Makoto was already eating by the time Jayden and the Skull got to the table. "Took you two long enough. Go get your food."

She took the time to think of her next move. I doubt I would be able to get any information about the Flame Skulls out of him. Hell, I probably won't find anything on the other Skulls. I could ask Chloe...but she'll probably rip out small bits of information before giving it to me, like she did with Roland's file.

Jayden shrugs at Hayate's remark, "Some kids do still wear diapers. And you sort of waddle like you wear them as well, you know."
He leaves Hayate to waddle over to the buffet by himself and fills himself a plate full of food before joining Makoto at the table. "Next time, might be easier to use the local McD's drive thru and get him a happy meal."

HAYATE

Hayate, seething, sat himself down on the chair closer to the wall and leaned back to hide his arms, then crossed a leg. The smell was fantastic, and he had to breathe in sharply to stop his stomach from rumbling again. He sighed and closed his eyes, wondering how the rest of the gang was doing.

Jayden looks at Hayate sitting there, "You know, if you promise to be a good, I'll take the handcuffs off and let you go and get some food." he pulls the key for the cuffs out of his pocket, "I'll leave that choice to you through."

HAYATE

He eyed the keys almost as hungrily as he had the food, more for the promise of pain relief than making a dash for it.

"Define 'good'," he muttered, closing his eyes again. I could really go for a smoke right now...Least that kind wouldn't make me suffocate.

"Good means you sit there, eat and keep your trap shut." Jayden replies, wearily, "And any sign of fighting, cuffs go back on, got it?" He goes over and unlocks the handcuffs, "Go and get some food, and I seriously hope I don't have to regret doing this."

HAYATE

He looked at the policeman for a moment, then spun around and grabbed the topmost plate from the stack without thanking him. Pain shot up his arms, but he would have to get used to it. Not really caring anymore what he put onto his plate, he grabbed spoonfuls of the first few dishes he saw and returned to the table, pointedly turning away from the other two.

Makoto listened to the two talk it out as she stabbed several pieces of calamari with her fork. As soon as the cuffs were off of Hayate, the fork stopped right in front of her mouth. "Don't worry. He has nowhere to go. People would give him weird looks, and the waiter would stop him from leaving, because I haven't paid for the dinner yet." She finally bit into the calamari, and continued to eat.

Jayden watches Hayate get the food and return back to table, his back to them, "Even if he did manage to escape, I can easily find out who he is." Well, somewhat easily.. would probably take a few hours of begging but he could get the information. Jayden takes a bite of his food.

Although the food was appetizing, swallowing was a little painful. Makoto finished her meal, and leaned back on her seat. "You're going to need to give me directions to the station. I've never been there." She watched Hayate sitting across from her quietly.

Makoto noticed a few people giving her and Hayate weird looks. Hayate hid his burned arms well, but they could probably tell that he was in a fight. Makoto's wounds were more noticeable, since a majority of the burns were on her neck.

"Sure, I guess most hunters don't tend to make police station their haunts." Jayden jokes, finishing his meal and pulling a cigarette out of his pocket, "I'll leave the kid with you, I don't think the people here would take kindly to me huffing and puffing away on this in here."

HAYATE

"Erm," Hayate asked the policeman quietly after swallowing a huge mouthful, "...do you...happen to have an extra smoke? I..I won't do anything funny, trust me," he added quickly not daring to look at the man's eyes.

Jadyen frowns, looking at Hayate before reaching into his pocket and pulling out another cigarette, he had plenty of the cancer sticks and places it on the table beside Hayate, "Don't say I didn't cut you any favors, now kid." he says before turning away and heading outside to enjoy his cigarette.

HAYATE

Hayate shoveled down the last few mouthfuls and fished around in his pockets. ...The awkward moment when you're a Flame Skull and can't even light a fire, huh... he groaned to himself as he realized he had used both lighters during the fight. He noticed the Hunter looking at him, and in as few words as possible tried to get the point across that he'd managed to utterly waste his weaponry on her, then palmed the cigarette and marched out of the buffet.

Consumed by inner rage, he nearly stumbled into Jayden, stopping short and tapping him on the shoulder.

"...I need a light. And yes, you have permission to throw things at my head if you ever see me try to run," he added hastily, shattering his masquerade of nonchalance.

"Why would I want to waste what's not my own property chucking it at you? I really don't want to have to pay for damaging police property you know," Jayden chuckles, taking a puff of the cigarette he just lit before handing his lighter over to Hayate, "And if you were going to run, if I can point out your not in the condition to get that far either way, you would of done it by now." He leans against the restaurant's wall.

HAYATE

"...As if I'm not easily identifiable anyways," the "police property" pointed out, trying his best to procure a flame without getting a burnt bloody mess over the lighter. "Erm...sorry about leaving bits of my DNA on that thing." He tossed it back to Jayden, walked a few paces away, and sat down, back and reddened shoulders cooled by the concrete wall.

Didn't I quit months ago? ...Oh well.

Jayden watches Hayate walk a few paces away and sit down as he shoves the lighter that had been tossed back to him, into his pocket, "So, you got a name, kid? Might as well make it easier on yourself and just tell me, you know cause I might be the only one you'll have on your side when we get to the Station."

Makoto had been left behind. She sat at the table by herself, still noticing people glancing at her burns. She sighed, and walked over to the dessert booth. She grabbed a cheesecake and walked back to the table.

They both smoke. No wonder they're both a little uncoordinated in a fight. Whatever, I'm not the one getting cancer.

HAYATE

"You really seem to be 'on my side'," Hayate said, his usual quiet voice bubbling over with sarcasm. He paused, then continued, "...Hayate. Tachibana Hayate. But I obviously don't sign my artwork with that. Not like I'll be doing that anytime soon," he grumbled, looking at his pus-oozing hands.

"So tell me, Mister Police...One, do you really want to be called that? And two, fill me in on the worst-case scenario for the next, say...six hours."

Jayden doesn't say anything for a moment, just takes a puff of his cigarette, "Think what you like, but I'll be honest. I have nothing against the skulls like the other officers in this city do but than where I came from, we had regular gangs that we had to deal with regularly but none of this hi tech shit like you guys have here." he pauses, "Hayate, eh?" he takes another puff and flattens the cigarette butt under his heel, "I have been called much worse than Mister Police before so I can take that as a compliment but most people call me Jayden or Jay, which ever you choose." He quietly thinks for a moment, "Well, worst-case scenario would be your handed straight over to the Hunters and than.. whatever the Hunters plan to do with you.."

HAYATE

Hayate forced a laugh. "Hi tech shit? I'm too poor for any of that, besides my mas--" He stopped. Shoot. His mask.

"Aaaauuuuuugh. I lost it, didn't I..." he mumbled, burying his head into his still-bloody palms. "That thing cost me a fortune, too...which, by your standards, probably isn't a lot. But to a person like me, who has...minor difficulties getting breakfast..." He trailed off and snuffed out his smoke on the wall behind him.

"And you think I am rich?" Jayden pushes off from the wall and looks at Hayate, "I didn't have parents growing up, I was lucky to be able call hand me downs at the foster homes I lived in mine. Everything I have, I worked to achieve." he turns to go back inside, "And if I was you, I would worry more about my future than the mask. That can be replaced, your life can't."

Somewhat satisfied with her dinner, Makoto walked up to the front counter and paid for everyone's meals. Jayden and Hayate have been gone for a while now, since they both went outside to smoke.

She took out her phone from her pocket, and finally forwarded the picture of Hayate she took to her contact, with a message saying "I just need a name."

Makoto saw the two of them smoking outside from the glass doors. She decided to wait a little before going outside, and sat down on a bench next to the exit.

HAYATE

Hayate slid a sideways glance at Jayden. "So you think there's a possibility a Hunter would have orders to...erm...'take out the trash,' huh." He flicked the cigarette butt as far as he could. "Least that'd put me out of my pain," he chuckled, noticing the gleaming on the wounds that could only have been some sort of ointment.

Jayden stops at Hayate's question, his hand resting on the handle of the door, "If the situation called for it, yes, I think a Hunter could have an order to 'take out the trash' as you put it. But let's not count your chickens before they hatch, Hayate." He pushes the door open and steps back inside.

Roland sat slumped down on a park bench with a view of the New Tokyo district. He sat motionless with a lit cigarette between his lips and ignoring the ash that had fallen onto his pant leg. Roland was at his wits end when it came to finding something more productive to do and it seemed he lacked the will for the moment to actually do something. With his suspension still in place he had no authority to do much or at least to use his badge as an excuse to throw a monkey wrench into any hunter plans.

Roland took the cigarette from his lips and dropped it to the ground. He stood up from the bench and stretched. "Fuck...", he grumbled as he slid his hands into his pockets. He knew something was going on and he wanted to find out what to cure his boredom.

"You two done bonding?" Makoto got out of her seat and held the door open for Jayden. "I already paid for the food. We can get going if you want to, unless you plan on sharing ice cream with that kid."

HAYATE

His jaw twitched, but all smart-assed retorts fled his mind as Hayate pondered how to best counter Makoto. He decided to drop the point.

"Could I not move from here?"

"Bonding? I thought that was a chick thing. Maybe next time I'll invite him to go shopping and we will dart behind racks of clothes and giggle at all the cute girls as they pass by?" Jayden replies to Makoto with a raised eyebrow, "But no, we were only sharing a smoke and a small chat. I'll have to return the favor one day or at least invite you over to dinner as a form of thanks, I do make quite one mean chicken curry, it's enough to knock anyone's socks off. And yea, we better get going before things heat up again."

"I think you would look lovely in a dress, Jayden." Makoto smirked at Jayden before sighing as usual. "Things got hot enough back at that art shop. Let's get to the HQ before the kid decides to set himself on fire again."

Makoto thought to herself for a moment. Why don't we just go to the Skull HQ instead? Maybe I'll find out what happens in that place the television showed.

Jayden gives Makoto a look, "I don't know if I should be flattered by that or creeped out, do you often picture guys you don't really know wearing dresses?" he glances out the glass of the door at Hayate, "I don't think we need to worry about that happening, he's probably more worried about what the next 24 hours will hold in store for him than coming the human torch again." he pauses, "Well, guess we better make sure he doesn't need the bathroom before we go."

Makoto's smirking face quickly turned into a glaring one. "That kind of sight doesn't appeal to my interests. I thought you would've figured that out." She looks over Jayden's shoulder and watches Hayate standing still.

"What. The Police Headquarters isn't a hundred miles away. He can use the bathroom at the station."

Jayden shrugs, "You just surprise me at times that's all, makes me kind of wonder why you came a hunter in the first place. Not my position to ask.. we all have our own reasons why we do what we do.." he nods, "True.. I guess we better get going.. and it's your car," he grins, "You'll be the one having to deal with the smell later if he has to let it go on the way there."

Makoto unlocked the car, approached the dug-in Hayate and grabbed him by the burned forearms once again. She pulled him into the back seat, and almost threw him onto the leather seats. "I don't own this car, so the person in charge will have do deal with the kid's mess. I'll lock him in the trunk if he decides to make the back seat his toilet." She hopped into the driver's seat, and started the engine.

She stared at the steering wheel for a moment, thinking of the reason she became a Skull Hunter in the first place. No particular reason. she thought to herself. I intended on looking for my missing sisters using the databases the Hunters and the Police have...but they all have nothing. I wonder if they actually made it to the States. I guess I'll contact my friend to see if he's heard of anything.

Makoto broke away from her thoughts and focused on the parking lot in front of her, getting ready to drive to the Police HQ, and at the same time, thinking about driving to the Hunter HQ instead. "Surprise you? Heh. Just hope the next one doesn't put you in the ER."

"He might prefer the trunk, you should ask him next time." Jayden replies as he slides into the back seat of the car beside Hayate and pulls the door shut, "Hopefully he will behave himself or I'll have to bring the handcuffs back out."

He leans back against the leather seat, his eyes focused on Makoto, sensing her thoughts were else where and waits for her to snap out of them. A small smile at her comment, formed on his lips, "Yes. I guess in your line of work, being social isn't a thing you really get the chance to do much, is it? Eh.. As long as I am not ending up in a body bag through unless your thinking of making our run ins a daily routine now."

"Most of the Hunters I've run into are assholes, so I don't even bother talking to them. And the police officers I've run into like to get in my way and bore me with the standard procedures... no offense to you." Makoto drove the SUV out of the parking lot and back into the street, cruising along and wasting more time, trying to decide whether to go to the Hunter HQ or the Police HQ.

"Daily routine?" She glanced at Jayden through the rear-view mirror. "I'm not giving you my number, if that's what you're trying to say. I've already run into you, that kid, and Roland a few times already. Too much police and not enough Skulls."

"I know that feeling, some of the other officers can be quite dicks. I love my job but at times, I question why I ever joined the force. I guess back than, just turning eighteen, no family and being kicked out on the streets to fend for myself, police training was the only way of insuring I had a warm bed and food in my stomach each night."

He frowns, "If I was going after your number, I wouldn't have to ask you for it you know. And I really don't want it, I won't have any time on my hands to even think about entertaining anyone, I'm doing both this area and the Shrine District rounds. And even if I did, I don't know you well enough to even consider it, call me old fashioned but I was raised up to respect women." he looks out the window, "Wouldn't be too shocked if the most of the skulls in the area went into hiding since that announcement."

HAYATE

"Most of the Hunters, including you, I am assuming?" Hayate hid a smirk, pretending to examine his burned hand.

As much as he would have liked to anger the Hunter again, Hayate much valued his dignity over 'pissing off' the woman, so he rather sullenly glared out of the backseat window.

"Hey, do you want to stop by the Flame Skull's base? We can go see some of your friends before I drive you and Jayden to the Police station." As the light a few hundred feet started to turn red, Makoto slowed down and stopped at the intersection.

She turned around and rested her elbow on the seat, and faced Hayate, giving him the same sadistic smile she gave him back at the shop. "Oh, right. I killed them all too."

Roland had made his way to the police station. The hunters were still in control and the looks in which they were giving Roland upon his arrival were clear to him. Yet he simply pushed his way through them as he made his way to his desk and he noticed that even some of the other officers were giving him dirty looks.
"Roland!"
Roland turned around to see the chief standing in the doorway of his office.
"Ah, hey chief. I just came by to see what was happening."
The chief sighed heavily as he rubbed his eyes. "Don't cause any more trouble, Roland. I don't need it right now."
Roland nodded and sat down at his desk.
"Not planning on it chief."