"Don't worry this isn't me making a pass at you. I just needed a discreet place to spend the night." Kiryu assures as he and Makoto stand in the love hotel room.
"I know. What sort of person is my brother now?" Makoto asks as she stands in the room holding her cane.
"Well most of the time he's extremely calm. Smart. Keeps his emotions in check pretty much all the time." Kiryu describes as he ignores his cigarette sat down on one of the chairs.
"I see. That's quite a change from the brother I knew." Makoto bows her head at the thought.
"How long since you saw him last?" Kiryu asks Makoto.
"Ten years. I was ten…he was still just 15. But he left our mother and me and came to Japan. He said he was headed to Osaka that's all I heard." Makoto recalls.
"That so? That's why you were in Sotenbori? Looking for Tachibana?" Kiryu catches on.
"Mm-hm two years ago, I ran from home in Tokyo…when I got to Sotenbori I started asking every Chinese person I found if they'd seen him. The man with the bat tattoo was one of them." Makoto tells Kiryu her story once more.
"Oda…" Kiryu catches on brow furrowed.
"He said he thought he knew the man I was looking for. So I went along with him. But if what he said is true he still hadn't met my brother. It was just a lie. I'm such an idiot honestly…" Makoto shakes her head anguished at her naivety back then.
"Even so. This time you're going to see your brother. In Kamurocho." Kiryu promises Makoto.
"I'm almost scared to see how he's changed. The brother I knew wasn't a strong person. Back in China, he and I were always bullied for being children of a Japanese woman. At the movies as soon as the lights went down the people in the seats around would start spitting on us through the whole film…my brother and I were too scared to move." Miserably, Makoto explains to Kiryu his hues softening sadly, a part of him thinking back to his own youth back at Sunflower, at school, the boys and girls that would tug at his friend's hair, spit at her, remembering some messages scratched ito her desk saying go back to her country. At first she fought back but as she grew, she began to ignore it refusing to give them the satisfaction of her tears as Nishiki and him dealt with the boy…
"I think joining the mafia really was the only way he had to defend himself. And then he was gone. For me it wasn't till years later when we learned my grandfather was here in Japan. My mother was ecstatic to finally have a way out of China so was I." Makoto continues, the tears threatening to freely fall as Kiryu exhales a breath of shaky silver smoke spewing into the open air. He remembered as they grew it got worse from people staring to people pestering her, assuming she would be easy, asking her out, trying to force her even fortunately after the first kidnapping attempt she was forced to learn self-defence by Kashiwagi and Kazama.
"After that she dealt with people like that but there would be a fair few people that couldn't take no for an answer, a fair few teachers too but the three had handled it…remembering a fair few teachers trying to pin her for things she hadn't even done…saying she was a delinquent despite her always being the top of the class even if they refused to show it on the board.
"He welcomed us into his home but…the warmth didn't last. How could it? We were family but we couldn't understand a word each other said. So I studied Japanese so hard I practically forgot Chinese. Tried to adapt to Japan to my grandfather. But mother…she didn't have time to learn the language before she…she killed herself." The tears freely fall from the weeping Makoto dropping her cane holding her head in her hands.
"Since then too, the people who've helped me…one died, one I don't even know if he's alive or dead and the other, my friend…died. My life's just a train wreck it's just…" Makoto whimpers as the tears freely fall.
"Yeah that's terrible. You walk alone in the dark long enough. It starts to feel like the light'll never come. You stop wanting to even take the next step." Stoically, Kiryu snuffs his cigarette out.
"What?" Meekly, Makoto whimpers.
"But there's not a person in this world who knows what's waiting down the road. All we can do is choose. Stand still and cry…or make the choice to take the next step. You pick whichever one feels right to you. I can get you as far as the startling line." Kiryu tells her how it is.
"Okay. I'll…go to Kamurocho I want to see my brother I'm sure of that. So please…take me there Kiryu-san." Makoto requests of Kiryu.
"Sure." Kiryu nods his head knowing what had to be done unaware of the heartache to come…
"I'm 'bout to blow your mind Majima. The whole reason I sent ya to kill Makoto Makimura…was 'cause I knew ya couldn't do it!" Loudly, Shimano reveals.
"Wha-" Majima begins but…
"Hey what the fuck?" Sagawa scowls cutting Majima off.
"Haven't ya figured it out Majima? I know ya better than ya know your damn self. I can just picture it. You got orders to whack the girl, but yer go hide her away someplace safe instead, right? Exactly what I wanted ya to do." Shimano explains.
"You serious right now?" Majima gawks shocked by the cruel reality.
"You maybe wanna explain this to me bro?" Sagawa scowls.
"Before I do that…you guys been to see the Empty Lot? The empty lot's a shit stripe of land sandwiched 'tween Shichifuku Street and Taihei Boulevard. And right now it's got the fuckin' Tog Clan by its balls. Dojima's been pouin' futons of money into this Kamurocho Revitalization project. And that empty lot's got the power to shit the bed on the whole deal. Guess what happens if Sohei Dojima scores the land? Togo clan profits go through the fuckin' roof and they make him the next chairman, guaranteed. With a shit-fer-brains fuckwad like him runnin' the show, the Togo Clan's fuckin' done. Even now, his own captain Kazama's been tryin' to put a hard stop on that." Shimano elaborates stunning the two.
"Kazama? Shintaro Kazama." Stunned, Majima does a double take.
"Yeah. Ain't a bigger pain in the ass on this green earth. He's the main obstacle standin' between me and the control of the Tojo Clan. Anyway this Kazuma Kiryu prick from Tachibana Real Estate who's got the girl now- he's one of Kazama's boys along with that little blonde of yours," Shimano brings up.
"What?" Majima frowns.
"I told ya..." Sagawa smirks.
"Not even Kazama can openly dick with Dojima though. That's why he's usin' his pawns over at Tachibana to fight by proxy and not just at Tachibana, seems Kazama caught on to my little plan." Shimano points out smirking.
"Heh, not like you can cast stones bro. The Shimano family may be Togo Clan direct now but you used to be a Dojima branch yourself. Can't just turn your guns on ol' Sohei. So you've been using Majima-chan here whose name's been conveniently wiped from the family roster, no?" Sagawa gathers.
"Heh, guilty though I'm not the only one. Kazama's been using Hada from the start." Smirking, Shimano chuckles.
"Hada…" Sagawa perks up at the name alarmed almost at it.
"Don't you know who the kid is Sagawa?" Shimano smirks at him.
"The blonde?" Sagawa's hues narrow at the thought of the bartender back at the grand.
"She's Hada's kid." Shimano cackles.
"You're shitting me…" Stunned, Sagawa gawks at the news.
"I ain't the old bastard knocked someone up before kicking the bucket. Kept it hidden at that, I had planned to make a move on taking Hada's in before Kazama could course he had to find this Ryūko brat in the will. Brought her in and caused all this family chaos he thought the Hada's would be controlled by some young bitch that's how desperate he was to make sure I didn't take the Hada troops into my own.
You serious?
Yeah, now the Hada's are all scattered most of them are with Kazama others have remained with the Hada's. That brat's existence cause quite the trouble for the Tojo still for her to be key between Kazama and Sera's connection was something I hadn't thought of. To think she would be a student to the two of them and then to do the shit most yakuza don't have the guts to do, black ops and all that shit…to join. I'll give her credit she's made quite the name for herself in the underworld of assassins…rushing in that drug den and beating up some of my best soldiers, one of them was going to be the head of their own family and she was only a kid, know what she got from that? Nothing, only took her at twelve while it took us ten. Heh, due to her struggles to join, Kazama used that, pushing her down further to his advantage, smart guy, using the debt she supposedly owes for raising her and the desperate need of being needed to get her on his side it's impressive, then again, Kazama has always been the tactician of the family," Honestly, Shimano praises, smirking.
"So? What's your game with all this? Why send Majima-chan off to kill-but-not-actually- kill Makimura?" Baffled, Sagawa questions.
"To earn her trust. Real trust, not some back door deal cut over a dirty chat." Shimano answers.
"Ha I'm seeing it now… love." Sagawa gathers.
"Exactly. From that girl's point of view, there ain't a man alive she's gonna trust more'n a man sent to kill her but saved her instead. Keep buildin' on that and eventually she'll do anythin' he tells her to. Including selling me that chunk of land." Shimano clarifies.
"A woman in love will do anything for her man, huh? I guess love is as blind as her." Snickering, Sagawa mocks.
"And that ain't quite all. I had another reason I needed Makoto Makimura to lay low a while," Shimano smirks.
"And what's that?" Sagawa enquires.
"To flush out all of Kazama's little shits in the Tojo Clan. Need to know who to toss overboard before I take the helm. Heh and no sooner than the girl goes missin' two Tojo rats crawl outta their holes. That shiny Nikkyo Consortium asshole Sera and that firecracker Ryūko. You get the credit for ferreting them out, Majima. I had no clue Sera were connected to Kazama until I did." Shimano praises.
"Hmph, I made sure that guy won't be a problem." Smugly, Sagawa leans back.
"Nah, he's still kickin' tagged him up in a Kamurocho just earlier, seems someone helped him out, Shimano points out.
"Who did?" Scowling, Sagawa sneers.
"My guess that girl who shot you or one of her allies." Shimano shrugs.
"Allies?" Sagawa denies.
"Seems Ryuko had some rats running about in that cabaret of yours Majima, Sagawa used them to help save him." Shimano scoffs.
"How?" Sagawa furrows his brow.
"The girl is known to have quite the spy network. She frees trafficked women from us, buying them either to work for her little host club of sorts or to set them free of course there's a fee some pay through spying or hosting." Arrogantly, Shimano explains.
"Majima you don't gotta kill Makoto Makimura anymore." Shimano turns back on the topic at hand.
"What?" Majima blinks.
"Yer new orders're to get her back from Tachibana Real Estate and bring her to me. As an honoured guest, mind. I'll buy her land off her for the full billion. You manage that and you're back in the Tojo clan. Hell, I'll throw in the girl as a bonus." Shimano orders him.
"…" Silently, Majima stares down at the table, his gaze blank devoid of emotion.
"Hey you ain't sprung on her, are ya? That little minx," Cheekily, Shimano taunts.
"…" Coldly, Majima continues staring at the table, his mind lost to the revelation.
"Yeah well sorry for the reality check, but we have no idea where she is. If this is all playing out in your script how about a little help, bro?" Sagawa enquires.
"The guy draggin' her about is Tachibana's grunt Kiryu. You'll find his oath brother and he'll lead ya straight to Kiryu or you could find his sister of sorts, Ryūko, help you get some payback Majima eh? The three of them are another one of Kazama's charity cases. Drops by the Kazama family office a lot." Shimano fills him in.
"Tch, some fucking day…but hey lucky you, Majima-chan. You don't have to kill the girl and can get payback on that bitch Hada. You'll be back in the Tojo clan too. Just as long as you don't screw this up. I'd say you makin' out like a bandit in all this, huh? It's happily ever after for everyone. Ya see didn't I tell ya I had good news? Eh, Majima?" Smirking, Sagawa teases the still shocked silent Majima, head down…
"…Makoto?" Ryūko raises a brow at the girl before her, wasn't she supposed to be with Akira and…
"… Ryūko right?" Hopeful, Makoto stumbles shyly forward using her cane.
"Yeah…I thought you were meant to be with…" Ryūko furrows her brow looking around anxiously at the lack of the two, where the hell were they!? With the hunt about at that…
"My brother's dead." She tells her pain laced in her cold curt tone.
"…Oh. I'm…" Awkwardly, Ryūko begins but…
"I need to see him again." Angrily, she cuts him off.
"…I can't bring the dead bad Makoto." Ryūko deadpans.
"Not him…" Makoto's grip tightens around her cane.
"Who then?" Ryūko raises a brow befuddled.
"You know who." Makoto whispers weakly.
"Do I now?" Ryūko remarks.
"Your voice…you…you're Namie aren't you?" Makoto bows her head taking Ryūko aback.
"N…Namie's dead." Ryūko smiles strained.
"Maybe the person who I thought my friend was maybe but I know that voice just as I know that deep down she would want me to continue fighting." Fiercely, Makoto looks up at the woman she sees the black and white murky outline of shaking.
"…What do you want?" Ryūko steps forward frowning after a brief pregnant pause, hands heavily between the two.
"I need to see him again…one last time…please…help me find my saviour again." Anguished, she begs her.
"…Alright. But…you'll need to come with me first, you can meet somewhere safe out of harm's way." Softly, she sighs taking Makoto's hand who squeezes her hand back as she takes her to Serena's…
"Whoa hold up who the hell are you?" Rudely, one of the Dojima men glares at the eye patched wearing male in the Kazama office.
"Name's Majima Ryūko of the Dojima family, she around?" Majima questions the group within the office.
"Eh? Ryūko? You a friend of hers or something?" One of the men holler brow furrowed sharing looks with the others.
"You could say that…" Majima remarks.
"…Huh? Is this some kinda joke? What the hell's your deal? Oi you ain't one of those sickos stalkers are ya? Ryūko ain't interested in guys like you got that?" Tense, one of the men angrily accuse.
"And you'd know?" Majima quirks his head to the side.
"We at the Kazama family know the shit she deals with thanks to creeps like you!" Two other men soon join the glaring man's side.
"I take that's a no on Ryūko then." Majima concludes.
"Shut your damn mouth and get the hell outta here already! I said get lost asshole!" Angrily, the yakuza orders but…
"Enough. That's Majima. He's well out of your league." The stern scowl of Kashiwagi enters the room.
"Majima…wait like, GORO Majima!?" The yakuza reels back by the legend.
"Three years ago the Shimano family wiped him off the map but here he is." Kashiwagi eyes the man up and down.
"And who're you?" Majima scowls at the scarred face male.
"I'm the Kazama family captain, Kashiwagi. What's your business with Ryūko?" Sternly, Kashiwagi demands from Majima.
"None of yours just gimme Ryūko already!" Angrily, Goro glares at Kashiwagi.
"And is there some reason I should listen to you?" Kashiwagi scoffs.
"'Scuse me?" Majima's hues narrow.
"You've been erased from the Tojo Clan. You are not welcome here." Kashiwagi states the fact firmly.
"Enough talk. All I'm askin' here's for you to cough up Nishikiyama. Now if you got that through yer damn head, where IS she?!" Seething, Majima demands.
"I'm not giving her to you." Resolved, Kashiwagi states the fact firmly.
"We'll see about that." Majima sneers.
"You all stay here. This is mine. Majima follow me we'll do this outside. This office is sacred ground. I won't have it stained with your blood." Kashiwagi orders as he and Majima head to the stairs.
"Yeah hate to get blood on all the dusty office supplies….fine whatever." Majima huffs following after him.
"Where are we?" Majima eyes the rooftop he reaches.
"It's a building I look after. I return I'm free to use it as I like. Excellent janitorial staff. A dead body would get tidied up in no time at all." Kashiwagi informs Majima hearing the crisp crack of knuckles.
"He you sure you want to do this solo? Not too late to back out now. Or do yaw ana call in the cavalry?" Cheekily, Majima taunts.
"What fun would that be? I always wanted the chance to try you one on one. To be honest the prospect's had my heart racing since you walked in…call it a yakuza's nature. Let's see where this goes…come at me, Majima!" Kashiwagi roars as the two charge at one another, ready for the fight ahead…
Quietly, Reina talks to Makoto handing her a drink to softly sip as Akira and Ryūko converse amongst themselves having this break of sorts for themselves, ignoring the worry washing most of the people within from the thought of Kiryu as Ryūko softly sips her drink attempting to enjoy it when she hears the ding of the elevator as immediately, Reina rushes Makoto to the back…
"Big sis Ryūko!" One of the Dojima yakuza rush in from the elevator.
"Hey Hiro…" Akira recognises the worried boy.
"What is it?" Ryūko raises a brow at the rookie.
"It's Kashiwagi san he…he's in trouble!" Terrified, the yakuza yells.
"Kashiwagi!" Alarmed, Akira jolts up alongside Ryūko.
"You stay here keep an eye on Makoto." Seriously, she stops Akira.
"But…!" Akira attempts to argue only to falter from Ryūko stern scowl as she snatches her briefcase heading off…
"Who knew the Kazama family was breedin' monsters like this…" Huffing, Majima smirks down at the mess that is Kashiwagi.
"The Shimano's aren't the only ones known for their brutality…" Grunting, Kashiwagi holds his side shaking grimacing.
"Ka-Kashiwagi-san!?" Scared, Hiro rushes over to the scene, phone in hand.
"Hey yer timing's perfect. Where's Ryūko?" Majima demands from the brat.
"Uh…" Anxiously, the boy begins but…
"Stay tongue tied ad I'll dig out your buddy's left eye. He can join the club." Majima draws out his blade but…
"I…" The boy tries to find his words however…
"Don't make me on this shi-huh? What the…?" Majima bows his head anguished only to falter when said blade is dropped from the brisk brush of a bullet bashing into it, the reverberating making him drop it.
"R… Ryūko…" Kashiwagi heaves weakly anguished at the loss anguished at letting her down…
"Huh?" Astonished at the marksmanship, he looks up, his hues widening when seeing the blonde before him on the rooftop across, glaring glowering down at him.
"Eee-p!" The boy soon squeaks as his phone goes off.
"Oi Kid…" Goro glares at the rude kid answering it.
"Y-Yes S-Sis! O-Oh it…it's for you." The boy hands his phone over mystifying Majima.
"Didn't think you would make it Majima welcome back to Kamurocho I suppose. Still though aiming for my family like that, low blow Maji." Mischievously, Ryūko remarks.
"Where is she?" Scowling, Goro glares out at the woman opposite of him.
"Relax your little princess is safe and out of harm's way. She actually wants to see you." Ryūko reveals.
"And I can trust you?" Majima's hues narrow.
"You can trust that if you so much harm him with that tanto your little princess will have holes in her." Ryūko snarls at Majima making him grimace from her words eyeing the body below that was the glaring Kashiwagi.
"You won't do it." Majima smirks.
"And you won't hurt him either." Ryūko rebukes.
"I'm desperate Ryūko." Majima reminds Ryūko.
"If you want answers then come and find me. I'll be waiting." Ryūko smirks smugly at Majima.
"Tch…forget this." Tiredly, Majima hangs up huffing tossing the phone back to the scared boy clumsily catching it storming off leaving the Kazama office…
Quietly, Ryūko exits out of the convenient store, softly setting the cigarette between her lips alight as she shakily exhales smoke spewing out of her lips, leaving the store. She adjusts her jacket, lowering her cigarette eyeing the liquor in her bag brow furrowed from the work she had just finished needing a treat afterwards only then to falter furrowing her brow by the scene playing out before the store.
"You plow into me and can't even apologise!" Angrily, the man roars at the suited male.
"I don't really care." Despondent, Majima responds, his tone devoid of life.
"Huh?" Ryūko furrows her brow by the sight before her taken aback at the sheer sight of him, feeling her blood turn ice cold towards the person wandering said streets. The hell was he doing here?!
"Do what you want…" Despairing, Majima grumbles.
"Really? All right maybe I will…" The man reels his fist back about to bash it into his head however before he could…
"Yeah, I don't think so." Swiftly, Ryūko grabs the gang leader of the group swarming around Majima taking their crack shots by the fist twisting it. He screams screeches out in horror as she then tosses him into the wall, blood gushing out from him. Scowling, she turns to the others, her hand flat on the squirming boy's face, crushed as she hears the faint crack of bone turning sharply to his lackey, shaking, quivering. Smirking, she leans forward slightly.
"Woof…" Mockingly, she lets out making them cry out fearful. Screaming the grunts flee. She then turns to the start of all this chaos, raising her leg, giving them a swift kick knocking them out.
"Here I thought you couldn't get an even worse shit face," Ryūko crouches down, grabbing Majima's bruised features unapologetically examining it, her hues narrowing as his hues turn to narrow at her.
"He weakly raises his fist, only for her to crane her head to the side, dodging said sloppy strike sliding down her shoulder after his so called hit to her shoulder.
"Guess you found out." Casually, Ryūko sighs hands on hips.
"You…lied to me!" Mad, he glares up at her as she pushes him down by her heel pining him to the floor.
"Yes I did and they lied to you. Yet you're still working with them. Now shut up and let me treat your face." Annoyed, she holds him down by the heel simply staring down at his struggling state.
"Fuck off…" Disgusted, he spits at the bored Ryūko before going limp on the ground below.
"I rather not. Now gimme your face." Smoothly, she steps back brow furrowed.
"Fuck off!" Goro glares shakily standing stumbling slightly.
Silently, she watches the sad state of the man.
"You think moping will get you anywhere?" Annoyed, she arches a brow bored.
"Of course not I just for fuck sake I was fucking used!" Seething, he screams at her charging at her like some wild beast but…
"We all are used one way or the other." Smoothly, she sides steps said strike.
"That isn't an excuse!" Goro growls.
"And yet you're using it to lash out like a child. Fair play Majima fair play." Dryly, Ryūko remarks.
"SHUT UP!" Majima roars but Ryūko doesn't even bat an eye to it.
"Majima…you're wasting my time, yours and what could possible be Makoto's by being a brat. Suck it up and just deal." Deadpanned, she sighs swiftly avoiding furious fist after furious fist.
"What do you expect me to do?" Deranged, he snarls sending kick after kick.
"Clean your face for one." The bored blonde avoids kick after kick.
"I'm being serious!" Snarling, he roars raising his fist.
"As am I." Smoothly, she snatches said fist, throwing him to the ground, hearing the soft splash of water below as watery browns meet ice cold blue.
"How I can I trust you?" Glaring, Goro demands.
"You can't but what else do you have to lose?" Ryūko reasons offering her hand out to the splayed starfish below.
"I guess I got no damn choice… I'll be your damn clown bring it on…" Hissing, he scowls slapping his hand into hers.
"It's not getting you anywhere closer to Makoto being all broody now come on let's get your face fixed. I'll tell you everything over a drink besides you gotta look nice when you save Makoto…" Tiredly, Ryūko sighs pulling him up, too tired to deal with his shit.
"…Right." Majima whispers weakly while she simply nods, the pair heading to Serena.
"Welcome…" Politely, Reina greets them bowing.
"Reina, you got any ice?" Curious, Ryūko questions her.
"Wh...what happened?" Reina frowns, eyeing the man making his way to the booth, taking a seat silently staring down at the ground below, Akira eyeing the male behind him.
"This dumbass wanted to fight." Frowning, Ryūko places her hand on the counter coolly taking the drink in front of Akira.
"Hey!" Akira playfully glares at Ryūko.
"So you got ice?" She asks ignoring Akira.
"I think so…wait where's the shopping? Confused, Reina frowns as Ryūko freezes from the question.
"Oh…right I thought I forgot something," Nervously, she laughs scratching the back of her head.
"Of course you did." Amused, Akira smirks smugly at her.
"Hey I had a lot going on." Ryūko tries to defend herself.
"Ryuko!" Reina scolds her.
"I'm sorry! I'm sorry!" Remorsefully, Ryūko repeats clasping her hands together, opening one of her slammed shut hues smiling apologetically at the frowning Reina.
"I gave you money for that!" She continues.
"And I can pay you back come on!" Ryūko whines hands up in the air.
"You promised you wouldn't come in with blood anymore!" She adds annoyance etched in her tone towards her bloodied guest.
"Technically I didn't." Slyly, Ryūko remark eyeing the bloodied, battered, beaten black haired male simply staring stoically at the three.
"Ryuko!" Warningly, Reina glowers.
"Someone's in trouble…" Childishly, Nishiki sings out making Ryūko scowl.
"Kiss ass!" She lightly pinches his cheek.
"I ain't a kiss ass, besides ain't my fault you attract trouble." Teasingly, he smirks at the glaring Ryūko.
"I don't ask for it." Irritated, she argues but before Akira could come up with a counter…
"In the back." Exasperated, Reina sighs. Thankful Ryūko nods heading into the back…
"You're her boss ain't cha?" Nishiki scowls at Majima.
"And you're the brat constantly humping her leg." Majima sneers making the angry Akira's hues dilate from his words.
"What was that?! Why are you here? Ryūko ain't coming back to Sotenbori got that, she belongs here in Kamurocho with her actual friends." Furious, Akira leaps from his seat seething snarling down at the slumped smirking state of Majima.
"Nishiki…" Reina furrows her brow by his words.
"I need to find a girl named Makoto Makimura. She's with a guy from Tachibana Real Estate. Kiryu. All I want is somebody to lead me to him." Majima reveals to him.
"Majima you said? Right?" Agitated, Akira's hues narrow at him.
"Yeah." He confirms casually.
I don't like you." Akira states the fact firmly feeling his blood boil, bubble, burn.
"Nishikiyama-kun!" Reina gasps at his bluntness.
"When I first saw you, I knew you weren't to be trusted, you weren't worth Ryūko's time…and when I heard your name…before I got my stripes I remember hearin' about a guy named Majima in the Shimano family. I hear he screwed up so royally they carved out an eye and erased him why on earth Kazama san sent my sister to be your caretaker I'll never know…she's wasted on a old man like you, there's a reason why you're erased after all." Angrily, Nishikiyama confesses to Majima, his tone surprisingly calm despite the malice, anger and frustration flowing out of his words, spitting such poison at the eerily calm, bruised bleeding bloodied Majima.
"Not yet." Majima smiles softly at Akira enraging him further from his soft serene smirk of sorts.
"Then why are you after Makoto Makimura?" Akira demands from him.
"Nishiki…" Reina furrows her brow by him.
"Using Ryūko to get to the girl, scum like you never learn." Angrily, Akira rushes over to him however…
"If I said it were to protect her…would ya believe me?" Majima stands up from his seat smoothly dodging said attempt at a hit he assumed as he circles the angry Akira.
"Protect? What could a one eyed has bin like you do?" Arrogantly, Akira scoffs smirking shaking his head haughty.
"Where's ya brother at? Where's he got Makoto Makimura hidden?" Majima questions him just as Akira reaches into his jacket but before he could use it, its swiftly slapped from his hand.
"Ryuko!" Worriedly, Reina calls out turning to the back but…
"You can't beat me kid." Majima's hue remined glued on Akira.
"Don't make me laugh. What could you even begin to know about me?" Nishiki scoffs.
"If what I just did told you nothin' then that's why you don't got a chance." Majima exclaims.
"You're about to learn something else about me. I don't know what you see me as but I'd die before I sold out my sworn brother." Nishiki snarls.
"I see then that how this goes down then?" Majima sighs tired.
"The stories say you're pretty tough. All the same I'm not backing down on this one! Reina stand back!" Nishiki warns however before the two could have the spat, the sharp sound of air breaking echoes in the room swiftly stopping said fighting.
"Ryūko…!" Akira turns to the blonde brow furrowed at the sight playing out before her.
"I leave for a few minutes…Reina apologises about the interior. Akira as much as the sentiment of you protecting me is appreciated it's not needed and as for you…" Ryūko saunters into the room, pistol in hand as she softly sips the drink Akira abandoned.
"…" Silently, Majima stares, icy blue glaring into beady brown.
"She's waiting at the Empty Lot." Robotically, Ryūko reports.
"Oi Ryūko!" Akira calls out but…
"Oh also don't come near my friends again." Sternly, she states glaring at Majima.
"You should pick better friends." Frowning, Majima rebukes.
"Ah yes because I should take friendship advice from you. At least I have them at the end of the day, who do you have Majima?" Ryūko asks making Majima go silent simply scowling staring ahead as he heads to the back, to finally reunite with Makoto to talk about who knows what…whatever the outcome may be the plan remains on track that's what Ryūko is telling herself anyway as she slots into the barstool.
"Reina don't suppose I could pay for a round?" Ryūko asks as Reina simply sighs shaking her head at her friend before pouring the three of them a much needed drink after that escapade, a part of her pondering why she even let this slide as she downs her drink done with it all, not wating to think about any of it, about why she helped Makoto escape, why she let them have this talk, trying to drown out the feelings flowing through her, just waiting to get the plan completed and to move on from her life, move on from Sotenbori, move on from Makoto, move on from the Mad Dog Of Shimano.
"This is the Empty Lot?" Majima whispers to himself as he enters the teeny tiny location the Tojo has been soughing after had been fighting over had been feuding over until he perks up at the lone familiar figure standing above looking down at the small square below.
"You're…Makoto right? What're ya doing up here?" Majima makes it to the top of the stairs staring stunned at the woman on the rooftop her back to him.
"…" Silently, she stares down at the Empty Lot below.
"Makoto?" Majima calls out innocently, concern clear in his tone towards the blind woman.
"I thought we might meet again…" Slowly, she turns to him.
"Wait…can you see?" Surprised, he asks almost hopeful.
"Just well enough to walk around town. It was fortunate for me to have found Ryūko when I did." Makoto sighs softly.
"You did?" Majima raises a brow by the name.
"She helped me find a place to rest she…she's helped me a lot." Makoto's grip tightens around the cane.
"…That so." Softly, Majima whispers.
"I can tell you're standing there too. Today, down in that Empty Lot, I saw my brother for the first time in ten years except I was blind. And he…he'd already been murdered. When I touched his cold body…something changed in my eyes. There was light coming into them." Makoto looks at the blurry black figure before her before turning her back to him, looking out at the Empty Lot below.
"Is that even…possible?" Perplexed, Majima queries.
"No matter how close I got to his face I couldn't see it clearly. All I knew was that he'd been brutally tortured the Dojima family yakuza murdered my brother. For a barren patch of dirt!" Mad, Makoto snaps sharply scowling.
"No way…don't you go down the road of revenge, don't get desperate! The situation's changed! My boss ain't tryin' to kill ya anymore he doesn't want to hurt you at all. All he wants is to buy that land off ya. If you just offload it on him nobody will have a reason to bother ya anymore. Don't worry I'll be there beside you! Whatever happens I'll keep you safe." Seriously, he promises Makoto but…
"My safety is pointless." Pained, Makoto snaps sharply at him.
"There's something I need to do whether I live or die. If you really want to help me…then help me. My brother was killed by Yakuza who were after the Empty Lot. The Dojima's three lieutenants and Sohei Dojima." Makoto tells him.
"And…you're aski' me to kill'em…" Majima catches on.
"I can pay you is one billion enough? You agreed to kill me once didn't you? Then please…kill them. I know in my heart that that's why my brother brought the two of us together. Now that he's gone…doesn't that mean he wants me to avenge him." Makoto smiles strained pained.
"That ain't who you are. Can't imagine it was who your brother was. Wait." Majima hesitates however soon stops as she brushes by him turning to leave.
"Let me go. I'm fine on my own now." Makoto snaps tugging his hand off her shoulder before continuing on until tripping forward.
"Makoto!" Majima rushes over to her side, crouching down.
"Leave me alone!" Agitated, she snaps at him, pained on her knees.
"Hey…wanna grab some Takoyaki…?" Tenderly, he offers holding her on his knees as well.
"What?" Makoto perks up.
"Takoyaki. If you still want me gone after that…I'll take a hike." Majima repeats his offer.
"You think I'm just getting emotional because I'm hungry again?" Makoto exclaims.
"That a no?" He asks.
"Didn't say that. But…after we eat…let me worry about myself." Makoto asserts.
"Let's just talk. Over some grub huh?" Majima softly smiles down at her helping her up as they go get some grub.
"Curb watch your step. One each please." Politely, he tells Makoto stepping over the curb, helping her as he asks the vendor.
"Coming right up." The old woman smiles tending to her food stall.
"Quick yeah?" Impatiently, Majima asks the old woman.
"Yeah, yeah…" Smiling, she focuses on the balls below just as the gentle breeze brushes through the window carrying a stray leaf plopping on her head, he reaches out plucking it from her hair.
"Such a gentleman." The old woman smiles softly at the two.
"Yeah right." Flustered, Majima scoffs.
"He's a keeper huh?" The old woman smiles at Makoto.
"Less talk, more cookin' lady." Majima urges embarrassed.
"He is a keeper!" Makoto agrees astonishing Majima.
"He's been through terrible thigs for my sake yet he's still trying to help me. If not for him, I'd never have made it this far…I bet they're delicious! They smell amazing." Makoto confesses before turning to gush over the food being cooked unaware of Majima simply staring awestruck at her.
"Don't they? I tell you what sweetheart I'll throw in an extra one free." Friendly, she offers Makoto.
"Really? Are you sure?!" Smiling, Makoto gushes giddily at the thought as the shopkeeper and her continue chatting oblivious to Majima simply staring at the smiling Makoto.
"…Thanks for that. Osaka may have met its match against Kamurocho's Takoyaki." Makoto smiles as she places the finished Takoyaki box to the side.
"Yeah. Just goes to show ya how much of the world you still gotta figure out for yourself." Majima exclaims as he sits on the bench by Makoto's side.
"You're right." Makoto agrees.
"Just how're you plannin' to get revenge on the Dojima family hm?" Majima questions Makoto.
"I can't tell you that." Makoto refuses.
"Don't be stupid. 'Sides even if I helped you do it soon as you make a move on them the family wouldn't relent till they made hell look downright cosy. And they'd get ya eventually. At that point I couldn't even begin to tell ya what they'd do." Majima sighs sadly brow furrowed from the consequences of such a rash action.
"I told you to let me worry about myself." Makoto reminds Majima.
"I just want ya to think it through a bit. Doin' this all hasty like is gonna be real trouble." Majima advises her.
"I would tell you to do the same. Think on whether you want to help me or not. Who says I'll be the one to change her mind here? That Takoyaki was good. Want another one? I'll go buy this round." Makoto stands up from her seat smiling but…
"You stay here eyes still ain't workin' too good right? I can go grab it." Majima insists.
"Sorry." She bows her head.
"I'll be right back hang tight for a sec..." Smiling, he promises Makoto but when he returns he finds the bench gone with her no longer in sight.
"Hey buddy." Beaming, the homeless man approaches him.
"The hell?" Majima furrows his brow by the man below him.
"This girl who just left said to give you a message, she said she didn't know your name so I should give it to the guy with the Takoyaki. Said her name's Makoto that ring any bells? You're the guy right?" The homeless admits.
"That damn idiot." Majima clicks his tongue tense.
"Tomorrow at five come to the roof above the Empty Lot…she said that'd be enough for you to understand?" The homeless man assumes.
"Tomorrow five on the roof." Majima summarises said message.
"She said if I gave you the message I could have the Takoyaki." The homeless man tells him.
"Tch…take it already." Annoyed, Majima tuts handing it over.
"Heh thanks buddy." Beaming, the homeless man smiles then turns to leave, Takoyaki in hand…