Port Mafia's Boss
The plan was simple, attack them from all directions and leave them no room to retaliate.
But first, they had to distract and put them off, so, under the sliver of moonlight streaming through the slightly opened door, a brown teddy bear wobbled its way up to the members decked in their military-like suits and arms. They were taken aback by the plushie that kept walking towards them. Some raised their weapons at it but they eventually let it through due to confusion and befuddlement, merely keeping a few paces between them until the thing was in the middle of their group.
It then blew up. The plushie exploded, taking a few of them by surprise and causing them major injuries. The others were pushed back, disoriented, and trying to understand what just occurred.
It was then that Kath and Higuchi stormed the building. Higuchi opened fire, shooting everyone in sight using her two sub-machine guns while Kath used the multitude of weapons she had at the ends of her wires, making sure to hit but not kill.
The bomb's effect wore off shortly and the rest of the members were able to synchronize their attack again, making her click her tongue in annoyance.
She had to hide behind a container and so did Higuchi as the enemy pressed on them. Kath had more freedom with using her guns, twisting and moving them midair, but Higuchi didn't. And she soon was shot in the leg.
" Damn it!" Kath pushed herself out of her hiding place and threw another grenade at the group, forcing them to fall back while she dragged Higuchi to safety.
" This seems bad," she groaned taking in the wound.
" I still can move." Higuchi insisted, though she winced at the attempt to move.
" Rest. You won't be able to save Ryuu with that leg. What's the point of you dying here then?" With bloodied fingers from her tight threads, Kath grabbed a gun out of her jacket and stepped out, shooting at what was left of their enemy.
She clicked her tongue when she realized most of her weapons were out of ammo and she could not refill them while all of her threads were occupied. It was then that Higuchi threw herself out, ignoring her injured leg and shooting alongside Kath.
" Damn it, if only I have a moment to grab a plushie." But their enemy wouldn't allow it.
The rain of bullets continued on until Kath realized she was shooting on her own. Looking back, she found Higuchi lying on the ground with a bullet wound in her shoulder. " Higuchi!"
Her eyes widened as she felt movement from the outside. She looked down at Higuchi then quickly turned around and ran away to the side of the storehouse. She could feel Higuchi's glaring at her back but there was nothing else she could do.
If she didn't run, Higuchi would die.
Not long after, Higuchi's subordinates stormed the place, taking care of the rest of the group. Kath managed to haul herself out of their reach and sight using her strings. She left the building through a broken window on the ceiling which she was using to watch as the Port Mafia wiped away what was left of Karma Transit in less than a minute.
Woah! The Mafia is really terrifying! She looked at the other end of the storehouse, a closed metallic door stood out. Akutagawa was probably kept there, but she could not go down herself or even call Higuchi. Then, an idea crossed her mind.
She could not go there herself, but a plushie could. She used her red fox, lowering it to the ground and using it to slightly crack the door open, it creaked and Higuchi looked over at it. There, she saw the plushie waving her in before running to hide.
Higuchi struggled to her feet again and marched to the door. Kath stood up, and made her way along the slanting rooftop carefully before stopping beside another window through which she could see both Akutagawa and Higuchi.
Heaving a sigh of relief, Kath retrieved her plushie and jumped off the roof to another shed house and then to the ground. " Well, that was one heck of a night," she admitted as she looked back at the building. " What matters though is that he's alright."
" Indeed."
Kath frowned and turned around, taking a few steps back to put distance between her and the one who spoke in her ear. " Quite the good reflexes you have."
Before her was a man with raven blue hair, dark purple slanting eyes, and a mischievous smirk. He wore a black suit along with a crimson scarf that he draped over his shoulders.
Kath had a hunch who he was. " I knew something bugged me. Why would they bother to take Ryuu outside of the Port Mafia's HQ? If they made their way into the infirmary, supposedly a hard feat to accomplish, why bother making an escape with an incapacitated man with all the machines needed to keep him alive, which is also supposed an even harder feat? If their objective was revenge, they ought to have killed him right where they found him. Yet they went through the trouble of taking him out. Not to mention the slacking on your security…"
Kath glared at the man as she pulled herself to her full height. " You orchestrated the whole thing, didn't you? Port Mafia's boss, Mori Ougai."
The man simply clapped his hands with his smirk still plastered to his face, a smirk she wanted to wipe off so badly, but knew better than to try. " A deduction befitting someone from the Armed Detective Agency. True, I orchestrated the whole thing, and Karma Transit didn't go after Akutagawa-kun for revenge, they were hoping to make an exchange, more like asking for ransom, to rebuild their group. So of course, they needed him alive. The truth is that a spy I had amidst them suggested the idea instead of revenge, and they were inclined to seek money more than avenge their fallen friends."
" You told Higuchi that you didn't care if it was a fight over individuals."
" I don't. But if that individual happened to be one of the Mafia's strongest pawns, then I ought to step up."
At the word pawn, Kath clicked her tongue, and her silver threads wrapped around Mori's throat, however, he managed to block them using his scalpel, taking her by surprise, for there was almost nothing her threads couldn't cut if given the right strength.
" I would rather keep my head intact, you see. I intend to chat more with you and I wouldn't be able to do so if it flies off."
Kath frowned but her threads faded away in response. " Good. I like those who keep their heads cool."
" Why did you do all of this? If your purpose was simply to protect Ryuu, you would have wiped Karma Transit without leaving the faintest trace that you were behind it."
" True, however, I had two reasons to organize the whole thing. First," he said as he looked over at the large building where the fight had been moments ago. " It would be better if my subordinates had more faith in themselves and each other. After all, if I'm to rule this large organization known as Port Mafia, I would rather have my pawns well aligned."
Kath almost gave a growl at the reuse of the word pawn. " Understood. No more using it." Mori held up his hands as it to sooth her.
" What's the second reason?" Her eyes flashed dangerously, having taken a wild guess.
Mori smirked. " Meeting the little rat that was helping from the shadow."
Kath kept silent at that.
" I knew Higuchi-kun received external help when she went to save Akutagawa-kun that day, so I've been itching to meet this person who offered her help." Mori took a step closer and Kath had to retreat.
This man is dangerous, I can feel his malicious aura. Nothing good comes from listening to him, I should be running but…
She didn't know if it was due to fear, curiosity, or a mixture of both that she was still standing there.
" I must say I was utterly surprised to find out our little helper is actually a member of the Detective Agency." His smirk was a bad omen, she had that feeling deep in her gut, but she could not attack, nor run, all she could do was listen. " Why would someone like you be willing to mingle with the Mafia?"
" It's not the Mafia that I'm trying to mingle with," she answered curtly.
" I understand that, perhaps, Akutagawa-kun holds some kind of value for you."
" I refuse to answer."
" It's all but understandable. But then, I will have to turn to Akutagawa-kun and Higuchi-kun for answers."
" You wouldn't dare!"
" I understand, I don't want to do it either. Using people you hold dear against you is the late boss' method, I would rather lead my men based on trust and whatsoever but… how can I trust you?"
Kath's eyes narrowed slightly.
" What's it that you seek?" His tone was confident, he knew he had her wrapped around his fingers and she had no other way out but to answer.
" All I ever want is for Ryuu to be safe."
" Hm, quite the generous wish I see. And you're willing to help him in every which way possible, even if it meant going against your own affiliation I see." Her glare was enough of an answer for him. " Hm, very interesting."
With one hand wrapped around his chin, the man giggled, then snickered, and finally, he laughed out loud. The very concept seemed funny to him, that although she was a part of the Detective Agency, she was willing to give all for her only friend to be safe and was ready to go to any lengths for him.
" I kind of like you, and that's rare seeing how I only seem to like those under 12."
A shiver ran down her spine, should she be thankful she was over 12, or should she be worried?
" If it's Akutagawa-kun's safety that you seek, then why not join us," he said holding a hand out at her as though inviting her. " Wouldn't it be better that way, instead of fighting against each other and having to help from the shadow, you could fight alongside him and support him whenever he needs. If anything, I can tell you would make a very fine subordinate for him."
Kath kept silent, but her eyes were ablaze. It was then that Mori realized he made a mistake. " Don't be ridiculous," she said, taking a step towards him. " I had a promise with the president and I'm not breaking it…"
" Please… I would do anything you ever want, but, only when it comes to Ryuu, please let me act as I see fit. I promise I would never harm the agency or its members in any way."
" You could just leave, isn't that an enough option for you?"
She raised two sad eyes at him, ones that held deep longing, as if they were missing something. " I would like to stay with my family."
" Even though he had every right to deny me that extravagant request, the president accepted and kept me around. That's true that Ryuu's my friend but…"
" You can come with us."
" The agency is my one and only family!" Something in her glare made Mori think twice about his plans.
" How unfortunate, and I thought I came across such a gem." With a sigh, he turned to face the backstreet he had emerged from. " We may care very little for individuals, but the agency sure doesn't. That was proven the other day. If I even dream of harming their member, they would come knocking on my doors in no time."
He walked away, waving his hand in the air as though to bid her farewell. " This is goodbye then, Hanazawa Katherine, till the next time we meet. But remember…" He gave her one last smirk. " My door will be always open for a person like you, just give me a call when you get too tired of the light."
As if…
Kath stood still until his footsteps faded away into the silence of the night. It was then her feet gave in and she collapsed, shivering. She had just faced the boss of the Mafia, she faced that Mori Ougi.
Should she be proud or terrified? She couldn't settle on an answer yet.
With one glance at the building where probably Higuchi was tending to the incapacitated Akutagawa, Kath stood up and left for her home.
Deep down, she was feeling a tinge of envy. She wished she too could have been able to be by her friend's side.
Although whether he was still her friend or not remains to be seen.