Trouble part two

MAI HASHIMOTO

It was four o'clock in the afternoon, and I was finally free from class. The moment the bell rang, I didn't waste a second. My bag was already slung over my shoulder before the teacher even dismissed us, and as soon as I stepped out of the classroom, I broke into a near sprint.

I had only one destination in mind.

Zehen's place.

"Hope that idiot hasn't started without me," I muttered under my breath, weaving through the crowd of students pouring into the hallways. The afternoon sun was relentless, its heat pressing against my skin as I made my way through the streets. The familiar roads blurred past me as I quickened my pace, dodging slow walkers and bicycles.

Zehen's apartment wasn't far, but every step felt like a mile. My heart pounded—not from exhaustion, but from anticipation.

By the time I reached his building, my breath was slightly uneven. The place was old but sturdy, the kind of apartment complex that had seen better days yet still stood strong. The stairwell smelled faintly of dust and something fried from a distant kitchen. I took the stairs two at a time, my fingers tightening around the strap of my bag.

I reached his floor, stopping just in front of his door.

Without bothering to knock, I grabbed the doorknob and shoved it open.

"Zehen, I swear, if ...."

My voice cut off as soon as I saw him.

Zehen was hanging by a thin rope, his body swaying slightly. A sharp, gleaming knife was plunged deep into his chest, the blood soaking into his shirt and dripping onto the floor below. His eyes were locked on me, wide with an intensity that made my heart skip a beat.

"Still doing that thing of yours?" I said, my voice almost detached, though a cold shiver ran down my spine at the sight of him.

Zehen didn't flinch. His gaze remained fixed on me, something unreadable behind those eyes.

"You really need to stop this," I continued, stepping closer, not daring to reach out to him just yet. My voice was softer, but my words held a weight I couldn't shake.

His lips parted, and for a moment, I thought he might say something, but he just stared, his gaze unwavering.

"I hope you haven't forgotten, Zehen," I said, pouting and crossing my arms in frustration. "You're really starting to worry me."

His eyes flicked toward the knife buried in his chest, then back to me. He tilted his head slowly, as if trying to gauge my reaction.

I held his gaze, refusing to look away.

After what felt like an eternity, Zehen gave a slight shake of his head. The corners of his mouth twitched, and in that moment, I wasn't sure if it was from pain, amusement, or something.

I sighed, letting my eyes scan Zehens apartment.And I gotta say, it was a dump.

I sighed, letting my eyes scan Zehen's apartment. And I gotta say, it was a dump.

Dust settled thick on every surface, and clothes were strewn across the floor like he'd never bothered to pick them up. I strolled around the room, absentmindedly trying to arrange the piles of clothes that looked like they hadn't seen the inside of a laundry machine in months. The smell of stale pizza and old takeout lingered in the air.

"Zehen," I muttered as I picked up an old hoodie from the floor, tossing it toward the corner. "This place is a disaster. You're lucky you still have an apartment with how you treat it."

As I was picking through his mess, I noticed him again. The knife. His fingers trembling around the handle, poised for another stab at his own chest.

"Hope you haven't forgotten," I said, sighing as I turned toward him. "You promised to go shopping with me today, remember?"

Zehen grunted, his voice strained as he tried once again to pierce himself with the knife.

"Don't forget who pays your rent," I said, my voice suddenly stern.

The air around us thickened, and without another word, Zehen cut the rope. It snapped with a sharp crack, and Zehen collapsed heavily to the floor in a heap.

I stood over him, hands on my hips, watching him groggily push himself up from the floor.

"I couldn't help it, "I smiled

With a little tilt of my head, I added "Come on let's go we are gonna be late."

My grin was cheeky, And a little bit naughty as I chuckled.There was a sense of triumph bubbling inside me.He had no choice but to do my bidding now, and that made me more then a little happy. Even if he didn't admit it, zehen knew he was stuck with me.

ZEHEN

I couldn't believe this. I was supposed to be dead, not dragged into some ridiculous mall makeover.

"You were supposed to kill me, not give me a makeover," I grumbled, unable to hide my frustration.

She barely spared me a glance, a smug grin tugging at her lips. "All right, just shut up and try this," she said, her tone oozing with arrogance, as if she was the one in control here.

I sighed, scanning the mall around us. The bright lights, the crowds of people, and the loud music made everything feel so surreal. It felt like an eternity ago that I was trying to end my life by hanging myself .

"Why the hell am I in this mall anyway?" I muttered, my confusion only growing. I should've been dead, yet here I was, stuck in some strange shopping ordeal with

I went to try on the new clothes she got for me, and I had to admit, they were cool. A dark jacket, gray pants, and shoes that actually fit wel...it wasn't half bad. I couldn't deny it; she had good taste. But what I hated was....

"OK, why did you make me do this with my hair?" I asked, running a hand through it in frustration. It wasn't that bad, but it was... different. Too different for my liking.

I brushed my hair back into place, watching it settle into its usual style. "I like it like this," I said, glancing at her with a smirk.

She stared at me for a long moment, her expression unreadable, before finally speaking. "Well, at least you changed those disgusting clothes you wore before," she said with a hint of amusement, her tone turning a bit more teasing. "All naughty and stuff."

I raised an eyebrow, not sure if I should be offended or laugh. "Anyway," she continued, a little more serious now, "I've got to go home."

I stood there for a moment, boiling with frustration. She had no idea how much those words got to me. "Damn her," I muttered under my breath, barely able to contain my anger. "Changing my look..."

With that, I stormed out, my mind racing.

I walked for a while, her words still echoing in my mind, gnawing at me. But then, something shifted in the air. A faint, almost imperceptible pulse of mana. I froze, narrowing my eyes.

Her mana... it felt off. Faint. Weak.

"How...?" I muttered to myself, clenching my fists. "Even if she barely knows about her own ability, how is it becoming weaker?"

A surge of rage bubbled up inside me. Someone had done something. Someone had gotten to her. I couldn't stand the thought of it.

The weight of it hit me like a hammer. My heart pounded as I made my way through the streets, the night air thick with tension. The longer I walked, the more I could feel it... someone was behind this. And they were going to regret it.

KAZUMA

I arrived at the hideout with the girl in tow, her hands bound tightly. Thankfully, the man I was hoping to avoid wasn't there when I captured her. That made things a lot easier for me.

She was tied to a chair in the dimly lit room, her eyes wild with fear as several Yakuza members circled her, their hands lingering too long, too carelessly. I could feel her struggle, the air thick with her panic, but there was nothing she could do. Not anymore.

Just then, two figures appeared at the doorway....the leader of the Yakuza, kaido Takeda and the leader of the Mafia, Luca romano. Every year, they gathered to discuss their business dealings, but this year felt different. The tension in the room was palpable.

I'd been ordered to capture the girl, a task that wasn't exactly part of my usual work. But due to recent events, things had escalated. The man.....the one who had been causing endless problems for both the Mafia and the Yakuza....had pushed us to this point. And now, here she was, a pawn in this twisted game.

I eyed her as I stood back, letting the leaders take over. She wouldn't be leaving here easily. Not after what happened.

Here's a version that keeps the tension and mystery while reflecting Kazuma's thoughts and the intimidating atmosphere:

Kaido walked up to her, his presence so menacing that the room seemed to freeze. His every step sent a shiver down my spine. I watched as he leaned in, casually playing with her body, his hands moving with deliberate ease. The Yakuza leader had no hesitation, no sense of restraint.

I couldn't help but wonder....was he really that cocky? Or was he just foolish enough to think he was untouchable.

ZEHEN

I walked toward the hideout, sensing Mai's mana. My blood boiled with anger, my fists clenching at my sides. Why are you two so similar? I muttered under my breath before forcing a smile.

With a single strike, I shattered the door, stepping inside as the scent of blood and sweat filled the air. The moment I entered, I was surrounded—not just by the Yakuza but by the Mafia as well. How convenient.

A smirk played on my lips as I surveyed the room. My voice dripped with mischief and disdain as I spoke.

"Well, look at this. Maybe... just maybe... you'll finally be the ones to kill me." I chuckled darkly. "With luck, of course."

Across the room, my gaze locked onto Mai—bruised, tied up, helpless. My expression darkened.

"I'm not here for fun."

My fingers twitched, magic crackling at my fingertips.

"Time to die."

"You cocky bastard!" a man shouted before lunging at me.

I barely spared him a glance. "It's been a while... but this," I muttered, my expression darkening, "brings back bad memories."

Lightning crackled around my fingers, surging with lethal intent. In an instant, I struck him down. His body convulsed before falling lifeless to the floor.

A wave of shocked murmurs spread through the room like wildfire.

"He killed the boss!"

"Luca's dead!"

"How the hell is he this strong?!"

The panic rippled through them like a storm tearing through fragile leaves. I let out a slow breath. "Still feeling lucky?" I taunted.

Before they could react,I whispered " don't move. "All Mafia and yakuza froze in place."what the hell is this!" One yakuza said, "Then I said," that for me to know abd for you to just shut up." I used my lightning attribute and attacked the frozen yakuza and Mafia.

One by one, I finished them off. Sparks still danced at my fingertips as I turned to the last survivor. "Are you ready to quit?"

Kaido, unfazed, simply grinned. "Guess I control the Mafia now." He casually flipped me off, his expression unreadable. Does he have a screw loose? I wondered.

I sighed. "The lightning attribute does come in handy." With one final flick of my wrist, I conjured a precision strike—an arc of lightning that cut through the last Yakuza and Mafia members, ensuring Mai remained untouched.

As the room fell silent, I walked over and gently lifted Mai into my arms. She trembled, her bruised body barely able to move.

"I'm sorry," I whispered.

Tears welled in her eyes, and without a word, she buried her face into my chest, sobbing as I carried her away from this wretched place.

A week later, Mai and Zehen were in London. Mai was filled with excitement as she wandered through the streets, taking in the sights with wide-eyed wonder.

Watching her, I scoffed. "As if a kid like you could afford to travel alone."

She turned to me, tilting her head. "How did you even know I got kidnapped, anyway?"

I met her gaze, my expression unreadable. "Sheer luck, maybe. Who knows?"

Mai stared at me for a moment, clearly unconvinced, but eventually let it slide. Instead, she suddenly ran ahead toward a nearby theater. "The movie's about to start!" she called out.

I sighed and followed her, my thoughts drifting as I watched her run. She really is like you, isn't she?

When I finally caught up, my eyes landed on the movie title above the entrance: The Happy Immortal.

My face twisted with irritation.

"Mai!" I called out, my voice carrying clear frustration.

She turned to me, saw my expression, and immediately burst into laughter.

I clenched my fists. "You planned this, didn't you?"

Mai just grinned, still laughing as she dragged me inside.