Octo

The Devil Hunter Agency

"Ooohhh, that's disappointing," Hanako thought, flinching, as Da-Xia crashed into a tree which then proceeded to topple on top of her. The other DHA members, however, seemed unperturbed as they sallied forth. She supposed that they knew best, though she found it a little funny how much their companion's predicament didn't concern them in the slightest.

To be fair, however, the bugs had mostly left the area and gone to gather those rocks so the woman would probably be safe under the tree. Probably. Hanako pouted a little as Beniha called out, and stomped her little feet in midair, frustrated.

"I told you the dumb rocks called out to demons and even pointed you in the right direction! If you'd just followed m- you have a demon radar and you're not even lis- it's like you don't even trust me!" Hanako nagged as she floated along with the Hunters. It was getting continually darker, which she supposed was some demon with darkness powers or something, but it didn't particularly bother her. Nor did the barrier that Limen constructed, because she was 100% a spiritual being. In fact, she had no actual idea what was happening. All she knew was that it was dark one second, bright the next, and for some reason her smartphone couldn't go with her.

After a few moments of internal debate, she decided to go on ahead without her device. The sacrifices she made for the Human race. She force-bubbled her phone inside the barrier and floated outside of it. Hanako started into the trees where, to her surprise, she managed to spot Limen hiding or something. She gave him a friendly wave.

"Hey, Lemmy. That's your new nickname I just decided, but we'll workshop it if you'd like. What are you doing here? Petrology Enthusiasm Day? It's really kicking into full gear."

As much as she wanted to be useful to the DHA, and she totally did, she felt that the actual Devil Hunters were probably better equipped to fight the higher-level Devils that were doubtless collecting rocks as they spoke. But maybe they'd have an easier time if she distracted Limen, which was about as much as she could probably do. Well, that and stay behind to make sure Da-Xia didn't get eaten.

The Devil Hunter Agency

"Ah... what a positive reception," Hanako thought as she was summarily either ignored or glared at, "well, at least they didn't try exorcising me on sight. All-in-all a net positive. I was hoping at least one of them would pick up the Automata reference and run with it, but..."

An army of bug demons seemed to appear from the woods, and were on them in only a few moments of time. Not Hanako, though. She was certain they didn't find ghosts tasty or at all threatening, which was just fine with her because she preferred playing support anyways.

"Yaaay~ you slap those bugs, you big punchy guy, you," Hanako cheered as she erected small walls of kinetic force around the creatures' legs, tripping them up and making them more vulnerable and easy to hit. She flitted further towards the woods, and pointed towards an area deeper in.

"Hey, hey, I'm glad I could be on the receiving end of Mommy Beniha's famed glare of disgust, but the stones are over this way," she said, winking at her fellow agents, "and that's a really good job you're doing, Da-Xia. As a ghost that likes to scare people, you are terrifying the pee out of those Humans!"

She erected a few more rings of force between the bugs' claws and the next joint so that, even with their strength, they simply wouldn't have the leverage to make a strike without immense difficulty getting out of their binds. Dispatching their kind would be much faster with the ghost working interference. Whether or not she was even capable of doing anything on her own was up in the air, though if she was, she certainly didn't show it. She was playing with the DHA for now, but Hanako tended to keep a card or two up her sleeve. Better under-estimated than over.

"You can trust me for now, I promise! I wanna play demon hunter too!"

The Devil Hunter Agency

Hanako awoke to another unfamiliar room, another unfamiliar bed, and another unfamiliar woman. Such was the life of hardboiled detective Yamamoto. Except she wasn't a detective, nothing had happened, she didn't sleep, and she knew Da-Xia at least a little bit.

The reality, of course, was that it had been late, and Da-Xia had taken her to a hotel for reasons known only to the eccentric motorcyclist. For Hanako's part, she ordered a bunch of paid per view pro wrestling on her partner's tab and then played video games quietly in the corner of the room while the woman slept.

Da-Xia's attitude was somewhat worrisome to Hanako. Even a low-level ghost like her could probably kill a DHA agent if she was sleeping defenselessly. Maybe the woman had some contingencies that Hanako didn't know about. Maybe Da-Xia trusted her more than she let on. Maybe she was only pretending to sleep to gauge trustworthiness. Was that just a little insane? Yes. Was it something Hanako thought a DHA agent might do? Also yes.

Regardless, the motorcyclist rode off to her next mission in the morning and Hanako tagged along, deciding to play with the DHA for now. It seemed like it might be fun, and hey, free paid per view. Hanako peeked over Da-Xia's shoulder when they arrived, and the woman related all the information they had gathered.

"Glory to mankind," Hanako piped up, saluting as Da-Xia raised her lance in a heroic fashion.

"Ah... I'm just here for fun, by the way. But I could be useful as a sort of demon radar or something. Demons can hear the stones, if there are any nearby."

The Devil Hunter Agency

"...Manos? Either that's Spanish or a reference to a terrible old movie that was produced by a fertilizer salesman in Texas. I wonder if it's actually a club for demonic movie buffs? W-would they wanna watch MST3K with me?" Hanako wondered before joining in with Limen and Curls when they started banging on the table.

"We accept her, we accept her! One of us, one of us!"

She giggled. It was nice to be able to make friends with people who enjoyed the same stuff. She turned to Da-Xia and smiled.

"It's a good one, but I suggest reading the manga first. You get a better sense of Kenshiro's kindness and chivalry. He's not just a stoic badass, he's a gentle stoic badass. That's what transforms him from an action hero archetype into a person," Hanako said, nodding at her own words of wisdom, "I have the tankobons if you find yourself interested."

Anyways, the Envoy was certainly saying something important. Hanako reigned in her desire to talk about anime and movies for a moment to listen to her. She nodded, although still a bit confused.

"I should have been born a sentient mineral. When I got attacked by strangers I had nothing to do with, I mostly just died. They get to explode and have an envoy and everything. Not that I'm competing for the most tragic backstory, although I would totally win. Anyways, since you seem to know so much, mind telling me what they are exactly and why they're here? If they're gonna call out to me, I should at least get to know that much."

That said, Hanako waved down the bartender.

"Hey, can I get a Piano Woman over here? I have a feeling this is gonna be a night."

The Devil Hunter Agency

It was a good sign that Da-Xia had no problem with Hanako taking a little blood, especially that which the knight had already spilled, but Hanako assumed that the method by which the blood was to be obtained wouldn't be so easily allowed. Being wholly intangible, her only real method to steal delicious vitae was a direct possession. She would wait until Da-Xia trusted her more to admit that much. For now, however, it was time to go on an adventure!

But first the gas station. As Da-Xia filled up, Hanako danced around and sang "Gas Gas Gas" by Manuel. Hanako had the need for speed, and doubtless Da-Xia would not disappoint in that regard. As they sped off into the night, the ghost wished that she could once more feel the wind in her hair.

When they arrived, however, it did indeed turn out to be a bar. Da-Xia's guess was weirdly spot-on. They were fed some weird line about a "Humaneaters Anonymous," which Hanako was almost certain she would have heard of, but it's not like she had any evidence to the contrary. In fact, it would probably be safest for her new Hunter friend if they played along regardless, so Hanako floated over and slapped the hand.

"Atatatatata~" she sang, hitting the hand with a series of mighty slaps before turning around and catching what she assumed was an alcoholic beverage with her telekinetic grip. She raised the glass up, and downed the drink in one before slamming the glass on the table. Surely the other demons would be intimidated by her display of bravado, despite the fact that she couldn't even drink the beverage and instead held the liquid up inside her opaque form with what amounted to a small telekinetic bowl.

Being a ghost as long as she had brought with it a few perks, such as a practiced telekinetic precision that was great for party tricks like looking as if she drank a whole lot really quickly. This was her true power.

"Whoo! I'm up for Uno," she slurred like a party girl, taking a seat, "snake girl? Beniha's sister? Bartender? Curls? Or are we starting the meeting right away?"

The Devil Hunter Agency

Hanako's face got progressively more red (even though she had no blood) as Da-Xia began talking about dating for some reason and Limen practically begged her to eat him. She just wanted a little snack, and it was getting so... so lewd! She fidgeted in her seat with all the demure energy of a pure Japanese maiden.

"I mean yeah, I did ask her in a vaguely flirtatious manner, but no one has ever flirted back! That's not allowed! Who'd flirt with a ghost? GEEZ."

"W-what are we, newlyweds?" Hanako scolded Limen, "I'd be too embarrassed to eat you if you offer like that!"

Hanako sighed.

"Although... because I don't want to harm Humans, I generally only take a bit of blood. But if you're fine with anything, I've always wanted to try bone marrow. Eheehee... I wonder if I'd become a hone-onna?" Hanako joked.

"Anyways, Da-Xia, I'm not sure what sort of dates you've been on, or what kind of eating you're talking about... but I'd be happy to be a local friend. You know, I've existed in Japan for around 90 years now. It doesn't get much more local than me," she said proudly, "and I can assure you that I am 100% trustworthy! Look at this face. Can you even imagine me lying to you or doing something bad? Although counting me as a 'friend' doesn't preclude the possibility of a promotion to a 'friend with benefits'. Girl's gotta eat."

She turned back to Limen.

"Ah... actually, I heard that music too. Very old-timey. Definitely my style. I kinda wanted to check it out too at some point. I'm a bit of a... 'free spirit', so it's a bit interesting to be called to by those rocks and that music of late."

The Devil Hunter Agency

Hanako, who was having a grand old time riding along on Da-Xia's motorcycle, gingerly flicked the flaming rubble off the woman's back. She stored the pieces of the gun in Da-Xia's compartment (which she would want to snoop through later for fun) before closing it and returning her attention to the apparently Chinese Canadian who was operating in Japan.

"Ufufu~ it's deserved praise, my heroic knight. My name is Yamamoto Hanako, but you can call me Hanako. I'm still learning French, but my English is much better and my Japanese is fantastic. It's an absolute pleasure," said Hanako, examining the bike, the knight, and her fellow demon.

It was an odd group, to be sure, and it became even odder when the woman revealed that she seemed to know that either Hanako or Limen were monsters. Put simply, Hanako had scarcely met a hunter that seemed to have no interest in separating her ghostly head from her spectral body. Normally she'd think that maybe the DHA were finally learning that she couldn't be gotten rid of, but Da-Xia seemed to hold no malice for Limen as well.

Actual chivalry was a rarity.

Hanako smiled as she got off the bike in front of the noodle shop.

"Well I have neither warmth nor substance of my own, and I won't get any here. I only took up baking because otherwise my life would have been a complete waste. I can't eat anything, although..."

She slowly floated towards the knight with a wide grin on her face.

"If I can choose what I like, does that include you?" she asked, winking and doing a couple of rounds of finger guns, "obviously I won't take more than I need. I'm an innocent young maiden, after all. Either way, you and Limen can enjoy yourselves. I'd love to tag along regardless."

Even though Hanako had lived a long time, actual interactions were rare and she wanted to savor them. Humans she met were either terrified of her or they wanted to exorcise her, and demons she met were usually instinctual baby-eaters or they had an agenda that at no point involved chilling and watching Netflix.

The Devil Hunter Agency

Hanako clapped, grinning like a dork when Da-Xia rode up to them and began shouting. She always expected DHA members to be insane, but sadly most of them were brooding psychopaths that could only feel elation by killing demons. Of course, this girl could still be that, but at least she was coated in the fun kind of crazy where she acted like a knight on a motorcycle. This was the sort of fun Hanako was sorely in need of.

Without a second thought, Hanako hopped up on the motorcycle.

"My hero, o beauteous knight in shining armor," Hanako gushed half ironically, "truly thou hath the valor of a hundred men. Perchance thou wouldst like bellytimber for thy strength?"

Hanako shoved a sheetpan half full of chocolate croissants at Da-Xia before they were to depart. The other half was filled with gun.

"Alas, thy steadfast companion hath swooned. Wouldst thou also keep his weapon safe that it might be repaired anon?"

Hanako could hear the record playing, could hear the stones calling out to her, but this seemed more fun. How often do you get to hitch a ride with a motorcycle knight?

The Devil Hunter Agency

Hanako frantically reached for her Handy Handbook for French Fledgelings when a young man began speaking to her entirely in French. She knew most of the words, but he was speaking so damn fast! She handed him a croissant to get him to shut up for a second while she caught up.

"Uh... uh... oui, je suis un démon," she replied in a less confident heavily Japanese accent as she scanned the pages. Having an actual conversation was way different than some French dude speaking slowly on an audio tape. Her English was much better, because she had more chances to practice it.

"Pour- hey."

And then the dude began speaking perfectly serviceable Japanese to a tree. Tree monster. Tree monster? Hanako hadn't seen many of those, and never in a warehouse. Usually you could find them around Mt. Fuji, but in her shitty neighborhood? Very interesting. It was probably those black rocks. She too felt a certain attraction to them. Something was definitely happening... maybe something big. It was odd that they had all hands on deck for a bunch of low-level ghosts, after all.

But more importantly...

"...You know the motorcycle girl is a Hunter, right?" she asked Limen, looking the girl up and down, "if she has a sense for creatures like us, she'll probably kill us right... hm..."

Actually, the more she looked at motorcycle girl, the more she thought it might be a risk worth taking.

"Me too! I'm a helpless maiden," she lied through her teeth.

The Devil Hunter Agency

"...Is that old guy about to pull a knife on me?"

The old man was looking at her alright, with the same expression she'd seen on hundreds of hunters before. Either he was a complete psycho or he was experienced enough to be able to clock an opaque ghost on sight, but with all his attention on Hanako he didn't seem to notice his footing was giving way until it was too late.

"Hey, watch out, you're gonna-"

SMACK.

Hanako watched the old hunter take a huge tumble out the window and slam into the ground below. His gun splintered, his knife flew off somewhere, and he wasn't moving.

Ironic thing is, most hunters die full of hate and regret and end up becoming restless ghosts anyways. Dumbasses. Hanako floated down, and noticed that the man was still breathing. Good thing. She didn't need more furious earthbound spirits around these parts. She flung a croissant at his unconscious body, and telekinetically lifted the splintered pieces of his rifle onto her sheet pan.

"Fais de beaux rêves, mon petit chou," she said, giving the man a gentle pat on the head before looking around.

Thankfully, she didn't need to call anyone, because anyone was already here. There was sirens, and even more fire, and self-propagating explosive rocks... she walked over to an officer, passing a young man who might have been going to check on Maurice on the way, and tugged at the officer's shirt, pointing to where Maurice had been.

"An old guy took a tumble out the window over there. He's still breathing, but he's a bit away from the rest of the action so I don't want you to miss him. I think one of his buddies might be checking up on him, but he needs help," she said before wandering off and taking in the sight of the destruction the loose group of psychopaths called the DHA had caused. She chuckled. Those guys were always pretty funny, but it was rare to get a screaming, flaming disaster at this level of insanity. She waved at the remaining members, hoping that her friendly demeanor wouldn't accidentally almost kill someone this time.

"Anybody want a chocolate croissant? They are... très bien!"