[M] Street Skulls
 

It was morning and Roland was sitting at his favorite table outside of an old run down café in the old Tokyo district which was run by an elderly couple who had been constantly victimized by some random wannabe thugs. He had helped them and got rid of the punks and ever sense then he has always come here for breakfast. The food wasn't bad and the coffee was instant but he enjoyed this morning routine before heading to the precinct.
Roland relaxed in his seat with a cigarette in his mouth, occasionally blowing smoke out from the side of his mouth. Though as time passed and several cigarettes later, Roland decided it was time to head out.
"Thanks for the food and coffee granny. I'll leave the money on the table as usual." And with a final wave, Roland started his walk towards the precinct. He was always told that he could eat at the café for free but he was more comfortable with just paying them.

The precinct was located in the center of the old Tokyo district along side with the Hunter headquarters. Roland never liked the idea of the Hunters. He knew that the law was different in the Old section of the city but the Hunters only made things worse. Even so, Roland never spoke out about these things. It was already obvious to everyone that lived in this district so it wasn't necessary to speak the obvious.

As the taxi rolls up in front of an apartment complex in Old Tokyo, Makoto reaches for her wallet and picks out a few yen for the fare. As the taxi stops, she hands the driver the money. Arigatou Gozaimasu. (Thank You) The driver accepts the money, and opens the trunk. Makoto walks to the back and takes out a large, metal suitcase filled with her equipment, and closes the trunk.

The taxi drives away, and Makoto examines her environment. Damn, what happened to this place while I was abroad? she thinks to herself as she walks into the apartment complex. I should probably head to the Skull Hunters headquarters after I set up shop. Makoto takes out a key from her pocket, unlocks the apartment door, and walks into the room. Examining the room, she lets out a sigh. "This will do...for now."

KYD

Being a Ryuujin was both the best and worst part of...well, being a Ryuujin. The good part was that people didn't bother much about attacking you. At least the smarter ones didn't. The naive idiots were a different issue. Think if they teamed up, they could beat me, mused Kyd, only half-lucid and completely hung over from the night before.

It wasn't his fault there were purple bodies strewn across the streets of Tokyo. Oh no. Not this time. And the binge drinking had only been to commemorate his most recent newbie-offing.

I'll only get this wasted just this one last time, he thought, a promise to himself that even he wasn't sure how many times he'd broken. He was completely vulnerable in this state, or at least the most vulnerable he'd ever be.

Bodies do their job quite well, though, scaring off potential hired guns and more naive idiots. It was common knowledge among the Skulls.

Aaaauuuuuuuugh. Kyd leaned over the edge of his hammock (he'd strung it securely across the stage of an abandoned theater) and spewed last night's dinner over the floor.

...Fabulous. More food for the dogs, I guess. He forced himself up and monkied across the rafters, feet dangling, to the rickety ladder that had been left from decades ago, then gathered the syringes firmly lodged in First Class Seating A13 and slipped out the back door.

Vincent sat smiling head tilted to the side just watching the small animal in the tank try to hide from his view, it was another day with nothing new but just random out and abouts for the gangs. In away being a Ryuujin here was not so bad very different from what he was used to in London but went along with it, nor really caring much on how others feel, maybe her.

Reaching to the tank his long fingers brushed against the back of the lightly colored ball python that laid in one corner of the tank. "You seem bored Aya. . ." muttering to him self some then picked the snake up out of the glass thank letting slither around his finger then just rest and sit. "Hmm. . . I wonder where everyone is today?" he asked finally looking up not seeing any one or even her, the smile faded as a frown grew across his face.

---

Zaki leaned back in his seat, tabbing the table with his finger trying to see what was wrong with the new item that was asked to be made. One bright green looked it over again, for the third time, he was asked to make some kind of skates that could go over shallow pools of water that should have been a cake walk but something was not working in the youths favor. Letting out a groan he headdesk, slowly but surely a headache would soon start form if he can't figure it out soon.

"It possibly be the wiring, that's all fine can it be something else? Arg I can't think, I going to get some food." thinking to him self pushing away from the desk getting up to go and grab a meal to help him get a better idea of what could be wrong with the item he is trying to build.

---

Sitting outside a smiled across her face, legs hung off the bridge where Ashton sat her purple white hair danced in the wind as she sung a song to her self.
Saita no no hana yo
Aa douka oshiete o-kure
Hito wa naze kizutsukeatte
Arasou no deshou (Oh the wildflowers that bloomed
Ah, please tell me
Why do people fight
Hurting one another?)

This was something Ashton did often when alone when no one was around. The melody was something she had heard along with the lyrics but could never tell who had sung the song. But it was a nice day, so thoughts like that would be far from her mind, Watching the world move and people of this city and how they all live.

Still smiling watching people move past one another her eyes lit up seeing someone leave from there holds.

Maki's brows furrowed as she wandered the filthy streets of Old Tokyo. It wasn't a secret that there were people hunting the Skull Gangs, but she was rather sure that some of the newer members of the Flame Skulls had gone missing because of the new 'elite units' that were prowling around. While she also knew that the Flame Skulls were very powerful in battle, their fighting styles also made them rather easy to identify.

She kicked an oil drum that was half-full with trash and sent it flying down the alley she's been walking, the metal making a terrible racket. Some cats scampered away from the noise, and some thugs down the alley ran off when they saw the Flame Ryuujin approaching. "That's right," she muttered darkly to no one in particular, "Run, ya little maggots. I'll see you all burn in the fiery pit of oblivion."

HAYATE

Hayate crouched on the edge of a building, high above the streets and coincidentally above his Ryuujin.

Aww. The cats. He had been feeding them the night before, but no matter the disturbance, he knew they'd always come back. It wasn't the first time he'd fed them.

Not that he had much to spare, he thought as his stomach gave a low rumble. He pulled back sharply. Angry Kitty, Angry Kitty~ he hummed under his breath. Maki clearly wasn't in a good mood, and Hayate made it a point to get out of her range when the Ryuujin's face fell. He wasn't looking for a fight; neither did he quite care about the ranks in the gang. Maki was only a person to watch out for, and perhaps fearing when her temper rose, but nothing more.

Definitely not my boss.

Roland notice several stray cats ran pass him coming out of an alley near him. With a slight confused and worried look on his face he walked to the entrance of the alley way. He grumbled softly as he noticed a figure walking towards him. He scratched the top of his head with uncertainty rising inside his chest. "I feel like I know that person..." He said under his breath.

Roland grumbled and pulled out a new cigarette out from his chest pocket and placed it between his lips. He couldn't help but feel like he should just turn away but he was to determined or maybe just a little too curious if he knew the girl walking towards him.

Roland slipped his hands into his pants pockets and cursed his misfortune as he realized who the girl was, but there was only one way to find out for sure.

"Hey... Are you Maki?"

Makoto opened her suitcase and laid out its contents on the old dining table. She placed her two firearms, several empty cartridges, a box of .45 bullets, and her tactical vest on the table.

I should probably take my handgun and a few clips with me. I'll leave the MP7 and the vest here. I don't want to draw attention to myself. Makoto fluidly filled three cartridges with bullets. She hid two inside her jacket, and loads the last one into her handgun.

Safety's on. Okay, time to head out. Makoto holstered her handgun inside of her jacket, and left the apartment.

The fiery redhead glared at the person who had spoken to her. She was in a foul mood and didn't want to cause a big scene. "I may be, and I may not. It all depends on who's asking the question," she said as she placed a hand on her hip.

She eyed the person up and down, observing his casual dress and fit physique. He certainly wasn't one of the local punks, and he definitely wasn't a Flame Skull. Something about him was setting her on edge, and she started shifting her weight from one foot to the other in a slow rhythm.

Roland sighed and shifted his body slightly so his side was facing Maki. "Maybe I should introduce myself first?" He looked up to the sky with a frown on his face. "I'm not sure if that's a good idea either..."

Roland turned to face Maki again and took his left hand out of his pocket and point at her. "But you are Maki after all right? I mean you do fit the description and all." He lowered his hand and placed it back into his pants pocket.

Makoto walked the streets of Old Tokyo, taking in the environment and its people. She passed an old looking cafe and saw an elderly woman pick up a bill that was left on one of the tables.

Makoto continued to walk down the street, and noticed a man wearing a bandanna talking to a red-haired woman. She also spotted a man observing the two people from one of the rooftops.

Hm...this looks interesting. Makoto leaned against a wall and observed the three people from the other side of the street.

HAYATE

Who is this person...? This man who had walked up to Maki...who was he? He definitely wasn't a Skull recruit...No, he exuded a sort of confidence. He didn't seem to want to run with his tail between his legs like so many recruits did at the oh-so-great Ryuujin.

And then...was that Jubeii? Hayate squinted at another red-clad figure. Two Ryuujin, the skull-bandana person...Things could get messy.

Maybe I should back up a bit. Suddenly, out of the corner of his eye, Hayate noticed a fourth figure at a distance. Were they all meeting here...?

Maki could see and feel the presence of others- a couple other Skulls, and someone else... someone unfamiliar. She pretended to not notice in case things took a turn South.

"Description, ne? What are you, some kinda cop? I don't get along too well with cops," she said as she took her hand off her hip. "Ya see, they're always taking away members of my family, and that makes me upset." She faced him directly and cracked her knuckles. "You're not about to make me upset, are ya?" she said darkly, her fingers tingling with the anticipation of a fight.

Roland sighed heavily and took his left hand out of his pocket again and scratched his head again. A disappointed look upon his face. "Hm... Well I am a cop yes... But I don't know anything about people disappearing." He lowered his hand from his head and pointed at Maki once again with a more pleasant look on his face. "Ah so you are Maki then mhmm." A smile appeared on his face as he placed his hand into his pocket again.

"Yeah, I am. You wanna play, bandanna man?" she asked and began shifting her weight at a slightly quicker pace. The temperature around her rose slightly, giving the area a humid feel from the shallow puddles of muck around the slummed alley. "So, what does mister policeman have in his pocket? A radio? A taser? Perhaps a lighter for that death stick between your lips?" She began to focus her energy on some of the various things in the alley- the oil drum she'd kicked, some cans on the ground, bits of trash- in case she needed something to burn.

Roland pulled out his left hand again and in his hand was a small box of matches. "Its just some matches." The smile on his face was replaced by a frown. Maki was getting rather excited and Roland wasn't very interested in fighting her. "You should calm down... I have no intention of fighting someone so violent... I personally have no attraction to violent women. More so those that could kick my ass." He sighed and shook his head. "Why do you inexperienced youngsters always rush into fights?"

Ashton sitting from where she was blinked watching everyone start to gather outside. This was rather odd and strange for her, it was really odd to see so many people out some of them being with the law and others from other gangs. In away she wanted to get closer to see who the people where some where from the other gangs, knew of who some where the one that she wasn't to sure about was the gentleman who was with the law.

"Oh I kinda wanna see what is happening. ." the though came into mind for a moment. Quickly standing then jumping down to the lower part of the street Ashton landed gracefully made her way over a smile across her face. Moving around ducking in and out of an old building to pop out at the near end of the ally way look around the corner to see what was happening.

---

Once out side, the sun hitting his face Zaki let out something like yawn. "Man oh man, I think I have been indoors way to long." was the though that came across his mind. Now was the time to find something to eat and see what news was going on. OUt of the corner of his eye he could see a all familiar figure and off colored hair. It was Ashton from the Candy Skulls, that was new she would be lurking around that part of the area but Zaki blew it off and went off to head to find something to eat heading into one of near by dinner taking his spot in his normal booth by the back.

She mulled that over for a moment and started to calm down, though still remained cautious. "Hmm, I suppose it's just my volatile temperament. I've always been rather violent. Well, maybe not always, but this place tends to do things to ya."

The temperature returned to normal and she regarded the man carefully. "So then, does that mean you're not here to try to take me down? Seems a bit out of character for a man of the law."

She reached into her own pocket and popped a breath mint into her mouth, chewing it up quickly and swallowing it. "Ya know, you never did give me your name, bandanna man. It seems kinda rude since you know mine," she said with a slight grin.

Roland shook his head and sighed. "I'm not on duty so I'm not going to do anything. Though when I am I don't think I'll be able to just let you go. There is a capture kill order on all skull gang members now. The commander of the hunters and the police chief both signed off on the order a few days ago."

Roland pulled both of his hands out of his pockets and lit his cigarette with a single match and inhaled deeply then exhaled the cloud of smoke. "I my not want to do it but it is my job and the hunters have more pull then I care to admit." He reached up to his chest pocket and pulled out a business card and flicked it towards Maki before turning around to walk away. "I'll be off duty again after 10 o'clock if you wanna talk some more." And with a wave he started to walk away from the alley and towards the precinct.

Makoto closed her eyes and listened to the conversation between the "bandanna man" and the girl named Maki.

So...a police officer and a potential gang member. Wait.

Makoto saw a girl appear in front of the police officer. She blinked a few times, attempting to capture an image of the girl, along with the other people in the area.

"Capture-kill order? Hm...there's too many of them here. I should avoid fighting those people for now. I don't know who my enemies are, and I don't want to get caught off guard either. I'll follow the police officer for now.

Makoto lifted herself off the wall, and began to shadow the police officer.

HAYATE

So...that is a policeman. Hayate watched as the man walked away. And that order...He'd better keep an eye open for police and hunters, now more than ever. But the regulations had never been so strict before...

This guy was pretty lenient, though. The nearby (when had she gotten so close?!) girl didn't seem to be, however. She was yet another person Hayate had never seem before. Was she another police, or...?

KYD

Annoying. This place was annoying, yet comforting at the same time. The trash, the trash-people. He kicked a broken bottle. It hit a nearby fence and made the goddamn loudest and most wonderful clattering ever. The abandoned construction site (abandoned construction site, abandoned buildings, abandoned theater...Why doesn't anyone want to live here?) drew the daredevil teens from the better parts of Tokyo.

Those fucking whiners. Kyd had even heard them complain about falling two or three stories. What do you expect, nano-nets and bungees in a place like this? Most you'd do falling from a fully-equipped-with-all-the-safety-precautions-their-lording-parents-could-think-of-hoverboard was break an arm.

Or two. And maybe whine a bit more. Gives me a decent excuse to walk over and bash their pathetic skulls in.

...Actually, their being on my fucking territory is excuse enough. What, don't they read in their textbooks and all, that this place is mine?

Kyd sauntered down the middle of the road. Hoverboards. Those would be nice little treasures for him to get his hands on.

Makoto stopped following the officer. The officer was preoccupied with the cheerful girl. She also felt like she was being watched by another person.

Makoto slightly turned her head and looked at the rooftops on the other side of the street. That man on the roof seems to notice me. I wouldn't be surprised if the rest of them did too. Makoto played with the safety on her handgun, flicking the safety on and off. I could lead him away from the others and get some first-hand experience with a Skull, or I could get some answers from that officer.

Makoto sighed, and looked directly at the man hanging around the rooftops. She continued to walk forward, and turned into a nearby alley.

As Roland was walking towards the precinct a young girl came running up to him in a very cheerful manner. It was slightly annoying really. To think someone would be so cheerful and so willing to come up to a complete stranger. Though then again this girl was fooling no one. Roland knew she was a skull. Only way a girl her age would be still alive and cheerful in skull territory.

Roland inhaled and the exhaled smoke as he continued to walk. "Is my luck that bad today..?" He grumbled under his breath.

"So tell me something. Why would a young skull come up to a cop willingly?" Roland remarked as they walked together.

Roland shook his head and spit out his cigarette. "I'm not on duty so I'm not going to do anything right now." He studied the girl for a moment and then sighed. "You're a candy skull aren't you?" Roland scratched the top of his head with a disappointed look on his face. "You know... I should tell you before you start with the charm. I'm immune to the things you candy skulls do."

Maki pocketed the card the cop tossed her and grumbled as she continued towards one of her usual spots. She cringed slightly when the cloyingly sweet voice of a Candy Skull rang through the alley not far from where she and the cop had parted ways. "Creepy little sugar-heads" she muttered as she turned a corner, wanting to distance herself from the cluster-fuck of Skulls... and that one strange presence.

Roland waved as the candy skull girl ran off. Though as he was about to start heading towards the precinct again he noticed a large number of raven fly around him. It seemed strange. They didn't behave or act like normal ravens. Suddenly they started to swoop down at him and Roland stood still and watched as a raven passed through him. He scratched his head and sighed. "I swear one of those stray cats had to of been black or something..." He grumbled softly knowing only one person with this kind of ability in the Skull database. He looked up towards the roof tops. "Don't you have anything better to do, Jubeii?"