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In which the Plot is Revealed and Mafia Assassins Meet the Man in a Bartender Suit
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Previous day, somewhere in Tokyo
...
...
Brrr….Brrr!
"….Hello?"
"Hey Nakura-kun. Today's your lucky day!"
"L-Lucky day…..?"
"Uhuh. If my memory serves me right, you questioned me whether you will have to deal with Yakuza in the future - and since I'm in a generous mood today, I'm here to answer your question."
"Don't tell me -!"
"Ahahahaha! You certainly are sharper than you look! I don't even have to say it."
"Izaya-san, please….! Anything but the Yakuza –! I never meant -!"
"The Tokyo station sure is crowded, isn't it?"
"Eh?"
"Let's imagine a scenario. You're on the platform, in a rush to get somewhere. It's very crowded, and when the train comes, everyone's pushing and shoving to get inside. You included, because you really have to get to that somewhere, let's say, to work or to meet your girlfriend. Even though whatever it is, it's very important and you can't be late, you don't take a taxi because you have no money. So that's your own personal responsibility."
"What –"
"So the train comes, and everyone is pushing and shoving. And the train doors are closing. You and another guy are amongst one of the last. Because you believe your personal interest, getting to your important appointment is more important, you give one last shove and force your way inside. But it's your unlucky day see, and the train doors close on the unfortunate, innocent guy, crushing him. Blood spurts out, splatters the train doors and people scream. And you know you're the one who did it."
"Maybe you're especially unlucky, and the guy falls onto the railway track and gets run over by the train – the next day you turn on the TV, and you see the news. And your family and friends are talking about the horrible incident and who's that horrible person and you know it's you – and you don't dare to admit it. Even though you know it's your fault. And yet you're filled with guilt, but there's nothing you can do. Consider this situation and your situation…..don't you think I'm being very kind?"
"W-What's the point of this, Izaya-san?!"
"And here I thought you were sharp. I'm merely providing a useful analogy to the actions of your past self."
"….!"
"You realize now, don't you?"
"But such a situation, is possible but also very impossible!"
"As am I."
"?!"
"I'm possible, but also very impossible. I'm one of a kind! It's just your bad luck that you had to meet someone like me. And it's just your bad luck that my only friend had to dive to my rescue, and get injured. Now you see, if he hadn't done that, perhaps you would be living a normal peaceful life now. But you see, you can't blame him either, no matter his thoughts at that time, for you were the one who attacked. It's not your fault you ended up harming him because you had no intention – but you were the one who attacked."
"….."
"Should I say more? You were the one who chose to gamble your money away. You were the one who was so desperate to get back your money you stole from your father's wallet. Just like that situation in the train station, you having no money was your own personal responsibility. But you know, that guy in the train station, is more innocent than you. He was the cause of someone else's death but he had never intended it."
"While you, Nakura-kun, were brandishing a knife and intended to injure me who had no responsibility towards your lack of money. But you needed a scapegoat in your desperation, and you had the intention to hurt. You wanted your money back, and you didn't care how it was done. The possibility of hurting someone occurred to you unlike that guy, but you didn't care. Knowing such, can you still say it's not your fault?"
"I-Izaya-san….."
"But because you're just a normal human, you do feel guilt. Because you only had the intention to hurt at that moment in your desperation, but it's clear you regretted your actions afterwards. And here I am, helping you to assuage your guilt! Don't you think I'm being very kind?"
"You –"
"Don't you think so…..Nakura-kun?"
"….Y-Yes. Yes, Izaya-san. You are being….kind."
"I'm glad you see it my way. Getting back to matters, have you heard of the Yamaguchi-gumi?"
"?! Yamaguchi-gumi?!"
"Yes, the most famous Yakuza in Japan – and outside Japan."
"W-Wait! Wait, Izaya-san! Isn't this –"
"I require your assistance to obtain illegal weapons of the Yamaguchi-gumi from their hideout, Nakura-kun."
"But -!"
"Might I just inform you, that you're caught between a rock and a hard place."
"E-Eh?"
"You see, it's not me who wants those illegal weapons. It's the Awakusu-kai. And so it wouldn't be my fault if those weapons weren't obtained, would it? I'd just have to tell Shiki-san that Nakura-kun was being very stubborn –"
"I get it! I get it! I'll do it!"
"Oh? Well that didn't take long."
"But Izaya-san….how – how can I infiltrate a Yakuza hideout? I'd die!"
"Hmmm….you know, I wonder when the Yakuza war is going to end."
"Y-Yakuza war?!"
"Some other information broker caused a Yakuza war. The Yamaguchi-gumi have called all their reinforcements in the area, as confirmed by another information broker. Of course, they have many hideouts, but I have information that that hideout is bereft of the Yamaguchi-gumi. Because they're facing their arch rival Sumiyoshi-kai, you know? They need all their men."
"And like I said before, today just happens to be your lucky day – that hideout, and not their headquarters in Kobe, is where the weapons the Awakusu-kai wants, are. Now knowing this, what should you do?"
"B-Because Izaya-san had the kindness to cause a distraction for me, I should take this opportunity."
"Very good, Nakura-kun! There's that sharpness of yours."
"….More like you wanted to cause chaos for your own amusement."
"Hm? What was that, Nakura-kun?"
"Nothing at all, Izaya-san."
"Is that so. I thought I heard something. Anyway, I'll provide you with the location of the Yamaguchi-gumi hideout."
"R-Right….."
"Ah, I almost forgot!"
"What is it….?"
"Even though I'm pretty sure that hideout is bereft of the Yakuza, do still be cautious, there are video cameras after all."
"….!"
"Of course, you're just one guy but who knows, someday may be your unlucky day and you might just encounter one of the 20 000 members of the Yamaguchi-gumi on the street –"
"I-I…!"
"But that shouldn't be a problem for you, because you're an expert in sneaking around, eh? I'm sure you can avoid those video cameras quite skilfully. Especially as they might be connected to the Yamaguchi-gumi's headquarters in Kobe."
"I'm going to die!"
"Oh don't exaggerate. Anyway, you can always go to Shinra for more plastic surgery – you'll have to give up your precious money in return though. Ahahaha! Don't you think this is poetic justice, Nakura-kun?!"
"I-"
"Hm?"
"….Yes. Yes it is, Izaya-san."
"It is, isn't it? Don't be too worried, I still require your services in the future after all. You should get going before the Yakuza war ends."
"Oh and remember, anytime you feel regret, blame your past self. This is only the beginning of your suffering, Nakura-kun."
"Bye-bye."
Click.
Beep. Beep.
"ARGHHHHHHHHHHHHHH!"
"I'M GOING TO DIE! I'M GOING TO DIE! THEY'RE GOING TO KILL ME!"
"WHY?! WHY IS THIS HAPPENING TO ME?!"
"WHY DOES KISHITANI SHINRA HAVE TO EXIST?!"
…
…
…
Italy.
One of the countries in the world which has renowned underground activities.
The Mafia. The Italian Mafia.
Let's see -
According to the classic definition, the Mafia is a criminal organization originating in Sicily. However, the term "mafia" has become a generic term for any organized criminal network with similar structure, methods, and interests.
Each group, known as a "family", "clan", or "cosca", claims sovereignty over a territory, usually a town or village or a neighbourhood (borgata) of a larger city, in which it operates its rackets. Its members call themselves "men of honour", although the public often refers to them as "mafiosi".
In November 2007 Sicilian police reported discovery of a list of "Ten Commandments" in the hideout of mafia boss Salvatore Lo Piccolo, thought to be guidelines on good, respectful and honourable conduct for a mafioso.
1. No one can present himself directly to another of our friends. There must be a third person to do it.
2. Never look at the wives of friends.
3. Never be seen with cops.
4. Don't go to pubs and clubs.
5. Always being available for Cosa Nostra is a duty - even if your wife is about to give birth.
6. Appointments must absolutely be respected. (probably refers to formal rank and authority.)
7. Wives must be treated with respect.
8. When asked for any information, the answer must be the truth.
9. Money cannot be appropriated if it belongs to others or to other families.
10. People who can't be part of Cosa Nostra: anyone who has a close relative in the police, anyone with a two-timing relative in the family, anyone who behaves badly and doesn't hold to moral values.
The pentito Antonino Calderone recounted similar Commandments in his 1987 testimony:
These rules are not to touch the women of other men of honour; not to steal from other men of honour or, in general, from anyone; not to exploit prostitution; not to kill other men of honour unless strictly necessary; to avoid passing information to the police; not to quarrel with other men of honour; to maintain proper behavior; to keep silent about Cosa Nostra around outsiders; to avoid under all circumstances introducing oneself to other men of honour.
….
Well Orihara can't be fully blamed for being careless, I took this information from Wikipedia after all.
Still, he should have been more cautious. He of all people shouldn't have judged people by their looks –
But I digress. I'm surprised by his carelessness though. That he didn't consider the possibility that his client was a Mafioso Boss sworn to secrecy by the code of honor. I thought that guy was always looking for interesting things to happen.
But then again I suppose, in the midst of making something interesting happen, people tend to not notice something interesting that is actually happening.
I must say though, I'm a little impressed. Killing three birds with one stone.
And to think that you would go to the extent of starting a Yakuza war between the two most famous Yakuza in Japan, the Yamaguchi-gumi and the Sumiyoshi-kai.
But after killing three birds with one stone, all the more you should look out for other birds who may come to seek revenge, don't you think?
Or actually, birds of revenge from the fourth bird you accidentally 'killed'.
Though that man is more like a snake.
A snake which you injured quite badly.
A very impossible situation for a snake to be amongst the birds you killed, but the birds just happened to be on the ground and not in the sky, so possible all the same.
Just like how you described to Nakura, right Orihara?
Kishitani Shinra. A very interesting individual to be able to make you of all people take revenge for him – when he doesn't even want revenge himself. Perhaps you too are satisfying your guilt, like you told Nakura.
Perhaps it's a form of twisted self-reflection, for you are a selfish person after all.
Though be careful to not lose your own life in the process – you who are scared of death.
Be careful to not have poetic justice turn its hungry head from Nakura towards you, in an ironic twist of fate.
But I digress.
An information broker really shouldn't be so careless, it's quite a dangerous job after all.
….
Hm? Who am I?
Haha! I can't tell you that. It would be too much of a shock.
Haven't I introduced myself before?
Just call me Tsukumoya. Tsukumoya Shinichi.
You don't have to think of me as anyone. Just think of me –
As a being who is interested in seeing this city itself manifesting.
And one of the manifestations of this city –
Is that man in a bartender suit.
…..
Oh Orihara, sleeping so peacefully.
You don't even know something interesting is happening in your city, don't you?
Because of you.
Taking your anger out on the one who pisses you off the most, making an exception when you usually refuse to provide his information to anyone –
Causing a butterfly effect just like Nakura when he threatened you, and just like Kishitani Shinra when he protected you –
And just like the Awakusu-kai when they sent you on this suicidal mission – but since they practically picked you up, your personal bias doesn't consider the possibility that they found out about your manipulation and kidnapping of Awakusu Akane and were intending to let fate itself get rid of you for they have no desire to dirty their hands.
Because you were picked up by them, you feel a sort of connection even you can't deny. It's like an aspiring singer and their recording label. The singer may be very good, but had he not been seen by a scout, he would never have been able to make a living doing his favourite thing – in his case, singing, and in your case, being an information broker. So he may become world famous, but he will still always hold a sort of unsaid debt to his recording label, even if he chooses to change labels in the future.
You may have connections to the famous Yamaguchi-gumi and Sumiyoshi-kai as information broker Chrome, but you will forever be tied to the Awakusu-kai as information broker Orihara Izaya.
There's a reason why information broker Chrome is not information broker A, yes?
You don't dare to step into that dark world yet. You fear death after all.
Ah well, it seems the Awakusu-kai failed. Do be aware though Orihara, that you're not the only one who contacts me for information.
Do also be aware that since you came to them when you were a kid, a mere teenager of fifteen, or was it Sweet Sixteen –
They see you as a kid. A kid who's playing around with his toys and whom they don't care about unless he causes trouble to the adults.
Unlike Heiwajima Shizuo, who they see as a man.
Well, it's none of my business is it?
I suppose children have their ways of surviving too, and so you get to live longer, since you did get the Awakusu-kai the weapons they wanted after all, from the hideout of the famous Yamaguchi-gumi no less.
I'm sure they're pretty impressed with you that you managed to cheat death. So they'll keep you around for a little longer, won't they? You do provide useful information to them after all, and they know to them, you would never dare lie.
But let's see, the Awakusu-kai caused a butterfly effect too, not Simon Brezhnev because he knew – but it all ends up –
At the hands of the man in a bartender suit.
Just like it always does.
You've gotten Heiwajima Shizuo involved again in one of your schemes and you don't even know.
…..Well I suppose –
You are just human after all.
…
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…
Assassins. Contract killers. People hired to kill.
Italy was famous for them.
Also known as the clean-up army of the Mafia. Whenever Mafia Bosses preferred not to dirty their hands, they would let these cold-blooded contract killers do the job.
Severino Bassini was one of these Bosses who preferred not to dirty his hands. Especially as he was in the hospital from gunshot wounds from a Yakuza war.
Bassini was considered benevolent in the Mafia world, but powerful. He did not like unnecessary violence, but he was deadly when crossed. People would describe him as a snake – slithering and seemingly idle, but around you squeezing you to death if provoked - or sinking poisonous fangs into your flesh.
Yet even as a snake, he would be a boa. Killing by constriction and suffocation, but leaving his prey undeformed. His coils would wrap around his victim too fast for them to comprehend with significant force, so tightly they could not inhale and would suffocate and die.
But people always had varied opinions, and some men of honour argued that he was a king cobra. Despite his reputation, he avoided confrontation. But when provoked, he would show exactly why he was considered dangerous in the Mafia world. He was capable of dealing a poisonous, fatal bite.
Just like the king cobra, Bassini could still move forward to strike within a long distance while raising himself. And just like with the king cobra, people misjudged the safe zone when dealing with him. And would usually end up dead.
And so, this man known as a boa and a king cobra had been provoked, by a person who had misjudged the safe zone when dealing with him.
This is the explanation for the presence of two Italian Mafia Assassins in the Tokyo metropolis's second centre, Shinjuku.
Just like the Boss they were affiliated with, these assassins did not kill for pleasure but for, as they were meant to, a living. For money.
And just like their Boss, they were underestimated. And so their victims would end up dead.
There was a reason why these supposedly benevolent assassins could survive in the ruthless world of Mafia contract killers.
They were known by their first names, and their first names alone. Some speculated they were alias, others believed they were real.
This was the reason why despite their dangerous reputation, they had no official alias.
For their names ironically fitted their style.
...
Luciano. 'Born in the first hours of light'.
His speciality was blinding his opponents before he killed them. Both figuratively with his blinding speed, and literally.
Born in the first hours of light
Moves at the speed of light
Beware or he'll blind your sight.
Luciano was half British and had a fondness for poetry. Thus his reputation travelled with that rhyme. It was the only English poem his adversaries were interested in. Even though it didn't allow them to defeat him in battle before he killed them.
But that is irrelevant.
Michele. 'Who is like God?'
It was indeed a question mark with this man. For people didn't know if he was just lucky, or if he really was omniscient.
Michele had no fixed fighting style. He knew a range of fighting styles, and he was experienced in studying an opponent's fighting style and deconstructing it in his mind – its strengths, weaknesses, blind spots.
To his opponents, it was almost as if he was omniscient. Especially as he did it in the middle of battle. Fighting and killing were just systems to him – to deconstruct and expose the weaknesses of until he gained the advantage and emerged victorious.
His specialty was breaking the system.
No one knew how he did it, or when he did it, one moment he could be on the losing end, and the other you could end up dead with a bullet hole through your chest, and your weapon nowhere to be seen.
Unlike other assassins, these two stood out in the Mafia world for not their number of killings but the mystery that surrounded them. No one knew where they came from. All they knew was that they were affiliated with the Boa-King Cobra Mafia Boss Severino Bassini, and that meant they were dangerous and not to be underestimated.
No one knew their exact number of killings either, the man who was 'Like God' and the man 'Born in the first hours of Light' came and went like the wind. All people knew was that they were affiliated with each other, and even the Bassini famiglia (save for their Boss) lacked information on them.
But despite not being known for their number of killings, they were alive and not dead, and people preferred not to let their guard down around these enigmatic individuals. Especially because of rumors that other assassins' sudden deaths were due to them.
Nevertheless, whether they were benevolent or ruthless, these two assassins arrived in Shinjuku one fine night.
On orders of the only man who could be called their Boss, Severino Bassini –
To send a violent message to the man who had crossed the Mafia Boss –
Orihara Izaya, Shinjuku's information broker.
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…
An hour earlier, in an apartment in Shinjuku
...
"Hey Luce?"
"…"
"Sorry. That's a girl's name in English right. I meant, Luciano."
"….It's a girl's name in Italian too."
Luciano muttered for what felt like the hundredth time to him but his companion was busy looking around.
"Anyway, Luciano…."
"What is it, Michelle?"
"This is the place, right?"
"I suppose. Certainly looks like it belongs to some rich guy."
"Yeah I know, but are you sure it's the information broker's residence? I mean look –"
Step, step, step.
"The door's left wide open!"
"….It seems he's more careless than we thought. The Boss overestimated him."
"Guess so."
The Italian male stepped into the apartment, shrugging his shoulders as his dignified companion closed the door behind them. He was of a slightly slender build, but his tanned arms were toned with muscles. His black hair which camouflaged with his black hat reached the nape of his neck which he turned, surveying the spacious apartment with blue eyes which matched the blue feather in his hat.
"Is that like two computers? Woo, guy sure is rich."
"Michele."
"Yeah I know. We're here to kill. Right….hey after we kill him can I have that laptop? It looks really cool."
"…..Stealing is forbidden in the rules, Michele."
The one who had muttered was a sandy haired blond. Standing at about the same height with his companion, his sharp, dark brown, almost black eyes caught sight of a room on the second floor.
"Oh yeah right. But we're not exactly men of honour, we're just hired by a man of honour."
"That's true."
"Yeah. Anyway the Boss really overestimated this information broker guy."
"Yeah, no bodyguards anywhere at all –"
Creeeeak.
Had the two men not been experienced in invading homes themselves, they would have started at the sound of the door opening.
Smoke came from the cigarette on the man's lips. He was tall but had a thin build, and his blond hair was visible even in the darkness. He seemed to be wearing black and white.
"Damn flea. Why the hell did I come back?"
The man seemed to be muttering to himself. He puffed on his cigarette in frustration.
"I should just go home. Yeah what the hell am I doing here I should just –"
He paused suddenly, as his hazel eyes shifted their gaze.
"Who's there?"
"Shiiit, you're sharp. And here I thought we could stab you in the back."
"Who the hell are you?"
"Michele." The shorter blond held out a hand. He turned his dark brown eyes to meet the other man's hazel ones. He spoke in formal Japanese.
"Excuse us. But we're here to kill the information broker who lives in this apartment."
"….Tch. Assassins? Just my luck."
The blond in black and white which sent an uneasy feeling to the other blond, gave a derisive scoff.
"What the hell did the flea do this time?"
"..Flea?"
Luciano asked, unsure if he had heard wrong. Why would such a big man be talking about or be concerned about a flea? And how could a flea do anything a human would be concerned about? If fleas were annoying they were just squashed. Pure and simple.
"Orihara Izaya. Information broker Orihara Izaya. What did he do?"
- I see. So Orihara Izaya is also known as a flea.
- ….Why isn't he squashed yet?
- No matter. He will be by the end of tonight.
"He tricked a Mafia Boss into a conflict with the Yakuza. And now he wants revenge."
"Hey Luciano! Why the heck are you telling him everything?!"
"Well he asked." Luciano just shrugged. His eyes were still on the other blond. "So, if you understand, you should leave and pretend you didn't see anything –"
"No."
"….What?"
"You deaf? I said no."
"….I don't think you understand the danger you're in. We're professionals trained to kill. But I'd rather not kill an innocent if I can help it. So if you –"
He was cut off when his own body instinctively dodged the projectile that flew past his cheek.
"…."
The male touched his cheek. It burned slightly.
"Take that as a warning. You're pissing me off. Now leave."
The man spoke slowly and calmly. But Luciano's mind was flashing back to a few seconds ago –
The man had not thrown the cigarette.
He had flicked it with his index finger.
And they were near the glass, while he was all the way near the main door.
Suddenly the black and white clicked in his mind.
"Hey, Luc -"
"Bartender suit." The blond assassin with dark brown eyes muttered at the same time his partner realized.
"…That's bad isn't it?"
Luciano sighed. He flicked his gaze to the taller man, switching back to Japanese.
"Are you here to kill the information broker?"
"No."
The shorter blond blinked.
"Are you here as his bodyguard then?"
"Me? That flea's bodyguard? No way in hell!"
The blond man in a bartender suit seemed to be disgusted at the thought.
The other blond was confused. He shook his head, flicking his sandy blond hair away from his eyes. "Why are you here then?"
"…..It's none of your business."
The man in a bartender suit muttered, seeming not to want to talk about the matter at all.
"…."
The information he had been given was not making sense in Luciano's head. The man in a bartender suit was supposed to be in Ikebukuro, not in Orihara Izaya's apartment in Shinjuku. Unless he wanted to kill him. Which he had already said he didn't.
"Look Luce, let me try." Michele said as he turned his blue eyes. "Right. Bartender suit-san. If you're not here to kill the information broker and you're not here to protect him, then you should leave, right?"
"Like hell I'll leave and let you kill the flea."
"..But you said you're not here as his bodyguard."
"Just because I'm not here as his bodyguard doesn't mean I'll let you kill him."
Michele blinked. He felt as if he were experiencing culture shock. Were all Japanese like this? His words didn't make sense at all.
Or was it just this man?
…Or maybe it was just his own inexperience in the language.
"….Are you his friend then?"
"Hell no! As if I would ever want that flea as a friend –"
"Are you his boyfriend then?"
"WHAT?!"
The blond man in a bartender suit seemed horrified at the mere suggestion.
"No? Then, his lover?"
"….YOU WANT TO DIE, DON'T YOU?!"
The door was suddenly in the man's hand.
…..Wait.
The door?
Luciano's eyes widened slightly while Michele gaped.
"W-What?!"
"Impossible….."
Luciano muttered in disbelief as Michele pushed out his hands towards the advancing man in a bartender suit singlehandedly holding the door above his head –
"Wait – wait! Bartender suit-san! Don't throw that door at me! I was joking about the lover thing – but really, you're not his friend, you're not here to kill him and you're not here to protect him either so what was I supposed to think?!"
"…."
Fortunately, the black haired man's words seemed to make sense to Shizuo. He inhaled with a glare, then dropped the door down.
"Tch."
"….Let's go then."
"Eh?"
Michele sounded stupid. Luciano didn't hit him only because his current thoughts were pretty idiotic as well.
- Bartender suit is weird
- We were not heard
- I can see why he's feared
Yes the English poem was suddenly quite idiotic to even him. And obvious. And nowhere near the level of his other poems. He tore the metaphorical paper to pieces and scattered them into the black hole in his mind.
"Go where?"
Said weird bartender suit looked at him as if he was the weird one.
"Outside. Where else?"
He snorted as if at their stupidity, then turned to them with an annoyed gaze.
"You bastards won't leave, so we're gonna take this outside."
He walked away from them in long strides, muttering as if to himself -
"….If we fight here the place will be destroyed and the flea will suck all my money away."