Ameyuri rushed down the main street of Tokyo City in a desperate final attempt to make the bus on time. She was running late for work again with the icy autumn breeze putting a damper to a previously failed attempt at keeping her long hair tied back.
After the third attempt to slide a headband into her tangled ringlets, she huffed in frustration and tossed it into her bag. The odds and ends of her work attire would have to wait until later; at least until Ame left the city limits.
She was extremely anxious by the first few hours of her day. The overseer of the hot spring where she worked required her to be at hand early. And Ame, poor sweet Ame … well she tried very hard to do just that, but the city life wouldn't allow her a single moment of rest.
Like now, for instance.
She let out a groan of irritation and stepped cautiously through a cluster of people in her way. They were on the sidewalk, observing something across the street police officers in crisp black uniforms were dividing off with caution tape. Another arson she assumed – the air smelt like smoke and burned hair; the fourth this month. Ame ignored it, but a comment someone made brought her frantic pace to a sudden halt.
"Did you hear the bus was delayed by a few hours?"
Ame fell into a crowd of junior high students and listened for more information, taking the time to comb through her matted hair.
A teen wearing messy buns was the first to reply.
"What now?"
She stomped her healed foot in aggravation.
"Another gang related incident, apparently."
Snorting, she crossed her arms. "Go figure."
"The building was a rumored hot spot for gang related activity. My father works with the IPS and I heard from him that it was a mess." A male student shivered. "At least ten bodies were found – maybe more – burned alive. The gang attacked was the one with the gold pyramid; you know the one."
The YVS. Ame frowned; she had read about them in the paper. Rumors were that their leader came into wealth at a young age and practically bought the entire police station. Most of Tokyo City belonged to them. Whether there was any truth to this claim, Ame wasn't for sure, but now, nearly a handful of them were rumored to be dead. Coincidence perhaps, but Ame didn't think so.
She huffed in aggravation and decided that she had wasted enough time. Tamao was going to kill her, quite literally maybe. Ame proceeded towards the subway station. She walked at a fast pace, nearly there and rounded the corner to the escalators when she was sideswept and knocked to the ground with a thump. Her belongings fell from her bag and scattered across the across the ground.
"Damn it to hell."
The words spewed from her mouth in standard German, echoing off the walls. Red eyes shot a look of irritation at the tall, muscular man that sideswept her.
He wore all black and carried a bible in the front pocket of his mantle. His cold, dark eyes stared at her from beneath the brim of his wide shaded hat. Ame shivered, and cast her eyes downwards.
"I'm so sorry."
The man smiled. "Nothing to be sorry about."
His nimble fingers scooped up her belongings from the floor and handed them back to her, watching as she accounted for the items. Ame frowned upon seeing the poor condition of her headband; a silver ornament had broken off.
"My apologies, young miss. I can pay for the damage I caused," the tall man said with a grin.
Ame shook her head. "There's no need to do that."
The headband was a gift from a relative. It was cheap and had seen a lot of years, but no less unimportant to her. She chucked it into her bag and stood. Even at her height, Ame was several meters shorter than the man.
"Thank you for helping me out," she said with a smile. "Most people would have kept on going."
The man snorted. "It is no problem."
He offered her his hand and she took it.
"My name is Luchist Lasso."
Ame hummed. "I'm Ameyuri Roth. It is a pleasure."
Luchist knotted his brows. "Pardon me, but your surname is rather unusual for this region."
"I'm from Germany, but my mother is Japanese. I came here to study medicine with my mentor," she explained.
Luchist grinned. "I must admit, I am intrigued. Years ago, I moved to Japan from Italy, so it is nice to meet another foreigner."
"Why move to Japan then? I mean, there has to be a reason for such a long-lasting decision as such," she asked.
Realizing that it was none of her business, Ame gave him an apology.
"It's a long story," Luchist laughed.
She nodded her head. "Perhaps another time, then."
Luchist agreed and laid a hand on her shoulder. "Nothing is under control, young one. What is meant to be always finds a way. If we are meant to meet again, we shall."
Wise words.
Before she had time to speak, the subway anode announced the arrival of the train. Ame broke away from the tall man's reach and began searching her bag for the extra yen to pay for the ticket. She was so caught up in the conversation that she had merely forgotten, and as luck would have it, Ame found just enough, but at the expense of having to go without lunch for the day.
"I have to go. But thank you for the help, and I hope we meet again." She gave him a careless bow and took her spot on the escalators. As she went down to the underground terminal, she heard Luchist bellow over the crowd.
"And we shall meet again, my child."
Luchist thought anxiously to himself, taking the stairs to his transitory apartment in the Minami district of Ikebukuro. His mind was set on Ameyuri Roth, young and naïve, but rather charming Miss Roth. She had no idea that he had been watching her. Three long months and not even a single suspicion. Most certainly naïve. Or maybe the girl had been so focused on her daily life that she merely chose to ignore the tall man. Luchist didn't seem to think so. He chortled at the notion of her closing her eyes to his being there. Ameyuri Roth certainly intrigued him, of what reason, he wasn't sure. Could it be her innocence to true justice? Luchist thought not, but then, what brought her to the attention of his master? Hao would have the answers and Luchist was eager to know. He pulled his wide shaped hat from his head and entered the apartment.
Silence met his ears. Not a soul is home. He hummed and shed his mantle, leaving it by the door. His shoes soon followed.
With a newspaper and his bible between his arms, Luchist stepped into the living room. Not a soul watching the television or greeting him humbly as he passed through. Luchist tried the first bedroom, but out of all the futons linked side by side across the floor, all where empty. He shut the paper room divider with a sigh and moved to the fourth and final room; the bedroom of his master. The middle rooms as he passed were wide open, they were no more than extra space with the gang's few belongings thrown about, but he took the time to close them before halting at the door at the end of the hall.
"I've returned." His knuckles rapped gently on the frame. Hao's voice came a second later, allowing him entrance, to which he stumbled on the head of household resting at a low, wooden stand in front of the balcony window. Luchist stopped at the table, sliding between Hao and he the newspaper. "It appears that we have made the front page this time."
"I had assumed as much." He ignored the weekly edition and rested his head against his fist. "What of the girl? Have you met with her yet?"
"I met her, yes. She is quite charming," Luchist admitted, laying down the silver, hewn ornate he had swiped from her. His timid look toward Hao was paid off with a polite smile. Hao was pleased at least, but the tall man being rather on edge, down to the ruthless burnings; a trademark of the Hoshi-gumi that could easily pinpoint Hao as the guilty party. And Luchist being well, overprotective of his master, feared a head on retaliation.
Hao on the other hand appeared to be calm as usual. He fingered the star-shaped jewel with a diverted smile on his face. "You have something on your mind, then I would advise you to speak it."
Luchist did not hesitate, "The sidewalk lay lined in corpses. As I walked past, the police seemed to have the situation taken care of, but news spreads fast. The YVS are sure to make a move against us and quickly I assume." Luchist peered at him from over the table.
Hao was quiet. He struck a match and set the newsprint on fire. "The YVS are certain to come after us now that they know it was I who burned down their investment, but Yosuke is an idiot. He thinks wealth will help him win this war but without power he will have nothing."
Luchist didn't miss the wide smile on his face at the remark; Hao was at peace even watching the bright flames consume the paper on his table. "You seem content." Choosing his words wisely the former salesman stood and began to quickly clean the smoldering remains from the table top. Shame if the house were to burn down now of times. "Could it be that you are happy about the later of the situation?"
"I got a little ahead of myself, I admit. A turf war with Yosuke is inevitable. I would have had the chance sooner or later of taking over Sunshine station and its add-ons, but I am not at all concerned with that state of affair just yet." Hao smiled at his words. The ornate flickered in his hand at Luchist like a beacon.
"The girl?" Luchist gave a look of concern. "She is intriguing, but I don't see a reason to involve her in your affairs now."
"You catch a mouse only by baiting a trap." Hao spoke with simple words, but Luchist knew more than enough to believe that he thought it would be easy. Support, Hao needed it. People to follow him, people to fear him. He wanted territory to own; Tokyo beneath his thumb, but to what reason Luchist didn't know.
The priest simply didn't care either way. He no longer could contain his smile. "I shall inform the Hana-gumi to make the preparations."
"No need. I'll do it myself." Hao hid the star away and stood; his follower walked behind him. Luchist tailed him from the sleeping quarters to the next room and stood at the opening.
The room was simple: a writing table and some chairs to fill the extra space. A few bookshelves covered the stark white walls and, in the corner, stood a basic single lock safe. Hao rarely made use of the room, other than to keep up with his expenses, though Luchist would concede that he had been more likely to be seen doing the job as opposed to his master. Still, he kept his respect and waited for Hao to return.
Seconds later, he did so and brought with him a case of what Luchist knew to be Japanese yen. His lips pealed back into a smile. "Such a generous donation."
Hao handed to Luchist the case. "I'm a tolerant man when need be. Take the money to the inn and I will meet with you after I have finished my business with the Tsuchi-gumi."
He could not mistake the expression of happiness on his face. "The reason this time?"
"I am just simply happy," he stated. "I finally have a good reason to visit my little brother."
