The city blared under a purple sky painted with neon. Glass windows reflected the chaos below like broken mirrors. A woman clutched her purse and ran. A man dragged his child behind a delivery truck.
"Stop that thief!" The voice cut through the noise like a blade.
Feet pounded on wet pavement. Car doors slammed and engines roared to life. The smell of burning rubber filled the air as tires spun against asphalt. Red and blue lights painted the buildings in flashing colors.
In the middle of it all, a shadow moved.
The masked man ran like water flowing downhill. His black clothes made him hard to see in the dim light. A heavy duffel bag bounced against his back with each step. Metal clinked inside it. His breathing was steady, controlled. Not the panicked gasps of someone running for their life, but the measured rhythm of someone who had done this before.
Many times before.
Renji Kuroda felt the familiar burn in his legs. His red eyes tracked every movement around him.
A police officer rounded the corner ahead to intercept him, but he was too slow and Renji burst past him like an American rugby player, knocking him off the ground. A second officer tried to cut him off from the left.
"Amateur mistake." he muttered, swinging the duffel bag across his face.
Bang!
The man's light switched off instantly and only his radio crackled with static and urgent voices.
"We have him cornered on Fifth Street!"
Wrong. They had nothing.
Renji's boots hit the sidewalk in a steady beat. One, two, three. On the fourth step, he leaped. His body sailed over a fruit cart. Apples scattered like marbles. The old man behind the cart dove for cover, his hands covering his head.
The gun felt natural in Renji's grip. Like an extension of his arm. He twisted in the air, his body spinning like a dancer. The first shot rang out before his feet touched the ground.
Pop.
Another officer stumbled backward. His hand went to his chest. His eyes went wide as he fell.
His partner dropped behind a car. The radio in his hand shook. "Officers down! Officers down! We need backup!"
Renji was already moving. The neon signs above cast pink and blue shadows on his mask. His footsteps echoed between the buildings. Each alley looked the same in the dark. Trash cans lined the walls. Steam rose from manholes. The city breathed around him.
Behind him, more sirens joined the chorus. The sound grew louder. Closer.
A police car turned the corner. Its headlights cut through the darkness like white knives. The driver saw Renji and hit the gas. The engine roared.
Renji didn't run. He didn't hide. He ran straight at the car.
At the last second, he planted his foot on the hood. The metal dented under his weight. He pushed off, flying over the windshield. The two officers inside looked up in shock. Their mouths opened but no sound came out.
Renji landed behind the car in a crouch. His gun came up.
Pow! Pow! Pow!
Three quick shots shattered the back window. The car swerved and hit a lamppost. The metal crumpled like paper.
"Too easy," Renji muttered. His voice was calm. Almost bored.
More cars appeared. These were different. Bigger. Armored. Men in black gear climbed out. They carried shields and bigger guns. Their faces were hidden behind masks and visors.
One of them raised a weapon that looked like a cannon. A dull thump echoed through the street. A small metal canister arced through the air. It hit the ground and started smoking.
The gas burned Renji's eyes through his mask. It made his throat itch. But he had breathed worse things. He moved before the cloud could thicken. His hands found the fire escape ladder. His body moved up the metal rungs like a spider.
The rooftop was flat and empty. Old air vents stuck up like metal mushrooms. Renji rolled behind one as bullets started flying. They sparked off the metal and concrete around him.
Crack.
A sudden pain shot through his shoulder. Hot and sharp. Blood soaked through his shirt. "FUCK!" he growled, clutching the wound.
Renji looked across the rooftops. Despite the night, his keen eyesight located a figure crouched on the building across the street. A long rifle pointed at him.
He twisted, dropped to one knee, and returned fire. The sniper's head snapped back, a clean red mist painting the skyline. He fell backward and didn't get up.
Above, helicopter blades chopped the air. A bright light found him. It followed him as he ran. The spotlight made him feel naked. Exposed. More bullets chased him across the rooftop.
One hit his leg. He stumbled but kept running. The edge of the building came up fast. Too fast. But Renji didn't slow down. He jumped.
For a moment, he was flying. The city spread out below him like a map. Cars looked like toys. People looked like ants. The wind whipped his mask.
Then he hit the next building. His knees bent. His body rolled. He came up running.
The helicopter followed. Its light swept back and forth. Voices shouted from speakers. "Surrender! You're surrounded!"
"Noisy..." Renji reached for his belt. His fingers closed around a small metal ball. He pulled the pin with his teeth. The metal was cold and bitter. He counted to three. Then he threw it high.
The explosion turned night into day. The helicopter rocked in the air, spinning a couple of times before crashing into a building. Pieces of the building fell like rain. Screams mixed with the sound of breaking glass.
Renji was already far gone. He slid down a maintenance pipe. His boots scraped against metal. At the bottom, he hit the ground running. The alley was narrow and dark. Perfect for his escape.
He melted into the shadows like smoke. The city swallowed him whole.
Behind him, the sirens kept wailing. The lights kept flashing. The hunt would continue. But for now, in this moment, he was free.