The Yellow Flag took on the same form with the usual crowd. A table with no gun was an empty table, and most of the tables had a card game of some kind going. Bao cleaned the mugs and glasses. He seemed to be in an abnormally happy mood, probably due to the bar being up to snuff again after a recent "accident".

The front doors creaked open and in the door way stood a teenage boy with a katana on his back. He took his time making his way towards the counter. As he did, he observed every inch and corner, making sure not to make eye contact, though not out of fear, but to avoid a fight. Occasionally one of the tenets would look back at him but none cared to bother the kid. Sitting down at the main counter, he waited for Bao to react.

Bao peaked at the kid for a second, and then looked back at the mug he was cleaning.

"We don't serve milk here kid. Get on outta here."

The kid looked at Bao in silence. It seemed as though the kid was glaring at him but there was no anger or irritation in his voice when he spoke.

"That's fine," the kid finally responded. "I'm merely looking for someone."

"I'm not an information booth. Go home." Bao responded, looking more irritated now.

"His name is Anton, he works for a woman name Balalaika of Hotel Moscow," the kid continued. Bao looked up from his cleaning not to Anton, but instead to Balalaika. "I figured that name would get your attention."

"I don't know how you're involved with Hotel Moscow but as far as I've heard Anton is no longer a part of it." Bao said.

In the back of the room, a man who had been sitting in the back of the bar alone suddenly stood up. The man was obviously drunk, swaying a little as he stood, and it looked as though he had not slept in days. He wore a suit that was unbuttoned, wrinkled and had a few stains on it.

"What do you want kid?" the man asked. Although he seemed drunk, he was able to talk just fine.

The kid peered back towards the man. "You are Anton?"

"Yeah, what's it to you?" Anton responded.

The kid stood up from his seat and turned to one of the men sitting near him.

"Would you mind standing up for a second?" the kid asked in a polite tone. The man merely growled and went back to his game. "I'll buy you a drink of any kind, on Anton of course."

"What?!" Anton responded angrily. The man, interested in what the kid was going to do, stood up and moved to the side. Anton began to march towards the kid. Taking his time, the kid moved his foot underneath the seat, and then set his eyes on Anton. When the kid felt he had a lock on Anton, he kicked the chair into the air then grabbed it. Swinging his arm back, he threw the chair into the Anton's face. The wood shattered on Anton, and as he tried to regain sight of the kid, he pulled a pistol from inside his suit. When he finally regained his sight, the boy was crouching on the table in front of Anton, katana already drawn and pointed at Anton's chest. Anton quickly attempted to shoot the threat in front of him. Just as he did, the kid thrust the katana through the barrel and into the man's chest.

Everyone looked shocked at the spectacle. As quickly as the fight had begun, it had ended.

***

"Kapitan." Boris said, entering the room only after making sure she was not busy.

"Boris, what is it?" Balalaika responded.

"A call from Russia, from Hibiki."

"Hibiki? I have not heard that name for a long time." Balalaika waved for Boris to leave, then answered the phone. "It has been a long time Hibiki."

The voice on the other side was a low, cheerful voice. The man laughed on the other side. "It certainly has, though as I recall, it was on your terms that we split ways."

"And you know better that anyone else why. Now, what is it that you need?" Balalaika responded, trying to keep the conversation short.

"Ah yes, well, it is in fact about the incident that caused us to part ways." Hibiki stated.

"Hmmm?"

"It's the boy, he's escaped."

"And tell me, why is that a problem for me?"

"He's been hunting for people, people who were involved in his capture and… enhancing."

"I don't see why that's a problem for-" Balalaika stopped a second. "Anton."

"Who?"

"He was the one who I asked to find you a subject. I don't need to worry though. When I found out that he went against my directions for that particular assignment I made him leave Hotel Moscow. He was lucky I decided to just let him leave instead of taking him out myself." Balalaika took out one of her cigars and snipped the end off.

"That's not why I'm calling you Balalaika."

***

The kid took Anton's wallet from him and threw it to the man he took the chair from.

"Also pay back the bartender for the chair I just broke, and then spend whatever is left on whatever you want."

"As you know, Balalaika, the boy had no name when you first delivered him, at least he wasn't supposed to." Hibiki began.

"Yes, I know. Although Anton is the one I sent to find what you wanted, I accept that I am partially to blame for him failing to follow directions. Do you still call the kid by his given name?"

"You very impressive," a voice said.

The kid was making his way towards the exit, then turned to the voice. Shenhua smiled at the boy waving her kukri knives in front of her.

"Give me try, slash arm off before you even get to me." Shenhua stated.

"And what do I get out of fighting you?" the kid asked, observing the woman that was challenging him.

"What you want?"

The kid was quiet for a second then finally he replied. "A cigar."

"Aren't you too young?"

"Is this really a city that cares?"

Shenhua laughed. "You make good point. Fine."

"No, we gave him a different name. One to match his enhancements." Hibiki replied.

"And that name would be?" Balalaika asked.

"Fine," the kid responded.

Shenhua prepared herself as he reached for the katana attached to his back.

"He is called…Vritra."

Vritra launched himself towards Shenhua. Dodging between tables, he was like a snake in tall grass. Shenhua tossed throwing knives at him but missed each time. Soon Vritra was already in range of her. She swung her kukri knives at him but he slithered past them and around her so that he was directly behind her.

"As you know, our company has been testing with human enhancing so as to make reflexes quicker and muscles more powerful. He is what we produced from our research. After all, the best test subject for that kind of research is a human itself, which Hotel Moscow generously provided."

"I still have yet to see how this impacts me." Balalaika said, opening her lighter to light her cigar.

"Don't you see Balalaika? Anton may have delivered the goods, but you were the one ordered him to get them."

Shenhua turned just as Vritra stopped the blade at her neck. She couldn't move. She stared into his eyes and felt as though the stare itself was piercing through her. Drowning in what seemed like bloodlust, she was unable to fight back anymore.

"So, where's my cigar?"

"He's there for you Balalaika. And he won't leave until you die or he does."

"You underestimate me Hibiki."

Hibiki sighed. "I hope that's the case. Because before he left, he left a message for me."

"And what did it say?"

"Not what did it say, what did it mean?"

"Sorry?"

"Apparently you haven't read on any happenings in Japan. The place where Vritra was being held, everyone who was working there, including the civilians, has been killed."