Archive of Our Own ^beta

Chapter Text

“Hayashi, can you hear me? Do you have all the information on all the exits in this venue?”

Captain Hideki Ishigami's authoritative voice sounded through the hidden microphone she was wearing. She looked up at the nearest security camera and nodded discreetly. There was no doubt that their resident tech ace, Ayumu Shinonome, already had eyes on every single camera in the venue.

Infiltrating shady venues like strip clubs and brothels was her bread and butter. She was initially concerned that her age would make her stick out in these venues filled with cute, wide-eyed barely legal college girls but it seemed like there was a huge market for slightly more 'mature' types like her. Years ago, someone told her that they were lacking in the beauty department and desperately needed someone who could fill that void. Since then, Asuka Hayashi had stepped up and filled that void and more. Her presence and experience had proven invaluable and allowed the team to infiltrate areas they previously couldn't, like this seedy strip joint she was in right now.

Disguised as a stripper, she walked around the venue like a pro in a skimpy black lace lingerie set and seven inch platform heels, taking note of every nook and cranny of the place. It was a surprisingly quiet night and none of the private booths out the back were taken. There were only two other customers in the venue at that time, but they seemed more interested in playing drinking games with each other than getting lap dances. One of them, a man with shaggy red hair and a distinct Kansai accent showed some interest when Asuka propositioned him, but was quickly rebuffed by his companion, a dark-haired man in a suit. As the red-haired man pouted in disappointment, Asuka wondered if she was witnessing a lover's tiff.

A strip club seemed like a strange place to go to only play drinking games with each other.

Seiji Goto, one of the other detectives had infiltrated a local gang of shady businessmen and they were going to be at that venue later that night. It was strongly hinted that an illicit transaction was primed to happen there and everyone was lying in wait to catch them in the act. He was the only one not mic-ed up and it was up to Asuka to liaise with him on the scene.

“Oh my God, Hayashi where did you get this outfit from? I've never seen that one before!” an excited voice sounded in the mic.

“Calm down, Kurosawa,” a stern voice sounded out. Asuka stifled a laugh as Ishigami put her partner Toru Kurosawa in his place. He was a couple of years older than her, but often had the maturity of a ten year old.

The door to the club opened and a big group of around five men walked in. The manager greeted them enthusiastically as the most important-looking man of the group discussed something with him animatedly.

Asuka spied Goto among the men, who immediately averted his gaze when he saw what she was wearing. Poor Goto could never get used to seeing her in these states of undress. He was the best undercover detective in their team but even ace detectives had their moments of weakness.

“Private dances for everyone!” the manager announced to the group.

“Go around and pick the lady you want, Ono-san here has kindly agreed to cover all expenses tonight!”

Asuka, who was sitting next to the pool table, immediately made a beeline for Goto.

“Hello, handsome,” she greeted him cheerfully.

Goto grunted in reply as one of his companions slapped him on the shoulder soundly.

“Relax buddy! She looks like she knows what she's doing...you're going to have a good time! Let's get you into a room for a private dance.”

There were five private booths and one exit in the back, which the Public Safety team had well and truly covered, but it was still important that they prevent too many people from trying to head out that way.

That meant that she and Goto had to stay in the main room to prevent more people from spilling out into the back end of the venue.

“Uh, that's fine! I can stay here, I don't need 'full service',” Goto replied quickly, his face turning pink.

The man smiled and wagged a finger at him.

“Ohoho, so you do know what happens in these sort of places!” he chided.

“Enjoy!”

Asuka started her dance routine by running her hands down Goto's chest. She suppressed a giggle when she felt how stiff his body had gotten. She straddled him on his lap and did a big, seductive head roll, bringing her face close to his. As her hair fell around them, she whispered.

“Five private booths out back, one exit in the rear of the venue. The others have it covered. Anyone in your group besides Ono that we need to keep an eye on?”

She started grinding her hips in time to the music as her hands continued to stroke Goto's chest.

He gave an uncomfortable-sounding grunt. “J-just his secretary. The one sitting in the corner behind me.”

Asuka looked over his shoulder to see a slight looking man smoking a cigarette nonchalantly in the corner of the club. He was on high alert and was holding a briefcase tightly to his chest. Despite everyone's efforts, he rebuffed all offers of drinks or private dances.

She turned back to Goto and pushed his face into her bosom.

“Goto, can you at least pretend you're enjoying this?” she said through gritted teeth. “You look like you're about to pass out.”

She flashed him a seductive smile and he returned a pained one in return.

Goto was a strange one, he was surprisingly uptight for a guy as good-looking as him and Asuka took great pleasure in teasing him. She guided his hands onto her butt as she wiggled it while still in his lap.

"Oooo is that a gun I feel in your pants? Or are you just happy to see me?" she teased, as the others howled in laughter in her earpiece.

“S..shut up! What's taking them so long to make the transaction?” Goto grumbled, as he face grew increasingly red.

“It has only been two minutes,” Asuka reminded him as she continued to grind her hips in his lap. She reached behind her and got ready to unhook her bra.

Goto looked like his eyes were about to pop out his head.

Right at that moment, the door burst open.

“FREEZE! METRO POLICE DEPARTMENT!”

All hell broke loose as everyone started running. Goto, now with Asuka off his lap, tackled Ono as he tried to run out the back, pinning him to the floor.

Wait a minute, did they say Metro Police Department?

Asuka realized that she didn't recognize any of the men who burst in through the door. What the hell were the Metro PD team doing there? This was supposed to be Public Safety's stakeout!

Amidst the chaos, she saw Ono's secretary try to make a run to the back of the club. Grabbing a pool cue from the pool table, she swung it and caught him in the midsection.

Bam! Just like in Kendo practice!

As he staggered, she kicked him in the chest which sent him flying. Nearly losing her balance in her seven-inch heels, she got on top of him and held him down. She instinctively reached to her hip for her trusty handcuffs but only groped skin and lace.

Oops, she was only in her underwear.

Someone whistled and applauded. Asuka turned and noticed that it was the red-haired customer from before.

“What a swing! Do 'ya play baseball? Are 'ya a cop too? Which department are 'ya from?” he asked excitedly. That Kansai accent really was something to behold.

“Yutaka Tennoji from the Metro Police Department,” he said, extending his hand to offer a handshake.

“Um, I'm a bit busy here,” she replied, as Ono's secretary struggled in vain underneath her.

“And I don't play baseball. That was a Kendo move.”

Before Tennoji could continue his flirtatious exchange, his dark-haired companion emerged from behind him and grabbed him by the collar.

“Owww, let go Kirisawa, that hurts!”

“Thank you for your help, but we'll take it from here,” he interrupted with a pleasant smile.

Judging by the air of authority and his ability to effortlessly haul off a loose cannon officer like Tennoji, it would be fair to say that this man was his Chief.

Asuka opened her mouth in protest but Ishigami's voice sounded in her ear.

“Hayashi, leave it. You and Goto come back to HQ with us.”

*

The Public Safety Department was home to a group of elite agents who work to preserve National Security. Only the best get recruited and out of all of them, a lone female cadet had unexpectedly risen through the ranks. Asuka Hayashi, who had initially been admitted on a fraudulent application, now found herself an indispensable part of the team. Her meek but notoriously reckless nature caused her and her instructors much grief during her time in the academy, but she has since blossomed into a ruthlessly efficient undercover agent.

Back at HQ, Asuka strolled into the meeting room wearing a loose coat over her lingerie. Her hair, streaked with honey blonde highlights, snaked down her back. She sank into a chair with a relieved sigh and immediately took her heels off.

A stern looking man with mid length brown hair looked up from his notes. His lips curled into an unexpected smile when he saw her. That man was Hyogo Kaga, the other captain in the Public Safety department. Despite Asuka not being a formal member of his team, he had personally trained her a few years prior and they have a deep understanding and trust in each other. Not that Kaga would ever admit it though.

“Good work out there,” he said in his deep baritone voice.

“You've come a long way since your student days.”

Asuka raised her eyebrows.

“Are you complimenting me, Captain Kaga?” she asked, a cheeky smile spreading across her face. “You didn't call me a moron”.

“Whoa, cool it Asuka,” the young man sitting next to Kaga exclaimed. He brushed a strand of his golden locks out of his eye; even after all these years, Ayumu Shinonome's trademark mushroom mop and smart-ass attitude had not changed. Asuka still liked him the least out of everyone in the team.

“You're not on the field now, so you can turn off that seductress act. And why aren't you dressed properly?” he lectured her.

“Ayumu, why do you have to be so rude every time?” Asuka shot back. “I didn't get time to change after the mission. Besides..”

Her voice dropped into a dangerous whisper.

“Do you want me to tell everyone what happened during that stakeout?”

Shinonome's face froze. He turned to Kaga.

“I've said this many times and I'll say it again.”

“You've created a monster.”

“What stakeout? Did I miss something?” a voice piped up. It could only be Asuka's partner, Toru Kurosawa. Besides his childish sense of humour, he was also Public Safety Department's resident motor mouth and answer to the town gossip.

“Asuka, my lovely aide, surely you're not going to keep secrets from me?” he pleaded, fluttering his eyelashes innocently.

“She stopped being your aide years ago,” Goto reminded him as he slumped down in a chair next to them. Besides being the department's ace detective specializing in undercover work, his other purpose in life was to make Kurosawa's life as uncomfortable as possible. “She's a full-fledged Public Safety officer now.”

“Five years ago, actually,” Asuka reminded him. “That was also when Kaga stopped calling me a servant and a moron on a regular basis.”

Everyone laughed. Even Kaga managed a small snort.

“Five years?!” Kurosawa exclaimed. “Geez, has it been that long since Soma-”

“Shhh!”Goto hissed.

Trust that loose lipped moron Kurosawa to bring up a taboo topic like that in front of her!

The awkward silence did not hang around for long as right on cue, Captain Ishigami and Chief Jin Namba entered the room.

“Good job everyone,” Namba said as he ran his hands through his long hair absent-mindedly. A ruggedly handsome man in his mid-forties, Asuka still felt shy in his presence after all these years. Despite his stoic looking demeanour, he was surprisingly easy-going and goofy. It was hard to believe that he was the Department Chief, when even his Captains were more dignified.

“Chief Namba!” Asuka spoke up. “What was Metro PD doing in the club? I thought this was Public Safety's case?”

“Yeah about that.”

Namba rubbed his chin uncomfortably.

“Turns out Metro PD had been watching the group for drug trafficking suspicions. I met with the two Chiefs Kirisawa and Nomura just now and it looks like their drug charges will stack up better than the corruption charges we've got, so I'm happy to let them have this one this time.”

Goto groaned.

“What?! After all I had to go through to infiltrate the group, Metro PD just busts in all guns blazing and get the arrest?”

“I wouldn't call the entire mission a waste though,” Shinonome said thoughtfully.

“You got a lap dance from Asuka!”

Goto's face turned fire-engine red as Kurosawa gave a loud hoot of laughter.

“Oh, one more thing!” Namba continued animatedly.“I was also asked to tell 'Officer Black Lace' that she is more than welcome to join the second unit at Metro PD if she ever gets sick of the lot at Public Safety.”

Ishigami winced as he pushed his glasses up his nose. A stickler for the rules, he barely cracked a smile during work hours. “Chief, did you really have to repeat everything Nomura and Kirisawa said word for word?”

Namba grinned apologetically in response.

Asuka smiled. “Thank you Chief. What can I say, I was trained by the best”.

She looked around the room and nodded in Kaga's direction, who gave a small salute in acknowledgement.

“However, rest assured that I am very committed to Public Safety.”

Namba smiled with relief. It was only a matter of time before the other departments found out about their little secret weapon. The second unit at Metro PD also sorely lacked a strong female presence and having seen her in action, it was not surprising that they would try and poach her for their ranks. He was good friends with Nomura, their Deputy Chief but there was no way he was going give up his female ace without a fight.

He checked his watch and realized that it was nearly time for his next appointment. It was one he could not afford to miss or be late for.

“I've got to go,” he announced as he turned toward the door. “But drinks are on me this weekend!”

Everyone cheered as he closed the door behind him.

A sly look crossed Shinonome's face as the door clicked shut.

“Now, who wants to watch the camera footage of Goto getting a lap dance?” he asked, as everyone clamoured noisily around him.'

*

Jin Namba ran his fingers through his hair as he checked his phone; this was definitely the place.

It was a cold winter's day and even colder up where he was. He had received a cryptic text earlier that day asking to meet at the top floor of a building in the middle of Tokyo. He was initially concerned that it was a hoax, but there was an inexplicably warm sense of familiarity that emanated from the message.

Like they were old friends reconnecting.

The anonymous messenger had addressed him as Chin-kun, a nickname that stemmed from him mispronouncing his own name when he introduced himself to that man when he was a little boy. There was only one person who called him that.

“Ah, you made it,” a deep voice sounded from behind him.

Namba turned around. An older man in a faded denim jacket was standing before him. With his greying locks and commanding presence, he had the unmistakable air of someone who had spent years in law enforcement. Despite his age, he was in excellent, physical shape.

A huge smile spread across Namba's face when he finally registered who it was.

“Oh! You are.....”

The older gentleman nodded with a knowing smile.

“Adachi-san?”

Koichi Adachi laughed heartily as the two men grasped each other's hand in a firm handshake.

“Looks like the apple didn't fall too far from the tree, Chin-kun. You handsome lad, you look exactly like your father in his prime,” he said approvingly as he gave him the once over.

“And you're now the Chief at Public Safety? Damn, your father must be proud”.

Namba shifted awkwardly. “He might have said 'well-done' at some point,” he said, as they both laughed. Namba-senior was a notoriously stoic man with a strong sense of justice. He raised Jin to be a straight-laced police officer and he himself retired with full honours only a few years ago.

“I haven't seen you since you got stood down from the Kanagawa Police Department. I heard you work for the DMV now?” Namba asked.

Adachi laughed nervously.

“Uh, yeah I lost that gig too. What was the charge again? Oh yeah, 'breaking and entering, assault, and interference outside of his jurisdiction',” he recited bitterly.

Namba smiled apologetically and offered him a cigarette. His father had always spoken highly about a colleague of his from the Kanagawa Police force. He still remembered the case of the man named Kusumi, how Adachi had adamantly defended his innocence to the very end. Jin had just entered the police force then and had looked up to Adachi as the epitome of justice.

“How's your father by the way?” Adachi asked as he lit the cigarette.

“He passed two years ago,” Namba revealed. “Lung cancer.”

They both looked down at the cigarettes they were smoking and gave an ironic chuckle.

“You must have jumped through a few hoops to find my phone number. I'm guessing there's a hot tip you are looking to pass on to me?” Namba asked.

“Eh not really, I just did a quick search in the police directory,” Adachi replied casually as he blew a cloud of smoke into the air.

“Just don't ask how I got access, that's classified information.”

Namba gave a defeated laugh at how easy Adachi tracked him down. Well, he was a retired detective after all, and a damn good one at that. No conviction could take away his excellent deduction and problem solving skills.

“Ok, I'll pretend I didn't hear that,” Namba replied with an innocent smile.

“So, what do you need help from Public Safety for?”

Adachi tapped his cigarette, hot ash flying in the air.

“Are you familiar with the Kamurocho 3K plan?” he asked.

Namba nodded. The controversial plan was implemented by the governor of Tokyo a few years ago, and together with the assistance of the Tokyo Metro Police Department, it had managed to eradicate almost all presence of the Yakuza in the city. It was a plan that worked well. Too well, in fact. There were rumours that the police and the Yakuza were in cahoots, but those rumours were quickly quashed.

“I always believed that Horinouchi was involved in the conviction of Kusumi, and what I'm looking into could be tied to him again”.

That got Namba's attention. Juro Horinouichi came from Public Safety and Namba was aware of his legacy and reputation in the department. He was now the Police Commissioner and close to untouchable. If Adachi had evidence of any wrongdoing, it would shake up the entire Police force.

“You don't think Horinouichi-”

“Oh I do,” Adachi said with an air of firm confidence. “I don't have evidence now, but let's just say when an old dog like me has a 'feeling' about something, they're usually pretty accurate.”

Namba rubbed his chin thoughtfully. Adachi's accusations were serious but it would be difficult to get his team involved at the present moment. The Public Safety department only intervened on matters that were deemed a threat to National Security, and a little hunch from a disgraced former detective was not going to cut it. Adachi seemed to understand as well, because he gave a loud laugh and patted him on the shoulder.

“Chin-kun, I understand that your hands are tied at the moment, but if shit hits the fan can I trust that I can reach out to you for support?”

Namba gave Adachi a resounding pat on the shoulder in return.

Adachi would not have gone through all that trouble for a prank. There was no smoke without fire, and from Namba's experience he had a gut feeling it wouldn't be long before the fire reached them.

“You have my word that Public Safety will back you up in any way we can,” Namba said firmly, as he stubbed out the last of his cigarette. On a better day, he would have invited Adachi out for drinks but it seemed like he was in a hurry to get somewhere.

“So where to next, Adachi-san?

Adachi smiled mysteriously.

“Yokohama, Isezaki Ijincho", he said as he threw his bag over his shoulder. 

"I know a guy there.”

Chapter Text

It didn't take long for the call to come.

Adachi didn't bother to disguise his call to Namba that time. It was a flustered call where no words were minced.

“Oi, Chin-kun? Uh remember how I said I would call when shit hit the fan?” he asked frantically.

“Now would be a good time to send someone.”

Namba had responded by urgently called both Captains into a meeting. Adachi had done a good job providing him with the details; if his hunch was correct, this was going to be a huge operation. Nonetheless, Namba was confident that his team would be able to get to the bottom of it.

“Chief, do we have a new mission?” Kaga asked. His intuition was at work again.

“Yeah, trouble in Yokohama,” Namba replied thoughtfully. “We'll need all hands on deck, which means you two will need to work closely together”.

Ishigami and Kaga looked at each other and scowled. Some things never change, and those two not getting along was one of them.

“We'll have a few informants working with us on this one, so we'll need someone to look after them,” Chief Namba said.

“It wouldn't hurt to have an extra handler for the undercover agents we will be sending out.”

Both captains looked at him with a mix of apprehension and surprise; it seemed like they had seen through his cryptic words. Years ago, there used to be a remarkable individual amongst their midst.

One team member who was by far, the best at working with informants.

“Do you mean...”

Namba gave a knowing smile.

“Yes, I think it's time we called him back”.

*

“Asuka, it's been so long since we caught up!” Naruko said as she sat down on her living room couch.

“I wish I could drink, but with this little one I have to hold off for the next little while,” she moaned wistfully as she patted her swollen belly.

“How far along are you?” Asuka asked. “Can I touch it?”

“Go for it. He should be here any time now,” Naruko smiled. She guided her hand and moved it to a certain spot on her belly. “He's kicking right here.”

Asuka let out a small squeal as she felt it. “This feels so surreal!”

“Is the baby kicking?” a voice sounded from the kitchen. “I want to feel it too!”

“You focus on getting dinner ready,” Naruko ordered. “You'll be kicked plenty of times in the future by this little terror!”

A head popped out from around the kitchen door. “In that case, we'll send our son to soccer practice! If he wants to kick something, it might as well be a ball.”

Asuka smiled and waved.

“Hi Daisuke!”

Asuka, Naruko Sasaki and Daisuke Chiba have all remained friends after they graduated from the training academy. After five years, there had been some unexpected developments. After a dangerous mission that left Chiba hospitalized for a few weeks, Naruko finally confessed her feelings to him and they were soon dating. Chiba finally popped the question two years into their relationship and they were married shortly after.

Naruko's pregnancy came after years of trying and effectively ended her on-field career as a Public Safety officer. She now works in the administration department of the Public Safety training academy and Daisuke also transitioned into clerical work after his accident. That also meant that he had more time to look after a very pregnant Naruko and cook for them every day.

Daisuke brought the food out to the table as everyone gathered around. He had unexpectedly proven himself to be quite the domestic husband and was an excellent cook. For tonight, there was an assortment of tempura dishes, a seafood hot pot and rice.

“Thank you for the food!”

“All this undercover work you've been doing seems pretty full on,” Daisuke remarked. “Infiltrating all these dodgy places and seducing all these shady guys, I'll admit I didn't think you ever had that in you.”

Naruko nodded in agreement.

“Yeah, you were all so shy and innocent when we first met. And now you're setting off honey traps for the Public Safety department? Damn, I wonder if Instructor Soma ever saw that coming?”

Daisuke nudged Naruko sharply, who quickly covered her mouth. 

“Erm, Asuka if you don't mind me asking,” he asked nervously in an effort to change the subject.

“Have you ever slept with any of your targets during your missions?”

It was Naruko's turn to shove him back.

“What sort of question is that?” she snapped. She turned to Asuka apologetically.

“You don't have to answer that.”

Asuka laughed.

“Hmm how do I put this," she pondered. “I know we have to do whatever it takes for the mission to succeed, but so far I haven't been forced to do anything that I didn't want to do.”

Naruko stared at her curiously. 

"...So what you're saying is, yes you've done it but you actually wanted to?" 

Asuka responded with an ambiguous smile. Naruko and Daisuke were suddenly reminded of one of their previous instructors from the academy. He too was incredibly difficult to read despite looking like one of the kindest people you could meet. 

Naruko shook her head in disbelief.

“Ok, who are you and what have you done with the real Asuka Hayashi?”

Asuka laughed as she reached out and grabbed a piece of tempura prawn with her chopsticks.

“I'm still here, and last I checked I'm still real!”

*

Early the next morning, they were gathered in the meeting room at Headquarters. Morning meetings weren't rare in their line of work, but one called by Chief Namba himself usually spelt an emergency.

“This better be important,” Kurosawa yawned as he slumped in his seat. “It's not like the Chief to call a meeting this early”.

"What sort of stupid comment is that?" Goto snapped, as he smacked Kurosawa on the head. “And sit up straight, lazybones!”

Asuka laughed as she handed Kurosawa a can of Boss coffee.

“Have a coffee, this should help perk you up!”

Kurosawa grabbed the can off her with a look of utmost gratitude on his face. “This is why I love you, Asuka.”

She pinched him on his cheek affectionately in reply. Shinonome, who had been quietly working in his corner looked up from his notes and frowned.

“Please stop flirting in front of me, it's gross”, he retched.

“You're just jealous,” Asuka and Kurosawa retorted back in unison. They giggled childishly as Goto rolled his eyes in exasperation.

“Isn't it too early to be making so much noise?” Kaga asked sharply as he entered the room with Ishigami and Namba. "Clearly you're not busy enough, should we allocate more paperwork to all of you?"

“Oh we were just reminiscing about that security camera footage of Goto getting a lap dance from Asuka,” Kurosawa piped up, shooting a sly look at Goto, who turned fire-engine red again.

“Ah I heard about that!” Namba said, his interest piqued. “I had to leave the office early last time, so Shinonome if you could forward the footage to me later-”

“Ahem!” Ishigami cleared his throat impatiently as he pushed his glasses up his nose in annoyance. Everyone recognized the signs of an imminent Ishigami implosion and settled down immediately.

“Chief, the mission brief, if you please?” he asked firmly.

Namba straightened up and handed out the files to all the officers present. They caught sight of the heading on the folders and their eyes widened: The Ijin Three.

“The Ijin Three,” Namba started. “Are made up of the Seiryu Clan, the Yokohama Liumang and the Geomijul. They have always coexisted peacefully alongside each other, but a soapland owner by the name of Nonomiya was recently murdered on Seiryuu clan turf. We have witness accounts that point to the Yokohama Liumang's involvement but we can't be sure. We also have reliable intel there could be escalating gang violence in Yokohama. Unfortunately our informants don't quite have the resources to investigate, so this is when we come in.”

He turned a page in the folder.

“There's also another problem. Bleach Japan has also been causing some grief in the 'gray zones' in Yokohama. Our informants have tussled with them on a couple of occasions and confirmed that they are not opposed to using violence to get their message across”.

Originally a non-profit organization, Bleach Japan was founded by Ryo Aoki, the current Governor of Tokyo himself and Hajime Ogasawara, his Harvard classmate. Their main goal was get rid of 'gray zones' across Japan, in which illegal behaviour and vices ran rampant and to 'bleach them white'. Their recent behaviour was definitely a good enough excuse for Public Safety to start getting involved.

“We will be investigating on two fronts. Bleach Japan has been organizing multiple protests in Yokohama and there is a high chance these protests could turn into ugly. So on that front, I will get Kurosawa to infiltrate their ranks and get information from within”.

He turned to Kurosawa, who nodded in acknowledgement.

“I also have two informants who are deeply involved with the Ijin Three. They are operating out of a soapland and a few venues in the Bar District, so we will need someone who will be able to not look out of place in these places.”

His eyes naturally fell onto their only female officer.

“That means you, my dear Asuka,” he said with a smile. “You will be going undercover and working closely with these two informants. I will pass on their details to you and your handler, and you can organize to meet them together in Yokohama”.

She stared at the Chief in surprise. What was this about a handler? She had gone undercover many times before and had never been given one before. It was only then that she understood the magnitude of this mission. She looked at Ishigami and Kaga, expecting them to step up and introduce themselves as her handler. But neither of them got up from their seats.

“Um, Chief? Did you say 'handler'? Who would that be?” she asked, looking around the room quizzically. If it wasn't Ishigami or Kaga, could it be Goto instead?

"Goto will be working with Kurosawa as his handler," Ishigami said, as if he could read her mind. 

Ok it's not Goto, she thought. Could it be the Chief himself?

There was a knock on the door.

“Ah, great timing, that must be him”, Namba said with a huge smile on his face.

“Come in!”

The door opened and a collective gasp could be heard around the room.

Asuka recognized him immediately and nearly knocked over her can of coffee in shock; that tall, imposing build honed by years of kendo training, the silvery purple hair that he had kept short after the drastic chop a few years ago and of course, that mysterious smile that was equally warm and distant at the same time.

She hadn't seen that face in five years. Five long and painful years.

She could feel her stomach twist into an uncomfortable knot when their eyes met.

“...Soma?!”

Chapter Text

New York City

Shusuke Soma was asleep in a hotel room when the phone rang. He checked his watch, it was 2am. Who could it be at this time of the night?

“Hello?” he whispered, careful not to wake up the figure lying next to him.

“Oh, Soma did I wake you up?” a familiar voice spoke out cheerily. Soma immediately felt wide awake when he recognized the voice; it was Chief Namba himself.

“Sorry, I forgot about the time difference but this is a bit of an emergency. I hope you're ready to come back, because we really need your help around here.”

Soma laughed.

“I thought you would never ask,” he replied pleasantly.

“I'll see you in a couple of days”.

He got out of the bed and started getting dressed. The blonde American woman who was lying next to him in bed woke up and put her arms around him, pressing her buxom, naked body against him.

“Come back to bed, Shusuke,” she pleaded in a strong New York accent, as she clung on tightly to him. She just had a mind-blowing night with him and she was not about to let him off the hook so soon.

“Where are you going at this time of the night?”

“Back to Japan,” he replied in perfect English, a brutally sweet smile on his face as he gently removed her arms around his waist and left the hotel room.

*

For the last five years, Detective Shusuke Soma had been granted a leave of absence from the Public Safety department to work for Interpol in their New York office. Namba had to pull in a lot of favours and make a lot of calls to get the conditions just right for both of them; in summary Soma could end his tenure at Interpol whenever he wanted and whenever he was required to return by Public Safety. It was a testament to Soma's ability that both Public Safety and Interpol agreed to those unprecedented terms.

There were of course, sacrifices that needed to be made. Soma had to leave behind his beloved girlfriend, Asuka. The decision had not been an easy one to make but being a 'bigger picture' person, Soma was able to cut things off as required. He did it over a video call, a cowardly move by his standards but he knew he sure as hell wouldn't have been able to walk away if he had done it in person. As expected, Asuka was heartbroken beyond measure. All he could do was brave one of his infamous fake smiles and wished her all the best.

All the best. What a cold, cruel summary for a relationship that simultaneously broke and saved both of them. It was Asuka's earnest belief in him that pulled him out of the abyss and started his healing journey towards regaining his trust in others again. Her dedication towards kendo and her cute, clumsy attempts at love were so endearing and he loved her more because of it.

He thought it was all over when he caught the terrorists who killed his sister Kurume. Finally, he had sought closure for someone he couldn't save. With the newfound trust he had in life, he was ready to embrace the love he had for Asuka.

Their hearts were one and nothing could ever separate them.

Or so he thought.

That was when he received that letter. He had no idea who sent it and Soma had not known fear quite like that for a long time.  More than anything, it brought up his biggest fear of not being able to protect the one he loved. For the sake of her, he had to do whatever it took to keep her safe.

He still remembered the day he spoke to Namba and Ishigami about this transfer request. They were shocked, but ultimately chose to support him when he told him his reasons. The other person privy to his reasons was Goto, who tried in vain to talk him out of it.

That was five years ago. The time spent with Interpol allowed him to achieve some of his goals and the call from Namba was perfectly timed. It didn't take long to tie up all the loose ends in New York and he was soon waiting at the airport. As he boarded the Tokyo bound plane, all he could think of was one particular female Public Safety officer.

Goto had kept him updated about Asuka over the years. He was aware of how far she had come and he was frankly, extremely proud of her. He was also aware of a certain phone call between Shinonome and Kaga that strongly suggested that something happened illicit had happened with Asuka, although he rejected the voice recording that Shinonome had kindly offered to send him. What he didn't get a chance to reject, were the photos taken of Kaga's neck that clearly showed a bunch of hickeys the day after the phone call. He had Kurosawa to thank for that intel, with assistance from Shinonome who had forensically cleaned up the photos prior so there was no doubt about what those marks were.

He knew being so jealous was extremely hypocritical; he had not been celibate himself over the last five years. But he did not count on her being intimate with someone else on the team. He had not been worried about Goto and Ishigami making a move, he had way too much trust in those two. Kurosawa, being who he was would have had a bit of a crack but he was confident he would not have succeeded. Ayumu Shinonome and Asuka were natural born enemies, a fact that was unlikely to change.

That left Kaga. Ironically, Soma was the least concerned about the other Captain. He had shown little interest in Asuka during her student days and went out of his way to bring up how hopeless and moronic she was. So imagine his shock when he found out the person who managed to see that side of her was....

His hands balled into fists as he recalled that memory. Would he have preferred it if those two troublemakers had kept their mouths shut? Well, it was too late now. Luckily for him, he would be able to exact his revenge on Shinonome and Kurosawa in less than a day.

As he walked into the meeting room that day, he only had eyes for one person. However, the look that greeted him was not one he was used to. He didn't have a chance to speak to her as he was swarmed by the others welcoming him back and she took the chance to make a quick exit.

“Leaving so soon?” Shinonome asked innocently as he barricaded the door, a wicked grin upon his face. “Don't you have anything you would like to say to Detective Soma?”

Asuka's eyes narrowed.

“Get out of the way, Shinonome.”

Soma stared in disbelief at the exchange. Shinonome's face turned pale and his smile faded. Without a word, he obediently stepped aside.

Soma had never heard her speak that coldly before. He was hoping that she learnt to stand up to Shinonome's bullying ways over the years, but he did not expect the tables to turn so drastically. In what universe was Shinonome the one that was afraid of Asuka?

Kaga smirked when he saw Soma's bewildered gaze glued on the door that just shut behind her.

“How does it feel knowing that your boring little bonsai is now a man-eating Venus flytrap?” Kaga asked, looking Soma daringly in the eye. Soma had a hobby of cultivating bonsai, something he had stopped doing when he was in New York. Judging from the tension between both of them, it was clear that they both knew what Kaga and Asuka had done together.

Never mind Shinonome and Kurosawa, it took everything within Soma to stop himself from punching Kaga in his smug face.

“Oh didn't you know? Venus flytraps can be cultivated into bonsai too,” he answered placidly. Goto looked up when he heard him; Soma was notorious for hiding a dark side under a pleasant facade and he immediately recognized the danger note in his voice. He caught Soma's eye and shot him a warning look. Soma flashed him a smile as if to say, don't worry, I've got this.

“As long as the owner uses the right techniques and knows what he's doing, the Venus flytrap will thrive under his care.”

*

Soma rejected all offers to catch up with the rest of the team that night. Borrowing one of the unmarked police vehicles, Soma drove himself to a florist instead. His eyes lit up when he saw the biggest bouquet of roses on display. He knew it would absolutely make her day and he couldn't help chuckle but at the thought of the huge smile on her face when she saw this.

“Thank you for your patronage,” the florist said with a courteous bow. “Your girlfriend is a very lucky woman!”

Soma flashed another one of his cryptic, mysterious smiles.

“No, I consider myself to be the lucky one.”

Soma drove on and parked his car in front of a temple. He walked through the gate and through to the graveyard on site, eventually stopping in front of a small marble tomb. Even after all these years, the tomb was well cared for with not a single weed in sight. Even the inscription and name on the headstone had not faded.

He placed the bouquet delicately on the grave and his hand brushed tenderly over the name on the headstone:

Kurume Soma

How long has it been now? A glimpse at the date of death on the gravestone indicated that it had been exactly fifteen years to the day he lost her.

Soma still remembered that fateful day vividly. All Kurume wanted to do was run an errand in the city. She was a fifteen year old girl with the best years of her life still to come, she had hopes and dreams even though those changed constantly, like the fickle teenager she was. Would she have become a florist? Or a baker? Maybe even pharmacist if her grades allowed, but nobody would ever know now.

Nobody expected the terrorists to attack on that day. The gas attack in the subway station killed many innocent bystanders who were just there to run their own errands for the day. Kurume happened to be in the wrong place at the wrong time and was caught in it, her young life wiped up just like that. It took a long time for Soma to accept it. He wanted to bring the culprits to justice so much he nearly lost himself to vengeance. It was that clumsy, pure-hearted aide of his who saved him from the darkness in his heart. Asuka reminded him a lot of his sister, they were both idealistic individuals with a heart of gold. Soma wanted nothing more than to ensure the well-being of Asuka; he couldn't live with himself if he failed to protect someone he loved again.

Lost in his thoughts, Soma turned when he heard footsteps approaching behind him. His heart nearly stopped when their eyes met; he didn't think she could get any more beautiful over the years but there she was, looking as lovely than ever. Her hair was much longer and a slightly different colour. She also exuded a worldly air of jaded maturity that he had never seen in her. Five years in the job would do that to anyone, especially considering the things she had seen.

Just as he expected, she was now a Public Safety officer through and through.

“Hello Asuka, what a pleasant surprise!”

She smiled and gave a slight nod in acknowledgement before she knelt down and placed another smaller bunch of flowers onto the grave. She clasped her hands together and bowed her head in a silent prayer, holding that position for a minute before she stood up again.

“I was told by the caretaker that someone came to tend to Kurume's grave regularly,” Soma said. “Thank you for doing that.”

“It's the least I could do”, she replied. “Besides it's nice to engage with a little girl-talk every now and then”.

Soma looked amused. “You still do that with her? That's so cute.”

If there was any indication that Asuka was still the same pure-hearted girl he met five years ago, this was it.

“Have you been well?” he asked gently.

“Never better,” she replied in a cheerful voice that did nothing to convince him. “Five years of Public Safety and I've caused less trouble for the team than I did in my days in the Academy”.

“I'm glad to hear that,” he replied with a smile. “So, Yokohama hey? It'll be good to work together again. I look forward to seeing how much you have grown.”

She nodded as she returned a smile that did not reach her eyes.

“And oh before I forget,” she said softly. “Happy birthday.”

It was the first time they had both looked each other in the eye properly since they separated. Soma recognized the sincerity in her gaze, as well as the sadness hiding behind it. She had lost the sparkle in her eyes and with that the adorable, wide-eyed innocence he had grown to love. Soma had never celebrated his birthday ever since Kurume died, until that time Asuka threw him an intimate little dinner party for just both of them. He had since felt less apprehensive every time that date rolled around, although the last few years had proven to be a bit lonely. A celebratory dinner and drink in a swanky place in New York somehow just didn't cut it when you're by yourself.

“Thank you”, Soma replied. He had no idea how many times he had thanked her that day, or how many more times he would do so. The reality is, he could never thank her enough for showing him a love so pure in a time when he believed in nobody.

But it wasn't thanks that she wanted or needed, was it?

She turned to leave, but as he watched her retreating back Soma was overcome with a feeling of isolation again. He couldn't bear the thought of another solitary birthday evening.

Not when she was right there.

“Asuka, wait!”

He caught up with her just as she was about to walk out of the gate.

“Would you like to have dinner together?”

*

Asuka was not a high maintenance person by any means, but she was surprised at Soma's choice of dinner venue. She had only ever seen him cook and eat Western food, and their dates had always consisted on going to rather high end restaurants so imagine her surprise when Soma took her to a hole-in-the-wall ramen place in the middle of town.

“They're known for their signature Shooting Star ramen,” Soma said, his eyes lighting up excitedly. Seeing a rare show of child-like enthusiasm from Soma was surprising to Asuka. He carried himself with such dignity that none of the students caught on to the fact that they were dating. At no point did he ever crack that carefully crafted facade of his, which was simultaneously impressive and scary at the same time. Even during their private time together, he was always so sophisticated and so well put together, broken only by his wicked tendency to steal kisses from her when she least expected it. Soma was the ultimate tease, it was no surprise that almost every single one of their dates always ended up with them between the sheets....

“Extra chashu for you too?” Soma offered, interrupting her thoughts.

“Ah, yes, thank you!”

Soma laughed. 

“You're still the same, extra meat with everything.”

Asuka suddenly went quiet. She still couldn't believe that Soma was sitting right there in front of her. What the hell was she thinking, agreeing to go on a dinner date with her ex-boyfriend? Especially if he was going to bring up the past like that.....

She still didn't know why he broke up with her. Back when it first happened she would have given anything to find out the reason but after five years, she wasn't sure if it was important anymore. One thing she hated about him was his penchant for secrets. He never once gave her any warning about his first short-term assignment to New York and he never divulged what he was there for. She had chastised him for it and come to think of it, he never really apologized. Sure, it was for work and what they do as Public Safety officers was top secret but as his girlfriend she couldn't help but feel hurt that he drew the line so clearly between business and pleasure.

She had come to terms with the break up in her own way, but she was very quickly finding out that this coping mechanism only worked when he wasn't right there in front of her. He was still devastatingly handsome, perhaps even more so now that he was in his mid-thirties. That aloof personality that could switch from ice cold to wildly passionate was still there and Asuka's heart ached when she remembered how this love used to consume her.

Soma always made her feel nervous, but the butterflies he made her feel in the past weren't there anymore. It had been replaced by what felt like a wrench twisting knots inside her and the pain was excruciating. To her horror, Asuka started to feel a lump in her throat.

The ramen arrived. It looked like Soma had ordered double portions of every topping available as his bowl easily dwarfed hers.

“It's hard to find good Japanese food in New York that doesn't cost an arm and a leg,” Soma revealed as he tucked in immediately. “I never thought I would miss a warm, comforting bowl of ramen this much.”

Asuka looked around at the restaurant, taking in all the sights and smells. The informal and yet friendly atmosphere of the place was so far removed from the fine-dining places they used to frequent together. She used to freak out about using the wrong fork or eating too much in those places, but over here there was no pressure to be someone you're not. She felt so much more at home in a venue like this.

Seeing Soma embrace this type of setting was....refreshing. Or perhaps there was always that side to him? Asuka could never be sure. She had previously buried those feelings under the avalanche of work that came her way once she became a full qualified Detective, but his return has forced her to confront her feelings again. 

And she was frankly, terrified to do so.

"Are you surprised that I chose to come here?" Soma asked with another one of his playful smiles. Like always, Soma could read her like a book. She had thought she had improved her poker face over the years, but of course it was Soma and only him who could deconstruct the facade she had tried so many years to perfect.

"Yeah well, this is...different," she admitted. "You always had so many foreign ingredients in your fridge and you were always cooking some kind of creamy cheese sauce pasta whenever we had dinner at yours, so I thought you didn't like Japanese food."

"Wow, you still remember what I kept in my fridge?" Soma mused. "You sure have a good memory!"

Asuka's felt her stomach clench, she had said too much and dug too deep into her memories. And there it was again, Soma's uncanny ability to hit her where it hurt the most. The last thing she wanted to think about was the time they spent alone in that cosy apartment of his.

“It's funny how it works”, he continued. “When you've been away for a while, you start to miss the little things you took for granted”.

Leaning forward across the table, his eyes met hers again in a wistful and hopeful gaze.

“It feels so good to be back home again.”

Chapter Text

A few days later Asuka and Soma travelled to Yokohama together with Goto and Kurosawa. The rest of the team would stay in Tokyo for the time being, with Shinonome providing technical support remotely and both Captains on hand to oversee the operation. Soma and Asuka had not spent time together since his birthday dinner, and even though their parting that night was uneventful there was still an unspeakable amount of tension between them. Kurosawa was doing a good job keeping the mood lively in the car, although Goto was slowly getting more and more irritated by the hour.

The first stop was the safe house. They pulled up in a nondescript neighbourhood on the outskirts of the city in a similarly unassuming apartment block. Making their way to the second floor, Goto keyed a code into an electronically locked door and they all stepped inside an apartment.

“Whoa, this is cosy!” Kurosawa exclaimed excitedly and he looked around. It was a fully furnished one bedroom apartment, equipped with all the essentials. They will all have separate accommodation arrangements for the mission, with the safe house to be used only as a base for them to debrief weekly.

“It doesn't look like it, but this place is fully soundproof,” Goto said, as he looked through the notes they were given. “The code for the lock will change every week, HQ will send us a new one when that happens”.

Kurosawa laid down spread eagled on the bed. “Ah...this is so comfy. Can we stay over if we want to?” he asked.

“I can't see why not,” Soma replied cheerfully.

“Actually, hang on,” Kurosawa paused dramatically as a look of realization crossed his face.

“There's only one bed!”

“Then I guess you and Goto will be sharing then,” Asuka teased cheekily. “I reckon Goto will be big spoon and you'll be the little spoon!”

Kurosawa got up from the bed indignantly.

“Us? I think it's Soma and you that we need to worry abou-owww!”

Goto had put him in a headlock.

“You really talk a lot of shit, you know that?” he growled as Kurosawa's arms flailed around wildly.

“Goto, let go of him,” Soma said in a tone that was calm and dangerous at the same time. “I think we should set up a schedule so we all get equal use of the safe house for our weekly catch ups.”

Asuka nodded in agreement. Finally free from Goto's clutches, Kurosawa picked up his phone and started typing on it furiously. All their phones pinged at the same time.

“Here you go, a group chat!” he announced triumphantly.

They stared at their phones. Asuka spoke first.

“Toru, the group chat's a good idea, but did you have to name it 'Safe House Buddies'?”

“Yeah, and with four love hearts?” Goto demanded, his face turning red.

“I think it's kind of cute actually,” Soma said, a huge smile on his face. “Ok enough mucking around, shall we have a look through the dossiers?”

For long term undercover work, a full profile is created to make the agent's identity as watertight as possible. The information in the folder included their alias, complete with identification documents and a basic family history. All made up of course, courtesy of the administration wizards in the relevant department at Public Safety.

Asuka opened her file to review her undercover profile. Just like her usual assignments, she's supposed to be an experienced hostess. She picked up the keys to the apartment they had prepared for her and she skimmed through the rest of the paperwork. That was when saw her identification documents.

“Asa Soma?” she squeaked. “My undercover name is 'Asa SOMA'? Weren't there any other names available to choose from?”

Whoever prepared that profile for her must be taking the piss. Her eyes narrowed when she suddenly remembered that she knew two people who worked in the administration department.

Once this assignment is over, the first thing she's going to do is murder Naruko and Daisuke with her bare hands.

“Oh is there a problem?” Soma looked up from his notes, another one of his cryptic smiles plastered across his face. “Do you have an issue with taking my last name?”

She could feel her face grow hot with embarrassment. Soma was a master at making her squirm and she hated how easily he could get under her skin. Luckily for her, Kurosawa was too busy reading his own dossier to catch what he said.

“Ooo and I'm Jiro Ishikawa,” Kurorsawa said excitedly. “College dropout who has an obsession with social justice and eradicating gray zones in all of Yokohama!”

He struck a triumphant superhero pose. Asuka looked at him and rolled her eyes.

“Good for you, Ishikawa-san,” she said sarcastically.

Kurosawa blinked at her innocently with his huge, brown puppy dog eyes. 

“Did you say something, Soma-san?”

Asuka smacked him on the back of the head.

*

Isezaki Ijincho

Isezaki Ijincho was a large, bustling district in Yokohama. The Red Light District was a notoriously seedy area that really comes to life at night. Not only was it home to an array of sex shops and hostess bars, it also housed the Seiryu Clan Headquarters. It was also an area Adachi had grown familiar with as they had spent a lot of time there recently. Jin Namba had notified him earlier that week that help was on its way, and the mysterious reinforcements had sent him a text message that morning notifying him of their meeting point.

He was expecting something more discreet and secretive, like a rooftop somewhere just like those undercover films from Hong Kong that was all the rage during the early 2000s. But perhaps Japanese undercover agents did things a little differently.

This time round he wasn't alone. Adachi had brought along the man who got him into all this trouble in the first place. He was dressed in a garish magenta suit and his hair was set in an audacious perm that was complemented by a scruffy beard. They both stood in front of the hostess club looking confused.

“Adachi-san, are you sure this is the place?”

Adachi checked the message on his phone. “Yup that's the one. Rose Blossom.”

It seemed like they both shared the same opinion that a hostess club was an odd place to meet two Public Safety officers.

But more than anything, they were concerned about the 3000 yen per head cover charge they had to pay to even get in. They reluctantly forked over what was left of the cash they had and entered the venue. The manager ushered them in and sat them in an empty booth. The interior was bathed in a seedy pink glow and the couches looked like they were from a 90's B-movie. The hostesses wandering around the venue ranged from awkward newbies to married women looking to earn extra cash. But the saying 'no money, no honey' rang especially true in these parts of town and both of them were running low on the former.

“Do you think the cops would cover the drinks?” the man next to Adachi asked.

“You can try asking them,” Adachi replied, his voice dripping in obvious sarcasm. His friend however, was not very good at detecting that.

“Sweet, then should we get a hostess too?”

Before Adachi could shut him down, a handsome man with silvery purple hair entered the venue. He was so strikingly good-looking all the hostesses looked up and did a double take. Even the men were momentarily stunned by the presence of this man. As the manager flocked to entertain him, the man whispered something into his ear before he scurried off.

The man made his way purposefully towards them and sat down in their booth. Even the way he sat was graceful, like a supermodel posing for a fashion shoot. Adachi was the biggest self-confessed skirt-chaser, but even he couldn't ignore this man's dashing looks.

“Adachi-san?” the man asked pleasantly. He turned to the man next to him.

“And you are...”

“Ichiban,” the curly-maned man answered. “Ichiban Kasuga”.

“You can call me Detective S,” Soma replied with a smile, as a hostess slid down in the booth next to Ichiban. The hostess and Soma exchanged a glance and he nodded at her.

Ichiban and Adachi watched as the hostess started pouring drinks for the table. The bottle of alcohol looked ridiculously expensive but they were distracted by the magnetic presence of their female companion. She had long wavy hair and was dressed in a sparkly, figure hugging dress. She was wearing a fiery red lipstick and her makeup made her eyes look rather catlike. From her current position, her rather ample bosom threatened to spill out from her dress. Adachi stared openly and it looked like his nose would start bleeding at any second.

She looked up at the men and her lips curled in a charming smile that made Ichiban blush.

“Is she suitable?” Soma asked the duo cheerfully, as he observed their stunned expressions.

“And don't worry, I'm paying,” he finished, as if he knew what was on their minds.

Adachi and Ichiban immediately swiped the drinks off the table and emptied them down their throats. The hostess giggled and immediately pressed her body up against Ichiban, her fingers trailing against his chest seductively. At this distance, Ichiban could see right down her dress and smell her perfume. Her scent reminded him of baby powder and exotic oils, a truly hypnotic and intoxicating combination. It had been a long time since he had been this close to a woman and he felt a familiar biological response in his pants.

He gulped.

Ichiban knew she was paid to do this, but attention was attention and he frankly didn't care if it cost money or not.

“Ooo!” Ichiban cried out as her touch made him jump. “Oh my, you sure are zealous aren't you?”

The hostess giggled again.

“Do you like it when I do this, handsome?” she cooed, as her fingers started sliding under an opening in his white shirt. Ichiban's face was turning redder than his suit as he felt her boldly exploring his bare skin like a spider doing a catwalk.

He yelped again as she found a sensitive spot on his chest.

“Oi Ichiban, focus!” Adachi ordered, although he looked a bit disappointed that he was not the one getting felt up by a beautiful hostess.

“Detective, are you sure it'll be ok for her to be here while we talk shop?”

Soma waved his hand dismissively.

“We'll be fine”.

“Hang on,” Adachi said, his eyes scanning the room. “Jin told me he was sending two people. Where's the other one?”

“Oh, that'll be me.”

Adachi and Ichiban turned and gaped at the hostess. She smiled at them pleasantly as Soma gave a hearty laugh.

“Asa Soma”, she said as she gave a little wave.

“Nice to meet you!”

Ichiban's jaw was still on the floor. He had seen those hidden-camera prank shows they had on that app called Youtube, was this one of them? The last thing he was expecting that night was to get his nipple played with by an undercover police officer.

“Detective....i...is this a joke?” he sputtered in shock.

Soma looked amused. “She's good isn't she?” he said approvingly. “That's our best female agent for you!”

Adachi looked at them, thoroughly unconvinced. He knew Namba's team was made up of the best in the business, but he had trouble believing that this odd couple were part of his A-team. The guy looked like one of those annoying, insufferable male influencers and although she played the role of a hostess well, Adachi could sense she was a greenhorn when it came to keeping her emotions in check. And what was with the tension he felt between those two?

“You'll need help getting into some places only women can get into,” Soma reminded them. “Asa will work with you on the field and I will provide backup if required. You can also contact either of us directly if you have information you would like to pass on.”

“We already have a woman in our group,” Adachi said immediately. “We don't need more hostess types like Saeko-san getting pulled into our mess.”

“That's very noble of you, Adachi-san,” Asuka said pointedly, her voice suddenly losing that saccharine sweetness from before. “But I'm not just 'a hostess type'. I'm a trained officer of the law”.

“That's enough,” Soma said in a tone that suggested that he was not in a mood to be challenged, ignoring the thinly veiled look of defiance that Asuka was showing him. “We're here to talk shop. Adachi-san, Kasuga-san, please tell us about the case.”

“We were previously employed at Otohimeland, a soapland that's on Seiryu clan property,” Ichiban started. “Then one day, our boss Nonomiya-san was murdered and our friend Saeko overheard someone calling for Lao Ma over the phone when she was talking to Nonomiya before his death.”

“Lao Ma, also known as Akira Mabuchi,” Adachi continued. “He's a big shot with the Yokohama Liumang and it's a widely known secret that he's bought out the entire Organized Crime Division of the Kanagawa Prefectural Police.”

Asuka's eyes widened; that was corruption on a scale she had never encountered before. If Mabuchi had an entire police division in his pocket, just how deep was the corruption throughout the Police force? It wasn't the first time she had encountered dangerous men, but somehow the thought of this guy Mabuchi sent shivers down her spine.

“So to put it simply, he's basically impossible to get access to,” Ichiban concluded. “Although there's this hostess bar in Restaurant's Row that seems to be where the Liumang high and mighty hang out, but we haven't been able to get in. Sa-chan tried, but she was rejected straight away.”

“See? You do need me after all.” Asuka said with a smug smile. “Also, just how many of you are there? I thought Chief said it was just you both?”

Ichiban chuckled.

“Yeah we've made a few friends along the way. There's Saeko, or Sa-chan. She's an ex-employee of Nonomiya and wants to find the truth of his murder too. And there's Nanba, he's a homeless guy. He's also an ex-nurse, he patched me up when I got dumped in Ijincho with a bullet hole in my chest.”

"Wait wait wait," Asuka interjected. "You what?"

Ichiban sighed. " There's no easy way to explain this. In summary, I confronted my patriarch Masumi Arakawa in Kamurocho. He shot me in the chest and dumped me in a homeless camp, where Nanba found me. I would be dead if not for him, so I owe him my life."

Asuka didn't know how to feel about this Ichiban guy. He had a rough demeanour and he appeared to be a bigger shit talker than Kurosawa, but there was an earnest energy behind him that was extremely engaging. She had to restrain herself from grilling him any further; there would no doubt be other opportunities in the future to hear his story.

“Ok fine,” she said. “But please don't let anyone else outside this group know you are working with us”.

“Don't you trust us?” Ichiban demanded. “And by us, I mean Nanba and Sa-chan too.”

“Are you trying to get me killed?” Asuka asked, her eyes flashing dangerously. Did that poor, lovable fool not understand the magnitude of what's about to happen? 

Soma placed his hand over hers and gave it a gentle squeeze. She flinched, it had been so long since she felt his touch, but she knew that this one was not one of affection; it was a warning. Instinctively, she collected herself again and backed down immediately.

“You need to understand that working with us will be of great personal risk to everyone here, especially Asa,” Soma reminded them. “Having her work undercover in tandem with you as our informants will involve the utmost trust between all of us. The less people knowing about this, the better.”

“He's right”, Adachi conceded. “Ichiban, undercover work is no joke. Shit's real dangerous, if Asa-san gets busted....”

He exchanged knowing glances with Asuka and Soma. 

“We promise that the information that gets exchanged between us will not be divulged to any of the other people in our group.” Adachi said seriously.

“Detective's honour,” he said as he punched his chest in a sign of solidarity.

Asuka and Soma turned to look at Ichiban expectantly.

“Do we have a deal, Kasuga-san?”

Ichiban inspected the motley crew of people in front of him. He never would have expected an ex-Yakuza member like himself to be working in tandem with the Public Safety department. The guy from eighteen years ago would have laughed in his face if he told him that he would be a police informant, but it certainly wasn't the strangest thing to happen to him in recent days.

“Ok fine, you have my word,” he declared,  pouring himself another drink.

“But you're paying for everything tonight right? Because I'm broke as fuck!”

Chapter Text

That night in Rose Blossom was the first time Soma saw Asuka's honey trap act in action. Watching her seduce Ichiban was certainly an educational experience; he couldn't believe that he was looking at the same girl who would blush every single time he ambushed her with any displays of affection. He loved teasing her mercilessly like that; anything to see her show him those cute little expressions of hers.

When he saw her again, he wanted to throw his arms around her so badly. But when she made no attempt to get closer to him, the coldness that emanated from her filled Soma's heart with despair. 'Asa Soma' was nothing like the woman he left behind five years ago. She was sexually aggressive and had an air of confidence that was bordering on audacious. The thought of all the men who have had their dirty paws all over her body irritated him beyond measure. Despite his coyness in front of others, Soma was deceptively possessive of the things he loved.

A man-eating Venus flytrap, that's what Kaga called her. His precious, beautiful bonsai...was she really gone for good? He was deeply worried about her but he could no longer lurk around as her safety net. The most he could do was text her a reminder to her daily: Stay safe.

It served as a sign for her to signal her well-being; if she failed to reply it would indicate that something had happened to her.

And Soma prayed every day that he got a reply.

*

Asuka met Ichiban and Adachi in a seedy-looking alley the following evening. They were waiting for her in front of a flight of stairs that led to a shabby looking door. There was a single, pink neon sign announcing the presence of the club, which was discreet considering the type of signage these sort of establishments usually have. It was clear that this place was more than happy to not be seen or discovered by the masses.

“Lin Lin Hostess Bar,” Adachi gestured. “Just like that notice next to the door says, you'll need to be of Chinese descent to work there”.

“I'm of Chinese descent,” Asuka replied casually, flicking her long hair behind her back.

“Are you for real?” Ichiban exclaimed.

“Sure I am,” Asuka said with a wink. “Let's see how we go shall we?”

The men watched from a distance as she strolled up the stairs and knocked on the door. The manager opened the door and they saw her deep in conversation with him.

“Oi Adachi, you think she's bullshitting?” Ichiban asked, looking thoroughly concerned.

“I honestly don't know,” Adachi admitted. “I've never met a female cop quite like her, but if she can get in, who cares what the truth is, right?”

At that moment, they saw the manager let Asuka into the club.

Their jaws dropped.

“Well I'll be damned,” Ichiban whistled. "I guess we're in."

*

The manager, a middle-aged Chinese man dressed in a Western-style white shirt and black vest was immediately charmed by Asuka, who was able to speak to introduce herself in Chinese. Hiring her on the spot, he took her by the hand and led her inside.

“Welcome to Lin Lin, dear Sa Sa” the manager said with a smile.

“I'll organize a uniform for you and you can get to work straight away!”

Compared to the kitschy stylings of Rose Blossom, Lin Lin had a more old-world atmosphere. The booths were separated by Chinese-style wooden partitions and the walls were decked out with green, paisley-print wallpaper and red decorative fans. The uniform was a short, figure-hugging qipao with a keyhole neckline that massively flattered her cleavage. It was like stepping into a low-budget sex comedy from the 90's.

While most of the business happened in these little booths, Asuka noticed that there was a room that always had the door closed.

“What is that room for?” she asked, eyeing the door innocently.

“That's our VIP room, of course!” the manager replied with a booming laugh. “As the only Chinese hostess club in Ijincho, we often entertain the most important people in our community so they would naturally require some...privacy”.

By law, hostess clubs do not offer sexual services but Asuka had been in enough of these venues to know that 'do not' were words that are suggestion-only. For the right price, many hostesses are more than willing to disappear into private rooms where anything goes. That was also the place Asuka often found herself extracting information out of her targets. It was incredible how vulnerable a man can be when he had a pair of breasts in his face.

“Do you have anyone important coming soon?” Asuka prodded. “I really want to meet someone famous!”

The manager's eyes sparkled dangerously. “Ah, Sa Sa you're a naughty girl,” he chided, as he tapped her on her nose playfully. “You won't be meeting any celebrities here, but when the time is right, you might get to meet some very important people!”

*

“...And that is why I think the Lin Lin Hostess club could be an important source of information,” Asuka finished, as she gave the Public Safety team a run down of her day. It was a combined debriefing session in the Safe House, with the rest of the team in Tokyo joining in via video conference.

“And my face is up here! C'mon guys, why are you acting like it's the first time you've seen me wear something like this?”

The uniform had proven to be quite the distraction. Asuka had gotten used to dressing skimpily in front of the team, but it was never in front of Soma. She knew that Soma was partial to her dressing up in certain 'outfits' during their private time together and he had repeatedly told her he was glad only he got to see that side of her. She had noticed his eyes widen ever-so-slightly when he opened the door and she couldn't help but wonder what was going through his mind now that she was so openly parading in front of everyone else in various states of undress. 

“I wish I get to wear such fun costumes, I look like such a dork!” Kurosawa said wistfully. He was dressed in a white 'Bleach Japan' T-shirt over a long sleeved black top.

“And Soma, she's right. We've seen her boobs a lot so we're used to it, don't worry”.

He patted Soma on the shoulder in an attempt to reassure him, but judging by the look on his face Kurosawa's words did nothing to alleviate his concerns.

“Good job, Hayashi,” Namba praised. “I trust you are getting along with Adachi-san and his friend?”

“Friends, plural,” Asuka said. “He's made a few more along the way.”

Namba looked concerned.

“Don't worry Chief,” Soma assured him. “Asuka and I spoke to Adachi and Kasuga about the importance of keeping this investigation between us”.

Asuka nodded in agreement. “And we trust that they will both keep their word”.

Ishigami flashed a rare smile. “It's nice to see you both working together so well”, he praised as he turned to address Soma directly.

“Bringing you back here was definitely the right decision.”

Asuka's face flushed as Soma returned Ishigami's smile with another joyful one of his own.

“And I'm happy to finally be home,” he replied, as he stole a sideways glance at Asuka.

“I don't want to sound like your parents, but Kurosawa, Hayashi, tread carefully,” Namba reminded them. “Your safety is the utmost importance, so please for the love of God do not take any unnecessary risks”.

Asuka suddenly felt extremely victimized as seven pairs of eyes bore into her, and it certainly had nothing to do with her extremely revealing outfit.

“Hey, I'm not a reckless moron anymore!” she argued indignantly. As a force of habit, she instinctively started to turn to Soma for support, but stopped herself just in time. They made eye contact awkwardly before she hastily looked away.

“That's right, you're not a reckless moron anymore,” Kaga said flatly.

“You're just reckless”.

The room erupted in laughter as Asuka pouted. Soma smiled as he recognized that look on her face; he saw plenty of that during her days as his aide. 

Namba cleared his throat in an effort to get everyone to settle down.

“Hayashi, you'll have your work cut out for you now that Adachi's party has expanded. You'll have to gain their trust without revealing your identity, so please lean on Soma if you need any support.”

Asuka could see Soma looking at her expectantly in the corner of her eye.

“Don't worry”, she smiled confidently. “I'll think of something.”

*

Survive Bar

The Bar District in Ijincho was home to a few drinking holes, but there was one in particular that stood out among the hole-in-the-wall joints in the area. Survive Bar offered a sophisticated, relaxing atmosphere filled with easy-listening Jazz music, live music on the grand piano and also karaoke facilities. It was run by an enigmatic bartender and his flirty assistant named Iroha, who was always on hand to offer a listening ear. Adachi was the one who brought them there and it has since been used as a regular meeting place by Ichiban and his group of misfits, who often bonded over a creative concoction made especially for them by the bartender himself.

Tonight, the remaining members of Ichiban's party were at the venue waiting for him. There was a young woman and a middle aged man who had gone ahead and ordered a few rounds while waiting.

“I wonder why Adachi and Ichiban invited us here tonight,” the bespectacled, middle-aged man asked. He was dressed in a shabby hoodie and his mop of hair badly needed a trim.

“Sa-chan, are you sure you can finish that? It's your fifth drink of the night!”

“Don't worry about me,” the woman snapped. She had a short, chin-length bob and was dressed in a white suit jacket and mini-skirt combo. “And for God's sake Nanba, when was the last time you brushed your teeth?” She wrinkled up her nose, craning her neck to look at the shelf behind the counter.

“Mr Bartender-sir, do you have anything on the shelves that could double up as mouthwash?” she asked desperately.

The door opened and in walked Adachi, Ichiban and Asuka. Saeko and Nanba looked up from their drinks and gawked at the new member of the team.

“Yo, who's this?” Nanba asked. “Your long lost daughter, Adachi? Or did Ichiban finally get a girlfriend?”

“Hi everyone, I'm Asa Soma,” Asuka greeted them pleasantly. “I'm a hostess at Lin Lin.”

Nanba and Saeko paused. “Wait,” Saeko started. “You work at Lin Lin? The Lin Lin on Ijin Street?”

Asuka nodded with a smile. “Yup. And I could get you in too.”

Saeko looked at her suspiciously. “What's in it for me? And why are you taking the risk for me?”

Asuka giggled. “Oh I'm not doing this for you, silly,” she replied, as she suddenly slid her arms around Ichiban.

“I'm doing this for Ichi!”

Nobody was more shocked at that development than Ichiban himself as his jaw dropped.

“Ichi-chan helped me with a little something today, so in return I have decided that I will follow him wherever he goes!”

Saeko glared at Ichiban suspiciously.

“I thought you and Adachi were going to suss out Restaurant Row today? What sort of shenanigans were you up to instead?” she demanded, poking him sharply in his chest as she interrogated him.

“Hey, back off!” Ichiban protested. “I....I went on a side quest! Asa-chan needed our help so we stopped for a bit."

“What sort of help?” Saeko asked, side-eyeing Asuka with a dirty look. 

“I, um, uh....” Ichiban stammered as he found himself lost for words.

“I needed to buy a whip!”

A collective shout of disbelief rang throughout the bar as Asuka spoke up.

“Well, we have a particularly troublesome patron at the club,” Asuka explained. “He really likes it when we whip him and the one I had broke, so Ichi-chan helped get a particularly sadistic one from 'Love Magic'.”

“Ok, but surely a sex shop errand isn't enough for you to sign your life away to him,” Nanba reasoned. “And aren't you a hostess not a BDSM dominatrix?”

Asuka scoffed derisively.

“Are you that naïve to think nothing sexual goes on behind closed doors?” she asked. “The patron went out of control after I used the whip, and long story short Ichi and Adachi-san had to intervene. After he got thrown out, I found out that 'Love Magic' threw in some...freebies with the purchase. I wanted to show my appreciation to Ichi-chan so we went into a love hotel and then we.....” she gave a wistful sigh.

“Oi Asa-chan!" Ichiban cried out in alarm. "What are you-”

“There's no need to be shy, Ichi-chan. We're all adults here,” she replied sweetly. “That's why I decided that I will stay by your side from now on so I can do that nipple thing that you like-”

"Enough about my nipples! I thought I told you not to bring that up again?" Ichiban exclaimed hysterically, his face growing bright red. 

Saeko and Nanba glared at both of them while Ichiban looked at Adachi helplessly, pleading for him to dig him out of this hole.

“Adachi-san,” Saeko demanded. “You were with Ichiban all day. Can you confirm what actually happened?”

Adachi sighed.

“Sorry buddy, I was going to keep your secret but,” he pulled out a pink baton from his back pocket, “The love hotel called and said you left this behind. I think they called it the 'Ascender No.19'-”

Everyone gaped openly as Ichiban nearly passed out from embarrassment and disbelief.

“Listen, lady,” Nanba said sternly. “We're not here here for shits and giggles. We've gotten into some pretty nasty fights along the way. The reason why we're all together is because we've all got skin in the game. We're all searching for answers and will not stop until we get them.”

Asuka and Nanba stared daggers at each other. There was something about him that evoked a strong sense of dislike within her, and it wasn't just the bad breath either. Ichiban had told her that he was a random homeless man who saved him and then decided to tag along. It just seemed oddly coincidental and dare she say, rather calculated on his part. 

“Then what about you, Nanba?” Asuka asked coldly. “What are you searching for?”

Nanba paused uncomfortably. Noticing how he flinched at her direct question, Asuka couldn't help but feel that niggling sense of suspicion intensify within her.

“I'm here to help Ichiban.” he finally said.

“And so am I,” Asuka declared. "I'm guessing that being able to get into Lin Lin is paramount to your investigation, am I right? Which means.....”

She flashed them a knowing smile.

The others exchanged looks. As much as they hate to admit it, Asuka held all the cards. No entry into Lin Lin, no access to information about Mabuchi. The terms were laid plainly out for them.

“Ok, fine,” Saeko conceded. “Asa-chan, please help me get into the club as well. We will explain everything else to you tonight as well.” She raised her glass in acknowledgement.

Nanba frowned, but he too raised his glass of whisky.

“Fine. But you better be ready for a fight!”

“That's cool,” Asuka shrugged as she picked up the pink, phallic looking Ascender No.19 and swiftly lunged at Nanba, stopping just before she landed a hit on his head.

“Did I mention I'm pretty damn good at Kendo?”

Chapter Text

Survive Bar

After being reluctantly accepted into the fold, Asuka found herself drinking alone at the bar counter. Gentle jazz music continued to play in the background as she raised her hand to indicate another top up. She had learnt to enjoy alcohol and increase her liquor tolerance over the years, a vital skill she had to learn in order to look like a convincing hostess. Even so, she would still much rather prefer hot tea then damage her liver with her newfound ability.

She closed her eyes as her thoughts started to swim in her head. 

"Asa-chan, don't you think you've had enough?"

It was Ichiban. He sat down next to her looking concerned.

"I'm fine," she replied, waving a hand flippantly and missing his face by millimetres.

Looking slightly alarmed, Ichiban made a gesture to the bartender to cut her off.

"Hey, I'm not drunk yet!" she protested indignantly.

"I know," Ichiban replied. "That's why I'm stopping you before you get there."

He lowered his voice. "Aren't you scared you'll accidentally say something you shouldn't when you're drunk?"

Ichiban shot her a nervous look. Asuka rolled her eyes and scoffed.

"I can hold my own. You think it was easy to earn everyone's respect being the only woman in the team?"

She raised her glass and took another sip of her gin and tonic. 

"Why did you choose to do what you do?" Ichiban asked curiously. "Don't you get scared?"

That was a good question. She was a long way from her Police Box position in Nagano, which was probably the least threatening position the entire police force had to offer. Becoming a detective had always been a childhood dream of hers so when she got offered a position at the Public Safety academy, it was like a dream come true.

The learning curve was steep, especially more so when her application was revealed to have been fraudulent. Despite that, she bumbled her way through the training and also into Instructor Soma's heart. He was the one who alleviated all her fears and insecurities, and now here she was, deep undercover in Ijincho and further away from her ex-instructor than ever before.

She could feel her heart constrict at the memory of that silvery haired man.

"I'm only human. Of course I get scared," she said wryly as she swirled the leftover contents of her glass. 

"But I have a great team that I can trust with my life. It makes things a lot easier."

She turned to look at him intently.

"What about you? Wasn't being Yakuza a lot scarier? Not only do you need to worry about the authorities you also need to worry about rival gangs. "

Ichiban laughed.

"Not really. Just like you, I'm also surrounded by people I can trust."

"Enough to go to jail for eighteen years for a crime you never committed?"

Ichiban paused at her direct inquisition. He wasn't sure if it was the alcohol but she could be so unexpectedly blunt and direct that it hurts. It was so far removed from that cheeky hostess act she put on for the others just now.

That's exactly what it was: an act. This moody and jaded bitch was probably what she was really like.

He took a sip of the whisky the bartender had kindly poured for him. 

"I owe Arakawa-san my life. He is my patriarch and I will die for him."

Asuka gave a derisive snort.

"Why would you live to give your life for another?" she asked with a sarcastic laugh. "Seems a bit counter-productive, doesn't it?"

There it was again, that sharp tongue that took no prisoners. Despite how cold she sounded, Ichiban didn't sense any anger or resentment coming from her, and he had been on the receiving end of those emotions a lot. Instead, there was an overwhelming sense of sadness emanating from her. He couldn't help but feel disappointed; they were supposed to be partners and complete trust and understanding between them was important to him.

But he wasn't sure if the feeling was necessarily mutual at this time.

"What about you, Asa-chan?" Ichiban challenged.

"Would you die for someone on your team?" 

Sensing her resolve starting to crumble, he prodded even further.

"Detective S, perhaps?"

Asuka flinched. There was indeed a time when she would have given her life to save Soma. They had both risked their lives for each other several times across the duration of their short relationship. But in their line of work, personal losses and sacrifices for the team were commonplace. Kaga had lost an entire team and Goto lost his partner Natsuki. And Asuka knew that both men would have given up everything in a heartbeat to save those people.

Did Soma save her all those times out of love or obligation? Or were they the same thing? The lines between duty and love had always been blurred between both of them and Asuka felt her head start to hurt. 

"Is...there something between both of you?" Ichiban pressed on, sensing that he was on to something.

"What? No, we're just.....colleagues," Asuka replied hastily. Her face had gotten redder and Ichiban had a feeling it had nothing to do with the alcohol.

Realizing that she was close to the tipping point of a thinly-veiled interrogation, Asuka decided to pull the plug.

"Saeko-san," she called out across the room. "Meet me in front of Lin Lin tomorrow night and I'll get you in".

She hastily gathered her stuff and stumbled out of the bar, the door slamming shut behind her with a dull thud.

Ichiban sighed. 

It seems like was going to take a bit of time before she truly opened up to him.

Bond Level +1

*

Asuka took Saeko to the hostess club the next evening under the pretense of a friend referral. The manager was initially unconvinced, but eventually agreed to give Saeko a trial when Asuka agreed to give up half of her commission for the night.

She had been told that they had observed a man named Zheng, a member of the Yokohama Liumang, frequent the premises. This man was the strongest link they had who might have clues on where to find Mabuchi.

When Ichiban, Adachi and Nanba visited the club later that evening, they were greeted by a bevy of beauties.

“Ni hao, welcome!” the hostesses surrounded them as they filed in through the door.

Adachi's eyes lit up at the warm reception. “And ni hao to you too!” he replied lustily. Adachi might have been a police officer, but his number one vice was and had always been pretty women.

The trio were led to a private section where they were seated in a large booth with quilted leather couches.

“Unbelievable, I didn't expect Restaurant Row to have a place like this!” Adachi said excitedly. “Everyone is sexy as hell!”

“Adachi, calm down,” Ichiban muttered as he observed the club. He noticed Asuka fussing over an important looking businessman a couple of booths across, their eyes met momentarily and she gave him a slight nod of acknowledgement before she continued her well-rehearsed hostess act.

There was no sign of Saeko.

The three hostesses that greeted them at the door approached their booth. They introduced themselves one by one; blonde one was named Fang, the one with the short bob was Nian and one with the ponytail was Xian Xian.

“We were introduced by Saeko,” Ichiban said. “Do you know where she is?”

“Oh that lady that just joined today?” Fang asked. “She got requested in the VIP room”. She gestured to the locked door that Asuka had noticed from her last few shifts.

“Funny she's so popular already,” she observed. “Even though she's not Chinese.”

“Um, uh,” Ichiban stuttered. “I think she's part Chinese..”

The girls laughed.

“C'mon, we're not stupid,” she scoffed.

“None of us go to the VIP room. That's where the owner's friends hang out. They get to do whatever they want in there, and from what I've heard, it gets pretty gross.”

“These friends,” Nanba asked. “Are they from the Liumang?”

Fang nodded.

“Yeah, and they are here every day constantly harassing us. The worst one is this tall, bald guy who's the owner's oath brother. None of us want to deal with him, so they gave him to Saeko.”

All three men were suddenly reminded of a guy they had crossed paths with that fit that description.

“Hang on, you mean Saeko is-”

The VIP room door suddenly burst open and Saeko stumbled out, followed by a tall, bald man.

“Stop it! Nobody said you could touch me, you pervert!” she cried out. Ichiban and Adachi immediately recognized the man that was following her; he was non-other than the man they were looking for, Zheng.

“Your boss said I could do whatever I wanted,” he said in a sleazy voice, as he tried to reach out for her again. Ichiban leapt up from his seat and immediately put himself between Zheng and Saeko, glaring fiercely at him.

“T..this creep tried to lick my armpit!” Saeko cried out in disgust.

Everyone stared at Zheng incredulously.

“That's, uh, novel,” Nanba said awkwardly.

Zheng scowled at the group furiously.

“Why the fuck are you guys here?” he snarled menacingly.  

We want you to give us more information about the Yokohama Liumang,” Ichiban said. 

The angry look on his face turned into one of slight confusion.

“Are you stupid?” Zheng replied. “Nobody's going to tell you anything.”

“Surely you're not that loyal,” Ichiban taunted. “Well, you can either spill, or we beat it out of you.”

“I'm dead if I blab!” Zheng said panicking.

“You'll be dead either way,” Ichiban reminded him. “I'll tell the leader of your gang about how you were extorting money from the homeless community.”

Zheng had previously tried extorting money from the homeless community that Nanba and Ichiban had been a part of. An incident that had resulted in Zheng getting his ass kicked by the duo.

“You bastard!” Zheng said. “You think you can threaten me?”

He gestured to a group of men who had quietly gathered around them.

“Kill them where they stand and feed them to the fishes!”

Adachi and Nanba joined him to confront the large group of gang members.

“Ah shit,” Ichiban said as he cracked his knuckles. “Here we go again!”

The furniture went flying and the customers started screaming as the men attacked. Asuka pretended to panic and run for cover, hiding in a corner to observe quietly. As much as she would like to assist, it would be of benefit at that moment to distance herself from the rest of the group. Her training in the academy taught her more sophisticated forms of fighting and street fighting was something she had seen a lot of but never had the chance to partake of. She had participated in her fair share of skirmishes over the years, but watching Ichiban and the guys dish out a good, old fashioned beat down truly was a sight to behold, and somewhat satisfying.

As she watched the others take turns attacking each other, she really hoped that she would do very little personal brawling while on this mission. 

The Liumang riff-raff were no match for the group, with Ichiban landing the final blow that brought Zheng to his knees.

As Zheng groaned in pain from the defeat, Ichiban grabbed him by his collar.

“I have questions for you. And if you don't answer, I'm telling your leader.”

Zheng sighed reluctantly, his face bruised and battered from the assault.

“Fine,” he conceded. “I'll talk. But you have to promise not to rat me out!”

Ichiban rolled his eyes.

“I'm not that much of an asshole,” he gestured towards the booth that they were just in before.

“Let's sit and chat, shall we?”

The group sat down on the leather couch again and Ichiban kindly ordered a round of drinks for the table. Asuka delivered the drinks to the booth with a friendly smile, making sure to hang around the section so she will be within earshot of their conversation.

Zheng eyed the drink nervously before he took a small sip. He winced as the alcohol stung the cut on his lip. Ichiban and Adachi immediately grilled him over his relation with Nonomiya.

“Your soapland owner?" Zheng asked, looking genuinely confused. "I don't understand, isn't that on Seiryu Clan turf? Why would Mabuchi kill someone there?”

“That's exactly what we want to know as well,” Ichiban replied.

“Are you sure it was Mabuchi?” Zheng asked again.

“Well, I heard people call out for 'Lao Ma' over the phone,” Saeko said firmly. “Do you call him that too?”

Zheng shook his head. “Nope, I don't know him that well. That and I don't speak a single word of Chinese.”

“What?” Nanba said incredulously. “How can you be Liumang and not speak Chinese?”

“The gang was founded back in my Grandparents' time, dumbass,” Zheng snapped. “Back then everyone spoke Chinese but by the time it came to our generation, we were born and raised in Japan. Sure, there are a few who are extremely fluent but everyone else probably only know how to say ni hao and xie xie.”

“But your nationality,” Adachi started. “You're Chinese right?”

Zheng nodded. “Yup, and thank God for that. If your parents are illegal immigrants, you are effectively stateless. No citizenship means no educational rights. That's why many Liumang members are illiterate.”

Ichiban sighed and shook his head. “Geez, that's rough. It reminds me of the old school Yakuza. No wonder you guys are so tight knit, you gotta stay together when the rest of the country doesn't accept you.”

“What about Mabuchi? Is he illiterate too?”

“Oh quite the opposite,” Zheng replied. “Sure he grew up poor, but he worked his ass off and went to a good college. He learnt not only Chinese, but also English and Korean. He's really fucking smart and surrounds himself with other like-minded people. I sure as hell ain't in that circle!”

“Do you know where he is then? Or have his phone number at least?” Ichiban pressed on.

“Are you dumb? I just told you we aren't in the same circle!” Zheng snapped impatiently.

Adachi leant in and glared at him menacingly.

“You better not be lying!”

Saeko sighed.

“Aww man, this loser isn't even on the bottom rung on the ladder!” she said in a disappointed tone.

“Oi,” Zheng interjected with a scowl on his face. “You've got a pretty face, but pity about that mouth of yours.”

As Saeko and Zheng continued to stare daggers at each other, Ichiban and Adachi looked at each other and shrugged their shoulders reluctantly.

“Well sounds like this was all a waste,” Ichiban concluded. He turned to Zheng, “You can leave now.”

Zheng looked stunned.

“What the? Does that mean you beat my ass for nothing? No wait..you were always going to rat me out, weren't you?”

Ichiban looked bamboozled.

“Huh? No we weren't. I just wanted to find Mabuchi and ask him about our boss' murder. That's all.”

Zheng looked unconvinced. Ichiban patted him on his shoulder reassuringly.

“Look, I know you gave me as much information as you could. I'm not going to rat you out and get you killed”.

They turned to leave, but Zheng suddenly spoke up.

“Actually...it's not like I don't know anything”.

They stopped and looked back at him expectantly.

“I don't know much about him personally,” Zheng started. “But I can tell you what I know about his businesses, like the Yokohama Trading Company. That's just one of them, and it's his biggest one.”

“It's basically an import export business”, he explained. “It buys ingredients and kitchen stuff from China and sells them to restaurants here. Many of their clients are really high-end places here in Chinatown.”

“Hang on,” Adachi said, looking thoroughly confused. “I thought you Liumang hated Chinatown because the people there ran you out from their territory?”

“Sure we do,” Zheng confirmed. “But this is Mabuchi's way of getting some sort of payback. When he first started the company, nobody in Chinatown would entertain him. But with how good quality and cheap his prices are, they couldn't ignore him forever. The economy was fucked, so they couldn't pass up on his offer. Now they can't stay open without him!”

“Hmm, so if this trading company is his biggest company, wouldn't he check in quite often?” Ichiban pressed on excitedly.

Zheng shrugged his shoulders. “I used to work part time at their warehouse on the other side of Hamakita Park. I was unloading their cargo for one month straight and never saw him.”

“What? You only stuck it out for one month?” Saeko asked, looked disgusted.

“You expect consistency from a guy like him?” Adachi asked sarcastically.

“Shut up assholes,” Zheng retorted. “Unloading cargo is hard work. I'll like to see you try!”

Ichiban looked thoughtful.

“Hmm, looks like it's time to find jobs at the warehouse!”

“Don't get your hopes up,” Zheng warned. “Bunch of Japanese guys like you will only get turned away. They only hire Liumang guys.”

“That's ok,” Ichiban replied dismissively. “We know someone from the job agency 'Hello Work' who might be able to sneak us in. The man's got connections!”

“Hey, um, you're really not going to rat on me stealing money from the homeless?” Zheng said. “Because I-I'm...really fucking scared of Mabuchi.”

“Oh my God, how many times do I have to tell you that I won't say anything?” Ichiban said exasperatedly. “And thank you for your intel. Why did you decide to tell us anyway?”

Zheng laughed.

“Oh, I thought I owed you one for keeping things to yourself.”

“Well, thank you man,” Ichiban replied, patting Zheng on the shoulder. He stole a glance at Asuka who was putting on a fine act of clearing up the booth next to them.

“And while you're at it, please stop asking to lick someone's armpit, hey?”

Asuka had to bite her bottom lip to stifle a snort of laughter.

“No I promise, just kissing and groping next time!” Zheng assured them.

Saeko looked at him with a look of disgust.

“Ichiban, can we kill him instead?”

“No wait! Ok fine, I promise I'll behave!” Zheng cried out in panic.

The manager escorted him from the premises rather unceremoniously. Friend of the owner or not, he did not take too kindly to the venue getting destroyed.

*

Asuka gathered with the rest of the group again after her shift. They had suggested going back to the inn that the men had been staying at. The 'inn' in question was a facility that was registered as a restaurant, but was in reality a thinly-disguised brothel and refuge for women who need it. The woman who ran it was Hamako, a tough-as-nails, no-nonsense older woman who had no doubt seen a lot of shit. Adachi mentioned in passing that the place had been a repeat target of Bleach Japan's protests, which reminded Asuka of her partner Toru Kurosawa.

She wondered if he had managed to infiltrate their ranks. Despite his irrelevant sense of humour and occasional moments of immaturity, he was an outstanding Public Safety officer and reliable partner.

Hamako looked surprised when she saw Asuka and Saeko. Her heavily penciled brows raised in surprise when she saw the two woman.

“Well well well,” she remarked. “You sweet-talked two women into coming here? I'm impressed!”

“It's not like that at all,” Saeko retorted. “And I wouldn't call anyone who gets invited here 'lucky'.”

Asuka couldn't help but agree. She had seen plenty of brothels and sex clubs in her time, but she had never been to one with this level of hygiene.

The group went upstairs. It was difficult to find a corner without a suspicious looking stain. She remembered that time Kurosawa had gotten hold of one of those UV light devices and they used it at a sex club; that lit up the room in places that they didn't think it was possible to get DNA splotches on. Hamako's place would undoubtedly put that joint to shame.

“So what do you think?” Adachi asked. “I wasn't expecting Zheng to give us anything, but that information could be quite useful”.

“That was quite a scoop,” Asuka remarked with a smirk on her face. “I'm pretty impressed that you beat the crap out of him and could still get him to give you such sensitive information.”

Ichiban laughed sheepishly.

“I've honestly got nothing against the guy. Just because he didn't know where Mabuchi is doesn't mean I want to get him killed.”

Asuka peered at him curiously. Eighteen years in prison was something that would break almost anyone, much less an innocent man. Many come out angrier than before and find ways to get back at society. It seemed to have had the opposite effect on Ichiban; he had somehow emerged with a newfound trust and belief in the people around him.

It was truly baffling.

“So we're all going to work at the Yokohama Trading Company then?” Saeko asked, looking around the room.

“Actually, I was thinking I should stay at the club instead,” Asuka replied as everyone stared at her in surprise.

“Mabuchi could still show up at the club. It would make sense to investigate on both fronts, don't you think? Besides, it'll be hard for your friend at 'Hello Work ' to justify sending two women into such a physically demanding environment.”

“Wow, spoken like a true co-, I mean, a true co-operative individual of our team!” Ichiban said hurriedly, biting his tongue before he accidentally let slip of something he shouldn't have.

Phew, that was close, he thought.

“So that settles it,” Adachi said. “We'll carry on our investigations on two fronts. And for the love of God.”

He looked directly at Asuka, who recognized that warning look in his eyes.

“Stay safe.”

Chapter Text

As agreed with Ichiban and the others, Asuka remained working as a hostess at Lin Lin while the others found work at the Yokohama warehouse. A couple of days passed with no incident, but it didn't take long for them to uncover something sinister.

One evening, Asuka was urgently summoned to their usual meeting place in Ichiban's dingy room. She managed to sit in a spot that didn't have a suspicious looking stain on it.

"Couldn't we have done this somewhere else?" Saeko complained. "Maybe in Survive Bar? I swear this place is a biohazard!" 

"We'll have more privacy here," Adachi advised. "I know it isn't the most comfortable, but we can't risk anyone overhearing what we're about to discuss."

Asuka nodded in agreement. She was equally as uncomfortable as Saeko being in that room; every time she left she always showered immediately when she got home. Nonetheless, compared to the homeless shelter, this must feel like the Ritz Carlton to the guys. 

"If it makes you feel better, none of these stains are ours," Ichiban offered brightly.

Nope, that did nothing to alleviate the women's disgust.

Asuka laughed. "I had no doubt", she assured him. "There is no way you are getting laid in a place like this," she observed.

A collective 'ooo' sounded through the room, as the appreciative smile on Ichiban's face quickly faded. 

"Sick burn, Asa-chan," Saeko praised, smirking slyly. 

"Was that love hotel you both went to better than this?" she enquired curiously.

"Oh that was a fantastic place," Asuka started animatedly. "They had this structure called the X-Cross with handcuffs-"

"Ok that's enough!" Ichiban interrupted. He knew she was making all those things up on the fly but listening to it still made him feel really dirty. With the way she could describe BDSM equipment with such detail, Ichiban wondered if she really was into that. He wanted to ask but he also knew this wasn't the time to ask personal questions.

"Anything new in the hostess club?" he asked quickly in a bid to change the subject.

Asuka shook her head.

“It's business as usual in Lin Lin,” she reported. “No sign of Mabuchi or any Liumang big wigs. What about you?”

“Just lots of heavy lifting. Zheng was right, that shit is hard. We've been unloading crates of dried goods for days now”, Ichiban said. “Stuff like dried abalone and sharks fin. And it's legit, high quality stuff too”.

Asuka rubbed her chin thoughtfully. It didn't seem like anything out of the ordinary. Were they barking up the wrong tree after all?

“Actually”, Nanba started. “We did find this strange crate that was full of paper. No idea what it's for though.”

"What did the paper look like?" Asuka asked. "Was it like those liners for the dim sum bamboo baskets that they use to steam food?"

He shook his head.

"Not even close. They were rectangular, about this big," he mimed the size and shape approximately with his fingers. "And they came in big wads."

“And I've been managing the payment counter,” Saeko piped up. “I don't think I've seen so much foreign currency before. The sales rep processes the invoice and then I pay the suppliers in cold hard cash from the safe. I figured they get their money in one lump sum and there’s less paperwork, so that’s why the Chinese suppliers are willing to sell at a much lower price.”

“Cash?” Asuka exclaimed. “Sa-chan..just how much Chinese yuan in cash are you handling on a daily basis?”

She shrugged her shoulders.

“A lot. Although, something really weird happened today. We ran out of cash in the safe and the supervisor told the client to come back in half an hour because he was going to get more out from the bank. Except…” her voice trailed off uncomfortably.

“He didn’t leave the warehouse at all. But here's where things got really weird.”

“Remember that crate of paper?” Nanba asked, as everyone turned to him. 

“They took a crate of it upstairs and before you know it, the supervisor emerged as scheduled with a briefcase of cash for the clients.”

Asuka's eyes widened.

“No way,” she whispered as a look of realization dawned upon her. “Does that mean-”

“Counterfeit bills,” Ichiban said. “Those have got to be fake.”

The weight of those accusations were huge. Asuka wasn't sure if Ichiban realized the magnitude of those words but as the pieces started to fall into place, it became harder to deny. 

The circumstantial evidence was there, but surely not?

“Ok, it's not that I don't believe you," Asuka said, her head starting to spin. "But are you sure he never left the warehouse to go to the bank?”.

“He went to the second floor. He never went outside”, Ichiban confirmed as the others nodded in agreement.

“Could it be they had another safe with spare cash upstairs?” Adachi offered, also trying to pay Devil's advocate with his fellow detective.

“Why did he ask the client to come back in half an hour then?” Ichiban demanded. “If there was indeed extra cash upstairs, he could have just gone upstairs and grabbed it within minutes.”

“You make a great point,” Asuka concurred. “So let me get this straight: Sa-chan didn’t have enough cash to pay the vendor and then the boss got more money from somewhere in the building? And that’s after he took the box with the paper in it with him upstairs?”

“Wait”, Nanba said slowly, his fingers miming the size and shape of the paper again. "So the paper is-”

“What they use to print the fake money!” Asuka and Ichiban exclaimed together. 

“You think they’ve got that kind of printer?” Nanba asked quizzically, his face looking doubtful.

“Well, they’ve got to,” Ichiban insisted. "How else would you explain the sudden appearance of all that foreign cash?"

“So does that mean they are buying all the goods they’re importing with their fake-ass money?” Adachi asked incredulously. “That sounds wild.”

“But not impossible,” Saeko said firmly. “They make all their payments up front with cash,” she reminded him. “That’s rare in this day and age, especially with the volume of their sales. That would explain why they can sell their products at cost. Their profits are crazy.”

“At cost? They’re basically getting their products for free,” Adachi said. “Plus, the money gets taken to China, leaving no trace in Japan. Damn, Mabuchi is a sharp guy.”

"Maybe he’s trying to hide where the money comes from?” Ichiban asked.

“You mean, like money laundering?” Asuka asked.

Ichiban nodded gravely.

“When I was in jail, I overheard some guys say foreign currency is much easier to forge than Japanese Yen. The only problem is that you can’t turn that fake foreign cash into Yen. You’ll get busted the moment you take that to the bank. Which is why Mabuchi is running this cash only scheme, it's a way to turn his fake Yuan into real money!”

"So Mabuchi is basically buying his goods from his Chinese suppliers for nothing", Asuka recited as she tried to organize the thoughts in her head. "And then selling these products he's basically getting for free for actual money, then-"

“The products are just a front for money laundering!” Adachi concluded.

It sounded frankly ludicrous, but it also made sense. The Public Safety team had dealt with many money laundering schemes before, but one where potentially self-produced counterfeit notes were part of the exercise? This was next-level; the Public Safety team won't know what hit them when they have their next meeting. 

“We’ve got leverage on Mabuchi now!” Saeko declared triumphantly. "Let's call the cops!"

“Hang on, we still don’t have evidence,” Adachi interjected.

Asuka agreed with him. “Until then, this is just speculation. We are just working off circumstantial evidence here.”

Saeko groaned.

“What if we snuck up to the second floor and took a picture of the printer?” she suggested.

“Are you insane?” Asuka hissed. “If they’ve got something that big up there, security will be tight.”

“And if you get caught,” Asuka continued. “It won’t just be a slap on the wrist either. I am not going to let you all take that risk!”

“Well, we only need to slip only one fake bill out,” Nanba deduced. He turned to Saeko.

“You already have access to the fake money. Think you could pull that off?”

“Uh, did you forget about the body check they do on me before I leave?” Saeko reminded him.

“Well, they don’t check us guys since we’re just carrying stuff,” Ichiban said. “Think you could slip me a note?”

Saeko shrugged. “I can try”.

Nanba stretched his arms out and yawned. “I can’t wait for this gig to be over. I’m so fucking tired of lifting shit all day every day!”

Saeko got up from her seat.

“Well, guess that settles it. Tomorrow we take action. In the meantime, let's have a really nice dinner! Who wants to come along with me to get ingredients?”

“I’ll come along,” Ichiban volunteered as he got up on his feet. “Count me in too!” Asuka said.

*

It was an uncharacteristically cold night. They shivered as they made their way to the supermarket, quickly regretting their decision to leave the warm room. Asuka realized that this was the first time she was alone with Ichiban and Saeko. While Ichiban was well-aware of her true identity, Saeko wasn't. She was used to being the only woman in the team, something they both had in common so she could also understand the defensive nature of Saeko's initial reaction when she first made her appearance.

Despite the narrative of women-supporting-other women, the reality was women tend to not like other women intruding into their space.

Asuka liked Saeko. She wondered if it was because Saeko saw her as a love rival, but Asuka had no romantic interest in any of the men in the group.

She had enough troubles with love to work through as it was.

“So Ichiban, you used to be yakuza huh?” Saeko asked. “Was that scary?”

“I guess so,” Ichiban conceded. “But what counts as scary is different for everyone, isn’t it?”

He turned to Asuka.

“What about you? Do you still get scared?”

Their eyes met and they exchanged a sincere, understanding smile. Asuka was reminded of their recent conversation at Survive Bar. The truth was, things never really get less scary for her, only more so. The only way she could alleviate her fears was the reminder that she was never alone. 

“Sometimes,” she replied coyly. “The old me would have found it really scary, but these days….not so much anymore”.

"Being a hostess can be a pretty dangerous job," Saeko said. "It gets a bit easier over time when you figure out the crowd and find your regulars. But until then, one wrong move could get you involved with the wrong crowd and it's game over."

"Have you seen that happen?"

"Not really. Getting offed by a criminal is rare, but what happens way too often is when a girl gets too attached to a regular who promised her the world.... by the time she discovers it's all a lie, it's too late", Saeko said sadly.

"Yeah, men are so good at sweet talking when they want to have sex with you, aren't they?" Asuka said wryly.

"I'm not like that!"

The women turned and stared at Ichiban, who also look just as bewildered at what he had just blurted out.

Asuka laughed. "I know. Not all men are like that, and you're definitely an exception". 

The look in her eyes showed that she genuinely meant what she said. He had stolen a glance at her before and realized that her previous spiel sounded...extremely personal. Her words were dripping with bitterness and he was now almost certain that she was hiding some deep, personal heartache. 

In spite of that, it seemed like she was starting to trust him. 

However there was no time to reflect on this fluff, because they were suddenly surrounded by a group of six menacing looking men. Judging by the way they were dressed, Ichiban recognized them as a mix of Newbie Yakuza and a single Ornery Yakuza. 

"What's this?" the Ornery Yakuza asked Ichiban, leering lasciviously at the group. "Out so late with two beautiful women? Aren't you a lucky one!"

"How about sharing, kyodai?"

"Urk, you're disgusting," Saeko said, her face twisted in disgust.

"I would walk away if I were you," Asuka said coolly. 

The Yakuza's lip curled into a snarl as he pulled a knife out. Ichiban raised his fists in response, his brow furrowed on concentration.

"Stay behind me," Ichiban instructed, as he positioned himself between the women in a bid to shield them. However, the women remained completely unfazed.

"You're outnumbered on your own," Saeko advised him as she brandished her handbag. Asuka looked around and picked up a wooden stick that was lying in a pile of trash nearby. It wasn't a kendo stick, but she knew she was more than capable to causing a fair bit of damage with whatever she could get her hands on.

"Time for me to pull my weight," she advised with a wink, swinging the wooden stick around like she was warming up.

"Ha! You're still outnumbered!" one of the Newbie Yakuza said gleefully. There were six of them against Ichiban, Saeko and Asuka.

The trio looked at each other and nodded.

Ichiban rushed at the Ornery Yakuza, who was the closest to him. He gave him a huge punch to the face that sent him onto the ground. Saeko followed it up with a kick into his ribs, causing him to yell and stay on the ground incapacitated.

"Aniki!" the men cried out as they realized that their captain had been knocked out cold so quickly. One of the Newbie Yakuza tried to attack Asuka with a knife, but she ducked just in time.

"Too slow!" she teased, as she swung her wooden stick and connected with his midsection. The poor guy gave a loud 'oof!' as he fell to the ground, completely winded. 

"Ouch!" Ichiban said, wincing as he saw the guy go flying. "That's gotta hurt!"

Asuka laughed. "You should try this some time!" she said, as she narrowly avoided another lunging knife attack from a Newbie Yakuza. Saeko came after him with a huge swing of her handbag, knocking him off balance so Asuka could finish him off with a sweeping blow to his legs.

"Guys, can we concentrate on taking these idiots down?" Saeko called out. Ichiban staggered as he copped a punch to the face. He shook his head and blinked, a bruise rapidly forming on his cheek. "I only have two fists!" he complained, as he took another guy out with a wind-up punch. "I need a weapon of some sort."

Noticing the stick in her hand, Asuka had an idea.

"Ichi, catch!"

She threw the stick to Ichiban, who caught it cleanly. He grinned when he looked at the last two men who continued to circle him.

"Get ready for a world of hurt!" he said, as he swung the stick around with so much force the men went flying. As they landed on the ground, Asuka and Saeko targeted each man with a curb stomp to finish things up.

"L-let's get out of here!" the men howled as they ran helter-skelter down the street, dragging their unconscious aniki with them.

Asuka and Saeko laughed with glee, high fiving each other in victory. 

"Geez, you women sure can fight", Ichiban grimaced as his swollen cheek started to sting.

"Did you think we were just going to sit back and let you protect us?" Asuka asked, looking rather offended. "I told you I'm here to fight alongside you, not just provide moral support"

"Yeah, I'll kick anyone's ass, you should know this by now!" Saeko said, pumping her fist in determination.

Ichiban sighed.

"So, let me say this again. Are you sure you both want to do this?" he asked. "We're dealing with dangerous criminals here, not drunken perverts like that lot we just beat up."

He paused. 

"We could all die, you know?"

His gaze met Asuka's again. He wondered if it was ever possible to tap out of an undercover mission if you ever got too scared. Judging by her most recent performance it was obvious that she was more than capable of holding her own than the average person in the team but this was a regular beat down of a few punks. Ichiban knew first-hand how dangerous the top brass of the criminal underworld was, and it was no place for a woman with no existing ties to the family. 

"I know", Asuka replied coyly. "But I'll much rather make a difference in this world than to just...do what I did. If Sa-chan can find the courage to stand up for what's right, then I sure as hell can as well!"

Saeko put her arm around her shoulder.

“I feel the same way,” she admitted. “The old me would have been so scared, but the new me…I feel like I can do anything!”

The women smiled and nodded in acknowledgement to each other.

"If we go, let's go out in a blaze of glory!" Saeko cried out passionately. 

Ichiban laughed.

“It’s good to see you girls play nice with each other,” he said. “But don’t forget, please be careful!”

The women looked back at him and rolled their eyes.

“You worry too much!” they both cried out in unison, as they ran towards the supermarket together.

Ichiban shook his head as he ran after them. He couldn't imagine how hard it was for her to keep up this facade. He was starting to doubt if 'Asa Soma' was even her real name. He understood the need for certain restrictions in order to maintain their professional relationship, but he really wanted to see and get to know the real her.

Even though this partnership was one of necessity, Ichiban was not one to exploit others.

He wanted to protect each and every one in the team. 

Ichiban sighed as he watched the two women giggling together.

Perhaps some day she will show her true face to him. 

Chapter Text

During their weekly group debriefing, Asuka reported the recent findings to the team. The shock on everyone's face was palpable. What everyone thought would be a gangland war between three rival factions had now turned into a matter of national security.

Chief Namba suddenly felt extremely validated for having sent his team in to investigate.

“Good job,” he said gravely. “Have we secured any concrete evidence yet?”

“Adachi and Ichiban will try and sneak a counterfeit note out tomorrow,” Asuka reported. 

“Security is tight, but I think they will be able to do it. Although...” her voice trailed off.

“Is there a way we can provide some kind of back up? Just in case something doesn't go according to plan.”

She looked around the room hopefully, willing any one to make eye contact with her to support her cause.

“I'll be happy to keep an eye on the warehouse.”

Asuka turned, ready to shoot a grateful look to the only person who had thrown his support behind her. Her smile faded slightly when she noticed that it was Soma.

“Very well, Soma I'll leave it up to you,” Ishigami ordered. “Make sure you and Hayashi keep each other updated on both fronts.”

"Don't worry", Soma said to Asuka, a confident and reassuring smile plastered across his face.

"I'll make sure nothing happens to them. You on the other hand."

Their eyes met and Soma's smile turned into a serious look.

"No reckless behaviour, promise?"

*

The next day, Asuka went into her shift at the hostess club as scheduled. Soma would be keeping close watch on the Yokohama Trading Company from afar and call for back up if things get out of hand. Before her shift, he had reassured her repeatedly that he would make sure Ichiban and the team were not hurt. The look in his eyes had so much conviction it was difficult not to be moved, although her stomach twisted when she realized that he recognized that look; it was the same one he gave her when he first told her he loved her.

And she knew how that turned out.

Even though they had agreed to investigate separately, Asuka couldn't help but feel worried. It seemed like they had stumbled across a large scale counterfeiting scheme and the type of people who ran those types of operations weren't exactly your everyday petty criminal. Even her own team, which was made up of the best of the best, would have had their work cut out for them.

Never mind Ichiban, would Soma be ok? He was no doubt an amazing detective but he was still human, and humans make mistakes. And they sometimes end up in the wrong place at the wrong time.

She was suddenly reminded of Kurume, Soma's sister and a lump appeared in her throat.

“Sa-Sa? Where are you?”

The manager's voice cut through the venue, jolting Asuka back to her senses.

“There you are,” he said, fussing over her outfit as he caught sight of her. His hands boldly fluffed up her cleavage, lingering on her breasts for just a bit too long for her liking. The other hostesses had previously told her he was gay, but she wasn't so sure.

“Didn't you say you wanted to meet some famous people in our community?” he asked, his eyes sparkling mysteriously. Asuka's face perked up immediately.

“Oh? Who are they? When are they coming? Is it tonight?” she asked with rapid-fire precision, getting closer and closer. The manager laughed and pinched her cheek affectionately.

“You always ask so many question, Sa-sa-chan!” he lectured.

“I promise you, in a couple of hours you will get a chance to meet these esteemed gentlemen, ok?”

Asuka nodded reluctantly.

“Now go make yourself look pretty!” he ordered, slapping her on her butt. He made Asuka's skin crawl, but she forced a smile and moved out of his way as quickly as possible.

Hopefully this would be the last time she would have to put up with his blatant sexual harassment. She had not heard anything from Ichiban all day, or Soma for that matter. With the added anticipation of these mysterious men arriving tonight, Asuka thought she was going to pass out from arrhythmia.

It looked like the entire venue had been booked out. The people arriving later that night must be super important; Asuka had had never seen so much security in the place. The manager was also more flustered than usual as he hurried around all evening, barking orders and making sure everything was in order.

"They're here," someone hissed. The hostesses quickly lined up and bowed their heads as instructed. This wasn't standard practice but the manager had insisted that the VIP status of this group of men required a formal welcome. 

"Mabuchi-san! Please, right this way!"

Asuka felt her heart skip a beat at the sound of that name. She immediately looked up and locked eyes with a plump, middle aged man in a white suit. His hair was piled high and slicked across to the right side of his face in a dramatic part that wouldn't look out of place in the 70's, as did his crisp white suit. His eyes were cold and calculating, and the corner of his lips twitched when he saw her. 

Asuka felt a shiver run down her spine as she quickly averted her eyes. She had met many menacing men over the years, but something about Mabuchi's gaze incited an odd , visceral feeling of dread within her.

Mabuchi was not the only VIP guest for the night. Another large group entered the venue shortly after and the manager became noticeably more nervous than before.

"Master Zhao!" he simpered in an oily-sounding, groveling voice. "Always fashionably late, I see? Please, this way! Our VIP room has been reserved just for you."

Asuka tried to steal a glance at this Master Zhao, but he was flanked by so many guards that it was impossible to past them at all. Whoever this man was must be even more important than Mabuchi himself.

Only Mabuchi, Master Zhao and about three other men went into the VIP room. The door shut with a resounding thud and the other men took a seat in the outside booths. The manager gestured to Lin Lin and Nian to follow him into the room.

Asuka immediately went up to him and spoke up; she was not going to miss this chance.

"Can I come too?" she offered, putting on her best innocent kitten face. The manager laughed and pinched her on the cheek.

"You're so cute when you're begging me for favours, Sa-Sa! But Master Zhao and Mabuchi-san always see Lin Lin-chan and Nian-chan only, so I'm sorry you'll have to sit this one out", the manager apologized, stroking her on her shoulder.

"But there are plenty of other customers who would love to spend time with you," he gestured around the venue.

"If you show them that cute face you just showed me, you can make someone else feel really good, you know?"

Asuka gave him a pained smile in response. There has to be a way to force her way into that VIP room! She didn't know who this Master Zhao was, but she had no doubt that the conversations between them would contain all sorts of incriminating evidence for his crimes and she did not want to let go of this golden opportunity.

"What is your name, pretty lady?" a young man asked, interrupting her plans. He looked no-older than twenty and judging by his wide-eyed look in her presence, also looked like he had never seen a woman before. 

"I'm Sa-Sa," she introduced herself, as she led him by the arm towards a booth. "Would you like a drink?"

It was always easier to look after the younger, inexperienced guys. Most of them were satisfied with basic communication and light flirting, which meant that she could also think of a way to somehow infiltrate the VIP room. However, this kid proved to be much more enthusiastic than the average young punk and would not stop paying the utmost attention to her. 

"My name is Sakimi," he said shyly. "Have you been working here a long time?" 

"A couple of weeks now," she replied curtly. Her eyes were facing him but she continued to focus on the VIP room door in her peripheral vision. 

"If you need help getting your sales up, I can come here more often-"

"That's nice, Sashimi-san," she replied distractedly, her brain still working furiously on a plan to crash the party.

"Uh, my name is Sakimi," he reminded her, sounding rather disappointed. The sorrow in his voice was enough to turn Asuka's attention back on him, and an idea struck her.

"Sakimi-san, was it?" she asked sweetly as she gradually started leaning up close against him. "Do you work for Mabuchi-san?"

His face lit up at her sudden display of affection. 

"Y...yes ma'am! I am one of Mabuchi's most trusted aides!" he said excitedly. Asuka knew immediately that he was full of shit, but she pressed on.

"Oh really now? So can you tell me what sort of woman he likes?"

"Well, I know he always requests for Nian-chan when he's here, so I guess he likes them a bit younger. Master Zhao always ends up with Lin Lin-san, but from what I hear it seems like the manager shoving in the top girl because he can, as opposed to it being Master Zhao's personal preference, so who knows?"

Asuka nodded in understanding. That piece of information wasn't exactly useless; if Mabuchi liked them younger, then it wouldn't make sense to try and appeal to him. She knew her limitations within this domain and would never try to push the boundaries unnecessarily.

If she wasn't Mabuchi's cup of tea, then maybe.... 

"I like slightly more mature women, so Sa-Sa-san, you're right up my-" 

The door of the VIP room flew open suddenly. A very irate-looking Mabuchi stormed out, busy talking on the phone.

“Hang on, I'll be there soon,” Mabuchi said as he hung up. He made eye contact with a group of men sitting near her and they immediately nodded and excused themselves. 

As they walked past, she overheard Mabuchi saying to them in a low voice, “There's been an explosion at the warehouse. They caught four people trying to smuggle something out.”

Asuka froze as she felt her blood run cold. She gripped the bottle of whisky in her hands so tightly her knuckles had turned white.

“Are you ok?”

She jumped when she felt the warm touch of someone's hand on her leg. She also noticed that she had spilt some of the alcohol on the table.

“Yes, sorry I'm just a bit overwhelmed to be in the presence of such a handsome man like yourself!” she laughed nervously as Sakimi blushed.

Four people, surely that meant Ichiban, Adachi, Nanba and Saeko, she thought.

What about Soma? He was supposed to make sure nothing happened to the group, if they had been captured then did that mean....

Mabuchi's words echoed in her mind.

“There's been an explosion”.

She was suddenly reminded again of what had happened to Kurume and her stomach started to churn.

Mabuchi was just about to leave, she has one chance; it's now or never.

Noticing one of the hostesses about to walk past, Asuka seized the moment and deliberately grabbed the unfortunate Sakimi in the crotch.

The poor, inexperienced youth squealed so loudly he jumped a feet in the air just as the hostess drew level, slamming head first into the tray she was carrying. The tray was fully loaded with drinks and snacks and the impact sent thousands of dollars worth of alcohol and broken glass flying everywhere. 

The effect was even more astounding than she predicted. Apologizing profusely, Asuka tried to excuse herself amongst the chaos but at that moment the door of the VIP room opened again. A man stuck his head out, no doubt concerned about the commotion.

“What's going on out here?” he asked gruffly, looking visibly irritated. He saw the broken glass and Sakimi lying unconscious on the floor and rolled his eyes.

“Master Zhao doesn't like to be disturbed, so keep it down!”

Without waiting for a response, he pulled the door close behind him.

As she slowly slinked away before the manager could collar her, Asuka managed to catch a glimpse inside the VIP room just before the door slammed shut.

She only had seconds, but she caught sight of a young man with slicked back hair and round shades sitting in one of the leather couches, smoking a cigar, looking like he did not have a care in the world.

*

Asuka left the venue just in time to see Mabuchi and his men disappear into a large white car. Catching sight of a taxi nearby, she ran towards it, her eyes glued on the target the entire time.

"The base fare is 730 yen", the driver advised as she hopped in. "Where would you like to go?" 

She pointed to the white vehicle that was starting to round a corner.

"Follow that car".

As the taxi tailed Mabuchi and his men, she called Soma.

No answer.

She tried again.

No answer.

Ok, calm down, Asuka willed herself as she felt her head start to spin.

Just because he's not answering doesn't mean something has happened to him. He always turned his phone off when on a stakeout.

She tried calling Goto. Once again, it went to voicemail. 

Surely not him too!

She felt her stomach churn and she was starting to hyperventilate. She knew she could call every single one of the Public Safety team, but this wasn't an official operation where all hands were on deck. Soma volunteered to keep an eye on the situation, there isn't any more back up from the rest of the team. Any additional help would have come from the local police, but that would only happen if Soma or someone else called for it. 

She was confident that Ichiban and the crew were fine for now; Mabuchi would want them alive so he could question them. 

Soma on the other hand....

Tears started to prickle the corners of her eyes as she trembled. She still remembered the last time he nearly got crushed by burning rubble during a mission, if she hadn't pulled him away at the last moment...she didn't even want to think about that time again.

How close she came to losing him forever.

But hasn't she already lost him forever in some way? Try as she might, she still cared about Soma deeply. Facing him again had been difficult and she didn't dare to seek a reconciliation; these days all she wanted to prove to Soma she was able to stand next to him as an equal.

To let her protect him.   

"Ma'am....ma'am!"

Asuka gave a start as she looked up at the driver. She also realized that the taxi had already pulled to the side of the street, which was odd. 

"The car stopped."

Surely not, the warehouse was on the other side of Ijincho, it should have been at least a twenty minute car ride to that end. But sure enough, Mabuchi was alighting from the vehicle.

She hastily paid the taxi fare got out. A quick scan of her surroundings showed that she was next to the bridge in the Bar District, an area she had gotten to know quite well. She watched while Mabuchi and the group of men step down the bridge and just seemingly disappear. Thinking her eyes were playing tricks on her, Asuka moved closer. 

She thought her eyes were about to pop out of her head.

One by one, the men made their way down a manhole next to the bridge, before shutting the cover behind them. 

What, in the Ninja Turtles was that shit about?

The rest of the population in Ijincho carried on their evening as if a group of men disappearing down a manhole was the most normal thing in the world. Or perhaps they just didn't notice? People tend to disappear all the time in that part of the world and nobody batted an eye, such was the lawlessness of that area.

Putting her worries for Soma aside, Asuka steeled her heart; she was determined to not let Ichiban, Adachi, Saeko and Nanba become just a statistic.

Lifting the cover of the manhole, she followed after Mabuchi.

Holding her breath and expecting to land in a giant puddle of liquid shit in the sewer, she instead found herself in what looked like a vast underground bunker that snaked off into what could potentially be an entire labyrinth of nooks and crannies. Building this must have taken years, was this extensive warren the backbone of Liumang operations?

And just importantly, where did Mabuchi go?

In order to keep a reasonable distance away, Asuka had lost sight of the group. Knowing that every second she lost was precious, she cautiously made her way through the vast underground.

Fortunately for her, there seemed to only be one route available. The Liumang must use this underground area as some kind of storage facility, because Asuka found a few items lying around that she pocketed. There were a mixture of materials like High-Quality Cloth, Cheap Plastic and Thick Hide, as well as medical supplies like Turmeric Tablets and Chinese Detoxers. 

"Gahhh what a nuisance!"

Asuka immediately hid behind a pile of crates when she heard a group of men talking. Their voices were loud and reverberated around the underground area. She had thought that she would be the only person down here along with Mabuchi and hopefully, Ichiban and the gang. But it seems like there is a thriving community of sewer dwellers down here.

"Why do we have to be down here?"

"Because we do, stupid!"

Their voices were drowned out by incoherent blabbering, followed up a disgusted groan.

"Eww, my God you stink! Again, why do we have to be down here with this toxic gas machine?"

The group disappeared around a corner, their squabbling still echoing around the place. Suddenly, Asuka heard a scream, followed by three loud thuds, and then silence.

She peered out from her hiding place and rounded the corner when she saw that the coast was clear. She gasped when she saw the group of sewer dwellers lying unconscious on the floor. Slowly inching up towards their bodies, she inspected them cautiously. They were not the same men that accompanied Mabuchi and didn't look like they were from the Yakuza either. One looked like a host, another was dressed in full PPE and the last one looked like he had just escaped a mental institution. 

Was there a whole fucking community of weirdos living down here?

And most importantly, who or what took them out?

A quick check confirmed that the men were still breathing, just unconscious. There were no bloodstains or any other visible wounds either.

Whoever did this was a professional. 

Just as that thought crossed her mind, she noticed a shadow cast ever so slightly over her.

A very human looking shadow.

That short window of time was enough for her to register that she was in danger and she moved. Asuka prided herself in her reflexes, something she practised hard at in her Kendo classes. There was only one person who consistently outpaced her, and it was of course, Instructor Soma himself.

It happened so quickly Asuka could be forgiven in thinking that a rip in space time. She didn't even have enough time to whip around to defend herself when she felt someone's arm around her neck, crushing the sides of her neck as she choked for breath. Cursing her carelessness, all she could do was claw in vain at her attacker's arms and head as the blood in her neck stopped flowing to her brain. She managed to grab a handful of hair, but her hands and fingers were powerless to inflict any real damage.

Yup, she was right: that person was a consummate professional. 

Her brain managed to register a split second of terror as Asuka felt her body go limp before everything faded to black. 

Chapter Text

"....Wake up!"

That voice. She recognized that voice!

"Asa-chan, can you hear me? Wake up Asa-chan!"

What a heavenly voice. That could only be Saeko, thank God she's fine!

"Her vitals are fine, but she's not moving. Shit, I wonder what happened here?"

"You're the nurse, Nanba so you tell me!"

Ah, that's everyone. They're all fine. Either that, or they're all dead....

"Wake up Asa-chan! I... I'll let you do that nipple thing again! Or if you want, you can put that vibrator-looking thing in my-"

"Ughhhh...God, why is everyone yelling?" Asuka groaned as she looked around groggily. She was still in that cavernous underground labyrinth but she was not in the same spot she passed out in. Maybe it was because she just had the blood restricted to her brain for a few seconds, but none of it seem to make any sense.

"Thank God you're OK!" Ichiban said, sounding relieved. He was gripping her arm so tightly his fingernails were digging into her skin.

"Me?" Asuka echoed. "I should be saying that to you! What happened? I thought you were all...."

"We thought the same too", Saeko conceded. "Until that hot guy showed up".

"Hot guy?"

What was this, some kind of RPG where a handsome hero saves the day?

"Let's start from the beginning," Adachi said. "We tried to smuggle the bank note out but Nanba here knocked into someone and they we got busted.”

“Hey! It was an accident,” Nanba protested indignantly. “You think I did this for shits and giggles?”

“A very costly one,” Saeko retorted. “They tried to drive a truck at us. Luckily we got out of the way but we couldn't escape when the truck blew up.”

“It was one hell of an explosion too, knocked us right out. They caught us after that and took us down here. Hung us up like meat in a butcher's.”

The four people showed Asuka their wrists, which were starting to turn a patchy bluish-purple from the metal chains that dug into their skin. She winced.

“And Mabuchi? Did you see him?” she asked anxiously. “Fat, pasty guy in a 70's disco suit and hairstyle?”

Ichiban gave a wry chuckle.

“That's one way to describe him. Yup, we saw that asshole alright. He started questioning us and got a grunt to film the 'interrogation'. Asshole wouldn't stop accusing us of being Seiryu Clan too."

Asuka stared at him, looking confused. "But I don't get it. What's in it for them?"

"The Ijin Three have always had an unspoken rule that they will not interfere with each other's territory", Adachi advised. "And now that us 'Seiryu Clan' members have violated that, they are taking it as a sign that war has been declared on the Liumang."

The pieces were slowly falling into place. Asuka's eyes widened as a look of realization dawned over her face. 

"Oh shit, does that mean-"

"He's going to show this so-called confessional video to the Liumang leader. Which will be a perfect excuse for him to wage war on the others."

Ichiban's eyes narrowed in fury.

“And he basically admitted he was he one who killed Nonomiya.”

This was an absolute disaster. If an all out war broke out, it could be well beyond the ability of Public Safety to maintain order. And there would also be the grey area between what was under their jurisdiction and what would fall under the Organized Crime department in the Metropolitan Police Department. 

Chief Namba will have his work cut out for him in the coming days. 

"Mabuchi left us with a guy from the warehouse who was only too happy to slice and dice us,” Adachi continued. “I really thought we were done for.”

"And that was when the hot guy came", Saeko piped up somewhat excitedly. "Just as we were about to be gutted like pigs, he showed up and freed us. Well, Ichiban anyway. As expected, he kicked everyone's asses and set us free too."

"What did this guy look like?" Asuka asked curiously.

Saeko shrugged.

"Honestly, I couldn't see his face because he was wearing a mask. But he had silver hair and was wearing black from head to toe. He made light work of those Liumang grunts too, it was really impressive. He must be some kind of professional secret agent of something."

Silver hair..... superb martial arts skills..... professional secret agent?

Why did that description fit someone Asuka knew very well? Could it be....

"We've been working our way towards the exit, fighting all the weirdos that live down here", Adachi continued. "That's when we found you."

Asuka looked around. Now that her head had cleared slightly, she could tell for sure that she was definitely not in the same spot she was knocked out in; whoever did that to her must have moved her here. The low, fluorescent lighting flickered every so slightly, giving it a sleazy feeling. The room felt cold and smelt musty, with a faint, sterile smell of bleach, antiseptic and other sorts of chemicals hanging in the air, like a seedy doctor's clinic. It was nonetheless, safe as they area resembled a rest area, with plenty of healing supplies for them to replenish with and even a first aid kit conveniently located in a corner.

That was...surprisingly kind of them.

"Mabuchi was at the club, along with a guy named Master Zhao. He left straight away when he got the call about the explosion and I followed him", Asuka explained quickly. "I lost him when I got in here, but I found plenty of sewer dwelling weirdos. I wasn't exactly equipped for a fight so I just observed from a distance. Some guy took them out like flies, it happened so quickly I didn't even notice anything.”

She held her head.

“I was careless. I went to have a look and before I knew it, it was lights out for me too," she finished.

"Did you see who did it?" Adachi asked. Asuka shook her head.

"Not really. Although I'm pretty sure I pulled out some of his hair".

She looked down and realized she was still clutching a handful of silvery white hair.

"Hey, hold up," Adachi spoke up, looking rather concerned. "Did you say Mabuchi was meeting with 'Master Zhao'?"

Asuka nodded. She frankly knew nothing about this man, except what he vaguely looked like when she saw him in the VIP room. But she was soon distracted at the sight of Ichiban rummaging through supplies in the room, gathering all sorts of materials.

“Asa-chan, you'll need to arm yourself,” he said, taping a bunch of wooden sticks together. “What sort of weapon do you like using? You said you were good at Kendo right? So let's make you something that handles like a sword for now.”

He brandished his creation proudly; a crudely taped up wooden sword made up several wooden sticks they had found in the room.

“Sorry it's not the prettiest, we'll visit Sumire at Romance Workshop after this to get you properly armed.”

Before she could ask who Sumire was and what sort of place Romance Workshop was, she noticed Ichiban grimace noticeably, clutching his chest area.

"Ichiban, are you ok?" she asked anxiously.

Maybe that magenta suit was too much of a distraction, but she had just noticed that Ichiban's usually clean white shirt was dotted with bloodstains. He looked down and nonchalantly opened his shirt. She let out a small gasp as she noticed a wound snaking across his chest. The cut was gaping, an angry dark slash of maroon against his tanned skin. Asuka wasn't exactly squeamish, but the thought of someone slow-slicing across his chest made her shudder. There were job-related injuries, and then there was the intention to cause as much pain and torture as possible.

She made a face; it was a pretty nasty wound that would definitely leave a scar.

For the first time, Asuka also noticed a dark, raised scar on the left side of his chest. She reached out and examined it gently, feeling the rough scar tissue that had formed over the small hole.

"Oh," she exclaimed softly. "Was that where you were..."

"Yup, that's where I was shot,” Ichiban confirmed nonchalantly. “Nanba patched me up the best he could, but unfortunately he's not a plastic surgeon so I got left with this," Ichiban joked.

"Heh, it kind of makes it look like I have a third nipple or something, doesn't it?" he observed, as Asuka mustered a feeble chuckle. There was something about her that was different today, and Ichiban really liked it. She had shown him God knows how many different faces and personalities to date, but this softer side of her was something new and very much welcomed.

"Can both of you stop the love fest over there?" Nanba ordered, as he emerged from the first-aid kit, glaring at them. "Come here Ichiban, you need to get that wound cleaned."

There was no time to rest on their laurels as they were not out of the woods yet .

Asuka swung the makeshift weapon around as Ichiban made his way to Nanba's first aid station. It was far from sturdy, but it would definitely bring a world of hurt to whoever was on the receiving end.

That'll do for a short-term solution. She'll just need to ensure her moves are precise and decisive.

Just like Soma taught her.

"Well I'm glad we're all safe," Nanba said, as he dabbed some antiseptic onto Ichiban's wound. He clenched his teeth and hissed in pain as the liquid stung his skin, which Nanba ignored.  

"Now let's get the hell out of here, shall we?”

Everyone picked up their weapons; Adachi had a police baton, Nanba a shabby looking umbrella and Saeko had never made a handbag look more threatening.

“There's lots of Liumang crawling around, so be prepared for a slugfest!” Ichiban warned, swinging his nail studded baseball bat.

“Why did you think I signed up for this?” she grinned.

Wielding their weapons, they made their way out of the safe room.

They immediately stumbled upon four Liumang members who seemed to be guarding a silver safe. Ichiban's eyes lit up when he saw that.

"Looks like today is our lucky day!"

He gave the team a thumbs up. "You know the drill. Let's take these fuckers out!"

He swung the bag wildly, knocking every single one of them off their feet. Adachi followed up with a curb stomp, immediately knocking out one of the Liumang members. 

"Hey! Save some for us!" Saeko protested as she smacked one grunt across the face with her handbag. It connected with a sickening crunch that was uncharacteristic of an object made out of fabric. 

"Do you have bricks in there or something?" Asuka cried out, wincing as the guy slumped onto the ground with what looked like a broken nose. Saeko laughed.

"It's no time to play nice, Asa-chan," she reminded her.

"Look out!"

Asuka couldn't get out of the way quick enough and raised her arm in defence, copping quite a hit from one of the remaining gang members. Trying to ignore the burning pain on her forearm, she gritted her teeth in anger and brought her makeshift sword down on his head. Nanba ensured he stay down with a clever whip of his shabby umbrella.

"You ok?" he asked. "That's going to leave quite a bruise."

She waved her arm around; it didn't appear to be dislocated or fractured in any way and she could still keep her grip on her weapon. She flashed him a thumbs up.

They hurried up to the silver safe and opened it; there was a set of protective gear in there consisting of gloves, headwear, shoes and vest and pants. Ichiban did a mental head count and started handing the items of clothing around.

"Ideally we all have a set of this each, but sharing is caring," he quipped as he put the pants on. 

"Sa-chan, Asa-chan, you both take the vest and helmet."

"Blergh, this helmet is so ugly," Saeko complained. "I look like a Lego toy!"

"Now isn't the time for a fashion show!" Nanba snapped. He had already put the shoes on.

"Stop fighting, all of you," Adachi lectured as he slapped his fist in his newly gloved hands. "Let's bust out of here!"

And on they went, for four more rounds with the group winning every time. Despite this, there was collateral damage that left all of them worse for wear in different ways; Saeko's bag was falling apart and so was Asuka's sword. Her arm was starting to feel sore again and Ichiban's shirt was starting to show dark red droplets again. 

"Shit...I'm so tired..." Nanba panted.

"Um, I have some food," Saeko said, pulling them out of her bag. There were tuna and lettuce sandwiches, assorted onigiri and some canned drinks. "I stocked up at the nearby Poppo store before we came down here. Should we take a break?"

"What the fuck, did you pack for a picnic?!" Nanba exploded. Even Asuka was bemused at the amount of stuff Saeko was producing out of her handbag.

"Hehehe, you're like Doraemon, Sa-chan!" she giggled. "Do you have a futuristic gadget in there that can whisk us out of here?"

"Oi, stop fooling around!" Adachi said sternly, shutting up the giggling women immediately. Disgraced detective or not, Adachi had lost none of his intimidating air; Asuka thought he wouldn't look out of place in the Public Safety training academy amongst the other demon instructors she encountered there.  

Ichiban pointed to a sign on the wall.

"Hey! It says 'Medical Bay'!" he said excitedly. They all followed the arrow and ended up in another safe room which was chock full of medical supplies, which they thankfully stocked up on. They also took some time to chow down on the sandwiches and drinks, energizing themselves again. 

“How's everyone feeling?” Adachi asked as he made some small repairs to his baton. Asuka, her arm now bandaged, decided to make another makeshift Kendo sword as she could see the tape that held the wood together barely hanging on for dear life.

“Really fucking done with this shit, to be honest,” Nanba replied grumpily, as he cleaned Ichiban's wound again. His umbrella looked like it was going to snap into two in any minute. “This makes all the heavy lifting we did at the warehouse look and feel like an absolute cake walk.”

"I think we're nearly at the end," Ichiban said confidently. 

"Once we leave this room and go up the flight of stairs, we're done. I can feel it!"

Packing up all their stuff, they left the room and made their way up some stairs. It wasn't quite the exit to the surface they were hoping for, as it lead into a room with a large excavator sitting in the middle of it, like a sleeping giant.

"Ok, maybe one more flight of stairs," Ichiban assured them, pointing to the stairs beyond the large machinery.

"Just run past this thing and we-"

His optimistic monologue was interrupted by an ominous roar and the excavator hummed into life. A foreman had snuck into the driver's seat and activated the machine. The whirr of the machinery echoed around the room and nearly burst their eardrums; it was so goddamn loud they couldn't hear anything else.

They stared at their weapons blankly.

“No way,” Saeko whispered, her face turning pale. “How are we supposed to fight that?”

“Just...hit any part you can!” Adachi suggested wildly.

“Aim for the arm!” Nanba shouted.

“Fat lot of good that will do!” Asuka retorted back. “We've got wood and plastic against steel!”

She pointed to the foreman inside the excavator, his eyes lighting up with crazy glee as he went after the group.

“That's who we should be taking out!”

“Oh yeah? I'll like to see you get close enough to do that!" Nanba yelled, as the arm swung around wildly and missed them by inches.

“Would you both shut the fuck up and help?” Saeko cried angrily as she smacked her tattered looking handbag against the machine.

“It's gotta have a weakness!” Asuka said. “Anyone got a lighter? Maybe it's weak to fire!”

Adachi pulled one out from his pocket. He threw it to Nanba, who lit it and spat a stream of alcohol at it. The man-made flamethrower didn't even leave a singe on the metal, as Nanba dropped the lighter to the ground lamely.

“Uh, I guess it's not weak to fire then!” he said as the others groaned.

Asuka was smacking the absolute shit out of the machine with her weapon, but it was a rapidly losing battle. They all dove out of the way as the excavator did a three hundred and sixty degree spin. As the oldest member of the team, Adachi wasn't quick enough.

“Ooof!” Adachi cried, as the metal arm connected, completely knocking the wind out of him.

“Fuck!” everyone swore, as they rushed to check on Adachi. He was clutching his stomach, his face twisted in agony.

“Are you ok, old man?” Ichiban asked. Adachi raised his hand and shook his head.

“I'm fine.”

“Do you need to sit this one out for the time being while you recover?” Saeko asked, pulling out a bottle of Staminan X. “Here, have a drink and rest for the next little while. It'll make you feel better. Adachi grabbed the bottle and hobbled to the side, well out of reach from the excavator.

“That was our last bottle,” Saeko announced, jiggling the supplies pack and showing everyone how empty it was.

“Ok, I don't want to be the bearer of bad news,” Nanba said. “But I also don't have the resources to heal you all much longer.”

They were literally running on empty. As they pondered their next move, all they did was try their best to avoid the arm swinging around recklessly. Adachi, who was resting in his corner, frantically scanned the room.

There's gotta be something useful here!

His heart nearly stopped when he spotted the pile of supplies in a corner.

"Ichiban! Come here!"

Ichiban ran towards him, gasping for breath. Adachi immediately took his bat off him and started working on it.

"This better be good," Ichiban panted. "I can't leave the others to fend for themselves for long!"

He watched, intrigued as Adachi wrapped the wire around the bat, and then clamped a battery pack to it.

"Put these on," Adachi ordered, tossing over his own pair of protective gloves.

"Stand back!" he warned, as he flicked the switch on the battery. The hooked up metal parts flashed and sparked dangerously, but Ichiban's insulated gloves kept him safe. 

"I don't know if this will work, but if fire didn't work let's try electricity!"

Ichiban nodded and pumped his chest with determination. It looked like he was emanating a stronger aura than usual.

He held the bat up in preparation, before he charged onwards. 

"MOVE OUT OF THE WAY!"

And move out of the way they did. Everyone dove out of the way as they saw Ichiban charging at them like a mad bull, his upgraded weapon flashing like he was wielding Mjolner itself. 

"Take that!" he yelled as he swung hard at the machine. Sparks flew as the electrized bat came into contact with the metal arm of the machine, sending volts through the unfortunate operator. He shook for a few seconds before falling out of the machine, stunned from the shock.

The group gathered around him, hovering above menacingly.

"Oooo I'm going to enjoy this", Saeko said, raising her handbag.

"I'm going after you", Asuka said, a rather twisted smile forming across her face.

The men stared at them, looking a bit concerned. 

"Oi Ichiban", Nanba said in a low voice. "Should we tell them to hold back?"

Ichiban looked at him innocently. 

"I don't know what you're talking about."

He pulled a squashed up triangular object from his pocket. 

"Tuna Onigiri?"

The men stood around with their backs to them, chewing away at the snack while a series of screams and yelps sounded behind them, punctuated by what sounded like a handbag and wooden stick getting into a scuffle.

As the last of the snacks disappeared, Saeko and Asuka joined them. They tossed whatever was left of their weapons aside.

"Ahhhh that felt good", Saeko reported with a sunny smile, sounding like she just came out of a relaxing sauna.  

"I don't think he'll be operating any heavy machinery for a while", Asuka said coyly, wiping sweat off her brow with a barely disguised evil glint in her eye.

"Good job Adachi, luckily you figured out it's weakness or it'll have flattened us eventually."

They looked back at the heavy machinery that now laid silent and dormant once more, with it's master and commander of a foreman lying next to it in a bruised, crumpled heap. Saeko and Asuka insisted he was still alive and the others took their word for it.

“Shiiiiit,” Ichiban said incredulously, shaking his head in disbelief. “Did we just win a fight against a frigging machine?”

Everyone looked at him and laughed in relief.

*

They finally lifted the manhole and emerged next to the river. The fresh air was liberating and sobering, even the light stench from the river was a welcome reprieve from the oppressive underground maze they had just escaped.

"Yo Adachi," Ichiban called out. "Does your phone work now? I think we should call the Seiryuu Clan chairman to warn him about Mabuchi's plans."

As the men stood aside to contact the Chairman, Asuka heard her phone ping.

She jumped; after everything that happened underground she had completely forgotten about Soma. She hastily pulled her phone out from her pocket and noticed a single text message from someone she recognized. 

It was from Goto:

He is fine.

Asuka could feel a weight lift off her chest and she could breathe again. She was so relieved she was on the verge of tears. The fight against the heavy machinery managed to take her mind off Soma, but now that she had survived, she was back to worrying about his wellbeing.

"Who's messaging you?" Saeko asked suddenly, peering across her shoulder. "Your boyfriend?" 

Her eyes narrowed in a sleazy, suggestive look. Asuka swiftly hid her phone away, her face tuning red. 

"N... nobody", she replied quickly. "Besides, Ichi and I-"

"Are just friends, right?" she interrupted quietly.

Asuka was so shocked that she couldn't muster up a single word to say. Saeko giggled at her bemused face.

"Are you wondering how I know?"

She nodded begrudgingly. 

"Heh, I'm a woman too you know?" she reminded her. "Besides, I overheard both of you in that safe room. You seemed...surprised to see Ichiban's bullet scar. If you both had been intimate as often as you both said you have, surely you would have seen it many times, right?"

Asuka cursed her carelessness; she had let her guard down that time and had shown Ichiban her real face. She had always been soft and meek, a fact that the instructors at the academy were always reminding her. Many people had laughed at her dream to be a detective and ever since then she had been extremely self-conscious. Soma, and later Captain Kaga were the ones who figured out that self-confidence was the key and really pulled out all the stops to help her overcome her shortcoming. It had taken a lot of time and effort to learn to put on different masks, and many of those she highly disliked because they were so far removed from who she really was. She had never quite met another woman like Saeko and she had grown to admire her; there was something refreshing about her unabashed, straight-talking personality that also brought out the other side of Asuka. 

The side that cared less about what others thought. 

"Asa-chan", Saeko started, putting her hand on her shoulder.

"You can trust us, ok? Because we trust you".

Asuka patted her hand reassuringly and returned her smile.

Sorry Saeko.

One day, she'll tell them all the truth.

The truth about who she really was and what she was doing getting involved in their mess. 

"What?! A shooting?"

Ichiban's shout caught their attention. Saeko and Asuka exchanged looks of shock before they ran over to join the men.

Ichiban had just hung up. He was clutching the phone so tightly his hand was shaking.

"Shit. The Liumang just shot two members of the Seiryuu clan in public on Seiryuu Clan turf. And the culprits are still at large."

Adachi folded his arms and shook his head in disbelief.

"Guess it's not over yet huh," he said wryly.

"Over?" Ichiban asked, letting out an incredulous snort of laughter. 

"Takabe, a Seiryuu clan captain is on his way to Liumang territory in Restaurant Row right now. Without the Chairman's permission."

Everything was falling over like dominoes, and it was happening much faster than they expected. Was this how wars were started? Asuka remembered this story she heard in World History class back in school, where an Archduke in Europe got killed because his driver took a wrong turn and delivered him right into the hands of his assassins. They all thought it was kind of funny back then, how one seemingly innocent move proved to be disastrous and started a World War.

It wasn't so funny now. 

Everyone looked at one other and sighed.

"We fucked up, didn't we?"

Chapter Text

“All of this...just to start the war?”

“The Ijin Three have an agreement to stay in their territory," Adachi said. "Anyone who instigates anything against another group will not get away with it, even Mabuchi.”

“And Nonomiya....”

“Nonomiya's death was...unfortunate", Adachi concluded. "Mabuchi needed to upset someone enough for them to retaliate. I believe he would have kept killing until some sucker took the bait.”

“Yeah, us,” Ichiban said bitterly.

“We are the suckers.”

An air of frustration and disappointment hung in the air. They couldn't believe that their search for justice inherently ended up being the spark that set off an all out war.

“Well, the saying does go 'letting the enemy go first is the secret to winning a war',” Nanba said, in a rather lame attempt to cheer them up.

“Well, I was taught differently,” Ichiban said, his eyes flashing. “My aniki taught me that whoever moves first, wins!”

He punched his fist in his palm, a fiery look of determination in his eyes.

“We're stopping this war. We'll have to tell Takabe exactly what's going on!” he announced confidently.

“H..hold up!” Asuka said, looking concerned. “Shouldn't we call for back up?”

The group stared at her looking rather confused. Did she have a trump card up her sleeve?

“I mean, maybe we could call the police?” she offered. She knew that Chief Namba would want to know about this, the least they could do was notify them about their plan. 

To her surprise, it was Adachi the ex-detective himself who gave a derisive snort.

“The Police? Heh, you'll be hard pressed to find one in Yokohama that isn't already in the Ijin Three's pocket,” he said.

“Besides, we've got you now.”

“Me?” Asuka sputtered. “But I'm just-”

“A very welcomed ally to our cause,” Adachi interrupted, shooting her a firm look before she said too much. “The Ijin Three are not your typical criminal organizations. They cannot be investigated through traditional policing ways. Simply put, we gotta play dirty.”

Asuka swallowed nervously. How many times had she been told off for acting recklessly? And this time round when she wanted to take the cautious approach, she was being told to be her usual reckless self and not rely on her fellow police officers? She wasn't sure how to process or accept that.

"But Adachi-san-"

Adachi grabbed her by the arm, shutting her up in an instant. 

“Please excuse us for a bit.”

He pulled Asuka into a nearby alley. After a quick check of the surroundings to ensure that they were alone, he clasped his hands on her shoulders.

“Are you ok?” he asked in a gentle, fatherly tone. “You have been acting strangely ever since we found you in the underground. Are you hurt?”

Asuka stayed silent. She had just been choked out by a mysterious assailant, fought a goddamn machine and now she was going to pick a fight with two rival gangs with a bunch of weirdos with questionable weapon choices as her partners. It was absurd, they were in no way equipped to take this fight on.

She was scared. Right now she wanted nothing more now than to gather with her Public Safety team, to tell them everything that had just happened and find out what really happened to Soma.

Soma.

Asuka's heart ached again at the thought of him. His daily warnings telling her to stay safe did not go unheeded, in fact she was starting to enjoy receiving them. She knew Soma worried about her and the last thing she wanted to do was the exact thing he warned her not to do.

Adachi gave a knowing smile.

“You're thinking about your other team, aren't you?" he asked. "Or more specifically, a detective with a last name starting with S?”

Her face grew red; she had been called out. Reluctantly, she nodded her head, feeling her insides starting to burn with guilt.

“I know this is a bit much for you to process right now, but I really need you to stay with us”, he said, squeezing her shoulder lightly.

“You need to forget everything you've learnt so far about Organized Crime in the Police Academy. I'm sure your other team are the best of the best in the Police force, but as I mentioned before the Ijin Three cannot be tackled using conventional Policing methods. And don't forget the risk of corruption within the Police force as well! We need to stay as independent as possible.”

“I...I understand,” Asuka replied. “It's just...”

Her voice trailed off.

“I was never the best recruit,” she admitted. “And a case this large needs all hands on deck, I'm sure if we reached out to Chief Namba he'll-”

“Asa Soma,” Adachi said sternly. “Or should I say, Detective Asa Soma. You are a detective, aren't you?”

Asuka instinctively stood at attention. She knew that wasn't her real name, but the timely reminder that she was a detective somehow injected a newfound sense of responsibility within her. Had she been so caught up with her role as a hostess that she had forgotten who she truly was?

“Jin promised me he was sending me his best. Are you saying he's a liar?” Adachi demanded.

“No! It's just-”

“Then don't disappoint him”.

Maybe it was everything that had happened that night, but Asuka was suddenly overcome with emotion. First she thought she had lost Soma, then the look Adachi was giving her now reminded her of a father looking at his daughter.

Her father.

How long had it been since he died? Asuka didn't have any memories of him. It was like everything was white noise prior to her twelve year old memories of living with her grandmother in Nagano. But tonight, there was a sudden, hazy memory of a faceless man standing in front of her during Kendo practice.

“Courage means never backing down even in the face of a tough opponent,” he said sternly.

“B..but, what if I lose?” Asuka could hear her tiny, child-like voice ask.

“Then we'll be here,” the man replied.

“We will always be here for you.”

To her horror, tears started streaming down her face. She tried to stop herself, but there was no holding back. Asuka could not remember the last time she cried this hard, and it could not have come at a worse time.

She could not see his face, but she could just tell in her heart, that it was definitely her father.

“It must be tough on you...doing all of this stuff,” Adachi whispered in the same kind, fatherly tone, patting her on her back sympathetically.

“I've been there too. But don't worry, because we will always be here for you.”

There it was again, those reassuring words that her own father promised her all those years ago. Father, Chief Namba, Adachi-san, Soma....they all believed in her, so why should she doubt herself now?

She braved a watery smile through her tears as she wiped her eyes.

“Thank you, Adachi-otosan,” she whispered softly.

“Wha-?” Adachi looked confused.

Did she just, call him Dad?

She giggled as Adachi returned it with another chuckle of his. He never thought of himself as the fatherly type, but he often found himself in circumstances that demanded that he played a fatherly figure. Asuka suddenly looked very innocent and child-like, completely different to the fiercely sensual and rather violent hostess she was not too long ago. 

If he had a daughter, she would probably be the same age as her by now. 

“Now then,” Adachi said, ruffling her hair affectionately.

“Let's go kick some Liumang ass, shall we?”

*

There was one more place they had to go before they went to Restaurant Row. Ichiban suggested that they take a detour to Romance Workshop to visit Sumire. Despite the seedy sounding name, Romance Workshop turned out to be an actual workshop, nuts and bolts and all. There were shelves upon shelves of metals, plastics and all sorts of different materials, and the acrid smell of burning rubber hung in the air. Sumire was a pretty girl in her twenties, with chestnut brown hair and bright, sparkly eyes. She was dressed in a cute, baby pink jumpsuit and a hard hat, looking like the cutest and fluffiest mechanic Asuka had ever seen.

The moment they entered, she laid her tools down and leapt to her feet excitedly.

“Ichiban! Are you here to see me?” she asked with a huge smile, bounding up to the group and sniffing around like an excited puppy.

“Of course!” Ichiban said, flashing her a thumbs up.

“We need weapons. All of us,” he gestured to the group. “Think you can hook us up? We need the best weapon you can make for us right now.”

Sumire inspected the group, her fingers tapping on her chin thoughtfully. Her gaze fell onto Asuka and her face immediately twisted into one of suspicion. Asuka felt her heart sink when she saw that familiar look; she really didn't have the energy nor the time to be explaining herself right now.

“Who's this?” Sumire demanded, putting her face so close to Asuka she had to take two steps back.

"Now now, Sumire play nice!" Adachi lectured, wagging his finger at her. "Asa-chan her is Ichiban's-"

“Team mate!" Ichiban interjected pleasantly. “Just a nice, normal team mate! Anyways, she's a real fighter and will need something super strong and sturdy. Think you could make something really special for her?”

Sumire still looked like she didn't believe Ichiban, but her face started to soften as her interest was piqued. She gave Asuka another once over.

“I could,” Sumire finally conceded. “What sort of weapon would you like?”

Asuka had never answered a question quicker.

“Could you make a Kendo sword?”

Sumire looked genuinely stunned.

“Kendo sword?” she echoed. “Geez, that was unexpected, I thought you would want something a bit more girly, like a handbag.”

“Oh,” Asuka replied, looking a bit dejected. “Is it not possible?” 

To her surprise, Sumire looked rather scandalized 

"Nothing is impossible in my book", she said sharply. "Although I've never made one before”

Turning her back to the group, she perused her supplies and pulled out a sturdy looking carbon rod.

“Watch this”, she said, before pulling down her protective mask. She turned her tools on and got to work, sparks flying as the electric metal saw met the carbon rod.

“Yes! All done!”

She held the weapon up triumphantly before handing it over to Asuka, grinning from ear to ear.

"Swing away, girl!"

Asuka took the weapon in her hand and gasped when she felt how lightweight and sturdy it was. She had a custom made one at home and she missed how it felt; this one felt as good if not better than her own pride and joy.

“Sumire....this is better than anything I have ever used before!” she said incredulously.

Sumire laughed.

“I knew those carbon rods would come in handy one day!" She winked. "There's enough for me to upgrade it even more if required!"

Asuka made a few practice swings as Sumire sorted out everyone else's weapons. She had only ever practiced Kendo in a safe environment where nobody sought to hurt the other. It felt a bit strange to be holding something so lightweight and yet so lethal; she could actually bust a few skulls with this. 

She wondered what Soma would think about her newly acquired weapon. Perhaps after this mission was over they could go a few rounds together at the dojo...

"Alright!"

Ichiban's loud cheer jolted her back to reality. Everyone have had their weapons repaired or upgraded. Ichiban's bat looked about ten times more threatening now, as there were sharp, jagged pieces of barbed wire now installed around it.

They made eye contact and nodded in understanding. 

“Well then", Ichiban said, his new and improved bat now resting on his shoulder.

"Shall we head to Restaurant Row?”

*

They turned a familiar corner to a shady row of shops that marked the start of Liumang territory. The area that was usually crowded and bustling with people at all times of the day was strangely quiet, like a town that had been completely devastated by a natural disaster.  

“Shit!”

The area was already strewn with unconscious, groaning bodies; it looked like Takabe had already arrived and he did so with extreme vengeance.

“We better hurry before he goes too far!” Ichiban said anxiously as they headed towards a semi-hidden staircase that was usually kept tightly locked. This must be the entrance into the real underbelly of Liumang territory. 

The stairs led them into an area that resembled a shanty town not unlike Hong Kong's infamous Walled City. The buildings were old and shabby and there were food carts that looked like they were older than Asuka herself. What was previously an open air dining area had been flipped upside down, with tables, chairs and cutlery lying around. 

There were three men standing around when they made their way up, who immediately zeroed in on them.

"Are you Seiryu too?" they demanded, launching into an attack before the group could defend themselves.

"Yo, Ichiban. That guy has a bat too," Asuka said cheekily, pointing at one of the Liumang members. Ichiban scowled.

"Yeah? But mine's better!" he retorted as he swung his bat wildly, knocking one of them out cold. 

"I think it's time that sword of yours gets christened," Ichiban said with a playful wink. Asuka clutched her weapon and took a defensive stance as the Liumang member with a bat came at her; the bat connected with her sword with a sick sounding clatter that vibrated through to her hands, but her sword remained strong and sturdy.

"Chūdan-gamae," Asuka announced. "One of the most basic stances in Kendo, because it allows the user to strike the perfect balance between defence-" she raised her sword.

"And attack!"

Her opponent collapsed limply, knocked unconscious by her powerful blow.

"Nice!" Saeko praised, kicking a downed opponent in the guts. "Looks like you're taking to this new weapon really well!"

Asuka laughed.

"Carbon is tougher than bamboo, that's for sure!" she admitted. "That and I can use as much force as I want and I can strike the opponent using any part of the weapon I can! When you take those restrictions away, Kendo can be pretty lethal!"

"Well, don't stop swinging," Ichiban said, beckoning them to follow him. 

"We've got a long fight ahead of us!"

The ran down a dark, corridor that smelt damp and musty before arriving at a clearing that led into a courtyard. As they walked past the set of lanterns at the entrance, it felt like they had entered the Forbidden City in Beijing; the building that stood before them was majestic and towered over everyone. It was built in the Chinese architectural style, with the distinct tiled roof and ornate carvings decorating the edges of the roofs. The smell of fresh bamboo and incense hung over them and the gentle, strumming sounds of a stringed instrument cut through the air. The picture of zen was juxtaposed against a group of men who were gathered in the courtyard, standing around an authoritative-looking older man in his forties wearing a pinestriped suit and dark glasses who was emanating murderous intent. 

No question about it, that must be Takabe.

“Wait!" Ichiban called out as he raced towards the group. "Takabe-sa-"

A gunshot stopped Ichiban in his tracks. He looked up at the smoking barrel and came face to face with the Seiryu captain himself, Mamoru Takabe.

“Kasuga....why the hell are you here?” he asked with a pained look behind his glasses. "Why couldn't you just leave me be?"

“This is a set up! We're playing right into Mabuchi's hand!” Ichiban cried out frantically. 

“Listen, Mabuchi killed Nonomiya, the owner of Otohimeland. Saeko here can prove this.”

Saeko nodded and stepped forward.

“Nonomiya-san was on the phone to me when he was shot", she confirmed. "I definitely heard people calling out to Mabuchi in the background!”

“That's when we started investigating and ended up at the Liumang's warehouse”, Adachi continued.

Takabe scoffed.

“Yup, where you were captured as Seiryu Clan spies  right?” he said, hold up his phone which was playing a video. “Mabuchi sent this to me.”

“Mabuchi assumed I was Seiryu and filmed that interrogation as an excuse to start this war,” Ichiban explained. “He sent it to you on purpose so he would look like the victim!”

“He's fabricating evidence that the Seiryu Clan broke the pact so he has an excuse to start the war!" Ichiban insisted. 

Takabe sighed.

“I know,” he responded flatly. The others stared at him in shock; if he knew, then why was he playing right into their hands?

“Then what are you doing? Weren't you listening to what I just said?” Ichiban shouted. “This war is-”

“It doesn't matter anymore!” Takabe interrupted, his voice shaking with emotion. 

“Tetsu was a new recruit,” he said softly. “He had only just turned twenty. And Koji! He had only just finished school!”

Takabe looked genuinely distressed as he spoke about his men and he was on the verge of tears. 

“Seven guys!” he said fiercely. “Seven Liumang unloaded their guns on two unarmed kids! Those two took more bullets than their age."

Even Asuka gasped in shock. She had heard enough disastrous shooting stories to know that those boys died a horrific death.

“This building behind you,” Takabe gestured. “Is owned by the Liumang's boss. He better fucking explain what the hell his intentions were and he will apologize to Tetsu and Koji in the afterlife.”

“Then you just need to talk to him, right?” Ichiban asked cautiously. “There's no need for guns.”

Takabe raised his gun towards Ichiban. He did not back down, instead he looked him in the eye and addressed him directly and clearly.

“Am I worth shooting?” Ichiban challenged. “Because if you do....you're dragging the Seiryu Clan and the chairman down with you.”

“But more importantly, can you face Tetsu and Koji after doing all that?”

Takabe's face twisted in anguish, but he did not lower his gun.

“I know you're not the type to back down,” Ichiban said, shrugging his shoulders and cracking his neck from side to side.

“But unfortunately for you, neither am I. So you better make your next shot count.”

He raised his fists threateningly.

“Because if you miss, I'm gonna beat the shit out of you.”

Takabe's face was growing red with fury. He looked so angry that he looked like he had steam coming out of his ears.

“....You shaggy haired bastard!” Takabe roared, tossing his gun aside. “Are you forcing our hand?”

“Stand down,” Ichiban said to the surrounding Liumang members. “We'll take care of things from here!"

The Liumang members looked at each other in silence. Without saying a word, they lowered their weapons and slinked back into the background, happy to no longer be implicated.

An act of solidarity that angered Takabe even more.

“I've had enough of your shit, Kasuga!” Takabe snarled, as his men surrounded them. The others gathered around Ichiban, raising their weapons in support.

One of his men handed Takabe a sheath, out of which he pulled out an antique Samurai sword. Asuka instinctively took a battle stance, holding her own sword in a neutral stance.

"Take those goons out first", Adachi advised, looking around them. They had all pulled small blades out of their pockets and were advancing on them dangerously.

"Use moves that can hit several people at once!"

"I'm on it!" Ichiban called out, swinging his bat around and hitting three goons at once. He deftly fended off another attacker's attempt to stab him, and Adachi followed up with a blow with his baton.

It was finally Takabe's turn to attack. He carved his way through the crowd, leaving a trail of destruction behind him. Nanba shouted in pain as his sleeve sliced open and blood blossomed onto the fabric. Saeko, who was able to block his attack in time, was holding onto a handbag that was in tatters. 

"My new handbag!" she exclaimed angrily. "You bastard, Sumire just made it for me!"

Takabe laughed maniacally. "Oh I'm sorry, did I wreck your branded purse?" he asked sarcastically as he twirled his sword. Ichiban hurtled towards him with a loud roar, but his bat was swatted out of his hands by Takabe's sword.

"Gah! No fucking way!" Ichiban cussed, as he watched his bat sail through the air. Takabe gave another triumphant laugh as he caught sight of the last one standing. An unforgiving smirk on his face, he raised his sword and charged towards Asuka, who steeled herself. Another swing of the sword and Asuka was able to hold her ground and ward him off with her weapon, but she panicked momentarily when the impact nearly caused it to fly out of her hands. 

"Shit!" she swore, taken aback by the strength and skill Takabe had attacked her with. 

"Are you alright?" Adachi asked, kicking the last remaining goon in the face with his boot. Asuka shot him a thumbs up to signify her wellbeing before she followed up his attack with a kick to the groin of the unfortunate goon.

"I'm fine. But that guy is crazy strong," she warned, ignoring the yelps of pain from the guy on the ground. Takabe met her gaze again and grinned cruelly.

"Decent defence you've got there", he praised. "C'mon, I'll give you a free hit."

Asuka glowered at him, raising her sword carefully. She was aware that she could only do blunt damage using her weapon, but Takabe's very-real and very-sharp samurai sword could slice her arm off if she wasn't careful.

She looked for an opening. Shit, this was harder than it looked. Takabe looked like he had all the usual weak spots covered and panic was starting to set in.

Why does Kendo have so many formal rules for combat? She cursed.

Then she stopped. Takabe's eyes widened in concern as he noticed a look of understanding dawn on her face. 

"Kiai!" She let out her battle cry, running at him with her sword held in mid stance. Takabe got ready to receive her, holding his sword up and drawing on his own Kendo experience to counter her move on his-

BAM!

Takabe screamed in agony as Asuka's sword found the side of his...knee! He had been bracing himself for an attack to his upper body, leaving his lower body completely exposed. Asuka had disguised her stance well, allowing her to drop her weapon quickly to land the low blow.

"Fuck!" Takabe swore, as he was literally brought to his knees. "W...what sort of Kendo move is that?"

"Surprised?" she asked, twirling her weapon dramatically. "You can only attack four body parts in Kendo, but when nobody's judging, I guess I can play dirty!" 

She raised her sword again as Takabe cowered nervously.

"Waaaait!"

Saeko was walking towards them, winding her arm up. Takabe did not like the look on her face at all.

"Here's a little something I learnt in boxercise class", she said, before unleashing several spirited punches on Takabe's face. 

"Yeouch!" Asuka grimaced, as Takabe's face swelled up and turned black and blue. She had been kind enough to spare his mug, but Saeko seemingly had no trace of sympathy for him.

"That's for Sumire and my handbag!" she said with a satisfied smile. She called out to Ichiban, who had managed to retrieve his bat.

"Ichiban! Finish him!" 

There could only be one way to end this fight. In a show of mercy, Ichiban put down his bat and cracked his knuckles, looking rather apologetic.

"Sorry Takabe-san, but we can't risk war!"

Ichiban's fist connected with his jaw, sending him slumping to the ground alongside his other defeated minions. For a moment it looked like he had been knocked out cold, but he stirred after a few seconds.

“...Bastards!” Takabe swore, sitting up and grimacing in pain as he spat out what looked like a bloody tooth that had become dislodged. Asuka was surprised he could still speak that clearly; she was almost positive Ichiban had broken his jaw. 

“It's over,” Ichiban said a firm voice. “Now get out of here!”

“Uh, guys? We have a problem,” Adachi said nervously. He was looking behind them.

“The boss of the restaurant is here.”

They turned around. A man was walking down the stairs towards them. Asuka felt her heart stop as she recognized the familiar figure; he had slicked back hair, dark round glasses and was wearing a loosely buttoned black and yellow shirt underneath a shiny leather jacket. His fingers sparkled with multiple rings as he carried himself with a clear and confident swagger.

“The leader of the Yokohama Liumang,” Adachi said. “His name is-"

“Zhao,” Asuka finished. “He was at the hostess club earlier today with Mabuchi”.

“No way,” Nanba said. “So that 'Master Zhao' from before-”

“Yup,” Asuka confirmed. “That's him alright.”

The man named Zhao tilted his head to one side and observed the group with an indifferent expression on his face. Asuka was expecting the leader of the Liumang to be a much older figure. Zhao looked exceptionally young; he couldn't have been more than a couple of years older than herself. Even though his eyes were hidden behind those glasses, his rugged and handsome features were not diminished.

"Good evening," he greeted them in a voice that could be described as cheerfully murderous. "I'm Zhao Tianyou, leader of the Yokohama Liumang. I heard you have business with me."

"You're damn right we do!" Takabe growled. Ichiban kicked him. 

Zhao continued to look unruffled.

“You know, Mabuchi sent me a really interesting video,” he drawled, holding up his phone. His voice was lazy and casual, but it dripped with unmistakable danger.  

“That's you, right?”

The video playing on the phone showed Ichiban getting questioned by Mabuchi.

“So were you trying to steal from the warehouse?” an unidentified voice asked off screen. “You're with the Seiryu Clan, aren't you?”

“You're damn right we are!” Ichiban shouted in reply.

Ichiban looked alarmed and his face grew pale.

“W...Wait, I'm not with the Seiryu! You've got this wrong!” Ichiban protested.

“They must have edited the damn video!”

“Oh really?” Zhao asked sarcastically as he started walking towards them. “Then why were you investigating Mabuchi?”

“Well...it's because-”

“I'll have the truth now, please,” Zhao interrupted, pulling a gun out and pointing it at Takabe's head.

“Oi, calm down!” Adachi said in a panicked voice. “Hear us out!”

“Make it quick,” Zhao replied nonchalantly, the tip of the gun jabbing against Takabe's temple. “I'm not a patient man.”

“We told you,” Nanba said exasperatedly. “Mabuchi killed a friend of ours, and we were just investigating his death. It led us to the warehouse and he framed us to make it look like the Seiryu are instigating the war!”

“You're telling me Mabuchi is behind all this?” Zhao asked, his eyebrows raising in surprise. “Mabuchi is my right hand man, it'll take a lot to convince me he's gone rogue.”

“Yeah well, where is your trusted right hand man then?” Ichiban challenged. “Where's he gone since he showed you the video?”

“Not a good look, is it?” Adachi pressed on. “He's probably on a deck chair somewhere with a bucket of popcorn watching you all fight among yourselves.”

The look on Zhao's face changed. His indifferent expression twisted into one of cold fury as he fired a shot at Adachi's feet, stunning the man.

“Are you lecturing me, old man?” Zhao asked in a low snarl, an ugly sneer on his face.

He then turned the gun towards Takabe again and fired two more warning shots, missing his knees by inches.

“You know, I wouldn't mind killing all of you and starting the war right-”

“I wouldn't do that if I were you.”

Everyone turned at the sound of her voice. In the chaos, Asuka had gotten hold of Takabe's gun and was now pointing it at Zhao's head.

“Asa-chan!” Ichiban cried out, horrified that she had snuck into that position.

"Oi Asa-Chan, what the fuck are you doing? We're trying to avoid a war here!"

She had spotted Takabe's gun earlier and had swiped it for safety reasons. She had no idea what came over her, but with such high stakes and the adrenaline pumping in her veins, pulling the gun out on Zhao felt like a natural, instinctive reaction. 

This whole thing about letting go of the rules and fighting dirty seemed to come second nature to her.

A scary thought.

"I know. And as you said, we need to hit first and hit hard, right?" Asuka said, still glaring intently at Zhao. Her fingers reached towards the trigger, drawing nervous gasps from everyone around her. 

That was, everyone except for Zhao, who continued to stare down the barrel of her gun without even flinching. He had an odd look on his face that she couldn't quite put into words, but she found it immensely irritating.

"Interesting", he murmured, a small smirk spreading across his face. "Looks like there's someone in your team that isn't afraid to get their hands dirty."

"Well, you started it", Asuka retorted, her voice shaking slightly. "And I don't give a shit if you shoot him, because then I'll shoot you. But that means Mabuchi will probably become the Leader and you just get remembered as that dumbass who started the war."

“You'll put this one's life at risk?” He jabbed his gun at Takabe again.

“Go ahead and kill me!” Takabe yelled. “As far as I'm concerned, the war started the moment you killed two unarmed kids!”

“Stop it, all of you!” Ichiban yelled. “Asa-chan, for the love of God, please lower the gun!”

“I'm not lowering it unless he does,” Asuka shot back stubbornly. Zhao continued to be unfazed as he continued to look at her with a fascinated expression on his face.

"So are you ready to talk this out? Or are you happy for Mabuchi to be the big fat hero at the expense of your men's lives?

Zhao frowned. The look she was giving him infuriated him, but something within him held his rage back from exploding. Those eyes... where had he seen them before? Even though she looked serious and threatening and there was inches between him and a bullet to the brain, he didn't feel afraid. Instead, he continued to observe her; studying every inch of her face that was screwed up with righteous anger.  

The leader of the Yokohama Liumang held at gunpoint by a woman? Inconceivable! Nonetheless, he was able to see the truth behind her words. 

What did he have to lose? And how could he feel scared or angry at such a cute face?

“Fine. I'll hear you out,” he conceded, lowering his gun and flashing her a small smile.

“So tell me, Ichiban Kasuga. Why would Mabuchi want to start a war in Ijincho? What's in it for him?”

“Hell if I know,” Ichiban replied.

“I see. Well that's not helpful,” Zhao replied casually, looking completely unmoved. “Then your friend Nonomiya? How do you know Mabuchi killed him?”

“Because he told me himself,” Ichiban said simply.

Zhao snorted.

“Is that all you've got?” Zhao asked incredulously. He shrugged his shoulders as he raised his firearm again.

“I guess we're done here.”

“Wait! Stop!”

Zhao let out another wild laugh.

“Are you talking to me? Or to her?” as he turned to look at Asuka, who was once again pointing the gun at his head.

“Don't do it,” Ichiban pleaded. “Don't let Mabuchi win.”

They both exchanged looks. Zhao was initially not in the mood to negotiate, but Ichiban had such a desperate look in his eyes that it got him thinking. That and he had a gun to his head. He had to admire her tenacity, if she was scared she was doing a pretty good job disguising it.

“Ok then,” Zhao replied cheerily. 

“Find me some evidence. You know where to go."

Ichiban stared at him blankly. Zhao gave an exasperated laugh.

“Fun fact for you out-of-towners, there's only once place in town if you want to get completely reliable information.”

Nanba and Adachi's faces changed. 

"No way", Nanba said. "You don't mean-".

“Yup, the Geomijul, of course!” Zhao finished.

Asuka remembered the notes from the file. Based in Ijincho's Koreatown, the Geomijul was formed by exiled Korean mafia members and was the third party in the Ijin Three. They specialized in pedaling intel using a wide network of surveillance equipment and they served as the balancer between Seiryu Clan and the Yokohama Liumang. 

“But of course,” Adachi said. “If there is evidence of Mabuchi's crimes, they'll have it.”

“Don't worry, I'll keep the captain alive until you return,” Zhao said graciously. 

"I'm a gentleman after all, not some animal."

Asuka scoffed loudly enough for him to hear, but he chose to ignore it.

“But don't even think about running away from Ijincho, or I'll kill him.”

"Oh you don't have to worry about that," Ichiban assured him. "And thank you for giving us a chance to prove ourselves."

Zhao flicked his hand casually.

“Honestly, I want to know the truth too,” Zhao admitted.

“Because if Mabuchi has indeed betrayed me, my faction is split into two and it won't be a good look to the Seiryu and Geomijul.”

Ichiban extended his hand out to Zhao, who lowered his gun and shot Asuka an expectant look. She grudgingly lowered her gun, still frowning and eyeing him suspiciously. In return he grasped Ichiban's hand in a firm handshake. 

“And one last thing", Zhao said with a bright smile on his face.

“If I find out that you lied about Mabuchi, I assure you that you will die most painfully.”

Ichiban gave him a pained smile as the others scowled at him.

As they trotted out of the courtyard, Asuka stole another glance at Zhao. His dark glasses obscured his eyes, but there was no doubt his gaze was lingering on her and continued to follow her until she was out of sight. 

She could feel her heart beating furiously. There was a odd, niggling feeling within her that she couldn't shake off. 

And for some strange reason, Zhao was suddenly all she could think about.

Chapter Text

They left Restaurant Row in silence. It had been one thing after another and it was crazy that the day wasn't over yet. And what was with that crazy bastard Zhao Tianyou? She couldn't believe Ichiban made her turn in that gun....it would have been good to have someone with firearm abilities on the team. Asuka strongly believed in building a well-rounded team.

“Asa-chan, what were you thinking,” Ichiban asked, shaking his head in disbelief. “Pointing a gun at the head of the leader of the Yokohama Liumang...what if the gun had gone off?”

Asuka shrugged her shoulders. She honestly didn't know what came over her. She had perfect trigger discipline and knew exactly how to control her firearm, but this time round it felt different. Instead of necessity, she was fuelled by an overwhelming feeling of rage and it frankly scared her. She had been accused of being reckless and rash many times, but never to the point she was completely blinded by emotion.

It was like she had unlocked some kind of Rage Mode.

“So uh, how exactly are we going to approach the Geomijul?” Nanba asked.

“Yeah, it's not like they are some private investigator's office that's open to the public,” Adachi said. “Although, if we ever need one I know this guy in Kamurocho-”

“Anyway, we don't have any choice,” Ichiban interrupted. “Koreatown isn't far from here, so let's get going!”

The journey to the heart of Koreatown was uneventful, which came as a relief for everyone. With most of the shops closed at that time of the night, the area felt a lot more sinister. The atmosphere was tense and heavy, like an incoming thunderstorm. Everyone couldn't help but feel a shiver run down their spines.

“Is it me,” Saeko asked, her voice shaking slightly. “Or does this place feel creepy as hell?”

Asuka nodded. Even the air felt like it dropped a few degrees. Was this what people meant when they said they walked into haunted houses? She ran her left hand across her right arm rapidly in an effort to warm up, but she winced instead; she had forgotten about that blow she copped earlier. She inspected her arm and noticed that her skin had turned a rather ugly and patchy shade of purple.

“Erm guys, w...who is that?” Nanba asked nervously, pointing in the distance.

A woman was standing in the middle of street. That wouldn't have been an odd thing to see, except the street was completely deserted.

Saeko jumped.

“D...do you think she's a gho-”

“Don't be silly, Sa-chan,” Adachi scolded. “Besides, what sort of ghost wears sunglasses at night?”

Upon closer inspection, the woman was dressed in a very modern leather jacket and mini-skirt combo, complete with strappy kitten heels that enhanced her leggy figure. Her long hair, set in impeccable waves, was a light, pastel purple. If that was indeed a ghost, she would have topped the Best Dressed list from whatever fashion magazine they had in the Underworld.

“You gotta admit though, she's pretty hot!”Adachi admitted, his eyes lighting up like the lecherous middle-aged man he was.

“I didn't know you were into creepy looking women that stood around in street corners,” Asuka quipped as Saeko sniggered.

“I'm not deaf you know?” the woman snapped, turning and glaring at them.

“Erm, hello there!” Ichiban said cheerfully, strolling up to her with the air of a friendly tourist asking about the weather. “My name is-”

“Ichiban Kasuga,” the woman answered in his stead. “Good evening to you and your friends.”

“Whoa, how did you know my name?” Ichiban exclaimed. “Wait a minute, does that mean that you're with the Geomijul?”

The woman laughed and nodded her head.

“So you know what we're here for then?” Ichiban asked.

“Sure I do,” the woman replied plainly. “You're after the evidence that Mabuchi killed your friend, right?”

“That's right!” Adachi confirmed. “Do you have it?”

She smiled mysteriously.

“Follow me.”

The woman led them from the main streets of Koreatown down into the side streets, where the street lamps didn't reach. If they thought the area they were in before was creepy, this part of town felt about ten times seedier. The old buildings felt like a prehistoric concrete jungle was closing in and consuming them whole. There was also an unsettling feeling that their every move was being watched.

“Is it me or have we not seen anyone else so far?” Ichiban said, starting to sound a little nervous.

It looked like his previous bravado was starting to abandon him.

“Well, we are right in the heart of Geomijil turf,” Adachi reminded him.

“I...is it to late to turn back?” Nanba asked in a small voice.

“Wuss,” Asuka teased, even though her own courage was starting to fail her.

“What's all that whispering about?” the woman asked, stopping in her tracks to look at them. “You are free to leave whenever you want, nobody is forcing you to be here.”

“Easy for you to say,” Saeko retorted. “Besides, you already know why we're here. You should know leaving is not an option.”

She stepped right up and stared down the woman directly.

“So let's keep going, shall we?” she said coldly.

Both women continued on in silence as the rest of the group watched.

“Jeez, that was passive aggressive as hell,” Adachi observed. “Do women all fight like that?”

Asuka scoffed.

“Now you know how I felt?” she asked, shooting the men a knowing look as she followed after the other women.

The mysterious woman led them up the rickety metal stairs of a Brutalist-looking building. Thousands of wires snaked out from the doors and windows of the building, looking like it had been attacked by a post-apocalyptic Medusa-like monster.

“Wow, talk about a fire hazard,” Asuka quipped. “Their power bills must be astronomical!”

“Heh, yeah about that,” Ichiban started. “They were stealing the power from the residents nearby.”

They had reached the top of the stairs and were now standing in front of an open door.

“But that's a story for another day.”

The woman turned and faced them.

“The thing you are looking for is on the top floor,” she said with a small, cryptic smile.

They continued to follow her into the building. The interior was grey concrete and even more grey concrete, with the art stylings of a few aspiring graffiti artists plastered across some of the walls. The faint aroma of paint still hung in the air, along with the smell of burnt wires.

“Aaagh!”

Everyone jumped when they heard Adachi screaming.

“Adachi-san! Are you ok?” they asked anxiously.

“I..I saw a cockroach!” he revealed, his legs trembling.

Saeko and Nanba groaned.

“Stop being so jumpy!” Asuka complained. “Didn't you use to be a cop? How can you be afraid of cockroaches?”

“So what? Cops are allowed to be afraid of bugs! I dare you to go pick that cockroach up with your bare hands. Go on, I dare you!”

“Shut up!” Ichiban bellowed, silencing them.

“We've lost her”.

They looked around frantically; true enough, the mysterious purple haired woman had vanished without a trace.

“Oh my God...she really was a ghost!” Nanba cried, his face turning green with fear.

“You're an idiot,” Asuka snapped. “Besides, didn't she already tell us where to go?”

Her eyes fell onto the flight of stairs leading them further up into the building.

“Well, what are we waiting for?”

As they made their way towards the stairs, a whoosh was heard and an arrow flew through the air, missing Ichiban by millimetres. They gasped collectively and immediately raised their weapons.

“Who's there?” Adachi demanded. “Show yourselves!”

A man wearing a mask emerged from the shadows. He was holding a bowgun that no doubt was the one that unceremoniously fired at Ichiban just seconds ago. Adachi's eyes narrowed.

“Ha, what a nice Geomijul welcome this is,” he said sarcastically, as the man was joined by four more masked companions.

“Where did they get these masks from?” Asuka asked nervously. “Is this the Texas Chainsaw Massacre?”

The men raised their fists.

“Oh you want to fight hand to hand, do you?” Ichiban asked, tossing his weapon aside and he too raised his fists.

“I like these odds! Bring it on!”

Asuka much preferred using her gun and her sword, but her training in the Police Academy also included hand to hand combat skills and Judo. She topped the class at Kendo, but she was easily in the top five for Judo as well. She was more than happy to flex that muscle tonight.

She threw her Kendo sword aside.

“Come at me!” she cried out, gesturing to the nearest masked man. 

He cricked his neck and happily obliged. The man threw a punch, which she put her arms up to block. Unfortunately she had forgotten that her arm had been bruised from earlier and she cried out in pain when his fist connected. Her guard immediately broke, leaving her vulnerable.

Shit

She braced herself as her opponent raised her fist. Instead, a baton whipped across and smashed across the masked man's face with a sickening crunch, sending him crumpling to the ground. Adachi held out his hand and helped her up.

“You ok?” he asked. “Takes guts to fight hand to hand, but that was also a really fucking stupid thing to do.”

“Yeah,” Asuka conceded, her heart still in her mouth after her close call. “Thanks for the save. I guess you're not too bad yourself, old man.”

They looked at each other and chuckled.

Geomijul members ambushed them around every corner as they made their way up the stairs, but with much grinding and some handy healing items, they finally made it to the top of the building.

“Shit, I really fucking hope this is it,” Ichiban panted, doubled over from exhaustion.

“After this day is over, I'm going to a sauna and getting a full body massage!”

“Count me in,” Nanba and Adachi said.

“And me. But I want a manicure and pedicure too,” Saeko said excitedly.

“And a facial,” Asuka finished. “A proper one too, with the mud masks and body wraps.”

They were so busy planning their spa date that they didn't notice that they were no longer alone.

“Good job everyone!”

A masked man was standing at the top of a short flight of steps. He was leaning against a metal folding door, playing on his phone nonchalantly. His body was covered by a large, oversized puffer jacket made out of a shiny material. But what was the most striking feature about him was his silvery white hair, which he wore in a stylish pompadour.

Silver hair.

Asuka suddenly felt her chest constrict and she balled her hands up. That feeling of terror, the breathlessness from earlier in the day, courtesy of a mysterious assailant.....

“You!”

Asuka found herself pushing past Ichiban as she stormed her way towards the man.

“It was you that choked me out in the Underground!”

The man let out a low chuckle.

“Yeah, sorry about that,” he said apologetically. “It's a bit complicated.”

“Complicated?” Asuka cried out incredulously. “You could have killed me!”

“Except I didn't,” the man replied calmly.

“And trust me, if I wanted to kill you, you would not be standing here right now.”

Asuka fell silent. She knew he was right; he had taken her out with so much skill that she knew that he could have just as easily snapped her neck or air choked her out instead. Basically, he could have made it a lot more painful. And taking her to the safe room for the others to find her? A true act of mercy, if there ever was one.

“What's your deal?” Ichiban asked furiously. “Are you here to help us? Or hurt us?”

“As I said,” the man said, reaching up and removing his face mask.

“It's complicated.”

He nodded lightly at them in acknowledgement.

“My name is Joon-gi Han.”

With his face now fully revealed, Asuka could see why Saeko was so smitten. He had a set of dark, piercing eyes, a high-set nose and cheekbones and a jawline that could cut through glass. Judging by the way the rest of the group reacted to his appearance, Han must have been the mysterious man who saved them from Mabuchi.

“Joon-gi Han, is it?” Ichiban confirmed. “What are you playing at? Why did you bring us here and then get your Geomijil goons to attack us?”

“Just a little test of your strength, that's all,” Han replied with a look of indifference.

“What the fuck?” Nanba exploded. “Is this some kind of sick game for you? We've been busting our asses all day!”

“But we kicked everyone's asses, didn't we?” Saeko piped up confidently. “So was that good enough for you, Mr Silver-haired asshat?”

“Silver-haired asshat?” Adachi looked at her incredulously. “I thought you said he was hot?”

“He is. B...but I'm still allowed to think he's an asshat!” Saeko shot back obstinately.

Han laughed heartily at their exchange.

“Not bad,” he conceded. “I did specifically tell my men not to kill you but I was still a bit worried. I still think I could have taken you all out by myself.”

“You want to say that again?” Asuka said, raising her sword angrily. Ichiban hurriedly pulled her back.

Han shook his head and sighed.

“There is so much you don't understand,” he lamented.

“Then tell us!” Ichiban shouted impatiently. “Cut out this cryptic crap and just tell us what your deal is!”

Han turned his back and gestured for them to follow him through the metal door. Behind that laid another highly secure door with a large warning sign on it: NO UNAUTHORIZED ENTRY

“You know, we never let anyone who's not part of the Geomijul past this point,” Han quipped. “Consider yourselves lucky.”

“Wow, so lucky. Even better than winning the lottery,” Ichiban retorted sarcastically. “No more bullshit. You going to talk properly or what?”

Han smirked

“Even better,” he said as he pushed the heavy security door open.

“I could show you”.

Hundreds of screens of different sizes adorned the wall of this vast space. They were clearly showing security footage of every nook and cranny of Ijincho. Asuka felt her hair stand on end; part of her training had encompassed getting around security cameras, but not even the best Public Safety officer could get slip through what looked like every single surveillance camera in the whole of Yokohama. And the amount of information those cameras generated would make even Shinonome, the Public Safety team's resident tech ace's head spin. This was like some perverse, voyeuristic, post apocalyptic nightmare.

“The Geomijul came to the area after the Seiryu and the Liumang,” Han explained. “We had to find a way to show our value. So we came up with this.”

He gestured around them.

“We sell this intelligence for income and also use it as a weapon.”

“A weapon?” Adachi asked, raising his eyebrows suspiciously. “You mean 'blackmail'?”

The corners of Han's mouth twitched.

“Call it whatever you want, but the Geomijul's role is to strike the balance between the other two factions. If either the Liumang or Seiryu accuse the other of acting out of line, that's when we come in and use our resources to find out the truth.”

“Ha, so that makes you both Judge and Jury for the Ijin Three?” Asuka asked.

“We prefer the term 'mediator',” Han advised diplomatically. “We investigate, provide the evidence to the parties involved, and hopefully resolve the issue before shit really hits the fan and get to the point of no return.”

He turned to look at a large screen, drawing their attention to it as well. Everyone gasped as they saw footage of Mabuchi and three other men shoving Nonomiya around just outside his Soapland.

“This was taken just before your friend was killed,” Han revealed.

“This is perfect!” Ichiban exclaimed triumphantly. “Now, if you can just pass-”

“But I can't hand this over to you yet.”

The others stared at him in shock. Ichiban was getting ready to march over to him and grab him by the collar when he spoke up again.

“There's something else I want to show you,” Han said, walking towards another electric door that opened when he approached it. The group followed him cautiously, wondering what the hell else he had in store that he wanted to show them.

The room was taken up by a large tank filled with green liquid, with several robot arms whirring above it shooting purple lasers into the strange contents of the tank. It looked like a scene out of a sci-fi movie. They continued to watch intently as the robots created a large rectangular structure that slowly took shape. Another robot arm emerged and brought the odd pile to the surface, where they could all have a clear look.

They gasped collectively.

“Are these...counterfeit bills?” Asuka whispered, refusing to believe what was just laid out in front of their eyes.

“You mean, like Mabuchi's-”

“Hah, Mabuchi's fakes aren't even close to being compared to ours!” a familiar voice rang out.

They turned at the sound of clicking heels. It was the mysterious woman from earlier again.

A sinister smile spread across her face. “Did you miss me?” she asked.

“What's wrong, you had to fix your makeup of something?” Ichiban replied sarcastically, as Saeko rolled her eyes.

“It'll take a lot more than makeup to fix your personality!” Saeko interjected. “Stop with this flirty bullshit and tell us who the hell you are!”

She smiled and nodded at Han, who gave a low respectful bow in response. Seeing the murderous Joon-gi Han suddenly so subservient was a tad unsettling.

Could it be? Surely not.

“Everyone,” Han spoke up. “This is Seong-hui, leader of the Geomijul”.

Seong-hui finally removed her sunglasses, revealing large, expressive eyes framed by long dark eyelashes and equally dark, smokey eyeliner.

“No way,” Adachi uttered, his eyes looking like they were going to fall out of his head.

“The leader of the Geomijul is a woman?”

“And how is that a problem?” Seong-hui replied in a dangerous tone.

“The wads of paper you saw in the warehouse,” she said, putting her sunglasses away. “They were specially imported from China for us. Zhao personally oversees that operation.”

Everyone's jaws collectively dropped. Was Zhao in on that as well?

“And Mabuchi's side gig manufacturing Chinese bills? Are you part of that operation too? Does Zhao know?” Ichiban asked, firing question after question.

“We're not involved in that,” Seong-hui replied. “But Zhao knows. Mabuchi doesn't know what we're doing with the paper, so as long as he doesn't ask questions, we don't ask him any either.”

“The paper is made with a very special compound,” she continued. “A state secret, if you will. It's almost impossible to recreate it without the proper know how, but luckily we had insider information.”

“Insider information?” Adachi asked, side-eyeing Asuka. “You mean...you have an insider in the Police force?”

Asuka clenched her fists and Adachi could see that she had turned pale. She had so much faith in the police force that the thought of a mole existing in the department was such a shocking concept to her, much less one who was leaking state secrets to the Underworld.

Poor, delusional girl, Adachi thought.

She had much to learn about how the world worked.

“There's no need for you to know,” Seong-hui advised pointedly.

“The fact is, nobody knows about this operation of ours,” she continued, slinking over to Ichiban. She swiftly pulled a gun out and pointed it at him.

“So why do you have this?”

Seong-hui reached into his breast pocket and pulled out a bloodstained piece of paper.

“I...I don't know what you're talking about!” Ichiban sputtered. He had shown up in Ijincho with that in his pocket and nobody had been able to give him any answers to what it was. He had long forgotten about it and was now carrying it around out of habit, but could it be that this piece of paper was what dragged them into this shit to begin with?

“This note is a misprint from our machine. How the hell did you get your hands on it?” she asked in a low, threatening voice.

Asuka had never seen that bill before. Goddamn it Ichiban, she couldn't believe that he had kept such an important piece of evidence from her. They could have done so much with it, send it to the lab to run tests.....but all that investigating would have probably sent them to where they were now, deep in the heart of Geomijul headquarters.

“I....I don't know,” Ichiban repeated, his voice shaking. Seong-hui tilted her head, looking like she was still doubting him, but she suddenly lowered her gun and smiled.

“Ok, just checking,” she quipped cheerfully.

They glared at her furiously. What sort of sick joke was this? Just how much information do the Geomijil have of them? And how much do they know? They had never felt more exposed and violated in their entire lives.

“But there's someone here whom I can't say the same about.”

Asuka felt her blood run cold when she realized that Seong-hui had stopped right next to her; if the Geomijul had all this intel on every single surveillance camera in Ijincho, could it be that they knew her real identity?

“Am I right?”

She braced herself as Seong-hui whipped around and raised her gun.

“Nanba?”

Asuka opened her eyes in disbelief.

Nanba?

No fucking way!

“Are you going to tell us the truth?” Seong-hui enquired, her gun positioned under Nanba's jaw. “About who you really are?”

Everyone turned to stare at Nanba, who looked at Seong-hui with little change in his expression. It was alarming how calm he was with this confrontation and he did nothing to deny those accusations.

“Shoichi Akiba.”

Nanba had spoken. He looked up at Seong-hui defiantly, a fiery look in his eyes. Meanwhile, everyone looked at each other in confusion. What or who was Nanba talking about?

“That was my brother. He was a journalist investigating counterfeiting in Ijincho and he disappeared after he came here,” he revealed.

“Where is he?” he roared, putting his forehead directly in contact with the barrel of the gun.

“Tell me and kill me afterwards, I don't give a fuck! Just leave the others out of it, please!”

The others cried out in surprise and panic; there had been a hell of a lot of pointing of guns at heads tonight

“Nanba...”

He turned to look at Ichiban, who had an immensely disappointed look on his face.

“Did you...use us?”

Nanba nodded his head with much reluctance.

“I'm sorry, Ichiban,” he whispered. “But when I saw that bloodied note, I thought you were my ticket in. So I knew I just had to get in with you and steer you towards the investigation.”

Asuka remembered that niggling feeling within her when she first met Nanba; how he seemed defensive and reluctant to have her join the team, how elusive he was she asked him his motive for joining Ichiban.

So this was what it was about- Nanba was looking for his missing brother. She can't say she held it against him, she knew how horrible it felt to not have someone close to you disappear without a trace. She would have hunted them down to the ends of the earth as well..

Seong-hui looked at Nanba with a cold, indifferent look on her face before knocking him out with the butt of the gun. A group of Geomijul members appeared and picked the unconscious man up.

“Where are you taking him?” Adachi asked fiercely.

“He cannot be allowed to leave,” Seong-hui replied simply.

Ichiban stepped up, brandishing his bat.

“Do you think we were just going to sit back and let you take our friend away?” he asked in a cold voice.

Joon-gi Han stepped up, cracking his knuckles alongside three other members of the Geomijul as he shielded Seong-hui from the gang.

“Very well,” he said casually. “Allow me to test your resolve.”

Asuka stepped up, holding her sword up.

“Take the others out. He's mine,” she told the others.

“Asa-chan, are you insane-”

“We have some unfinished business between us,” she said firmly. “Back me up, will you?”

The others nodded, standing down to allow her space to step up. She didn't want to admit it, but they were right:

She was insane.

Han looked on with interest and raised his eyebrows before guffawing.

“Back for round two, are we?” he asked, raising his fists and brandishing a set of knuckle dusters. “I thought you would be smarter than this.”

“I'm ready for you this time!” Asuka cried out.

“Don't let him grab you around the neck!” Adachi warned. Asuka did not need to be told twice; she knew exactly how lethal he could be in seconds.

She had to stay focused and not give him any opening whatsoever.

Asuka swung her sword at him, but he was somehow quicker. With a nimble display of footwork, he had moved out of her range. He threw a punch, forcing her to duck out of the way. With him now so close to her, she converted to close combat.

She withdrew her sword and threw a punch in retaliation, which caused him to recoil by surprise. Thinking she had created an opening, she grabbed him in a judo hold, which turned out to be a horribly miscalculated move.

A triumphant grin spread across his face.

“Speaking of secrets.”

Han effortlessly reversed her hold and now had her in a headlock.

“Nanba's not the only one with a secret, is he?” he whispered in a low, dangerous voice that only she could hear.

Asuka could feel her heart stop. The angry scowl on her face faded as a chill ran down her spine.

“Am I right? Asuka Hayashi?"

Chapter Text

For what felt like the second time in the day, Asuka found herself waking up in a strange place. Was this Groundhog Day? This was starting to get old. She tried to move but realized that she couldn't. Her wrists had been tied up by ropes that were dangling from the ceiling and she was being held prisoner in a small room guarded by a few masked Geomijil members. She tugged at the restraints helplessly but they remained firmly knotted. Her head was pounding and she could feel the room start to spin.

“Ah, good evening.”

Joon-gi Han approached her, smiling pleasantly. Asuka groaned.

“Where am I?”

“In a secret little room in Geomijul HQ,” he advised her. “It's the only place without any cameras and thus the most secure room in all of Ijincho.”

The exhaustion and dizziness was more pronounced now and she was struggling to hold herself up. But there was something else. She started to feel warm, abnormally so. She remembered getting put in a headlock by Han again, but there was no way that would result in this much discomfort.

As that thought crossed her mind, she started to feel a familiar tingle between her legs. She squeezed her thighs together as she tried to ignore that sensation, but it only started to intensify.

“W...what...did you do?” she asked weakly, starting to break out in sweat. She pulled at the restraints again, grimacing as the ropes started to dig into her skin.

Han shrugged and held up a small syringe.

“Just a mild neurotoxin,” he replied. “Don't worry, the dosage is so mild you won't have any long lasting side effects.”

He ran a finger across her cheek.

“But while it is still in your system, it will hurt. A lot.”

Asuka breathed heavily as she felt the tingle between her legs intensify. She gritted her teeth to stop herself from crying out and clenched her legs together even tighter.

“Talk,” he ordered. “What are you doing in Ijincho under a fake name?”

Han knew he had her on the ropes, literally and figuratively. That neurotoxin was a special Geomijul blend that he used exclusively for combat. It was lethal enough to kill, but he preferred to use it in small doses to achieve better outcomes, like in interrogations like these. The dosage should have been perfect enough to cause her excruciating pain without knocking her out, but she was reacting rather oddly. Her face was all screwed up, but it didn't look like she was in agony at all. And she kept fidgeting and was clenching her thighs together...did she need to pee?

“Boss!”

Han looked annoyed as a masked Geomijul member burst into the room, out of breath.

“What?” he asked irritably, looking thoroughly unimpressed.

The man whispered into his ear. The look on his face visibly changed.

“You what?” he hissed. “Don't tell me you gave me the...oh God.”

Han looked over at Asuka. Her flushed face, the sweating, the clenching of her thighs together like that....yup, there was no doubt about it.

He had injected her with a sex serum instead.

It wasn't ideal, but judging by the look on her face, she was still in a right state of discomfort. A good hitman never lets an unplanned mishap get in the way of achieving his end goal, and Joon-gi Han was the best hitman in all of Ijincho.

No matter, he could still work with that.

Han drew a karambit knife from his pocket, running the back of the blade against her cheek. Despite the feeling of cold steel sending shivers down her spine, Asuka remained defiantly still. Her heart was pounding and she was paralysed with fear. Kaga's words echoed in her mind. “As a woman, men will always threaten you with sexual violence. You need to be strong in the face of this threat”. There had been many stimulated acts of violence towards her during her training which had built up her resolve, but never had she been cornered quite like that.

And none of those simulations had her tied up with some libido-inducing neurotoxin coursing through her veins.

He moved the blade down her face and down towards the opening of her dress. Turning the blade to the sharp side, he slowly dragged it down the neckline of her dress, effortlessly slicing through the brocade fabric. What was left of the garment fell apart, exposing her bare skin and her bra. That sent her into an even more heightened state of arousal as she closed her eyes and bit her bottom lip, her legs were on the verge of giving out beneath her and she was amazed that she hadn't already made a puddle on the floor.

Han's eyes widened at her resolve and the corner of his mouth twitched in a small smirk.

He leant in and whispered in her ear.

“You're not really a hostess, are you?”

Asuka's silence neither confirmed nor dismissed his claim. He drew the blunt edge of his blade against the middle of her chest, causing goosebumps to erupt across her skin. It was excruciating, and her lips parted to emit a silent moan as she panted heavily.

Han couldn't believe it. He was running out of patience. His dark eyes lit up with fury and his lip curled into an ugly snarl.

“Let's see how long you stay quiet when we take another layer off, shall we?”

Asuka thought she was going to bite through her bottom lip as the knife edged towards the middle of her bra and what was left of her modesty together..

“AAARGGGH!!”

The door suddenly burst open as a few masked Geomijul guards staggered and fell through. They looked to have been beaten up quite severely and they were cowering as they got back on their feet.

“Oi, Joon-gi Han,” a familiar drawl sounded out. The light that poured in from the corridor made it difficult to make out who it was, but there was no mistaking the cadence in that voice and that exaggerated swagger.

Peering through his dark glasses and sweeping his hair nonchalantly from his face, Zhao Tianyou cracked his knuckles.

“Let my woman go.”

Both Asuka and Han stared at Zhao. Han reacted first, withdrawing his knife from Asuka's chest and turning it towards Zhao instead.

“Tsk tsk,” he said, shaking his head in mock disappointment. “Did you have to beat up my men like this, Zhao Tianyou?”

“I already went easy,” Zhao replied lazily, kicking aside an unconscious Geomijul member on the ground. “Thought I would do you a favour and not bring my sabre.”

Han let out a derisive laugh.

“Your woman?” he asked, gesturing at Asuka with the knife. “This....'hostess' is your woman?”

Zhao smirked.

“Sure she is. She's from the hostess club I own. I liked what I saw, and now she's mine”. He winked at her, causing Han to roll his eyes.

“Ha, is she now?” Han retorted sarcastically. “Prove it”.

Zhao sighed as he walked towards Asuka. Cupping her face, he leant in and kissed her on the lips. It was like offering a drink to a man in a desert. She was so in heat that she returned his kiss with twice the amount of intensity he offered her. It was difficult to tell who was more taken aback at the exchange. Zhao slid his tongue inside her mouth and she instinctively met it with hers. The grip he had around her head softened and his fingers ran down the nape of her neck, sending another wave of goosebumps across her skin. As he finally pulled away, she let out a gasp, breathing heavily against his lips. Zhao gave a satisfied smile in return. He turned towards Han, who watched the entire thing with a stunned expression on his face.

“Are you convinced now, Joon-gi Han?”

Han scoffed.

“Is that it? God, Zhao you should know me by now. I don't do things by halves.”

He raised his blade against Zhao's throat, the incredulous expression on his face turning murderous yet again.

“Fuck her.”

There was a ringing silence. Asuka wondered if hallucinations were part of the side effects of the serum; she thought she just heard Han ask Zhao Tianyou to fuck her.

“Fuck her”, Han repeated, jerking his knife towards Asuka. “C’mon, I even gave you some help by injecting her with sex serum.”

Nope, turns out it doesn't have psychedelic side effects.

Asuka suddenly felt her heart constrict with terror. Surely he wouldn't...

Zhao remained unperturbed. He glanced at Asuka and a look of understanding spread across his face.

Ha, that would explain her enthusiasm from earlier, he thought with a secret smile. What an unexpected gift, he will make sure to send his thanks to the Geomijul accordingly.

Turning back to face Han, Zhao casually pushed the blade away from his face.

“Geez, do you need to be this crude?” he winced. “Joon-gi Han, are you that sexually frustrated that you want to watch me fuck my woman? Damn, I need to tell Seong-hui to let you get out more-”

“You keep Seong-hui's name out of your mouth,” Han snarled, his blade missing Zhao's cheek by inches. He eyed the blade with fascination but he didn't recoil, instead he laughed.

“I didn't know using sex serum was part of the Geomijul mode of operations,” he said in a cold, sneering voice. “You probably thought nobody would know if you did it in here, but I just had to spoil your party, didn't I?”

“Zhao, do you have any idea who she-”

“I do”, Zhao interrupted curtly. “So let her go and I won't tell Seong-hui what you've been doing. And as an extra favour, I'll walk out of here without kicking your ass. How does that sound?”

Han looked like he had just been force fed a huge steaming pile of dogshit. Seong-hui was the one who dealt with Zhao directly, but in the times he had to interact with him his happy-go-lucky, shit-stirring demeanour was really fucking irritating.

“So please, the antidote?” Zhao asked politely.

Han shot Zhao another filthy look which Zhao returned it with a brazen, triumphant smirk plastered over his face. Asuka wanted to know where he found the audacity; he might be the leader of the Yokohama Liumang but Joon-gi Han was no pushover either.

To her surprise, Han put his blade away and nodded at a nearby Geomijul member. The masked man produced a sealed syringe, which Han took out and injected into Asuka's arm. She let out a small cry as she felt the needle pierce her skin; she really really fucking hates needles.

“You should feel better after an hour,” he advised grudgingly, as he started untying the restraints around her wrists. The rope had left angry red welts against her skin and it was starting to sting. She stumbled and hurriedly pulled what was left of her dress around her to protect her modesty. Zhao wrapped his arm protectively around her shoulders and bundled her towards him before her legs gave way. Holding her up securely, he guided her towards the door, matching her speed as she hobbled along.

“Good chat. We'll be heading off now, see ya later!” he said cheerily as they walked out the door together.

Asuka's head was swimming and everything felt like a blur. Her cheeks were flushed and she was a hot, sweaty mess. His grip around her shoulder tightened protectively as he held her close. She sniffled, trembling as she held her dress together, feeling Zhao's fingers shift against her skin.

Right on cue, Zhao immediately took his jacket off and placed it around her shoulders.

“Here, this should cover you up nicely,” he said pleasantly. Asuka pulled the garment around her tightly, at a complete loss to explain what just happened. Why he had come to save her. What if Han had not backed down? Would he have forced himself on her? The kiss was shocking enough, she couldn't imagine how she would react if he had gone that one step further...

There were too many questions and she didn't think she would get the answers now.

“Are you ok?” a soft, gentle voice asked.

Asuka snapped out of her thoughts. Zhao was looking at her with an uncharacteristic look of concern over his face. It was completely different to the cold, murderous man she looked in the eye back at Restaurant Row.

“What was the deal back there?” she exploded, her eyes flashing indignantly. “First you send us into this hell hole and then you kick their doors down to get me out? What the fuck is going on?”

“Don't overexert yourself,” he said pointedly. “The serum still hasn't left your body”.

Asuka's face flushed. The tingling in between her legs had subsided, but her panties were already soaked. The cool breeze that was weaving through her cut up dress tickled her breasts and her nipples were reacting to it. She was already in a bad way before he showed up and kissed her...

“W...Why did you kiss me?” she demanded, her voice starting to shake.

Zhao raised his eyebrows at her outburst.

“Hey, but you kissed me back even harder!” he pointed out, sounding hurt. Asuka thought she was going to die of embarrassment. He guffawed at her reaction and she watched as his lips curled into an enigmatic smile.

“Would you have preferred if I fucked you for real instead back there?” he asked with mock innocence.

Asuka flinched. There was a moment where she was genuinely terrified that she would be an unwilling participant of a live sex show for Joon-gi Han. Sex serum or not, her exhibitionist tendencies did not extend that far.

“You thought I would do it, didn't you?”

She wasn't expecting him to figure out what was going through her mind. There was only one other person who could read her that well, and the thought of that man made her stomach clench uncomfortably.

Zhao laughed heartily again when he saw her bewildered expression.

“Don't be silly!”

He brought his face close to her, so close she could smell his scent; it was an odd combination of spicy cologne mixed with cooking oil and stale cigar smoke.

“If I was going to fuck you, I wouldn't want anyone watching,” he whispered in a low voice.

He looked into her eyes and flashed an odd smile that was gentle and cheeky at the same time.

“And I'll take my time and make love to you all night until you beg me to stop.”

Asuka let out a shocked gasp at his unexpectedly candid confession, drawing another hearty laugh from him.

“You're so cute when you make that face,” he purred with playful smirk, pinching her lightly on her cheek. She squirmed, she had never had anyone pinch her cheek like that before and it made her blush.

Before she could retort, she realized that they had walked out of the Geomijul building. The fresh air hit her face like an icy bucket of water over her head and she couldn't help but sigh with relief.

He stretched his arms above his head and yawned. Asuka noticed the top of his shirt opening slightly, exposing his chest. Zhao caught her looking and grinned slyly.

“Mmm, naughty girl, was just now not enough for you?” he teased, pinching her cheek again and grinning as he saw her face turn a bright shade of pink. “Do you want more?”

Asuka instinctively took a step back as he leant in towards her again.

Deciding that he was done toying with her, Zhao withdrew with a sigh.

“Well, see you later,” he said, waving his hand casually behind him as Asuka watched his retreating back.

“And you can keep the jacket!”

She pulled his jacket close to cover her modesty, taking in that faint trace of the leathery cigar and cologne scent that she just smelt on his body.

“Asa-chan!”

Asuka turned at the sound of that familiar voice and saw Ichiban and the others running towards her. Her legs just about gave way to the sense of relief that washed over her. She nearly burst into tears again when Saeko threw her arms around her.

“Asa-chan, thank God you're ok!” she cried out in relief. “We thought that crazy Geomijul asshole would do something to you!”

“He tried,” Asuka admitted. “But it didn't go very far. How did you guys get out?”

Ichiban grinned. Asuka noticed he was spotting a black eye and the others were looking worse for wear.

“With ol' righty and lefty here!” he said, raising his fists. “Nothing we couldn't punch our way out of!”

She let out an exasperated chuckle.

“Where's Nanba?”

“Gone,” Adachi replied. “We bought him more time so he could get out of here. No idea where he's gone though, but these Geomijul bastards aren't going to let him off that easily.”

“How did you get out anyway?” Ichiban asked.

“And that jacket, where did that come from?”

Asuka paused as her grip around the leather jacket shifted. Adachi's eyes widened as he recognized it.

“Wait a minute, don't tell me it was Zhao?”

Asuka nodded. The others stared in disbelief.

“What the hell?” Ichiban exclaimed. “Why would that asshole send us to this place and then come and save us? Save you?”

Asuka shrugged her shoulders. “I....have absolutely no idea.”

“Are we done for the day? Can we please go home now?” she begged, sounding thoroughly exhausted. Forget the spa treatments, she just wanted to have a shower and change into something that didn't expose her breasts for the world to see.

To her surprise, the other shook their heads.

“I wish I could too,” Ichiban lamented.

“But Seong-hui told us to meet her at Heian Tower at 2am. Let's meet up at Survive Bar at 1.30am and head there together.”

*

Back at her apartment, Asuka immediately took her clothes off and threw them out before jumping into the shower. As the cold water from the powerful rainhead shower descended down on her, she closed her eyes and shivered. Being in the depths of the Geomijul's lair left her feeling grimy and she was suddenly reminded of Zhao Tianyou's unexpected display of affection towards her. The serum had well and truly left her body now and she was no longer in heat, but her insides burnt with embarrassment when she thought about the way she acted, how undignified she look and how ridiculously sex starved that stupid serum made her.

Maybe it had been too long since she....

Asuka slapped herself on her face, wincing as the pain registered. This was not the time to be thinking about that sort of thing.

That cold shower was refreshing, but it did nothing to stop her from thinking about Zhao.

Why he would go that far for her? She had so many questions she thought her brain was going to explode.

When she got out of the shower, she dialed a number and put it on speaker phone while she rummaged through her drawers for a pair of underwear. 

“Hello?” a snooty sounding voice answered.

“Hi Ayumu,” Asuka replied. She had taken her towel off and was putting on a fresh pair of panties. “You're on speaker”.

“Uh, yeah,” he replied in an odd voice. “I can see that.”

“Wha-?”

Asuka turned in shock, only to be greeted by Ayumu Shinonome's face staring right at her on her phone screen.

“You video-called me,” he said pointedly, an unimpressed scowl on his face.

Asuka gave a strangled shriek and hastily covered herself up with Zhao's jacket.

“D...did anyone else see?” she asked in a small voice.

“Nope,” he replied.

“Just the Chief and both Captains. But they suddenly remembered they have stuff to do and they left.”

And she thought that time Shinonome, Kurosawa and Goto overheard her and Kaga having sex over the phone was embarrassing. For the umpteenth time that day, she thought she would die of shame. 

“Well, thank you for not hanging up. Because I have a favour to ask you”.

He rolled his eyes.

“And that couldn't wait until you got dressed?” he asked sarcastically.

“Shut up Mushroom-head, I actually have something important for you to look into.”

“Hmm,” he replied, rubbing his chin thoughtfully. “I guess I could help you.”

“Great,” Asuka replied, ignoring his prickly response.

“Zhao Tianyou, leader of the Yokohama Liumang. Can you look into that guy for me?”

Shinonome looked thoughtful. “Sure I can,” he said. “Give me a few hours and I'll get back to you.”

“And next time please don't flash your vag-”

She immediately hung up.

As she got dressed properly in a more appropriate outfit consisting of a padded bra, T-shirt and jeans, she caught sight of his leather jacket again, which she had unceremoniously dumped into a pile on her bed. Her curiosity overcame her and she started turning out the pockets; they were empty except for what looked like a corner of a business card. It had a street address on it, but the business name and owner were missing.

She checked her watch; there should still be enough time before they had to meet at Survive Bar.

*

Questioning her sanity, Asuka made her way to the Ijin Street address that was on the business card. It led her to a locked door in a shady alleyway. A faded sign sat above the door: You Tian. What sort of establishment was that? The surroundings provided no clues whatsoever.

“This place is rarely open,” a voice rang out behind her, making her jump. At that time of the night, she could be forgiven that it was some ghostly spectre, but instead it was an old man who had stopped when he saw Asuka staring at the locked door.

“I think the owner uses this as a private meeting place,” he said. “Strictly invite only”.

“Have you ever seen the owner?” Asuka pushed on. “What does he look like?”

The man shook his head.

“Every time I see the light on upstairs, this door is locked,” he said. “Clearly the owner and his guests do not want to be bothered.”

Asuka nodded and thanked the man. She looked up at the sign and again at the business card in her hand. His cocky smirk flooded her mind again and she touched her face where he had so-affectionately pinched her not too long ago.

Zhao Tianyou...just who are you?

Chapter Text

Circa.2001

Zhao Tianyou lived a charmed life. Or was it a cursed one? Growing up as the only son and heir apparent to the Yokohama Liumang, Tianyou had the weight of the world on his shoulders. Not only did he have to top the class in his studies, he was always expected to win any fights he got into. And as the son of the leader of the Yokohama Liumang, he got into many of them. To ensure he was well-equipped for victory, he trained in various forms of martial arts and weaponry.

His father ruled the household with an iron fist. While he was allowed some boyhood luxuries, such as the Dreamcast, his access to them were strictly restricted. That meant it was very difficult to make friends, but as far as his father was concerned, that wasn't important. Less friends meant less distractions, and young Tianyou has big shoes to fill. There was one guy who followed him around a lot, some young man named Mabuchi. He was the closest thing to a friend Tianyou had, but even then Mabuchi still called him shao-yeh, or 'Young Master'.

That's not how friends refer to each other.

But there was a small window of time in the year when things were different. When even his father was more relaxed and allowed him to have a bit of fun.

It was the annual family trip to Nagano, where they visit an old family friend of theirs, Mori-san. Born in post-war Japan, he was a man of mixed Chinese-Japanese parentage. He was ostracized by society because of his background, but he found an unexpected ally in the older Zhao in the rough surrounds of Restaurant Row. A man who was fiercely proud of his mixed Chinese-Japanese heritage, he swore a blood oath with Zhao-senior in their youth and had fought by each other's sides ever since. And that was how it remained for many years, where Mori was second in command in the Yokohama Liumang. That was until he met the love of his life, a beautiful Japanese woman from Nagano. Mori-san mellowed out after his marriage, but it was the birth of his daughter that really changed him. Fearing for the safety of his precious family, he begged the older Zhao to allow him to leave the gang.

Being a father himself, the elder Zhao understood Mori's desire to protect his family. In an unprecedented move, he allowed Mori to retire peacefully and the entire family relocated to Nagano. The Mori family had opened a Kendo school there and the Zhao family continued to offer protection and support. However, life away from the Liumang did not mean a life of everlasting peace. The Zhaos were aware of that and did whatever they could to ensure their well-being.

That was the start of the Zhao family tradition of visiting the Mori's in Nagano during the summer holidays. Lonely and isolated from boys his age at school, those trips soon became the only highlight in Tianyou's young life. His father was always busy with Mori-san, which meant he was not under his watchful eye as much and his mother always secretly encouraged him to let loose during that time. It was the only time he had unlimited access to his gaming consoles and didn't operate by a fixed schedule.

It was also the only time he got to see Xiao Hua, Mori-san's daughter.

Mori's young daughter had grown into a sweet, vivacious girl. She was only a couple of years younger than Tianyou, but she led a vastly different life. Growing up in the mountainous region of Nagano, she had a wonderfully carefree childhood. Days off from school were spent swinging a Kendo sword and sparring with her father. She didn't know violence, just a life of peace that Tianyou could only dream of.

The Mori and Zhao families would sit together for a multi course banquet dinner every night they were there. Hosted in a private dining area in the best Chinese restaurant in Nagano, only the best food and liquor were served. Sharks fin, Peking duck, even Bear's paw were served on antique china plates or vegetable-based bowls that were intricately carved by hand. It was a feast that even an emperor would be envious of.

Tonight was no exception. They were heading back to Yokohama in the next couple of days and Mori-san had prepared a very special feast. As usual, Tianyou was sitting next to Mori-san's daughter. He stole a glance over at Xiao Hua, who looked more interested in the steamed Grouper getting served than the conversations happening around her. He had always been forced to join and participate in these dinners with his father. The future leader of the Yokohama Liumang had to be knowledgeable about politics and all things relevant to the Underworld, and the grooming started the moment he could talk. Such was the burden of the Mandate, as his father always reminded him. The Mandate, just like the one Emperors of the motherland held, meant that it was his responsibility to rule the Kingdom.

And Tianyou was expected to inherit it when his father passed.

“What a lovely family you have, Mori-san,” Zhao-senior observed with a smile. “And your daughter is growing prettier by the day!”

His gaze fell on Xiao Hua, who remained blissfully unaware at the attention that was on her. She helped herself to the chicken dish that had just been served, choking as she realized that she had bitten into a large chunk of chilli.

Mori-san shook his head in exasperation as he watched Tianyou offer her a glass of water.

“Is Tianyou good with spicy food?” Mori asked, turning to him with a smile.

“Yes, I love spicy food! I can cook really delicious chilli shrimp!” Tianyou replied as his eyes lit up excitedly. The Zhaos own a large Chinese restaurant in Yokohama named Qin Jin, where Tianyou often spent a lot of time in. A few of the senior chefs had taken him under their tutelage when they saw him hanging around the kitchen and he had proven to be quite a natural. Out of everything he was taught, his signature dish was chilli shrimp. It was so good that it had drawn a few rare words of praise from his father himself.

“This little brat spends all his time holding a wok,” Zhao-senior complained. “At this rate he's going to be a restaurant's head chef before he becomes the leader of the Liumang!”

Mori-san let out a booming laugh. “Now now, there's no shame in working in the kitchen. Don't forget that we both started from the bottom in the restaurant business too!”

The men laughed. They had indeed started out washing dishes and chopping ingredients in Restaurant Row before they become leaders of the Yokohama Liumang. It was ironic that Zhao-senior took so much offence to Tianyou's culinary interests; the man himself was quite the accomplished chef.

“You're lucky”, Mori-san continued. He looked sorrowfully at his daughter. “My little girl here has zero spice tolerance.”

Xiao Hua looked up at him, her eyes still teary from her coughing fit.

“I can eat spicy food! It just can't be too spicy!” she protested.

“What about this then?” Tianyou asked, picking up a spoonful of mapo tofu. “I dare you to eat this and not cry!”

“Challenge accepted!” she cried out, as Tianyou ladled tofu over her rice.

The adults looked on in amusement. Dinners with the Mori family were the] only moments Zhao-senior allowed any trace of informality. Everyone was expected to conduct themselves on their best behaviour during mealtimes; Tianyou would never dare to speak or play with his food like that during a normal family dinner. But then again, it was only Xiao Hua that he could have this type of fun with.

“Mori-san, sometimes I wish you never left the Liumang,” Zhao-senior sighed. “My Crown Prince here will need a Queen consort at some point and you know...”

He looked at the two arguing children and cracked a wistful smile.

“With my Tianyou and your Xiao Hua, they'll be unstoppable!”

Mori laughed heartily as he poured another round of Hennessy.

“To the Dragon and the Phoenix,” he said as raised his glass.

“A match made in heaven”.

*

After dinner, Tianyou and Xiao Hua went to their favourite lookout point. That area looked out over the city of Nagano and it was especially scenic at night. It was a little colder than normal that night and the girl was clutching her jacket close to her.

“I heard Father said there will be a meteor shower tonight!” she said excitedly. “I hope we get to see it!”

Tianyou smiled and pinched her cheek affectionately. It was something he always did and it always made her giggle.

“I'll stay here with you until we see a shooting star,” he promised.

It was probably going to be a long night, but they didn't care. They would camp out here all night if need be. Tianyou will be heading home soon and it would absolutely be worth the ass whooping he would receive if they got to share that special moment together.

They made themselves comfortable on an empty bench that overlooked a view of the entire city. Tianyou would never get tired of this view. He never got to enjoy this type of peace and quiet in Yokohama. Someone was always following him around making sure he 'stayed safe'. It was incredibly irritating.

Xiao Hua was the only one he could be himself with. He was free to be cheeky, reckless, playful. Most importantly, she called him by his name.

None of that 'Young Master' bullshit. 

As they sat around waiting, she started humming a song. Tianyou's ears perked up at the familiar melody.

“That's a nice song you're humming there”, he praised. “What's it called?”

“It's called 'Gaining Through Losing'”, she replied, her eyes sparkling. “I heard Father playing this song on the radio a lot so now it's stuck in my head.”

“Oh? Do you know how to sing it too?” Zhao asked. She nodded excitedly.

“I know how to sing the English bit!”

She cleared her throat and started singing.

We've been gaining one good thing through losing another

I'm so proud to be with you, my love

Now you know the meaning of sunshine after rain

Let me tell you life is good, my friends

Zhao applauded. He had never heard her sing properly before and he thought she had a really sweet singing voice.

“Do you know what the lyrics mean?” he asked. She shook her head sheepishly.

“Well, it means that sometimes when you lose something, you end up gaining another good thing eventually. And that everything will always work out at the end.”

Her eyes widened in astonishment.

“Wow, I didn't know you speak English!” she marvelled.

“Did you know there's also a Chinese version of this song too?” Zhao asked.

“No way! Do you know how to sing it?” she replied excitedly.

“Well, no,” Zhao admitted. “I just heard it playing on the radio a lot when I'm working in the kitchen with the Chinese chefs.”

“Tianyou-gege, you've been spending a lot in the kitchen of Qin Jin recently. Is that what you want to be when you grow up? A chef?” she asked curiously.

Tianyou wanted to laugh in her face. Unlike others, he had no choice in career path. He was the heir to the Yokohama Liumang and there was only one outcome for him.

“That would be nice wouldn't it? But I will most probably take over Father's businesses”, he replied. “What about you?”

“Ummm...” she pondered. “I've never really thought about it much actually, growing up seems like such a long way away.”

“Not really, you're already twelve years old!” he teased.

“Really? What age do you think is 'grown up' then?” she asked curiously.

Zhao pondered that question seriously. Her seemingly innocent question was somehow a loaded one. The correct answer was probably between eighteen and twenty years old, but from his point of view the honest answer felt like around ten years old. That was when his father started dragging him around to meet with the senior members of the gang and getting him involved with the family business. 

“I dunno, maybe thirty?” he shrugged his shoulders casually.

“Thirty? Wow, that really is old isn't it?” Xiao Hua replied, her face suddenly looking serious.

“Maybe I will be married by then, and maybe even have a baby!”

Tianyou laughed as he watched her face light up at the thought.

“Maybe! So what would you like to do before that?”

Xiao Hua suddenly went quiet. Tianyou had known her long enough to know that was the sign that she had something important that she was mustering the courage to share.

“Actually, I've already decided,” she said shyly. “B-but it's embarrassing,” she finished, her face growing red.

Tianyou put his arm around her affectionately. “You can tell me. I promise I won't laugh.”

Xiao Hua took a deep breath as Tianyou nodded in encouragement.

“I want to be a police officer!” she announced.

That did it. Tianyou started to laugh. However he wasn't laughing at the reasons she thought he was. He was laughing at the absurd irony of the whole situation. There he was, a crime lord in the making and the only girl who was thought to be worthy to be his literal partner in crime wanted to pursue a career in law enforcement?

Oh to be this blissfully ignorant. Zhao Tianyou would give anything to be in her shoes right now.

“Hey! You promised me you wouldn't laugh!” she cried out, pouting and looking disappointed. She got up from the bench and stormed off.

“Come back here!” Tianyou called out as he started to chase after her. “Mori-san will kill me if you get lost!”

“I don't care!” she yelled back, as she hurried down the dark path down from the hill. She was quite a fast runner and Tianyou knew he would lose her in seconds if he didn't catch up.

"Stop running!" he yelled back, starting to panic as she got further from him.

“ASUKA!”

The girl stopped and turned around. She knew it was never a good sign when he called her by her full name. She liked her Tianyou-gege a lot, and she didn't like it when he was upset at her.

"Geez, you sure can run," he panted as he finally caught up with her. "You won't have trouble passing the physical test, that's for sure!"

She let out a small giggle.

"I'm sorry for running away," she said in a small voice, shifting her feet awkwardly. "Please don't be mad at me!"  

“No, I'm sorry for laughing,” he apologized in return as he squeezed her cheeks between his hands affectionately. “I just thought it was cute that you would want to be a police officer! It's a pretty dangerous job though, aren't you scared?”

She suddenly looked thoughtful. She had never really considered the dangers, honestly all she wanted was to help others, and she had been helped by the friendly neighbourhood policeman a few times. She also really liked the uniform and she thought her Kendo skills would give her an edge.

As far as she was concerned, this was the closest thing to being a superhero.

“Well, yeah” she admitted. “So I guess I'll just have to get really good at Kendo so I don't get hurt”, she said seriously.

“And I'll practise shooting my gun everyday so I never miss my target!”

She mimed shooting at invisible targets and struck a heroic pose.

“I'll protect you, Tianyou-gege!”

Tianyou laughed again. It was hard not to be affected by her earnest enthusiasm. It didn't matter that her father was second-in-command in the Yokohama Liumang. Unlike him, she could actually have a say in her own future.

“Hey now that's not exactly fair,” he objected. “I'm older than you, so I should be protecting you instead!”

Her eyes widened and her mouth dropped into a little 'O' shape. 

“But surely you can't protect me forever?” she exclaimed.

Tianyou chuckled and ruffled her hair affectionately.

“Sure I can. I'll protect you for as long as you need me.”

That was the responsibility of the Leader of the Yokohama Liumang. He had to protect everyone under his care, just like his father. Tianyou had never understood the need for the amount of responsibility that was placed on his father. It all just seemed so over the top, so unnecessary. He now finally understood why and how frightfully painful that burden was when multiplied by thousands of others. His young spirit was about to be crushed by this weight of expectation. Times like these, he's grateful that the Liumang were full of men who were willing to help him in that fight. Especially that Mabuchi guy, Tianyou was exceptionally thankful for him.

The future of the Liumang will be in good hands with them.

But Xiao Hua....protecting her was a task he could trust no one else but himself to do. 

The look on her face became serious again.

“That means we need to stay together forever.”

Tianyou grasped her shoulders and looked into her eyes.

“I would like that,” he replied in the same serious tone.

Tianyou didn't care or worry about much, but he knew the importance of keeping the Mori family safe. Xiao Hua didn't know it, but without appropriate protection, her family would be under grave danger. The thought of anything happening to the Mori's, to her, was unbearable.

Once you are Liumang, you are Liumang for life. 

“Ah! Meteor shower!” they heard someone call out excitedly.

They both gazed up at the sky and saw a shooting star streak across the sky. The young girl gasped and grabbed Tianyou's arm tightly.

“Quick! You have to make a wish,” she said anxiously, closing her eyes and clasping her hands together as she prayed silently. Tianyou closed his eyes and did the same.

They opened their eyes again about a minute later.

“Tianyou-gege, what did you wish for?” she asked curiously. “I wished that I will become the best detective in the whole wide world!”

Tianyou smiled as he pinched her cheek affectionately again.

“It's a secret.”

*

Zhao still remembered the last time he saw her; they had both made a wish on a shooting star that fateful day in Nagano. Unfortunately, tragedy struck not long after and they never visited again. A few days later, Mori-san and his wife died in a horrendous brutal murder. Their daughter, who miraculously survived because she came home late from school that day, was sent to live with her maternal grandmother, even taking on her last name. Whoever did it left no evidence and the case remained unsolved.

Tianyou fought hard for her to be taken in by their family. It was the best way to protect her, he argued. It was the best way he could protect her. He did not understand why his father chose to step back instead and cut all ties with her. His father was adamant that keeping her away and cutting all ties to the Liumang was the safest, no, the only way to ensure her survival.

So that was what happened. Tianyou never saw her ever again and the Zhao family continued to keep tabs on her throughout the years. She finished school with no issues, took the test and successfully joined the local police force in Nagano, that much he knew. He was thrilled that her wish came true and that's where he thought she would stay forever.

He did not expect to meet her there and he didn't immediately recognize her; Yokohama was a long way from Nagano after all. That and Ichiban called her 'Asa-chan', which threw him off a little. But when she pointed her gun at his head and looked at him in that way, something stirred up a hidden memory within him. He suddenly recalled a twelve-year old girl pointing a finger gun at his head, her face screwed up in righteous anger. He also remembered pinching her cheek and making her laugh.

He could never forget that adorable sight.

But still, he sent them on their way to the Geomijul anyway, such was the curse of being the leader of the Yokohama Liumang. He couldn't afford to show any weakness. Besides, he wasn't exactly sure about her identity yet.

He had a call to make.

Zhao whipped out his phone. Someone answered on the third ring.

“Hello?” the voice asked cautiously at the end of the line.

“Good evening,” Zhao greeted them pleasantly. “Can you tap into the police database for me?"

There was a moment of silence on the other end.

"Zhao, what the hell?" the man asked exasperatedly. "You know I'm not some expert computer hacker right? I can barely download anything without giving my laptop a virus."

“C‘monnnn,” Zhao wheedled. "I'll pay you double. Surely you have contacts on the inside? Or someone who is good with computers?"

The man sighed.

"Ok fine," he agreed. "I should have something for you in a couple of days."

"Make that an hour," Zhao replied curtly. "And I'll triple the payout."

The man made a flabbergasted noise on the other end of the line.

"Ok Zhao, you're officially insane. How do you expect-"

"It's an emergency," Zhao interrupted. "Life and death, and I'm not joking."

Realizing that Zhao was deadly serious, the man sighed.

"Fine. I might have a couple of people I could call," he replied. "I'll send the information over once I have it. Who's the person you're trying to find information on?"

"Asuka Hayashi," Zhao said. "She was with the Nagano Police Department. And please make it quick, I cannot stress this enough."

The man grunted in response.

"Thank you, Yagami-kun."

True to his word, the man named Yagami delivered. Such was prowess of the top private investigator in Kamurocho. True to his word, he rang within the hour.

"I got what you needed. Tsukumo was able to get into the system in no time at all," he said. "Although I will need help procuring some limited edition figurine that guy is after."

Zhao gave an approving laugh.

"Consider it done. Now, what do you have for me?"

Yagami reported his findings as Zhao nodded gravely.

"....Transferred, did you say.....to Tokyo? I see....how long ago was that? Hmm, ok then. Thank you Yagami-kun, payment will hit your account tomorrow." 

The frown on Zhao's face intensified when he hung up. He rebuffed anyone who tried to follow him as he started to walk out of the courtyard.

This one was personal.

“Boss where are you going?” a Liumang member called out curiously.

He stopped and gave the man a knowing smile.

“Keeping a promise to someone.”

Chapter Text

Survive Bar

Asuka dragged her exhausted self to Survive Bar just after 1.30am. To her surprise, she was still the first to arrive. Her head still spinning from everything that had happened that day, she settled herself at the bar and caught the eye of the bartender, who nodded instinctively and immediately started preparing one of her standard orders.

“You look tired,” the bartender observed, setting down a glass of vodka and sprite. “Are you sure you should be drinking alcohol?”

“What are you, my father?” Asuka snapped as she took a sip. She sighed.

“I'm sorry, it's...been a day,” she apologized as she buried her face in her hands.

The bartender smiled sympathetically. The door jingled and Ichiban walked in, stretching and stifling a yawn.

“Oh, you're already here?” he said to Asuka as he settled himself down on the stool next to her.

“Saeko and Adachi will join us later. I headed off first because I wanted a quick drink.”

“Are you sure you should be drinking?” Asuka asked, pointing at his black eye.

“Who are you, my mum?” Ichiban retorted as he took the glass of whisky that the bartender had poured for him. They both snorted and laughed in unison.

“Speaking of which,” Asuka started. “You've never told me about your family.”

Ichiban scratched his chin thoughtfully as he swirled his drink in his other hand.

“Well...I don't know my birth parents,” he admitted. “I was born in a soapland and was raised there. They were my family until I met Arakawa-san.”

He smiled wistfully at the thought of his patriarch.

“I owe everything to Arakawa-san,” he said. “I wouldn't be who I am today if not for him. He gave one of his fingers in exchange for my life. I wasn't even part of the clan then! From that day on, I swore my loyalty to nobody else.”

“What about you?” he asked. “Tell me more about your family.”

Asuka stopped swirling her drink.

“I....don't remember them,” she divulged. “I was raised by my grandmother in Nagano and I have no memory of anything before I was twelve years old.”

“Oh shit,” Ichiban said. “I...I'm sorry to hear that.”

Asuka had never considered her childhood to be particularly tragic. Her grandmother told her she fell very sick once when she was twelve and completely forgot everything once she recovered. She never thought about her parents because she frankly had no memories of them whatsoever.

It was difficult to miss someone you don't know.

Gentle music continued to play in the background and Asuka found herself absent-mindedly humming along.

“Ha, didn't think you were someone who liked to sing,” Ichiban joked with a chuckle.

“I don't know the words to this song though,” Asuka replied. “I just....seem to have heard this melody somewhere.”

“Yo Mr Bartender!” Ichiban called out. “What's the name of this song?”

“Well, it's ''Gaining Through Losing' by Ken Hirai! Haven't you heard it before? It was everywhere when it came out back in 2001!”

“Yeah because we had so much access to popular music in prison,” Ichiban said sarcastically.

“How did you end up in prison anyway?” Asuka asked. Just one of the questions she had been meaning to ask him for a long time.

“Murder,” Ichiban replied darkly. “One of the Captains, Sawashiro killed someone from a rival clan. Someone needed to take responsibility for that.”

“Wait a minute, do you mean-”

“Arakawa-san asked me to,” Ichiban interrupted. “So I did. Fifteen years I was sentenced, then I got into a punch up in there and it got extended to eighteen.”

“Shit...” Asuka said. “That sucks.”

Nothing made her angrier than the miscarriage of justice. And yet here was someone who willingly allowed himself to go to jail for something he had never done.

Eighteen years lost for absolutely no reason at all.

Ichiban chuckled.

“Don't feel sorry for me! It's not like I got forced to do something I didn't want to do,” he assured her in a bright voice.

“Nobody could ever do that to me!”

Asuka gave a wry smile. It felt like a long time since she did something she wanted to do. She had been 'Asa-chan' for so long she was wondering if Asuka still existed underneath all of this.  

"So.....uh....what's the deal with you and Zhao?" 

Asuka's heart leapt into her mouth when she heard his name. She could still remember how close he held her earlier that night. It was an embrace that was strangely assuring. 

"What do you mean?" 

"He saved you from the Geomijul, didn't he? Even after you stuck a gun to his head," Ichiban said. "Do you guys have history? Does your Detective friend know about-"

“Found it!”

Ichiban and Asuka turned to look at the bartender, who was holding up a record triumphantly.

“'Gaining Through Losing'! I knew I had this somewhere. Let me play it on the karaoke machine so you can sing-”

The door opened noisily again as Saeko and Adachi crashed through.

“Sorry we're late,” Adachi panted. “Someone said she had to powder her nose", he said, shooting Saeko a dirty look.

“Hurry up guys, we're going to be late!”

Ichiban looked at Asuka and held up his drink. Exchanging exhausted smiles, they clinked glasses and downed the rest of their drinks.

Bond +1

Heian Tower

The group made their way to Heian Tower as scheduled. The outside of the building made Zhao's grand restaurant in Restaurant Row look like a street stall. 

“Damn, this place is fancy!” Ichiban gushed, looking impressed. “You think they serve Peking Duck here?”

Asuka's stomach growled. Those snacks and tuna onigiri they had in the underground had well and truly digested themselves.

“Stop talking about food,” she pleaded. “I'm starving!”

“Well, here's hoping they'll feed us,” Saeko said as they headed inside. “I would kill for a bowl of shark fin soup right now!”

They headed upstairs to the private dining area. There was strangely nobody in the restaurant, which was probably not unusual considering the time of the night. The familiar smell of fried food and roast meat hung in the air and did nothing to alleviate their hunger pangs. 

“Ah! Welcome!”

Another familiar face greeted them at the entrance to the private dining room. Joongi Han, still dressed in his all black garb, waved at them in acknowledgement. They all raised their fists instinctively but Han put his hands up.

“Don't worry, you have my guarantee that nobody will harm you here,” he assured them.

“Some guarantee that is,” Asuka muttered, glaring at him. Her wrists still stung from where the ropes held her earlier that night. 

“You'll see,” he said, ignoring Asuka's snide comment. 

He knocked on the door.

“Come in,” said a familiar voice.

Han opened the door and bowed slightly before standing aside and ushering them into the large dining room. The room was furnished like a typical high end Chinese restaurant, with a large round table and rotating tray in the middle. 

Seated around the table was the most unlikely trio, and judging by the empty plates on the tray, they had all enjoyed a very satisfying meal together.

Seong-hui, sitting daintily in one corner, turned and smiled politely. Across from her was another familiar face from earlier tonight.

“Hi Kasuga!” Zhao Tianyou said cheerfully. "And hel-lo, pretty lady", he turned his gaze slightly and looked at Asuka, flashing a cheeky smirk that he reserved just for her. She swallowed nervously and felt her face grow hot. The others stared at the unexpectedly flirtatious exchange, confused that the man who mercilessly tried to send them to their deaths earlier was now trying to get in the pants of one of their own.

There was an old man who had his back to them when the door opened. He turned around and took a seat gracefully at the table as they stepped into the room. Dressed in a traditional yellow and brown hakama, his hair was pure white and he had a stern look on his face.

“Who's the old dude?” Saeko asked tactlessly. Adachi shushed her. 

"Sa-chan, that 'old dude' is Ryuhei Hoshino, the chairman of the Seiryu clan,” Adachi said nervously.

“Y..you mean...they're the-”

“The Ijin Three,” Asuka said in disbelief. “Together in the same room? I thought they were all fighting with each other?”

Ichiban stepped up boldly. He already knew chairman Hoshino and he looked directly at him.

“Nice place to meet again,” he gestured around at the plush surroundings. “Can you put in an order for Peking duck for me? We're fucking starving!”

“Stop joking around,” Saeko hissed. “Although, if we could just get a bowl of soup it would be really appreciated!”

Adachi rolled his eyes.

“How are you still in the mood for food?” he muttered.

The three leaders didn't say anything. Maybe it was because it was 2am and everyone's patience was running thin, but Ichiban was starting to get really pissed off.

“How can you all be sitting here so calmly? Your men are out for blood as we speak,” Ichiban scolded. “And this guy has Takabe hostage!” he said, pointing furiously at Zhao.

“Whoa, stop accusing me of things I didn't do,” Zhao said, putting his hands up in protest. “Takabe's being treated very well at my restaurant right now. He's probably feasting on a ten course banquet as we speak.”

They stared blankly at Zhao as their bellies rumbled in unison. They too would love to have a ten course banquet right about now.

Snapping out of their food fantasies, Ichiban spoke up.

“Aren't you going to do something?”

Hoshino's eyes met Ichiban's in an indifferent look.

“It's too late.” Hoshino replied bluntly.

“People are dying!” Ichiban shouted, shaking with anger. “Your men will die if neither of you back off. How can you live with that?”

“Sacrifices have to be made,” Hoshino replied matter-of-factly. “That has always been the way things worked in the long history between the Seiryu and Liumang.”

“Enough with the history lesson,” Ichiban retorted. “I don't give a fuck about that! It has nothing to do what's happening now!”

“Doesn't it?” Hoshino asked. He reached into his pocket and produced the bloodied fake bill that belonged to Ichiban.

“No way,” Ichiban whispered in shock.

“The Seiryu are in on it too?”

“After the bills get printed, they get sent to the Seiryu,” Hoshino confirmed.

“What the actual fuck?” Ichiban exploded. “So you've been involved and pocketing the profits of this whole operation the entire time?”

“Whoa calm down Kasuga, there's no need to jump to conclusions!” Zhao drawled, raising an eyebrow.

“I've been been through a LOT of shit today, so don't fucking tell me to calm down!” Ichiban snarled, as Asuka reached out to grab his arm to prevent him from punching Zhao. She herself was shaking and she felt sick.

“Those notes aren't for me,” Hoshino revealed. “They're for Yutaka Ogikubo.”

“Ogikubo?” Adachi asked sharply. “As in, Citizen's Liberal Party Ogikubo? The Party Chair himself?”

Hoshino smiled wryly and nodded.

“The one and only. It was his idea to begin with. Sixty years ago, when he was just a lowly Council member, he came to the then-heads of the Seiryu Clan and Yokohama Liumang with a proposal.”

“Bear in mind that in those days, the Seiryu and Liumang were constantly at each other's throats. Ogikubo suggested that they put their differences aside and work together on this counterfeiting scheme.”

“So let me guess, the Liumang were in charge of procuring the paper from China and the Seiryu printed and distributed the notes?” Asuka hazarded a guess. Hoshino smiled and nodded in her direction.

“Clever girl,” he replied. “And Ogikubo used all his connections within government to find out the 'recipe' to recreate these bills.”

“Where did these bills go though?” Saeko asked curiously.

“They were produced to line the pockets of the Police. Before long, the Yokohama Police were his loyal servants. All it took was one word and they cleaned out an area in Ijincho, creating a grey zone for the Liumang to live in peace.”

“And the Seiryu were ok with that?” Adachi asked.

“There was money to be made,” Hoshino said. “And if shit ever hit the fan, Ogikubo could make everything go away with the Police. It also meant the fighting ended and our men stopped dying. As far as we knew, it was a win-win situation.”

“Damn, this Ogikubo guy is good,” Saeko observed.

“Nothing a career politician can't do,” Adachi replied.

“Fast forward to the 80's, and that's when us Geomijul started to reap the benefits too,” Seong-hui piped up. “Like the Liumang, we are the remnants of the losing side of the Korean Jingweon mafia. Ijincho soon became a safe space for us survivors of that conflict.”

“However, as more of our people started coming in, tensions rose with the Liumang. Ogikubo stepped in before things got too serious.”

“Him again?” Saeko exclaimed. “Geez this guy really knows when to stick his nose in, doesn't he?”

“He offered the Geomijul a role in the counterfeiting operation. We soon took over the production role from the Seiryu, and established our surveillance operations.”

“So that's how the Ijin Three started,” Asuka said. “All thanks to Ogikubo.”

“We've had a long partnership.” Hoshino said. “And Ogikubo used our bills to climb his way up and secure his place as chair of the Citizens' Liberal Party.”

“And that's how we lived happily-ever-after in Ijincho,” Adachi said. “The ultimate win-win situation”.

“But that's still fraud,” Asuka pointed out. “All of this stuff that happened in the past is just a huge web of corruption!”

“You know what, screw the past!” Ichiban said. “What's going to matter in the future? Why did you even call us here?”

“That's easy,” Zhao spoke up. “Your homeless friend".

“Nanba?”

“Nanba has seen evidence of the counterfeiting, and now he's nowhere to be found,” Zhao continued. “Do you understand how serious things will be if this is leaked?”

“I guess it means the grey zone disappears and the Great Wall collapses,” Ichiban replied. “Sucks to be you then, doesn't it?”

To their surprise, Zhao sighed.

“You are so naïve, Kasuga-kun,” Zhao replied, shaking his head.

“When we say the Wall keeps everyone else out, I meant everyone. Including the Tojo clan and the Omi alliance. The very reason you got shot in Kamurocho in the first place.”

“Didn't you ever wonder why they never finished the job?” Seong-hui spoke up. “That's because you were dumped in here afterwards.”

“And if you bring Nanba to us,” Hoshino said, producing the bloodied note from his pocket. “I will tell you everything you need to know about this note.”

“Yeah you can get fucked,” Ichiban shot back rudely. “I'm not selling out a friend that easily!”

“You might want to rethink that,” Hoshino said, ignoring Ichiban's crudeness.

“There are already assassins out to get him.”

“Assassins?” Ichiban squeaked. “Sent by who?”

“Ah, that would be me!” Zhao answered brightly, raising his hand shamelessly. “Since I'm a nice guy, I told them to do it as painlessly as possible, but you know, I can't always be there to keep an eye on them.”

“Call them off now, you asshole!” Asuka cried out. Zhao looked at her apologetically and shrugged his shoulders.

“No can do, my dear. One life in exchange for the safety of an entire community? I think it's worth it.”

“Looks like you have no choice,” Hoshino pointed out.

“Either you get to Nanba first, or the Liumang does. It's up to you.”

Ichiban glared at Hoshino, then at Zhao. He was boiling with rage but he also knew he had no choice. Anything to save Nanba.

“Ok fine,” Ichiban agreed. “But I don't even know where to start looking!”

“I might have an idea.”

Joon-gi Han, who had been silent the entire time, suddenly spoke up. He looked at them with a serious look on his face.

“Bleach Japan.”

Everyone froze. Bleach Japan...they had not had to deal with that self-righteous lot for a while. Asuka heard from Ichiban that they had some rather ugly clashes in the past when they were working for Nonomiya. She also knew that was where her partner Kurosawa was currently deep undercover.

“So what are we going to do? Storm their headquarters?” Adachi asked.

“I guess so,” Han shrugged. “They do have a branch in Yokohama on the second floor in the Hakuryo Building. And don't look at me, I'm not coming with you.”

“Nobody asked,” Asuka said, her voice dripping with animosity. Their eyes met in a fiery exchange; the sex serum might have left her body but the memories have not.

“Are we seriously going now?” Saeko asked, yawning as her stomach growled at the same time. “I'm so sleepy. And I'm starving!”

Everyone seemed to echo the same sentiments. It also didn't help that they were in a restaurant, where the most delicious smells of the most delicious Chinese food still hung in the air.

“Ha, in that case we probably shouldn't go on an empty stomach!” Ichiban declared as the others nodded in excitement. A smartly dressed server walked past and Adachi collared him before he could get away from them.

“Excuse me, can we please order some Yangzhou fried rice?” he asked.

“Make that two!” Asuka added immediately.

“Some hot and sour soup too please!” Saeko called out, raising her hand.

“Do you still have any of that Peking Duck?” Ichiban asked, his eyes sparkling hopefully.

"And put that on the tab of Zhao Tianyou from the Yokohama Liuma-"

“I'm sorry,” the server said apologetically, bowing deeply.

“The kitchen closed hours ago!”

Everyone groaned.

"This sucks", Saeko moaned. "Why of all things do we have to deal with assassins? And when can we get some goddamn food? I'm going to pass out any second!"

As they slowly dragged their tired selves out of the building, Ichiban was suddenly hit with a realization.

“Hang on,” Ichiban burst out, making them jump. “Maybe there is a way to convince Zhao to call off the assassins!”

He looked at Asuka expectantly and grinned. She frowned; she did not like that look at all. 

“Why are you looking at me like that?” she asked suspiciously. The others had also turned to look at her with a rather sleazy look on their faces and she was starting to feel like a cornered animal. 

“He came to save you from the Geomijul, right?” Ichiban said excitedly. “So maybe he'll do you another favour-”

“Are you crazy?” Asuka shot back. “I'm not walking back in there to ask him anything.”

“Well, you could try calling him.”

They turned around and saw Joon-gi Han smirking at them, brandishing a phone at them.

“I have his number right here.”

Chapter Text

Asuka and Soma were not the only ones actively working on the case in Yokohama. On the other side of the investigation was Detective Seiji Goto and Asuka's partner, Tooru Kurosawa.

Kurosawa was one of the newer agents in the Public Safety department, but that didn't mean he was incompetent. In fact, Soma often called him 'the King of Public Safety'. Behind his goofy and immature sense of humour hid a detective who was focused and dedicated to his job. When Chief Namba was looking for someone to task to infiltrate Bleach Japan, Kurosawa was the perfect choice.

Or should they say, Jiro Ishikawa.

Dressed like a typical college student, Kurosawa visited the Bleach Japan headquarters branch in Yokohama. From the outside it looked just like a typical office building, nothing shady looking at all. Taking the lift up to the office, he spotted a few people wearing Bleach Japan T-shirts loitering around the front of the door.

One thing Kurosawa didn't lack was shamelessness (he likes to call it 'being confident') and he sauntered up to the group fearlessly.

“Hi! Are you part of Bleach Japan? I'm interested in signing up!”

They stopped mid-conversation and looked at him suspiciously. His huge smile faded slightly, perhaps this personality was a little too much for social justice.

“Go to that counter there,” one of the men said, pointing at the front desk inside the office. “They'll help you fill a form out.”

Kurosawa thanked them and entered the office. He walked over to the counter the man directed him, where he waited expectantly for the administration staff to notice him. The staff member behind the counter, a young woman in her mid-20s, continued to type away on her keyboard. Kurosawa was wondering if he was truly as transparent as his name suggested.

He tapped his foot and whistled aimlessly as noisily as he could. Kurosawa was impressed; someone like Goto would have lasted about ten seconds before he reacted to how annoying he was being, but this woman had the resilience of steel.

“How can I help you?” the woman finally asked, her voice tinged with irritation. She certainly won't be winning any awards for customer service.

“I'm here to sign up,” he said brightly, flashing her his most charming smile. She raised an eyebrow, remaining unmoved as she brought up an online form on her screen.

“Name?”

“Jiro Ishikawa.”

“Age?”

“30”

“Reason for joining?”

Kurosawa stopped and pondered that question for a second.

“I have a strong passion for social justice and eradicating grey zones,” he recited. Eww how cringe, he thought. 

She continued to type away for a couple of seconds before clinking on the 'Save' button on the bottom of the page.

"There you go, you're formally registered now," she said in an flat, emotionless voice. 

“Cool!" Kurosawa said, flashing her a thumbs up. "Do I get one of those cool T-shirts too?”

She stared at him, no doubt suspicious that he would consider that daggy white T-shirt with ‘BJ’ for Bleach Japan on it a fashion statement. But whatever, he certainly wasn't the weirdest unit in this organization.

She rolled her eyes as she reached under the desk and pulled out a package. Kurosawa opened it and immediately put the T-shirt on. He was impressed that she had picked the right size for him.

“Do I get a tour of the building too?” he pressed on excitedly.

“Uh, sure,” she replied.

“Hey Choi!”

Another young girl at the counter turned around. She looked to be in her mid twenties and had shoulder-length red hair and big, brown eyes.

“This is Ishikawa-san. Can you show him around?”

The girl named Choi nodded.

“My name is Yoona Choi,” she introduced herself before gesturing for Kurosawa to follow her. They walked into a room at the back, where a large poster was prominently displayed on the wall. It looked to be a blown up picture of a news article with two people shaking hands in it.

“This here are our two founders,” Yoona recited as if she was reading from a well-rehearsed script. “Hajime Ogasawara and Ryo Aoki. Although, you might know Aoki-san better as the current governor of Tokyo. We are proud to announce that we will be hosting Ogasawara-san himself here at our headquarters in the next couple of weeks!”

Kurosawa studied the article closely. It looked like Ogasawara and Aoki both met at Harvard University and formed the organization together. Aoki stepped down once he entered politics, with Ogasawara now the sole person in charge.

And there was a chance to meet Ogasawara in person? They couldn't have timed this better.

Being paired with Yoona was an unexpected bonus. She was much nicer than that other hag at the front desk, albeit slightly robotic. She was also quite cute too. 

Kurosawa was confident he could break that facade.

“Choi-san, how long have you been with Bleach Japan?” Kurosawa asked curiously. 

She looked at Kurosawa, looking rather bewildered. She must not be used to people making small talk like that. 

“Two years,” she replied curtly.

“What's a pretty girl like you doing in a place like this?” he pressed on, winking rather cheekily

That's it, nobody can resist the ol' Kurosawa charm.

“Erm, well...”she started to look rather shy.

“It's because of Kume-san.”

Kurosawa thought he heard glass shattering. Nope, it was just his heart.

“Kume-san?”

“Yes! When I first moved here from Korea, I worked in one of those brothels was registered as a restaurant. Kume-san was the one who helped me see the error of my ways, that making a living in a brothel was the worst thing I could do.”

Yoona's body language had completely changed. Her face lit up at the thought of this Kume-san and she was gushing like she was a high school girl talking about her crush.

“So now I'm joining him in the fight to clean up the city!”

Kurosawa wasn't sure what to think. While he was glad that she was no longer working in a brothel, he wasn't sure becoming a full time social justice warrior was quite the improvement she thought it was.

“Kume-san, did you say?” Kurosawa asked. “What's he like? Is he as handsome as me?”

“Kume-san is amazing!” Yoona cried out, her eyes sparkling with excitement. Kurosawa was alarmed and slightly jealous that he did not incite such an enthusiastic reaction with his not-so-subtle flirting.

This Kume-san must be an absolute hunk of a man, Kurosawa thought.

He probably looks like Takuya Kimura, or even Mackenyu.....

“Ahem!”

Someone cleared their throat behind them. Kurosawa and Yoona turned around and she gasped.

“Kume-san!”

Kurosawa gaped at the man standing in front of him. The handsome alpha male image he had painted in his head disappeared with a poof. Kume looked more like a shrunken version of Mr Bean and Kurosawa towered over him. His eyes narrowed and he scowled at Kurosawa.

“Choi-san, I see you are showing new members around the compound?” he said in a thin, reedy voice.

“Hi! I'm Jiro Ishikawa!” Kurosawa introduced himself cheerfully, offering a hand that was completely ignored by Kume.

“We leave for the Bar District at midday tomorrow,” Kume spoke directly to Yoona. “Don't forget to bring the necessities.”

Yoona nodded and lowered her head as Kume walked away.

“Where are you going tomorrow?” Kurosawa asked curiously.

“We will be staging a protest in the Bar District,” she said. “Would you like to join us?”

*

The next day, Kurosawa joined a group of supporters who had gathered outside an unassuming little venue in the Bar district. Someone had shoved a sign into Kurosawa's hands and he was waving it around with a little too much enthusiasm.

He joined in on the “No more grey zones!” chants as they marched down the street in protest. Yoona was next to him, waving another sign and shouting slogans at the top of her lungs. Kurosawa was a bit taken aback at how aggressive she was when protesting; where did that shy, soft-spoken girl go?

The man walking in front of Kurosawa suddenly stopped walking and he collided right into him. He turned around and leered angrily.

“Oi, watch where 'ya goin'!” the man replied in a gruff voice. 

“Whoa, chill out,” Kurosawa said, looking rather taken aback with the aggressive response. “We're all on the same side, aren't we?”

“Ya betta' watch yourself!” the man threatened again, raising his fist in his face.

Kurosawa shrank back, apologizing profusely with a goofy smile on his smile. The moment the men turned away, his groveling expression turned into a suspicious frown. He couldn't help but think there was something off about them. They were quite different from all the members he met at HQ the other day. Those ones were passive aggressive and went out of their way to avoid speaking to anyone; they subscribed to pack mentality and were only brave enough to speak up when among others. Majority of the people at this protest weren't afraid to pick a fight over something as minor as an accidental shove.

If they weren't wearing Bleach Japan T-shirts, he would have thought they were part of a gang.

There was also something else he noticed that was particularly jarring. He turned to Yoona.

“Hey, is this an excursion for your Kansai branch supporters?” he asked jokingly.

“Everyone here is speaking in a Kansai accent!”

“Ah, yes I have heard that we have a ton of support in that region,” she said. “We get lots of them joining us at our demonstrations!”

Kurosawa continued to eye those men suspiciously as he watched them shove a few people around. So much for peaceful protesting, he thought. Even Yoona was starting to look a little distraught at their willingness to throw hands.

“Yoona Choi!”

An older woman standing outside one of those shady establishments was glaring at them. She had short, bleached blonde hair, heavy makeup and was dressed in a garish sweater. She was well in her sixties but it looked like she insisted on dressing like she was in her teens.

“Hamako-san,” Yoona said softly in acknowledgement, her head bowed.

“After all we've done for you, is this how you repay us? You ungrateful brat!” the older woman spat, her heavily-lined eyes bulging with anger.

Yoona cowered, her face screwed up with fear and tears in her eyes. Kurosawa was ready to step up and confront the woman but one of those burly, Kansai-accented protesters beat him to the punch.

“Ah!”

That protester had decided to pick up a bicycle and throw it at the crowd. As screams erupted, Kurosawa pulled Yoona out of the way just in time. He held her against his chest as he shielded her from harm.

“Yoona-chan! Are you ok?” he asked anxiously.

She shook her head.

“I..I'm fine, Ishikawa-san,” she assured him, her voice trembling as her face grew red.

“Where are the police?” Kurosawa asked. “This is getting out of hand!”

He couldn't believe it. It wasn't normal for a large scale protest like this to have zero police presence. Something felt off, really off.

Kurosawa grabbed Yoona's hand and started dragging her away.

“Ishikawa-san, where are you taking me?” she cried out frantically.

“Somewhere safe,” Kurosawa replied, as they made their way out of the Bar District.

Cafe Sesil

Kurosawa brought Yoona to a cafe near the Bleach Japan headquarters. After finding a seat, he ordered a serve of strawberry shortcake and a pancake stack, along with two hot drinks.

“Are you ok, Yoona-chan?” he asked, placing the slice of cake in front of her. “My treat, so please eat something.”

Yoona blushed. She wasn't expecting him to call her that, but she didn't dislike it. She picked up her fork and ate a mouthful of cake. The heavenly mixture of strawberries and cream was surprisingly soothing and she smiled.

How cute, Kurosawa thought.

“That was close,” she whispered.

“Thank you, Ishikawa-san. If you hadn't pulled me out of the way I would have-”

Her voice trailed off.

“Do these protests always get this crazy?” Kurosawa asked. “Because that was pretty bad. I can't believe the police didn't show up!”

Yoona stayed silent. She had stopped eating and was now picking at her cake.

“Yeah, they never do.”

Kurosawa stared at her incredulously, his syrup-laden spoonful of pancake hovering halfway between his mouth and dripping onto the plate.

“You're kidding, right?” he said. “That wasn't a protest, it was a full blown riot!”

“Well....yeah,” she conceded.

“But if it gets the people talking and noticing our cause, then it's a good thing, right?”

Kurosawa put his fork and and touched her arm, making her jump.

“Yoona-chan,” he said in a low voice.

“I want you to tell me in your own words, what is this 'cause' you are fighting for?”

Yoona opened her mouth but found that she couldn't speak. There was the 'official' answer, which was basically the mission statement that was found on their website and all their posters. She could recite it by heart, even in her sleep if required.

But now when asked to use her own voice, she found that she had ironically lost it.

“I don't want others to go through what I went through,” she said softly.

“I worked in a brothel because I had no choice. I needed the money and I needed a place to live.”

She covered her face.

“I want to forget that disgusting period of my life ever existed!”

“But Yoona-chan, didn't those places give you a roof over your head when you needed it?” Kurosawa protested.

“What I'm saying is, these 'grey zones' you are all trying to eradicate....if not for these places, there would be a lot of people who won't have anywhere to go. Wouldn't that be worse?”

Yoona's eyes filled with tears.

“Hamako-san treated me well,” she admitted. “And the other girls too. They protected me from perverted clients and helped me to study so I could pass my test at the vocational institute!”

“See? We all have our place in the world. Life isn't always black or white. It would be a lot easier if it was, but sometimes there is a need to exist somewhere in between.”

The server arrived with two cups of coffee, placing them in on the table. Kurosawa picked up the small jug of milk and added it to the cup of Blue Mountain. The milk swirled around before in a cloud before it combined with the dark liquid, finally settling into a pleasant looking, light brown blend.

“Sometimes this mix can result in something quite positive,” he observed as he took a sip.

“We just need to ensure the perfect ratio.”

*

A couple of weeks later, Kurosawa caught up with Goto for their usual debriefing. As established in their four person group chat, it was their turn to use the Safe House. He arrived to see Goto already waiting for him, tucking into a bento box for dinner.

“Nice shirt,” Goto said, his mouth full of teriyaki chicken. “Bet it gets all the chicks.”

“Heh, you'll be surprised,” Kurosawa said, a cheeky glint in his eyes. “There are quite a few cute girls in Bleach Japan.”

“Are you seriously going on dates?” Goto asked.

“Sure I am,” Kurosawa replied brightly. “That's the easiest way to get information!”

“I....can't fault that logic,” Goto admitted. “Heard anything interesting?”

“Besides a lot of swear words in Kansai-slang, not much. Although Yoona-chan did say the Director is in town and will drop by the office tonight”.

“Director?”

“Yup. I already got Shinonome to send me the low down on the guy. He's some big shot Harvard grad named Hajime Ogasawara.”

“That's a bit of a mouthful.” Goto complained. “Nearly as bad as 'Shinonome'. And who's this 'Yoona-chan'?”

“Someone who showed me around on my first day,” Kurosawa divulged. “Ex-brothel worker and now full time Bleach Japan employee.”

Goto finished his meal and reached out for a pudding cup. Ishigami had shared one with him once and he had started buying them occasionally as a treat.

“So besides being a massive flirt, have you done anything else interesting?”

“Honestly, just a lot of waving signs around and chanting,” Kurosawa admitted.

“Although the Kansai bunch seem to want to pick fights more than anything. One of them threw a damn bike today and nearly hurt Yoona. But besides that, it's been pretty lame and boring.”

“Really? I thought being a protester and social justice warrior was the sexiest thing a man could do,” Goto said sarcastically, grinning slyly as he shoved a spoonful of pudding into his mouth.

Kurosawa ignored him as he helped himself to some of the snacks Goto bought from the nearby kombini.

“I wonder how Asuka is doing,” he wondered, unwrapping an egg and lettuce sandwich. “I can't believe Chief paired her and Soma together, considering what happened between them.”

“They're adults. They'll be fine,” Goto said. “Are you doubting the Chief?”

“You're too optimistic,” Kurosawa lectured. “Chief is still human too you know? And humans make mistakes. Oh wait, maybe you're a robot with no experience with relationships and don't know how they-owww!”

Goto had put Kurosawa in a headlock. Again.

“In case you haven't noticed,” Goto growled. “I am older than you and have significantly more experience with women than you!”

“G...getting lap dances while on mission...doesn't count,” Kurosawa choked. He retched when Goto's grip around his neck tightened.

As they both wrestled on the floor of the apartment, the phone rang. Goto reluctantly released his grip on Kurosawa and he answered the call while the brown-haired guy sat there, scowling while he rubbed his neck.

“Yo, Shu,” Goto answered, putting the phone on speaker. It was Soma.

“Goto, I'm going to send you an invitation to track my phone,” Soma advised. “I'm staking out the Liumang warehouse for Asuka tomorrow. Please keep tabs on me, just in case something happens.”

“Do you need backup?” Goto asked, sitting bolt upright. “Just say the word and I'll go-”

“No need,” Soma interrupted.

“Just making sure you have eyes on me so you're ready to take action tomorrow if I need it.”

Goto rolled his eyes.

“How the hell am I gonna know though? By the time I get there it might be too late and I could end up finding your body-”

Goto suddenly stopped talking. Kurosawa turned and looked at him in alarm. His hands were suddenly trembling, and Kurosawa knew exactly why.

Kazuki.

She was Goto's partner, both at work and in life. Not many people knew, but Goto was getting ready to pop the question. He was going to do it soon, but he never got the chance.

It was a mission that went horribly wrong. By the time they got to her, she was already dead.

And Goto never forgave himself.

“Soma, I'm going with you tomorrow,” Kurosawa said in a no-nonsense voice.

“No, you stay,” Goto ordered.

Kurosawa turned and glared at Goto indignantly. He really wanted to help too; there was no way he was going to let Goto face this alone.

“But-”

“No but's! You're supposed to be Jiro Ishikawa, social justice warrior nerd. Not a Public Safety officer.”

Kurosawa pouted.

“Don't call me a nerd, you robot virgin!”

Soma laughed and shook his head as another fight broke out on the other end of the phone.

Maybe Chief shouldn't have paired those two troublemakers together after all.

*

Kurosawa resumed his role as Jiro Kurosawa grudgingly. Against his orders, Goto went to assist Soma. Luckily he did because Soma was attacked by a mysterious assailant. Goto found him hidden behind some boxes in an alleyway, out cold. A quick check up at the hospital revealed no lasting injuries and Soma was discharged after a few hours. He did not get a chance to see who attacked him, which was surprising considering his martial arts prowess.

“I wonder if Asuka knows what happened to him?” Kurosawa thought to himself. He was genuinely concerned about her. She's grown up a lot over the years but Soma was always going to open old wounds for her. Those two still have feelings for each other, he was sure of it.

Now if only they would just talk it out properly.

The chairman arrived later that evening. They had all gathered in a large meeting room at Bleach Japan HQ in preparation for his welcome speech. Kurosawa looked around the crowd for Yoona but noticed that she was noticeably absent. So too was Kume. Kurosawa found himself wondering why they were both missing. Surely they weren't spending a romantic evening together? Kume was too much of a nerd to not be around when the Chairman was here and Yoona was probably still too distressed from what happened at the protest.

Hang on, why the hell was he so invested with them?

Everyone stood up when the Chairman entered. Hajime Ogasawara was a youthful looking, handsome man with a medium length centre-part haircut. His pinstriped suit was also smartly tailored and looked to have been crafted out of high-quality wool. Kurosawa thought he rivaled Chief Namba in terms of his looks.

He greeted the members with a cheerful wave and bow.

"Good evening! It is very nice to meet all of you today," he said, in a pleasant voice. 

"Seeing our ranks grow by the day gives me great assurance that our cause continues to gain momentum. Grey zones have no place in Japan. They are detrimental to our community and we need to eradicate them before society is poisoned beyond saving."

The crowd yelled out in support. Kurosawa was impressed; Ogasawara really had a way with words. For a split second even he thought he made a lot of sense and he even started to question his own sexuality.

"None of this wouldn't be possible without the support of our hardworking supporters from Kansai. Can we please show them our appreciation?"

Everyone gave a resounding round of applause.

"Now, our upcoming agenda will be-"

“Director!”

Kume ran into the room, gasping for breath. Kurosawa smiled a secret smile.

There you are, you little dork.

“There's someone here. Said he's got really important information for us.”

Ogasawara looked rather displeased at being interrupted. The Chairman of Bleach Japan came with a bit of an ego after all. Nonetheless, he quickly replaced the irritated look on his face with a scarily pleasant smile.

“Bring him in.”

Kurosawa peered curiously as Kume ushered in a shabbily-dressed middle-aged man with glasses. He had a mop of unkempt hair and judging by the smell, he hadn't showered in a few days. 

“My name is Yu Nanba,” the man announced.

“And I have very important information about the Ijin Three.”

Chapter Text

Wette Kitchen

On the brink of starvation, the group dragged themselves into the local Wette Kitchen. The oily smell of burgers and fries hit them when the doors slid open, making them all drool and their stomachs rumble.

“Welcome to Wette Burger!” the server at the counter greeted them politely.

“What can I get-”

“We'll have one of everything on the menu please,” Adachi interrupted. Ichiban pushed him aside and stepped in front of the counter.

“Make that four Wette burgers and four iced lemon teas please,” Ichiban said with an apologetic smile.

“And two tomato soups,” Saeko chimed in.

“Can we have all burgers in a combo?” Asuka asked.

“Certainly", the server answered pleasantly. "That will be 3840yen please!”

They sat around the table with a pile of burgers in front of them. They each grabbed a burger and tucked in ravenously. There was silence for a few minutes as they stuffed their faces like chipmunks. Asuka started staring at her phone as she ate, looking rather distracted.

“Asa-chan, your Wette burger's getting cold,” Ichiban said thickly, his mouth full of food.

“Are you thinking about Zhao?”

“What?" her face grew red. "I...uh...”

Joon-gi Han had given her Zhao's phone number and Asuka was still debating whether to contact him or not.

“I think you should call him,” Saeko said, sipping on her iced tea. “I've seen the way he looked at you. He's definitely got the hots.”

“I agree,” Adachi replied. “If we can resolve this with just one phone call, then I think you should do it.”

“We doubt we can resolve this over a call,” Asuka asked, setting down her half-eaten burger. “I think it's going to take a bit more than that.”

“Oooo, naughty,” Saeko said cheekily. “Are you going to have phone se-”

“What about just sending a text?” Ichiban piped up. He had recently learnt how to send messages on the smartphone and found that feature most interesting.

“Sexting? Oooo now that's hot-”

“Yeah I dunno what you're on about, Sa-chan, but what I meant is that Asa-chan can just send him a message for now instead of calling,” Ichiban replied.

“That...is actually a good idea,” Adachi said in an approving voice. Ichiban puffed his chest out proudly.

Asuka sighed.

“Fine, I'll send a text,” she conceded, opening up the app on her phone. She rested her head on her chin thoughtfully; how the hell was she going to text the leader of the Yokohama Liumang about calling off assassins? She was at a complete loss for words.

Unable to stand her hesitation, Ichiban reached across the table.

“Gimme that,” he said as he swiped the phone off her.

“Hey!” Asuka protested.

He typed away furiously on her phone, an excited look on his face.

“Ha! Done!” he said triumphantly. Asuka snatched her phone back and immediately checked her messages.

“Nice and easy. I did a good job didn't I?” Ichiban bragged. “I've been learning all sorts of new slang words recently so I made sure to make it sound extra cool.”

Asuka let out a strangled scream.

“WHAT HAVE YOU DONE, ICHIBAN KASUGA?!”

Everyone in Wette Kitchen turned and stared. Asuka was holding her phone limply, looking absolutely horrified. Saeko and Adachi looked at her phone, where two simple words flashed up at them:

You up?

Saeko howled with laughter while Adachi looked bamboozled. Ichiban too scratched his head in confusion.

“What's wrong?” he asked. “I just thought it was polite to ask if he was still awake because it's pretty late!”

Saeko was still doubled over, laughing so hard she appeared to have forgotten to breathe. Asuka had buried her face in her hands and Ichiban couldn't tell if she was laughing or crying. Adachi just shrugged his shoulders. Of course the old man was no help. 

Ichiban quickly tried to change the subject.

“Hey Sa-chan,” he asked cheerfully.

“What was that thing you were talking about before? 'Sexting'? What's that?”

He jumped when Saeko let out another shriek of laughter.

Geez, what is going on with the girls today?

Bond +1

*

The group eventually finished their meal and made their way to the Bleach Japan Headquarters. It looked just like a typical office building. The way the others spoke about the organization made Asuka visualize their headquarters like some sort of building at the top of a volcano. Like real evil villain shit. But apparently monsters can live in ivory towers too.

“Light's still on,” Saeko observed. “Let's pay them a visit, shall we?”

They took the lift up to the floor where HQ was. The glass sliding doors to the office opened. Sitting next to a whiteboard was slight-built man, looking through some notes. He looked up when the heard the door open, looking startled as he saw the group.

“What are you going here?” he exclaimed. “Do you know what time it is?”

“Sorry to interrupt your night, Kume-san,” Ichiban said pleasantly, greeting him like they were best buddies. Kume instead returned a look that suggested the opposite; they had clashed rather unpleasantly in the past and were definitely not friends. 

"We're here to look for our friend. Is he arou-”

“Hi Ichiban.”

A familiar face emerged from behind one of the doors. 

“Nanba!” Ichiban exclaimed. “The Liumang have assassins after you. You gotta get out of here!”

“The Liumang?” he asked, looking confused. “Not the Geomijul?”

“It's a long story,” Ichiban replied.

“Is it just you three?” a voice spoke up, making them jump. A good looking man in the suit was sitting at a table next to Kume. They were so focused on getting to Nanba they did not notice him at all.

“Yeah it's just us,” Ichiban replied curtly. “And who are you?”

The man smiled coyly.

“Ah, I can't believe you don't recognize me. I'm in the news a fair bit too.”

Ichiban scowled; who was this smug man? That look on his face was most irritating. 

“Ah! I know who you are!” Saeko exclaimed.

“You're the Director of Bleach Japan!”

The man bowed slightly.

“Nice to meet you, my name is Hajime Ogasawara. I'm here in Yokohama to provide some much needed support. Unfortunately Ijincho's gray zones are rampant and the police are much too lax. I mean, a counterfeiting scheme right under their noses? Unbelievable!”

“I'm guessing Nanba told you everything then,” Ichiban said, nodding at him. “That'll save me time. You all have to get out of here.”

“And why should we?” Ogasawara asked, raising his eyebrows.

“It's not just the Liumang that's involved", Ichiban explained. "It's the Geomijul and the Seiryu too. Nanba found out and they've sent assassins after him. They'll kill him, and they'll kill you too!”

“Don't listen to him, Director,” Kume said, his face twisted in a smug smirk. “'I bet he's just trying to scare us and there are no assassins!”

“Actually, I believe him.”

Kume turned and started at the Director blankly.

“At first I thought you were the assassins,” Ogasawara said pointedly. “But I didn't think the Ijin Three would send so few people out to take out a snitch.”

“T...Too little?” Kume squeaked. “You mean, they would have sent more people?”

Ogasawara sighed.

“Ah, Kume, you of blind conviction,” he said, smiling indulgently. “But you are exactly what I needed to head up this branch in Ijincho.”

Kume looked like he had just had his heart had been broken into pieces.

“Director....what do you mean by this?” he asked, his voice shaking.

“Well, let's just say I know a little more than the average civilian,” Ogasawara replied pleasantly. “I guess I should explain. Please, meet my associate, Lao Ma!”

Everyone gasped in shock when they heard that name, but sure enough the man himself emerged from the back room, a triumphant smile on his face.

“Mabuchi!” Adachi exclaimed. “What are you doing here?”

Mabuchi turned to Ogasawara.

“I'll take care of things here,” he said. They both exchanged nods.

“Very well. Then we shall take our leave as requested.” Ogasawara got out of his seat and turned to leave, alongside Kume and Nanba.

“Nanba!” Ichiban shouted. “Where are you going?”

“I already told him about the counterfeit bills,” Nanba said coldly, his back still facing them. “I just want to find my brother.”

“W...wait for me!” Kume cried out, scurrying after them.

It was just Mabuchi and his underlings in the room now. Just like old times. Asuka glared at them, clutching her sword in her hands tightly. Not one to have a particularly good poker face, a look of fury and disgust spread across Ichiban's facade.

“Mabuchi,” Ichiban growled. “I didn't think we would be seeing your pasty fat ass out here again.”

Mabuchi guffawed.

“Yeah, not even my boss knows I'm here,” he said smugly. “Looks like you brought some extra back up too.” His gaze turned to Asuka.

“You're from the hostess bar,” he said. “What can I say, I never forget a pretty face.”

“You won't get away with this, Mabuchi!” Asuka shouted. “How long do you think you can keep this from Zhao?”

“The Young Master?” he asked, not sounding intimidated at all. “Please, that little pup is all bark and no bite!”

They all stared at him. Did Mabuchi just call Zhao Tianyou...a wuss?

Mabuchi held his hand out and one of his lackeys threw a weapon to him. He caught it deftly and twirled it in the air.

“He'll soon find out who really holds all the power in the Liumang!”

“Eeee what kind of weapon does he have?” Saeko asked, recoiling in fear.

“That's a pole arm,” Asuka said. “And judging by the dragon engraved on it, he must have fashioned it after the one the God of War has.”

“The God of War? You mean Bishamon?” Ichiban asked.

“Guan Yu,” Adachi said. “The Chinese God of War.”

“What an insult to Lord Guan Yu,” Asuka said, her face screwed up in disgust. Mabuchi glared at her furiously.

“Who are you to lecture me about our culture?” he snarled. “About my hero?”

“I've been wanting to kick your ass for a long time, Mabuchi!” Ichiban said, cracking his knuckles. “And no weapon in this world is going to save you!”

Mabuchi smirked. He gestured for four of his goons to step up, who tried to look as menacing as possible.

Ichiban looked around at the rest of the group and they all rolled their eyes derisively.

This isn't going to take long.

“Take down one each!” Adachi called out. “Go for the one closest to you.”

Asuka brought her sword down on the closest thug. His pocket knife was no match for her carbon fibre sword and he yelled in pain as it met the flesh of his forearm.

“Ya bitch!” he screamed, flying towards her with his puny little knife. Asuka dove out of the way just in time, feeling much more agile now that she was wearing pants and a comfortable top. She finished with a well timed boot into his face, spraying blood from his nostrils everywhere. Saeko's handbag had brought her chosen victim to his knees and she finished him off with a well-timed punch that caused him to slump onto the floor unconscious. The other thug was trying in vain to defend himself against the onslaught of blows from Adachi's trusty baton and Ichiban had knocked his opponent out cold with one swing.

“Told you this won't take long”, Ichiban said smugly.

Mabuchi glared at them with murderous intent. He raised his weapon again and twirled it, letting out a loud battle cry. As goofy as he looked, the way he wielded the pole arm suggested that he wasn't just twirling it for looks.

“Ok guys, I think we need to stop fucking around,” Asuka warned. “Hit hard and hit fast!”

She didn't have to tell them twice. They took turns striking, but that dastardly pole arm was so sturdy it was deflecting everything effortlessly.

“Shit!”

They had all exhausted their turns. Never mind landing a clean blow, they didn't even manage to scratch his weapon.

Mabuchi smiled a twisted, sadistic smile.

“My turn!”

He swung his weapon so quickly and so ferociously they only had a split second to react. The reach of that pole arm was devastating and all they could do was dive out of the way.

“That was crazy!” Saeko cried out. “How are we expected to fight that?”

“We'll have to get tactical,” Asuka suggested. “Do we have anything that could debuff him?”

Saeko hunted through her handbag and pulled out a powder compact.

“Let's try this!” she said, as she threw the powder at Mabuchi, who momentarily disappeared behind a white puff cloud. He coughed and sputtered, his eyes squeezed shut.

“This better work, that's my Chammel face powder!” Saeko said.

Finally, they could get a move in! As Mabuchi flailed around, they took turns launching attacks on Mabuchi, slapping him around while he was temporarily blinded.

“Thank you for your service, Sa-chan!” Ichiban said with a dramatic salute.

Mabuchi was not happy. He let out a loud roar and the others recoiled.

“Um... is it me or is he glowing red?” Ichiban asked nervously.

“You must be imagining things,” Adachi said. “I think the powder has lost its effect. We need to be careful. Unless...” he looked over at Saeko.

“Don't look at me, I've used up all the powder!” she cried out. “You'll have to find other ways to debuff him.”

Mabuchi swung his weapon around again. It felt like he had powered up and was generating whirlwinds with his every move. They found themselves ducking under tables to escape his relentless assault. In their desperation, Saeko even found herself throwing stationary at him as he destroyed everything around them.

“MABUCHI!” Adachi bellowed. “PICK ON SOMEONE YOUR OWN SIZE!”

Mabuchi sneered. He swiped at Adachi, who only just managed to side-step out of the way with an angry, audible swear.

“Whelp, that didn't work,” Saeko said. “Maybe someone should flash him instead.”

She looked at Asuka, who froze. “Why are you looking at me like that?” she hissed.

“Yours are bigger than mine, so you should flash him instead!” Saeko suggested.

“...What sort of logic is that?” Asuka shot back.

“Well, we gotta do something!” Saeko replied, wincing as a 'Number 1 Employee' mug whizzed past the top of their heads.

Saeko was right, they had to think of something. During her training, Kaga had always taught her that sex appeal was an ability to draw your prey in, and it didn't have to mean taking all your clothes off.

She sighed.

This is going to be so embarrassing.

“H..Hey Mabuchi! Look here!”

She put her hands on her hips and stuck her bum out, fluttering her eyelashes and pursing her lips in a duck-faced pout. It was usually more effective when she was wearing less, but she had trust in her trademark 'honey trap' pose.

Mabuchi's eyes were clearly no longer blinded because his jaw dropped, and so did the weapon in his hands.

“Whoa, I can't believe that worked,” Adachi said, sounding disturbed and impressed at the same time.

“Neither can I,” Asuka said through gritted teeth, as she held her pose awkwardly.

“What are you waiting for?” Ichiban shouted at the others.

“Get him!”

Literally disarmed, Mabuchi did not stand a chance as Saeko rained down with punches and Adachi charged at him shoulder first. But it was still not enough, they needed to hit harder, and preferably at the same time.

“Asa-chan!” Ichibal called out from across the room.

“We need to team up!”

“Aren't we already-”

“I mean a tag team attack. We're going to do it together!”

He raised his bat and nodded at her with a determined expression on his face. Asuka raised her sword in solidarity.

“You can bat on it!” she cried out.

Asuka and Ichiban charged at Mabuchi at the same time. Asuka got there first and landed a hit to his mid-section like a samurai landing a final deadly blow. As he doubled over in pain, Ichiban's bat connected with his cheek, sending his body spinning. “Hi there,” Asuka greeted him pleasantly as he spun towards her, before sending him in the other direction again with another well time slash.

“Eat shit, Mabuchi!” Ichiban shouted as his fist found the centre of Mabuchi's face. Blood splattered the white tiled floors of the Bleach Japan office as Mabuchi finally fell to his knees.

He laughed maniacally.

“I can't believe it....that was amazing!” he said with an exhilarated cackle, blood dripping from his nostrils. Ichiban looked at him with a look of utmost disgust.

“You freak, how the fuck are you still talking?” he asked, before booting him in the face.

“Are you the one who killed our boss Nonomiya?” Ichiban snarled, grabbing him by the front of his clothes.

“Hehehe, oh yeah, I killed him good!” Mabuchi admitted gleefully. “Just as I was ordered to!”

“Ordered?” Ichiban asked blankly. “By who?”

Mabuchi spat out a mouthful of blood, smirking smugly.

“You just met him.”

Surely he didn't mean...

“Ogasawara?” Ichiban asked, looking even more confused. “Why would he order you to kill Nonomiya?”

“Ogasawara's goal is to expose the unlimited funding of Yutaka Ogikubo,” Mabuchi revealed. “But first, we needed to take down the Ijin Three.”

“And why would you help him?” Adachi asked. “What benefit is it to you to go against Zhao and the others?”

Mabuchi scoffed, wincing from the discomfort of the ass-kicking he just received.

“Ogasawara is the only one with any real backing,” he said. “They're coming. The Ijin Three are done for.”

“They? Who's they?”

Mabuchi let out a triumphant laugh.

“Why, the Omi Alliance from Kamurocho of course! They're the ones backing Bleach Japan.”

Ichiban's eyes widened like dinner plates and he was shaking with anger and disbelief. He couldn't believe what he was hearing.

“And when they do, I'll sell this forsaken city to them. Finally, I'll be the Masumi Arakawa of Ijincho-”

Smash!

Ichiban had punched Mabuchi so hard in the face he had passed out, drooling blood onto the floor.

“Don't you ever speak about yourself and Arakawa-san in the same sentence ever again”, Ichiban said with a cold, murderous snarl.

“This Omi Alliance..”Asuka started. “Who are they?”

“We don't have time for a history lesson now. But basically they are the largest Yakuza group in Japan. They are based in the Kansai region and took over Arakawa-san's subsidary of the Tojo clan a few years ago,” Ichiban explained quickly.

“To put it simply, they are bad news,” Adachi concluded.

“First things first, let's go after Ogasawara!”

“No need, he's gone.”

They turned; Nanba had returned, alongside Kume.

“Bleach Japan will expose the whole counterfeiting scheme and take down the Ijin Three,” Nanba said nonchalantly. “And maybe I will be able to find my brother in the process.”

To everyone's surprise, he knelt down and helped Mabuchi up.

“Oi, Nanba, did you forget this asshole killed Nonomiya!” Ichiban growled. Nanba ignored him.

“I'll need their help to find my brother,” he repeated, heading towards the exit. “If you want to kick my ass, go for it. I don't even care anymore.”

“Nanba, you know we'll never do that!” Ichiban said. “We're friends!”

Nanba scoffed in reply before heading out with the rest of Mabuchi's underlings and Kume. Ichiban stared after his retreating back with a frustrated and hurt expression on his face. Asuka reached out and patted his shoulder sympathetically.

“Don't worry, I'm sure Nanba knows we care,” she assured him. “Once he has answers about his brother's whereabouts, he'll come to his senses.”

“I sure hope so,” Adachi said. “In the meantime, maybe we should look around this office building. There could be some important evidence lying around.”

They headed out the back where all the other offices are. At that time of the night, the office was thankfully empty.

Or so they thought.

As they turned a corner, Asuka suddenly collided with someone. They both landed on their bottoms, crying out in surprise.

“Ah shit....what the hell-”

Asuka stared. The slim, dark haired guy she had walked into stared back.

“Kuro-”

“Hi! My name is Jiro Ishikawa!” Kurosawa said in a loud, friendly voice. “I've just finished some paperwork and I'm just about to head home. Are you lost?”

“Uh, yes Ishikawa-san,” Asuka answered hurriedly. “We are new members of Bleach Japan and we're looking for more information about the organization.”

The others watched their exchange nervously. Asuka didn't seem worried about this guy and was speaking to him very confidently.

“Of course!” Kurosawa replied brightly. “Follow me!”

He led them down the corridor to a room.

“There should be plenty of information in there for you,” he said with a friendly smile. He checked his watch and did a double take.

“I need to get going, but if you ever need more information about the organization, feel free to reach out to me.”

The group entered the room, expecting some kind of library or archive. Instead, they had entered what looked like someone's office.

“Why would that guy bring us here?” Saeko wondered. “What a weirdo!”

They searched the drawers and shelves for any sort of information that could be of benefit. Ichiban found himself inspecting the photo frames on the wall. There were a few of them and he strolled around the room like he was at an art gallery. He finally stopped in front of a frame that held a newspaper clipping. It was the same article Yoona had shown Kurosawa, the one about the founders of Bleach Japan.

Ichiban thought his heart had stopped. He couldn't believe what he was seeing.

No....surely not!

“Um guys...who's that guy shaking hands with Ogasawara?” he pointed. Adachi walked up behind him.

“Oh, that's the governor, Ryo Aoki. He's no longer involved with the organization though.”

Ichiban stared at the photo, still trying to come to terms with what he was seeing.

“But...I thought he was dead?” he said in a voice that sounded like he had just been hit over the head multiple times. “They told me back in Kamurocho that he died years ago...and why isn't he in a wheelchair?”

“Huh?” Adachi and Saeko looked at him in confusion. “What are you talking about? What do you mean Ryo Aoki should be dead? And what's this about a wheelchair?”

“This man,” Ichiban said softly, pointing at the photo.

“Is Masato Arakawa, Masumi Arakawa's son.”

The silence that followed felt so thick it would have taken a freshly forged samurai sword to slice through it. Asuka had heard Ichiban mention his patriarch Masumi Arakawa many times, but she had not heard him talk about him ever having a son.

Before she could ask further questions, Asuka's phone dinged. She instinctively pulled the phone out to check the notification.

Her stomach lurched.

“Guys.”

She held her phone up, showing a reply from Zhao Tianyou.

“It looks like I'm going on a date tomorrow.”

Chapter Text

After a brutal all-nighter, they finally got to bed at around 4am. Zhao had invited Asuka to his restaurant at one in the afternoon, which gave her enough time to squeeze in a much-needed debriefing session with the Public Safety team.

When she walked into the safe house that morning, a familiar face was waiting for her.

"Hi Asuka!"

She flew across the room and threw her arms around him. How long has it been since he's been in her arms like this? The warmth of his body and familiar scent....she felt like she was falling in love again. 

"Soma.." she whispered, her voice cracking. "You're ok. Thank God you're ok!"

Soma patted her on her back. "Of course I'm ok", he replied reassuringly in that calm voice of his. "I was careless and got ambushed, but they didn't leave any lasting injuries. Goto already told you, didn't he?"

"But I didn't hear from you so of course I'll still be worried!" Asuka shot back, burying her face in his shoulder. Soma smiled, he had missed seeing this side of her but more than anything he missed having her in his arms. He tightened his embrace and closed his eyes, relishing every moment she let him hold her like this. 

"So uh, are we having this meeting or not?"

Asuka hurriedly let go of Soma and turned around. It seemed like she was blind to everything but Soma, because Goto and Kurosawa were also in the safe house with them. 

"W..When did you get here?" she stuttered, looking extremely embarrassed. 

"Before you did", Kurosawa replied with a sly smile. Even Goto looked amused. Soma cleared his throat. 

"Let's focus everyone, I'm sure you both have lots to share. Asuka, let's hear from you first".

"The Omi Alliance are coming", she said. "Mabuchi intends on selling out the Ijin Three to them. They're also the ones behind Bleach Japan's influence".

"Omi Alliance.... where have I heard that before?" Goto asked. 

"They're the biggest Yakuza group in Japan. They are originally from the Kansai region but have some expanded".

"Kansai region?" Kurosawa piped up. "Yakuza hey....ha, that would explain what happened".

"What do you mean?" Asuka asked. 

"A few days ago, we were protesting in the Bar District", Kurosawa explained. "There were a heck of a lot of Kansai supporters there, and they were acting like thugs all day. Threatening violence, throwing things. That would make sense if they were Yakuza".

"So why are they after the Ijin Three?" he asked curiously.

"Counterfeiting. Ogikubo has a long term Counterfeiting scheme that the Ijin Three help him with. And for some reason, Bleach Japan's director Ogasawara is determined to find evidence and get him convicted."

"Ogikubo?" Goto asked sharply. "You mean, old man Ogikubo from the Citizens Liberal Party?"

"The very same", Asuka confirmed. Goto blinked in disbelief. 

"Damn", Goto said. "Subaru and I worked with him a few times back in our Security department days. He was always so kind to us. I can't believe a guy like him is behind such a huge illegal operation".

"Proof that you can never judge a book by its cover", Asuka said. "Judging by what I've heard, the entire Yokohama and Kanagawa Police Department have all been bribed with these counterfeit notes too."

Goto and Kurosawa gasped.

"This is wild", Kurosawa said. "You sure you don't want to move me somewhere else to investigate this further?"

"No, you stay put, you're exactly where we need you to be right now", Goto ordered. "Bleach Japan isn't as squeaky clean as they look, and we need someone on the inside. 

"Makes sense", Kurosawa conceded. "How were my tour guide skills last night?" he asked, winking and flashing a smile. "Find anything in the office? That's the room Ogasawara uses when he's not brown-nosing the Governor up in Tokyo".

"Speaking of which, Ichiban said he knows Ryo Aoki", Asuka mentioned. "Except he said his name is Masato Arakawa, the son of Masumi Arakawa".

Everyone's jaws dropped collectively.

"What the-" Kurosawa said, looking confused. "Are you implying that the Governor of Tokyo has a fake name?"

Asuka shrugged.

"Ichiban said Masato Arakawa supposedly died years ago, but he is the son of Masumi Arakawa after all. It won't be hard to pull some strings and create some kind of fake background for him".

Soma nodded gravely in agreement. 

"I think Shinonome might be able to tap into some databases and find something out", Goto said, rubbing his chin thoughtfully.

"And I need you to continue monitoring the Ijin Three", Soma said, turning to Asuka. "Try and see if you can get closer to them-"

"Um actually..." she suddenly looked slightly uncomfortable.

"I..I got asked to go on a date today. By the leader of the Yokohama Liumang."

She watched Soma carefully to see how he would react. He froze for a split second but then flashed her one of his trademark, ambiguous smiles. 

"Wonderful, that's great news", he said. "Now, don't hold back just because I'm your handler, ok?"

Asuka stared at him. Even Goto and Kurosawa looked stunned. What did he mean by that?

"I want to see how much you've grown", Soma said. "Remember, you are undercover and sometimes you have to make certain...sacrifices to see the mission through."

He could see her face fall slightly. That look in her eyes broke his heart, but he stood his ground. Kurosawa opened his mouth to say something but Goto kicked him in the shins. 

"Of course!" Asuka replied finally, smiling so widely everyone could tell it was fake. "I'm going to do whatever it takes to solve the case".

She checked her watch and got up from her seat. 

"It's nearly time for my date", she said, gathering her things quickly before heading towards the door. "I'll keep you all posted with all the saucy details."

The door slammed shut behind her to a ringing silence. Kurosawa sighed. 

"Soma, what the hell was that? Why would you push her away again?"

"I don't know what you're talking about," Soma replied pleasantly. "This is a fantastic opportunity for Asuka to get close to an important figure in the Ijin Three. Why would I stop her?"

Kurosawa rolled his eyes. "Whatever you say, Soma. Anyways, I'm heading off too. You coming, Goto?"

"You go ahead. I have something to speak to Soma about".

The look that was exchanged between them spelt things out and Kurosawa left without a word of protest. 

"Shu....seriously? When are you going to tell her the truth? Koyanagi's been dead for a while now, you saw to that personally. Wasn't he the one responsible for those death threats? What else do you need to protect Hayashi from?"

Soma's face darkened. "I always thought there was someone backing Koyanagi. Someone with money and power".

"Are you still investigating?" Goto said incredulously. "Shu, this is crazy at this rate you'll lose her forever-"

"If she is killed by someone I could have put away in jail", Soma interrupted. "Then I will lose her forever."

Goto stayed silent. He rarely saw this dark, obsessive side of Soma, but he knew enough to know it was useless to try and talk him out of it.

"I am not losing another person I love like this ever again".

*

Asuka headed to the Ijin Street address that Zhao gave her. It was the same restaurant she had investigated just a day earlier, except this time round the door was unlocked. She made her way upstairs and found a no-frills Chinese restaurant that looked more like a takeaway joint. There were no customers despite it being the lunch rush and there was a single table that was set up with a white tablecloth, chopsticks and bowls.

"Ah, good afternoon!"

Asuka jumped when she heard his voice. Zhao stood behind the counter smiling at her. He was wearing an apron over his shirt and black leather jacket.

"Welcome to You Tian. Lunch will be ready shortly. Make yourself comfortable!"

She sat down at the table and looked around the restaurant. It was sparsely decorated, and the concrete walls were unpainted and bare, save for a few handwritten menus stuck haphazardly in random spot. It was a shadow of the other opulent restaurant they were at in Restaurant Row. Even so, judging by the aroma hanging in the air, the food was still of a superior quality. 

"Sorry to keep you waiting", Zhao said as he emerged from the kitchen with a tray of food.

"Yangzhou fried rice, sharks fin soup, stir fried vegetables and of course, chilli shrimp".

Asuka eyed the spread on the table with astonishment. 

"Did you cook all this yourself?" she asked. "This looks amazing!" 

"Of course!" Zhao replied cheerfully. "How else can I show my sincerity? We're on a date after all".

Asuka blushed. She has never had anyone cook for her before. Well, not Chinese food anyway. Soma only cooked Western style food and the less said about her other ex's cooking the better. Asuka actually loves Chinese food and she strongly believed that she had found the perfect fried rice recipe.

"Don't worry, the chilli shrimp isn't too spicy", Zhao assured, spooning some over her rice. "There's probably more tomato sauce in there than chilli."

Asuka took a mouthful. She wasn't sure if it was because she hadn't had a proper meal in a while (the Wette Burger meal didn't count) but it was the most delicious thing she had eaten. It was the perfect blend of tanginess, sweetness and spice, like a warm hug from a loved one.  

"This is delicious!" she said, helping herself to another serving.

"I'm glad," Zhao replied, resting his chin on his hand and smiling at her. She realized that Zhao was looking at her rather oddly. She hastily reached out for a napkin and wiped her mouth. 

"Sorry, the food is too good", she said. 

"No need to be embarrassed", Zhao said pleasantly. "You look cute when you're enjoying my cooking".

Now that made her feel embarrassed. The way Zhao was looking at her was making her feel extremely self-conscious.

"So...do you not remember anything?" he asked suddenly.

Asuka stared at him blankly. 

"Um, what? I don't get it," she said. "What is there to remember?"

The way she was looking at him with visible and genuine confusion made Zhao concede that she probably had really forgotten everything. Even the chilli shrimp had not been able to jolt any memories or incite any reaction from her. Asuka on the other hand, was starting to feel flustered. She was there to negotiate, but this had somehow turned into an actual date. One that she was genuinely enjoying. 

But she had a job to do.

"So, about Nanba...is it possible to call off the assassins?"

Zhao looked up from his spoonful of Yangzhou fried rice.

"Is it why you're here to see me?" he asked, shaking his head slowly. "I'm disappointed, Asa-chan".

"How do you know-?"

"Your name?” Zhao interrupted. "I have my ways. Don't forget who I am, if I can send assassins after your friend, I can find out things about you too."

Zhao might have said all of that in a friendly tone, but the words that came from his mouth were anything but. It was times like these that reminded Asuka that she was dealing with a very dangerous man.

“So, what will it take?” she pressed on.

Zhao sighed as he leant forward across the table, looking at her intently with his brow furrowed.

“You...really don't remember?” he asked again.

Asuka shook her head.

“Zhao, I really don't know what you're talking about,” she replied exasperatedly. “Can you please tell me? I...I'll do anything!”

The words were out before she could stop herself. She should have known better than to make an offer this generous to the leader of the Yokohama Liumang. 

“What if I told you,” Zhao started, his hand snaking across the table and stroking her fingers.

“That you are the one I want?”

Asuka wasn't an idiot, she knew Zhao invited her over for a reason. The kiss they shared was messy and unexpected, but the passion and intent behind it felt genuine. That was what made her feel so confused. She had been in this situation many times before, seducing men and leading them by the nose, making them do her bidding. So why did it feel different this time? She was just doing her job, right? 

Once this was over, Nanba owed her big time.

She got up from her seat and planted herself onto Zhao's lap. Zhao's eyebrows raised behind his shades as Asuka wrapped her arms around his neck. From this distance, Zhao was able to study her face properly; she was wearing less makeup today and she looked more like the fresh-faced Xiao Hua he remembered from his childhood. They had been this close to each other, but this was the first time she had initiated it. She couldn't see his eyes clearly, but his features seem somewhat softer today and much less intimidating. His hand reached out and cupped her cheek, basking in the softness of her skin and the sudden shyness she was displaying.

She looked so sweet like this.

“You're blushing,” he whispered huskily, his fingers brushing against her lips and slowly running down her neck. Asuka let out an involuntary gasp and she felt goosebumps erupt across her skin. Zhao uttered a soft laugh, that noise she just made had lit something up within him. If he had things his way, he would have swept everything off that table and taken her there and then, but he meant every word he said on that day he saved her from the depths of the Geomijul:

If he could have her, he would take his time and make love to her all night.

Asuka's heart was beating furiously. She went into this with zero intention to enjoy any of it, but she found her resolve crumbling quickly. Or perhaps she never had much resolve begin with. She initially hated his guts when they first met, but she had started to see him in a different light after he saved her. She still didn't know why he did that, and she always prided herself in never falling for the villain, but there was something about him that she just couldn't shake off.

Like they had a deeper connection that irrevocably drew them together.

She had never had sex in a restaurant before, but at this rate this could be her first time.

She instinctively closed her eyes as Zhao leant in, bracing herself for the inevitable touch of his lips against hers......

The phone rang.

Asuka opened her eyes again and noticed that Zhao too had paused. The incessant ringing of the phone was getting incredibly irritating. With a frustrated grunt, Zhao pulled his phone out of his pocket and answered it.

“Hello?”

Asuka watched him change back to the leader of the Yokohama Liumang when he was on the phone. Zhao's face twisted into a frown, his eyes now ablaze with serious intent. It was difficult to believe that this was the same person who looked at her with so much tenderness less than a minute ago.

He hung up a minute later, his brow furrowed.

“Shit,” he muttered. He couldn't believe that he just got cock blocked by a phone call.

“Is everything ok?” she asked.

Zhao gave a deep sigh, slapping his hand on his forehead.

“Shit's just hit the fan internally in the Liumang,” he said. “The Omi Alliance are on their way to the Geomijul too, so talk about a double whammy.”

“They're going for the Geomijul?”

“I wish I could help Seong-hui, but unfortunately I need to...” his voice trailed off as a look of panic spread over his face.

There could hear heavy footsteps approaching. "C'mon," Zhao muttered, pulling her towards the counter and shoving her under it.

“Hide here,” he instructed.

The door burst open just as Zhao was in the middle of clearing up the dishes. He looked up and greeted the intruders cordially just like they were loyal customers.

“Welcome to You Tian! Table for....eight?”

Asuka stifled a giggle; she really had to hand it to him for talking this much shit during such a precarious time.

“You got a lot of nerve, Zhao” a familiar sounding voice barked. Asuka peered out from the corner of the counter. She recognized that man immediately: Zheng, the creep from Lin Lin. Zhao remained unperturbed.

“Me?” he asked, shaking his head incredulously.

“Did you forget who you are? Or did Kasuga hit you on your bald head too many times you've got brain damage?”

Asuka knew a few people who would be impressed with that insult. Zheng on the other hand, was not.

"Master Zhao, what would your father say?" he asked. "Hoarding your profits from that illegal money operation and running the Liumang into the ground like this....the men are unhappy and are turning to Mabuchi instead."

"Are they now?" Zhao piped up, a look of exaggerated concern on his face. 

“I gotta see this for myself. I was going to go back to Qing Jin anyway, but how nice of you to escort me back.”

"Is this all a joke to you?"

Zheng was not taking kindly to being treated like the bottom tier Liumang riffraff that he was.

“In case you didn't notice,” he gloated. “There's only one of you. And there's eight of us.”

Zhao howled with laughter.

“Ah, Zheng, good job on counting up to eight, but you're actually stupider than you look,” he said. His face darkened and grew murderous.

“Did you seriously think you could walk into my restaurant and threaten me?” he growled coldly.

The other men recoiled but Zheng stood his ground, seemingly oblivious to the danger note in Zhao's voice.

“What are you waiting for?” he shouted at his men. “Get him!”

"Um, Zheng-san but he's Master-"

"Mabuchi is the one in charge now! Anyone who doesn't listen to him will be punished, so kick Zhao's ass now!"

Zhao yawned and stretched.

"I guess I could do with some light post-lunch exercise," he said as he raised his fists.

Zhao attacked with a flurry of lightning-fast punches. The men tried to fight dirty and used knives, chairs, even pots and pans they found from the kitchen, but they were no match for the leader of the Yokohama Liumang. The one who tried to stab him had his arm grabbed and broken in a split second, the next one who tried to bring a chair over his head got a kick into his guts so hard he basically flew across the room. Zhao moved so quickly and so gracefully Asuka was completely dazzled; despite the food and bodily fluids flying around, there was something incredibly beautiful in the way he fought. She was expecting something scrappy and messy, but Zhao swept the men aside with the grace of a crane raising its wings in flight.

The poor men never stood a chance. Zheng looked around, looking alarmed as he realized that he was the last one left standing.

"Hey Zheng, what's eight minus seven?" Zhao teased, a huge smile on his face. 

"I'll give you a choice. Either you go back to Mabuchi now and tell him I'm coming to see him, or I kick your ass and then go and see him. What will it be?"

This time round, Zheng proved to be a bit more intelligent. He scowled at Zhao before taking off with his tail between his legs.

"You can come out now." 

Asuka, who had popped her head around the counter, emerged from underneath it. She winced as she saw the mess.

"What a waste," she said, shaking her head. "I would have brought the leftovers back. That chilli shrimp is incredible."

Zhao laughed.

"Now now, if you ever want to taste my cooking all you need to do is ask," he said with a kind smile. "In the meantime, do you have Kasuga's number?"

Asuka gave it to him and he dialed it straight away.

"Yo, Kasuga!" Zhao greeted him. She didn't know how he could still remain so jovial after what had just happened. "So uh, Bleach Japan are marching on the Geomijul as we speak. I'm a bit tied up at the moment, so can you help them out for me?"

"...Asa-chan? Oh she's fine. We had a lovely lunch together....Yes just lunch...funny business? Of course not, what do you think I am? ....Sexting? Why would you think we're doing that? "

Asuka buried her face in her hands; she couldn't believe Ichiban was still carrying on about that. His quest for new knowledge was starting to get invasive.

"Tell you what, if you help out Seong-hui, I'll call off the assassins on your friend, how's that for a deal?" Zhao said. Asuka's ears perked up when she heard that. This was exactly what she came for!

"Wonderful! Thank you for your help, I'll need to settle a few things on my end, so see ya later!"

"I'm guessing Ichiban agreed?" Asuka asked, as Zhao hung up the phone. 

"He did", Zhao confirmed. "Thank God, because I'm going to be held up at Qing Jin for a while." 

"Are you really walking back into your restaurant?" Asuka asked, looking concerned.

"Of course", he said cheerfully. "Qing Jin is my home and the Liumang are my family. How could I be afraid to go back to them? Unless..."

He brought his face close to hers again, their lips millimetres from touching. 

"Are you worried about me?" Zhao asked, sounding surprised. Asuka felt her face grow hot and her heartbeat race. 

"I um, just....I don't want the Great Wall of Muscle to collapse, that's all!" she finished lamely. Zhao shrugged.

"Whatever you say, my little flower. Well, Kasuga and the others should be heading over to the Geomijul now, so hurry on there because they'll need your help. "

Asuka stared at him in confusion. Did he just.. call her his little flower?

"And please be careful, because I'm worried about you".

On that note, he turned to leave. 

"Zhao!"

He stopped and looked back at her expectantly. Asuka reached out and touched his arm.

"Take care, ok?"

She didn't know what to expect, but Zhao's face lit up into the most brilliant smile. He looked completely unrecognizable, like the boy-next-door that was her first crush instead of a blood-thirsty gangster.

"I will", he said, pinching her cheek gently again.  

"I'll make sure we can have a proper, uninterrupted meal next time".

Chapter Text

Asuka headed off towards the Geomijul headquarters as instructed. There was a sick feeling in her stomach and it had nothing to do with Ichiban and the rest of the crew. Zhao put on a good show trying to convince her everything was going to be alright, but she saw past it all. They had crossed paths with Mabuchi a couple of times now, and she knew for a fact that he was no pushover. He had enough power and influence to whip the entire gang into a frenzy, but the biggest thing that separated him from Zhao was how he clearly lacked any semblance of a conscience. And that could be the thing that ends up hurting Zhao.

The thought of something happening to him filled her heart with immense worry.

There was already a huge crowd gathering outside the Geomijul building when she arrived. They were all holding up signs and chanting, demanding that the Geomijul be taken down. Her phone calls to them went unanswered and she was starting to get frantic; it was going to be difficult to find them in this chaos. 

The crowd parted as a huge machine rolled up, a massive wrecking ball dangling menacingly from it. She was suddenly haunted by not-so-distant memories of them fighting another machine, except this one was specifically built to destroy things. Asuka could just make out the man in the machine; he had shoulder-length hair, a scar across his left eye and the most sadistic looking smile on his face.

With a pull of a lever, the wrecking ball pulled back and swung out hard with zero care for who got in the way. It smashed into the wall with a huge crash, making the ground shake and sending a huge cloud of dust into the air. 

The noise was loud enough to silence the crowd for a split second. Asuka, who had instinctively covered her face when the wrecking ball collided, peaked out behind her fingers, hoping to catch a glimpse of the aftermath.

"Whelp, that's the end of them", she heard someone say. 

"Such a shame. The woman was pretty too, definitely the Lieutenant's type. Can't say the same about the old guy and the guy with the goofy hair though".

Asuka felt like her heart had stopped. She started to elbow people out of the way, trying desperately to get to the front of the crowd to see what's, or who's, been crushed by that unforgiving chunk of metal. 

"No...please be ok!" she thought desperately.

It was useless. The crowd had gotten so thick that it was impossible to even stick a hand between bodies. At this rate, she risked being overwhelmed and crushed herself. The only way wasn't forward, but back. She soon found herself jostled to the back of the crowd, far away from the carnage of the demolition machine.

Just as she was going to try and wrestle her way through again, she heard someone hiss her name.

“Psst, Asa-chan!”

She turned around and did a double take. What looked like three signs with legs were slowly making their way across the road. She quickly identified the feet behind said-signs and followed them discreetly.

Once they were a reasonable distance from the angry mob, she exploded.

“What the hell happened there?” she cried out. “I heard them saying that wrecking ball smashed someone! I thought you were all...”

She couldn't say it.

“Yeah we thought that was it too,” Ichiban admitted. “But then someone just dove in and pushed us out of the way.”

“Pretty sure it was that guy from the Bleach Japan office the other night,” Saeko continued. “That cute weirdo who led us into that office.”

For the second time that day, Asuka's heart felt like it had stopped.

No...not Kurosawa!

“Don't worry, he's fine,” Adachi said, as if he could read her thoughts. “Probably scrapped his elbows landing on the pavement, but he hasn't turned into a pancake.”

Asuke heaved a sigh of relief. Thank God for Kurosawa...if not for him the others would have become pancakes instead. She'll also have to remember to tell him Saeko called him cute.

“Who was that nutjob with the wrecking ball?” Asuka asked.

“That's an Omi Alliance lieutenant,” Adachi said. “Reiji Ishioda. Word is he's so crazy even the higher ups in Kansai had trouble controlling him.”

“Great, so we're dealing with a mad dog”, Saeko said, rolling her eyes. “At least there's only one of him right?”

“Actually, no,” Adachi replied darkly. “There's three lieutenants altogether.”

“Three?!” Asuka blurted. “Please tell me the others are less violent and insane.”

“I have bad news for you,” Adachi continued. “You'll know the other one, Ichiban. Jo Sawashiro”.

Ichiban looked unsurprised.

“Makes sense,” he conceded. “Sawashiro-san has been with Arakawa-san for years. He would have definitely brought him along after the merge. And the last one?”

“A guy named Tendo. I don't know much about him besides the fact that he used to be a heavyweight boxer.”

“Ha, that's a new one,” Ichiban said. “Don't think I've heard of him before.”

Ichiban's phone rang. Asuka's heart leapt; was that Zhao calling to report his well-being?

“Hello? Joon-gi Han? What are you calling about?”

Asuka couldn't help but feel slightly disappointed.

“You saw what happened with the wrecking ball? You're a fucking creep you know that? .....Go to where now? E...Eomeo no what? Oi, you're not making yourself clear, Joon-gi Han! Hello? Hello?”

Ichiban swore as he hung up the phone.

“Han told us to some Korean barbecue place in Koreatown. Said we'll understand when we get there,” he told the group.

“Is he treating us to Korean barbecue because he felt bad for not feeding us last night?” Saeko asked. “Not everyone here was lucky enough to have a nice lunch”.

They all shot Asuka an envious look. She blushed.

“Hey! I wasn't there for an actual date,” she protested. “I...I was working!”

The others rolled their eyes unsympathetically.

They found the restaurant named Eomeoni's Vow in Koreatown very easily. It was the only one in the area selling Korean-style barbecue and the smell of meat being cooked over a charcoal grill very quickly led them to the right place.

"That smells good," Saeko said wistfully, as the others nodded.

Asuka, who was still very full with Yangzhou fried rice and chilli shrimp, decided not to rub it in. 

When they entered the restaurant, it became apparent that a free meal was not on the cards. As if she was fully briefed, the owner of the restaurant greeted them warmly but quickly dropped her voice and asked them to follow them to the back of the restaurant.

“Do not tell a soul about what you are about to see or hear,” the woman warned. “Do I have your word?”

They all nodded apprehensively as she led them towards a heavy metal door.

“Through this door is the Geomijul's underground residential district”, she revealed.

“The WHAT?”

The woman winced at their explosive reaction.

“Please understand that this is a secret that we have never revealed to outsiders,” she advised. “Do you understand the significance of this now?”

“Yeah, but couldn't Joon-gi Han have told us this before we nearly got squashed by a wrecking ball?” Ichiban complained. “Nice of him to expect our help but not make it easier for us to actually help!”

“The fact that Joon-gi has allowed you to know about this secret proves that he trusts you,” the woman said.

“Well, we're here now,” Asuka said. “Do we trust that silver-haired asshat or not?”

Ichiban sighed.

“We'll have to,” he said, turning towards the secret entrance.

“For Nanba's sake.”

The door opened with a heavy clunk, revealing a secret passageway. It took them down into the depths of the Geomijul building, where they found Joon-gi Han waiting for them. 

"Glad you you make it", he greeted them. 

“Seong-hui is trying to reach Yutaka Ogikubo,” he continued. “We'll know what our next steps are once we receive instructions from him”.

"Why are you still taking instructions from him?" Asuka asked. "Hasn't he caused enough trouble for you?"

Han gave a wry smile. 

"That's not my call to make", he replied. "C'mon, I'll take you to meet Seong-hui".

They continued down into another room. Seong-hui had her back to them and was speaking on the phone. 

"Yes....understood. I'll make sure it's done".

She nodded in acknowledgment at the group when she noticed them. 

“We have around two minutes before the Omi storm in,” Seong-hui instructed as she hung up the phone. 

“We will need more time to burn all the evidence of the counterfeiting operation”.

Asuka froze. Did Seong-hui just say....burn it all?

“Those were Ogikubo's instructions,” Seong-hui advised. She turned to Joon-gi Han.

“Please get the fire started.”

Han looked at her with shock.

“Seong-hui, if we burn it all then the surveillance system goes with it,” he said. “After everything we've done to build this up....we're going to lose everything.”

“I know.”

Seong-hui looked at him sadly, her eyes showing the utter anguish within her. It must have been a painful decision for her to make, one she did not make lightly. Han saw that and understood her feelings immediately, for he nodded and turned to the other Geomijul members in the room, ordering them to do something Korean.

“Wait, why would you go so far to save Ogikubo?” Asuka cried out. “He should be behind bars for his corruption, why are you destroying the evidence and sacrificing your own home for his sake?”

Seong-hui smiled coyly.

“Ogikubo was the only one who cared enough to give us a home,” she explained. “If not for his intervention, we would not exist. This is our way of repaying his gesture of goodwill.”

“Seong-hui, that's crazy-”

“Asa-san, I understand that this is a very twisted idea of morality. It is difficult to understand and accept for a lot of people, but the fact remains that we are indebted to him.”

“All I ask is for you all to hold the Omi back. Buy us enough time to burn it all. That is all we ask.”

She looked at all of them with a hopeful look in her eyes.

“Will you help us?”

Asuka realized that Seong-hui was making eye contact with her in particular. It was like she knew that she had the most black and white stance on morality in the room. As a Public Safety officer, she should be preserving this evidence in order to bring Ogikubo to justice but one thing she had learnt as Asa Soma was that there were times when things were not so cut and dry. This so-called 'gray zone' where she had to cast aside what she believed in, to put her trust in people she usually wouldn't, to believe that the villains she had been pursuing this entire time might not be the enemy after all....

Do whatever it takes.

That was what Soma instructed her to do.

“I'm in!”

Everyone looked at her in disbelief. They did not expect her to yield so easily, but if she felt strongly enough to change her mind, then the least they could do was to be on her side too.

“So are we!” Ichiban confirmed confidently. A look of immense relief spread over Seong-hui's face and she gave a deep bow in gratitude.

“You have my thanks,” she said. Gesturing to Joon-gi Han, they both headed to the back room.

Their calculations were indeed accurate; within a couple of minutes, a huge group stormed into the room. They were lead by a few familiar faces: Ishioda was at the front of the crowd and he was accompanied by two other people that they knew well: Ogasawara and Nanba.

“You lot again?” Ishioda grunted. “I guess you didn't get squashed after all. And oh, someone's joined the party!” He leered at Asuka.

“Sorry, I take that back about you being my type,” he said apologetically to Saeko. “You on the other hand...damn, the things I'll do to you!”

“No need to apologize, you sleazebag!” Saeko said, her face twisted in disgust. “And you keep your hands off Asa-chan, unless....unless you want Zhao Tianyou from the Yokohama Liumang to kick your ass!”

“Zhao?” Ishioda asked, looking incredulous. He let out a laugh.

"Nice try, but he's not exactly free at the moment.”

“You sure talk a lot of shit for someone who doesn't have the protection of a wrecking ball anymore,” Asuka said coldly. His cryptic words were weighing rather uncomfortably on her. Ishioda's eyes widened.

“Whoa, what do we have here? This one is fiesty!” he said. “Lucky for you, I'm into this!”

“Ogasawara-san!” Nanba cried out in panic as he pointed. “The evidence is in that room! They're burning it all!”.

True enough, smoke was starting to escape from the room behind them. Nanba tried to run towards the room but Ichiban got in his way. Nanba glared at him.

“Move aside Ichiban! Why are you helping them? The evidence is getting destroyed as we speak!”

“I'm sorry Nanba,” Ichiban said, shaking his head. “But we promised Seong-hui. We won't let anyone past.”

Nanba shot them a look of utmost anger and disgust. Ogasawara was running out of patience and he gestured to the rest of the group.

“What are you waiting for? Just stop them already!” he ordered.

Ishioda smirked.

“You won't be so lucky this time!” he said, cracking his neck.

“I'll show you that I don't need no wrecking ball to take you all out!”

Nanba stepped up in silence. It looked like he was going to join Ishioda in this fight. There was no love lost between him and everyone, if he was going to fight them then they would retaliate with zero hesitation.

“Guys,” Ichiban growled, raising his bat. “Let's give them hell!”

Everyone felt their spirit rouse within, invigorating them and giving them strength. Ichiban stepped up and swung his bat, swatting Ishioda and Nanba aside. Ishioda was not deterred, such was the power and authority of an Omi Alliance lieutenant. He walked up to Ichiban and delivered a powerful kick, sending him flying. Asuka and Saeko let out a small scream.

“Ichiban! Are you ok?” Saeko cried out, running to his side. He shook his head.

“Shit, that bastard hits hard,” he muttered, holding his midsection. “We might need to have one person focus on providing healing support. Think you could do that?”

Saeko nodded in determination.

It was Nanba's turn to attack. He made a beeline towards Adachi and smacked him with his umbrella. Adachi grimaced, but did not immediately retaliate. Asuka noticed that Adachi seemed hesitant to attack Nanba. Fortunately for him, she did not have such reservations. She pulled out something from her pocket that she hadn't used up to now: pepper spray. She aimed it at both Nanba and Ishioda and sprayed it in their direction. They screamed and choked, temporarily blinded.

“Whoa, where did you get that from?” Saeko asked in amazement. She had just finished giving Ichiban some Staminen X to replenish his energy.

“I had a stash lying around at home,” she said casually. “Popped one in my pocket just in case I meet a bunch of assholes like these ones here.”

Seemingly overcoming his moral dilemma of attacking their former ally, Adachi charged into Nanba like a bull, knocking him to the ground. Asuka saw an opportunity to follow up with a kerb stromp, but found herself getting barricaded by Ishioda, whose glasses prevented the pepper spray from doing too much lasting damage.

“I don't usually hit women,” he said in a sneering voice. “But for bitches like you, I make an exception!”

He swung his fist at Asuka. She only had just enough time to put her arms up to prevent herself from getting her face permanently rearranged. Even so, she screamed out in agony as she felt excruciating pain shoot through her arms.

“Asa-chan!” Ichiban shouted in shock.

“You absolute bastard! How dare you hit a woman!”

Adachi was also seething. He ran up to Ishioda and grabbed him from behind, restraining him in a full nelson hold.

“Ichiban! Hit him now!”

Adachi did not have to tell him twice. His eyes glowing with murderous rage, Ichiban wound his arm ominously as he broke into a brisk run, unleashing a devastating punch to Ishioda's face. He howled in pain as Adachi released him, splattering blood everywhere. Before he could get up, Asuka had followed up with a massive kick into his groin with the precision of a David Beckham free kick. The scream that echoed around the room made every man in the room clench their legs in solidarity.

“Ouch,” Ichiban grimaced, holding his own groin. “That felt personal!”

By this point in time, the smoke billowing out of the closed doors behind them was starting to fill the room. The fire had well and truly started and there would be no trace of anything left once the authorities got there. Nanba, who had been vanquished minutes earlier, slammed his fists repeatedly on the ground as he swore loudly. The remaining Bleach Japan supporters high-tailed it out of there, leaving their esteemed director Ogawasara behind.

The doors opened and Seong-hui stepped out with Joon-gi Han. The sight of them seemed to invigorate Ishioda, who somehow managed to get on his feet again.

“You!” he snarled, hobbling towards Seong-hui.

“So you're the bitch who-”

He didn't get to finish his sentence, because Seong-hui delivered another well-intended kick into his groin, causing him to finally pass out on the floor.

“Now that was personal,” Asuka quipped.

Noticing that he was now completely outnumbered, Ogasawara tried to make a run for it only to find Han in his way. The silver haired man smiled sarcastically at him.

“Leaving so soon, Ogasawara-san?” he asked. “Why don't you stay and enjoy some trademark Geomijul hospitality!” he finished, as he knocked Ogasawara out with a single punch.

“We need to get out of here fast,” Han said as he turned to the group. “The fire is spreading and if we don't move now we will all get caught in it.”

Ichiban and the rest nodded, but as they turned to leave they noticed one person who remained motionless.

“Nanba! Didn't you hear? We gotta get the fuck out of here!” Ichiban shouted. Nanba shook his head.

“It's all over,” he muttered. “We've lost it all, the counterfeit bills, my brother....”

Ichiban tried to reach out to Nanba but he swatted his hand away angrily.

"Shut up!!" he yelled in fury. "It's all your fault! You ruined it all and now the world will never know the truth. I'll never know the truth!"

"Let me clear something up", Seong-hui spoke up as she walked towards them.

"What if I told you that your brother is still alive?"

Nanba stared at her with disbelief.

"We've been holding him in the residential district of the Geomijul. He came close to finding out our secret of the fake bills, but we thought it would be a pity to kill a man of his talent. We wanted him on our side."

"I don't believe you!" Nanba spat. "I'm not believing a word you say until I see him with my own eyes." 

"I can take you to him, but in the meantime I recommend getting out of here fast. And that includes him", she eyed Ogasawara's limp body lying meters from them. 

"She's right", Ichiban said. He reached his hand out to his friend. "Let's get out of here."

"Together".

Nanba hesitated. Why was Ichiban still trying to maintain their friendship? He had used him this entire time; if he was in his position Nanba would want nothing to do with him. Here he was angry with Ichiban for betraying him, but he himself was the one who took advantage of Ichiban first. He was the one who squandered the protection they gave him and ran off to support Mabuchi and Bleach Japan. Aligning himself with the person they were trying to take down in the first place? Nanba was in no position to accuse them of betrayal.

What a hypocrite he was.

"Nanba!"

He looked up at Ichiban's anxious face. Nanba always told himself he had no need for allies, that they were just a stepping stone for his end goal, but as he looked at the people who had gone through everything together with he couldn't help but feel overwhelmed.  

The only thing to do now was to repay their trust.

Gathering whatever was left of his pride, he reached out and grabbed Ichiban's hand.  

Chapter Text

“Erm guys, why are we at a homeless camp?” Asuka asked.

“We can't risk going back to Hamako-san's or Survive Bar,” Ichiban said. “This is the only other place I could think of. Nanba and I lived here for a bit, we can trust these people.”

Ichiban might have felt that way, but judging by the way the rest of the homeless community were eyeing them, Asuka wasn't sure if they shared the same sentiments.

“Well, the most important thing now is to make this one talk,” Saeko said, shooting Ogasawara a look of contempt. They had taken the Bleach Japan director with them and he was now conscious, although he had his hands tied behind his back and duct tape over his mouth. Nanba had gone off to the residential district to look for his brother, but Seong-hui and Joon-gi Han had joined them.

“So,” Adachi said as he ripped the duct tape unceremoniously off his mouth, causing him to yelp in pain.

“Shall we get started?”

He glared at them and pursed his lips stubbornly. He looked so out of place in the camp with his designer wool suit, his face shiny with sweat as he knelt next to the fire crackling away merrily next to them. If he was scared, he was putting on a very good front.

“Don't you dare try anything funny,” Asuka warned.

“If you do, you get punched”, Ichiban threatened. “Do I make myself clear?”

Ogasawara stayed silent, turning his face away towards Seong-hui and Joon-gi Han, who looked extremely unimpressed.

“How did you get involved with the Omi Alliance?” Ichiban demanded. “How did you get them to do your dirty work for you?”

His question was greeted with more silence as Ogasawara continued to clam up. Ichiban scowled.

“Did I not make myself clear just now?” he growled. “Are you asking to be beaten up?”

“Actually, maybe punching him isn't going to work,” Joon-gi Han piped up in his corner. He got up and walked towards them, bending down so he was level with Ogasawara.

“We have a bit of time before the Omi Alliance finds you,” he continued. “I think we'll have plenty of time to pull your fingernails out.”

Ogasawara's face turned white. Asuka sensed that he was ready to cave and swooped in for the kill.

“Hey Joon-gi Han”, she called out. “Do you have any more of that special neurotoxin? You know, the one that really hurts?”

Joon-gi Han's gaze caught hers and they exchanged sly smiles.

“Let me tell you more about this special neurotoxin,” Asuka said in a serious voice. “Just one tiny drop will cause excruciating discomfort, and when I say 'discomfort', I mean it really hurts.”

She leant forward so she was next to his ear.

“I've felt it first hand”, she whispered. “And trust me you do not want to go through that.”

“Alright alright, I'll talk!” Ogasawara finally yelped. “I....I don't have any control over the Omi Alliance.”

“You don't?” Saeko asked. “Then who does? The governor?”

He nodded.

“The governor, Ryo Aoki,” Adachi said. “Did he used to be known by another name?”

Ogasawara's face changed but he quickly composed himself again.

“I...don't know what you're talking about,” he fibbed poorly.

“Masato Arakawa,” Ichiban said. “Does that name ring any bells?”

Ogasawara's eyes widened.

“How do you know that name?”

Ichiban sighed.

“A long time ago, I called him 'young master',” Ichiban said. “And he called me Ichi. That was before the Arakawa family joined the Omi Alliance.”

Ogasawara neither acknowledged nor deny the allegation, but the look on his face was enough to reveal the truth.

“So Ryo Aoki really is the young master,” Ichiban concluded. “Just as I expected. Let's start from the beginning shall we? How did you both meet?”

Ogasawara was finally ready to talk. 

“We met when we were studying in America almost twenty years ago", Ogasawara revealed. "He majored in politics and economics. Even then he gave off vibes that he came from a well-off family, and I thought it would be worth knowing someone like that.”

“Was he in a wheelchair then?”

“No, although I heard he used to be. In America, anything can be yours if you have the money. Even experimental treatments.”

Ogasawara smiled.

“It was only when we came back to Japan when I found out the truth.”

“What do you mean?”

“Not only did he have money, he also had...connections,” Ogasawara said coyly. “Connections to the criminal underworld. I also strongly believe he was funding terrorist organizations, but I can't be sure.”

“Whoa, those are some crazy allegations”, Ichiban said. His connection to the Arakawa family was well-established, but even Ichiban had trouble believing that he would fund terrorists.

“What made you think that?”

“He had another friend back in America that he was close to. That guy had always been pretty radicalized, so I wasn't surprised when I saw something about him getting caught up in some terrorist attacks about five years ago.”

A strange feeling of deja-vu suddenly came over Asuka and she felt like her throat was closing.

“Wait...did you say five years ago?” she asked, grabbing the front of Ogasawara's shirt. “What was the name of this guy? Do you remember?”

"Asa-chan! Calm down!" Adachi warned, touching her shoulder gently.

Ogasawara shrugged his shoulders.

“It was a long time ago, frankly I don't remember much. I completely forgot about him until just now.”

Asuka let go of his clothes grudgingly, her hands still balled up in fists. She had no idea what came over her just then. The very mention of a terrorist attack from five years ago reminded her an incident that the Public Safety team faced back then. Soma had nearly caught the ringleader only for him to escape to the United States. He was so consumed by the case that he went to New York to track the culprit, a trip that stretched to five years and sealed the end of their relationship.

“Anyway, about Ryo Aoki,” he continued.

“He wasn't satisfied with what he had. He knew that some people couldn't be bought with money, so he sought power and authority of a different kind. He knew that being popular and having the support of the people will translate into the most powerful position in the country.”

“The governor of Tokyo?”

“That's right. If you win over a majority in a pool of ten million citizens, what does that say about your power and authority? That was always his end goal. And he chose me as his partner in this plan of his.”

Ogasawara's eyes lit up with pride when he said that.

“How does Bleach Japan factor into all this?” Adachi asked.

“It was his idea. And it was also his idea to get rid of all the grey zones. I thought he was naive, insane even, when he explained it to me. But he had money and influence from the Arakawa family and before long people started taking notice.”

“Ha, glad to see the young master is still the same,” Ichiban said wryly. “He was always good at manipulating power-hungry guys like you.”

“At the start our goals were 'eradicating corruption' and making society 'fair and equal'. That's what our website said anyway. I admit I thought it was all a massive waste of time,” Ogasawara lamented.

“What changed your mind?” Saeko asked, tilting her head with curiosity.

“That slogan had a nice ring to it. It made everyone feel good when they shout it so it was easy to convince people they are joining a good cause. That's what social justice is about these days, all you do is wave a few signs and shout a few slogans and it makes you feel accomplished.”

“Makes sense,” Asuka said, nodding her head. “Social justice warriors want to do the bare minimum and still look like they're contributing to improving the world.”

“That's how we were able to grow so quickly. We even paid women to bolster the ranks, now they were really good at bringing more followers in.”

“I bet Kume was one of those suckers,” Ichiban muttered. Ogasawara mustered a soft chuckle.

“Of course he was.”

“We got so big we eventually expanded across Japan. That's when something unexpected happened.”

“Us targeting the grey zones brought all the corrupted politicians out of the woodwork. All it took was a little money from us, and they were on our side. Of course, we had access to dirty little secrets of theirs that they wouldn't want released to the public, which gave us complete control over them.”

Ogasawara sighed.

“Kasuga, are you doing all this so you can rejoin Arakawa-san? I could just ask the governor and make it happen, you know?”

Ichiban shrugged his shoulders. 

“Honestly, I just wanted to take down Mabuchi. He was the one who killed our boss Nonomiya and that's what got us into this mess in the first place. I didn't know anything about Bleach Japan's involvement in all this, and I sure as hell don't want to join the Omi Alliance!" 

What was supposed to be a murder case had somehow spiraled into a issues of national security. 

“So.....what happened next?" Asuka continued. "He's got the dirt on his rivals, what else stood in his way?"

“The media", Ogawasara revealed. "Aoki made plenty of TV appearances and soon his presence grew. He was extremely charismatic and was good with words. It didn't take long for him to get in their good books, and he was ready for the next big move.”

“2010 was when he left Bleach Japan to run for politics. He got the Citizen' Liberal Party endorsement and won the election by a landslide. He then ran for governor two years later.”

“And how did that go?" Adachi asked. "Another landslide?”

Ogasawara let out a soft laugh.

“Not only didn't he have to worry about funding, he had dirt on each and every one of his opponent. Add that to his already skyrocketing approval rating, and losing was never an option.”

“But his biggest achievement was yet to come though. Just six months later was when he implemented the Kamurocho 3K Plan and drove out the Yakuza from the area.”

So he was the one who implemented that infamous plan. Asuka noticed Adachi balling his fists up next to her. He pulled out his phone. 

“And was that when he got chummy with Juro Horinouchi?” Adachi demanded, flashing a photo of both Ryo Aoki and the Police Commissioner together. 

“Once the Yakuza were wiped out, his position was unshakable", Ogasawara replied simply.

“What do you mean he wiped them out? He just invited the Omi Alliance in instead!" Adachi shouted. "And how did nobody notice?”

Ogasawara shrugged.

“Thugs are thugs. The average person wouldn't know if they were Tojo or Omi. With Masumi Arakawa now a captain in the Omi Alliance, he could provide his son, the governor up properly with the backing of the country's largest criminal organization.”

“And Metro PD just looked the other way?” Asuka asked in disbelief. 

“They had other things to look at. Now that the Tojo were out, all sorts of petty crime increased. The arrest rate skyrocketed. When the Omi Alliance came in, they helped get the city back under control. The police had access to the governor through them. Organized crime was still better than petty crime in that aspect.”

“You mean, Metro PD went to the Yakuza to sort things out?” Asuka continued. 

“Ironic isn't it?" Ogasawara replied with a wry smile. 

“And to top it off, the police commissioner was taking bribes from Arakawa, isn't that right?” Adachi demanded.

“What?” Ogasawara asked, a blank look of confusion on his face.

“The governor is the middle man for the police and Arakawa, isn't he? Horinouchi had to have been paid off to let the Omi Alliance waltz in unchallenged.”

“I...I don't...”

Adachi grabbed Ogasawara by the collar and shook him. 

“You think the police would stand aside and let the Omi replace the Tojo?" he snarled. "Someone from the top must have allowed that! And he sure as hell wouldn't have done it for free!”

“Adachi-san, calm down!” Asuka warned, reaching out and touching his arm. Adachi released him, his face red with anger and frustration. Asuka stepped in to continue.

“Why is the governor coming after Ijincho?”

“He's not after them. He's after Ogikubo. He is the only one who hasn't budged in his allegiance. Since he is the chair and anchor of the Citizens' Liberal Party....it is of utmost importance that he is dealt with.”

“He knew Ogikubo had criminal backing to rise to power. It was exactly the same situation as him and he recognized the signs immediately. Once he replaces Ogikubo, he would be unstoppable.”

“And that's why you targeted Mabuchi?” Ichiban asked. “How did you convince him? By promising him power and authority within the Omi Alliance?”

Surprisingly, it was Seong-hui who spoke up.

“Mabuchi hasn't been happy with the way things are in Ijincho for a long time,” Seong-hui said. “And being second-in-command in the Liumang meant he had a lot of influence.”

Ogasawara nodded in confirmation. 

“It was Mabuchi's idea, all of it. But I didn't approve the murder of that soapland owner.”

“Let me guess, the governor was the one who it?” Ichiban asked. 

“The stakes were high. He said there was nothing wrong with the plan and that it was worth the risk. He had to get Ogikubo.”

“When the Ijin Three started fighting each other, we knew that was when something was going to come out from the chaos. Sure enough, we found out about the counterfeiting scheme and it was delivered to us on a silver platter by your friend.”

A smug smirk spread across his face. 

“Nanba not only showed us the fake bills, he also told us the location of the operation. That was the information we needed to get the Omi Alliance to move in.”

"Damn you all for burning it!" he snarled. Seong-hui and Joon-gi Han glared at him, the loss of their home no doubt still fresh on their minds. 

“The evidence might be gone, but with everything destroyed Ogikubo has lost his source of power,” Seong-hui lamented. “That means Aoki has basically won.”

Ogasawara let out an evil-sounding laugh.

“Without the Great Wall of Muscle, Ijincho will go the way of Kamurocho. That is to say, the Omi Alliance will take over!” he said triumphantly.

Before they had time to process that bit of information, a homeless man stumbled into the camp, his face bruised and battered. 

“It's the Yakuza! They're heading this way!” he cried out. 

Sure enough, a huge army of men wearing Bleach Japan T-shirts were descending on the camp. Ogasawara's face lit up at the sight of them. 

"Hey! I'm right here!" he shouted.

Two men saw him and nodded in acknowledgment. 

“Put in a good word to Lieutenant Sawashiro for us, won't you?” one of them said. Ogasawara smiled. 

"I'll make sure you're appropriately rewarded for your efforts", he assured them. 

Ichiban stepped up. A quick glance confirmed that they were significantly outnumbered, but that didn't stop them in the past. 

"Seong-hui, Joon-gi Han, please keep an eye on Ogasawara", Ichiban ordered.

"We'll take care of the rest".

Ichiban brandished his bat and Adachi slapped his baton against his palm.

"I'm getting pretty sick of this shit," Adachi complained.

"Relax old man," Asuka said, twirling her carbon sword. "You can sit this one out if you want, let the young ones handle it!"

That seemed to spur Adachi on even more. Nothing beats a boomer fuelled by spite as he delivered a stinging blow to the nearest protester, knocking him out immediately. 

"No need to feel bad about hurting innocent civilians," he reminded them. "Pretty sure this lot are all Omi Alliance."

"Good point," Saeko said as she delivered a well-timed punch to the jaw of another protestor. "There's so many of them! Is there a way to take out more of them out at once?"

"Way ahead of you," Ichiban said as he cleaned house with his bat, sweeping aside five men effortlessly.

"Got any better crowd clearing items?" Asuka asked, kerb stomping one of the protestors to knock his lights out. 

"Like...a rocket launcher?" Ichiban asked matter-of-factly.

"Ok, maaaybe not that heavy duty," Asuka replied. "We're trying to get clear a crowd, not nuke the entire homeless camp! And why are you talking like you actually have a rocket launcher?"

"Hey, what about this?" 

Adachi had fished something out of his pocket. It was small and round, and looked very much like a..

"GRENADE!!!"

Adachi pulled the pin and threw it into the crowd. Everyone scattered, including Ichiban, Saeko and Asuka. They crouched and covered their ears, bracing themselves for the explosion. It did explode, but with a bright light and loud crackle. The ones who got caught in the blast found themselves sprawled on the ground, completely immobilized. 

"Damn, what was that?" Saeko asked, emerging from behind a dumpster.

"Lightning bomb," Adachi said casually. "Picked it up in a pawn shop along the way."

"Well they're still here, but at least they can't do anything right now," Ichiban observed, looking around. "Got any more of those bombs for back up?"

"Sure!" Adachi replied, producing a small bag. "I can leave them here so the community can use them for self defence."

They ran towards Seong-hui and Joon-gi Han. The defeated look on their faces told them that they did not have very good news to deliver.

“They took off with Ogasawara,” Han said. "We tried to hold them off, but there were too many of them."

Ichiban punched the wall in frustration. Their only bargaining chip was now gone too. Asuka was also incredibly angry and frustrated; she was hoping that Ogasawara would eventually give her a name for the terrorist group leader that Ryo Aoki was supposedly funding.

Seong-hui's phone rang. she frowned as she turned to Han.

“It's Chairman Hoshino,” she said. “He's never rang this number before.”

The group hovered around as they listened to her conversation.

“Hoshino-san....no the Geomijul burnt to the ground....we don't any means of surveillance at the moment...got it, thank you.”

The look on her face was grave.

“There was an internal revolt in the Seiryu as well, but Takabe handled it", Seong-hui advised, putting the phone away.

With the exception of the Geomijul, one by one the Ijin Three were being taken down from the inside. It was a relief knowing that the Seiryu were able to clamp down so quickly and successfully. 

But Seong-hui's face suggested that the phone call wasn't all good news. 

"We have a problem with the Liumang. Hoshino-san hasn't been able to reach Zhao.”

Asuka felt like her stomach had plummeted off the top of the Tokyo Tower.

“A few Liumang members came to attack him at his restaurant earlier today,” Asuka said. “He called Ichiban to head to the Geomijul while he sorted things out on his end.”

“Wait a minute, you were at You Tian?” Seong-hui asked sharply. Her face grew thoughtful.

“Interesting....he never invites anyone there unless it's for private business. And you were alone?”

“I..It doesn't matter right now!” Asuka cried out, her cheeks burning. “We need to make sure he's ok!”

Seong-hui grinned

“Look at you, I think you're the most anxious out of all of us here,” she said with a sly smirk.

“Asa-chan is right,” Ichiban said, coming to her rescue. “Zhao is someone we can't afford to lose. We should go help him.”

Adachi looked alarmed.

“Oi Ichiban, you know staging a rescue while the entire Liumang are rioting is crazy right?” Adachi said, sounding concerned.

“How much of what we have done in the last two days hasn't been unhinged?” Ichiban challenged.

"Yeah we've come so far. Surely we can't stop now?" Saeko said. 

"You're right", Adachi conceded with a sigh. 

“After so many years I've nearly got Horinouchi cornered. All I need now is to prove his connection with the governor. There is no way I can stop now!”

“Everything that we've been investigating...it's all coming together,” Asuka said. “Horinouchi....Aoki.....everyone's interconnected! I wish Ogasawara told me who that friend of his was though.”

“What do you mean?” Saeko asked curiously. 

“I...I just know someone who was killed by terrorists many years ago. The masterminds were never caught. I thought maybe.....maybe they were the same person. The timeline fits, but surely it can't be that much of a coincidence, could it?”

“We can ask Ogasawara again when we find him,” Ichiban assured her. "I'm still not done questioning him. Gah just thinking about his smug ass face makes me want to punch him! Maybe I'll do that when I see him next".

He turned to Seong-hui.

“So are you in? I think I speak for everyone here when I say we consider you part of the team now too".

Seong-hui looked at his sincere expression and sighed.

“Unfortunately, I'll have to stay,” she said apologetically.

“The Geomijul are scared and confused. I need to be around to give everyone confidence. However..”

She turned to Joon-gi Han, who stepped forward.

“Joon-gi Han will accompany you. I assure you that he is highly capable.”

He nodded at them in understanding.

"At your service", he said pleasantly. He turned to Asuka and bowed deeply.

"Please allow me to apologize for what happened between us earlier. I am really sorry and it will never happen again".

The others looked clueless, but Asuka knew immediately that he was referring to the ill-fated 'interrogation' she was subjected to in the depth of the Geomijul building. It was thanks to Zhao's unorthodox meddling that got her out of that mess.

Guess it was time to return that favour.

"Apology accepted, Joon-gi Han", she replied. Asuka probably only accepted about eighty percent of that apology but there was no time to be discussing past matters now. 

“From our last intel, Zhao was last seen at his restaurant", Han reported. 

“Yes, Qing Jin,” Asuka confirmed. “He said he was going back there to sort things out with Mabuchi.”

"Wow, he told you all that?" Ichiban asked, sounding impressed. "He really trusts you, huh?"

"That was a few hours ago", Asuka continued, ignoring Ichiban's comment. "We better hurry!"

“Hopefully he's still alive,” Saeko said hopefully, shooting a look at her.

Just as they were about to head off, Asuka's phone rang. She pulled it out of her pocket impatiently and was going to cancel the call until she caught sight of the caller ID.

Her heart froze.

Excusing herself to a quieter corner, she answered the call. Chief Namba never rang her number while she was undercover unless it was an emergency. Did something happen to someone on the team?

“Hayashi, can you talk now?” the dulcet tone of the Chief's voice sounded through phone. She might be imagining things, but she thought she felt like there was some tension in his voice. 

“Not really", Asuka admitted. The Chief had never picked a more inconvenient time to call. "But I gather it's something important?”

There was a slight pause at the other end. 

“Listen, I need to come back to the safe house right now.”

Namba's voice was direct and emotionless. Asuka had never heard him speak in that tone before. She had been ordered around by both Captains Ishigami and Kaga much more; the Chief was the textbook 'good cop', they always joked that he was somehow born without the ability to get ruffled or angry.

Until now.

"Chief, did something happen to someone in the team?" she asked in a hushed voice. "I...Is Soma ok?"

"Soma is fine," Namba confirmed. "He'll be in the safe house awaiting your return".

For the first time in her life, the thought of seeing Soma felt like a horrible prospect. 

“Chief, can this wait? Now is really not a good time, there's a coup d'etat within the Liumang and the leader Zhao is-”

“Detective Asuka Hayashi, drop everything and return to the safe house immediately!” Namba ordered sternly.

“Ok, I will,” she conceded. "But can you at least tell me what this is for?"

“There has been reports of a fire in Ijincho. We would like to take your statement as we believe you are a key witness.”

Asuka nearly laughed out loud in relief.

"Is that it?" she asked incredulously. "Chief, I assure you that I will let you detain me for as long as you want after-"

“This is by the order of the Commissioner himself,” Namba interrupted in a firm voice.

"I will not repeat myself. Return to the safe house immediately, or you will be suspended." 

Chapter Text

Asuka returned to the safe house grudgingly. She was furious, afraid and confused. Ichiban and the others had been taken aback when she announced her temporary departure, but thankfully did not prod. Adachi gave her a look that showed that he understood that she had been called up for 'Police business'. She assured them that she would meet them at Qing Jin the moment she could.

There was no way she would sit out on helping Zhao.

She entered the safe house in trepidation. The room had been set up with large screens and it looked quite similar to their monitor room back in HQ. The Chief was already waiting on screen, along with Ishigami and Kaga who were all wearing grim expressions. Present in the room was her handler, Soma, who did not greet her with the warm smile she was accustomed to.

The magnitude of the situation finally hit her; this was serious.

"Please take a seat, Detective", Soma said in an emotionless voice, gesturing to a chair.

Asuka sat down, feeling extremely self-conscious as four pairs of eyes bore into her rather mercilessly. The tension was a million times worse than the mock interrogation exercises she went through during her training, much worse than going one on one with the interrogation king himself, Kaga. 

And she trained with Kaga a lot.

"Thank you for coming at such short notice, Detective," the Chief acknowledged, like she was even given a choice. 

"We will now commence the interview. I believe as a fellow officer of the law you know all your rights?"

She nodded in silence.

"Before we start recording, allow me to remind you that this interview will be reviewed by the Commissioner himself," Namba reminded her.

Asuka nodded in acknowledgment again, but was slightly puzzled at this sudden disclaimer from the Chief.

A red light at the corner of the screen turned on, signaling that the interview was being recorded from that time forward. 

“Detective Asuka Hayashi, were you present at the Geomijul headquarters in Ijincho at approximately six o'clock this evening?” Namba asked.

“Yes, I was,” Asuka replied truthfully.

"What was your business there?"

Asuka paused and looked directly at the Chief and both Captains. She couldn't stop thinking about the Chief's odd comment just now; why was he emphasizing that this interview was to be handed in to the Commissioner?

The Commissioner. Juro Horinouchi.

She was suddenly reminded of Adachi's reaction when they were questioning Ogasawara earlier. How angry he was when the Commissioner was brought up, how corrupted her believed he was....

"I was told that Bleach Japan protestors were rioting at the Geomijul. So I went there to have a look."

“Can you describe what you saw?” Ishigami asked.

“I saw members from the Omi Alliance storming the building,” she answered. “I can give you names. Reiji Ishioda. The director of Bleach Japan was there too, Hajime Ogasawara.”

“Do you know why they were there?”

“No. But I was suspicious so I followed them into the building.”

“Was there anyone else with you?”

“There were a couple of...curious onlookers. But nobody I recognized.”

There was a slight pause. That was a lie and everyone in the room knew it. Usually that was the point when someone starts playing hardball and things get thrown around the room. That role is usually filled by Kaga, who relished in playing the 'bad cop' role, however this time round none of that happened.

“I see,” Soma finally replied gravely.

“What happened when you were in the building? Did you witness the fire?”

“I noticed smoke coming out from behind a closed door” she said. “But I have no idea what started it.”

Her responses continued to be brief and evasive, like she was deliberately choosing to limit the words that she offered them. But none of them seemed to be interested in forcing more out of her.

“Did you see what was in that room?” Ishigami interjected.

Asuka shook her head.

“No.”

Soma leant in and looked her in her eyes.

“Detective Hayashi,” he said in a serious voice.

“Are you saying that you have no idea what was being burnt in the Geomijul building today?”

She held his gaze defiantly. His eyes were cold and empty, like he was interrogating the vilest of criminals. She understood the need to be impartial during this interview, but she hated this dark side of him.

She always have.

It scared her and reminded her of how merciless he could be.

“That's correct, Detective Soma,” Asuka replied firmly.

“As far as know, Ishioda and Ogasawara got into a fight with a few of the onlookers, which I helped to break up. I left shortly after. As for the fire, I didn't know there was one until I heard Ishioda say something about something burning in the room. And since I did not go into the room that day, I have no idea what was inside."

That read a lot like a final statement. Everyone seemed to be in agreement as Namba leant forward and asked, “Is there anything else you would like to add, Detective Hayashi?”

Asuka shook her head.

“No”, she confirmed. “I have nothing to add.”

There was another moment of silence as the officers jolted down notes. She watched the officers on the screen carefully, all of them with unreadable expressions on their faces. Her gaze fell onto Soma again, his face looking serious as he wrote something down on his notepad in his neat handwriting. The atmosphere of the entire interview had been extremely odd; there was inevitable tension but it was also strangely calm. None of them had put any sort of pressure on her nor used any heavy handed interrogation tactics.

And most importantly, none of them had called her out for any of the blatant lies she had told.

Chief Namba finished writing his notes and laid his pen on the desk. He flashed her a small smile.

“Well then, I have no further questions,” he said, looking at his two Captains.

"I don't have any further questions," Ishigami said curtly.

"Neither," Kaga replied.

Asuka turned to Soma, whose expression remained unchanged.

“I have no follow up questions,” he responded flatly.

“In that case, you are excused, Detective Hayashi,” the Chief finished.

“Thank you for your time.”

The red light went off, signaling the end of the recording session.

Asuka stood up and gave a formal bow. Without a further word, she left the safe house.

They waited until the door slammed shut. The Chief let out a huge sigh of relief, even Ishigami and Kaga looked less rigid.

“Phew, that was hard,” Namba said, pretending to wipe sweat off his brow. “That video should keep the Commissioner happy for now.”

“Will Asuka be ok?” Soma demanded immediately. His cold face had turned into one of grave concern. “How much does the Commissioner know?”

“He knows that we have agents in the field. But he doesn't know that Hayashi is working with Adachi,” the Chief confirmed.

“She reacted exactly as we predicted,” Kaga continued. “But Hayashi did the right thing. Her true testimony would be a slam dunk if we want to convict Ogikubo and the Ijin Three on counterfeiting charges, but we have a much larger problem at hand now. As long as we have some kind of witness account to send to the Commissioner, we have done our job.”

“Luckily you reported that the Governor could have been known by a different name,” Ishigami said to Soma. “Shinonome was able to do some digging and confirmed that he was indeed known as Masato Arakawa, son of Masumi Arakawa.”

“Adachi also told me very early on that he suspected Horinouchi was corrupt", Namba said. “So it struck me as strange that he would personally get involved in a fire in Yokohama. It didn't make sense, he would definitely be acting on orders from elsewhere."

"And where else would he be getting these orders if not from the Governor himself?” Kaga finished.

Ishigami's gaze fell onto Soma, who had gone strangely silent. He was one of the only few privy to Soma's real reason for his five year stint at Interpol, but he also knew the motivation behind why he did what he did.

More than anything, he knew just how much Soma still loved her.

“Sorry Soma, that must have been hard for you,” Ishigami said. “But we needed Hayashi to answer the questions unprompted. Luckily she must have caught onto what we were doing because she responded wonderfully.”

Soma smiled. He was glad to see how far she had come; the old Asuka was honest to a fault and would not have withheld anything. But was she cleverly reading the situation, or did she lie as a means to protect the informants?

“I think a lot of that had to do with her bond with the people she's been working with,” Soma divulged. “I've met a couple of them and they're genuinely good people. I would trust them with her life.”

“Ah yes, of course. She told me on the phone just now that she was going to rescue Zhao Tianyou from a coup d'etat,” Namba said.

“You are aware of that, aren't you?”

Soma could feel his insides curl up at the mention of the Liumang leader. He knew he had told her to pull out all the stops, but he was starting to think that the anxiety she had for Zhao was genuine. It had barely been a day since he last held her in his arms, and now she was running into Liumang territory to rescue a crime lord?

How could she be so reckless for the sake of another man that wasn't him?

How could she?

“I wasn't, but I understand,” Soma replied, braving another smile that fooled nobody in that room.

“She's got a job to do.”

*

Asuka immediately jumped into a taxi to head to the restaurant. Her head was still spinning: she was well-aware that she had just given a false statement, something that Soma would have known. He did not push her hard during the interrogation, but the look in his eyes was so cold it felt like icicles stabbing into her heart.

Then there was Zhao. She realized that the reason she was anxious during the interrogation wasn't because of the questions that were asked, but because she was aware that every second she was in that room meant she was losing precious time to save him.

She'll definitely need more than just a half-empty can of pepper spray before going to the restaurant.

Time to bring out the big guns.

“Excuse me,” she said to the taxi driver. “Can you please take a detour?”

She got out of the taxi in front of her apartment. After telling him to wait, she raced upstairs. Rummaging through the closet, she found the safe hidden behind her clothes and opened it.

“There you are,” she murmured, cracking a small smile as she retrieved the handgun, holster and bullets inside. She had kept it under lock and key while she was going through her daily undercover duties, but she had just decided that it was time to arm herself properly this time round.

She was a police officer after all.

Just as she was about to leave, her phone rang.

Not the best timing, but she'll need to answer this one. 

"Hey Ayumu," she greeted him, answering the video call. "Why isn't your camera on?"

"Are you decent?" Shinonome's voice echoed through the black screen. Asuka sighed.

"Yes", she replied, rolling her eyes. Shinonome immediately appeared on the screen, looking relieved when he saw her fully dressed.

"I dunno why you're so upset about me accidentally flashing you”, Asuka lamented. “Consider it payback for that time I caught you rubbing one out during that stakeout-"

"OK THAT'S ENOUGH", Shinonome interrupted hastily, his face pink with embarrassment. 

“Aren't you supposed to be getting interrogated by the Chief?” he asked. “Where are you off to now?"

"Breaking up a coup d'etat", she replied casually. "I just finished the interrogation. What are you calling for?"

"Well, you asked me to look into that Zhao Tianyou guy didn't you?" Shinonome replied.

"I've got some information".

Asuka felt her heart was about to leap out of her mouth.

"Zhao Tianyou, age 32", he recited. “Leader of the Yokohama Liumang. Took over after his father died three years ago."

"He grew up in Yokohama but the Zhao family had a holiday home in Nagano which they visited every summer. But one year they just sold the property and stopped going back there."

Shinonome's face changed. 

"That was where things got a bit dark. While researching the history of Nagano in 2001, I came across a cold case about the brutal murder of the Mori family. Mori and his wife were found dead in their family home, the autopsy report stated they were slashed over a hundred times. I've heard a few autopsy reports over the years, but that one actually made me feel sick. The killers were never caught."

"Cool story, but what does that have to do with the Zhaos?" Asuka asked.

"I looked into Mori and found out he used to be ex-Liumang himself”, Shinonome revealed. “Second in command, in fact. It'll make sense for Zhao to visit Nagano so often."

"You don't think...Zhao was involved?"

"I can't be sure. But I just think it's a bit coincidental that the Zhao family cut all ties in Nagano the same year the Mori's were killed, don't you think?"

Asuka couldn't blame Shinonome for that train of thought. It all seemed all too coincidental.

"Actually hang on, that's where you're from, isn't it?" Shinonome asked. "Do you remember anything about that case? Surely that was headline news."

"I was twelve, Ayumu", Asuka reminded him."I can't remember anything much from that time. Besides, Nagano is a pretty big place, you can't expect me to know everyone."

"Do the Mori's have any descendants?" she asked.

"The newspaper article mentioned they had a daughter, but she seemed to have disappeared. There's no trace of her whatsoever. Not even a name".

"Surely not, the great Ayumu Shinonome reaching a dead end?" Asuka asked incredulously. He scowled.

"There's a limit to my abilities", he said.

"I can't retrieve information that was never available to begin with."

“What do you mean? She wasn't born in ancient times, surely there were decent hospital records in the 90s?” Asuka insisted.

“I know that,” Shinonome snapped. “I dunno how they did it, but they wiped everything. Scorched Earth. Trust me, I tried everything.”

“Isn't it overkill to wipe the daughter's existence though?” Asuka pondered aloud.

“Perhaps it was for her safety,” Shinonome said. “I wouldn't be surprised if she was also a target for the murder.”

Asuka nodded, it made sense. The Liumang probably had enough money and influence to arrange for records to be wiped, but if they were involved in the murder why would they protect the Mori family's daughter? That didn't make sense....

Hang on, now's not the time to be trying to solve twenty year old cold cases!

“Hey Ayumu, Sorry but I gotta go,” she said, hurrying out the door.

“Thanks for your help, I'll buy you a box of peach nectar the next time I see you.”

*

She met with little resistance when she arrived at Restaurant Row. It was strangely deserted; Ichiban and the others must have already cleaned house prior. She had strong confidence in their abilities to hold their own without her presence.

As she approached the majestic building that was Qing Jin, she suddenly heard someone calling out for her.

“Excuse me! Excuse me, miss!”

She looked around curiously and saw a slightly-heavyset man gesturing to her to come over to him. He had a mid-length haircut that was styled into a low mohawk and he was dressed in a dusty grey suit.

“Are you with Ichi?” he asked in a low voice.

“Who are you?” Asuka asked suspiciously, her hand on the holster.

“Are you looking for Zhao?” the man countered with another question of his own, completely disregarding her query.

“What's it to you?” she replied, the grip on her handgun tightening.

“I can take you to him,” the mysterious man said simply.

Asuka studied him cautiously. He had his arms folded and wasn't carrying any weapons. The way he referred to Ichiban also suggested that they had a rather close relationship, whatever that relationship might be.

“Miss, I don't mean to be rude, but there's no time to lose. We need to move now.”

Well, if this guy was an assassin he would be the one with the best manners.

Trusting her gut, Asuka nodded. He turned and gestured her to follow him. Instead of taking her through the grand main entrance, he led her through the courtyard towards the back of the restaurant.

“Probably a stupid question, but you can fight, right?” the man asked.

Asuka laughed.

“A little,” she replied airily, flashing him a sly wink. The man blinked at her blankly.

“That's....reassuring,” he replied. Sarcasm clearly wasn't something that registered well with him.

They arrived at a locked door. After checking their surroundings, he took out a pin and started picking at the lock.

“Just a heads up,” he said, as the door clicked open.

“We might meet some resistance.”

They entered the building and found themselves in a dark room. It smelt slightly damp and there were shelves and boxes everywhere. She let out a sneeze when a dust cloud was released after she bumped into a pile of empty cartons.

“This is the storage area of the restaurant,” the man said as they made their way out of the room and down a flight of stairs. “Security should be light since not many people know about this section, but we need to be prepared.”

“How do you know about this place?” Asuka questioned.

“I have some intel,” he replied immediately. His cryptic answers were starting to annoy her, but she had gone this far with him, it would be remiss to suddenly start doubting him now.

They walked through the door and nearly collided with a group of Liumang men who were on patrol. Asuka and the man froze as the group stared at them.

“You're with the Omi Alliance,” one of the men commented.

It wasn't a question.

“Yes”, the man replied nonchalantly, gesturing to a tiny badge he had pinned onto the lapel of his suit.

He's with the Omi?!

Asuka had to bite her tongue to stop herself from screaming at him.

“What are you doing down here?”

“Just checking on the.....guest we have held down here,” the man replied casually.

They exchanged knowing looks, before gesturing for them to pass through.

“Hang on!”

Both of them froze.

“Who's the woman?”

“I...I'm Omi Alliance too!” Asuka lied quickly. That did not work. The group descended upon her as the man put himself between them.

“Go!” he urged her.

“He's at the door at the end of the corridor! I'll hold them off!”

Without hesitating, she ran down the corridor, shutting her ears to the sounds of a huge fight erupting behind her. There was not time to worry about the other man as she burst into the room at the end of the corridor. It was a dank, dimly lit room not unlike a torture chamber in a medieval dungeon. The space was devoid of anything except a chair that had been tipped over on its side, with a group of men crowding around the person who once sat on that chair. However, the beating that the person was receiving made him look more like like a crumpled pile of clothing on the floor.

A very familiar pile of clothing.

“Zhao!”

Asuka's voice echoed around the room, attracting the attention of the group of men who turned around at looked at her. Their wide-eye expressions of shock lasted a split second before they realized that she was by herself.

The pile on the floor groaned.

“Well well well, what do we have here?” one of the men asked, walking towards her as he brandished an iron rod. Asuka whipped her gun out and pointed it at him.

“Drop the weapon,” she ordered, making sure to keep eye contact with him. The man let out a sneering laugh.

“Hey Aniki, I think I know her!” another voice called out. A slight young man emerged from behind the leader of the gang. “She's from the hostess bar!”

Asuka groaned internally when she recognized him.

“Sakimi-san, please step aside”, she cautioned. “I don't want to hurt you again.”

“You're a hostess?” the leader squawked, howling with laughter. “Put that gun away, silly woman! Who do you think you are? A cop?”

They were silenced by a deafening gun shot. The bullet ricocheted off the rod and fell next to his feet with soft tinkle.

“Want to try again?” Asuka asked, cocking the gun.

“And trust me, I won't miss next time.”

The man smirked and took another step towards her.

Another gun shot sounded, followed by a scream as he collapsed to the floor holding his left knee.

“Ahhhh! You...you bitch!” he screamed, clutching his bleeding knee.

“I have eight more bullets in this gun right now,” Asuka announced. “Plenty to go around. I even have extras if I miss.”

The remaining group of five men stared at her then at their leader rolling on the floor, looking extremely conflicted.

“A...Aniki, what do we do?” the one named Sakimi asked nervously.

“Stand down,” he finally said, through gritted teeth. Asuka waited for the group to all drop their weapons before hurrying over towards Zhao.

“Hey, are you ok?” she asked, sounding extremely concerned.

Zhao groaned. He was thankfully conscious but he had a bleeding lip and several bruises on his face.

“You look like shit,” she said. He mustered a feeble chuckle that made him visibly wince.

“Thanks, I've never looked and felt more attractive,” he replied sarcastically. She was the last person he expected to burst through that door, but he was partial to life springing the odd surprise on him. 

His dear Xiao Hua saving him? He certainly wasn't going to complain. 

Just as he was busy admiring her grown up valour, Zhao's gaze shifted and his eyes suddenly widened.

“Look out!”

It happened so quickly. Asuka suddenly found herself bundled in Zhao's arms as they both rolled out of the way as an iron rod smashed into the floor where she once sat. One of the gang members had decided to ambush her but thanks to Zhao's quick reaction they were able to avoid him.

Peeking out from a gap underneath his arms, Asuka aimed her gun and shot the man in his right shoulder. He screamed in pain, scrambling off towards the rest of the group who were dragging their bleeding Aniki with them.

“Let's get the fuck out of here!”

“This bitch is crazy!”

Zhao whistled. “Not bad. Where did you learn to do that?”

They stared at each other. He was holding her so close that she could feel his breath on her face.  Was the universe playing tricks on her? She didn't know why, but every time she ran into him they just seem to end up in such close proximity with each other. 

She quickly turned her face away but she only felt the arms around her body tighten.

“Um, do you mind?” she said in a small voice.

Zhao released his grip around her. She threw one of his arms around her shoulder and put her arm around his waist.

“Can you stand?” she asked, helping him to his feet.

“Yeah my legs are fine,” he confirmed. “They kept the damage from the waist up. Thank God, because the Zhao family bloodline still needs me to continue it.”

She chose to ignore that comment.

“Now we're even,” she advised him as they started to hobble out slowly. That's one rescue each for both of them, she's finally paid him back for the time he saved her from the Geomijul.

But Zhao did not seem to think so.

Turning towards her, he pulled her in and kissed her on the lips. He had completely forgotten about his busted lip, but feeling her lips against his was enough to make him ignore the pain. He felt her seize up for a split second, but to his delight he felt her reciprocate as her body relaxed in his arms. Perhaps it was the relief that he was still alive, but Asuka felt her initial indignation at the kiss dissipating as quickly as it came over her. She allowed his lips to lead hers, sinking into the warm touch of his hands around her cheeks as they cradled her face in a gentle but desperate caress.

It felt natural. It felt good.

They finally broke apart after a few seconds, breathing heavier than they were before.

“Now, we're even,” he whispered with a smug smirk. The blush that had spread across her cheeks made her looked adorable and she was wondering if he could hear how hard her heart was pounding right then.

“T...That's not fair!” she stuttered in protest, suddenly a lot braver. “You've kissed me twice now!”

Zhao chuckled.

“So I guess you need to kiss me twice to even the score?” he asked innocuously as he pinched her cheek.

Asuka was about to shoot back with another smart-ass comment before they were interrupted.

“Erm, Zhao-san? Is everything ok here?”

The mysterious man who had led her there had caught up with her. He looked at them with a mixture of surprise and amusement.

“Am I...interrupting something?” he asked cautiously.

Asuka gave a loud “No!” while Zhao replied with a “Yes!”

The man stifled a laugh.

“Interesting,” he quipped under his breath. “C'mon, let's head to Ichiban.”

They made their way towards the lift.

“They should all be gathering in the Phoenix Room,” Zhao advised, pressing the button in the lift to take them to the top floor. “It's the biggest and grandest room we have.”

The lift door opened. There was thankfully nobody standing guard outside of the large double doors leading into the Phoenix Room.

The man turned to Asuka and Zhao.

“I'll have to stay out here. Mabuchi and the other Omi lieutenants are inside.”

“I'm going in,” Asuka said immediately. “Can you look after Zhao?”

Zhao looked at her in alarm.

“It's too dangerous! I'm coming with you!”

“No,” she said firmly. “The Omi can't know we've already busted you out. Now that you're safe, I need to make sure the others are too”.

“You can also barely stand. You'll be a liability more than a help!”

Zhao sighed, he knew first-hand how obstinate she could be. That fiery look of determination in her eyes was still the same after so long. He would like nothing more than to run into that room with her to make sure she was safe, but he knew that in his current state he had to sit this one out.

For her sake.

He reached out and grabbed her hand just before she turned to enter the room. She turned around and looked at him with an expectant gaze.

“Be careful”.

Their eyes met and she squeezed his hand gently in assurance.

With no time to waste, Asuka rushed through the door noisily. The Phoenix Room was decked out like a Chinese wedding banquet, complete with a Chinese style dragon pergola. There were several people gathered under there that she didn't recognize, but she recognized the guy sprawled on the ground, groaning. It was Mabuchi, his weapon abandoned next to him as he groaned in pain.

Her heart leapt when she saw Ichiban, Saeko, Adachi and Joon-gi Han looking exhausted but very much alive and well.

To her surprise, there was a familiar face who had joined them there.

“Nanba!”

He gave a grim salute.

“Sorry for my absence, but I'm back for good now”, he confirmed.

“Asa-chan! You made it too!” Saeko cried out with relief. "Are you hurt? You have blood on your lips!"

Asuka rubbed her lips with the back of her hand, cursing silently; she knew exactly where the blood came from.

“What took you so long?" Adachi asked, sounding concerned. "We thought you had...”

“Sorry, I had something urgent I had to attend to,” Asuka apologized. “I can see you've taken out the trash,” she said as she gestured to Mabuchi and his men sprawled out around the place.

“Yes, but there's more to go,” Ichiban said, turning to look at the pergola.

She turned to look in the direction he was looking at. She recognized one of them immediately: Reiji Ishioda, who had somehow escaped relatively unscathed from the Geomijul building. However it was the man sitting next to him that caught her attention. He had slicked back hair and was dressed in a pinstriped suit. Even thought he looked to be approaching middle age, he looked to be in excellent physical condition.

“That's Tendo,” Joon-gi Han said, as if he could read her thoughts.

“That's the former boxer right?” she asked. “H...He's massive!”

Tendo smirked as he stood up. Asuka felt herself shrink back slightly; he was built like an oak tree, tall and wide. His fists looked like they were nearly the same size as her head and she wondered if there was a separate weight-class for people of his size.

“We'll take you on!” Ichiban yelled, pointing his bat at Tendo. The large man smirked and rolled his eyes as he started walking towards them.

“I'm not getting in the ring with amateurs like you lot,” he said in a bored voice. “It'll be a massive waste of my time!”

“Although, this is getting interesting,” he said, looking intrigued. “We haven't had to get our hands dirty in a long time.”

“You'll regret letting us live,” Ichiban said snidely. Asuka nearly kicked him for running his mouth; it was not in their interest to pick a fight with him right now.

Tendo stopped and turned to look at him with his eyebrows raised.

“Interesting,” he said, a sadistic looking smile spreading across his face. “I look forward to it.”

He stretched and yawned.

“I'm getting the hell out of here, see ya!”

Adachi grabbed Ichiban's arm when he saw him try to follow Tendo.

“Don't be silly,” he hissed. “Zhao is our priority right now!”

“You might be beneath Tendo,” Ishioda started, getting up from his seat. “But not for me!”

Ichiban looked around at the group. “You guys all warmed up?” he asked, pumping his fist in the air.

Adachi looked like he was about to pass out. Even Joon-gi Han looked exhausted. Nanba looked the freshest out of all of them.

“I'm ready,” Asuka said, pulling her gun out. Ichiban leapt back.

“Oi, where did you get that from?” he cried out.

“It's no big deal,” Han said nonchalantly, pulling a pistol out from his pocket. “I've got one too.”

“What a coincidence!” Ishioda cried out with glee. He pulled a gun out as well and pointed it at them.

“So do I”.

Everyone dove as he fired several warning shots.

“I didn't get the memo that this was now a gun fight!” Ichiban shouted, ducking under a table as another bullet flew past him.

“What the fuck am I supposed to do?”

Asuka scanned the room. She called out to him.

“Ichiban! Grab as many bottles of champagne as you can!”

He looked at her in confusion, but soon snapped into action, running around the room collecting as many bottles of alcohol as possible.

“Asa-chan, what do you want me to do with them?” he asked.

“Throw them in the air towards Ishioda!” she ordered.

Ichiban thought it was an odd order, but he did as he was told. As the first bottle soared through the air, Asuka took aim. She fired her gun with precision, breaking the bottle. Cold champagne rained down onto Ishioda, causing him to cry out in shock.

“Yeouch! C...Cold!!!!!” he yelped, starting to shiver.

“Keep them coming!” Han called out, his gun at the ready.

Saeko grabbed another bottle gleefully and threw it. Han watched it carefully and fired, shattering the bottle again over Ishioda. Soaked to the skin with what felt like sub-zero temperature alcohol, Ishioda was beyond pissed.

“Y....You little shits!” he roared, whipping his gun out again and firing around wildly. His stray bullets caught a few of the bottles of alcohol they had collected, spilling it all over the carpeted floor.

“Oh no! We don't have any bottles left!” Saeko cried out.

Nanba cleared his throat importantly as everyone turned to look at him.

“There's one bottle left,” he declared, holding it up.

“And that is more than enough for me.”

He stepped forward and stared down Ishioda. The Omi Lieutenant shot him an ugly sneer.

“You filthy turncoat,” he spat. “How dare you stand before me!”

Nanba shot him a dirty look and pulled out a lighter.

“Hey Ishioda,” he taunted, popping the lid off the bottle of wine in his other hand.

“Didn't you say you were cold? How about some heat to warm you up?!”

Nanba took a gulp of wine and spat it on the flame, creating a huge makeshift flamethrower that shot towards Ishioda. He gave a panicked shriek and tried to move out of the way, but his alcohol-soaked clothes proved to be extra flammable. The corner of his pants caught fire and he screamed.

“Arrrggghhh put it out! Put it out!” he yelled, slapping at his pants leg frantically with his hands. Someone finally had the good sense to empty a half-melted ice bucket over his leg but Ishioda had already passed out from fear. The remaining Omi Alliance members hurriedly picked his limp body up and carted him off the premises as the group watched on in relief and bemusement. 

“Geez, you saved our asses again,” Ichiban said to Nanba. “That pyro thing you did was a pretty sick move!”

Nanba gave an embarrassed smile.

“You know, we could really use the extra help around here,” Saeko said, putting her arm around Nanba.

Nanba looked astounded.

“After all I've done,” he started. “You still consider me a friend?”

Ichiban smiled. “Of course,” he said, offering his hand to him.

“Nothing has changed. And nothing will ever change. You will always be our friend.”

Everyone nodded in agreement. Nanba looked like he was about to cry. He turned his face away.

“You...You guys are hopeless,” he muttered, trying to oh-so-subtly wipe his eyes.

Adachi gave a bellowing laugh.

“Are you lecturing us?” he asked, slapping Nanba on the back.

“S...Shut up!” Nanba snapped, his eyes glistening with tears.

“C'mon, just admit you like us already!” Asuka teased, punching his arm and flashing him a bright smile.

Ichiban reached out and grasped his hand in a tight handshake.

“So it's settled,” he said.

“From this day forward, let's make our friendship count, ok?”

Nanba nodded, tears streaming down his face as the others laughed.

Someone cleared their throat. They turned to look at Joon-gi Han, who was watching them with his arms folded.

“Sorry to interrupt this lovely moment,” he started.

“But aren't we forgetting about someone else?”

“Oh no....Zhao!!!” Ichiban cried out. "We gotta go save-"

“Looking for me?” a familiar voice rang out.

Zhao had entered the room still looking worse for wear. He was definitely lying about his lower body not being hurt, because he was leaning against the wall in order to hold himself up.

“Zhao!”

The group hurried over to him. Asuka thought he shot her a split second look of relief, which she also returned.

“Shit Zhao, are you ok?” Ichiban asked, wincing as they observed the extent of his injuries up close.

“Heh, I've never had my ass kicked so hard in my entire life,” he replied truthfully. “But it could have been worse if someone hadn't come to my rescue.”

He nodded directly at Asuka and flashed her smile so sweet it took everyone by surprise. 

“Asa-chan? You saved Zhao?” everyone exclaimed in shock. Asuka grinned sheepishly.

“Uh, yeah I got him out before I came in here,” she admitted. “Sorry I didn't mention it earlier, but I couldn't say that in front of the Omi!”

Everyone let out a collective groan.

“Kasuga-kun, don't blame Asa-chan,” Zhao said. “I most certainly would have had my handsome face rearranged if she didn't show up at the time she did.”

Asuka blushed as everyone shot her a look.

“Oh one more thing,” Zhao piped up again, diverting attention away from her again. “Kasuga-kun, there's someone I want to introduce you to. Asa-chan, you can come along too.”

Ichiban and Asuka followed Zhao down a flight of stairs after instructing the others to meet them outside. Asuka had a strong feeling she knew who they were going to be formally introduced to, but she kept her mouth shut.

“Who are we going to see?” Ichiban asked curiously.

“An old friend of yours,” Zhao replied. “He was the one who led Asa-chan to me.”

Ichiban turned to Asuka instead. “Who is that guy?”

She shrugged her shoulders in response.

When they got to the bottom of the stairs, the same mohawked man from before emerged from behind a pillar. Ichiban thought he looked vaguely familiar, like he had seen him somewhere before. That goatee, that wild-looking mohawk....

Suddenly his eyes widened and his jaw dropped as the penny dropped.

The mysterious man gave a slight nod, never changing the grim look on his face.

“It's been a while, Aniki,” he drawled.

“Mitsu?” Ichiban squeaked in disbelief.

“Mitsu, is that you?”

Mitsu nodded again as Ichiban sprang forward and they grasped their hands together in a tight handshake.

“Holy shit, I'm so glad to know you're ok!” Ichiban said in an emotional voice. “What have you been up to? I haven't seen you since I got put away in jail!”

“I'm Omi Alliance now, alongside Arakawa-san” Mitsu said, pointing at his badge. “If they found out I stepped out of line to save Zhao-san, they'll kill me. Fortunately I had a bit of help from this young lady here.”

“Hang on, how did you know I know Ichiban?” Asuka asked. Mitsu cracked a rare smile.

“We've been keeping tabs on the company Ichiban kept,” he answered. “When I saw you heading to Qing Jin on my own way there, I recognized you immediately and thought it would be worth asking for some back up.”

He suddenly looked rather amused.

“Judging by what happened back there between you two, I definitely picked the right person-”

“That's enough, Mitsu-san!” Asuka interjected, a pink flush spreading across her face. “You said you stepped out of line, does that mean you shouldn't be talking to us?”

Mitsu nodded.

“All I can say is, Arakawa-san will show his hand soon.”

Again with the cryptic answers.

“When that time comes, he will need as many allies as he can get.”

They exchanged serious looks. It was obvious that the finality of Mitsu's tone suggested that they would not get anything else out of him tonight.

“I have to go,” Mitsu said, heading towards the exit. “But I'll be in touch. Stay safe.”

Ichiban watched as his long-lost friend left the building. Mitsu had been his underling before he went to jail, and they were as close as brothers. He had been so worried about him after hearing that the Tojo clan had been usurped by the Omi Alliance. Seeing Mitsu again was like a dream come true and Ichiban could finally put one of his greatest fears to bed once and for all.

“We should go meet the others,” Asuka said as they started to move out as well. “Tonight wasn't too bad, all things considering.”

“Wasn't too bad?” Ichiban exploded. “We had to fight a fucking tiger!”

Asuka looked at him in confusion, hardly believing her ears.

“Ok, you have to tell me all about that later over some drinks at Survive Bar,” she said as they made their way out towards the streets of Restaurant Row.

Chapter Text

Zhao, Ichiban and Asuka met the others outside Qing Jin after Mitsu had left. Zhao took a moment to stand there and look at the majestic building that he once called his home. His eyes might have been hidden by his sunglasses but there was no hiding that painful and forlorn look from Asuka.

"Hey, are you ok?" she asked softly in a voice only he could hear. Zhao turned to her and gave her a quick pinch on the cheek.

"Yeah, I'll be ok," he replied equally as gently. "Thanks for asking."

"Oi!"

That split second of intimacy between them was interrupted by Ichiban who suddenly realized he was the only one still walking. He ran back towards them, gasping for breath.

"Why did you both stop?" he asked. "We should get out of here quickly!"

"Just taking some time to admire what's left of my home", Zhao said, his voice wavering slightly. There was an unmistakable undercurrent of sorrow behind his words and Asuka couldn't help but feel like he was holding back tears.

“Yeah that's rough," Ichiban conceded, patting Zhao on the shoulder. "What's going to happen now?”

“Mabuchi's left a mess behind,” Zhao said. “We won't be able to hold out on the Omi Alliance for much longer. I really should help sort it out but it's a bit difficult when I look like this.”

He gestured to himself. The bruises on his face had started to darken and he was starting to develop deep purple splotches on his cheeks. His lip was also noticeably more swollen than before. 

“Yeah, you look like shit,” Ichiban agreed.

“Asa-chan already told me that, so thanks I really needed to hear that again,” Zhao quipped as Ichiban laughed sheepishly.

“Maybe now is a good time to step down,” he said casually with the air of talking about the weather.

“Step down?” Asuka cried out. “But isn't this your home? Aren't they your family?”

Zhao smiled wistfully.

“It used to be a position that was passed down from generation to generation, but perhaps it's time for a change. The way I see it, as long as the person in charge is able to look after the people, it really doesn't matter who's in charge.”

He shrugged his shoulders.

“I honestly never wanted this. I inherited it from my father, and I didn't want to disappoint him. ”

"But..." Asuka started. "Who's going to protect the Liumang now?"

At that moment Zhao wanted to put his arms around her and hug her tightly. The duty to protect the people had been ingrained in him the moment he was born. He tried to reject it, didn't want it. He was eventually fueled by his desire to protect his beloved Asuka, his Xiao Hua. But now that she was alive and well, and by his side, he felt his sense of duty waning. 

He can't do it anymore. After a lifetime of living for others, he's ready to live for himself.

"There's someone else who can do a much better job of protecting the people than I can." 

Asuka and Ichiban looked at him incredulously.

"Who would that be?" Ichiban asked.

Zhao gave a knowing smirk.

“There's only one person. Seong-hui-san.”

"Seong-hui?" Asuka and Ichiban echoed in shock. That was not on their bingo cards tonight. Along with Zhao stepping down. Along with fighting a tiger (on Ichiban's card anyway).

“You'll give the Liumang to the Geomijul?”

Zhao laughed at their dramatic reactions.

“The Liumang and the Geomijul have never mixed in the past, but now we have a common goal. We both need to co-exist in solidarity in order to ensure the city isn't lost to the Omi", he explained."The Geomijul need a place to live, and the Liumang need someone to lead them. This is the perfect compromise.”

It was starting to make sense. This was a calculated move on Zhao's part, a very well thought out one too.

“Wow, Zhao that's a really great way to help the Geomijul!” Ichiban said. "I thought you were a crazy nutjob when I first met you, but you're actually a really nice guy!"

Zhao let out an odd squeak and Ichiban thought he looked a bit embarrassed.

“Do you need to spell everything out like that?” he asked, walking away and trying to maintain his cool facade. “Let me have my unspoken hero moment, won't you?”

“Wait! Zhao!”

He turned around and saw Asuka looking at him.

“Where are you going?” she asked, sounding anxious.

“I have a few things I need to sort out in regards to the handover,” he assured her in a gentle voice that made Ichiban raise his eyebrows.

“We'll see each other again soon, I promise.”

Asuka and Ichiban watched as he gave a casual wave and disappeared into the depths of Restaurant Row again.

Ichiban turned to look at Asuka, who was still staring at the alley that Zhao just walked through. There was an unmistakable look of disappointment in her eyes, which he was only too happy to pounce on.

“Asa-chaaaaan,” Ichiban sang, making her jump. “Going to miss our friend Zhao, are you?”

“I...I don't know what you're talking about!” she replied quickly as she started to walk again. Hopefully the dim lighting would be enough to hide her blushing face. Ichiban soon caught up with her.

“Seriously, what's going on between both of you?" Ichiban continued to prod.

"Does Detective S-”

“Stop!”

Ichiban froze as her outburst hit him. Even Asuka was taken aback at how loud her voice was. She didn't know why, but suddenly thinking about Soma now felt extremely uncomfortable and her insides felt heavy with guilt. 

“Sorry,” she muttered, shaking her head. “It's just....I don't know what he is to me anymore.”

There it was, the first sign of an admission of some kind of relationship with that silver-haired detective. Asuka had always avoided talking about him, leading Ichiban to assume something was going on between them. Ironically, it was the addition of a love threat in the form of Zhao that enabled Asuka to finally reveal a bit more about Soma.

Ichiban patted her shoulder reassuringly.

“It's ok,” he replied with a smile. “Have you spoken to your other team recently?”

She nodded.

“I check in with them often,” she replied. “So-, I mean, Detective S is aware of everything I'm doing.”

“Asa-chan, I can see that Zhao really likes you,” Ichiban said. “Now that he's stepped down from the Liumang, would you consider him?”

“Huh? What?” Asuka was taken aback at Ichiban's sudden suggestion.

“I know it's awkward if you're dating a gang leader, but now that he isn't one doesn't that make it ok?”

“Ichiban, do you really have to spell it out like that?” Asuka groaned, “And don't you have somewhere else to be?”

“Oh, shit actually I do!” Ichiban exclaimed. “I need to go see Hoshino-san at the Seiryu headquarters! Can you tell the others? I gotta go!”

Despite her protests, Ichiban sped off. Asuka watched as he got into a taxi and drove off in a flash.

Her head still reeling from the sudden departure of both her companions, Asuka continued on her way out of the gloomy area of Restaurant Row onto the main strip of Isezaki Street where she saw Adachi, Nanba, Saeko and Joon-gi Han waiting in front of a Poppo.

The others stared when she showed up alone.

“Where's Zhao and Ichiban?” Nanba asked, looking behind Asuka as if he expected the others to just pop up behind a neon sign or a sewer cover.

“Zhao has a few loose ends to tie up. Liumang handover management stuff,” Asuka advised. “And Ichiban has gone to see Chairman Hoshino.”

“In that case, should we all call it a night?” Adachi asked, stretching and yawning. “I'm too old to be staying up all night!”

Saeko nodded in agreement as she tried to stifle a yawn,

"Yeah I need my beauty sleep," she complained. "See you tomorrow Asa-chan. Let's meet at Survive Bar at midday?"

Asuka was mentally already snuggling in the comfortable bed in her apartment when she suddenly heard an unexpected voice call out.

“Excuse me!”

Asuka turned around to see Joon-gi Han approaching her.

Damn, she had forgotten that he was part of the team now. What does that silver-haired sicko want now? 

“Do you have time now?” he asked. “I would like to buy you a drink.”

Bar Rodriguez

Asuka would have preferred to be home and in bed, but she somehow found herself and Joon-gi Han perched on bar stools in a small cosy bar just around the corner from their usual haunt. A yakitori platter and a small plate of fried shrimp sat between them as they picked their drinks off the menu.

“I'll have a Suntory Old Whisky please,” Han piped up.

“Whisky and coke for me,” Asuka said. “And throw some lemon in it as well.”

The bar owner, a middle aged woman in a smart-looking kimono whipped up the drinks in a flash and laid them on the counter. Joon-gi Han picked up his glass and raised it. Asuka picked hers up too and both glasses touched with a soft, musical clink.

“First of all, allow me to apologize for everything,” he said.

“I hope we can start off on a clean slate, Detective Hayashi.”

Asuka nearly dropped her glass.

“How do you know-”

“Have you forgotten? The Geomijul has access to every camera in town,” Han replied casually with a slight smile.

“You might have been taught to dodge and hide from cameras, but surely you know you can't hide from every one of them.”

Of course, the far reaching might (and eyes) of the Geomijul. Not even the best training from Public Safety could protect all of them from their network. 

A scary thought.

“So when you caught me at Geomijul HQ, you already knew?”

“I had an inkling,” he replied, swirling the contents of his glass. “After I took out your partner, I needed to hear it from you”.

Asuka slammed her glass on the bench, making the owner and several patrons jump. 

“You...You took out Soma?!” she stammered in disbelief.

Han nodded nonchalantly.

“Yes I did. Sorry but I couldn't risk the police getting involved.”

Ha, so Soma's finally met his match. Asuka couldn't help but chuckle with glee at that thought.

“Actually, I'm....impressed,” she said. “The guy has superhuman senses and can dodge moves better than a housefly.”

Han snorted.

“Weird comparison, but thank you, I think,” he replied, sounding rather amused.

“So if you already knew who I was, why didn't you expose me straight away?” Asuka asked carefully.

“We thought about it", Han admitted. "But after a while I realized that you were....different.”

“We sniff out people with sinister motives all the time, just like how we sniffed out Nanba. You have a strong sense of justice, but you are also what we call 'malleable'.”

“Are you calling me corruptible?” Asuka burst out, causing a few bar patrons to turn around in alarm again.

“I wouldn't use that word,” Han said delicately. “In a world of black and white, you were someone who was capable of seeing the gray.”

“Well, that was several words,” Asuka said, taking a sip of her drink. “But I get it, you think I would hear you out instead of just rounding you all up blindly?”

“That's it,” Han said with a satisfied nod. “Besides, anyone that Zhao Tianyou would be willing to stick his neck out for can't be that bad.”

Asuka felt her stomach lurch again at the sound of his name.

“Yeah about that guy...what's his deal anyway?”

Han stared at Asuka blankly.

“What do you mean?” he asked.

“Why did he save me?” Asuka pressed on exasperatedly.

Han shrugged his shoulders.

“I was hoping you could tell me,” he said. “Seong-hui deals with him more than I do, but I know he's not the type to take advantage of women. That's why I told him to fuck you, because I knew he wouldn't.”

“Is that your idea of a joke? You're a sicko you know that?” she remarked as Han bowed his head apologetically. “And what was the deal with the sex serum? I'm not sure if I'm ready to forgive you about that yet.”

“That....was an accident,” Han admitted. “It was supposed to be a standard regulation neurotoxin, a mild one, like I said. But one of the goons stuffed up.”

“Was it his first day?” Asuka asked sarcastically. “And why do you have that stuff at Geomijul HQ anyway?”

“Actually, it was his first day,” Han replied animatedly. “As for why we have that stuff at HQ, that's classified.”

Asuka rolled her eyes.

“Whatever. Look I don't know why Zhao came for me that night, but there was definitely nothing between us that night.”

Han raised his eyebrows.

“Ha, but after what happened at Qing Jin tonight, I can't help but feel like things might have changed a little?” he asked with a sly smile.

“N..No,” Asuka replied quickly, suddenly deciding that now was a good time to empty the contents of her glass down her throat. She coughed violently as a lemon pip got stuck in her throat as Han patted her back sympathetically.

“I see,” Han continued. “I guess you're Detective Soma's woman instead?”

Asuka's coughing fit somehow intensified. The woman behind the counter offered her a glass of water, which she drank gratefully.

“Geez, you sure know how to pick them,” Han quipped. “You do know you have to pick one eventually, don't you?”

Asuka picked up a chicken skewer and shoved it into his mouth.

“Enough about me,” she quipped. “Don't make me ask how you feel about Seong-hui!”

Han swallowed the chicken and washed it down with a sip of water, his cheeks looking slightly pinker than before after her thinly-veiled threat.

“Fine, I won't ask anymore,” he conceded. “And I promise I won't breathe a word to the others about your identity too.”

“That goes without saying,” Asuka said as she popped a piece of fried shrimp in her mouth. She jumped as she was hit unexpectedly with a juicy explosion; she wasn't expecting there to be cheese in the middle.

Joon-gi Han sighed as he emptied yet another drink down his throat. He immediately signaled for another refill, which the owner happily obliged.

“Don't worry", he assured Asuka, the ice in his glass clinking noisily as he swirled his drink. "Let's just say I know a thing or two about having a separate identity.”

Asuka froze as she turned to look at Joon-gi Han expectantly, holding a mouthful of fried shrimp halfway towards her mouth.

What an odd thing to say, she thought. Before she could ask further questions, he spoke first.

“Joon-gi Han isn't my real name.”

The piece of shrimp fell off the end of her chopsticks and splashed into the mayonnaise dip with a squelch.

"Y..You're undercover too?" she stuttered in disbelief. He snorted and shook his head.

“My birth name is Yeonsu Kim. Joon-gi Han is the name of the ex-leader of the Korean Jingweon Mafia. I was his body double.”

“Body....double?”

“A doppelganger, a decoy...whatever you choose to call it,” Han said. “Basically, if the real Joon-gi Han was ever targeted by our enemies, I was to be killed in his place. That was my role.”

Asuka made a face.

“What were the odds of them finding someone who looked exactly like the leader?” she asked curiously, studying his face closely.

Han gave a dry laugh.

“Nothing extensive plastic surgery couldn't achieve”, he said darkly.

“I miss my old face sometimes, I thought I was pretty handsome before already. And before you ask for photos, there aren't any. They were destroyed the moment I was taken in as the body double.”

The alcohol must have kicked in, because Asuka suddenly felt a little lighter and found herself a lot braver than before. She reached out and poked Joon-gi Han on the cheek, making him jump. 

"Damn, they did a good job, those surgeons," she observed, her speech slurring slightly. “So where is the real Joon-gi Han now?” 

“He was killed three years ago. Shot in the head.”

Asuka gasped as Han shook his head regretfully.

“It should have been me. That was my role. He treated me like an equal, like a brother. I...I should have protected him-”

“It's not your fault!”

Han looked at Asuka, who was looking at him with a defiant expression on her flushed face.

“If he cared for you like the way you said, he would have wanted you to live your life openly and honestly", she insisted, slamming her fist on the table noisily to make her point. "

He would understand if you wanted to revert back to your previous identity.”

Han sighed as he stopped her from making more noise with her hands; he wasn't counting on her being such a rowdy drunk although her ability to provide comforting advice seemed to have been amplified.

“Yeonsu Kim died the moment my own father drugged me so the plastic surgery could be done to my face,” he said. “Even though I was his servant and him my Master, Joon-gi Han treated me like an equal. It only seems fitting that I continue to honour the Joon-gi Han name.”

Asuka suddenly found herself pondering her own situation with her identity. It was a bit difficult to gather her thoughts when she's had a bit to drink, but at least she could become Asuka Hayashi again. She wasn't sure when, but at least she knew she could. Asa Soma was just a name, a mask she wore to protect her safety. All she needed to do was tell everyone to call her 'Asuka' from now on and that would have been the end of it, right?

Right?

“So I guess we're even?” Han asked, raising his glass again as she snapped back to Earth.

Asuka picked up her glass which the bar madam had somehow very kindly refilled.

“We're even,” she confirmed, exchanging an understanding smile with Joon-gi Han as they emptied their respective glasses.

*

Seiryu Clan Headquarters

Ichiban burst into the lobby of the Seiryu clan office to find Captain Takabe in the waiting room. He looked up as Ichiban walked into the room, still immaculately dressed in his navy pinstriped suit and his greying hair slicked back stylishly. The captain cracked a small smile; his face was still slightly bruised from the beating he received at their hands but there appeared to be no hard feelings.

“Takabe-san!” Ichiban exclaimed, surprised to see him there. “You got new glasses!"

Takabe gave a small snort of laughter, wincing with the effort. Ichiban had smashed his glasses during their last fight, alongside what he suspected was his nose. It seemed like he had just gotten away with a swollen nose bridge and not a deviated septum though.  

"Zhao didn't give you a hard time after we left, did he?”

Takabe waved his hand, his lit cigar spreading a thick curtain of pungent smoke that swirled around them.

“Nope, quite the contrary,” he replied. “Five star treatment and a box of these.” He brandished the cigar.

“The chairman is inside", he gestured towards a set of doors at the end of the lobby. "Feel free to go see him. He's probably expecting you.”

Ichiban thanked Takabe, heading towards the other side of the room and knocking on the heavy oak doors.

“You may enter”.

The doors swung open with a low creak. Chairman Hoshino looked up from his desk, his eyes lighting up ever-so-slightly.

“How nice to see you, Ichiban,” he greeted him, gesturing towards the chair.

“Thank you, by the way. I wouldn't be here if not for you.”

“What do you mean?” Ichiban asked curiously. “Did you have an internal coup too?”

Hoshino nodded.

“Takabe did a good job getting it under control, but we still lost about 30% of our members to the Omi Alliance. The ones who stayed with us aren't exactly happy either after knowing that us three leaders had been pretending to be at odds this entire time.”

"I see, so your popularity and trust levels aren't exactly high right now," Ichiban observed. "But now that Ogikubo's shut the counterfeiting operation down, what's going to happen?"

Hoshino gave a deep sigh.

“I'm a realist. The way I see it, the Seiryu will probably eventually secede to the Omi Alliance eventually.”

"No way!" Ichiban exclaimed. "And there's nothing we can do to stop it?'

“Ogikubo's reputation is already going down the drain", Hoshino reminded him. "Rumours spread by the Governor no doubt. Now that he's got dirt on Ogikubo forging money, he will be able to use that as ransom to take over Ogikubo's place as the Party Chair.”

“Why would Ogikubo be that scared of the Governor?” Ichiban asked.

“If word gets out about how he's been forging money for decades, it will absolutely destroy the party and his reputation. That's a huge deal for Ogikubo.”

Ichiban was a simple man and political talk and hierarchy were way too advanced for his uneducated brain.  

“Hang on, I don't get it. What's the big deal about being the party chair anyway?”

“The chair manages and wins his party's elections", Hoshino explained. "That means he can nominate the candidate of his choice and he can do whatever he wants with the ruling party, and the entire country.”

“I think his next move is to push for Parliament to be dissolved.”

Ichiban scratched his fuzzy mane of hair. That all sounded quite serious and important, but one thing was for sure: Ryo Aoki is about to get even more powerful that he already is.

The chairman got up from his chair and started pacing the room. He was a slight man whose movement was restricted by his traditional hakama and his age. 

“Destroying the Great Wall but mobilizing the Omi and manipulating Mabuchi", Hoshino said in a low voice. "That's a lot of power you've got there, Masato Arakawa.”

Ichiban's eyes widened when he heard that name.

"Chairman, you know about his other name too?"

A small smile cracked his stern facade.

“It was a coincidence that you got pulled into all this, don't you think? What were the odds that you worked for Nonomiya, the soapland owner who died?”

“Yeah I know,” Ichiban agreed. “It just sounds so crazy. I don't even get lucky when I play mahjong!”

Hoshino looked at him grimly, ignoring his badly timed joke.

“What if I told you I don't think it was coincidental that you ended up in Ijincho?”

Ichiban did a double take.

“What do you mean?”

“Do you still have that fake bill?” Hoshino asked. Ichiban nodded and pulled it out of his pocket, crumpled and bloodstained.

“I promised to tell you more if you helped us, so I'll uphold my end of the bargain. I can now tell you now that only one person in the world could have had that bill.”

There was a pregnant pause.

“Masumi Arakawa.”

Whelp, there goes another thing that wasn't on his bingo card for the night.

“Arakawa-san?" Ichiban said in surprise. "Wait, that doesn't make sense! He's the one who shot me!”

“Yes, but what if he did that to ensure that you ended up here in Ijincho?”

Ichiban shook his head rapidly, feeling his brains rattle in his skull; none of this made any sense anymore!

“This fake bill was his way of telling me that if you appeared before me, you were a man of Masumi Arakawa.”

“Wait wait....what are you talking about?”

“I have a feeling that Arakawa-san's goals do not align with his son's,” Hoshino replied simply.

Ichiban was suddenly reminded of Mitsu's cryptic message before he left:

All I can say is, Arakawa-san will show his hand soon. “When that time comes, he will need as many allies as he can get.”

Was that what he meant? Is Arakawa-san planning something?

“Chairman”, Ichiban started. “How do you know Arakawa-san?”

Hoshino smiled.

“That's....a long story,” he said. “I'll tell you another day in a more appropriate place.”

“More appropriate?” Ichiban interjected. “What's wrong with here? I have no problem-”

“Heian Tower,” Hoshino interrupted. “Do you like Peking Duck?”

Ichiban's ears perked up at the sound of that elusive dish.

“Yes! I love Peking Duck!”

Hoshino smiled.

“Very good. In that case, let's meet there tomorrow for lunch. I will make the necessary reservations and I will tell you everything then."

"My treat.”

Chapter Text

Asuka’s witness account was sent to the Police Commissioner’s office immediately after it was completed. The entire team was praying that what they had produced together was enough to placate the Commissioner and in extension, the Governor. Namba and both Captains were heading towards the boardroom one morning when they bumped into the man himself. Even though he was approaching his seventies, Juro Horinouchi still cut an imposing figure as he cut through the corridors of the Public Safety building. 

“Commissioner”, Namba greeted him with a deep bow as the Captains followed suit.

“Namba-san, Captains,” the Commissioner greeted them. “I haven’t seen you since your father’s funeral. I hope your family is well.”

Namba-senior had worked with Juro Horinouchi briefly before his retirement and the latter was present to pay his last respects a few years ago. The older men had a cordial relationship during their days working together, and Horinouchi knew his son Jin was an up-and-comer in Public Safety too. Word was he had inherited his old man’s unwavering commitment to justice, and he was also really ridiculously good-looking.

Another one of those that would be impossible to corrupt.

“I watched the video you sent me”.

Namba seized up. Kaga and Ishigami side-eyed each other as they tried their best to stay emotionless. 

He looked at the Commissioner and forced a cheerful smile.

The moment of truth.

“Was it to your satisfaction?” he asked as calmly as he could.

Horinouchi frowned, a look of utmost displeasure on his face. 

“That witness account was not helpful to my cause at all,” he declared with contempt.

It was Namba’s turn to frown. He turned to face the Commissioner, his eyes flashing dangerously.

“Oh? What do you mean?” Namba asked. 

“Detective Hayashi was at the scene and described what she saw that day. In what way was her eyewitness account unhelpful to your cause?”

The last three words might as well be poison-tipped darts that had been flung across the room. Both Ishigami and Kaga had to bite their tongues. Seeing Chief Namba in full flight was always something to behold and they always relished the opportunity to see him do what he did best.

The Commissioner paused, cursing internally as he realized that he had worded things a little bit too honestly. 

An unfortunate moment for a Freudian slip.

Jin Namba. He might not have done active investigation work in years, but he was still razor sharp and could still back people against a wall in a split second. 

And Horinouchi thought his old man was scary; his son had far surpassed that.

What a formidable foe.

Horinouchi drew himself up and took a deep breath, trying to regain his haughty, unflustered aura. 

“You really need to reconsider your team, Namba,” he said, turning his back and walking away.

“Detective Hayashi is a disgrace to the Public Safety division.”

The trio seethed, balling up their fists as they watched the Commissioner's back disappear at the end of the corridor.

“Wow, he’s lucky he didn’t say that in front of Soma,” Namba quipped. “I don’t think even I could get him out of assaulting the Police Commissioner.”

“It will be hard convicting him without any eye-witnesses though,” Kaga drawled lazily, a sly glint in his eyes. 

Ishigami shrugged.

“I think he will just need a good lawyer,” he said. “Pity Yagami stopped practising. He must really enjoy being a private detective.”

Namba chuckled. 

“No need to worry”, he assured them. 

“I'm sure our friends at the Genda Law firm could spare someone if required.”

*

Ichiban found himself at Heian Tower again, this time without the company of his team. This was all starting to feel like deja vu. 

The server led him to the same private room they were at last time. There was only Chairman Hoshino this time and he cut a lone figure at the table. Despite it being the middle of the day, he had already ordered a large bottle of Chinese alcohol.

“Hey Chairman,” Ichiban asked, taking a seat in front of him. “Are you sure about treating me? This place looks pretty fancy.”

“Why, are you offering to pay instead?” Hoshino replied, offering a drink to him.

Ichiban laughed sheepishly as he took a sip of the alcohol. He coughed as the liquid burnt his throat on the way down. The label on the side of the bottle stared up at him: thirty eight percent alcohol.

Well, he deserved that for not reading before he drank.

“Well, I would but I don't think they take misprinted bills,” he said, producing the note from his pocket. “Not when there's blood on them.”

A soft snort escaped from Hoshino. 

“Don't worry, it's my treat”, he assured him. “Anything you'll like to order?”

“Well, I do want to try Peking Duck,” Ichiban admitted. “Ever since Arakawa-san brought it up all those years ago I've been dying to try it!”

“Arakawa….Peking Duck…” Hoshino muttered to himself. A wry smile spread across his face. 

“Talk about full circle.”

Ichiban looked confused. 

“How do you know Arakawa-san?” he asked. “I’ve been meaning to ask you that.” 

Hoshino sighed. The crystal-clear alcohol glistened as he sat the glass down.

“I’m sure you know by now how the counterfeiting operation worked”, he started. Ichiban nodded. 

“Once the bills were ready, they had to be smuggled out. Outsiders were hired to do that job.”

“Outsiders? Like who?” Ichiban asked curiously. 

“Normal everyday individuals. People who didn’t have any links to the Underworld. One of them was a theatre actor named Toshio Arakawa. He was Masumi Arakawa’s father.”

“One day, Toshio came to us and reported that he had lost a suitcase of a hundred million fake Yen. As you would expect, that was as good as a death sentence for him. The Seiryu Clan had to make an example of him.”

A shiver ran down his spine; Ichiban knew exactly what that meant. 

“Unfortunately, only the Ijin Three top brass knew about this counterfeiting operation. And since I was next in line for the Seiryu….”

His voice trailed off. 

“W…Wait a minute, does that mean-”

“Yes”, Hoshino interrupted in an even tone.

“I was the one who killed Toshio Arakawa.”

Ichiban felt like someone had poured a boiling kettle of water over his shaggy head.

“It happened here in Heian Tower”, he continued, gesturing around them. 

“Right in this room, right where I’m sitting now.”

The boiling kettle of water that was just dumped over Ichiban was replaced by an ice bucket. 

“Toshio was here for a meal. Peking Duck, if I recall correctly. I did not account for his son being present too, but I had to act regardless.”

Ichiban's hands gripped the edge of the table.

“D…Did Arakawa-san…”

Hoshino nodded.

“I was disguised as a waiter. I wheeled the trolley into the room and took a gun out. Shot him in the head. His father died in front of him.”

Ichiban felt a sudden tightness in his chest. He had never asked how his patriarch got involved in the Yakuza. Arakawa-san had always just been…there. Right at the top of the Arakawa Family, a constant in Ichiban's life. It seemed strange to imagine that Masumi Arakawa was at one point just an innocent young boy, untainted by crime and corruption. 

“What happened to the fake bills?” Ichiban enquired. “Did you find out what happened?”

“Toshio Arakawa’s wife and lover stole them from him. Those two fell into the ocean and were never found.”

Yes. ‘Fell into the ocean’. That was the polite way to put it.

“Masumi Arakawa found himself orphaned and wandering the streets after losing his parents and the performing troupe. It was only natural that he eventually joined the Yakuza in Kamurocho.”

“He joined the Hikawa family, a low-ranking family that was part of the Tojo Clan. They might be small, but they were ruthless. They took on hits without thinking, which resulted in a high body count. That also meant that they needed…..a dedicated outlet for body disposal.”

“Masumi Arakawa was tasked with finding this outlet and his search brought him to Yokohama. To a homeless camp in Ijincho.”

Wait a minute, homeless camp? Why did this sound so familiar? Could it be…

“Why would Arakawa-san come all the way to Yokohama?” Ichiban wondered aloud.

“Masumi Arakawa never gave up hope on finding his father’s killer,” Hoshino answered. “This gave him an excuse to come to Yokohama frequently.”

“Did he eventually figure out it was you?” Ichiban asked nervously, as the edges of Hoshino's mouth twitched. 

“Seven years after the murder, he invited me here. He didn’t bother hiding his name, so I immediately knew that he knew.”

Before Ichiban could ask if he went, Hoshino answered for him. 

“I came alone. I never got over what I had done and I was prepared to die.”

“But why?” Ichiban asked, looking and sounding completely stumped.

“There are many ways to die in this business,” Hoshino replied. “If I could die as a result of a kid getting justice for his father, I figured it’s not a bad way to go.”

“I told him everything as he sat where you sat. How his father died by my hand, even about the counterfeiting in Ijincho. I figured I had nothing to lose at that point, might as well come clean.”

“He did point a gun at me that night, but he didn’t shoot. I asked him why.”

Hoshino paused. 

“He said ‘it would have been easier to shoot you in the back if you didn’t accept my invitation.’”

“Huh? I don’t get it,” Ichiban admitted, scratching his head. 

“It was his way of thanking me for telling him the truth about everything. He now also had knowledge about the counterfeiting operation, which was very powerful information.”

“In the mid-1980's, Masumi Arakawa formed the Arakawa family. At around the same time, the design of the 10,000 yen bill changed. As a gesture of goodwill, I sent him a little present: A fresh batch of fake bills with the new design. But not just any batch, a defective one with the backs left blank.”

Their eyes fell on the bloodied bill sitting on the table. Ichiban picked it up and inspected it; this must be part of that batch.

“You’re probably wondering why I did that,” Hoshino guessed. “Perhaps it was a combination of debt and gratitude. Not only did he spare my life, he relieved me of the guilt I had carried around with me over the years. That in turn allowed the Ijin Three to continue the counterfeiting scheme and for the balance to remain undisturbed.”

“The defective bills were proof of Ijincho’s biggest weakness. By gifting them to Arakawa, I was once again putting a gun in his hand. Should he regret letting me live all those years ago, this was another opportunity for him to pull the trigger again.”

So this bill had the power to completely change the fate of Hoshino and the rest of the Ijin Three? To think Ichiban had been carrying that piece of paper in his pocket like a bloodied handkerchief for the last month!

“Ichiban, do you understand the significance of this bill?” Hoshino asked.

“I, uh, ah”, Ichiban stuttered. He shook his head. 

Hoshino cracked a rare smile. 

“It's pretty simple, actually. Not only does that mark you as a man of his, Masumi Arakawa considers you family”, he said kindly. 

A wonderful, lukewarm feeling spread across his body. He couldn't explain what it was, but it felt really cozy and really nice. 

Like he was sinking into an onsen that was the perfect temperature.

“Arakawa-san's...family?” Ichiban wondered aloud. 

“This bill is of utmost importance to him,” Hoshino reminded him. “Do you understand the importance of him entrusting it to you?”

“He wasn’t looking to kill you back in Kamurocho. He shot you so you’ll live and find your way to me. With this defective bill.”

So that was what it was all about. Ichiban would not have figured all this out on his own. 

Arakawa-san....how could he have foreseen this?

“Thank you, Chairman Hoshino”, he choked in an emotional voice. 

“Thank you for telling me the truth. And thank you for restoring my faith in Arakawa-san!”

Hoshino looked at Ichiban with a curious expression on his face. It was kind, understanding, almost fatherly.

“Ichiban, are you and Arakawa related by blood?”

“Oh, no way,” Ichiban laughed. “It’s not like that. I don’t have the honour, I’m afraid.”

“I see”, Hoshino replied. “He’s very lucky to have someone as loyal as you by his side.”

“Hoshino-san”, Ichiban started. “Do you have family? A wife? Children?”

A look of weariness crossed his face, a lifetime of pain and sacrifice etched across every wrinkle.

“I had a wife, but she died many years ago. We never had any children”, he mused. “I…. miss her a lot.”

The look of sadness was more pronounced now. Ichiban felt really bad for bringing this up. 

“Sorry”, he apologized, scratching his head awkwardly again. Hoshino shook his head with a smile. 

“Enough talking, let’s eat, shall we?” he said, gesturing to the waiter.

“We are ready now. Please serve the duck.”

Ichiban immediately perked up: he was born ready for this moment. Finally, he will be able to taste the fabled-

“Hoshino-san, I’m so sorry but the last duck for lunch service has just been sold!” the server said apologetically.

“ARE YOU FOR REAL RIGHT NOW?!”

*

You Tian

The door chime jingled as Seong-hui entered the dingy looking restaurant. A handwritten menu fluttered off the bare concrete wall and landed at her feet. She had been extremely relieved after hearing from Zhao, but she had not counted on him requesting to meet up so soon.

“Yo, Seong-hui-san!”

Zhao was standing at the counter and he gave her a small salute and a signature smirk.  

“No food today?” Seong-hui asked, sounding genuinely disappointed as she looked around. 

“Gimme a break,” Zhao replied, turning to face her properly so she could see the bruises on his face. “I can barely walk, much less handle a wok”.

“Booo”, she replied. “I was looking forward to supper. Can I put an order in for fried rice?”

“I just got the shit kicked out of me”, he reminded her as the kettle started boiling. “I'll brew you some tea. Top grade Da Hong Pao from my personal stash. Don't say I don't look after you.”

“I'm kidding”, Seong-hui said. “I know I'm not that special, but thank you”.

She shot him a knowing wink. Zhao busied himself with the teaware and didn't respond, but Seong-hui noticed his cheeks looking a bit rosy.

“Anyways, why did you call me here this late at night? Couldn't this wait until tomorrow?”

“Actually, no”, Zhao replied, replacing the lid on the small pot as the distinct aroma of the tea wafted towards her. 

“I need to ensure the handover is done as quickly and as smoothly as possible”.

“Handover?” Seong-hui asked sharply. “What handov-”

A look of realization dawned over her. Zhao held back a laugh as her eyes widened like dinner plates and she leant forward and grabbed his arm. 

“What the hell? How many brain cells did you lose from the ass-kicking?” Seong-hui asked. “This is the entire Yokohama Liumang you're talking about!”

“Yup”, Zhao replied curtly. “I'm not in a state to look after them anymore, and the Geomijul need a new home, so what's the problem?”

What's the problem ? Zhao was talking about this like he was giving away half a pork bun. How could he talk about his lifeblood so casually?

Unless….his lifeblood wasn't the Liumang to begin with.

“Are you doing this for yourself?” Seong-hui demanded. “Or for someone else?”

Zhao gave her a look as if to say ‘I don't know what you're talking about’. Seong-hui had no time for that shit.

“I heard about how you broke into the Geomijul building to save that woman”, she said, her voice raising dangerously. “You hurt a lot of my men that day.”

“Yeahhhh, sorry about that,” he said flippantly in a tone that suggested otherwise. “I wasn’t sure what Joon-gi Han would do-”

“Do you know who she is?” Seong-hui interjected. “Or should I say, who she really is?”

There it was, the exact same question he was asked back in the depths of Geomijul HQ. Ironically out of everyone who had been dragged into this mess, he was the only one who knew the real her.

“Yes”, Zhao replied.

Seong-hui wasn’t expecting such a simple answer. She thought he would try and justify his stance, why he did what he did. 

But Zhao didn’t seem to think his actions needed any justification. 

“So….you should know who she's working for,” Seong-hui continued cryptically.

“I do”, he nodded.

“And what about the person who's been watching out for her?”

Zhao paused. Now that he didn’t know. There would be other officers supporting her, no doubt about that, but the way Seong-hui was talking about this person heavily implied that there was something more between them. 

Seong-hui pulled her phone out.

“His name is Shusuke Soma”, she continued, showing him a photo. “A Lieutenant in the Public Safety Department and National Men’s Kendo Champion from five years ago. Also ex-Interpol.”

Zhao studied the photo of Soma; tall, broad-shouldered with silvery purple hair. Extremely handsome.

“Ah, the power and knowledge of the Geomijul knows no bounds,” Zhao replied in a bored, tepid tone. “That doesn't sound like a big deal, they're co-workers-”

“They also dated five years ago.”

And there it was. The big fat bombshell he didn’t need to know. It was only fair there was competition for the fair maiden’s heart. It just wasn’t fair that this Soma guy had a head start.    

“Ha, even you said it. Dated. Past tense,” Zhao said, trying his best not to sound like it was a massive cope. 

Seong-hui sighed.

“Zhao, I know it's none of my business, but I want to make sure you're not giving up everything you've worked for just for a woman whose heart will never belong to you.”

Damn, did Seong-hui have to be that brutal? Zhao had thick skin but even that hurt. He knew that being with Asuka was not a guarantee. She’s definitely starting to care about him a bit more, he could see it in her eyes. And it made him so, so happy. But there were still so many obstacles. Judging by everything he’s seen so far, she still hasn’t regained her memories of the past.

And then there was that ex boyfriend. How much of her heart did he still possess? 

There was also the problem of her using that alias; if he wanted to live authentically he would want her to do the same.

No more hiding, no more lies.

“You know, I never wanted any of this”.

Seong-hui turned her neck so hard she nearly got whiplash. 

“My father was the leader, so naturally I was next in line. Like some kind of old-fashioned Emperor and Crown Prince scenario.”

He pulled a face that suggested disgust. 

“I convinced myself to do it so I could protect everyone. It was the only way I could find any kind of joy from it”.

Zhao studied Seong-hui’s face. She usually kept a dignified facade but right now she looked equal parts confused and exasperated. He let out a low chuckle.

“You probably think I’m being ungrateful, don’t you?”

“No. Actually, I think what you’ve done so far has been very noble”, she replied diplomatically. “Not everyone can put the needs of others in front of their own”.

“What about you, Seong-hui-san?” Zhao asked. “How did a nice girl like you grow into the ruthless leader of the Geomijul?”

A coy smile spread across her face as Seong-hui took a sip of tea. He was right, this tea was good quality stuff.

“I wasn’t born into leadership. My mother joined the Geomijul out of desperation, as a means to stay alive. Unlike the Liumang, the position of the leader isn’t hereditary. That meant that anyone who could prove themselves could rise to the top.”

“I studied harder than anyone in the Geomijul. I was the best damn coder there too”, Seong-hui shared, slamming her fist onto the table to make her point. “But do you know how hard it was to convince the old school Jinweon mafia that a woman could lead an organization? I copped it hard for many years.”

“I can imagine,” Zhao replied, nodding gravely. Seong-hui gave a wistful sigh.

“I owe my success to two people”, she continued. “The first is Ogikubo-san. He vouched for me when the old guard rejected the outcome of the election. Said he would absolutely trust me with his life.”

“I was a nobody back then, the daughter of some poor Jingweon mafia remnant. For someone of Ogikubo-san’s status to show his trust and support was a huge statement to the rest of the Geomijul.”

So that was why Seong-hui had such a strong devotion towards him. She would not have been who she is today without his backing. 

“The second is Joon-gi Han.”

“Oh?” Zhao said, raising his eyebrows in interest. That should have come as no surprise, but Zhao was interested in how deep their relationship ran.

“Joon-gi Han was the deciding vote that cemented my leadership. Not only did he vote for me, he offered to be my right hand man, supporting me unconditionally every step of the way.”

“And he asked for nothing in return?” Zhao asked, sounding unconvinced. 

“All he asked was to be by my side for as long as he could”, she replied. “Sending him off to help Kasuga is the longest he's been away actually”.

“Getting a bit of separation anxiety?” Zhao teased. Seong-hui punched his arm, drawing a rare yelp from him. When he said he was bruised everywhere, he meant everywhere .

“You deserved that”, she retorted. “I think it's good for him to spread his wings. Experience something different, maybe figure out what he really wants to do with his life”.

“I can relate”, Zhao replied. “I think it's time I did something for myself as well”.

“And what would that be?” Seong-hui demanded. “Living happily ever after with the love of your life that you only met days ago?”

“That would be nice wouldn't it?” Zhao said cheerfully. 

“But honestly? I just want to be able to do whatever I want”.

It really was just that simple. Zhao had spent his entire life living up to everyone's expectations. He had nearly forgotten what freedom felt like. The closest he got to tasting that were those days in Nagano. 

With Xiao Hua.  

Once again, she was so close and yet so far. Why was she always just out of his reach? It’s high time he closed the gap.  

“You’ll look after everyone for me, won’t you? I’m counting on you, Seong-hui-san.”

Their eyes met. For the first time ever, she thought Zhao looked truly vulnerable. Seong-hui had known Zhao for many years and had always admired his ability to make difficult decisions in difficult times. Mabuchi’s betrayal and the men who followed him must have been a heartbreaking thing to see but she never expected him to walk away from it all. 

“You really need to give me more of a warning”, she lectured. “Entrusting your entire organization to me is something I really would have liked to be prepared for.”

Zhao laughed sheepishly, raising his ceramic cup. 

“Thank you”, he said, suddenly feeling lighter than he had ever felt in his entire life. 

He was finally free.

*

Survive Bar

“So after all that you still didn’t get to eat Peking Duck?”

Lunch with Hoshino was over and he had called everyone to regale his tales of the horror of missing out on that elusive dish yet again.

He nodded with a forlorn look on his face. Hoshino had still kept his end of the bargain and covered the bill, but the crux of the matter was he only got half of what he was there for.

“So did you find out how Chairman Hoshino knew Arakawa-san?” Asuka asked, thoroughly invested in his misfortune.

“That I found out,” Ichiban replied. He rejected the whisky the bartender poured him, shaking his head vigorously.

“Hoshino fed me some strong-ass shit back there,” he complained. “I’m still feeling it! Thirty eight percent alcohol is no joke!”

“You got anything similar in strength back there?” Nanba asked hopefully, eyeing the glass shelves behind the counter. 

“I have some ethanol in the cleaning cabinet somewhere,” the bartender deadpanned without missing a beat. 

Nanba politely rejected that offer. 

“You still got to eat though, right?” Adachi asked. 

“Yeah I did,” Ichiban said. “The shark fin soup was pretty legit. And they substituted the Peking Duck for a suckling pig, so it’s not like Hoshino cheaped out.”  

“Know what would go well with that? Chilli shrimp!”

They all turned at the sound of the familiar voice, although nobody did it quicker than Asuka.

Must have been the mention of ‘chilli shrimp’. 

Zhao Tianyou smiled; so that was what her love language was. He could accommodate that easily.

“Got room for one more?” he asked, sauntering up to the counter. He swiped the drink that Ichiban just rejected and drank all of it in one mouthful.

“Hey, you shouldn’t be drinking so much!” Asuka scolded. “You might have internal injuries! Did you go to a doctor to get checked up?”

“Ah thank you, I missed you too!” he replied, smirking as his left eyebrow raised cheekily. 

Asuka immediately stopped talking as the others sniggered. 

She felt her phone vibrate incessantly. Like that time the Chief summoned her back to the Safe House, her gut feeling immediately told her that it was important.

Noticing that the others had decided to mob their newest team member, she slinked away to a private corner where she could check her messages.

It was from Ishigami.

Ogikubo has retired due to illness.

Parliament to be dissolved, election coming.  

Asuka clutched her phone tightly, looking back at her team who were celebrating happily with no idea of the storm that was about to descend upon them.

Chapter Text

Asuka found herself in the safe house again. Also present were Goto, Kurosawa and Soma. The news of the upcoming election caused shockwaves throughout the political world and the Public Safety team had once again gathered at short notice. Shinonome, both Captains and the Chief joined remotely and were projected on the large screen. 

“So Ogikubo retired just like that?” Asuka asked. 

“And the Prime Minister announced that Ryo Aoki will be his replacement? Don’t you find this a little too coincidental?”

“We all know what’s going on,” Goto said grimly. “But Ogikubo’s dealings aren’t public knowledge and neither is Aoki’s true identity.”

“Last I heard, Ogikubo is in hospital because of poor health”, Soma said. 

“It’s no wonder”, Kurosawa quipped. “If I was in his position I would probably have a heart attack on the spot.”

“Erm, they’re not going to kill him, are they?” Asuka asked, looking genuinely worried. 

“No, even Aoki won’t have the guts to do that”, Ishigami deduced. “Besides, his sudden death after stepping down would be too suspicious.”

“What’s going to happen now?”

“Bleach Japan will send a candidate for Kanagawa District Two in the election,” the Chief revealed. “That’s Ogikubo’s district.”

“Damn, talk about trying to send a message,” Asuka replied.

“Are we needed in Yokohama to maintain order?” Shinonome asked. “This election could get messy.”

“Eventually”, Kaga said. “We’re only going to head out to areas where the candidates face the most danger of assassination.”

Asuka caught Kurosawa's gaze and they both exchanged concerned looks.

“Why do I have a strong feeling it would be Kanagawa District Two?” she said. 

The rest of the meeting concluded with no issues and Goto and Kurosawa headed off to their respective assignments, leaving only Asuka and Soma in the room. 

“Asuka!”

She turned and looked at Soma. 

“Great work with the interrogation the other day,” he said. “You did extremely well”.

“Thank you.”

This was the first time they've had contact since that day. She had also submitted her report earlier about what happened in Qing Jin. Ensuring that she kept her professionalism throughout, Asuka did not mention that she and Zhao had kissed.

“Great report about the coup d'etat too,” he praised. “Although it seemed like things did get a little out of hand, are you hurt?”

He reached out and touched her shoulders, giving her a once over. 

“I’m fine,” she assured him. “Zhao Tianyou pulled me out of the way before I got really hurt.”

Soma’s face visibly darkened at the sound of that name. 

“You and Zhao seem close,” he said. 

“I don’t know too much about him,” Asuka replied coyly. “He’s just joined the team so I guess there will be more time to get to know him intimately .”

Soma knew that her choice of words was deliberate. It was not in her nature to throw barbs at him, and those barbs hurt . He did not like this twisted version of Asuka at all. When he encouraged her to get closer to the enemy, he did not expect the honey trap to turn into a honeymoon. 

“So what you’re saying is that you are getting to know him on a personal level?” his voice rising dangerously.

“Yes,” Asuka replied. “If I wish to date someone, I don’t need to report this to my handler.”

She noticed his knuckles turning white as his hands balled up into fists. 

“Asuka, what do you mean by this?” Soma demanded. “Zhao Tianyou is a criminal-”

“He’s no longer part of the Yokohama Liumang”, she said defensively. “That makes him an ordinary civilian.”

“You are undercover!” Soma said in a low hiss as he grabbed her arm. “Do you not remember the rules? You are not-”

“Well, instructors weren’t allowed to date their students at the academy too, but that didn’t stop you, did it? Instructor Soma.”

There was a ringing silence. Asuka wasn’t one to win awards for diplomacy, but she was never one to go below the belt either. Soma, who was always one to diffuse arguments between them by using what was below his belt, suddenly felt powerless. It was as if his prized kendo stick had been snapped into half by the very person who custom made it for him. The cold look of anger on his face gave way to one that Asuka had never seen before. Shock, pain…she couldn’t bear to look at it.

She wrenched herself free from Soma’s grip and ran out of the safe house, slamming the door behind her harder than she wanted to.

As she took a taxi back to the apartment, she felt tears silently dripping down her face. Asuka had immediately regretted what she said and Soma’s disappointment and jealousy were clear to see. She kicked herself for being so petty; the look on his face haunted her and she couldn’t get it out of her mind.

Her phone pinged, making her jump. She checked the message anxiously and felt her heart sink.

It was from Zhao.

Hey, how are you? We’re all meeting at Survive Bar tonight at seven….see you there?

She replied confirming that she would be there, but that did not diminish the sinking feeling of guilt and disappointment that was still in the pit of her stomach.

*

Survive Bar

Asuka went to their usual haunt that evening still feeling flat and mentally exhausted. Her eyes were still red and she considered wearing sunglasses to hide them, but realized that it would probably invite more questions than less.

The usual suspects were already there chatting animatedly, but there was a noticeable addition. 

“Yo”, Zhao Tianyou greeted her cheerfully. “Told you I'll come back, didn't I?”

The bruises on his face had darkened and were the colour of ripe blueberries. He actually looked worse today than he did previously. Asuka wasn’t sure if she was happy or upset to see him.

“Glad to see you’re ok,” she replied, barely trying to disguise the exhaustion in her voice. “Did the handover with Seong-hui go well?”

“It was perfect,” he answered. “Although it does leave me in quite a predicament. I…can’t exactly go back to Qing Jin anymore.”

“Yup, and that’s why we’re here,” Joon-gi Han spoke up, popping up next to Zhao. “Nanba-san gave us permission to stay in the spare room upstairs.”

“It’s a bit small though,” Zhao whined. “Back at Qing Jin, I had a four poster bed and-”

“Geez, you know you don’t have to stay here right?” Adachi shot back, sounding annoyed.

“But it’s a good place to gather information,” Han reasoned. He turned and nodded to the bartender. “We're staying. Thank you for your hospitality”.

“Speaking of information, what happened to Bleach Japan?” Ichiban asked. “Did the police get involved?”

He deliberately avoided looking at Asuka when he asked that. Zhao scoffed.

“Kasuga-kun….haven’t you watched the news?” he asked. “Their popularity is through the roof!”

“What?” Ichiban cried out in disbelief. “But how?”

“The media everywhere can’t get enough of them. A non-profit organization achieving what the police couldn’t? That’s pretty impressive, no?”

“That’s not all,” Joon-gi Han continued.

“The Geomijul started a fire during the fight with Bleach Japan. A fire which killed the director, Hajime Ogasawara.”

“What?!” 

Shouts of disbelief echoed around the room. 

“But that’s not what happened!” Namba protested.

“It doesn’t matter”, Han replied. “That’s what’s been reported, so that’s what everyone thinks happened.”

Behold, the power of the media to twist the truth in any way they see fit. It was infuriating.

“Why though?” Saeko wondered aloud. “Surely the Omi didn’t-”

“Ogasawara ratted out his relationship with Aoki. There was no way he would have been allowed to live,” Zhao deduced.

Poor sucker, Ogasawara would have been safer with them than the Omi. Pity he found out the hard way.

“So Ogasawara is now the scapegoat for all the wrongdoings?” Nanba asked.

“Oh no, quite the contrary! He’s been labelled a hero!” Zhao answered.

“Director of Bleach Japan sacrificing his life to abolish the grey zones. Has a nice ring to it and makes Bleach Japan seem even more like a do-gooder organization than ever before.”

“Damn it,” Nanba swore, slamming his fist on the bar counter. “Our enemy has really thought of everything!”

“And the local police are in Mabuchi’s pocket so don’t even bother trying to get them involved,” Adachi said bitterly. 

“At this rate everyone is going to be run out of Ijincho,” Han advised. “I’m not just talking about the Geomijul and the Liumang too. If I were you, I would definitely make other living arrangements.”

“Well I’m not going anywhere”, Ichiban declared stubbornly. “I’m waiting for someone to contact me.”

He was referring to Mitsu. There had been radio silence ever since they last saw him at Qing Jin and Ichiban was starting to get antsy.

“Someone told me Arakawa-san will bet all his chips soon. And he will need all the allies he can get,” Ichiban revealed.

Joon-gi Han frowned.

“Hang on, but wasn’t Masumi Arakawa the one who shot you?” he pointed out.  

“Yes, but he shot me in order to save me”, Ichiban explained. 

Zhao and Han shook their heads.

“I'm lost”, Zhao admitted. “That also sounded really fucked up.”

“We'll explain later”, Adachi said. “There'll be plenty of time to fill you guys in now that you're part of the team”.

“Now we’ve got the Geomijul and the Liumang on our side, it’s turning into a real party”, Nanba said.

“Speaking of which, how about a celebration to welcome our new allies?” Saeko offered brightly. The sombre mood immediately felt like it had lifted. Even the bartender perked up at her words and even Asuka found the motivation to crack a smile. 

“In that case, I’m buying the first round!” Zhao offered. Cheers echoed around as Zhao looked across the room to Asuka and winked.

“Anyone for karaoke?” the bartender asked excitedly, holding up a microphone. He had been trying to get them to have a go for way too long and this was the perfect opportunity. 

“Yeah let's let loose!” Ichiban cried, punching the air. “Hit it! Mr Bartender!”

The bartender pressed ‘play’ and a familiar melody started. It was the same song the bartender tried to play for them a few days ago, he must have left the record in the player.

“Hey, I don't know this song!” Ichiban said, a little bit too loudly into the microphone so it echoed horribly around the bar. “Anyone? Help me out here!”

Saeko jumped up and took the microphone off him. “Don’t yell in the microphone!” she scolded, also a little louder than she should have. Looking extremely confident, Saeko struck an idol pose proudly before she launched into song. Even while relegated to the sidelines, Ichiban still managed to join in on background vocals louder than anyone in the room.

The crowd started singing along to the English refrain:

“We've been gaining one good thing through losing another. I'm so glad to be with you my love”.

Asuka smiled as she hummed and started to sing along as she learnt the words. She suddenly found herself thinking about her hometown. Nagano…she had a lot of memories of that place. Her police box job, the stray cat in her village…and something about a meteor shower. She suddenly thought about her grandmother, a kind woman who encouraged her to follow her dreams. Was she well? Asuka hadn’t called in a while. Then there was her father, that faceless man that suddenly crossed her mind not too long ago. What about her mother? She really couldn’t remember anything about her at all.

She looked around and locked eyes with Zhao, who was sitting across the room. He smiled and gave a slight wave which she tried to return, but she suddenly felt like someone had wrapped their cold hands around her throat and was slowly strangling the life out of her.

Her smile faded. 

Asuka hurriedly got up from her seat and rushed outside, leaning against the railing next to the river as she gasped for air. The cool evening breeze was comforting and it helped to lift that suffocating feeling, but there was still an unbearable feeling of sadness that refused to leave.

“Asa-chan!”

Zhao had run out of the bar after her.

“Hey, are you ok?” he asked anxiously. “Was Kasuga-kun’s singing that bad?”

She mustered a small giggle. 

“No it's just…that song just made me feel really sad for some reason”.

Zhao raised his eyebrows.

“Oh? How so,” he asked. “Did it remind you of anything?”

“I don't know”, she admitted. “I just started thinking about Nagano for some reason. My hometown.”

“Ah, yes. It's a nice place, Nagano”, Zhao agreed. “I spent a lot of time there when I was younger”.

“You did?” She replied, trying her best to sound surprised. “Did you…have friends there?”

“Yes, there was a family we knew really well. The Mori's. They…died rather tragically a few years ago and we've stopped going there since.”

There it was. Now that he brought the topic up, Asuka decided to keep pressing.

“How did they die?” she asked cautiously.

Zhao’s face turned into a dark frown.

“I strongly believe it was a hit ordered by a rival gang”, he said.

“Mori-san had left the Liumang by then, but Father knew that wasn't going to stop rival gangs from seeking revenge. That's why we visited so often, to remind others that the Liumang were still very much protecting them”.

So the Liumang were trying to keep them safe, Asuka thought. Didn’t make sense for the Zhao’s to kill them then.

“Must have been boring for you, spending all that time up there as a kid,” she lamented. “There’s really not much to do up there.”

“Actually, no”, Zhao said, his face suddenly lighting up. “Mori-san's daughter kept me company so I was never lonely.”

Asuka suddenly felt like her heart had leapt out of her mouth. Finally, a clue about the Mori family’s missing child!

“You knew his daughter?” she cried out, instinctively grabbing his arm anxiously.

“Of course, we basically grew up together”, he replied cheerfully. The look on his face was visibly softer now as he spoke about his childhood friend.

“Do you know where she is now?” she asked with bated breath. "And her name?"

Zhao sighed.

“I called her Xiao Hua”, he replied. “And wherever she is, I hope she’s safe.”

He turned to look at her when he said that. Suddenly realizing what she was doing, Asuka hastily let go of his sleeve, returning her hand to the metal railing.

“You both must have been close”, she said hastily, trying to cover up the awkward moment between them.

“Yeah she was the first and only friend I ever had”, Zhao said wistfully. ““We even saw a meteor shower together.”

Asuka thought she was imagining things, but it suddenly felt like Zhao had shifted his body closer to hers. 

“Being able to just talk to you in private like this is nice,” he said softly.

There were just millimetres between Zhao's hand and hers resting on the cold railing. What she said to Soma earlier still weighed heavily on her mind and it felt like her own heart was getting stabbed repeatedly. 

Zhao had noticed that she was uncharacteristically subdued that night. He had loved seeing the shyness in her eyes previously when they were together, but that was missing tonight. Instead, there was a lot of anguish and hesitation behind every look she showed him that night. 

He had a strong feeling who might have made her feel that way.

“Hey don't take this the wrong way,” Zhao asked gently, reaching out to touch her hand. “But do you want to go somewhere else? Just the two of us”.

Asuka froze, the feeling of Zhao’s hand against hers filling her with an overwhelming feeling of guilt once again. She knew that it wasn’t an invite to a sleazy hotel, and if he had asked her this question twenty-four hours ago, she would have accepted the invite without hesitation.

But at this point in time? Asuka had no idea what, or who she wanted anymore.

“I-”

“Oi! Zhao! Asa-chan!”

They turned around. It was Ichiban, yelling and waving at them frantically. 

“The bartender is allowing us to order some takeaway burgers! Come join or you'll miss out!”

They looked at each other, shrugged their shoulders and started heading back. 

*

Seiji Goto was worried. He had left the safe house with Kurosawa but had a gut feeling that something was brewing between the former lovers. He tried to call Soma, but his calls went straight to voicemail. Thinking this was highly unusual, he suddenly remembered that he had started tracking Soma’s phone a while earlier just before he was attacked.

He opened the app; Soma’s phone was still being tracked. Not that it mattered, Goto would have gotten Shinonome to hack into his phone anyway if the app had failed.

Goto jumped into a taxi, getting off in downtown Yokohama where he continued to follow the marker on his phone, eventually stopping at the front of a martial arts dojo.

He sighed. 

Here we go again.

He entered the dojo, expecting to be greeted at reception. Instead, a group of irate men stormed past him at the entrance, looking like they had been unceremoniously bundled out of the qualifiers at the Olympics.   

“T….That guy is a freak!”

“He even defeated our Grandmaster!”

Goto didn’t know whether to laugh or feel worried. 

“KIAI!”

A familiar battle cry sounded out. The referee called the point and the crowd groaned, disappointed that the visitor had picked up yet another win. 

Goto was quite the Kendo expert himself, but there was only one person in their team who was truly world-class. 

“Hey!” Goto called out. “Isn't it unfair that you're taking on amateurs when you're the National Men's champion?”

The man removed his mask. Sweat plastered his silvery hair against his flushed skin and he smiled at his colleague.

“How did you find me?” Soma asked, setting his equipment aside. Goto waved his phone. 

“You told me to track you, didn't you?” Goto reminded him. 

“That was only supposed to be for that day only”, Soma replied.

“Sorry, instructions unclear”, Goto replied sarcastically. “Besides, I know you love a good hitout when you’ve had a shit day.”

Soma sighed. There really was no hiding things from him. 

“C’mon,” Goto said, putting his arm around his shoulder and ushering him towards the door. “I think you’re done terrorizing the entire Kendo community of Yokohama today. Let’s get something to eat”.

After getting changed and potentially receiving an unspoken lifetime ban from that dojo, Soma and Goto made their way to a restaurant in Ijincho. ‘Le Nouveau Hama’ was a high end restaurant serving French-inspired cuisine, which Goto knew Soma was partial to.

“This place is real fancy”, Soma observed, looking around them. “Everyone's going to think we're on a date”.

“Let them”, Goto said, his face hidden behind the menu. “I would much rather be mistaken for dating you than Kurosawa.”

“I'm flattered,” Soma replied with a smile. Goto recognized that tone and peered at him over his menu. 

“Shu, did something happen with Asuka earlier?”

Goto was using that voice that suggested that he would not be tolerating any bullshit excuses. Both of them had known each other long enough and well enough to know when the other was at breaking point. 

Soma gave a defeated sigh. The waiter set down a bread basket and served them some of their House Red, which Soma swirled expertly in his glass before taking a sophisticated sip.

“I told her I was concerned about how close she was getting with Zhao Tianyou. And that she shouldn't be dating anyone while undercover”, he admitted.

“And?”

“She told me Zhao's a civilian now, and that she doesn't have to tell her handler if she's dating someone”.

“Whoa, this is bad”, Goto said, looking alarmed. “If she's starting to date others don't you think it's time to tell her the truth?”

Soma shrugged.

“Well, if she wants to have a bit of fun-”

“Are you serious right now?” 

Goto had slammed the menu on the table so loudly everyone in the restaurant had turned to look at them. 

“Asuka has never dated anyone in the last five years”, Goto continued in a hushed voice. “Not even for fun. If she's going out with someone now….”

Soma stayed silent. Nothing Goto told him was news to him. He knew Asuka inside out, and having to keep his distance hurt him as much as it hurt her. Even so, he thought he would have time to defeat the evil at the root, get rid of every single obstacle that threatened her wellbeing so he could love her openly again with no fear of ever losing her.

What he had not banked on, was someone else stealing her heart.

“Shu, what are you afraid of?” Goto asked. “Why are you still pushing her away at this point in time?”

“Seiji, you know why I’ve been doing this,” Soma retorted in exasperation. “I have to keep her safe. If the man behind Koyanagi ever knew and tried going after her…..I could never forgive myself.”

“Even if it meant being apart?” Goto demanded. “You’ve lost five years, Shu. Five. Years. Think of how much time you wasted-”

“I’ve kept her safe for five years!” Soma raised his voice, drawing more annoyed glares from the surrounding diners. “That is hardly a waste!”

Goto buried his hands in his face for a few seconds. When he emerged, his eyes were red.

“Shu, losing Kazuki was the worst thing that ever happened to me. But looking back now many years later, I realize that I'm infinitely thankful for the times we did spend together.”

This was the first time Goto had openly spoken about his feelings for Kazuki after her death. When Goto came under his tutelage all those years ago, he did not expect their relationship to get this close. Just as he was haunted by the death of his sister, Goto wrestled with the death of his partner. Soma knew first hand how much that loss tormented him, and he was moved that Goto would dig up his own scars in order to get through to him. 

“Do you ever feel bad about not being able to do more to save her?” Soma asked softly. “If you could , would you have done things differently?”

Goto looked him in the eye firmly.

“If I could change anything, I would change nothing.”

“Shu, we work in law enforcement. Our lives are on the line every day. Just because you’ve hunted down the last guy who wanted to kill her, it doesn’t mean that she won’t face danger ever again."

“Asuka has come a long way, but she’s out there fighting against the yakuza and government officials. Remember, she’s never done long term undercover work before,” Goto said in an urgent voice. 

“If something happened to her tomorrow, could you forgive yourself for not letting her know how much she truly means to you?”

Soma froze. Asuka….dead? It was a thought he had refused to entertain. He had been so obsessed with keeping her safe and alive that he had lost sight of what it meant to truly live. Blinded by the desire of revenge….that was what Goto said they had in common. It seemed like Soma had been the one who continued letting the shackles of vengeance chain him down.

Watching Asuka slip through his fingers and into the arms of another man was not the way he wanted to live his life.

It was time to get her back.

“Yeah”, Soma said, taking a sip of red wine.

“I guess I should tell her everything”.

*

Back at the bar, the bulk order of burgers from a nearby fast food joint had arrived. Zhao cut a forlorn figure at the counter as he downed his drink, taking occasional bites out of a juicy beef burger.

“Nice of you to join us,” Ichiban said, slapping him on the back affectionately. “Welcome to the party!”

“What can I say, I love supporting a good cause,” Zhao replied.

“Hehe, is that what you call Asa-chan? A ‘good cause’?” Ichiban teased. Zhao pretended that he didn't hear him as he stole a sneaky sideways glance at Asuka, who was deep in conversation with Saeko and the barmaid Iroha.

“What’s the deal with both of you anyway?” Ichiban asked. “Having lunch dates, saving each other from danger…that's pretty romantic!”

Zhao had never once considered being subtle about looking out for her. What he didn't count on, was him joining their team. He wasn't unhappy about this development, just rather annoyed that it would result in some spirited interrogation courtesy of Ichiban Kasuga. 

“I just think she’s pretty,” Zhao replied. Telling a portion of the truth wasn't lying , he decided. 

“That’s it?” Ichiban asked, eyeing him with a doubtful look.

“Well, yeah,” Zhao replied as if it was the most obvious thing in the world. “What else would it be? I’m a guy who likes cute girls, surprise surprise.” 

Ichiban shook his head. That was some God-tier poker face he had. Maybe he will loosen up with a few drinks.

“Mr Bartender! Another top up here!” he yelled.

“Oi, are you trying to get me drunk?” Zhao asked sharply. Ichiban grinned. 

“Why, scared you'll tell me all your secrets?”

Zhao sighed wearily.

“Sorry Kasuga-kun, I'm still trying to get used to this freedom”.

“Freedom? I thought you could do whatever the hell you want?” Ichiban asked. “You're the Leader of the Yokohama Liumang, aren't you? Pointing guns and everything, you could have killed one of us, you know?”

“Heh and what makes you think I wanted to point a gun at you?” Zhao asked nonchalantly.

“I had to keep up a certain persona. Otherwise the men will think I'm too soft. You've seen what happens when they think that.”

“Hehe, so what we're seeing now is the real you?” Ichiban asked, grinning widely.

“A part of it”, Zhao replied. “Call it an old habit, but I just don't warm up to strangers quickly.”

“Strangers?” Ichiban cried out, sounding genuinely offended. “After putting our lives on the line for you, this is all you think of us? Zhao….how could you?”

“I'm kidding, Kasuga-kun!” he drawled lazily, taking another swig of beer that the Bartender had refilled.

“It’s kind of hard to make friends when you're surrounded by bodyguards and yes-men. So I’m not exactly used to….this.” He gestured around at the crowd around them.

“Hey Zhao,” Ichiban said, lowering his voice and leaning in. “If you've never had a friend, does that mean you've also never had a girlfriend?”

Zhao narrowed his eyes as he peered through his shades at Ichiban's expectant expression. He did not sign on to answer so many questions about his personal life. 

“It…does make it hard, yes”, he replied testily. 

Ichiban wasn't sure if it was an unfortunate or deliberate choice of words. He sniggered.

“Hehe, does that also mean you've never had se-”

“Ichiban!”

Adachi stumbled towards them, his face flushed from all the drinks he had all night. 

“Ryo Aoki will be coming to Yokohama for Ogasawara’s funeral,” Adachi said, holding his phone up. 

“If you want to speak to him, that’s our only chance.”

*

Hajime Ogasawara’s funeral was closed to the public, but it was televised to onlookers outside. They arrived just as Ryo Aoki was starting his eulogy.

“Six months ago, you moved to Yokohama with your family. I saw for myself how much you wanted the city to be reborn. Nurturing, loving, planting roots in a city is the only way to truly live there”.  

“As a classmate and colleague, I was moved by your ambition. But more than anything, you were my friend. This is truly a terrible loss.”

Ryo Aoki paused and wiped his eyes. He was extremely good at making a subtle action look extremely dramatic. 

“But rest assured, the member you supported the most, Kume-kun will continue to fight for your dream!”

“I too will support him and see him realize his potential in the coming election!”

Asuka's jaw dropped. She turned to look at Ichiban, who looked similarly stunned.

“I swear this, not only as the Citizens’ Party chair, but also as your friend!”

“Ogasawara-kun, please watch over us from above! Just a little longer, and your dream for Ijincho will come into fruition!”

The camera panned into his face, making sure to capture the anguish and tears streaming down his face. Whoever was behind the lens certainly knew the assignment. 

“Hey, someone call the Academy,” Asuka said. “He’s a shoo-in for Best Actor at this year’s Japanese Academy Awards.”

“Yeah, that’s pretty impressive considering he was the one who ordered Ogasawara to be taken out,” Adachi replied, nodding in agreement. 

“So we’re dealing with that dweeb Kume now?” Saeko asked, shaking her head. 

“He's a bigger nerd than Ogasawara,” Zhao quipped. “But he'll have the backing of the Governor. It won't be easy”.

“Speaking of the Governor”, Adachi said, pointing in the distance.

They all turned to look. Ryo Aoki had exited the building, but he was surrounded by so many people it was impossible to pick him from the crowd 

“Geez, it’s gonna be impossible to get close to him with all that security and press,” Ichiban complained. “We gotta find a way to cut him off!”

“Cut him off?” Nanba asked blankly.

“He’s gotta have his car parked somewhere,” Ichiban deduced. “Let’s intercept him there!”

“Ooo I think I know where that might be! I heard famous people park in an underground carpark,” Saeko said. “The closest one is next to the river!”

They hurried over to the spot where the entrance was supposed to be, only to find a large sign staring back at them.

“Closed? That doesn’t help our course!” Ichiban exclaimed. 

“Maybe there’s another entrance somewhere?” Nanba suggested. He turned to Joon-gi Han.

“Oi, Mr Geomijul, don’t you guys have eyes everywhere? Surely you know if there are other entrances?”

Joon-gi Han, who had been watching all this unfold in silence, cleared his throat importantly. 

“Glad you asked,” he said smugly. “Follow me”.

The silver haired man led them to what looked like an unassuming apartment block by the river. There was a damp smell that hung in the air which was mixed with the faint stench of stale urine. He pointed to a lift.

“This is it”, he said. Adachi’s face lit up. 

“No wonder this place looked familiar!” the older man said excitedly. “I got really drunk one night and was looking for a place to take a piss. Then I ended up here-”

“Ewwww Adachi-san!” Saeko cried out, pinching her nose in disgust. “Don’t tell me you took a piss in the lift ?”

“No I didn’t”, Adachi replied impatiently. “I passed out in a heap over there.” He pointed to a space under the stairwell that was currently filled with empty boxes. 

“Oh so that was you?” Han asked, raising his eyebrows intriguingly. “I remember seeing the camera footage, the person left such a huge mess and wasn’t there also an escort-”

“Yeah let’s not bring up the past, shall we?” Adachi said hurriedly, jabbing on the button to the lift so vigorously he looked like he was going to push it through the plaster.

“What’s taking so long? Ryo Aoki is going to get away at this rate!”

The lift finally arrived and took them to an underground car park where they found four men in suits standing around. They hid behind a pillar, watching the men intently. 

“There they are!” Ichiban said in a loud whisper. The men couldn’t look more like security guards even if they tried. 

“We’re ready to move out,” one of them confirmed to someone else on the other end of their earpiece.

“Start the car! The governor is on his way!”

The vehicle started with a hum, echoing loudly in the underground parking space. They waited with bated breath as Ryo Aoki emerged a few seconds later, flanked by two more bodyguards. Ichiban nodded at them and they rushed out to greet them.

As expected, they did not manage to get far as they immediately found themselves barricaded by the burly guards, who were not impressed.

“Who are you?” they demanded, staring them down aggressively. “What are you doing here?”

“We’re here to talk to the governor,” Ichiban said, trying to sound as friendly as he could. 

“No,” the guard replied flatly. He put his phone to his ear.

“We have trespassers!” he reported to whoever was on the other end. 

“Hey! You can’t call us that!” Ichiban protested, drawing himself up indignantly.

“We just want to shake hands with the governor!”

To nobody’s surprise, the man shoved Ichiban aside unceremoniously. That lame-ass reason was never going to fly.

“I told’ ya, that ain’t happenin’!” he growled.

Ichiban straightened up and frowned.

“Nice Kansai accent you’ve got there, partner,” he said. “Are you with the Omi Alliance?”

The men froze but neither confirmed nor denied that allegation. Ichiban smiled slyly.

“Wow, so the governor is employing Omi yakuza in his security team? That’s scandalous.”

“Shut up!” the guard finally snapped. “I’m just from a security company, not whatever alliance you just said!”

“And you’re the one who called us trespassers!” Ichiban shot back angrily.

“Calm down, all of you!” Adachi ordered, stepping up towards them as he reached into his pocket. One of the guards instinctively reached into his own pocket and pulled out a gun. Asuka’s hand stayed on her own hip, ready to draw her own weapon if required.

“Stand back!” he warned. Adachi didn’t look concerned. He pulled out a packet of cigarettes.

“Relax! I just wanted a smoke,” he said casually, pulling a single cig out and twiddling it between his fingers. “Although I must ask, I didn’t know security guards could carry firearms. You got a licence for that thing?”

“I…I’ll shoot you!” the man shouted, his hands quivering. Adachi laughed derisively.

“With the safety still on?” he pointed out, before quickly disarming the man in a flash. He tossed the gun aside, the firearm clattering noisily next to the feet of Asuka.

“Heh, what a rookie,” Adachi muttered as Asuka kicked the gun aside.  

“Get them!” the guards roared. They ran towards the group and shoved Ichiban so hard he landed bum-first onto the ground. Big mistake. Saeko raised her handbag threateningly, Han and Zhao raised their fists and Asuka’s hand wrapped around the cold grip of her gun, ready to draw it-

“Stop!”

An authoritative voice echoed around the garage, stopping everyone in their tracks. Ryo Aoki had gotten out of the vehicle and was walking towards them. He locked eyes with Ichiban for a split second but there was not a single trace of recognition in his gaze. He turned to the guards.

“Can’t you tell the difference between thugs and law abiding citizens?” Aoki scolded. The men hung their heads.

“We’re sorry, sir,” they mumbled, bowing deeply to him.

Aoki shook his head in disappointment before he turned his attention back to Ichiban. “Are you ok?” he asked, extending his hand towards him warmly. 

“Here, let me help you up!”

Ichiban stared right back at Ryo Aoki, a mixture of sadness and confusion in his eyes. It had been so long since they had seen each other. Ryo Aoki, or Masato Arakawa, actually looked younger and healthier than he did eighteen years ago. The sallow gauntness was gone and his hair, while greying slightly at the roots, was slicked fashionably to the right of his face. It seemed like whatever experimental treatment that enabled him to regain use of his legs also biologically hacked and de-aged him physically too. 

“Young Master,” Ichiban whispered, his voice trembling with emotion.

Something flickered in Ryo Aoki’s eyes. He grabbed Ichiban’s hand and hoisted him to his feet. As he pulled him close, Aoki whispered in his ear.

“Go to Otohime Land tonight. Alone.”

Before Ichiban could respond, Aoki pushed themselves apart. A plastic smile spread across his face, immediately replacing the sinister expression he previously had.

“I am so sorry for the inconvenience my guards caused,” he said apologetically again. “I am glad you’re all ok!”

He bowed slightly.

“Please excuse me, I have another appointment to attend.”

The group watched as he boarded the vehicle alongside the rest of his entourage, speeding out of the underground garage and leaving behind the smell of burning rubber and engine oil.

“What did he say?” Adachi asked immediately. Ichiban continued to stare at the ramp of the car park, now completely deserted.

“I’m have to go to Otohime Land tonight.” 

Chapter Text

Everyone looked at Ichiban with exasperation. It didn't take a genius to know that going to meet Ryo Aoki with no backup was a crazy stupid idea. 

“You know this is a bad idea right?” Zhao mused, folding his arms with a frown. 

“It could be a trap!” Nanba reasoned.

“It’s definitely a trap!” Asuka confirmed. 

“Stop it!” Ichiban snapped. “This is my chance to speak to the Young Master privately and I’m taking it!”

Saeko sighed.

“Well at least let us hide nearby so we can help you if anything goes wrong,” she said. 

“Suit yourself,” Ichiban said. “But I don’t think I have anything to be worried about.”

“You really think he’ll keep his word and show up alone?” Adachi asked, shaking his head. “He’s such a calculating man, I won’t be surprised if he’s brought back up.

“But what if he does keep his word?” Ichiban shot back. “Doesn’t that make me look bad instead?”

And there it was: the Ichiban Kasuga-brand of honour. It was easy to understand his devotion to Masumi Arakawa, but for his son too? They had never heard Ichiban speak about Masato Arakawa, besides the fact that he used to call him ‘Young Master’ and answered at his beck and call. 

They decided it was useless to argue any further. 

“Well we've got time to kill”, Zhao said, stretching lazily. “Any idea where to go?”

To everyone's surprise, Ichiban's face lit up. 

“How about a movie?”

*

“Um Ichiban, are you sure about this?”

“Yeah it looks kind of….dodgy”

Everyone had accepted Ichiban's offer to go to the movies, but they were not prepared for where he brought them. Instead of a modern theatre on the main strip he had led them to a small, dingy little place on the east side of Ijincho. A sign on the front said ‘Seagull Cinema’ and the windows were decorated with movie posters so old it was impossible to make out what they were advertising. 

“Yeah I'm friendly with the owner”, Ichiban replied. “He'll give us a great discount”.

“To watch what?” Han asked. He squinted at one of the old posters at the front of the cinema. “Robo…Cock? Is this a joke?”

“I assure you good sir, that it is not a joke”, a snide voice rang out. 

“And it's ‘Robo-Cook’, not whatever you think it is”.

They didn't think the correct movie title improved things either. 

The owner of the Seagull Cinema was a balding middle aged man with a rather portly figure. He was dressed in a white shirt that he left mostly unbuttoned, which he paired with grey pants and a matching vest. He folded him arms and inspected the group with a mixture of disdain and fascination. 

“I promise that you will find joy in old school cinematic masterpieces!” he said proudly. “Since you are such a large group, I will gladly give you a discount. Please browse our extensive list of titles for something you would like to watch.”

They looked through the titles on offer curiously. There was the afore-mentioned ‘RoboCook’, and then there were-

“‘Office Alone’?” said Nanba. “Are we in the mood for a workplace comedy?”

“I vote for ‘Lord of the Wedding Rings: Matrimony of the Ring,’” Joon-gi Han announced. “Can’t go wrong with the classics!”

“We’ll be here until midnight if we watch that,” Zhao reminded him. “Ooooo what about ‘Shark Vacation’? I love a good action movie!”

“I personally like ‘Sultry Adultery 3: The Key To Love’,” Adachi said lustily. Saeko and Asuka groaned.

“Keep your smutty movies to your own personal time, please!” Saeko retorted. “My vote is for ‘Our Winter Sonata’!”

“I’m not opposed to watching a romantic movie,” Asuka agreed. “Although, I would prefer ‘538 Rules of Romance’ instead!”

“Hey, that’s a good option!” Ichiban piped up. “It’s got romantic elements, and it’s set in an office! That ticks off most of everyone’s preferences!”

“Doesn’t tick mine off,” Zhao complained. “Where are the sharks?”

Unfortunately for Zhao, nobody shared his enthusiasm for homicidal sharks and they were all soon sitting in a screening for “538 Rules of Romance”. The seven of them were the only patrons that afternoon and Asuka found herself sandwiched between Ichiban to her left and Zhao to her right. 

“How did you find this place?” Asuka asked Ichiban curiously as the opening credits rolled.

“Just stumbled upon it one day,” he replied casually. “The owner was so nice I couldn’t turn him down when he invited me in to watch a movie for free.”

“Oh you must have really enjoyed watching old movies then!”

“Actually, not really,” Ichiban admitted with a sheepish grin. “I nearly fell asleep a few times, but I toughed it out, fought off the REM rams and got all the way through!”

She didn't really know what REM rams were, but she chose not to ask questions. 

“A once-in-a-lifetime shot at true love! Anyone can be like me if they follow these 538 simple rules!”

“Well hopefully this one isn’t as boring,” Asuka mused, settling back into her seat. The interior was extremely dated, but the seats were actually quite comfortable. She could understand why Ichiban drifted off to sleep; the darkness of the theatre, plus the plush seats and the rather bland introduction…..

“Rule 64! Chase the Cinderella Story! Find someone wealthy!”

Asuka jumped. When did they suddenly jump from Rule 5 to 64? She checked her watch; it's been half an hour. She wondered if it would be rude to catch some shut eye or check in on her other team; it’s been a while since she’s heard from Kurosawa and she wanted to know how things were going in Bleach Japan. 

A movement to the left made her look around; Ichiban's head had dropped to his chest. She stole a peak to her right; Zhao was still facing the screen but was also abnormally still. 

Asuka waved her hand in front of his face; he didn't react. His shades obscured his eyes and she couldn't tell if he was asleep. 

She also realized that she had never seen his eyes before. 

Deciding to seize this opportunity, she slowly and cautiously reached out towards his glasses, like she was about to catch a frog. Her fingers touched the metal frame for a millisecond before a hand grabbed her wrist. She jumped a mile in the air and let out a squeal as Zhao turned his head like a haunted dummy, grinning devilishly.

“Caught you”, he sang in a teasing voice. Asuka pouted. 

“You scared the shit out of me!” she said. 

“Did you think I was asleep?” Zhao asked. “I mean, I want to but it’s kind of rude, don’t you think?”   

They heard a loud snore; Adachi had not even tried to hide his boredom and was openly snoring on his seat with his mouth wide open. Joon-gi Han had somehow procured sunglasses and was wearing them, sitting bolt upright with his arms folded. Saeko’s head had tipped to one side and was resting on Joon-gi’s shoulder. Nanba had curled up on his seat like a cat and Ichiban’s head had dropped so low against his chest he was tipping forward precariously. 

Zhao and Asuka turned to look at each other, looking simultaneously amused and helpless. Their attention was momentarily diverted for a few seconds as the female lead slapped her love interest, but just as they thought a fight was coming, she launched into another passionate monologue.

“....Rule 250: I will not compromise on my values and my beliefs!”

“That’s actually pretty solid advice,” Asuka said to herself. “But how is she only at number 250? And there are 538 of these rules? Oh God…”

“Do you really want to keep watching this?” Zhao asked, sounding rather doubtful.

“It’s not like there’s somewhere else we can be,” Asuka replied, looking around. “We’re sandwiched in between the others!”

Officially landlocked, they decided to settle into their seats. The first few rules seemed quite reasonable and Asuka found it quite relatable. Except the entire movie seemed to just be the same woman rambling through the list and it was starting to get a little exhausting. There was a male colleague in the movie who tried to interrupt a few times, only to get rebuffed in a variety of ways that they thought was meant to be for comedic effect, but there were only so many times a man could get hit with various office stationary before it stopped being funny.

“When I find the love of my life, I will shout it from the top of the rooftops! That’s Rule 322!”

Zhao stifled a yawn. He wished he could take the advice of Rule 322 and openly declare his love, but he had to keep it low-key for now. He stole another look at Asuka’s face, which was illuminated by the screen. She was not as discreet as Zhao and yawned openly, covering her mouth with her hand as her eyelids fluttered before she forced her eyes open. He watched as she placed her hand back onto the hand rest between them. Perhaps it was just his intrusive thoughts winning, but it looked like she was inviting him to touch it. She had long, beautiful, dainty fingers and he wanted nothing more than to thread his own fingers through them.

His heartbeat accelerating, he reached out and held her hand. Asuka flinched, but she did not reject it. Zhao wore many rings and she could feel them against her skin, warmed by his body heat. She didn’t know why she was suddenly feeling so embarrassed; the man had kissed her prior, twice to be exact. And now she’s acting like a giggling school girl when her senpai noticed her? High school was fifteen years ago, for God’s sake!

“Rule 322: Love means never having to say you're sorry!”

That was pretty terrible advice. She certainly owed Soma an apology. She would also like to hear why he broke up with her, an apology wouldn't be bad either. For the first time, she found herself confronting those feelings. She was upset, angry, hurt. She wanted to scream at Soma, even beat the shit out of him. 

Does he know how much he had hurt her?

Zhao's hand shifted against hers as he sensed her discomfort. 

“Hey….are you ok?”

She turned to look at him. The gentleness in his face and touch was too much to bear and her bottom lip quivered. Her vision blurred as a tear fell down her cheek. 

“Come here”.

Asuka sank into him as Zhao wrapped his arms around her protectively, feeling her body heave with silent sobs. Soma’s heartbroken face would not leave her and being in Zhao’s embrace only amplified her pain. His voice, low and soothing, echoed words of assurance in her ear. She didn’t think the ex-leader of the Yokohama Liumang could ever be so gentle, so…loving.

“I…I’m sorry!” she mumbled, a sniffling ball of snot and tears. “I’m so, so sorry-”

To her surprise, Zhao laughed softly.

“It’s ok,” he replied in a soft whisper. 

“Didn’t you hear that woman? ‘Love means never having to say you’re sorry’.”

Zhao had been questioning how he felt about her over the last few days. He had always taken it upon himself to keep her safe, but did this protective instinct mean something more? The first kiss they shared was him being cheeky, the second one much less so as the feelings in his heart started to establish themselves. And now, if he could kiss her again he was sure it would cement how he truly felt.

He could smell her hair in this position. It was a soft and feminine scent, he could lose himself in it forever. As she huddled even closer to him, he planted a kiss on her forehead. She shivered; her crying appeared to have subsided but she remained in his arms.

“Rule 369: Love shouldn’t hurt. If it does, it isn’t love”.

For Asuka, pain and love seemed to be synonymous. She never stopped loving Soma, but loving Soma hurts. Not being able to figure out what was on his mind, seeing that fake smile on his face when he’s anything but happy inside…why was it always so hard to figure out what he wanted? Making love to her didn’t make the question marks go away, it felt more like a goddamn cover up. He told her she saved him from the darkness of his heart, but she didn’t want to be that.

She was no savior.

She wanted to be his partner. His lover, his equal. 

“Love is letting go of things that aren’t important. That’s Rule 400.”   

Letting go…that was easier said than done. Asuka wasn’t sure if she could ever let go of what Soma had done to her, but how do you let go of something when you don’t even know what that thing was? 

Maybe it was easier to just let go of the whole man.

She found Zhao's hand and entwined her fingers with his. Zhao thought his heart was going to beat out of his chest and he kissed her tenderly on her head again, feeling her body shift as his fingers found her dark brown locks. His chest rose and fell against her cheek, the sign of his humanity. This was messed up... Asuka didn’t know why she was letting all of this happen; she’s on a job, none of this was supposed to be real. Even her name wasn’t real. 

But she realized that Zhao made her feel safer than anyone else ever did.

“Love is truth, and love is life! Shout it out! Rule 455!”

The truth. Oh how they both wished they could tell each other the truth. Asuka had withdrawn from his embrace and they were now gazing into each other’s eyes. She wanted to tell him who she really was, that she was no hostess, she was Asuka Hayashi, undercover Public Safety Officer. And Zhao wanted to tell her that he knew, he had known all along. Her real name is Asuka Mori and he was her Tianyou-ge ge. He never stopped looking out for her and he never stopped missing her.

Zhao reached out to pinch her cheek again, like he had always done. However he stopped himself and instead cradled her cheek in her hand. Her face was still damp from the tears she had shed, no doubt for that other man in her life. Zhao used to care, but he didn’t anymore. If that man broke her, he will take it upon himself to make her whole again.

The light from the screen illuminated his glasses enough for her to see through them. Zhao’s eyes were beautiful when they were like that, so kind and gentle with none of the murderous intent from their first encounter. She reached out and brushed her fingers against his face, noticing his eyebrows raise. Her lips curled into a slight smile. 

Slowly, Zhao leant forward and she closed her eyes.

His lips were wonderful. She allowed him to set the pace and she matched it perfectly. Their breathing deepened and he drew her in even closer, the heat between them increasing. His fingers stroked and caressed her jaw, gently but desperately. Her hands ran down the side of his face, brushing past the gold hoop in his ear. They eventually withdrew from each other, but their faces remained close. Zhao touched her lips, the very same one he just savoured. 

“That’s the third time now”, he whispered in a low, breathy drawl. 

Asuka pursed her lips as her face flushed. Besides her slight exhibitionist tendencies that allowed her to parade around shamelessly in front of her team in various states of undress, one other thing Public Safety training uncovered was also rather unexpected.

She hated losing.

Zhao let out a soft gasp as she grabbed his collar and pulled him in. 

“Love is power! Never give up control! That’s Rule 500!”

She screwed her eyes shut as she pressed her lips against his. Zhao let her take control but she did not move, like their lips were glued together. The grip around his clothes tightened. She was aware she was kissing him with the skill of an awkward adult virgin but there was still something, someone, preventing her from really losing herself in this. 

Eventually, she let go, resurfacing from the depths of their passion to get some air and clarity into their heads. She composed herself, looking into his eyes bravely. 

“That’s one up to me,” she said. Zhao’s head tilted, an eyebrow arching before he leant in again. Stopping just before their lips touched, he shot her another dangerous smirk.

“I’m going to extend my lead”.

And just like that, she was at his mercy again. What was it about this man who could so effectively dismantle the walls she had built around her? She knew less about him than she did Soma, but somehow Zhao never once gave her reason to doubt him. One man pushed her away, while the other did everything he could to draw her near. It seemed downright foolish to hold out for the one who abandoned her. For the first time, Asuka could feel the grip around her heart loosening. The image of Soma faded in her head and her mind flooded with thoughts of someone else; his warmth of his lips against hers, his scent of an oriental blend of amber and sandalwood, his touch against her cheek that's now trailing down her jaw and down her neck….

Could she accept someone else? Could she accept Zhao ?

The rest of the monologue faded into the background noise. The female lead continued to ramble, but nobody in that room heard or paid any attention. She eventually reached the end of her list:

“Rule 538! Know that no one can love you more than you!” 

The lights turned on and everyone sat up, yawning and stretching. Asuka and Zhao were watching the credits roll, looking seemingly innocent but most importantly, wide awake. They had pulled apart from each other just as the ending theme came on but the heat that they had shared between them still burnt within. 

“Wow, did you both sit through the whole thing?” Ichiban asked as he stretched his shoulders. “That’s seriously impressive.”

They laughed awkwardly and Ichiban eyed them suspiciously; they were both being awfully subdued and seemed to be deliberately avoiding looking at each other. He suddenly cackled.

“You’re so sneaky!”

Zhao and Asuka looked at Ichiban in shock. Surely he didn’t see everything? The way he had slumped over in the seat made it look like he had well and truly boarded the train to Dreamland, but perhaps they were so caught up with what they were doing that they had missed something? 

“You fell asleep, didn’t you?” he said as he elbowed Zhao slyly. “Your hair is really messy.”

Zhao hastily tidied his hair and Asuka remembered how to breathe again. Thank God, they wouldn’t know how they would react if someone had seen-

“I’m glad both of you stayed up”, the owner said suddenly, making them jump. “Unlike some people!” He shot the others a dirty look. They didn’t seem to care and started making their way out of the cinema into the lobby. The owner sighed. 

“What did you think about the movie?” he asked.

“The overall message of self-love was good,” Asuka replied with a smile. “After all, it’s true that nobody can ever love you more than you love yourself!”

The owner guffawed with glee.

“That’s wonderful to hear!” he said, slapping the shoulders of both Asuka and Zhao. “And I’m happy to see that the magic of cinema still has the power to…. bring people together .”

He winked before he slinked off to the projector room to prepare for the next screening. The owner’s cryptic words were enough; at least he was kind enough to offer them discretion. Asuka caught Zhao’s eye again and immediately turned away, aware that her cheeks were burning.

“That was a weird thing to say, don’t you think?” Ichiban mused, scratching his head. Before they could think of something to fill the awkward silence, Saeko came bounding up.

“Asa-chan! Do you need to go to the bathroom?” 

Zhao watched as Saeko intercepted her and led her off, joined shortly by Ichiban who also suddenly realized that his bladder was full. 

His heart was filled with joy, but it also ached. This was a huge step in the direction he wanted, but he could sense her hesitation. The reluctance to release the gatekeeper of her heart for the last five years. 

While he agreed with the wholesome moral of the movie, he begged to differ with the final rule:

It was possible for someone to love her more than she could ever love herself. 

*

That night, Ichiban went to Otohime Land alone. Hectic electronic music pulsed and played on the streets as matching neon lights flashed. As he rolled up the metal shutters and unlocked the door to the long abandoned establishment, he suddenly felt incredibly emotional. The darkness of the space was like a void that consumed the bright flashing lights and noises outside. Ichiban still remembered the moment he found Nonomiya hanging from the ceiling and he looked up instinctively as he walked past that area. 

That was where it all began, when he got dragged into this mess alongside the rag tag crew of people he now considered his friends. But what he had the most trouble coming to terms with was that it was the man whom he considered his Young Master who started all of this. Ichiban reminisced about the times they spent together; many Yakuza members would have found being tasked to look after the wheelchair-bound Young Master as a chore that was beneath them, but Ichiban took pride in his role. In return, the Young Master did not begrudge him of anything. They had gotten drunk together multiple times and there was one time where Ichiban thought he nearly got him to laugh.

It had always been like that. Ichiban was the one who brought the fun, sunshine and laughter, and Masato, always so consumed by his own darkness, was brought out into the light. 

Besides Masumi Arakawa, the other person Ichiban would do anything for was Masato Arakawa.

He pulled the red velvet curtain aside and turned the light on in the waiting room. The space looked just like the way it looked all those weeks ago, with faded photos of previous hostesses in suggestive poses plastered over the garish walls. The air smelt wet and musty, like someone had reopened a time capsule. 

Footsteps echoed behind him and Ichiban turned around. A pair of leather brown Oxfords appeared and Ryo Aoki entered the room with a confident strut. He settled down onto the quilted couch, straightening his blue-grey suit as he looked at Ichiban expectantly.

“Young Master…”

Ryo Aoki did not acknowledge him, instead he scanned the gaudy interior of the room.

“Hmm, so you were born in a sty like this too?” he finally asked, an air of cruel contempt in his voice. Ichiban looked at him, completely overwhelmed by emotion. While Aoki’s words were horrendously heartless, they confirmed that he did indeed know about Ichiban’s past as an orphan born and raised in a soapland. Which also meant-

“Young Master,” Ichiban repeated, his voice shaking. “It….It’s been a while!”

Aoki smiled, a cold smile that did not reach his eyes. “You wanted to see me?” he asked with the air of an official being forced to spend time with his underlings.

“I’m sure you have a lot of questions for me.”

Ichiban nodded.

“Will you really explain everything?” he asked.

“Sure,” Aoki replied. “Let’s see, let’s start from the obvious, shall we? I went to America, where I got a lung transplant. That procedure was a massive success and now I no longer need a wheelchair. Did you know that it was possible to buy your place in line for an organ transplant there? Capitalism at its finest!”

He chuckled. Ichiban failed to see the funny side of that.

“But why did you change your name?”

“Being the son of Masumi Arakawa was holding me back,” he replied. “Not only for the transplant surgery, but it also robbed me of the youth I should have had”. 

“I needed a new beginning, to rewrite my life from that point on. Look at me now! Not only am I the Governor, I am also the party chair. And I can walk!”

He spread his arms out like he was Christ the Redeemer, beaming triumphantly. Ichiban frowned, clearly not sharing his sentiment. The proud look on Ryo Aoki’s face faded into an unceremonious sneer.

“What’s wrong?” he asked. “Aren’t you going to congratulate me?”

Ichiban had not cracked a single smile during this entire exchange. The Young Master that he knew had always been cold and unemotional, but he wasn’t whatever this guy was.

“Young Master, are you happy?”

Ryo Aoki gave a small, slightly maniacal laugh.

“Happy? Of course I’m happy! Politics is a good life,” he replied. “I don’t need to resort to violence to exercise control and I have a bunch of people to act on my behalf. It’s nice not to get my hands stained with blood like the yakuza, don’t you think? And I can make lives better and people are grateful-”

“You killed Ogasawara, didn’t you?”

That marked the first time Ichiban raised his voice. His eyes were fiery and his hands, balled up into fists, were trembling. 

Aoki leant back on the couch, completely unperturbed. 

“It was a risk management exercise.”

“Risk management?” Ichiban just about exploded. “But-”

“Don’t be naive, Ichiban,” Aoki interrupted. “He talked about Bleach Japan after you took him, didn’t he? Told you what it really stood for and who was behind it? He tried to lie but he’ll have to work harder to pull one over me.”

Ichiban glared at him.

“But he founded Bleach Japan with you!” he said furiously. “He was your friend!”

Aoki snorted derisively.

“Friend? Ichiban, when you are at the same level as I am, you’ll know when a friend is no longer useful. Just like what my father did to you by asking you to go to jail in place for Sawashiro all those years ago!”

It took everything within Ichiban to not punch Ryo Aoki in the face. The one thing Ichiban would not stand for, was any slander of his patriarch.

“Arakawa-san did not push me out,” Ichiban said firmly. “The guy Sawashiro killed reportedly was part of the Tojo clan too. If he had been arrested then the Arakawa Family would have had to explain themselves to the Tojo clan heads!” 

Ryo Aoki laughed.

“Oh Ichiban, you are so naive,” he said, shaking his head. “Did you think you were being noble for taking the fall? Even if you didn’t, Sawashiro wouldn’t have been arrested anyway.

“You don’t know that!”

“Oh I do,” Aoki replied. “Because Sawashiro wasn’t the real killer.”

Something flickered in his eyes, sending a chill down Ichiban’s spine.

“It was me.”

Ichiban felt like the world had crashed down around him. Just how far had he fallen? Or had the Young Master been the same sick, sadistic bastard the entire time?

“Young Master….no! But how?”

Aoki sighed. 

“Do you remember that night in Kamurocho eighteen years ago? In that club on New Year’s Eve”.

Ichiban nodded.

“The night of your girlfriend’s birthday?”

It was a night that would forever change his fate; it was pretty difficult to forget. 

“As you might recall, I injected a serum that allowed me to walk for a few hours”, Aoki reminded him. “But the effects started to wear off before I could make my way back to the wheelchair we had stashed under the stairs in an apartment block.”

His face darkened visibly. 

“I lost feeling in my legs in the middle of the street. The way people looked at me with those eyes, filled with pity…it made me sick. I crawled the rest of the way back before I passed out on the piss-covered floor in the apartment block”.

“I only woke up when some asshole decided to kick me. I saw the badge on his lapel and recognized him as part of the Tojo clan. Scum of the earth, he dragged me towards the stairs and tried to fuck me up even more.”

He paused. 

“But he didn’t know I had a gun.”

“He didn’t believe me at first, even when I pulled it on him. He thought it was a toy, even putting the barrel on his forehead and daring me to shoot.”

“I remember pulling the trigger right as the fireworks went off. Have you ever fired a gun before, Ichi? It’s loud, and messy. The bullet went through his head and he just fell to the ground like a rag doll. There was blood everywhere, on my face, in my hair, probably in my mouth too. I nearly threw up.”

“That was when I called Sawashiro. Told him I fucked up. All he did was tell me to go home, so I did.”

“So the person I went to jail to protect….was you?” Ichiban asked.

“That’s correct,” Aoki said with a twisted smile.

“My father made you take the fall for his only son. He couldn’t tell you the truth, so he came up with some bullshit reason about Sawashiro being the culprit. And you took the bait and marched your ass to jail for eighteen years for no reason at all.”

Aoki looked at Ichiban, a look of sick vindication on his face.

“Now that you know the truth, do you still trust him? Not only that, after you’ve done your time he also-”

He used his fingers to mime a gun firing at him.

“No!”

Ichiban glared at him firmly, his hands balled up into determined fists.

“I still trust Arakawa-san!” 

Aoki shook his head, shooting a pitiful look at Ichiban. 

“I see. Even after all these years you are still the same dumb ass from before.”

To his surprise, Ichiban looked relieved.

“You know, I was a little worried that this would be a set up,” Ichiban said. “But I’m glad you kept your promise and came alone.”

Aoki raised his eyebrows.

“You thought I would kill you? No, that would be too easy. I’ll let you live as a favour for what you did for me in the past, but I have one condition.”

His face and voice grew icy. 

“Don’t ever come near me or my Dad ever again, you got it?”

Ichiban frowned in response. 

“Well, then I have a condition for you too,” he retorted.

“Take everyone and pull out of Ijincho. And pull Kume out of the upcoming election too.”

Aoki threw him a questioning look.

“I just think Kume isn’t cut out for politics,” Ichiban replied.

“Oh I agree,” Aoki said nonchalantly. “Kume is an ignorant idiot who would never succeed without any support.”

Well, that was one thing they both agreed on.

“Then why the hell are you making him run?”

“I have a point to make. If an idiot like Kume wins, it will truly show the Citizens Liberal Party the power of my endorsement,” Aoki explained. 

“Then nobody would question me replacing Ogikubo.”

Ichiban finally understood what Adachi meant when he called Ryo Aoki ‘calculating’. Every little thing he did was meticulously planned, and should anything or anyone step out of line they were eliminated with no hesitation. 

And most importantly, Ryo Aoki never did anything without any extra insurance. 

“I’m guessing you’re not going to accept my conditions?” Ichiban asked.

Aoki leant forward.

“Absolutely not,” he said coldly.

He had expected that. 

“And I guess nothing’s up for negotiating either?” Ichiban pressed. 

“Negotiations?” Aoki scoffed. “Ichiban please, the reason you will be allowed to leave tonight is because I've allowed it”.

He got up from his seat. As he walked past Ichiban, he stopped.

“If you want to continue fighting,” he said in a low voice. “Be my guest.”

He walked out of the room without looking back. Ichiban started after him, rounding the corner and coming face to face with another familiar face.

It was Omi Alliance captain and Arakawa’s right hand man, Jo Sawashiro. Wrinkles now lined his face and his hair, still slicked back in the same quiff, was now streaked with grey. Ichiban served under him before he went to jail, and he knew just how ferocious he could be.

“Hey, what’s all this?” Ichiban asked, his voice wavering slightly.

“I heard the Young Master was coming here alone,”  Sawashiro said, giving him the once over. “I see you are still the same dumbass as you were eighteen years ago.”

“Heh, funny you called me a dumbass, the Young Master too-”

For a fleeting second Ichiban thought about running upstairs to escape then, but he paused when he heard footsteps rumbling from the stairs. He turned just as he saw at least five men emerge, joining the group of men who had gathered around Sawashiro.

Shit .

“C’mon, do you really need that many guys?” Ichiban said nervously. He cursed his recklessness as he backed into the wall, cornered like a trapped animal. 

“Idiot”, he scolded himself. "I should have listened to Adachi. If only there was someone-”

One of the many curtains in the venue flung open and a hand grabbed him. 

“This way!” a familiar voice cried out, whisking him down a corridor and out through a side door that led out into an alleyway. 

There were people waiting out there for him: Saeko and Nanba.

“What the? I thought I told you I was coming alone?” he said in surprise and frustration.

“And I thought we told you we were going to be hanging around to make sure you’re safe!” Saeko reminded him. 

“Out of the way!” Adachi and Joon-gi Han were pushing a large dumpster towards them, stopping it right outside the door and barricading it.

“Let’s get the hell out of here!” Saeko urged.

Muffled shouts and the sound of fists frantically pounding on timber rang out as they fought in vain against the metallic might of the dumpster. They didn't stay to see who won that fight. 

“Told you it was a trap,” Adachi said as they ran out towards the main street.

“Shut up,” Ichiban retorted. “Where’s Asa-chan and Zhao?”

“Keeping a lookout up ahead,” Han replied.

“You sure it's safe to leave those two by themselves?” Ichiban asked. 

"What do you think they're going to do? Start having sex in a playground?" Adachi shot back.  

They left the alleyway and saw Asuka and Zhao standing over a pile of groaning yakuza in a nearby carpark.  

“Nice teamwork, lovebirds!” Saeko whistled. Asuka tucked her kendo sword away, pretending she didn’t hear her.

“Hi Kasuga-kun,” Zhao said cheerily, stowing away his sabre with a flourish. “Glad to see you got out in one piece!”

Asuka shot Ichiban a look. “It was a trap wasn’t it?” she said.

Ichiban rolled his eyes at the obvious dig.

“Well, let’s get the hell out of here shall we?” he said impatiently. "The Captain will be on our ass-"

It was too late. They suddenly found themselves barricaded by another wave of Yakuza who had swarmed into the car park. They were led by a weaselly-looking man carrying a knife so comically large it looked to be used for cutting tuna than for actual combat. 

“Captain Sawashiro told me to look out for you”, the man said in a nasally voice that sounded as pleasant as nails on a chalkboard. “I'm serving your head in a box!”

“Yo, that's a bit dramatic don't you think?” Zhao said lazily, drawing his sabre again. 

“Heh, his is a bit bigger than yours”, Asuka teased, comparing both their blades. The other man's blade easily dwarfed Zhao's sabre, but he didn't look concerned. 

“Well, it's not about size, it's about how you use it-”

“Can you both stop flirting?” Nanba snapped impatiently. “That guy will really slice us up if we're not careful!”

He wasn't wrong; that knife could definitely behead all of them and still be sharp enough to slice and dice whatever was left over.

A gruesome thought. 

“You know the drill”, Adachi ordered. “Take the others out first!”

Joon-gi Han lunged himself at the nearest guy and punched him with his knuckle dusters, knocking him out immediately. Saeko's handbag connected with the cheek of a penknife-wielding Yakuza and Asuka finished him off with a drive from her kendo sword. 

The man with the sword stood back and watched as his allies slowly fell. He didn't look concerned, in fact he suddenly flashed a sinister grin.

He raised his blade and charged towards the group. 

“Watch out! 

Ichiban pulled Asuka out of the way as the blade missed her by millimetres. Zhao whipped around, startled. He glared at the man, furious at what he's done. 

“Hey you”, Zhao called out, pointing directly at him. “I'm gonna fuck you up!”

He moved so quickly they thought he might have teleported. Suddenly, Zhao was right next to him, then a flash and then stinging pain. The man screamed, clutching his shoulder as blood dripped between his fingers. 

“You…You fucker!” he swore, raising his knife again as he continued to bleed freely. Zhao grinned.

“I'll give you a free hit”, he offered, putting his sabre down. 

“ARE YOU CRAZY?”

Even Asuka was surprised at how loud her scream was. 

“You're gonna get yourself killed, you idiot!”

Zhao's smile grew even wider. 

“Thank you for your concern, my little blossom,” he replied. “But you just gave me even more reason not to lose!”

While the other knife was larger, it was also heavier. For every attack the man tried to make, Zhao landed three hits. The precision of his blows was mind-blowing; his cuts were deep enough to cut through the man's clothes and draw blood, but not deep enough to sever any major arteries or cause a serious hemorrhage. 

They felt like they were watching a demonstration of the long abolished act of slow slicing.

“That's enough!”

It was Ichiban, looking extremely concerned. 

“You'll kill him at this rate!”

Zhao sighed. Sheathing his sabre again, he instead clenched his fist and unleashed an uppercut so hard and fast they thought his neck had snapped. The man sank to his knees and passed out on the ground, whimpering like a coward. 

The others ran towards him but Asuka got there first. He held his arms open, waiting for her to dive in only for her to bypass them and hammer him on the chest. 

“What were you thinking?” she cried out. “Look! You've been hurt!”

Sure enough, the man had managed to slice through his jacket and shirt and there was blood dripping down his arm. 

“That's nothing! Nanba will patch me up, won't you buddy?” Zhao said, looking at him expectantly. The former nurse frowned. 

“I can dress your wound but I can't revive you from the dead”, he reminded him. “So for the love of God, all of you, no more acting recklessly please!”

“That being said, that guy was gross,” Saeko declared, pulling a face.

“The Omi Alliance is pretty big, so I’m sure there are many much worse than him,” Ichiban said.

“Geez, if more of these guys flood in Ijincho is really going to fall apart,” Adachi lamented. 

Nanba turned to Joon-gi Han.

“So do you still think we should leave if we can?”he asked.

Han shrugged.

“You insisted on staying last time,” he reminded them. “Having second thoughts now?”

“We can’t run!”

Everyone turned to stare at Asuka, surprised to see she felt so strongly about this.

“Well, if we do run,” she continued. “Where can we go?”

The group fell silent. Ijincho had been the place that had brought them together. It turned allies into enemies, and enemies into allies. But most importantly, it taught Asuka to never judge a book by its cover. 

Her gaze fell onto Zhao, who gave her an encouraging smile. 

“Well, I can’t go back to Qing Jin,” Zhao said casually.  “So I’m staying and fighting.”

“Yeah but…can we win?” Saeko asked in a small voice.

“I agree with Sa-cha. What’s the point of fighting if we can’t win?” Nanba asked with a sigh. Ichiban gave a small chuckle.

“Actually, it’s only a real fight when your opponent is so strong, you think you’re screwed!” he said. “And what’s harder than fighting the government and the Yakuza?”

Strange logic, but Ichiban was always one who thought outside the box.

“Think about it, if you're fighting someone you can defeat easily, doesn't that just make you a bully?”

“Hehe Kasuga-kun, you have a real warrior’s spirit!” Zhao praised. He caught sight of Adachi looking doubtful.

“Are you in, old man?” he asked. “Or is this too much for your boomer body to handle?”

“Shut up Zhao,” he grumbled. “This is my chance to nail Horinouchi once and for all, of course I’m in!”

“Yeah we’ll get them all!” Ichiban declared, getting really fired up. “Sa-chan! Nanba! Will you join us?”

Saeko and Nanba looked at each other uneasily.

“Well I’m in,” Saeko said. “I’ve got nothing to lose.”

“What about you, Nanba?” Adachi asked. “I know you’ve just found your brother recently, how is he anyway?”

“Well….he met someone in the Geomijul and now they want to get married!” he revealed. 

“And seeing that he’s got someone else looking after him now, I guess I can afford to be a bit more reckless.”

“Ha, and who was the one lecturing us about being less reckless just now?” Joon-gi Han teased, a rare smile on his face. He nodded at the group.

“Don’t need to ask me twice. I’m in.”

Ichiban looked around at the group, beaming with pride. If someone had told him he would be joining forces with the Ijin Three just a few days ago, he would have thought they were insane. His eyes met with Asuka and they exchanged an understanding look; he knew that she represented the Public Safety team working secretly in the shadows and he was infinitely grateful for her support. 

“Guys…thank you! Now let's go kick some ass!” he yelled, punching the air.

“Hold up!”

Zhao had just taken a call and was still holding his phone, a serious look on his face. 

“Seong-hui-san and Hoshino-san have some business to discuss with me”, he said. 

“Kasuga-kun, join us at my restaurant You Tian tomorrow for lunch.”

“Your restaurant?” Ichiban scratched his head. “Gee thanks for the invite but I’ve got no idea where that is!”

“That won't be an issue”, Zhao replied coyly, his gaze falling onto Asuka. 

“You'll show him the way, won't you?”

Chapter Text

Asuka took Ichiban to You Tian the next day. As they ascended the stairs into the unassuming little diner, she couldn’t help but feel out of place. The Ijin Three were meeting to discuss important business, what was she and Ichiban doing in their company? Sometimes she wondered if both of them were the main characters of their own fantasy role-playing game. The heroes always seem to find themselves dragged into everyone else’s business.

Ichiban opened the door; Hoshino and Seong-hui were already there. The table was already laden with what looked like pork pepper steak and mixed noodles. They greeted Ichiban warmly but looked taken aback at her presence. 

“Um, yeah now that I’ve shown you here I guess I can leave,” she said in a bid to cover up the awkward silence. “You know how to make your way back-”

“Leaving already?”

They turned. Zhao had stuck his head out of the kitchen when he heard the door open.

“I cooked chilli shrimp again,” he hinted casually, before ducking back into the kitchen.

Asuka turned to look at the others. Seong-hui smiled and gestured to the spare seat next to her. While it wasn’t explicitly expressed, it was clear what Zhao’s instructions were.

“Well, this was unexpected but Zhao isn’t one to invite people he can’t trust,” Seong-hui said. Hoshino did not reply, but he peered at Asuka rather sternly. 

“We’ve all come this far together, surely you aren’t still questioning our trust?” Ichiban said.

Seong-hui laughed.

“Oh I’m not referring to Ijin Three business,” she said airily. “I’m referring to more….personal matters.”

Her tone did not suggest that it was a personal attack. If Joon-gi Han was privy to her true identity, there was no doubt Seong-hui was as well. And judging by her previous reaction when she found out Zhao invited her to You Tian, she must have an inkling on Zhao’s intentions. But was she referring to her allegiance or was she hinting at whatever it was that was going on between them? 

“Here! Enjoy!”

Zhao had emerged from the kitchen, carrying a ginormous supersized platter of his famous chilli shrimp. Hoshino groaned.

“There’s more food? God, I don’t think we can finish all of this!” he complained. 

Zhao chuckled.

“Don’t worry, Asa-chan here will help finish the chilli shrimp. It’s her favourite”.

Asuka did not acknowledge him, instead keeping her head low as she ladled the food into her bowl.

“Damn Zhao, you can really cook!” Ichiban praised, his mouth full of shrimp and noodles.

“So what are we here for?”

“Ah yes, that,” Zhao replied. He pulled out his phone and showed them a photo on it.

“Kume?” Asuka asked curiously. “What about him?”

“Well, we know he’s running for the election in this district,” Ichiban said. “Anything else?”

“It’s not just him, it’s other members of Bleach Japan too,” Hoshino revealed. “So we’re screwed.”

“Hoshino-san, are you implying Kume’s win is a done deal?” Zhao asked.

The older man sighed.

“Kume has the backing of Ryo Aoki. With how popular the governor is, it’ll be hard pressed to bet against him in the odds.”

“And Aoki will want to win this district to really make a point,” Seong-hui continued. “It’s Ogikubo’s district after all, and the optics of winning here will be good.”

“That’s exactly right,” Hoshino confirmed.

“He could fail to win other districts but this is a key one for him. Losing is not an option.” 

“Well I’m not going to sit around and let it happen,” Ichiban declared. “Don’t you agree?”

An awkward silence met him. Even Asuka didn’t say anything. 

“C’mon guys!” Ichiban rallied. “We’ve got to do something, otherwise we lose!”

“Well, we can’t let Bleach Japan get away with using the Omi Alliance to do their dirty work,” Asuka conceded. “Japanese society will crumble if we just let them control everything.”

“I understand,” Seong-hui said. “But he’s a politician, not some two-bit internet scammer. Besides, he’s even got the entire police department in his pocket so what hope do we-”

“That’s not true!”

Everyone turned to stare at Asuka. 

“There…There’s Public Safety!” she finally declared with confidence. Hoshino let out a derisive laugh.

“Ha, that lot? That’s where Horinouchi came from. If anything, that department is probably especially corrupt!”

It took everything within Asuka to swallow her words; how dare they question the integrity of her team? She couldn’t speak for other departments, but she could absolutely vouch for her people.

“Anyway, aren’t you the guys who found a way to survive in this city?” Ichiban asked. “You had to use some ‘interesting methods’, but you still did whatever you could to protect the people. Surely you can’t give up on everything just like that?”

“That’s true. You could have lined your pockets with Ogikubo’s dirty money, so why didn’t you?” Asuka asked.

“It’s because we wanted to stop war from breaking out,” Zhao said. “We wanted to put food on the table for everyone under our care. It was never about the money.”

“That’s the spirit! If you could stand firm in the face of so much temptation, isn’t it a piss-weak move to just give up so easily?” Ichiban asked. “I didn’t expect this from the Ijin Three!”

“Oi, watch your mouth,” Hoshino warned sharply. Seong-hui also glared at him.

“Actually, he’s got a point,” Zhao said animatedly. “If we roll over now, we’re throwing away everything we’ve worked for.”

He leant in towards Seong-hui, his face darkening.

“Don’t forget, I’ve left the Yokohama Liumang in your hands now,” he said in a dangerous drawl. “You’re responsible for their reputation and wellbeing now”.

Seong-hui returned his look with one of determination. They turned to Hoshino.

“Chairman, are you with us?”

The old man groaned.

“I was only here for the free meal,” he admitted. “This was not part of the deal!”

“I never said it was free,” Zhao said. “I said it was home-cooked, not free!”

Asuka snorted, but quickly straightened her face.

“So it’s settled then,” she said. “Let’s hit Ryo Aoki where it hurts!”

“Do you want me to kick him in the balls too?” Seong-hui asked. “I already kicked Ogasawara’s and Takabe’s, I’ll kick his too!”

“Uh maybe not!” Asuka said, looking slightly concerned. “I was thinking along the lines of taking the wind out of his sails, you know, damaging his momentum in the election.”

“Hehe, I thought you wanted us to become pirates for a second,” Ichiban joked. “But I agree, we need to ruin his reputation!”

“Huh?” Zhao looked puzzled. “Are you talking about bad press? A sex scandal perhaps? I could pretend to be gay and seduce him-”

“I meant making sure Kume loses the election!” Ichiban interrupted. He also thought it was a bit concerning how excited Zhao looked at the prospect of pretending to be gay to entrap Kume.

“Actually, that’s not a bad idea,” Hoshino said grudgingly. “But how can we ensure that?”

“I, uh, haven’t thought that far,” Ichiban admitted, drawing groans from the group.

Seong-hui looked thoughtful.

“Well, the Geomijul does have assassins-”

“No killing or stalking!” Asuka ordered sternly. “Besides, they’re like a Hydra: cut one scrub off, it just gets replaced with another dweeb. Rinse and repeat until they win.”

“Wait a minute, that’s it!”

Ichiban looked like he had just won the lottery. 

“We just gotta win the election!” he declared excitedly, like it was the most obvious thing in the world.

“We need a candidate first,” Asuka reminded him. “How can we not only find one, but find one that’s got a decent shot at getting more votes than Kume?”

Ichiban scratched his chin as he pondered that question. 

“Chairman, you’ve been around the longest,” he said. “Any ideas?”

Hoshino scowled, slightly offended at the small dig at his age. 

“I can’t say I have any,” he admitted. “Ogikubo held this seat for so long there had never been any opponent who even came close to defeating him.”

“What about you?” Ichiban offered. Hoshino choked on the piece of pork he was eating.

“Are you crazy?” he said hoarsely. “There is no way a yakuza is winning an election!”

“Besides, I’m trying to retire here! I’m in my seventies, for God’s sake!”

They looked around the room helplessly; Hoshino was too old, Seong-hui had her hands full with the Geomijil and the Liumang and the last thing Zhao wanted to do was manage an entire district of Yokohama. That was when Asuka was suddenly hit by a brainwave.

“Ichiban, would you do it?”

Shouts of “are you crazy?” echoed around the room. Asuka couldn’t blame them; she shared her sentiments too.

“It’s not just about putting your hand up and volunteering either,” Hoshino said. “It costs money to run for election. The deposit itself is three-million yen!”

They all baulked at the figure.

“Don’t look at me,” Seong-hui said. Zhao also shook his head. 

Instead Ichiban looked thoughtful.

“Actually…. money isn't the issue. I might be able to pool something together,” he said.

“Ichiban, it’s three-million yen,” Asuka said. “Where the hell do you have that much money?”

He laughed sheepishly.

“I’ve been investing”.

*

The group were back in the business district in Ijincho where Ichiban led them up to the top floor of a building. When the doors of the elevator opened, a large sign greeted them: ‘Ichiban Holdings’.

“Ok, is that company called ‘Ichiban Holdings’ as in ‘Amazing Holdings’ or is it actually your name on that signboard?” Asuka asked curiously. 

“Hehe, funny you say that,” Ichiban chuckled. “It’s actually both.”

They walked through the glass doors into a light filled, modern office space. It had a much more homely feel compared to Bleach Japan's rigid and highly sanitized interior. 

They approached a woman typing at her desk. Dressed in a grey blazer over a black blouse and pants, she had long, straight hair and a fringe that sat just above her eyebrows.

Ichiban made the introduction. 

“Everyone, this is Eri Kamataki. She's my secretary!”

Ichiban having a secretary felt like a surreal situation that only existed in a fictional world where he was someone with business acumen. Everyone went around the room and introduced themselves to the woman. 

“Nice to meet you all”, she said politely before turning to Ichiban and bowing.

“President”, she greeted him.

Everyone nearly fainted with shock. 

“President?” they echoed. “Since when have you been a President of a national company?”

“Oh right, I should tell you the story. Before we became ‘Ichiban Holdings’ the shop was known as ‘Ichiban Confections’. Eri here knew Nonomiya, the owner of Otohime Land”, and he was an early supporter of ‘Ichiban Confections,’ Ichiban explained. “That was Eri's family business and they sold senbei rice crackers and other traditional sweets. After Nonomiya died I thought it would be a nice gesture to continue supporting the business. It was tough at the start, but through everyone's hard work, here we are!”

He gestured around them proudly.

“I must say I'm impressed”, Joon-gi Han said. “I didn't think you knew how to run a business!”

“Hehe, well Eri-chan here does most of the work”, Ichiban admitted. “I jump into board meetings with stakeholders, answer questions from the press, occasionally apologize for things that are out of my control…. That's it really. ”

“When have you found the time to do these things?” Nanba asked, looking at him shiftily.

“Usually on our little breaks”, Ichiban replied. “I mostly give Eri directions and she executes them”.

Eri bowed slightly. 

“It is thanks to Kasuga-san that ‘Ichiban Holdings’ can enjoy the level of success it has today!” she said, her voice dripping with pride and clear gratitude.

“Hey Ichiban, less talking more sampling”, Adachi said. “You can't tell us about your products without showing us!”

Eri smiled as she disappeared under her desk. 

“Would you like some samples of our delicious senbei rice crackers and castella?” Eri asked, emerging with a box. 

“While we now produce over twenty flavors of crackers, I highly recommend our original salted shoyu crackers.”

“Can't go wrong with the classics!” Adachi said as he unwrapped an original flavored cracker. “Heyyyy, this is pretty good!”

Everyone picked a sample out of the box like a lucky dip. Asuka inspected the packaging on hers and her face fell: wasabi. Great, something spicy. 

Zhao nudged her.

“Swap yours with mine?” he asked, holding up his castella sponge cake. Her face lit up as she gratefully handed over her rice cracker, tucking into the soft confection. Much better than a spicy rice cracker. 

“This is so good!” she sighed. Zhao smiled as he saw her reaction; he knew she didn't like spicy food and was ready for her.

Erin beamed and flashed them a big smile.

“Please take as much as you like”, she said. “The leftovers get fed to Omelette anyway”.

“Omelette?”

Asuka looked around the room wildly, expecting a giant egg monster. Instead, she heard a loud cluck.

“There she is! Come say hi to our guests”

A white hen wandered out from behind a shelf, clucking noisily. Asuka thought her eyes were going to fall out of her head. 

“Who does she belong to?” she asked. 

“Omelette works here”, Eri responded casually, like it was the most normal thing to say. “She's like our company mascot!”

“Hehe nice!” Adachi observed. “Although she does look really delicious-owwww!”

Omelette had lunged out and pecked Adachi rather fiercely on his hand, leaving a small mark. 

“Adachi-san! You've upset her!” Eri scolded. “Omelette understands human language, you know?”

Adachi didn't know. He sulked as he took another cracker from the sample box, chewing furiously like a Great White Shark who had been thrown a bucket full of chopped up fish. Asuka found herself absent-mindedly patting Omelette, the hen settling down onto the floor as it fluffed it's feathers up.

“What brings you here today, Kasuga-san?” Eri asked. “Would you like me to organize a tour of the factory for your friends?”

“Maybe next time”, Ichiban said, opening up another pack of sugar coated senbei crackers. “I'm actually here on important business.”

Eri looked rather concerned. Ichiban had always trusted her with the daily management of the company and never came to her for anything. Was he going to dissolve the company?

“Eri-chan, I need you to transfer three million yen into my personal account”.

Eri stared at him. Oh no, was he bankrupt? Are these people debt collectors? She was starting to feel faint.

“Kasuga-san, do you mind telling me what that money is for”, she asked cautiously. “You're the President but I also have the right to know that you're not using company funds for….illicit activities”.

“He's spending it on hostesses”, Zhao piped up playfully. Ichiban pounced on him and covered his mouth. 

“Shut up and eat your crackers,” he hissed as Zhao's muffled protests failed to register. 

“Don't listen to him. I'm using it as a deposit to join the election as a candidate!”

Eri steadied herself by clutching the edge of the table. She looked even more taken aback at this revelation. 

“Kasuga-san, it's ok if you're seeing hostesses”, she said quietly. “Men have needs-”

“Oh my God, Eri! I wasn't joking!” Ichiban exclaimed as Saeko and Asuka turned blue in the face trying not to laugh. 

“I'm really joining the election as a candidate!”

Eri sighed. Ichiban had always struck her as someone who did whatever he wanted without caring about society's expectations. As long as it was for the greater good, he would do whatever was required even if he came off looking like a bit of a laughingstock.

“I guess it's better than wearing a mascot suit,” she conceded. “Are you still in touch with Michio-san?”

Ichiban laughed and shook his head. 

“Nah sounds like they're doing OK these days without my help!” he said. “So Eri-chan, when can you complete the transfer?”

“I'll organize it today”, she replied. “But I'll need to run it past the accountants, you should have the funds in your account in the next few days”.

Ichiban groaned. 

“Ugh what are we going to do for the next few days?” he complained. 

“So I'm assuming you're definitely going for it?” Asuka asked, Omelette clucking softly next to her.

Ichiban nodded. 

“I'll do anything if it's going to bring the Young Master back to his senses”, he confirmed with a firm nod. 

“I wish we didn't have to wait-”

His phone rang, interrupting his rant. 

“Hey, Aniki.”

Ichiban's heart leapt. It was the call he had been waiting for. 

“Mitsu?”

*

“Osaka?”

It was another meeting with the Public Safety team at the Safe House and everyone seemed taken aback at the sudden change in plans.

“According to Ichiban’s friend Mitsu, Masumi Arakawa is on his way to Sotenbori,” Asuka explained. “And he needs Ichiban’s help”.

“Hmm, Sotenbori…” Ishigami looked thoughtful. “That’s where the Omi Alliance is based!”

“That’s right. And there is no talking Ichiban out of it.”

“We have intel that Omi Alliance captain Masaru Watase will be released from prison soon,” Shinonome revealed. 

“I strongly believe that Arakawa is there to meet him.”

“Those two have never met,” Namba said. “Tensions will surely be high.”

“Do you think Arakawa will use this opportunity to eliminate Watase?” Asuka asked. 

“Probably not,” Namba replied. “All eyes still be on them during this time and Arakawa is unlikely to plan anything this drastic”.

That made sense. 

“So…are we all going up to Osaka?” Kurosawa asked excitedly. “I've never been and-”

“You need to stay put in Bleach Japan,” Goto interrupted. “Those takoyaki will have to wait”.

“Are you coming then?” Asuka asked hopefully as she turned to Goto. Before he could respond, the Chief spoke up.

“Kurosawa will need back up in Yokohama, so Goto, you'll have to stay too,” he ordered.

“Soma, please follow Asuka to Osaka.”

This was the exact scenario she was trying to avoid. 

“When are the rest of you joining us?” Asuka asked quickly, looking around the room hopefully.

“With Ichiban now joining the election, surely he will require some protection.”

“That is certainly a good reason,” Ishigami said, nodding his head. “Chief? What do you think?”

“I think it’s a fantastic excuse for us to deploy to Yokohama too,” Namba replied. “With the elections coming up, there will be plenty of security risks popping up nationwide. 

“Wouldn’t the Commissioner be suspicious?” Goto asked.

“He might,” Kaga warned. “But not obviously so, because he can’t be seen showing too much concern over one little corner of the country over the others.”

“We still need to tread carefully,” Ishigami advised. “While Kasuga will no doubt be aware of what we are there for, there still needs to be a degree of separation.”

“Does that mean I will still need to maintain my undercover identity?” Asuka asked, sounding disappointed.

“I’m afraid so, Hayashi,” Nanba said regretfully. “Until we determine the others can be trusted, you cannot reveal your identity.”

Asuka wanted to argue that Nanba, Saeko, Han and Zhao could definitely be trusted. If they couldn’t be, she probably would have been dead a long time ago. 

“Don’t worry,” Kurosawa assured her. “I’m sure we will all have a chance to meet your friends soon!”

Friends. Times like these Asuka strongly believed Kurosawa understood her better than Soma ever did. Kurosawa had met the group briefly during their sneaky tenure in the Bleach Japan Headquarters and even saved them from Takabe’s wrecking ball in a highly risky move. What had Soma done for her or the others? He had been a jealous wreck over the last few days over her and Zhao. She couldn’t blame him, after all she had shut her heart off and buried herself with work in his absence, only to openly canoodle with ‘the enemy’ right under his nose. 

What a goddamn mess they had created.

“So that’s settled,” Nanba said, clasping his hands.

“Kurosawa and Goto, you remain in Yokohama to keep an eye on Bleach Japan. And Hayashi and Soma, you will both head to Osaka together with Kasuga and Adachi.”

The meeting ended after everyone had formally said their goodbyes. Kurosawa turned to Asuka and Soma.

“Enjoy your trip to Osaka!” he said. “I wish I could go too, I could do with a break!”

“It’s not a holiday!” Asuka retorted. “The Omi are probably throwing some huge homecoming party for Watase, and a gathering of that many yakuza won’t be peaceful, I can guarantee you that!”

“Luckily Soma will be there,” Kurosawa said. “You’ll look out for Asuka, won’t you?”

Soma, who had been uncharacteristically quiet the entire time, flashed one of his ambiguous smiles.

“Of course,” he replied. “If I’m not there to protect Asuka, who will?”

Their eyes met and Asuka shifted uncomfortably. Sensing the tension, Goto grabbed Kurosawa’s arm.

“Hey, let’s go get a drink,” he said, dragging the brown-haired man out. Kurosawa started to protest.

“Huh? Wait but I want to keep talking to Asu-”

Goto pressed his hand over his mouth like a kidnapper abducting a child as both men stumbled out of the safe house. The door shut behind them with a click and the electric lock chimed, leaving behind a very awkward couple and an eerie silence.

“Asuka….can I have a word with you?” Soma asked. “Please?”

His voice was soft and gentle, just like Boyfriend Soma, not Detective or Instructor Soma. Asuka recognized that tone immediately and nodded, allowing herself to hear him out. He led her to the couch, where they both sat a reasonable distance from each other. 

“Asuka,” he started. “First, please let me tell you how sorry I am for breaking up with you all those years ago.”

That was unexpected. Asuka never wanted an apology, but that stemmed from never knowing the reason for the break up. Anyone could say sorry for anything, but until Soma actually told her why, she couldn’t say she would accept his apology.

“Why did you do it?”

Her question was loud and clear. She looked him in the eye again, challenging him to reveal the truth. Soma thought he was prepared for this moment, but now that he was there, with Asuka demanding answers, he felt himself faltering.

“Do you remember the Crimson Wings case five years ago?” he asked. 

“Yes, of course. The terrorist group that killed your sister. They finally caught everyone five years ago, didn’t they?”

That was done. It should have been done. That was when Soma finally put an end to his nightmare.

Unless..

“Not everyone.”

Soma showed her a photo on his phone. It was a hand-written note that only had two words on it:

She’s next

There were also photos of her that looked like they were taken from afar. One was taken of her leaving the Academy, and there was another of both of them leaving the hotel in Okinawa….

Asuka felt a chill run down her spine.

“Do…Do you know who’s responsible?” she asked.

“Koyanagi,” Soma replied. “He was the mastermind behind the attack. I heard he had escaped to New York, so I had to hunt him down.”

“Was that why you transferred?”

Soma nodded.

“Until I made sure Koyanagi was put away, I had to keep you safe.”

“What do you mean?” she asked, sounding confused.

“Koyanagi targeted you because he knew you were the most important person in my life,” Soma said. “I couldn’t risk him hurting you, so I….”

His voice faded. Asuka found hers.

“So that’s why you broke up with me?”

That was the question she had waited to ask the entire time and she did not hesitate. 

“Asuka, I’m sorry. I did what I had to-”

“Where is Koyanagi now?”

The tone in her voice suggested that she wasn’t asking for answers. She was demanding them.

“I poured all my time and resources when I was in Interpol to locate Koyanagi. And I finally found him two years later, in a bar in New York. I cornered him in an alleyway and things got physical. He pulled out a gun and I was careless, but luckily it was just a flesh wound.”

“You were shot ?”

Soma lifted his shirt, revealing the scar tissue of an unmistakable gunshot wound on his abdomen.

“At that time, I couldn’t feel anything. All I knew was that I had to get that gun off him before he finished me off. In the struggle, the gun went off again, except this time it hit him instead.”

“Koyanagi bled out in the alleyway. But before he died, he told me there was someone funding him and the Crimson Wings. That things won’t end just because he’s dead.”

“So that’s what you’ve been doing the entire time? Trying to find Koyanagi’s boss?”

“Yes. I can’t sit around and do nothing when I know there could be someone out there waiting to take a hit on you-”

“Why didn’t you tell me?”

It was a fair question that Soma realized he had no decent answer for. For once, he found himself speechless.

“Soma, you could have just told me!” Asuka said in a frustrated tone. “I could have helped! We wouldn’t have needed to break up-”

“I needed to keep you safe!” Soma nearly shouted. “If making sure you stay alive meant that I had to leave you, then…I had to do it!”

SMACK!

The noise echoed around the room, the sound of flesh on flesh. Asuka had brought her hand across Soma’s face, leaving her palm stinging. Soma looked exactly like how one would look when they got hit in the face; completely stunned and in a state of shock. The pain took a while to register with Soma as every neuron in his brain fought to give meaning to what had just happened. 

Did his sweet, gentle Asuka just…. slap him ?

Then there was the look on her face. Soma prided himself with being able to dismantle her facade and read her every move, but for the first time ever, he found himself unable to do so.

“All this time, I had been thinking I had fallen short of your expectations,” Asuka said in an uncharacteristically soft, hollow voice. 

“I thought I wasn’t good enough for you, and that’s why you left”, her voice starting to rise. “But now you’re telling me that the reason why you broke my heart was because you were trying to keep me safe ?”

Soma froze as he recognized not one, but several danger notes. Asuka had always been someone who wore her heart on her sleeve, that was the main thing Soma loved about her. However, one thing she was especially bad at expressing was her negative emotions, choosing to withhold them for fear of inconveniencing others. The only way Soma could tell was by the microexpressions on her face, the way her eyes would droop slightly and her lips would curl into that small, brave smile that was halfway between a grimace and a grin. Then there was the way she would emphasize certain words in the way she spoke, as if her natural cadence was interrupted by a broken metronome. 

This time, there was an incoming crescendo of emotions that was threatening to eventually blow him away. A hidden onslaught of repressed pain so ominous she might as well have been playing a symphony of impending doom.

“Asuka-”

“I NEARLY QUIT!” Asuka shouted. “If the only person who ever believed in me thought I was weak and useless, then what good will I serve if I remained in Public Safety?”

“Asuka, I don’t think you’re weak and useless!” Soma said urgently. “I…I just wanted to keep you safe-”

“Stop saying that!” she cried out, her voice starting to crack. “Stop with your bullshit, noble ideas! You abandoned me, you abandoned everything we had ever worked for just so you could feel better about nailing some…faceless kingpin who might not even exist? How could you?”

“I was always going to come back for you!” Soma insisted. “Once things were resolved-”

Asuka laughed scornfully.

“Once things were resolved?” she spat, tears starting to stream down her face now. “So you thought I would just…hang around, accept your apology and let you… fuck away all the pain you’ve caused me? Just like you used to?”

“Is that what you thought our relationship was?” Soma said, his voice also increasing in volume. “That I just…wanted to fuck you?”

“Don’t you?” she challenged fiercely. “Then why won’t you let me help you? Why won’t you let me share your burden? I’m a detective too! And I’m supposed to be your girlfriend as well! Or am I only good for a quick fuck to make you feel better about yourself?”

She buried her face in her hands, her shoulders heaving. Soma stared at her, stumped for words. A few days ago, he had caught a glimpse of what Asuka was like when she really spoke what was on her mind. When she no longer cared enough to hold back, every truth she spoke was like a dart through his trembling heart and a knife that skinned away everything to expose what was hiding underneath.

“Asuka, please..” Soma pleaded in a strangled voice, reaching out towards her only for her to pull away before he could grasp her.

“Don’t…touch me!”

Soma recoiled in alarm. Asuka was sobbing so hard her breaths came out in raspy gasps. Why didn’t he just leave it? They could have both moved on and that would have been the end of it. But this….this was even more painful than the day he said Goodbye and Good Luck.

Asuka grabbed her bag and raced out of the safe house, her laboured sniffling echoing down the corridor even after the door slammed shut. Soma remained rooted to the spot; he knew better than to chase after her. She had already made it clear that she did not want to be touched by him. He realized that he had not really thought about how she would react to the truth; had he been so complacent this entire time by expecting her to just accept his reasons and just accepting him back into her life? 

The spot where she had hit him still smarted. Every misunderstanding between them had always been resolved by his touch. When he held her and whispered sweet nothings into her ear, telling her how much he loved her, hoping those words and the way he made love to her would assure her how much she meant to him. Did all of that mean nothing to her after all?   

And now she’s gone, probably off into the arms of that wretched Zhao Tianyou. Soma thought he could never forgive Kaga for what he did together with Asuka, but this recent rival pissed him off beyond measure. He was positive that she had not been physically intimate with Zhao, but he had seen the genuine anxiety she showed when he was held captive. This was his last-ditch attempt to convince her that he still loved her and wanted to be with her, but instead he had been violently rejected.   

How could they ever go back to the way they were after this?

Soma’s phone rang. He answered it and held it up to his ear without checking who it was or saying a word.

“Shu?”

It was Goto.

“I just saw Hayashi in tears. She got into a taxi before I could get to her. What happened up there?”

Silence. 

“Shu?” Goto repeated urgently. “Shu, are you there?”

There was a heavy sigh. Followed by a voice that did not sound like Soma at all.

“Goto,” he uttered.

“I fucked up”.

*

Survive Bar

Ichiban strolled into the bar just before midnight, expecting to be the only patron in there at that time of the night. He stopped when he saw a familiar figure slumped on the bar counter. She had buried her face in her arm and Ichiban only recognized her by the clothes she was wearing.

“One more drink!” she slurred, putting her finger up to indicate what she wanted before her arm slammed back down onto the counter.

“Oi, Asa-chan! What happened?” Ichiban cried out in alarm. He turned to the bartender.

“How many has she had?”

“Five,” he replied vaguely.

“That doesn’t sound too bad,” Ichiban replied. “How did she get like-”

“Five shots of absinthe”.

She might as well have drank the entire liquor store out the back. 

“Ichiiiiiii!” she mumbled, smiling drunkenly. “Join me!”

Ichiban sat down next to her, handing over the glass of water that the bartender had given to him. She took a sip, frowning when she realized that it wasn't alcohol.

“Asa-chan, what happened?” he repeated. “You were fine this morning, did someone upset you?”

Asuka screwed her face up like a baby about to cry and nodded her head.

“Was it Zhao?” Ichiban asked fiercely? “I swear when I see him next I’ll-”

“Not Zhao,” Asuka interrupted, waving her hand flippantly as if she was swatting at invisible flies.

“The other one.”

The other one….was there another gang leader she was close to? Joon-gi Han? Who else did she know?

Oh. 

Oh.

“Asa-chan,” he lowered his voice so the bartender couldn’t hear him. “Are you talking about….the detective?”

“Yes, him,” Asuka confirmed rather aggressively. “Detective Shusuke Soma.”

So that’s what his real name was. 

“What’s he done?” Ichiban asked. 

“He lied!” she shouted so loudly the bartender nearly knocked over a cocktail glass.

Ichiban shushed her. He had to lean back as Asuka got so close to his face he could smell the alcohol on her breath 

“He dumped me five years ago and never told me why”, Asuka continued. “Today he told me the reason why he did it was because he wanted to protect me! What sort of bullshit reason is that?”

She slammed her fist on the counter at the last word. The bartender frowned from the other end of the counter; he appeared to have conveniently distanced himself from to give them privacy, but he still did not take too kindly to his countertop getting assaulted like that.

“Oh,” Ichiban replied, not sounding the least bit shocked. “Is that it?” 

Asuka’s head jerked up from the counter. 

“What do you mean ‘is that it’, you moron?” she said loudly. “Have you ever had someone you would do anything for? And have you had that person…that very person that you love so much just…rip your heart to shreds?”

She slumped onto the counter again, confident she had made her point. The heartache, the betrayal , nobody else could possibly understand-

“Actually yes, I have”.

Asuka sat back up and turned to look at Ichiban. He pulled his shirt down, exposing the bullet scar in his chest. 

“Arakawa-san shot me here,” he pointed. “Any further to the left and I would be dead. So yes, I have been hurt by someone who meant a lot to me.”

“Detective Soma broke up with you to keep you safe. Just like how Arakawa-san shot me to protect me.”

“But that’s such a....stupid reason!” Asuka argued. “Couldn’t he have...told me what he was doing so I could help him? Just like how Arakawa-san could have told you what he's planning by now?”

“Believe me, I ask myself that question everyday,” Ichiban replied. “It certainly would have been much easier, but they must have their reasons for doing so. I can’t say I fully understand why Arakawa-san did it, but at least you know why Detective Soma did.”

That's true. At least Asuka knew the truth now, but that still doesn't mean she's not upset at him 

“Ichiban, why aren’t you angry at Arakawa?” she asked, genuinely curious.

“Because he’s my patriarch," he replied simply. “I trust him and believe that he would never do anything to intentionally cause me harm.”

For the longest time, Asuka believed that about Soma too. Right until a couple of hours ago, she still trusted him. 

But how could she trust him when he couldn't trust her enough to take on Koyanagi together?

“So you’ve forgiven him?” she asked.

“No”, Ichiban replied. 

“Because he never did anything wrong to begin with.”

Asuka scoffed.

“I’m not as noble as you,” she said. “Even if Soma didn’t want to hurt me, he still did. And nothing is ever going to change that.”

She was right, but Ichiban was certain that was not the only thing that hasn't changed. 

“Asa-chan,” he asked gravely. “Do you still have feelings for him?”

“Huh?”

“Do you still have feelings for him?” Ichiban repeated, a little slower that time. “If you don’t care about him anymore, why are you so upset now? You got your explanation for why he broke up with you, so why not just move on?”

Why did she care so much? She got her answers, she should have the closure she always wanted. 

So why does it still hurt so bad?

The door to the bar opened with a soft tinkle. The patron stopped mid-whistle and stared at the two people at the bar, hardly believing his eyes.

“Kasuga-kun, Asa-chan? What are you doing here at this hour?”

“Hey Zhao,” Ichiban greeted him. “I wanted to come here for a drink before bed, and I found Asa-chan already here.”

“Is she ok?” he asked in alarm. Asuka had slumped back over on the counter again and the only sign of life was the soft groan that emitted.   

“She will be,” Ichiban said confidently. “She just needs to sleep it off.”

“In that case, should we take her upstairs?” Zhao asked. 

The bartender and Ichiban eyed him suspiciously.

“Don’t look at me like that! I’m not going to do anything inappropriate!” he snapped.

Helping Asuka off the bar stool, Zhao put one arm around his shoulder. Just as Ichiban was about to do the same, Asuka vomited violently onto him. 

“Ah shit!” Ichiban swore, pulling a disgusted face as the vomit slopped onto the floor. Zhao hurriedly grabbed a napkin and wiped her mouth before offering her another drink of water. 

“I’ll manage,” he told Ichiban. “You go clean yourself up. I'll help mop the floor afterwards.”

Zhao scooped Asuka up in his arms and took her to the spare room upstairs, Ichiban's irate swearing echoing fading as he closed the door behind them. He laid her down on the futon he usually slept on and covered her with the blanket. Her head lulled to the side and she let out a soft sigh. Zhao brushed a finger against her cheek; it wasn't like her to drink herself to oblivion like this, something, or someone, must have really upset her.

He got up to leave, but she suddenly grabbed his hand tightly.

“Don’t go,” she whimpered. “Please don’t go.”

He sat back down and stroked her head reassuringly.

“I’m here,” he said softly. “I won’t leave you.”

“Really?” she asked, her voice starting to tremble. 

“Yes,” he replied. “I promise I will never leave you”.

She threw her hands around him and pulled him in for a deep kiss. Unlike the previous time she had initiated a kiss, this time round she was ferocious . Zhao found himself wrestling with her as her tongue enthusiastically found his. He knew she was drunk and he wasn’t one to take advantage of her, but she had now dragged him down onto the futon on top of her and had wrapped her legs around him. He felt more like the one who had been taken hostage by the situation. 

With great difficulty, he freed his mouth from hers. 

“Hey, are you sure?” he said. “You’ve had a lot to drink and I-”

She didn’t reply. All she did was drag him back down again. The smell of alcohol lingered, but Zhao didn’t care. This aggressive version of Asuka was surprising, but he can’t say it wasn’t welcomed. Her hands reached out and tried to undo the buttons on his shirt, fumbling on every single one as she struggled to find them in the dark.

Shit, was she really going to do it?

He clumsily took his jacket off and his hands cradled her face. Her hands slid inside his half-unbuttoned shirt, groping his chest greedily. His lips slowly trailed down her neck, instead this time he didn’t stop at the imaginary line he had drawn for himself previously. His fingers traced the curve of her breast before he rested his palm against it, drawing a soft gasp against his lips. His mouth kissed her jaw, then just a little further down against her neck. Her scent and her warmth was different in this area. She let out a soft 'ah!' just as hands slipped under her top, feeling bare skin that was as smooth as silk. He rested his hands on her breasts again, the sensation of lace and flesh driving his imagination wild. Her legs were clamped so tightly around him he felt like she had him in a submission hold, one he would be happy to be at the mercy of. Their hips instinctively pushed against each other and Zhao realized it was starting to hurt. He had never desired her more and now that she had led him right to the watering hole there was no way he wasn’t going to quench his thirst on it.

He lifted her top up, the light just bright enough for him to admire the scene before him. She was wearing a lace-cup bra that was completely unpadded, which meant that he could see everything showing through the fabric. His hands cupped her breasts and he put his mouth over the raised bump, feeling her let out a moan that was way too loud for that time of the night. She writhed around underneath him like an animal in heat, clawing at his hair desperately.

He pulled the lace aside and put his mouth directly on her skin. She squirmed and cried out, pushing herself even harder against him as he bit, licked and sucked on her. Her body was more perfect than he could ever imagine. His four poster bed in Qing Jin and ambient mood lighting would have been a bit more preferable, but there was still something incredibly erotic and forbidden about this cramped, messy space.

God she was a noisy drunk.  

She was getting so loud he did the only thing he could to keep the volume down. He put his lips against hers again but they did little to smother her. Her hands found the waistband of his pants, sliding past it easily as her soft palm encountered his hard flesh. 

“Asuka…” he gasped, doubled over with pleasure as he felt her touching him. He was horrified for a split second when he realized he had used her real name, but he had always wanted the real her. And with how far they had come tonight, Zhao decided that he was going to stop pretending too.

No more holding back on what he wanted.

He started kissing her bare stomach, his hands exploring her torso and hips as his fingers found the front of her pants and unbuttoned them. There was a flash of black lace, a sight that excited him immensely.

Then just as he was about to undress her, he heard it.

“....Soma.”

Zhao felt like the entire floor had collapsed from underneath him and plunged him into an ice bath. He hurriedly brought himself back up to her level again and noticed that there were tears in her eyes. She was still mumbling deliriously and Zhao couldn't make out what she was saying, but it didn't matter. 

He had heard enough. 

He straightened up her clothes before he pulled the blanket around her again. Just as he got up to leave, she spoke again, loud enough for him to hear this time. 

“Don't go!”

Zhao clenched his fists and took a deep breath, steadying himself before he left the room without a word.

When he got to the bottom of the stairs, Ichiban and the bartender immediately looked up at him. Ichiban was bare chested, his just-cleaned shirt and suit jacket hanging up on a wall to dry. All three were caught in an awkward stare off, made even worse by the silence.

“Um, that was quick!” Ichiban said cheerfully in an effort to break the ice. Unfortunately, it had the opposite effect. 

“Yeah…that wasn’t for me,” Zhao replied, feeling the pits of his stomach burn and bubble like lava.

“I….don’t get it?” Ichiban replied in confusion. He had no idea what Zhao was talking about, but what he did know was that he had never seen Zhao look like that. There was none of his trademark cocky swagger, he just looked rather…defeated.

Like a man who’s just had his dreams crushed to dust.  

“Never mind, I’m going to the bathroom,” he muttered, slipping past them and heading to the back where they soon heard what sounded like the shower going on full blast.

“Hey Mr Bartender,” Ichiban said cautiously.

“You…might want to invest in some additional sound-proofing for the room upstairs. Just saying.”

“You gonna cover the costs?” he deadpanned without missing a beat.

Ichiban immediately went back to drinking his beer in silence.

*

Asuka woke up the next morning feeling like she had been clubbed over the head. The sunlight streaming in through the window was making her eyes hurt and she could smell alcohol and the faint smell of dried vomit on her clothes.

Gross.

She looked around her groggily; where was she? She remembered asking the bartender to serve her his strongest and nastiest drink because it was the only way she could stop thinking about Soma and his stupid bullshit excuses. She also remembered talking a lot to some guy with boofy hair which she strongly suspected was Ichiban, after which it was a blank. 

She made her way downstairs, steadying herself as her head swam. The bartender was already there, wiping the counter top and rearranging glasses on the shelves.

“Ah, you’re up!” he greeted her with a small smile.

“Good morning,” she said. “Where are the others?”

“They’ll be here in the afternoon,” he replied. “Joon-gi Han went to see Seong-hui and Zhao went to Ichiban’s place”.

That's right, Han and Zhao had been sharing the spare room upstairs. She couldn't believe she had inconvenienced them to this extent. 

“I'm so sorry for causing so much trouble last night,” she apologized. 

“Don't worry about it”, he said. “You're not the first person to throw up at the bar.”

Ok that was bad. But it wasn't too bad. Unless…

“Did I do anything else”, she asked. 

The bartender looked at her. 

“Not down here”, he replied. “I can't speak about what happened upstairs, but that's none of my business”.

Asuka felt a sinking feeling in her stomach. All she could remember was a drunken conversation with Ichiban at the bar, after which she woke up on the upstairs futon. She couldn't imagine navigating those stairs in her drunken state; someone must have carried her up there. 

“Want some breakfast?”

Asuka nodded enthusiastically. The bartender was known to be quite a good cook and often whipped something up from them with freshly picked ingredients in the planter boxes he had in front of the bar. Who knew being hungover could make her stomach rumble like that? Asuka could do with one of those supersized Shooting Star Ramen bowls from that place Soma took her.

Soma. He was the reason she even got that drunk to begin with. She held her head in her hands, the very thought of him was making her head pound and her heart feel like it was going to splinter all over again.

The kitchen door swung open and the bartender emerged with a tray of food. “Gee, thanks for preparing this!” she said, marveling at the spread. There was a steaming bowl of what looked like chicken and ginger congee, warm tea and some turmeric tablets.

“Oh I didn’t cook this,”the bartender said. 

“You…didn’t?”

“Well, the turmeric tablets are mine,” he said. “I always keep some on hand for drunk customers. Everything else I just heated up in the microwave.”

Asuka had a mouthful of the congee; the umami of the chicken stock and shredded chicken mixed with the subtle spice of ginger was not only a perfect palette cleanser, but also felt like a warm, comforting hug from someone who loved her very much. 

“Do you know who prepared this?”

The bartender leant on the counter.

“It was someone who clearly cares about you very much,” he replied. 

Her eyes felt dry and sticky; just how much did she cry last night? And to what extent did she embarrass herself? She had never enjoyed drinking and always took great care to not get drunk, especially not while undercover. 

Maybe she'll ask Ichiban. He was the last person she remembered seeing. 

She pulled her phone out. There were so many notifications, surprisingly all of them from people she didn't expect. There were several calls from Goto, no doubt calling on behalf of Soma. Then an unfamiliar name in the list leapt out at her: Captain Hideki Ishigami. The Captain had not contacted her individually ever since they started their mission in Yokohama, it must be important. 

Excusing herself, she rang him back.

“Hayashi”, her captain's voice answered on the second ring. 

“Captain?”

“Yes?”

“Did you call me last night?”

“I was returning your call”, he replied. Ishigami was never one to beat around the bush and today was no exception. 

“My…call?”

Just as he expected. Total wipeout.

“You had a lot to drink last night, didn't you?”

Asuka wasn't sure if that was a question or a comment.

“How did you know?”

“I heard your voicemail”, Ishigami said curtly. “You were definitely not ok.”

Asuka nearly died of embarrassment. She had absolutely no recollection of having left any messages to anyone.

“I'm sorry. I…I should have been more responsible.”

Ishigami sighed. Asuka braced herself for his wrath to descend upon her. Ishigami was not a hot head like Kaga, who threw insults with as much enthusiasm as a ninja throwing shurikens. Ishigami's approach was stone-cold and he played the disappointed father role perfectly. 

Getting blasted with insults or hit with a guilt trip, Asuka wasn’t sure if she preferred one over the other. 

“As long as you're safe and haven't jeopardized the operation,” Ishigami said in a stern but concerned voice. “That's all that matters”.

“Yeah I’m fine,” Asuka assured him. “I…I’m sorry for disturbing you last night. It’ll never happen again.”

Ishigami pursed his lips.

“Glad to know you’re ok”, he replied. “I’ll let you go and remember to stay safe”.

As he hung up, Ishigami sighed and massaged his temple, his eyes closed. Kaga, who was in the same room with him, peeked out from behind his laptop.

“Bit early to be this depressed," he said snidely. That would usually provoke a wonderfully irate reaction from his bespectacled foe, but Ishigami didn't take the bait, which surprised him. 

“What's that moron done this time?” Kaga asked, “Did she blow her cover?”

Ishigami grabbed a pudding cup from his desk drawer and sat down next to Kaga, who shot him a dirty look. Watching Four-Eyes eat that junk at this time of the day was not how he imagined a pleasant work day to start.  

“It's Soma”, he replied, ripping the cover off the top of the dessert. “They finally talked and….she knows all about it now.”

Ishigami jumped and nearly dropped his pudding when he heard a loud thud; Kaga had slammed his laptop shut. 

“Shit”, he muttered, looking genuinely stunned. 

“I knew the Chief pairing them together was a bad idea. I was against it right from the start.”

“Yeah, you and your stupid ‘hunch’ again,” Ishigami retorted.

“Well, am I wrong though?” Kaga argued. "It's got a better track record than your robot senses!"

Silence. Ishigami not having a response was usually a triumphant moment for him but Kaga knew this was not the time to celebrate one of his childish wins.

“How bad is it?” he asked quietly, producing a flavoured mochi from his pocket. The plastic crinkled noisily as he opened it.

Ishigami brought up the voicemail Asuka left him and put the phone on speaker: 

“Captainnnnn…my Captain…sorry I'm calling you so late but…Soma is a jerk and I can't work with him anymore. I also hit him and I don't think he'll ever forgive me for that but that's OK because I won't forgive him either because who the hell just…dumps someone then comes back years later and gives some stupid bullshit excuse and expects it to be OK? *sniffs* Sorry…there's a lot of snot and it's making it hard to breathe so sorry if my voice sounds weird but yeah, I'm really, really mad at Soma right now. Yeah. Fuck that guy. Not literally though, because that'll be weird and you're not gay, but yeah, fuck him.”

The half eaten piece of matcha flavoured mochi lay forgotten on the table as Kaga stared at Ishigami, a look of bewilderment and amusement on his face. If Ishigami wasn’t so concerned about Soma and Asuka, he would have made a snide comment about his appearance.

Instead, the bespectacled man cleared his throat.

“I think we might all need to make a trip to Yokohama sooner than expected,” he finally said.

Chapter Text

The journey to Osaka was noticeably subdued. Asuka received a message from Ishigami advising that Goto would now be the one going to Osaka with her instead. The hearty breakfast of congee and herbal tea did make her feel better but she spent the entire trip keeping to herself.

Saeko, who say next to her during the trip, suddenly nudged her.

“Hey did you and Zhao get into a fight?” she asked curiously. 

“What? No!” Asuka replied. “Why do you ask?

“I've noticed he's keeping his distance a fair bit today”, Saeko said. “Just making sure there's no trouble in paradise!”

“There isn't!” Asuka insisted, although come to think of it, Zhao had been noticeably less flirty that day. He too kept to himself and wasn't chattering away or teasing the others like he usually would. 

Perhaps he too had a lot on his mind. 

They arrived in Sotenbori a few hours later. At Adachi's suggestion, they found themselves in a club, the Cabaret Grand. Credit to him, this one was substantially less seedy and the light jazz music actually made the place seem high society. The stage, lit up with spotlights screamed 80’s kitsch and the neon lights spelling out the name of the venue were of a similar vintage.

Ichiban was glued to his phone, staring at the screen all night like he was hypnotized. Never one to turn down a drink or a party, it was a rare sight. 

“Oi, Ichiban,” Nanba said. “You know staring at your phone all night isn’t going to make your friend call you faster, right?”

“Yeah! join us for a drink!” Zhao said cheerfully, downing his beer with a little more enthusiasm than required. It was already his fourth for the night. 

“Ugh, this is why I wanted to come alone!” Ichiban snapped. “For the last time, this isn’t a holiday!”

He got up from his seat and stormed off impatiently. Asuka immediately got up and ran after him.

“Ichiban, wait!”

He turned around and frowned. 

“Sorry, but I can’t sit around and relax,” he said. “Goddamn it, why hasn’t Mitsu called already?” 

“Mitsu’s probably busy planning for Watase’s release,” Asuka reasoned. “Give him time.”

“What for? To organize the catering for the big party at Omi HQ?” Ichiban retorted sarcastically. 

“Look, you’re the one who came here a day earlier,” Asuka reminded him. Ichiban pouted obstinately and she knew they had reached a standstill with this topic. 

Time to talk about something else. 

“Hey Ichiban, I'm sorry I put you out last night,” she apologized. “Hopefully I wasn't too much trouble”.

The change in subject seemed to have put him in a better mood. He grinned and gave her a thumbs up. 

“No sweat! Vomit washes out with water anyway”, he assured her. 

Looking around to make sure they were alone, he dropped his voice. 

“Everything ok with…Detective Soma?”

Asuka felt like someone had splashed her with a bottle of champagne fresh out from an ice bucket. 

“What? How? Ugh…”

So that's how drunk she was. Rattling off about Soma and throwing up on Ichiban. And drunk calling Ishigami.

What a disaster.

“Don't worry, I haven't told anyone”, Ichiban whispered back. “Although…”

“Did something happen with Zhao last night? He took you upstairs and um, looked a bit upset when he came back down again.”

Never mind that ice-cold champagne, Asuka now felt like she had been hit by a lightning bolt.

“I…I was upstairs with Zhao?” she stammered. “D..Did we…”

Ichiban shrugged.

“I don't know what happened upstairs, and it's none of my business,” he added hastily, eager to avoid discussing what he had accidentally overheard. 

“You will have to take it up with him directly.”

Good God, perhaps she really shouldn’t have asked. She had been thinking about Saeko’s observation about Zhao suddenly keeping his distance and she stole another look at Zhao. He was deep in conversation with Joon-gi Han, an ever-increasing number of empty beer bottles piling up in front of him. But he wasn’t the only one drinking like a fish because Adachi started walking unsteadily over towards them.

“Ichiban,” he started, his face ruddy and his speech slurring slightly. “If you’re going to be like this, just go to Omi HQ.” 

“Go home Adachi, you’re drunk,” Asuka interjected. “You do realize we’re not just walking into Poppo for a tuna onigiri, right?”

“‘Course I do,” Adachi replied, waving his hand around casually and nearly slapping a server in the face. “I just thought…it might be good if we were around before shit hit the fan, you know? Since there’s talk that Arakawa and Watase could get into a fight and everything.”

Surprisingly deep insight from someone who was dead drunk. Although, what made sense in theory probably won't in practice. Just as she was about to raise her concerns, Ichiban shot her a determined look. 

Asuka sighed; here they go again!

So that was how they all found themselves loitering outside Omi Headquarters that same evening. There was a lot of activity in front of the compound and not even Ichiban’s magenta suit was enough to draw attention to them. 

“Wow, they really are delivering a lot of food for the party,” Asuka quipped as they stayed out of sight behind a large truck. Ichiban was busy trying to call Mitsu, getting noticeably more agitated as time went by. 

After what felt like a million attempts, Mitsu finally answered.

“Hey Mitsu, I’ve been trying to call you all night,” Ichiban hissed. “What took you so long to get back to me?”

“Sorry Aniki, I haven’t been able to have a moment to myself,” Mitsu replied. “I’ve been busy organizing the catering.”

“Yeah I can see,” Ichiban replied. “Are you delivering a whole roast pig or something? Those guys are seriously carrying in some huge platters.”

“What the? How do you-Aniki!” Mitsu sputtered. “Don’t tell me you’re here ?”

“Yeah I’m downstairs. Just outside HQ,” Ichiban replied airily. “Arakawa-san is in there, isn’t he?”

“Are you insane? Yes he’s here but I can’t just let you in! Listen, give me some time. I…I’ll arrange a meeting-”

“I can’t wait any longer!” Ichiban argued. “I’m about to go crazy here!”

“I did tell you to come only when I called, didn’t I?” Mitsu shot back. “How is it my fault?”

Ichiban scratched his head sheepishly.

“Well…yeah you might have said something along those lines-”

“Might have? I definitely said that!”

“Yeah whatever, I’m already here so let’s just roll with that!”

“No, Aniki,” Mitsu said in a firm voice. “You need to get the hell out of here immediately! Do you have any idea how dangerous it is out there?”

“Dangerous? There’s barely any Omi guys here,” Ichiban observed. “Unless the catering guys are all armed ninjas, I can’t see anyone or anything remotely dangerous here.”

“Aniki, please listen to me-”

“Mitsu,” Ichiban interrupted sternly.

“I need to see Arakawa-san tonight. Which room is he in?”

“I…I can’t tell you that!”

Ichiban narrowed his eyes.

“That’s ok,” he replied in a low, threatening voice. “I guess I just need to look for myself then!”

“Are you crazy? Do you have any idea how big the building is? You’re guaranteed to run into the entire Omi Alliance if you just go poking around inside!”

“In that case, tell me where to look so I don’t have to stick my head into every room,” Ichiban countered.

Mitsu let out a huge sigh.

“Fine. Arakawa-san is in a room called the Dragon Chamber. It’s a room deep within HQ. He’s there with three guests.”

“Great, thank you, Mitsu.”

They could still hear Mitsu protesting on the other end when Ichiban hung up the phone. 

“So I’m guessing we’re going in?” Nanba asked. “Any idea how though?”

Ichiban suddenly looked blank; he had definitely not thought that far forward. He had been committed to storming HQ regardless, but now that he had to do it by stealth….well Ichiban Kasuga and ‘stealth’ don’t exactly go together in the same sentence.

“Wait a minute….the catering!”

Saeko pointed at the staff unloading the trucks. There were quite a few of them roaming around and there should be enough uniforms to go around.

“There’s quite a few of us,” Adachi said, doing a mental count in his head. “Will we be able to get our hands on seven sets of uniforms?”

Joon-gi Han smirked.

“Leave it to me,” he said. “I can guarantee you that nobody does stealth better than me in this group.”

“We’ll believe you when we have seven bodies here,” Asuka joked. 

“ Uniforms , Asa-chan,” Ichiban corrected her. He turned back to Joongi-Han.

“No killing, promise?”

The hitman flashed him an ‘OK’ sign. Putting his mask on, he stepped around the corner and…simply vanished.

Saeko grabbed Asuka’s arm.

“You saw that, didn’t you?” she whispered. Asuka nodded slowly in disbelief.

“Did he just….disappear?”

“Maybe he turned invisible?” Nanba offered.

“That’s basically the same thing, isn’t it?” Saeko replied. 

“Who cares, whatever it is, we can’t see him anymore,” Asuka said. “Even his clothes though? Damn, you reckon he’s going to reappear naked?”

“I would appreciate it if you all stopped thinking about me naked while I’m not around,” a disembodied voice rang out. They all jumped when Joon-gi Han suddenly reappeared in their midst, holding a set of the catering company’s uniform. To their relief, he was fully clothed.

“What. The. Hell was that?!” Saeko asked in a strangled voice. “Secret Geomijul assassination arts?”

“Something like that,” Han shrugged, throwing the uniform to Zhao.

“Sit tight, I’ll be back with more.” 

And just like that, they had managed to procure a set of clothes each, along with a lot of questions about Han’s newly discovered ability.

“Why don’t we just let Han go inside while he’s invisible?” Nanba reasoned. “It’ll be a lot safer than all of us busting in there.”

“Yeah, but I want to be the first one to see Arakawa-san,” Ichiban replied.

“Once again, if you’re scared you’re free to leave. I was always going to do this alone anyway.”

“And let these sexy uniforms go to waste?” Adachi asked, striking a pose. “Surely not?”

“I’ll also want compensation for wasting my time,” Han piped up. “Going invisible so many times in a short space of time uses up a lot of my stamina.”

As they continued to bicker, Asuka scanned the area and noticed something rather alarming. 

“Um guys, where's Zhao?”

The group looked around wildly, realizing that they were indeed one person short.

“Hey guys! Look what I found!”

Zhao emerged from the back of one of the trucks, holding several large catering boxes.

“Nothing like the right props to complete the look!” he said gleefully.

The group armed themselves with a catering box each and looked at Ichiban for further direction. He couldn't help swell with pride; while he was frustrated that the others had chosen to tag along, he also acknowledged that there was strength in numbers.

He would not have come this far without them.

Now fully dressed in the catering company’s uniform, they all approached the building cautiously. 

“Act natural,” Ichiban muttered.

They held their breath, but the guards did not even bat an eyelid. Everyone exhaled collectively when they were waved through.

“Ok, now we look for the Dragon Chamber!” Ichiban declared.

After they strolled in unopposed, they realized that there were a lot more people in the building than they anticipated. They were patrolling the corridors and looked extremely hostile.

“We’re just here to deliver the food, we’ll be fine,” Ichiban assured them as he tried to walk on through. However, Adachi grabbed his arm and held him back

“I still think we should try our best to avoid being seen,” he cautioned.

They crept along the corridor like they were mercenaries in a Southeast Asian jungle, which was no easy feat considering there were seven of them. Not even boy bands had that many members. At one point, Saeko found herself stranded in no man’s land just as an Omi Alliance member was just about to turn around. Luckily, Joon-gi Han was able to pull her back behind a pillar before she was spotted.

“That was close,” Saeko whispered, breathing heavily as she clutched her chest. “Are we nearly there yet?”

They finally caught sight of two large, heavy-looking doors. Following Ichiban's lead, they burst through them thankfully but their relief was short-lived as they nearly collided into three startled looking men.

“Where are you going?” they demanded.

Ichiban cleared his throat importantly.

“To the Dragon Chamber!” Ichiban replied cheerfully. “We’re delivering the catering!”

The men raised their eyebrows.

“Did the acting Captain ask you to go there?”

“Arakawa-san?” Ichiban asked. “Ah yes he did!”

“That’s strange, where’s your escort?” the man asked suspiciously. “Everyone summoned by the acting captain has one.”

“Oh uh….but we’re delivering food! Maybe he’s so hungry he didn’t care about escorting a bunch of delivery people.”

“Yeah we’re just caterers,” Adachi piped up. “What harm could we do?”

The men shook their heads.

“No way, we ain’t letting civilians wander around! Did the acting captain himself summon you? What is your name?”

“I…uh, am part of the Arakawa family,” Ichiban replied cautiously. The man frowned.

“You didn’t answer my question. I asked what your name is.”

“My name is Ichiban Kasuga.”

A collective groan sounded around the room.

“Oi, why did you give your real name?” Nanba hissed.

“There’s no point pretending at this point,” Ichiban hissed back.

“Pretty cool name,” the man replied, sounding genuinely impressed. “Although that’s also the name of the guy the acting Captain shot in Kamurocho! What are you doing here?”

“Oh shit,” Nanba replied, slapping his palm on his forehead. 

“Here we go,” Joongi-Han muttered, cracking his knuckles. 

“Guess there’s only one way out of this,” Adachi said.

Saeko swung her handbag around and clocked the men on their jaws. They tried to retaliate but Zhao was ready for them. He struck at them with the precision of a praying mantis, causing them to sink to their knees for Asuka, Ichiban and Joon-gi Han to deliver a synchronized, well-timed knee into their faces.

“Whelp, that didn’t take long,” Nanba observed, flashing everyone a thumbs up.

“We should hide the bodies,” Ichiban said, looking at the unconscious men.

“Did you have to say it in such a creepy way though?” Asuka complained as they dragged the men into a corner of the room so they were out of sight.  

“Ok let’s go the the Drag-”

“Heeheeeheeee!”

A shrill laugh rang out, echoing around the room like a pack of hyenas having a party.

The group felt their hair stand on end as they turned around. 

“Intruders! Sound the alarm! Heh, that’s what they usually say in the movies, right?”

Two men had emerged at the top of the stairs and were making their way down towards them. The one who was cackling away had his hair slicked apart in the middle and was wearing an eyepatch. His torso was clad in nothing but a jacket decorated with a snakeskin texture, exposing flashes of his colourful tattoo on his chest. The man next to him, his hair cropped so closely to his scalp he was nearly bald, was dressed in a khaki green jacket with a fur trimmed hood. Built like a tank, he watched on silently, happy to let his more flamboyant counterpart do the talking.

“Sorry guys, you caught us at a bad time,” Ichiban said. 

“What a coincidence!” the one-eyed man exclaimed. “I was gettin’ real bored in here. Time for me to have some fun!”

Adachi turned to Ichiban and gave him a determined nod.

“Let’s take them out too before they call for help!”

“Us? Call for help?”

The stoic, larger man had decided to speak.

“I don’t think we’ll be needing any help.”

“Well that’s great news for us!” Ichiban taunted. “Because there’s more of us and only two of you.”

Zhao looked worried.

“Hey Kasuga-kun, I wouldn’t be too excited just yet,” he warned.

“I have a feeling these two aren’t just grunts.”

The one-eyed man cackled.

“You, I like you,” he pointed. “You’re pretty sharp!”

Nanba suddenly retreated behind Ichiban.

“Zhao’s right. Those guys…something’s off about them!”

“Well, this is the entrance to the Dragon Chamber,” Asuka reminded him. “You can’t expect it to be guarded by a bunch of nameless goons, right?”

“You’re right, even in Dragon Quest we had to defeat something powerful before we could get anywhere important!” Ichiban said.

He walked up and stared down both men.

“Hey, you with the eye patch. I heard the Tojo Clan used to have mad dog with one eye,” Ichiban called out.

“That’s you, isn’t it?”

The man howled with laughter again. They certainly got the ‘mad’ part right; the man sounded and looked completely unhinged. Asuka had met her fair-share of crazies on the job, but none of them had ever emitted a murderous aura quite like this guy. The other guy next to him might not have said much, but she also knew that the quieter they were, the more power they hid. Those were the rules, and she was sure that her Dragon Age-loving friend Ichiban would not argue with her logic.

“Wouldn’t you like to know?” the one-eyed man asked mockingly, a crazy glint in his eyes. “I guess you gotta beat it out of me!”

“Ya sure talk a lot of shit, Majima,” the man next to him continued in a deep, Kansai-accented drawl. “Ya sure ‘ya can still fight after all these years? Ya gettin’ pretty old.”

“Give me a break, Saejima!” he complained. “We’re basically the same age!”

He turned to the group and grinned.

“I hope you’re ready for me! Goro Majima!”

Seemingly drawing out a blade from nowhere, Majima cartwheeled through the air and landed gracefully at the bottom of the stairs before lunging out at Ichiban with his weapon. He only just managed to get out of the way, the blade slicing off strands of his scruffy hair.

The others gathered around him and raised their weapons.

“We can do this!” Ichiban encouraged them. “There’s only one of him.”

They felt their spirits rouse, strengthening them from within. Majima ran towards Ichiban again and stabbed him twice in quick succession, which he managed to block with his bat.

“This guy is fast!” Saeko cried out. “Is there anything we can do to slow him down or reduce his defence?”

“What about fire?” Nanba offered, pulling out a bottle of alcohol he had nicked off the shelves of Survive Bar.

Ichiban wound his bat up. “I’ll back you up!” he roared.  

The duo ran towards Majima, Nanba drank some alcohol and pulled a lighter out, creating a flamethrower that shot out like a dragon breathing flames. They heard Majima shriek, but Ichiban wasn’t done. He followed up with a huge upward swing of his bat, sending the one-eye yakuza flying.

“Yes!” the others punched the air. This appeared to be working! Majima was-

Majima got up, looking even more deranged than before. He did another cartwheel and it looked like he had split into three, as two glowing purple figures emerged from him. 

“I thought I would even the odds!” all three Majima’s said at the same time, their voices clashing and echoing eerily. 

Everyone’s jaws dropped.

“Um, if any of you guys have any duplicating abilities, now would be a good time to let us know!” Ichiban said, looking around hopefully.

“We’ll just have to hit them all at the same time,” Adachi told him. “Nothing we haven’t done before!”

One Majima was bad enough, but three? He might as well be everywhere at that point. Majima was extremely stab-happy and his hand-to-hand combat wasn't shabby either. Asuka only just managed to deflect his one-two punch and kick combo and she suddenly found herself standing next to Zhao, their weapons collectively drawn and held up in an attacking stance. They looked at each other and for a moment their hearts stopped; their trust in each other wavering. Recognizing the hesitation on her face, Zhao took control. 

“Hey,” he said, gazing into her eyes. “Let’s do this together.”

He pulled out a bottle of baijiu.

“When I throw the bottle in the air, you shoot it, ok?”

Asuka put her kendo sword down and drew her gun from her holster. 

“I’m ready,” she nodded.

Zhao turned to Nanba.

“Nanba! Let me borrow your lighter!” he yelled. Nanba obliged, and he caught it cleanly in his left hand. He looked at Asuka and nodded.

Balancing the bottle of alcohol on his sabre, he threw it in the air and Asuka took aim. She fired when the bottle began its downward trajectory, shattering it over Zhao’s sabre and Majima. 

“GREAT SHOT!”

He flashed Asuka a quick smile of thanks, before he flicked the lighter on and lit his blade on fire. 

“Time to heat things up even more!”

He brought the blade down onto the ground, lighting up the trail of alcohol that had spilt out everywhere. Majima leapt into the air as the flames licked at him and his doppelgangers. He stumbled around, shouting noisily as he tried to put the flames out and the two purple forms faded.

Yes! They had defeated his clones! Victory is nearly in sight-

“Is it my turn yet?”

Saejima, who had been watching silently the entire time, landed on the bottom of the stairs with a thud, cracking his neck menacingly. 

“Shit, not this guy too!” Ichiban groaned. He turned to the rest of the group.

“We’re in it for the long haul, if you need to take a break to heal up then do it! I can’t risk any of us getting knocked out!”

Saejima shot Majima a look. They both smiled ominously. 

Majima started running towards Saejima.

“Let’s go!” both men yelled in unison.

Majima leapt onto Saejima, wrapping his legs around him in a headscissors. Saejima caught him and swung his body around, whipping Majima around the room with his knife out like a bladed windmill. Everyone screamed as the knife nicked them in several spots; Saeko was cut on her arm, Joon-gi Han got slashed across his chest and Asuka felt her right shoulder sting.

Shit, that was her shooting arm.  

The men were not done. After generating enough momentum, Saejima let go, launching Majima across the room towards Ichiban, who dove out of the way. Majima rebounded off the wall and hurtled towards Ichiban again, right at the same time Saejima pulled his fist back.

“And…now!”

Ichiban let out a huge roar of pain as Majima’s knee found the back of his neck and Saejima’s fist connected with his midsection. Saejima’s fist felt like a bounder had been dropped onto his stomach, crushing his internal organs. He fell onto the floor limply as the others watched on in horror.

“ICHIBAN!!!!!” 

Asuka tried to rush out but found herself held back. She turned around and realized that it was Zhao. 

“You can’t go out there alone!” he shouted. “We need to work together!”

“He’s right,” Adachi said. “We’ll focus on healing, then we’ll take out Majima first!”

Miraculously, Ichiban stirred.

“G..Guy’s I’m fine!” he said, his assuring grin turning into an excruciating grimace as he tried to stand up straight.

Nanba clenched his fists. He raised the bottle of alcohol and the lighter which Zhao had returned to him.

“You'll be sorry you hurt my friend!” he roared. Leaping into the air, Nanba downed the rest of the alcohol. He then spat it all out against the flame on the lighter, creating a huge fiery vortex that engulfed Majima.

After the fire and smoke cleared, Majima was revealed to be sprawled on the ground. But there was no time to celebrate, as Saejima was still very much alive and standing.

Spurred on by Nanba's heroic efforts, Ichiban felt his spirit rouse once again. 

“Let’s finish this!” 

The others gathered around at his battle cry. Ichiban threw himself at Saejima, knocking him towards Nanba who spat out more flames at him. As he stumbled backwards, he found Saeko who delivered a well-timed and well-intentioned kick to his groin. Saejima dropped to his knees with a squeak, only for Asuka to swing her kendo sword across his face. Zhao intercepted with a lunging strike to his throat, like a vicious viper. Joon-gi Han was waiting, delivering a roundhouse kick which caused Saejima to spin and stumble right into Adachi charging at him like a bull. 

“It’s over!”

For the final finish, Ichiban ran up to the stumbling Saejima and hit him with a flying drop kick. He yelled in agony and everyone watched with baited breath as the man mountain finally fell to the ground.

“We did it!” Ichiban cheered, gasping for breath. “We defeated those nut jobs…”

His voice trailed away in horror as they all watched both Majima and Saejima get back on their feet.

“This feels amazing!” Majima cried out, wiping blood from the corner of his mouth. “I haven’t had so much fun in a long time!”

Saejima agreed. The seven way battering seemed to have done little to even bruise him.

“I guess we can stop holding back.”

“Did…he say he was holding back?” Asuka asked in a small voice. “He's kidding right?”

“I can’t do this anymore!” Saeko wailed, clutching her bleeding arm. “Are these guys monsters?”

“That’s enough!”

Ichiban felt his heart stop.

Right at the top of the stairs was a familiar figure, one he hadn’t seen in a long time. 

“Can we please hold off on the fighting until tomorrow, Ichi?”

“A..Arakawa-san!”

Asuka had never met Masumi Arakawa and he was nothing like she expected. He was a soft-spoken, older gentleman with a distinct scar across one side of his face. She found it hard to believe that this was the same man who shot Ichiban in cold blood. 

But there was one more surprise in store for them. 

Following on his heels was another man.  Dressed in a smart white shirt and a dark grey pinstriped suit, the man looked to be in his early-forties. His shoulder length hair was neatly combed back and his face was lightly stubbled.

“Ichi, this is the sixth Chairman of the Tojo Clan, Daigo Dojima.”

Chairman….of the Tojo Clan? Weren’t they taken over by the Omi Alliance?

Saeko clutched Asuka’s arm.

“Whoa, who’s that daddy?” she whispered in awe.

“I think Arakawa said his name was Daigo Dojima,” Asuka replied, similarly transfixed at the appearance of the rather dashing older man.

“Uh huh, Dad-go…Dad-jima,” Saeko recited back. “Got it.” 

“That guy there is one of mine,” Arakawa said to Dojima with pride. “Ichiban Kasuga from the Tojo Clan’s Arakawa family.”

Dojima nodded with approval. 

“I see you’ve met Goro Majima and Taiga Saejima,” Dojima said, seemingly ignoring the chaos they had caused. 

“They’re on our side?” Majima screeched. “Why didn’t you say so earlier? What a waste of our time!”

“Oi, you’re the one who attacked us first!” Ichiban argued.  

“Majima-san, please,” Arakawa said. “There will be plenty of fighting for you tomorrow. ”

He addressed the rest of the group. 

“Follow us into the Dragon Chamber.”

The Dragon Chamber wasn't exactly as intimidating as it sounded. It was basically a sitting room where board meetings were held, although Ichiban was slightly disappointed at the lack of literal dragon references.

They settled into leather couches right in front of the Omi Alliance crest sigil.

“Before we start,” Arakawa prefaced. “I need to let you know that we’re the only people who know that Dojima, Majima and Saejima are here right now.”

“Why’s that?” Ichiban asked curiously.

“They’ve been lying low since the Kamurocho 3K plan got implemented.”

“The Kamurocho 3K plan?” Asuka asked sharply. “The same one your son implemented? That plan succeeded because they had inside intel on the Tojo Clan.”

“We’ve heard the rumours,” Adachi confirmed. “So was it true? Who leaked it?”

Arakawa paused.

“The one who leaked the intel,” he started. “Was me.”

Ichiban looked at Daigo Dojima expectantly but he did not move a muscle.

“Chairman…what happened?” he urged.

“Arakawa leaked the intel with my full approval,” Dajima finally said. “I needed him to play the role of the traitor, and that involved having to shoot you. So please don’t blame him for that, it was on my instructions.”

“It all started when Masato was elected Governor. He decided that he wanted to use the Arakawa Family’s resources to leak intel so he could crush the Tojo Clan under the 3K plan. When I refused, he threatened to have me arrested under anti-Yakuza laws.” 

“The Young Master did what?!”

“Sawashiro came up with an idea to bargain with Masato. He said we should ask for a pass in exchange for the info he wanted. That’s when I turned to the Chairman. I thought he would understand Masato, seeing as they were of similar age.”

“Hehehe, Chairman you sure are popular with the older guys!” teased Majima.

“And middle-aged women,” Nanba muttered, looking at Saeko and Asuka.

“Oi, I’m only thirty!” Saeko snapped as Asuka shot him a dirty look.

“I figured that if Masato didn’t get what he wanted from the Arakawa family, he would move on to threatening other families in the Tojo Clan. It was only a matter of time before someone betrayed us, and then things would be beyond our control.”

“Anti-Yakuza laws are so open to interpretation it would be easy to arrest Arakawa under any clause, even under false pretences. That in turn gives the government and law enforcement almost complete control over the yakuza.” Dojima explained. 

“And I have no interest in being a slave to the government.”

Strong words from the former sixth Chairman. Asuka had never met a high ranking person from the yakuza before and she suddenly found herself in the presence of four of them. Excluding Majima and Saejima’s unpredictable behaviour, Arakawa and Dojima carried themselves very differently. Dojima reminded her a lot of Chief Namba, albeit less prone to the odd, offhand goofy comment.  

“Do you think I’m being dramatic?” Dojima asked. “Masaru Watase, captain of the Omi Alliance, was the first victim. Then one of his subordinates who fought back about police harassment got done simply by being associated with him.”

“We have been in hiding this entire time, preparing for this day to come.”

“You…had to wait for Watase to be released before doing…what?” Ichiban asked nervously.

“Hang on, you’re not going to-”

“Launch an attack? No, that’s not what we have planned at all,” Dojima assured him.

Ichiban heaved a sigh of relief, but that feeling was short-lived.

“We are going to disband the Omi Alliance and the Tojo Clan.”

It was fortunate that Ichiban was not drinking anything, because he would have spat the contents right into the face of the sixth Chairman of the Tojo Clan. 

“D-Disband?” Ichiban uttered incredulously. “But how? Why?”

“Unless Watase had a change of mind while in prison, we both are of the same mind.”

“There’s no way the current yakuza would accept this, right?” Asuka said. “They won’t go down without a fight.”

“We anticipated that,” Arakawa acknowledged. “That’s why I need all the help I need. Allies I can trust.”

Arakawa looked directly at Ichiban when he said that. Ichiban suddenly remembered that someone else had mentioned those exact same words to him before. Someone close to him, someone-

“Mitsu told you that, didn’t he, Ichi?”

For the second time that night, Ichiban realized that Mitsu had said a lot of very cryptic but very important things to him recently. Perhaps it was worth listening to his friend a lot more. 

“It took time for us to set things up,” Arakawa continued. “We have the sixth chairman to thank for this.”

“It wasn’t just by my own efforts,” Dojima said. “Watase was involved too. We both share the same concerns about the future of the yakuza. The problem was, how can we break up the largest yakuza faction in Japan without a war?”

“The 3K plan putting Watase behind bars was also terrible timing. We had to tread carefully during this time as one wrong move would start a coup.”

“So we decided to roll with it. First of all, we had to ensure the 3K Plan succeeded.”

“How?”

 “First, we got Arakawa-san to leak the intel which helped drive the Tojo Clan out of Kamurocho. Secondly, I had to continue playing the role of the Tojo Clan traitor,” Arakawa revealed. “And that involved inviting the Omi Alliance into Kamurocho.”

“This ensured that the massive Omi forces in Sotenbori were split in half,” Dojima continued. “The current defences are much thinner and more manageable now.”

He turned and nodded at Arakawa with a small smile.

“It was an amazing effort to get this done during this time. When Watase is released tomorrow, we will announce the disbanding when he arrives at Omi Headquarters.”

So that was what Mitsu meant when he was talking about Arakawa-san's plans. And his stupid ass nearly ruined it by barging into HQ like a headless bull. 

But could they do it by themselves? The Omi Alliance was the largest Yakuza faction in Japan, and there was only....twelve of them including Mitsu.

"Chairman, is this all of you?" Ichiban asked, gesturing to Saejima and Majima.

"There's nobody else from the Tojo Clan that survived the 3K purge?"

Asuka thought she might have been imagining things. When Ichiban asked that question, she thought she Daigo Dojima look at Masumi Arakawa for a millisecond. 

A look that was rather...concerning.

"It's just us," Dojima confirmed finally.

"Nobody else."

*

“You all did WHAT?”

Ichiban had to hold his phone from his ear at arm’s length. He had called Mitsu to update him and to say the man was terrified was an understatement.

“Did you just say…that you fought Majima-san and Saejima-san? At the same time?”

“Uh, yeah,” Ichiban replied. Mitsu groaned.

“Please don’t do anything that stupid ever again, I’m begging you, Aniki!”

“Whatever, Mitsu! All I know is, Arakawa-san needs us and I’m here to help!”

“Aniki,” Mitsu said quietly. “Are you sure? Are you really going to help us?”

Ichiban scoffed.

“Mitsu, why are you still talking like this?” he lectured. “We just took on Maijima and Saejima, remember? You think a bunch of nutjobs like us are still afraid of a bunch of Omi goons after all that?”

“We’ve all made a promise,” Nanba spoke up. “We’re all in this together.”

“Ok,” Mitsu conceded. “Have some rest. We’ll need you all at full strength tomorrow. Take a taxi to HQ in the afternoon and I’ll come and bring you inside.”

On that note, the group returned to their inn in Osaka where they all went their separate ways into their respective rooms. Still unable to shake off the feeling of uneasiness, Asuka reached out and touched Zhao’s arm. The man froze before turning to look at her expectantly. The rest of the group disappeared up the stairs, leaving them quite alone. 

“Hey,” Asuka started. “Did um, something happen between us last night?”

He tilted his head, the shades obscuring his eyes and preventing her from reading him. Again.

“What happened? Well you got drunk, I took you upstairs, laid you to bed and then left,” he answered with a smile. 

That was a simple enough explanation. But that still didn’t explain his sudden lukewarm behaviour.

“Is that it?” she asked. “You're…not upset at me at all?”

“Of course not!” he replied pleasantly. “Why would I be mad at you?”

Zhao genuinely meant that. What happened last night broke him in a way that he was still coming to terms with, but ‘angry’ wasn’t the way he would describe how he felt.

How could he be angry at someone whose heart he never had to begin with? 

“Thank you for the congee,” she said softly. “It was delicious.”

Zhao’s heart leapt. She knew.

What she clearly didn’t know, was what she had uttered in her drunken haze last night. She still sought his attention, which implied that she didn’t want to distance herself from him. But this time, Zhao was the one who felt like he needed the distance. 

“I’m glad you enjoyed it,” he replied, his insides burning with a curious combination of pride and anguish. 

“Good night, Asa-chan.”

“Wait!”

Zhao turned and looked at her again. She looked anxious and troubled, like she was about to burst if she didn’t say what she needed to say.

“Would you like to explore Sotenbori together?” Asuka asked. “I heard there’s lots of delicious food out there!”

She sure is persistent tonight. Twenty four hours ago, Zhao would have given one-half of his family jewels to have this opportunity to spend time alone with her, but right now he couldn’t think of anything more painful.

“I’m sorry, maybe not tonight,” he said apologetically. “I would really like to rest and recover before tomorrow.”

He noticed her face drop with disappointment. It was exactly the same as when she was a child; first the corners of her lips drooped and then her eyes would follow. Subtle, but always noticeable for someone who had known her for that long.

“You should rest too. How’s your shoulder?”

Asuka winced; the stinging pain suddenly reminded her about her wound on her shoulder. Majima’s knife had been so sharp and so precise they were lucky him and Saejima were ‘holding back’. She had a strong feeling that if they had gone all out, none of them would be alive right now.

“As expected. Go get Nanba to check that wound out, I don’t want it getting infected,” he continued.

“Good night, Asa-chan”.

Asuka suddenly found herself all alone in the corridor of the inn. Unwilling to retire into her room and be alone with her thoughts, she decided that perhaps she could channel her energy into her work.

She dialed a number.

“Hayashi?”

Thank God.

“I trust you’re in Sotenbori too?”

The man on the other end grunted his confirmation.

“Meet me under the giant crab sign in fifteen minutes, I’ve got an update on the Omi situation.”

*

Asuka ransacked Nanba’s first aid kit and dressed her wound before changing her clothes and hurrying down to one of the most iconic spots in Sotenbori. She had nearly forgotten about her mission and it was only Zhao’s rejection that pushed her to contact her Public Safety team member. He had messaged her earlier telling her he was a few minutes late so Asuka decided to explore the area.

As she approached an okonomiyaki stand, she suddenly heard a familiar voice call out.

“Hey I know ‘ya!”

She turned around and saw a man holding a tray of takoyaki approaching her. That mop of red hair, that distinctive Kansai accent…it could only be-

“Officer Black Lace, is that really ‘ya?” the man asked in a booming voice. “Fancy seeing ‘ya in Osaka!”

“Detective Tennoji,” Asuka nodded. “Are you on holiday?”

“Visitin’ family,” he replied, gesturing around him. “I’m a Kansai boy, in case ‘ya couldn’t tell.”

That Kansai accent and that rowdy voice wasn’t exactly subtle. Asuka wondered how Metro PD put up with him.

“I keep forgettin’ to ask for ‘ya name,” he pressed on. “I told Kirisawa to ask last time when he rang your Chief but he forgot!”

“My name is Asuka Hayashi”.

“That is a pretty name!” he said. “‘Ya here on holiday too?”

“Actually I’m working-”

“Ahem!”

As if perfectly synced, Seiji Goto sidled up to them and put his arm around Asuka’s shoulder. He shot Tennoji with a look so fierce it made the bold man recoil.

“Cool it Kansai boy, she’s with me,” Goto said in an unceremonious growl.

Tennoji’s eyes widened. 

“Wait a minute…’ya that other guy in the strip joint!” he exclaimed. “Don’t tell me y’all-”

“We’re part of the same team, yes,” Asuka replied hurriedly.

“I’m sorry Tennoji, but we really have some business to discuss. It was nice seeing you though!”

Goto led Asuka away and Tennoji disappeared as they were eventually swallowed by the crowd. Even though it was getting late, it seemed like the locals were not deterred and the streets seemed busier than ever.

“What an obnoxious guy,” Goto muttered, lighting a cigarette as they finally settled down in a street corner. “Imagine working with him at Metro PD!”

“He seems pretty funny,” Asuka replied. “Just because he’s a bit flirty doesn’t mean he’s a bad detective!”

“Ever thought about showing some of that empathy towards your own team members?” Goto queried, a cloud of smoke temporarily obscuring him. “To Soma, perhaps?”

Asuka frowned; why was he bringing this up now? 

“We’re not here to discuss personal matters, Goto,” she said in a cutting voice. 

“Then when are we?” he shot back.

“We are in this predicament because both of you refused to talk about things earlier.”

He wasn’t wrong. Asuka was hoping that going over the case with Goto would help her take her mind off things, but instead he had decided to talk about their personal lives.

Goto never interfered with her personal life before.

“Have you spoken to Soma recently?” Asuka asked.

“Right after I saw you leave the safe house,” Goto replied. “He’s…not ok.”

Whatever Asuka was expecting, that was ten times worse. 

“What…what did he say?”

Goto sighed.

“Nothing,” he replied. “He didn’t say anything the entire time I was with him. He just sat there all quiet. Like he was just…broken.”

That sounded horrifying. Soma had always put up a happy facade in front of everyone, even though he was battling turmoil internally. He must have been severely affected for him to forget to put that mask on.

“I’m guessing you haven’t forgiven him?”

“I’m still trying to come to terms with it,” she admitted. 

“Do you hate him?”

“No!” she replied immediately.

“I…I could never hate him. I’m just….confused. Goto, I’m sorry but I genuinely don’t have an answer for you right now.”

Goto couldn’t blame her. Suddenly finding out the truth of a break up five years later must have been a shock but he was confident that she had been waiting for Soma to ask her to come back to him. Unless…. 

“Hayashi, do you like someone else?” 

At that moment she was reminded why she was thankful she never worked this closely with Goto. He was nowhere near as ruthless or tactless as Kaga but the man was like a sniper, piercing through anyone’s defences with just a few choice words.

“I….I don’t know.”

So it wasn’t a straight ‘no’. Goto knew what that meant when she was hesitant like that. Asuka was honest to a fault and would never hold back on expressing her feelings if she felt strongly convicted.  

“If it’s a case of you not being able to forgive him, then perhaps I could help convince you,” he said. 

“But if your heart is already elsewhere…..”

He gave her a look that nearly broke her heart. Asuka knew how close he was to Soma, how much he was rooting for both of them. She wished she could say that she could accept his love again, but she did mean a lot of the things she had said to him.

And some things you just can’t take back.  

“So, what’s the latest?” Goto asked briskly, snapping back into business mode. “Care to tell your handler what just happened at the Omi Alliance headquarters today?”

Chapter Text

Isezaki, Ijincho

Hideki Ishigami and Hyogo Kaga entered the apartment and shut the door behind them. They had both received permission to head to Yokohama ahead of schedule, with Shinonome and Chief Namba to join them once Asuka and Goto have returned from Sotenbori.

Needless to say, both captains weren’t exactly thrilled about the arrangement.

“Tsk, I don't understand why they're making us share an apartment,” Kaga said snidely as he sat down at the dining table. “I would pay out of my own pocket to have my own place.”

“Might I remind you that we are not on a holiday,” Ishigami replied as he started setting up his workstation on the other end of the table.

“There’s also only one room and one bed,” Kaga said. “Didn’t the Chief think this through? I would much rather die than share a bed with you.”

Ishigami glared at him.

“There are rollaway futons in the cupboard,” he replied. “Don’t worry, there’s enough there for the entire team to have a sleepover if required.”

Kaga made a repulsive noise that suggested that he was not on board with that idea. Ishigami too could also not think of anything worse than a slumber party with Kurosawa in the mix. Those two had more in common than they expected.

Kaga got up from his seat and stretched.

“Well, I’m going out for dinner,” he said, whipping out a cigarette and a lighter for his journey to the shops.

“I’m fine, no need to worry about me,” Ishigami replied absent-mindedly as he scrolled through his phone. 

“That wasn’t an invite”.

Ishigami didn’t respond as he checked his watch, looking rather concerned.  

“Nearly time,” he muttered under his breath. Kaga eyed him suspiciously. 

“Nearly time for what?” he asked sharply. Kaga couldn’t care less about how Ishigami spent his night, but he recognized that subtle, nervous twitch he had whenever he had something on his mind.

Not that he paid that much attention to what Ishigami did, of course. 

“Are you going somewhere?”

The bespectacled man finally looked up from his phone and directly at Kaga.

“I’m supposed to be meeting Soma,” he replied as he got up and shoved his phone into his pocket.

Of course. The reason they had arrived in Yokohama earlier was precisely because of…that situation. Soma and Asuka worked for Ishigami, although there was a short stint where Asuka received special one-on-one training with Kaga. Although initially dismissive of her abilities, Kaga saw her willingness to grow not only as a Public Safety officer, but also to move on from the heartbreak Soma put her through. And because of that, Kaga could confidently say nobody else knew Asuka better than himself.

“Oi, Four-Eyes.”

Ishigami’s hand, which was reaching out towards the door knob, paused in mid air. His eyes narrowed when he saw the look on Kaga’s face; that bastard always had that look when he was about to say something he would vehemently disagree with. 

It was most irritating.

“What now?”

Kaga’s lips curled into a smile as he twiddled his cigarette between his fingers. 

“I have a suggestion”.

Harbor Light

The bar door opened with a soft tinkle. Shusuke Soma dragged himself into the venue, feeling rather overwhelmed at the sudden increase in light and noise. He had shut himself in the apartment for the last couple of days and being thrust back into society felt a little surreal. Ishigami had contacted him a few days earlier telling him that he would head to Yokohama earlier for some ‘counselling’. 

Soma knew what that meant - Ishigami was great at helping his subordinates resolve their personal issues, but when those issues were of the romantic variety he wasn’t sure if his Captain was quite equipped to handle those. 

“Over here, Soma.”

He froze.

Instead of the familiar face of his Captain, he came face to face with the other Captain. 

“What are you doing here?” he asked with a frown. Hyogo Kaga was the last person he wanted to see at a time like this. Things had never been the same between them ever since Soma found out about the things Kaga did with Asuka. It took incredible self-control and patience for Soma to not cave Kaga’s face in upon his return from New York.

Patience that Soma now had very little of.

“Sit,” Kaga gestured to the empty stool next to him. “I ordered some food, it should be here-”

“I asked,” Soma repeated, his voice raising rather dangerously. “Why are you here? I was expecting Ishigami.”

“And Ishigami told me to come instead,” Kaga replied in a tone that suggested finality. He gestured to the stool next to him again and Soma finally took a seat grudgingly, a sour look on his face. It was rare to see such a blatant display of insubordination from Soma; he was by far the most unflappable member in the Public Safety team, but his enigmatic personality made it difficult to decipher his true feelings, and he was damn good at hiding those too. The only time he had ever lost control was when his loved ones were involved, and talking about Asuka to Kaga, the man who had seen the side of her that he never wanted to share, made Soma want to explode. 

The food arrived. The Harbor Light was a small, cosy local that was well known for serving homestyle comfort food, and Kaga had ordered some beef curry, gyoza and some rice and potato wedges. Soma, who had not come with the intention to eat, soon found his stomach growling. Kaga must have noticed because he smiled and picked his chopsticks up.

“Help yourself,” he said. “I ordered enough for two.”

Soma stabbed his chopsticks rather inelegantly into a piece of gyoza, shoving it into his mouth as he chewed in silence. Fresh, hot food sure tasted much better than the bento boxes he had been buying from the local Poppo. He had barely taken time to shave, much less gone to buy groceries and the dark circles under his eyes were extremely pronounced under the lighting in the venue. 

Valuing his life, Kaga decided not to make a comment about his appearance.  

“So you and Hayashi finally talked?”

Soma made a derisive noise through his mouthful of pork.

“I don't have to tell you anything”, he replied, his knuckles clutching the edge of the bar counter so tightly he was going to gouge a chunk out of the linoleum. 

“I don't know why Ishigami asked you to come tonight. He's my captain, not you.”

“I’ve also trained and worked closely with Detective Hayashi,” Kaga reminded him. “Seeing as I've spent more time working intimately with her I thought I would be in a better position to-”

Before Kaga could finish his spiel, Soma had grabbed him by the collar and pulled him in roughly. There was a loud clang as plates and glasses toppled over the counter top. There was an intensity in his eyes that they had never seen before, but Kaga remained unbothered. 

“I can see you're feeling rather upset,” he said calmly. “Shall we take this outside?”

After apologizing to the owner of the bar, Soma and Kaga found themselves next to the river. It would have been a rather relaxing environment if not for the light breeze blowing the slight stench of the river into their faces. Kaga lit a cigarette as he leant against the railing while Soma kept a wide berth; he had seen many people pissing into the river at that exact spot.

“You want to talk about it?” Kaga asked casually as cigarette smoke billowed around him.

“Don't you dare mention Asuka and the time you've spent together,” Soma snarled as he rounded on Kaga again. “Especially that time when you both…”

Soma couldn't say it.

“What happened between Hayashi and I happened between two consenting adults,” Kaga said. “Are you implying that she has no agency? Or are you accusing me of sexual misconduct?”

As angry as he was at Kaga, he knew that Kaga would never force himself on anyone. Which meant that Asuka allowed it, she wanted it.

And that was the truth that Soma had refused to confront this entire time.

“Was that why you proposed the training?” he asked quietly. “Do you have feelings for her too?”

Soma had calmed down, but Kaga noticed the tinge of defeat in his voice. A rare show of vulnerability from the Lieutenant. 

Kaga rolled his eyes. 

“Feelings? No way,” he replied flatly. “I proposed the training to take her mind off the break up. We needed a female agent who could use her…femininity to gather intel, but Hayashi was not ready. I gave her some rough hints on how to improve her confidence, and then…”

Kaga's voice trailed off. 

“She certainly surprised me.”

When Shinonome and Kurosawa told him the rumours, Soma thought his world had crashed down around him. He never dreamt that Kaga would be the one she would become intimate with. 

The more he thought about it, the more disgusted he felt.

“She asked me to help her become the best Public Safety officer she could be,” Kaga said.

“And she’s come a long way, don’t you think?” 

Kaga took Soma’s silence as a sign of confirmation. He put his hand on Soma’s shoulder.

“She's much more resilient than you think.”

“I know that,” Soma replied. “I have never doubted her abilities and intelligence. I just wanted to protect her.”

“Then why did you break up with her?” Kaga asked bluntly. “Surely wanting her to keep her safe didn’t involve breaking her heart?”

“I DIDN’T WANT HER TO GET KILLED!”

The silence that followed was deafening. Kaga noticed that Soma was trembling; this was the most distraught he had looked all night, even more so when he had him by the collar in the bar. Kaga's brow furrowed, Asuka’s life being in danger was news to him. Perhaps this was why Ishigami had fought so hard to be the one to meet Soma tonight; there was clearly some sinister motive that only their team knew about.

“Care to explain?”

And Soma did. He told Kaga everything, from the note to Koyanagi’s death. And he also told him the reasons why he did what he did. Goto told him it was a bad idea, Ishigami implied just as much. Would Kaga understand? He was prone to ‘lone wolf’ tendencies as well, going his own way and taking on battles so others didn’t have to. 

If anyone would understand, surely it’ll have to be Hyogo Kaga.

But instead of sympathy, the look on Kaga’s face turned from initial grave concern into one of scornful disbelief.

“Wow…you know what? I used to think you wanted the best for her. That's why you left, so she could step up and become stronger on her own terms,” Kaga said, shaking his head. “Instead, you choose to be a coward and-”

Kaga could not finish the sentence, because Soma's fist found his jaw. Momentarily blinded by the sudden burst of pain, the Captain stumbled but Soma grabbed him by the collar again and shoved him against the railing.

“I…am…not…a coward!” he growled as passer-bys leapt out of the way of the brawling men. Instead of retaliating, Kaga smirked.  

“Then why won't you face the truth?” he challenged Soma. “You're so afraid of losing her you would much rather hurt her and suffer in silence yourself! How can you not see anything wrong with that?”

The grip around Kaga’s collar tightened.

“My purpose is to protect my partner and keep her safe!” he shouted. “What would you know about looking after someone, you selfish asshole!”

Soma resorting to personal insults? He must be really pissed. He probably would have shown some restraint around Ishigami, but then again that damn Four-Eyed nerd wouldn’t have set him off like this. Strangely, this reaction seemed to be exactly what Kaga was looking for.

“Soma, I'll ask you something and I'll only ask you once,” Kaga said calmly. 

“Do you want someone to protect? Or do you want a partner?”

There was a moment of silence between them as Soma pondered his words.

“They’re both the same thing, aren’t they?” he finally answered. “You’re expected to protect your partner so I don’t understand what you’re trying to say.”

Kaga smiled.

“Have you ever worked as a bodyguard?”

Soma nodded. The Public Safety team often worked closely with the Bodyguard Department in escorting and protecting important public figures. Goto, Kurosawa and Ishigami had spent a bit of time in that Department, which was also where Goto met his best frenemy, Subaru Ichiyanagi. Watching those two bicker was always a highlight of every co-op mission.

“When you are protecting someone, that person’s safety and your own safety is entirely your responsibility,” Kaga mused.

“When you have a partner, the responsibility is split. Because you trust in each other, you complete the mission together.”

Kaga felt the grip around his collar loosen considerably. 

“In other words, you will never have to fight your battles alone again.”

Soma finally let go of Kaga as he let the words wash over him. Ishigami had severely reprimanded him years ago when he tried going after Koyanagi himself. He remembered the anger and frustration; why didn’t they just let him take care of things himself? Bringing the people who killed Kurume to justice was his fight, his burden to bear. 

Asuka was just his aide then, a student at the academy. But she stepped up boldly and told him to stop.

Told him to trust in Public Safety.

“Hayashi was the one who taught you the importance of trusting in our team,” Kaga reminded him. “So why won't you trust her? Let her stand by your side and you can both work through this together.”

Now, where had he heard this piece of advice before? Everyone close to him had urged him to do the same, but the fear of going through what he went through with Kurome was too much to bear. 

If Asuka was going to hate him for it then so be it. 

“I can’t lose her,” Soma said in a soft, scared whisper. “I cannot lose someone else I love ever again. Not like that.”

“Then she will leave this world knowing she stood next to someone who loved her and fought alongside her as an equal,” Kaga replied simply. “She will not blame you if something happened to her while on assignment. What she cannot forgive is that you made the decision to let her go and did not allow her any say in it.”

Soma had banked on his actions keeping her alive. What he did not factor in was seeing her alive and well in the arms of another man. Or perhaps there was a part of him that selfishly and arrogantly thought she would always wait for him? That he could just waltz back in and reclaim his place in her heart like nothing ever happened?

Idiot.

Shusuke Soma, you’re an absolute goddamn idiot.

“It's too late.” 

“It's not too late,” Kaga insisted. “When she comes back from Sotenbori-”

“No, Kaga, you don't understand.”

One look at Soma and Kaga felt all hope fade within himself. He genuinely wanted to help both Soma and Asuka patch things up and getting Soma to be honest was a huge step in the right direction. There was still work to do to convince Asuka, but he certainly did not expect Soma to be the one to throw in the towel.

“I think….”

“I think she's fallen in love with someone else.”

Sotenbori

After a nervy night at a local inn, the group met back outside Omi Alliance HQ the next afternoon. The mood today was completely different from last night; while there was still tension in the air, there was also a more sombre atmosphere. Was that how the Omi Alliance threw a ‘Welcome home from jail’ party for their Captain? It felt more like a cross between a funeral and a business conference.

They saw Mitsu waving at them in the distance, a rotund figure covered in paisley-print and grey suiting, the pinnacle of Yakuza chic. For people who liked to operate secretly, the Yakuza sure chose very attention seeking outfits. 

Ichiban took a deep breath.

“This is it,” he said, looking back at the group. 

“Are you ready?”

Asuka nodded alongside the others. She caught Zhao's eye and they both smiled in acknowledgment. Goto's question about how she felt about Soma still lingered on her mind. She was worried about him, but Zhao’s sudden cold shoulder was also bothering her a little more than she would like to admit. 

“Nice suit,” Ichiban said to Mitsu as they approached him. "Ready to party?"

“This is not a party,” Mitsu replied with a slight scowl. He had toned down his attire today and looked like how one would imagine a smart-casual dress code would work in the yakuza. Not like they were in a position to pass judgement; Zhao was wearing his leather jacket, Ichiban looked like a magenta flag in a sea of neutral colours and Nanba still looked homeless.

They entered the main hall, where the mood continued to be extremely business-like. It was less ‘seedy cocktail party’ and more ‘white-collar corporate conference’, if you could call the Yakuza ‘white collared’. Everyone was neatly dressed in suits and Asuka couldn’t help but notice that a lot of them were wearing gloves; a sign of missing fingers.

They caught sight of Masumi Arakawa from across the room, who gave them a curt nod of acknowledgement. Just as Ichiban was about to run across the room to greet him a booming voice stopped him dead in his tracks.

“Oi, hold it!”

A familiar figure sauntered towards them, a giant clad in navy blue wool decorated with pinstripes. It was Tendo, the former heavyweight boxer built like a tree that they nearly came to blows with back in Qing Jin. Asuka felt a slight shiver run down her spine and in the corner of her eye, she saw Zhao clench his fists.

“What are you guys doin’ here?” he asked in his cold Kansai drawl. “How did ’ya get in here?”

“Tendo,” Arakawa called out, walking over towards them. He was wearing a dark grey suit over a patterned shirt which was of a similar colour, with the Omi Alliance crest pinned smartly onto his lapel.

“Let him through, he’s a guest of mine.”

Tendo raised an eyebrow suspiciously as Arakawa flashed a slight smile.

“He’s the one I put a bullet through.”

Tendo laughed, a loud, braying noise that felt especially unpleasant.

“Oh, so it’s you!” he exclaimed. “That’s real dedication, making it here after all of that.”

Ichiban frowned, not saying a word to him. The exaggerated smile on Tendo’s face quickly faded as he turned to Arakawa again.

“If he creates any trouble today, you’re going to make sure it gets cleaned up, right?”

Ichiban wasn’t sure if he was trying to reassure or threaten him, and frankly he didn’t care. All he knew was Tendo was very quickly becoming the most troublesome person in the room. 

“I wonder what’s going to happen today,” Tendo said loudly as he looked around. To his surprise, Ichiban suddenly looked smug.

“Well I hope you’re ready, because this shit is really going to shake things up for the Omi Alliance!” Ichiban said cryptically. Asuka had to bite her tongue; that boofy-headed dumbass shouldn’t be saying so much at this point in time. They were just about to show their cards and he had just hinted that he ‘quite possibly’ had a really good hand.

A sudden hush soon fell over the crowd as everyone’s attention turned to the door. Ichiban and the group looked on in anticipation as the heavy doors swung open, revealing a small entourage of three people, one of them being Ichiban’s friend, Mitsu.

The guest of honour had arrived.  

“Captain! Welcome home!”

Loud greetings interspersed with applause rang out in the room. The crowd parted like water from the Red Sea as a middle aged man with slicked back hair entered the hall. That must be Masaru Watase, Captain of the Omi Alliance. Wearing a light grey pinstriped suit and a severe expression on his face, he looked every inch like a menacing, high-ranking member of the yakuza. His stern facade revealed nothing; just dogged determination. Would he uphold his end of the bargain? Or would he screw Dojima and the Tojo Clan?

Watase got up on stage and pulled a piece of paper out from his pocket. The applause and cheering immediately died down and the men all stood at attention, waiting with bated breath for his much-awaited address.

“One hundred years ago, a few men from Kansai founded the Omi Alliance,” he spoke in a deep, authoritative voice. “Before long, we soon earned a reputation for goin’ to war, costin’ us many lives of good men.”

He took a step back and bowed slightly.

“We are deeply sorry for the fear we have caused for locals over the years”.

A confused murmur sounded throughout the room. This was not the call to arms that the men expected. Why the hell was Captain Watase apologizing? 

“Uh oh, here we go,” Ichiban muttered to Arakawa, who was standing next to him. “Can’t say I’m surprised, but this is gonna get ugly.”

Arakawa only smiled gravely in response.

“Therefore I, Captain Watase, declare that as of today, the Omi Alliance of Kansai is formally dissolved”.

There was a split second of shocked silence before the entire room erupted. Men elbowed each other out of the way as they stormed towards the stage to show their indignation.  

“Impossible!”

“Why’re ya doing this, Captain?!” 

“This is bullshit!”

The men looking to rush at the Captain stopped as Goro Majima and Taiga Saejima emerged, emitting a threatening aura that kept everyone away from the stage. Ichiban and Arakawa soon joined them, forming a barrier between the stage and the angry Omi Alliance members. If Majima and Saejima weren't enough, this lineup was certainly the most intimidating vanguard the Omi Alliance had ever seen.

But Watase wasn't done. He turned his attention off stage as another man walked out, stepping aside to allow the other man to take the microphone. Another confused murmur came from the crowd as the stranger addressed them. 

“I am the Tojo Clan’s sixth chairman, Daigo Dojima”.

If there were still people in the crowd who weren’t upset, this introduction definitely sent every single person over the edge. 

“Tojo Clan? What the fuck is he doing here?”

Sensing the heightened hostility, the rest of the crew joined the existing vanguard of Ichiban, Arakawa, Saejima and Majima. 

Assured by the added protection, Dojima continued to speak.

“The Tojo Clan will also be disbanding as of today,” he said clearly and concisely. “Watase-san and myself will be the witnesses to the dissolution of each other’s factions. This decision was approved by the Omi chairman and Acting Captain himself, Masumi Arakawa.”

As all eyes turned towards Masumi Arakawa off stage, he smiled. Asuka, who was standing next to him, noticed a subtle, triumphant glint in his eyes. 

The fact that Arakawa himself orchestrated this angered the men enough to start rounding on the group again. 

“You’re a goddamn traitor, Watase!” a man yelled, walking up towards the stage in fury. He found his route blocked by Saejima, who stopped him right in his tracks by grabbing him by his head and tossing him effortlessly into a group of men like he was throwing out yesterday’s rubbish. Three more men walked up bravely, only for Majima to intercept with a graceful flash of his dagger. The men stood stunned as half of their ties fell to the ground, sliced off so cleanly and precisely that even their buttons stayed intact.

Ichiban stared in awe.

“Wow….that was so cool!" he marvelled. "I can't believe we're fighting alongside these legends themselves!"

“Now is not a moment to be a fanboy!” Nanba snapped. “Look at the number of Omi Alliance members in the room with us now! And that’s only half of them?”

“What’s wrong? Not enough to go around?” Ichiban asked, looking rather amused. 

“Don’t be an idiot!”

Despite the commotion off stage, Watase and Dojima appeared supremely unruffled.

“We’re taking this declaration to the Osaka police chief,” Watase announced. “I know you’re not happy about this, so try and stop me if you can!”

Someone should tell Watase that civilians don't exactly issue challenges like these. It looked like it would take a while for him to unlearn the ways of the yakuza. 

“I see it now, Arakawa-han”.

Tendo stepped out from the crowd, a giant among the sea of men. For the first time, a look of anger crossed Arakawa’s calm face. Tendo started to make his way towards him but Ichiban immediately stepped up. 

“Tendo,” Ichiban growled, his fists raised. “Don’t you even dare to lay a finger on Arakawa-san!”

Tendo smirked.

“This kind of fight only comes around once in a lifetime,” he said, cracking his knuckles. “So I gotta pick the side that will give me the most bang for my fists.” 

Ichiban was ready for him to throw the first punch, but Tendo turned around and took the spot next to him instead, raising a boulder-like fist against the Omi Alliance crowd.

Ichiban smiled uneasily at that unexpected development. 

“Good to have you on our side,” he offered. 

“Great, but we’re still outnumbered!” Adachi reminded him.

“It’s not like you to be this nervous,” Asuka quipped. “I expected that to come from Nanba.”

“Hey!” Adachi and Nanba protested in unison. 

“Stop it!” Ichiban lectured. 

“We can't afford to lose focus. This is a fight for the ages, and with you all by my side, we can't lose.”

He turned his attention back to the angry Omi Alliance crowd and let out a huge battle roar. 

“Let's go! I am so fucking ready for this!”

The sheer numbers of the Omi Alliance was immediately noticeable. It was ridiculous to think that there was still another half of the current number of men in Kamurocho. They each quickly found themselves fighting several men at once as they attacked from every single direction. The women soon found themselves very quickly overwhelmed. 

“I can't take this anymore!” Saeko shouted, fending off another group of men with her handbag. 

“Sa-chan, go hide out the back!” Asuka instructed as she rapped a group of Omi men smartly over the head with her kendo sword. Saeko had no formal combat experience and was in danger of getting seriously hurt.

“I can’t hide, no I won’t hide!” Saeko insisted. “I…I’ll support you all instead!”

She opened her bag to reveal that it was full of healing items and snacks. 

“Yell out if you need anything!” 

Ichiban sent three men flying with a swing of his bat just as Zhao downed the same number with a flourish of his sabre. Joongi-Han’s brass knuckles got a workout as he punched out every single person who dared approach him. Nanba, hesitant to use fire again, restricted himself to battering everyone with an umbrella as Adachi cleared the crowds easily with his trusty baton. Amidst the chaos, they only had eyes for what was in front of them, leading them to forget one very important rule:

Always be aware of your surroundings. 

“Die, Watase!!!”

Sensing an opening, a man had picked up a stray dagger on the ground and was charging towards the stage. Asuka watched it unfold but she was too far away to reach him. She saw Ichiban’s eyes widened in panic as he lunged towards the perpetrator but the distance was too wide. Watase took a stance, his brow furrowed with concentration as he looked ready to take the armed man with his bare hands. Ichiban willed himself to move faster, but it was no use, the distance was too big.

“WATASE!!!” he roared as he powered towards the stage.

Right at that moment, a fist intercepted from the side, sending the man flying. 

Ichiban stopped dead in his tracks as his jaw dropped; an unfamiliar man in a suit had appeared. His eyes were covered by a pair of sunglasses and he had a stoic expression on his face, adding to his mysterious appeal. but he emitted a dangerous aura. To everyone's surprise, Majima and Saejima’s faces both lit up in recognition.

“Hehe, I knew you were alive!” Majima cried out, grinning maniacally.

“Mmm, about damn time you showed your face,” Saejima said, a rare smile of relief on his face.

“Welcome back, Dragon of Dojima.”

The man took his sunglasses off to reveal a focused frown on his face. It was curious, the appearance of his man seemed to have caused the entire balance in the room to shift. Even Daigo Dojima looked emotional as he turned to Watase.

“Were you the one who found him?” he asked in a quiet, strangled voice. Watase shrugged.

“That guy? He’s just some bodyguard I hired as extra muscle,” he replied casually as he met Dojima’s gaze with a sly glint. “I don’t even know his name.”

The mysterious man known only as the Dragon of Dojima looked at Ichiban

“I’ll handle this,” he said in a deep, authoritarian tone. “You guys worry about the front line. I’ll protect Watase-san and Dojima-san with my life.”

The tension between both men was electrifying. Ichiban laughed. 

“Damn, I don’t know who you are but you sure know how to make an entrance,” he quipped. Stepping up and facing the crowd again, he ripped his shirt off, exposing his intricate back tattoo. The Dragon of Dojima caught sight of it and froze, suddenly overcome by a strong feeling of deja vu.

Was this the rise of another dragon in the Tojo Clan?

“Alright guys, ready for round two?”

Everyone seemed to have been invigorated by this new development. Ichiban attacked with more ferocity than before. Asuka roared with every move, her adrenaline rushing through her veins as she rushed through the crowd. She had never faced a fight quite like this as a Public Safety officer. There was always a plan, some kind of formation that ensured everyone knew their role and played their part. Fighting dirty was for criminals, she was an officer of the law. 

“Move!”

A loud clank sounded behind her, much too closely behind her. She looked back to see a dagger inches from stabbing her through her back, stopped only by another blade. 

“Zhao!”

Zhao Tianyou pushed the attacker back and vanquished him with a quick finger stab into his eye sockets. He turned towards Asuka again.  

“You can't leave your back open like this. It's dangerous,” he said rather sternly.

“I don't have eyes on the back of my head!” Asuka shot back at him. Zhao's face changed. 

“You have to stay vigilant! I can't always be around to protect you!”

“Then don't!”

It was like the entire room had gone quiet. This was the most they had spoken to each other since Asuka’s drunken night. Zhao, who had sworn to protect Asuka in every way he could, was horrified when he realized what he had said. And Asuka, whose feelings for Zhao had started to take shape, was shocked that she had attempted to push him away.

She blinked back tears that she had been holding back for the last few days. No no no, not right now! Was this what it was like when faced with a life and death situation? Her true feelings were overflowing and she couldn't think of a worse time for it to happen. 

“Hiiiiyyyyah!”

Zhao and Asuka both raised their weapons at the same time in a perfect block, preventing an Omi member from attacking the other from behind. 

"What's this about watching your back?" Asuka asked, her voice still shaking with emotion. 

"Gimme a break," Zhao groaned, as he downed another opponent. The last day had been excruciating. He had tried to keep his distance, but protecting her seemed to have become second nature to him now. But she was getting quite adapt at saving his neck too! She had grown so much. The memory of the other man's name on her lips still ate away at him inside, but he couldn't bring himself to push her away any longer.

Maybe, just maybe, there was space in her heart for him after all.

“Let's work through this together,” he said in a much gentler voice. “I'll watch your back, so can you please watch mine?”

Asuka nodded, a weight lifting off her heart as tears flowed down her face freely.

The crowd had thinned considerably by that point. Saeko had run out of support items and Asuka felt like her arms were going to fall out of their sockets. But it was done. They had secured the Omi Alliance base. Daigo Dojima, Masaru Watase and Masumi Arakawa could now leave and surrender to the Police unobstructed.

“Hehe, we….did it,” Ichiban said feebly as he fell onto his back. He mustered a smile when the face of Masumi Arakawa entered his vision. 

“Sorry Arakawa-san, my body isn’t listening to me right now,” he mumbled with a weak chuckle. Every breath was making his chest and throat hurt. But this triumphant feeling….it just felt so damn good. 

“Take all the time you need,” Arakawa assured him. “I really owe you one, Ichi. If you had not brought anyone for back up, things would have turned out very differently.”

Ichiban couldn't help but laugh wryly again. What was he thinking, wanting to do all of this alone? They had all gone through so much together that his problems were no longer just his. Was it foolish for them to take on his burden? Probably, but then again, he would have done the same. 

“Yeah. Thank God for my friends.”

Arakawa looked around at the people who had chosen to come along with Ichiban today. With the exception of the silver haired man and the guy in dark glasses, the others don't look like they have any connections to the underworld. 

Only the love and concern of a true friend could convince a civilian to get involved in something like this 

“I see. You really are surrounded by good friends,” Arakawa replied, his tone gentle and fatherly, like Ichiban had always remembered. 

“And I’m glad you survived it all, Ichi.”

Ichi…. How he had missed hearing that from his patriarch. Eighteen years. Eighteen goddamn years he had waited to hear it again. Ichiban had so much to say but he didn't know how to. Or perhaps what he wanted to say was better off not said?

“Boss..Arakawa-san...”

Ichiban felt his voice cracking and a lump in his throat. He didn't cry when he got sent to prison for eighteen years, but he soon found himself choking on his tears and snot as he continued to blubber incoherently. The others were too exhausted and tending to their own injuries to notice him bawling, but it felt like an entire lifetime of feelings were leaving his body and it was the most liberating feeling in the world.

After the fight, Asuka found herself sitting down on the ground, her back leaning against the stage. She took in the surreal sight of the carnage, hardly believing that she had just witnessed a major turning point in the history of organized crime in this country. The Public Safety team will have a field day once she updates them. 

She watched as the lieutenants of the Tojo Clan left the room with Dojima and Watase. The mysterious, nameless bodyguard followed them, having not said anything further beyond his previous declaration to protect both Watase and Dojima. He turned just as he was about to leave the room, locking eyes with Asuka. She felt a strange jolt through her body, like it was telling her that there was much more to that man. Without changing his expression, he acknowledged her a grim nod before he followed the Tojo contingent out of the Hall.

Dragon of Dojima.

Just who was that guy?

Chapter Text

Later that evening, Asuka strolled down the streets of Sotenbori, taking in the sights and sounds that she couldn't the day before. It wasn’t as large as Ijincho, but it appeared to be twice as busy. Street food stalls dotted the bank of the river and it was difficult to decide which one to buy from. 

She stopped in front of an okonomiyaki stand, the aroma of fresh cabbage and batter wafting through the air. Her stomach rumbled; it had been a while since she had gone on a dinner date by herself and this would be a perfect meal for one. She joined the queue, eyeing the menu as she struggled to decide what she wanted to order. 

“Classic, or Hiroshima style? Hmm, do I add sliced pork?”

Just as she decided that she would get both the classic and Hiroshima style, she caught sight of someone familiar.

Looking thoughtful with his chin in hand, was Zhao Tianyou. His face, previously furrowed in concentration, lit up with an unexpected smile.

“Oh! Fancy seeing you here!” he said.  

“Yeah, I still haven't had okonomiyaki yet so I thought I would sneak some in before we went back to Ijincho,” Asuka replied. “

“Great minds think alike,” he replied. “Although, there is a slight problem: where are we going to sit?”

They looked around them; everyone who had bought from that stall had their food packed up before scurrying off elsewhere to dine. No wonder Zhao looked so concerned before, this was a bit of a dilemma.

“Should we go to a restaurant instead?” Zhao suggested. “Unless you don’t mind taking our orders back to the inn together?”

Asuka didn't know why, but hearing Zhao say ‘back to the inn together’ made her cheeks feel warm. She left the line (which had grown even longer since she joined it) and they both set off into the night in search of a restaurant that served all the Kansai classics.

“That was one hell of a fight today, huh?” Zhao remarked. “Are you feeling ok? Are you hurt?”

“I'm a little sore from swinging my sword around so much,” Asuka replied, rubbing her shoulder muscles. “Honestly, a full body massage would be so good right now! Sa-chan suggested a spa day a while ago and we never got to go!”

Zhao chuckled. 

“Hehe, once we're back in Yokohama I'll see if my massage guy can fit you all in. Have you ever had a Chinese-style massage before?”

Asuka shook her head 

“You're in for a treat. They'll get rid of every single knot in your body, even the ones you didn't know you had!”

“That sounds painful,” Asuka winced. “But I like it.”

They stopped in front of a restaurant: Osaka King. According to the menu, it served Chinese food - gyoza, Tenshindon and also spicy Sichuan classics like dandan noodles and mapo tofu. 

“Hmm, are you sure you want to have Chinese food?” Zhao asked. “I think we should try the local food. Besides….”

Zhao's hand bumped against hers, but he withdrew it quickly.

“If you want to eat Chinese food, it’s much nicer at You Tian.”

Asuka tried to pretend to be engrossed in the menu but she could feel her face growing hot. 

“Yeah you’re right,” she conceded. “I bet the mapo tofu would probably be too spicy for me anyway.”

They both laughed, the previous tension between them evaporating quickly. 

“You look happier,” he observed. “I'm glad.”

Did she? Honestly, Asuka wasn't sure how she felt. All she knew was that Zhao was finally talking to her again and her mind felt a little lighter. 

“What about you?” she asked. “Did I do something to upset you? Sorry, I was so drunk the other night I don't remember anything I said and did.”

“It's not your fault,” Zhao replied. “Although, you really shouldn't get drunk like that anymore. It's dangerous if you're by yourself.”

Asuka's eyes narrowed; five years in Public Safety and she wouldn't still be employed if she didn't recognize the signs of someone avoiding the question and withholding information. 

“Zhao Tianyou, are you sure nothing is bothering you?” she asked, a little firmer this time. 

Zhao sighed. She was always so persuasive. Either that, or she was just very good at twisting him around her little finger. 

“I did have a lot on my mind before,” he admitted. “But I’ve decided to stop worrying over things I cannot control and let the other person make the decision instead.”

His hand bumped against hers again, but something told her that it was definitely not accidental that time. Her fingers touched his in response, ever so subtly like a butterfly brushing against his skin. Just as she was going to retract them, he caught her. The butterfly twitched, shocked that she had been ensnared by a venus fly trap. But his grip was firm, determined not to let go no matter what. She wanted to make a wisecrack about Chinese finger traps but felt herself tongue tied, her heart making a wild bid to leap out from her chest cavity. 

“Hi guys! What are you doing?”

A familiar voice made them jump and their hands pulled apart from each other. A shock of brown hair, that clueless grin. Ichiban Kasuga was a lovable man but at that point in time both Asuka and Zhao Tianyou could have collectively strangled him. 

“Ichiban, were you interrupting them?” Saeko scolded, her hands on her hips as the rest of the crew trailed in behind her. Great, it was a whole-ass party now. 

“We…. We're looking for a place for dinner!” Asuka replied sheepishly. “As in, I was looking and then I met Zhao, and then now we're both looking. We didn't come out together.”

“Hey, so are we!” Ichiban replied excitedly, putting his arms around the shoulders of both of them and dragging them down the street. 

“I think we deserve a treat after today! Should we get Korean barbecue? Why don't we go to the-”

“KASUGA-CHAN!”

Everyone squealed as a man's head popped up from under a sewer cover on the ground. One more step and they would have kicked him in the face, or fallen through to the sewer. The man grinned at them, a mad glint in the eye that wasn't covered with an eyepatch.

Once they got over their shock, everyone collectively rolled their eyes. 

“Majima-san? What are you doing here? I mean, down there?” Ichiban asked, scratching his head. 

The Mad Dog of Shimano climbed up from the sewer and cleared his throat, straightening his clothes like he had just stepped out from an elevator in a six star hotel.  

“Oh just reminiscing,” he replied, gesturing around. “Sotenbori was my territory back then! I was known as ‘the Lord of the Night’ for nothing!”

“Isn't that the name of a stripper?” Saeko asked curiously. 

“Sounds more like a vampire to me,” Asuka said. Unperturbed by their sarcastic jabs, Majima pointed at a nearby building. 

“Back in the 80s there used to be a huge disco here called Maharaja. Boy did we have a blast!”

“Oooh I remember that place!” Adachi said excitedly. “There's one in Kamurocho too. I remember that they used to have nightly dance battles!”

“Wow, that sounds…cheesy as hell,” Nanba quipped. Adachi and Majima glared at him. 

“Excuse me? Only the coolest people partied at the Maharaja,” Adachi said.

“Yeah,” Majima piped up. “And if you were really cool, you would also go to the Cabaret Grand or Club Sunshine to drink the night away with pretty hostesses!”

“Whoa whoa whoa, I haven't heard the names of those places in years!” Adachi exclaimed. “Don't tell me you used to go there too?”

Majima cackled. 

“Of course I did! Hard not to when I ran both places as the manager.”

“You were the manager? Wow, do you know what happened to the girls? My favourite was Yuki. Boy was she a sweetheart!”

Saeko cleared her throat.

“Ok guys, if we're done fanboying over Majima-san can we please get something to eat?”

Majima's ears pricked up.

“Eat?” he asked. 

“Is this your last night in Sotenbori?” 

They nodded. Majima grinned. 

“In that case, let me show you a really good time.”

Nouveau Maharaja

“Wow this place sure is…retro.”

After a quick meal at Smile Burger, Majima brought them to a nightclub. He had told them that this was the best Sotenbori had to offer, but they were left wondering what year he was referring to.

“Welcome to the Nouveau Maharaja!” he announced. “After the Sotenbori and Kamurocho outlets of Club Maharaja closed down, the owners banded together and opened this one to keep the spirit of disco alive!”

Majima wasn’t kidding. Everything in the nightclub was the epitome of 80’s chic. The music blasting from the speakers was similarly of its time. Even the patrons were dressed like they had been stuck in an infinite time warp and the group felt like they had been beamed in from the future.

“I feel like we are a little overdressed,” Zhao quipped, inspecting his rather avant-garde outfit. Asuka giggled.

“That shirt of yours is definitely kitsch!” she teased.

“Oh there is nothing to worry about!” the man at the counter said with a smile. 

“We have a variety of outfits for you to borrow. Please feel free to try anything in there.”

They were led into a side room which was jam packed with rows upon rows of outfits. The room was evenly divided into the men's section and the women's section, and Saeko and Asuke split off from the rest of the group for some much-needed girl time. All of them perused the hangers, excitedly pulling out the most garish outfits they could find before disappearing into the change rooms. 

“How do I look?” Asuka asked, pulling the curtain aside to show off a sparkly mini dress. 

“Amazing!” Saeko replied, looking rather sexy in a long sleeved two piece herself. 

“But it doesn't matter what I think, does it?”

Asuka didn't know what she meant, until the men whistled.

“Whoaaaa, you girls look hooooot!” Ichiban said. He was dressed in a suit made out of a silvery foil material that glistened like the rainbow as he moved. 

“And you look like an astronaut,” Asuka giggled. 

“This takes me back to my days as a host,” Joongi-Han said, doing a model twirl in his belly-bottom pants and paisley print shirt. “The obasans loved this look!”

Zhao patted him on the shoulder.

“Looking good, brother,” he praised as they fist bumped. He had found an orange shirt and changed into a pair of flared pants.  

“I feel like I've gone back in time!” Adachi said, emerging from his booth in a jumpsuit that would make Elvis Presley proud. “Are we all done? Where's Nanba?”

Nanba emerged from behind a row of outfits, sulking silently in his outfit. The staff had put together an ensemble with a bright green shirt, cream coloured flared pants and a vest with tiger stripes on it.

“I look like a peacock,” he complained, fumbling with the buttons around his neck.He looked extremely self conscious; he thought he never had to go through this era of fashion again, however life had other plans. 

Saeko grabbed his hand. 

“C'mon, let's meet Majima-san!”

Majima applauded when he saw them, a look of total glee on his face. He himself had changed into a silver suit  that was very similar to what Ichiban was wearing, except he was also wearing what looked like a native American headband, complete with a feather sticking out of it.

And they thought they looked ridiculous. 

“Wonderful! That's the spirit!” he praised. "Now, let's forget about all that Omi Alliance bullshit and party like it's 1989, shall we?”

The atmosphere in the club was absolutely electric. The dance floor was a raised platform that lit up in neon colours and every single song that was playing was a certified hit in the 80s. Saeko wasted no time hitting the dance floor, alongside Ichiban and surprisingly, Adachi. Nanba sulked in a corner and Zhao immediately went over to tease him. Joongi-Han was spotted lining up for drinks at the bar counter. Asuka suddenly found herself stranded, although there was someone else there who was more than happy to show her how to party the Maharaja way.

“Asa-chan, was it?” Majima asked, extending his hand to her. “Shall we?”

He led her out onto the dance floor. The heat of people’s bodies gyrating and the spotlights shining from above created a wonderfully sultry and hedonistic atmosphere. 

“I’m guessing you’ve never danced Disco before?” Majima asked. “Don’t worry, I’ll teach you! As long as you can point, you’re halfway there!”

Majima struck a pose, one hand pointing towards the ceiling. Feeling slightly foolish, Asuka copied him. 

“That’s it!” Majima cried out with an encouraging smile. “Now point! And point from top to bottom! Now sway your body while stepping side to side!”

Asuka mirrored his every move, first with her right side then her left. How embarrassing; Disco always struck her as an antiquated dance style, with nobody willing to get caught dead dancing it. Majima took her hand and twirled her a couple of times before he let her go again.

“Aaaaand freestyle!”

Asuka stared at him wildly. If Majima could stop springing surprise challenges on her, it would be much appreciated. Instead, he winked at her and gave her a thumbs up. 

“Just let the music inspire you!” he called out. “Don’t worry about looking silly, just have fun!”

She looked around wildly and saw everyone dancing with complete freedom and joy. Adachi’s hip movements were borderline obscene, Saeko was jumping up and down squealing with laughter while Ichiban was bopping his head so energetically it looked like his hair was going to fall off. For the first time in a long time, she laughed. The last few days had been so stressful that she couldn’t remember feeling this relaxed and happy in a long time. 

What was that saying again? Dance like nobody was watching? At that moment Asuka didn’t care that she was on a crowded dancefloor because she started moving her body in any way she desired. She probably looked ridiculous, no, she definitely looked ridiculous.

But none of that mattered anymore, because she was having fun. 

“Ow!”

Asuka spun around. The man and the woman glared at her, looking absolutely furious after she accidentally collided with them. 

“I'm so sorry,” she apologized profusely. “Are you ok?”

Most people would have waved it off, but not that couple. They scowled, descending upon her as Asaka tried to back away in alarm. 

“Well well well, it looks like we have someone here who thinks she owns the entire dance floor,” the man said as his female companion smirked. 

“What’s going on here?”

They were joined by a man in his fifties. He was dressed in a pink shirt and his grey roots were showing in his red hair, fighting a losing battle with his age. He gave Asuka a once-over before his gaze fell upon Majima. Both of them looked like someone had set off a stink bomb under their noses.

“Ugh, it’s you again,” Majima said with a bitter sneer.

“Ha! If it isn’t the one-eyed bastard!” the man cackled. “Remember how you lost to me on the dancefloor all those years ago?”  

“Quit living in the past, Kengo,” Majima snapped. “And I distinctly recall it only being the warm up round and I ended up beating your ass. Miss Isobe can attest to it-”

“Don’t bring up Miss Isobe!” Kengo snarled. “Nobody knew disco dancing like she did! And we had such a good thing going, until you ruined it!”

Majima let out a sarcastic laugh.

“Oh please, you said it yourself: Miss Isobe understands real dancing talent,” he quipped. Noticing the couple still hanging around he pointed to them. 

“This lot yours?” he asked Kengo.

“Oh yes, they are two of my best students,” Kengo replied. “Our dance crew is the greatest ever in all of Sotenbori.”

Dance…crew? Right on cue, four other dancers emerged and gathered around them. There were two more men and two more women, fully dressed in eighties-style outfits. Noticing the commotion, Ichiban and the rest of the crew hurried over.

“What’s going on?” Ichiban asked, his face flushed from all the dancing.

“Your friend bumped into us,” the couple replied snidely.

“I already apologized,” Asuka argued. “What more do you want from me?”

The man let out a noise that sounded like a strangled cat.

“Apologized? Do you have any idea what you did?” he positively screamed. “Anna-chan and I were completely in the groove until you threw us off!”

“Enough, Jiro-san!” Kengo’s voice boomed over all of them. Even the music came to a screeching halt as the DJ put a stop to it.

“We will settle this the only way we know how.”

He flashed the group a sly grin.

“A dance off!”

Asuka nearly laughed in his face. What was a man his age thinking? How ridiculous, a dance off in this day and age-

“I accept!”

They turned and stared at Majima.

“Majima-san, there’s no need to engage-”

“And it’ll be my crew against yours!”

Asuka’s voice faded away into nothingness. What did he mean ‘his crew’?

Kengo laughed hysterically.

“This group of clumsy amateurs are your crew?” he gestured. “Oh we are so winning this!”

Ichiban and Asuka exchanged stunned looks before they both descended upon Majima.

“What the hell? We can’t do this!”

“Are you insane?”

“I can’t compete with professionals!”

Majima put his hands up and silenced them.

“Relaaaaaax, you’ve got this!” he assured them.

“Don’t overthink it and just have fun!”

That was good advice, but at that point in time they all felt like children being shoved into a pool next to Olympians.

“Majima-san, how does a dance off work?” Asuka asked.

“It will either be one dancer against another, or a partner round that will pit two dancers against another couple,” Majima explained. “With Anna-san and Jiro-san, there will be at least one partner round so ladies, find your partner now!”

Asuka and Saeko looked at each other before they turned to the group and shouted at the same time:

“Ichiban! Will you be my partner?”

Ichiban stared at both of them; he looked like they had both asked for his hand in marriage. Asuka and Saeko looked at each other, wide-eyed in surprise. Saeko had not bothered to ask Asuka beforehand, because she had taken for granted that there was only one choice for her. Fighting to dance with Ichiban at a disco was certainly not something any of them had anticipated. Majima chuckled.

“Ooooo I see we already have drama before we start,” he said with a cheeky grin. “Kasuga-chan, you now have the privilege of choosing your partner. And remember, each person can only dance once.”

Ichiban felt himself break out in sweat. Saeko or Asuka, he really couldn’t pick one over the other. He gulped nervously.

“I…I guess we could take turns-”

“Oi dumbass, didn’t you hear Majima-san?” Adachi reminded him.

“Each person can’t dance more than once, so you can only pick one.”

Ichiban groaned.

“Sa-cha, Asa-chan, can you both please decide between yourselves-”

“I’ll dance with Asa-chan.”

To everyone’s surprise, Joongi-Han was the one who spoke up and extended his hand.]

“Shall we?”

Asuka nodded and gave her hand to him. In the corner of her eye, she thought she saw Zhao turn his back and slink away. 

“Alright people, we have a dance off!” the DJ announced, his voice echoing around the hall. “It will be a best of five rounds, with no member allowed to dance more than once! The winner will be decided by the crowd, so remember to cheer your loudest for your favourite contestant!”

Well, the rules sounded easy enough.

“First up is a Singles round. Teams, send your representative!”

 A young man in a blue shirt and white bell-bottoms stepped up as the beat of the first song started. Kicking things off with the classic crowd pleaser 'I Wanna Take You Home' was a good choice. Adachi walked up confidently, the silver buttons on his jumpsuit glistening under the spotlight..

“Ha! I’ve been dancing to this song longer than this guy’s been alive,” he boasted. “This round is mine.” 

You’re the sweetest girl

That I always dreamed of

You’re like the perfect girl

That I’ve ever met before

It was a mid-tempo, 80’s rock ballad that suited Adachi perfectly. He rocked, gyrated and clicked his fingers perfectly in time to the beat. Everyone whooped and cheered, thoroughly impressed with his cheesy dance moves. Shouts of ‘Whoo! Go old man!’ could be heard over the music and Asuka was genuinely impressed with his ability. Even his opponent was starting to get flustered and he visibly stumbled as the music headed into the chorus: 

I wanna take you home

That you are all that you need for you

And tell me your favorite songs baby

I’ll singing for you

The room exploded with cheers as Adachi struck a finishing pose, winking at the crowd confidently. Asuka screamed her approval as she clapped furiously. 

“Alright everyone, I hope you’ve all warmed up!” The DJ announced. “Let’s find out who the winner for this round is! Let me hear it for Team Kengo!”

A smattering of cheers and boos sounded out as Kengo looked embarrassed and furious.

“And now….let’s hear it for Team Majima!”

Asuka cheered as loudly as she could, but there was no need to as the rest of the crowd roared its approval.

“The winner of this round is TEAM MAJIMAAAAAA!”

The group clamoured around Adachi excitedly as he stepped off the dancefloor.

“Whoa, that was amazing!” Saeko shouted.

“Where did you learn how to dance like that, old man?” Joongi-Han asked, quietly impressed.

Adachi grinned.

“Hehe I’ve been dancing to this song since 1988,” he told them. “Same dance moves from the music video too, can’t go wrong! Although…”

His voice trailed off and his face turned green.

“I…I need to take a seat, I think I twisted my ass.”

Everyone groaned as Majima helped Adachi hobble towards one of the booths.

“Next up is another Singles round! No more games because things are only getting hotter from here! Teams, pick your dancer!”

Everyone turned to Nanba, who was by far the most uninterested person in the entire venue. He scowled.

“Me? Ugh, can’t you send Zhao out instead?” he complained. “Where is he anywhere?”

Nanba was right, Zhao was nowhere to be found. But now was not the time to be searching for him. Nanba’s protests were drowned out by the music as Ichiban and Joongi-Han lifted him up kicking and screaming and deposited him onto the dancefloor. The frantic Eurobeat opening of 'Queen of the Passion' started playing and everyone immediately exchanged looks; it was twice as fast as the song Adachi was dancing to and Nanba’s eyes widened in terror.

I gonna show you my power

I gonna show you my fire

I'm sexy, of course I know it

“Ok this isn’t too bad”, Ichiban observed, clapping along to the beat. Nanba swayed with the rhythm rather half-heartedly with a sour look on his face, but what he lacked in enthusiasm he made up for with rhythm. Maybe they could still put in a respectable performance, although the young woman Nanba was up against swung her arms and hips with enough energy to power a small building.   

The music somehow sped up as the song approached the chorus. Taken completely by surprise, Nanba’s legs looked to have tangled up. 

I'll have your heart, oh

Inside of my hand

'Cause I'm the queen

Oh, queen of the passion

Right as the chorus ended, he fell onto the floor with a deafening crash. “Oh shit!” Asuka swore, covering her face. Kengo’s face lit up with a gleeful smirk as the woman performed a complicated twirl before she finished with a graceful pose. Nanba scrambled back onto his feet, his face beet-red. There was no need to wait for the crowd’s reaction as the woman pulled another one back for Team Kengo.

“Bad luck, Nan-chan,” Saeko said sympathetically, patting him on the shoulder. Nanba scowled.

“That song sucked,” he complained. “Zhao should have gone-”

“Looking for me?”

Zhao had reappeared, looking seemingly unconcerned. Nanba grabbed him by the front of the shirt.

“Where the hell were you?” he shouted.

“I was taking a wizz,” Zhao replied, shrugging nonchalantly. “What did I miss? And oh, your nose is bleeding.”

Nanba released him as he stormed off to the bathroom, cussing under his breath. The Nouveau Maharaja will no doubt never see the name Nanba Yu grace their members list.

“And now…the moment we’ve all been waiting for! Round Three will be a Partner round! Teams, choose your dancers!”

Asuka looked at Joongi-Han but instead Ichiban grabbed Saeko’s hand and nodded.

“Let’s do this, Sa-chan!” he announced, flashing the other couple a thumbs up. 

The catchy opening beats of the disco classic 'Koi no Disco Queen' rang out as Ichiban slid out on his knees onto the dance floor dramatically as Saeko stepped out gracefully after him. They were all fearing the partner rounds the most, as none of them had ever danced together before. And how did partner dancing work in a dance off? Majima had neglected to explain that part of the equation to them.

“You must be wondering how partner dancing works.”

Majima had somehow read their minds. He had left Adachi recovering in the corner and rejoined them.

“Partner dancing is scored based on the chemistry between both dancers,” Majima explained. “I have seen many pairings who were not as talented beat more experienced dancers simply with their amazing chemistry!”

“You mean…you could fall on your face like Nanba and still win?” Asuka asked. Majima nodded.

“Oh yes! In fact, how you recover from a misstep is crucial in deciding victory,” he said.

“It’s about how you both overcome setbacks together. That in itself, is the essence of dancing with a partner.”

Joongi-Han and Asuka exchanged looks. She knew Joongi used to be a host, so his dancing and entertainment ability should be of a decent level. But would that translate into understanding and chemistry between both of them? Would his skills be able to save both of them from Asuka’s inexperience? 

There was no time to contemplate as the duo of Ichiban and Saeko positively burnt up the dancefloor. The song was a well-known dance tune from a famous idol from the 80’s. The couple they were up against were fluid in their movements as well, moving alongside each other like they could anticipate each other's steps. It was mesmerizing, but the energy from Ichiban and Saeko's routine was much more infectious. Ichiban fist pumped the air and wiggled his hips as Saeko shimmied so vigorously it wasn't clear what was going to pop out first, her cleavage or Ichiban’s eyeballs. 

Ichiban took Saeko's hand and twirled her, but she over-rotated and found her foot stepping on air as she toppled off the raised dance floor.

Everyone gasped.

“Sa-chan!”

Ichiban scooped her up just before she hit the ground, both of them frozen in a dramatic dip just as the music ended. 

“Yes!” Asuka shouted, punching her fist in the air. “Way to go Ichiban! Sa-chan!”

“My my my, what an exciting finish!” the DJ announced. “‘Koi no Disco Queen' is Team Kengo's signature song but will Team Majima be able to dethrone them? Let's hear it for Team Kengo!”

Cheers rang out as the couple waved haughtily. Ichiban and Saeko stood next to them nervously as they awaited their fate; sharp-eyed Asuka also realized that both of them were clutching each other's hands rather tightly.

“Wow, it seems like Team Kengo remains as popular as ever! Now….how many of you prefer Team Majima's efforts?”

The cheering was just as loud for Ichiban and Saeko, obviously impressed with their chemistry and that impressive save at the end. Suddenly, it became very difficult to decide a clear winner. 

Everyone looked at the DJ in anticipation as he contemplated the result. After a minute, he tapped the microphone. 

“I declare this a draw!”

A loud smattering of boos erupted. Kengo shoved several people out of the way as he stormed up to the front towards the DJ booth. 

“This is bullshit!” he yelled. “My team clearly had the more polished routine!”

“The crowd doesn't lie, Kengo-san,” Majima said calmly. “We're now drawn at two a piece. How about we make the next round a tie breaker?”

“We accept!”

Anna and Jiro walked up hand in hand, looking directly at Asuka. 

“How poetic for us to beat you and your partner in the final round,” Anna said snidely. 

“We'll see about that!” Asuka replied, her fists balled up. “C'mon, Joon-gi Han are you ready to-”

Joongi-Han had suddenly grabbed her arm, an odd look on his face. 

“Hey, are you alright?” she asked, startled at how unsettled he looked. 

“I need to go.”

“What? Can't it wait?”

“No!”

“Asa-chan,” he said in a low voice. “It's an emergency.”

Before she could reply, Joon-gi Han had raced off. 

Majima sauntered up to Asuka looking concerned. 

“Yo, where did your partner go?” he asked. “You're both up

“He said there's an emergency. We have to wait-”

“Uh uh,there’s no time,” Majima replied sharply. “Change of plans, you two are going up instead.”

Asuka suddenly found herself thrust onto the dancefloor alongside the person whom everyone expected her to be paired with all along: Zhao Tianyou. 

He smiled.

“Don’t worry, we’ve got this.”

Zhao must have anticipated her resistance because he slipped his hand into hers and squeezed it gently. 

“Trust me.”

A familiar bassline of a famous R&B song started playing; it was one of the greatest hits from the King of Pop Miracle Johnson, 'I'm Gonna Make Her Mine'. Thank God, this song was nowhere near as fast as the last two. Zhao pulled her in and she found herself pressed up against his chest as she stared up at him like a deer caught in headlights. He put his hands on her lower back and brought his face next to her ear.

“Don’t be scared. Follow my moves,” he instructed breathily as started bopping. Asuka followed along, gradually finding her rhythm. Zhao grinned as he felt her confidence grow. 

“That’s it,” he praised. “You’re doing an incredible job. Let the music guide you and don’t overthink.”

But I found her in the dance floor, oh baby

She caught my eyes and take away the darkness of mind

I had a crush on her, some kind of thunderbolt

Every day, every night

She drives me crazy now

Don't overthink. That was easy for him to say, considering he was basically the reason why she's been so confused recently. If Ichiban had not interrupted them earlier tonight, perhaps he would have told her why he had been so distant.

“I'm going to put that aside and let the other person make the decision”. 

That's what he said, but what did that mean?

Zhao took her hand and spun her around a couple of times, pulling her in again as she found her palm on his chest. He pressed himself even closer against her as her lips parted into a surprised gasp. Asuka instinctively ran her hand down the front of his chest as wolf whistles rang out from the crowd. Zhao caught her hand and their eyes met again. 

“Keep your eyes on me,” he continued, a small smirk spreading across his face. Remembering a few choice moves from the lap dancing classes she took years ago, Asuka started to do a series of small body rolls as the crowd hooted, Zhao responding in kind as his torso and groin met hers. She could feel her face growing hot, but she did as Zhao told her and kept her eyes on him.

Now! Get up! Oh I’m gonna make her mine

Now! Gеt up! Yeah she’s all mine

Now! Gеt up! Oh I’m gonna make her mine

I was born to fall in love with her

No one can stop me

“Hold on to me,” he warned, before he lowered her in a dramatic dip, pulling her up as the song ended. 

The roof nearly caved in with the cheering that sounded around them, but it was like they were both stuck in a vacuum of their own. Their foreheads were touching and their lips inches apart, their heartbeat pounding in their ears and as they felt the warmth of their breaths against each other.

“That was incredible,” she heard Zhao say as she mumbled her agreement. 

“Wow wow wow, someone call the fire department because that was a disco inferno!” the DJ boomed. “This is it, ladies and gentlemen, the tie breaker! We will do things differently this time, the team whose name gets shouted the loudest wins! So let’s hear it, is it Team Kengo or Team Majima?”

Shouts of ‘Majima!’ and ‘Kengo’ made it impossible to figure out which one had the advantage. Asuka and Zhao waited for the results fervently, his arm still resting on her waist and her fingers gripping his arm. 

For the first time that night, the DJ looked concerned.

“And the winner….is Team Majima!”

Asuka screamed and leapt into Zhao’s arms as the others also shouted excited. But not everyone was happy with the outcome as Anna and Jiro stormed up to Kengo and started protesting.

“What the hell? I thought we paid for enough plants in the audience?” they shouted at their leader. “How could we lose?”

“I wasn’t expecting it to come down to the DJ’s decision!” Kengo hissed. “If I knew I would have paid him-”

“I knew it!”

The DJ had walked up to Kengo, a huge frown on his face.

“The club does not tolerate any bribery in any shape or form,” he said sternly. “Kengo-san, I will ask that you and your crew leave the premises peacefully.”

Kengo looked completely unhinged with fury as he grabbed the DJ by his shirt and shook him vigorously.

“How dare you ban me?” he shouted. “Do you know who I am? I could destroy this club-”

“You want to reconsider?”

That tone was dangerous. Kengo's face turned green as Majima appeared, flanked by Ichiban and the others. While they might have been confident going toe to toe on the dancefloor, they knew that the odds were heavily stacked against them if they went head to head in a physical brawl. 

But that didn't prevent them from trying.

Kengo tried to throw a punch at the back of Ichiban's head, only to have his fist grabbed by Majima. He squealed as Majima twisted his wrist into an inhuman angle, bringing him to his knees.

"Only cowards hit people when their backs are turned," Majima said in a menacing snarl. "Now get out before I kick all of your asses out!" 

So that was the Lord of the Night in full flight. Security staff soon arrived and escorted Kengo and the rest of the dance crew from the venue with minimum fuss as everyone heaved a sigh of relief.

Saeko grabbed Asuka's arm excitedly. 

“Damn, that was hot!” she exclaimed. “The way you both moved together….wow!”

“Yeah,” Ichiban joined in, nodding earnestly. “It really looked like you both were having se-”

“Hey, what happened? Did we win?”

Nanba had finally emerged from the bathroom. His nose had stopped bleeding but the tip and his upper lip looked slightly purple. 

“We won! Zhao and Asa-chan brought it home for us!”

Nanba looked confused. 

“Asa-chan and Zhao? I thought you were supposed to be partnering with Joongi-Han?” he asked.

“I was, then he had a bathroom emergency,” Asuka advised. Nanba looked even more confused. 

“Um, are you sure?” he asked cautiously. “I was in the bathroom the entire time and didn't see him.”

“Huh?!"

"Ah there you are!”

Joongi-Han joined them again, looking extremely unbothered as he held two drinks in his hands. 

“Great job! I knew you both had it in you!” he exclaimed, patting Zhao on the back vigorously. “I'll drink to that!”

“What the hell?” Asuka exploded, making him spill his drink slightly. “Didn't you have to go to the bathroom?”

Joongi-Han choked.

“What? I never said that, I said I had an ‘emergency’,” Joongi-Han replied, pointing at the bar. “The bar was going to close soon and there's a huge line, so I had to get in quick!”

Asuka groaned as the others sniggered. That sure was an innovative way to set up forced proximity.

“Well done team! Couldn't have done it without you!” Majima praised, as the familiar fan favourite 'Friday Night' started playing in the background. A perfect way to end the chaos of the night.

“Now shall we let loose and party?”

*

They stayed till closing time, after which everyone stumbled out of the club in various stages of intoxication. They had all changed out of their disco outfits and were heading back to their inn. Well, attempting to anyway. Each one of them seemed to have their own ideas on how to get back and they were all heading off in different directions. In between all the wrangling of drunks, Asuka found herself walking next to Majima who was the only one besides her who appeared surprisingly clear-headed.

“You and your partner danced wonderfully,” Majima said with a grin. “I could really tell that you both understand each other very intimately.”

“Shut up, Majima-san,” Asuka mumbled, her face turning red. “There's nothing between us, we've only known each other for a few weeks.”

“Oh?” Majima replied, raising his eyebrows. “You've only known each other for a short time and you trusted him enough to dance like that with him? Hehehe Asa-chan, are you sure you're being honest to yourself?”

Asuka made a strangled noise as Majima cackled, relishing in her discomfort. 

“It really doesn't matter how long you've known someone for,” he said. 

“If you've been through a lot together in a short time, it will feel like you've known each other for an entire lifetime.”

Asuka noticed a rather wistful look in his eye. The mad glint was gone and was instead replaced by yearning. When he burst onto the scene a day earlier, she thought he was actually insane. Emerging from the sewer earlier tonight didn't help his case either, but there was something extremely human about him right now. 

“Majima-san, have you ever met someone that made you feel that way?”

Majima looked at her, taken aback at her sudden but direct inquisition. She gave him an understanding smile in return. He had noticed the connection between her and Zhao the moment they stepped onto the dancefloor, how her fear disappeared when he took her hand and led her in the dance. How determined he was to protect her and ensure they completed the dance together. 

There was once a woman who trusted him the same way. He had been tasked to kill her, but he somehow ended up protecting her as she became a pawn in a vicious tug of war between warring Yakuza families. Her trust in him was blind, literally so as she never regained her sight until the events were over. She knew him only by his voice, a fact he didn't want to change. A person as pure as her had no business in his chaotic life. 

“Takoyaki?”

Majima snapped out of his reverie. The group had somehow stumbled upon a takoyaki stall and was demolishing everything on the menu. Asuka had already bought a portion and was offering some to Majima. The aroma of squid, floury batter, tangy sauce and fishy bonito flakes was distinctly Osakan but Majima couldn't stop thinking about what Asuka had just asked him. In fact, she reminded him of her - kind, good natured and deceptively resilient. 

But that was a lifetime ago. Whereever she was now, he hoped she was happy.

“No thanks,” he replied.

“I stopped eating that years ago.

Chapter Text

The door to the safe house clicked and swung open. Asuka and Goto entered together, fresh from their trip from Sotenbori. Expecting only the usual suspects, they were surprised to see the apartment a lot more crowded than before.    

“Captain Ishigami! Captain Kaga!” Asuka cried out. “I thought you weren't coming until later.  Where are the others?”

“Shinonome and the Chief will arrive tomorrow,” Ishigami replied. “Kaga and I came earlier for…extra support.”

His gaze flickered over to Soma, who was looking extremely subdued in the corner. He looked up as Ishigami emphasized the last two words in his sentence but didn't say anything. Asuka noticed that he appeared to have dark circles under his eyes.

Kurosawa ran up and grabbed Asuka by the shoulders. 

“Are you ok? I heard you were caught up with the disbanding of the Omi Alliance and Tojo Clan!” he asked anxiously. 

“She’s fine,” Goto said abruptly. “There’s no need to manhandle her!”

“Stop it both of you,” Kaga snapped sharply. He had been quietly working away until Goto and Kurosawa disturbed the peace.

“Was it always so noisy when it’s just you four?” he muttered, turning to look at Ishigami for support. Kaga had returned to their shared apartment with a bruised cheekbone the other night and there were no prizes for guessing who was responsible for that. Out of everyone in the team, Soma was by far the best at suppressing his feelings and Ishigami was rather impressed that Kaga pushed him far enough to get him to spill his guts.

Something he will never tell Kaga to his bruised and battered face, of course.

Asuka and Goto did a double take. 

“Oh my God, what happened to you, Captain Kaga?” Asuka asked, looking extremely concerned.

The bruise on his face was at the stage where it had turned dark and splotchy. Kurosawa had suggested hiding it with concealer until Kaga reminded him that none of them had any on hand to begin with.

“I’m fine,” Kaga replied breezily. “Unfortunate workplace incident, but I’ll live.”

The tension in the room was interrupted by the large monitor screen pinging with the notification that two people were waiting to join the meeting. Ishigami clicked the button and very soon the familiar faces of Chief Namba and Shinonome were beamed into the room. 

“Ah, Goto! Hayashi! Good to see you both made it back in one piece!” Namba said with a smile. 

“Thank you Chief,” Goto acknowledged. “I was worried about Hayashi when she was in the Omi Alliance headquarters, but she did very well.”

Chief Namba looked at both of them oddly before he chuckled.

“That's good. Although I did get some rather unusual news yesterday,” he said animatedly.

“Chief Nomura from Metro PD told me Detective Tennoji was on holiday in Osaka and saw both of you on a date in Sotenbori, is that true?”

“No!” Asuka and Goto shouted at the same time, their cheeks flushed. 

The Chief grinned, clearly satisfied that he had gotten the reaction he wanted. Even Kaga looked amused while Ishigami cleared his throat, making an odd noise that sounded like a grunt and a snort.

“Ok, just checking!” he said cheerfully. The Chief was in a strangely mischievous mood today and it was a little unsettling.

“Chief, don't you have more important news to share?” Ishigami asked pointedly, although there was a hint of a smirk on his face. 

“Ah yes of course!” Namba continued brightly. “The Chibas just had their baby two days ago!”

Asuka squealed. 

“I'll have to call Naruko and Daisuke immediately after this!” she replied excitedly. “Do you know if they're home from the hospital yet?”

“Mother and son are doing well,” Namba confirmed. “Daisuke, on the other hand, seems a little overwhelmed.”

Everyone laughed, the mood immediately lightening. It was only for a second though, as the Chief straightened up and dropped that playful tone in his voice. 

“Alright, back to business! As we all know, the Omi Alliance and the Tojo Clan are dissolving,” he said. “Osaka PD confirmed that Dojima and Watase have spoken to them about their plans. As expected, that did not go down well with their followers and we need to prepare for possible uprising. Speaking of which, any news about the upcoming election?”

Kurosawa cleared his throat importantly. 

“As you would all know, Kume has been selected to run in Ijincho,” he started. “This seat has been so tightly held by Ogikubo for so long there is no viable opposition, but I believe we now have someone.”

A photo of Ichiban popped up on the screen, courtesy of Shinonome. Asuka had to stifle a giggle; it was a file photo that appeared to be lifted from an old job application and desperately needed to be updated. 

"Couldn't you find anything more recent?” she pointed out. “He's got a heck of a lot more hair these days.” Shinonome scowled, but before he could counter Ishigami shot them a look so fierce their bickering died down immediately. They had truly become really unruly without his constant supervision.

“As I was saying, Ichiban Kasuga has confirmed that he will put himself forward as a candidate,” Namba confirmed. 

“He has also secured the three million yen needed for the application fee,” Asuka announced.  

“And that is also the reason we are coming to Yokohama,” Namba confirmed. “Kasuga will need all the protection he can get during the upcoming debate.”

Shinonome rubbed his chin thoughtfully.

“This Ichiban Kasuga guy, what is he like,” he asked curiously. 

Kurosawa shrugged.

“I've only met him briefly. Guy in his forties, big boofy hair, ugly ass hot pink suit,” he offered. “You'll probably have to ask Asuka.”

“Ichiban is a bit goofy, but his heart is in the right place,” Asuka confirmed. “I couldn't figure him out at the start, but now I know he's just a guy who wants the best for everyone. Don't you think so, Soma?”

She had turned to Soma for support so instinctively her brain seemed to have forgotten about their recent tiff. The air felt like someone had turned the air conditioning on full blast. 

“I agree,” he responded pleasantly. “Kasuga's charisma should win over some voters, and I absolutely trust anyone who has been able to keep Asuka safe.”

All this talk about safety again. When will they start speaking about it as a joint effort rather than a decision made on her behalf?

“Thank you Soma,” Ishigami said, cutting through the tension like a hot knife through butter. 

“Now, let's talk about the upcoming debate, shall we?”

*

Asuka rang the Chibas immediately after she got back to her apartment. She had not spoken to her friends ever since she embarked on her mission and she was starting to miss them. Before she got together with Soma, she had Daisuke and Naruko. They trained and graduated together and were the most supportive friends she could ever ask for. 

Daisuke answered the video call after a few rings.

Speaking of rings, he had a few dark ones around his eyes. 

“Asuka!” Daisuke greeted her, a forced smile on his face despite his apparent exhaustion. “It’s been a while, how have you been?”

“Daisuke! I heard the news, congratulations!” Asuka said. “Where’s the baby? What did you name him?”

“Thank you! We named him Hajime, the same kanji as the number ‘one’”, Daisuke revealed. “Hopefully he’ll be the first of many children.”

Asuka giggled.

“Well, he won’t have any trouble learning how to write his name!” she joked. 

“Enough talk, where is the baby?”

“God, you sound like a kidnapper! Naruko has just put him down for a nap,” Daisuke complained. “I'll send you a photo of him later. Oh, speaking of which, Naruko’s here!”

There was the sound of footsteps before Naruko plonked herself down next to her husband. Her face lit up excitedly when she saw her friend.

“Hi Asuka!” she waved excitedly. “How have you been? I didn’t want to message you because I didn’t know if it was safe.”

“Well, things have been pretty crazy,” Asuka admitted. “What happened in Sotenbori was really unexpected, I don’t think any of us saw that coming.”

Naruko nodded gravely.

“Yeah it’s all over the news here,” she said. 

“Speaking of which, have you both made up yet? Asa Soma.”

Of course. Naruko and Daisuke were the ones who came up with that alias. So much had happened since then that she had forgotten to be angry at them for that cheeky bit of administration.

“Yeah thanks for that name, really appreciate it,” Asuka replied sarcastically. “And what do you mean by ‘made up’?”

“You know what and who I'm talking about. I mean, that's what you were waiting for right?” Naruko pressed on. “For Soma to come back so you can get back together?”

“Well…yes, but I only wanted him to come back so I could find out the reason for the break up,” Asuka admitted. “I never considered anything else beyond that.”

“Uh huh, and did you get the answers you wanted?”

Asuka sighed and nodded. Naruko and Daisuke leant in, willing her to continue.

“Remember that guy he was after all those years ago? Koyanagi?” Asuka started. “Long story short, Koyanagi sent him a death threat saying he'll send someone to kill me if he keeps sticking his nose in his business, so that's why he dumped me.”

There were crickets as both of them stared at her. Asuka wasn’t sure what sort of reaction she was expecting, but she definitely wasn’t expecting just frozen stares. 

“Whoa, is that it?” Naruko finally uttered incredulously as Daisuke shook his head silently alongside her.

“I know, pretty ridiculous isn't it?” Asuka replied, firing up once again. Thank God, she knew she would have the support of her friends. If anyone was going to understand her feelings, it would be Daisuke and Naruko.  

“No, I mean isn't it ridiculous how you haven't forgiven him for something so small?”

Asuka felt like the ceiling had fallen on top of her head.

“Something small? Are you kidding, not both of you too!” she exclaimed.  

“C'mon, it's you we're talking about!” Naruko scolded. “You could never stay mad at Soma for anything!”

“Hey that's not true!” Asuka argued. “I am absolutely capable of holding him responsible if he does anything wrong!” 

Naruko folded her arms and gave Asuka a look that reminded her of that time Ishigami busted them eating snacks in the dorms after lights out. 

“Asuka please, do you still have feelings for Soma?”

Correction, there were times when Naruko was even scarier than Ishigami.   

“I don't know how I feel,” Asuka conceded. “I was so angry and telling him how I felt was like a huge release. But then I….”

It was so easy to do it at that time, but now Asuka couldn’t bring herself to say it.

“I….I slapped him.”

“You WHAT?”

Naruko seemed to have forgotten to keep her voice down. Luckily the crying sounds of a baby didn’t interrupt them.

“I don’t know why I did it, but when he said he had to do whatever it takes to keep me safe…even leaving me, that's when I lost it.”

Her phone shook as her hand trembled.

“Unless…”

They all turned to look at Daisuke, who had stayed silent the entire time. 

“You've finally gotten over him.”

It was the elephant in the room that nobody was willing to acknowledge. Over the last five years, Asuka had convinced herself that she was over him. When she finally found out the truth, she realized she did not get the peace and closure she wanted. Instead what flooded through her body that day were feelings of confusion and anger.

But she wasn’t just upset at the revelation of the truth.

She was angry at herself.

Realizing that he might be onto something, Daisuke pushed on.

“I didn't want to say it last time, but you really do let him get away with too much.”

“Daisuke, what are you doing? Naruko hissed, alarmed that her husband was aiming for the jugular. 

“I’ve noticed this for a long time, but it seems like he’s always the one controlling the direction of the relationship,” he continued. “Like he thinks he can pull you in and push you away however he wants and you’ll always come back.”

“Honey, stop-”

“I…I’m not saying he doesn’t love you, but is this the type of love you want?”

After Asuka stopped blaming herself for Soma leaving, she turned her efforts towards blaming him instead. Soma never really allowed her to assert herself much and she constantly made excuses to justify his behaviour. They would just make love and she would forgive him, heck she never even considered that he was ever in the wrong.

Was their relationship toxic to begin with? 

“Asuka…are you ok?” Naruko asked cautiously. She knew the truth was tough to swallow and she could see it all across her friend’s face.  

Asuka nodded.

“Daisuke is right,” she admitted. “It was my fault, I did put Soma on a pedestal and it wasn’t healthy. Why didn’t you tell me earlier that we were so toxic?”

Naruko sighed.

“Would you have listened to us?” she asked. “But I wouldn’t go as far as to call your relationship ‘toxic’. Soma isn’t a manipulative person, just emotionally unavailable. And unfortunately it’s going to take more than ‘the power of love’ to fix things.”

She could see it clear as day now. The loss of Kurume had affected Soma more than he realized and it was spilling over into their relationship. Until he overcomes that, they will never be able to have a healthy relationship.

Not even all the love she could give.   

“I’m glad to know you’ve started to really move on,” Naruko said. “Was there something that made you decide to leave everything behind?”

There was one person that immediately came to mind, but there was another problem: Asuka was still looking back at the person she had left behind.

“Have you met someone new?” Daisuke suddenly burst out.

“Huh?”

Both of them shrugged their shoulders.

“I mean, it has been five years,” he continued. “And that's excluding that time you and Kaga-”

“Okay that's enough!” Asuka interrupted. “I'll say this once: I haven't been on any dates since Soma and I broke up. There, happy?”

Naruko narrowed her eyes and pursed her lips.

“....But?” she offered. 

“But what? There's nothing else to add!”

“You haven't dated anyone, but what about just ‘casual fun’?”

“Of course not!”

“Kissing?”

“Just Zhao-I mean, nothing!”

Naruko and Daisuke were suddenly sitting bolt upright, clutching each other’s arms. 

“Ha! I knew it!” Naruko chortled. She high-fived her husband triumphantly.

“Nice teamwork, partner!”

Asuka scowled, willing the floor to open up so she could sink in. Naruko and Daisuke might have been stuck doing clerical work for a few years, but the well-disguised cross-examination was a stark reminder that they were consistently outperforming her during their academy days. 

“So…this ‘Zhao’,” Naruko said, grinning with glee. “Tell me all about him.”

What could she tell him? That Zhao Tianyou was the ex-leader of a Chinese gang in Yokohama? Or that he had kissed her several times and she had started to enjoy it?

“He's…someone I've met while undercover,” she said cryptically. 

“Interesting,” Naruko said, rubbing her chin. “You’re finally starting to heal! I’m so happy for you.”

Healing. It was one thing to move on and another to heal. Why didn't she ever consider that? Trying to outrun her feelings was a battle she was always going to lose; Soma leaving had hurt her so much and her refusal to acknowledge the damage had allowed this wound to fester. 

Hopefully it wasn’t too late to start healing together.

*

Yokohama Harbour

Ichiban got to the spot at exactly 8pm as instructed. It was already dark and the Cosmo Clock ferris wheel was lit up in its rainbow-coloured brilliance. Vendors hawked their wares nearby, from flowers to bottled drinks. One of them offered to give him a discount on a bouquet of roses, but he declined. 

He rubbed his hands together and shivered through his suit and shirt; shit it was cold at this time of the night. Perhaps he should have taken on Joon-gi Han’s offer to wear his jacket; it might look like a trash bag, but at least it was warm. 

“It is a bit cold tonight, isn’t it?”

Ichiban turned around at the sound of that familiar voice. A smartly dressed man wearing a black trench coat and hat approached him, smiling with an indulgent, fatherly air.

“Arakawa-san!”

His former patriarch looked as kind as he remembered, with none of the conviction in his eyes when he shot him. It was a look that continued to haunt him but Ichiban had too much faith in him. 

If he didn’t care about Ichiban, he would not have offered his finger in exchange for his life all those years ago.    

“Thank you,” Ichiban said with a deep bow. “Thank you for taking time to see me, Captain!”

“I’m not the captain anymore, you dumbass,” Arakawa said with an affectionate laugh. “So you can drop the formalities. I’m just a regular old man now”.

Ichiban eyed Arakawa’s gloved hands nervously. Regular old men don’t have missing fingers they willingly cut off nor do they dress like they were an extra in some American spy movie. Reducing everything he has achieved, everything he had done for him to just something done by a ‘regular old man’ was frankly a huge insult to his legacy.  

“Has Sotenbori quietened down after the Omi Alliance disbanded?” Ichiban asked. “I mean, we all kicked their asses but didn’t you say that was only a small portion of their true numbers?”

“Everyone is still very confused, and that goes for both ex-Yakuza and civilians,” Arakawa revealed.

“The Omi Alliance is still a hundred plus year institution and their sudden disappearance is bound to leave a vacuum in society of sorts.”

“So the Omi guys are rioting?”

Arakawa shook his head.

“It won’t do any good even if they did. They didn’t get far when they tried to stop Dojima-san and Watase-san from submitting the papers to the police, so what else can they do at this point in time? I doubt anyone would like to fight Majima-san or Saejima-san either, not if they valued their lives anyway.”

Ichiban shuddered; that was a really good point. And there was that other bodyguard Watase had as well, that Dragon of Dojima guy. He didn’t speak much, but he knew that those guys usually packed the most powerful punches. 

Ichiban had never met anyone with an aura quite as intimidating. 

“Did you really see this coming when you planned it all?” Ichiban asked, sounding really impressed.

“I’m not a psychic, Ichi,” Arakawa joked wryly. “I made arrangements as best as I could and this was where we ended up.”

“Could have fooled me,” Ichiban replied. “There were a few really close calls but maybe that could have been me being a dumbass, sorry.”

Arakawa chuckled. Ichiban always had such an earnest air about him, but the thing Arakawa liked the most was his willingness to always accept responsibility for any wrongdoings.

Something his own son was severely lacking. 

“I bet Masato isn’t happy. He was relying on the Omi for support, and now that I disbanded it right under his nose…”

He sighed.

“Perhaps I spoiled him. I always gave in to his tantrums, hoping that he would eventually grow out of it but I guess some people just never do. He’s probably one of those, what is that word the young people use these days? A ‘man child’?”

Ichiban did a slight double take; he didn’t expect Arakawa-san to use such a term to describe his own son, that and he didn’t know that term existed until then too.

“Well, you are his father after all,” Ichiban commented somewhat helpfully. “That’s what fathers do, give their children the best.”

“I know, but maybe I went just a little bit too far with that,” Arakawa admitted. “Dojima-san and Watase-san were going to disband even before Masato became the governor anyway, so when Masato wanted me to sell out the Tojo Clan it seemed like a perfect moment. In fact, it probably made things happen faster for them.”

His face darkened considerably.

“But now Masato has had a taste of power, and if I don’t stop him he is going to destroy himself.”

Ichiban looked shocked.

“Whoa, surely it’s not that serious?” he said. 

“At the very least, he will lose everything”, Arakawa replied in a tone that didn’t contain any trace of a joke. His hands gripped the railing in front of them.

“And I really don’t want that to happen to him.”

Ichiban had to restrain himself from throwing his arms around his former patriarch. He couldn’t see his face, but the sorrow and agony in his voice was palpable. The Young Master had been through a lot, Ichiban couldn’t fault him for enjoying things from his current vantage point. He himself had been right in the bottom rung of society not too long ago and it was incredibly difficult surviving on scraps of food and loose change found under vending machines. Survival meant fending off others who tried to steal his cans for his short-lived career collecting cans for recycling and home was a makeshift tent where heating was a luxury. 

It was a common saying that ‘problems that can be solved by money aren’t problems’ and Masato Arakawa found out very quickly that all the money in the world could not compensate for his disability. His struggles were humiliating for someone of his status, but once that problem could be solved by the way of experimental treatment overseas….

It was a small price to pay.   

“Well, it’s getting late. Time for me to head off!”

Arakawa seemed to have snapped out of his negative thoughts very quickly, for there was once again a brightness in his voice. However, Ichiban was still concerned.

“Arakawa-san, what are you going to do now?”

Arakawa took a moment to think about it. He had been so caught up with the disbanding scheme he realized that he never really considered what the next step was. ‘Retirement’ was a word that was never in his vocabulary, unless you count the time he stopped performing on stage. He wondered if he could still remember how to put on the makeup, at his prime he was one of the best onnagata in the light theatre world, praised for his delicate, androgynous looks. 

That all came to an end when his father died, murdered by Hoshino while they were out eating Peking Duck for dinner. His father’s death sent him down the path of no return, eventually joining the Hikawa Family as their go-to assassin,

If only there was someone to guide him when he had nowhere else to turn to.   

“There are many lost souls that have nowhere to go,” Arakawa said with a telling smile. “I want to be the one to help them get back on their feet.”

Ichiban's face lit up.

“So…you’re finally free from that life?”

“I guess so,” Arakawa replied animatedly. “What am I going to do with so much time? I’m like a businessman who just retired!”

“What about lunch?” Ichiban asked immediately. “We still haven’t had Peking Duck together!”

Arakawa laughed; he had since developed a bit of an aversion to the dish, although he has tried to accommodate Ichiban’s curiosity for the same dish.

“Ichi, I was referring to something more long term,” he replied in amusement. “Lunch is something we can have together anytime you want.”

Ichiban shifted uneasily, like a little boy too embarrassed to admit that he just wet his pants.  

“In that case…can we go back to being a family?”

Arakawa raised his eyebrows. 

“Being a family with you was the happiest time of my life!” Ichiban declared earnestly. “I have considered you and the Young Master my family ever since you rescued me when I was sixteen.”

“Even after all I’ve done?” Arakawa asked. “I sent you to jail for eighteen years-”

“You sacrificed your finger for me when I was nobody to you,” Ichiban said. “You saved my life.”

“And after you were released, I shot you.”

“Because you knew I was going to make it,” Ichiban interrupted. “You shot me to keep me safe, right?”

“You survived because of your own strength. I have done nothing to help you ever since,” Arakawa replied gravely.

“After everything I’ve done you have every right to hate me. You should hate me.”

It pained Arakawa to say that, but it pained him even more to shoot him. It was a necessary cog in the plan, a gamble he had to take. The confusion in Ichiban’s eyes when the bullet hit him was more excruciating than he would like to admit and he nearly wept when he got word from Ijincho that he had survived.

He loved that kid so much.

“Boss, if you feel bad about the things you have done, then let me serve under you again.”

Ichiban’s voice shook with emotion. There was always a child-like innocence that he never outgrew; many would have considered looking after the invalid Young Master as a menial task or a way to suck up to a member of the Arakawa Family, but Ichiban genuinely saw it as a great way to spend time with Masato. It was one of the many things Masumi Arakawa admired about him.

“Ichi, didn’t you say you were born in a soapland called ‘Shangri-La’?”

Ichiban nodded, confused at the odd change in subject.

“Yeah I was. I don’t know who my parents are though, the soapland manager and the women working there raised me.”

“That’s quite a story,” Arakawa remarked. “It’s one that I dream about often actually.”

“Huh?”

Now Ichiban was really confused.

“I often have this recurring dream about Akane giving birth to Masato forty years ago in that soapland,” Arakawa explained, smiling wryly at Ichiban’s blank stare.

Ichiban baulked. 

“You dreamt that the Young Master was born in a soapland?” he cried out. “Oh wow, that’s…weird. Kind of shameful too, actually but it's just a dream. None of it is true.”

“Isn't it?” Arakawa asked coyly. “Besides, I personally believe that it doesn’t matter where you were born. Take you for example, you were born in a soapland but you grew up with a good head on your shoulders.”

“Well, yeah I guess,” Ichiban replied with a sheepish chuckle. “But to be fair, I’m basically a certified dumbass at this point since I never really went to school.”

“It doesn’t mean you are better than others just because you went to university,” Arakawa reminded him. “There are many other things that are more important in life, like empathy and humility.”

Those were certainly big words. Ichiban never gave too much thought about the way he lived his life, all he knew was that he believed in always giving people second chances. After all he got one himself thanks to the man standing in front of him now. 

“Have you ever wondered who your parents are, Ichi?”

Ichiban had many father figures in his life, from the soapland manager who raised him and even Nonomiya who gave him a job when he was struggling financially. Come to think of it, so much of his life revolved around soaplands and now even Arakawa-san has started dreaming about them too? It was all getting a little too coincidental and weird.

“Honestly, I don't know,” Ichiban confessed. “It’s not something I've thought about. I've gotten used to not having them around.”

An odd smile spread across Arakawa’s face. Ichiban couldn't quite place the emotion behind it; even though he was smiling he still looked sad, and there was this strange look of resignation.

“Fair enough,” Arakawa answered evenly. 

“I guess you can't miss what you've never had. Whatever it is, you’ve suffered a lot, and for that I do have to take the blame.”

“No, Arakawa-san!” Ichiban said indignantly. “Don't you ever blame yourself! I won't allow it!”

Arakawa patted him on the shoulder. 

“Thank you, Ichi. Anyway, you're right, it's all just a dream. No point dwelling on it.”

Arakawa-san sure was in a melancholic mood. Ichiban always looked to him as a dispenser of wisdom, but there was something abnormally nihilistic about the way he spoke tonight. And what was with that dream? He had known him for so many years and this was the first time he had ever mentioned this supposedly recurring dream of his.  

“Ok I’m really going to head off now,” Arakawa said. “I’ll see you tomorrow.”

Ichiban bowed as Arakawa walked away. The way Arakawa carried on about this dream of his felt a little strange; is that what happens when you get older? Does Arakawa-san have any regrets? Ichiban realized that he didn't know, but asking his patriarch something so personal felt incredibly inappropriate.

Maybe now that he’s ‘just a regular old man’ it will be easier to ask him.  

Ichiban looked up and tried to ask there and then but realized that Arakawa was already too far away. He sighed, making a mental note to ask him the next time he saw him.

After all, they have all the time in the world now. 

*

Asuka woke up the next morning to her phone ringing incessantly. She had surprisingly slept like a log, the excitement of fighting the Omi Alliance and all that disco dancing finally having caught up with her. 

When she saw who was calling, she was immediately wide-awake. 

“Hello, Soma?”

“Asuka?”

His voice was tentative and deadly calm. She had heard him use this voice before; he reserved it exclusively for the times he had awful news to deliver. 

“I'm here, Soma. What's wrong?”

There was a slight pause.

“Asuka, whatever you do, I want you to stay calm.”

Ok this was bad. Very bad.

“Soma, what is it?” Asuka asked urgently, her heart rate skyrocketing and her voice failing to hide her anxiety.

She heard him take a deep breath. 

“The body of Masumi Arakawa was just discovered in the ocean this morning.”

Soma was greeted with silence as Asuka processed the information. He really would have preferred to tell her in person so he could give her the necessary support; the silence and his inability to see her was killing him. 

“Asuka, are you still there?”

Soma's voice jolted some life back into her again. Her heart was now caught in her throat and the air felt like it was suffocating her. Her hand gripped her phone, wishing she was holding onto someone warm instead. 

Someone, anyone who could remind her that she wasn't alone in all this. 

“S…Sorry Soma, I…I have to-”

“Go.”

Asuka's voice faded as Soma's overwhelmed hers.

“Go,” he repeated again with an air of firm authority. “Kasuga would have heard the news by now. Please make sure he doesn't do anything rash. Call me again if you need me.”

Asuka swallowed; she had never been more grateful for Soma's grounding influence. 

“I will. Thanks Soma.”

Asuka made it to Yokohama harbour just as they were wheeling the body towards the ambulance. A tell-tale white sheet completely covered the stretcher as curious onlookers gawked. The Yokohama Police department were at the scene, speaking to the fisherman who found the body. There was no sign of any other members of the Public Safety team. 

A magenta blur darted past her, fighting his way through the crowd. 

“Boss!!”

Everyone turned and stared as the man clawed his way to the front. Asuka ran after him frantically.

“Boss! Arakawa-san!"

“Ichiban!” Asuka cried out, throwing her arms around him in an attempt to hold him back. “Ichiban, stop!”

“Let me go!” Ichiban roared, tears streaming down his face as he tried to shake her off. “Let me go! I want to see him!”

The sheet slipped when Ichiban’s fingers grazed it, revealing the truth that nobody wanted to face. 

Arakawa Masumi laid before them with his eyes closed. He was wearing his outfit from last night, looking like a picture of serene peace until the bullet hole in his chest ruined that image. 

Ichiban froze, denial flooding his mind. Surely this was a joke, Arakawa-san looked like he was asleep. He willed him to open his eyes and laugh in his face, to rebuke him for being such a dumbass for falling for his prank. Arakawa-san was going to enjoy his retirement being a regular old man, they were going to have Peking Duck every month and play shogi and mahjong together. He wanted to pick his brain and get him to share his wisdom. He was going to call him today and ask him if he had any regrets. 

Ichiban still has so many questions he hasn't asked him. 

Asuka held back tears, continuing to keep her arms around Ichiban as he sank to his knees and howled.