A few days later...

I was cleaning my revolver at home. I was smoking as per usual while Star was in the background watching TV. I was waiting for the call. The call for the assault on the Triads. I was hoping it would be the last, risking my life like that on a daily basis was getting tiring. It was raining as much as it could before the summer. I was just glad it was getting warmer. I turned to face her. I had no shirt on, just my suit pants, shoes, and chain. "What's the news saying?" I asked.

She shrugged. "Nothing important. Just that a reporter is investigating the Yakuza heavily or something."

My eyes widened. "And who might that be?"

"Takamura. The best reporter in Osaka."

I sucked my teeth. Rose Takamura was just a rookie reporter with a pipe dream. What could she hope to achieve with this investigation?

Star adjusted herself as she rested on the couch. "What's wrong? Don't you work in construction?" She giggled. She's no fool, that's for sure.

"Of course I do," I say sarcastically. "Say, you seem pretty ok with my profession."

She gave a lackluster look. "I understand the importance of cash. You do what you must."

"No morals, eh?"

"Morals are for the poor, Kunshu." She responded, giving an almost sinister smile.

The phone rang. I answered. It eas Kikuchi. "It's time. We'll be in a white van." He hung up.

I got out of my chair to get dressed in my jacket and dress shirt, kissed Star, and left with my revolver holstered on my side, hidden from view. I waited in the rain, watching the normal people walk on by, living their mundane lives. I checked my watch. It was the afternoon. Must be lunch. I finally saw the van and I hopped in the back, seeing Kikuchi, Gisiei, and Shuga. They all had bulletproof vests on, and Gisei handed me on. I said hi while I put it on.

"Yo," Said Gisei with his classic charm.

"Hey," Said Kikuchi with his monotone delivery.

"HOWDY, SON." Said Shuga, rather loudly as usual.

As we drove off, Kikuchi gave his plan of attack. "We got the rats right where we want them. Through some spying around we found a lot of the Chinese hang near the outskirts of Oldsaka. Right under our noses in some crack den. We charge in the front with some firebombs and burn the shit to the ground. Now, we don't know if they got support from the motherland yet, so that's why we got on vests. Sound good?"

We all nod.

"Great. Let's burn it down."

We pulled up at an old warehouse. It was falling apart, it looked like we had on their last legs. and kicked the doors of the van out and ran out, pistols out. We all charged into the den, shooting at the first tracksuit-wearing triad we saw. As predicted, they were also armed. They shot at us all as we dove into cover. Gisei and I were hiding behind boxes while Kikuchi and Shuga did the same. We silently opted to split up, running and gunning behind boxes while getting shot at. We popped back, hitting a few before charging upstairs to make the fight personal. There was the main office, blocked by a white door. We were going to plan but Shuga had enough of plans.

"SCREW THIS! I WANT THIS SON OF A BITCH DEAD!" Shuga shouted as he barged into the room. He was shot in the side, but he was built like a bull so he tanked it. He drove his shoulder into one of them, breaking the already weak wall apart. We went in as well, fighting the remaining six as Shuga went out due to the blood loss. I went in and made quick work of them, booting one in the face and dodging the other's punch immediately countering with a left hook. I turned to see Lee punched me in the nose with that robotic hand, a blow so hard it knocked me into the wall, breaking my nose and then some.

Gisei had a bit more trouble, getting punched outside to the rafters. He moved out the way of one kick to throw him over and out into the hard concrete below. He was punched and kicked by the second guy, as he was going to knock him over as well. As he was going for his legs, Gisei grabbed his neck and threw him over as well, chuckling to himself before Gory rushed in to grab him, but the momentum sent them both fall from the scaffolding

Kikuchi seemed to only use his legs, using their length to his advantage. He was able to block and counter kick as quickly as he could, seemingly not being able to get hit. That is until the kid came in with a wooden chair, whacking him over the head as he took out the remaining two, knocking him out momentarily. I slowly recovered and was able to grab the kid for a moment before Lee yanked me back into the wall with his new mechanical power. I coughed blood as he approached me, playing with his hand. "They called me old. But I am the future. I am the snake that will infect this town with my venom."

I laughed weakly. "Piss off." I kicked him in the legs and gave one more boot to his face before getting up to shoot the kid twice in the back while he was taunting Kikuchi. Lee grabbed my pistol and broke it, squeezing it with his metal hand. He kicked me in the ribs and pinned me to the wall, but Shuga recovered to throw him across the room. I helped Kikuchi up as we went downstairs to find Gisei.

Gory and Giesei were bloodied and damaged, the strong opponents locked in brutal combat. Once again, they didn't bother to defend in order to completely lean in on offense. Gisei elbowed and kneed, Gory headbutted and punched. Blood was flying. I yelled at Gisei to come on, He blocked the last attack and threw her off over his shoulder, running with us. He gave her one last look before sprinting. She didn't bother to chase.

We drove off hurt, but alive.

It must suck to be a hitman.