Realistic or Modern Tokyo Panic

[Vii]

Tokyo is no more.


Same streets, same people, but something has changed completly. Something most people cannot fully perceive.


Ordinary lives are the only thing they know. They trust what they are told. To them, the city is safe.


...They could not be more wrong.


Every night, one cannot walk free. Crime dominates Tokyo entirely, from gangs to mafia familes, from beautiful women waiting down the end of the street to mysterious, sensual nightclubs and from street punks who avoid any eye contact to business man with charming smiles and guns in their hands.


Among these men and women who indulge themselves in sin, there are twelve who could only be described as "those of the endless cycle", who never vanish, omnipresent individuals whose names are whispered in the dark, parallel to the animals of the Chinese Zodiac.


Are you one of these men and women, a long time criminal that managed to make a name in the underworld of Tokyo, feared, a mysterious individual whose name cannot be even said without doubt in one's voice?


A nobody newcomer carving its way into this world? Or a simple bystander finding themselves in the streets of Tokyo at night and see their innocent corrupted by the sin of the city?


Fear the chosen few Zodiac, join them, or stand against their presence. The choice is up to you, but make it quick lest you become another victim of Tokyo's Underworld.

Spin-off roleplay of Closed - City of Sins | RpNation.com - Best Roleplay Forum
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[Vii]

Tap, tap, tap…Click, click…

It was if all her senses were blocked. She could not hear anything else, she could not see anything else, she could not feel anything else. Taste too, an oddly familiar taste of metal on her mouth for some reason. She was trapped in an illusion of a pitch black room, where the computer in front of her was the only thing she could see, touch, hear. Call it deja-vu would be an understatement. For many years, this had been her life, really. All her activities were around this device entirely, aside from the occasional IPad, fax or cellphone.

She could not even say whether this conclusion was surprising or just sad. Truth is, Yeon Jae had never put too much thought about it. It was a fact. What was there to do about it? Change? Wouldn’t that disturb her performance? Who knew the risks of that action? Consequences, strategy, planning it would all flash through her head at once. No, no, focus, she had to focus.

She was almost there. Almost…

Such a strong firewall was never that easy for her to crack, hell, to anyone really. This was high security data so it was expected to possess such a strong protection program preventing attacks from outsider parties, especially out of their vicinity. It was if her "black hat" would only grow heavier on her head. Eh, such pessimism was uncalled for, no matter how realistic she attempted to sound like, not to mention how pretentious the whole sentence even if was just inside her head. Frustration would only continue to build up more and more, as she cursed under her breth those damn Russians.

But orders were orders. And Tenshi's were absolute. Plus, she could not leave any traces of her identity in each file she passed through. Her finger would dance on top of the keys, swiftly as she could. She just needed to delete anything that would incriminate the guy stuck in there. That was it, nothing else. But somehow, as many other times that she was faced with a task for the family, it seemed like her part would only triple at each time she pressed her mouse. So much secrecy was put into each bit of the date inside...this was no game to play with. This was a time-bomb, waiting for her to defuse it.

It took her seconds, minutes, she would not be surpised it turned to be hours all along. Time seemed to not flow for her at times like this after all.

Until...it all stopped.

Done, it was done. Her task had been fullfiled at long last.

Pushing the device aside, Yeon Jae hunched over the table, her cascade of blonde locks falling gently upon her skin, covering her face and arms, her eyes closed. For some reason...she felt tired.

So very tired.

@killerlung
​

 

[killerlung]

knock, knock, knock

​

Kota sighed softly, his dull eyes fixated on the door in front of him. He'd glance down a moment, looking at the bags of groceries and supplies Yeon Jae had sent him to fetch. Though grocery shopping wasn't exactly his forte', dogs like him didn't exactly get to be picky when it came to taking jobs, especially jobs from Tenshi. Kota would heft the bags up again, adjusting his grip on the food, condiments, and copious energy drinks. It was about then that a neighbor would leave their apartment, slamming the door shut and glancing over at Kota. As if at once the stranger's eyes would go wide, his gaze fixated on the blood splattered all over Kota's jacket and trousers. Kota would stop, reluctantly turning his gaze towards the man with no small amount of disinterest, only to see him frantically scramble away.


Kota would sigh once more, honestly it couldn't be that bad could it? He'd wonder placing the groceries on the ground and bringing a hand up and running it through his hair before glancing down to find it covered in fresh blood. That's just great, in his hair too? Kota's eye twitched in annoyance, the most emotion he'd shown all day. Truth be told he was rather pissed, but he was also low, a little too sober to show much more outward emotion than the vague cringe that he currently possessed.


half an hour ago...





Kota thanked the gun smuggler with a curt nod and a hushed word before stashing the gun Tenshi had ordered for him in between the arch of his back and his trousers. American made, Tenshi knew him too well he'd think noting the heft of the firearm as he sat it in the hidden holster at the low of his back. Kota would grin thinking of the damage this particular piece could do when a proper party popped off. He'd walk down the alley back towards the main street, walking towards the convenience store at the end of the block to pick up the groceries Yeon Jae had requested he fetch while he was away. He'd shuffle through his pockets, finally finding Yeon Jae's list, his cold eyes reading over it a few times before he nodded and threw the paper away. The sky would begin to drizzle as he made it to the end of the block, entering the store without so much as a single step to quicken his steady pace.


The store door would beep as he entered, his emotionless face giving no indication of intention or really anything for that matter. He'd sigh brushing a hand through his rain covered head, and pick up a basket to begin filling with the items on the list. Before long he'd complete his task and line up in line to pay the clerk, he'd wonder for a second how things were going on Yeon Jae's end, probably boring, all those scrolling characters on that PC, he wasn't quite sure what they meant, to him it might as well be magic. If it didn't help him kill, maim, work jobs, or collect, it probably wasn't worth learning, that was the correct line of thinking wasn't it?


As Kota shook away the thoughts, his dull mind focusing instead on the clock above the counter, he'd notice the man stepping into the store to his right. Hoodie check, stance check, yup the rest was superficial this guy was strapped and by the looks of it about to rob the place. Then again you can't judge a book by it's cover and as Kota stepped forward hoping he could get checked out before the idiots opened fire, of course he wouldn't get far before they did just that, shooting their guns into the air like the idiots they were.


Kota froze, waiting for the two gunmen to approach the counter, idiots he'd think dully, still unimpressed, his heartbeat no quicker for all their bravado. He'd stifle a yawn, making note as the two gunmen altered their course to directly address him. Kota would place the basket down and glance at the first gunmen the one that decided to make him his target. Whilst the other gunmen made for the counter, waving his gun around at the face of the clerk. The elderly man on the other side of the register frantically tried to shovel money into a bag fast enough for the man, but the yelling and screaming and needless threat shooting still came.


Kota counted the shots in his head as the second gunmen yelled some obscenity or another at him, "hmm?" Kota would audibly mumble as he turned to regard the man, glancing him up and down. As if on cue the offended robber shoved his gun out into Kota's face, making his idiotic show of force, or else playing his hand at this apparent d*ck measuring contest.


Big mistake...


Kota never understood why people did that, waving guns at people's faces or bringing them this close within reach. It was a gun, it was a ranged weapon, who the hell needed to place it less than a foot away from their target!? What were they stupid!? Kota soon answered his own question as his arm darted out, grabbing the man's hand and pushing his aim towards his partner, he'd smile as the man instinctually popped off a few rounds, grazing his partner's leg and arm. Kota would pull a knife from his pocket and stab the man's stomach, pulling up on the blade and sending blood out onto the floor in torrents. He'd feel the struggling man's arm go more limp from the pain and he'd grin as he brought it into a vice, placing himself behind the man in an instant and forcing his arm into a break behind his back.


By now his partner, still very much wounded, but not down for the count began to fire at Kota shouting some obscenity once more. Kota rolled his eyes and used the thug in his grasp as a human shield as he charged the man, counting his remaining two shots before throwing the corpse of his partner into him before pouncing onto him.


One, two, three, four, five, six, seven, eight, nine, ten, eleven, twelve, Kota lost count after twelve, only returning to his feet after he'd managed to punch a crater in the man's face. He'd sigh before grabbing the man's gun off the floor and loading two rounds from his own pocket, same caliber lucky me he'd think with the slightest of grins before pressing the slide, and loading the round into the chamber. He'd stifle another yawn before blasting a hole into the back of the two idiot's heads and throw the gun down no longer interested in the whole affair. Truth he could have just blasted the two from the jump, but idiots like these weren't exactly worth tarnishing a gift like the one Tenshi went out of his way to arrange for him. He'd sigh as he walked back to the basket of groceries and nonchalantly approached the counter, placing his money down on it and bagging his things as the stunned cashier merely stared at him.


At least the rain would wash this blood off his clothes he'd think to himself as he walked through the automated doors and out into the city streets only to find the drizzle had stopped. That was a dog's luck, he'd reason with a meager groan as he made his way back to the apartment without so much as a word.


The Present...





Kota knocked on the door again, if he was growing impatient he wasn't showing it, his face too stoic to be read now that he got his bearings. It was time he got to the job at hand, body guarding a certain special hacker....


@Mine

 

[Vii]

Run, keep running, don't stop.


Her feet hit the asphalt at each step with a light sound, the cold, hard surface of the pavement making her regret more and more the decision of letting go of her heels. But she can't use them. No, they'll only slow her down. It will all be in vain. No, no, no. Please. She can't go back, she can't hide, she can't fight. The only thing she can do is run.


Just a bit more, just a little bit more.


Eyes that follow her every step, voices that reach her ears, she ignores them. She ignores them all. She has to escape it at once. This sickness, this corruption...It drives her mad. Insanity is her only friend. Smile, smile, he keeps smiling. But why, why? Is it really so amusing? She wants to smile too then. But the smile hurts. It all hurts.


And then, hands. They grasp her body roughly, they touch her everywhere. It hurts, nauseating, disgusting... No, no, she has to keep running, she can't stop now. A voice reach her ears once again, tickling her skin with its breath. No, no, no. Don't say it. She can't hear it, she can't.




Beads of sweat rolling down her skin, she gasped for air, as if it had veen taken away from her violently. Or at least, that was how she felt it was. Yeon Jae had never been someone who experienced nightmares with frequency, hell, not even dreams for that matter. Today was one of those days, huh? Things would go in a way that she would not expect completely, starting with this... She really didn't know what to think of it. Things were what they were, it was not as if she could do something about it.

Lost in her thoughts, it was only at the second sequence of knocks that she was brought back to reality. Her entire body shook as she held her breath for a moment. The impatience of the knocks was palpable, leaving her body to grow stiff by sheer impulse. A sensation of deja-vu had assaulted her. No, calm down. He was gone. It had just been a nightmare, nothing else. She stood up and headed to the entrance of the small apartment in a briskly pace, murmuring words of denial.

Placing her hand on the doorknob, she tried to ignore the ever so slight trembling of her fingers on its metal surface. Ridiculous, she was being so ridiculous! Slamming the door opened, she stared at the person now exposed by her violent, impulsive action. The moment she met those eyes, it was as if a light was switched off. No, no, that wouldn't be it. It was slower, as gradually lose any sense of tension or fear. Perhaps a bit of awkwardness now erupting from the depths of her being but besides that...no, nothing more. Just...calm. She was safe now, she could feel it just by seen him. "S-Sorry, I fell asleep..." She quickly replied to his incessant knocking just a few minutes before. It was embarrassing to tell him that. Only Tenshi was aware of her "little naps" from once in a while. No need to make Kota think she was way more troublesome than he had imagined...well, she was but-! Ugh, this was not going anywhere. "Come in. I'll take th-" And at last, she noticed it. She had been too busy staring at his eyes or avoiding them to notice the red colour that dominated his entire figure.

"Wha-! Where did you-?!" She couldn't even finish her sentences. Waving her arms frantically, she was sure to look ridiculous, no doubt. But the panic that the stains of blood in his clothes would not go away, rather it would only seem to intensify as she found her eyes scanning his body. No sign of injuries. Of course. She felt guilty just for admitting this but she was not the least bit surprised. Pulling him hurriedly by the wrist and dragging him inside, Yeon Jae found herself at loss of what to do. No, no, wait, that...wouldn't be it. Not when her hands would pull Kota's shirt up and examine his chest, sometimes even gently touching his skin with her fingers.

...Wait, wait, something's not right here.

What the hell was she doing-?! Yeon Jae instgantly backed away on impulse, her face heating up ever so slightly in clear shame of her absent-minded actions. She had to say something, anything! He would sure get the wrong idea about all this! "I'm not a pervert!"...No, that just sounded worse than an apology! What kind of grown adult would say something like that? “Shower. Go, now. I’ll get you some clothes.” Turning him around, the blonde hacker started pushing him towards the bathroom adjacent to the living room. “Towels on the top shelf.” And that was it, shut the door, moving on! Taking a deep breath, she brushed a couple of bangs from her face with her fingers with a tired smile, even chuckling ever so slightly.

Were scenarios like this going to become an occurring thing? Yeon Jae could not help but let the question linger in her mind as she entered the kitchen, carrying the grocery bag she had grabbed from Kota before forcing him to clean up his mess. And for that matter, what would be the impact of its consequences? What had happened outside? She sighed once again, she needed to settle down, she would just have to ask her “bodyguard” later…if he was willing to tell her that, that is.

Just the sight of Kota drenched in blood of someone was enough to make her shiver. I know, I know. She had seen it before. She still remembered that meeting vividly. But it didn’t change the fact that it scared her in a way that she could not even explain. The male was not her responsibility, he was free to do as he liked. Could he kill everyone in her building even if she plead him not to? And for no reason? Agh, sick, sick, it was all too sick. People died every day. Kota had killed many people in the past. He probably still did. He was nothing but a dog following orders, protecting his master. That’s what people kept telling her. Not all of course. People like her and Ume still openly believed in Kota’s human side. She always did. His smile was what reminded her of that. Not only that, it was if as all the fear and doubt was gone. It was…strange. But not in a bad way. It reassured her that what she thought was the right thing. If people need to die for us to live on...so be it. Survival. That was her life. She would get by, day by day, still breathing.

Until the day that she was no longer needed.




“Kota…If I ever betray them…”

Her words back then…it was all still so vivid.

“...Will you pull the trigger?”

Ahh, her body trembled again. How ridiculous.

“Please.”

Putting an end to the flow of memories invading her mind, her eyes wandered on to the ingredients located inside the bag, focusing her attention on the task ahead: lunch. The cup of noodles now in her hand brought a small smile to her face, as she realized how hungry she was. She had missed its taste, as silly as it sounded, given the fact that she had been eating at restaurants for the past few weeks, courtesy of her “acquaintances”. But then it hit her…what was Kota going to eat?

Well, she had included healthy food. But…well…what was she supposed to do with them? In hesitant steps, she headed back to the bathroom, halting as she found herself right in front of it. But now what…? Should she knock? But she couldn’t even hear him inside…could he hear her?

Slowly, she opened the door ever so slightly, even so much as covering her eyes with her spare hand. “K-Kota, what do you want for lunch?” Great, she had both stuttered and spoke in a quicker pace than usual. Smooth, Yeon Jae, smooth.​

@killerlung
​

 

[killerlung]

Rats, Kota wasn't sure how he felt about the creatures as he stood staring blankly at the door to Yeon Jae's apartment. Out of the corner of his eye he was sure he saw the brown blur of one of the creatures, and the slight squeaks in the walls only seemed to confirm it. They were resilient, he had to give them that. For all their sneaking around, for all their guile and stealth, at the end of the day a rat was a bitch to kill.


Kota figured there was something to admire there, and thought on the subject a moment, perhaps entertaining the thought of tracking and killing the small beast with the new time he had on his hands what with the locked door. Of course he could kick it down, it really wouldn't be much work but he was sure that'd go over rather poorly, maybe even demand a scolding from Tenshi, or worse off Yeon Jae or Ume.


He'd yawn drawing his attention back to the door just as it swung open, revealing an obviously flustered Yeon Jae, the likes of which appeared to have just wrestled herself away from a nice little attempt at sleep. Kota wondered what that was like for a moment, entertaining the idea of an electoral nap. More often than not he'd sleep on command, getting a lull in work and told rather courteously to 'get some rest', or else just doing so when his broker gave him some 'time off'. When he was working it seemed too distracting, dreams too demanding and distant to be of any use to him.


In fact how long had it been now? Twenty four? Thirty hours? They all seemed to run together at this point, moving by in a blur. He'd spend a moment thanking the world for stims, and contemplate taking another before being shaken back to reality with Yeon Jae's concern. He'd stare at her blankly a little lost, having tuned out her bit about apologizing for the napping.


By now she was frantically questioning him about the blood gratuitously splattered on his person, to which Kota merely shrugged not having much to say. He'd offer his arm out with the groceries as if to answer, and find himself surprised as he was instead grabbed by the hand and led into the house. Yeon Jae was being forceful, he wasn't sure he'd seen that before.


Within seconds the top secret weapon of the Satsuma family was pulling up his shirt, running her hands over him and checking for wounds with an expression he believed was called 'concern'. Though he hadn't seen much of it in person the idea was something he was at least familiar of, he'd remember for a moment the confusion of seeing it adorning Ume's face the first time they'd met.


Concern? could that really be it? Or was she just inspecting her dog, making sure it hadn't got injured or exhausted it's usefulness. To be more accurate it wasn't like he was her dog, the role of master pretty much belonging exclusively to Tenshi, but then again even someone who leases a car would want the thing to run, right?


Kota would stand still, his eyes locked ahead as he was felt over for wounds. The feeling of someones hands on his body wasn't something he was a stranger too, flashbacks of crueler times left terrible tastes in his mouth as men and women alike felt him over, inspecting him, prodding him, torturing him, and molesting him in ways that made him beg for death. Weak he'd think for a moment, reminiscing on the way he felt then before the shudder of his skin, and Yeon Jae's cold hands brought him back again.


He must've been tired, zoning out twice like that in so short a time. He'd glance down at Yeon Jae just as she darted back claiming not to be a pervert. Pervert? he'd think not quite sure what she meant, if she was his master even if he were on loan, was it not her right to use him as she saw fit? Kota failed to see perversion, cocking his head to the side in confusion before breaking into a dull, sheepish smile.


It was clear, Yeon Jae was no tormentor, her hands too delicate, that face too bashful. Kota would note that with nothing but dull comfort as the cruel memories of his childhood washed away. He'd set the groceries down paying no mind to the blood covering him before he was hurriedly pushed toward the bathroom. His expression was more or less the same, his mouth agape in abject protest, his eyes a bit wider for the shock, but no words were exchanged.


Kota felt the door slam behind him as he found himself in Yeon Jae's bathroom. He'd glance around a moment trying to get his bearings before finally sighing and stripping down. He'd place his new gun on the counter of the sink and grab a towel before cranking on the faucet to what he imagined was possibly the only efficiency western shower in this side of town.


Stepping in and feeling the hot water rain down on his skin Kota thought back to different times. The hot water, how hot was it? Ninety degrees? Ninety seven? Was it the same temperature as blood? He'd wonder thinking back to the literally showers of the stuff that showered his adolescent form as he was forced to fight, to the fountains of the stuff that flowed upwards from the men that he'd once called masters, he'd even think about the pools of blood he'd left in that mini mart, sighing as he watched the red liquid swirl it's way down the drain with every torrent of hot water that hit his skin.


10 Years ago...





"Oh Kota you're such a good boy, we're very proud of you."


Kota remembered shaking, the hairs on the back of his neck were standing on end, his eyes darting frantically back and forth as he lay chained and beaten at the end of his fight.


"You took down all those dogs, big dogs too, each and every one of em thought they were the alpha, but you Kota! You proved em wrong all by yourself!"


Kota shook, a muzzle over his mouth, his head bound to the floor by a short leash. He wanted to scream, this was the worst of his masters, this was the one who loved his suffering more than all the rest.


"Oh Kota you were brilliant! Such a small ball of savagery! You truly are something else."


Kota knew the praise was just building him up, he just didn't know what, this was the worst part, the surprise, where was it!? What was it!?


"All the same though, a one of a kind beast like you needs a brand don't you think? I mean how great can you be if you don't even have an family name?"


Kota cringed, he knew he had a family once right!? He remembered her, his mother, those sweet eyes, his father with that smile. He tugged at his collar a bit with what little fight he had left, but there wasn't much there, they'd been sure to starve him for the last day since his fight, and he'd already pushed himself well past the point of exhaustion in the bout.


"Well what do you say you take mine? Why isn't that a fine idea? The family can still own you, but you'll be my personal beast! It'll be our little secret for now, but don't worry I'll be sure to get it approved with the boss one of these days."


Without delay the man produced a long metal brand, one he had been burning over a propane torch above Kota, well out of his sight, well above anywhere he could angle his neck. That sizzle, what was that!? Kota would think moments before the man brought the scorching hot brand down to his eye level so he could see. His eyes went wide, warm tears streamed down his face, he'd scream loudly before it all went blank.


The Present...


His mind, his memories, Kota shook away the thoughts with the last bit of hot water. It all felt a million miles away now, that past, feeling much of anything, he was a dog Kawajima was right about that. He was a dog this much was true, albeit one they forgot to feed, one that then proceeded to rip everyone of their throats out and set fire to their family, but a dog all the same. Kota sighed turning the water off and grabbing the towel off the rack, he'd proceed to dry his hair, stepping out of the shower and into the still steamy air without batting much of an eye.


He'd pause to glance around the room, shaking some of the water out of his ear without much mind before sniffing the air to note the fragrance that seemed to cling to the walls. Some flowery soap and wet hair, oh and blood now too. He'd smile slightly taking a single step forward only to freeze in place as the door handle jiggled and the door began to lurch forward. Kota looked down at the towel in his hand, though he could use it to choke a man to death in a pinch he doubted he could close the gap to the door in time to beat a bullet. That just left his gun, which Kota reached for, abandoning his towel in favor of the weapon and pulling the hammer back on the pistol just in time for Yeon Jae to come into view.


Kota would freeze, his eyes locking on Yeon Jae's form for a few seconds before he ejected the round from the slide and placed the gun's safety back on before placing it onto the counter. If he'd had known Yeon Jae was the intruder he wouldn't have aimed a gun at her, but by now he was sure that was of secondary concern, the first quickly becoming his nudity. Though Kota didn't feel bashful, having been beaten and stripped more times than he could count, he knew how being naked made most people feel. He'd sigh, noting Yeon Jae's hand over her eyes, maybe she hadn't seen him aim the gun, he'd wonder as he turned to grab the towel, turning his back on Yeon Jae and crouching down to pick it up. As he did, the unmistakable mark of a brand could be seen on the right of his rear, crass markings made it seem as if he'd attempted to claw it out in vain.


Kota would grab the towel, yanking it up with his tattoo sleeved arm, and wrapping it around his waist. He'd turn back toward Yeon Jae rather stoically, "I'm not picky" he'd mutter about the food, "Something hot though" he'd elaborate not really wanting to go into his general distaste of cold foods. Kota would sigh as he glanced at his old clothes noting that they were covered in blood, guess he'd have to settle for the towel for now he'd reason as he approached Yeon Jae casually, patting her on the head and ruffling her hair ever so, "Thank you for the hospitality" he'd say simply before walking past her, tucking his gun into his towel, and taking a seat in Yeon Jae's meager apartment living room.

@Mine​

 

[Vii]

The sound...it was all in all too familiar to her. She hated it. That void, mechanical click that would softly reach her ears, stiffen her body completely. She could not see it, she could not feel it but she knew. It was right there, pointed at her. The intruder, the one whose fate was decided by a bullet. It all stopped, time, space whatever you could call it. For one moment, it was if the world would end for her completely.

But no sound was made, no pain ached within her head, chest, nor any other part in her body. No impact whatsoever took place in that tiny apartment. As the gun was pulled away from her, so it seemed. A few seconds, that was all it took. But for Yeon Jae, defenseless, blinded by her own accord, it were no seconds. It was all it took for her to assimilate what would have taken place right there, in that instant. And her body trembled, shocking her completely. Shouldn't she find this...normal? Kota was only acting out of his own instincts. She was the one at fault for simply entering without prior notice. Yes, that was the truth.

But one could not change the fact that her body trembled ever so slightly, her eyes widened albeit covered by her hand.

She still kept it in the same place she had assigned it to be. She stood still, waiting for something, anything. She simply could not move. It was only when she heard his voice that she was able to actually breathe. "Ah, I see. I could only expect that from you." She did it, no stuttering, not even a hint of nervousness in her giggle as she paused. "I'll prepare you a hot meal of course!" She then protested, her voice showing a somewhat playful indignation. "It's cold and raining, Kota, who do you take me for, an idiot?" She would actually pout at him but no, that would be too much. She walked on thin ice here, she needed to be careful.

Otherwise...

It was all going well...but then his touch brought her act to an abrupt end. But not of fear, no. This time it was merely out of surprise that her body slightly trembled under his grasp. His hand ruffling her hair emanated a sense of shock within the depths of her being. Though his hand is rough...it feels warm. Could it be from the water? Weren't his hand always warm? Ahh, she couldn't even tell anymore. It was all such a blur now.

Her hand was slowly removed from her face, as she turned to face him from behind, with what one would only describe as dazed look. It was all so bizarre for her. One moment she was struck by the fear of having him shoot at her and now this. ...Broad back. Kota's body wasn't just for show, after all. Even under his clothes, he had a most certainly lean physique. Just staring from behind, she could tell...

Wait, what? Again?! What was with her today and these seemingly perverted thoughts about Kota?! Ridiculous, ridiculous! Slapping her cheeks energetically, she dashed across the living room, entering her room and after a few seconds exiting it and handing the Dog a set of clothes. "Here, try them. Tell me if they are too small or big." Avoiding his eyes. A soft yet nervous voice. Was she blushing too? Oh God, no, anything but that, she could not even tell if she was or not. So much for keeping up a front.

And with that, she was off into the kitchen, leaving him to his state of undress. The door was closed as normally as she could possibly pull off. At least that... A deep sigh escaped from her lips, her eyes wandering until reaching the white ceiling, one that she was so familiar with. Bad for the heart. Yes, that was definitely what had just happened in only a matter of minutes for her.

Always with Kota, huh...

Her hand reached her locks of platinum blonde hair, capturing them in a side bun that she always felt comfortable with, especially at home. Perhaps this would settle her down, having this sense of familiarity, comfort surrounding her. Besides, cooking was an activity one would never do with half-assed intentions. That statement applied to her situation in a way. Reaching the counter, she began to assort the ingredients needed for...for what exactly? She still had to decide what to cook for Kota. Why were men so...difficult when it came to stuff like this? She just hoped he would be honest and tell her how bad it was.

Yes, she was a well-aware of her disastrous performance at cooking. She didn't even try to deny it herself. There was a reason why she was never allowed to set foot onto the Satsuma's HQ kitchen. Cooking and Yeon Jae equaled a bad result of any kind. Fire, explosions or even just burnt meals. The worst part was how she had no idea what she was doing wrong. Well, at the time, that is. Many different mistakes would be made in order to get this unpleasing mess of a result.

Before she knew it, all ingredients she had asked Kota to bring were spread on top of the counter before her own eyes. Alright, think, Yeon Jae, what would Kota like for a meal after all this? The sight of ground beef gave her an idea. She knew Kota liked American drinks. Could that apply to food as well? She was not very acquainted with American dishes but hamburgers were hamburgers. Just giving it a familiar touch from her wouldn’t hurt, would it…?

Slamming her hands on the table, she cut off the hesitation in her intentions, looking up for a recipe on her smartphone. Soo, her hands washed, her body covered by a simple apron, she began making the dish for today, Hamburger with Daikon Oroshi. "Bread crumbs, milk..." The Korean hacker murmured to herself as she would pick them up..

Mixing ingredients into a bowl was easy enough. The key was to follow each step carefully, adding each one on the right amount. Her hands skillfully handled the objects within her grasp, giving her little by little a sense of somewhat nostalgia. No...Melancholy would probably be the best word to describe. Closing her eyes for a moment, she drew a deep breath out of impulse, letting her hands rest against the counter. She was overreacting, perhaps even acting childishly at this point but...

It was all still too vivid inside her head. How her hands would elegantly move, the humming of a song you would hear from historical dramas, the warmth of the dim sunlight through the window,... Did she ever made this recipe? She couldn't remember. I mean, how could she...? Didn't she want to throw those memories away? To forget how it all started?....Yes. But unfortunately, she couldn't. The past was the past and there was nothing she could do to change that.

Clack, clack, clack...

The sound of the knife chopping the onions on the wooden surface on top of the counter invaded her ears, as if she listened to her own heartbeat growing louder and louder. It hurt her, it left her disgusted, annoyed. That sound, that smell, it was all so sick, so nauseating. A voice...a voice would take its place, words that began to form sentences, sentences that formed a speech. Such a long, long speech. Never coming to an end, never pausing. Just growing louder, so very loud.

"...why do you always do this?"



"Why can't you be more like..."



"...so disappointed..."



"Say something already!"

And then a scream of pain, the sound of metal clattering onto the floor. Scarlet red stained her skin, an aching sensation in her finger. It took her a few seconds to assimilate her senses into comprehending the nature of the situation. Her reaction was slow, ascending into a somewhat state of panic little by little. It wouldn't stop, the red would only keep pouring, even letting a few drops slip from her body. Her other hand blindly looked for anything that she could use to press to stop the bleeding. She simply stood there, sitting down on the cold floor, leaning against the counter, staring at the stained napkin. She just...didn't have the energy to move. For a brief moment, she stood still, silent. She couldn't say state the reason, she simply...couldn't move in that moment.

It was only after a few minutes that her legs brought her up and about. Wrapping the napkin around her finger for now, she placed the chopped onions into the bowl along with the rest of the ingredients. Making absolute sure she would not infect the meal, Yeon Jae would soon find herself in the last stages of the recipe, now grilling the burger, staring at it with a calm expression. Aside from her finger, there was no way someone could tell what had happened, right? Then again, had something really happened in the first place?...No, no, it had not. That's what she kept telling herself.



".....When are you two kids getting married?"

Why was she remembering that now of all times? Maybe...because she had screwed up at even cutting something? Some wife she would be...she couldn't even tell if the hamburger was cooked already. She could still see traces of red so perhaps a bit longer...? Or not? Ugh, no matter! Why care?! Why should she care?! It was probably just crap no matter how hard she tried, just like all her other attempts in the past. Everything she touched would slowly succumb to this. It hurt, it made it hard to breathe, it prickled her eyes... No, don't you dare crying! Don't show weakness, never show weakness! And why would she even cry for?! It was just food! Just food!

It was just food...right?

@killerlung
​

 

[killerlung]

Kota took his seat on Yeon Jae's modest couch without much of a word, truth be told it was a heck of a lot nicer than his own, even if there wasn't much to it. Kota glanced down at a few scattered magazines, glancing at them with the sort of confused expression one might expect from a child regarding something for the first time. Is this what people did? Contented themselves with what was 'in season'!? The ways so called experts informed them to acquire mates!? Or worse yet the ways they could be more like other useless albeit better off pups, the self righteous ones, the ones who's bark was certainly better than their bite.


Kota cringed, shuddering a bit, is this what would help them survive? Is this what it meant to live as a human being!? Kota sighed loudly before Yeon Jae returned with a change of clothes. Kota would accept them, thanking her for her hospitality once again before pausing. Wait, was she red? Did she have a fever? Kota would think to himself as he dropped the clothes on the ground and reached a hand out toward Yeon Jae's forehead to check her temperature. He wouldn't say much as the two stood in silence, Kota's dull expression a little more focused than usual as he leaned forward his eyes intent on studying Yeon Jae for a moment before retracting his hand. "You're fine, a little warm, no fever" he'd mutter before turning back to the clothes. He'd pull the gun out from the back of his towel placing it on the couch gingerly besides the set of fresh clothes. Then without much in the way of hesitation Kota would unravel the towel around his waist, not really paying attention as to whether or not Yeon Jae had made it into the kitchen yet.


Truth be told he didn't see a point in waiting, or in modesty for that matter. Getting caught with his pants literally down seemed like a recipe for disaster in the event of an attack, and that was his job. Kota pulled the pants up wondering for a moment who's they were, he'd spend a moment with the thought before shrugging it off, it didn't really matter so long as they fit, he'd reason before grabbing the sweater and sliding it on. It wasn't exactly what one might call his style, a little festive for his tastes, but it was warm and dry, something Kota wouldn't be without it.


Kota would grab the gun from the couch and slide it between the small of his back and jeans before deciding to walk over to the window sill. As rain dropped here and there Kota watched people walk along the busy streets, or at least he attempted to from what little view Yeon Jae's flat had afforded him. Kota stared at the people, aimless sheep wandering through the night, unknowing or unwilling to know just how many wolves walked among them. Kota wondered what kind of lives they led, what it felt like to be so weak before he'd notice a red marking a quarter of an inch to his left and just a hair higher than him.


Kota's eyes fixated on the mark before he cut his gaze back toward the street, his eyes darting around here and there until finally he saw it a glint reflecting off an especially bright neon sign. A glint on an otherwise dark rooftop, Kota's eyes narrowed before he leapt to the floor just in time to hear the window burst into small fragments of glass. That was a spotters mark, probably left whenever Yeon Jae had last left the house in order to line up a shoddy sniper's shot.


Kota scrambled, slamming himself up against a wall where the window had no viable view and pulling his gun. With a pistol there was no way he could make the shot, but there was always the alternative. Kota wouldn't have time to find the light switches, no at any moment Yeon Jae could come out of the kitchen wondering what all the commotion was and then he'd fail the job.


As Kota thought on his plan, he'd hear a scream from the kitchen and on instinct move into action. Without a second thought he'd shoot every light in the house, every lamp, lightbulb, even a few lit screens. He'd then run full force for the kitchen, banking his life on the sniper not having a long range thermal scope handy. A single frustrated shot would cause a shell to land futilely a few yards away. Good, he didn't he'd think to himself as he turned a corner into the kitchen to find Yeon Jae more or less alright. She was clutching her hand as if it were cut but she was still cooking all the same, had she really zoned out that much!? He'd wonder, after all he'd just discharged a good eight or so rounds in her house.


Kota would think back to when he first met Yeon Jae and sigh a sigh somewhere between exasperation and relief. Kota hated hostage situations, they were messy and honestly ended the same way as a straight kill job anyway. He'd enter the kitchen, sniffing the air and trying his best not to cut his eyes at the odd mix of flavors. "We've got to go" he'd mutter low as he reached over to the stove in front of Yeon Jae and turned the gas off with a dull sort of expression.


"Take what you need, stay away from windows" he'd mutter adding to his previous statement without furnishing any explanation. He'd pause a moment wondering if his words got through to her before adding as simple, "I'll be at the door, people will come, and we don't have enough dinner". Kota wouldn't acknowledge the last part, perhaps it was his attempt at humor, or perhaps he was really actually being protective of the meal. Either way Kota wouldn't give an indication either way as he turned on his heels.


And with that he'd be off, turning away from Yeon Jae without another word and making his way toward her front door. He'd reload his gun with a magazine he'd pilfer from his bloody crumpled up clothes in the corner and stand watch through the keyhole at the front. Sooner or later they'd probably send someone, then again if they were smart hunting dogs they'd just cover the exits. Chances though were they were neither, they were probably arrogant lap dogs, dogs with stunted growth from too many easy meals. Kota bet they'd be here any minute, charging in to finish what they'd started. Like barking poodles and harmless Dachshunds, they'd come for their easy supper, the type of supper they were all too used to finding, and instead they'd find him, hungry and waiting.


Truth be told Kota was hungry, though something might tell someone it wasn't for food, rather bloodshed seemed to be on the menu, and a part of Kota couldn't help but react to it, his hair on end, his eyes beginning to light up ever so slightly. Kota would grab a single full pill from his pocket, undoubtedly another salvaged souvenir from his now ruined wardrobe, and without a word he'd pop it, chewing it up and forcing the thing down his throat. He'd grin slightly as he gulped it down, a good offense is the best defense he'd reason, and considering Yeon Jae's safety, it looked like this was easily the best time to come off the leash.


@Mine

 

[Vii]

Breath in, breath out. Breath in, breath out. Breath in, breath out.


She repeated it once, twice, eventually losing count of it. She had to calm down, she had to. This was all just…ridiculous. Now, of all times, she had to crumble down like this. How many years had it been? Ten? Twelve? Why? Just why? Wiping the tears was easy, sure, but the rest? Yeon Jae tried slapping her cheeks, trying to escape…escape what? Disgust was all she could feel at the moment. Could it be that? Or something else? Pathetic. And once again, a smell of burnt food filled her nose. It was poignant, nauseating. Even more than it usual. She couldn’t even stand up properly, only managing to do so with the support of the counter. Betraying her attempts to clear out any traces of what had just taken place, she sniffled while ripping a piece of fabric from the napkin, wrapping it around her hand tightly. Perhaps this way would be more effective to staunch it… A sigh escaped her lips as her arm fell limp. The hamburger was clearly inedible just by looks alone. Like a piece of coal.


She simply stood there, observing it with a blank stare. It was only but a few minutes later that her body moved, as her hand caught a few locks of hair free from her ponytail, brushing them behind her ear. She really couldn’t explain why she had done so of all things. It was an impulse, a reflex. It shattered her state of comatose delusion, breaking her through reality. But the flame was still there, the hamburger still burning, the smell still making her nose twitch in disgust. Snap out of it. Just snap out of it. She slapped herself again. And again. Her eyes prickled in pain. No, no, no, no, stop it. Don’t…! It was as if she had been broken, completely unable to control her actions or even her emotions.


But then, it finally reached her. Sound. No, not just any sound. The sound of a gun. Gunshots. Again and again. They wouldn’t stop, just kept going. She grabbed her head violently, covering her ears. It was if…Ringing and ringing, it wouldn’t cease. Silence. Was it over? What was going? Had someone broke in..? Was…was Kota alright? Were those shots his doing or…? No, no, she shook her head. She couldn’t even think of that. Her heart pounded loudly, drumming her ears completely. She clutched her hand, her eyes glued to the door. Her feet wouldn’t move. She wasn’t scared, she couldn’t be. She had been part of crossfires before, hadn’t she? Why was she hesitating?!


…Perhaps because she was not part of it? Because…she was the reason why the bullets had broken through the window? She just didn’t know what to do at this point. Yeon Jae was at loss completely. Kota, Kota, Kota. She kept repeating his name in her head. A prayer? A plea? She wouldn’t stop, but her voice would not come out. She couldn’t even whisper it.


The door opened at last, as if answering to her call. Yeon Jae stood still, as the only sound she could heart was that of her heartbeat, violently absorbing all of her. The vision before her was nothing but that in her eyes and the whisper could not reach her. But little by little, she soon came to her senses, finding Kota’s dull gaze right before her own eyes as she raised her head. She barely caught his orders as her heartbeat began to smoothen, the numbness of her body abandoning her. She could only nod her head clumsily. They were now targets, they needed to get out of there as soon as possible. Of course, of course. If Kota had not been there… No, this was not the time for this, they had to leave.


Her silent stare, devoid of any of her usual emotional transparency, was a clear witness to Kota’s ambiguous comment. After he turned his back at her, a clumsy gasp escaped her lips. Ah. Wait…had she just laugh? No, giggle? She wasn’t even sure if he was joking or not. And besides, wasn’t this a tense and critical scenario? How could she do that at a time like this?...Of course. She was nervous, it was natural to react in such a bizarre way. Or at least, it always had been her way of coping with it.


Her body began moving on its own, her hands touching and wandering through cupboards and whatnot. The gun she kept hidden inside the kitchen, a wad of cash, a hoodie, a prepaid cellphone. Yes, those were enough. She had all she needed, including the knife stuck in one of her boots. As she dashed towards the door, following Kota’s orders safely to not approach the windows, her ponytail became a side bun, making it easier for her to hide her hair under the hood of the jacket she had brought with her. When she finally reached the door, her eyes scanned the apartment once more. Could this be the last time that she was here? Probably…after all this, it would be unlikely that anyone would let her come back after all this mess…or even have her place in the first place. Such was the life of a gangster. Still, it had been good while it lasted. With a tired smile, she gestured Kota to move forward before shutting the door of room 709. Goodbye.


And with that, they were on their own. In quiet steps, Yeon Jae headed to the fire escape, checking if the coast was clear. “…The exit through the fire escape is safe. Or should we be natural about all this?” Her voice was finally heard after all this, calm and clear as always. One could detect a certain hint of nervousness in her speech as she returned to Kota’s side but it was subtle. She awaited his reply all the while her eyes darted through the hallway, trying to be as discreet as possible but ultimately be betrayed by the tension dominating her. The sight of Kota indulging himself in what could possibly be an overdose of pills was not particularly good for her either. Why would he do that…? For the upcoming scenario? Or hunger? The latter made her fidget nervously, recalling her experience in the kitchen. “…I’ll…I’ll treat you after this. It’s a promise.” A smile. A tired yet all the while genuine smile.


@killerlung

 

[killerlung]

Monsters, for as long as mankind has existed so too have nightmares of creatures far beyond their understanding, far too cruel to bend to reason, or too powerful to be bound by convention. For centuries parents have told their kids stories of these mythic and terrifying beasts, the kind that would prey upon their fears and do unspeakable things to them if they didn't behave. As those kids grew up they'd come to find that monsters weren't real at all, that they weren't waiting for them in the night, that they were free to act as they pleased, and if pushed even become akin to the creatures they once feared.


Perhaps that was what the men storming Yeon Jae's building were attempting to be when they came face to face with a real monster, when their nightmares became realized mere moments before the cruel scythe of death crept over them and extinguished their flames.


It would start simple enough, as Yeon Jae followed Kota out of the apartment and into the hallway. Kota would storm down the hall, sniffing the air without much of a word. He'd watch as Yeon Jae checked the fire escape and shake his head 'no' before pointing toward the hallway and moving forward. Though almost as soon as he'd start he'd pull Yeon Jae aside as they neared another intersecting hall. He'd stop, waiting for three shadows to dart by, all brandishing weapons, all grim faced, and dedicated to their job. Good Kota would think, relishing in the challenge of taking down focused men.


That was when it started, when the monster in the guise of a man was unleashed upon what ultimately amounted to scared children. It'd start with the third man that past, the rear of the three thugs. Kota would step behind him his arm darting out to cover the man's mouth while his other hand slashed his throat open with a simple butterfly pocket knife. Kota wouldn't mind the blood, though he was sure to avoid a majority of the spray, making sure it leaked out away from the clothes Yeon Jae had thoughtfully lent him. He'd grab the man's gun, just in time to see his two friends turn from the lack of footsteps from their rear.


BLAM BLAM


The gun was warm in his hand as Kota watched the two men fall, he'd sigh walking up to them and crouching low to finish them both with his knife. Wiping the blood from his knife nonchalantly as he waited for Yeon Jae to catch up. He'd hear a creak from down the hall, stopping his work scavenging rounds from the not yet cold bodies long enough to listen to the next creak. Without so much as a nod he'd dart off again, pulling out his gun from the small of his back and running full force into the stairwell door.


The old door would creak and flex before falling forward, the hinges too old and rotten to hold it in place after Kota slammed into it. On the other side of the door three more men would look terrified as one of their friends faces was broken open by a falling door, and a man with a gun fired off two rounds into another of their friends chest. Kota wouldn't give them time to think or scramble as he darted up from the falling door, sliding his gun into the gasping mouth of the burliest man and angling his gun downwards, pointing his barrel towards the man not quite up the stairs.


BLAM BLAM BLAM BLAM


Kota couldn't help the few flecks of blood that now splattered across his face, with a sigh he'd pop his back as the now thoroughly dead man's mouth slid off the barrel of his gun. He'd glance toward the dead man in front of him, the one he'd shot through the man's friend. He'd smile a little, turning back on his heels as he wiped some of the blood and spit off his gun making a slightly disapproving face as he walked back to the man he'd crushed under the door and fired off three shots to finish him as well. For a moment he'd pause thinking he'd forgotten something, but upon further inspection he'd note his prey was in fact dead. He'd pause scratching his head before glancing up to see Yeon Jae's face, Oh yes that was it, defense he was playing defense! Kota would glance up with those same dulled eyes and grab Yeon Jae's hand dragging her down the stair case, past the still warm bodies and out the side exit.


Without much in the way of words or action they'd find themselves in a especially dirty alley, and Kota would stop glancing from side to side before ushering Yeon Jae forward. He'd note the coast was clear but do so with an heir of skepticism, they had to have most of the exits covered by now, was the shit shot sniper lined up to take the shot!? He'd think before noting the canopy provided by people's hanging clothes. No, they couldn't see them, so where was the shitty sniper!? He wanted to eat him, to tear him apart piece by piece, but if he already fled the chance of ever finding him again, heck of even knowing he found the right guy, was definitely off.


The two would make for an intersection of adjoining buildings and alleys before a shot would ring out behind them, breaking the relative silence of their pitter pattering footsteps and the shallow splashes of feet through puddles. Kota would pause, turning his gaze back to spot a man holding a rifle and hanging from the fire escape. His brow would furrow as he recognized the figure, YES! This was what he wanted! A big fish to fry, a good fight! Kota pushed Yeon Jae forward ushering her to escape down the alley as he turned back towards the man he recognized as the Monkey King of Hong Kong. The Gun for Hire, if you could call him that of notable prestige, and substantial ability.


"Ah so the Tokyo dog is her bodyguard, guess this'll be fun then, ehhh Dog?" the monkey would jeer. To which Kota would grin, oh yes this would do fine he'd think to himself as he walked forward.


"Monkeys shouldn't talk..." Kota would murmur back as he pulled his gun from his pocket pulling the trigger on the monkey only to hear a resounding click.


Kota would sigh putting the gun back on his person before pulling a knife and walking forward just as the Monkey jumped down from the fire escape and stared down at his own rifle. "Ah I see, would've got rid of me the easy way if you could? Well dumbass guess I won't pull any punches then." The snide ex Triad heavy hitter would chime jovially as he dismantled the rifle with a few measly motions. What he was left with was the barrel as the other components fell away, and he'd brandish it expertly, spinning it through his fingers before holding it in front of him like a shortened staff.


Kota would reach into his pocket producing a pocket knife of no notable length and flicking it open with a cool steady gaze. He'd stand crouched and at the ready, his eyes lighting up, his pulse quickening. Little did he know a grin was growing wider on his face as he stood there, "Good." he'd mutter to the monkey's offhand remark about going all out. Kota was ready for a real fight, and in a blur he'd run down the alley closing the gap between the two in what seemed like an instant. He'd dart his closed knife holding fist out to strike at the monkey, but feel the hard steel of the gun barrel collide with his ribs causing his jab to miss pricking his opponents neck and instead meet nothing but air.


Kota would dart back a few meters out of reach his eyes wide as he felt the pain shoot out, yes he'd definitely broken one or two ribs, but as he looked up at the monkey he'd notice the cut on the man's cheek that was now starting to bleed. On the other hand he'd managed to start the bloodbath, even if it was only a trickle, for now.


@Mine

 

[Vii]

Duo to this roleplayer's own incompetence, this character was given a male name instead of a female's. As such, she will be given a new name: Heejung Kim, as it is both more appropriate and more common. Apologies for this stupid mistake.

Her eyes had carefully observed the metallic object, carving every detail into her mind. Its shape, its texture, its appearance...It was heavy. The thought crossed her mind at the time, as if a flash of clarity. Never would she had believed this fact if it were not for this moment. The weight of taking away a life, a metaphor for the small handgun that she grasped in her hand. But it felt heavy, it was heavy. "Don't space out." His voice abruptly reached her ears, making her body jolt instantly as she positioned herself. "Yessir." The response still felt bizarre as it escaped her mouth...


One, two, three shots were fired. Make each one count. She reloaded it as quickly as she could. Three shots once again. Never avert your eyes from the target. Reload and repeat. She kept going until there were no more bullets. "Too slow. Again." The command had came before she could even have time to breath. A sigh. A head tilt. Silence. "...Do you want to rest?" Silence. "...No, sir." A wry smirk. "Datta girl." Hence and repeat. Each shot echoing through her.


--An empty warehouse.


--The smell of cigarettes.


--A hoarse laughter.


Yes, she still remembered that distant memory.


Heejung followed him without a word, her eyes darting furtively for any sign of movement as they moved forward. An unnecessary strategy, she knew it to be true. But old habits died hard. Each step would only increase the tension consuming her body entirely, all the while leading her to rely on both caution and her senses. In spite of this, there was not much she could do. Kota was the alpha if she were to put this scenario in her own words. Experience spoke louder than anything here, as well as talent. She did everything she was instructed to do, keeping her lips pressed together, silent. The thought of Kota taking down the men only by his own means left a lingering feeling of uneasiness fill her. Not out of disbelief on his abilities, she had witnessed them on their first meeting after all...but of something else entirely...


And so, it started. One by one, the men would fall limp onto the floor, as if rag dolls thrown at the ground. Scarlet would stain the walls, the floor and their bodies, as if symbolizing the presence of death there. The sound of the bullets echoed through the hallway, reaching her as if shot in the distance. All was a blur, a mesh of images tainted by blood, she ignored it, she ignored everything. The only thing she could see was Kota's back in front of her, guild her through a path of corpses. His pace was her pace, every movement he made her eyes would follow. She felt numb, as if she was about to drown into her unconscious completely. But she held on, desperatly trying to grasp reality. But Kota could not wait for her forever.


Before she knew it, it all hadstarted once again, taking away her breath completely. The gun located on her back felt as if burnt her skin, as she tood motionlessly there, watching as Kota would tear apart the scenery before her own eyes. The screams and groans of pain, the gunshots, the blood, the pile of bodies increasing and increasing... She could not avert her eyes, she could not cover her ears. No, not anymore. She could never do so again. At the same time, she could not even move from her spot. She was but a bystander, a spectator. Nothing more, nothing less.


It was only when she saw it. A smile. That small smile that sent her body into a state of momentary bewilderment, shaking every inch of it without any mercy. No, no, she could not react like this. This...this was Kota. Violence was part of his character entirely. That much she was aware of. But the sight was still something she felt rather…affected by. Perhaps because it was something that she could never understand. The scenario they had been sucked in could be something she could endure, but awakening a rush of adrenaline or even joy was something she really could not relate to. She felt…indifferent to it, to say the least. Almost immune, if she were to put in words, if not for how at loss she felt for witnessing such a reaction to all this. When she met his eyes, that dull gaze that induced her into a state of precariousness, she felt trapped, as if caught off guard. When his hand clasped hers, her body tensed up. But she still followed, she let herself get dragged further into the depths of this scenario in order to escape it.


But the most bizarre thing was the impulsive action she did not even try to resist. She gripped the strong, big hand that pulled hers. To not falter their pace? To show him how stiff she felt at all this?... Or to reassure herself of his presence? Once again, she felt at loss of what to say for herself. Soon after, they would find themselves outside at last. But even after all this trail of corpses left behind, she could still sense Kota’s wariness flowing through his skin. There was still someone, at least one more person that they needed to be cautious. Perhaps…a sniper? Someone had shot the window in her apartment, after all. The Dog would only grow more and more excited while the Rat’s anxiety would only become more apparent.


The escape continued, though Heejung was not sure herself of what was their destination. Did Kota know…? The headquarters were the wisest choice, seeing how they were still being chased. Involving others in this was also not the best choice here. It seemed their only option for now was to move forward. That was until they were caught by a bullet. In an empty alley swarmed by the remains of rain, a man stood nearby, pointing a rifle at them. Bingo. She could tell Kota had thought the same as her, giving his reaction. But even that did not leave her any less restless. As he started to speak, she could not help but tightly grip the hand that still held onto hers. He had come for her, of course. And he knew well his target, from the looks of it. He was most likely connected to the Zodiac.


But what animal would he be…? It seemed she would need to ask Kota after this. Yes, they would escape this. And the she would treat him to a meal, like she had promised at her building. Such optimism. But in a world like this, you would either give up or keep going. And she was not too fond of the former in the least. She trusted Kota’s abilities. But regardless, the feeling of frustration would not leave her be. Wasn’t there anything she could do to help?


No. This was between them, or so it seemed. Could this two have some kind of history…? It wasn’t far-fetched but…well, it wasn’t like she knew Kota well enough to be able to tell if he harbored something towards this whole thing. Even after all this time, Heejung would keep showing traces of the foolish and confused girl that Kota had been assigned to save that day. In all honesty, it was enraging. But she had never been a fighter to begin with. She knew how to defend herself but aside from that, she was nothing. The only thing she could do right now was to not get in her bodyguard’s, as the man had put it, way.


But even if he told her to escape, she stood still, observing the scenario before her own eyes. Run? And leave him be with the sniper? It was the right thing to do. It was the wise thing to do. But she didn’t do it. Her hand reached for her back, snapping the Beretta hidden on the waistband of her pants. Loaded, ready. It all happened in a matter of seconds. Three shots. Those were all she needed. No need to get cocky, no need to play safe. Chest, neck, stomach. One of them would do the trick, inflicting pain and shock all at once. After all, she was the target, the victim. Why would she have a gun? Why would she shoot? Because she was the Rat. Not a clueless hacker hidden inside her apartment, following the orders of a mafia leader out of fear. Silent, Heejung did not waste the precious time she had been given. She grabbed Kota’s hand and dragged him out of the alley, joining the large crowd of Japanese civilians walking down the streets of Tokyo.


“…He can’t shoot like this, can’t he?” That was all that she could say as they camouflaged themselves, hidden by the heads of hundreds of other men and women. They had to blend, to not attract any attention. Her heartbeat would keep pounding from this whole experience and her body was still tense. But she held on to Kota’s hand, bringing herself closer to him. A couple walking down the street. On a date or something. Nothing suspicious, nothing out of the ordinary.


But…now what?


This fight was not over just yet.


@killerlung