"War is where the young and stupid are tricked by the old and bitter into killing each other. I was very young, and very angry. Maybe that is no excuse..." That is what Niko said when he and Roman went to his poor apartment that showed that he was spitting bullshit on his e-mails that were sent to him.
He wakes up the three mornings after on Roman's bed/couch with a nightmare of the same experience that happened to him and his friends years ago, but he was used to it as he got these much too often. Days earlier, Niko did some help with his cousin to manage his loanshark and gambling problems and met Vladimir Glebov. They made it out ok, but the next day, two Albanian gangsters damaged Roman's cab office and Niko fought them off. He than got asked for a favor from Roman to pick up Mallorie and and a new friend of hers, Michelle. Mallorie then tries to make Michelle go out with Niko and they both agreed.
Niko then dresses up in his attire that he wore yesterday: a leather jacket, a striped shirt, sweat pants, and leather boots. He then proceeds to walk out of the apartment room, went downstairs, and into the walkway outside. He looks around the street full of businesses, cars, pedestrians, etc. It feels different as his home back in Serbia was basically a countryside. He then looks at his right and sees a coffee shop next door he had not seen and was not there before. It was Japanese.
He then proceeds to go inside and check it out.
Once he went inside, he sees that the place that was once an abandoned Caviar business, is now a coffee shop with five employees working. "Pretty nice," Niko said to himself out loud.
His concentration was interrupted by a purple-haired asian female at the shop's bar yelling at him. "Hey, do you have any business here?"
Niko got a bit confused. "Ugh... Hello. Ugh... I was only checking this place out since it popped up last night."
The woman then retorted. "That's because we opened last night, you got a problem with that, commie?"
Niko turns to woman. "What? No, I'm just saying that it's pretty unusual to open a coffee shop in the middle of the night, don't you think?"
"Yeah, whatever. Are you going to sit down and order something or what?" She says to Niko.
"Well... might as well." Niko says and sits at the bar. "Oh and by the way, I'm not russian."
The purpled-hair then took her receipt writer and clicked the pen she was holding. "Well, what do you want?" Niko didn't notice her holding the receipt writer and spoke up.
"I don't know- a cappuccino." He answers and she then it writes down and takes out a fancy glass coffee cup and puts it where Niko was sitting. She then takes out a round cylinder with coffee contents in it. Niko, once again confused, thought this place would have coffee makers. He than sees the girl slowly pours hot water into the cylinder. He than sees brown drops rapidly come from the top. He finally realize that this was old fashion coffee making. He didn't even make a comment why they do it.
The purple-haired then pours the made coffee into the cup and mixes it with cream and sugar. "There, enjoy," she said in a rude manner.
"Yeah, thanks for the hospitality," Niko sarcastically comes back at her. "Do you treat your customers like this every time?"
"What does it matter to you," she spoke up. "Since we opened, a lot of greedy and perverted russians come in and storm the place like it's 1999 or the end of the world or something."
"But should that be a good thing?" Niko said to her. "I mean that having a lot of customers means a lot of money making can make you rich in this country."
She then answers to Niko. "I know that, but all the customers made us feel like slaves or something and demanded more coffee and will not pay up, hell, they even harassed us. Sexually."
"That's why capitalism is a dirty business," Niko said. "But I have nothing against capitalism, it's just different in my country I come from."
"Well, that's what we are all going to dealing with here," the purpled-haired said back to Niko as she turns back washing dishes.
"I guess so," Niko mumbled to himself as he takes his first sip of the cappuccino. "Hmmm, not bad."
Has he puts down the cup of coffee, a young man with white hair and an eyepatch sits beside him.
"Sorry about Touka here," the young man here. "She just had a long night serving customers. We all here are not used to in this place."
"Me too," Niko commented him. "I just got here, too."
"Well, let me introduce myself," the young man started saying. "I'm Ken Kaneki. The waitress you just met is Touka." He then points to the people in the back. "That over there is Nishiki, and that's our waitress in training, Hinami," Kaneki jokes at little Hinami. She giggles a little as she waves at Niko. "We just moved from Tokyo and we're making ourselves a living here."
"I'm Niko. Niko Bellic. I'm from Serbia." Niko greeted as he then wondered that what he just said that they came from Tokyo concerned him as there was some crazy events happening over there and the rest of the employees here are a bit young. "Not my position to say this, but why did you move here, and what happened to her parents?" He points out to Hinami.
Kaneki didn't know Niko would question him. "Well, it's a bit complicated," he says to Niko.
"Well, I'm not going to rush you," Niko pointed out.
Kaneki thinks of a lie to hide what everyone here is and starts off slowly. "Every since the increase of ghoul killings, the CCG has pushed the boundaries too far and started ward raids around the city. Everything became chaos. And Hinami's parents..." He pointed out to her. "They were killed in one of the raids."
"I'm sorry to hear that," Niko Apologizes. This reminded him of the massacres back in his country before and during the war in Europe, and how he was raised differently.
"What about you?" Kaneki asked Niko as he also he would question him either. "Why did you come here, anyway?"
He couldn't think of a lie to cover him. "Let's just say I did some bad thing, and bad things change a person, and if you mess one bad thing up, you have to run away from what you did to try to forget what you did, but in reality... they don't."
"I can understand," Kaneki agrees. "I've did some bad things myself." He then looks at everyone around the room. "Everyone here did bad things as well. Everyone."
Niko then glanced at Kaneki's fingernails. They were black. Something tells him that he was someone of special importance. He just can't but his finger on it. He then takes another sip as his phone that Roman gave to him beeped. The message says to come by the cab office at anytime. "Well, my cousin's calling me to the cab office he owns just not far from here."
Touka then turns to him and started speaking. "Wait, is your cousin's cab business has the black cars that all of us road into?"
Niko thought, How does she know? Did Roman's drivers picked them up? "Yes, why do you asked."
"I want pay the driver who let ride on the house," Touka replied. "Is it ok we come with you?"
"Touka, I don't think he would want that," Kaneki told her. "Besides, I don't think it be nice if we interfere with Niko's and his cousin's business, right Niko?" He then turned to him.
"Actually, I don't mind if you do," Niko said.
Touka is pleased. "Thank you."
"Your welcome, to the girl who had a bad attitude," Niko joking Touka.
"Yeah screw you, too," Touka said to Niko in an annoyed tone.
"Well, you guys coming or what?"
"Right." Kaneki then heads out the door with Touka and Niko. "Hey guys, watch the shop while we're gone."
Then Niko was stopped as he forgot to pay for the coffee. "Oh, hold on." He places $3 on the bar and heads back for the door. The three both head into a four-door sedan and drove off to Roman's cab office.
A min later, when they arrived at the office, Roman was having a hard time handling business.
"Head into town. I don't give a fuck if the bridge is busy, you're a cab driver!" The three walk into Roman's office in a bad time. "Hey, who are these two?" He then takes a phone call while Niko heads to the soda machine as Kaneki and Touka sit down. "Hello, Roman Bellic Enterprises... No. Mr. Bellic has stepped away from his office, can I take a message? Okay... great... no, I'm not gay." The three both laugh out loud before calming and Niko tries to get a soda when the soda gets stuck. "Yes, I'll... I'll tell him. Car Seven, head to South Slopes. Come on, where are you, Mohammad?" He picks up his cellphone as it rings and dies on him. "Hello, Roman Bellic's offi... Shit. Fucking battery. This is chaos!"
"Capitalism is a dirty business," Niko says again as he hits the soda machine then cursed "Piss." (not in original dialogue but you can thank FlyingKitty for that)
"Yeah... Like war?" Roman says. Kaneki and Touka looked at Niko and wondered, Did he fought in a war? Niko looks at Kaneki and Touka as they wondered then turns back at Roman.
"Not exactly."
"No. Maybe not. When you going to tell me properly about what happened? I'm not going to judge you."
"Ahh... when you got time."
Roman expresses his face in an impatient tone. As the phone rings he quickly picks it up and then hung up immediately. "There, I've got time." Then Touka giggles a little.
"Another time." Niko say then Roman points to the two individuals sitting.
"Who are these two lovebirds?"
Both Kaneki and Touka blushed.
"IT'S NOTHING LIKE THAT!" Both say in together at once.
"Guys, please," Niko tries to handle them "Roman, this is Kaneki and Touka. They've came here a few days ago as I arrived here. They own a coffee shop next door to our apartment."
"A coffee shop? Next to us?" Roman surprised. "Well great, how was it?"
Niko answers his question. "It was wonderful than the coffee you spat out when I came here," Niko jokingly him as Roman chuckled a little.
"It's nice to meet you Kaneki and Touka," Roman greeting.
"Um... Mr. Bellic?" Touka politely calling to Roman.
"Uh, yes Touka?" Roman's attention caught.
"Um, one of your drivers pulled up on us when we arrived and drove us for free since it's our first time, he says."
"What, did he?" Roman gets concerned as he was told of what happened. "Well, who was he? Did he have dark skin?"
As Touka remember, she finds out that the cab driver match the description. "Actually, yeah, he did have dark skin."
"Must be Mohammad, he's always a bit generous to new comers in the city," Roman tells Touka.
"Well, if you see him, give him this," Touka then places three coupons from Anteiku. "Consider this to him payment for his service for us."
"Sure, I'll give this to him when he comes back here," Roman excepts.
"Anyways, Roman can I help you with something?" Niko asking Roman for help.
"Okay. Yes... go pick up my friend, Little Jacob... he's a good man. Likes to smoke a bit. Look after him. He's on Oneida ave. in South Slopes. Niko, man, we should talk some time - I'm a good listener."
"Whatever, man." Niko leaves as well as Kaneki and Touka.
"Hey, don't mind we help you with this?" Kaneki asking Niko.
"I'm not sure there's anything to help on this run, but ok," Niko agreeing as Roman goes back to business and picks up the ringing phone.
"Mohammed, where the fuck are... Oh! Miss Weinstock, no no, not you... what can I do for you today?"
The three head into one of Roman's cabs and started to head to Oneida ave to pick up Little Jacob.
"Little Jacob?" Touka curiously said. "What kind of name is that?"
Niko looks at the head mirror to see Touka as she and Kaneki rode in the back. "I don't know, but I guess we'll have to find out." As they were on Oneida ave., a black Jamaican with sunglasses waves at them. They pull up on the side where he was standing and got into the front passenger side.
"Alright, breda, forward a Dillon Street in Schottler," Little Jacob saying in Jamaican accent. "Ya Niko? The one me man Roman's been talking about all this time? Cousin Niko, gonna help Roman take over de world and ting?"
"I guess so," Niko responding.
"Respect. Alright, alright," Little Jacob finishes before turning to the man and woman in the back. "Wha' these two doing here?"
"That's Kaneki," Niko introducing. "And that's Touka. They'll be helping me on this run."
"Nice to meet ya, stas," Little Jacob greeting. "We going to this spot where I need ya to wait for I, seen? I gotta ask ya another favor too."
"Go for it," Niko accepts.
"Can you guys take dis pieces?" Little Jacob asks as both Niko, Kaneki, and Touka are offered three 9mm semi-automatic Glock 22s. "Ya hear any ting bad going down you come and help, sight?"
"Are you worried about this?" Niko concerned. "I know how to use a gun if you want me to keep watch of things." He then turns to Kaneki and Touka. "You guys know how to use one, right?"
Kaneki takes the Glock, checks the magazine, and pulls the loader. "Yeah, I do. Touka had little training with guns but she's familiar with gun combat."
Touka looked at Kaneki frequently. "What? Little training? What are you talking about? You damn well know that I was fully trained for this kind of situation."
Kaneki raised his hands worriedly. "Calm down, Touka, I was only kidding. Of course you mastered the use of firearms."
Little Jacob was looking the whole time and turned around, laughing then calmed down a bit and turned to Niko. "Ah... right sta, man, right sta. Realness brother, you and me man Roman's cousin. Thanks, respect. This ras clot has a rukus with me bredren Real Badman de other day. I want to make peace, but Jah know what type of shit they might pull off."
As they talked and drove at the same time, they reached where Little Jacob said.
"Alright, man, yo three take that there and and look out while me and this ras clot talk about theis rukus," Little Jacob said as the three took cover behind a look out ledge where they won't get spotted. Niko pulled the slot of his pistol and Touka soon followed.
As the gang member arrived, it turns out that he wasn't alone as two other gang members come out of the car fully armed.
"What dis? I thought there was only going to be one of yous coming?"
"Jacob, Jacob, Jacob..." the lead member started, "we have te teach Badman his lesson and ting.
The three members started firing at Jacob as the sounds of gun shots filled the alley and into Touka's ear drums since its been awhile since she was in this situation before.
"Shit, Niko. Get these bloodclots," Little Jacob yelled.
Touka, Kaneki, and Niko got up and aimed at the gang and started barraging them with bullets. One of the members noticed them and shouted "Tis is an ambush, man." The gang turned but when they did, the got shot several times in the torso and fell backward in the garbage.
As they both thought the trouble was over, Jacob notices that another thug comes out from the roof top opposite left of them. "Watch yourself, coo pon de other one inna the ground."
Kaneki then looked at the thug before Niko did, started aiming and fired five shots as four went into his torso and one made it to his head before he fell off the roof into the garbage.
"Wow, nice shot man," Niko crediting Kaneki.
"Thanks," Kaneki said.
"Sorry for maga dog, maga dog turn round bite you," Jacob said as he climbed up the steps. "Come here back a' homebrew café."
The four head back into Roman's cab and flee the scene. As the head to the Homebrew café, Little Jacob looked astonished. "You both a real creation stepper, guys, righteous wit dat piece. I tink we could do some work together and tings. Inna the future, you know?"
"I am always looking for work, if it pays," Niko says as both Kaneki and Touka agrees.
"I guess I could do a now-and-then job if I can," Kaneki said.
"Me too, I wouldn't mind if it involves this type of situation we were in," Touka said afterwords. The both agree since they only that they had a share of murders that they sometimes regret, they would only do it again if it involves with criminals or something.
"Here's me number," Jacob shares his phone number them. "Mek we both link up soon."
They finally reached the Homebrew café, where many Jamaican immigrants hang out. Jacob opens the front passenger door and walks out of the car.
"Thanks for everything, ya can keep the pieces. I tink ya know fe use them better than I an' I do. One love. Irie, rasta. I an' I need fe talk. Mek we dweet."
"You mind you take us back to Anteiku?" Kaneki asking.
"Sure," Niko said as he starts driving back to Mohawk ave.
"Well, that takes care of that," Touka commented. "When did your cousin get into the drity business anyway?"
"He's not," Niko said back. "He knows not to do this stupid stuff, except when it comes to his gambling problem."
"Gambling problem?"
"Yeah, since I got here, Roman been losing and spending his money on card games somewhere in the city and online. Because of that, he's now in debt from loansharks such as one Vlad I came across when I went to Roman's office for the first time."
"Vlad, that dick?" Touka cursed.
"Yeah, you know him?" Niko questioned.
"Yeah, he's the one hitting and sexually harassed me when we opened," Touka angry spat out.
Niko got concerned for her. "Really? Maybe when he comes by the office, I might kick his teeth in his throat."
"Yeah, that would be nice, but I wouldn't do that," Touka said.
"Why, he harassed you."
Kaneki started to speak up. "He's not to be messed with, he has connections to this russian named Mikhail Faustin he keeps talking about. There's not much about him I know, but I know he's big and Vlad is his second man."
"Ok, maybe I should talk to Vlad about this Mikhal Faustin and see about it," Niko commenting Kaneki. They finally reached Anteiku and Niko's and Roman's apartment.
"Hey thanks, Niko," Touka saying to Niko. "I'm sorry about earlier,"
"It's fine, I'll come by here again," Niko said.
"Hey, call us sometime. We can help you on jobs if you want." Kaneki offered.
"Ok." The two went back into the coffee shop as Niko backed up to his and his cousin's parking spot.
As Kaneki and Touka went inside, Nishio comes at them. "Where have you been? We've been worried sick, dammit!"
"Sorry," Kaneki apologizing. "We had some other business for someone to take care of."
"Well, did it involve giving those coupons to that cab driver, or maybe something that had to do with this?" Nishio pointing to the TV as a Weazal News reports a incident in an alley that involved four gang members that were found gunned downed in what was suppose to be set up of a drug deal.
"Ok, if we did that, what would you do, huh?" Kaneki questioned Nishio.
"We are not here to start a gang here, we are to serve people coffee! We can't let people know who we are, or we are both dead! Oh wait, maybe you like going lone wolf and try to kill yourself? That would be great for all-I mean some of us."
Then Touka stood in front of Kaneki and said, "Don't talk to him like that! We just did a favor for someone who could've got killed and you are like speak for those assholes who set up one of Nikos' cousin's friend! Have so symphony for once!"
Kaneki was shocked. He didn't know that she was concerned for him.
"Besides, we're in Liberty now. No one here is going to kill us just because we're ghouls."
"Your sure about that?" Nishio comes back at her.
Touka didn't say any else, she just stood there with an anger expression.
"As I thought."
"Guys, it doesn't matter if we're ghouls or not here," Kaneki starts speaking up. "We all here did bad things back in Tokyo, so we'll all here is going to something bad here as well. We're all responsible for what we do, and there will be consequences. So can we all calm down?"
Everyone was look at Kaneki as he spoke. He never said anything like that since he left Anteiku back in Tokyo.
"Your right..." Nishio admits as he tilts his down in disappointment. "I'm sorry..."
Kaneki walks up to him and pats him on the back and smiles, causing his head to look up. "Don't worry about it."
"Well, with that done..." Touka started. "We can get back to work."
Kaneki turns to her. "Right, all should."
Everyone started going back to what they were doing. As Touka went back behind the bar, Kaneki walked to her, startling her. "JESUS! You have to sneak behind me?"
"Look..." He started. "thanks for holding me back there."
Touka hesitated of what he said. "Well, I just did you a favor, OK?"
Kaneki started touched her shoulder and Touka began to blush. "I owe you one."
With Touka embarrassed, she turned around, hiding her expression. "Well, whatever! Lets never speak of this again and get back to work!"
As Kaneki leaves her alone, Touka turns her head to look at him one more time and smiles. Oh Kaneki... She thought.
Oh, what a day in the City of Liberty...