As she stepped into the dimly lit alley, the flickering lights cast eerie shadows that danced along the walls like specters. Each faltering bulb seemed to hesitate, unsure whether to illuminate the path ahead or plunge it into darkness.
Kenzui's silhouette stretched out behind her, elongated and ominous, as if trying to escape the confines of her own body. With every step she took, the echo of her footsteps reverberated off the walls, a haunting rhythm that seemed to merge with the silence creeping in from the edges of perception.
As she ventured deeper into the alley, the cacophony of the city began to fade away.. The distant honking of cars and the chatter of pedestrians dwindled to a mere whisper, as if the world outside had ceased to exist, leaving only her and the echoing footsteps as companions in this desolate corridor.
Her senses heightened, she strained to catch any hint of movement or sound, her heart pounding in her chest like a trapped bird desperate for escape. Each shadow seemed to harbor unseen dangers, lurking just beyond the edge of her vision, waiting for the opportune moment to pounce.
But still, she pressed on, driven by an unseen force or perhaps simply the need to escape the suffocating grip of the alley.
As Kenzui marched through the labyrinthine alley, her senses on high alert, she couldn't shake the feeling of being watched. Each step echoed against the weathered bricks, the rhythm of her footfalls a steady pulse in the silent night.
Suddenly, her foot stumbled upon something unexpected—a puddle of murky water, its surface rippling softly as if disturbed by unseen forces. With a soft curse, she paused, feeling the icy chill seep through the fabric of her sneakers. Glancing down, she grimaced as she realized her laces had become ensnared, entwined in the soggy mess. Frustration bubbled within her, but she quickly composed herself, bending down to untangle the stubborn knots. Her fingers worked deftly, the cold water seeping into her skin as she wrestled with the stubborn laces.
As she straightened up, her half-oni mask slipped askew, its intricate design reflecting the moonlight in ghostly hues. Kenzui sighed, readjusting the mask with practiced ease, the intricate patterns of the demon's visage now once again aligned with her own features.
With a flick of her wrist, she removed her baseball hat, allowing her tied-up hair to cascade down in unruly waves. The cool night air danced around her, carrying with it the faint scent of rain and distant city lights.
Leaning back against the alley wall, she gazed upwards, her eyes locking onto the ethereal glow of the moon. Its silvery light bathed her in a soft luminescence, casting shadows that seemed to dance across her masked face.
For a moment, Kenzui allowed herself to be lost in the beauty of the night, the weight of her worries momentarily lifted by the tranquility of the moonlit sky. Although, a sudden awareness prickled at the back of her neck. Instinctively, she tilted her head to the left, her eyes narrowing as she spotted two shadowy figures huddled next to a large trash can beneath a flickering streetlight.
The alleyway stretched out before her, a desolate expanse filled with discarded debris and crumbling buildings, the remnants of a forgotten past. The stench of decay hung heavy in the air, mingling with the damp earth and the faint hum of distant machinery.
Taking a cautious step forward, Kenzui scanned her surroundings. The silence of the night pressed in on her from all sides, broken only by the hushed whispers of the wind and the occasional scurry of rats darting through the shadows. And, with a quick glance to ensure that no one else lurked in the darkness, Kenzui made her way towards the two figures, her footsteps muffled by the squelching of mud and the crunch of broken glass beneath her feet. As she drew closer, the rats scattered in a frenzy, their tiny claws scrabbling against the pavement as they fled from her presence.
The two men turned towards her as she approached, their expressions guarded but curious. Kenzui squared her shoulders, meeting their gaze with a steely determination that belied her unease. She knew that she was walking into danger, but she refused to let fear dictate her actions, knowing very well that the danger wasn't lied within them, but in her.
Stopping a few feet away from the men, Kenzui clasped her hands behind her back, her eyes flickering between them as she sought to gauge their intentions. For a moment, there was only silence, the tension between them palpable in the stillness of the night.
Then, one of the men spoke, his voice low and gravelly. "What brings you here, girl?" he asked, his tone tinged with suspicion.
Kenzui met his gaze head-on, her chin lifting defiantly as she replied, "I could ask you the same thing."
The man with the cigarette took a drag, his eyes narrowing as he studied Kenzui. "Who are you?" he repeated, the smoke curling around his words like a silent threat.
His companion nodded in agreement, the suspicion evident in his gaze. "It must be someone from security," he muttered, eyeing Kenzui warily.
Kenzui did not answer.
The two men exchanged a glance, a silent communication passing between them. "Look, we're not looking for any trouble," the first man said, his tone cautious but not unfriendly. "We're just looking to have some fun time and enjoy some beers together."
Kenzui stepped forward, emerging from the shadows to reveal her figure. The moonlight danced across her features, casting her in a soft, ethereal glow.
"I didn't come here to get you," she said, her voice tinged with a hint of amusement. "But if you insist on causing trouble, I won't hesitate to put you in your place."
The men's eyes widened in surprise at her bold declaration. "Oh, client from the Delinquents? Their oni too?" one of them exclaimed, a note of recognition coloring his voice.
"This mask's symbolism has nothing to do with me anymore," she said firmly shaking her head. "I don't want to have any connection to them."
The two men exchanged another glance, uncertainty flickering in their eyes. "Look, we can't sell to anyone on the streets," the second man said, his tone apologetic, yet hints of aggressiveness started to rise. "Our product is from the best and the best only. I ain't selling you nothing."
Kenzui's gaze hardened. "Then I'll steal it from you," she declared, her voice ringing out with conviction.
The men's eyes widened in alarm at her brazen threat. "Wait, who are you then?" the first man asked, his voice tinged with a hint of fear.
Kenzui's lips curled into a smirk, a humorous glint dancing in her eyes. "You haven't noticed?" she replied, her voice dripping with amusement.
Recognition dawned in the second man's eyes, his expression morphing into one of disbelief. "Wait! That's the Korean punk from—"
"Kenzui! How long has it been, 2, 3 years?" the first man exclaimed, his surprise evident in his tone.
Kenzui's expression remained impassive. "I don't know and I don't care," she said dismissively, her eyes never leaving theirs.
The two men fell into a tense silence, their eyes darting between each other and Kenzui as they weighed their options. The air crackled with an unspoken tension, the atmosphere shifting as they felt the electric aura that seemed to radiate from Kenzui.
"What do you want? Negotiations?" the first man finally spoke, his voice betraying a hint of uncertainty.
Kenzui nodded, her expression impassive. "Yes, I need a sword," she stated firmly, her gaze unwavering. "A katana."
The man in the back shifted uncomfortably, a nervous glance exchanged with his companion. "You know we're not able to sell you stuff unless you're in the—" he began, but Kenzui cut him off with a sharp shake of her head. "I will never go back with them again," she interrupted, "My job there was done."
The first man hesitated, his brow furrowing in thought. "And if I refuse to sell you?" he questioned.
Kenzui raised an eyebrow, a small smirk playing at the corner of her lips. As if sensing the shift in the atmosphere, she reached behind her and unslung her backpack, dropping it to the ground in front of them with a resounding thud.
"What's this, you wonder?" she said, her voice laced with amusement as she knelt down beside the bag. With a swift motion, she unzipped it, revealing a stash of American dollar bills neatly stacked inside.
The two men's eyes widened in disbelief at the sight before them, a mixture of greed and caution flickering in their gazes. They exchanged a glance, wordlessly acknowledging the gravity of the situation. In that moment, they realized that Kenzui was not just another client or passerby — she was a force to be reckoned with, and they would do well not to underestimate her. But beneath the surface, a deeper sensation stirred—an unmistakable sense of recognition, tinged with a hint of apprehension.
Their gazes flickered up to meet Kenzui's, and in that moment, memories of their shared past flooded back to them like a torrent. They remembered the days when they worked side by side, a cohesive unit within the ranks of the Delinquents, their camaraderie forged through countless missions. They remembered the thrill of the chase, the rush of adrenaline as they navigated the dangerous streets of the city, their loyalty to each other unyielding in the face of adversity.
But alongside those memories lingered darker shadows—the whispers of betrayal, the echoes of broken promises that had shattered their once unbreakable bond. They remembered the day when Kenzui had turned her back on the Delinquents, her departure leaving a void that had never quite been filled.
Now, as they looked upon her once again, they couldn't help but feel a twinge of nostalgia mingled with a sense of unease. They knew that Kenzui was not to be underestimated—that beneath her seemingly calm exterior lay a fierce determination and an unwavering resolve. And as they gazed into her eyes, they saw reflected there the same fiery spirit that had once bound them together as allies, and perhaps, as friends.
In that moment, they knew that their paths had crossed once again. With a silent exchange of glances, they made their decision, their resolve steeled by the promise of wealth and the memories of days gone by. They would strike a deal with Kenzui, knowing full well the risks involved, but also the potential rewards that awaited them on the other side.
The man's fingers deftly slid into the band of money, retrieving a crisp 100-dollar bill. His eyes narrowed as he inspected it, checking the texture and weight with a practiced eye. Finally, he brought it to his nose, inhaling deeply as if seeking some hidden truth within its scent.
"Hmm," he murmured, a sneer curling his lips. "You only know it's a real American bill when you smell the filth of the Americans in their bills," he remarked, his tone dripping with hatred for the currency's origins.
Kenzui regarded him with a cool gaze, betraying nothing of her own thoughts as he continued his inspection. "I want a newly forged katana. The best you've got," she stated bluntly.
The man nodded, a gleam of satisfaction flickering in his eyes. "Our swords are the best out there," he boasted, his pride evident in his tone. "Each one is forged to perfection, crafted with skill and precision."
"Kenzui Iwasaki," he said, addressing her by name. "I'll tell them to forge you a brand new one, just for you. They will like the idea, I promise you. Master will be happy to hear you reached out to us once again."
"Good," Kenzui replied tersely, her expression unreadable as she accepted his offer without hesitation.
But before she could take her leave, the man's voice cut through the silence once more, his tone taking on a more serious edge. "But," he began, his gaze piercing as he locked eyes with Kenzui.
"But?" she echoed, her curiosity piqued by his sudden change in demeanor.
"We also want a favor in return," he stated, his words hanging heavy in the air as he laid out his terms.
Kenzui's facade of composure shattered in an instant, her eyes flashing with a mixture of anger and disbelief. "Isn't this enough, you, you asshole?" she spat, her voice laced with venom as she glared at the man before her.
"It's included in the price," the man replied calmly, unfazed by Kenzui's outburst. "But you can also see this from a different perspective."
Kenzui's jaw clenched, but she managed to maintain her composure, though her fingers twitched with the urge to lash out. "Why me, then?" she demanded, her patience wearing thin.
"Because you're the only one who's fit for the job," the man explained, a smirk playing at the corners of his lips. "Believe me, it'll take you no time, cause you'll like it, you stupid nerd, right?" His words dripped with superiority, a subtle insult veiled behind false camaraderie.
Kenzui's gaze hardened, a spark of defiance igniting in her eyes. "So no killing? Good," she stated flatly, relieved that the task didn't involve taking a life. Despite her reputation, she preferred to avoid unnecessary bloodshed whenever possible.
"No, let me explain," the man continued, his tone growing serious, his expression grave as he recounted the events that led to their discovery. "Recently, we had a job that the HQ assigned us to do. By which I mean, getting rid of some stupid punks. It wasn't that serious."
Kenzui listened intently as the man's words painted a vivid picture of their recent assignment. She could almost smell the stale air of the warehouse, feel the tension thick in the air as they combed through the debris of their enemies.
"While we were cleaning the warehouse where we caught them, me and the others stayed to investigate the place and check for any leftover loot there," the man continued, his voice carrying the weight of memory. "There were many bags filled with cash, yen and dollars, others filled with illegal substances, etc. But as we were filling the trucks, something caught Miguel's eye."
Miguel, the man standing in the back, fixed his sharp gaze on Kenzui, his expression unreadable. His eyes held a haunted look.
"A suitcase, professionally sealed, like the ones they use for carrying bombs," the man continued, his voice tinged with urgency. "Obviously, we managed to open it."
"As we opened the case, some weird pills, capsules... I don't know what the hell they were, were carefully stored in there," Miguel interjected, his voice cutting through the air like a knife. His hands trembled slightly, the memory of their discovery still fresh in his mind.
"Drugs?" Kenzui questioned, her curiosity piqued, her mind racing with possibilities. She had encountered her fair share of illicit substances in her line of work, but something about this discovery felt different, more sinister.
"Well, kind of. We haven't really identified what it is, but it's probably drugs. Some new kind of product," Miguel admitted, his voice barely above a whisper, as if he feared speaking the words aloud would make them true.
The man in the front cleared his throat, drawing Kenzui's attention back to him. "Without any more gabbling, I happen to have a sample with me here," he said, reaching into his pocket and revealing a tightly folded white cloth. His hands shook slightly, betraying his own unease.
He handed it to Kenzui, who accepted it without hesitation, her fingers not trembling bit as she unfolded the cloth. Inside the cloth, a regular-sized pill, encased in a transparent capsule, with one side red and the other transparent, containing a strange substance that seemed to move as if alive.
"You seeing this?" the man asked, his voice tinged with excitement, his eyes alight with anticipation. He leaned in closer, as if eager to share in Kenzui's reaction.
"I am not blind or anything. Yes, I'm seeing it, for fuck's sake. What the fuck is that?" Kenzui exclaimed, lifting the pill closer to her eye for a better look. Her mind raced with possibilities, her curiosity piqued by the mysterious substance before her.
"It's the first time we've seen something so extraordinary," the man explained, his voice filled with wonder.
"What's that inside that's moving?" said Kenzui, disgusted by the bare sight of the subastance.
"That's what you're going to find out." He points out. "What does the pill do to a human, its side effects, where it's from, and most importantly, who made it."
"And the payment is?" Kenzui inquired, her voice steady despite the storm of emotions raging within her. She knew the risks involved in accepting the task, but the lure of knowledge, of uncovering the truth behind the mysterious pill, was too great to resist.
"Sake in Kyoto. Or maybe some soju with some Korean-style barbecue? That's what y'all do there, right?" the man suggested with a smirk, his tone light despite the weight of their conversation.
Kenzui sighed, a hint of resignation in her voice. "Sake." she agreed reluctantly, her mind already too bothered, racing with plans and strategies to accomplish her task.
"Good," the man replied with satisfaction, a smirk playing at the corners of his lips as he exchanged a knowing glance with Miguel.
Miguel remained quiet, his anxious aura palpable despite his silence. He continued to smoke, the ground beneath him littered with the remnants of burned-out cigarettes. His hands trembled slightly, the weight of their discovery pressing down on him like a suffocating weight.
Kenzui's heart hammered in her chest, a rapid rhythm echoing the urgency of her thoughts. Anxious tendrils coiled around her mind, tightening with each passing moment, as if the weight of impending tasks bore down upon her shoulders, threatening to crush her beneath their suffocating pressure.
"Chill out," the man said, his voice a casual drawl that grated against Kenzui's frayed nerves. He leaned against the rough brick wall with nonchalant ease, his demeanor a stark contrast to the tension that crackled in the air. "I don't remember you being anxious at all."
Kenzui's jaw clenched, her frustration simmering beneath the surface. "I cut out the cigarettes," she replied tersely, her words clipped and sharp. The confession hung heavy in the air, a tangible admission of her struggle to find balance amidst the chaos that surrounded her.
The man's eyebrows shot up in surprise, his expression a mixture of disbelief and curiosity. "Oh shit! How so?" he exclaimed.
Kenzui met his gaze with a steely glare, her resolve hardening with each passing second. "None of your business," she snapped, her tone laced with a hint of irritation at his audacity to pry into her personal affairs.
Miguel, the man standing in the back, watched the exchange with quiet interest, his sharp eyes scanning Kenzui's face for any hint of weakness. "May I help?" he offered quietly, his voice a soothing balm amidst the tension that hung in the air. He grabbed a pack of cigarettes from his pocket, extending one towards Kenzui with a gentle gesture. "Once in a while won't hurt."
Kenzui hesitated, her eyes flickering between the cigarette and Miguel's earnest expression. A wave of temptation washed over her, threatening to pull her back into the familiar embrace of nicotine and smoke. But with a firm shake of her head, she pushed the offer aside, her resolve unyielding in the face of temptation.
Time passed in a blur of laughter and conversation, the hours slipping away like grains of sand through an hourglass. The mood shifted from tension to camaraderie, as Kenzui found herself swept away by the heady combination of alcohol and companionship. Memories of their time with the Delinquents bubbled to the surface, shared with laughter and nostalgia as they reminisced about old times.
Kenzui's laughter echoed off the alley walls, a cacophony of sound that reverberated in the stillness of the night. Her body swayed with the rhythm of her amusement, her balance teetering on the edge of oblivion as she danced on the precipice of intoxication.
"Watch out, don't fall on us," Miguel cautioned, his voice laced with amusement as he steadied himself against the wall.
Kenzui's laughter bubbled up from deep within her, a wild, unrestrained sound that echoed off the walls of the alley. "Damn... it's been a while since I had a good laugh. I missed this feeling," she exclaimed, her voice tinged with a hint of madness as she surrendered herself to the euphoria of the moment.
But the mood shifted suddenly, as Ron's voice cut through the laughter like a knife. "Kenzui, want to try something?" he asked, his tone casual yet tinged with an undercurrent of menace.
"What is it, Ron, my good old friend?" Kenzui replied, her laughter faltering as a sense of unease crept into her veins.
"Try some powder for me," Ron suggested, his words coated in honeyed persuasion as he held out a small packet.
"No... no. I won't... I am not into that stuff," Kenzui refused adamantly, her laughter fading to a nervous chuckle as she backed away.
"Just a tiny bit," Ron persisted, his tone taking on a harder edge as he stepped closer, his eyes glittering with a dangerous light.
All of a sudden, the atmosphere shifted, the air thick with tension as Miguel extinguished his last cigarette against the trash can. Kenzui's breath caught in her throat as she caught sight of him out of the corner of her eye, his movements deliberate and calculated.
The other man closed in on her, his presence suffocating as he loomed over her like a predator stalking its prey. Kenzui's heart pounded in her chest, a primal instinct urging her to flee, but she was rooted to the spot, paralyzed by fear and uncertainty.
Ron got the pill from his pocket, his movements swift and decisive as he forced it into Kenzui's mouth. She gagged and sputtered, the bitter taste of betrayal burning in her throat as she struggled to swallow.
"Don't gag it, you bitch," Ron sneered, his voice dripping with malice as he forced the pill into Kenzui's mouth, washing it down with a swig of beer. The bitter taste lingered on her tongue, a bitter reminder of her vulnerability in the face of betrayal.
"I think she swallowed it," Miguel remarked, his voice tinged with satisfaction as he surveyed Kenzui's trembling form.
"Haha! How'd you like it?" Ron laughed, a twisted smile curling his lips as he watched Kenzui's struggle. His laughter echoed off the walls of the alley, a haunting reminder of the darkness that lurked beneath the surface of their seemingly carefree facade.
Kenzui's body tensed as the effects of the drug took hold, her senses swimming in a haze of confusion and fear. Adrenaline surged through her veins, her heart pounding like a drumbeat in her chest as sweat beaded on her brow. She fought to maintain control, but the world spun around her, the ground tilting beneath her feet as if the very earth itself had shifted beneath her.
In a moment of panic, Kenzui broke free from Miguel's grasp, staggering backwards as she clutched her head in agony. The world blurred around her, the alley morphing into a twisted labyrinth of shadows and half-truths as her vision wavered on the brink of collapse.
And then, with a soft thud, Kenzui collapsed to the ground, her body crumpling like a marionette whose strings had been cut. The alley fell silent, the only sound the harsh rasp of her breath and the distant hum of the city beyond.
"Shit," Ron cursed, his voice betraying a hint of panic as he glanced around frantically. "Run for it."
"Is she dead?" Miguel's voice wavered with uncertainty, his eyes darting between Kenzui's prone form and the empty alleyway.
But Ron was already gone, his footsteps fading into the night as he fled from the scene, leaving Miguel alone with the weight of their actions.
The alley fell into an eerie silence, broken only by the soft rustle of the wind and the distant hum of the city beyond. Shadows danced across the cracked pavement, casting strange patterns that seemed to writhe and twist in the moonlight.
Kenzui layed motionless on the ground, her oni mask gleaming dully in the pale light. The air hung heavy with the scent of betrayal, a bitter reminder of the darkness that lurked within the hearts of men.