9 Meddling

The bar was only half as busy tonight. Nobuko was waiting tables since she put John at the bar. He had the face for it and made a lot of tips. She was glad Tensei finally accepted her offer since she desperately needed the help tonight.

Though, she noticed more humans were coming in than vampires lately. Nobuko was well aware of the rise of the werewolves in the local area, but the handler was the ones she was more concerned with.

Smiling, she walked over to Elijah sitting in the corner. "The usual?" she asked him as she leaned over the table before shifting her discussion abruptly. "What have you heard?" She said so low that only he would hear. To anyone in the bar, it would look like she was just flirting to get more tips. He was her fledgling, though, and the pair were together often.

Elijah nodded. "Yes," he answered. "The Draguul have been taking stray young vampires back to their labs. So far all I've heard is that they're draining all their blood."

Nobuko laughed as if he'd said something that just tickled her. "Thank you. I'll make it a double," she said, winking at him. She had to keep up appearances, after all. Vampire business had to be on the down low until after business hours.

She walked back up to the bar. "Elijah's usual. Also, can you stay a little after tonight? I have some things to go over," she said to John casually.

John nodded slowly. He finished towel drying a mug before he set it down to grab a small pint glass before dropping ice in it, then filling it with a concoction of liquors.

"Sure, I can work a little later into the evening," John responded with a cheerful nod. He shoved the glasses across the table to her before stepping back to adjust his bow tie.

"Alright, a triple of Connac on ice." He breathed, muttering to himself as he tapped the table while trying to remember where he shoved the bottle. Rummaging through the shelf, he pulled out a somewhat dusty bottle and looked out to the tables. Guess someone liked their stuff.

John smirked, shaking his head before sliding out three glasses, throwing a bit of light ice in before he poured a bit of the Connac into each glass. His gaze went back to Tensei, watching the man struggle to be a stand-in server for the night.

Tensei was awkward, but he was waiting tables slowly to keep peace. "Good enough?" he asked as he passed by Nobuko before sliding the empty tray to John.

Nobuko turned her gaze back at him then, draw away from her activities for a moment to respond. "Smile and I'll give you free drinks for a month," she bribed and grabbed the drink John gave her before taking it to Elijah.

Tensei's expression grew more solemn, and he contemplated it, but his convictions were low. He sighed before putting on the smallest, but best smile he could muster before turning around to attend to customers.

Nobuko sighed, seeing his attempt before sliding Elijah his drink and briskly stalking over to another table. She looked up then, noticing that the drinks were empty at the pool tables. Maybe he could see if the pool tables needed a few refills.

Her hips seemed to sway seductively as she walked closer to them. Wandering gazes rose up from the tables and a mortal man - a regular customer - who'd had a bit too much to drink, slapped Nobuko on the ass. "Come home with me," he said, his words slurred.

With supreme elegance, Nobuko spun and grabbed him by the throat. She gazed down at him, as her vividly dark brown eyes glazed over with even anger. A rattled gasp choked out from his throat as his friends stared in shock.

Nobu squeezed enough to let him know she could make quick work of him by his neck despite her dainty little hand before her lips pressed in a fine line. She lined over him, hovering intimidatingly before her voice came out even and smooth. "Excuse me?" she asked him, but she didn't wait for him to respond. Instead, she slid her hand down to pat his chest and let the chair's legs all settle back on the floor. "I think you've had a bit too much, Rick. Call a cab," she ordered him.

He stiffened, rigidly poised as her hand fell back to her side. He ran his hand up to his throat tenderly, only a bit more sober than moments ago, and nodded. "I-I'll see you guys later," he stammered as he snatched his phone. He stood up, making his leg clatter against the table as the drinks sloshed before shuffling out to call a cab.

Nobuko smiled at the others and glanced back at them. Trembled voices slowly gave out requests as Nobu took their orders. When they finished, she smiled at them all. "Alright, I'll be right back."

"Sure-" One of them responded, glancing at his friend before they resumed discussion after she left.

Tensei watched Nobuko, and he stared a long while before he felt the smack of John's hand at his shoulder. "Come on," he laughed to him and Tensei couldn't help but nod and resume duties. It was amazing how she could manage her drunk customers throughout the night and then continue on as if nothing bothered her at all. It definitely took more discipline than what he'd viewed of his family; especially his sister.

When the bar finally pinched the last hours on the clock, Tensei was finishing up by piling the last chair on the table near the door. John had locked the door after the last customer had exited moments ago before he turned to the counter to polish off a few glasses, put them up and restock some liquors.

He noticed that Elijah had long disappeared. As usual, he had finished his drink, gave Nobuko a quick nod and then left. Now it was just him, Tensei and Nobu. "What's going on, Nobu?" John asked her, finishing up the shelf he'd stocked. He turned the bottles face front to glance over at her as she whipped down the pool table.

"I received information on vampire kidnappings." She sighed and let her hair down finally. It was a pain having it up sometimes. She ran her fingers through it as the length of her hair fell all the way to the floor like silk. "The Draguul are taking young vampires back to their labs and draining them of their blood," she said. "I don't know why they're doing it, but it worries me. If they get a hold of the right vampire, they could get a lot of power out of their blood."

Tensei was listening, he was all ears. "And what exactly do you suppose we do about it?" he asked, honestly intrigued why it mattered to talk about it. He knew of some of this talk from the house, but it 'wasn't something to be concerned' with since his father had regarded the information as irrelevant. They were all stragglers, clanless or weak vampires from small-time groups that formed from wandering folk who travelled in and out of the country.

John frowned, contemplating those words carefully. He stared down at the wood countertop and ran his hand over it slowly, feeling the grains between his fingers. "I'm not really a fighter, Noboku," he breathed. He didn't even ask to live this long, but honestly, for the sake of his religion, he couldn't just outright kill himself. He'd already tried that once, and it was a stain on his remaining soul, wicked or not.

"If we were to fight right now, it'd be a losing battle." She sighed and moved her hair out of her face. "I'm just saying be careful." She would not get sappy. She couldn't stand it if one of them were taken and killed. She'd start a war over it. "We need to be cautious and listen. Any more information we find out could better prepare us," she told them. "Where is Amari again?" she asked.

"She was out back earlier," Tensei commented slowly, going back to sweeping.

John looked at him, kind of amazed. He was pretty observant. "She's been in a- weird mood recently. Not really too chatty," John commented slowly, looking back to Noboku. "Have you talked to her since she's come back from that trip? I mean, it's not like she isn't already strange, but I saw her - forgive me if I'm wrong - praying or so I believe in the back room. The language was... foreign to me, but it was like nothing I've ever heard," he pondered, his voice growing quiet.

"It's native," Amari interrupted, kicking the back door shut lightly as she shuffled inside with a small box of glassware. "And yes, I'm hoping for good blessings to someone. I believe he'll be caught in quite a tragedy soon." she murmured quietly.

John looked at her, somewhat embarrassed. "I didn't mean it as gossip," he winced.

"And it wasn't taken as such. Settle your nerves," she remarked smoothly. Her expression was sharp, but her voice contrasted greatly. Behind her demeanor, she was a gently cast woman but John always took things personally.

"I heard it was exciting," Nobuko commented, seeing Amari come in. "Have you heard anymore about the boy?" she asked. She'd been told about her little rave experience.

Amari looked to Noboku and closed her eyes, giving a curt nod. "I visited him. He was in the hospital," she commented. "I suppose he had been visiting with a girl. Megura, I think he called her. I've heard only one such other in this city and it's rarely spoken of. But it's said the owner of the large complex, Miyamoto Industries, the yakuza, has never aged a day in over a millennium. People gossip it's his son and that they just look similar. I had noted this. I've heard of a woman which I believe is her. They must be vampires if they've lived so long."

"Naturally," she said. Megura, huh? "And a Yakuza. Why didn't I think of that?" she said, twisting her hair around to one shoulder. "Well, I hope he's okay. From what you told me, he's lucky to be alive," Nobuko said. "Anyway. You and the others need to be on high alert. Vampires are being kidnapped and drained of blood."

Amari shook her head, "Because I heard this woman was supposedly at the rave. She was fighting with what sounded like beasts outside. I didn't dare look at the fight," she passed. "When everyone fled, I ran to the back. I could see them. Three humans, but two smelled- off. Like animals. Tainted. Their blood smelled foul. I thought maybe... lycans." She shook her head. "Bloodletting seems of little concern. These men at that organization are getting smarter."

"Lycans," Nobuko sighed. This was getting messier and messier, and they were getting bolder. "Attacking in public." She walked around the bar and unlocked a box containing bottles of blood and opened one, quickly taking a drink. "I had hoped they weren't still making them," she growled, wiping the bit that stained her lips.

"And what do you suppose we do then?" Amari asked, genuinely interested.

John kept his head down, not really wanting to be a part of it.

Tensei shook his head. "If they start a war, it'll end badly. Vampires are faster and easier to create than a human adult." He shook his head.

"You're right, but we're so scattered. There's more of a chance that the clans will start wars with each other and all the Lycan's will have to do is stand by and watch. Picking the scraps at the end," she grumbled, taking another drink.

"We need not do anything for now except be cautious. Do nothing to bring attention to ourselves. We are regular people working at a bar," she told them. She could imagine how pissed Vlad would be at how cowardly vampires had became. Hiding in the shadows. To an extent, it pissed her off too, but she wasn't stupid. She wouldn't fight a senseless battle unless she had to. "You guys go home. I'll finish the rest."

"And what are they going to do with the scraps of the dead? That's worse than picking off the live ones?" John grumbled, wiping down the table before tossing it up on the faucet. He turned to pull his apron off and shoved it under the counter in its usual place.

"It's uncomfortable," Amari told Noboku. "But you are right." She turned away. "They've gone from livestock to a full threat. It's more of a concern since they're armed against us now."

"Mm," Nobuko agreed. She went and cleared the register and started closing it out. She pulled her hair back up just to keep it from dragging the floor. "I'll see you all tomorrow. Tensei you're off if you want to be," she said, not looking at anyone.

"I only promised you for today," he told her, walking out front as Amari followed behind him. He shrugged nonchalantly before stepping out, shutting the door behind him.

It was silent a moment as John finished gathering his things up. "You seem to know a lot," he pondered, looking at Amari.

"I like to stay informed," she replied shortly.

"And you take a lot of days off to do so? Did Nob put you up to that?" He asked softly, only out of concern. Maybe he ought to rethink his casual attitude towards everything going on out in the streets.

"No," she replied calmly. "I do it for the sake of my safety," she responded. "I like to appear in places least likely visited where information runs smoothly. It's easier to get an idea of occurrences before waves of tremors hit the city." Not to mention, she had an informant who she traded material with. Nobu knew this person, though they hadn't talked in person in some time.

Amari smiled at the thought of being in person with her. She clutched her hands close to her chest before looking back to John. "You should keep channels for yourself. It's better that way, so you know when to avoid trouble."

He nodded slowly, taking it in. "I can understand that," he said thoughtfully, looking up at the escape ladders that littered the alleyway. He didn't share the same sentiments. Everything was typical of how it all played to God's will. "Well, I wish you luck. Do your best to- um- keep safe," he mumbled at the end. Keeping his head low as the blonde end of his slack mohawk fell messily in his face. He shoved his hands in his pockets and started his walk home.

"I'd expect no different from you," she murmured quietly, her smile fading a bit as an enormous shadow emerged behind her. She slipped out into the alley with it, smirking at it as the dark of its figure swallowed her form up, leaving no trace of her behind.

John glanced back in the empty alley. It baffled him how quickly she moved around, but he remembered not to linger here. "I'll see you tomorrow, okay?" he asked, pushing back his blonde hair. His black roots revealed themselves against the dim light. "I know you said be careful, but- I hope you don't exempt yourself from that either." He told Nobu, lingering in the doorway a moment longer.

She looked up at him and smiled a little. "I'll be careful," she assured him. "See you tomorrow." She turned back to the computer, immersing herself back into her work. Thousands of years and nobody needed these damn things. She hated computers, but it made things easier. The door shut, and it clicked as the deadbolt locked and she heard John's feet slowly shuffle away. It took her a few minutes more, toiling on the computer with the numbers before she finished closing up. Once she finished, Nobuko turned the lights off and went to her apartment upstairs. She had a feeling in her bones that fate was about to deal bad hands, but the question was to whom.