Kenta

I waited in a small little tea shop and felt uncomfortable, the mood was bad, it was seething in rage and soon it would explode. I was in a backroom waiting to talk to my old Yakuza boss. I didn't take orders from him anymore. I didn't take orders from anyone anymore, I was free, I was my own man. I did as I wanted, I drank freely from the cup of life, but for some reason I felt unsettled. There was a rage, a hate in this city and I didn't understand it. The whole 40 thieves incident was handled, they were dead and gone, why are they still angry.

The matter is settled, move on. I don't understand all of this hate, this rage, we are all refugees, we're all scared. So some of the people in the Enclave are little shits, we control the entire world around them, we are secure and safe, there was no need for this hate, and it was the hate that made me uncomfortable. They asked me to burn the little plot of land and destroy them all. They talked with glee about killing them all and... it disturbed me. It worried me, every slight was magnified, every molehill became a vast mountain range. Even I couldn't stop the beatings, the attacks and it was senseless. Just have them pay protection money right? But you can't have that work if you attack the people who are paying you.

It was maddness, and I was hoping a talk with Yamamoto would clear this up. I smiled at the white haired man and noticed his clothing. I chuckled and laughed, he was a funny man, at time gifted with good humor.

"What is wrong Kenta?"

"The monk outfit, it's a good joke old man."

His face was serious.

"It's not a joke."

"Come on it's..."

I felt a sense of dawning horror.

"I gave up that life, I work as a monk on Ganymede now."

I blinked in shock and then felt angry.

"You can't do this."

He sat down and poured tea cups.

"I can and I did."

He just passed me a cup of tea.

"I have done many horrible things."

"Well yes, but you lived the good life, the-"

"What I did to you was my worst sin, my biggest regret, you were meant for bigger things, greater things, you were supposed to be a hero. I corrupted something very beautiful."

I just felt small, then tired.

"I have my own gang now, I'm the boss now, I don't answer to anyone."

"Then why do you want my advice Kenta."

"It's Lung now."

He stared at me.

"There was an incident, a child was killed, the trial's a farce, for some reason my people are angry. It wasn't our member and they're angry at a community. I understand loathing the man, but this blind hate is not profitable, it-"

"You're guilty."

"What."

"You feel guilty, I know the feeling, I was there myself Kenta."

I took a sip.

"I'm not. I'm living the good life, I'm rich, I have women and-"

"And you can't escape the responsibility, you can't be a leader and not expect the chains of command."

"It wasn't supposed to be this way."

I imagined a large mansion, beautiful maids, glorious fights, not this petty squabbling.

"Leave this life."

"I can't."

"Why not?"

"The money, the women, the wine, the-"

"The real reason."

"That's-"

"The real reason, Kenta."

"BECAUSE THEY WILL JUST MURDER THEM ALL IF I LEAVE!"

I sat back horrified by what I said.

"Who?"

"The ABB, if I'm not there to control them they will just kill them all."

"Guilt."

I looked away.

"You feel something is coming."

"A riot, another senseless riot that just kills people and destroys things and leaves us worse off then before."

"Then stop it."

"I will just give the order and-"

He sighed.

"That won't work will it?"

I thought about it, there was a way to stop it, to stop the riot.

"I have to go."

Stupidity madness, and...

"You can still change."

I ignored him and pointed my fire downward, I concentrated on my rage, my anger and jumped around the city. Then... well I handled it. When I got home things were quieter, less angry. I looked at the smiles and joking and I felt... I felt sick. My old master's words haunted me.

Maybe... maybe I was wrong... I looked at my life, my choices and tried to be objective. Did all of this money, all of this power bring me lasting joy, did it bring me peace? Was this it? I said the Endbringer fights were a waste of time but... was that true or was it me being a coward.

I looked at the phone, and called it.

"Hello."

"This is Lung."

"This better not be a... oh it really is you, what do you want?"

"The next Endbringer fight... I will be there."

"Oh...OK."

I hung up... and took a car ride, despite the fancy car I didn't feel at peace, I still felt troubled. I drove down to the Farm and looked at the girls and their misery. Was this necessary? I did it for the money but... damned Yamamoto.

"The girls... release them."

"Lung, are you-"

"Release them... we're changing our business structure, unwilling whores... well they just don't do a proper job. We will use volunteers now."

"Um sir."

"Just do it."

I watched as the girls were blind folded and the Farm was slowly emptied out, and then I sat down and thought about my life, honestly though about it. Was I wrong? Was... was all of my suffering self-inflicted?

I stayed in the darkness waiting for answers that would never come.