[GrayGriffin]

It was rare for Akegane-sama to join in on investigations, mostly for practical reasons involving water. On the other hand, unlike Natasha, she was actually capable of handling herself if it came to a fight. So this was why when Sherlock had been summoned to investigate rumors of an abyssal abomination lurking in the depths of Rewhister, she had chosen to come along.

Of course, Arion was joining her, though he definitely looked nervous about the whole thing. While he could also be considered an aquatic monster of sorts, this was not his native ocean.

"Don't worry," she had laughed. "I'll look after you! I've got plenty of knowledge of this place, and tricks galore! In fact, I'm sure we'll eventually find out this was all a misunderstanding of some sort."

[GrayGriffin]

"How can you be so sure about that?" he'd asked. "Not every demon of the deep sea is like me!"

"Now, now, don't be like that," murmured Akegane-sama. "Besides, I didn't just mean a misunderstanding like between you and Lorisa's loved ones. This could also just be a wild Skyllard chase in the first place. You know we've encountered a lot of those too, haven't we?"

"You have?" he asked, eyes widening. She chuckled.

"Well, I suppose it was before your time."

[GrayGriffin]

"Before my time? Oh, when it was just you?"

"That's right. I think even Nutina wasn't part of the group yet." Arion felt a jolt of surprise. The secretary Merham had come off as such a natural part of their dynamic, he had no idea how to imagine the group working without her. Then again, he supposed it made sense for Akegane-sama and Sherlock to have met first, considering their mutual agelessness...

"We were all still coming into our own, so we'd take almost any case that was offered to us."

[GrayGriffin]

"Huh...I guess that kind of makes sense. Did you know about Sherlock being a demon beforehand?"

"Of course. He's not the type to hide that fact from his associates. Watson knew, as well. But even if he hadn't told me, I could have predicted it. He tries to hide it, but he's still got a bit of that look in his eyes and that growl in his voice."

"...oh," said Arion softly.

"Not that I'd tell anyone, of course," she added. "It's pretty much none of their business, after all."

[GrayGriffin]

"Yeah..." said Arion. However, his motions had still slowed, and Akegane-sama seemed to notice. She turned in her tracks, swimming back to his side.

"...ah. Are you worried about fitting in?" Arion blinked, then nodded. After leaving the coast where Lorisa's family had once lived, it didn't seem as much of an issue anymore, but there was still a part of him that worried they'd be judged. And it wasn't as if he could even hide his demonic nature like Sherlock could.

[GrayGriffin]

"You shouldn't worry," she murmured. "I realize now that I must have been aggravating your concerns, haven't I?"

"Kind of," muttered Arion. His bandages were floating around him in a manner he was fairly sure she could recognize by now.

"I'm mostly saying this to reassure you," she said. "Most people you meet won't be as long-lived as me, or as curious about the nature of the ones they met. And-even if they do recognize your nature, I doubt they'd hold it against you?"

[GrayGriffin]

"Why does Sherlock hide, then?" asked Arion, looking her in the eyes. "If they're so accepting, why doesn't he let his true nature show?"

"...I suppose I must admit you're not quite the same manner of demon," she murmured. "Baskervilles are more well-known for being malicious, and not just in rural areas. While the rumors that Bandol will steal your soul away should you venture too close to the sea are mostly limited to the coast."

[GrayGriffin]

That made sense, but he had to admit he still felt uneasy. "Are you sure that's why?" he asked. She shook her head, still floating beside him.

"Of course I can't be certain of his inner thoughts. But it's the way he wishes to live. I'll let him do as he pleases there. Besides, his more human form is quite handsome, isn't it?"

"I'm not into human forms," muttered Arion. Akegane-sama laughed.

"When you've lived as long as me, you'll learn to appreciate all kinds of appearances."

[GrayGriffin]

"Anyways, weren't we here to investigate that disturbance?" asked Arion. "This whole thing about how much I should hide my demon nature is interesting, but we should probably do our job." He supposed that what Akegane-sama had said about him and Sherlock being different natures of demon was somewhat interesting, but he didn't really want to go into that right now.

"Of course," said Akegane-sama. "Still, you know I'm always here if you want to talk, right?"

"I'll keep that in mind," he replied. The two of them swam deeper, nearing the location that they had been told about.

[GrayGriffin]

As they neared the location, there was indeed a glowing light shining out at them-but nothing else. Arion moved closer to nose around the area, Akegane-sama joining him, but neither of them managed to find any sign of an actual creature having been there. Any debris was definitely old sheddings.

"What do we do now?" asked Arion.

"We'll bring it back to shore," said Akegane-sama. "And return to this place for further investigation once we have more clues."