A/N: Sup Ya'll. Sorry for not updating for a while. Once again work stirkes and this doge has bills to pay so the extra hours help but in order to make up for it, Good Ole' Uncle Doggie will spoil you guys with not one but TWO chapters. This is my first time I made a Story with intrigue and with some mystery as there are clues as to future plots as well as characters from other anime and media.

Also I enjoy The Reviews and wow it seems that people like what I put out there so I just gotta do my best to deliver a good story.

Anyways on to the Story!

DISCLAIMER: I OWN NOTHING BUT THIS PARASTYE IN MY RIGHT HAND AND ALL PROPERTIES BELONG TO LILITH SOFT AND OTHER COMPANIES.

Chapter 8

The Beast and The Stray

Part 2: Hunt for the Red Dragons.

***T.T.F Headquarters***

"So what do we know about him?" Igawa Asagi asked herself as she looked over the file in front of her. She was currently sitting in her office at T.T.F. HQ going through the latest reports from their field operatives with one in particular in mind.

Kaiser Wrath, Age 17.

Height: 1.829 m (6 ft).

Blood Type: AB+.

Eye Color: Green.

Hair Color: Light Brown Almond Colored Hair.

The veteran Taimanin sighed as she looked at the picture attached to the report. It showed a young man with unkempt light brown hair that was long on top but short on the sides with green eyes whose facial features appeared to be of either European or Mediterranean descent who had bronze-tanned colored skin. He had a scowl on his face as he was looking directly at the camera for the photo.

"He has no past history or public records of any kind, not even a birth certificate. He doesn't exist in any public database until about seven years ago, when he suddenly appeared on the outskirts of Gosha Village. Shiranui was the first to make contact with him and take him to the local clinic, after which Emily Simmons ran some blood tests on him. The results showed that Kaiser was completely human with no traces of demonic blood or any other species mixed in, but there was also something else in his blood test... that was inconclusive. (Sigh) He was adopted into the Mizuki Clan by Shiranui and Kenichi, as well as being made to be the older adopted brother to Yukikaze to look after her. At a young age of 10 years, Kaiser was shown to have potential when he killed an orc that had managed to wander into the forest training grounds in order to protect his sister and was able to fight a handful of Taimanin raise children on his own as well. He did it all without training, using the Taima Particles, or even unlocking his Ninja Art, not that he would have one since he is an 'Outsider' with no blood ties to any Taimanin clans."

Asagi took a sip of her coffee as she continued to read the files on the enigma that was Kaiser Wrath.

"After his adopted father's death, Kaiser began to show increased signs of a rebellious attitude and dissidence towards authority, but he also developed power and skills that made him an above-average Taimanin cadet due to his training with Kenichi at a young age. He enrolled in Gosha Academy at 13 years of age and was enrolled in the special course due to his family influence...the results were incredible, with him passing with flying colors and setting new records never seen before. He has, though, has had a spotty delinquent record of starting fights with his fellow peers and cutting classes; he was unable to spar with fellow students due to his violent behavior and was self-isolating himself from his instructors due to his anger issues. He was considered too strong for the average students, so special consideration was taken to have him spar with instructors and veterans instead, which even they had trouble keeping up with the young boy."

Asagi stopped for a moment and smiled as she remembered the young hotblooded boy who she had thoroughly beaten without breaking much of a sweat, but she noticed some important factors during that sparring match. Asagi had realized that Kaiser had no weapons when they sparred, and it did require Asagi to use her Ninja Arts: Hawk Arts, which allows her to heighten her senses, speed, and physical capabilities; this allows her to move six times faster than normal, which gave her the edge over Kaiser's brute strength, who had no Ninja Arts or was able to use the Taima Particles which left the question of... If the boy was born a Taimanin and was able to use Ninja Arts or Taima Particles, how strong would've that boy been? This thought worried Asagi, as she knew that Kaiser was brash and quite hotheaded, but he didn't seem to have any ill will or evil in his heart, as the boy was not the type to seek power for power sake but for... something else. If anything, Kaiser seems to be quite gentle and passive if left unprovoked, judging from how he interacted with Yukikaze, Rinko, and Tatsuro.

Asagi saw the next section of the file and felt a headache starting to form as she remembered the events that would forever change this young man's life as well as alter the course of history.

"The most defining moment for Kaiser was when he was 15 years old and had disobeyed direct orders from the Council of The Elders to launch a one-man rescue operation for his adopted mother, Shiranui Mizuki, who went missing during a mission 4 months ago. For 7 days straight, Kaiser destroyed, vandalized, assassinated, and rampaged across Tokyo, as well as burning half of the underground demon city of Yomihara. Officials had called it... "Dies Irae" or the Days of Wrath, as Kaiser caused millions of collateral damage and exposure of demons to the public. This created problems for the Japanese government and the Taimanin, who were trying to cover up the incident as best they could in order to prevent mass panic. As Kaiser ran wild, he was able to locate and extract his mother back to Gosha Village, from which he surrendered himself to the Taimanin for punishment... peacefully... strangely enough. He was held captive for 3 days, was interrogated, and debriefed on what happened during the incident, but not once, breaking or apologizing for his actions. The Elders decided that the appropriate punishment was to have Kaiser Wrath publicly executed and have his remains studied after, as he was considered a specimen of interest to certain parties. This was of course stopped by his mother, who woke up from her 3-day coma and was able to gather like minded clans to advocate for her son's release, after which everything else was history."

Asagi sighed as she read the r to report on Kaiser Wrath as she wondered why The Elders would send someone like him on a recon mission to infiltrate an illegal drug and sex trafficking ring that involved Demons?

Asagi knew that The Elders hated Kaiser but also understood his value as an asset to the Taimanin and Japan as a whole. His name alone struck fear in the hearts of the wicked demons and criminals as some of them witnessed firsthand Kaiser's savage brutality.

"I guess I should have expected this from those old bastards...", muttered Asagi while thinking about how they tried to use Kaiser as a weapon again after he gained that infamy many years ago.

Asagi was not sure if she could trust Kaiser since he was known for being reckless and violent, which made it difficult to control him. Still, with the current situation where Taimanin are being hunted down by demons and criminals and with Fuuma Kotaro trying to build his team, Asagi needed every Taimanin she could get her hands on.

*** Slum District of Tokyo***

"Typical of those Old Fucks..." Kaiser said as he clicked his tongue at the dingy hotel.

After paying for his room and making his way to the third floor, Kaiser was settling in the hotel room when he heard something behind him, so he quickly turned around with his hand, reaching for his Three Barrel Revolver. There was nothing there until a small shadow moved across the bed. A small black cat jumped on the bed and licked its's paw as it meowed at Kaiser. It jumped off the bed and made its way towards him as it started to rub itself against Kaiser's legs, purring loudly.

"Son of...hehehe, you little shit, you nearly gave me a heart attack." Kaiser said as he gently petted the cat.

Kaiser then focused back on the laptop he received from the AO Unit when he left the village, as he was handed a briefcase and map that showed where he was going to be staying, which was a shady hotel located in the Sanya district of Tokyo City. He had figured that it looked inconspicuous enough for his mission, but still... the place looked like a rundown ass. He opened the file on the laptop that contained his mission briefing while laying on the uncomfortable bed in the rundown hotel room. The Black Cat rubbed itself on Kaiser's side as the young man scratched its head as it purr in delight while scrolling through the files.

The Red Dragon Organization (RDO) is an international crime syndicate founded by several corrupt politicians and high-ranking demons who all had a hand in governments around the world. They have been active in the sex trade business since 2015. The organization has its roots in Japan and operates throughout Asia, Europe, and North America. The target main operations involve an underground drug ring that is being run by demons and human traffickers. This group has been involved in several terrorist attacks recently and has even killed a few Taimanin; however, they are still not well known to the general public due to their low numbers and lack of publicity.The mission objective is to infiltrate this organization using a new identity as a freelance reporter named "Katsuo Madra." The drug ring that deals in Demons distribution of a drug called "Devil's Breath." The drug is made from a special plant that is grown in the Dark World, is extracted in underground farms located underneath a large building complex near Tokyo Bay. Not only did the drug enhance sexual pleasure but also caused users to lose control over their own bodies and minds; the users of said drugs also gained increased strength, speed, and durability while also causing them to become addicted very easily. This drug is being sold illegally through local sex clubs and underground fighting rings. The organization has been using this city as its base of operations for several years now and has been operating for years without any real interference from the police or Taimanin until recently, when they were discovered by a local news station. Once inside, gather any information about the Demon-Human relations and any other illegal activities before reporting back to the Taimanin Task Force.

"This will be my first solo mission in a while and without a handler hounding over my shoulder since leaving the Academy, so nothing better go wrong this time.", thought Kaiser as he read through the file. "So, I am supposed to infiltrate an underground drug and sex trafficking ring that is run by demons...", Kaiser said to himself while reading the briefing.

"Well...I guess this should be easy enough for me. All I have to do is find out what they are planning and report it back to Asagi," Kaiser said to himself confidently.

He knew that his new identity would allow him to get close to the inner circle of this organization without arousing suspicion as a foreign journalist, but he also knew that it was going to be dangerous if he let down his guard. So, with that in mind, Kaiser decided to head into town to gather information about the group.

Kaiser walked along the street thinking where to start looking for information as he asked people around about the Red Dragons. Most of the locals gave Kaiser a side-eye glare as they brushed him off as some foreigner looking for trouble. This continued for a while until late afternoon, as Kaiser made no lead or was any closer to his goals. Frustrated Kaiser decided that a change in scenery would help him strategize and reassess his approach on this mission; a local park nearby seemed like a good place to try and get his thoughts together.

As Kaiser walked through the calm and serene park, he noticed a young man sitting on a bench near a park. He appeared to be around 20 years old with short black hair and a scar that ran across his face. He was feeding the birds at the park without a care in the world.

Kaiser felt... a certain draw to the man as he approached him as he took a seat next to the man. "Hi, mind if I take a seat here? Also, my name is Katsuo Madra, a freelance reporter at ya service. I just moved here to Tokyo from Osaka." Kaiser said getting into character, hoping his acting was good enough to fool the man.

"Oh, be my guest. My name is Yuichi Hoshi; nice to meet you, Katsuo-san." The man replied, shaking hands with Kaiser as his eyes analyzed the newcomer.

The two Predators eyed each other as they circled each other around.

"So, what brings you to Tokyo? If you don't mind me asking?" Yuichi asked curiously.

"Well, I actually started work for a local newspaper here, and I recently got assigned to do this cover story about an underground drug ring that has been operating in Tokyo for several years now. I believe they call themselves... The Red Dragons, I think." Kaiser explained to the man.

A scent of blood lingered in the air as the Beast did not appreciate this... Stray sniffing around where he didn't belong.

"Wow! That sounds really interesting, so have you found anything yet?" Yuichi said as the man continued to feed the birds, his eyes never once leaving Kaiser's nor his body posture relaxing near him.

For some reason or another, something felt off about Yuichi to Kaiser, as he was too calm and casual with strangers like him. It was as though Yuichi was also trying to put up a front, like he was pretending to be something he was not.

They both were hiding themselves so as to blend into a society that could not understand their nature, for their true nature...was that of monsters.

"No, nothing yet... I'm asking around to see if anyone has heard or seen anything, but they all seem to avoid me. I guess they are either too afraid or they don't want to talk to a foreigner; kinda makes it hard for me to get a lead on." Kaiser said as he was trying to sound as casual as possible as his eyes warily scan the man beside him as his aura put him on edge.

The Stray was not dissuaded by The Beast before him, as neither predator would yield to the other.

"Well, maybe I could help you out with that if you want Katsuo-san?" Yuichi suggested as the man was already trying to get chummy, giving him a smile that would ease others, but underneath it, Kaiser could see that there was hollowness in Yuichi's eyes—the same kind of emptiness Kaiser had before he met Shiranui.

Kaiser, as he felt that he just clicked with the man who he had just met at the park. Perhaps after this mission Kaiser would invite the man out for a drink or two as...buddies?

The Predators acknowledge one another, but deep down they both knew their fate. There can only be One Apex.

This confused Kaiser, as he was unsure if he should consider this man kin or foe as he did not know how to deal with these feelings or thoughts.

"That would be great; thanks for your offer, Yuichi-san!" Kaiser replied happily. So, after exchanging contact information with Yuichi, they both parted ways and went their separate ways.

Kaiser watched as Yuichi left the park as a certain suspicion nagged at him to investigate. Yuichi walked into a nearby bar and took a seat at the counter as the bartender served him a drink. The bartender discreetly slipped a piece of paper under the glass as he was serving Yuichi, as gave the bartender a subtle nod, slipping the piece of paper into his pants' pocket.

Kaiser soon entered the bar, and he saw Yuichi talking to a woman sitting next to him at the counter. The two of them were laughing and having fun together while drinking. Yuichi was charming the young woman as he gave smiles and laughs, but his eyes were looking past the woman as though she were nothing but a mere lamb to be devoured. To the untrained eye, it seemed that Yuichi was just a normal guy enjoying the Tokyo nightlife, but to someone like Kaiser, he could see that Yuichi was anything but normal as the man exuded blood lust just like he did but was able to keep it well hidden.

After a few hours passed by, Yuichi left the bar and started walking down the street. Kaiser followed him discreetly as he kept some distance, making sure to stay out of sight as he continued to tail Yuichi until they eventually arrived in the disreputable part of the city. Yuichi entered what appeared to be an abandoned warehouse that looked condemned.

"This looks like a good place to start my investigation." Kaiser said to himself as he crept closer to the building. Once he got close enough, he noticed that there were several armed men standing outside guarding the entrance. "Shit! I guess I'll have to come back here another time when it's less crowded."

Kaiser sighs in frustration as he knew he couldn't cause a commotion since this was a recon and investigation mission, not a search and destroy mission... no matter how much he wanted it to be one.

As Kaiser began to turn around and walk away from the warehouse, he was suddenly grabbed by his shirt's collar and was pulled into an alleyway. Before he knew it, Kaiser found himself being pinned against the wall with his arms held above his head.

"Who are you?"

The voice belonged to a woman who had orange-colored hair with violet eyes while wearing a red leather jacket that was opened to reveal a black string bikini top as well as blue ripped jeans with her black thong being visible.

"Woah! Hold on, wait, please! M-My name is Katsuo Madra! I-I'm just a freelance reporter! Please don't hurt me!" Kaiser pleaded as he was trying to stay in character as a civilian freelance reporter instead as a seasoned killer.

The woman let go of his arms and took a step back from him as she scoffed at the young man.

"Relax, I'm not going to hurt you, boy...unless you give me a reason to." She said with a smirk on her face as she had a cigarette in her mouth.

"Umm...thank you for not hurting me, ma'am, but uhh... why did you pull me into this alleyway?" Kaiser asked as he was fixing his collar, confused as to why she pulled him aside.

"Well, first off, call me Azuma, not ma'am; I'm not that old kid," she replied while winking at him. "Secondly, I saw you following that fellow; what was his name... oh, Yuichi...right? You were following him around earlier today, so I thought that maybe you can tell me as to why." Azuma asked as she lit up a cigarette to smoke while sizing up Kaiser.

"I-I don't know what you are talking about, ma'am. I was just walking down the street when suddenly you grabbed me and pulled me into this alleyway!" Katsuo exclaimed in fear.

"Look, kid, I'm not buying it. I know you are lying because I've been tracking this guy for quite a while now. Then you come out of nowhere and started following him around while telling me that you have no idea of Who he is or why you were following him? Don't lie to me!" Azuma yelled as she took another step closer towards Kaiser, as her cigarette smoke was in Kaiser's face.

The smoke annoyed Kaiser, but he cursed his bad luck as this Azuma woman was able to get the drop on him and was tailing him before he could notice her.

'Shit, I must be getting sloppy...' Kaiser thought to himself.

Though at least one bit of good news was that his cover as "Katsuo" was still intact, so maybe there was a way for him to get out of this without having to resort to 'force persuasion'.

"Okay, okay... I was following him, but I was doing it because I am investigating the 'Red Dragons' organization that has been reported to be active in this area, as well as the drug and sex trafficking that has been going around here as well." Kaiser said as he was trying to keep his cool. He hoped that this bit of a half truth would make Azuma back off from him.

"Oh really? And what makes you think that Yuichi is part of this 'Red Dragon' organization?" Azuma asked with a raised eyebrow.

"Well, it is just my gut feeling I have, but I just know that if he is apart of it, then I can expose the organization for all the crimes that they have committed!" Kaiser replied while thinking to himself.

'And also find out who his boss is so that I can kill'em.' Kaiser thought to himself as he hoped that This Azuma would soon let him go to continue his investigation.

"Hmmm, I see...Katsuo, right? Look, I got orders to take down this 'Red Dragons' organization as well as destroy the drug shipments known as "Devil's Breath," so why don't you run along and leave this messy job to 'Big Sis' okay, cutie?" Azuma said this confidently as she winked at Kaiser while putting out her cigarette under the heel of her boot.

She then turned around and walked away without even waiting for an answer from Kaiser as she left the young Taimanin confused as to what just happened. As soon as she was out of sight, though, Kaiser could not help but feel a little bit uneasy about her. He knew that he should be glad that she left him alone, but something in the back of his mind told him that they would see each other again.

The Red Dragons was a criminal organization that specialized in human trafficking, prostitution, drugs, and other illegal activities. They were newcomers in the Tokyo Bay area, but they are also known to have connections with some local gangs and crime syndicates. Kamimura Azuma knew that these guys weren't pushovers, but her friend and boss Carla gave her this job because one of the backers for this organization could possibly lead them to Gram Derrick, Carla's vampire uncle, who had it out for his niece. She had hope she scared away that cute freelance reporter from getting any more involved, but... there was something strange about him, like he was trying to cover up or pretend to be something he was not as his aura was that of a warrior and not of a thrill seeking civilian. Azuma shook her head as it wasn't her concern at the moment as she was following a possible lead on Yuichi's contact and hopefully the Red Dragon's base of operations.

After walking for a little while longer, she finally reached the building that she had been looking for all this time. It was an old abandoned warehouse that looked like no one had been in years as the building looked condemned. She quickly made her way inside, quietly trying to remain undetected as she sneaked past the armed men patrolling the abandoned warehouse.

Once Azuma was inside, she saw that it was mostly empty, with a few crates and boxes laying around, but she began to search around for anything that might be useful to her investigation.

Yuichi Hoshi was one of the leaders of the Red Dragon organization and also one of their best fighters. He was known for being ruthless when it came to dealing with people who got in his way or tried to cross him. He had no problem killing anyone who stood against him, whether they were men or women, young or old; it didn't matter to him as Yuichi did not back down from taking a life. Even some of his own men feared him sometimes, as the man had been known to kill a few insubordinate or incompetent underlings that worked under him. This made it easy for him to get rid of any potential individuals who threatened his position as well as keep the rest of his organization under control. He has been active in the sex trade business for over ten years now, and his main base of operations is located somewhere near Tokyo, Kingdom. He has been known to work with several different crime syndicates, such as the Yakuza, Triads, and even the Russian Mafia at times. He has also been responsible for creating many different types of drugs, including but not limited to heroin, cocaine, methamphetamine, and many more. He was currently working on a new drug called 'Devil's Breath' which would give him the edge in cornering the drug market, especially if the request for the drug came from some really powerful people in the government.

'Money was what made the world go around' is what Yuichi thought out loud as he was in an abandoned warehouse with his escort and hired goons.

Kamimura Azuma made sure to stay out of sight behind some crates and empty shelves as she observed Yuichi. It looked like the man was waiting for someone, as Azuma was wondering what he was going to do next. She had been following him ever since he left his home this morning and had already learned quite a bit about him during that time.

Yuichi was an average looking man who looked like he was in his early or maybe even late twenties, depending on how you looked at it. He had black hair and dark brown eyes with glasses, along with a muscular build underneath his clothes. His face showed no emotion most of the time, but when he smiled, it seemed almost sinister somehow. Most people would describe him as being handsome, if not downright gorgeous, even with a scar running down the left side of his face. In fact, there were many women who fell for him instantly just by looking at him, and even more so after he had charmed them up; unfortunately, most of these women would never be seen again nor heard from after spending a night with Yuichi.

He was one of the most wanted men in Japan right now. This guy had done some pretty terrible things before, and there were rumors about this man that were never actually confirmed—rumors going around that he had killed over 100 people since his first appearance almost ten years ago. He was supposed to be some sort of monster who killed anyone who got in his way without hesitation. This gave him the infamous reputation of being called 'The Beast of Mara'. If you were unlucky enough to cross him then there was no hope of survival unless you managed to escape quickly or take him by surprise first. It didn't help that there were also rumors going around about him selling children too, which made Azuma sick just thinking about it.

Yuichi sat down at a table in the center of the warehouse with a briefcase and lit up a cigarette as he waited patiently for his guest to arrive. He knew that they would be coming soon enough since he had sent word out earlier today and received confirmation at the bar that he would meet with them. Azuma watched quietly as he opened up his briefcase and pulled out several vials filled with a strange purple liquid.

Recently, Yuichi began to expand into the drug trafficking business as he saw an opportunity to increase his income and sphere of influence as this new product, 'Devil's Breath,' was becoming the rage and more lucrative here in Tokyo. The only problem was that the materials and plants that the drug was based off were hard to get as they only grew in the Dark World, so trade with demons was necessary to manufacture this highly addictive drug.

Yuichi smoked his cigarette as he waited for his guest to arrive.

He didn't have to wait long before there was a knock on the door as one of the guards went to check it out, The man later came back inside, followed by a man who appeared to be in his early twenties wearing a black suit and sunglasses.

"This is him, sir." The guard said as he moved aside, allowing the young man to enter the warehouse.

Yuichi took another puff from his cigarette as he watched the stranger walk into the room. "Welcome, Mr. Arakawa, I presume?" He asked as he looked over the younger man, who seemed to be about 20 years old, if not slightly older than.

"Yuichi-san, it's great to see you." Arakawa said as he had a grin when he greeted Yuichi.

"I hope that your flight was enjoyable, please take a seat. We have much to discuss." Yuichi replied as he gestured towards the empty chair across from him at the table.

Arakawa nodded as he walked over and sat down in the chair as he saw the briefcase on the table before him, "So what can I do for you today? You said it was urgent." He asked curiously as he glanced at the purple vials.

Yuichi nodded as he took another puff from his cigarette.

"Yes, it is quite important, actually. I'm sure you heard that My Master is wanting to push production and distribution of the product ahead of schedule, but more importantly, he is concerned about a certain... individual who poses a great deal of trouble to our operation here as well as being the recipient of a personal grudge that My Master has towards him.

Arakawa raises an eyebrow, as this person must be something of a big deal to have the concern and anger of the Incubus King, who is part of one of the 9 Noble Demon Houses.

"I'm guessing that this individual is no ordinary human?" Arakawa asks as he crosses his arms, waiting for Yuichi's answer.

"No, not at all; in fact, you could say he is far from it. This man is a Taimanin." Yuichi replied with a sigh as he put out his cigarette into the ashtray on the table.

Arakawa raised an eyebrow as he didn't expect that answer, "Just a Taimanin?

"Yes, and a very dangerous one... Tell me, does the name Kaiser Wrath, mean anything to you?" Yuichi asked as Arakawa visibly turned pale.

"Y-you can't possibly mean...'The Mad Dog of Ruin'...can you?!" He exclaimed as he looked over at Yuichi, who nodded back at him.

"I see, so you know about him then, well yes, it is indeed the same person that My Master wants taken care of. Your going to help in dealing with him before things get out of hand." Yuichi said as he leaned forward in his chair.

Arakawa was stunned for a moment but quickly regained himself as he shook his head. "W-wait, are you serious?! That man has killed hundreds of demons and nearly destroyed the hell city of Yomihara by himself! There is a reason why they called him the 'Living Apocalypse'."!

"The bastard single-handedly destroyed half of our dealings and assets in Tokyo that even now we have not fully recovered from; on top of that, he has stacked mountains upon mountains of bodies...wait...he can't possibly be here in Tokyo right now...can he?" Arakawa shouted as he began to sweat profusely.

Yuichi smiled grimly, "Well, unfortunately, he is here in Tokyo at the moment on a mission, and My Master wants him taken care of before he causes anymore trouble. So I'm going to need your...assistance on this matter."

"B-But how do you expect me to deal with someone like that?! He is a monster who could easily kill me without breaking a sweat!" Arakawa exclaimed as Yuichi shook his head.

"Don't worry about that; we have already countermeasures in place for him thanks to our...mutual partners and contacts. All we need is to drag him out into the open. That's where you come in. You see, the man in question has been sent here on a mission to spy on our dealings and business before reporting back to the Taimanin HQ, but this is all a set up to lure him into a trap." Yuichi explained as he tried to calm down the young corrupt government official who was also covering for their little drug trafficking enterprise.

"Wait, wait, wait, hold on. If that's true, then why are you telling me all of this?! If word gets out that I am helping demons, then it will be my head on the line; my political party will throw me under the bus to save their own skins!" Arakawa shouted as Yuichi smiled at him.

"Don't worry, your cover and involvement are still confidential; we just want you to lure him into one of our facilities and assist in his capture under the guise of a concerned public official. Once we capture him, then he can be interrogated, but right now we need him alive for My Master's purposes." Yuichi said as he gave Arakawa a cold glare. "You don't have any right to refuse... these are My Master's orders, or do I need to remind your Political Leader who he serves?"

Arakawa looked like he had seen a ghost as he stared off into space before nodding his head slowly in grim resignation, "Well, I guess it can't hurt to try...but how do you expect me to get close to that Mad Dog of yours?" He asked as Yuichi smiled at him.

"Don't worry about that; we have already made preparations for you. Just play your part, and everything will go smoothly. You see, this is all part of a bigger plan that many are working together on here in Tokyo." Yuchi is pleased with the fact that Arakawa agreed to his plan.

As Azuma was listening to this meeting while hiding, she thought to herself who this 'Mad Dog of Ruin' was and how strong he was to have gotten the ire of one of the 9 Noble Demon Houses. She had no idea what would happen next, but one thing was for sure: she needed to report back to her boss, Carla, as soon as possible that this new player could change things very drastically very soon. As Azuma prepared to leave an empty bottle next to her foot, she was knocked over, alerting the two men.

Yuichi looked around confused before spotting an open window and the woman leaving through it. Yuichi quickly grabbed a gun from his desk and shot at the fleeing figure, only to miss and hit the wall.

"Get that bitch and make sure to keep her alive!" Yuichi yelled at the guards as he looked over to Arakawa, "You need to leave now and make sure you are not seen. You'll be contacted on the plan later." Yuichi said as Arakawa nodded and left through the back room before closing the door behind him.

Azuma had managed to evade capture by jumping out of the window into the alleyway and running towards the streets. She didn't know where she was going, but anywhere was better than here. She kept running until she felt a sharp pain in her side.

Azuma stopped for a moment to catch her breath before looking down at her side and seeing a small dart sticking out of her body. She started to feel woozy as the tranquilizer was taking effect on her as Azuma stumbled to stay on her feet.

"Well, well, it seems that a little fly on the wall has gotten caught in the spider's web. Well then, bitch, who sent you?" Yuichi said as he stepped into view.

Azuma tried to talk but found herself unable to speak due to the drugs running through her system. She could only stare at Yuichi with defiance in her eyes.

Yuichi walked up to the woman and grabbed her throat, choking her as he lifted her up so that they were eye to eye. He smiled at Azuma as he whispered in her ear, "Don't worry, I'm not going to kill you... yet."

As soon as those words left his lips, she was hit by a powerful blow to the stomach, sending her flying back several meters, where she landed hard on the ground. Azuma coughed up blood from the force of the impact before slowly getting back up onto her feet. She looked around and saw that she had been surrounded by Yuichi's thugs, who were all pointing their guns at her. They moved closer until one of them stepped forward and punched her in the face, knocking her unconscious.

The man who punched Azuma picked her up and threw her over his shoulder as he walked back towards Yuichi.

"Take her to the manufacturing facility and make sure that no one else sees her or even touches her," Yuichi said with a cold tone.

The thug nodded his head before taking off towards a moving truck as he threw Azuma inside before driving off. The rest of the men followed behind him, leaving only Yuichi standing there alone.

Yuichi took out his phone and called someone, "It's me... Yes, I have confirmed that he's here... Yes, I made sure that the worm agreed to the plan... No, everything is set and ready. If our Mutual Partner's intel is correct, we shall have it done soon...Also, I have something for you."

Yuichi hung up the phone after that and started walking back inside his building.

Kaiser was still trying to find leads on The Red Dragon, but no one wanted to talk to a reporter due to the fear they have of the repercussions of the criminal underworld. Still using the cover 'Katsuo Madra', as he investigated some seedy bars but was unable to turn up anything.

"(Sigh)...the fuck was Asagi thinking when she assigned me this mission. I am not an investigator nor a fucking detective...shit, I need a lead, damn it." Kaiser complained as he walked around the busy streets of Tokyo.

As Kaiser walked around, he took a turn into a back alley that led to another seedy bar.

Kaiser entered the bar, and he saw several men sitting at the gambling tables, some of them playing poker awhile, while others were smoking and drinking their beer. One of them looked up from his game and stared right at Kaiser, who gave him an inviting nod before he walked over to an empty seat at one of the tables.

"You want to play?" The man asked as he was shuffling cards that made it hard to keep track of.

Kaiser sat down and placed some money on the table as he said, "I'll bet 5000 yen."

The man chuckled and replied with a smile, "What is this? Some kind of joke? That's all you have?"

Kaiser sighs as he shakes his head and says, "No. I don't gamble often, but I figured today would be a good day to try it out."

The man laughed again before saying, "Alright then, let's see what you can do, kid. Let's make it 100,000,000 yen though. You think you can handle that?"

"Fine a 100,000,000 yen it is." Kaiser said begrudgingly as he took out a roll of 100,000,000 yen.

The other men at the table started laughing as they saw how much money Kaiser had placed on the table. The dealer started dealing the cards, and after each round of betting, with Kaiser winning some and losing some, the game continued until finally it was down to Kaiser and one other man left in the game.

"Looks like you have some luck, kid," the man said with a smirk as he looked at his hand. He then turned to Kaiser and asked, "What do you got?"

Kaiser looked at his cards in his hand as if it was...a Dead Man's Hand.

'Fuck... this is why I don't gamble. Every time something good happens, some thing equally bad comes along and shits all over it—a pair of aces and eights, along with an unknown hole card.'

The man who was sitting next to Kaiser suddenly stood up from his chair and pointed at him while shouting, "You cheater! You must be cheating somehow!"

Kaser sighed as he replied, "I am not cheating. Look at my cards yourself if you don't believe me."

"Shut up! I know what I saw! There is no way that you could get such a hand by pure luck! The only explanation is that you must have some kind of trick up your sleeve!"

The Men at the table pulled out their guns as Kaiser knew things were going to get heated in a moment.

"Look, I don't really care about winning; hell, you can take the pot for all I care. I just don't want any trouble now; after all, I'm just a freelance reporter."

The man who was sitting across from Kaiser stood up and shouted, "Freelance Reporter? What do you mean by that?!"

Kaiser looked at both men and said, "What it means dumbass is that I am a journalist that travels around Japan looking for articles to write about. That's it."

"A journalist, huh? Then why are you here betting so much money on this game then?"

Kaiser shrugged his shoulders and replied, "Because I thought that maybe I could win some money and get some juicy gossip along the way."

One of the other gamblers started laughing hysterically as he said, "You are betting your life for information? Hahahaha! You sure are one crazy son of a bitch!"

Kaiser lean back into his chair with a sigh before saying, "Yeah, well, I guess I am just that desperate right now. I have been trying to find out more about the Red Dragons organization, but no matter how hard I try, I can't seem to find out anything about it."

"Hmph! Well, if you are going to bet your life over something like that, then you'll have better luck at the slot machines instead of gambling at poker. At least there you might be able to win some money and not lose everything including your own life."

Kaiser shook his head again before saying, "Yeah, well, I don't really have much choice since my editor has me by the balls. She told me that if I didn't find any good stories by the end of the month, she would fire me. So here I am trying to gamble my way into getting some information on a group that has been causing all kinds of trouble... If it means putting my life on the line, then I'll bet my life away on a gamble. No Risk, No Reward."

The man who was sitting across from Kaiser started laughing as he said, "Hahahaha! You sure are one stupid bastard!"

"I know, right? But what can you do? I'm at my wits end, and I'm desperate."

"Well, if you want to know about the Red Dragon organization, then why don't you just ask them directly? They are based out of her in Tokyo after all."

Kaiser looked at the man and asked, "If it was that easy, I would've already done it. I just need to get in contact with one of them."

"You mean you really tried to actually find them and talk to them? Hahahaha! What kind of reporter goes up to a group like that and asks for an interview!? That is so stupid!"

Kaiser sat back in his chair with a annoyed expression before saying, "Yeah, well, it wasn't really my idea anyway. My editor thought it would be good to do some kind of exposé on these kinds of groups since they have been getting more popular lately. She said that we should try to show the public the truth. Yeah, she is one of those truth seekers types, but for me, the pay is good at least."

"So what? You think that if you write about how dangerous these groups are, then people will stop joining them? Hahahaha! The only thing you would accomplish by writing something like that is pissing off a lot of people and getting yourself killed."

Kaiser shrugged his shoulders before saying, "Yeah, I have been told that it's a unique gift of mine, but well, I guess that is true. But hey, if it's money in my pocket, then... I'll do it."

The man who was sitting across from Kaiser started laughing as he said, "Hahahaha! Yeah, well, good luck with that!"

After a few minutes of silence, one of the men suddenly asked, "Hey, aren't you going to ask us why we are telling you all this, After all, we could be their benefactors or even their allies."

As the man said this, the others surrounded Kaiser as they had looks on their faces that promised a long walk off a short pier with some cement shoes.

Kaiser looked up at him and replied, "No, not really. It doesn't matter anyway since information is information; I don't care where it comes from. If you want to kill each other, that is not my problem or my concern. I just write the stories and nothing else."

"Oh, so you are just here for information then? Alright...what exactly do you want to know about the Red Dragon organization?" This peaked Kaiser's interest as he felt that he was finally getting somewhere.

"Well, for one, I know that they operate here in Tokyo as a relatively newcomer here and that they sell this new drug called " Devil's Breath" that has been all the rage lately." Kaiser asked, hoping to get something from this.

"Ha! Ha! Well, you sure do know quite a bit, but you still have to ask around as to where they are running their gig. There's a place in the red-light district of Kabukicho called the Black Lily. You know the one just outside of Shinjuku?"

Kaiser nodded and said, "Hmm...I see... yeah, that place is like a big open drug den, right? They would be stupid not to have a base there since it's in a good location and has access to massive distribution channels through the partygoers and people chasing the nightlife there. But if they are as organized as people say, then they would be smart enough to at least use it as a front for prostitution... I see."

"Are you sure you are a reporter?" The man asked

"Hmm? Oh, yup, just a plain old, thrill-seeking reporter. What's your name? My name is Katsuo Madra." Kaiser said using his fake cover name.

The man leaned back into his chair and lit a cigarette while saying, "My name is John Smith, and the only thing you need to know is that if you are caught snooping around the Red Dragon organization, they won't take too kindly to a reporter asking questions."

"Hahaha! Yeah, thanks for the warning. I will keep it in mind." Kaiser laughed as he finally had a lead to go off of.

As the man reached into his coat, he pulled out a coin and asked, "You have no idea how deep this goes?"

"Nope, but you seem like the sort to... hear things... so here you go, Mr. John Smith." Kaiser said as he toss Mr. Smith a thick roll of yen. "Until the Next Bet."

It would be later that Kaiser would call on him, knowing that the gambler was using a fake name like him and would be known as a prominent figure in the underworld as... "The Devil's Bet."

As Kaiser started to leave the table, he heard the man speak up one last time, "It seems like you aren't too interested as to why I want the Red Dragon organization gone, huh? How about this?"

John Smith produces a purple vial from his coat pocket that was filled with an unknown substance and sets it down on the table.

"This drug has been all the rage lately. It isn't any ordinary drug, as only those with deep connections with the Red Dragon have had access to it, with some greedy rats getting their little hands on it. I won this little trinket on a bet, and honestly, it's been ruining business for me. Takes away the thrill of the gamble as it makes one lose their minds as they throw everything away for this drug, a bet is no good if your not all there to lose it or win it."

Kaiser nodded to show that he had indeed heard what Mr. Smith was saying. He did have a feeling that Mr. Smith might have been bluffing just to throw him off or he could have interest in the Red Dragons organization being destroyed, but none of that mattered to him as Kaiser Wrath rolls his own dice and would decide his own fate.

"If I were you, I wouldn't look into this any further if you want to live a long and healthy life... but where's the fun in a gamble like that?"

As Kaiser left the bar/gambling den, he proceeded to make his way to the red light district of Kabukicho, which is just on the outskirts of Shinjuku. As he was walking around taking in all the neon lights from various buildings and restaurants, he had thought to himself, "There is no doubt that some shady shit happens here, but where to even begin?"

He took out the map that he had gotten earlier and read through it once again, trying to figure out where this 'Black Lily' club was.

One of the Cabernet Hostess Club buildings along the street caught his eye as the sign read out "Black Lily," as that would be the place that John Smith told him about.

When Kaiser entered the lobby, there were people standing around talking to one another about everything from current affairs, politics, music, and pop culture, as well as a certain product that took the edge off. Kaiser introduces himself to the pair of ladies.

"Hello, are you guys open to walk-ins or is an appointment needed?"

They both looked at each other and nodded their heads, telling him to come right on up. Kaiser followed them upstairs and into one of the many large rooms lined with seats for guests. The two ladies who led him in quickly went downstairs into their changing room, leaving him alone in the large seating area. After a few moments, the sound of heels clicking against the floor could be heard, and from the back, a young girl emerged wearing a fancy blue dress and black high-heeled shoes. She was accompanied by three more women, but her height made it difficult to see her face.

"Well, what do we have here?" Kaiser said.

"Hi there, I'm sorry for the wait. How can we make your night complete today?"

The voice seemed a little higher in pitch, but as he looked closer, he noticed that it was a young girl. She had a young appearance that probably would give most men a heart attack due to her cute face and small build, but something warned Kaiser that this flower had a few thorns. Before Kaiser could answer, she went right on talking, not even giving him a chance to respond.

"Well, I don't mean to pry into other people's business, but why did you come here today?"

"Ahh... well, I'm a reporter, and I thought I unwind from a day's work... also to see if I can get any Juicy gossip about a new product on the street." Kaiser said as he answered the question, "The name's Katsuo, Katsuo Madra. I'm looking to write an article into the shadier nightlife that goes around in this city."

The girl laughed as she heard him answer her question. She quickly started walking away and gestured for him to follow.

"Well, I'm Chloe...a hostess of this club that specializes in serving the very best cocktails. But we also have information on the most interesting people in Japan...as well as services you won't find elsewhere."

As Kaiser looked over his surroundings, he noticed that there were multiple girls wearing all sorts of clothing in various states of undress. Some wore elegant dresses while others only had underwear, both men and women sat together chatting at tables.

"Hmm...I see... I was wondering if you had any info on...the Red Dragons." Kaiser said in a quiet tone as he looked around to see if anyone was listening to his conversation. Tired of leading him by the hand, Chloe stopped and turned around towards him. She gave a knowing smile before turning her face down towards her watch.

"Why don't you buy us some drinks and we can chat about it over dinner?" The girl said with a big smile. A few minutes later, the trio were sitting at a table inside one of the private booths. The two hostesses looked completely different now in tight-fitting, sexy clothing that showed off every curve on their bodies.

Kaiser kept staring at them; their outfits left very little to the imagination, but he kept his head on straight as they had nothing on the girls and women back home. He was talking about the organization and new drug that seems to be taking root in the criminal underworld.

"I already got a basic understanding of what the Red Dragons are all about—an international crime syndicate that deals in sex and drug trafficking—but what I want to know is where they do their dirty work. I want to get an interview with them, but I'm having trouble finding out their base of operations."

Chloe laughed at his comment as she sipped her cocktail.

"We are just Hostesses and we would not be informed about such important matters." The girl then gave him another knowing smile before turning her body to the side.

"Awww~ It's cute when boys go after impossible dreams... I'm sure you will get them one day...however, you seem like a nice young man...but remember if your looking into them too much...well, accidents happen." Said one of the other hostesses with a serious tone while still smiling.

" First off, I know you girls get all sorts of gossip and secrets in this kind of job after all—alcohol, beautiful women, and a bunch of dirty public officials and gang members trying to get their pricks wet. I know for a fact that you girls must've heard a ton of dirty laundry being aired out and even some blackmail, so don't bullshit me. I wasn't born yesterday toots. Kaiser said curtly as he knew that this establishment would operate some shady side gig.

"Hehheh...Oh, come on, hun, are you trying to threaten us? We don't tell anyone anything. Besides, it's true that while we do hear many things from our customers here at the Black Lily, we keep under the strictest confidentiality, but I can assure you...if we did know something important, we wouldn't be telling." The girl is now leaning on Kaiser's chest.

"Also, what could we possibly say about the Red Dragons, like if we knew where they were based? It might be in Japan or anywhere for that matter."

"I know that information like that doesn't come free or cheap. So what do you want in exchange—money or a favor? What is it?" Kaiser said he was not phased by Chloe's advances.

" How rude...can't we just talk over a nice drink and see where the night takes us? Not everything needs to be so black and white...but I suppose money is the best way to go here...250,000,000 yen. That will get you the info that you need. You better not be planning on back out once we are done with this deal or else it will be our little secret how you met your untimely death."

Kaiser glared at her as he was already done playing around with this conversation.

"Fine, here you go." Kaiser was able to produce the amount of yen Chloe had asked for, "But next time you threaten me like that... This building and everyone in it will be nothing more than a mention in tomorrow's obituary."

Kaiser gave his coldest and sharpest look at Chloe to show her that this wasn't a threat but a promise. Chloe, however, remained unfazed by Kaiser's glare but smiled when taking the cash.

"See? A big meanie like you really can be sweet when you put your mind to it. Well, if you ever need my services again, hun, feel free to swing back around and see me anytime! Now let us talk about some business." She said with a bright smile while guiding him into one of the private booths of the club.

A/N: Well the stage is set and the players are ready. Who is the one with a grudge against Kaiser and Who is setting him up? What will be Azuma's fate and what plans are going on behind the scenes. Find out in the Next Chapter.

Chapter 9

Part 3: The Suffering that Binds Us.