Knight stood behind them once they were in front of the Emperor, not blocking their way out, but more so their way to the others. Karma tried not to make the realization obvious. Just as he had been with Uraraka, they were prepared for them to try and run. Karma tried not to look at the drying brown puddle behind where the Emperor was sitting. 

For it to seem so run down upon first appearances, the actuality was surprisingly cared for. Everything here was clean, yet homey. It felt lived in. The only hint that there was something off (other than the fact that this fairly nice place was in an abandoned car park in a town that had been left to rot decades ago) was the puddle. Karma tried to ignore that he knew whose blood it was.

The Emperor's mask was an emerald-like green. Starting at the top-right of his face, the mask curved sleekly to a point. It covered his left eye, the top of his nose, and the part of the left side of his head—the point ended an inch to the right of his mouth. It resembled a Greek or Roman wreath. Karma's attention was brought away from it when the Emperor removed it from his face. He smiled kindly, barely sparing him a glance before locking eyes with Mr. Karasuma.

"The General," he said, his tone unreadable. His grin widened. "what do I owe the pleasure? It isn't often I get to see someone as influential as yourself."

"I feel as though I'm the one who should be flattering you."

"You're correct," he said. Despite no physical changes, his smile was beginning to seem less friendly and more excited—hungry. "did you know that the wreath headdress wasn't awarded as much to royalty in Greece as it was to the Olympic winner?"

Karma had to keep himself fidgeting. This was the first time the predatory gaze had been on him instead of from him. He tried to calm his heart as adrenaline began to be sifted into his veins. "I did know that, and clearly so did you when you chose your mask. No one would recognize the Radiata."

"Corona Radiata, Crimson Raven. Important distinction," the Emperor correctly. He's picky... "Coluber Constrictor made the same mistake."

Karma tried not to panic. Is that a threat? Is this what determines how this goes? I can feel that he's alive, but if I screw this up...for how long? There's been enough loss already.

"However," the Emperor continued, now catching Itona's eye. "he gave enough compliments to persuade me to let him run. Given his disadvantage, he was allowed a headstart. The only condition was that he had to make it to his territory before King caught him. He got very close, you know."

Itona felt sick. This was a game to them, cat and mouse. Sometimes, the mouse got away, but a lot of the time, the cat eventually caught it. He wondered if Nagisa knew what he was doing when he stopped at the sight of Uraraka.

"You know, General, I've admired you for as long as I can remember. Always such a good role model for young ghouls, and then you went and mentored those children a year ago. Six ghouls and about twenty humans, plus a sentient computer, right? My dear Rinka refused to tell me much else—smart girl, got all the questions right."

"You know Hayami Rinka?" Mr. Karasuma asked.

"I'm acquainted with everyone eventually, but enough talk. You're here for Coluber Constrictor, which is to be expected. Is there anything else you want?" The Emperor looked up affectionately. "Be a good boy and grab him for me."

A long, armored kagune slid from the ceiling to behind where the Emperor was sitting. It wrapped itself around Nagisa's ankle and dragged him to the Emperor's feet before dropping him roughly. He groaned weakly, dazed and out of it. Karma resisted the urge to grab him and run. We wouldn't get far, then we'd both be food.

Karma tried to ignore how seeing the armored kagune come into view had scared him. Mr. Karasuma seemed more disturbed than anything at the realization that King had been there the whole time and they hadn't noticed. Now, standing obediently at the Emperor's side, Karma began to realize just how young they all were.

If the Emperor and Knight were adults, if, they had just become legal. There was also the bit about him admiring Mr. Karasuma, so that had also knocked a few years off Karma's best guess.

Nagisa arms had both been ripped clean off, and it looked like his leg was trying to heal from mid-shin down. His outer thigh on the same leg had been eaten almost to the bone, and there was a (still closing) hole in his other. Karma tried not to acknowledge the void in his abdomen that was still bleeding, just big enough to see all the way through. He gulped.

"To be honest, I'm not interested in dealing with all of the people who would be upset if I let Knight and King finish him."

"Thank you," Karma said begrudgingly, remembering what the Emperor had said before. "it's a gift that you're so forgiving."

"You're bad at flattery; I don't enjoy cringing. Now, what else do you want?" 

"Monoma Neito, Grin...how did you know about his plans?"

"I know everyone eventually. I have connections, and Ukachan is a great listener. If you're worried, I don't know your given names yet. Now, what do you think is acceptable payment for that information? Coluber Constrictor is free, but intel always has a price."

"What do you want?" Mr. Karasuma asked. He and (especially) Itona had been quiet. 

"A bargaining chip," he answered. "I'm in a great mood after getting to meet you, General, so I'll be nice and fill you in on why I want the girl after these children depart, 'kay?" King gave him an unimpressed look. The Emperor sighed affectionately. "Don't give me that look. Now, what I want is the girl. You brought Bunny with you, and she's very valuable right now. I'm sure your dear raven here figured this might happen, though, didn't you?"

Mr. Karasuma looked at Karma, surprised. The teen refused to make eye-contact. Part of the reason he only lived with his father was that his mom had gotten involved with the Emperor two years ago. She didn't have sufficient payment and suffered the consequences. Besides, it was common sense that someone would be angry or upset that Monoma was dead, even if it wasn't his family. The Crows came for Yamaguchi, so the Blood would come for Monoma.

"Take her," Karma said. "let me have Coluber Constrictor and you can have her. I don't see whatever value you see in her." That was a lie, but he wanted out of this entire Grin-Blood ordeal. Nagisa had come too close to death, and that made things too real.

Itona and Karma (who was carrying Nagisa) led the way back to their friends with Knight trailing behind them. Karasuma stayed behind to talk to the Emperor. It was uncomfortable, to say the least.

King's eyes were glued to him as Karasuma stood there, trying not to make eye contact. The stare was more quizzical than anything other than unsettling. The Emperor glances lazily between them, noticing the tension. 

"You wanted to fill me in?"

"I can't have someone as important as yourself getting caught up in these things now, can I?"

"I'll assume you can't."

"Correct. You and those kids you taught are smart." he paused. "I'm sure you're aware at this point of why Neito had to disappear?"

"I'm not."

"That's surprising. Long-story-short, Neito intended to start a war between the Blood and Crows, only to join them together and claim the Owls under himself as well. He wanted to be a tyrant, and despite his reasons being good-hearted, I'm not particularly fond of having the ghoul world go up in flames if it isn't my doing.

"The Blood are angry that Neito was killed and are in the process of targeting the Crows for revenge because one of the younger has caused a small rebellion—and he's an idiot. I'm going to tell them the truth, using Bunny as bait. Then, because she's valuable for her assumed knowledge on everything-Grin, I'm going to keep her as leverage."

"Things tend to blow over fairly quickly these days since you kids don't act on grudges for as long as you keep them. What happens when she loses her worth?"

"It depends on how things are going at the time. I may hand her over to the Blood or drop her at the little raven's feet and let him deal with her. I'll probably just allow Knight of King to have her, though. They're more curious than I about what an artificial ghoul tastes like."

"Artificial?" Karasuma asked skeptically.

"You truly are out of the loop...how sad. You should know of all people that being caught up is vital. If you must know, ask Kantekku, he filled us in a while ago, and I'm sure he remembers."

"Of course. Now, what else do you want? I've done enough business to know that people are rarely this generous, kid."

"I just ask that you convince those ghouls to mind their business, is all. We're busy, and King is particularly so. In the case any of those children find out his identity by some miracle, I want them to know to keep their need for action under control."

"Busy?"

"A lot is going on that even Kantekku doesn't know about right now, General. It doesn't involve average ghouls like those children, or even accomplished people as yourself. Just because there are few of us doesn't mean we kakuja are friendly with each other. There's a reason we're the only group."

"I see..."

"If that's all, I've got some business to attend to. I'm sure you understand?"

"Of course." Mr. Karasuma left without another word. He tried to ignore Uraraka trying to meet his eyes while Knight dragged her into the other room. He'd seen glimpses of how much Karma and Nagisa meant to each other, especially during their fights, whether it be against different people or each other. That said, he didn't think even Karma could be that cruel.

┈

Kaminari tried to smile. This wasn't the first time he'd been grabbed straight from off the street, but he'd never been drugged along with it. Sure, knocked over the head a few times, but that was about it.

As he looked around, he locked eyes with Inuoka. He'd done business with the guy before, though it had been a while. Inuoka had used his services once or twice when he'd first gotten started—they had gone to the middle school but never talked outside of that. He wondered if Inuoka was the one who contributed the most to finding him...not that he made it hard.

He looked up to see a tall male with black hair standing over him, as well as an even taller guy with grey hair (despite being so young). The towered over him more than they already would have if he wasn't on his knees. He gave them a charming smile.

"Y' didn't have to kidnap me, y' know. I'm just sleazy enough to help anyone who offers the right payment."

"That's exactly why you're here," the raven-haired male said. "we want information, but we also need you to cover some things up."

"Oh? Well, untie me and I'll see what I can do." He felt more than saw the sharp piece of glass stab him just under the center of his neck. He gulped nervously. "Glass?"

"With all due respect Kantekku, I wouldn't my kagune touching something sleazy," the Blood's leader mocked. He was older than Izuoka but younger than some of the other ghouls present. The exceptionally tall ghoul from earlier stepped aside quickly, allowing their leader to come into clear view. Most of them wore plain, sleek maroon masks. Their leader's was slightly more extravagant and black. He had an unimpressed look on his face. "I also can't have sleazy people as yourself order around my vein."

"Understood..." Kaminari's smile faltered slightly.

"Seven, untie him. Three, Nine, I trust you two to do rounds? As much as I adore the Emperor and his lackies, they don't need to be included in everything."

"Got it."

"Of course."

┈

(2093 Words)