Bullet XVII

It had been a while since Revy had last toured the Hotel Moscow. Last time, everything was a mess, but now the hotel was as good as new.

She was happy about that, as it meant that Balalaika would be back in action and start her business, which would generate a lot of jobs for the Lagoon Company and any other criminals in town. She looked sideways at Rock, wondering if he would be happy or sad about that. However, the expression on his face was a little hard to decipher.

It wasn't fear, because she had seen his expression several times before when he was scared. This one was different. Was he upset, worried, anxious? She was about to ask him what the hell was wrong, but Rock noticed her look and turned to look at her.

"Don't worry, I'm fine." -He said.

"I didn't say anything."

"I know, but your expression clearly says 'What-the-hell-is-wrong-with-this-asshole'. I'm not worried or anything. Actually, I'm resigned, because this will probably end up becoming an even bigger problem, regardless of what I do."

"So that's why you've got that shitty look on your face?" -Rvy asked, a little annoyed that he had guessed her thoughts. "You look like a prisoner headed for the electric chair."

He blinked. "That's pretty specific, do I look that miserable?"

"Yeah, so you'd better change that face or I'll have to punch you."

"The idea of lifting someone's spirits is to be kind, not aggressive." -Responded Rock, smiling. "But your methods are effective. Thank you, Revy."

Revy returned his gaze to the front. "...Whatever."

"And you don't need to accompany me to this point if you don't want to, I can deal with Miss Balalaika on my own."

"I really doubt that. You worry about those brats, but you're the real danger here, since you have the uncanny ability to blurt out bullshit all of a sudden. So I'd better accompany you to make sure you don't say anything stupid that might piss Sis off."

"Oh, come on, it's no big deal either. And there's no need to be jealous, my bullshit is just for you."

Revy snorted in amusement. Was that an attempt at flirting? How atrocious. "Fuck you, Rock."

They both stopped, they had reached Balalaika's office. She listened as Rock took a deep breath for a moment before opening the doors.

As always when he held a meeting in his office, Balalaika was sitting behind his desk.

"You're late." -Said Balalaika as she saw them enter. "Another ten minutes more, and I would have sent a battalion to look for them...Where are Boris and the twins?"

Where are Boris and the twins?"

"Hansel and Gretel are with the sergeant, he's keeping an eye on them... you know, so they don't blow up any toilets." -Responded Rock.

Balalaika looked at him blankly. "I see."

"I'm sorry, Sis, it's my fault we're late." -Said Revy. If she was lucky, Balalaika would let it slip that she wasn't invited to the office for the little meeting. "It's been a while since I've been to visit and I forgot the way for a moment."

"...And what the fuck are you doing here, Two Hands?"

Of course, luck was never a strong point with Revy. "I was when Sarge came to the bar looking for Rock's asshole, and I came because I was curious what the hell he got himself into now. You got a problem with that?"

"Of course I do, I have a fucking problem with that. I requested Rock's services, not yours." -Balalaika waved her hand dismissively. "I'll call you when I need you, now get the fuck out of my office."

"Well too bad, I'm not leaving. Now stop being a pussy and speak up already, what the hell do you want with Rock?" -Revy folded her arms, defiantly. She knew she was being damn stubborn, and stupid, to provoke Balalaika like that...

"What the fuck do you care?". -But Balalaika wasn't helping either, she didn't know how to end an argument once it started. "Are you his nanny, his bitch?"

"I'm nobody's bitch, bitch."

"Well, this is about private business, bitch." -Balalaika began grinding her teeth. "Last warning, get the fuck out of my office."

"We're not getting anywhere like this." -Rock interjected, stepping forward. "There's no need for Revy to leave, because what I hear here I'll tell you anyway."

Now Balalaika's attention and hard gaze was focused on him. "That's not a very professional attitude Rock, I don't like you going around telling my private business to everyone, do I have to cut off a few of your fingers to make sure you don't do that?"

"I wasn't going to tell everyone, just Revy." -Rock replied, shrugging his shoulders. "Besides, you know that any secrets or important information you have is safer with her than with me."

Revy held back a smile, he hadn't been intimidated one bit. That bastard had toughened up a bit after the little job in Taiwan, keeping his cool when receiving a direct threat from Balalaika was no small thing,

She decided to take the opportunity Rock gave her. "The idiot is right, Sis. I may be a loudmouth, but I'm no fucking snitch."

It looked like Balalaika was going to say something else, and her face showed that she was clearly not pleased. But fortunately, she restrained herself. Balalaika let out a sigh, and put two fingers to her temple, as if in pain. "Alright, damn it." -Balalaika reluctantly agreed. "Let Two Hands stay, but I'll cut out his tongue if this leaves my office without my permission, and the same applies to you Rock."

Rock nodded as did Revy.

Revy was a little touched by Rock's support, so she nudged him lightly as a silent 'thank you' for his support. He simply flashed her a thumbs up. "Sarge told us more or less what this shit is all about.". -Said Revy, returning her attention to Balalaika. "There really are raw fish lovers looking for trouble?"

"Hey, don't start with that.". -Advised Rock.

"Sorry man, it's just that's a catchy term."

"I don't know exactly." -Balalaika reached her hand towards a drawer and opened it. She laid on the desk about four photographs, along with a couple of cassettes."These guys came into Roanapur today and I don't know who the hell they are, so I need Rock to translate some recordings I have of them talking on the phone. If it's nothing serious, that's where his work will end."

"That sucks, I was expecting something a lot more serious and interesting.". -Complained Revy.

"As I said, we still don't know exactly who these Japonskis are, my agents are investigating them as we speak."

Rock had walked over to the desk to pick up the cassettes, and took the opportunity to look curiously at the photographs. Then, he picked one up. Upon closer inspection, he let out a small exclamation. "Ohh...I think I know this man."

Balalaika raised an eyebrow. "Really?"

"Well, I'm not entirely sure. I think I saw his face on a news item that was on TV, but it was a long time ago, when I was still living in Japan." -Explained Rock, frowning in an effort to remember. "I think his name is Bando... um, Ukita Bando? No! Tsugio Bando."

"...Are you sure about that?"

"Yes, now I remember correctly, that news was about Ryuzo Washimine, an important Yakuza leader. He was killed and that's why his face appeared on the news along with information about him and some of his subordinates." -Rock tapped his finger on the photograph. "That's where this man looks familiar to me, he belongs to that Yakuza group."

The office was completely silent for a long moment. Rock looked at Revy, his eyebrow raised, silently asking her what-the-fuck-was-going-on-here-? She simply shrugged, as a silent response as well. "Um, Sis...?"

"A fucking Japanese salaryman just did almost all the work of my agents?". -Balalaika asked suddenly. "That they're supposed to be experts at surveilling and investigating people?"

"...Yes?" -Said Revy, not quite sure what to answer.

"And he did it just by remembering an old news story that happened on TV?"

"That's right..." -Revy scratched her head. "Isn't that just goddamn convenient?"

" Yeah, it looks like it.". -Balalaika smiled. Rock and Revy took a step back, surprised. Balalaika never smiled, unless she did it with mockery or malice. That kind smile on her face was fucking terrifying. "I'll make sure my men do their jobs properly, before they continue to make fools of me."

"So, what do I do now?" -Said Rock, to lighten the terrifying mood.

"Take care of translating the recordings. You can do it here, at home or wherever you feel more comfortable.". -Responded Balalaika, still smiling with her eyes closed. "Just make sure you call me as soon as you're done."

"...I will."

"Okay, that's all for the moment, you're dismissed."

Rock nodded and motioned for Revy to follow him. But before leaving the office, he stopped and turned to look at Balalaika. "Don't be too hard on them, please.". -Said Rock, intervening on behalf of her poor men.

"I'm not promising anything."

Dutch was returning from the market carrying a few plastic bags. He saw Benny's car parked nearby, so that meant Revy was back.

After receiving his juicy paycheck from Chang, he decided to take a few days off to relax a bit and enjoy his money. His two partners had no problem with that. But unlike Revy and Benny, who spent their share of the pay on their vices and nonsense, he had decided to invest his money in something more productive...

And what the hell, he wanted to show off a little too.

So, using one of his contacts in the city, Dutch bought a whole fucking apartment in an apartment near the center of town and set up his own office there. It wasn't as big or fancy as Chang's or Balalaika's offices, but it was decent. It would serve better for future Lagoon company business.

And unlike what Revy thought, the office was more professional than that old warehouse on the dock.

"A bald man in sight." -said a familiar voice, causing Dutch to freeze.

"A black bald man." -corrected another equally familiar voice.

Dutch slowly looked up, and found the twins, standing on the roof of his new office. They were both armed. He looked at them blankly, while the two of them looked back at him, wearing their best 'we-are-innocent-kids' face, something that set off all of Dutch's alarms.

"I don't want to walk through the door..." -said Dutch slowly. "And have the fucking bathroom in my office explode."

"I don't understand why everyone we know insists on believing that we'll blow up their bathroom." -The kid complained. "I mean, the grenade in the toilet thing happened only once. And we do more than blow things up; we slash people, we skin them, we cut them into little pieces..."

"And then you wonder why they call you a psychopath?" -said the girl.

Hansel shrugged his shoulders. "I don't see the problem with expressing my healthy desire to kill and torture."

"And that, dear brother, is why you are the psychopath."

"What the hell are they doing here?" -Dutch asked. Although if the two of them were here, that meant Rock was hanging around close by, probably in his office.

"Keeping watch.". -Responded Gretel. "You, Anego and the four-eyed one don't learn, do you? You still have a severe problem with security."

Hansel nodded in agreement with his sister. "In fact, we could have killed you at least six times in the time it took you to realize we were here." -The boy pointed accusingly at him. "You should consider installing an alarm and setting up cameras or something, you don't know what kind of crazy fucker might be lurking around."

"One like you?" -Dutch replied.

"Exactly."

"And trying to cover your head too.". -Added Gretel. "The light reflecting off the sun can be seen from across town."

"Whatever, just stay out of trouble while you're here.". -said Dutch, resuming his march. He had no intention of taking any more insults over his head.

The kids simply replied with a 'Yup' and continued their surveillance on anyone suspicious. Although that included Dutch as well, as they didn't take their eyes off him. Dutch stifled a shudder and quickened his pace a bit until he reached the office. Entering, more hurriedly than he would like, he locked the door.

And the first thing he saw, was Rock sitting in a chair with headphones on, listening to something on a radio, while occasionally writing in a small notebook he held in his hand. Revy was standing behind him, curiously inspecting what he was writing. They both looked up as they saw him enter.

"Ah, hi Dutch." -Said Rock, pulling out his headphones. "Did you go shopping?"

"Sort of. Good to see you're still alive buddy.". -Responded Dutch, dropping his bags on a couch. "I ran into your scary kids out there."

"Sorry about that, they insisted on watching."

"Don't worry, I'm used to it." -Dutch waved his hand to point to the radio and notebook. "Is that something I need to worry about?"

"That depends." -Said Revy this time. "Is a gang war between the Hotel Moscow and some Yakuzas worrying enough for you?"

"There's still nothing to indicate that this is going to turn into a fucking gang war.". -Rock interjected, lightly punching her in the arm." So far, these guys are just talking to their buddies who stayed in Japan, about how horrible and hot this city is...and how cool some guy Rowan's strip club is."

"Rock, by this point you should know by now that this is going to end in a fucking gang war." -Replied Revy, then shrugged. "You know, the typical case of 'what can go wrong, will go wrong'. Just deal with it, baby."

"You're waiting for it all to eventually come to that, aren't you?"

"Oh, yeah. And don't try to lie to me, I know you're hoping for that too, you fucking maniac."

Dutch watched the exchange blankly. He had no idea how Rock was able to get himself into one problematic situation after another. "...What the hell did you two get yourselves into now?"

"Hey, I didn't do anything." -She complained. "I just went to get drunk at Bao's bar, and for some reason I ended up getting tangled up in all this shit."

"Nobody's saying you have to go along with me on this." -Suggested Rock. "I mean, you've helped me enough by letting me work quietly here, the kids and I can take care of the rest."

"And miss all the fun? No way." -Replied Revy. "I'd rather get involved in this shit storm, than sit around doing nothing all fucking day."

"You say that, but we both know it's because you'd miss me if I'm not around you."

"...Maybe."

Dutch raised an eyebrow curiously.

Revy had become a bit friendlier with Rock since the job in Taiwan. That was odd, and even odder that she would admit she would miss Rock in case he wasn't around, even if that was a joke. Dutch couldn't remember the last time she had become friends with someone. But he'd let it go, he didn't see anything wrong with it as long as it didn't cause problems for him or his business.

Besides, Revy was an adult, and he was too old to act like a fucking babysitter.

"Just leave me out of this shit."

"Oh, come on Dutch, there's no need to worry about this.". -Revy complained. "What's the worst that could happen? I mean, they're just simple Yakuzas, I can't imagine those raw fish lovers being a real danger."

The meeting with one of the few Yakuza groups in Roanapur, which could hardly be called a group as there were only about nine members, had been tense and a bit heated.

Ginji and Chaka were waiting for their boss to leave the office where the meeting had taken place. Bando had requested a moment of privacy, the other Yakuza boss had agreed. Ginji knew that this was the last attempt by the Bando boss to convince this group to accept the recruitment offer, but he also knew that it was destined to fail.

These men were outcasts from society in Japan, so they had come to this city of crime and formed one of their own. They would not be willing to leave everything here and return to Japan to obey rules and orders.

Ginji understood perfectly, for there was a time when he too was such a man. But that had been a long time ago, in a much darker and turbulent time, until he had met his Master. Ryuzo had given him a new purpose and reason to live.

But now her Master was dead, and the only reason Ginji remained in the Washimine group, was Yukio.

She hated the idea of being part of the crime syndicate that was the Yakuzas, her father respected that decision, as did Bando and Ginji. For that reason, Bando had become leader since Ryuzo's death, but if Bando died, then she would become the new leader by right and obligation.

And to make sure that didn't happen, he decided to stay with the Washimine. Now, Ginji's reason for living was to keep Yukio happy.

The office doors opened, and Bando walked out alone. The members of the other Yakuza group also waiting outside, about three of them, the ones selected as bodyguards, entered the office again.

"How did it go, boss?" -Chaka asked, leaning against a wall and smoking a cigarette, completely relaxed.

"Unfortunately, bad.". -Responded Bando, letting out a tired sigh. "There was no way to convince these guys, and now they want us out of this fucking city."

"I'm not surprised, the look on 'Mr. Personality's' face here must have terrified them." -said Chaka, pointing at Ginji, though he ignored him. "So, what do we do, just get our stuff together and go straight home?"

"I'm afraid not. These guys won't be of any use to us, except to be a pain in the ass for the duration of our stay here." -Responded Bando, taking out a cigarette. "We'll have to eliminate them so they won't cause trouble."

Chaka smiled. "I was hoping you'd say that."

"Of course you expected it, you fucking psycho killer."

"I prefer to be called an 'enthusiastic worker.

"I don't care what you want to be called. Ginji, you clean up the office. Chaka, you and I will take care of the others."

"Hey, boss." -Said Ginji, getting the attention of the two men. "I already warned you that this would all go wrong, it was a mistake to have come to Roanapur."

"Have a little faith, man. This was just one of the many groups around here." -Responded Bando, offering an apologetic smile. "I understand how you feel, but believe me, I'm doing what I think is best for the Washimine group."

"What's best for the group, would be to be in Japan defending our territories." -Ginji replied sternly. "Not looking for help in this rat's nest. Ryuzo-sama would never have stooped to begging for help from a Gaijin scum. He would be appalled by your decision."

Bando's smile faded, and he looked at his subordinate sternly for a long moment. Then he turned away, beginning to walk toward the exit of the lair as he drew a weapon. "You have your orders, Ginji.".

Bando was pissed. Ginji could tell by the way he tightened his grip on the gun in his hand, and by the way he walked stiffly. However, instead of confronting him and giving him a convincing argument, a good reason why they should still be there even though it looked like they would accomplish nothing, Bando chose to run away.

Disappointing. "...As you say, boss."

Chaka happily followed his boss, and mimicking him by drawing his own weapon, leaving Ginji alone in front of the office doors. There were four people behind that door, the enemy Yakuza boss and three armed bodyguards. It didn't matter, three guards or thirty, the result would still be the same.

Ginji opened his heavy trench coat slightly and drew his sword from its sheath. Then, concentrating his strength on one of his legs, he threw a kick.

The door broke inward.

Ginji scanned the room as soon as he walked through the door. The leader of that group was sitting in a chair behind a desk against the far wall. Two bodyguards were reaching for the pistols clipped to their waists. The third bodyguard already had his in his hand, and he fired without hesitation.

Ginji swung his sword and tilted it slightly. Stopping a bullet was simple, redirecting it was a bit more difficult, though not as difficult as cutting a bullet in mid-flight. The projectile slammed into the blade of the sword and bounced towards the nearest bodyguard, the bullet impacting directly on his chest.

A second bullet was directed at Ginji, and with another quick swing of his sword, he swung it back at the shooter. The man fell backwards to the ground, he had been shot right in the middle of his face. Ginji charged at the last bodyguard, who had already half drawn his pistol, easily dodging the frightened man's shot by leaping to the side.

With a sweep of his sword, Ginji cut the man's head off at shoulder height.

The fight had ended so quickly that the Yakuza boss hadn't had time to even get up from his seat, or draw his weapon. He shrank back in his chair, futilely raising his hands to ward off danger. Ginji clicked his tongue in disgust and brought his sword down hard.

The sword went through one of the man's hands and continued down his throat until it stuck in the wall.

The smell of blood quickly filled the office. In the background, Ginji could hear the screams, the detonations of guns and the laughter of Chaka. He couldn't understand how this man enjoyed taking out such pathetic enemies. For him there was nothing exciting about this, only boredom and frustration. Ginji put away his sword and turned to his boss.

If they couldn't achieve their goal of recruiting the Yakuza in the city, at least Ginji hoped he could find someone in Roanapur worth killing.