The detectives offices was just as Naru had imagined it to be. But then, she had to admit, the woman, Sofia, was not. The detective was hidden behind a pile of old books bound in heavy leather. Naru could nearly smell the paper and ink, mixing with the perfume the blond woman wore. The teen started to get uneasy with every step that she took towards the heavy wooden desk. Seeing the big chested, spandex clad woman made her wonder if this were indeed the kind of women her father had hung around with. But Kayin had never brought any woman home, nor had he ever been meeting them elsewhere, not that she knew anyway. Her musing were sharply interrupted by the harsh russian accent of the strange detective. „I don't have time for kids.“ She said without even looking up. Stubbornly, Naru walked even closer. „I'm sorry for interrupting you, Miss Sofia. But I am searching for my father.“ „A lot of children do these days. Go to the police then.“ „Look,“ she tried again, „my name is Naru Amoh and...“ she was cut up abruptly, the sharp blue eyes of Sofia finally scanning her face. „Amoh, as in Kayin Amoh?“ So, she did knew him. „He is my foster father. But I have not seen him in the last ten years.“ Sofia sighted and rose. She was slim, but toned, a fierce mixture between femme and fatale. Her high heels clicked on the floor as she stepped in front of her desk, as if to hide her doing. „I have not been in contact with your father too. And finding someone like him if he did not want to be found would be nearly impossible.“ Naru's heart fell. „I know,“ she admitted, „but I had hoped that you may know something. I have no idea why he left at all. He just brought me one day to a housing institute and I have never seen him again. So if you know something, anything, please tell me!“ Sofia tilted her head. „Hearing that is really no surprise for me. He had to hide you from his enemies and seeing that you are alive, he must have done an amazing job though. You have been very young then, so you probably don't know about the Soshiki.“ The young woman shaked her head, signaling Sofia to go on. „The Soshiki is an underground society. Fourteen years ago your father among other people, each equally skilled in combat, tried to stop their doings. But we failed. The ones that made it out alive could only go into hiding afterwards, fearing revenge. And that also included everybody else being related to us. A lot of people which messed with the Soshiki ended up dead.“ Naru was confused. „Kayin never told me anything about the Soshiki. Why would he go after them anyway?“ Sofia sighted. „I can't tell. We all had our personal reasons we rather not wanted to share. This is all I know and I would bet, that he leaving you behind has something to do with it. It makes perfect sense to me.“ „But then, he could be everywhere.“ The girl stated. „Yes, or dead.“ Shocked Naru took a step backward. „He is NOT dead!“ The detective smiled apologizing. „I hope so. He was very skilled, maybe he escaped. Anyway, this is all I can do for you now. But how about that, I will try to contact some old allies, maybe they have heard something about his whereabouts. I give you my phone number, call me around next week, then I might have something for you.“ she scribbled something down on a spare paper and handed it to the girl. „Thank you Miss. It is appreciated. I should go now. It is late and I do not want to be in this part of the town when it is dark.“ Sofia nodded. „Stay safe.“ And with mixed feelings, Naru left the dusty office and the strange detective behind. __________________________________________ I got the detectives office on the bonus disk of the 3dartist mag issue 28. Part 4 of the Blood Society story. Previous chapter:

"Tokyo Metro"