A hasty retreat.

---------------(From the Cathedral)--------------->
After having scurried off of the Cathedral in a hurry, the Hero of Ikaruga wasn't so much a hero as much as a soldier gone rogue, trying to find a way to remain undetected. This led his way to the Gardens: who would suspect him to have gone there?
Curse these Sector Seven assholes!, the false Hero thought. I was so close to actually fighting Brother! Why did everyone try to take this moment from me!? These lab rats, that Mutsuki idiot, and all these other sick freaks!, he'd spit on the ground inside his mind. Why won't they leave me and Brother alone!?
As he looked upon the rest of the city, Jin chose to bid his time. He wasn't going to find Ragna anywhere any time soon. Scoffing, he searched the city bathed in the lights of night for the hospital. This damned city would have one, somewhere, and he would make sure to use it before going on the hunt again...

('From Litchi's Clinic')~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~>

The kaka was hot on the trail of the wounded man, while initially tracking him was difficult, it was the very signal from the weapon he wielded that would make way for the enhanced kaka's senses, assisted by the ACS's tracking abilities. With the scent of Major Kisaragi's blood, the Nox Nyctores within his grasp; Kageo was very sure that he'd found the wounded man. It was incredible really, that he'd managed to get so far. And even though his better senses told him to watch his footing, from a safe distance, he'd address the wounded man. Who in all of his stubbornness had fled from the underground elevator and cathedral alike. "Major Kisaragi, the Hero of Ikaruga. I've come to escort you to a medical facility. Regardless of what you think of me, it was a request of your friend, General Kagura Mutsuki, the Black Knight." he wouldn't bother repeating his orders from kokonoe, he'd hoped to avoid fighting by telling him that a friend of his was concerned for his safety. Maybe...he would actually listen?

Ssh. Even the Hanging Gardens weren't discreet enough. These pests had to reach to him even there.
"Who the hell do you think you are?", the Hero said coldly. "You think I'm stupid enough to not get treated? Tch, you can shove your words down your throat; I will get to a hospital, and I can get there on my own. I don't need henchmen like you to get me there, much less would I want it."
The Hero turned his back to the Kaka agent with obvious disdain. "You better tell that cat-bitch to watch her ass for next time. If Sector Seven interferes with me again, I will kill everyone they send my way. Possibly starting with you." He wouldn't hear any words from things like Kageo. Sector Seven just had the nerve to send a Kaka to try and order him around? That thing didn't even have the right to address him.
As he walked away from the Kaka, Jin looked around the city for any hint at the location of the local hospital. This thing was taking time for him to find, and things were getting way too annoying for his taste...

The kaka let off an obvious sigh, he'd had no doubt in the false hero's words being true, 'Well that could've gone better...but still, I'm not backing down, threats or not.' while he was sure that it would put him on the man's hit list, it didn't really matter now didn't it? The truth be told about conditions, while Jin was still a threat to his safety, he was the one in prime condition now. He'd had more than enough time for his auto-repair systems to have cleansed his physique of any damage he'd sustained before. He had absorbed seithr from the underground elevator region and replaced his lost reserves, if Jin would prove truly difficult for his normal levels, then he'd fall back to activating Kagennotsuki and use of his artifice mode, he'd hope not to need seithr mode. Chances were, it wouldn't fall to that degree.

At least before realizing that his actions were apparently not needed, he'd simply try to direct the man to the closer location to be healed. "Um...then Major Kisaragi, I'd suggest heading to Orient Town from here, you can remain out of the public eye and recover quietly..." rude or otherwise, he did feel that the blond man would hate anything so much as a direction given. But, he went out on a limb to give it to him. Hoping he'd take the advice, he was going to a hospital one way or another it seemed.

"Major Jin Kisaragi. What a pleasant surprise."

Carl had managed to reach the Hanging Gardens, which gave him a spectacular view like he expected. What he didn't count on was encountering the injured Hero of Ikaruga being shadowed by a strange looking...cat-thing.

"I certainly didn't expect to see you here." The boy's lips curled into a polite smile as he bowed his head. This show of manners wouldn't have been unnerving if Nirvana wasn't standing behind him like a hulking sentinel.

Great; destiny had to pile up more and more problems on him. He just wanted to be left alone and cure until he could find his brother again. The more people, the more nuisances.
"You will not choose what I do, you little rat.", he said coldly to Kageo before he'd start walking off. Only then he gave the slightest hint of care about Carl's presence, though it was only harsh words: "If you didn't expect me, Clover, then do like I never was here."
The Hero of Ikaruga only hoped that everyone would just do him a favour and leave him be while he'd get his wounds tended to. And not by some shabby Orient Town clinic, but by true professionals.
--------------------(Exit to a damn hospital)-------------------->

As the kaka sighed at the reaction, at least Jin Kisaragi was going to be fine, but he knew better about Carl Clover. He could sense the sinister aura that bled off of him, despite a polite nature; the kaka's reactions and even the ACS had gone into battle stand-by, he was prepared for a dodge first off. Evasion was the expected response to what he felt might be an inevitable attack. Kageo knew well of the young vigilante, both from being one himself and from times with Tao. "Carl Clover...Taokaka speaks a lot of you, have you business with me?" the question was polite, if not intrusive in a way, he was aiming to draw young Clover's attention to himself; he promised Kagura that he'd watch out for Jin and now this seemed to be a solid chance to do so.

"Unfortunately, my business is not with you." Carl sighed as he watched Jin leave, his lips curving into an unsettling smile as he did "I wasn't able to make one Kisaragi talk...but this one might, if I make him sing loud enough."

With that, Carl bade Ada to come with him, determined not to let his next lead slip through his fingers.

(Following Jin, though Kageo can choose to stop him.)

The kaka sighed, though he'd have preferred to avoid confrontation, he was not about to break his word to a new acquaintance; raising a paw as he stopped Carl Clover from passing closely, he'd look to him. "The curl of your bloody edge makes even my skin crawl, Mr. Clover. You would do harm to the Hero to make him speak. If that is the case...I cannot allow you to pass here." he was prepared to face off with him, though he knew of the dangers packed by Nirvana. He could not allow Jin, who was seeking healing; to be chased down by someone desperate for something as little as information.

As much as Carl wanted to teach this kaka it's place, he just wasn't in the mood. Besides, if he was a friend of Miss Kitty's, then he wasn't all bad.

At least, that's what he hoped.

Without a word, he complied with Kageo's request and turned the other way. Perhaps he can make progress elsewhere...

(Carl makes his exit!)

As the kaka looked on at Carl's decision to leave, he couldn't help but feel...somewhat happy, at least a thing that had gone his way was nice. He could ignore the reflections spoken to him, rather negative in their outcomes by trade. "He's done...at least there was no fight." it was the kind of thing that he could hope for, at least not having a need for concern when it came to that specific trade. With the ACS system still running, the kaka looked around with a little adrenaline in his body, he was making sure the area was clear.

"Okay, so he wasn't at HQ. He's hopefully nearby!"

That, at least, was Aoko's hope when she began her search up in the Hanging Gardens. Fortunately for her, she missed Carl Clover by mere seconds, meaning that there won't be much drama this time around. However, she wasn't prepared to see a strange kaka right in front of her.

"Um, excuse me..." the sniper said cautiously as she slowly approached him, unsure whether he was friend or foe "May I help you?"

The kaka managed to keep from tensing up, as his body turned to face her, he'd let off a small heaving sigh and eased himself to be calmer. He could sense no killing intent off of this girl, she was a beastkin? His ears twitched lightly as his tail bobbed up and then back down gently. "Help me? Uh...I am fine, I was just glad, I avoided something of a fight...and that young man was scary." this would give it away, just who he had seen, clearly it was something that he had known. Why did he reveal it? he didn't know...it rather slipped and yet still, Carl Clover wasn't really his concern.

Her ears twitched slightly as she heard Kageo's strange words, but chose to pay them no heed. She had more pressing matters to attend to.

"Glad that I didn't have to step in, then." Aoko giggled while her tail wagged back and forth "Anyway, have you seen someone go by here? Blonde, clad in blue, always looks like someone shit on his day?"

She was obviously referring to Jin, of course.

Someone beaten up? Well that was something that he'd known for a fact, he was definitely not someone who would reveal that knowledge, at least not that easily. "I...must ask you miss, what do you mean of him? That person you seek." he felt inclined to protect him, by the order of the Professor and the request of the Black knight himself; even if it was just protecting wherever he might have gone, still he'd try to ask. Not imagining battle would come of this, but instead his gaining some answers. "The fellow is a bit of a friend, you might say, I can't have someone seeking trouble following him."

"I guess...I guess you can call him 'family'"

That was pretty much the truth; Granted, Aoko wasn't as close to Jin as Soichiro, she certainly considered him a more decent 'sibling' than anyone in the Kisaragi household.

"Oh, right. I haven't introduced myself." She chuckled as she offered him a friendly handshake "My name is 1st Lieutenant Aoko Kisaragi of the NOL Special Infantry Division. So, if you know who I'm looking for, can you please take me to him?"

As the kaka reached forward and gently took her hand, he'd shake it and reply justly as to the way that she asked. "Kageo-kaka of the kaka clan." he'd used the general title that stood at a truth, though she'd wanted him to take her to...wait, her brother? "I can say...that request is hard to respond to, I mean...normally I would. But you seek, your brother rather, is not fond of kakas. He was disgusted by me showing up to try and help him. And such to a fact that he demanded I begone and that I do not follow. I can tell you that I expected him to go a place of healing. As a Librarium officer, I might imagine perhaps...your hospital?" he wanted to give her information, at least to the best of his knowledge; since he'd rather not chance angering Jin again. The man's icy demeanor spooked him greatly.

"I see..."

Aoko nodded with a small smile, happy with the information Kageo provided. If anything, that just made finding him so much easier.

"Thank you very much, Kageo-san." The bluenette giggled "Howabout you lead me to the hospital, and I'll buy you a treat afterwards?"

The first person to be nice to him in some time that was not either hiding an ulterior motive that he was capable of sensing or that he'd noted. While of course as she was still forward with some of her thoughts, he'd had no thoughts short at least giving her a little help. Maybe because she offered him food? Well at least It would be keeping good pace he guessed. "Well...since you asked, I think I'm going to take to the entrance, to leave you to the rest. that sounds fine."

(~~~~~~~~~~~~~> To the NOL Hospital)

"That'll be fine. Lead on, Kageo-san."

Aoko nodded with a smile as she followed the kaka towards the hospital. Inwardly, however, she knew that the hard part has just begun; Finding Jin Kisaragi was hard enough. Getting him to talk...that's a whole different ball game.

(Heading towards the hospital!)