Encephalon

Later that night,In the city, far from Ushin; was a hospital. Swan River General Hospital. During the day it is a very busy place, filled with people concerned for illness, accidents and even deaths at times. However during the evening the hospital was quiet, it was almost asleep. Every inch of it feeling like a dead world. Even though deep inside, it was the hour patients and even others from outside; would enter in and ask for psychiatric aid and neural assistance. It was known across the world as one of, if not the most recognized place for human behavior studies and neural readings. Many have and still want to learn there, to understand the human mind as many others wish to as well; the head of the hospital is also the man who also oversees the entire hospital and its activities.

It was a global and deep desire, for everyone to reach the lengths and perhaps even...unethical approaches to what they desire the most about the human brain, complete control. Inside the hospital deep within its suffocating walls Mrs. Nori was walking through it's halls the sound of her heels hitting the ground being like bells. Or perhaps stamps of her existence within the walls. Her turtleneck outfit covered by her black suit and skirt. Her leggings stretching from each flex of her legs as she walked. Other doctors and nurses bowed they're heads at her as she passed them. Her amber red hair flowing behind her; glasses covering her eyes like a barrier separating her and the others around her. Eventually she arrived in front of a room where two other doctors were standing. One of them blonde, a tall woman with a folder filled with files. She read them while the other doctor was waiting outside the room. He was a male, black hair and dark brown hair.

"Mrs.Nori." said the male doctor

"No need for formalities Lee, just call me Mihara." Mihara said as she took of her glasses, her emerald green eyes showing much clearer than before. She then gestured for the file to which the blonde woman gave her before leaving.

"He's showing signs of OCD, PTSD and of course depersonalization disorder. He's completely neglecting the actions of what happened a week ago. Even though he's been tried for murder." Mr. Lee said as he put on some reading glasses.

" Clear signs of letting the intrusive thoughts come in, often when people have committed a horrible act their inner, sicker thoughts come out and surface. Giving them false identity to their situation and them. They trick themselves into believing this is who they always have been.

He's a victim who believes they are the victor. An easy thing to come to terms with, but even harder to shake. Would you mind? My patient is waiting." Mihara said, Lee nodded as he left. She rolled up her sleeves and stretched. She then took a deep breath before entering the room, closing the door behind her. Back across town at the police station, Mr.Nakayama was sitting at his desk. He was rolling around a metallic ball. His eyes were hyper-focused on the files infront of him.

"From gangsters to psychopaths, the investigation into the suicide of Tatsuo has went further than I ever imagined possible. Not only that, but it would appear that there may be a third party involved. The other day I stopped by the school again; I went ahead and checked the cameras. Apparently they had recently been changed or better to say. Erased. It seems someone showed the head master something of...concern. Something that kept him from telling me further details, however he did mention...a machine.

That the voice that called him the night before, that told him. Sounded like a inhuman or at least that's how it sounded to him. They spoke to him in a colder fashion than he had ever heard, whoever this is may in fact be manipulating more than I ever thought possible. None o of the dragon gang talked of what happened at HP hotel or spoke of who they think the white rabbit may in fact be; instead they spoke how he acted. How he behaved and how he moved. That he was in control. Showed no faults. No movement or sign of hesitation, like he knew what was going to happen. Before it did. Nori Kibe continues to be a suspect for me, however his involvement is minor. Nothing out of the ordinary. If I'm going to get deeper into this I'll need...mental aid." Mr.Nakayama thought as he continued to play with his metal ball, thats when someone wearing a leather coat and long black hair walked in. Mr.Nakayama looked up to see it was the head of police, Chef Ozawa. He brought coffee, two cups.

"Nakayama, how ya been?" He asked as he closed the door behind him.

"...Thinking, a lot." Mr.Nakayama said, Ozawa came over and handed him a coffee, Nakayama nodded in thanks as he took it and sipped. Ozawa took a seat in the chair infront of Nakayama's desk.

"You need to get out of her Nakayama, get some sleep. You've been trapped here for two whole days. Your wife called." Ozawa said as he took a sip.

"I don't have many leads, and this is just going to get worse I can feel it. Its only a matter of time." Mr.Nakayama said

"Time in which you could be using to get some rest. Everyone is working around the clock to get the evidence together, you can't do everyone's job." Ozawa said

"Yea..." Mr.Nakayama said as he drank more of his coffee. Ozawa massaged his face before getting up and finishing his coffee.

"I'm putting you on leave, for a week. You've been working back and fourth recently. You just got finished with that cannibal case and now this. You need rest." Ozawa said to which Mr.Nakayama almost choked on his coffee. He stood up.

"Now wait a minute Ozawa, you can't just pull me from this. Now when I'm so close to cracking something." Mr.Nakayama said with frustration

"Yea well I am. I need you at your best, not your worst. 10 minutes, I want you back home." Ozawa said as he started walking to the door.

"Ozawa-"

"10 minutes. Don't make me tell you again." Ozawa said, he pointed at Mr.Nakayama and then left the room. Mr.Nakayama sighed heavily as he pounded on his desk. Agitated. In a few minutes Mr.Nakayama walked out of the room and eventually would get to the front desk.

"Nakayama." Said a familiar voice, Mr.Nakayama turned around to see Mr.Miyuki walking to him, the two men shared a firm handshake.

"Your here early." Mr.Miyuki said

"Well, I'm not someone who likes to let a case get cold." Mr.Nakayama said, Mr.Miyuki nodded in respect as he leaned aginst the front desk.

"Of course. Nothing I'd expect from one of Japan's best." Mr.Miyuki said, Mr.Nakayama shook his head in disapproval.

"I'm not the best, If I was this case wouldn't still be open. An active terrorist and killer is lose, its contained right now, but when it explodes all of Japan will be asking what I was doing. If I was sitting on my ass or if I got outplayed. " Mr.Nakayama said

"I think you're going in the right direction, just seems like someone is misleading you. Trying to send you every direction but straight." Mr.Miyuki said

"Maybe." The two men walked outside and sat down on a bench. Both of them watching as cars went by. Nakayama and Miyuki both were looking and watching people. Observing they're lives as they walked past them. Thats when Nakayama looked over and saw Miyuki take some pills and drink a bottle of water with them.

"Anti-depressants?" Mr.Nakayama asked

"Yea. My therapist said I should take them. My emotional flare up with that damn kid...it fucked me up...I don't. I don't know he-" Mr.Miyuki sighed as he felt his face, Mr.Nakayama pat and rubbed his shoulder.

"People have the capacity to read others, like books or knowing the end id movie. Its just some have it better than others." Mr.Nakayama said, Miyuki nodded his head as he fixed his hair.

"I heard Ozawa is taking you off...you gonna stay off this time?" Mr.Miyuki chuckled to which Mr.Nakayama looked at him with a look.

"I didn't think so." Mr.Miyuki said.

"...Kibe, he was the one you were talking to, right? How did he..act?" Mr.Nakayama asked, Miyuki took a breath and looked at him before facing the street.

"...It was like talking to a machine." Mr.Miyuki said, Mr.Nakayama's eyes then widened a bit as he heard that. Dots in his head began to form, though only pieces.

"He spoke like he had...like he had downloaded my life. Like he knew ever aspect of it. I'd never heard anyone speak so...so-"

"Cold." Mr.Nakayama said, he looked Miyuki who nodded with him.

"Yea."

The two of them sat there a little longer.

"...How...How would you act, if you were trying to hide in a city filled with extordinary people? How would behave and move? Our mysterious murderer is clearly a expert at distancing themselves from their own crimes. Even being able to manipulate those he "persuades" into working with him." Mr.Nakayama asked

"Sounds like your description matches that of a sociopath. We have records of people matching symptoms and traits of one, but none of them have shown activity like these recent events. At least not recently." Mr.Miyuki answered

"I don't believe its a sociopath, no this guy is...hes sane. At leat in our terms. Hes not some weirdo no, hes like a sort of program. Like hes setting building blocks to something much bigger. Getting all the right pieces together to do one final act." Mr.Nakayama said

"I can't say I know exactly what your talking about, but I think I might know a place with people who do." Mr.Miyuki said, Mr.Nakayama looked at him with a look of confidence. The two later that night would arrive at Swan River General Hospital. Both of them getting out a black car. Mr.Miyuki would click his keys as the car locked. Mr.Nakayama looked at the massive structure, the hospital was huge. Around 15 floors at least. The outside had a beautiful yet haunting velvet color. A nostalgic yet also new feeling came from it, a haunting and familiar one. Like visiting a old doctor or visiting someone in the hospital you haven't seen.

"I've heard of this place, a building filled with people with ideas and ways to make you think. One of the best in the world." Mr.Nakayama said looking and scanning the building. Mr.Miyuki walked over to him and fixed his shirt and collar.

"Yea, some of the best around work here. Including those who deal with human behavior. And I think you'll like this one. Nori Kibe, the kid I talked to. Well his mother works here. Nori Mihara." Mr.Miyuki said, Mr.Nakayama looked at him and then up to the building. The two then walked inside. Once they got inside they saw the interior, it was fancy, luxurious. The floor was spotless, the environment felt alien compared to the outside. The main lobby played classic music. Seemed separate from here the rest of the hospital took place. Mr.Nakayama and Mr.Miyuki walked towards the front desk, there a woman with long black hair and glasses was sitting, she wore a dark jet black suit either a white tie with black dots. Her eyes moved up from what she was doing and looked at the two men, she then put on a smile for them as she looked at them. Her hands now on her keyboard.

"Hello gentlemen, visting?" She asked

"No, I'm actually with the police department. I'm here on business." Mr.Nakayama said, Mr.Miyuki stared around, seeing nurses, doctors and a patient or two walking on different levels and togther. Like as if separation in the place was a crime, they walked in a way that seemed rythmatic. Like they're steps were that of a song.

"What kind of business, if I may ask?" Asked the woman

"Thats confidential, I just need to speak with a therapist. Mainly Mrs.Nori." Mr.Nakayama said, the woman nodded and got on a phone next to her keyboard. The two men waited a bit, looking around at the other floors and people moving about the place.

"This place gives me the creeps Nakayama, everyone moves like...aliens." Mr.Miyuki said as he put his hands in his pockets.

"Almost robotic. Like they've done this all before." Mr.Nakayama said, he stared at everyone, he was proficient in the human behavior; even the people around seemed like files he was capble of reading. Someone suffering from cancer on his right and someone else dealing with neurological illnesses to his left. They all tried to hide it though, behind they're fancy clothing and near perfect facial structures. He looked at them and saw facades or attempts at them. Even to Mr.Miyuki he could see through these people and what they may be trying to achieve by deceiving their environment; or better to say themselves.

"Excuse me sirs " said the woman behind the desk, the two men turned around. She was still smiling at them, it was erring to them. It wasn't fake nor was it real. It felt like...it was in her nature. Something that was needed to be done.

"Mrs.Nori will see you ." She said, not to long after that the two men were escorted through the halls of the hospital. Which was mesmerizing to Mr.Miyuki, as he looked around all the openings, doorways and nooks and little passageways. It was like a maze of sickness, illness and surreal behavior. Eventually the two would reach a office room, the doctor would knock before opening the door. The two men walked in and saw Mrs.Nori sitting down, not at her desk. Her office room was a pasty white. The carpet a velvet like color. She chairs close to her desk where her name was plastered on it. She had a small pendulum on her desk, her laptop and of course some files. Along the walls Mr.Nakayama noticed the paintings on the wall. They were all blank canvases. Mihara turned around and saw the two. She took off her glasses and gave them a smile, it'd be the first one they had gotten their entire time here. She got up and straightened her skirt and clothes. The window behind her giving light to her whole being, it shined on the two detectives and even illuminated them.

"Greetings, how are we doing this fine night?" Mihara said as she walked over, Mr.Nakayama and Mr.Miyuki shook Mihara's hand.

"I'm doing plenty well Mrs.Nori." Mr.Nakayama said while Mr.Miyuki nodded for his answer. Mihara then motioned for them to take a seat, she walked over to one of the two chairs and sat down. An invitation. Mr.Miyuki got ready to walk, but Mr.Nakayama put his hand in front of him.

"Wait outside, at the car. I'll take it from here." Mr.Nakayama said

"...Alright." Mr.Miyuki said, he nodded to Mihara who gave him a friendly wave goodbye before he left. Mr.Nakayama closed the door behind him as he left. He then turned around to Mihara who was sitting patiently in one of the chairs. Mr.Nakayama walked over and sat down in the one across from her.

"So what does one of Japan's best want with me," Mihara asked

"I am in need of insight Mrs.Nori. I'm sure you've heard of the White Rabbit, he committed quite the act last month. I intend to catch him, hes been escaping me. Though his gran appearance was recent...I feel as though I've been after him for some time." Mr.Nakayama said

"So you want me to help you catch a criminal?" Mihara asked

"I want to know what you think, how you feel he'd behave. Get in his head." Mr.Nakayama said, Mihara tilted her head as she then looked at the floor, she pouted her lip and thought.

"I heard you help with the human behavior, you know people before you say hi. I want you to do that with our friend the White Rabbit." Mr.Nakayama said

"Friendship requires a understanding, I know nothing about the White Rabbit, Mr.Nakayama. I'll have to ask you to extend me a olive branch." Mihara said, Mr.Nakayama thought for a moment his fingers tapping onnthe chair and his foot tapping on the floor. Mihara's eyes looked at his movements. Studied him.

"Mr.Nakayama" Mihara said trying to get his attention. He looked over to her, she was so warm and comforting. It actually came off rather inhuman on how polite and comforting she sounded. It seemed like if you fell onto her that you'd sink in. Like falling on a bed.

"Why don't you stand? Sometimes our bodies can talk more than our mouths, but I like to believe they can work in harmony. If the mouth and body can form an understanding of what the other wants. Wont you give it to it?" She said as she motioned her hand up, Mr.Nakayama then stood up and began to walk around the room, almost uncontrollably while Mihara remained, stationary.

"Now then, let's start from the beginning. Tell me everything about the case." She asked.

The next morning would soon come, Himmy's eyes would shoot open, she'd get up in a sweat. She looked around. She was in Kibe's room, she felt his sheets and bedding. It was firm, but comfortable to lay on. Her eyes had never seen a more bland looking room. It looked like he had just moved in and only moved two things in, Himmy got out of bed and stretched. Her body ached almost all over; then suddenly her nose woukd be filled with a delicious aroma. It smelt of breakfast. Himmy then opened the door to the room and made her way downstairs, there she would turn to see the living room and next to it was the kitchen where she'd see Kibe cooking. She stayed her distance.

"Ando Miyuki, Kono Satoshi and Minami Minori, what do you know about them?" Kibe asked as he continued to cook, Himmy looked at him and saw he was cooking some sort of fatty fish. A bowl of berries on the side and egg yolks.

"Himmy." Kibe said getting her attention.

"What?" Himmy asked

"I must insist on remaining focus, otherwise I will have to show you to the beenden." Kibe said, his accent changing for a moment. Himmy looked a bit confused.

"What?" She asked again

"Beenden, it's German. Means exit. Now the names, and after you tell me, take a shower. Preferably in my mother's bathroom." Kibe said, Himmy smelt herself and immediately almost hurled. She then shook away the nausea and looked at him, she attempted to remember what she knew on them.

"Ando Miyuki, I remember hearing he was a big party guy on his free-time. He does it almost religiously. Though I think its a scame in order to get closer to possible enemies. Anyway, hes also a big debt collector too. Probably why he holds parties, to lure out people late on their debts or something." Himmy said, Kibe then placed the berries inside of the fish gills, as he did he'd pour berry juice, only a tsp of it around the plate. He used a knife to dice up the fishes lower half. He then wrapped up the lower end and put it in the fridge. Afterwards he'd put berris all inside the fish. Some of it leaking out the exposed lower half.

"It can't be that easy, hes a debt collector. Which means that the people hes collecting from are either on they're property or are other business partners. Which means they are getting some form of invite or warning." Kibe said as he then gestured for Himmy to go on.

"Kono Satoshi, hes a big gun nut. Likes to play with them all the time." Himmy said

"Play meaning he uses them on people." Kibe said

"Yea." Himmy replied

"People often interested in firearms can't put them down. Its like as if they were welding the weapon of God in their own hands. Striking down on them like lightning." Kibe said

"And of course there is Minami Minori. Hes quite a crazy one, hes a killer. A hitman for they're boss. Whatever job he takes will be done and done quietly. If asked to be." Himmy said

"I see. a hired gun. Only doing what the master says and nothing else or less." Kibe said, he then poured the yolks into the fish eyes. He wiped his hands and handed Himmy her plate. She looked at a little confused. She didn't know what kind of breakfast this was.

"When you're done eating, I want you to go and take a shower like I asked." Kibe said, Himmy nodded hesitantly. She got her fork and before her eyes looked up to see Kibe put a bottle filled with an acidic white liquid away from the counter where he was cooking. Himmy's mouth hesitated to eat it. Kibe looked at her, eyes constantly on her as he put it away.

"Eat your food. Then take a shower." Kibe said as he then walked out while wiping his hands. Himmy's eyes went to her food again. Kibe walked down to his basement, as he was there he turned on the light and walked over to his computer and chair. His fingers trailed on the keyboard. His head was filled with questions and ideas, things he could do and the things he couldn't. The interior inners of his mind flourishing into a complex web of ideas and beliefs of what had to come next.

"The detective is more active than ever, he has become observant to catch his lucid prey. Though, he isn't fully aware of the magnitude of his. Though I will not deny his esprit de génie. Its beautiful, but still held down by the labels of humanity. He is still playing the role of detective, the hero. He believes that just because he is part of the law that means he must be the hero; the protagonist of this story. However all that means is that it will take a new; type of character to introduce him into a world beyond labability.

Just what could stirring in your mind? I can think of a few avenues, seeking outside assistance would be the most common outcome. Often enough a bird will fly higher above the treeline in order to gage the distance of which he must venture. Just how far is the gage detective? How far will you fly in order to reach the end? Won't you show me? Or will I have to force you?

...interesting." Kibe thought as he then got up and walked out of his basement. Himmy turned off the shower and put a robe on, as she turned to the door she saw Kibe standing in the doorway with his casual clothes on and a bag. Her face was pale and in shock, Kibe was looking at her, but not in the real sense.

"Get dressed. We're going out."Kibe said

"Where?" She asked, Kibe then looked at his watch and set it. He then looked at her.

"I need a new hobby." He said