"Oi, James. The boss wants to see you. He ain't happy."
O'Shaughnessy rolls his eyes as he waves at the messenger. This worthless club filled with expendable lives, scum and trash wiggling around in the figurative muck of this deceptively luxurious bar.
"Fine, fine, I'll see tubby."
"Just because you can fight doesn't mean you can do whatever you want... You tricked my friends into attacking Shujin."
"No you crusty tagnut, I told Takuya that the guy feeling up on his sister was a teacher in Shujin, which is true."
"You baited him for fun!"
The foreigner shrugs as he passes the agitated thug.
"I told him I would get him the truth and I did! Go ask him! I didn't tell him to go get his teeth kicked in by twenty-eight year-old teacher!"
He descends a flight of stairs to a hidden strip club underneath the high-class establishment. Girls and women strut, dance, and of course strip all around a heavy crowd of members of the Hebi. All younger members of branch in the local yakuza. All lead by a rotund man with two women around his arms. O'Shaughnessy approaches him only to be stopped by two grunts. The fat man lowers his shades with a side glance to the Scotsman.
"That's far enough... I wanted to ask you something. That place that went up in flames... The guy who torched that place. Was it that guy with the skull? The vigilante?"
"Who else would set fire to a place of ill-repute! Wasn't it on your protection payroll?"
"It was, and I got a call from some old asshole on the night it happened, said the owner wasn't happy, but it wasn't you... Right?"
O'Shaughnessy shrugs before swiftly dispatching both the men. He pokes the eyes of one before kicking the knee of the other backwards, he gut punches the blinded one before throwing him into the handicapped thug, both tossed to the side in mere moments. The women quietly gasp too terrified to shriek as the loud droning club music drowns out the men wailing. O'Shaughnessy sneers at his "leader".
"Don't forget I could kill you and everyone in this room if I wanted to, Fat Boy. Now you know that, and you know I love taking credit for things, so if I killed your guys... Why would I burn evidence of it? I'm tellin' ya! That vigilante came in and murked your guys. Nearly got me, but he didn't enter from the front or back, came from right behind the counter... You hearin' me?"
"Barely. What're you getting at, asshole?"
"Noticed the bandana has turned into a helmet? Or his new expensive yet stylish suit? He's got an upgrade! Someone working there, someone who owns that building, had a secret entrance he used to fuck us up! To fuck you over!"
The man looks away in thought.
"... Some of the older buildings have gambling rooms made that were kept out of records and blueprints... Quite a few in that area actually."
"It's only my most humble suggestion as the guy who killed his way to the top but..."
O'Shaughnessy gets uncomfortably close. The man leans back with disgust on his face but fear in his eyes.
"Send someone over there to look the place over. Some of your buddies in the force. I'm telling you, that guy has resources, and I'll use my own Intel to check it out... The sooner we do this, the sooner your pushers and dealers can get back to work, after all those are MY boys in the clink on YOUR orders."
The man gulps and nods silently. His partner winks at him as he gives the fat man his due personal space.
"Nice doing business with you as always Kaneshiro. Don't forget who got you where you are... And that I can take it all away in an instant too."
"R-Rrgh...!"
O'Shaughnessy leaves snickering to himself as he traverses through the slums of the city. Getting numerous drinks along the way. Drinks to numb the pain in his heart. After meeting with his old student, his best employee, his first son... Now he has to kill him again...
He arrives to his own hideaway in a seemingly abandoned warehouse. As he enters the manager's office, he leans over the shoulder a young man sitting in front of numerous monitors, the stench of liquor heavy on his breath. An inebriated smile and terrible slur to his voice.
"Seamus!~ Dear lad! Tell me some good news before I break your toys...!"
"Y-You're... Hardly in any state to hear this. What happened after you hung up? You sound like you-"
Seamus looks up and stops in shock. He's known his father to be quite a monster, an unholy heathen, just all around a bad guy. Even so, this terrible man was still his father, and his own eyes not that bad of one. He's seen this man go through war zones as if they were strolls, break out of prisons just to ruin long lasting records, and come home with fatal injuries smiling like he had only scraped his knee... Through all of the insanity he's lived with; Seamus never saw his father cry, not until this moment. Face red yet twisted into a forced gleeful expression as tears lightly fall from his weary green eyes.
"You... Are you... Okay, Dad?"
O'Shaughnessy nods as he buries his hand in the boy's curly hair to ruffle his head.
"Over the moon! Now spill the swill before I force feed you daikon or whatever bullshit rice cake juice they have on this island."
Seamus nods and turns his attention to one of his screens with a point.
"R-Right...! That's the address I narrowed down. Owner of the building is Sojiro Sakura, who also owns a building just a street over, Café LeBlanc."
"Why's it spelled like, Leblanc?"
"I-I was bothered by that too-! It's not important. What IS important is in his history he's been buying some strange things for a man his age. Manga books-"
"That comic kiddie shit you read since we got here?"
"There's a concise difference between the two!"
"Tell me later cause I like the one with black swordsman."
Seamus groans as he moves his finger to a list while scrolling through it.
"Figurines. Video games. Computer hardware and repair kits. I hacked into his online purchases and found even more stuff that's out of character... Which lead me to the camera system within his own cafe. He never checks for tapes, talks to himself when he's alone, but no mention of anything I just listed."
The unimpressed elder stares blankly with an itch on his parched bearded throat.
"You going somewhere with this or can I get me another bottle of white deer sake?"
Seamus gives him a reassuring smile.
"Just... Stay with me a minute."
"That's sixty seconds and counting."
The boy pulls up a document with a birth certificate and contract.
"See this? He legally adopted girl under his name, Futaba Sakura. She's not dead, no illnesses, but there are reports of her being moved from family to family after her mother's suicide."
"So he's got a brat somewhere, big deal."
"Exactly! S-She'd be around my age... Things that I'm interested in, are on this list, and there's a known subculture called hikikomori, where adolescent adults become shut ins seeking absolute isolation."
O'Shaughnessy stares at the screen as he processes the information. A cruel sneer curves upwards on his lips.
"I get it... A girl holed up all alone with a geezer lookin' after her unable to help her, gets her all that tech shit hoping it'll help her cope, but he isn't aware of her... Activities."
Seamus grows a weary smile then as he pulls up a final window. Excitement bubbling over his nervousness and fear.
"Th-T-That isn't all sir...! It was for a brief moment, I'm sure she must have noticed, but I was able to sneak straight into her own personal database. She's not just someone who's hacking cameras. She's been wiring banks from all over, sending them to a ghost account, and from there someone else takes the collective pot out... All of the banks as you see here...!"
O'Shaughnessy drops his jaw in astonishment at the names he sees on the list.
"I know these people... I know all of them! Ichiryusai! Kunikazu! Shikokimori! Masayashi! The Police Force too?! There's Cobra's bank of choice as well! ... Even Pierce's personal account...!"
Seamus has never seen his father lose his composure before, but the news he's told him has his old man in such a startled state that it unnerves the boy himself, and thus curiosity gnaws at his mind.
"Whaddya think this means, sir?"
Holding his head, O'Shaughnessy looks away from the bright screen to the darkness of the room, thinking to himself a myriad of thoughts at once.
"... Where does the money taken out go to?"
"Yamatachi Banking Incorporated. I couldn't find anything else out. You know that guy too, Dad?"
The Scotsman stumbles back in a mix of gleeful and terrifying shock. If Ren was Yamatachi, and this girl Futaba was stealing money from a specific subset of people from their shared past, he can not help but start to laugh.
"Revenge... It was always revenge with you, Ren. Say, who was the brat's mother?"
"Uh... Wakaba Ishiki."
"... Say, kid? Everything you told me is true, right?"
"Yessir!"
Seamus gives him a nod with conviction in his voice. An unknown tell that his father catches that reassures him. He could read all of his sons like the open books they are. Confident, he turns away ready to leave.
"Guess I'll go over and give her a visit!~"
His son stops him by grabbing his wrist. A desperate tone in his voice.
"Wait, Dad! Why don't we send someone else for a change... We have a good number of Pierce's employees to use and those street thugs you picked off the street."
"... Oh. I get it... You want me to relax and heal up huh?"
"The left side of your ribs looks like it was hit by a car, you need to send someone else so you can get better, e-even if you don't feel it!"
O'Shaughnessy stares at the young man before taking out the stolen phone with a defeated sigh.
"Alright, alright. I'll send some of the boys upstairs at that café."
"What about the house?"
"This underground system is a business, Seamus. You can order yourself a service if you know where and who to call... Like so."
Across the city in a secluded manor, a home to several talented individuals, an kind old man in an extravagant yukata answers his cellphone with a chipper tone.
"Yes? This is Madarame speaking."
[ "It's me you old copycat. Still using kids to make a living?" ]
Madarame's cheerful expression dies and twists to a darkened scowl upon hearing a voice long forgotten.
"Ah. James-san. I can assume you're behind the rise in conflict in town?"
[ "Believe it or not, dusty butt, I ain't start anything here. There were just a bunch of people angry with how their world was running, and I took advantage of it by joining them, but this isn't about me right now." ]
"It usually is. What do you want."
[ "You still teaching kids to kill?" ]
The elder lets out a groan in dismay.
"Among other things."
[ "I need your best. Name your price and I'll text you where to send them" ]
"... I will warn you... He has a rather noble standard and preference. He won't kill a woman or child without a good reason, or even a lowly defensive man, so your target better be someone worthy."
[ A teenager who's using and abusing a foster father through guilt as they live the shut-in life. Had to use my own hacker to find him, and he's got fingers in a lot of banks, such as your own. You been making withdrawals without going to your own account?" ]
"... Yes... How do you know that?"
[ "Don't sound like a noble brat, but a thieving rat, and your boy there will kill those won't he?" ]
"He will. Is that all?"
[ "You ever recall training a child by the name Akira Kurusu?" ]
Madarame stops dead in his tracks. This is a memory he had long since tried to forget.
"I do. I also remember being there when you tore his father's throat out."
[ "I ever tell you had a brother? The albino kid we let live as the boat sank?" ]
"... Where are you going with this?"
[ "Masayashi is still gunning for Prime Minister right? It was on his orders we kill the Kurusu family but... I let one go. He's coming after us. That's why I'm calling you for this. We're all in hot water until we tie this loose end." ]
"... He knows about everything? The Reformation Act and all?"
[ "I doubt it... But we can never be too sure. You understand why I'm calling you about this now, right?" ]
"... I'll get right on it."
Madarame hangs up as he enters a room. Vacant of furniture as to make room for nothing but portraits, canvases, and myriad of paint tools. Amidst the chaotic room sits on a humble shrine a painting known as the modern day pride of Japan. The Sayuri. A thin man paints with great fervor, lost in his own world of inspiration, he stops only at the call of his master.
"Yusuke-kun."
"Sensei! Do you have need of me this evening?"
Yusuke bows deeply only for his teacher to stand him up straight with a gentle hand.
"No, not at all my boy. Yusuke Kitagawa should be resting for the upcoming art gallery!"
The old man's smile subtly changes to a fierce grin. Eyes narrow and shift into a cold steel gaze.
"Fox, however, has a new assignment. This one is the big one. Do this and you'll have my blessing as you have sought out."
Yusuke's eyes widen in surprise. His brows furrow shortly after, his face goes through an unseen change, as if a whole other person has possessed his body entirely.
"If that is the case... I will paint a portrait of death with blood. Who will be my muse, Master?"
A body flies through a window of a nightclub. Tumbling to the ground knocking a table over with a broken jaw. Ryuji marches in wearing his armored costume staring down a room full of people now wary of his presence stare in confusion. Few thuggish men glare at him in anxious suspense. Ryuji speaks loud over the music.
"I'm looking for a foreigner named Patrick O'Shaughnessy."
They rush him as a response. Most patrons unaware of the situation watch in fear as the skull-clad rogue beats the men with ease. He drags one out and pins him to a wall.
"I'm not going to ask again. The foreigner. I know you're Hebi."
"Wait! Wait, wait, I left that shitty club weeks ago! Jus' lemme go!"
"Answer. Otherwise you eat with a wired jaw."
He sends a fist next to the grunts head causing some cracks into the stone wall behind him. A yelp as a reaction before he nods.
"Okay! Okay! That old guy with the unreal body? Red hair and shit? Right?"
"Snake tattoo on his chest."
"He... He just comes and goes. I left because of him. Shit, ton of us did, but I heard Junya got muscle to replace us and more."
"Who's Junya?"
"That's Boss Jin's real name! Listen... I'm only tellin' you this much cause I was there. That night you came in and kicked our asses. Look!"
He unbuttons his shirt to reveal terrible burns yet to fully heal.
"Took the opportunity to get a fresh start... I didn't think anyone would find me again but you did!"
"No one gets off free from a life of crime. You slipped up enough for me to find you."
"Yeah, no shit. Listen I know you're crazy, especially dressin' up like some Western shinigami but... At least I know you ain't insane like that fuck."
"I'm considering the options here. Keep talking."
"H-He showed up out of nowhere, Junya was just some yakuza thug back then, got him into dealing drugs and taking over territory with another name. None of the other families know they're being fucked over by their own!"
"Why are you being so generous with the information then? Isn't this a death sentence snitching like this?"
The man looks over his assailants shoulders and gestures to the mess inside.
"Police don't do what you do. No one says it but you're startin' to scare some of the higher ups... Plus... I don't like what that guy turned Junya into. You saw how he just convinces and sends guys out to. It ain't right... No fun or business in tearin' the city apart like this."
"So even the underground crime ring wants nothing to do with him?"
"No... But since Junya fills his numbers with young idiots eager to prove themselves, and that foreigner fuck finds these strange strong guys to, they got numbers and power."
"That's fine by me. Do yourself a favor. Get out of town."
Ryuji throws him to the side before making his exit as the police arrive. He scales a building to escape and calls from a flip phone Ren had given him.
"Hey. It's me. We finally got a decent lead. Good work on finding a survivor."
[ "Good job on not killing him. It only took two weeks of you beating the shit out of people. Talk to me after school tomorrow. You should update Haru before anything. She's been talking with Pierce." ]
"Again? How does she do it? I can barely stand near the guy without my heart stoppin'..."
[ "Yeah, he's always had that kind of effect on people. Get home quickly. I don't want you falling asleep in class again." ]
"Yessir..."
He hangs up and starts going from rooftop to rooftop. This new route, dangerous and risky, feels all too natural with him. He just has to mind his biggest weakness. He hisses as he lands after a big leap putting a hand on his thigh.
"Dammit... Not now..."
He looks over the edge of the building down below. Above the neon lights and in the cover of a clouded night sky, he can see just about everything, sometimes he would think he could stare out forever.
"Hey, Buttercup!~"
Ryuji turns to face a flash of white as he stumbles back from a punch. O'Shaughnessy snickers popping his knuckles.
"You need to be more careful! Could've cut open your throat then and there. Dropped kicked ya into the sky. Taken ya arm and slam your stupid face into the breaker up here. Given that helmet's all metal it'd probably be like goin' through electric shock therapy..."
Ryuji shakes his head still dazed by the punch. He feels his mask and realizes there's a sizable dent. Immediately he takes a fighting stance he's adopted since his past experiences.
"Thanks for the advice. I'll be sure to try those out on you."
"Ah, ah, ah... I'd love for us to tango. Really. I would. However, I wanted to give you a heads up instead. You know about that school trip comin' up soon right?"
"I'm not going anywhere until you're either behind bars or six feet under."
O'Shaughnessy clasps his hands together tenderly with a loving sigh before scowling threateningly at his prey.
"I appreciate the dedication, really I do, but you don't have a choice in the matter so... I'll strike a deal with you."
Ryuji leans back as the Scotsman takes a step forward.
"What's that supposed to mean?! Why would I deal with you!?"
"Think of it as you proving yourself as one of us to me. That you're on Ren's level. There's a certain respect that comes along with that kind of power, y'know?"
"He's not apart of your shitty club anymore! Quit talking nonsense!"
O'Shaughnessy places a hand over his heart smiling wickedly.
"Okay then fine. I'll get to the point. I'm gonna kill one of your closest allies. If you can stop me, I won't commit any acts of violence or crimes during your vacation to Hawaii, but if not..."
He shrugs then.
"I hope your friend is as fireproof as that suit is."
"YOU BASTARD!"
Ryuji roars as he throws himself to his rival with a hail of punches. O'Shaughnessy makes quick work as he parries and dodges, making note of Ryuji's growing power, a young teenager already capable of breaking air ducts and denting the support beams of the standing water tower. His smile grows wider as he directs the reckless fighter into punching a breaker next to a door down the building. Ryuji convulses from the bolts and volts coursing through his body.
"I told you to be more careful! I think I'll leave you like this, but here's a hint for your dumbass, I'm going to kill the ally you've never met but have always known."
He laughs before his breath is cut short by a blow to his chest. With his free hand, Ryuji strikes his target in the sternum, shocking his opponent literally and figuratively. O'Shaughnessy stumbles back unable to even wheeze as his senses goes haywire with his body falling numb. His eyes widen as he realizes what's happening as he watches Ryuji tear his arm out of the breaker. He tries speaks through his stunned state.
"Y-Yo-You...! You're... You're a human conductor...! You somehow... Transferred the electricity from the building, through your body, into me?! If you grabbed me instead, I'd be dead, we'd both be!"
Is what he intended to say. What has come out is gibberish as Ryuji approaches him angrily.
"I like you better this way. No words. Just stand still so I can beat the shit out of you."
With a loud grunt, Ryuji begins to beat his most hated target hard as he can, and knocks him over the edge of the building down into the alley with a thunderous uppercut. In any other situation he would have pursued, but he can't be distracted from his number one priority, taking out the flip phone in a pained panic.
"Ren! Just ran into James! Said he was gonna kill one of us! Who're you closest to?!"
[ "Shit, I know what he's doing. Get to ground level. Stay calm. Get back to wherever you had your normal clothes and go catch a train to Ann's place. Where you are, she's closest to you, and Haru has her own security. Remember, they didn't fire Kun Woo Li." ]
"What about Makoto!?"
[ "She's with me right now. Late night studying trying to figure out all the guys O'Shaughnessy may have recruited. He's not going to send his guys over to us." ]
"I'm going by Ann's then my mom's... That should be everybody, right?"
[ "Did he give a clue or any hints?" ]
"He said the target was someone I never met but knew? What kind of shit does that even mean?!"
Ren remains silent for a time. Ryuji barks at him with anxiety rising in his chest.
"Listen! We don't have time to twiddle our damn thumbs! Do you know or not!?"
[ "I'm texting you an address on your real phone. Don't forget to throw this one away when you get changed." ]
"Who is this person!?"
[ "Alibaba. Now get over there!" ]
Ryuji nods and hangs up before crushing the phone in with his grip. Frustration builds up inside unable to go anywhere, he focuses on movement, heading for the familiar address texted to him...
The house is silent. Only the idle sound of the city outside and breeze of air conditioning filters out his quiet footsteps. No creaks in the stairs, no noise to give him away, the intruder reaches slowly for the doorknob to a door with several warning and 'do not enter' signs. It's an easy kill, hikokimoris. He opens the door and is immediately blinded.
"Agh-!"
He's forced back with his back hitting the wall. He tries to move but something pins him as he coughs up something bitter. He can already tell from the pain he's been stabbed. A girl with bright orange hair and thin frame pushes a knife against a fox-masked man. She gasps at how fast he reacts from the flash bang she threw at him, she had to prepare with her special light reflecting goggles, and yet he kicks the side of her knee before backhanding her down the stairs. She curls into a ball as she tumbles and falls down. She stands and runs fast as she can out of the house. She pants as she runs out into the street.
"Officer! O-Officer!"
She runs towards a police officer. However, as he turns to face her, her own knife flies deep into his eye. He falls face first pushing the knife even further in. The girl shrieks as she runs without looking back. Fox chases after her holding his side.
"You won't escape."
With a mighty leap he brings his sword down on the girl. It stops with sparks flying as Ryuji deflects the blade with the plates on his sleeve. He fireman kicks Fox in the chest. The assassin's feet drags across the street as Ryuji holds an arm out to the girl.
"Get out of here."
"I-I...!"
Fox stands and points his katana at his obstacle.
"You. I've heard of you. The Vigilante, I presume? You are trying to fight the Hebi. In your own way, you are fighting for Japan, and I can respect that. That girl behind you has been stealing money from those who would uphold justice!"
"This thief here has been helping me save lives. Hate her if you want, I don't care for your feelings, but don't you come near her."
"Then we are at odds. Die!"
Fox advances with Ryuji. He thrust of his blade aimed for the fighter's throat, which is caught in a clap of both hands which brings it high, but Fox anticipates this. With fast thinking, he stomps a foot setting off a switch in his boot, a secret knife juts out and is sent into Ryuji's side with a kick.
"Guh! Sonuva-!"
Fox twists the blade out of his opponents now loosened grasp as he falls back to rest on a free hand, he kicks the jaw of the helmet with a spin as he drags the knife across the body, acrobatically spinning himself on one hand before leaping back with a flip. Ryuji's back turned, Fox finds the thinnest of openings, the neck exposed and free of armoring. He sprints swinging for a decapitation. Ryuji turns with the full power of his hips to meet the blade with his fist. Fox skids past his foe and looks down at his broken blade in shock.
"I-Impossible...!"
He gasp upon his kidney being savagely punched before being taken into the air as he reels back. Ryuji holds him high overhead before bringing the assassin's spine down on his knee. A cough of defeat released as Fox rolls onto his stomach trying to find the strength to continue on.
"Don't come after her again. I won't let you off so easily."
Ryuji states flatly before limping away with his own wound. His vest under the jacket saves his internal organs from being damaged, yet the wound goes past his flesh, enough so to bleed regardless. Fox manages to stand staring down at his broken blade. Hand quivering in rage at defeat. His first defeat. He won't have it!
"I won't lose to the likes of you-!"
They three freeze as they hear a voice shout with flashlights shining from the alleyways.
"Police!"
The girl takes Ryuji's hand and pulls out another flash bang grenade from her pockets. As the light dies down in but an instant, the officers only find the body of their comrade, losing the three. Fox looks down from above a light pole he climbed before using it to reach the rooftops.
"... No one was awake to make the call... And this neighborhood is quiet. Why are there so many officers in one location?"
An old man reading a newspaper jumps as his door opens.
"Ah-! Hey! The café is closed!"
He becomes breathless as he sees his daughter pulling a most suspicious character inside with her.
"S-Sojiro! We need help! Please, hide him your attic, now!"
"Futaba, what are you doing out here...! Outside of your room...!"
"SOJIRO!"
Sojiro snaps out of his shock and bites back any remarks he may have had. He takes Ryuji from her and help him up the stairs to a dusty storage attic.
"You're not allergic to dust are you?"
"Sorry about the blood... Her name's Futaba?"
"You didn't know?"
"She's been helping me for awhile under an alias. This is the first time we've ever met."
Futaba runs up the stairs as Sojiro sets Ryuji down on a large box.
"Looks like we're in the clear... I'm so sorry just to spring this on you... I-I don't know what to say... Where to start... H-How... How to... How breathe."
She clutches her chest hyperventilating. Sojiro begins to pale and panic slightly himself as he hovers around Futaba.
"H-Hey! Take it easy! You can't be outside your room yet, look at you, I-I'm going to take you back!"
"N-No... Don't...!"
Ryuji speaks up groaning.
"Some guy broke into your house to get to her. Police came by same time I tried to stop him. They were gonna arrest us both but she managed to get me away."
He then stands as the door bell rings with a multitude of footsteps entering. Ryuji pulls Sojiro back shaking his head at the old man before he can go down.
"Not a lot of this makes sense now but I promise. Sorry for the mess ahead of time."
It took about thirteen minutes, maybe less according to the old clock Futaba stares at, yet it feels as if far longer has passed. Sojiro remain quiet at the sound of a fight downstairs. He had hugged her tightly as both heard gunfire and shouts. Moment after moment passes until Ryuji returns, his costume in tatters, his protective vest torn and helmet heavily scratched with a big another dent to compliment the one O'Shaughnessy gave him. The plates on his back were forcibly removed with a steak knife sticking out. He sways a little as he walks over to them.
"Hey. You owe me now."
He falls out after that relinquishing himself to his exhaustion.