But as he and Kuai approached the bar, one of the bartender's eyes connected with his own. A toothy smile said more than words ever could.
“Well, well, well, Hanzo Hasashi,” Moloch growled in a mocking tone. The name made the other bartender look up as well, a knowing smirk on his face. Fuck they are going to make this difficult aren't they? “Long time no see.”
“Moloch, Drahmin,” Hanzo acknowledged, even if he didn't really want to.
“Quan Chi did not mention expecting you,” Drahmin lazily voiced while wiping down a glass in his hand. Clearly trying to act like he wasn't as interested as he was by the detectives unannounced visitation.
“I'm not here to see Quan Chi,” Hanzo claimed, trying to ignore that Kuai's eyes were also now firmly on him. “I'm looking for a woman called Sareena, do you know where I can find her?”
The two bartenders shared a brief look, before Moloch turned back to Hanzo and asked “Why would you want to talk to her?”
“I believe she may have some information regrading a case I am currently working on,” Hanzo stated. There was no way in hell he was giving any more information than that. “I just wish to ask her a few questions, that's all.”
The pair hesitated for a few seconds, before Moloch eventually nodded to Drahmin. In response, he slipped away. “He will go and find her for you.”
After that, Moloch was called to a customer, and Hanzo was able to breathe easy for a while longer. He turned his attention to Kuai Liang, who was looking at him with his hands on his hips and an eyebrow raised.
“What?”
“I just did not expect you to be a known figure in a place like this,” Kuai said, clearly fishing for more information.
“I used to do some work for the guy who owns this place,” Hanzo explained. After the death of his family, Hanzo had been approached by Quan Chi and offered a fairly steady stream of work coming his way. He had accepted just to have something to keep him busy and his mind off Harumi and Satoshi. He'd stuck with it for about two years, and over that time the jobs slowly got shadier and his discomfort in taking them grew. He always knew that Quan Chi resented him for quitting. “Been about 5 years since I was last here. I didn't exactly leave on the most amicable of terms.”
“Ah, I see.”
Deciding he wanted to change the subject, he added, “I'm surprised your lot don't hang around this place, actually.”
“Some do. But me?” Kuai thoughtfully put his hand under his chin, his eyes following a woman in a corset walking past with a tray of drinks. “Well, I can appreciate the aesthetic, but it's not exactly what I find titillating.”
Hanzo snorted at that. “Well clearly.”
Their attention was drawn back behind the bar as Drahmin returned. “Sareena is waiting for you in that booth over there,” He stated, pointing to a booth mostly blocked off to public viewing.
“Thanks,” Hanzo said with a nod, before he set off towards the booth in question, Kuai Liang at his side. He lent in closer to Kuai and whispered, “Let's try and get through this as quickly as possible, I'd rather not spend more time here than I have to.”
“Understood,” Kuai quietly confirmed.
As they reached the booth they separated slightly and entered. Sat on one of the plush seats was a woman, black hair in a short fluffy bob with a single stripe of white framing her face. She was wearing a fairly typical burlesque outfit, a red and black corset adorned with feathers, panties and stockings. She was pretty, Hanzo had no doubt she was likely one of the more popular performers. When she noticed them entering she stood up.
“Miss Sareena, I assume?” Hanzo questioned, watching as she fiddled with one of her suspenders for a second before finally looking up to him.
“I am Sareena Rose, yes.” She finally stopped fiddling with her outfit and held out a hand to shake Hanzos. “A pleasure to meet you, Detective Hasashi.” Her eyes flicked to Hanzo's side, as if only just realising there was someone else with him. “And you ar-” She cut herself off when she actually looked at Kuai Liang, her mouth staying hung open for a few seconds. It was like she'd seen ghost. He does look like his brother, this would rather confirm she has a connection to him. “Apologies, you... Look like someone I know.”
“Bi-Han, by any chance?” Kuai asked with a dramatic sigh. “Really, we don't look that alike, do we? I always thought I was far more handsome than that.”
“You are Kuai Liang then,” Sareena deduced, looking between the two men with a sudden air of dread. She brought her hand back, curling it into a fist over her chest. “I believe I know why you are here now.”
“Song Bi-Han is the prime suspect in my current investigation, if you have any information on his current whereabouts I would appriciate if you could share it with me.”
Sareena hesitated, “What makes you think I know where he is?” She shifted on her feet, hand grabbing her wrist and twisting slightly. A little too nervous for someone without information I think.
“Bi-Han has mentioned you in conversation more than once,” Kuai Liang offered as an explanation.
Sareenas's eyes widened and she bit her lip. “He... He talks about me?” She tucked a strand of her hair back, an action that made her look like a shy teenager with a crush.
“Once or twice,” Kuai chuckled, tilting his head slightly and observing her. “What exactly is your relationship with my brother?”
“We're friends...” Sareena shuffled on her feet again, “At least, that's what it is from my perspective.”
“But you want more than that, right?” Kuai asked smugly, winking at her and sticking his tongue out ever so slightly. Sareena spluttered, covering her mouth with her hands. Beneath them, Hanzo could see her face turning bright red. It seemed there was truth to Kuai's assessment, Hanzo made a mental note of that in case it came up later.
“Please, Miss Rose,” Hanzo began again, taking pity on her and deciding the poor woman had been embarrassed enough by Kuai. “Even if you do not know where he currently is, if there is anything at all you can think of that might help us with the investigation.”
Sareena stared at him for a few minutes, rubbing her mouth. She finally dropped her hands, very quietly sighing and saying “well-”
A loud cough from behind them cut her off.
Hanzo turned on his heel, suddenly finding himself face to face with an unfortunately very familiar face.
“Hello Detective, long time no see.”
“Hello Quan Chi,” Hanzo hissed, internally cursing. Moloch and Drahmin must have alerted him to Hanzo's presence. I should have known...
He watched as Quan Chi slowly moved around him, walking over to Sareena and placing a hand on her shoulder. She almost immediately looked to the floor, like a child being scolded by her parent. Quan Chi stood partially in front of her, as if to physically block Hanzo from her. Suspicious.
“As delightful as this reunion is,” Quan Chi said in a tone that was simultaneously honey and vinegar, “I do have to request that you stop harassing my staff and leave.”
“It's not harassment,” Hanzo argued, hand balling up into a fist at his side. “I am merely asking Miss Rose questions in regards to my current investigation.”
“Yes, you're trying to find your families murderer are you not? I read the newspaper.” Quan Chi folded his arms, slowly walking up to Hanzo. “But you forget Detective Hasashi, that you are not law enforcement, and have no legal standing.” Quan Chi stopped right in front of him. “You have no right to come in here and make demands. She does not need to speak with you. You have nothing."
Hanzo hated to admit it, but Quan Chi had a point. At the end of the day, he was just a private detective, and no one had any legal obligation to answer his questions. Quan Chi's smug smirk made Hanzo want to punch him. He resisted, no matter how strong the temptation was. Quan Chi's gaze turned to Kuai Liang instead, glancing at the man up and down with a look of distaste.
“As for you,” He started, tilting his head. Despite having never met Kuai, Quan Chi seemed to know exactly who he was. Interesting, it's either the resemblance to Bi-Han tipping him off or he's a lot more familiar with the Lin Kuei than he tries to pretend. “Does your master know one of his bitches is off their lead?”
“Careful, Mr. Quan,” Kuai warned, voice low and dipping his head slightly. There was a darkness in his eyes that Hanzo had so far not seen. “My bites worse than my bark, and I'm not wearing my muzzle.”
Quan Chi's eyes narrowed and he jerked forward to grab Kuai. Not wanting to get into a fist fight at that particular moment, Hanzo stepped out between them, shielding Kuai from Quan Chi's grasp. Quan Chi stepped back at this, levelling Hanzo with a glare, clearly unhappy that he couldn't get his hands on the Lin Kuei.
“One last chance, Detective,” Quan Chi warned, pointing at the two of them. "Leave with your dignity, before I call my bouncers to throw you out."
She knows something, but there's no way in hell we can talk to her with Quan Chi present. I don't doubt Quan Chi knows something too, why else would he be so specificly defensive about us talking to her.
There was, however, always an annoying point where you had to admit defeat, and unfortunately this was the point where Hanzo had to do so. He reached behind him, making sure to grab Kuai's arm. He looked over Quan Chi's shoulder, his eyes connecting with Sareena's. She looked deeply uncomfortable with what had just happened, like she wanted to say something but was too fearful of the consequences. Quan Chi always did like to have his employer’s completely under his thumb, it seemed that poor Sareena no different. She’s afraid of him.
"Thank you for your time Miss Rose." He nodded at her, before turning fully around, dragging Kuai along with him. He pointedly ignored Quan Chi, refusing to give the man even a second more of his time even if it was to only say farewell. A glance towards the bar and he saw Drahim and Moloch mockingly waving good bye. He resisted the urgh to flip them the bird.
He stormed out of the club, pulling Kuai through the door before finally releasing him once it had slammed behind them. Kuai stumbled slightly, but regained his balance quickly. Kuai looked across at him, he was trying to appear unaffected if the way he was brushing off his suit with his hands was anything to go by, but there was a strange glint of guilt in his eyes. Hanzo couldn't understand why, Kuai had done nothing except verbally defend himself.
"I do apologise, I am usually far more composed than that," Kuai replied, deciding he now also needed to straighten his tie.
"No, it's not your fault, he did technically start it," Hanzo muttered, glancing over his shoulder to glare at the club as if that offered any revenge for what just happened.
"He was deeply unpleasant to be around." Hanzo snorted at that, it seemed rich coming from a professional criminal. Then again, if Hanzo was forced to spend the rest of his life locked in a single room, with the choices of Quan Chi and Kuai Liang as his company, he would have chosen the latter a thousand times over.
And it wasn't just because being locked in a room with Kuai would likely result in copious amounts of sex.
"Yes, 5 years later and he truly has not improved in any way," Hanzo commented, as he slowly began to walk towards where his car was parked a small way down the block.
"Men like him don't tend to change," Kuai offered as he almost skipped slightly catching back up to Hanzo. "They fester in their fetid ways surrounding themselves with people who agree to their every whim, never challenged and never a need to ponder the consequences of their actions."
Hanzo paused at that, lifting an eyebrow, "speaking from experience?"
"Oh, honey you have no idea." Kuai did not explain further, but Hanzo could maybe hazard a guess combined with what Kuai had said earlier that things within the Lin Kuei weren't working all that smoothly currently. Part of him wanted to ask, but he highly doubted Kuai would want to discuss the inner politics of the organisation.
They reached Hanzo's car, and he went to unlock the door as Kuai looped around to the passenger seat. As they settled down in their respective seats, Kuai looked over to Hanzo biting his lip.
"So, what now?"
Hanzo wasn't sure. It was far too late at night to go to the White Lotus, and if he was honest he was a little bitter that they really hadn't gotten much out of this trip. He stared at the club in his rearview mirror.
"Do you have any plans for the rest of the night?" Hanzo questioned, watching a couple of greasy looking men walk into the club. From the corner of his eye he saw Kuai twist around to face him, propping his elbow against the dashboard and leaning his head on his hand.
"Not as such no. Why? What did you have in mind Detective?" Kuai's voice was silky smooth, and it was clear what plans he was coming up with.
"Not what you're thinking, get your mind out of the gutter." Despite still looking in the mirror, Hanzo could see Kuai's pout. "Fancy a stakeout?"
Kuai hummed, looking into the mirror himself now, "you mean spending an hour or two in an inclosed space with you?" Hanzo didn't even bothered to to reply, he just hoped that Kuai didn't see the amused smile on his face. "Sounds like a date."
Hanzo adjusted the mirror, before settling down in his seat. "Get comfortable then, we're in for a long night."
Kuai lent back in the car seat. He huffed, they'd been sat for what felt like hours now, though it was likely a lot less time than that. Hanzo had mostly been quiet, intently watching the club for anything he could use as clues. Kuai on the other hand was getting restless. He admittedly didn't get to do a lot of sitting around and doing nothing in the Lin Kuei. This was something he wasn't used to.
"So, are stakeout's usually this boring?" He finally asked, at least a conversation might occupy his mind a little.
"More or less," Hanzo muttered, his eyes firmly on the mirror watching the club from afar. "But patience is a virtue, and there is a lot to be learned from just observing."
"So, what exactly have we learnt from this?" Kuai asked, curious because to him they had just wasted the last few hours. But I suppose he is more used to this than I am. Honestly don't really know what I'm supposed to be looking for.
"The club used to close at 1am, given it is now 2am, it is safe to say opening hours have been extended." Kuai pondered that for a minute, he couldn't think of any reason that would be relevant. "Not to mention several of the men I've seen enter, I recognise as members of the local police force."
Kuai had to bite the inside of his cheek to stop himself from making a snide comment about how unsurprised he was that the police were pigs. Otherwise, he tried to not get too familiar with the police, so he would have to take Hanzo's word on that one. Still, it's a strange place for police to be hanging out. Club Netherrealm didn't exactly have the cleanest reputation.
Hanzo reached into his pocket, pulling out a pack of cigarettes and a lighter. As Hanzo lit the cigarette, Kuai lent across to pluck it from his fingers. The detective's head snapped over to him.
"You know there's some belief these things are dangerous for your health right?" Despite that, as Kuai wound the car's window down, he took a drag of it himself. He then proceeded to throw it out the window.
"I'd say being a drug dealer is also dangerous for your health, but it doesn't seem to stop you." Much to Kuai's disappointment, Hanzo simply pulled another cigarette out and lit it as well.
"Well, I've never really been one to follow my own advice," Kuai admitted. The fact Hanzo knew that most of Kuai's work involved the sale of drugs was curious. All that had happened when he'd been followed was an exchange of briefcases. Sure, it was fair to deduce that was what was happening, but really anything could have been in them. "How did you know I deal drugs anyway?"
Hanzo shot him an unimpressed look, muttering with the cigarette in his mouth, "you work for the Lin Kuei."
Kuai reluctantly had to give him that one. Still, the more he thought about it, the more he wondered just how long he'd been on the detective's radar.
"How long exactly were you following me around for, anyway?" He questioned, unsure if he actually really wanted to know the answer.
"About a week."
A week? He expected a few hours. How the fuck did I miss someone following me for a week? It wasn't the longest period of time, but who knew what Hanzo had found out about him in that time. The voice in his head chastising him for letting his guard down sounded suspiciously like Bi-Han.
"You seem surprised," Hanzo noted, breaking Kuai from his thoughts.
"I'm just not sure how I didn't notice sooner." Kuai ran his knuckle along his lips. "What exactly did you find out about me?"
Hanzo looked at him for a second, as if trying to decipher what Kuai Liang was really asking. "I was mostly looking for ways to approach you." Hanzo took his cigarette from his mouth, glancing in the mirror before turning his attention more firmly to Kuai. "I figured out pretty early you have a textbook case of a flight or fight response."
"Excuse me?" Kuai asked, making sure his tone clearly implied his offence to that statement. A textbook case of a flight or fight response? What in the fuck is that supposed to mean?
"I will use earlier tonight in the ally as an example," Hanzo started. "Your first move upon me confronting you was to run. When you ended up cornered, I'm willing to bet you considered trying to fight me, right up until you saw I had a gun that is." Kuai could feel the way he tensed, unsure how Hanzo knew that. "With no other option, you turned to flirting." Hanzo levelled Kuai with a strange stare. "It's a pattern I noticed. Every confrontation I saw you in, you did the exact same thing."
Kuai wanted to argue against that but... it's true, isn't it? He hated confrontation, even if he often started it when he clapped back at people. His first instinct when faced with danger was to run, to preserve himself, only fighting if he stood a chance of getting out alive. And then flirting. He was still surprised how often buttering people up actually worked. Even he wasn't entirely sure how that kept happening. Hell, it had even somewhat worked on Hanzo himself, given the promise of sex as a reward for good behaviour. And this was a cycle, it happened over and over again.
"Jesus, well, I didn't expect a full fucking psychoanalysis, but thank you for that," Kuai deflected as a joke, trying to cover how unnerved he was by the realisation that this was a pattern and what that could possibly say about him as a person. "I thought you'd just know my favourite drink or something."
"Tea."
Kuai stared at Hanzo for a few minutes before telling him, "you're just showing off now."
Hanzo looked self-satisfied for a second, before finishing off his cigarette and putting it out in the cars ashtray.
"Since we're asking questions, I have one for you," Hanzo announced, taking a brief second to look in the cars mirror again to make sure nothing was happening with the club. "Why do you not carry a weapon with you?"
"I do," Kuai muttered reaching into his pocket and bringing out his trusty switchblade. "See?" He flicked the blade out to try and make the point.
"I meant why don't you carry a gun with you?" Hanzo clarified, looking unnerved with the way Kuai began to twirl the blade between his fingers. "Most of your opponents have firearms with them. You are quite literally bringing a knife to a gunfight."
"I don't like guns," Kuai said with a shrug, watching the blade in his fingers spin. He could never quite place why he disliked guns so much, he just had an uneasy feeling whenever he was around them. Of course when people questioned his dislike they generally didn't accept that as an answer, so he had a couple of generic reasons to stop people prying too much. "They're too loud, and far too messy for my tastes."
"I can guarantee you, stabbing someone with that thing would be equally as messy," Hanzo argued, pointing at the knife as he did. He was still looking at it as if he was expecting Kuai to turn around and stab him at any moment, and in a weird way Kuai found the detective uncertainty somewhat adorable.
"Maybe. But if I stabbed you in the face I'd maybe get a bit of blood on me." Kuai retracted the blade, putting the knife back in his pocket. Hanzo immediately relaxed. "But if I shot you in the face..." Kuai paused, shaping his fingers into the crude shape of a gun and holding the tips to Hanzo's forehead. "I'd get a lot more on me, flesh, bone, brain matter." He mocked firing the gun, while grimacing at the thought of the resulting splatter if it had been in any way real. "Gross."
As he put his hand down, Hanzo was looking at him with an eyebrow raised. "You're extremely prissy for a criminal, you know that, right?"
"I can commit crime and be concerned about my personal hygiene, thank you very much." Suddenly feeling a little self conscious, he gazed at his reflection in the windshield. He reached to smooth some of his hair back. "Going through your trash was bad enough."
"Actually that leads me to another question I had," Hanzo started, reaching into his pocket to get yet another cigarette. Hm, not a good habit to have. He might sell drugs, but Kuai didn’t partake in the consumption in them, his only real vice being the occasional alcoholic beverage. "What exactly were you hoping to find in my trash?"
"I don't know, something that might tell me why you were looking for Bi-Han," Kuai admitted. He was fully aware that in hindsight it was a terrible plan. Then again, if I hadn't we wouldn't be here. Would Hanzo have caught up to him otherwise?
"If he didn't tell you anything, how did you know to come to me? And what did you mean when you said you had a theory."
"When he left, he told me you might approach me at some point, but didn't tell me why, said it was safer for me to not know anything." Kuai laughed under his breath. Yeah, I'm real fucking safe in the fucking mess that is the Lin Kuei with Sektor at the helm. "As for the theory, I found a newspaper hidden under a floorboard of his room. It was the one about your investigation. I kind of... put two and two together." Kuai stared down at his hands in his lap, linking his fingers together and playing with his thumbs. "You really think he did it, don't you?"
There was a moment of silence before Hanzo replied, "you don't believe he did?"
Kuai couldn't reply, eyes remaining on his hands as he tried to ignore the lump growing in his throat. "I don't know." And god did it hurt to admit that. To admit he really did not know if his brother was capable of murdering innocent people in cold blood. "I want to believe he didn't. But I don't know."
He clenched his fists, screwing his eyes shut. No, he didn't want to believe Bi-Han would do this, but even he had to admit this all looked bad.
"I'm not disillusioned, Detective. I know my brother is not a good man," he explained, opening his eyes and finally looking over at Hanzo. His face was passive and unreadable. "Hell I know I'm not a good man. But even so there is honour among thieves, code and lines even we won't cross." He wanted so desperately to see something in Hanzo's face that implied he understood, but there was nothing. "Hurting and killing a child is one I don't want to believe either of us would ever cross."
The scar on his face began to ache. He reached a hand to touch it, almost sure it was trying to split open from the force of memories alone. The memories of a man who was meant to be caring for them standing over him, Kuai's vision blurring and Bi-Han's disembodied voice screaming to leave his brother alone. He wouldn't hurt a child, not after that... Not after that...
A hand fell on top of his, bringing him back from his past. Hanzo finally had some readable emotion on his face, concerned and curious. He looked like he wanted to ask, but was unsure of what the response would be if he did. Kuai blinked, realising there were tears rolling down his cheeks. He pulled away from Hanzo's hand, the detective letting it happen as Kuai scrubbed the tears from his face. He felt stupid for letting himself be so vulnerable in front of someone he barely knew.
"But I know how this all looks," Kuai instead stating, trying to ignore the way Hanzo was looking at him. He wanted answers for what that outburst was, but Kuai was not ready for that conversation yet. Somehow he doubted he ever would be ready for it. He barely talked about it with Bi-Han, let alone a stranger. "Him running away like this... I know how guilty it makes him look. I'm just... so conflicted. He's my only family, the only role model I've ever really had, you have to understand why it's so hard for me to accept this."
He heard Hanzo sigh, "I understand that." Hanzo was now looking away, his hands on the cars steering wheel. "He's your brother, I understand why you wouldn't want to believe him capable of such atrocities. But the truth is, everything I've found points to him. I need to find him if I'm ever to discover the truth of that night."
"Well when we do find him, I'm going to slap him to oblivion," Kuai declared, because holy shit did Bi-Han have some explaining to do. "Beyond oblivion if it turns out he's innocent."
To his surprise Hanzo actually laughed at that. Not an unkind laugh either, a genuine one, like the thought of Kuai smacking his brother was actually amusing to him.
"When it comes to that, I will not stand in your way," Hanzo replied with a smirk.
"Good, I'd hate to have to whack you too, I wouldn't want to ruin such a handsome face," Kuai joked, watching as Hanzo nodded, but if it was in agreement that he was handsome or simply because he was glad Kuai had no intents to hit him was unclear.
Kuai's eyes were drawn to the back of the car. Through the rear windshield he could see groups of people filing out from the club. He reached over to lightly shake Hanzo's shoulder. The elder man hummed, though didn't turn around, it seemed he was still watching from the rearview mirror.
"Looks like the clubs finally closing," Hanzo stated, Kuai could hear him stubbing out the remains of his cigarette.
The crowds dispersed, the lights went out in the club and minutes later the staff began to pile out as well. The two bartenders first, then a couple of the girls Kuai had seen performing. When Sareena stepped out, Kuai fought the urge to duck down. She was accompanied by two other women, and the three of them began to walk towards where Hanzo and Kuai were parked.
"I didn't see Mr. Quan leave, did you?" Kuai asked, the sudden stillness of the club was almost eerie.
"He used to live in a flat above the club, so I'd chance a guess he still does," Hanzo commented as Kuai finally turned back in his seat. Sareena and the two other women were fast approaching and he hoped to god they didn't notice them. "Which frustratingly means we should avoid here as much as possible."
Sareena passed by and Kuai lent back as far as the car seat would allow in his effort to hide. She walked on completely oblivious.
"We could follow her and find out where she lives and try confront her there but..." Hanzo paused, watching as the three women began to disappear around the corner. "But I genuinely can't think up a situation where two men follow a woman home in the dead of night and come out looking like the good guys."
Kuai snorted at that, sitting up when he was sure Sareena was gone and could no longer potentially see them. "Not to mention you are god awful at following people in your car." Hanzo gave a frustrated huff but said no more on that topic. "So, where do we go from here?"
"Well, the White Lotus won't open until the morning, so my personal plan is to head back to my office and get some sleep."
"Ooh," Kuai purred, reaching over to place his hand on Hanzo's thigh. "Maybe I could join you? I know I'd sleep better with some company."
Hanzo turned the engine on his car, shifting it into gear and pulling out into the street. Barely glancing at Kuai, he casually stated "you can sleep on the couch."
Kuai just pouted, "you're so mean Detective."
As they got out of the car, Hanzo stared up at the shiny state of the art building in front of them. It was petty to be jealous of a building but he wished his business was important enough to be situated somewhere so fancy. Kuai didn't seem anywhere near as impressed, but given the Lin Kuei operated out of a fucking mansion, of all things, he guessed this place wasn't anywhere near as extravagant as that.
"Hopefully, we won't be kicked out this time," Hanzo stated optimistically. He had confidence, with this being a respectable business, that Mr. Narukami would be far more willing to talk to them. "Leave most of the talking to me, alright?"
"Fair enough," Kuai commented with a grin, clearly a little too happy about being given an order.
Hanzo shook his head as they both approached the front doors to the building. Inside was a rather spacious reception area. A man was sat behind the desk, his hair pulled back into a long braid. Once close enough Hanzo noticed he had the name "Lao" printed on his name badge.
The man looked up from his paper work and offered them both a smile, "hello, welcome to White Lotus. How may I help you?"
"I was hoping I could speak with Raiden Narukami," Hanzo told him, taking the chance to glance around. He knew that the White Lotus was an electricity provider, but as he observed the posters advertising their service he realised how weird a place this was for Bi-Han to have connections to.
"Do you have an appointment?" Lao asked, looking through a diary to make sure he hadn't missed something.
"No. My name is Hanzo Hasashi, I'm a private detective," he explained. "I believe Mr. Narukami was in recent contact with a suspect I am looking for and I was hoping to ask a few questions."
Lao's brow knitted together, he looked like he was trying to recall something. Suddenly he snapped his fingers, "oh! Hasashi! You're the guy who was in the newspaper!"
"That is me," Hanzo confirmed, a small smile. He was hopeful that this knowledge would make it easier to get an audience with Raiden. "If there is any chance I can speak with Mr. Narukami I would greatly appreciate it."
"Let me just ring upstairs and see if he's busy," Lao offered, picking up the phone and hitting a few buttons.
Hanzo turned his attention to Kuai, who was looking around with a puzzled expression on his face, one hand on his hip while the other gripped his bicep.
Hanzo lent in and barely whispered, "any idea why your brother would be working with an electricity company?"
"Absolutely none," Kuai stated, rubbing his arm and tapping his foot. "Electricity isn't really the Lin Kuei's forte."
"Detective Hasashi," Lao called, regaining both men's attention. "Mr. Narukami will see you shortly, he'll be sending down his assistant Liu Kang to collect you both."
"I appreciate your help," Hanzo replied back. Lao smiled at them both again before returning to his paperwork. Hanzo turned to Kuai Liang, "this is promising."
"Let's just hope he has something to tell us." Kuai glanced around the room, eyeing everything with an air of suspicion. "I mean, this place seems pretty respectable."
Hanzo hummed at that. Just because a place seemed respectable didn’t mean it was. He'd found that more times than most people would be comfortable with during his time as a detective. The places that seemed the cleanest on the surface were often the ones filled with the most corruption.
His attention was drawn to a door where a man came out. He smiled at them as he walked over, holding out his hand.
"Detective Hasashi?" He asked, and Hanzo hummed in confirmation. "Liu Kang, it's nice to make your acquaintance."
"Likewise," Hanzo replied, meeting Liu's hand to shake. Once done, he gestured at Kuai beside him, "this is Song Kuai Liang, he is assisting me with my current investigation."
Liu's face dropped at Kuai's name. This is starting to become a trend. Once again, it made it plainly obvious that the man in front of them was familiar with Bi-Han. Liu straightened up, now clearly uncomfortable and trying to avoid looking at Kuai.
"Well, anyway, if you'd both like to follow me," Liu said, completely ignoring whatever issue he had with Kuai's presence. Hanzo shared a brief look with Kuai, as if to wonder what that was all about, before both of them began to follow Liu.
He led them through a few corridors and up a few flights of stairs, before leading them down yet another set of corridors. Hanzo was about to question where the fuck they were going when they finally come to a door with the words "Company Director; Raiden Narukami" written on it.
Liu opened the door for them, inviting them into the spacious office within. A man with white hair was sat at a desk, but he stood up the second he saw Hanzo and Kuai walk in.
"Detective Hasashi?" The man questioned, and once again Hanzo gave an affirmative hum. "I am Raiden Narukami, director of White Lotus, and your friend is-" Raiden paused as he stared at Kuai, blinking in confusion. Well having Kuai with me is definitely helping confirm who knows Bi-Han and who doesn't. "You must be Bi-Han's brother."
"Song Kuai Liang," he introduced in return, "and given you are the second person to realise that upon just looking at me I'm starting to think I need to change my appearance."
Hanzo snorted, he was starting to think Kuai had a chip on his shoulder regarding being compared to Bi-Han. That could wait however, for now, he needed to concentrate on Raiden.
"Thank you for agreeing to see me on short notice, Mr Narukami, I was hoping to ask you a few questions regarding your ties to Song Bi-Han," he explained following Raiden further into the office as the man sat down at his desk. Hanzo couldn't help but notice Liu was hovering in the room as well. "He is currently the prime suspect in my investigation. Unfortunately he has absconded and, as of right now, I am trying to track him down."
"I am curious what makes you think I have ties to him beyond mere acquaintances?" Raiden asked, tidying some papers on his desk. Maybe I was wrong about him being forth coming. He wanted to point out Raiden immediately realising who Kuai was did rather imply familiarity but it also didn't really suggest a deeper link than that.
"My brother mentioned doing some work for you," Kuai interjected, rubbing the back of his neck. "He didn't divulge more than that."
Raiden slowly nodded, whispering "i see." He finished what he was doing on his desk, and sighed. "Yes, I did hire him to do a task for me."
"What exactly did that entail?" Hanzo asked, glad that at least he'd gotten some form of confession out of him.
"I fail to see how this is relevant to your investigation," Raiden stated.
"I am just trying to gather a picture of what Bi-Han's last movements were before his disappearance," Hanzo tried to explain. I swear to God one day I'd like to find someone who just co-operates fully without prompting. He supposed in a way Kuai had, at least after being cuffed to a radiator. "It might help give me some clues to his current whereabouts."
Raiden's mouth was tight, fists clenched ever so slightly and back rigid, as he grumbled "I do not think this information will help you. I merely asked him to retrieve something for me."
Hanzo rubbed his temples, this was starting to become like trying to get blood from a stone. Next to him, Kuai lent against the desk, brows drawn together and lips pursed slightly.
"You know the more you try to dodge the question, the more he's going to suspect that what you had Bi-Han do wasn't exactly law abiding," Kuai flatly said, gesturing toward's Hanzo as he spoke. He then held his hand up, acting like he was inspecting his nails. "I mean personally, I don't have room to speak in that respect, but you probably have a better public reputation to worry about than I do."
Raiden stared at Kuai, like he was considering what he had just said. He shook his head, apparently deciding what Kuai said was true as he finally professed "I had a personal artefact stolen from me, I hired Bi-Han to steal it back."
"Why wouldn't you go to the police?" Hanzo immediately questioned, but made mental note to praise Kuai later for managing break down Raiden's cryptic walls.
"I did. They refused to help me," Raiden admitted. "So I was driven to more desperate measures."
I know how that feels.
Instead of saying that however he questioned "But... You're a respected business man, why wouldn't the police help you?" He crossed his arms over his chest. "And out of anyone, why would you work with a criminal?"
Raiden's eyes flicked over to Kuai for a minute, before returning to Hanzo. "Why would you?"
Hanzo felt himself falter, he hadn't expected to be called out like that. He looked over to where Kuai was still leaning against the desk, hoping the criminal in question would offer some form of support.
Instead, Kuai just shrugged at him and claimed, "He's got you there."
"Okay, well, who stole this item?" Hanzo chose to move on, because really it was likely that the answer was the same for both of them. They had no other choice. "Was that a factor that made the police reluctant to pursue?"
"I believe so," Raiden replied. "Are you familiar with Club Netherrealm?"
Hanzo closed his eyes a grit his teeth, of fucking course. "Unfortunately, yes." He reopened his eyes, taking in the curious look Raiden was giving him. "Was Quan Chi involved, by any chance?"
Raiden gave a small smile that answered the question. Well, at least now we have another link betwen Bi-Han and Club Netherrealm. Hanzo glanced at Kuai, who was now standing straight, hands once again on his hips and a deep frown on his face. Clearly he was also pondering this connection too.
"What exactly was this personal item he stole from you?" Hanzo turned his attention back to Raiden.
Raiden sighed and stood up from where he was sitting, walking over to a safe nestled against the wall. Quickly clicking the combination in, the door swung open as he pulled out a small box. He walked back to Hanzo, the box in his hands and he clicked it open when he was close enough. Inside, nestled in a bedding of velvet, was a golden broach in an intricate pattern with a green gem, likely an emerald, in the middle.
"It may not look like much, Detective, but this broach is worth more money than most people will ever possess in their lifetime," Raiden explained, as Hanzo stared at the item in question. He had to admit it was a very beautiful piece of jewellery, but he couldn't see why it would be worth so much. He would have to take Raiden's word on that.
"So, Quan Chi stole this because of the money it was worth?" Hanzo asked as Raiden closed the box and went to return it to the safe. Quan Chi had never particularly seemed to be influenced by the pursuit of money. He had always appeared far more interested in holding power over others.
Then again, money is power, as they say. Maybe Quan Chi finally realised that?
"I suspect so," Raiden replied, safely returning the broach to it's resting place. "But unfortunately that is all I can tell you. Bi-Han returned it to me and we parted ways. Where he currently is, I do not know."
"Well, regardless, thank you. Your information has been far more useful than you believed it would be." And that was no lie. Another connection to Club Netherrealm and Quan Chi. He was thankful that they had managed to gain Raiden's co-operation. "Ah, and, do not worry in regards to the legal aspects of what you've told me. Given my current assistant I have no room to judge you."
He heard Kuai giggle somewhere behind him.
"I appreciate that," Raiden admitted, sounding genuinely thankful for such a small mercy. "If I can do anything else to assist, please let me know."
"I will, thank you."
"Liu Kang, could you show these gentlemen out?" Raiden requested, gesturing toward the door. Hanzo hated to admit but he'd almost forgotten the other man was here he'd been so silent.
Still with a last nod of reassurance, Hanzo and Kuai followed Liu back into the corridors. As they walked Hanzo considered what they'd learnt from this. Most important, was how everything quite conveniently linked back to Quan Chi. Second was Bi-Han taking a job unrelated to the Lin Kuei. Third, something about that broach was eating at Hanzo but he couldn't place why. He just had a strange feeling he had seen it before. Forth, the police refused to help Raiden. Why? He thought back to the earlier hours of that morning, seeing so many people he recognised from the police force entering Club Netherrealm. There was a link there, he was sure of it. Was Quan Chi pulling some strings with them?
He suddenly realised he was back in the reception, turning to look at Liu Kang one last time.
"Good luck with your investigation, Detective Hasashi," Liu wished with an awkward bow.
"Thank you, take care," Hanzo returned, before making his way to the door, Kuai walking in time with him.
Outside he went to face Kuai, who had turned back to stare up at the building.
"So... It seems Quan Chi has been busy, hm?" Kuai commented, biting his lip.
"Yes, curious how that looped back around, isn't it?" Hanzo agreed, before making his way back to his car. He noticed Kuai stumbling to catch up to him. I possibly need to stop walking off from him without warning.
As they took their seats in the car Hanzo remembered something important he needed to say.
"Oh, by the way," he began as he turned the key and started the engine, "good job getting him talking. You did well." He got no reply as he pulled out into the road. He took a quick peek at Kuai, not wanting to take his eyes off the surrounding traffic for too long, finding Kuai was just staring at him with bright red flush over his face. What is that about? "Are you okay?"
"What? Oh. Yes. Sorry." Kuai very quickly and awkwardly looked away. He tucked a few strands of hair behind his ears. "I'm not used to being complimented outside of how good I fuck."
Hanzo couldn't help feel a sad at that statement. He is a man with much sorrow, and refuses to acknowledge it. He knew however if he were to say anything it would be interpreted as pity, and pity was the last thing a man like Kuai Liang wanted.
"Well, I haven't had chance to sample that yet," Hanzo commented instead, feeling relief when Kuai chuckled and didn't take offence to the statement. "But really. If things were different, you would make a good detective."
"If things were different," Kuai echoed, melancholy laced his voice. "I think I'm too far gone for that now."
"It's never too late to make a better life for yourself," Hanzo advised. He once again didn't get a reply. Maybe once day, he might convince Kuai of this truth, but he knew when to back down from a battle. "Anyway, I think it wouldn't be wise for me to dump you on the Lin Kuei's doorstep. I'll drop you about a block away and then you can make your way back to my office when you're done. While you are dealing with Sektor, I'll put together what we've learnt so far."
"Sounds like a plan," Kuai claimed, far more casual this time, clearly grateful for the conversation moving on. "I don't know how much I'll get out of him, he's not exactly... uh... the most agreeable of people."
"If you can get anything at all it will help," Hanzo claimed, remembering Kuai's previous statements that implied the poor state of the Lin Kuei. Clearly Kuai didn't think a lot of Sektor. Why does he stay with them then? Does he really believe he can never be anything else?
He didn't ask. He was sure if any of it was relevant to the case, Kuai would have mentioned it by now.
Kuai had managed to slip by his fellow Lin Kuei members without anyone questioning where he'd been. That or he really was so insignificant that no one noticed he was gone. Somehow that wasn't as depressing a thought as it should have been.
Still he managed to make it all the way to Sektor's office without any awkward conversations. He lifted his hand to knock on the door when he realised he could hear shouting on the other side. He pushed his ear to the door to try and listen in.
"-nok's currency is lies. As is yours." Kuai frowned, he couldn't hear any other voice but Sektor's. He must be on the phone then. "The letter, not the spirit. You are owed nothing!"
He heard a loud slam, then seconds later a crashing sound. Clearly Sektor was tearing his office apart. Kuai almost reconsidered what he was doing, but decided the sooner he got through this, the sooner he could get the hell out of here. He carefully knocked on the door, only opening it when he heard a call of "come in."
"Hey, Boss, everything alright in here? I heard banging," he tried to say casually, with a hint of concern. He looked around, most of the things that should have been on Sektors desk were scattered around the room. Sektor himself was standing, arms braced against the desk as he glowered at Kuai Liang.
"Everything is fine," Sektor replied through a clenched jaw. Clearly, everything wasn't fine.
"If this is fine, then we have very different definitions of that word, Sir." Kuai chanced closing the door behind him, looking around at the chaos of the room.
"Just a client messing me around, nothing you need to worry about," Sektor said with a frustrated sigh.
"Again?" Kuai questioned, crossing his arms over his chest and looking at Sektor with a tilted head. "That seems to be happening a lot lately."
Sektor just scowled at him. It was no secret that Sektor didn't like to admit his shortcomings, but he hated more for them to be pointed out. The Lin Kuei were loosing clients faster than they were gaining them. This was almost entirely due to Sektor. Not that he wanted to acknowledge that fact.
"Did you actually need something, Kuai Liang, or are you just here to try and piss me off further?" Sektor growled, pushing himself from the desk and sitting down. Kuai took the opportunity to go and settle in the chair on the opposite side.
"You know it's been a month since Bi-Han left, right?" He asked. Sektor's eyes narrowed and parted his lips ever so slightly to show his teeth. "I don't know where he's gone and I want to find him."
"Why would you?" Sektor questioned defensively. Why has everyone with information acted like this so far? It didn't make sense to Kuai, if anything, it just made the party in question look more guilty.
"Because he's my brother and I'm worried about him?" Kuai replied in a tone that made it clear the answer was extremely fucking obvious. "Look, I'll get to the point. I know he had an argument with you before he took off. Was it about anything that might be relevant?"
Kuai bit his lip, knowing fully that he was playing with fire right now. Especially bringing up these questions off the back of a argumentative phone call. Sektor was staring at him with a strangely tranquil fury.
"I doubt it," Sektor finally spat out. "I barely remember the argument in question."
"But you remember you had one?" Kuai prompted, hoping by subtly forcing the man to think about it he might let something slip by.
"Yes." Sektor exhaled sharply, "I do not know what you think you are doing by trying to interrogate me like this, but whatever it is I would advise against it."
"I'm trying to find my brother," Kuai said, attempting to keep his voice calm. He was fighting the urge to be sarcastic or too forceful. "All I want from you is any information that might help me with that task." Was he really asking that much? Maybe not to the average person, but Sektor wasn't an average person. "You can't deny it's weird as fuck that he vanished after you had an argument with him."
"Are you accusing me of something Kuai Liang?" Sektor hissed, his nails digging into the wood of his desk. Kuai had never noticed how many grooves there were. How often did Sektor get so angered that he'd slowly worn away at his own desk?
"I never said anything like that," Kuai muttered, swallowing hard. "I just said-"
"That it was strange that he disappeared after a disagreement with me." Sektor released his grip on the desk. "Which implies you think I had something to do with it."
"That isn't what I was implying." Kuai shook his head, gripping the seat he was on like he was unsteady and needed to ground himself in some way. He refused to back down however, even if doing so made him feel like he was experiencing vertigo. "But with you getting all huffy like this, I'm starting to think you did do something."
"Listen here." Sektor lent across the desk, the sound of his fingernails clawing at the wood and splintering it made Kuai shudder slightly. "If I had anything to do with his disappearance, I can garuntee you would know about it." Sektor slammed a hand against the desk, Kuai jumping at the sudden noise. "Because if I did, I would have buried you alive with only Bi-Han's rotting corpse as company."
He had already long known Sektor didn't like him. The man was terrible at hiding his contempt for others. Even so, the threat really dug under his skin, his feelings of paranoia increased. Anytime he'd sleep here now, it'd be with one eye open. I wonder if Detective Hasashi will let me crash on his couch again, at least until we find Bi-Han.
"You are just lucky your brother is so vital to my operations," Sektor finally huffed, sitting back down and trying to regain some form of composure. It was completely betrayed by the fire in his eyes. "Keeping you alive ensures he will eventually return."
"If you really want him to return and to get me out of your hair, you'd help me find him," Kuai chanced, he tried not to flinch when Sektor lifted his hand. He knew he failed from the way Sektor seemed to revel in Kuai's apparent fear of him.
"I do not know where he is, and he will return when he is ready, I'm sure," Sektor said with a smirk, finally putting his hand down.
"I can't accept that," Kuai whispered, and immediately the amusement Sektor had been displaying disappeared. Maybe it wasn't wise to provoke someone with such volatile emotions but Kuai was tired of no one standing up and questioning his methods. I am making a stand. "I will find him, with or without your help. And if I find out you had anything to do with it-"
"You'll do what Kuai Liang?" Sektor's tone was mocking, but his fists were clenched. "Stab me with that measly blade you call a weapon? With your phobia of guns? Please." Sektor was leaning across the desk now, trying to get in Kuai Liang's face. "And as much as I'm sure you'd like to try, you definitely can't fuck me to death."
I could if I bit your cock clean off you bastard. Kuai bit his tongue, trying to resist the urge to just deck Sektor in the face.
"You know what I think," Sektor softly said. He reached his hand and cupped Kuai's cheek, trailing his thumb along the scar on his face. Kuai had to gulp back the bile in his throat. "I think Bi-Han left because he finally grew tired of having to play babysitter to his brat of a little brother."
"Or maybe he got tired of taking orders from the megalomaniac running this place into the ground." He didn't mean that to come out, but even as Sektor's face warped and the mans fingernails dug into his cheek, Kuai didn't regret what he'd just said.
"What's that supposed to mean?" Sektor was shaking with rage now, one second away from completely snapping. The vindictive need to finally speak his mind was stronger than the fear of what Sektor could do to him. He leaned forward, bridging the remaining gap between them.
"It means this place is Pompeii," he hissed between his teeth, determined to maintain eye contact the entire time, "and you are the fucking volcano."
He found his head suddenly slam to one side with a loud smack, Sektor's palm hitting him with such force it almost sent him tumbling to the floor. As Kuai turned to look at Sektor he found the man diving at him over the desk. The chair fell backwards, Kuai only just stopping his head from hitting the floor. Hands wrapped around his throat, thumbs pressing into the centre and cutting off his airway. He grasped Sektor's wrists trying to pry the hands off him as the man loomed over him.
He gasped desperately, scratching at Sektor's hands. His vision blurred. This was it, wasn't it? He was going to die here. He could only hope Sektor would actually bury his body, even if it was in a shallow grave, and not just leave him in a ditch to rot.
Suddenly the hands were off his throat, and he greedily took in as much air as he possibly could. His vision focused again, just as he felt a hand tangle in his hair and another grab and tug at his tie. He groaned, reaching to try and push at Sektor's chest.
"You are fucking lucky I need you alive right now," Sektor snarled, as Kuai thrashed under him. "But know this Kuai Liang, the next time you dare step out of line or question my authority, I will torture you until you are begging me for death."
Sektor released his grip of Kuai, pulling away and getting off him. Kuai pushed himself to his side, lightly grasping his neck, he could already feel it starting to bruise, as well as the sharp stinging in both his cheek and scalp. He looked up at Sektor, who's face was now impassive to a creepy degree. Kuai's breathing hitched slightly, he'd never seen the man so devoid of emotion.
"Now, I suggest you get the fuck out of my office, before I give you something to cry about."
Kuai blinked, reaching for his face to find it wet with tears. When did I start crying? Still, having been near death once today, he didn't particularly fancy his chances tempting fate a second time. He pushed himself to his feet, keeping his head low.
"Yes Boss," he whispered, turning on his heel and heading for the door.
As he opened it, Sektor called out behind him, "oh, Kuai Liang." Kuai hesitantly looked over his shoulder. "I do hope your brother returns soon."
Kuai had no words to say to that. Just exited the room, slamming the door behind him. He all but collapsed against the wall, his legs practically giving out. He rested his forehead against it, cursing his impulsive need to question authority. Someone has to make a stand... someone has to...
He tried to ignore the nagging in his mind that told him that his rebellion had been met with resounding failure.
He pushed that to the back of his mind. I'd better get back to Hanzo.
Convinced he wasn't about to fall again, he straightened himself up and made a beeline towards the exit. He just hoped what little Sektor had said might hide some clues for his detective.
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