The rain had stopped hours ago, but the streets still glistened under the dim pulse of neon. Somewhere in the distance, a faulty sign buzzed, flickering between colors, painting the alley in short, ghostly bursts of green, then blue, then nothing.
Kazuki's boots splashed through shallow puddles, his shirt feeling heavy on him, still damp from the downpour. He kept his head low, one hand loose at his side.
The city felt wrong tonight, too quiet in some places, too alive in others every shadow seemed heavier, every whisper of movement too close.
They were still hunting him, not the kind of hunting done in desperation this was coordinated, patient, wolves closing in on a wounded stag.
But I'm no stag, Kazuki thought grimly.
He needed somewhere to go but where? He had no place and trusted nobody. Leaving the city would be hard maybe some police are on the hunt too.
Somewhere to his left, something shifted, not the wind, not the distant creak of a sign.
It was metal, a small, sharp click that only meant one thing safety being switched off.
Kazuki didn't look he reacted.
His body dropped low in a smooth, practiced motion, as a suppressed shot tore through the air where his head had been. The whispering crack of the bullet carried past him, smacking into the brick wall ahead.
By the time the shooter corrected his aim, Kazuki was already moving rolling forward across the wet pavement, his pistol sliding into his hand mid motion, His breathing slowed as his arms extended.
Two shots, quick and precise
The man in the black raincoat stumbled back as if the air had been knocked from him, his knees buckling before his back slammed against the wall, a faint trail of blood slid down the bricks, curling with the rainwater.
Kazuki straightened, his eyes cold.
"Persistent," he muttered, voice low and coarse.
But this wasn't over not even close.
The city was almost awake now, he had been fighting all night for survival. He could feel it in the way the air shifted, in the echo of boots on wet stone. They were closing in two, maybe three ahead, the sound faint but distinct and behind him lighter steps, faster, maybe another two trying to flank him.
They were cornering him, trying to drive him into a dead end.
He let them.
His mind was already mapping the alley from memory, The space between the buildings ahead narrow enough to disappear into darkness, wide enough for only one man at a time to pass without stumbling.
Not a trap for him, a trap for them.
Kazuki slipped into the narrow passage, his silhouette fading against the blackness. The rain had pooled unevenly here, the smell of rust and damp concrete thick in the air.
Footsteps quickened behind him.
The first man rounded the corner rifle raised, too slow Kazuki's elbow smashed upward into the man's jaw with a crack, sending his head whipping back, before the rifle could drop, Kazuki snatched it and tossed it aside, his other hand already reaching for his sidearm.
The second man came in hard, swinging a combat knife in a downward arc, fast but sloppy.
Kazuki caught the wrist, twisted sharply until he felt the pop of strained tendons, then drove the blade back into the man's own throat, a wet gasp followed, blood pulsing out in rhythm with his heartbeat. The body crumpled.
The third man had been smart he didn't rush, he stayed back, pistol drawn, using the angle.
Kazuki turned just as the man fired one, two shots. He slid aside, the bullets grazing his shirt then fired twice in return, both rounds found their mark center mass. The man dropped, his pistol clattering across the pavement.
Kazuki stepped over the bodies, not slowing. rainwater mixed with blood, trailing behind him in uneven streaks.
A faint vibration in his pocket broke the silence. He pulled out the cheap burner phone and answered without slowing.
Hello
Hey Hikari
Ugh…Thank goodness you are still alive. How have you been holding up.
I will say not good hikari, but I survived the night, lucky me.
Don't you think it's high time I extract you Kazuki, I mean you need a break so we can get to the bottom of this.
I know but I don't want to drag you into this hikari, I will handle it alone, I will get to the bottom of this.
Ok, but there is something you should know. your bounty is a billion now.
W…what! kazuki, muttered has sweat dropped from his face, uh…men, I guess this people really want me dead
You need information, you are not even aware of your bounty, you are slacking. be fast about this. If you don't want to die. be the "KAZUKI" I know.
These words hit kazuki like a bullet.
…
The alley spilled out into an old market street one Kazuki remembered from years back. It was a forgotten place now, stalls long abandoned, canvas sheets sagging with mildew. The wind pushed them around, making them flap like restless ghosts.
He slowed his steps.
There was tension in the air here. Not fear, not quite—but the kind of stillness that came before violence. His hand rested near his pistol grip, his other hovering near the blade.
Somewhere in the shadows, someone was waiting and watching.
Then came the voice, Low and mocking. The kind of voice that didn't need to shout to be heard.
"You have been making a mess, Kazuki."
A figure stepped forward, peeling out of the shadows.
Makoto
His hair was slicked back, sharp features catching the faint light, His hands were empty, didn't look like he was in the mood to fight. He wore a tailored coat dark, clean, almost elegant compared to the blood and dirt smeared across Kazuki's clothes and face.
Kazuki's expression didn't change, just observing.
Makoto's smirk was faint but dangerous. And here I thought you'd be more broken by now. But you just keep killing your way through my people.
You send trash, Kazuki said, his voice flat. They die. That's how it works.
"Makoto tilted his head, studying him. Do you think that makes you untouchable?"
For a moment, neither moved.
The rain wet street between them stretched like a wire pulled taut.
Makoto broke the silence first, his voice almost casual.
One billion, Kazuki. Do you know how many hungry wolves will come for you? How many people will crawl out from the cracks for a taste of that?
Kazuki stepped closer, slow, deliberate. They can all come. I will cut them down one by one.
Makoto's smirk widened slightly. "I was hoping you'd say that."
From the shadows, four more figures emerged with rifles, pistols and short blades that was glinting faintly in the dim light. They spread out, circling like predators.
Kazuki rolled his shoulders once, loosening his neck.
"Four more? That's all?"
Makoto's eyes glinted. I only brought them to warm you up, if you die here I get to keep my money knowing i did the work at the end.
After these words Makoto left into the shadows, leaving Kazuki and the four men to fight to death.
The first lunged forward fast, almost a blur, a knife slash aimed at Kazuki's ribs. He parried with the flat of his blade, twisting to trap the man's arm before driving his knee into the attacker's chest. The air rushed out of the man's lungs before Kazuki's elbow cracked across his temple, sending him limp to the ground.
The second didn't wait rifle raised. Kazuki sidestepped the muzzle flash, feeling the heat of the shot graze his sleeve, and closed the distance in two strides. His hand gripped the rifle barrel, twisting sharply until bone snapped. The man screamed as Kazuki shoved the barrel upward and fired into the third attacker's face.
Blood sprayed.
The fourth hesitated. Kazuki's blade flashed once, clean, severing the tendons in the man's wrist. The weapon clattered to the ground, and a sharp boot to the sternum sent him reeling into a stall.
The place was quiet again, only the sound of shallow breathing and rain dripping from the canvas sheets.
Brother!
To be continued…