06.02.16095
Approx. 4 years ago
Kurai's voice was cold, each word heavy with finality.
"It was a mistake to keep hoping I'd see you again. I regret every second I spent thinking about it. I'm leaving."
Seiko's eyes widened. "Wait… you're actually leaving us?"
"Yes." Kurai said flatly. "And I will never come back."
He stared directly into her eyes. "You're dead to me."
Without another word, he turned and walked toward the exit.
As he reached for the door, a hand touched his shoulder.
"Hey… don't you dare leave me," Novva said from behind. "I have no one left. I'm coming with you."
Kurai looked back at her. "Don't you want to stay with them?"
"They're not important to me," she replied. "I don't even know them."
"Your life would be a hundred times better if you stayed here," Kurai said. "You don't need to follow me."
"You're right. I don't need to." She stepped closer. "But I want to."
Kurai opened the door and stepped outside, leaving it open behind him. He looked back.
Novva blinked. "Huh?"
"You said you were coming with me," Kurai said. "I didn't say no."
A small smile curved on her lips as she followed him down the stairs. "I knew you weren't that cruel. So… what's the plan now?"
"The only thing left in my life," Kurai answered, "is to get revenge for my mother."
"That's what you meant when you were talking to Ren?"
"Correct. I was, or still am, pretty sure he's the one who killed her. He looks exactly how I remember. But… Seiko wouldn't keep someone like that close unless she had a reason. So I'll exclude him… for now."
"So that's why you were so aggressive," Novva said quietly. "You thought he killed your mother."
"I'll tell you more while we walk," Kurai replied. "But don't drag me down."
Novva scoffed. "That's how weak you think I am?"
"We'll see. I don't have time to waste. I'll find that man, and I'll kill him. I know my mom only ended up the way she did because of him."
"And after you finish?"
Kurai paused for a moment, looking up at the night sky. "I don't know. I don't have a purpose anymore."
22.10.16098 – 1:32 AM
Amuy on a couch, head spinning. A half-burnt joint dangled from his fingers. Neon lights painted the walls, music thumped through the floor, and four women danced lazily in front of him.
He waved them away. "Enough for today. I need to sleep."
9:00 AM – Harukichi-gumi Headquarters
The massive meeting hall buzzed with chatter. At the far end sat Masaru Susui on a dark throne, his high ranks standing before him in a line.
There was Bendiro, a massive Mexican man with black hair, black eyes, and muscles that looked carved from stone.
Lola, a deceptively small girl with pink hair and golden eyes, her size hiding her lethal power.
Mini WU, a bald, white-bearded old man barely 143 cm tall, but infamous for his ruthlessness.
Yuma, tall and rail-thin, with pale skin, green hair, and nails painted black, painfully honest in everything he said.
And finally, Fischer, looking completely unharmed despite the recent battle. Beside him stood his companion, Axel, last seen on the verge of death, now fully recovered.
These were Masaru's most trusted, most dangerous people. Behind them stood dozens of lower-ranked members, the air thick with whispers about the failed mission.
The murmurs died instantly when Masaru slammed his fist into the armrest of his throne.
"Fischer," Masaru said, voice cold, "I believed in you. How is it that Yuma's trainees completed their part of the mission… but you failed?"
Fischer stepped forward. "But Master-"
"Don't you dare raise your voice to me!" Masaru snapped.
Fischer flinched, bowing his head. "My apologies."
"Next time," Masaru said sharply, "I expect better."
"Master… please," Fischer pleaded. "There was a man, he came out of nowhere. Too strong for me to handle."
"I know who you mean," Masaru replied. "That man was supposed to be your target. And you failed."
Yuma cleared his throat. "Master, forgive me for interrupting… but some of us want to know the reason behind these attacks. We're losing people without gaining anything."
Masaru's eyes darkened. "You doubt me, Yuma?"
"I never said that," Yuma replied carefully. "That's why I'm asking."
"You'll understand one day," Masaru said. "Until then, follow my orders, whether they seem good or not."
Yuma bowed. "Fair enough, Master."
Masaru's gaze swept over the room. "No more questions? Good. The last battle was a miserable failure, even you, Fischer. My patience is wearing thin. I don't want to see another mistake. Each of you will receive your next mission soon. Don't disappoint me."
"Yes, my lord," the room answered in unison.
Masaru dismissed them, and Fischer left with his two closest allies: Vogro, a wiry man in bizarre glasses who dressed like a mad scientist, and Zimandarada, a quiet figure who kept his hood up at all times.
They wandered aimlessly, Fischer venting about Masaru's harsh treatment and his fear of being replaced by trainees.
"Fischer," Vogro said, "you're here for a reason. Keep improving, and no one will take your spot."
"I want more than my spot," Fischer muttered. "I want his respect. I want his throne."
"Then you'll get it," Vogro said. "Now… ice cream?"
Zimandarada stared. "It's five degrees outside."
"Who cares? Ice cream calls to me!" Vogro grinned.
Fischer chuckled. "Vogro can't get brain freeze, nothing up there to freeze."
Zimandarada burst out laughing, earning a playful pinch from Vogro.
Then, a dart struck the back of Fischer's head.
The laughter stopped. Fischer collapsed forward… only to rise again, black flames erupting from his body.
Another dart sliced past Zimandarada's hood.
"Someone's got a death wish," Vogro said, scanning the rooftops.
Fischer turned, spotting a figure above. In a flash, he was there, gripping the stranger by the throat.
"What made you think that would work on me?"
The man's eyes widened. "No, no! I'm not your enemy! My name's Ahmya, I want something from you!"
"Terrible way to introduce yourself," Fischer growled. "You want to die?"
"I just needed your attention," Ahmya said quickly. "I knew the dart wouldn't kill you."
Fischer's grip tightened, black flames licking at the man's cheek.
"Talk. And make it good."
Ahmya coughed, rubbing his neck. "I… need you to kill someone for me."
Fischer tilted his head. "And you thought shooting me in the brain was the way to get my attention?"
"I knew it wouldn't kill you," Ahmya muttered. "But it worked, didn't it?"
Fischer's eyes narrowed. "Who?"
"Seiko," Ahmya said. "And someone named… Kurai."
Fischer froze for a moment. 'Seiko, the girl from the fight a day ago. And Kurai? I never heard that name before… unless… Was that the other guy with her? But Masaru told me his name was Ren.' His mind kept spinning.
"And why exactly should I care?" Fischer asked, voice dripping with boredom.
"They killed my father. And my brother." Ahmya said. His tone wasn't shaking, it was cold, steady.
Fischer smirked. "Then why aren't you doing it yourself?"
"I will." Ahmya said, "but I need help. You work for Haruchiki-gumi, right? That means you've already got a reason to hate them."
Fischer didn't answer. His flames dimmed just enough for him to release his grip. "You've got five seconds to convince me."
Ahmya straightened, eyes hard. "You've heard of the Dentron Prison, haven't you?"
Fischer's smirk faded. Everyone in Haruchiki-gumi knew about that place. They'd taken slaves from there during the SumiSumi era, before it vanished from the news.
"My father owned it." Ahmya continued. "The place was… special. It wasn't just a prison. It was meant to contain people with Itsuko abilities, people too dangerous to leave in the world."
Fischer's eyebrow twitched. "So what? Sounds like a business."
"It was." Ahmya said, "until we made a mistake. We found Kurai near the explosion site."
That word -explosion- flickered something in Fischer's memory.
"We didn't know how he survived." Ahmya said. "Or what he could do. My father thought… maybe we could recruit him. But around that time, my father was also flirting with a Youkai contract."
Fischer snorted. "Flirting?"
Ahmya's jaw tightened. "On and off. He couldn't decide. But eventually… he went through with it. The contract gave him power, too much of it. Half his body stayed his own. The other half…" Ahmya's voice dropped, "…wasn't."
Fischer's mind painted the image before Ahmya even finished. Skin shifting. Veins moving on their own. Something inside breathing for him.
"After that," Ahmya said, "he got paranoid. Thought Kurai and his people would overthrow him. He ordered their execution, before they could turn the prison upside down."
Fischer leaned back slightly, processing. "And that's when you fought them."
"We nearly killed them." Ahmya admitted. "but Seiko and another man showed up. And did… this to my father."
He motioned for Fischer to follow. They walked into a cramped, dimly lit house, nothing like the kind of place someone should live in. In the corner, on a bed, a man lay perfectly still. His chest didn't rise, but Fischer could feel a faint, unnatural heartbeat in the air.
"Looks like a corpse," Fischer muttered.
"He doesn't move. Doesn't breathe." Ahmya said quietly. "But he's alive. The Youkai inside him… it doesn't let go."
Fischer stared at him, then finally asked, "How much are you offering?"
"Thirty-five million."
Fischer laughed once, sharp and mocking. "In this dump? You expect me to believe you've got that kind of money?"
"I've kept it untouched." Ahmya said. "For this day. I waited years for my wounds to heal, for the chance to end them myself. That's my only condition."
Fischer studied him. "You're insane."
"I didn't bring you here for a diagnosis." Ahmya replied. "So… deal?"
Fischer's black flames curled up again, but this time in approval. "Deal. But you follow my lead."
Ahmya smiled faintly. "May the god of thunder guide you."