The Dragon Fang

[Kazuya Hikari]

The Dragon Fang is the Japanese style bar Kazuya rebuilt deep within Neutral Territory. Though the building is fairly small in size, what it lacks in space, it makes up for in quality and service. On the right side of the bar was the highly polished and smooth wooden counter, made of high quality mahogany, the bartender, Takashi Ichikawa always found either behind the counter or in the kitchen. Behind the counter, bottles of high quality liquor and sake line the shatter resistant glass shelves bolted into the wall, and which behind, a mirror that spanned nearly the entire wall could be found.

Across from the counter were two worn but smooth wooden tables, made of mahogany as well, which could seat four people easily each. In the back of the building, the hallway leading to the bathrooms could be found, and directly across from the bar entrance, the entrance to the kitchen could be found, and the cellar where barrels of liquor and sake is stored. Although the kitchen is fully equipped, all the food is fire grilled, courtesy of Kazuya's Qi.

Though the kitchen appears normal enough, in the back, though it appears to be a solid wall, it is in fact, a hidden electronic sliding door. Access is only granted by a hidden camera located above the door, showing whom wishes to enter.

Past the door, there is a short hallway with the elevator located on the opposite end, that lead down to the underground facility, that consists of 4 levels. Level 1 houses the infirmary containing medical supplies for any injury sustained, and a small room containing light weapons. Level 2 is where the resting facilities are located. Each room has its own en suite bathroom with all the basic necessities and a lounge where anyone can relax and hang out.

Level 3 is where the food facilities are located, consisting of a single large room with cafeteria style tables. Level 4 is where the personal generator powering the underground facility is located, one that is not even part of the grid that the bar located up top is part of.

[Daruma Doll~]

Most nights after work was done, Chihiro could be found at the Dragon Fang. There was something oddly relaxing about it, the sights and sounds reminding her of her time spent in Japan. Not to mention the Japanese barkeep who wasn't too hard on the eyes.

"それは何だろう？"

What'll it be? The same question every night, by way of greeting. He was drying out a glass with the towel from his waist, setting it on the shelf behind the bar.

"瓶にあなたの心。"

Your heart in a jar. The barkeep smirked, turning around and pouring a glass of dark red wine. He handed her the glass and she moved to pay him but he waved his hand. It was on the house, as always, but they had been going through the same gestures for months now. The comfort of routine.

[Kazuya Hikari]

As usual, Takashi was manning the bar, and as usual, the regular customers came pouring in throughout the evening, mainly the citizens living in Neutral Territory itself, including quite possibly his favorite customer, Chihiro Amuri. One of the top assassins of Kane Hikari's and the Hikari-gumi. Beautiful but deadly.

Just as he moved away from Chihiro to take the order of another customer, the sound of the wooden door sliding open would catch his attention. Immediately making eye contact with and understanding, Takashi would give a slight nod of his head and carry on with business as usual.

["Nice to see I managed to catch you."]

A voice would speak up from the stool beside Chihiro, as a shot glass of warm sake would be poured by Takashi before leaving the bottle on the counter, as Kazuya would pick up the glass and down it in one fluid motion, placing the glass back down on top of the counter, pouring another shot for himself.

["My father misses having you around, but would rather have you here with me than back home."]

[Daruma Doll~]

Chihiro enjoyed her tet-a-tet with Takashi and was harmless, mostly. She recognized the look on his face as she heard the door slide open, she didn't need to look around to see who had entered. She brought the wine glass smoothly to her lips and took a sip, resting her chocolate eyes on the man who sat down beside her.

"それは和也先生、名誉なことです。"

It is an honor, Kazuya-sensei. The corners of her cherry red lips tilted upward, she was pleased to see him. She inclined her head in a respectable fashion before taking another sip of wine. She was much more informal with Kazuya than she was with his father, but still treated him respectfully.

"あなたのお父さんによろしくを与える。"

Give my regards to your father. Hikari-sensei was a just man and a good leader. She enjoyed working for him, especially in comparison to her treatment in the Shadow Knights. The symbol was still carved into the back of her neck, but her long raven hair hid it most of the time.

[Kazuya Hikari]

["And it's always an honor and pleasure to see you too Chihiro-san. Every time I come here, I've just missed you or it's late because my work kept me occupied."]

Training his troops, creating battle strategies, it wasn't easy, but he was honored to be given the title of General by David Blaze, and would work hard to do the title justice.

["I always do. He's pleased with the work you've done thus far, I believe he said to inform you to go and see Murata-sama in a couple of days."]

Murata-san being Tadashi Murata, the smith that forged the katanas that Kane passed down to Kazuya and he currently wielded, working for Kazuya, and only Kazuya. Downing another shot, a slight smirk tugging at the corners of his mouth as he placed his glass down, he would turn his head slightly to look at her with his pupil-less gray eyes.

["It seems you weren't the only one to arrive recently. The Kobe region gang of the Ogawa-gumi III (青木組; Small River Group III), the Koyama-kai, were spotted in Neutral Territory, near the borders of Dragon Territory. The order to eliminate them has been issued."]

[Daruma Doll~]

Though she resided in Dragon territory most of the time with Kazuya and his faction, Chihiro did not belong in the army. She was an assassin, not a soldier. Her work was best done in the shadows, quietly and swiftly. The battlefield was not her place. However, Kazuya had been put in charge of the army, and if he needed her, ahem, expertise in any mission regarding the Dragons that was in Kazuya's interest, she lent her services willingly.

She raised a slender eyebrow about going to see Murata-sama, and her eyes lit up in the dimmed bar light. She always loved visiting the weapons master, she could never turn down the prospect of a new toy.

And if that wasn't enough, there was a mission! Chihiro had some down down the last couple of days, and she was beginning to grow bored. Barker hadn't made a move, the smaller factions were either allied to the Dragons or too small to pose a threat. But here! Here was a mission worth taking on.

"そしてここで私は退屈で死ぬつもりだったと思った..."

And here I thought I was going to die of boredom... She drawled, bringing the glass to her lips again, her eyes glinting mischievously. The wheels in her head were already turning, though she had already decided to finish her glass of wine first before preparing. After all, waste not want not.

"どのように我々は、私は私の新しい着物を着用することを取得したり、それをこの時間を再生するために...静かで隠密ないつもりですか？"

How are we going to play it this time...quiet and stealthy, or do I get to wear my new kimono? Chihiro had two main tactics, absolute stealth, and sabotage. She couldn't resist smoozing right up to her victim's faces and then shanking them before they knew what hit them. She got off on it, the thrill, the danger, the espionage. It was her life, she lived and breathed it.

[Kazuya Hikari]

["As if my father would let one of his top assassins die in such a mundane way. They were fighting to try and re-take their territory in Osaka... I don't need to tell you the outcome. They are sorely mistaken if they think they can defeat me."]

Takashi having placed the bottle of sake away, the bar emptied out by this time, he would head to the wooden door and lock it up, to prevent unwanted ears from walking and listening in. He held no position or role in the Hikari-gumi or The Flame Battalion, he was simply the bartender, that was all.

His smirk tugging even more at the corners of his mouth, Kazuya would reach inside his male kimino and pull out a simple manila envelope, sliding it across the counter to Chihiro. Inside, she would find the profiles of the enforcers, advisors, accountants, second lieutenant assistant, and the second lieutenant.

["Sabotage. Infiltrate and get close to the shateigashira-hosa (second lieutenant assistant), Otsuka Hayate. Once he's gone, move onto the shateigashira (second lieutenant), Koyama Ayumu. The entire gang will fall to pieces and eliminated easily after that. Any questions, Chihiro-san?"]

[Daruma Doll~]

A slight chuckle of amusement danced in the throat of the assassin, it was always funny to see people try to take out their organization and fail trying. She was disappointed she didn't get to see it for herself.

Her expression took on a faint shadow of interest when kazuya told he she was to take out not one, but two influential people...influential men...who were easily influenced by the wooing ways of a woman.

"はい、とき、私は開始することができますか？"

Yes, when can I start? She smirked, taking another healthy sip of her wine. She was just about finished. She would probably need a day to prepare her guise and poisons and weapons, but after that she would make sure her schedule was completely open.

[Kazuya Hikari]

["Anytime you wish."]

Draining the last little bit of sake in his glass, placing the shot glass down on the counter with a dull thunk, as usual, Kane, and to an extent Kazuya, was giving Chihiro free reign over the mission, meaning she could take as much time as need and do whatever it took to complete the objective. Along with the files on the Koyama-gumi, there was also a map of California with the territories clearly marked and the area of Vernon circled in black.

["This is their area of operations. They've taken over the entire area, defeating and driving out the previous gang that had taken up residence there. Their main base is located roughly in the center, underground mostly likely. Akira-san scouted the area out, but was unable to pinpoint the main entrance, as the members were spotted emerging from different entrances scattered throughout the area."]

[Daruma Doll~]

Chihiro drained her glass, setting it down with a slight 'click' of glass on wood as she looked at the file in front of her. It seemed like a pretty standard lay out. From an army's perspective, there would be difficulty getting in and mowing down the resistance. However, that wasn't how Chihiro operated. Take out the head officials and create a power vaccuum. The organization will implode on itself.

"彼らは頻繁にしたい任意のアイデア？バーやクラブ、気に入りましたか？任意の場所私はちょうど化合物まで散歩することなく、それらに実行することができます。"

Any idea where they like to frequent? Like a bar or club? Any place I can run into them without having to just stroll up to the compound. If there was no other option, she could just stroll up to the gate, but that required a lot more fast talking and had a lower success rate. No, she would want to run into them at a social establishment, charm her way into the inner circle and then destroy them from the inside out.

[Kazuya Hikari]

["Recently, a few of the younger male members were spotted at a rundown but in good shape bar and club within Vernon, called Hououjinten (鳳凰神天; Phoenix God Heaven). It's a popular establishment with the surviving Japanese American young adults residing in Neutral Territory."]

This information Kazuya had gone into the area in disguise to find out personally, knowing very well how Chihiro's modus operandi worked. He always gave her as much information and tools possible to help aid in her missions, as he has just as much absolute confidence in her as his father does.

["Seek out one of the enforcers and Koyama-san's bodyguard, Hara Taiki. Aside from the shateigashira and shateigashira-hosa, he would have the most knowledge on the gang, including the location of the main entrance."]

[Daruma Doll~]

Chihiro looked at the file on Hara Taiki, letting out a low whistle. If one thing was for sure, they hired some good looking men. It was almost a shame she had to kill them...almost.

"私は私の仕事は私のために切り出されているように見えます。"

Looks like I have my work cut out for me. She laughed, flipping through the pages in the file folder. When she was satisfied with her assignment, she closed it, looking up at him with her dark eyes.

"私に準備して旅する二日を与える。それは、月以内に行われます。"

"Give me two days to prepare and travel. It will be done within the month." She would need a day to get all of the things she needed, a day to get down there and set up her stake out. From there she needed to go into the bar and fraternize with the enforcer/bodyguard, Get an in with him. From there get to the second lieutenant assistant and then the second lieutenant. 1, 2, 3. She gave herself a month depending on how long it took her to seduce the three tiers. Best case scenario would be a week, worst case would dangle on the edge of a month, but she would not take any longer than that. They needed to be taken down swiftly and permanently.

[Kazuya Hikari]

["You'll be fine. Taiki won't know what hit him after meeting you."]

A wide smirk on his face, Kazuya's eyes would make eye contact with hers, his pupil-less gray "looking" right into her brown eyes. Being blind had its advantages, for he'd never be the first one to break eye contact with a person, even with his ability to "see" by making out heat signatures.

["Done. Access is granted, as always, to the armory below should you require any additional weapons from it."]

Slipping off the stool, Takashi having unlocked the door by this time, Kazuya would begin to head out, only to stop immediately.

["Oh, and Chihiro-san?"]

He would began to say, turning his head slightly to look behind him at her,

["Come back to me like you always do. Have fun."]

He'd then give her a small backwards wave and continue on his way and head out of the bar and home.

[Daruma Doll~]

"私は彼が私の同類に会ったことがないことを自信を持って言うことができます。"

I can say with confidence that he has never met the likes of me. She snickered with amusement. She loved the thrill of the chase, breaking them down until they were putty in her hands. And then when the moment was right...strike. It was something she'd done inherently since her freshman year of high school. Her talent had only grown since then.

She kept Kazuya's gaze even though he couldn't see her directly. She knew he could "see" her, in his own way, and looked and acted as if he wasn't impaired at all. The fact was he wasn't, it made him that much more stronger. Just as many people underestimated Chihiro, they underestimated Kazuya as well. It was, in both cases, a deadly mistake.

Chihiro nodded at the access to weapons. She'd had just about as much access as anyone could have for a couple years since she rose through the ranks. Afterall, why deny your best assassin whatever resources she may need? Chi could provide for herself most of the time, but in the wake of the bombs, it was nice to not have to look sometimes.

"いつも。、あまり和也様私をお見逃しなく。"

Always. Don't miss me too much, Kazuya-sama. She purred, amusement in her voice. It wasn't uncommon for her to tease him or act flirty if they were being informal, it was all in good fun. Chihiro could not and would not commit to anyone, and she knew that his heart would forever belong to a woman long dead. And besides, it was bad form to sleep with your boss. The bartender on the other hand...

"別のラウンド、隆、よろしければ。"

Another round, Takashi, if you please.

[FADE OUT]

[Dillon Kyne]

The rain had been roaring down almost as loudly as the thunder far above, but this was a welcome change of whether for the world. The past two years have been hard on many of the world's populace, unless you had the skills to thrive in such a new and chaotic environment. Dillon Kyne, who had been thriving in Ireland for nearly eight years, had recently decided to make California his new home. It had been over seven years since he had been back to the states, and it was his first time on the west coast. He joked to himself that he was expecting to see botched plastic surgeries and flamboyantly gay man roaming the streets, but two year can sure cause some major changes to a place.

The aftermath could've been far worse, but instead the world was left with hotspots of electrical power and some areas that were more damaged than others. All in all, the "Apocalypse" turned out a lot more chill than he could've ever predicted. In the four months that he'd been in California, he had been able to gather a decent amount of information by intercepting letters that he was supposed to mail directly to their recipient. Doing things normally had never really been his style, and it happened to pay off quite a bit for him in this instance. He had found out about at least four prominent factions that had spread their influence throughout California: The Dragons, The Crows, Deorc Veritas, and The Gods. So, the game was the same as in Ireland, but he was now playing it with different players, and one of them he needed to meet more than the rest.

Kazuya Hikari, a family friend and supposedly either an ally or member of the Dragons, was the man that Dillon had been told to locate by his grandfather. Now, he didn't HAVE to search him out, but Dillon knew that having one friend in this world was far better than having none. So, he had wandered into Dragon territory on the rumor that Kazuya's bar, the Dragon Fang, was actually where he read it was. The darkness and rain made it hard to maneuver through the streets, since most lights were dim at best, but at least this part of the city had lights. It was apparently thanks to one of the Dragons, but that information was something that he hadn't figured out yet, and it wasn't on his list of things to know.

A group of fairly drunk individuals came walking around the corner, bumping or brushing into Dillon as they wandered past, mumbling about how sake was so much better than whiskey. Sake was the only word he picked up from their conversation, and so as he rounded the corner he took the time to search for anything that looked like the Dragon Fang, and sure enough he saw a sign that was quite the welcome sight. Instead of heading straight in, Dillon leaned against a nearby wall, letting the rain fall over his head and down his short, black leather trench coat, as he covered and lit a joint. He needed to calm his nerves before walking into unknown territory, even though he technically already had... Okay, he really just wanted to get stoned, but liars tend to lie to themselves as well, so there.

Taking the time to finish his joint, he'd place the roach in his jacket pocket, air our his trench coat, and slowly wander on over to Kazuya's bar. Normal people may have hung up their wet jacket before sitting down at the bar, but Dillon decided to walk in with his dirty boots and let his coat drip water all over beneath and around him. His bloodshot eyes would look around and see that the bar was fairly empty aside from a bartender, who was now currently making his way from the kitchen to the bar area. Dillon sat patiently, grabbing a straw and spinning it between each of his five fingers at varied paces. The Asian man would grab a glass from behind the bar, place it in front of Dillon, and get ready to ask what drink he wanted.

"And what can I get for you tonight, sir?"

Dillon wouldn't look up at the man, as he was focused on the straw spinning between his fingers. nearly fifteen seconds would pass before the bartender cleared his throat, and Dillon would raise his free hand so as to tell the man to wait a second. He would then flip the straw in the air, watch it spin, and catch it inbetween his fingers to continue the spinning he had been doing.

"Kazuya Hikari..." Dillon would say in a slightly distracted tone. "... Oh, and a bigger glass than that, with your strongest bourbon..." The straw would stop spinning, but only for a second as Dillon took the moment to look at the man. "Please..." And then he'd start spinning the straw again.

The bartender would pull out a glass mug and begin pouring a delicious smelling bourbon into it, looking over at Dillon for a nod on when to stop. Since he didn't receive one, he would simply fill it near the top, and then make his way to the back of the bar, probably to get Kazuya. Dillon would take one look at his drink before reaching over the bar, grabbing a handful of ice, and dropping it inside of the dark liquid. "I always forget the rocks..." Then he'd simply wait for the man that he had come to find in the first place.