We hear a knock and a head peeps into our office, "Private Eye?" The head, which belongs to a woman with mono-lid dark eyes and small oval face, asks hesitantly.

"Yes, it is." My partner, Kim Min Joon, smiles awkwardly. His eyes twinkle. "Please come in. He is my senior, Park Soo Young," he adds, introducing me.

The woman walks in: hesitant and cautious; and takes in her surroundings. Her eyes narrow, and linger on the blacked-out windows, as she takes the couch next to the low table: a place where we entertain clients. She hands us a photo.

Big blue eyes; alert and curious. Milky white fur, with speckles of black spread all over her fluffy frame.

"Her name is Pepper." The woman whispers, blowing her nose on a well-worn tissue. "She is just a baby. Today, at around eight, she went out to do her business and did not return."

The woman blows her nose rather loudly and looks around the room. Joon discreetly moves the trash can next to her feet and gives her an encouraging look.

"Thank you." The woman gives a weak smile, and continues, "Last year, when my neighbor lost her hamster, you guys helped her out, right?"

I nod, remembering the case, and Joon smiles, "Yes, the hamster. Pesky little thing it was too. By the way, how is it doing?"

"Joon!" I glare and kick him under the table, and he mouths an apology, "Sorry, please continue."

"Pepper is very important to me... " She trails off, and I can guess what comes next, "but I can't afford your fees. I own a small food stall at the end of the road though, I can treat you to a week's worth of free meals." She offers hopefully.

"Deal!" Joon exclaims, and looks at my fuming face. Realizing his error, he adds, "If... my partner agrees."

Why is he always trying to make me look like the bad guy!?

I sigh and nod, "Of course, we will help you." I answer, giving her a restrained smile, "Anything else you want to tell us, to facilitate our investigation?"

"Ah yes," The woman nods and pulls out a torn chewed up piece of cloth. "This is her favorite toy... I mean it's obviously not a toy, but she keeps playing with it." The round-faced woman explains, handing the item to Joon; thought I am sitting much closer.

I must give off repulsive vibes or something I reason; though there was no scientific base to it, that's the only thing that made sense.

When I was human, I was considered very good looking, much more than Joon. But since the time tragedy had struck - in the form of a wayward meteorite falling on my palace and burning it down, leaving only Joon and myself as the lone survivors - I had observed that more people tended to drift to Joon, than me.

Anywho, after that fateful day - that changed our genetic makeup - I had developed certain unusual traits, I felt fatigued during the daytime. I couldn't keep my food down. The only thing that I could consume without throwing up, was blood. Thankfully, my stomach as well as metabolism were not picky about what kind of blood I consumed.

All changes were not bad though. For starters, I could run super-fast, I could read minds sometimes: a very unreliable ability. If I chose to, I could see through barriers made of wood, pure cotton, and ceramic. This particular ability was useless with things other than what I mentioned earlier though.

Joon, however, reacted differently to the meteor. He became stronger: muscles in places I did not even think were capable of having any! His sense of hearing and smell elevated to another level as well. But just like me, all was not sunshine and roses - pardon my misplaced metaphor - for come full moon, he would lose his cool. He would become a dog... quite literally!

"Hyung*!" Joon calls, making me look around; the lack of female presence confuses me... I must have zoned out.

I am what the new world would call, Dark and Mysterious, also broody. Joon says that I brood, a LOT.

"Pepper... " I start, pointing at the door, and Joon nods, "She left. We should too." He states matter-of-factly, dangling the torn piece of cloth in front of my face.

"Gross!" I squeak, shooing the offending cloth and his hand away. I pick up my jacket and sunglasses and step out. Joon follows, and flips the sign on the door from, 'Open' to 'Out rescuing your darlings'

Standing in the corridor Joon takes a deep whiff of the torn cloth and follows it up with a string of sneezes.

With a slightly red runny nose, he smiles sheepishly, "Duty before allergies."

"Where to?" I ask, ignoring his adorable childlike smile, and offer him my hanky.

He closes his eyes and concentrates,

"Butcher's street."

We drive straight to the location and park the car a few blocks away; we walk the rest of the way.

"This is where the trail ends," Joon points to a spot; My eyes take in the discarded animal bones and a second later, the stench of blood hits me.

My mind buzzes as if intoxicated, and I hold Joon's shoulder for support. He looks at me apologetically, and I shake my head, "Let's just do what we came here to do."

He nods and starts sniffing around, literally.

"Found it!" Joon whispers a few moments later, pointing at a pile of bones.

I stop breathing. I dash towards the pile and catch hold of Pepper before it can abscond again.

It struggles and tries to bite my hand. That is when I use my most powerful weapon. Looking into its eyes, I command, "Be good."

The cat calms down and licks my thumb.

I smile, "Good girl." and Joon pats my back, "Well done, animal whisperer."

*****

{Hyung : Big brother; used by a male to refer to an older male}