📌 Tags: Psychological Thriller, Urban Noir, Vigilante, Mature Themes, Serial Killer, Crime Drama
⚠️Authors Note - Mature Content
"This is a work of fiction. Names, characters, nations, corporations and events are products of the author's imagination and are used fictitiously. Any resemblance to real events or persons is coincidental."
DreamLand Tower..
Overlords Seat of Power..
Ayaka stood stunned. The powerful daughter of the Kodoma Dynasty. Her mother, the Empress of Japan, stood in front of her. Hands to her front. Her green eyes analyzing the sight in front of her. Her long overarching low cut burgundy dress flowing. She stood elegantly, powerful.
The Princess, the Ice Thorn Princess. The Wounds Overlord.
Empress Reina Kodoma slowly walked to the window that looked out into the entrance she arrived in. Then she spoke, her Japanese accent strong-
'Made quite the name for yourself Ayaka.'
Her eyes watched the Kodoma Security forces, in their black kevlar armour and high tech weaponry. Some wielded shields, and stun batons while the others stood up the staircase leading to the entrance doors, their rifles trained on the crowd.
'Alright scum, back off!' one of the soldiers shouted.
'Nothing to see here.'
BLAM BLAM
Warning shots rang out across the crowd.
'Back up!' The red armoured lieutenant ordered pointing to the bystanders, gesturing to his men to move in on the crowd.
Reina turned away, believing the chaos outside was beneath her.
'So, you couldn't establish yourself in the clan..'
Reina paused for a moment-
'And choose to rule over these…'
She scrunched her nose-
'Freaks.'
Ayaka stood, motionless.
Despite ruling the Wound district as its ruler.
Right now she is powerless. Weak.
Her eyes are heavy.
She couldn't face her mother.
'Mother-'
'Silence, Ayaka.'
Reina took control again.
Reina looked at the Owl who stood in the corner. Watching with fine interest. She knew who the Kodoma Empress was, and even she knew her power was on another level entirely.
'Mother why are you here?'
Ayaka pushed. Regaining her composure. Reminding herself the environment she was in.
'Because, daughter, someone needs to clean up Kyoko's mess (Chapter 10: The Kodoma) and YOU are clearly not doing it.'
Reina moved closer-
'There is a war between us and BlueJet, and the Vigilante Near, a pest that I haven't had the displeasure to encounter since last year in Moon City has resurfaced.'
And closer-
Now she was inches from Ayaka.
'What HAVE you done here? Do you even wash anymore? I can smell you from here. Kodoma Bank is currently under lockdown and here YOU are.. Playing ruler.'
The words stung. The emphasis on Ayaka's carelessness infuriated Reina further.
'Either, you deal with that Vigilante OR you can consider yourself exiled from the clan!'
'B-But mother- BlueJet-'
'They are NOTHING to us.. They are weakened by the vigilante's interference in their operations, and honestly, this war between us is more quiet than loud.'
The Owl smirked, the sight in front of her was delightful, truly karma, and it couldn't have happened sooner. With a cruel talon on her lip she leaned forward, her arms crossed.
'Perhaps.. I can be of help..?'
'Oh?' Reina looked at her, eyebrow raised.
'I have my own issues with BlueJet.. I would love nothing more than to cause even more issues for them.'
The Owl explained, her cunning eyes putting on a performance for the Corporate Empress.
'Perhaps if I say, waged this "war" for you, so you can focus on the vigilante.. You give me payment of some sort?'
'Like?' Reina asked almost dismissively. Of course someone of the underworld would demand something. Of course she knew.
The Owl smiled, but not too much, she still recognised WHO stood in front of her.
'Weapons and ammunition, preferably from your own company.'
'My companies?
Reina's eyes narrowed with interest. Usually she wouldn't be speaking to the lesser individuals of the world.
'It IS top of the line you know. BlueJet's is for firepower, your's is accuracy and stealth.'
The Owl looked behind her, out towards the entrance of the tower, she can harass BlueJet while Reina deals with the Vigilante, she can save face in the Underworld against the rumors of her partnership with Near. Everyone wins.
Well, all but Near.
Meanwhile
Kodoma Bank
Promise City
Outside the Kodoma Bank, sirens blared, red and blue lights illuminated the streets, flashing like luminous fireworks. The scene outside was crowded; police held back curious onlookers, cruisers blocked roads on the approach and exit.
SWAT prepared themselves, cocking their rifles, adjusting their body armour. Checking their radios, which crackled with various voices.
Detective Brady, with his hands in his long trench coat pockets, walked to the lieutenant of the SWAT.
'Wedding Ring Slayers locked up in Vault City Super-Max, and now this?'
He stopped, his feet sinking into the snowy road.
'What a night.' He exhaled, rubbing his eyes.
He looked up at the glass dome building-
'Brandon, What's your game plan?'
Brady turned to the SWAT veteran.
Brandon cocked his pistol.
'Well, apparently, the Captain is going to order me to remain outside with my team..'
Brady's eyebrows furrowed.
'Why?'
'Kodoma is sending their own response.'
As Brandon spoke, huge six-wheeled APCs roared onto the scene. They were crimson red, heavily armoured. Emblazoned across their sides were the Kodoma Clan's emblem. Along with the Kanji characters for the Kodoma, "皇堂真".
Kodoma Corporation's security team.
Black-clad troopers exited the rear of the APCs, the clan's colour. Attached to their sides were modified, enhanced, highly advanced laser assault rifles.
THUD THUD THUD
Their footsteps shook the platforms of the APCs' ramps into the snowy roads.
Radios crackled; the Kodoma comms were already buzzing.
[Priority-One target- Potential sighting of the Vigilante Near- in the building]]
[Near doesn't rob banks...]
[Well, he is apparently in there]
[Lady Kyoko will be here soon]
The commander in his red body armour pushed himself to the front of the squad-
'Lady Kyoko will be here in five minutes. Secure the perimeter, then we will smash the front door.'
The Kodoma troopers secured each corner of the Bank, their APC's cutting off each road. They stood as both a deterrent and statement.
'Lady K is here.'
One of the soldiers reported.
The black limo stopped dead in front of the staircase leading to the Bank.
One heeled foot stepped out with a loud, defining CRACK-
Then another-
Crack-
She stood tall. She was a member of the Kodoma Clan's main branch. Japanese royalty.
Wearing a black, golden-inscribed kimono, probably worth more than the limo she rode in.
Flipping her neck-length golden blonde hair, her tanned skin was immediately hit by the cold.
Klick Klick Klick
She strutted up the concrete stairs.
Her Japanese accent was unmistakable. Despite the rules of not using English within the Kodoma Clan, Kyoko believed in modernising.
'Commander. With me. Now.'
'Yes ma'am.'
He turned to face two others-
'You two are with me.'
Then Kyoko spoke again-
'Make sure we have men on the rooftops.'
'Ma'am?'
'BlueJet.'
No more needed to be said; the war between Kodoma and BlueJet was ever present but rarely loud despite its explosive beginning.
'No chances.'
The four entered the bank.
Kyoko surveyed the room. Her sharp eyes took in the sight. The soldiers besides her raised their assault rifles locked and loaded, its red tracers scanning the open hall.
The glass dome roof glistened as light reflected off the rifle's torch light. Their boots echoed off the marble floor. The hum of the many monitors was all the atmosphere they could hear. You could hear a pin drop.
'Someone is definitely here.' Kyoko exclaimed cocking a pistol with a defining metallic click-
'Ma'am.. Maybe you should let us handle it..?' The commander suggested-
'Why?.. Because I am a woman?'
'No Ma'am just if anything.. Legally.. Happens..-'
The Kodoma aristocrat scoffed. With a sharp bark of laughter.
'Commander, if anything were to happen I can handle myself.'
She walked with purpose. Her heels cracking the ground like gunshots. Kyoko flicked her wrist to the commander of the security detail.
She swiftly reached the Vaults corridor entrance.
'My family owns this bank commander.. And the Kodoma family name can do many things..'
Emerging from the shadows of the bank, three oni masked women, Kodoma Ninja, katana's attached to their defined backs. One stepped towards Kyoko, bowing slightly, but respectfully-
'Okusan.. Zettai ni dareka imasu..'
(Mistress.. Someone's definitely here..)
'Akiraka ni ne'
(Clearly)
Kyoko remarked her gaze resting on the locked vault door.
One of the ninja gave Kyoko a katana.
She drew the katana with a swift motion-
'Open the vault.' Kyoko ordered.
SSSSSSTTTRRRREEEEEEECCCHHHHHHH-
The door opening was slow.
And loud.
Metal scraped metal.
It was ear piercing-
And slowly the inside was revealed. Light beamed from within, temporarily jarring the soldiers and Kyoko who squinted.
The piles of money touched the ceiling in dollars, pounds and yen. Millions of bills in bricks. Gold bars glistened from the lights above, suitcases tightly lined against the concrete vault door with a gap left from Embertrators 'liberation'.
Kyoko was first to enter, as she crossed the threshold she scanned the vault. No sign of the vigilante, her eyes scrunched. She looked up sharply.
And there he was.
Using my legs I was able to crouch above the doorway, using two of the shelving units to support my weight. I thought I could quietly leap past them when they entered.
I was wrong. Should have known better. Kyoko is considered one of the Kodoma Clan's best warriors, so of course she'd look up before entering.
The katana's blade thrust upward, narrowly missing my side.
I punched it away with a clang. Luckily Sunohara added extra padding to my fists armour.
Using the strength in my legs I was able to lunge at Kyoko, who, naturally had more up her sleeve literally-
WHIP-
THWIP THWIP THWIP
Shurikans.
As they slammed against the white wall in quick succession, my foot connected with Kyoko's shoulder. She winced, taking a step backwards.
WHAM-
A sudden kick to the sternum sent Kyoko into the wall, scattering money all over the concrete floor. She was now on her knees stunned.
The Commander of the security forces stepped forwards with his men, they aimed their rifles-
RATTA RATTA RATTA RATTA RATTA-
Rounds slammed the background, money erupted into the air, gold bars were clipped by passing ballistics.
'STOP- STOP FIRING! WERE IN A VAULT YOU STUPID F*CKS!' Kyoko ordered frantically, her words becoming wheezes.
Jumping forwards, I was able to catch two of the soldiers, with swift strikes to their throats I was able to incapacitate them, their bodies hitting the ground with hard thuds, their rifles scattering along the floor.
Next-
The Commander.
WHACK.
A stiff strike to the face, and follow up to the shoulder. He fell forwards.
Now only Kyoko remained. She stared, furious. Saliva dripped from her lips.
'Vigilante.. We.. meet again..'
I remained silent. My fists clenched into balls.
'Not a fan of words..? Did you not learn manners growing up?'
…
'SPEAK, tresspasser.'
Kyoko pushed herself up. Lifting her long sleeve, a kunai blade slipped into her tight grip.
With a swift movement-
She reached Near as if she was a flash-
I braced. Using my gauntlets to cover my head. Deflecting the kunai's projection.
Leaving my stomach open. Again. Stupid mistake.
And Kyoko immediately followed up- As I knew she would.
SLAP SLAP SLAP her heels struck the floor like gunshots-
THUD-
A strike to the side-
Now-
My turn.
WHAM-
My armoured knee connected with her.
She stumbled back. Holding her tanned nose that gushed with blood. She fell, slipping out of her heels, suddenly gripping onto one of the shelves.
She was back on her knees, shaking uncontrollably.
Taking advantage of my opening, I turned to the Vault door, and began to walk away. I could see Kyoko behind me struggling to her feet.
'DONT WALK AWAY FROM ME! VIGILANTE!'
Kyoko.. My cousin.. She was always kind to me even when I was back at the Kodoma household.. I am sorry I have done this. I do not hate her. Even if I don't have the best relationship with the family.
I stopped in my tracks. I did not completely turn. Just enough so she could see my eyes.
'Mitsumune would be proud. You are a good warrior.'
Kyoko's brown eyes widened. Blowing wide open.
Not anger.
Acknowledgement.
'How.. the hell do you know Mitsumune-sama's name?..'
I began walking away through the Vault's open door. Stepping over the fallen soldiers.
'ANSWER ME!' She screamed.
I remained silent.