The night hung high, the stars obscured by the atmospheric composition, with gaseous clouds darkening the sky like blankets. Kei went about his errands as he was accustomed, often altering the route to avoid potential leaks or timings by third parties.
Everything was going well until someone interrupted the delivery. A person with oriental features appeared from behind the trees, but different. Kei couldn't recognize him well. His insignificance cost him his life; Bakudo's partner was dead, the driver was dead, while Kei watched Bakudo slide chains out from the sleeves of his suit. They were quite thick, and Kei was hiding in a sewer with a delivery. He saw Bakudo through the corner of his eye, displaying great skills as they fought for their lives. The chains attacked in succession, but the Chinese man dodged the blows with ease.
Kei emerged from the sewer. Bakudo saw him but didn't indicate it, as the enemy was formidable and he couldn't afford to be distracted. Kei crawled on the ground like a dog on all fours. When he was close enough, he jumped to stab the ankles, hoping to sever the tendons and break the man's mobility, allowing Bakudo to defeat him. He couldn't just stay hidden in the sewer.
The knife Kei carried managed to pierce the ankle. The man in the Chinese attire growled in pain, but with a swift move, he grabbed Kei by the head. Kei felt his head being squeezed; it hurt a lot. The pain passed as quickly as the sliding chain strike that hit the man's head like a baseball bat. Bakudo didn't hesitate and executed a necklock that cut off the man's breathing. The man writhed on the ground, but Bakudo kept squeezing with enough force to break bricks. The man stopped moving shortly after, but Bakudo continued to squeeze the neck until it snapped.
The scene shocked Kei, who recovered from the man's grip, feeling all the pain.
It was so fast and intense that Kei was surprised by how quickly it was all over. Like a tiger pouncing on its prey, Bakudo finished off his opponent swiftly.
-Thanks for saving me, - said Kei.
Bakudo just grunted in acknowledgment, picked up his dead partner's body, and said a small prayer.
-We have one last delivery to make. This time, you'll do the entire delivery and hide until I scout the area. There might be loose ends wanting the product, - said Bakudo.
-Sure, old man, but I left my knife in the other guy's foot. Do you have a weapon I can use to defend myself? - asked Kei.
Bakudo nodded and handed him a small, beautifully designed knife, which Kei pocketed. They arrived at a village far from the city that seemed abandoned but was a key point for the black market. From the moment they entered, they were being watched. Bakudo would do a quick reconnaissance and return in fifteen minutes to pick him up.
The black market was one of the safest places, and an attack there would have consequences with various organizations that had interests in this remote area of Tokyo. This zone was necessary for many activities in Japan's underworld, involving major corporations, clandestine organizations, and zero zones.
-Good evening, kid, - said the butcher, an assistant in the black market who handled requests. He was no stranger to the errands sent by the Kure clan.
He took the backpack from the boy and placed it in a metal box, closing it to await a response. Kei had two backpacks this time, something the butcher didn't overlook.
-You have a wound on your eye, kid. You should take care of it to avoid infection, - said the butcher from the table.
-Ah, I hadn't noticed, - said Kei, feeling the scratch on his forehead.
The butcher took out a small first aid kit and began to treat Kei's face. A wonderful idea crossed Kei's mind—what if he asked this guy if he knew any great martial artists? But he wasn't sure how the butcher would react.
Time passed, and night had fallen. The butcher glanced at the boy and lit a cigarette; it was going to be another long day.
-Hey, old man, do you know how to fight? - asked Kei, unable to bear the cold and dangerous silence that filled the room. It had been four hours since Bakudo mentioned waiting at the spot, and there had been no call.
The butcher showed no sign of surprise; his facial expression remained the same. It's just a little self-defense. Sometimes it's better to know who to mess with and who to avoid, - said the butcher.
-I see, but how do you know? - asked Kei, puzzled. Though his knowledge of different personalities was extensive, he wasn't sure it could solve future problems.
-Information, kid. That's what the black market is for," said the butcher.
-The underground world is pretty impressive. My teacher says we should be civilized all the time, that fights don't solve anything, and it's better to wait for problems to resolve themselves. I tried that once, and my older brother beat me until I was out of breath, - said Kei.
-Your teacher means well. Your early years of education are important. I wish I had followed advice when I was younger, but I got carried away. Now, I can't have a healthy life because of the dangers of my job, - said the butcher.
-I already have my plan, I'll marry a wealthy lady and inherit her fortune. Haha, how's that? - said Kei.
-Sounds like a good plan, if you're alive at 16. Look at all the problems you have right now. You're part of that small percentage with a life expectancy of 10%. You're here in a black market house, being chased by assassins, and you have two bags full of cash, - said the butcher.
-They have money? - asked Kei.
-You didn't know what you were carrying, - said the butcher.
-I never cared; my interests lie elsewhere, - said Kei, annoyed. - Hiyo Kure made a fuss over something stupid—money. He's an idiot. -
-You're a curious kid. What did you expect the suitcase to carry? - asked the curious butcher, intrigued by the crazy kid who got deeply involved in the Kure clan mafia at the age of ten, probably dealing with such issues for a while.
-Well, you know, nitroglycerin, drugs, or weapons. Maybe something worse, some strange thing the thugs use, - said Kei.
-So nitroglycerin was part of what you expected. Where did you learn that word? -
-From my brother. -
-If money isn't the important part, what is important to you? - asked the butcher.
Kei's wolfish smile returned.
-Eating meat every day, - said Kei honestly, I haven't had a good meal in a long time. Happily. He can't eat much of anything lately, can he?
The butcher could only feel pity for the poor boy who just wanted to eat well, who longed to eat meat every day, but inequalities existed everywhere in the world. He thought to himself as he looked at the small stove under his desk, where there was no meat, but there was ramen.
-I think it's time to eat. Would you like some ramen, kid? - said the butcher.
-Yes, free food. I'd love to eat something; I haven't eaten anything since yesterday, - said Kei.
The butcher's heart sank further at the boy's hardships. How long had it been since he ate three meals a day? He lived a life of relative ease compared to Kei's struggles. In all the times he had delivered packages, he had been bruised, dirty, and possibly hungry.
-Come, we'll add some delicious ramen, beans, and maybe something you haven't tried before, but it's a tasty combination, - said the butcher.
-You're crazy. It's my first time having ramen. It's so delicious! I always saw it on TV and thought it must be so good, - said Kei happily, tasting the ramen. He had seen it in manga and anime but never had the chance to try it.
The butcher's heart broke once more at the boy's plight. Now he wouldn't complain; he was fortunate. When he was a child, his mother always gave him the food he asked for.
-Come, boy, pork ramen with beans is delicious, - said the butcher.
-Awesome, Han, you're amazing. You know, if you ever come by my neighborhood, I'd invite you to eat. My mom makes the best rice with vegetables you can imagine, - said Kei.
-Sure, kid, I'll stop by your neighborhood when I have time, - said the butcher.
-That would be awesome, Han. By the way, can I know your name? People call you the butcher, and I mean, man, what a cool but also dangerous nickname, - said Kei.
The majestic flavor spread across his mouth as he ate the noodles with beans. How delicious!
-I knew you'd like it. I'm Han. A pleasure to meet you, Kei, - said the butcher, moved by the boy's sincerity.
-Great, Han, you're the informant; you can find my house. Just try not to look suspicious, or people will take you out. My neighbor is a trafficker, and his wife is a cook. They're dangerous people, - said Kei.
-Don't worry, I know how to handle myself in those places. I grew up in a dangerous neighborhood and am the receptionist at a black market house. I know much about these life policies, kid, - said Han.
-Great, the rule is, don't sleep with my mom. It'd be awkward if my friends slept with my mom, so be careful about that or I'll hit you, - said Kei, accusingly pointing with his chopsticks.
-Don't worry, - said Han, choking on his food. Kids grow up so fast.
That night, the front door opened, and Hiyo Kure entered as if he owned the place. He checked the place and saw Kei Kazama playing with a ball against the wall.
-Let's go, kid, - said Hiyo.
-Hiyo, - said Kei, happy to return to his bed.
-Yeah, yeah, let's get in the van before those bastards fill us with bullets, - said Hiyo.
Kei could only nod and climb into the bullet-ridden armored van.
...