The air was heavy with tension as Riku stood on the rooftop, his cold gaze fixed on Yuki. She was still trembling, her desperation palpable in every breath. Her story was one he had heard a hundred times—someone with power had taken everything from her, leaving her with nothing but her anger. But this time, Riku felt something more. Yuki's case wasn't just about revenge—it was about power, influence, and secrets far darker than most could imagine.
But there was one thing that Yuki hadn't fully understood yet. Revenge wasn't free. Not with Riku.
"You're sure you're ready for this?" Riku asked, his voice calm but laced with an edge. His hands were tucked into the pockets of his coat, the wind blowing strands of hair into his face.
Yuki looked up at him, her eyes wide. "I've already told you... I have nothing left to lose. I'm ready."
Riku narrowed his eyes, taking a step closer to her. "That's where you're wrong. There's always something left to lose."
Yuki's brow furrowed in confusion, but before she could speak, Riku continued.
"You think I do this out of charity? Out of some sense of justice?" Riku's voice grew sharper, the cold detachment in his tone cutting through the night air. "That's not how this works. Revenge comes at a price, and it's a price you'll have to pay if you want my help."
Yuki's expression shifted, the shock of his words sinking in. "A price?" she echoed, her voice barely above a whisper. "What do you mean? I don't have any money... I told you, they took everything."
Riku's smirk was small, but it carried a weight of experience. "It's not always about money, Yuki. I don't need cash. What I need is something else—something you have. And believe me, you do have something."
Yuki swallowed, her eyes darting nervously as she tried to figure out what he meant. She was desperate, yes, but she hadn't expected this. She had thought Riku might be like some kind of dark avenger, driven by the thrill of bringing justice to the broken-hearted. But now, faced with the reality of his cold professionalism, she realized she had misunderstood what kind of man he really was.
"What do you want, then?" she asked, her voice trembling slightly. "What do I have to give you?"
Riku tilted his head slightly, studying her, measuring her resolve. "When I take on a case, I don't just destroy someone's life. I use my resources, my network, and my connections. Information costs. Access costs. And your revenge will bring a storm down on you that you'll need protection from. I make sure you don't drown in the aftermath."
He paused, letting the weight of his words sink in. "In exchange, I ask for something equal to the effort I put in. Sometimes it's a favor, sometimes it's influence. You may not have much now, but you'll owe me. And one day, when I need something, you'll be the one to pay."
Yuki stared at him, her pulse quickening. "A debt?" she whispered. "You want me to... owe you?"
Riku nodded, his eyes locking with hers. "That's right. Once your revenge is done, once your enemies are ruined, you'll owe me. And when the time comes, I'll collect."
Yuki's breath caught in her throat. She felt like she was teetering on the edge of a cliff, staring down into the abyss. This wasn't what she had expected. She had come to Riku out of desperation, hoping he would be her savior. But now she realized that she was making a deal with someone far more dangerous than her enemies.
But what choice did she have?
Her life was already destroyed. Her career, her family—gone. The people who had ruined her had walked away unscathed, while she had been left to rot. If she backed out now, they would win. They would continue living their lives while she remained broken. And that, more than anything, was something she couldn't bear.
"I'll do it," she said, her voice barely steady. "I'll pay whatever price you ask. I just want them to suffer like I did."
Riku's expression didn't change, but there was a flicker of satisfaction in his eyes. "Good. Then we can begin."
Later that night, Riku sat in a dimly lit café, far from the rooftop where he had met Yuki. The place was quiet, with only a few patrons scattered around, and the low hum of conversation in the background provided the perfect cover for private meetings. Riku had chosen this spot for its anonymity—it was a place where no one asked questions.
He sipped his coffee, his mind drifting to the next phase of Yuki's revenge. It would be messy, and it would require careful planning. Her former boss and his associates weren't ordinary targets—they had influence and connections that ran deep. But Riku had handled worse. This wouldn't be the first time he had gone up against people in power.
As he sat there, lost in thought, the door to the café opened, and a familiar figure walked in. Yusei Tetsuya.
Yusei spotted Riku almost immediately and made his way over to the table. He slid into the seat across from him, his usual casual grin plastered on his face, though Riku could see the tension in his eyes.
"You called?" Yusei said, glancing around the café. "This is a little public for you, isn't it?"
Riku shrugged. "Sometimes blending in is better than hiding."
Yusei leaned back in his chair, crossing his arms. "So, how's the Yuki case going? I'm guessing you've already set the wheels in motion?"
Riku nodded. "She's desperate enough. She agreed to the terms."
"Ah, the infamous 'terms.'" Yusei chuckled, shaking his head. "You never do anything for free, huh? You always make sure there's a price to pay."
Riku raised an eyebrow, his gaze steady. "Nothing in this world is free, Yusei. You know that better than anyone."
Yusei's grin faded slightly, and he sighed. "Yeah, I guess. But sometimes I wonder if you ever think about where this all leads. People like Yuki—they're broken. They come to you for help, but what happens after you get your revenge? What happens when the dust settles and they realize they've just sold their soul to another devil?"
Riku's expression didn't change, but there was a flicker of something in his eyes. "I'm not their savior, Yusei. I don't promise them redemption. I give them what they ask for. If they can't live with the consequences, that's not my problem."
Yusei leaned forward, his voice dropping slightly. "And what about you? How long are you going to keep this up before the price comes knocking at your own door?"
Riku didn't answer. He didn't need to. Yusei had known him long enough to understand that this wasn't just a job for Riku—it was a way of life. The price of revenge wasn't something that scared him. It was something he had already accepted long ago.
Instead, Riku changed the subject. "Did you get what I asked for?"
Yusei hesitated for a moment, then nodded, pulling a small folder from his jacket and sliding it across the table. "Yeah, I dug around. Your girl Yuki was telling the truth, mostly. Her former boss, some guy named Okada, and a couple of his friends are dirty. Real dirty. They're involved in some shady business dealings, and there's talk of organized crime connections. That's probably how they framed her so easily."
Riku opened the folder, scanning the documents quickly. It was enough to start with. Okada and his associates weren't untouchable, but they were dangerous. If Yuki wanted to ruin them, she would need to be ready for what came after. But that wasn't his concern. His job was to dismantle their lives—what happened afterward was up to her.
"This is good," Riku said, closing the folder. "I'll take it from here."
Yusei stood up, stretching his arms. "Just be careful, Riku. You're messing with some serious people this time."
Riku smirked. "When have I ever played it safe?"
Yusei shook his head with a small smile, but his eyes were still filled with concern. "Just don't forget that even you have limits. One day, you might push too far."
As Yusei walked away, Riku stared down at the folder in his hands. He had heard it all before—the warnings, the concern. But none of it mattered. He had made his choices long ago, and he was too far down this path to turn back now.
Revenge was a game of balance, and Riku knew how to play it better than anyone. But there was one rule he lived by, one that never changed:
No one gets something for nothing.
End of Chapter 11