Ask box is always open. Please don't be shy to dm me and send in requests for fanfics and headcanons or questions about myself and my characters. I will write just about anything. Feel free to talk to me so we can discuss more about your request. This is a blog to post updates and promote my TOONERDZ Doctor Who Non Canon Adventures on Spotify. Post any written works that I have written. Headcanons and back stories on my OC's (I'm currently working on my first and main on tZe now). I also reblog other tumblr creators fan arts and fanfictions to help encourage them to keep going because what they make is fucking amazing. I also post and reblog stuff that I .find important and funny. fandoms that I'm in are Superwholock, creepypasta, and I like just about any anime, I like 80's, classic rock, and alternative music. a True emo at it's finest. pronouns yyare Her/she. I'm 18 and I'm bi.
Movie about a depressed and rather morbid autistic man planning to commit suicide and picking up a number of odd jobs in an effort to raise enough money to meticulously plan and prepay for his funeral so his mother doesn’t have to worry about it after he is gone. He begins to connect with people and enjoy life for the first time while working part time as a greeter in the funeral home, helping an eccentric old lady organize her basement, walking 7 dogs and maintaining a feral cat colony for a guy with a broken foot, playing a number of bit parts in local ads and stocking the shelves at the convenience store at night. In the end, he has befriended many of his neighbors and he decides he does not want to die and goes back to school to become a funeral director instead.
He is popular at his funeral home gig because he keeps accidentally saying things that are very reassuring and death positive. Because he wants to die. He eventually donates his funeral fund to the old lady’s granddaughter after her sudden death so she does not have to sell her grandmother’s prized possessions to pay for her funeral.
The old lady gifts him one of her ceramic cats at the beginning of the film which he reluctantly accepts out of politeness. Near the end of the film, he adopts a friendly cat from the cat colony that looks remarkably like the ceramic cat and names it after her, signaling his commitment to surviving and caring for his cat the way the old woman lived for her ceramic collection.
Okay. I was on my beloved AO3 and I saw something that made me do a double take. So, now I really want to know…
What is your AO3 user ID?
I’m an OG user 5 digits or less
Six figures baby!
I’m in the millions…
Remaining time: 1 day 16 hours
I’m so curious to see how long people have been on AO3! I know some people have been on there since beta/invite only, but I would love to see what the number is on tumblr!
Summary: baby Asuka is left to her own devices once again and who does she run into? Why none other than the mad dog of Shimano himself. After a series of misadventures the only thing they got out of it was the deepening of their bond and the knowledge that they got each other's backs.
Majima heaved a sigh as he sauntered down the streets of Kamurocho on the hunt for something to do, when he stopped dead in his tracks as his lone eye caught the sight of a familiar figure that he thought he wouldn’t see again.
“No fuckin’ way,” Majima thought to himself as he got closer to the park.
The little girl, Asuka, had just moved to Kamurocho a few months back and was already causing trouble. An older boy, about 8-9, was bullying some younger kid to get off the swing, with his little group supporting him. Asuka, being Asuka, saw and decided to do what she thought was right and take matters into her own hands. Started by confronting him to leave, then it escalated into what was happening now. The girl straddled him with righteous hellfire flaring in her eyes, and continued to wail on him as he was begging and crying for her to stop.
There was a crowd of kids circling them. Some were horrified, some were cheering her on. The adults walked by, either too wrapped up in their own lives or looking the other way, deciding it wasn't their kids, not their problem. Majima joined the group and couldn’t help but gasp in disbelief. It was the youngest spiderlily his goons kidnapped a while back. Asuka was it? What was she doing here? He thought she was still in Sotenbori, and a wave of familiarity and concern washed over him.
“NOW SAY YER SORRY LIKE YA MEAN IT!” Asuka continued to wail on him with each word like a battle cry.
“I-I’m s-sorry! hic Please! L-let me go! hic” cried the boy as he tried to block her onslaught of attacks and failed miserably.
“That’s what I thought!” sneered Asuka as she got off the boy, breathing heavily, and the boy rolled over and scrambled to get up.
“Let’s get out of here!” gestured the boy to his friends as they all nodded and booked it, completely ignoring the only adult amongst them.
“YEAH YA BETTER RUN!” Asuka yelled after them.
Majima couldn’t help but smirk at the feral, rough-and-tumble stray. It’s good to know she’s still kicking around.
Asuka straightened herself and brushed the dirt and dust from her with her sleeves, smearing more across her face before she looked up and made eye contact with the familiar stranger in front of her.
“Funny eye patch, man?! What are ya doin’ here?!” Asuka’s entire face lit up, and her eyes widened in excitement as she saw the man she thought she would never see again.
“I was ‘bout ta ask ya the same thing!” Majima retorted, stunned.
“I live here now!”
“Haw? Since when?”
“Four months ago, actually! Shortly after ya kidnapped me!”
“Haw, what are the odds? Say, where are yer parents? This city is more dangerous than Lil Sotenbori.”
“The usual. I was helping out at this lady’s store. She usually watches me while Mom is at work, but she got tired of me running out her customers, so she sent me to the park to play,” the young girl explained, rocking back and forth on her feet.
“Yer still causin’ trouble at storefronts?” Majima quirked an eyebrow, his voice a mix of disappointment with a hint of fond amusement. Some things don’t seem to change.
Asuka narrowed her eyes and crossed her arms,” It’s not my fault; grown-ups don’t know how to be nice and not rude. As mom always says, if ya can’t be nice in public ya don’t get to go out.”
“And the park?”
'That kid was bullying a younger kid! I couldn’t just do nothing while I was here! That’s cowardice. I was doin’ the right thing!' Asuka declared, her voice fierce with conviction, revealing her strong sense of justice.
“The right thing, huh?” Majima thought to himself. He had a similar conversation with Kiryu a year back. Of course, he admired how both of these people have the drive to stand up for themselves and others, regardless of anyone else, but it’s time to tell the young girl what he told Kiryu, albeit in much simpler terms.
“Kid,” Majima knelt to Asuka’s level, “If ya keep doin’ this, causing fights and trouble, yer gonna get more enemies than friends. This ain’t Sotenbori, it’s specially not safe fer a lil stray like yerself ta be out and ‘bout on these streets. Ya keep doin’ what’s right, ya gonna get more trouble than it's worth. Ya understand?” he stood back up.
Asuka balled her fists up to her sides.
“So I’m supposed to be like everyone else and do nothin’. Is that it?” Asuka challenged.
“Naw, that’s-” Majima tried to back track.
“Well, tough. Because I’m gonna do what I think his right, no matter what you and/or anyone else says! That’s the only thing I will follow! If no one else will stand up to injustice, then I will! Ya can either suck it up or get out of my way!” Asuka snubbed her nose at him as she stood taller and stomped her foot to stand her ground.
Asuka’s declaration took Majima aback. What is it with these people and morals? Most kids her age are taught by their parents and teachers what’s right and wrong. Yet Asuka already had a strong sense of her own moral compass. His eye met Asuka’s defiant glare, almost daring him to challenge her.
Majima cackled as he dropped his bat and put his hands on his knees. He knew there was a reason why this kid was special. Asuka slowly deflated, and her defiance gave way to confusion. Did she say something funny? All she did was be honest about her beliefs.
It’s been a while since he’s been around anyone honest.
“I like yer guts, kid!”
“Yeah, well, there's more of where that came from.” Asuka wasn’t sure what to say.
That earned another laugh from Majima.
“Ah, ya better stick with me so I can keep an eye on ya.”
“I can take care of myself, ya know!”
Majima shrugged. “Suit yerself.” The older man waved behind him as he began walking away.
Asuka just stared at him. She felt bad for pushing him away. She didn’t know why she kept doing that. She didn’t have any friends as it is, and whether she wanted to admit it or not, she was so incredibly lonely.
Asuka balled her fists in determination and ran to catch up to the man. Majima turned around and raised an eyebrow at the child,
“Ya change yer mind?”
Asuka shrugged nonchalantly, “I’m bored and have nothin’ else to do.” She didn’t want to give him the satisfaction.
Majima shook his head. “C’mon, let’s get ya cleaned up first.”
The duo stopped at another park, and Majima knelt to dab at Asuka’s arms and face with some wet tissues to clean up the dirt and scrapes she got from wrestling the boy down. They also stopped at a convenience store to get some Band-Aids, much to Asuka’s dismay. ‘Tis a scratch,’ she would say, but Majima ignored her and put a couple of Band-Aids on her arms and one on her cheek.
“Now that that’s settled, what d’ya wanna do?”
“I dunno. I haven’t had the chance to explore and see for myself,” Asuka shrugged. “Mom has been too tired and busy, so I just stay at home, school, or the shop.”
Majima’s eye widened in disbelief and amusement. First time truly outside, and already she’s causing trouble. He prays she will mellow out as a teenager.
“Well, ya like ta play ball?”
Asuka nodded eagerly.
“Mhm! My stepdad taught me how to throw and catch, and he said he would teach me how to hit before…well…” Asuka got quieter as she trailed off, and Majima could see the flash of sadness in her eyes.
“Well, how ‘bout I teach ya? That way ya can impress him with yer skills!” Majima tried to cheer her up
“Really, ya will?!” Asuka bounced up and down with excitement, hope evident in her voice.
“Ya got it! I know the best batting cages in all of Kamurocho!” Majima led the way with the little Asuka trailing behind.
The little girl’s eyes widened at her surroundings, and she tried her best to follow where the noises were coming from.
“Now watch and learn.” Commanded Majima. Asuka copied his stance and practiced her swings as he hit the balls a few times.
“Yer turn,” Majima walked back to the bench, and Asuka tried to copy what she saw. The way she was holding the bat was a little awkward for her, and she missed.
“Okay, here,” Majima helped her adjust her stance so she had equal weight on both sides and her grip on the bat so she could follow through smoothly.
“Try again.”
Asuka wasn’t used to the speed at which the baseballs were going; she’d either flinch or close her eyes tightly and miss the swing.
Majima frowned. He noticed how Asuka flinched at every oncoming impact, almost like she was expecting to be hit. This rubbed him the wrong way. This wasn’t the Asuka he saw in the office or at the park. Was she always like this? As much as he wanted to do his own investigating, he didn’t really know her all that well, and it wasn’t his place to pry.
“Asuka-Chan, if ya don’t face them head-on, you’ll never make it.” Was he talking about hitting the ball? Or was he giving her advice about whatever was bothering her in her home life? Nobody can say for sure.
“Deep breath. Yer the one in control. Focus and keep yer eye on the ball.”
Asuka looked back at him and nodded. The little girl took a deep breath, adjusted her stance and grip on the bat, and turned her head slightly to the left so she could better focus on the ball.
The ball shot out like a cannon, and Asuka swung with all her might and heard the loud crack of the bat meeting the ball. The ball flew into the home run sign. Asuka gasped, dropped the bat, and turned to Majima.
“Didja see that?! Didja see what I did!” Asuka pointed out where the direction of the ball went and jumped up and down excitedly, sending her long black strands everywhere, hoping Majima would be proud of her.
“ A never-before-seen miracle on the field! Rookie player A-chan scores her first home run during her debut as the greatest baseball player in the world!” Majima did his best impression of his announcer voice.
“And the crowd goes wild!” Both Majima and Asuka said as they mimicked the imaginary crowd's cheer.
Majima was happy to pay for another hour at the cages just to see Asuka’s boost in confidence. She was getting better at hitting the ball more consistently.
As the two were returning the equipment to the counter, Asuka’s stomach let out a large growl. Majima turned around, surprised at the loud noises the girl’s stomach was making. She held her stomach in embarrassment.
“Excuse me,” Asuka gave a sheepish look.
“Ya hungry?”
“I- yeah…Haven’t eaten yet.”
“Well, what are ya in the mood for?”
“Dunno, I was hoping we could walk around to see what sounds good.”
“Fair enough.”
Majima and Asuka walked around again. She was talking about school, about how much harder it is compared to Sotenbori, about how much meaner the kids are there, and her countless troubles every time she stands up to them. To her favorite TV shows, something about Chibi Maruko-chan, Crayon Shin-Chan, Doraemon, and an older movie called Sailor Suit and Machine Gun. Which, according to Asuka, was pure cinema. As Asuka was explaining the plot and details, Majima tried to hide his concern. He understood the first three shows, as they seemed more appropriate for Asuka’s age, but that movie. He couldn’t understand why her mother would let her watch that, even though he didn’t have room to judge, since his parents were the same way, from what little he remembers of them. She explained that it's because her grandparents only had a few movies lying around when she visited in the summer, and it's the only one she likes that keeps her still and out of her grandparents' way. Okay, that makes sense, kind of.
Asuka stopped in her tracks at a seedy-looking pub restaurant that Majima painfully knew all too well what it was like late at night. Thankfully, it was mid-afternoon.
“Don’t tell me ya wanna go in there,” Majima eyed her like ‘Don’t you dare.’
“Why not? Mom takes me in there sometimes when we can afford it,” Asuka argued back.
To be fair, Majima didn’t trust her mother’s judgment all that much from what little Asuka said. But before he could retort, Asuka walked ahead towards the entrance, and Majima grumbled as he followed behind.
The pub had booths and stools, an obvious bar counter, and a pool table smack in the middle. The atmosphere itself was casual, lit by a dim, warm glow. Much different from the atmosphere late at night.
“haw, never seen this place with the lights on ‘fore,” Majima mused out loud, more to himself.
Asuka gave him a quizzical look before Majima shook his head.
“Never mind 'bout it.”
The Hostess came over to greet them.
“Hello, and welcome. What can I do for you?”
“Table for two, please,” Asuka piped up.
The Hostess looked between the two, clearly trying to figure out the relation between them since they looked nothing alike and seemed a bit uncomfortable, but forced a smile that didn’t go unnoticed by Majima.
“Right this way,” the hostess led them to a booth seat, set the menus down, poured them water, and left them to their own devices for a bit.
Asuka noticed a couple of people giving them dirty glares. The girl couldn’t understand why, as far as anyone should be concerned, they were two people at lunch. A babysitter and his charge for the day. Asuka gave the other adults that said, ‘Is there a problem? Mind your business!’ and her look must have worked because the other patrons quickly went back to their own lives. The fierce little girl was satisfied and began to look over the menu.
“Anythin’ soundin’ good ta ya?” Majima inquired as he was looking over the menu himself
“Hmmm,” Asuka mused out loud, more to herself. A lot of things sounded good to her, especially her favorite thing on here; the pork katsu. It was delicious, but there was a reason she and her mother rarely came here.
She didn't want to use him for his money.
He glanced at the price of the pork katsu she was eyeing. He knew that look. It was the look of a kid who was used to counting coins, making sure every yen was stretched just a little bit further. It made him want to buy the whole damn kitchen just to see her eat her fill.
But he wasn't going to coddle her. A pup needed to learn the value of things, but a Mad Dog also knew when to provide.
"Pork katsu, haw?" he said, leaning forward and nudging the menu toward her with a wink. He didn't make a big deal out of the price; he just acted like it was the most natural thing in the world.
"It's uh actually my favorite food. I make it sometimes when we have the money to afford meat. It's delicious to me," She said sheepishly, like she was caught looking at something she wasn't supposed to.
"Don't ya go squintin' at the numbers like they're gonna bite ya.”
He closed his menu with a decisive snap and looked up at the hostess as she passed by again.
"Hey! Miss!" he called out, his voice bright and commanding, but not rude. He gave her a charming, lopsided grin that usually worked on just about everyone.
"We'll take the pork katsu fer the lil lady here an’ make it a double portion! An’ fer me, gimme the heaviest, meatiest set ya got on the menu. An’ some gyoza on the side for the Pup to share!"
Asuka looked at him, shocked after he commanded the waitress like that. Like why would he do that?! She was used to growing up poor and making every yen count or scamming on the side to swindle some money from salarymen by looking adorable and helpless. She didn't want him to spend too much money on her when he probably didn't have it.
He turned back to Asuka, his eye dancing with mischief.
"You didn't have to do that.. I'm perfectly fine with whatever food I get. I'm not a picky eater..." Asuka trailed off as she looked down.
"Eat up, Scout. Yer gonna need the energy if we're gonna tackle those arcade machines later. Ya can't fight off a crowd of punks on an empty stomach!"
"So," he said, trying to lighten the mood as he watched the waitress head toward their table, tell me, kid. Since ya 'bored' and all... what's a little spitfire like you doin' in a place like this? Sotenbori's got color, but Kamurocho... it's just neon and concrete. It's a lot o’ noise fer someone who's gotta keep their ears open all the time."
She hesitated for a moment at his question, taking a bite to bide her time. Truthfully, she didn't know what happened exactly, but he was a friend in her books, and she would do her best to answer.
"My mom and I moved here about four months back and a couple of weeks after I met you" she said between bites "The door to my aunts and uncles house was wide open which was weird because I'm usually locked out until my mom comes home really late at night from work and I have to hide in the crevice of the front porch to hide from the weirdos." She spoke like this was normal. Which it was for her. She has no other frame of reference.
"Anyways. The house looked ransacked, and my aunt and uncle were nowhere to be found. And my mom came home early for once and immediately took us away for a girls' week, as she called it. We bounced from motel to motel until my mom found an apartment here!"
Her aunt and uncle sold drugs to prominent people and other yakuza, but Asuka didn't know that because they didn't expose her to that, thank god. That's why she was constantly locked out of the house from dawn to dusk and found the spider lilies to be their guard dog, bait, and distraction in exchange for being taken care of for the day. Her aunt and uncle were scamming people, so the yakuza came after them. Her mother got Asuka out of there. The only good thing her mother has done. But she didn't know any of this. At least not fully.
Majima listened, his usual manic grin slowly fading into a thin, hard line. He was a man who lived in the world of shadows, a man who knew exactly what 'ransacked houses' and 'disappearing relatives' meant in the context of the Yakuza underworld. He knew the scent of a botched scam and the stench of a debt being collected in blood.
The way she spoke about hiding in porch crevices and being locked out like a stray dog... it tugged at a part of him he usually kept buried under layers of madness and bravado. It was a loneliness he recognized as the kind of survivalist instinct that turned children into little soldiers before they even knew how to tie their own shoes.
She saw his expression and looked concerned. Did she say something wrong?
"It's not so bad!" She quickly tried to reassure him. "If I'm not at school, I'm usually in the apartment until Mom comes home and watching Sailor Suit and machine gun on repeat. It's my favorite movie of all time and is pure cinema. Or miss. Hamasaki-san would have me help out in her shop and feed me until my mom comes home from work. This is the first time I've been out and about by myself here," she shrugged and took a few bites.
"The only thing is that I miss my friends and miss Ms. Mizuki. But I am a spiderlily through and through. Keeping my ears open was part of my job!”
When she mentioned being a 'Spiderlily through and through,' his eye flickered with a dark sort of pride. So, she hadn't just survived the move; she was still carrying the spirit of the gang that had once caused him so much headache.
Heh. That's what I thought.
Asuka didn't seem bothered. At least not outright, but it helped that she didn't understand just yet. Majima prayed that he could keep it that way for as long as he could. But as long as her mother avoided getting involved with the yakuza and as long as Majima didn't accidentally drag Asuka into yakuza bs, they should be good.
They were careful like that.
The little girl beamed in pride as he acknowledged her criminal beginnings. Asuka was a fighter and a survivor.
“I knew I made the right choice to call you my friend!”
And that took Majima aback. He looked down and gave a sad smile and a shake of his head.
"I’m not the kinda person folks should trust.” He chuckles softly and adjusts his lapel. For a split second, it bares a hint more of his tattoos and the barely visible scar tissue wrapped up in it.
“Frankly, trustin’ me even a lil’ s’probably a shit decision, but hey, it’s yers to make. And I hafta admit, I’d be happy if ya did. So here’s my way of provin’ all that. Take it or leave it.”
Asuka paused mid-bite for a minute. Well, this came from nowhere. Was he trying to warn her? Asuka tilted her head at him.
"Why wouldn't I? You feed me good food. Bad people don't feed me. You listen and respect what I say. You don't hit me or make me feel bad. You're already like 10 times better than most grown-ups I know"
She leaned in. Her wide childlike eyes were fierce with conviction.
"Besides, I'll always got your back no matter what." She held up her arm on the table like an arm wrestle for him to grab.
Majima froze. For the first time in decades, the legendary 'Mad Dog of Shimano' was actually speechless. He had faced down entire syndicates, survived brutal betrayals, and stared death in the face more times than he could count, but the pure, unadulterated logic of a seven-year-old girl hit him harder than a heavyweight's uppercut.
He looked down at her small arm, held out in a challenge, and then back up at those wide, fierce eyes. She wasn't being 'polite.' She wasn't being 'sweet.' She was making a contract. A pact of blood and loyalty, forged over a plate of pork katsu
A slow, lopsided grin spread across his face, but it wasn't his usual manic, theatrical grin. It was something deeper, something almost... vulnerable. He let out a short, huffed laugh, shaking his head as he reached out. Instead of a proper arm wrestling grip, he wrapped his large, gloved hand around her forearm in a firm, grounding squeeze.
“Fair ‘nough kid. Now hurry up an’ finish that food I ain't got all day!”
As they stepped out of the shop and into the bustling afternoon light of Kamurocho, the energy of the city felt different. This was the frantic, loud, sun-drenched chaos of the daytime. People were everywhere, salarymen rushing to meetings, tourists gawking at the buildings, and street vendors shouting their wares.
Asuka looked around at her surroundings in wide-eyed wonder. She seemed to thrive in the chaos, loudness, and brightness of the city. It was a different pace for sure, but if there was anything the child was good at, it was rolling with the punches and adapting.
Majima slowed his pace, matching her excited trot. He looked down at her, his expression shifting from manic to something a little more observant.
"Awright, listen up, Scout," he said, his tone adopting that mock-serious, 'mission briefing'
She stood up straighter and listened intently, taking this seriously.
He gestured toward the sprawling streets ahead. "Our mission is simple: reconnaissance. We're gonna walk the main drags, check out the arcade, an’ see if there's any fresh trouble bubblin' up in the alleys. But remember ya gotta be invisible. A good scout sees everythin’, but don’t let anyone see 'em. If someone looks like they're lookin' fer a fight, ya give me the signal. A nod, a whistle, or..." he grinned,"...a lil’ bite to the ankle if things get really hairy!"
"See and stay hidden. Got it," she nodded. "I can't whistle, and you won't always see my nod, but I can give you a tug on your jacket," she thought.
He looked down at her, his expression turning a bit more focused as he considered her 'signal' idea.
"A tug on the jacket, haw? Simple. Effective. Hard ta mess up," he nodded approvingly.
"And it's a good idea. If we're in a crowd, a loud whistle might draw too much attention to us, but a lil tug... that's the way o’ the shadows. Very professional."
Asuka puffed up with pride at his praise.
“A spiderlily is always a professional. A spiderlily who can't do that much isn't worth her salt!” She declared.
The playful air remained, but there was a sharpness in his gaze as he began to scan the street ahead. He was no longer just a man walking with a child; he was a predator moving through his territory, and he was making sure his 'scout' was positioned perfectly.
He gestured toward the neon-lit entrance of the arcade, where the sounds of electronic music and clacking buttons drifted out into the street.
"The arcade's lookin' pretty lively today. Lots o’ loud mouths and flashy types. Perfect fer practice. We'll head in there, keep our ears peeled for any chatter bout local trouble, and maybe... just maybe... if we find someone particularly obnoxious, you can show me that spiderlily technique.
He started walking toward the arcade, but he kept his pace slow, allowing her to walk beside him. He was enjoying this strange, lopsided partnership. In the high-stakes, often lonely world of the Yakuza, having a tiny, fierce, feral alleycat by his side was a hell of a lot more interesting than most of his usual business meetings.
"Ready ta go in? Or do we need to do one more sweep of the-”
For once, no one was looking at her like a problem or actively trying to hurt her. Asuka bounced excitedly at the entrance of the arcade; she'd never been in one of these before. Before he even finished his sentence, she ran right in.
Majima's eyes widened as the "Spiderlily" lived up to her name, darting into the arcade like a tiny, determined projectile. He let out a short, startled bark of a laugh, shaking his head.
"Whoa! Slow down there, ya lil whirlwind! The machines ain't gonna run away!"
He followed her in, stepping through the heavy doors and immediately being hit by a sensory explosion. The air was thick with the scent of ozone and heated electronics, the floor vibrated with the heavy bass of rhythm games, and the cacophony of jingles, shouting, and clacking buttons was enough to make a lesser man's head spin. For a man like Majima, it was home, but for a seven-year-old, it was a whole new universe.
Asuka was torn between spending all of her money at every one of the arcade games, and, you know, actually doing the mission.
"You know I've never been in an arcade ‘fore. I saw a couple of games I wanna try."
He stood just a few paces behind her, acting as a buffer between her small frame and the sea of tall, sweaty teenagers and distracted salarymen. He kept his hands in his pockets, his gaze sweeping the room not just for trouble, but to see how she'd react to the madness. He wanted to see if the 'scout' would be distracted by the lights or if she'd keep her eyes peeled.
She walked around a little. She eyed the ski ball machines and a button-pushing game cabinet and eyed the grand prize of a stuffed animal leopard in one of the claw machines. She also noticed the group of older boys being nuisances and a group of flashy men standing outside the doors.
"Keep yer wits about ya, Scout!" he called out over the din, his voice cutting through the noise with practiced ease.
"This place is a jungle! Watch out fer the loud ones; they're usually the most dangerous!"
He watched her eyes dart around, taking in the flashing lights of the crane games, the roaring crowds at the fighting game cabinets, and the dizzying neon colors. He saw the way she stood, not shrinking back, but leaning into the chaos, her eyes wide and hungry for the new information.
He leaned against a nearby pillar, a smirk playing on his lips. He noticed a group of older boys near a racing game, laughing loudly and shoving each other a bit too roughly. One of them nearly tripped over a passerby, causing a minor commotion. Majima's eye flickered to Asuka, curious to see if she'd notice the 'unruly' behavior or if she'd be too mesmerized by a claw machine trying to grab a stuffed animal.
"Find anythin’ interesting yet?" he asked, his tone low so he wouldn't lose her in the noise.
"Or are we still in the 'observation' phase of the mission?”
Asuka ran back to him. Sticking to his side like glue. She leaned in, lowering her voice to a conspiratorial whisper.
"The boys are bein’ annoyin’ but not exactly hurtin’ anybody. I'll keep an eye on them, but," she tugged on his jacket twice and pointed through the window at the small group of flashy men outside.
Majima's entire demeanor shifted the instant she tugged on his jacket. The playful, lopsided grin didn't disappear, but it sharpened. His eyes, which had been scanning the room with a casual curiosity, snapped toward the window, following the line of her small finger. He didn't move immediately; he let his gaze settle on the men outside, dissecting them in a heartbeat the way they stood, the way they carried themselves, the subtle tension in their shoulders.
"Flashy, haw?" he murmured, his voice dropping into a low, dangerous register that was a far cry from the loud man who had been laughing over food just minutes ago. He leaned down slightly so he was closer to her ear, though his eyes never left the targets.
"Good catch, Scout. Real good. Most people wouldn't even notice 'em through the glass, but ya... ya got that instinct. Ya see the shadows even when the lights are bright."
"I was a lookout for the spiderlillies for two years. I hope I'm able to!" She laughed.
Her wide eyes were calculating, seeing if she could take them on or at least make them run. She then glanced at the boys. She recognized a few of them from school, but they weren't causing trouble yet. Much to her dismay
He took a slow, deliberate look at the boys near the racing games, then back to the men outside. He could tell the difference between a bunch of rowdy kids and the kind of men who made a living causing problems in the streets of Kamurocho. These men outside didn't look like they were here for the games.
"The boys can wait," he said, his tone turning back to a conspiratorial whisper, though the edge remained. He reached into his pocket and pulled out a few more yen, pressing them into her hand with a subtle movement.
"If yer gonna be a scout, ya gotta stay sharp. Keep an eye on those nuisances, but don't let 'em distract ya. As fer those guys outside..."
He straightened up, a predatory glint in his eye. He wasn't scared; he was intrigued. This was exactly what the mission was for.
"They look like they're lookin' fer a fight, or maybe they're just lookin' fer someone ta pick on. Either way, they're clutterin' up the scenery."
He gave her a quick, encouraging wink.
"Tell ya what. We'll keep an eye on 'em from here. If they decide to come in and start makin' a mess, we'll handle it. But if they're just loiterin'... well, maybe we'll go out there and give 'em a little 'greetin' ta let 'em know this territory is already spoken fer."
She gave a feral and vicious grin at the mention of a fight. She felt that familiar chaotic destructive energy that seemed to course through her about every day.
He nudged her shoulder playfully.
"But first... since ya been such a damn good scout awready..." He gestured toward the claw machine she had been eyeing
"How 'bout we see if we can't secure that leopard? A scout needs a trophy to show fer her hard work, don't she? Consider it a bonus for a successful reconnaissance!"
He started walking toward the claw machine, but his eyes kept darting back to the window, his body poised like a coiled spring, ready to move the moment the 'flashy men' made their move.
The thought of getting that leopard distracted her enough as she ran to the claw machine. Asuka inserted the yen and began her attempt.
Majima stood just behind her, his arms crossed over his chest, watching her with a look of intense, mock seriousness. He wasn't looking at the machine; he was looking at her, watching the way her small hands moved, the way her brow furrowed in concentration. He found the contrast hilarious: one moment she was a feral predator ready to tear into a man's kneecaps, and the next, she was a little girl completely possessed by the mission of capturing a stuffed leopard.
"That's the spirit!" he cheered in a low voice, so as not to draw the attention of the suspicious men outside just yet.
"Focus, Scout! Aim fer the center o’ gravity! Don't let that claw fool ya; it's a fickle beast, just like a Yakuza!"
He watched her first attempt. The claw descended, wobbled, and then retreated with nothing but a pathetic, empty grab. He let out a soft, encouraging chuckle.
"Ah, a classic amateur mistake! It's all in the wrist, kid! Ya gotta time it with the rhythm of the machine. It's like a street fight; ya don't just swing; you gotta wait for the openin’!"
As she tried again, his gaze drifted back to the window. The men outside were shifting. One of them, a guy with a particularly loud patterned shirt and a heavy gold chain, was leaning against the glass, his eyes scanning the arcade with a bored, predatory look. He looked like the kind of man who didn't like being ignored.
Asuka listened intently. Trying to put the lessons to use. She almost got it on the third try. She punched the machine in frustration and glared at the man through the window 'I dare you to try me.'
Majima's hand drifted toward the pocket where he usually kept his more... 'Unpredictable' tools, but he kept his posture relaxed. He didn't want to spook her or ruin her moment of triumph. He wanted to see if she could handle the tension of the 'scout' role, balancing the fun of the prize with the reality of the threat.
"Keep at it, Asuka!" he encouraged, his voice a mix of warmth and a subtle, warning edge as he felt the atmosphere in the room shift.
"Don't let 'em distract ya. The leopard's almost yers... but keep one eye on the perimeter, just in case the 'trash' decides ta come inside an’ collect itself!"
She didn't know or quite understand that he was training her the ways of the yakuza or, at the very least, training her how to take better care of herself on the streets, since Majima had a feeling that she'd be spending more and more time on them as she grew up and he couldn't be there always. Since her mother wasn't raising her, he supposed he'd at least try.
He leaned in a little closer, his single eye fixed on the claw machine, but his ears were tuned to the sound of the heavy arcade doors. He was ready to spring the second that flashy guy in the gold chain decided to step inside.
As soon as the man walked in, the claw machine beeped in victory as she pulled the stuffed animal from the prize slot.
"I did it! I did it!" She squealed as she jumped up and down excitedly, holding the leopard to her chest before standing up taller, crossing her arms and glaring at the man who walked in, although it's hard to look menacing when you're small, baby-faced, and holding a stuffed animal in her hand.
Majima couldn't help it; a loud, boisterous laugh escaped him, drawing several stares from the nearby gamers. He didn't care. He reached out and gave her a high five that was a little more enthusiastic than a normal person's, his grin wider than ever.
"Hah! Victory! The Scout has secured the asset!" he cheered, his voice ringing with genuine pride. He watched her clutch that leopard like it was a hard-won trophy from a battlefield. It was a perfect moment, the pure, unadulterated joy of a child clashing with the sudden, heavy presence of the man who had just walked through the door.
Asuka gave him the hardest high five she could muster, which stung both of their hands.
Majima practically vibrated with glee. That high five stung, but he’d taken worse from much larger men, and the sharp, stinging sensation only made him laugh harder. He looked down at Asuka, his eye practically sparkling with manic delight. That was it! That was the spirit!
The man in the gold chain was tall, smelling of cheap cologne and cigarettes, and he was looking around the arcade with a sneer, clearly looking for someone to intimidate. When his eyes landed on the small, fierce girl standing her ground, he paused, a look of confused amusement crossing his face. He started to let out a condescending chuckle, clearly about to comment, 'the brat and her toy.'
Asuka stood with an attitude, smirking smugly and jutting her hip out. Daring him to try something. The man wanted nothing more than to slap that arrogant, smug look off her face.
But the chuckle died in his throat because Majima had stepped up. Not in front of her, but just slightly to her side, his shadow falling over her small frame. He didn't pull a weapon; he didn't even raise his voice. He just stood there, hands in his pockets, his single eye fixed on the man with a gaze so cold and sharp it could have sliced through the arcade's neon lights. The air around them seemed to drop ten degrees.
"Somethin’ funny, pal?" Majima asked. His voice was quiet, almost conversational, but it had that terrifying, low rumble that usually preceded a brawl. He didn't even look at the man fully; he kept his attention partially on Asuka, as if the man was nothing more than a minor distraction to her triumph.
"You lookin' at the kid's leopard? Or ya just lost without a map?"
"Unless he's piss poor at games and has to steal someone else's toy," she bit back.
"AHAHAHA! Did ya hear that?!" he roared, his voice echoing off the ceiling of the arcade, drawing even more eyes. He looked at the man in the gold chain, who was now turning a deep, embarrassed shade of red.
"She called ya out, pal! An’ she ain't wrong! Ya lookin' a lil 'piss poor' to me!"
The man blinked, his bravado wavering as he realized who, or rather, what was standing next to the girl. The 'Mad Dog' wasn't a name people forgot easily, even in the daylight.
"Aww, is the big bad man scared?" She cried-mocked him.
The man’s face twisted. He wasn't used to being mocked by a child, especially not a child who was being backed up by a man who looked like he could dismantle him in three seconds flat. He stepped forward, his hand curling into a fist, his chest puffed out as he tried to reclaim his dignity.
"Listen here, you little brat!" the man started, his voice a low, threatening growl. He loomed over Asuka, trying to use his height to intimidate her. Asuka stood taller, stomping her foot as she looked up with a hateful, defiant glare. She wasn't backing down about to kick him in the shins, knees, and ankles. And Majima's support made her more confident.
"You think just 'cause you got some loudmouth in a suit behind ya, you can talk to me like- "
He never finished the sentence. Majima didn't even move his feet; he simply shifted his weight, his shoulder brushing against Asuka's in a protective, subtle way, and he let out a sharp, short chuckle that sounded more like a predator's growl.
"Careful now," Majima said, his voice dropping into that terrifyingly calm register again. He didn't even look at the man's face; he was looking at the man's hands, watching for the slightest twitch of a weapon or a strike.
"The kid's got a sharp tongue, but she's got a real big heart. It'd be a real shame if ya went and broke it... or if ya ended up with a broken nose before ya even gotta say 'hello'."
"Or broken ankles and kneecaps," she muttered and kicked the claw machine like a donkey to prove a point.
Majima watched her kick the claw machine with the force of a miniature donkey, a look of genuine awe on his face. He didn't even care that the metal machine let out a hollow 'clunk'; he was too busy admiring the sheer, unadulterated ferocity in her eyes. Most kids were taught to be polite to strangers; this kid was taught to dismantle them limb by limb.
"AHAHAHA! Broken ankles an’ kneecaps! That's my girl!" he roared, his laughter echoing through the arcade.
The little girl grinned wider as she felt something soften inside her at being called his girl. Like she was a child worth having, Asuka let her mind wander to what it would be like to have a parent who actually cared for her instead of being pawned off from one adult to another. She knew her mother loved her; she just wished she could show it and listen to her.
Asuka was taught to be polite by her mother, but she saw where that politeness got her. Her mother was taken advantage of constantly and often putting Asuka in danger. She vowed that she would never be her mother. She will be all teeth and blood to protect herself and those she cares about. She will never be polite or 'nice'.
Majima glanced down at Asuka, his expression softening instantly back into that lopsided, encouraging grin. He leaned down, whispering loud enough for the man to hear.
"Don't let 'em ruin the moment, Scout. A true warrior celebrates her victories ‘fore she deals with the trash."
He straightened up, his gaze returning to the man, now openly challenging him.
"Well? Ya gonna keep standin' there lookin' like a lost tourist, or are ya gonna move along? We're in the middle o’ a very important celebration here.”
That seemed to freeze the man in his tracks. He seemed to realize that one was bad enough and the brat wasn't afraid to throw down with someone three times her age and size. And the mad dog spoke for himself, but if he had a pup with him? That was worse.
With a frustrated huff and a muttered curse about 'crazy bastards,' the man turned on his heel and stomped away, his companions following close behind, trying to act like they weren't scurrying away in a hurry.
Asuka snubbed her nose up when the man turned and left.
The moment they were out of earshot, Majima's tension vanished. He let out a long, satisfied breath and turned back to Asuka, his grin returning in full force. He reached out and gave her a playful, messy hair ruffle, ignoring the way she might try to defend her 'warrior' look.
Asuka puffed up with pride as Majima ruffled her hair. She already had the bare bones foundation of being a yakuza down pat.
"Man, yer a natural!" he beamed, leaning down to her level.
"That was perfect! The mockery, the attitude... ya had 'em shakin' in their boots! A true Spiderlily tactic hit 'em where it hurts: their pride!"
As she puffed up with pride, Majima felt a strange, uncharacteristic tug of warmth in his chest. It was a feeling he usually reserved for the rare moments of quiet loyalty he shared with Kiryu, but this was different. This was something fiercer. He was watching a wild thing grow, and for some reason, he wanted to be the one to sharpen its teeth.
"Mission accomplished, Scout! The trash has been cleared out! So..." He gestured toward the various machines, his eye gleaming.
"Since we've successfully defended our territory... What's next on the agenda? Ya wanna try one o’ those racing games?”
He straightened up, looking around the arcade as if the entire place was now their playground.
“Yeah! Yeah! Yeah!” Asuka bounced up and down excitedly before running off to do so.
He watched her dive into the racing game, her small hands gripping the steering wheel with the same intensity she'd used to fight off that man. He leaned against the cabinet next to her, watching her play with a lopsided, proud smile.
He settled in, content to be her silent, slightly manic bodyguard, waiting to see if his feral alleycat could handle the high-speed chaos of the virtual track.
Asuka forgot all about her sadness and loneliness and ran towards one of the racing games. Her little hands moved on the steering wheel, and her little legs were barely able to reach the gas and brake pedal. Her little body moved with the car.
"Come look!" She commanded as she pointed to the screen and back at Majima.
Majima leaned in close, his single eye fixed on the glowing screen. He watched her small hands manhandle the steering wheel with an almost comical ferocity, but there was a real, raw talent in the way she navigated the turns. She wasn't just pushing buttons; she was driving like she was trying to outrun something. He saw the way her entire body jolted with every sharp corner, a tiny, fierce engine of pure determination.
"Whoa! Look at ya go!" he cheered, his voice brimming with genuine excitement. He leaned over her shoulder, pointing at a particularly tricky drift on the screen.
"Take that corner! Drift it like yer sliding around a puddle o’ oil in a rainstorm! Yeah! Just like that!"
He caught the way her eyes lit up when she successfully cleared a lap. It was a fleeting moment of pure, uncomplicated joy, and Majima felt a sudden, sharp pang of something he rarely allowed himself to feel: a protective instinct that went deeper than just watching a kid. He saw the shadow of that 'loneliness’ in her eyes, the way she clung to the memory of a lesson that had been cut short. He didn't know the whole story; he didn't need to, but he knew what it was like to have the world pull the rug out from under you when you were just trying to find your footing.
When she finished the race, her face flushed with the adrenaline of the win, he gave her a wide, toothy grin and a firm pat on the shoulder.
"Damn, Scout! Yer a natural behind the wheel! If the whole 'scout' thing don't work out, ya could always be a getaway driver fer a high-stakes heist!"
He laughed, but his gaze was warm.
"Yer faster than most o’ the salarymen in this whole district, and they're usually in a hell o’ a hurry to get to the bar!"
He stood up straight, his eyes scanning the arcade once more, but this time his focus was more purposeful. The reconnaissance was done, the trophy was secured, and the trash had been dealt with. It was time for the main event.
"Awright, ‘nough of the virtual racing!" he announced, gesturing toward the exit of the arcade, “We'll find a place that sells those fancy crepes ya kids like so much. A warrior needs her sugar, after all!"
"I do have a notorious sweet tooth," Asuka said in consideration. If you really want her to do something or behave, bribe her with sweet treats and she'll play saint. With that, she followed him out like a loyal shadow.
The cool evening air hit her, and the sun was setting. Making the city come alive with its neon. Sotenbori was more colorful, but it had nothing on Kamurocho at night. It was the most beautiful thing she's ever seen.
Majima couldn't care less that when he eventually returns her, she'll be higher than Mount Everest on sugar, but that will be her mother's and Hamasaki's problem.
Asuka was still riding the high of adrenaline and the pride of being called 'his girl' and would do anything to prove that she was worthy of that as she thought back to the arcade. Asuka always did have a lion's heart. It made her feel closer to Majima, seeing him encourage her and not run away or look at her with worry or fear as her mother and teachers do.
It made her sad that she had to go back home soon and go back to school tomorrow. She didn't want to be alone again. She sulked slightly as they sat on the bench with her mound of chocolate strawberry whipped cream and sprinkles. Deep in thought as she ate.
Majima was halfway through a crepe of his own, mostly just a vessel for enough sugar to kill a small horse, when he noticed the shift. The whirlwind had stopped. The fierce, tiny warrior who had just been terrorizing the local chinpira had suddenly wilted, her shoulders slumping just a fraction as she stared down at her mountain of chocolate and sprinkles.
He was a man who lived by instinct. He could sense a change in the wind before a storm hit, and he could certainly sense the sudden drop in temperature coming from the little girl sitting next to him. The adrenaline was fading, leaving behind that hollow, quiet ache that always follows a high the kind of silence that lets the lonely thoughts creep back in.
He didn't push immediately. He wasn't the type for soft, mushy comforts; he didn't know how to do 'gentle' without it feeling like a performance. Instead, he just sat there, leaning back on the bench, one leg crossed over the other, watching the neon lights of Kamurocho dance in the puddles on the pavement. He let the silence sit between them for a moment, a comfortable weight, before he spoke.
"Hey," he said, his voice lacking its usual theatrical boom. It was low, steady, and surprisingly grounded.
"The sugar's gonna hit ya soon, Scout. Don't let it go ta waste by mopin' over it."
He nudged her shoulder with his elbow, a light, playful gesture meant to pull her out of the fog. He saw the way she was staring at her food, the way her small hands seemed a little less certain now that the 'battle' was over. He knew that look. He'd seen it in the mirror after a long night of fighting, when the adrenaline died, and you were left with nothing but the scars and the quiet.
"Thinkin’ 'bout tomorrow, ain't ya?" he guessed, not needing her to say it. He knew the cycle. The wild freedom of the night, followed by the rigid, boring, lonely reality of the day. "The school bells, the mean kids, the rules that don't make a lick o’ sense..."
It was more than that to the child. But how do you tell a man you only sort of know and one who initially kidnapped you at first that you wish they were your dad or parent instead of your mom? She didn't have the words for it, but she felt weird about a strange man who, in the back of her head, shouldn't be running around with who cared more for her than the people who supposedly did.
He sighed, a long, dramatic sound that ended in a soft huff. He turned his head to look at her, his single eye softening. He wasn't a man of many words when it came to feelings, but he knew loyalty. He knew what it was like to feel like you were standing on the edge of a world that didn't quite have a place for you.
“Listen ta me, Asuka," he said, his tone turning serious, the 'Mad Dog' momentarily replaced by the man who had built an empire from nothing.
"Kamurocho is a big, loud, messy place. It's easy ta feel like yer just a speck of dust gettin' blown around by the wind. An’ yeah, tomorrow's gonna come, and yer gonna have ta deal with all that nonsense."
He reached out, and instead of a rough pat, he rested his large, gloved hand on top of her head for a second, a heavy, grounding presence.
He grinned, the lopsided, mischievous spark returning to his eye, though it was tempered with a sincere warmth.
"Ya got my back, and I got yers. That's all there is ta it.”
Instead, she gave him a bright smile. It was nice that she wasn't alone anymore.
Majima watched her smile, and for a moment, the chaos of Kamurocho, the sirens, the shouting, the neon glare seemed to fade into the background. That smile was a weapon, a bright, fierce thing that cut right through the grime of the city. He felt a strange, tight sensation in his chest, a feeling he usually only got when he was facing a truly formidable opponent or a long-lost friend. It was a feeling of... responsibility. Not the heavy, burdensome kind, but the kind that made a man want to stand a little taller.
"Yeah! You're right! I'll find you again! Or you'll find me!" She dug in, making a mess on her face.
He chuckled, a warm, raspy sound, as he watched her dive back into the chocolate and cream with zero regard for being 'ladylike.'
"I probably have to go back home after this though. I got school tomorrow, and I know I'm way past dinner time, so Hamasaki-san is probably worried about me"
But then she mentioned going home. The word 'home' always sounded a little different when it was spoken by someone who had to go back to being 'just a kid' after being a warrior. He saw the flicker of hesitation in her eyes, the realization that the magic of the night had a curfew.
"Hamasaki-san, huh?" he repeated, testing the name on his tongue. He didn't know much about her guardians, but he knew the look of someone who was waiting up by a window.
"Well, can't have the lady's people thinkin' the Mad Dog kidnapped her fer good, can we? That'd be a whole lotta paperwork an’ angry grown-ups, an’ frankly, we've had ‘nough o’ those fer one night."
"No, we can't," she giggled and got up. "Even though that wouldn’t be a bad thing. " It's not like I'll be missed," Asuka mumbled under her breath.
She didn't know if it was true or not. But it felt true to her. No other adult besides him didn't mind her being around. Her mother was never home, and when she was, she would bring strange men home too, which Asuka didn't like, but no one ever listened to her.
He stood up, stretching his limbs until his joints popped, then reached down to offer her a hand to help her up from the bench. He didn't let go immediately once she was standing; instead, he kept a steadying grip, a silent promise that he wasn't going anywhere.
"Go on then," he said, his voice regaining its boisterous, playful edge, though he kept his eyes on her.
"Get back ta yer nest. Get some sleep so ya can be ready fer more combat tomorrow. School is just ‘nother kind of battlefield, ain't it? Different weapons, different rules, but the goal is the same: don't let 'em push ya around!"
"I never thought about it like that before. But I still don't let them either!" She grinned proudly.
They walked back in solidarity side by side. She was lucky and grateful she had a friend.
As they began to walk toward her home, the lights of the city reflecting in the puddles around them, Majima felt a sense of purpose he hadn't felt in years. He wasn't just a legend, a criminal, or a madman tonight. He was a guardian. He was a comrade.
"And hey, Scout!" he called out as they neared a street corner where they might part ways. He stopped and turned to her, his single eye gleaming with a sudden, intense seriousness. “Behave yourself an’ listen ta yer folks awright?”
Asuka did an excited run in place before nodding eagerly. She turned to run back home, stomping in puddles along the way. Running faster than the wind like she was charging head-on for something.
He gave her a sharp, two-finger salute, a grin plastered on his face, waiting to see that fierce, stubborn spirit of hers one last time before she vanished back into the 'normal' world.
She got inside, and for the first time she felt like everything was going to turn out okay for her and she didn't have to be alone again.
Summary: it's 1996. Asuka just moved to Kamurocho and is straight up not having a good time. Until a strange man in white shows up one day and both walk away with something more than either of them were expecting.
A one shot between Asuka and Nishiki
The young girl heaved a sigh as she continued to sweep up the shop she was helping out in until her mother got home from work. Courtesy of her mother making a deal with Hamasaki-San, the woman who owned the shop and apartment they lived above, to babysit little Asuka after school and on weekends in exchange for Asuka helping out the shop.
Despite the dullness and predictability of routines, she settled in quite well, having only moved to Kamurocho a couple of months ago. But that’s because she’s always been good at rolling with the punches.
No choice but to be if she wanted to survive on the streets of Sotenbori. Asuka just assumed that it would be the same here in Kamurocho.
The young girl sneezed as dust rose around her while she swept. How can a floor be so filthy after hours of sweeping it repeatedly? The sneeze's force sent her stumbling back into the tank with the koi, making it shake slightly.
“Watch where you’re going!” snapped Hamasaki-San coldly, narrowing her eyes towards Asuka, who stood up straight immediately.
“I’m sorry, Hamasaki-San!” Asuka bowed deeply.
The older woman just huffed and shook her head, mumbling something about how parents shouldn’t have kids if they can’t raise them to behave.
Asuka rolled her eyes when the woman’s back was turned. It’s not like she did that on purpose. Was she still mad that she had innocently told two customers off for insulting Hamasaki-san’s food, causing them to walk out? She was just being honest. Everyone else had a lifetime to get over it.
Asuka turned back to watch the koi fish swim about, feeling a rare moment of calm wash over her. She could get lost for hours watching them, finding comfort in their graceful movements. They were so fascinating and pretty to watch, and it was the only time she felt still inside. She wondered what the koi thought about swimming in that tank, imagining their quiet world, wishing she could find such peace outside her tough life.
The familiar chime of the bell perked Asuka’s ears up to turn to see who was entering the store. Goddamn it, she just swept again!
The little girl’s eyes were wide like saucers as she took in the appearance of the strange man before her. He had slicked-back black hair and wore a white suit with a black shirt underneath it. If Asuka had to guess, he was a higher-up businessman of some sort.
The man made eye contact with the little girl in front of him, holding a broom, almost like she wasn’t afraid to use it as a weapon if she needed to. Guessing from her baggy clothing that she seemed to have on from older people that she was poor.
“Welcome to Hamasaki’s Ramen shop. My name is Asuka, and how may I help you?” Asuka bowed politely, repeating the words Hamasaki-san taught her to say.
“Just a table for one, please,” the man in white said, watching Asuka scramble for a menu and a pitcher to fill with water.
Asuka stood by a table neatly tucked away in the corner, and the man in white followed suit, sitting down. The girl left him alone for a bit, not straying too far away from him as she was the only one on shift right now, so to speak.
“Awfully young to be working,” The man commented
“Just helping out, that’s all.”
“Nice of you to help out your parents’ shop.”
“It’s not theirs.”
“Where are they then?”
“Why d’ya wanna know?” Asuka snapped and narrowed her eyes at him. Her hair bristled in defensiveness, letting her Osakan dialect slip in.
“It’s not safe to leave a kid all alone in these parts.”
“I can take care of myself, ya know,” Asuka snubbed her nose at him.
The man in white just snickered, causing the little girl to ball her fists up. She didn’t want to eviscerate this man’s ego and be the third person to walk out, but she would if it would teach him a lesson and keep her pride intact.
“What’s your name, sir?”
“Nishikiyama.”
“Well, Nishikiyama-san, if you must know, I’m helping out the lady who owns this shop until my mom gets back from work, and she’s mean. I mean really mean.” Asuka didn’t mean to complain about Hamasaki-san; she was just trying to warn the guy not to try anything with her. “And I’ll have you know I ran out two customers this morning. So do with that information as you will,” She quickly added. It’s imperative to her to prove that she can take care of herself.
That earned another laugh from Nishiki, which only annoyed the girl more.
“Do you always talk back to customers?”
She thought for a moment. "When I'm on duty. Usually Hamasaki-san kicks me out during the day at some point when she gets tired of me runnin' out her customers. And wander the streets either playin' with other kids or beatin' up bullies or I just stay at home. Play and watch Sailor Suit and Machine Gun on repeat.”
Nishikiyama's eyebrows rose slightly at her mention of *Sailor Suit and Machine Gun*. He hadn't expected a seven-year-old to have such... eclectic tastes. Most children her age were preoccupied with bright colors and simple stories, but there was a grit to her that suggested she preferred stories with a bit more blood and gunpowder.
"A strategist and a fighter," he mused, his voice dropping into a contemplative hum. ` "Running off customers to protect the shopkeeper, and then spending your free time hunting bullies. You're a strange little creature, Asuka."
She gave a small lopsided smirk.
"I get that a lot"
He leaned forward, resting his elbows on the table. The movement brought him closer to her, his presence looming but not entirely threatening. For a moment, the weary patriarch of the Nishikiyama Family vanished, replaced by a man who looked almost intrigued by the chaos sitting in front of him.
"But the streets aren't a playground," he said, his tone turning uncharacteristically serious. The shadow of his own history the blood on his hands, the sister he couldn't save, the empty feeling in his chest seemed to flicker in his eyes. "They change when the lights go down. The 'bullies' you fight in the daylight... they turn into monsters at night. Monsters that don't care how well you can swing a broom or how much pride you have."
Then she scowled. She knew all too well, even at her young age. Running the streets with the spiderlillies back in Sotenbori. The girl gang that took her in and raised her while her mother was off doing god knows what, and the rest of her family kicked her out like a stray pup.
She hid, on alert whenever it got dark, or Hid in the crevices of their porch until her mom came home. She knew all too well what monsters people can be at night in the shadows.
He paused, watching her reaction. He wanted to see if she'd recoil from the weight of his words or if she'd meet them with that same Osakan fire.
"If you're going to be wandering Kamurocho alone," he continued, a dark, knowing smirk tugging at the corner of his mouth, "you'd better learn to recognize the difference between a dog barking and a wolf hunting. Otherwise, all that 'taking care of yourself' won't mean a damn thing when you're cornered."
"I'm well aware"
That's why she vowed that she'll be nothing like her mother. She'll be all sharp jagged edges of righteous hellfire. She'll grow and train to be smarter, faster, stronger, ruthless, and more vicious than any of these so-called monsters.
He reached into his pocket and pulled out a small, crisp yen note, sliding it onto the table near his glass. "Consider it a tip for the 'information' you've provided. And for the service."
Asuka looked at the yen and then back at him. She narrowed her eyes.
He looked back toward the koi tank, the brief moment of connection passing as quickly as it had arrived. "Now, go on. If you're going to be a warrior, you'll need more than just a sharp tongue. You'll need a full stomach.”
She took the yen and bowed politely.
"Thank you and come again!”
Nishikiyama watched her take the money with a practiced, polite bow. Most people would have been tripping over themselves to thank a man of his stature, but Asuka accepted it with the cool, transactional grace of someone who knew exactly what a yen was worth.
“I get that a lot,” she had said.
The lopsided smirk she gave him lingered in his mind even as she turned to scuttle back toward the kitchen or the sweeping corner. It was a look of someone who had already seen the underside of the world, someone who had been forced to grow teeth before they had even finished growing into their skin.
He watched her go, his gaze lingering on the way she moved. She didn't move like a child; she moved like a survivor. There was a calculated efficiency to her steps, a lack of wasted motion that spoke of a life lived on the move.
He felt a sudden, sharp pang of something he couldn't quite name. It wasn't quite pity he had long ago decided that pity was a weakness for the soft, but it was a profound sense of recognition. He saw in her the same desperate, burning ambition that had driven him to stain his hands red. The desire to be so strong, so untouchable, that the world could never hurt you again.
He reached for his cigarette, lighting it with a silver lighter that clicked sharply in the quiet shop. As he exhaled a plume of grey smoke, he looked back at the koi tank. The red koi was still swimming upstream, fighting against the current, oblivious to the man watching it.
“All sharp, jagged edges of righteous hellfire,” he thought, though he didn't know how much of her spirit he had actually read in her eyes.
He leaned back, the smoke curling around his head like a shroud. For the first time in weeks, the crushing weight of the Tojo Clan felt a little less heavy, replaced by the strange,
fleeting warmth of having encountered a tiny, fierce soul that refused to be intimidated by his shadow.
"Come again," he murmured to himself, a dark, private smile touching his lips as he watched the steam rise from his ramen.
