Chapter 29: Paid in blood

She still couldn’t move. She let herself be dragged quite easily. She still couldn’t do anything. He put her on the second floor, while he left to go get Megumi. She wasn’t sure if she still had anything on her. But even the idiot Takashi couldn’t kill her, she wouldn’t let this bastard do so.

Eisuke watched from his position at the top. He had done what he was meant to. A bullet to the gas canisters on the ground floor. Just with a bullet, all the way from the third floor. Which was the top floor. He had seen the drama between both brothers? And now he was watching Hayata work.

This was his domain.

This was where he dominated.

He sat where he perched and put both hands under his chin. Thinking. They were all dirty gangsters. Each and every one of them, but Hayata. What really separated both of the fields? Okay there were significant differences, but all of them in this room was as guilty as the other.

He could end all of it here. There would be nothing linking him to their deaths, if he did it. He had bullets to spare. He would be doing everyone a favor. Who would miss them anyway? He looked down, and saw the assassin carrying his other sister.

This wasn’t his business.

He had done what he needed to do. He should probably leave, but he wanted to see how this played out. So he got comfortable, and watched the assassin work.

VVVVV

Takashi had heard a bullet whiz past his ear. Then the entire foundation had been rocked, and he had lost his balance. Coming back to, he was staring at legs. There was movement behind him, but he couldn’t move. Jun bent down, and the gun came into view.

“Now, what are you going to do?” she asked.

Hayata had a bag he had kept somewhere, and when he dropped Sachi over the rail, he crossed over with a black duffle bag. He got out three nooses.

“How would your employer like to see them dangling, fighting for their lives?” he asked placing one round Sachi’s neck.

“I’m sure he would like that very much. I would like it also”. “Love it actually” she added.

“Then it’s perfect” he placed one round Megumi’s neck. “And last but not least, for this guy” he placed round his neck. Nice and smug.

He held three of the ropes and wrapped them round the open floor. Really tight. He looked to Sachi and beamed. “What do you have to say to me sweet sister?”

“Fuck you” she mumbled.

“Always so proud. You’re not going to be beg to live?” he questioned, lying down on his stomach, and crossing his ankles.

“Like you would do just that” she spat. “Kill me if you want to. Don’t drag it out!” she snarled.

“Oh well” he shrugged nonchalant. “I tried to make peace with you, but, you just hate me. Too bad” he pouted. He stood up, and dragged the thing round her neck, then dragged her to a square opening.

She did struggled. She wouldn’t just accept her fate, much less when it was this bastard behind her. This wasn’t how it was meant to go. He was just an assassin. He didn’t have training like her and her sister. He was just an assassin. He killed for money. How did he outsmart all of them? This wasn’t how she wanted to go out.

She looked to her sister, who was bleeding. And then the idiot beside her.

She had, well Megumi had expected this. He was literally a god in this. And what was funny, Takahiro’s son wasn’t here to see this be done. What a boss.

He let her go, and she dropped her in. Her hands were able to catch just the edge, as she struggled to keep herself from dying.

As she went down, the others went sliding after her. They were all connected, and if she went down, she would kill the rest. They didn’t need to hang. She would kill them. She gritted her teeth as she tried to pull herself up.

Hayata jumped beside her. And kept jumping from side to side as she struggled to survive. As he jumped, he stepped on her left fingers. But that didn’t last. He jumped to the other one. She had gone through much worse, but she had a limit. If they got broken, she would go falling.

Megumi tried removing the rope from her neck, but nothing was working. It was frustrating. Just seeing him be happy, exacting his power over them. She was sure she still had something on her, but she was focusing on breathing. She had no trouble holding her breath, but that wasn’t when she was being strangled.

Takashi just looked up at the ceiling, hands round his neck, scratching. Sachi was slipping, and if she did, that would crush his windpipe.

It pained him to think that he was going to die today. That his brother was going to kill him. That his brother had been Takahiro’s child. And he had killed him. Did he really deserve this?

Yes.

Jun fired a shot.

Hayata stopped switching. His foot placed on her left fingers.

Perspiration had gathered on her forehead because of exertion and pain.

He looked to the woman distrustfully.

“There’s someone here” that was all she said, before leaving him to continue his work. He saw her jump over the rail. And just like that, a shower of bullets from beneath them.

Hayata had to remove his leg, and Sachi didn’t waste any time pulling herself up. She removed the rope immediately, and she too tried to take cover. Megumi lay on her side, as she was able to breathe. Did they call for reinforcements? For just the two of them.

There was no way.

Jun stood. Mouth slightly open in astonishment. She had stopped firing, and her attacker had stopped firing also.

“I won’t shoot if you come out” Jun said, holding the gun up. “You know I fight fair”.

The familiar sounds of boots crunching cement could be heard, and Karou appeared. Dressed to fight, and armed with her boss’ gun. She knew she had been told to lay low, but if she didn’t interfere, she would be the one leading Phantom next.

“I know” Karou replied, pushing her nose up.

She spared a glance to her left, but Jun brought her gun down.

“Ah!” she exclaimed, pointing the weapon at her. “Focus on me, not on them” she grinned crazy. She tossed the mask to her feet. “I have to pay you back for this……somehow”.

Karou clicked her tongue and aimed. She fired, and Jun took off running. That was what she wanted her to do, and Karou followed.

VVVVV

Hayata wasn’t good at fist fights. That was why he had a list of killing people. Well not really. He had heard about two of them, and their insane physical prowess. He looked to the roof. Eisuke wouldn’t jump in, even if he clearly needed help now. But, oh well.

“You don’t really want to kill me, do you?” he stopped moving back from their advances. He stood casually, and tried to look so innocent. “Sachi” he said in a pleading voice.

Megumi scoffed, and he turned to her.

“Baby sis, come on. I’m the only other family you got” he tried not to laugh.

“You’re just a bastard” his baby sister cursed, and she moved closer to him.

He looked down. This wasn’t the ideal place to have a battle, but he could use this to his advantage.

Takashi crawled away silently, constantly losing strength in his arms, and almost falling to his death. He made his way to the rail, and crossed over. Now that they were occupied, no one would pay him any attention. He needed to find and talk to Lee.

They had no weapons, so their fists would suffice. Like Takahiro. He had kicked their ass, but they had survived.

The sisters communicated with their eyes, and nodded.

Hayata wasn’t expecting little sister to take off running, that distracted him, and Sachi was in front of him. She planted one right on his cheek. He knew she had been waiting to do that, since she first saw him.

That was hurtful for one. And that just made him madder.

She tried to punch him again, but he caught her hand. She stepped on his foot, and when he dropped her hand, attacked with the elbow of her other hand. He stumbled to one knee. His hand was behind him, looking for something to regain his balance, but it was only air.

Sachi swung her leg, to kick him in the head, but he ducked. He lay on his front. And his sister’s hands were turning in circles, so she wouldn’t fall. He crouched, and swung his right hand to her stomach. Gravity would do the rest.

She did fall, but her head and her upper back landed on the ledge. Her back was on air, her legs on the other ledge. She needed to get up before…

Hayata was up, and he grinned down at her, before stomping on her stomach, then jumping to the other side. Her body did bend like a pretzel, but she held herself. She coughed out blood, before maneuvering herself to the ledge. She couldn’t even take a breather before he paid her back for the punch.

The bomb must have really did a number on her, or she must have gotten so weak.

He straddled her stomach, and just stared down at her. “You can’t be the only one that’ll experience this” he cooed massaging her scalp. “Where’s our little sister?” he leaned closer, resting his full weight on her. He looked to the side, and the rope wasn’t so far from them.

VVVVV

Karou had lost side of the literally twofaced girl a long time ago. The building was bigger on the inside, than it was on the outside. She was lost. And now that she thought about it, Jun must know this place. This was a trap.

There was a sound of a creaking door, and that had her jumping. In horror movies, it was always a bad idea to go to a door that opened on its own. But her life was something like that. She approached the door, and walked in.

She wasn’t expecting the door to close on its own, so she did it with her own leg, and walked further. This room just had a lot of pillars.

Just what was this place? She believed that she could get lost in this room too. She walked into the maze of pillars, and as she took step after step, she realized there were no stones here. There was nothing on the ground to alert her of anyone or anything coming.

And she shouldn’t be surprised as she kissed the wall. ‘Damn all silent walkers’ she cursed in her head. The gun was pulled against her body, and she was forced back really quickly.

Jun pressed against a pillar, Karou pressed against her, and the gun against her ribs. She could do some serious damage.

“You coward” she groaned. “Attacking from behind, and lying about how you want to kill me” it was getting really hard to stand, and breathe.

“I wasn’t” she denied in a high pitch, and with the gun still pressed against her ribs, moved her roughly from side to side before letting her fall, and then tossing the gun away. “Now we can get down to business” she smiled down at him, both hands behind her back.

She rubbed her ribs, trying to stop it from throbbing. Jun who had been innocently looking down with a smile, instantly changed expressions and kicked her ribs again. Raising her off her hands and knees, with a very pained and loud gasp, before she fell on the ground.

“Because of you I wear a mask!” she reminded her, in case she forgotten, using her foot to push her head.

“You still have your pretty face, and I have this” she rubbed the scarred side before pushing her with her foot again. “I am old-fashioned. An eye for an eye, a tooth of a tooth, and a face for a face” she kicked the gun further, and threw hers, not caring where it landed.

“W-what about turning the other cheek?” Karou rasped, with a smile, even if she was in no mood to be joking.

She was overcome with intense anger and pounced.

“Turn the other cheek?” she bellowed. “You turn it” and she raked her fingers on her cheek slowly, multiple times, drawing blood. Karou didn’t scream, but she did voice that she was in pain.

“Crazy bitch!!” she struggled.

“It’s time for you to be the monster” she grinned.

VVVVV

The house….building had a way bigger interior. He didn’t know where he was going. When he ended up in a dead-end, he would go back to where he began and take another turn. His brother, in all but blood, tried to kill him. It had happened, and yet he still couldn’t believe it.

All the years that they had spent growing up, side by side. He had just tossed all that away. Like they didn’t know each other. He didn’t want to die that was certain. But he didn’t want to be on the run and start disposing bodies of hitmen. For who knows how long.

That dude was strong. The sisters could be dead for all he knew. And then he would come after him. He didn’t have much time. Maybe he could talk to Lee and make him see reason. They just couldn’t end everything like this. They both shared the same mum.

He ran past an open door, and he nearly slipped backtracking. There he was. Lee, sitting on blocks, holding something like a picture frame. He could see it now. From afar he could see the resemblance to the late Takahiro. The floor was silent, so he didn’t know if Lee knew he wasn’t alone.

Lee traced the edges of the frame.

“My mum…..” he spoke, startling Takashi. “…..she can’t do anything anymore. Ever since Jun came back with half a face, and gave us that news, it’s like she just died, but her soul is still in her body. She just sits and stares. She hasn’t uttered a single word since that day, and it’s been a very long time Takashi” Lee finally looked up.

“It wasn’t my intention” he argued, stepping forward. It was pretty dumb to do when he was unarmed. He knew Lee had a weapon on him. Just one he couldn’t see. “Your dad, Takahiro wanted to kill me. He killed my parents and then recruited me so I could take out Phantom for him. I didn’t know he was your dad, I also didn’t know……I didn’t know anything. I’m sorry” he said solemnly.

“Sorry won’t bring my father back!!” Lee screamed at him.

“I-I….”

“Do you know what it feels like taking a father and a husband away from a family?” he asked softly.

Takashi got angry that instant. “Oh!” he exclaimed sarcastically. “I didn’t know. How would I when your father killed my mum and dad right before my eyes? Isn’t that the harsh truth of the world we live in? It’s not normal Lee. You lost your father, big whoop. My world didn’t end, so yours won’t either. This is what we do!” and he stepped closer, pulling him by his collar.

“We kill”.

“And if it happens to be someone to be important to the other, then it’s unfortunate. So don’t talk to me like I don’t understand. Don’t talk to me like I’m some sort of monster. It just seems that karma still happens in the world of gangsters too”.

Lee just smiled brokenly at him. “So you had your revenge” he said cleaning the moisture of his face. “Was it worth it taking the love of my mum’s life?” he held onto the hands making it hard for him to breathe. “You know revenge is an endless cycle, don’t you? You call it karma, but we know the truth. He took your family away from you, you take him away from his”.

“And don’t like Takashi. You fraternized with his enemy, so you knew everything”.

“Talking to you sometimes is like talking to a wall” he couldn’t help but reminisce.

“I know” he agreed. “And you don’t have a family to be taken from. My mum won’t miss you” he grinned, and it was like he was looking at Takahiro all over again. He didn’t know, he had softened his grip. “Go ahead Takashi” he cheered him on. “Kill me like you killed my dad. My mum won’t care, Jun is scarred. It won’t be hard. Kill me”.

Takashi couldn’t. No matter what had happened earlier, he just couldn’t.

“Now you what to be a saint” that playful, taunting smile left his face. “Appalling”.

He should have looked at Lee fully. His left hand precisely. He saw his fists tighten. And then he was struck in the face, by a pipe. He wasn’t sure if it was the attack or the surprise that made him fall.

Lee stood above his prone body, clutching the pipe and breathing harsh. He looked at the blood pooling by his head area. Before he took over, he knew what to expect. But all along, Jun had been the one doing the dirty work. He was really disgusted by the sight.

He gagged then he swallowed. He gagged again, and turned around swiftly. “Ugh-I can’t do this” he tossed the pipe. “Jun” he shivered as he walked out.

VVVVV

Megumi knew it was smart of her to carry her sword. Her body was still reeling from the blast. What she needed now was a gun. Where was Karou? She just showed up and fucking disappeared. She continued checking the back, when a gun was fired.

She didn’t freeze.

She ran for cover as more shots were fired. They were coming from above through the holes.

“I thought you were in the first letter you liar!” she yelled clutching the handle of her sword.

“A had been taking care of!” he called.

She looked up. There was no way Sachi was dead. She couldn’t see her body dangling from the floor ceiling, so she was still alive. Sachi would never let that bastard kill her.

“So what’s next for you?” she asked, unsheathing the sword, so she could see above.

“Bullet wound” he replied. “But to make your death less pathetic, and more befitting, I’ll let you face your death like a woman”.

“Why would I believe anything that comes out of your mouth?”

There was a clatter. Not far from her, a gun had been dropped. “It’s your choice to make daddy’s princess”.

She put her sword through the loop of her trousers and she ran, taking the gun as she did so and headed for the stairs.

‘Sachi isn’t dead’ she thought to herself.

VVVVV

The two women continued fighting. And they soon realized that they were evenly matched. But not one of them would admit defeat, so they continued. They’re bodies probably exhausted, but too powered by hate and adrenaline to care.

Karou punched Jun in the abdomen making her crouch forward, and dragged her before she could take off running just like she had before. Using the pillars to hide, and attack from her blind spots. Cowardly, but smart and affective. She had more cuts than an old couch.

She wrapped both arms round her waist, lifting her up and running towards a pillar.

Jun screamed on impact. She did have the last laugh. She gripped her hair, and slammed the back of her head against the pillar. She could see the weakness already taking over her body. She would take care of this now. Like she should have done all those years ago.

She wasn’t expecting her windpipe to get blocked from behind.

An arm was around her throat, putting her in a chokehold. She immediately scratched at the arm, but it was covered in cloth. The person was bigger than her, and had the element of surprise. She was too far from a pillar, to give herself some kind of leverage. All the fight was leaving her. She could distinctly hear Jun chuckling.

She couldn’t die yet. Not when she knew her boss and her mistress were still in danger. Just like the way the arm came, it left and went to her hair. She was pulled surprisingly easy to a pillar, and her face met hard concrete.

It was static and ringing for a while.

When it happened for a second time, she barely registered anything before her lights were knocked out.

Lee dropped Karou and wiped his hands on his pants. He still had that look of absolute disgust on her face. He kicked her away like she was trash.

“I thought you were strong” he stated.

“Talk to me sweet cousin when you spine hits cold hard cement!” she spat, her eyes going to Karou. She wasn’t dead.

“Let’s go!” he said dismissively.

“What?” she was confused. “Why? We-you don’t want to see them dead?” she asked incredulous.

“I’m sure he’ll do what we paid him to” he replied her.

“What about Takashi then?” she asked stumbling to her feet, using the structure as a support.

Taken care of” he replied coldly. “Let’s go now!” he ordered.

“What if he doesn’t succeed?” she voiced again. She didn’t just want to leave. Her uncle didn’t leave. He made sure everything was done before he left. A lot of things could go wrong.

“I paid him, and if he doesn’t want to die, he’ll do it. And the girls aren’t my problem. Takashi is dead, so we’re done here. You don’t want to leave because of your vendetta against that girl”.

“So?” she asked leaning closer. “You got yours” she leaned against him, let me get mine. She walked to the unconscious girl and turned her onto her back. She straddled her waist, and twirled the knife that she had gotten from her cousin’s pocket.

“An eye for an eye” she made a cut across her cheek. Long, red and bloody.

“A tooth for a tooth” she made another on not far from the first one.

“And a face for a face” she made another one. She had to reign in her emotions so she wouldn’t turn her face into a disastrous painting. Her pulse was alive under the thumb, the hand that was cradling her neck, to keep her face in place. She wished that she could make a line in her neck, but she wanted her to live with that stigma. The same one that she lived with.

She stood up and turned to her cousin. “Let’s go boss”.