Prologue
Okay Kiara. Breathe in. Breathe out.
You've gotten yourself into a pretty sticky situation here. Outside of the gates of the Swingwell HQ, you're squaring off against Death-sensei. THE Death-sensei. He's the one that you've read about in the newspapers - Lieutenant of the Deadbeats. Master of rhythm and rhyme. Flashy leather jacket. Pink bandana. Teeny tiny bald spot.
Damn, he's much more intimidating in real life. He's towering over you just like Bloop did. Like, holy shit - look at his shadow!
Oh man, oh man, oh man! Breathe in. Breathe out!
Remember your mission, Kiara. The 'arms deal' you heard about at Mother Nature Cafe is gonna go down at Swingwell HQ today. You've gotta get your foot in the door - for your sake and for Ame-senpai's.
Breathe in. Breathe out. Breathe in. Breathe out.
Better?
Good.
Right now, you're not Detective Kiara Takanashi.
Right now, you're Hinotori. And Hinotori doesn't take shit from anyone.
Not even Death-sensei.
Witness me, Ame-senpai. This is how it's done!
…
Death-sensei watched the mumbling Kiara with suspicion. He raised his eyebrow and folded his arms.
"Are we gonna do this thing or not, Hinotori?" He dared his opponent, cracking his knuckles eagerly.
"Oh we are." Kiara, as her alter ego 'Hinotori', met the dare head on. She pointed to Death-sensei's face and warned, "I was just getting some of the inner fire going before we throw down."
"You've got a routine, I can respect that." Death-sensei answered, humming and nodding his head to a tune that Kiara couldn't hear, "But inner fire won't help ya' when I stomp ya' like a doormat, ugh!"
The Deadbeats and the other applicants cheered, frightening Kiara and Ame. Beads of sweat formed on Kiara's brow. Death-sensei snickered devilishly. The Deadbeat Lieutenant struck first.
Their little battle had already started.
Death-sensei cleared his throat and started to throw some bars with flowing rhythm and rhyme.
"Allow me to educate you on the rules of this game - we don't want you trippin' on yourself cause that'd be a shame - fool! We take turns droppin' bars like stars till one of us is sorry. Is that simple enough for you, Hinotori?" He struck a pose and flexed on Kiara. Then he gestured to the Deadbeat sluggers and to the crowd, "All these folks 'round us will be our witness. They'll all be here when I roll you like nobody's business! One round each's all we've got for this bout'. So take your shot, girl, and make sure it counts!"
Again, the crowds cheered. Death-sensei struck a new pose, acting like electricity was flowing through his very soul. He gestured to Kiara and gave a fake curtsy. Then, with a condescending voice he declared, "You can go first, milady."
Kiara's stomach turned and chills ran up her spine. Stage fright threatened to knock the Phoenix down. In the corner of her eye, she saw Ame just about ready to faint.
C'mon Hinotori! Don't let him talk down to you like that!
Kiara clenched her fist and looked Death-sensei in the eye. Her bright pink eyes burned with defiant flames. Death-sensei smirked, eagerly waiting for what 'Hinotori' had waiting for him.
With that, 'Hinotori' went off.
Unlike Death-sensei, Kiara wasn't as verbose or as rhythmic or as flashy or as experienced in rap. Kiara knew this, but that didn't dampen her confidence too much. She had her shot - and she was damn sure going to take it!
Kiara spoke with a clear and firm voice and strung together her rhymes as best as she could. She jabbed at the Deadbeats' Lieutenant, judging his clothes, his looks and his attitude. She even pointed out his bald spot behind his bandana!
Death-sensei winced and subconsciously checked his bandana. Kiara saw this and smirked.
You thought I was gonna go down in the first round, you punk? Think again!
When Kiara was done roasting her bony foe, sweat dripped down her face and she was out of breath. All around her, the jaws of the Deadbeats and the bystanders dropped. Death-sensei frowned and seethed in silence. However, the one who was surprised the most was Ame.
Ame's round glasses slid down the bridge of her nose. Her blue eyes slowly regained the confident sparkle that she had when she had lost.
Kiara smiled at her disguised partner.
Did you see that, Ame? We're not out of this fight yet!
Ame smiled. Then, she started to cheer for 'Hinotori'. A handful of the Deadbeats joined in too, casting their votes for the newcomer.
Death-sensei gritted his teeth. Then, his turn to answer 'Hinotori' came.
His response was merciless.
The seasoned rapper lashed out at 'Hinotori'. He didn't hold back his punches at all. His verses were quick, precise and downright disrespectful. If Kiara's rhymes were jabs, Death-sensei threw haymakers. Right into Kiara's gut. His words tore into anything that crossed Death-sensei's lyrical mind.
Electricity seemed to crackle around the Deadbeats' Lieutenant as he went off and rapped circles around his foe. The crowd was wrapped up in Death-sensei's attack and roared. They were witnessing one of Death-sensei's legendary takedowns after all.
The take down that made dozens of lesser men nearly die from shame.
Kiara tried to roll with the punches and take the disrespect in stride, but it wasn't as easy as she thought. She was a Phoenix, yes, but her ego was mortal. By the time Death-sensei was done, her ego was battered and bruised. She was even on the verge of tears more than once and the crowd jeered at her.
However, there were still a few dissenters in the crowd. Some of them still - a handful of the bystanders and even a couple of the Deadbeat sluggers - still cheered for Kiara. Among her handful of supporters was her partner, Amelia Watson, who cried out at the top of her lungs.
"HINOTORI!"
Ame…
It was a cry into the howling winds of Death-sensei's supporters, but it reached Kiara. Ame's cries turned Kiara's tears of shame into tears of joy.
Before Kiara knew it, the battle was over. Death-sensei won the crowd by a landslide. The difference between their skills was simply too great.
Kiara, for all the confidence she had, never had a chance. It was like the last Pekolander bayonet charge on Moona-pulau.
A brave, valiant defeat - but a defeat nonetheless.
…
"Alright girlie - you got your ass handed to ya." Death-sensei jeered. He pointed towards the disguised detectives' car and barked, "Now get out of my face and scram!"
Kiara wiped her tears and shrugged. Then, Ame walked over to Kiara and bumped fists with her.
"Holy crap, that was amazing!" Ame praised.
"Hehehe, I did my best." Kiara managed to wear a small, albeit humbled smile.
The two disguised detectives were just about to head back to their car when another voice called out to them.
"Hold on, you two. Don't go just yet."
Kiara and Ame turned around. Then, their jaws dropped.
Standing before them was none other than Calliope Mori herself! The Queenpin of the Deadbeats wore her fancy leather jacket fluttering in the wind. Her bright pink eyes seemed to shine from behind her handsome sunglasses. Then, on her head of pink hair, she wore her signature embroidered baseball cap.
In Calli's presence, Kiara's face flushed red. The Phoenix started fidgeting and her pink eyes shimmered with starstruck delight. However, Death-sensei marched over to them and tried to interrupt Calli.
"Um, Boss…"
"Just shut up for a sec, dude." Calli snapped.
Death-sensei lowered his head and obliged.
"Eh…" Kiara stammered, clucking nervously like a chicken, "But I lost the rap battle."
"You did - but you've got the spirit, kid." Calli laid a hand on Kiara's shoulder, "I like that."
"L-like…!?" Kiara's panic tripled. She felt like a volcano that was just about to blow.
Calli, on the other hand, didn't seem to notice Kiara's barely-veiled panic.
"You're Hinotori, right?" Calli asked.
Kiara nodded gingerly.
"You knew you were fighting a killer like Death-sensei, but you didn't back down." Calli grinned, "That's the kind of spunk that Swingwell needs right now. Wouldn't you agree, Death-sensei?"
"Huh?" Death-sensei scowled, "Why would I…"
Calli's brow furrowed. She lowered her sunglasses and glared scythes at her Lieutenant. Then, she repeated with chilling emphasis, "Wouldn't. You. Agree. Death. Sensei!?"
Death-sensei's face went pale. His bald spot also seemed to grow ever so slightly.
"Y-yes, of course Boss." Death-sensei conceded.
Calli adjusted her sunglasses and her expression turned on a dime. She was back to smiling in a heartbeat. She turned towards Kiara and Ame again and continued to speak.
"Your friend was pretty cool too, Hinotori." Calli beamed at Kiara and then at Ame, "Supporting you like that even in a hostile crowd? What a chad!" The Queenpin tilted her head and hummed to Ame, "But I don't think I caught your name, friendo."
"O-oh, she's…" Kiara tried to speak, but she drew a blank, "Uh…"
Then, she started sweating bullets.
Ame didn't have her new fake name yet!
This time around, though, Ame cleared her throat and stood up straight. She faced Calli with a warm smile and answered her.
"My name's 'Pudding'." Ame grinned, "It's a pleasure to meet you, Miss Calliope!"
Kiara heaved a sigh of relief. Ame was back to her sharp, old self!
Calli watched the two disguised detectives and observed them with her keen eyes. Then, she smiled at them both and shook their hands.
"Hinotori and Pudding, huh? Welcome to the Deadbeats gang, you two! We're glad to have ya!"
…
Queenpins
Deadbeat Diss Track
…
To Be Continued