First Arc: The Fallen Kings -- Chapter 5 -- (4/??) -- {Kuroshingon}
sdfsdf
-- Shinzuku City, 30th Ward, "Feeding District" (6:20 PM)
" AAAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAAHAHHAAAAA~!" The sounds of slicing and bodies dropping to the floor were the only sounds heard in the darkness the vicinity held. The scene were dark alleyways, dead bodies littered across the pavement. The sound of a weapon being swung back and forth was ear-splitting; but not as terrifying as the cries of despair. Presumably from the victims. "Guts!~ Blood!~ Bones!~ Your very insides make me want to.. to.. AAHAHAHA~!"
Blood and offal spilled everywhere as a feminine looking person sat on a pile of bodies, holding a weapon that was twice the size of them. A finger lifted up, waving it around as the figure spotted a fleeing figure from their wrath.
"Ngh., hah. hah.. nggh.." the prey grunted, a leg missing from his collection of appendages.
"Oh, no, no. We can't have you falling back and ruining the work of art I did with your body!~ That simply will not do!~" a feminine voice called out as they retracted the weapon that bears visage of a scythe as the blade detached from the handle, showing that it was link to a chain. The frail figure hoisted the weapon like a fishing hook as it clung to the fleeing target's lower body, slicing him in half.
The scythe blade was pulled back to the owner, it's steel bloodied; as it seemlessly retracted back into the handle. The owner giggled at the sight of dead bodies before them.
"Juuzou, you overdid it." a male voice from the shadows behind the ruthless killer appeared. The two figures' faces were then revealed as a lamp post shone light on them. The scythe-wielding maniac held jet black hair, bloodshot irises and was wearing torn jeans and a dress short too big for them. The person looked feminine, frail and lanky. It looked impossible for them to carry a weapon as big as that.
The male however, donned messy and long blonde hair, an open dress shirt coupled with a black jacket to top it off. He wore a bandana that covered most of his forehead. The two seemed to know each other, with the serious-looking man being nonchalant to all the murders.
"It looks pretty.~" Juuzou said, his eyes dilating at the sight of blood painted on walls, and guts decorating the alleyways. His male companion just sighed and scratched his head.
"The clean up crew won't be happy about this, Juuzou. You oughta tone it down a notch." he said, shaking his head.
"Don't be so uptight, Badou-kun!~ I'm sure they're used to it!~ Hee-hee!~" Juuzou giggled.
"No one can ever get used to the sight of this." Badou replied, his brows furrowing.
"I can, though!~ It just takes some wishful thinking, ne?~" Juuzou said, giggling as he poked Badou's head.
"Not many people hold mental resilience like you, Juuzou." Badou said.
"Well, that's my secret, Badou-kun~! I have no mental resilience, remember?" Juuzou giggled once more, knocking on her skull. "I have k-kro.. chronic.. skitz.. --Whatever~! I have that condition I can't remember the name oooofff~!"
"Chronic schizophrenia." Badou nonchalantly said.
"That's the thiiing!~ I have that. And every single one of these just looks like annoying flies ruining our food!~ Well, in my head, anyways! Hee hee!~" Juuzou said, pulling the stitches on their lips. "But aren't I right though, these Kuroshingons are dangerous, anyway!~ Parasites that feed off of their own kind!~"
"They're still like us, Juuzou. We're just different in some aspects. They don't deserve unruly deaths like these. One cut is enough." Badou said.
"Oh, Badou-kun, you're so chivalrous!~" Juuzou said as he pinched Badou's cheek. He then sniffed the air as a hint of bloodlust fueled his soul. "Ohh, I smell more of them!!~"
"I'm afraid you'll have to hold that in, Juuzou-kun." A man appeared from the shadows. He wore a bleached trenchcoat, with a vested dress shirt and a necklace that sew it all together. The most noticeable features about him were the bandages around his neck and arms. "As much as it pleases me to see your passion, we must show a little restraint." he said a cool-headed voice, twirling his curly hair.
"Remind me who this girl is again, Takizawa?" A male with auburn hair approached the group in a very sophisticated outfit, clearly not suited for the environment they were in. "Oh, where are my manners, Tanzaku Kamishiro, mademoiselle."
"Nice to meet ya~! Hee hee!~" Juuzou greeted back.
"I apologize for my friend." Takizawa said, bowing gracefully. He then gave the boy a snarky grin. "Juuzou-kun here is a boy, if you didn't know."
"Mm, oui, oui, interesting." Tanzaku said.
"So, what are you trenchcoats doing out here?" Badou said, obviously not impressed. "I thought you were all promoted to Senior Investigator by Ichinose. These are our grounds, hunting down Kuroshingon are our duty."
"You're quite the abrasive type, monsieur." Tanzaku said, chuckling.
"I oughta rip that pansy ass tongue of yours out of your throat. Answer the question." Badou sternly retorted as Tanzaku gave him a sneer.
"We come in peace, Genkeki-san. We do respect your position here in the 30th Ward. I am sure that the officers in the vicinity aren't really accustomed to small talk. Your environment doesn't allow that." Takizawa gracefully said, his falmboyant hand gestures moving into another bow.
"I said, cut the crap and get on with the program." Badou said, still looking unimpressed.
"You see," Takizawa's eyes lit up as if a state leader preparing to address his country. "Reports have been piling that the kuroshingon are becoming more organized in their.. voracious behavior. It's as if their barbaric instinct has somehow become tact, filled with strategic use. And that is a large concern of the masses. We had tried to keep it from leaking, but I'm afraid word catches on in this city."
"Mmhmhm.. I believe our commandant should address this to you." Tanzaku said, as he looked behind him. "You took awhile, didn't you?"
"Sorry, I wasn't aware that you'll be conglomerating with haste. I thought this was my time to unwind. Either way, you're all here." Fumiko said as she dropped from the pipes with a man bearing a blue suit and white coat. "My vice-captain, Ichinose." Fumiko said, raising a hand to gesture her right hand man.
"Hiii, Ichinose-kun!!~" Juuzou said, waving her bloody hand over to the young adult male.
"It's been awhile, Juuzou-kun." Ichinose said, wearing a smile over his face.
"Well, we are waiting for two more people, but I've already addressed them so it's best I address both of you in post." Fumiko said.
"Zenkodokawa-san and Ganryu-dono live in the 1st and 4th Ward, you see. With Fumiko-chan here." Takizawa said.
"Yeah, shut it. Let the woman talk." Badou barked as he gazed at Takizawa who was shrugging at the rude gesture.
"That's no way to talk to the 6th Ward's SCEPTRE chief, Genkeki-kun." Fumiko said, her brows furrowing.
"We don't have a chief in our contingent, missy. Apologies if I don't correlate with your etiquette and all that." Badou said, still looking quite vexed.
"None of that matters now anyway. Badou-kun, I take it you're the resident top dog around this area." Fumiko said.
"If that's how you want to put it. Since SCEPTRE doesn't give a fuck about the 30th Ward's protection, I decided I rouse the remaining men and women who still have the balls to fend for the normal folk." Badou replied, yawning afterwards. "You all forget there are still shiroshingon living in this ward."
"I give you my gratitude, Badou-kun. It isn't easy trying to find new recruits to send to the 30th Ward." Fumiko said.
"If you weren't all so pansy up there in the other wards, you'd send capable men down here." Badou replied.
"You are speaking to the commander in chief of SCEPTRE, you'd best--" Tanzaku retorted, his facial expression clearly angered at Badou's insolence.
"Shut it. I don't wanna hear anymore pansy fucking bullshit spit out of your goddamn pie holes, ya goddamn cowards. I don't care if you're resident chief fuckery of anything. This is my turf, I'm 'chief' in these woods." Badou said, clearly running out of patience. "You pansies ever have to kill a man before?"
"Subdued is the term, Badou-kun. We don't execute our prisoners." Tanzaku retorted back.
"Figures." Badou-kun sighed, still unimpressed by the visitors' guts. "You nancies are all cozied up on your desks, filing reports and making everything into one giant archive. You've never seen what these kuroshingon can do unattended."
"Perhaps you want to tell me that again, monsieur." Tanzaku said, a rapier made from sheer light emitting from his hand. Takizawa glared at both men. His eyes signalled for his companion to restrain himself.
"The little nancy has some balls after all," Badou said, punching his fists together as gauntlets formed from his hands. They were rugged, dented and rusted but it had an ounce of intricate decoration on it. It looked high-class, but was obviously used a lot. "I'll knock those perfect teeth right outta your square jaw."
"Fumiko, is this how you rally the rabble? This is all poorly managed." A voice from behind them called, it was a raspy, manly voice that was emitted. "Let the chief speak, she did come all the way from the 1st Ward to talk to you all, especially with her position so compromised. You didn't bring an entourage with you? Impressive, but utterly foolish of you, commander."
"F-Former Commander Ganryu, I.." Fumiko said, quite startled at his appearance.
"Listen up, lads. We're being called on Byakurai's orders to pacify and investigate on the growing conglomeration of kuroshingon in the 30th Ward. Governor Kashikoi has selected specifically you agents on becoming part of Dragoon. A group dedicated to leading the charge against the kuroshingon in the area. I am going to be part of this and speak upon as a mere advisor. I and 2nd Ward chief, Hitachi Zenkodokawa here." the old man said, looking quite dapper as he gestured to his companion.
"Good evening." the man donning an Arabian-style get up said in a low, baritone voice.
"I'm not so sure about this er.. conglomo-something you're talking about.~ But if it involves killing more of the weird people, count me in!~" Juuzou chimed in, his lanky arms raising in glee.
"Oh, yes. We shall be killing more of these ruthless savages, Juuzou-kun." Takizawa said, sharing the same psychotic grin as Juuzou.
"From this day forth, we are Dragoon." Ganryu announced. "We are dedicated to the investigation of this organized movement. And if necessary.. the extermination of it."
"Hold up, Juuzou and I never agreed to this." Badou retorted.
"I am sorry to inform you, Badou-kun but you are still under oath to SCEPTRE. We are still inclined to ask for your services." Fumiko spoke.
"... Hn." Badou could only express a hint of disapproval.
"I'm perlexed to just ask you this, but what did happen to the 30th Ward chief?" Fumiko continued which caught Badou's attention.
"You idiots assigned a damn kuroshingon." Badou replied, his face looking quite distraught. "I had to kill him myself."
"Yep!~ It was so sad though, Yamori-dono was really nice too!~ It's so heartbreaking to see one of his loyal men kill him that way.~ I've never seen Badou-kun do sloppy work of someone before.~ He was really angry! Yamori-dono's teeth and parts of his face came flying into the rafters!~ One forgiving blow was always his motto.~ But I guess the feeling of treachery takes a hard toll on the ole noggin'~! I wouldn't know.~" Juuzou said, shrugging as he gleefully giggled. "People die everyday, c'mon what's the big deal?~" he shrugged once more. "I'd die someday, and it doesn't bother me.~"
"The entire 30th Ward SCEPTRE force dispersed and returned to their homes. I only have a vigilante group fending the shiroshingons in the area. We're grouped up in a compound somewhere safe. Not every shiroshingon is permitted access to it though, not enough resources. The 30th Ward is the poverty district, but you all know that. Something those Bureau assholes don't tend to very often." Badou said, keeping things on track.
"I'm sorry, Badou-kun." Fumiko said, not knowing what to say for once. She felt like she had no place to give advice.
"Save it, chief." Badou said. "No one wanted this to happen." At this point everyone fell silent. Takizawa could only gaze at the sky and Tanzaku could feel a bit of guilt for taking Badou head on.
"Fine. I'll help. Both Juuzou and I will." Badou said. "I'm Badou Genkeki, de facto 'chief' of the 30th Ward."
"Takizawa Ken, chief of the 6th Ward. A pleasure to meet all of your acquiantances." Takizawa said, bowing to everyone. "I go by Noose. Or you can just call me Zawa-kun."
"Tanzaku Kamishiro, ravie de faire ta connaissance." Tanzaku said, tipping his hat to everyone. "11th Ward chief."
"Zenkodokawa, 2nd Ward chief." Hitachi said briefly, with nothing else to add.
"Ganryu Aragami, former Commander of SCEPTRE." the old man said, inhaling more of his tobacco.
"Juuzou Kakugo!~ I don't really have a fancy title here in the 30th Ward, but I'm excited to share my art with you~!" Juuzou chimed in happily.
--
From above the buildings , masked and robed men and women were looking down at the group. Each donned a special type of mask concealing their identity, but seemingly giving someone a taste of their personality. From under their masks, their scelera was black and soulless. "Shadow.." a female voice said. "It seems our plans have gotten a little harder to carry out."
"..." the man known as Shadow just gazed upon the group. "No matter. We'll devour anything that stands in our way." he turned around, making his leave and disappearing into the shadows. The masked female stayed, however, giving the group a very concerned look before retreating herself.
"....I hope so..."
...her voice lingered