The Incident

As Kairi walked down the dimly lit streets, her steps fell into rhythm with the chaotic hum of the city. The neon lights painted fractured reflections on the wet pavement, casting a kaleidoscope of shadows against the alley walls. Her hands were shoved casually into her jacket pockets, but her sharp eyes scanned her surroundings from beneath her hood.

The subtle shift in atmosphere was unmistakable. The noise of the city dulled, and a peculiar quiet settled around her, like the city itself was holding its breath. She felt it: the distinct, unnerving sense of being watched.

Her instincts prickled, muscles tightening beneath her casual exterior. Without breaking stride, she let her head tilt slightly to the side, her eyes darting to the mirrored glass of a closed convenience store. The reflection showed a figure trailing a short distance behind her.

Tomas.

Kairi's lips curled into a faint smirk, though her pulse quickened. She slowed her pace slightly, letting her boots tap deliberately against the pavement, calculating her next move. Her eyes caught the faint glow of an alleyway ahead, its narrow path cutting between two buildings like a jagged scar.

"Alright, buddy," she muttered under her breath. "Let's play."

She stopped suddenly, pretending to adjust her boot. Her head tilted just enough to confirm Tomas had stopped, too, blending awkwardly into the sparse crowd. He was trying too hard to appear inconspicuous, his leather jacket doing little to hide the predatory sharpness of his gaze.

Kairi straightened and resumed her pace, this time angling toward the alley. The cold air felt heavier as she stepped into the shadows, the neon glow behind her fading like a dying heartbeat.

Tomas followed, his movements more deliberate now. His boots clicked against the ground, a steady rhythm that seemed to echo louder with each step. The space between them shrank as Kairi made her way deeper into the alley, where a flickering streetlamp cast jagged shadows.

"You're either the worst tail I've ever had or the most confident," Kairi called out, her voice echoing against the brick walls. She didn't turn around, keeping her posture relaxed. "So, which is it?"

Tomas stopped in his tracks, the faintest hint of amusement playing on his lips. "I don't usually need to be subtle," he replied smoothly, his voice low and calculated. "And I'm not here to make friends."

Kairi finally turned, her stance casual but her eyes sharp, taking in every detail of her pursuer. The broken dove emblem on his jacket was unmistakable now, a stark reminder of the Pacifist Destroyers' growing presence.

"That's cute," she said, leaning back slightly against the brick wall. Her tone was light, but there was an edge to it, like the glint of a knife hidden in the folds of a jacket. "So, what's the plan? Jump me in an alley, or are we going for a dramatic monologue first?"

Tomas chuckled, taking a few steps closer. The faint glow of the streetlamp caught the silver glint of a blade tucked at his hip. "You're a lot chattier than I expected. Guess I'll skip the monologue."

"Smart choice," Kairi said, her smile cold as her muscles coiled, ready to strike. "But I'll warn you—this won't end the way you think."

The air grew thick with tension as they sized each other up, the distant city sounds muffled by the weight of their unspoken challenge. Somewhere far off, the hum of a train rumbled through the night, a reminder of the city's relentless pace.

"You've pissed off the wrong people," Tomas finally said, his hand resting on the hilt of his knife. "Kayd doesn't take kindly to loose ends. And you? You're a big, messy loose end."

"Kayd should've sent someone better," Kairi quipped, her eyes narrowing as she shifted her weight subtly, already calculating the best route out of the alley. "But hey, I get it. He's desperate."

Before Tomas could respond, Kairi moved, her body a blur as she pushed off the wall and bolted toward the far end of the alley. Tomas cursed, his blade flashing as he gave chase, the sound of their footsteps ringing out like gunshots in the confined space.

Kairi vaulted over a dumpster, her movements fluid and practiced. Her parkour training was second nature, and the narrow alley was her playground. Tomas struggled to keep up, his frustration evident in his labored breaths.

At the end of the alley, Kairi leapt onto a low wall, grabbing the edge of a fire escape ladder. She pulled herself up in one swift motion, her boots hitting the metal with a satisfying clang.

Tomas stopped below, glaring up at her. "You can't run forever!" he shouted, his voice dripping with anger.

Kairi leaned over the railing, smirking down at him. "I don't need to run forever," she shot back. "Just long enough to leave you in the dust."

With that, she disappeared over the edge of the rooftop, the faint sound of her laughter echoing through the night. Tomas stood there for a moment, seething, before pulling out his phone to make a call.

"This isn't over," he muttered, his grip tightening on the knife.

Tomas fumbled with his phone as frustration boiled beneath his skin, his fingers shaking from both exertion and humiliation. He wiped the sweat from his brow before pressing the phone to his ear, the faint sound of the dial tone buzzing in his head.

On the other end, Kayd Arakawa's voice cut through like a blade, cold and commanding. "Did you find her?"

"I've got eyes on her," Tomas said, his voice strained but measured. "She's slippery, but I'll handle it."

Kayd didn't respond immediately, the silence on the line more unnerving than any reprimand. Then, Mariko's voice chimed in, sharp and laced with disdain. "Handle it? You've already failed if you're calling us. You're wasting his time."

"I said I've got it!" Tomas snapped, his pride wounded. "I'll bring her in—or take her out. Whatever it takes."

"Good," Kayd finally said, his voice eerily calm. "Because if you don't, you'll be next. Understood?"

Tomas swallowed hard, his throat dry. "Understood."

The line went dead, leaving him with the suffocating weight of Kayd's expectations. Gritting his teeth, he turned toward the direction Kairi had disappeared, sprinting through the alley like a man possessed.

But as Tomas rounded the corner, his pace faltered. There she was, standing in the middle of the empty street, illuminated by the faint glow of a flickering streetlamp. Kairi's stance was relaxed, her arms crossed over her chest, as if she had been waiting for him.

"You're back," Kairi said casually, her tone laced with mockery. "Took you long enough. I was starting to think you got lost."

Tomas skidded to a halt, his eyes narrowing as he caught his breath. "You think this is a game?"

Kairi tilted her head, a smirk tugging at the corner of her lips. "Oh, I don't think. I know."

Without warning, Tomas lunged, his blade glinting in the dim light as he aimed for her. But Kairi didn't flinch. She sidestepped his attack with ease, her movements calculated and precise.

"Come on," she taunted, her voice dripping with condescension. "Is that all you've got? Kayd's sending amateurs now?"

Tomas growled, swinging again, but Kairi ducked under the blow, her footwork smooth and deliberate. Before he could react, she pivoted on her heel, her fist connecting squarely with his temple in a clean, devastating strike.

The impact was brutal, the sound of her knuckles meeting bone echoing through the empty street. Tomas's eyes rolled back as his body crumpled to the ground, his blade clattering beside him.

Kairi stood over his unconscious form, breathing heavily but grinning like a wolf. "Well," she said, brushing imaginary dust off her jacket, "that was underwhelming."

Then, in a rare display of cockiness, she crouched beside Tomas, her smirk growing wider. She raised two fingers to her forehead in a mock salute before flicking them outward in a cheeky gesture. "Better luck next time, champ."

Satisfied, she stood and turned her gaze upward, the rooftop of the nearby building catching her eye. She broke into a sprint, leaping onto a dumpster and propelling herself upward. Her fingers gripped the edge of a fire escape ladder, and with practiced ease, she scaled it.

The city stretched out before her as she reached the rooftop, its chaotic beauty framed by the twinkling lights of distant neon signs. But Kairi wasn't here to admire the view. She moved with purpose, her feet barely making a sound as she darted across the rooftop, vaulting over obstacles and using the urban terrain to her advantage.

Her movements were fluid, almost poetic, as she navigated the labyrinth of buildings. The cool night air bit at her cheeks, but she welcomed it, the adrenaline coursing through her veins keeping her warm.

As she neared her destination, her confidence began to wane, the weight of Tomas's words settling in her mind. If Kayd was truly involved, this was only the beginning.

Finally, she reached the building adjacent to her hotel. She perched on the edge, her eyes scanning the streets below for any sign of pursuit. The city was alive with its usual chaos, but for now, it seemed she was in the clear.

Kairi exhaled deeply, her smirk fading as the reality of her situation sank in. She pulled herself back onto the roof and slipped into the shadows, heading toward her room. It wasn't over—not by a long shot—but for now, she had earned a moment's reprieve.

Kairi perched on the edge of the hotel rooftop, her knees drawn to her chest as she stared out at the sprawling chaos of the city below. The neon lights of 1969 Tokyo flickered like restless spirits, casting uneven shadows on the streets. She clenched her fists, her nails digging into her palms as her mind raced with frustration and simmering anger.

"The Pacifist Destroyers," she muttered to herself, her voice low and venomous. "A group of bottom-feeding parasites who think they can kill me. They're nothing but shadows pretending to be monsters." She scoffed, shaking her head. "They've got Kayd Arakawa bankrolling them and still can't pull off anything worthwhile. Pathetic."

Her smirk faded as her thoughts darkened. "But they'll keep coming, won't they? I can feel it—like vultures circling. Kayd, his maid, those lapdogs… all of them trying to prove something, trying to put me in the ground." She exhaled sharply, her breath visible in the crisp night air. "Let them come. I'll bury them first."

Her gaze drifted to the alleyway below her, where a lone figure skulked in the shadows. The man was clearly up to no good, fiddling with a crowbar as he approached a parked car. Kairi's expression twisted into something almost feral. "Perfect," she said under her breath, standing to her full height. "Might as well remind myself why I'm still standing."

She stepped off the rooftop with the grace of a predator, her body dropping into a controlled descent. She grabbed onto a fire escape halfway down, flipping herself over the railing and landing silently on the pavement. The man didn't even notice her approach until it was too late.

"Planning on stealing that?" Kairi's voice cut through the stillness like a blade.

The man turned, startled, his grip tightening on the crowbar. "Who the hell are you?"

"Just someone who hates thieves," she replied, stepping into the dim light. Her eyes gleamed with a dangerous intensity. "You've got about five seconds to reconsider your life choices."

The man swung the crowbar, but Kairi was faster. She sidestepped with ease, grabbing his wrist and twisting it sharply. He let out a pained yelp, dropping the weapon.

"Oops," Kairi said mockingly, shoving him against the wall. She didn't let go, her grip tightening as she leaned in close. "You picked the wrong night, buddy. I've got a lot of anger to work through."

She delivered a sharp knee to his gut, and the man crumpled to the ground, gasping for air. Kairi stood over him, her fists clenched, debating whether to keep going. But before she could make her decision, the sound of footsteps echoed from the far end of the alley.

"You've got quite the temper, don't you?" a voice called out, calm and cold.

Kairi's head snapped up, her body tensing. Four figures emerged from the shadows, their faces partially obscured but their intentions clear. One of them stepped forward, his presence commanding—the leader of the Pacifist Destroyers.

He tilted his head, his voice smooth but laced with menace. "Kairi Saigeru, the so-called Pacifist. Funny name for someone so violent."

Kairi straightened, a smirk tugging at her lips despite the tension. "And you must be the amateurs who think they can take me down." She glanced at the unconscious man behind her. "I hope you fight better than him."

The leader chuckled, his companions spreading out to block any possible escape. "Oh, we're not here to fight. Not yet, anyway. We just wanted to introduce ourselves."

Kairi rolled her shoulders, her muscles coiled like a spring. "Skip the pleasantries. You want me dead, right? Get in line."

One of the figures stepped forward, a woman with a scar running down her cheek. She spoke in Russian, her tone icy and precise. "Мы не новички. Мы твоя смерть." (We are not amateurs. We are your death.)

Kairi's eyes narrowed. "Cute. You learned how to intimidate people in another language. Too bad it won't save you."

The leader raised a hand, silencing the woman. "Enough talk. We'll give you one chance to walk away. Surrender now, and maybe Kayd will let you live."

Kairi laughed—a short, sharp sound that echoed through the alley. "You really think I'm afraid of Kayd? Or you?" Her smirk widened, her stance shifting as she prepared for a fight. "Let me make this simple: if you're here, you're already dead."

The tension in the air was palpable, every second stretching into an eternity. The Pacifist Destroyers exchanged glances, their confidence faltering under Kairi's unwavering gaze.

The leader clenched his fists, his voice dripping with frustration. "Fine. Have it your way."

But before anyone could move, Kairi lunged, her fist connecting with the nearest attacker's jaw. The fight was on, and the alleyway erupted into chaos.