighting game.
"How come this character won't do as I want?" Loki was perplexed that he could not beat his younger brother no matter how hard he tried. He could see every movement made by both characters on the screen, he was sure that he inputted the right commands on the controller but he still could not win.
"Damn, you suck at this." Liam sighed as he finished Loki with ten hit combo. "Do you want to go another round?" Liam spoke in a rather mocking tone, as Loki was about to respond his phone started ringing.
'The detective, I wonder what she wants?' Loki answered the call.
"What can I help you with Detective?"
"Hi Loki, it's been a while. I just want to ask if you're free right now?"
"Why?"
"How about accompanying a pretty lady for a little drink. So are you free?"
"... Yeah sure, so where will we meet?" After getting the details on which bar they were meeting at, Loki stood up from the coach.
"Sorry Liam, I have another appointment. Alisa, I'm going out for a bit, no need to wait for me." Loki was about to go out of the door when Alisa spoke.
"Where are you going big brother? Tomorrow is your first day back to work, shouldn't you be getting ready for that?"
"You remember Detective Matsuri, I think she's having some problems so I need to accompany her for a bit. As for tomorrow, don't worry I got it all figured out."
"Are you going out drinking?"
"Yes, but it's more like Matsuri will be drinking, I'll just be there listening. Don't worry, a lot of my memories have come back and I already know my way around the city. Not to mention I'll be with Detective Matsuri."
"... Alright, say hi to Matsuri for me." After Alisa reluctantly agreed, Loki left the house.
...
In front of the bar, Matsuri was waiting for Loki to arrive. She was rather surprised at herself that she actually invited Loki for a drink.
'Well, I couldn't invite John since he's still under surveillance... Wait now that I think about it, I have no one else to invite.' Matsuri came to a sudden realization that she had no friends and that her co-workers don't really socialize with her. As she was feeling a bit more depressed, she heard someone calling her.
"Detective, I hope you haven't been waiting long."
"No, I haven't, but enough with the greetings, I really need a drink right now." Matsuri pulled Loki into the bar.
...
It has only been a few minutes since they entered, but Matsuri was already drunk. She was even crying as she drunk some more.
"Am I such an unlikable character Loki? Am I such a horrid person that no one wants to talk to me?"
"I don't think that at all Detective."
"You liar! See, what you did there, you keep on calling me, detective. You don't want to have anything to do with me either."
"No that's not it... Matsuri... I really do think that you're a good person. I think the reason your co-workers don't approach you, is because they're intimidated by your beauty."
"Really?"
"Yes, really."
Matsuri hiccuped as she continued to drink and got closer to Loki. "You're a good guy, Loki. I can't believe that I once thought that you were that b*stard Fade." Matsuri gnashed her teeth as she started ranting.
"That b*stard has everyone fooled. I saw on the internet that the people who believe in his existence think he's some kind of hero of justice. Sure, I'm not saying that the b*stards he kills don't deserve it, but they also deserved a second chance, a chance for redemption. Also let's not forget he said it himself, that he's an assassin, a hired hand. What kind of hero of justice gets paid to kill others? There's also that sh*tty slogan of his, as long as the reason is just and the price is right? Who is he to decide what's just? He's just another one of the bad guys..."
"So are you saying that those guys that the law cannot touch be left alone? He might be a bad guy in your book, but he's a bad guy that deals with other bad guys." Matsuri was rather surprised that Loki spoke in defense of Fade.
"There's no such thing as a person that the law cannot touch. Also fighting fire with fire, only makes things worse."
"Then what about the Harada Family? I heard that they've been doing a lot of crime for a long time now. They even had the former Police Commissioner under their pockets. If not for that assassin, wouldn't they have continued doing whatever they wanted without consequences?"
Matsuri who was dead drunk suddenly spoke in a more sober tone, as she emitted a faint amount of bloodlust.
"So you're telling me, that we should allow this one person whose identity is unknown to have the power to be judge, jury, and executioner? I admit that I and my fellow officers have failed to uphold what is right, but that doesn't mean what he's doing is alright. The law is there for a reason, it is there to protect us from ourselves, from chaos. If we continue to allow him to set such a precedent then won't the others think that as long as it is just in their eyes, they should be able to kill those people that they hate."
"..."
Seeing the expression on Loki's face, Matsuri smiled.
"Let's stop talking about that b*stard and talk about other things. Oh right, why am I the only one who's drinking?" Matsuri then tried to force Loki to drink.
...
A few hours have passed, Matsuri had already paid for the drinks. Now she and Loki were outside of the bar, and Matsuri could no longer take it and was now sleeping. Loki sighed as he looked at the happy smiling face of the detective.
"Hey Matsuri, wake up, I'm going to call you a cab, so how about you tell me your adress?" Matsuri opened her eyes for a while and looked at Loki before replying.
"That's a secret." Once she said that she went back to sleep. Loki tried to wake her up again, but no matter what he did she wouldn't wake up, Loki sighed.
'I guess have no choice now.' Loki took out his phone and called Alisa.
"Hey Alisa, can you prepare the bed in the guest room."