Berlin, Germany. 9:47 pm Local Time. December 22nd.
(Berlin and Montreal have a 6 hr time difference)
Ember, Jaden, and Frank all sit near each other in the main cabin of the Yakuza's private plane waiting for take off. Jaden and Ember are sitting together at a table watching a movie on Ember's phone as Frank sits across the hallway from them.
As Iris is talking on the phone, Ember reaches into her carry-on bag pulls out 3 lollipops, and asks Jaden and Frank if they want one. Jaden gladly takes one but Frank refuses. After a bit of silence, Frank finally says, "I just have a question for you both."
Ember pauses the movie, and both she and Jaden take out their AirPods to listen to Frank. "How do you deal with her?" Jaden a bit confused asks, "Deal with who?" "That Iris girl. You two seem to be extremely close." Jaden laughs a bit, "What's so funny?" Jaden laughs even harder.
"Oh… It's nothing. I just know how much she likes getting under people's skin. She loves picking a fight even if she knows she won't win." Ember takes a sip from her water, "No yeah I agree with Frank she's incredibly annoying...BUT I'm so glad she shut up Kumi." "How long have you all known each other," Frank asks as he leans forward. Jaden and Ember look at each other and Ember responds, "Frank. You suck at interrogating."
Frank hears footsteps and looks back and sees Iris walking back from wherever she was. She goes and sits on the opposite side of the table where Ember and Jaden are sitting. "What did they say?" Asks Jaden. Iris responds." It was successful. They are on their way back."
"Perfect, what time will they be back?" Asks Jaden. "Around 20:00 (8 pm). I hope Rohan is training Samuel, He-" "Training?" interrupts Frank. "This American always talking even though no one is talking to him," Says Iris.
"Imma fucking kill you once this is over," interrupts Frank again. Iris yawns and says, "Yeah yeah whatever…Let's go to Tokyo guys." she turns around to look at Frank and says "I'll be waiting in Tokyo for you to kill me." As Frank stands up to throw a punch at Iris. He is again tied up in chains unable to move.
At this point, Jaden and Ember are checked out and continue watching the movie. Iris takes a picture of them together and sends it to a contact with the name "Matthias <3". With the message, "Look at these two <3". Then she takes a picture of Frank stuck in place and takes a selfie with him. The chains restraining Frank do not appear in the photo but he looks stupid standing up and leaning forward with his hands stuck to his side.
She sends the photo to a group chat with the caption, "He doesn't know Imma kill him... Lol". She puts her phone away and asks Frank, "Hey stupid. Have you ever heard of the Gravity Theory?" The chains finally disappear and Frank sits down "What the fuck is the Gravity Theory?"
"It's a 500-year-old theory that originated in Shantou China. The theory states that some sort of gravity exists between individuals who can use Totsu. As if they were destined to meet. So If this theory is correct. I was always going to find you and him". "...Find him?" Iris smiles at him as the plane begins to move for takeoff.
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Flashback
April 7th 913. After School hours in Montreal Canada.
After school Akira, Samuel, and another kid named Cyrus would usually walk to a convenience store 5 minutes from their Primary (Elementary) school on their way home. At the time they all lived 5 minutes away from each other. At the cash register reading her newspaper is a 63-year-old Taiwanese lady waiting for customers.
As all the kids entered the store, there was a sound of a bell to let the old lady know when someone entered the building. The lady had become quite fond of these three little kids. As she knows Akira's parents. Her favorite had always been the boy named Cyrus.
"Good afternoon kids," Says the lady. They all say good afternoon to her, even Akira. However, it took a while for Akira to say her first words to the lady. However, after a few months, she would talk to her every time she saw her. "MISS MISS." "What is it Akira?" "I caught a ladybug!" "Oh my, that's wonderful Akira." "I'm going to get my chips and drink now Miss Lin" "Okay Akira, I'll be here waiting."
As all of them are grabbing some drinks and bags of chips. A Japanese teenager walks into the store. She's around 5'3 with Bright red hair going past her shoulders., "Hello, Miss Lin," she says. "Hello, Kiriko. How's work?" "It's been fine. I have a job in New York next Sunday." "How fun." "Can I get something from the back, Miss?" "Of course." Kiriko enters the back of the store as all three of the kids walk up to the counter.
Kiriko and Akira lock eye contact with each other. She smiles at Akira before turning away and walking into the back. Akira stares at her for a bit out of admiration for how badass she is in her eyes.
As Akira, Cyrus, and Samuel are trying to pay for their food at the front. With a couple of Canadian dollars already on the counter. A man enters the store, His clothes are all ripped and dirty. He has long dirty black hair, with a decent-sized unbrushed beard. He pulls out a knife and begins screaming for money.
All of them are stunned. This was all happening so fast and Akira was standing right next to the man. Frozen in fear she refused to make eye contact with the man towering over her. The man grabs the money on the counter as Akira flinches thinking she is about to get hit. Cyrus tries to pull Akira closer to him but the man grabs onto Akira. "DON'T MAKE ME SAY IT TWICE. GIVE ME YOUR MONEY LADY OR I TAKE THE KID. Could probably sell her for a decent price."
Cyrus and Samuel look at the man with fear in their eyes, unable to move a muscle. Of course, what are two 10-year-old kids going to do against an armed man who's almost 2 feet taller than them Akira doesn't struggle or fight back. 3 tears flow down her face as she is scared for her life but doesn't want to do anything to anger the man.
Mrs. Lin frantically tries to open up the cash register. "Please don't hurt her!!" She says as she is unable to open the cash register because she's shaking too much. "...It won't… open," she says in a shaky voice. She looks at Akira and begins to cry. "Please… don't hurt her…" "GIVE ME ALL THE MONEY YOU OLD BITCH!" The old man holds the knife at Akira's throat and a bit of blood on her school uniform.
As Akira's eyes are filled with tears, she sees something out of the corner of her eye. A red dense fog came from a doll resembling a human. It begins to walk toward Akira, each step it becomes more visible to her. The doll-like figure is now in front of Samuel and Cyrus. Neither of them seems to have noticed the 4'11 doll standing in front of them. The doll is wearing a red Japanese Kimono with a flower pattern.
Its face is hidden by a white mask with a cross on its forehead. Its black hair is neatly tied up with a flower placed on the right side of her head. Akira stops struggling and begins to calm down. As if all her anxiety and fear leaving her body in seconds. The doll keeps walking towards her until it's standing right next to her. It extends its hand and Akira reaches out to grab the doll's hand.
The doll pulls out a Glock 22 from her dress and shoots the man in the head. A bit of blood gets on Akira's hair as the man falls backward onto the floor and everyone but Akira screams in horror. Parts of the brain are scattered all over the white tile floor. The doll wipes away Akira's tears as Kiriko with her red arua still on reenters the main room. The doll begins to disappear as Samuel and Cyrus rush toward Akira as Mrs. Lin dials 911.
Akira turns to look at Kiriko while her friends are hugging her and asking her if she's okay. Ignoring Samuel and Cyrus Akira asks, "What was that red stuff around you?" Her eyes begin to glow a blood red. Kiriko is a bit shocked but smiles and says, "Oh… So you can see it too."
End of Flashback
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Back to the present day
5:34 pm local time. December 22nd.
It had been 9 days since the strange creature bit Mirage. As a precautionary measure, Mirage was sent to Mexico to get that creature exorcised in case it hadn't been already. They had all concluded that the creature could hear what the person that it was latched onto could hear, and if anything were to go wrong it could detonate itself so the person would not give up any information.
They all think it is possible that the creature can act like a hearing device and possibly a sort of tracker (Which the tracker part was proven true). But to detonate, the person to which the creature is attached would HAVE to be asked a certain number of questions within a certain time frame OR a certain question would have to be asked for the creature to appear and start ticking down until it exploded.
At first, Mirage was against the idea of leaving the house, saying that she was fine. But Mrs. Alarie reassured her that this would be the best for everyone and that she would only be gone for 2 days. So at 4 pm (local time) on the 20th, they left for Mexico. Where they would find someone to help Mirage get rid of that parasite.
It's a chilly afternoon in Montreal Canada -1.1 degrees C (30 Degrees F), The houses near the mansion are covered in a thin layer of snow. Mrs. Alarie is in the kitchen making popcorn for Waka as he and Samuel are watching a movie with Mr, Alarie. Akira is asleep in Waka's arms under a blanket. Rohan comes downstairs and starts walking towards the door.
"As DJ Khaled once said. Another one," Rohan says as he begins to sink into the floor and completely disappears. As Mrs. Alarie is giving them all their popcorn. Rohan opens the front door dragging a man across the floor. "You're next Mrs. Alarie. After this, we would all be tied now at 4 a piece right?"
Rohan throws the man into a shadow and the man disappears. " Yep, the next one will be my fourth, Let's see if Mirage and Power wanna join in on the game after they come back tonight." Rohan looks over to Samuel and asks, "You gonna go with them right Samuel?" "Uh, yeah I'll go with Mr. and Mrs. Alarie".
Every day a new Yakuza member tries to infiltrate the house. In the past 3 days, 24 Yakuza members have shown up. None of them really have caused any problems for Akira, Samuel, Rohan, Waka, Mr, and Mrs. Alarie. They each take turns trying to take out the assassins without using any of their abilities.
So far only Samuel has had to use his ability once, due to a lapse of judgment against one of his opponents. Rohan and Mrs. Alarie usually mess around with them for a bit before knocking them out. While Akira, her father, and Waka waste no time. Though they all knew in advance that some Yakuza would show up because of Iris.
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Flashback to December 20th.
Iris is lying on her hotel bed while on the phone with Rohan. Iris says, "They have three different bases in 3 different districts, they have one in Little Tokyo United States District 2, Manila Philippines District 6, and Berlin Germany District 3. With their main base being in Kyushu Island Japan. The person who contacted the Yakuza about Akira has one of his subordinates here. An American man goes by the name Frank."
Iris sighs, "Unfortunately, Moiz couldn't find anything about the man Frank works for. We did find out that he lives in Japan. Probably close to or on Kyushu Island if I'm guessing. We leave on the 22nd for Japan. Jaden and I still have a couple of things to do until then… Hopefully, this will be over soon. I know you'd rather be home with the kids"
"How good are they?" Asks Rohan, drinking a Modelo. "They are actually pretty shit at using Totsu. Not even Samuel would have to use any Totsu to beat any that I've seen." As Iris is on the phone with Rohan she turns a shoe into a pistol and then reverts it. "Well if you think they are shit they must be." "Yep… wait a minute. What are you trynna say?" "Nothing nothing." " Die."
Iris continues, "Anyways, I'm sure they are only keeping the weaker ones around me. They have to at least have 10 or more that actually know what they are doing to have all of this, so watch out." "Have you fought any of them?" Asks Rohan putting down his Modelo.
"None yet, but in this Axen Hotel, they have a stadium underneath the main floor of the building. They hold fighting tournaments. After the meeting yesterday, Ember showed us a promotional video of a fight they were going to have in a few hours."
"Totsu fight tournaments? That shit is Illegal." "That's what I said. They've actually convinced these people that they are just using special effects and make them wear glasses or whatever Ember told me." "Wait who's Ember?"
"She's one of the bodyguards Samuel, Jaden and I "fought" at the Japanese place. Her abilities are pretty cool. I wish I had them." "You wish you had every ability." "Yeah… you're right," Iris responds laughing. "But yeah that's all the info we got as of now. I'll let you know if we find out anything else. Just make sure Mirage and Power get that thing rid of."
End of Flashback
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Back to the present day. 7:55 pm
Akira is now awake and in the shower. Samuel, Mr., and Mrs. Alarie went to the airport to pick up Mirage and Power. Akira turns off the water stands there for a bit and thinks to herself, "I wanna go out to Tom's diner but these stupid Yakuza want me for some reason."
Akira gets out of the shower. Puts on some Pajamas and begins to dry her hair. Mirage and Power are expected to arrive at 8 and the airport is only 20 minutes away from the mansion. As she's drying her hair she sees something out of the corner of her eye.
She looks to her left and sees a faceless man wearing a black hoodie, ripped black pants, and with the number 4 across his face standing right next to her. She swings her whole arm at his neck, sending him flying towards the shower.
He smacks his head pretty hard against the wall and slowly slides down onto the floor. Yet there is no sound from the impact. From what Akira can tell the man is 6'2, has a lean build, and is disgustingly pale with little arua surrounding his body. Akira steps back and waits, she knows that Rohan can detect when others are around the house.
So she waits a bit for Rohan to come through the floor. But he never does. The man is bleeding pretty badly but gets up and begins to walk over to Akira. Akira sees a blood droplet fall onto the floor but instead of it hitting the polished porcelain tile floor it disappears from thin air as soon as it's about to make contact with the ground.
"What the" Akira thinks to herself as she kicks the man's side. He goes flying toward the sink but again, there is no noise nor blood on the floor even though he has a fresh cut from Akira's hit on his lower chin.
"This one might pose a problem for him. I gotta make sure that they are all okay. Waka wouldn't be able to take this one on I think. What does the number even mean? Wheres Waka? Wheres Rohan... No calm down Akira. Rohan would protect him."
She tries to control her emotions by controlling her breathing as she takes a big breath out. But suddenly she feels a presence behind her. As she's about to turn around, she feels someone grab her neck from behind. The hand is fully wrapped around her neck, and she is caught off guard and struggles to breathe.
Her head is forcefully pushed down, and she's now on her knees trying to grab onto the man but she can't. The hands squeeze her neck even harder. " Fuck! Another person?!?!? I didn't sense anyone behind me until it was too late."
Akira quickly begins to lose consciousness due to her having little air in her lungs at the time she was grabbed. Her eyes roll back as she begins to drool. She finally goes limp. Still faintly aware of her surroundings as one of the men picks her up. The last thing she hears is a door open. She's fully knocked out.
End Of Chapter