February 18th, 2012

Osaka, Japan

Seth's Home (formerly Travis's)

Birds chirp as a new morning arises. Seth eyes open up, rolling over to check his phone. The number he called last night replied with a text, saying they were on the way. He replies with a message to meet him at Blossom Bomb tea house. Seth hit the shower and dressed himself in the usual shorts and hoodie. After breakfast, he walked outside to find a note taped to the front door.

Enjoy the ride, keys are in the mailbox.

–Kenny

Seth pulled the keys out and hit the alarm button. The lights flickered on a Black Mazda parked out front. Normally this would make Seth jump for joy, but not now. While riding through the city, he calls Jenny.

"Hey Seth, how's it going?"

"Just calling in to check on you. Making sure you were safe."

"I'm fine son. What's going on in Japan? Travis said you were out there."

"Oh yeah, I got together with him last night. He took me around the school. Met some old friends."

"That's nice, tell him to call me soon. We can talk later, I'm at work. Love you son."

"Love you too ma."

Seth's heart came to ease, hearing Jenny in a happy mood. He'd rather keep it that way. Still, Travis was gone and shit was about to get real. Best thing possible was to get this money and leave Japan, ASAP. He parks and goes inside Blossom Bomb. At the counter was a very cute female barista.

"Kon'nichiwa, burossamubomu e yokoso. Do no yo ni tsukaemasu ka? (Hello, welcome to Blossom Bomb. How may I serve you?)"

"Orenji 1 potto, remongurasuti, 2tsu no ichigo no amai keki. (One pot of orange, lemon grass tea and two strawberry sweet cakes.)"

Suddenly his Japanese came back to him. Maybe the stress of last night clogged his mind.

"Sate, 5-bu. Anata no teburu ni motte kimasu. (okay, five minutes. I'll bring it to your table.)"

A window seat sounded nice. Blossom Bomb was on the second floor of a small shopping plaza. Been in business here for years. Kenny loved coming here. As a kid Seth never understood why. Mostly old people and college kids doing homework. All these years, he finally understood. Kenny always sat by the window, where a nice set of blossom trees stood in view. Providing nice shade and a place to comfort ones self. The barista brings over a tray with Seth's order, giving a small curtsey. Seth smiles, taking a look at her backside as she walked back to the counter.

"Wow, you really do have a one track mind."

Ruby Riot takes a seat across from Seth. Her hair now shoulder length with the right side shaved and silver dye in the front. Wearing a black track suit of all things. She sits a backpack on the floor besider her chair.

"You know looking and acting are two different things." Seth retorted.

"Oh yeah. You "looked" all over me and that blonde at that party last year."

"You mean the one you ruined?"

"Yeah." She replied, smiling. "So, we talking business or we just reminiscing?"

"Slow down. Can I offer some tea and cake?"

Ruby sniffed the pot and heaved a little, but decides to take a cake.

"How you been? Still doing the independent anarchy thing?"

"Mm hmm. I spray painted a mural on a capital building in Washington, stole a Bugatti in Nevada and drove it into the ocean. Ooo, last week I broke into a Best Buy and smashed the display TV's."

"Sounds like a valuable use of time." He sarcastically responded. "I like your hair."

"Decided to get the Rouge hairstyle."

"Rouge?"

"From X-Men, duh. Anyway, you been keeping cool?"

"If that was the case I wouldn't of called you. I need someone-"

"Who you can trust?"

"No, someone who isn't afraid to get dirty. I'll tell you straight to your face, I don't trust you. However, you're willing to do some dirt. I can work with that."

Ruby shrugged and laughed, admiring the compliment.

"Okay, so what's the deal? Why Japan?"

"My uncle had gotten me into some deep shit. Racked up some nasty gambling debts. My childhood friend is working with them and has me on lock down. If I don't get them this money, I'm dead and so is my mom."

"Cool. I'm in."

"Wait, just like that?"

"Yeah, working for the Yakuza sound awesome. Hold on, is this Yakuza we're dealing with?"

"Honestly have no idea."

"I can work with either one. I also have a few demands."

"Shoot."

"I need some serious kickback from these jobs we're doing, I need a few souvenirs and I get to blow something up."

"The first two are no problem, but the last thing is fucking stupid, we're not doing that."

"We'll see."

Seth rubbed his face in distress. Tired wasn't the proper word to describe his current feeling. He leaned over the table, making direct eye contact with her. Talking slow and clear.

"Ruby, please. I have no one else to turn to. I have so much to lose with this, so I cannot have anything screw up."

"Alright. You want professional, I'm professional."

Seth thanks her and folds his hands. Turning his attention back the blossom trees outside.

"What's the first move?" She asked.

"We head back to where I'm staying, wait for my buddy to get there, then we listen to him."

"Let's not waste time then. Come on."

As they get up, Seth phone rings. It's Roman on a video call.

"Do me a favor?" He asked, handing Ruby keys. "Start the car while I take this. Black Mazda."

"Cool beans."

"Don't leave me either!"

Ruby smiles as Seth answers the call.

"Roman, my dog! What's up?"

"You tell me man? I been hearing a lot of stuff lately and I need some clarification."

"Suppose it's not fair to leave everyone in the dark. Short version, I fucked up bad on my last job. Almost got chopped to pieces. Charlotte came and saved my ass. It's all my fault."

Roman looked away for a moment, talking to someone. Dean shows face to the camera.

"Sup pussy. Nice of you to finally answer us."

"Dude, back up." Said Roman, adjusting the camera for both faces.

"Nice to see you too Dean. I'm sorry I haven't called you guys. I just needed to clear my head. I'm suspended and there's nothing I can do except get into a proper mindset. Hopefully Hunter will bring me back soon."

"Ohhh, he hasn't heard." Said Dean.

"Heard what?"

"Hunter's replacing you moron."

"What? For real! Roman is he serious?"

"You trust Roman's word but not mine?"

"Yes."

"I don't blame you."

"Dean's not lieing. They held tryouts the last few days for a new member. Hunter doesn't even seemed concerned, if you want me to be honest."

Seth's expression quickly changed. How dare Hunter do that? After being personally recruited and trained. Just replaced him like that before the ink was dry on the suspension papers.

"WELL YOU KNOW-you know what. Hunter wants me out, fine. I guess I'll be an office bitch filing papers all day when I get back."

"HEY, I RESENT THAT!" Shouted Paige off screen. "ALSO, HI SETH!"

Seth smiled on the inside. Paige always did warm his heart.

"Alright then. We just wanted to know you were okay and what the situation was. If anything else comes up, I'll be in touch." Said Roman.

"Thanks. Good luck with the new guy. Stay safe."

Seth hangs up and heads out. He checks the parking lot to find his car gone. He gets irritated as Ruby honks the horn from across the parking lot. She rolls up laughing, then stops seeing Seth angry. Sliding over to passenger side as Seth takes the wheel. Back at the house, Seth grabs the front doorknob, finding it unlocked. He signals Ruby to back up as he slowly opens the door.

"Hurry up, we got a lot to talk about!" Yelled Kenny.

They walk into the kitchen, where Kenny has a layout of papers on the table.

"How'd you get in here?"

"Anywhere you can go, so can I. I'm always watching you Seth. Oh, hello. Is this our help or a booty call? Maybe both?"

"Ruby Riot is the name."

Kenny extended his hand which Ruby shakes. As a gentleman would, Kenny kisses her hand, introducing himself.

"Omega? That's a dope name."

"Thank you. We'll get back to names in a minute. Please, get comfy."

Ruby takes a seat while Seth stands, looking over the table. Kenny starts to pace, explaining what's going on.

"This is a simple objective. We take care of some busy work, we get paid, my boss is happy. As you see here, I have official documents on shipments coming through by various means. Truck, plane, boat, you name it. All carrying valuable items."

"We talking drugs, guns, people?" Asked Seth.

"Much more. Art. Supplies. Animal skins. Jewelry. The stuff with real value. We are talking about the black market."

Ruby and Seth both turn sharp eyes at Kenny.

"Like, THE black market."

"Exactly what you're thinking. We might be supervising a few or robbing a few. A lot of this stuff is coming in for Lady Asuka of the Rainbow Clan."

"I'm sorry, Rainbow Clan? Are they a gang or a gay pride group?"

"Don't let the name fool you. Lady Asuka is no joke. She has Osaka in her grip, which is why we need to move lowkey on this."

"Let me see if I guessed this right. Nakamura works under Lady Asuka and wants to steal from under her nose. Make a little extra money."

"Close. We do work under Lady Asuka. However there's some new competition coming over from China. Lady Asuka has gotten word that her shipments may be in danger. We keep those safe and make Nakamura look good."

"As long as they don't know its us?"

"Exactly. Nakamura gets the credit, but also has no connection to any crimes we commit. Any questions?"

Ruby raised her hand.

"Yes."

"What happens if we lose the shipments?"

"Then you're dead."

Ruby folded her arms, second guessing her decision to help.

"Hey, I got a question. What the hell happened to Travis?"

"Don't worry about that. Anything else? No? Good. On to the next thing. I'll be supplying you with gear. Please write down your measurements in this notepad and I'll get those made. Weapons will also be supplied by me. We're not here to incite blood baths, so don't expect cannons or machine guns. So far so good?"

Seth and Ruby nod.

"Okay. Ruby. You any good with tech?"

"I'm decent. Rigging is my wheelhouse. Fireworks, bombs, a jack in the box. If it's got wires, I can rig it."

"Close enough. Can you fight?"

"I'm no Bruce Lee, but I can handle a brawl."

"Alright then. Last bit for today, code names. These are just for communication between us on a job, not in everyday talk. You can call me The Cleaner. Ruby?"

"How about, Siren?"

"Siren. That's not bad. Seth?"

Seth was staring at the floor, seemingly fazed out. He looks at Kenny upon hearing his name.

"Is the name really neccessary?"

"Yes."

"Fuck it, just give me one."

"Tyler Black."

"Tyler Black?"

"You don't remember?"

"No. Please remind me where the hell you got the name Tyler Black."

"Around a month after we first met, when I told you about my new name when I got older. You thought my name was so cool and wanted your own."

"And the best I came up with was Tyler Black? Jesus I have completely blocked that from my memory."

"Tyler Black it is. So with that done, you guys look over the documents, get familiar with what's coming in. We start next week. I'll be in touch."

Kenny picks up his bag and begins to leave. Seth jumps from the chair and grabs Kenny's arm.

"Wait, how am I supposed to reach you? Are you gonna tell me where you been? Explain something, anything man."

"Like I said, I'll be on touch. Talk to you later."

Kenny leaves Seth to his own thoughts. He turns around to Ruby, who's checking the files.

"If you need somewhere to stay, there's an extra room."

"Nice. I'll go grab my bag out the car."

Seth's eyes started to slump. This experience was going to be a draining one. Even worse at a time where he needed to be vigilant. He needed a way to stay one step ahead of his new employers.