The cold gust of wind rolled in, sweeping across the surface of the city, bouncing off the faces of the towering skyscrapers, rushing in through the gaps, cutting into the night. Rolling down into the streets, brushing loose newspapers and litter around like the hand of a god descending down to shape a new world.
Amy shivered slightly, pulling up her coat. She cut through an allyway, it wasn't safe to be out in the open, although with the crime rate in this area of New Tokyo City, the ally wasn't much safer anyway.
She turned a corner, spotting a homeless man, asleep, bottle of saki still in his palm from his mid-evening binge. She stepped past his legs, which cut across the concrete, and into her path.
He stirred, coughing and grunting in his dreams.
Ahead a silohette moved, from nowhere it shuffled out, growing in the poor lighting. It was a man, medium height, well built, covered in tattoos from every angle of visable skin.
He gripped a small tanto, a shortsword to those not too well informed with Kusari culture. A grim smile crossed his face, scarred it was. As he inched closer to her, he came into the light better, giving Amy a better look at his ink.
Those were Hogoshan tattoos, and he was certainly dressed like one of them, one of their thugs at least.
More shuffling, Amy stopped walking, slowing the time it took for the Hogoshan man to reach her. Another appeared from the shadows, this one wielding a lead pipe. Another slipped out behind her, mere feet from her.
The ally was barely three meters across, there was no way she could pass them without them making an agressive move.
Less than a minute later the men were dead, killed with their own weapons, at their own hands. Amy had not moved from that spot, nor had the appearance of fear or relief crossed her face.
She simply carried on walking, stepping over thier bodies as their blood painted the concrete. The sleeping man continued to snore, shifting slightly, unaware of the pools of blood merging around him.
She approached the end of the allyway, muffled music could be heard. As she rounded the corner, she saw it.
The Golden Tiger, a Hogoshan nightclub, one of many. Had a bar, casino as always, strippers, and was always over-capacity. There were guards outside, armed, mean looking. A line outside of young, rich Kusari men, each with their own underaged hookers.
As Amy strolled past the line, approaching the door, each of the men turned their attention away from their school girls, watching her as she passed.
She reached the door, smiling at the bouncer. He gave her the same look as he had given everyone else, a mean frown. He shook his head slowly, pointing to the end of the line. She did not move though, she just stared.
With a twinkle in her eyes, the bouncer moved aside to let her pass, his frown had faded, and his face was blank. He looked almost as if he was scared of something, his mind not wanting to obey his body.
As she slipped in through the doors, he shook his head and continued guarding the door, as if he had never seen her.
The club was packed, two doors ahead leading to a huge main hall, the music blaring through the gap, lights flickering against the walls. The room she was in was just where people left their coats, or ordered a drink before mingling with the madness below.
There were a few businessmen here, propped up, talking about new ideas for the company, or the private lives of them and thier receptionists. One corner had a Samura exectutive, laughing drunkenly over a game of cards.
As Amy slipped off her coat, handing it to the overworked boy in corner, a Hogoshan bouncer approached her. This was not another seven-foot tall monster of a man though, this one was female, rather pretty. She wasn't fully Kusari, perhaps part Bretonian or Libertonian...
She boasted a large pistol on her right hip, not looking overly happy with the night. Her outfit had dried blood stains on it, seemingly she had already had to remove someone for some reason or other.
She was not like Amy, where Amy wore a beautiful purple dress, the Hogosha wore a tight, lightly armoured suit, much like motorcycle leathers.
Amy smiled as she passed, the Hogoshan bouncer grabbed her arm and pulled her close...
Emi was angry. Very angry.
That stupid boy tried to rob her while insulsting her on full speed. Kusarians, they don't like women...
She sighed, ordered drink and waited for opportunity to take revenge.. She was enough angry to take it on any outsiders.
Emi saw beautifull girl in purple dress. She's not ours, seems.. Uhh, I'll take this one! I can't stand that!! She'll pay for everything!
She approached beautifull girl... "Lady, your drink is here!"-shouted bartender. "Yes, wait."
She passed near girl, then pulled out her pistol and stopped.. "Who're you, girl? I'm not in good mood, answer fast!"
Emi aimed head of girl. One wrong word and she's dead...
Amy smiled again, never seeming fearful at the possiblity of her own fatality.
She raised her arm and gently applied pressure to the top of the pistol, lowering it. As she did so, the Hogoshan relaxed her arms, calming her breathing.
*** She is, a friend ***
That thought, it belonged to Amy, and it was in the Hogoshan's mind. No matter what she thought for herself, it was simply pushed aside, the mind of the lady in the purple dress overpowering her own freewill.
"Show me to the VIP lounge please Emi"
Emi had never told Amy her name, but she couldn't help her mouth from breathing the words, accepting Amy's request.
"V-I-P...Emi knows"
Bartender drank her drink, but she didn't even
She walked through tons of people... What am I doing? But.. I want it!
Emi blinked and kicked someone away from her path..
She heard echoes... "Hi, Emi!", "How are you doing? Let's go on next party?"
She saw some handsome guys...
There we go...- She whispered.. She saw door.. and bodyguards.
"Emi? What do you want?"-asked one of them. "Try to guess"
Bodyguard smiled and nodded, "Invite us later, eh?"
Emi silently passed through, leading Amy to something.. She opened door..
Young KNF samurai was sitting there and smoking marijuana.. Waves of smoke waved to Emi and Amy. "Emi? With your friend, hai?"-He blinked and coughed. "Hm, let me enjoy this smoke first, okay? And tss, I don't want my father to know about this our... small mystery" "Emi knows. Emi wants to present you... E-erhm.. Her"
In her head Amy told the Hogoshan to leave, shutting the door behind her.
The Lietenant leaned back in the seat, checking out Amy's legs.
"Who sent you?" he sneered, "Was it Tokami? I deliberatly neglected to tell him it was my birthday today..." he chuckled, dismissing the stripper.
As the performer left, only Amy and himself remained. Amy sat down next to him, awaiting the camera in the left of the room to move off them.
She pounced as his attention was on her chest, slamming his arms behind him on the wall. She forced her lips on his, entering his thoughts.
*** Still ***
"Rmfpt!" he struggled, slowly relaxing.
The camera turned back to them, as far as security was concerned they were making out. She released him, standing up and ironing her dress out with her hands.
Flashing..
1 room...2 room... 3 room...
They were asking everybody... "Where's she?"
Everybody was so scared he'd not answer.
Then they came to right place. Few words spoken.
"Konichiwa, we'd like to see the one named Amy Masako. Let us see, if she's here". "No! I'm sorry, it's private room. Get awa..-Then he'd seen that tatoo.-O-o-okay, Dragon-san. D-don't-..."
They passed him, entering room. "You're Amy Masako?"-they asked."For Kusari's glory, what's tha-"
Then.. They heard some loud steps.. Door opened again, and they'd faced Hogosha bouncers with guns. "I guess you've entered wrong door?"- asked the main Dragon. "Huh. Prepare to die, Dragon" - the first Hogosha said. "I don't think so... In the name of Hideyoshi's memoury, die, briber!"
In a moment, Hogosha leader saw blade, but then.. He was no more alive. "Kill them!"
A lot of sounds. Everybody forgot about Amy by the time.
Amy pounced at one of the young Dragons, he had drawn his sword and was deciding which of the Hogoshans was the biggest threat.
She slammed her fist into his throat, throwing him off guard, then slammed her knee into his stomach. As he fell to his knees she kicked out, her heel smashing his nose.
There were gunshots and shouting as she slipped past the fray, headed to the fire door of the club. Without a second thought she lunged through them, setting off the alarms and turning on the sprinklers.
A couple of the Dragons had seen her and attempted to follow, being swept under the waves of panicing people.
"Karei-san, more Hogoshas!"
"Hai. You, Hideki and Temaka, follow girl. We have to get rid of her. We'll halt Hogoshas, by the time."
"But, Karei-san.."
"For Kusari!! For Taishogun!!"
Explosion..