case: AZAZEL

「 C R O W N 」

It was just another night, another job. It was just another victim whose name would be erased from my memory even before sunrise. It was my job. It is my job, the sole reason for my own existence.

I clearly remember the warm feeling of the viscid liquid that ran down my fingers on that night. That wasn't a new sensation; I was already used to the feeling of blood. The putrid odor of sweat and urine filled the place poorly backlighted by the light of the dawn. The only sound that filled the place was the heavy breathing, failing, interrupted by the distinct sound of choking while the air fought its way into the lungs against the intense flow of blood sliding through the opening in the throat. Even under the dim light, I could see the pained expression, smell the despair, feel the agony and the vain attempt to survive, grasping the last straw of hope to live. It was as if I could even touch the moment of anguish with my bare hands.

Just another death amongst the countless victims that disappeared as if they had never even existed in the first place. And I watched, I watched every second until the last whiff of breath was overcome and swallowed by the huge amount of blood that stopped the breathing, causing a crude, throaty and terrified sound that announced the long-awaited moment of death.

In that moment, I felt the smell of sweat and fear. I saw him suffocate in his own blood. I saw the expression of agony on the brink of death.

Still, I wasn't there.

I am one.

I am us.

We are Azazel.

· · ─────── · + · ─────── · ·

That was a rather tough night for Shinobu Kusanagi. Actually, the whole week had been hard on him after he found out that his partner was up to his neck in bribe cases, which led to his partner's removal from post on that Friday afternoon and an investigation by the internal affairs office. It was not that Shinobu trusted his partner a great deal, after only a little more than six months working together, but for someone as experienced as him, with over ten years of career in the Tokyo Metropolitan Police Department of Criminal Investigation, she should've seen the small details. Maybe his skills were rusty by the number of liars he had to deal with daily, or maybe he just wanted to believe that the man he worked with wasn't, in fact, dealing with that kind of illegal scheme.

When Shinobu left the train at the station near his apartment, his wristwatch pointed almost 10pm. It was a good day, overall, since he had gotten home before late in the night and the trains were still working. He went up the subway stairs following the still intense flow of people ready to enjoy their Friday night and extend their happy hour for hours and hours to come. He searched for his pack of cigarettes in the inner pocket of his jacket and stood still for a couple of seconds, staring back at his own tired reflection from a glass case for a poster of young idols pop dance group.

Shinobu took the last crumpled cigarette from its empty pack and tossed it on the nearest trashcan, searching then for his lighter in his back pocket. He finished his way up the stairs to feel the cold breeze announcing the beginning of Autumn and he had to strike the lighter three times until his hand was enough to protect the dim fire and light the old cigarette. He had nothing to protect his neck from cold, but at least the warmth of the smoke running down his throat to his lungs could distract him until he got home to a restless night of sleep.

He just took another two steps towards his apartment and the smartphone vibrated in his back pocket. He got the phone with the right hand, while the left hand held the cigarette between the two fingers, staring at the screen that showed the number of the police department. A heavy breath escaped his nose along with the warm smoke. His phone only had another 5% of battery left, maybe it was ironical that it hadn't died out before getting that call.