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.
"Ah, Bitori-kun, so lovely of you to come on such short notice!" [break][break] Akito's greeting was sugar-sweet and terrifyingly bitter all at once, a far too friendly smile spread across his lips as he eyed down the trembling man. How appropriate, that mousy expression, perfect for a rat like him, the man some double-crossing informant like Akito had never seen before. His gaze didn't stay on the information broker for long, however, a flash of excitement in his eyes as they fell on that familiar visage. [break][break] Oshiro Kane. He was one of Akito's favorite for-hires, if nothing else than for the way it was so tantalizingly fun to get under his skin. The man was generally willing to do just about anything for the right amount of cash, and Akito was all too willing to pay top dollar for the mixture of results and entertainment that came from a job with the other raven-haired man. [break][break] "And escorted by my favorite little puppy," he teased, flashed grin as mocking as his tone was falsely affectionate. [break][break] As he slowly stepped over, Akito nodded to his assistant to close the door and lock it, leaving the three men tucked away in that quiet top-floor office. Completely ignoring the sniveling man on his knees, Akito approached Kane first, his fingers rolling up and cuffing his sleeves in some intimidating. He chuckled; as if he was going to be doing any physical labor tonight. No, Akito wasn't one to get his hands dirty, Kane's far more pleasing to stain with any potentially-guilt-inducing reds. [break][break] "How have you been, mutt?" he posed as he stepped up, grinning like they were old friends. He even reached a gloved hand forward and placed a friendly pat against the other man's forearm. "I hope Mr. Bitori here didn't give you too much trouble. Real nice of you to bring him all the way here for me." [break][break] As if Kane had had a choice in the matter. The agreed-upon paycheck called for retrieval of the man in question on top of Kane's full participation in whatever Akito needed of him to retrieve the information from their guest. And then there was, of course, any cleanup Mr. Miyasaki needed after their eventful little evening. Best case scenario, that involved Kane dragging the man back to his shitty apartment; worst case, he'd be finding a spot in Tokyo Bay available for new residents.
[attr="class","skullbody"]Kane could feel his pulse through his jaw. While worked up from having to drag a 150 pound man through the building at knife point, and he really gave all the credit to Akito. The sleek other really knew how to boil his goddamn blood. From the start of this job he already was clenching his fists and jabbing glares at him. It wasn't uncommon for the two. Infact they worked together more often than Kane would like to admit. 'Worked together'. More like Kane playing assistant while stabbing the man to death with his eyes. No matter how Kane raised his rates that fucker would always pay up. Damn pretty boy who wouldn't get his hands dirty. Every time he accepts a job for Akito he swears it's the last. This time for sure.[break]
Kane snarled at the coo of 'puppy' that was used to describe him. Akito probably did only see him as a dog. "Watch yourself. This mutt can bite," he spoke lowly through gritted teeth. He swatted the other's hand away as fast as it came to touch his forearm. He swore Akito was going to make him shatter his teeth one day.[break]
If one thing could help, it was his ability to take out his frustration on whatever bag of dirt kneeled before them. He didn't know what Akito wanted with this greasy salaryman. He didn't care either. He was here to be the fists and nothing more. [break]
"Nothing a gentle prod couldn't help," Kane notioned to Akito's playing question of their trip here. When he wasn't dragging, his knife was digging in the small of his hostage's back.[break]
Kane moved his weight from one leg to the other, stretching his arms gently with sleeves already pushed past his elbows. "Let's get this over with, Miyasaki. The less time I have to deal with your annoying little face the better." He spoke his second-half quietly, not that the hostage could even hear them through his own incessant whimpering. "Oh shut up," Kane nudged his foot on the guy's shoulder tossing him on his back. Idiot.
A far too amused chuckle left Akito at that spat remark. Already so riled up, he mused, pleased with the results of his little jab. He was going to have to watch himself, make sure he actually focused on the objective of the evening instead of getting distracted by Kane's entertaining little reactions. You've got him all night, he reminded himself, flexing the hand that his comrade had so quickly swatted away as if to stretch out the disrespectful move, Plenty of time drive him up the wall. He watched, a brow cocked in amusement, as Kane nudged their hostage to the floor. So aggravated; what a treat. [break][break] "So feisty tonight already," he teased, not an ounce of him showing a bit of fear of retribution. Someday, perhaps, he'd find a way to push Kane over his edge of control; until then, Akito would just enjoy the ride and those shows of aggravation. A wolfish grin spread across his features. "I can't wait to see how you let out that frustration; I've always thought you looked best covered in someone else's blood." [break][break] An easy enough transition. As the words lilted from his lips, Akito turned his gaze on that sniveling form before them, wolfish grin turned into some snide sneer the moment their eyes met. Gods, what a piece of shit he was. Akito would have fun watching Kane tear him apart. [break][break] "You hear that, Mr. Bitori?" he cooed, lowering himself to some casual crouching position before the man in question, confidence oozing from every curve of his expression. "Mr. Oshiro here has a tendency to get a little--" [break][break] Sh-Shut the fuck up, asshole! Wh-Who do you think you are?! I... I know people, Miyasaki! I'll fucking ruin you!" [break][break] Halted in his little threat, Akito's brows rose in surprise at the strength in the informant's voice. Surprising, considering how terrified he'd been walking in. Some consequence of the freedom from Kane's grasp, he assured himself. At least the little prick hadn't thought himself brave enough to-- [break][break] Every piece of Akito's being tensed as that pissant spat at him. The angle was off, thankfully, most of the saliva hitting his sleeve instead of his face, Bitori's presumed goal. The smile immediately drained from the prosecutor's features. He maintained that quiet, spiteful expression as he stood to his full height, no more humor in the way he glared down at the man. [break][break] "What a fucking idiot," he scoffed, contemplating just running his own foot into that man's flushed, trembling features. No fun in that, though, when he had a perfectly capable little pet at his side. "Kane," and he glanced sidelong at his companion, the ghost of that amused expression flitting back to his features at the sight of the man, "would you mind making Mr. Bitori here a bit more... open to negotiations? He clearly doesn't understand how beneficial it would be not to piss me off." He took a step back, then, nodding for Kane to take his place. He wouldn't tell him what to do; he shouldn't have to, not for the price he was paying. Instead, he let his countenance relax, hands slipping into the pockets of his slacks, preparing to enjoy the show.
[attr="class","skullbody"] Kane rolled his eyes at the argumentative pair. He kept his hands in his pockets and took a step back while they exchanged words. Where did Akito find these guys anyway? He wondered what he wanted out of him, and how much of a fight he'd have to put up. Kane found it harder to not kill them than it was to accidentally. Also not to wound their talking areas, as it seems that's what was needed for this transaction. [break][break] Kane pulled at his neck with both hands and stretched out, preparing for whatever he'd need to do. His eyes peered to the side when Akito started talking to him instead of the captive. God he hated his face. That little glimmer of cockiness that always showed up when he looked his way. He just wanted to grab his perfect hair and- [break][break] He'd gotten lost in his thoughts and nearly missed his instructions. Shit. All he caught was the notion to go ahead and fuck him up. [break][break]
Through grunts and yelling Kane went at the man with no hesitations. Every once in a while he'd pause and offer a soft look, asking if he was ready for Mr. Miyasaki's way yet. Without a confident answer, he'd continue. He'd also often look back to Akito. The lazy bastard just standing by while Kane did the grunt work. His smile lit a match inside Kane. [break][break] After a while, he was paint-splattered in crimson. He pressed his shoe on the other's throat, listening to croaked words. "Do tell me I look to your standards now, Akito." Kane tossed his head over his shoulder, looking at the dark-haired man. His voice was playful, flirty. A jest to his earlier statement. "Or is this not my color?"
The pleased smirk returned fully to Akito's features as he watched Kane go to work. Gods, what a sight the man was, some wild beast trapped in the confines of social respectability and expectation. What Akito wouldn't give to see him let completely loose, to just get filled with rage to the point of losing control. Bet he's great in bed, the prosecutor mused as he enjoyed the show, always ready to provide an encouraging, perhaps too friendly grin whenever Kane's gaze fell on him amidst the carnage. [break][break] "Do tell me I look to your standards now, Akito. Or is this not my color." [break][break] Fuck, there it was, that giddy energy only Kane could provide. Torture and paid loyalty with that ever-unexpected interjection of entertainment and pleasure. What a goddamn rush, made only more exhilarating by the fact that he knew how much Kane hated him, how much the man would surely turn him to a bloody pulp if given half the chance. [break][break] "To my standards and beyond," he cooed in return, stepping up beside his partner in crime, gaze tracing along and lingering at each splash of crimson along that muscled form. He reached out, surely a reckless move after such a brutal display, and used his gloved thumb to wipe a spot of blood from the curve of Kane's jawline. "Red definitely suits you, pup. You should let me see you covered in it more often." [break][break] Akito had to remind himself of his actual goal the evening, easily distracted by the far more entertaining man at his side, Mr. Bitori just some small pissant. But still, he was unfortunately a useful pissant, Akito forcing his gaze to part from Kane's form in the same moment he pulled his touch away. He crouched beside that battered, blood-stained form and grinned down as pleasantly as he could at the mangled mess that was the captured informant. [break][break] "Well, Mr. Bitori? Ready to actually participate?" he cooed, the small grunt from the man taken as confirmation. "Perfect!" And he lightly tapped Kane's foot, indicating for it to be removed from the man's jugular. "Now, why don't you let me know just who all you've been spilling your guts to about the Nikoyo case, hm? Specific names, if you would." [break][break] The confession came quickly enough, Bitori sputtering out names maybe a little too easily for Akito's liking; he would have preferred another reason to set Kane on the man. Instead, he rattled off a few recognizable names, some less so, Akito taking note of them on a little pad of paper tugged from his pocket. When the stuttered list was complete, Akito nodded approvingly and stood back up, glancing once more across the collection of names. Curious. There were a few he didn't see that he'd expected. [break][break] "Hmmm..." he murmured, brows knitting for a moment before glancing back to Bitori's haggard form. "What about Watanuki and Otani?" [break][break] The flash of terror and the hitched breath were enough to tell Akito there was something afoot, brows raising in what looked like displeasure, but gods it just hid that exhilaration at being lied to, at acquiring an excuse to use his little pet again. [break][break] "Tsk, tsk, Bitori," he replied, sounding like some disappointed father. He leaned over, bravely--or stupidly--touching Kane again, hand at the small of his back for the briefest moment as he murmured in his ear, "Mmmm, why don't you be a good guard dog and punish master's enemies, eh? Don't kill him yet; just bring him close."
