Welcome to Tokyo, Japan. January, 1991. The world has entered the technology era, portable phones, home computers, internet, video games. Japan quickly became the epicenter of the latest and greatest. Companies and factories flourished. Where money was, people followed. And while many rose to live a comfortable, happy, and delightful life from this new found money... Others did not. You see, money has this effect on people that can't be outdone. People will do anything for it. And when it starts slipping into the wrong hands, it's impossible to stop. Benethe the day time laborers and the double-shift workers, a seedy underbelly of syndicates exists. Narctics, black market, organized crime, money laundering, you name it and it's been growing as fast as the upper world economy. While many do it just to stay alive, there's those who make it their posh lifestyle. Either way, there's only one question. What would you do if the money was good enough?
JAN 29 2021: Welcome!! ƎLEMENT has been open for two weeks now and we're so happy to see such a bright beginning! If you're new feel free to drop into the discord and say hi before joining.
The night air was cool and soothing; January had passed and the bitter cold subsided--though even at its very worst, Tokyo's chill could never compare to that of Chicago. The young courtesan had gotten a rare evening off; taking flight from his little cage for once of his own accord. The young man dressed in a few simple layers; a tunic-length sweater to keep him warm; leggings that allowed him comfort and freedom to move, and an old blue duffel coat that had certainly seen better days. If it weren't for his ashen locks; he likely wouldn't have stuck out all that much on the streets of Kabuki-cho. [break][break]
It was, perhaps, not the brightest idea for the boy to head out on his own. Without a local to guide him, he nearly always found himself lost in the unfamiliar streets. But, Emile had always been a bit on the stubborn side, not being able to get from point A to point B made him feel like some helpless child--a feeling that was only compounded as every single shifting shadow brought to mind a pair of golden eyes.[break][break]
It didn't matter how far away he had flown from that deceitfully gentle-looking man--he was oceans away, and still he had his grip tight around his neck like a damned noose. A burning sensation, utterly psychosomatic, lighting up the scars beneath his layers of makeup brought a visible wince to his features. His hand flying to grip the spot at the back of his neck--unknowingly smudging his concealer just enough to reveal that Tsumaru tattoo that marked him as one of the family. He scoffed; those azure eyes narrowing. His body already trembling far too much from such a vague sense of dread.[break][break]
He isn't here. He can't hurt you. You have protection, now. Get it together.[break][break]
It was this fear that urged him to go out alone. He had to prove to himself that he was going to be okay. No matter how badly he wanted to reach out for help, how much he needed his hand held... He wouldn't always have someone there to do that for him.[break][break]
So, rather than accept what opportunities he had to ask for company; he tried to rip that band-aid off all on his own. The streets of Japan were far safer than Chicago, after-all. He knew better than to think himself truly safe; but, surely, he was at least safer than he felt. [break][break]
The hairs on his neck began to stand on end; feeling the presence of another shadow at his heels.[break][break]
You're being paranoid... calm down, calm down! [break][break]
He chided himself as he attempted to steady his heart. The start of a panic attack gripping his lungs and quickening his breath. [break][break]
Not now! You're fine! You're fucking fine! [break][break]
No matter how he screamed at himself; he couldn't shake the feeling of danger--his pupils pinpricking as his pace picked up. His footfalls barely made a sound; gliding through the streets like a ghost; weaving through the bodies that littered the redlight district in the evening like a madman.[break][break]
There's so many people around! You're fine! You're going to be fine![break][break]
But as he tried to convince himself; cold sweat pouring down his back--streaking that little patch on his neck that he somehow neglected to seal properly before heading out; he felt a hand at his shoulder; pulling him into a darkened alleyway away from the crowds. He opened his mouth to scream; but all to quickly found his mouth covered. His instinct to bite had been long-since trained out of him--a permanent conditioning leading him to believe he'd receive some instant punishment.[break][break]
His mind split into pieces; that damaged man seeing a figure that simply wasn't there.[break][break]
"I've plucked myself a pretty little flower..." [break][break]
A taunting croon from his captor; though it fell on deaf ears. An Aijiwau bastard that Em would have recognized had he actually been fully cognizant. [break][break]
"This is the one, right?" [break][break]
A low gruff voice left the imposing figure; his hands shifting to Em's shoulders as he thrust him towards a far smaller man. The duo looked like nothing more than businessmen.[break][break]
"Y-yeah, Aniki..." [break][break]
The meeker of the two all but whimpered.[break][break]
Slowly; as his body changed hands; Em's senses faded in and out--this smaller man striking much more of a chord in his memories. Some drunk bastard who'd gone and spilled far too many details about his life to his companion. The type that wilts away and sobs after getting their fill. Em, rather unfortunately, having stored all of those private details away in his memories. In a moment of clarity; he found that the smaller man's grip was much more forgiving--gripping his fabrics more than his skin. For as frail as he was; this wasn't Em's first run-in with this sort of thing. He ducked down quickly; sliding unceremoniously out of his coat; making a break for it blindly in the opposite direction, not wanting to risk getting grabbed by the broader of the two Aijiwau men on his way towards the street.[break][break]
"Help! Anyo--" [break][break]
Em tried to scream far too panicked to think to cry in Japanese; finally finding his voice; but once more he was far too suddenly grabbed. This time; his sweater gripped and used as leverage to thrust him to the concrete below; an instant throbbing in his cheek and forehead that left the wide-eyed courtesan speechless--memories of tiles in a bathroom overwriting the scenery he actually found himself in. "Please," was all he managed to whimper. Pitiful little creature frozen by his own terror.[break][break]
"Nothing personal, kid. Just can't trust you to keep that pretty mouth shut," the eldest grunted; his shoe positioned to bury itself in Em's stomach as his hand reached for a blade. He'd try to make it quick and clean.[break][break]
Evenings like this were made for walks, the warmth radiating from the crowds and the buzz of neon so perfectly contradicting the brisk chill of the night air. Hikaru breathed a deep sigh, his form lazing through the streets, his grandfather's coat keeping him safe from any particularly powerful icy blows. He normally would have been out looking for trouble, maybe staking out a new place, perhaps doing a bit of cop-stalking to ensure they did their goddamn jobs correctly. Instead, he took a sidestep towards a particularly heavenly-smelling stand, a skewer of Dango and a warm cup of ginger tea his new companions as he continued his pleasured little stroll. [break][break] He was halfway through both when he heard the scream. [break][break] "Help! Anyo--" [break][break] It was faint, a few alleys over, but it was clear as day. Hikaru froze, golden gaze sweeping in the voice's direction, his gut tensing at the sound. English; American accent... It took him less than a breath to start sprinting, half-empty skewer and dropped tea the only signs he'd actually been there in the first place. [break][break] He wasn't quiet as he approached, half of him hoping whatever culprits were ahead would run, the other half craving just a bit of violence to echo that panicked cry. It didn't take him long to arrive; it took him even less time to understand at least the basics of the situation. [break][break] "...can't trust you to keep that pretty mouth shut." [break][break] Hikaru charged, unthinking, eyes on the older man's hands even as he dived at him. Bodies collided, careened, a pained grunt escaping the blonde as he tackled the assailant to the concrete. It was a blur of flailing limbs for a moment before Hikaru managed to get his knee to make sharp contact with the bastard's gut, a satisfying wheeze rushing from his lungs in the same moment a bark of laughter escaped the blonde's. He used the momentum from the move to roll off of the guy, some wild exhilaration in his gaze. [break][break] Okay other gu-- [break][break] Hikaru froze, brows knitting in some dark glare as his gaze fell on the smaller assailant. The little scuffle with the first man had apparently not been distraction enough for the guy. The poor kid they'd been roughing up was propped up in some uncomfortable-looking half-sitting position, a fist in his hair, some glinting blade at his throat. [break][break] "B-Back the fuck up!" the scrawny bastard shouted, Hikaru's hands instinctively raising in some show of giving up, golden gaze flitting between the clearly-terrified expression of the captor and the porcelain features of captive. [break][break] "Hey, hey, hey," he replied, voice as calm and soothing as he could manage as he slipped back into Japanese, a friendly smile on his face, as if he was just talking about the weather. "Let's not get hasty, man. No one else needs to get hurt." His gaze fell to that poor, frail form at the man's fingertips, his smile, his reassurance for him even as he spoke it to the Aijiwau. "Not gonna let anyone else get hurt, okay? We can figure this out." [break][break] "Sh-Shut the fuck up!" the man shot back, Hikaru's features darkening just briefly as he spotted the tip of that knife eliciting some droplet of crimson from the man's neck. "Wh-Who the f-fuck are you?!" [break][break] "Just a concerned citizen wanting to help you not make anymore mistakes tonight," Hikaru replied, that soothing tone back in his voice as if that wince had never happened. "Let the kid go, walk away, and we don't have to--" [break][break] "Fuck off, asshole." [break][break] Shit. Hikaru'd let himself get distracted, had focused too much on trying to diffuse that he'd ignored the fact that those groans of pain behind him had stopped. He threw himself to the side, anticipating the blade aimed at his back, managing to avoid at least the more deadly blow. Crimson spilled from his side, a large tear appearing in that beloved jacket, a hiss of pain leaving his grimace as he rolled across the dirt away from the attacker. [break][break] "Bastard..." he grumbled, stumbling to his feet despite the gash in his side as the larger man rushed him. [break][break] He braced himself just in time, managed to knock that blade-wielding hand off its course as their bodies met again. For as unskilled as that business suit would suggest, the guy had a decent amount of size on him and practiced-enough hands, the breath leaving Hikaru's lungs as he was bull-rushed into the brick of a nearby wall. Another gash, blood spilling from the new wound across his palm as the two wrestled against the edge of the alley. Hikaru was able to get a few good hits in, the Aijiwau bastard spitting blood by the time he managed to get a handful of gold and bash Hikaru's head against those same bricks. [break][break] The world began to spin, Hikaru's body crumbling against the wall as the other man stumbled away, shallow breaths leaving them both. Hikaru's gaze quickly fell on the victim, that American fellow with the fluff of white hair. That's a unique look... his mind mused, the faintest of smiles gracing his features as he tried to steady his vision. It was taking more effort than he would have liked, more time than he would have liked, that battered bastard managing to stumble over and snatch the poor kid from his compatriot's hands and drag him over to where the blonde sat. [break][break] "You an idiot or something?" he shouted, spitting blood and saliva at the ex-cop, using his grip on Em's hair to vigorously shake him in Hikaru's face. "Trying to die for a little broken whore?"
There were a precious few moments where Emile likely could have managed to get away--to shove away that snake of a client; the smaller man about his own size. He could have, had his mind been clear--invisible rope binding his limbs in-place; rendering him immobile. His savior had, however, likely saved his life in more ways than one--getting the larger man away from him before his stomach had taken any damage. Before he could come too; his mind still somewhere in the States; he was being dragged and shoved up against the wall--his body slumping over as though he was already nothing more than a corpse--his body struggling to find some footing while one knee locked and the other attempted to drop to the ground. The younger man grabbing his hair and wrenching his head back to expose his neck. [break][break]
"B-Back the fuck up!"[break][break]
Em's brows furrowed in confusion; not so much as having processed the entrance of ...an ally..?[break][break]
His eyes flickered for a moment; finding himself back in the alley; the man holding a knife to his throat not at all the face he expected to see--though; he began to warp and shift to that demon with the princely smile. The boy squinting and shaking his head as nausea gripped him; a warm trail of scarlet running from where his forehead had made contact with the pavement. The back-and-fourth was distant; sounding as though the men were under water. His sight holding just long enough to make out a warm smile on the blonde's lips. The audio clearing up just in time to hear a reassurance that... seemed to be for him.[break][break]
"Not gonna let anyone else get hurt, okay? We can figure this out."[break][break]
Who... are you...? His vision blurred as he tried to make out the figure; the dark of the alleyway doing nothing to assist him. He didn't have much time to contemplate as the knife in that bastard's hand started to dig into the flesh of his neck. A hiss of pain leaving him before his disoriented, hooded gaze widened.[break][break]
He knew the sting of a blade; far better than anyone ever should; the proof decorating his form beneath layers of makeup. Once more; the Asian man warped to take on the visage of that obsidian-eyed sadist. He couldn't keep it together--he couldn't stay in reality long enough to make out what the hell was going on around him.[break][break]
He flashed between that faraway room and the alleyway; staring like some dead fish--his eyes looking hollow as he watched his hero be ripped through by those who sought to end him. He didn't process the emerging larger figure quickly enough to call out a warning to the blonde; nothing more than some pathetic whimper as he tried to understand what was happening.[break][break]
"W-wait..." Em barely managed to stutter; some weak plea in his voice.[break][break]
Blood. God; there was a lot of blood coming from the two going at each other. His body slammed into the brick not all too far from his own--tears pooling and spilling as Em slowly pieced together what was going on--just how battered the other was getting; and it... it was to help him, wasn't it? His skull meeting brick far too violently--god, was he going to die? Was he--was he going to die trying to help him? He was smiling. Why was he smiling? Why did there have to be so much blood?[break][break]
As the world spun around him; his hair was wrapped up in yet another fist; some pathetic little whimper leaving him even as he was freed from the blade at his throat. The scene was clear now; for a moment reality clung to him far more tightly than his memories--though, that didn't do him much good. Hell; it may have been more of a curse than anything. For the first time; he was close enough to make out the other's features.[break][break]
Gold.[break][break]
As he was violently shaken; his body's full weight falling to his scalp to support--his azures stayed wide; filling with fear. To be treated like some ragdoll while looking into golden eyes... this was too familiar.[break][break]
His savior holding far too many qualities that were reminiscent of one who had pretended to be his guardian angel for a time; only to become a devil that tormented his every waking moment.[break][break]
"You a fuckin' idiot or something?"[break][break]
He winced at the volume of the other's voice--some vague tether to the alleyway that kept his panic to a simple heaving chest and trembling eyes.[break][break]
"Trying to die for a little broken whore?"[break][break]
That phrase all too familiar, just the same.[break][break]
"Well; let me grant your fucking wish!"[break][break]
The larger man, without releasing Emile's hair; resumed what Hikaru had interrupted--now taking the broken little things place beneath his foot. The man sweeping and kicking the vigilante in the side; connecting with that gash he'd left earlier.[break][break]
The little courtesan's eyes came into focus; his mind struggling to stay present--but with those eyes not in his direct line of sight; all he saw was that would-be hero being sent careening to his side; crimson pooling beneath him. He's going to die... That Aijiwau monster pulled back to deliver another swift kick; every intention on bludgeoning the other to death. He's going to die! Tears began to stream from the little courtesan's eye's azures glittering in the neon lights of the city.[break][break]
"STOP IT!" He screamed; his voice breaking with urgency. He didn't have much weight to him--barely any power; but with his captor's balance thrown off mid-kick; Emile's sudden lunging was enough to knock him off of his feet. His invisible binds broken; for just a moment. [break][break]
"What the fu--?!" The larger man roared as he careened to the cement; his grip on Em not yet loosening--but he had found the use of his limbs once more; his trembling hands sweeping and gripping at the dust and gravel below them; any manner of dirt he could scoop up was quickly shoved into and ground into the older man's eyes; some animalistic cry leaving Emile just before he was violently thrown into the wall beside HIkaru.[break][break]
"FUCK! I was going to make this quick... but now I think I'm going to take my sweet fucking time with you. You're going to regret fucking with me." The man's voice a deep growl; though it wavered and cracked for just a moment; trying to rip the gravel from his eyes. His head snapped to look at his companion; snarling at him. "Are you COMPLETELY fucking useless?! This is your goddamn mess to clean up; you're just gonna stand there and fucking watch?!"[break][break]
The smaller man was shaking like a leaf--his voice cracking in some unintelligible affirmation. Scurrying to grab the other's blade from the ground; their attention--seemingly on Emile for the time being.[break][break]
The young courtesan whimpering as the world around him swam. "I'm sorry..." he murmured a weak apology in English; his voice filled with fear and sorrow; the words clearly for Hikaru--not intended for the snarling monster closing in on him. His lips parted; presumably to add to the sentiment; but not so much as a breath made it out as the Larger man's hands wrapped around his slender neck; slowly lifting him from the ground--choking and gurgling the only sounds escaping him as his dirtied fingernails shot to dig into the other man's wrists--desperately trying to pry him off. Kicking uselessly at the other; barely enough force to lift his legs.[break][break]
Had the pain not been so sudden and so great, Hikaru would have shot that pretty, battered face a smile as he was sent careening. As it were, all the blonde could focus on was the sudden spike of shock that came with that kick, his vision blacking out for a moment as he went tumbling. It came back a moment later, just quick enough for him to register that another was coming. He braced himself, trying to catch his fucking breath so he could actually do something, when that little porcelain figurine started moving, interrupting that second kick. [break][break] "Sh-Shit..." he stuttered out, blood dripping from the corner of his lips, already seeing how the act would play out even before that bastard sent the kid flying. He tried to crawl over, tried to get his limbs to fucking move but he was still sitting their slumped when Em was tossed. Shallow breaths permeated the air as that creep stalked over, spitting curses and threats. [break][break] "I'm sorry..." [break][break] There was a story Hikaru's mother used to tell him, about a great ancient hero who saved the land's princess from certain doom because his rage and power were fueled by the tears she wept for him every time he fell. In that moment, seeing really nothing other than those pretty sapphires coated in tears, Hikaru felt he understood that story far more than he ever had before. Something switched off in his brain, some cohesive thought process, and instinct fully took over as that choking sound echoed through the alley. [break][break] "Get the fuck off of him!" [break][break] He shouted it in English, unsure why, though it managed to confuse the bastard enough to draw his attention. Too late. Hikaru was on him before he could manage to make a move, the blonde a blur as he tackled him. Em went falling, though Hikaru was far too distracted to take note, getting on top of the other man and with unrelenting force crashing his fists over and over again into that bastard's face. [break][break] "I. Won't. Let. You. Hurt. Him. You. Fucking. Piece. Of. Shit." [break][break] Each word was punctuated by a new punch, Hikaru hardly even registering the pain in his right fist from that wound, knuckles bruising and busting as he mangled and battered every square inch of the man's face. By the time it was over, the alley looked worse than most of the homicide scenes he'd investigated while on the force, blood splattered everywhere, that man's body twitching and moaning but surely not long for the world if he didn't get immediate medical attention. [break][break] Not that Hikaru was worried about that. [break][break] He stood, somehow getting to his feet with little issue--adrenaline was a hell of a drug--and turned that pissed-off, blood-splattered expression to the scrawnier man. He didn't even have to say anything; the punk was running off before he'd even fully stood, blades dropped in his scramble to escape the same fate as his comrade. [break][break] It took Hikaru a long moment to come down from that rush, quickened, shallow breaths slowly fading into something calmer as he stepped away from the body and turned to that "whore" the men had been harassing. Shit! Even in the aftermath of that chaos, Hikaru managed to realize how terrifying he must look. Quickly, he stripped off that bloody jacket and revealed the only slightly-less-bloody t-shirt beneath, stripping it off and using it as a rag to wipe the scarlet from his face before wrapping it tightly around that large gash on his palm. [break][break] "Hey," he said, putting on a smile, a habit he'd carried away from his trauma-care in the force, as he headed over and knelt down in front of the guy. He was wobbly, having to catch himself with his goo-- his less-bad hand on the brick wall, trying for a chuckle at the move as his gaze flitted over the other's form, finding a roost in those baby blues. "You okay?"
Even with how little he could process; those words rang out in his head as he struggled to find oxygen; his lungs starting to feel the fire of deprivation. It was a sensation he'd become used to once more--but fuck, not with such a very real and immediate threat of death. Terror coursed through his every fiber even as his savior collided with his reaper. His body tumbling to the concrete as he sputtered and coughed; drawing in air as deeply as he could through his tightening lungs; the young man wheezing and whimpering. He could feel the man's grip around his neck long after he was forcibly released.[break][break]
Saved me... Saved me... He... he saved me.... Of the many cycling thoughts that fought for his mind's attention--that one was perhaps the loudest. He wasn't dead. He wasn't dying. That stranger... that stranger... Oh, what--was he--?[break][break]
Emile's gaze slowly rose from the ground; his form violently shaking; the oceans in his eyes more than a little turbulent as those tears continued to pour down his face. He looked up just in time to see the alleyway painted; bringing back memories of that tiled room--his mind tugging at him; trying to force him back overseas. But, no... that was... someone who was hurting him, right? Those stains on the walls were from... a murderer, right? Yeah, he was going to kill him. He was going to kill him if not... If not for that golden-haired man...[break][break]
Yet, still--the scene shook him. A violent storm of gratitude, horror, and... something else; something far, far, darker stirred within him as he committed the gruesome scene to memory. Em's chest heaving; and heart thundering out of control in his chest.[break][break]
He... He's standing... He's okay... He's okay... a sense of relief washing over him at the thought.[break][break]
He watched; a vacant, wide-eyed look on his face as Hikaru stripped his bloodied clothing. The man tidying himself as much as he could before approaching him.[break][break]
"Hey,"[break][break]
His voice was soft and soothing... His smile carrying with it a warmth like gentle sunlight. There was... something terrifying in even that--in that flawless return to a softer disposition after having watched him just... beat a man; potentially to death. Yet... there was comfort in the understanding that he had... done that for him. It was something out of myth; some dark fairy tale that Emile found some haunting respite in. For him. He had done that... for him... His oceans fell to the other's wounds. Hurt... he's hurt... bad... how is he mo--[break][break]
His thoughts of concern were cut short as oceans met sunlight.[break][break]
Gold.[break][break]
His panicked breathing quickened; his pupils that had begun to dilate in the dark returned to pinpricks the moment he saw his eyes. Perhaps he would have been fine seeing them, if not for all that had transpired... Perhaps if that switch from brutality to a smile weren't so naturally instantaneous--he could have stayed there in the alley with him. However; there was a golden-eyed devil who had scorched him with a hellfire that robbed his vision; golden locks turning to silver in his eyes as his breath went from panicked to frozen; simply no longer breathing with the terror that seized him.[break][break]
He couldn't scream or make a sound.[break][break]
"You okay?"[break][break]
He shook his head; not even hearing the question. He trembled and started to simply back away; his battered form barely dragging itself half a foot away before crumbling into some heap; hands covering his face as he lay cowering.[break][break]
