12:05 AM

  “What’s wrong with you?” Jin asked as he walked into Kanashis apartment without bothering to have knocked first.

  “Nothing…” Kanashi muttered, running a hand through his hair, how long had it been since he’d gotten a hair cut? Too long…

  Jin frowned and shut the door behind him, with his hands in his pockets he took a seat on the sofa across from Kanashi. Kicking his feet onto the glass counter top of the coffee table he interlocked his fingers which rested on his chest. “Upset because you feel useless?”

  Kanashis head shot up, eyes wide and blood shot, the bags under them more pronounced than ever before, “How did you-”

  “It’s okay, everyone feels that way around me you know. There can only be one person who is the coolest in the room- and well with me there it’s not like-”;

  “Can you be serious?!” Kanashi barked, he felt a jolt at his own tone, he was angry, so angry his hands were shaking and veins spread across his forearms.

  Jin sighed and jumped to his feet in a single motion, dusting off his black blazer and smoothing the wrinkles as he looked at Kanashi with a slacked jaw. “What do you expect to happen?”

  “What do you mean?” Kanashi frowned.

  “I mean what do you expect me to do? To say? I can’t read your mind afterall, and neither can anybody else. If you’re upset don’t just hole yourself up in your room and brood, do something about it you know.”

  Kanashi felt as if his molars would snap from how hard he was clenching his jaw. “I’ve always been told that.” He said with a sigh. “And I’ve always known it.” Laughing weakly he rubbed his forehead. “No one will come save me, no girl will walk up to me and ask me to marry her, no one will walk up to me and ask me to be their friend. No adventure, no quest, nothing will just give me what I want. But when you don’t know where to begin, how to start- what am I supposed to do?” His lips were blue and his eyes wide, if you told him he was crying he wouldn't doubt you. “I have nothing Jin, no family, no frie- few friends, no purpose, no strength or respect. I don’t have a single talent, so why was I born?”

  Jin sighed deeply with a grimace and ruffled his light blonde hair. “I’m not qualified to say this to you Kanashi so don’t take it to heart, but you can’t be anyone else. You can only be yourself, don’t compare yourself to me, to Kenji, to Julius, to that jock in high school or some famous person online. You’re you and that's all you’ll ever be. So give yourself meaning.”

  Kanashi laughed weakly and nodded his head. “Yeah, I guess so… You know I’m surprised that one of the things I want most right now, is to be like you. Strong and feared, I’ve always wanted to be strong- but I think that with everything going on, just how powerless and afraid I’ve been for so long now- I want to just one time be on the other side of the coin."

  “But You’ll never be me.” Jin said. “No one can be me… you just have to be you.” Jin leaned forwards and pushed his index finger into the center of Kanashi chest hard enough it left a light bruise. “You’re never gonna be the person who walks into a room and punches out the biggest meanest guy there. That’s not who you are, who you’re made to be nor what you can do. So don’t try to be that way, find out what the best role for you is. Remember this, you’re someone who survives not the person who wins.”

  “In fighting?” Kanashi muttered with a laugh. “That’s not very reassuring.”

  “In life.” Jin corrected with a nod. “Stop comparing yourself to others, to do that you have to become yourself first, to have something you can compare yourself to others with.”

  “...”

  “...”

  The silence lasted only a handful of seconds but it felt like hours. Kanashi felt his own heart beat in his ear drums like the clapping of thunder on a Sahrian monsoon, his throat dry as the desert. “I just… don't feel like I’m worth anything Jin.” He cringed at those words as he said them, the kind of words you never wanted to say aloud but felt so good to say. He half wanted Jin to agree and half argued that he was worth something, that he was worth more than anyone else in the world. What a joke that is.

  “You’re right, you’re worthless.” The words hit Kanashi over the head like a hammer but before he could say anything, a joke or maybe just whimper Jin continued. “So you have to give yourself worth. The first thing that you can add to that list is this liberation: you messed up along the way but you fixed it up better than before you broke it. For that you’ve earned not only my deepest respect but everyone else's. So be proud of that, let that be the thing you assign your worth to for now. Let yourself enjoy that feeling while we finish up the job, you’ll have more chances to grow that list soon enough.”

  Kanashi nodded weakly trying to make his face not turn red. It always feels weird to have people compliment you… He thought. Not exactly a bad sensation but not an outright good one either- like eating an eel with the most pleasant flavor yet it still slithered down your throat with each movement shaking your body into shivers.

  “In short, be the only you that you can be.” The man shrugged. “Now come on- we can’t keep them waiting down there for too much longer, aren’t you ready to meet the team?” He asked- tone alright back to its normally annoyingly unserious tone.

  “As ready as I’ll ever be.” Kanashi answered with a plastic smile. Once more he pushed his hair from his eyes and stood up with stretch. “Are they all down there already?”

  “Yep, ready and waiting for you.” Jin laughed, staring at the door with Kanashi close behind.

  Kanashi followed behind, closely shutting and locking his door behind him with a click, Be the only me I can be… He thought. “I have to know how that is first.” He laughed quietly only to himself.

  # # #

  The door to the conference room- or rather an old storage room haphazardly constructed with mismatching chairs and a table nearly half a foot too short swung one with a bang. Entering the room was Jinen Lutece, face fixed into a wide grin and eyes hidden behind sunglasses flicked around scanning everyone inside. “Looks like the crowds all here huh?”

  “Took you long enough!” Barked Amabata Byakuto, a man of rather short height with narrow eyes surrounded by deep scar-like wrinkles dug into his cheeks from a permanent scowl. His hair fixed into a messy topknot had long side burns which grew down into his mustache forming mutton chops. “Did you mean to make us wait until morning and those Toumeikan are on our heads!?”

  “Shut ya trap Byakuto, I’m sick ah you complain’in all the damn time!” Called a man from across the table, his accent thick and rural. He was of average height with skin tanned as if he’d worked in the sun all day. His nose wide and flat with a hook to the end pointed straight down into a mouth full of razor sharp teeth which clacked between each word said. The top of his head adorned with a Mugiawara straw hat he was Kawakai Kouzou.

  With a chatter a 3rd man- Gashadokuro Honetarou spoke up, his piano like teeth rattling with each word. “C-c-come on G-guys, we n-n-need to be s-s-s-erious about this!” honetarou was what one could easily consider to look strange. His skin white as bone with only one round yet drooping eye visible- the other tucked away behind a mat of wispy white hair his teeth chattered loudly.

  Ignoring the arguing in Edogo- which he understood only passing moments of Kanashi looked peaked his head out from behind Jin and looked at the swarm of mostly unfamiliar faces. Eyes scanning he found himself not coming to greet who he’d hoped to see. “Otsuga really isn’t here…” He frowned, he’d wished the man came to the meeting at least even if he didn’t participate.

  Nordon cleared his throat, causing every voice and argument to cease and all eyes to focus solely on him intently, waiting for every word as if gospel. “Otsuga-San has officially retired from the Venator Society."

  “It’s a bummer huh.” Naori added, appearing suddenly next to kanashi who jumped up with a start.

  “Naori!?” Kanashi laughed and grabbed the man who was half a head shorter than him into a tight yet brief hug.

  Naori once let go took a step back and fluttered his eyes, red lips curing into a grin he put his hands on his hips with a laugh. That was surprising- but It’s nice to see you too.” Naori had a smaller form but it was obvious from his neck and forearms that he was incredibly lean and muscular, veins and individual tendons visible with each movement. His eyes, large and nearly girl-like , were set just below the fringe of his black hair which was nearly tinted reddish by the overhead light. “Looks like you’ve been busy huh? I’ve heard all about you and your adventures from Nordon.”

  Kanashis face turned red and he turned his eyes downwards. “It’s been… it’s been interesting.” He decided with a nod. That was the best way to put it and for extra effort he even put on a plastic smile though his eyes betrayed him.

  “Come on Kanashi, let's get going.” Jin muttered, kicking Kanashi in the shin with a sound like a belt snapping.

  “Ow, damnit that hurt!” Kanashi yelped with a jump, giving a wry nod to Naori he limped over to an empty seat by Yuko who in turn sat to the corner of Nordon who took the head of the table.

  “That was a cute little reunion you had there with Naori-Kun, Kanashi-Chan.” The girl giggled covering her mouth and winking her heart eyes pupil.

  Kanashis face only turned more red and his lips grew into a thin line, “I’m just happy to see him is all… if you want next time we meet I could pinch your butt.” He laughed weakly, however that laughter was replaced with another yelp as Yuko dug her knuckles into his arm with a punch that held surprising power. “Ow- daminit I’m sorry I was just joking!” Rubbing his now bruised arm he frowned at Yuko who tilted her chin up and turned away from him. I make a joke like that for the first time in life and it falls flat, girls aren’t nearly as easy as in romance sims… Though in truth he’d only played a single such game and more so for the lore and narrative then the romance aspect- in fact it took him 3 months to clear the first route because he kept failing the romance aspect. But it wasn’t like he liked Yuko either, she was attractive but not at all his type, A blush would have been nice though.

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  Sitting to Kanashis left was Kenji and across him in the only open chair remaining Jinen took his seat with a thud. Fingers interlocked and resting on his chest he reclined in the rigid chair as it was a recliner; a talent he seemed to have.

  “Ahem.” Clearing his throat, all attention gathered on Nordon once more, his eyes hidden behind squared spectacles that reflected the overhead light ominously. “Like I said in our proper meeting-” He began.

  “This is like my third meeting today.” Yuko whispered leaning into Kanashis ear,

  “I think it’s like my 6th.” Kanashi answered with a frown, meetings were never fun- nothing good had come from on in his experience. Across the table Byakuto shot the pair a sharp glare and lips curled into a snap which Kanashi smiled nervously at.

  “-So the Toumeikan will now enter and introduce themselves.” Nordon finished and as if on cue the room's door swung open with a bang and the first man- Taishi Akatora entered, a mountain of a man who seemed to be just as wide as he was tall. His eyes full of flames he scanned the room with his naturally angry expression which made even Byakuto flinch a hair.

  “!”

  At once the Edoland branch of the Venator Society bearing Nordon and Yuko began to channel their aura, spiking with nerves they all seemed ready to attack or defend at a moments notice. Yet with a simple tap on the table top with his finger tips the entire room suppressed their aura once more as if closing a valve.

  “It’s a pleasure to meet you all.” Akatora said with a nod, his thick arms crossed over his chest. “I’m Taishi Akatora, Hachibuto of the Toumeikans [Toen: Gambling] Division.” At his introduction the atmosphere only seemed to grow worse, Yuko letting out a shallow breath she clenched her lime green skirt tightly. “Behind me are my four Joshin, I understand we have bad blood here, a lot of it in fact but I hope we can work together.” Akatora added, stepping to his side the four Joshin entered, the first just as tall as his father standing 6 '6 and perhaps only slightly thinner in width was Taishi Bennise.

  “It’s a pleasure to meet you.” The boy bowed, despite being only a year older than Kanashi he looked as if he’d survived a dozen wars. His face adorned with two deep slashes nearly a finger long on both sides he stepped aside for the next Joshin to enter- a man who Kanashi cringed upon seeing.

  “Oi, oi oi, these are the big bad Venators huh?” Ohi Yoshin asked with a barking laugh as he strode forwards. Despite being of average height Ohi puffed his chest out as if he was twice again as tall, with his hands planted into his jean pockets except for the thumbs he strode leaned over and peered at each of the Venators up close. “Looks to me like a bunch of whimips!”

  “Big words for a little man.” One of the Venators grumbled his voice like rumbling thunder. He was as tall as Yoshino was standing, with a casual movement he pushed back his chair and stood up tall, having to duck down he was so tall he made Akatora look short, being over two heads taller then the hachibuto at 8’1 he was easily over twice again as wide. His skin dark and shining as if made of lead his name was Goji Rikidou or [The Man of Steel]

  Ohis throats caught as he saw the man but he quickly regained control and with a sharp tug pulled his jacket around his shoulders tightly, “Huh? You think you can scare me just because you’re big huh? Why I oughta!"

  Before Ohi could finish Akatora grabbed the man by his head and picked him up as if he was a child by the crown of his head. “Shut it Ohi!” He barked right into the man's ear making his whole body shiver. Throwing him down Ohi caught his feet with a sniffle and fixed his hair, a rounded top mohawk which grew into a mullet around the nape of his neck. “Damnit Akatora, we can’t just let them walk all over us!” He barked.

  “They won’t.” Akatora frowned, turning his attention back to the Venators Goji looked at Akatora, still not striding down the man seemed to size up the Hachibuto for a moment before-

  “Sit.” The single word- which was said not in a yell or even a tone which would utter commands from Nordon's mouth made Goji turn pale and quickly fall into this head.

  “Sorry, I lost myself for a moment.” Goji said, bowing his head to Nordon.

  “It’s fine, I think Akatora and I both understand our relationship, neither will walk over the other. This is a partnership through and through. And those who break it- will suffer the consequences." Nordon nodded to Akatora who returned the gesture.

  “Of course, the man who you just had to listen to-” Akatora grabbed Ohi tight by the shoulder and pushed him forwards. “Is Ohi Yoshin, an old friend of mine who I’ve known since I was a teenager in the streets.” Pausing Akatora motioned behind him, “These two are my other Joshin- Kokufude Sekihara and Gyoukou Nejimaru.”

  The first to walk forwards at his introduction quite fittingly was Sekihara, somewhat tall and lanky; he had a rather plain face bearing the large kaiju tattoo across his cheek. Hair colored an almost smoky red, his arms visible from his short sleeves were covered in many tattoos of all shapes and sizes. “It’s nice to meet you.” With that simple greeting he took a step to the side and let the next man enter, the one who made everyone- including those who’d already seen him before jaw drop.

  His outline alone was curious but when you saw his face things became quite clear, he was a cat, literally his mouth and nose molded into a short snout and eyes as big as saucers with slit pupils he had whiskers sticking out where a mustache should have been. His hair was styled upwards into two spikes on either side of his head as if to resemble a cat's ears. “Meow.” He saw with a bow. Even Nordon seemed to try and hold back a gasp with a caught.

  “An interesting specimen…” Such words came from the last Venator who’d yet to speak, sitting next to Jin and with nearly as much presence as Nordon himself he was rather unremarkable. Except the aura he emitted was strange, alien and fiendish, not only that it was extremely refined and thick, 2nd only to Jin in that regard.

  Nordon looked at the man with a scowl and he shrugged half heartily, “Why don’t you begin Soga since you seem eager to talk?”

  The man- Soga nodded and stood up, dusting his plain black wind break off he looked over each of the Joshin and Hachibuto with a frown. “Soga Kusurisuke, 2nd in command of the Venator Societies Edoland Branch.”

  SOGA KUSURISUKE!? Kanashi gagged at the failure the hold back his own gasp, He’s #2 in all of Edoland!? His eyes nearly bulging out of his head he looked Soga up and down. Except there wasn’t much to see, standing with average height and flat auburn red hair split down the middle into curtains and the hair at the nape of his neck long enough to just poke his shoulders he had pale skin and a nose pointed downwards like an arrow but flat. His eyes were perhaps the most remarkable feature but even they seemed mundane compared to his title. Sharp and slant they had long lashes and iris colored coal black with almost no shine, they were almost fox-like in shape.

  “Don’t overstep yourself!” Byakuto challenged, slamming his fist on the table. Without being prompted he stood up with his chest puffed up and his hands planted firmly only to his hips. “My name is Amabata Byakuto, one of the 3 vice captains of the Venator Societies Edoland branch next to Soga Kusurisuke and the now retired Otsuga Miyagami.” With another glare shot to Soga, Byakut bowed deeply and took his seat once more. His thick arms crossed and lips in a pout.

  Next to stand was the one next to Byakuto- Gashadokuro Honetarou. Standing up so quickly he nearly fell down from hitting the back of his knees with the chair's seat. ““M-m-my name is G-G-Gashadokuro H-H-Honetarou, n-n-nice to meet you a-all!” He said with a deep bow, his teeth chattering loud enough that Kanashi felt his own teeth hurt.

  The next to stand was of course Goji Rikidou, once more his full height causing him to slouch slightly, if he stood his full height he might press the crown of his head against the cold concrete roof. “My name is Goji Rikidou.” With that simple introduction he took his seat.

  Moving across the table was the 2nd to last person to introduce himself, with the sound of his razor sharp teeth clacking and he laughed he stood up, despite how thin he appeared it was clear under the light that his muscle was simply dense, his forearms in particular heavily defined with each tendon moving as he extends his hands. “Names Kawakai Kouzou, nice to meet y’all.” He laughed, tipping the end of his straw hat he took his seat and the final man rose.

  Or rather he didn’t, “Takayuma Naori, Taiponbo continents feather weight champion.” Though Nordon seemed to want to throw something for the shameful introduction it was Akatora who spoke.

  “A solid line up.” He nodded- “But with Miyagami missing you’re down one vice captain. Who will that be?”

  Nordon paused, fingers tapping on the table top slowly he looked up after a moment and spoke. “I have yet to decide, so whoever performs the best in this liberation will be promoted to the rank of vice captain.”

  “!”

  At that time all the Edoland Venators other than Nordon, Soga and Byakutou of course seemed to tense up their aura, the room's temperature growing at least a degree or two hotter in an instant. Even Yuko herself seemed amped, so Kanashi couldn’t hope to understand, she seemed to dislike having her current responsibilities already and being a vice captain could only bring more. Though now that Kanashi thought about it he himself was a weird case. He wasn’t even technically part of the Venator Society Proper; he belonged to no branch or division; he just existed within the organization. I’ll need to ask about that…

  “What a shame.” Akatora frowned, slicking back his hair. “I’ve known Miyagami myself for decades now, we met a long time ago when I used to bet on his students' Karate Matches, never beat him in a bet no matter which side I voted for.” With a deep down Akatora looked to Nordon the soft smile which had grown across his face turning to a stone cold expression that it normally wore. “Now that we’ll all be decided- the line up that is. What about the main Venator Societies forces?”

  “There will be six people.” Jin said, raising his hand before Nordon could speak. “Hayai Ignius Captain of Beta, Duncan Withertree rear Captain of Gamma, Medicine-Crow rear Captain of Theta, Tobasco Chille rear Captain of Alpha, Austin Connery vice Captain of Beta and finally Fleabius Roach the vice Captain of Omega.”

  Kanashi frowned as the names ran through his mind. “I don’t know any of those other than Hayai.” He muttered. He could only recall meeting a single vice Captain that was the vice Captain of Alpha Eugene. Other than that he’d not even met all of the Captains, Mari Adbul had someone evaded him almost as if on purpose it seemed. I wonder if I can even talk to them or if they’ll be all weird and uptight? Going off of Eugene who seemed pretty different from Jin there might be a chance they won’t be…

  “And what are those six to do?” Akatora asked.

  “Duncan, Chille, Austin and Roach will guard the four zones where the exits out of my barrier will be, the only entrance and exit points. The barrier itself will be near unbreakable from the inside, only a true anti ethereal technique could break it- if the user is capable enough. But from the outside it might as well be an egg shell so making sure all Toumeikan stay inside is the top priority. Medicine-Crow will be in charge of healing and Hayai will be general support. Anywhere he needs to be he’ll be there in a flash.”

  “Then who will guard the tunnels?”

  “I’m going to leave that to you and your men. The Edoland Venators are going to deal with the Joshin for the most part.”

  “A tough job.” Akatora sighed, rubbing his brow. “But it can be done. However there is one issue I have so far-”

  “The Venator Society has been preparing for this liberation for the past five months, we’re gonna win this, and do it flawlessly." Jin laughed, cutting the man off.

  “While I don’t doubt your plan I think my knowledge can help set things up well without much change- and I also have my own personal grudges to settle.” With that final part Akatora's tone was like a tiger's growl, Kanashi hair standing up one the back of his neck.

  “I thought you gave me all the info you had.” Jin frowned, raising his brow in irritation. “So what else that you say can make a difference?”

  “You’d be surprised.”

  Jin sighed and ruffled his light brown hair, looking at the time on his watch he nodded his head. “Make it quick- setting everything up will take me till sunrise.”