043 - Down this chain of days / I wished to stay among my people

[chasingstars201.livejournal.com]

[She is pacing the batting cages, her hair tied back, the bat on her shoulder, too restive even to focus on creaming some baseballs. Things have started moving again, and the direction they're going does not make her happy.

At all.]

Comments

[lamb_of_gold]

[It doesn't take a mind reader...]

Misaki.

[chasingstars201.livejournal.com]

[Twitches in surprise and looks around.] Mu. [She swings the bat off of her shoulder, taps it against the ground, swings it back up to her shoulder.]

[lamb_of_gold]

I take it you've found something, then?

[chasingstars201.livejournal.com]

It's more what's missing that I'm worried about.

[lamb_of_gold]

Go on.

[chasingstars201.livejournal.com]

Child contractors. They're going missing.

[lamb_of_gold]

The gang?

[chasingstars201.livejournal.com]

Presumably. The childrens' caretakers have been turning up dead. No elements of display, as with the previous killings, but I don't think they really need the publicity at this point.

[lamb_of_gold]

And no sign of the children?

[chasingstars201.livejournal.com]

None. Which I can only presume at this point is a good thing.

[lamb_of_gold]

Have they contacted you at all?

[Misaki might notice Mu being almost visibly agitated by something now...]

[chasingstars201.livejournal.com]

No, not--Mu?

[contract_star]

Something happened. [It's not a question.]

[chasingstars201.livejournal.com]

Yes. [Pauses in her pacing to growl.] It's kids again.

[contract_star]

[Deep frown.] Dammit. What exactly happened?

[chasingstars201.livejournal.com]

Child contractors. A lot of the ones from the Gate. Their caretakers are turning up dead and they're going missing.

[contract_star]

[Thoughtful frown.] Are they adding them to their ranks? Or is this a mass hostage situation?

[chasingstars201.livejournal.com]

Could easily turn into either.

[contract_star]

Whatever purpose the kids best serve, then, I suppose...

Any locations yet? Anywhere they could be?

[chasingstars201.livejournal.com]

Vague hints and possibilities. A lot of the leads I was pursuing before... the machine broke have come up empty. I'm reworking my lists based on their most recent areas of activity.

[contract_star]

[Quiet for a moment.] I could have Yin take a look around.

[chasingstars201.livejournal.com]

If it won't hurt her.

[contract_star]

I wouldn't let her get hurt.

[ram-of-gold.livejournal.com]

Is something wrong?

[chasingstars201.livejournal.com]

[She sighs and leans against a batting cage wall.] Yes.