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.
Once a month, right on schedule, Kane would meet his supplier for the typical exchange. It was routine, it was boring even, but also the most important thing he had to do. This time his supply had been dry for over a week. Finals and entrance exams lined up this year, making his stock disappear faster than expected. He was able to charge a bit higher even, good ol supply and demand. However he was sick of being asked endlessly all week for more. I'm out. They didn't like that answer. Especially some of his best customers. He'd probably lose them in the time it took for him to restock. But that was a problem for later.[break][break]
Kane hovered between a dark alley, resting his weight against a back wall as he waited. Dr. Morita. A young, good-looking, man who probably could have done a lot better for himself if he wasn't with the syndicate. It was a shame. But it was something you weren't supposed to ask about. Plus it really helped their cover to have someone so normal facing to be around. But no matter how many times they'd met up, it always piqued his interest.[break][break] "Doctor," Kane spoke lowly, nodding his head as the familiar figure came into sight. His red hair and young face never any less stunning. "I figure you got the wire, bringing double this time?"
[attr="class","ooc-area"]excite for pain — morita shuichi
It was perhaps incorrect to say that Shuichi looked forward to these monthly meetings. On the contrary, he wasn't the fondest of the exchanges that he knew led to a plethora of dumb kids with too much of daddy's money in their pockets feeding their addictions. He'd been one of those kids not too long ago, had gone to dealers before he'd been able to write the prescriptions himself. The idea of being a part of that vicious cycle, of being the catalyst for that vicious cycle, was something he preferred to avoid at all costs. [break][break] He couldn't quite say the same for the man he was meeting in that back alley. [break][break] Kane Oshiro was something of an enigma to the young doctor. Handsome, friendly, and far more down-to-earth than he had any right to be while working with the Ajiwau. And, god, that eyepatch was such a point of contemplation for Shuichi. He used to love things like that, those little pieces of people that made them minutely unique, used to love learning about them. But you weren't supposed to do that, weren't supposed to get to know your associates in this business. You weren't supposed to find them appealing or endearing or anything more than just "useful." [break][break] He's just useful. Good money. Easy company, his mind reminded him as he trudged towards that meeting spot, thick sweater and a handmade scarf from his little sister in place to fight off the chill of the evening. He'd always been a baby about the cold. One of the few you don't have to hire a bodyguard for. Don't ruin that. [break][break] "Of course," he replied as he joined his business partner in that dark space, the flash of a perhaps too-friendly smile splitting his flushed-against-the-cold cheeks. He didn't usually smile during these types of things; another Kane Oshiro-flavored enigma. "The Doctor always delivers!" [break][break] Stupid. That was stupid, his brain chided, Shu actively wincing at the peppy lilt to his tone. What the hell was wrong with him? He was literally handing out illegal narcotics to a guy who made a living feeding unhealthy addictions. Shaking off the strangely friendly opening, flushed with embarrassment, wishing he'd thought to pop some Xanax before meeting up with Kane, Shu tugged off his backpack. [break][break] "Big order this month," he noted, glancing up at his companion as he knelt down and began to rifle through the bag, some forlorn smile flitting across his features. "Business booming?" [break][break] A moment later and he'd be tugging out that little care package he always delivered the narcotics in; two of them this time where normally there was just one. Simple white boxes, a teal ribbon keeping each sealed. They looked like little presents, held up to that taller form, that same conflicted smile still roosting on Shuichi's lips.
A smile tugged at one side of Kane's lips at the other's little line. He had such a youthful banter about him, his presence like taking some sort of drug itself. Every time he'd forgotten, their meeting would be a reminder. [break][break]
Watching the other rummage his bag, Kane crouched down too next to him. His elbow rested on his knees and his hands dangled in front. "Mm you know how it is. Every couple years finals and entrance exams line up. I should have been more prepared but," he shrugged with one shoulder. The white boxes tied with ribbon were in front of him now, beautifully packaged as always. He always found it so interesting how good of care Dr. Morita took with his deliveries. He'd certainly had other suppliers toss a plastic bag at him. So it was always a pleasure to have kind looking boxes. [break][break]
As he reached out to grab them, a rustled noise stopped him. It was loud, enough to echo the alley. It made him freeze. Without grabbing the boxes he slowly stood to his feet, moving around slowly looking for any movement. He started to hear whispers, two people hissing insults at each other. While he wanted to think it was a bad coincidence and there was just a scuffle nearby, his gut felt otherwise. He looked to the doctor, nodding his head up gently hoping he would take the queue to put the delivery away. [break][break]
A moment later a window broke and two men scurried down from it. They carried tall knives and covered their faces with wide hoods. "Go, GO," Kane yelled to the other, instantly jumping over him to stand in front. The alley had an exit on both sides, it wouldn't be hard to escape if he was fast enough. Kane ripped his knife from the side of his belt and stood firm. As one tried to slide by him to reach for the doctor Kane extended his arm, catching the other's blade across his shoulder. He grunted, using his other hand that wielded the knife to slice the other's leg. He fell to one knee. Just enough to delay him. The other came right at Kane, not using his knife but throwing swift punches he was not equipped to handle. [break][break]
The scuffle was rough, to say the absolute least. A number of slashes, prods, and fists later Kane had broken free and the others ran off when they realized he wasn't even the one who had the drugs. Idiots. Kane walked nursing his shoulder out the way he'd seen the doctor go. He truly hoped he got away unscathed. The syndicate would skin him alive if he'd let anything happen to one of their very very few doctor suppliers.
Shu nodded along to Kane's explanation as he rifled, trying not to think about how he, too, had fallen into that category of desperate student seeking some way to get through his exams. He was also trying to ignore the way that man crouched near him, that relaxed pose, that... Too close, his mind murmured, Shu's childhood yearning for touch having been replaced by some aversion to it in his later years, especially during his working hours. Still, he didn't back away, though he tensed in preparation for any sort of accidental touch their hands might share in passing those boxes from hand-to-hand. [break][break] He didn't even register the rustling as suspect, so caught up in his own anxious contemplations, only noticing something was wrong when Kane's hands froze in their advance. Confused emeralds glanced to that moving form, brows furrowed, a creeping panic beginning to fill his system. [break][break] Years earlier, before he'd learned the truth of the family business, before he'd gotten sucked into this disastrous life, Shu would have been struck paralyzed by his terror at whatever danger lurked in those alley shadows. As it were, three years of this work had made him far more reactive, his hands quickly moving to tuck the boxes away at Kane's indication. A part of him wanted to run right then; another wanted to stick close to his companion's side. [break][break] He won't protect you, idiot! his mind screamed, reminding him that to this man he was just a useful associate, a tool to get his money. That thought circled his mind as that window broke behind him, as he turned to stare, wide-eyed with terror, to spot the two men careening down into the alleyway, as he heard his blood pumping in his ears, as he-- [break][break] What? [break][break] Confusion riddled Shuichi's features as Kane stepped between him and the assailants, some momentary consideration that maybe, just maybe, there was more to that-- [break][break] Run, idiot! [break][break] He scrambled the moment that man started after him, tried to slip around his momentary protector. He's just protecting the delivery, he reminded himself as he began to stumble to his feet and away down the alley, Something YOU should be focusing on. He tried to ignore the sound of confrontation behind him as he darted away, that backpack cradled to his chest like some valuable heirloom. So chaotic was his stumbling, his heartbeat ringing in his ears, Shu made it hardly a yard before he'd tripped, a hiss of pain escaping him as the fabric of his pants ripped and his knee was gashed. [break][break] There was a part of him that wanted to just keep running until he was back at his apartment, deserting Kane to... whatever the hell was going on behind him. But Shuichi had always been a helper, that good-hearted nature never completely overshadowed by his current cynicism and sense of self-preservation. And so he instead slid around the first corner he found, leaning against the brick, trying to stifle his breathing as best he could, waiting for the sound of struggle to cease and, hopefully, an opportunity to see what was happening. [break][break] From the sounds of it, the two invaders had run away, though there was a long moment after the initial decline in sound that Shu stayed put, hidden away, too terrified to actually peak his head out, fighting against the pain in his leg from that stumble. Eventually, though, as stuttered footsteps grew closer, he couldn't help himself and managed to brave a quick glance around the corner. [break][break] "Sh-Shit!" he cried, spotting the battered form of his colleague, immediately, almost on instinct, stumbling out of his hiding spot and over to Kane's side. A flash of that former self, the one that still lingered just beneath that beaten-down surface, came through as he hooked the backpack over his shoulder, freeing up his hands to reach out and steady the other man. "S-Steady! Steady! Are you okay? What happened? Did they get you anywhere else besides the shoulder?" [break][break] The doctor's voice was some strange cocktail of concern, wavering fear, and that seriousness one only got from spending a few good months working a trauma ward. Shu's eyes were already assessing the damage, instinct taking over, so distracted by the wounded man that he didn't notice the third assailant slipping up behind him, reaching to grab a handful of that young physician's locks.
[attr="class","text-area"] Kane let a sigh of relief escape his lips when he saw the doctor lean out from around a corner. He figured his injured shuffling would summon any medical personnel in the area. Although he didn't expect the panic as the other ran at him. He whipped his head around, looking for danger. Wait no, he was worried about him? The doctor even boldly tried to support him, making Kane try to stand up straight. He did try, but it wasn't working out just yet.[break][break]
"What? I'm fine, don't worry about me. You- Watch!" He noticed the assailant far too late, the doctor already hitting the ground pulled by his hair. Kane wiped his hand across his brow, freeing the drips of blood covering his one good eye. The other lifted his boot to land it hard in the doctor's face, but Kane's throwing knife swiped his ankle before he could. Instead, the foot landed right next to him just trampling some hair. It was a lucky toss, Kane thought. One he couldn't afford to miss. The assailant yelled and tried to charge Kane, limping and nearly falling on his way to. Kane dodged, letting him stumble past. He came back for another tackle and met Kane's fist in his ribs. "Get the hell out of here," Kane hissed, holding up another smaller knife he carried. It was still enough to puncture a lung. The other snarled and began to run off, limping still but knowing Kane wouldn't chase. [break][break]
The dark-haired man looked back to the other on the ground. He held out his good side and grabbed his arm, attempting to pull him to his feet. Although Kane's strength was barely hanging on. He could feel every wound in his body start to yell. The slash at his hairline, the deep stab in his shoulder, and whatever bruises and fractures decided to manifest in the last five minutes. But now his attention shifted to the doctor. He had no idea how hard he'd fallen. He just hoped his soft-looking hair had protected him. "Are you okay?"
[attr="class","ooc-area"]hair is just free padding, change my mind — morita shuichi
Shu's brows furrowed in annoyed concern at Kane's dismissive words, his mouth opening to reprimand him, to assure him that injuries were something to worry about no matter how many times you'd survived them. He never got around to it, though, a sudden sharp tugging on his hair stripping his voice from him, sending him careening back towards the ground. A stuttered yelp of pain erupted from him as he made sharp contact with the ground, his head bouncing where it hit the concrete. [break][break] For a moment, all Shu saw were stars. Slowly, his vision cleared, the world looking like some piece of watercolor before that hovering boot came far too quickly and far too clearly into focus. Panic filled every ounce of the doctor's countenance, the pain in his head, in his leg, completely forgotten as he watched in slow motion that foot come down towards his face. [break][break] Shuichi was still lying there, staring up at where that boot had lingered, when the man charged Kane. Unable to fully grasp what had actually happened, all Shu could really process was the fact that he was... Alive! I'm alive! He was still there, shaky, a cocktail of terror and relief in his gaze as Kane stumbled his way. Weakly, he took hold of the offered arm, stumbling to his feet, his grip on the other so tight it turned his knuckles white. [break][break] "Are you okay?" [break][break] Shu stared at him for a long moment, his system simultaneously on high-alert and scrambling to catch up to the scene. They were alone; just the two of them, their assailants run-off or taken care of. He ached. A lot. But Kane looked far worse. [break][break] "F-Fine..." he lied, still gripping the other's arm, his breathing shallow as he, without thinking, rest his forehead on his companion's shoulder. "Th-Thank you... Thank you..." He swallowed, steadied, pulled back and tried to move through the painful haze that was his current state of mind. Wounds... we need to... look at your wounds." Where were they again? What was close? A hospital; though they weren't about to go there. "Clinic... My clinic's near here... or apartment... we can go..." [break][break] He closed his eyes, focusing on his words, on steadying his tone. He looked a bit better when he opened those emeralds and spoke again. [break][break] "I've got medical supplies; I can look at your wounds and get them fixed up."
[attr="class","text-area"] Kane tensed up as the doctor rested against him. He didn't expect it, but before he could ease the other had already pushed away and tried to stand on his own. The distance in his words and the shock on his face were bad signs. Kane hated dealing with anything medical, but he knew there was no avoiding it now.[break][break]
"My wounds? You looked dizzy. Let's go. What's closer, your clinic or your apartment? Can you lead me there?" Kane spoke faster than usual, letting the panic seep into his tone. Sure he had gnawing shoulder pain that made his arm numb, but his concerns lied with the wellness of Dr. Morita. If they could get to one of his places, then he could take care of himself. Kane was irritated with himself for not securing the area before letting his guard down, allowing for the other to get hurt. He gritted his teeth, regret filling his lungs. [break][break]
"Here," Kane held out his good arm to allow the doctor to stabilize himself if he needed. His legs were working for now, so at least they'd get there.
Even with the world still spinning, Shu managed to frown at that selfless comment. He's the one bleeding and he's worried about ME! his mind murmured, unaware of that streak of red running from his hairline, of the crimson stains at the knee of his slacks. It was almost insulting, the concerned panic in his companion's tone; he was fine, right? Just a scraped knee and a little dizziness, right? You'd think a man who'd spent the last decade working in [break][break] "I'm fine," he lied, though the world was getting a little easier to manage. Despite the assurance, he, after a brief moment of clearly-nervous contemplation, took the offered arm. He wrapped around it perhaps too easily, grateful, if nothing else, for the ability to put less pressure on that damnable knee. Pouting perhaps more obviously than he would have liked, social inhibitions rather absent after that head bonk, he murmured, "Clinic... My clinic is just a few streets over..." [break][break] And off they went, two battered bodies stumbling through the alleys of Tokyo, their destination some backdoor clinic with enough sequestered narcotics to numb a herd of elephants. The trek was less than smooth, the pain in Shu's knee increasing as his head finally started to really clear up. He needed some pain meds; bad. He knew Kane needed them too, though, and stitches. Lots of stitches. As they fumbled together, Shu kept trying to take a bit more of the pressure off of his companion, though any excessive pressure on his bad leg resulted in some sharp hiss of pain and a stuttered stumble so that by the end of their journey, Shu was all but hanging off of the other, his grip tight on that offered arm, practically lying on it, his breathing a bit shallowed. [break][break] "M-Made it..." he murmured, guiding their conjoined forms to the nondescript door. He released Kane, reluctantly perhaps, to fumble in his pocket for his keys, unlocking the four different deadbolts and slumping against the doorframe for a minute to catch his breath. He took a moment, breathing, before glancing over his shoulder and shooting some pitiful little grin in Kane's direction. "L-Let's get you patched up, Mr. Oshiro." And with some weak laugh, very unlike the stoic visage he tried so hard to maintain during working hours, Shu grabbed the other's wrist and started tugging him into the space.
[attr="class","text-area"] Although it was offered, Kane was still surprised at the doctor's grip around his arm. He'd known if he himself was offered an arm it would be swatted away. Dr. Morita was kinder and gentler than he, and it continually caught him off guard. [break][break]
The two stumbled their way through back passages and small streets until the doctor saw something he could recognize. Kane was nothing more than a glorified hand rail by this point, toting the smaller other more as they went. He hardly minded it, despite the strain it caused to his own injuries. The pull of his body and the breathy mumbles out his lips were far from a bother. As always, Kane's head was in the wrong place at the worst time. [break][break]
They'd reached the door and his arm was suddenly light and cold at the loss of the other's grip. The door lock clicked open and Kane followed inside, the sterile smell already searing his nose. It was no surprise to anyone that he had a hatred of medical places. One look at him and you could guess. The only reason he'd be here is that he trusted Dr. Morita. That's it. [break][break]
While they walked Kane noticed the pieces of dirt and gravel still wrapped in Dr. Morita's hair. A pit of guilt was building in his stomach. If he'd been a second faster they could have dodged that asshole, finished their transaction, and been on their way. And more importantly, the doctor would have been fine.[break][break]
Kane narrowed his eyes. A smile wasn't something he expected to see. A bit of light in the dark. If he had been a better person, maybe he would have reciprocated. Instead, he just folded to the gentle tug at his wrist and followed him in. [break][break]
The white floors, white walls, fogged glass windows, all of it was awful. He knew he shouldn't let his panic seep in but god damn it was getting hard. He clenched his fists instead, shoving them in his pockets. He had to remind himself that he was only here to accompany the doctor, make sure he got what he needed. He might have wanted to fix him up too, but that would not be happening. [break][break]
"Mm. I think you should care for yourself, first," Kane spoke lowly, eying the other. "You could have a concussion or worse, I only have a couple good scratches that'll heal themselves. I've been through worse." He shrugged off his injuries with his good shoulder. He was thankful for his dark button-down shirt, hiding the true saturation of blood that had taken over. It probably looked worse than it was for now. Nothing a shower couldn't fix.[break][break]
"Listen I'm..." Kane dodged his eyes away, head down and glaring at an innocent corner. "I didn't see that guy til the last second. I wasn't paying attention and I'm.. sorry. If the syndicate asks will you..." He trailed off quietly, not sure what he wanted to ask. "I need to know you're going to be fine. They'd never let me live if you ended up leaving us, one way or another." Cycling through his head was all the outcomes. Him leaving the Ajiwau out of fear, him having a medical issue and unable to stay, or worse him ending up dead. Kane desperately didn't want blood on his hands. Not his blood anyway. The idea of him dead bore a hole in his chest. His golden gaze turned back to the colorful man. He was ready for anything.
[attr="class","ooc-area"]needs a bandaid — morita shuichi
As his mind began to, mercifully, clear, the safety of his familiar spot easing some of the tension in his shoulders, Shu began to notice the telltale signs of discomfort. Those clenched fists shoved into his pockets, that dark gaze glancing around the room, the far-too-easy dismissal of his offer of help. Stubbornness and an anti-doctor mentality were all too common in this line of work, Shu instinctively bristling at the implications behind Kane's words, his mind jumping to the conclusion that he was using faked concern to push away the physician's help. [break][break] "Listen I'm..." [break][break] Shu had just begun to open his mouth, to murmur some offended retort at the man's previous comments, but he stopped, frozen, swaying just slightly as he observed the other's expression. That "I'm sorry" hit like a truck, some punch to his gut and ache to his chest he couldn't quite explain with words. There was authentic worry in there, even if it was mostly overshadowed by some fear of the syndicate... right? [break][break] "I-I... uhm..." his voice was weaker than he would have liked, shock, some mild form of flattery, and probably a healthy dose of concussion coating his features in a faint scarlet hue, made only worse when that golden gaze fell back to him. He ran a nervous hand through his hair, wincing at the sound of pebbles falling to the tiles beneath, feeling equal parts embarrassed and obstinate at the man's suggestions. "I'm going to be fine." That was what he wanted to hear, right? "There's nothing--especially something like this--that could make me leave this uh... line of work." That was probably the truth, right? "I don't uhm--" [break][break] He cut himself off, not even quite sure himself where his train of thought was going. Slowly, he began to pull those dyed locks back into another loose bun, letting the silence linger and build up his resolve. Kane was asking him all of that stuff, was telling him to check on himself first, was making sure he wouldn't run or tattle, because he thought he was weak. At least, that's where Shuichi's head jumped to, obstinance growing in his gut until the moment he finished securing his hair and turned a far more determined, no-nonsense expression to his companion. [break][break] "I'm fine; I have some meds I can take to get rid of this headache and the scrape on my knee barely broke the skin. You," and he stepped forward, hoping he seemed braver than he felt in that moment, "have much more dire wounds that need to be looked at and cleaned." As if to demonstrate this, Shu reached up and gently prodded Kane's shoulder, watching for the implicating wince or grimace that was sure to come from the pressure so close to his wound. "You're going to let me fix you up." He paused, finally glancing emeralds away from gold, a bit of that timidity returning as he added, tone softer, "Please... It's the least I can do after you saved my life..." Darker. Gods, could his cheeks get anymore crimson. With a sigh and some hopefully-not-misplaced small little smile, he murmured, "Plus, I never get to use all of these skills for any damn good. It'd be... nice... to know I still can fix things with these hands..."
[attr="class","text-area"] Of course the doctor would have a rebuttal, Kane expected it. It wasn't exactly a good look to have someone with a blood-drenched face leave from your practice. He wished everything was hidden beneath his clothes just so the other wouldn't worry. Or try to pity him. Kane wasn't weak to pain, did he look it?[break][break]
He leaned back as the doctor leaned forward. He tried to avoid stepping away too obviously, but when the other's hand prodded his stab wound he hissed and jumped back. A flash of anger on his face before easing back. He took his hand off his shoulder, annoyed at his own primal reaction. Just after his assured facade of handling pain. He gritted his teeth in embarrassment, although it could have drawn like annoyance.[break][break]
"Don't get the wrong idea," Kane tilted his head, slugging his shoulders to return to a neutral stance. His eyes peered down at him. "You caught me off guard. This is nothing, really. As I'm sure you've noticed, I've been through it." He motioned to his eye. "You don't have to baby me."[break][break]
He didn't want to be rude to the doctor, truly. Kane always found a bit of fondness in seeing him. His gentleness always could stir something within Kane. Although their relations had always been short and to the point. He'd never spent this long with him and it was starting to show. He didn't know how to act. The small smiles that shaped the other's lips had thrown him. Kane had to remind himself so many times to refer to him as doctor only. He had a hard time catching up with his thoughts when things turn personal.[break][break]
"You do plenty of good," Kane straightened his head back out, "You make a ton of money, don't you? You're in the Ajiwau, you're set."
For a moment, as that flash of anger passed through Kane's expression, Shu worried that he'd fucked up. Kane was, perhaps, one of the few people he could actually stand being around in this business, certainly one of the few he enjoyed doing business with; the thought of pissing him off too much and sending him barging out of his life was extremely discomforting. That concern, however, was replaced with a resurgence of stubbornness as Kane dismissed the pain and--poorly--justified the wince. Bristling like some pouty child, Shu furrowed his brows into a determined glare, prepared to snap back after that "baby me" comment, but he stopped short as Kane continued. [break][break] "You do plenty of good. You make a ton of money, don't you? You're in the Ajiwau, you're set." [break][break] Expression morphing into some incredulous visage, Shu spent a long moment just staring at his companion, a bit dumbfounded by not only the offered justification, but also his very visceral, emotional response to it. The idea of any of his work being "plenty of good" was beyond laughable, and the money associated with it even worse. Years of frustration, of feeling like he was just a piece of shit tool for rich bastards, boiled in the back of his mind. [break][break] "I didn't get into medicine to make sure rich pricks don't overdose!" he exclaimed before he could stop himself, fists at his sides, trembling, tears traitorously pricking the corners of his emerald gaze. "And I definitely didn't get into it so I could fucking torture people!" It was the head injury talking, right? He wouldn't normally say this shit if he hadn't just almost died, right? "I got into medicine to help people who are hurt and you are one of the few people who I can stand in this city and you just saved my life, so you're going to sit down in that chair and let me make sure you don't pass out from blood loss!" [break][break] He was huffing, flushed, chest heaving, more than a little mortified at what had just slipped from him, but he didn't take it back. Instead, swallowing slowly and taking a slow, deep breath, he added, voice softer but still wavering with emotion, "Please."
