Reborn is being choked out against the wall of the men's bathroom. Not by Fon, which is a nice change.

Reborn would like to make it very clear that he still hasn't recovered from his fight with Fon only a few days ago, because if he was at full strength he would have easily killed this man who is -like just maybe- twice his size.

Reborn wheezes, clawing at the man's thick fingers and a hand that's bigger than his face. His feet kick at the air under him until he finally gets purchase with his toes against the man's shins to take some of the pressure of his head.

Reborn can hold his breath for six minutes actually, so it's really the threat of his throat being crushed that's making him panic.

There are four men, more waiting outside. He couldn't get an exact number but he spotted at least a total of seven when they dragged him out of the black market situated under a theatre and into this public bathroom across the road.

The one holding him has a huge butterfly tattooed over his face, a beefy boxer. The one to the left has shiny diamond rings all down his fingers and is the one who pick-pocketed Reborn's guns before the fight even started. Rings is the only one holding a gun blatantly but Reborn is cautious of other weapons that might appear.

On the right is a woman and Reborn has genuinely never seen a woman that big before – might be a champion weightlifter. The last one near the door is a bored-looking young man that is running the show and might be French if Reborn's guess is correct.

Honestly though, where's Fon? Not that Reborn needs him, it's just annoying that he doesn't show up now but bothers Reborn every other time.

The young man, probably an heir, sighs. "Let's try again," he mutters in French.

Butterfly relaxes his hold and Reborn clears his throat.

"Where did you put the money?" Heir demands. "I know it was you, that Mist information broker led us right here."

Reborn is going to find that Mist and he is going to do bad things to them. Things that Skull and Colonnello will never find out about.

"I don't know what you're taking about," Reborn answers. In Italian, just to be difficult.

Rings translates Reborn and Heir gets a scowl on his face. Butterfly yanks Reborn away from the wall and then slams him back against it.

Reborn's head hits the tiles and he blinks, dazed. Oh, right where Fon got him.

"Hitman," Heir spits out. "I do not take well to thieves. What have you done with my money?"

Reborn could probably lie his way out of this one. He opens his mouth to at least try when there's a scuffle outside.

A male voice snarls from the street. "What are you looking at? Run along, little girl."

As everyone glances towards the door, Reborn flips a hidden knife out of his sleeve (because Fon has taken his guns one too many times), stabs Butterfly in the wrist, then face, before flinging the knife into Rings' chest –damn he missed- into Rings' shoulder.

Reborn hits the ground when Butterfly staggers back trying to stem the flow of blood (wow that man has a thick head if he's not dead already), then Reborn ducks under Weightlifter's swing to tackle down Rings from around the waist, dodging the burst of bullets that flies over his head.

Heir disappears out of the bathroom for safety while Reborn grabs the gun in Rings' hand, slams the other elbow down on the man's nose to make him let go and rolls away from Weightlifter's kick. Reborn rapidly shoots all three from the ground before getting back to his feet.

Reborn tells himself that the bathroom floor isn't that dirty and he can burn his suit later, after he gets out of this mess. He drops Rings' inadequate gun and grabs his own firearms back by looting the man's corpse before moving cautiously towards the exit.

Reborn twists, pressing his back to the wall next to the closed door. It's concrete and tiled, it should block bullets. There are brief bursts of gunfire outside but not aimed towards Reborn. He waits a bit for the gunfire and shouting to move further away from the door and then peeks his head out.

The street outside is narrow and wobbly from worn down cobblestones. Since the black market is just in the theatre opposite, it's Mafia territory and no one's going to make a fuss over bullets flying.

It is strange, that a COMSUBIN soldier is here.

The Italian special forces soldier is ducked behind her Jeep on the bathroom side, looking annoyed. This must be the 'little girl' mentioned before, though she seems older that Reborn.

Heir and his men have moved across to the theatre and the better cover. They're currently out of sight, probably waiting for the COMSUBIN to make a move first and adjust their plan from there. Everyone knows it's best to not involve special forces; they get quite territorial and hunt as a pack.

The woman's head snaps over to Reborn, blue hair lashing out from the sharp motion and she half directs her shotgun towards him. She seems to hesitate, vaguely recognising him – hopefully not for being a serial killer. Reborn gets ready to duck back.

"You," she mutters. "The Interpol hitman?"

COMSUBIN does have crossover with Interpol regarding missions and information gathering occasionally. The gossip must have spread by now.

"I'm not proud of that," Reborn does admit, mostly watching the hiding spots around the theatre. "What's a soldier doing here?"

The woman grunts and nods towards the black market. "I want to get my recruit an anti-tank rifle but COMSUBIN considers that kind of weapon as mission-necessary only."

She's here for leisure then. Must be high up the food chain to take a COMSUBIN Jeep out to a Mafia hotspot and wander around without a care. Should be strong enough to fight off an attack but also important enough in COMSUBIN that she won't get dragged in for questioning.

"Any particular brand you're after?" Reborn muses. "This place is better for standard firearms, you won't find something like an anti-tank here."

The soldier pauses. "My name is Lal."

"Reborn. Pleasure to meet you, Ma'am."

Lal shuffles over. "Come here. Let's deal with these guys then you can tell me where a Mafia-type like you would sell the fun shit."


It really doesn't take that long, and soon enough Reborn is standing next to her Jeep, listing the places he knows that cater exclusively to firearms as Lal sits in the driver's seat, using the dashboard as a rest while she scribbles down notes on a tissue.

"Probably don't go to that last one," Reborn recommends. "You are very unapologetically COMSUBIN, which won't be received well."

She grunts noncommittaly, which probably means she'll attempt it anyway for the argument's sake, then tosses the tissue and pen onto the passenger's seat. "Thanks for this."

"No worries," Reborn responds easily. "Just don't use that information to stage busts with your army buddies." Either way, he gave her the ones that have been raided before so it's not like she knows anything the police don't.

"I'll think about it," Lal huffs. She reaches past the rolled down window to hold out a hand. "You're not bad in a fight."

"You were okay," Reborn jokes, shaking her hand.

They spark.

Lal yanks Reborn forward through the window and slams an elbow down on the back of his head to knock him out.