I OWN NOTHING
For those of you unaware of it, I am as flawed as they come in life, so keep your expectations low and give constructive criticism in case I mess up.
X-X-X-X-X
"Where are we going?"
Kiryu had every right to ask that to an infamous thief and criminal, not once letting any distraction fool him of the petite woman behind him. Roman calmly held an apple in one hand as they walked through many warehouses until arriving to his destination, another warehouse. One thing made it special, the graffiti covering it with a fresh pain of a large Beowulf facing a grown Ursa.
"To a place where everyone can be themselves, beasts fighting for the sake of a good, old-fashioned, bloody battle." Roman motioned to the entrance with his cane, then bit into his apple, "Sho, care to go in?" he tried to be casual with the man to both irk him and make him consider the thief unworthy of a fight. However, Kiryu was no spring chicken.
"After you." The stoic man said and Roman threw up his cane, catching it before opening the door and swallowing.
"Party-pooper." He fake-whined and slipped in, followed by Neo and Kiryu. "Welcome, ladies and gentlemen, to the pit, the hole, the lowest of the low for lowlifes to fight. We call it Rock Bottom." He chanted as a normal announcer would, hefting his cane on a shoulder before taking another bite of his fruit.
Kiryu observed an arena built into an abandoned circular pool with plenty of teenagers and punks cheering on. There were some stands with booths over the crowd for the mobsters and filthy rich to enjoy the spectacle, complete with a DJ booth for announcing and music. Meanwhile, the crowd surrounding the pool directly were either true fans or eager to join into a fight.
"From how you made it sound with proper cash prizes, I expected more." Kiryu told the thief.
Torchwick finished his third bite before replying, "Yeah, doesn't look like much, but you get cash. And some of the bets here do make a good penny."
"And the guy you mentioned?"
"Reigning champ, and a lover of blood." Roman pointed with his cane to a scoreboard behind the DJ, "Make it big, win without any losses, and you face your lead."
"And aid a thief in the process." The stoic man closed his eyes as he had accepted that fact but would never enjoy it.
"Ever heard of fair business? Well, now's your chance to understand what's a good day of hard work." Torchwick's comments started to annoy Kiryu, but he kept his anger down, knowing it was what he wanted. "Anyway, allow me to warn you. Everything goes here. Go nuts, and use those toys we got you, you're forced to at least have a weapon to meet the guy."
Doing as told, Kiryu walked to the arena, people stepping out of his way when seeing the knuckles. Roman didn't take long to announce to his associates what would happen as Kiryu waited at the edge of the pool for his name to be told. It didn't take long as he was called into the arena, taking in more details like barbwire on the walls and some dry blood which hadn't been scrubbed properly.
"HERE HE IS! THE MAN, THE MYTH, KAZUMA KIRYU!" shouted the announcer from his booth, "AND HIS TARGET, COMING ALL THE WAY FROM THE DESERT, A COLD-BLOODED KILLER KNOWN AS...BLADE OF JADE!" the fighter in question was a man who wore a green cloak with a hood, white ballooning shorts, and sandals. In one hand he held a cutlass, in the other a rapier, both with jade handles. Judging by his dark skin, a curly mustache and bald head, he came from one of the desert regions. He was also taller than Kiryu and as slim as Majima.
"Kazuma Kiryu, it shall be my pleasure to bathe my swords in your blood." The fighter said and crossed his swords in front of his face. Kiryu merely raised his fists in a boxing stance, knowing that speed is key. Due to his silent response, Blade of Jade stepped forward, "Farewell, Dragon of Vale, and hello to my legend."
Rushing in for the attack, the swordsman swung his cutlass to force Kiryu back, then leapt forward for a stab with his rapier. A simple strategy, done so fast and efficiently anyone would've died in an instant. Kiryu wasn't just anyone. With the blade already inches from his heart, the suited man punched it down, sending the rapier to the ground and using Blade of Jade's own strength to sink the tip into the floor.
"Is that it!?" Kiryu roared and delivered a solid gut-punch to Blade of Jade, knocking the wind out of him and lifting him a couple feet off the floor. Breathless, the swordsman fell, rolling over with a hand on his stomach and his cutlass still held tight. Kiryu put up his fists and threw some jabs, as if he were shadow boxing, "Come get some."
Groaning, the swordsman got up and pulled his rapier up, gasping before he spoke, "You'll pay for that..." he started spinning his blades at high speeds, fast enough to cut ham into thin slices should anyone throw any at him, "Die at the ancient techniques passed by my ancestors, the legendary speed to leave you behind, Kazuma Kiryu!"
Charging forward, he expected Kiryu to step back or dodge, but the man remained where he was, waiting...until he saw an opening when Blade of Jade attacked, "Ora!" he shouted, punching the first blade with his knuckles once again, and preparing himself for the other, "Ora, ora, ora!" he shouted as his arms became a blur, a rain of fists clashing against the spinning blades and shocking the swordsman.
"W-what!? M-My swords...!" Blade of Jade started to step back as Kiryu kept punching as if being paid for it.
"ORA!" and, with a solid straight punch, he broke the swords and landed one final punch to Blade of Jade's face. The swordsman crashed on the floor, bounced, flipped in the air, and landed face down with a weak groan and no further intentions of trying his luck to become a legend. Needless to say, the crowd loved it as they cheered for Kiryu. Roman enjoyed the show, too.
"And that's some good Lien for Papa!" he chortled, twirling his cane in his hand.
X-X-X-X-X
Meanwhile, Majima was being Majima.
"Ah, so much fish but no sign of Kitty-Cat Blake... Note to self: find proper nickname." Walking through the wooden path over the salty water, the leather-clad madman was starting to lose his patience and get bored. Blake was nowhere to be seen and no one had seen hair or hide from her. Not that he expected them to outright tell him given his appearance, profession and hobbies. Said hobbies included breaking bones, baseball, and the occasional visit to karaoke bars where he dragged an unwilling Junior and a willing set of Malachite twins. Junior himself didn't have a problem with singing, it was with the choreographed dance.
"Hey, what do you think you're doing?" asked an angry teen about 7-foot-tall with a black suit and shirt, getting Majima's attention.
"S-sorry, I didn't mean to do anything bad." Said a girl, a Faunus. Meek, cute, and with long brown hair that made the long rabbit ears that much cuter. She wore a form-revealing brown and black suit with little to no room for the imagination. And, if he had to guess, she had to be a sophomore at Beacon as well as a photographer if her camera clutched tightly in her hands away from the angry teen said anything.
"You think I want some animal taking pictures of me?" the teen immediately became Majima's most disliked person of the day easily.
"I'll delete it, sorry, I'm so-" she gasped when the boy, whose short dark hair, black sandals, and tanned skin suggested he came from a desert region, took her camera from her.
"Sorry doesn't cut it, I don't want you to just say stuff." He smirked and towered over her, grabbing one of her ears, "Why don't you animals stay in your island as you should?"
"Probably because they wanna spite jackasses like you." Majima growled, getting the teen's attention.
"Huh, who're you? Her pimp?" the boy asked vulgarly, further souring Majima's mood.
Majima smiled lazily, acting carefree, "If I was, she'd be too good for a punk-ass like you, even a dead rat's ass would be."
"You b-" the boy tried to hit him, which Majima dodged by stepping forward, tilting his head to the side. "What the...?" he looked around, but the man was returning something.
"Here ya go, girly. Now haul ass outta here." The eyepatch madman said after returning the camera to its owner. Twisting his neck from one side to the other, he cracked the joints before taking a stance. Left arm hanging limply in front of him, body slouched forward, and right fist near the chin. He gave the teen a grin, waiting for a response. And the wait wasn't long.
"Asshole!" the teen shouted, launching a wide hook which Majima spun around, "Argh, where-gck!" he chocked when the leather wearing man grabbed him from behind and put him in a sleeper hold, choking the air out of his lungs. Adding a little more pressure, there was a snap like a piece of celery being broken in two near someone's ears. Everyone gulped, thinking they had seen a boy get killed...until the teen got up.
"Ah, this should be fun, you didn't pass out." Majima cheered while the crowd wondered how he had just not committed murder. Once again, the racist bully raced at the one-eyed man, with the difference being that he pulled out his weapon. Majima watched him pull out two short swords from his back, holding each in a reverse grip. And he had them coated in fire and electricity. It made the madman's day!
"Take this, you one-eyed fu-" the guy tried to cut down Majima, who dashed to the side, "Wha-hey!" he tried again, electricity zipping over Majima's chin when the suited man dashed back, "Get back here!" and a large smile grew wider for Majima as his opponent took the bait. With his stance in place, Majima went low, his arm swinging upwards as his smirk took a far more sadistic tone!
"Hiyah!" he shouted and poked the bully's eyes with two fingers, blinding him.
"Gah, my eyes!" the guy screamed, dropping his weapons and grabbing his face, leaving himself utterly defenseless.
Majima elbowed him, with his left arm, delivered a right hook, threw a wicked jab, and then hopped up and spun around, "Urya!" he exclaimed and slammed his heel on the larger fighter's jaw, breaking loose five teeth and knocking him like a sack of potatoes. But the offender wasn't out, so Majima flipped forward, doing a brief handstand for momentum, and rammed a knee into the teen's gut, finally knocking him out.
With the boy in black put to sleep, the girl gasped in awe, "Amazing..."
Majima chortled as he got up, "Eh, that was a good workout, always feels good to land a finishing blow." He clasped his hands, waiting with a smile...and then frowned, "What? That it? Tch, lame fuckwit shoulda at least walked the walk if he was gonna talk the talk... Man, what a waste of a good punchin' and kickin' session." He sighed in disappointment, the girl shocked even more when he turned, "Yo, girly, ya alright?"
"Um, yes, thank you..." she replied timidly. "Are you...a Faunus too?"
Majima quirked an eyebrow, "Huh? What's with the dumb question? I'm as human as jackass over there."
"Uh, sorry, I didn't mean to-" she was cut off when the man raised a hand.
"Eh, forget it. No need to fret. All I did was follow the old code of life: like and dislike whatever the Hell ya want and don't be a dickhead about it." He snickered at the end, "As for rule two, that's easy: if there is a fuckwit tryin' to feel big ruinin' someone's day, then there's no better bag of douche with a face to ruin."
"I...I see, well, thank you..." the girl awkwardlybowed her head, getting a chuckle from Majima.
"Ah, what a proper and polite cutie you are. It's a wonder this guy bothered ya, 'sides, yer the kinda gal who should be turning heads instead of being harassed by dickheads." The girl blushed at Majima's vulgar if also oddly kind words, smiling slightly. She smiled back and bowed her head in gratitude.
"Thank you, I mean it."
Majima smiled wider, "Yup, girls like you should have fun, find a decent boy while yer at it. Anyway, take care."
"Wait, what's your name, sir?" she asked bashfully.
"Majima." He replied with a soft but genuine smile.
"Thank you, Mr. Majima." She bowed again and left with a skip on her step.
The man kept his smile, 'Feels good to make someone's day like that... Ah well, time to bust some heads to make up for it.'
And that was when his scroll began to ring, "Boss, this is urgent! Word on the street is that Kiryu's on an underground match!"
"What, and he doesn't invite an old pal for some fun?" the eyepatch man growled.
"Boss, I think this is more serious! Roman Torchwick is there, and our boys..."
X-X-X-X-X
"HE'S DONE IT! KIRYU IS UNBREAKABLE, UNBEATABLE, UNYIELDING! WHAT WILL, WHAT MONSTROUS POWER!"
As the announcer rambled on, Kiryu took his time to pull a cigarette, light it, and let the smoke wash away the fire in his lungs, "Man, what a hoot." Roman started as he clapped, walking into the arena. Kiryu kept a stern face as the thief twirled his cane with one hand, "You've made me a very happy, very rich man. However, that will be short-lived."
Kiryu narrowed his eyes slightly, "I am glad..."
"What're you rambling on about now?" Roman asked annoyed at the man's steel nerves.
"I never trusted you from the start, so I had prepared myself to wipe that smug smile off your face." Kiryu then smirked slightly, "I'm glad I get to do it now."
"You're half-right." Roman said and aimed his cane at Kiryu, "You get to try now, if you can deal with these guys." Snapping his fingers, Roman signaled for some of the audience members to discard their disguises, revealing White Fang members armed with short swords, handguns, and assault rifles. All of which entered the small ring with their sights set on Kiryu, "Hey, Eddie-boy! Think I earned that raise!?"
"H-hey, what's going on!?" the announcer yelped as he was held at gunpoint by one of the White Fang members. Every non-Faunus member was held at gunpoint or threatened. From behind the multitude of angry Faunus appeared a massive guy with a white vest and his arms exposed. He wore the mask, had dark skin, a tribal tattoo on one arm, and carried a large chainsaw. Kiryu recognized a face easily, even a masked one, when sensing the intentions in someone's eyes. Hidden or not, those eyes were of a man who deeply hated humans and would savor the pain inflicted on them.
"Shut up already, Torchwick." The large chainsaw-wielder growled, revving his weapon, "And all of you, leave us be, he is mine."
Kiryu glared at him, then spat his cigarette, "Cowardly waiting for me to lose my breath, you're no different than how you claim the Schnee company is, Edward."
"Shut up, Kiryu! You're not on the White Fang's graces, and never will be!" the large lieutenant held up his weapon, "Ghira, Sienna, all of them talked about you like a great protector, but you're too afraid to truly fight! What man becomes a legend without spilling the blood of those who don't deserve to live!? You're just a joke!"
"I see..." Kiryu said, throwing off the iron knuckles before cracking his own, "You're just another fool thinking that ending a life means strength. Let me show you how sorely mistaken you are."
Running forward, the lieutenant charged and tried to cut down Kiryu in two, "Die, Kiryu!"
"Hah!" the man exclaimed as he stomped forward, his right fist passing below the chainsaw and landing square in Edward's chest. The strike paralyzed the lieutenant, crushing his ribs painfully before Kiryu sent a quick follow-up with three heavy, lightning fast punches which staggered the large Faunus. Each punch made his ribs ache and caused him to have difficulty breathing. But Kiryu wasn't done, with his aura flaring a bright, pure red, he slammed both fists on either side of Edward's face and jumped backwards, landing on a kneeling position to smash his knee on his opponent's face!
Everyone, including Roman, gasped, "What the shit...?" he saw one of the strongest Faunus he had ever seen drop on the floor, rolling in pain as he held his face. "God damn it, get him already! Why aren't you all doing something useful!?" the thief's shouting was from fear and anger at what could happen with the very furious Kiryu on the same arena as him.
"N-no, he's mine...!" a pained Edward exclaimed, holding his slowly shattering mask with one hand, blood dripping down his chin.
As Edward gripped his chainsaw, ready for another round, a noise echoed from a distance, "What's that..." Roman turned, eyes widening at the sight of lights framing the entrance's frame.
"TIME TO FUCK SHIT UP!" An insane cackle echoed as a massive pink semi-truck burst through, immediately dispersing all White Fang members and the hostages who ran away from it. Everyone gasped as it landed near the pool, but the non-Faunus part of the crowd had already escaped. Meanwhile, those who were left behind were the terrorist group and their criminal allies.
"He never changes." Kiryu said with a smile as the door burst open with a kick, revealing Majima.
"Kiryu-chan, they better not have killed yer sorry ass!" the madman shouted, looking around for him, "Oh, there you are." He said with the casual surprise of someone finding a coin on the streets. "What're you waitin' for!? Get over here!" Kiryu did as told and ran in, with Majima already flooring the pedal and turning the steering wheel with a large grin, "OUTTA THE WAY, DUMBASSES! NYAHAHAHAHA!"
A wall was broken as the two made their ridiculous escape, Roman staring with a dull look on his face, "What did I just see? Neo, answers?" his petite assistant shrugged.
Edward for his part let out a furious roar and threw down his mask, revealing a goatee and hateful eyes, "Kazuma Kiryu...your legend will end as the foundation for the White Fang, this I swear!" as an act of devotion and downright lunacy, he started to swing around his chainsaw, cutting through the concrete floor and walls of the cheap arena.
Roman sighed at that, "Let's leave, we've got bigger fish to fry and someone to keep our eyes on." He got a nod from his assistant and soon both disappeared from view.
Meanwhile, in the truck...
"How did you know where to find me?" Kiryu asked.
"Junior's got his uses. But damn, Kiryu-chan, walkin' into a trap like that?" the madman asked after stopping at a fair distance.
"If Blake was really with people like them, we can't really leave her alone." Kiryu answered as both got down.
Majima put his hands on the back of his head, "Yeah, damn straight about that, but she could've followed a better cause. If I find that Adam dipshit, I'm gonna tie his testicles to a pole." He was casual, calm, aloof, and more than likely to keep his word on that.
"Drop it for now, it's her safety first if you want to repay Ghira that favor." Kiryu said seriously.
"I owe him not-" Majima grunted when Kiryu smirked, "Dammit, Kiryu-chan, when did you become a smartass?"
"We're cut from the same cloth." Kiryu replied and pulled out a cigarette and a lighter, offering a cancer stick to Majima, "Our lives couldn't be what they are without those around us."
"Hmph, don't go philosophical on me, Kiryu-chan. I just like livin' life to the fullest as a balls to the wall guy." Majima said with a smile as he let Kiryu light his cigarette.
"I guess that's one of the few times we can agree on something." Kiryu said as the two smoked, "So...our next lead..."
"Yeah, if she ain't around town and all we had was a trap..." Majima started and both looked upwards towards Beacon Academy.
"Time to face the past." Kiryu said with a determined expression, same as Majima.
X-X-X-X-X
And that's my rap!
So, why would Kiryu and Majima leave Beacon for last? I've got half an idea for that, but it's still being tested in my head. Meaning I may change the ending of this chapter to make sure it makes sense. I am not the best writer nor will I claim to be good. Decent perhaps? Eh, no, it'd be saying I make no big mistakes, which I've done.
Constructive criticism is welcomed.
Swordslinger out!