March 10th, 2012

Osaka, Japan

Waiting...waiting...waiting...That's all I've been doing is waiting. Working out, eating, documenting my days back home, if I can even call it that anymore. I hope Ruby is doing okay. Police are still looking for me. Asuka hasn't been in contact since this. She advised me to stay home, which I have been. I'm just ready to go back to the states.

A knock comes to Seth's door. He puts the notebook down and answers it. An Asian woman wearing a black, pinstripe suit.

"Seth Rollins?"

"Yea."

She handed Seth a shopping bag. "Io Shirai. Get dressed and lets go. Asuka is waiting for you."

Seth went to his room, donning the cream suit he was gifted. He tied his hair up and went back to Io.

"I'm ready. I just got a quick question though."

"No. Follow me."

It was a humid night in Osaka, Seth's favorite. Waiting for him was a white luxury car. The driver opened the backseat for Io and Seth, only nodding as they got inside.

"Kinda surprised you spoke English."
Io only gave him a glare, staying silent. Seth turned away, tapping his fingers against the seat. The driver turned on the radio, killing the awkward silence. A couple miles down the road and they're at Asuka's penthouse. Seth had only caught a glimpse of this place on his way out. It was very nice, built above a lounge/arcade, which Asuka owns. It was closed tonight. He follows Io into the arcade, where Asuka, in pink overalls, was bouncing a ping pong ball.

"SETH!" Asuka pulled him by the arm, placing him on the other side of a game table. Asuka ran back around to grab her paddle. "PLAY!"

"Seriously?"

"Yes, play!"

Her attitude was far removed from the one who poured hot tea on him a few days ago. Not wanting to anger anyone, he took a stance as Asuka took the first hit. Io stood in the middle, watching the ball go back and forth.

"Watashi no tame ni nanika shite hoshi. (I need you to do something for me.)" Said Asuka.

"Watashi ga kiite iru. (I'm listening.)"

"Sengetsu, anata to anata no tomodachi wa dokku de jueri torihiki o kaisan shimashita. Kankei-sha no 1-ri ga mitsukarimashita. (Last month, you and your friends broke up a jewelry deal by the docks. We found one of the men involved.)"

Still concentrating on the game, Seth answered, "Waheko Gin."

"Tadashi. Watashi wa keiyaku o daha suru tame ni yatowa reta kin'niku o okurimashita. Shikashi, jakkan no kansho ga arimashita. (Correct. I sent some hired muscle to break up the deal. But there was some minor interference.)"

"Moshiwake arimasen. (Sorry about that.)"

Asuka threw a backhanded hit, knocking the ball right past Seth's head.

"Anata to Io wa jin to hanashi o shi, kare ga dare to torihiki shite ita ka ni tsuite motto shirudeshou. (You and Io will talk to Gin and find out more about who he was trading with.)"

"And if he doesn't talk, we make him." Added Io."

Seth leaned on the table and let out a small breath. "I'm gonna assume we're doing this tonight?"

"Yes. We need to move quickly. He's at a bar a few blocks away. Come on."

"Satsugai nashi. Keikan wa sudeni watashitachi no o shiri ni imasu. Kore ijo no chui wa hitsuyo arimasen. (No killing. The cops are already on our ass. We don't need any more attention.)" Said Asuka.

Seth bows before stepping away. He catches up with Io in the elevator.

"Before we move on, I just need to know, who the hell are you?"

"I told you what my name was."

"Obviously. Are you the enforcer? A relative? What do you do for Asuka?"

"That's of no concern to you. Just keep quiet and do what we ask."

Happy Suds was the place for unique alcoholic beverages. A crowd favorite was the plum wine. Another was rose petal beer, specially brewed at this establishment. That was Waheko Gin's drink of choice, which he finished his fourth glass at the bar. He kept checking his phone, waiting for a reply from another black market vendor. After his deal was ruined, business slowed down. The bartender placed a small glass of sake in front of him. Gin eyes the glass, then the bartender, who smiled back.

"Josei no homekotoba. (Compliments of the lady.)

Gin looked over to see Io giving a friendly wave. She had unbuttoned her shirt and tied it in a knot, upping her appeal. Gin grabbed the drink and made his way over.

Seth waited outside, hidden in the shade, away from anyone who might recognize him. He had recently started texting Roman and Dean again, who blew his phone up, wondering if he was okay. He also hadn't heard from Adam in a while. Kenneth still hasn't had his proper funeral. Just one thing on top of another. He heard laughter. He knelt down and watched as Gin walked Io to his car. Before getting in, she locked eyes with Seth, who nodded. She nodded back. Seth returned to their driver and they followed Gin to his place.

Dallas, Texas

A foul smell drifted into Dean's nose. He slowly opened his eyes to find himself laying in a graveyard. He brushed dirt off of his shirt and stood up.

"Damn, I might of went overboard last night."

He swept some hair away, unsure of where he was. There were no lights in the distance. No sounds, except for digging. Dean followed the sound, finding a dark figure shoveling dirt into a grave.

"Hey buddy!" Dean called.

The figure continued to dig, ignoring Dean. Dean got in closer, getting a better look. It was himself, dressed in all black.

"Woah."

"Sup." Said Other Dean. "Surprised to see me?"

"No, I look at your ass everyday in the mirror."

"Hilarious. You wanna help?"

"Nah, looks like your having fun. Who you dumping anyway?"

"See for yourself."

Dean bent over, glancing at the tombstone. His name was on it, with his birth year and the year he died, 2012.

"Ooo, is this symbolic?"

Other Dean shrugged his shoulders. "Beats me man. Its your dream."

Dean sat on the tombstone, rubbing his chin. "I guess this means I'm digging my own grave?"

"You do a lot of stupid stuff. And you almost died in that explosion."

"True that. But, I can assure you that I won't be dieing anytime soon. Well, this was fun, but I'm going back to planet Earth. Where's the exit?"

Other Dean pulls up his shovel, whacking his counterpart in the face. Dean sits up in bed, clutching his head. His arm wrapped in a sleeve to protect his burnt skin. Becky was next to him, reading a book.

"Another bad dream?"

"I wouldn't say bad, just strange. I'm gonna go get some orange juice."

Dean sauntered out of bed, dragging himself to the kitchen. He looked at his phone, seeing a message from Imani.

Imani: Come to the club on the 15th, Bayley will talk to you here

He had almost forgotten about meeting up with Bayley. In a strange way, he was looking forward to it. Dean poured his juice and stood by the window. The suburban area was light by street lights. A pretty sight for Dean, and the red hooded figure, who was watching him from afar with binoculars.

Osaka, Japan

Io trots along the stone path as Gin follows, barely holding his balance.

"Fukkura to shita botomu. Gojasuna kao. Kanojo wa totemo utsukushidesu. (A plump bottom. Gorgeous face. She's so beautiful.)"

Io stood by the door, gazing at Gin while licking her lips. Gin was snickering as he pulled keys out. Fumbling, he dropped them.

"Nanika tasuke ga hitsuyodesu ka? (You need any help with that?)"

Gin turned around to a punch from Rollins, knocking him out. Io took the keys and opened the door while Seth dragged Gin inside. Seth throws Io a pair of gloves and they start searching for useful info. 15 min later, Gin wakes up, handcuffed to a table.

"Ya! Do shita no! Darekatasukete! (HEY! WHATS GOING ON! SOMEONE HELP ME!)"

Seth appears from the kitchen and kicks Gin in the face. Io came over, wielding a kitchen knife.

"Chuibukaku mimiwokatamukeru. (Listen carefully.)" She said. "Sengetsu no 24-nichi ni, anata wa dokku de jueri kokan o shite imashita. Watashitachi wa anata no tsunagari o shiritaidesu. (On the 24th of last month, you were in a jewelry exchange by the docks. We want to know your connections.)"

"Watashi wa anata ni nanika meinu o itte imasen! (I'm not telling you anything bitch!)"

Io kneeled down, pressing the blade against Gin's throat. "Hanashi hajimeru ka (Start talking or-)"

Gin quickly turned his head, slashing his own throat.

"Oh shit!" Said Seth, jumping back in shock.

As he bled out, Io kicks his body repeatedly, screaming nonsense. Seth pulls her back with a little force.

"HE'S DEAD! Chill out."

"We got nothing! Asuka doesn't like it when people come back empty handed."

"We got his cell phone. I can work with this."

"How?"

"Lets get back to Asuka, then I'll explain there."

They immediately head back to Asuka's. Before heading up, Seth leaves the driver a nice tip. As they exit the elevator, a white bird flies across his head.

"What the hell?"

Asuka makes a pigeon noise, calling the bird back to her arm. Petting its head gently before turning her attention to Io. Io was frozen, seemingly worried.

"Asuka-san, warui shirase ga arimasu. Wahekojin wa shinda. (Lady Asuka, I have bad news. Waheko Gin is dead.)"

Asuka's face went blank, but said nothing.

"Watashitachi ga joho o eru mae ni, kare wa jibun no inochi o ubaimashita. (He took his own life before we could get any info.)"

In a flash, Asuka flew over, smacking Io across the face, knocking her to the floor. Asuka yelled angrily yelled nonsense as Io laid still. Seth cleared his throat and Asuka got right in his face.

"Asuka-san, Jin no geitaidenwa o nantoka shucho shita. Sorehodo oku wa arimasenga,-ka ni kaette kare no izen no denwa ya tekisuto o kaifuku dekiru hito ga iru koto wa shitte imasu. (Lady Asuka, we did manage to claim Gin's cell phone. There's not much, but I know some people back home that can recover his previous calls and texts.)"

"Really?" Asuka asked, with raised eyebrows.

"Yes."

Asuka paced back and forth while pondering this idea. Seth offered a hand to Io. She ignored him, getting up on her own. 30 more seconds of pacing, Asuka stops in front of Seth.

"Anata no ito o darenimo iwanaide kudasai. Sono denwa o kurakku, watashi wa shiawasena Asuka ni narimasu. Watashi o uragitte, watashi wa anata o koroshite moraimasu. (Tell no one of your intentions. Crack that phone, I'll be a happy Asuka. Betray me, and I'll have you killed.)"

"Wakatta. (Understood.)"

Asuka lightly patted him on the cheek. "Good boy."

Later that night, Seth walked through a storage warehouse, going from door to door, trying to find the one that matched the key they took from Nakamura's office a while back.

"34, 35, 36, 37!"

A double take back and forth and he opened up the storage unit. It was a bunch of boxes. He poked through one of them, finding silk shirts.

"Yoi koro. (About time.)"

Seth spun around to find a white suited stranger. He was Seth's height with a bald head and goatee.

"Ikaga nasaimashita ka? (Can I help you?)" Asked Seth.

"Jissai no tokoro, dekimasu. (As a matter of fact, you can.)" He extended his hand, which was draped in rings and an expensive looking watch. "Jinsei Nakamura, Hajimemashite. (Nice to meet you.)"

Seth pocketed his hands, showing no friendly intent. Jinsei chuckled. "Wakatta, anata wa watashi o shiranai ga, watashi wa anata o shitte iru. Nakamura Shinsuke no itokodesu. (I get it, you don't know me, but I know you. I'm Shinsuke Nakamura's cousin.)"

Not a word came from Seth's mouth. He was focused on a potential fight.

"Chotto rirakkusushitekudasai, anata wa watashi ni koi o shimashita. Shin suke ga inaku nattara, watashi wa kare no shigoto o hikitsugu koto ga dekimasu. (Hey relax, you did me a favor. With Shinsuke gone, I can take over his business.)"

"Naze watashi wa anata ga iu koto o shinjinakereba naranai nodesu ka? (Why should I believe anything you say?)"

Jin walked past Seth and dug into on of the boxes and pulled out a clay monkey statue. Seth watched as Jin smashed the statue, pulling out a bag of Goldust. He made a slit, scooping out and snorting a small bit. He offered some to Seth, who silently refused.

"Watashi wa kono sutorejiyunitto o kanshi shite imasu. Yamiichiba de takane de ureru takusan no yoimono ga koko ni arimasu. (I've been keeping an eye on this storage unit. There's a lot of good stuff here that'll sell for a high price on the black market.)"

"Sorenara, naze senaka o mukete watashi o korosanai nodesu ka? (So why not just kill me with my back turned?)"

"Shi wa bijinesu ni totte waruikaradesu. (Because death is bad for business.)" Jin reached into his suit pocket, putting Seth in a fighting stance. Jin smiled, pulling out a large stack of money. "Ki-yo. (For the key.)"

Seth was hesitant. He threw the key to Jinsei, who threw back the money. Seth flipped the money in his hand. It was over 500k yen, which was around five grand in US dollars. It didn't matter, Seth had no interest in drug dealing. Seth gave a nod and left Jin to his loot. Whatever happened here wasn't important to him. All he cared about, was making his flight back to the states.