(A New Distortion, A new path we need to walk. Let us see where the path shall now take us, shall we?)

Bold = English Conversations

Bold + Italics = Japanese Conversations

Distortion 27

In the early hours of the morning, one of the few things that stays constant in a 24 hour period is border control. Without proper regulation of people coming in an out of the hierarchical cities, criminals would have free reign to enter in and out as they please, bringing in dangerous goods and feeling safe. Thus the NOL have made it a top priority to keeping the border as secure as possible to ensure that criminals did not sneak their way into the city.

While this ensured that the citizens were protected, the people trying to enter Hierarchical cities often have to struggle with extensive background checks, background checks that often required people to have the proper documentation needed to do such things. Documents Sora was sure he did not have in this current time as he made a visible yawn that Bullet could see. "What, didn't get a good night's rest?" Bullet asked as Sora yawned a bit more before looking at her with a bit of a deadpan on his face.

"Haven't had a good rest in a long time… Even sleeping on a tree is better then what I was doing before." Sora said, groggily rubbing his face as he was trying to recover from his dream. Assuming from the fact that he was not fading in and out and the impact of what he felt, he was clearly dreaming that night. Sora felt like he was slowly losing his grip on reality, maybe that long walk he took before he got out was messing with his senses, or maybe they were in backlash over things that are familiar yet are not.

"Well in any case, if we are going to try and get into Akitsu-Ko, we are going to need to consider the fact that you are basically walking in without any kind of identification. Even if I were to say you were part of my merc troop, you aren't wearing the uniform." Bullet quickly said as Sora simply nodded his head. "Which is why we agreed to head for the city sewers, but I am guessing there's a bit of a problem with that?" Sora questioned as Bullet scratched her head.

"Yeah, they recently discovered that the sewer entrance most criminals were using to get inside Ko and have sealed it shut. Said so on the news." Bullet explained as Sora scratched his head. The sewers were normally the only way for someone like him to get in but now the NOL have gone and blocked it, he was going to need more creative methods. "In that case, what does Ko's border force look like? It would give me a better detail of what we are dealing with."

Bullet was obviously reluctant to give such information. Normally when someone spoke like that, they clearly meant to just charge their way through and take out any troops who may be standing there in the process. "Look, my plan is not to just charge right in and get us killed, I just need a better understanding of what we are dealing with here before we consider our options." Sora said, trying to reassure Bullet he was not being reckless. Even he could see it was a stupid idea to just walk up to an NOL controlled border and try to force their way in.

"Just don't come up with any plans that are reckless now." Bullet said as she gave Sora the details he needed to know. From how many guards were normally watching the route to their armaments they were using and even the routes they would take. This told Sora that Akitsu-Ko in this timeline seems to be heavily defended. "Can you tell me why Akitsu-Ko seems to have this much security?" Sora questioned as he knew he was missing some details about this world that could help him with his plan.

Bullet: Recently, Akitsu-Ko has seen an influx of traffic for criminals entering in and out of the city, that's why the sewer entrances have been blocked recently.

Sora: I see… what kind of criminals do you know?

Bullet: Well, there's a growing group of freelancers led by a man named Vlad. The only thing notable about his is that he drinks a lot. The main group in Akitsu-Ko is actually the mafia, being led by a woman simply known as Sofia.

Sora: (Vlad...and Sofia?.. Those two are…) What about smaller criminal groups? Anything to note there?

Bullet: The smaller criminal groups are mainly consisting of Triad and Yakuzas who came from Ikaruga. That's about it.

"The mafia, triads, yakuza and freelancers…" Sora said as his mind couldn't help but process the fact that the Otsu 4 were still here in some way. Well… Otsu 4 in his world. They probably don't even know each other and they function more like normal criminal bosses in this timeline. But the fact that the Otsu 4 were here in some way gave Sora an idea. "Do any of them have a legal means of business that they use here." Sora questioned as Bullet looked at him before checking her info.

"The only known legal business is the Mafia having a liquor business. But that's about it." Bullet said as Sora had a lightbulb at that moment as he knew what he had to do. "You got a burner phone on you right?" Sora questioned as Bullet was surprised to hear that. Burner phones were not that common but mercenaries and criminals like to use them as a way of staying safe and not being constantly by NOL eyes.

"I do… what do you plan to do with it?" Bullet questioned as Sora simply smiled. "I just want to make a call, let me handle it please. I promise when we get into the city we will get you another burner phone I promise." Sora said as Bullet felt reluctant to entrust such an important tool of the trade to him. But he could have killed her with dinner last night and he did seem to have good intentions. So there was no reason to actually be cautious around him.

"Fine, but please do let me know what you're planning on doing?" Bullet said as she handed her phone towards Sora. Immediately Sora got to work dialing a couple of numbers. He didn't know which ones worked and which ones were not even real. What may cause a response in his world may not work in this one. After a few duds, Sora rubbed the temple of his head for more ideas and decided the best thing to do was to search for the manager of the liquor store.

"My plan is to get into contact with one of these criminal organizations. I know as a merc your duty is to stop them but we need their help to find a way into the city." Sora explained as Bullet was about to protest but took a deep breath and sat back down, deciding to let Sora take this extreme risk. It was then he finally managed to get a response. "Hello, La Vineyard here, you're speaking with the manager may I get your order." the manager said as Sora nodded his head and decided to be direct.

"I understand you are in the wine business yes?" Sora said, speaking a key word that the mafia would use amongst their close contacts. It was a risk to use it because the key word could be different in this world so him speaking like this could be just a way to get the phone shut out of his face. "We are, but we prefer the purchase and selling of whiskeys instead." The manager replied, speaking the reply phrase that Sora wanted to hear. It was a gamble but at least it paid off.

"I need a way into Akitsu-Ko. The NOL recently closed out the sewer entrance and I can't go through the entrance." Sora explained as the manager nodded his head. "A way in huh… fine, but when you get in the city I will need you to see the boss about this. I don't know how you know our code and we can't risk you being an NOL mole." The guard explained as Sora nodded his head towards the reasonable explanation.

"That's fine. I will answer any questions I can." Sora explained as soon he and the manager began to trade details. Sora understandably keeping his own information as simple as possible to not cause further confusion. "In that case, just wait for our trucks to come by, say the same code word and they will let you and your friend in." The manager said before hanging up on the phone, ending the conversation immediately as Sora took a deep breath before looking at Bullet.

"Who are you and how did you get into contact with one of the criminal organizations of Ko." Bullet said, merely in shock as Sora sighed and pocketed the burner phone that formerly belonged to Bullet. "Lets just say that my life has been a complicated one and I have been trying to work my own stuff out. I'm going to apologize to you right now because it seems like I am going to be dragging you deeper into my own issues right now." Sora explained as Bullet sighed.

"I accept your apology… but in return, I'm going to ask for you to help me with my own thing." Bullet said, Sora simply nodding his head as he understood the deal. He got into the city and did his thing. He helped Bullet with whatever she needed, not that he actually knew what she needed help with. "That's a fair enough bargain. I can accept that." Sora said. He knew that he had no time to waste trying to get back to his own world but rushing it would get him nowhere.

Sora needed a direction, a clue. But trying to rush to every single person in this world asking for clues would serve him little good. It is probably for the better if he just tried to gather more information about where he was, something that made him lift his head up a bit as he realized the train of thought that he was going through. 'Heh… looks like you did get to me a little huh Makoto…' Sora said as he slowly reached out for his necklace before realizing something else was on his person.

'No fucking way…' Sora thought as he slowly reached out and pulled what he felt was an arm out of his coat. He immediately took cover when Bullet was not looking to take a closer look at what he was holding. His memory was a bit fuzzy but the moment he held this arm it immediately became clear what he had this entire time. "Say Bullet… did you happen to check my body when you first found me?" Sora questioned, hoping it was just something bullet had coincidentally forgotten.

"No. I was busy that day and I just ended up not doing it. Besides you were unconscious at the time so I figured any weapon you had would have been long shown to me in the form of a blade behind your back or a knife on your hip." Bullet said, making Sora's blood chill as he realized what he was holding onto was the real deal as he slowly pulled out the mechanical arm that had remained on his person. He had vividly remembered what this arm was and couldn't help but tremble as he continued to hold onto it.

This arm… this mechanical arm that looked almost human were it not for the obvious mechanical fingers was the gift Relius had given to Makoto for her recently lost arm that Sora claimed for himself. At the time, he took the arm as a reluctant way to protect himself despite knowing that this arm was made by the person responsible for ruining everything about his life. He thought that he had lost it when he lost the fight but somehow the arm managed to remain within his person. Sora couldn't help but find something about that suspicious and unnerving.

"Wait a minute, You had a prosthetic this entire time?" Bullet questioned, finally getting a glimpse of what Sora was looking at as Sora continued to stare at the arm in shock. "I...I did not know myself." Sora said as Bullet tilted her head. "You don't know your own prosthetic arm?" Bullet questioned as Sora shook his head. "This isn't my normal Prosthetic arm… it's something else entirely." Sora said as he hastily placed it back to his coat.

"You not going to use it?" Bullet questioned as Sora made sure the arm was inside his worn out jacket once again before nodding his head. "Can you tell me why? If you are comfortable doing so?" Bullet questioned as Sora wondered how he should explain to Bullet the circumstances of the arm. "Well… this arm… it's not the normal prosthetic that I use. It's made by someone else and I am reluctant to use it." Sora explained as Bullet nodded her head at that.

"And well… I've gotten used to living with one arm, so I just prefer living with one arm." Sora explained further as Bullet simply nodded her head at that, realizing that they were just going to have to wait for the people Sora contacted to pick them up. "In any case, as much as I could just leave you on your own, I will stay by your side for the time being." Bullet explained as Sora looked at her surprised.

"I know, I know, I should just go through the checkpoint and get myself into the city that way, but you did say two people." Bullet explained as Sora realized his mistake. He could have just said for one person and Bullet wouldn't have felt obliged to tag along and they would have been separated at that moment. Because of his choice of words and his haste to secure his own passage, he has now dragged Bullet into following him.

"Yeah… I'm sorry I spoke without thinking." Sora apologized as Bullet shrugged. "I don't mind getting in for free, I hate border control as much as everyone else. If I get to avoid the lines even if it's illegal, I don't really care." Bullet said, making Sora scratch his head. "I guess that's part of being a mercenary, you got to be flexible with what you are alright with and not." Sora said, making Bullet nod her head in agreement.

"Glad to see you can understand my logic. Besides, I hope to make a deal of my own with these criminals… even if they don't exactly suit my fancy." Bullet said as Sora could guess why she would say something like that. After all, it seems like she will use anything in her disposal to further her own goals just like he is currently. The only difference is that Bullet has a clear idea of what she wants to do while he's basically trying to grasp straws at that moment.

"Still, I should have been considerate about your own plans and been more careful about what I said. I probably have delayed your plans and for that I apologize." Sora said as he got down to his knees and bowed before Bullet in an apologetic manner. This action took Bullet apart as she did not expect Sora to do something like this. This entire time Sora had been considerate about what she wanted and the one time he got to do what he wanted, he was instead apologizing to her which caught her off guard.

"It's alright really. You don't need to apologize like this! Really I mean it." Bullet said, trying to get Sora to relax and calm down as Sora stopped doing what he was doing to look at Bullet at her eyes. "Regardless, I hope you don't mind following me for a little bit longer. I swear I won't waste any more of your time then it's needed." Sora said as Bullet simply nodded her head at that. "Now that we got all of that sorted, shall we get started for waiting for that transport to arrive to pick us up?" Bullet questioned as Sora nodded his head at that.

"The only thing we need to decide now is where we should wait for them? Waiting nearby the border gate is not a good idea." Bullet said as Sora looked around for a bit for a spot they could hide easily but high enough they could spot their transport of choice. He then suddenly had to hold his head as he felt the pain he felt in his dream rock him once again as Bullet noticed. "You hurt your head there?" Bullet questioned as Sora shook his head.

"I am not really hurt myself. Just the sleep deprivation again." Sora explained, trying to just put the pain on his head due to him not getting enough sleep. "I doubt that a lack of sleep would make you like this, sit down for a moment, let me check your head for a bit and make sure you didn't get hurt sleeping last night." Bullet said, Sora deciding to not argue any further as he took a seat down a stump to let Bullet do basic first aid on him.

"Just stay still for a bit, I might as well use this time to make sure you don't have any other injuries that you yourself aren't aware about." Bullet said as a small thought came up to Sora's head. "Hey… I don't mean to sound like a busybody. Why even help someone like me in the first place? I don't really provide you much benefit right now and I have been more trouble than I have been worth. Why not just leave me behind and continue on doing your own thing? And before you say anything, I am just asking to answer a curiosity I have."

"Why can't I just help you out of my own will?" Bullet asked honestly as Sora simply smiled. "Because we just met yesterday under circumstances that are not normal. It would normal to assume that any normal person would want to know who they are hanging out with and make sure they aren't being taken for a loop?" Sora explained as Bullet flinched, understanding that explanation much better than she should have due to experience as she thought that her original answer would have been enough to satisfy his curiosity.

"Alright I have been hitting some dead ends on my search. I've been digging up loose ends up but I am starting to run dry on them. I am hoping that by tagging along with you for a bit, I would be able to find more info even if it means having to accept work from criminals… that and I am running low on funding so I need a job fast." Bullet said honestly as Sora just looked at her before scratching his head. "You don't really need me to do any of what you just said but I just happened to be around when you thought about it and figured why not… right?" Sora said as he could hear an anvil drop somewhere as he looked around for a bit.

'Did I manage to hit a nerve somehow?' Sora thought as he looked at Bullet who was recoiling from what she had just heard. "I didn't mean to hurt you with my comment. I just happened to be thinking out loud that's all." Sora explained as Bullet appreciated Sora trying to lessen the blow his comment had made but shook her head at it. "None taken." As Sora felt bullet's hand more aggressively check his body for any wounds he may be suffering.

The silence that came after that was a bit unnerving for both parties involved, Sora because he was not sure how to proceed now that he had managed to offend Bullet in his head and Bullet because she thought that Sora was reading her like an open book and was getting worried that he was much sharper than he seemed despite his injured state. "But yeah, I'm using you… you got a problem with that?" Bullet said with a blunt tone.

"I won't unless you try to use me in a way I don't like." Sora said with equal bluntness as the two looked at each other before giving a small smirk towards each other, understanding their current situation with each other and happy the other acknowledges it. "Alright, I'm going to need you to remove your top. If you don't mind of course." Bullet said. As a woman who grew up in a predominantly male environment, the normal reaction women would have to such things was not present in her.

Sora himself did not really notice this as he was raised in an environment where he was taught to not really care about what was going on and just accept what happens as part of normal life. Sora slowly removed his jacket and shirt, exposing to bullet his severely scarred body as Bullet herself was simply shocked by the severity of it. She had expected a few scars based on how young he looked but judging from the severity of his scars, some of these were really old wounds, scars that simply refused to heal at this point.

"Geez man… how much fighting have you really seen man?.." Bullet commented, her hand instinctively checking his scar as Sora looked at her with curiosity in his eyes. "Well. Enough fighting I guess. Even after retiring from group mercenary work I did a lot of solo work." Sora commented as this made Bullet raise an eyebrow. "You mean working as a vigilante?" Bullet asked as Sora shook his head.

"All kinds of work. Sometimes vigilante work, sometimes solo mercenary work, sometimes volunteering in some places of war." Sora explained as Bullet couldn't help but be impressed by that. "And you did all of what you are saying on your own? I don't know whether to say if that's impressive or foolish of you." Bullet said as Sora couldn't help but chuckle at that. "You know, the way you say that, she would probably agree with you." Sora said before realizing what he had just said as he couldn't help but do a slow facepalm as this piqued Bullet's fancy.

"Oh? Got a woman in your life I see?" Bullet said as Sora groaned, grumbling about his mouth as Bullet chuckled. "Don't worry. I got no such interest in one's love life. Not when I got my own stuff to settle in the first place." Bullet commented as Sora bit down on his lip, swearing to himself why he had to say something like that. "But still, you must worry her having such a heavily scarred body like this? You ever consider slowing down on the work for her?" Bullet said as Sora placed his hand on his head, thinking about what she had just said.

"Well...I don't really know myself. I haven't exactly told her how much work I really have been doing and if I did, I can guarantee you she would be livid with me." Sora explained as Bullet chuckled hearing that. "Does she at least know you're doing this kind of work in the first place? Not keeping any secrets from her?" Bullet questioned as Sora made a small smile at that. "She knows. I at least made sure she did know when finally met up." Sora said as Bullet couldn't help but smile and nod her head at that in approval.

"Good. Make sure she knows everything rather than leave her in the dark. Even if it's painful." Bullet said, Sora noting that Bullet clearly must have experience with this sort of thing as Sora wondered how he should proceed the conversation now. Silence was an option and letting the conversation end there would probably be the best for both parties. Keep information about each other to a bare minimum as to not compromise with each other. At the same time, Sora had not gone through with Human interaction with some time and that was having some sort of a mental affect on him that he was not really paying attention to.

"Do you have any regrets yourself? Never told anybody you cared for how you felt or how you were doing?" Sora said as he waited for Bullet to give him the appropriate reaction of remaining silent and just shoving the conversation to the side for the time being. After a bit of silence, Sora decided to apologize for his choice of words but before he could say a word, Bullet simply nodded her head towards him when she looked at him in the eyes.

"Yeah, I did have regrets… that's why I am living with them right now." Bullet said as Sora couldn't help but stare at Bullet when she said those words. He understood that it must have taken a lot of effort for Bullet to choose the words she did or maybe very little since she might have been asked enough times. Regardless, he was glad that Bullet answered him regardless instead of just silence. "Now maybe we should just slow down with the stories and focus on making sure you aren't as banged up as you looked like when I first saw you." Bullet said as Sora nodded his head, allowing Bullet to continue her inspection without further conversation.

"Well, besides your scarred up body, I don't see any kind of external wounds that I can patch up with first aid besides the obvious amputated arm you have. The rest will probably have to involve a doctor's checkup to check up your organs." Bullet said as Sora nodded his head at that, slowly beginning to put back his clothes. "Thanks for the checkup. I'm glad to know that I don't really have much injury right now. At least I know I won't be holding us back physically at least." Sora explained as Bullet nodded her head.

"Though I think you should consider using that prosthetic you got. Even if you are reluctant to do so, you should obviously know that fighting with two arms is better than fighting with just one arm." Bullet said, speaking her mind as Sora paused hearing that. Her logic was not wrong there but it wasn't the fact that it was a prosthetic arm he was uncomfortable using but rather who it was made from and the purpose of the arm in the first place. He also lacked a weapon to use as the Rev Blade was currently with Makoto right now so he was just basically fighting with his one arm and any weapon he could get his hands on.

"I won't go forcing you to change your fighting style. But judging from the face you are making you can see the logic in my words." Bullet said as Sora paused for a bit longer before nodding his head. "You're right about what you said. I currently don't have any weapon to use right now and fighting one handed is a bad idea. If we were to get into a fight right now I may become more of a liability than an asset." Sora explained as he finished putting his shirt on.

"But I would rather do so with equipment I am more comfortable with. I know I sound picky and beggars cannot be choosers but that's just how I feel." Sora explained as Bullet wanted to press further, sensing that there was a bigger reason that Sora was speaking the way he was. "Well in that case, when we arrive in Akitsu-Ko, we may be able to find a weapon vender for you. Or maybe those criminals can give you one of theirs for free." Bullet suggested.

"Maybe I can sell this arm for one of their weapons. At least that sounds like a plan." Sora said, raising the prosthetic arm for Bullet to see as she couldn't help but shrug. The most she can do is just suggest what Sora can do and leave him to his own devices as Sora put on his coat and looked around. "We should try to get ready for the driver to pick us up. We do have a trip to Akitsu-Ko that we need to take first." Sora said as Bullet nodded her head at that.

"I agree, the sooner we get in that transport, the sooner we can find out what they want us to do with the free ride we are getting." Bullet continued as she decided to go and act as a first lookout as Sora sat back and took in his new surroundings properly for the first time. Now that the sun was up and the darkness was gone, he couldn't help but feel like he was a stranger in a world very familiar. He was staring at the same sky he would see and breathed the same air he would normally breathe, but the fact that this was a different world and his current circumstance made him feel almost alien, like he did not fit in the picture in front of him.

Yet something clung onto him, the simple hope he could find a way back to Makoto, his Makoto Nanaya. The only thing he wished he had was a picture of her so he could look at it for strength. The most he had to remember her by was the strong memories of her in his head and the necklace that was on his neck. But so long as he has something to keep her memory strong in him, that is all he could truly ask in the terrible situation he had been placed into.

"Hey Sora! Looks like our ticket is slowly approaching us." Bullet commented as Sora took his attention away from the necklace he was holding and back to Bullet at that instant. "That's good to hear, the sooner we we get into Akitsu-Ko the sooner we can find out what they want with me." Sora said as Bullet scratched her head. "Us. I know you didn't mean to but I am a part of your problem now." Bullet added as Sora sighed hearing that.

"Once again, I will apologize if I hurt you in any way. Let's just head towards our transport of choice before they decide to bail out of fear that the NOL may be planning to do a sting operation on them." Sora explained as he was well aware of criminals being jumpy of would be buyers/people of interest suddenly arresting them for several things and holding them hostage. And with those words, Sora and Bullet approached their ticket into the 9th Hierarchical City of Akitsu-Ko

Where Sora hopes to gain a better idea of the landscape he had just managed to find himself in.

GREETINGS LOST SHEEP OF FANFICTION!? HOW IS EVERYONE DOING ON THIS FINE DAY!? I know this is a shorter chapter than most of my normal chapters but I felt like the chapter was saying it wanted to be smaller. It was just a gut feeling based on how things were going. I hope you all are enjoying yourselves as we already approach the second month of 2022. Does 2022 feel more like 2021/2020 or are you guys noticing that the world is finally moving on? Only time will tell.

SO WHAT WILL HAPPEN NEXT TO SORA MINAKAZE AND BULLET!? WHERE WILL THEIR ADVENTURES TAKE THEM NEXT!? WHAT KIND OF FAVOR WOULD BE EXPECTED FROM THE TWO OF THEM AND WILL IT INVOLVE ACTUALLY HAVING TO COMMIT A CRIME FOR A CRIME LORD!? ALL THIS AND MORE WILL BE FOUND ON THE NEXT DISTORTION COMING TO A SCREEN NEAR YOU!