Vs. Pacifist Destroyers

Kairi's punch sent the first man stumbling back, crashing into a stack of crates with a loud thud. She spun, delivering a sharp kick to the second figure's knee, sending him crumpling to the ground. The alleyway was alive with the sound of fists, grunts, and Kairi's sharp, taunting words.

"Is this it?!" she shouted, throwing a precise elbow into the third attacker's gut. He doubled over, wheezing. "These are the big, bad Pacifist Destroyers? You're all pathetic!"

The so-called leader rushed her, swinging wildly, but Kairi ducked and landed a clean uppercut, sending him sprawling against the wall. She paused for a moment, adjusting her stance as the four of them groaned on the ground, clearly outmatched. Her chest heaved as she stared down at the so-called "gangsters," her smirk fading into a look of sheer disappointment.

"Wow," Kairi muttered, brushing some dust off her jacket. "I was expecting a real fight, not… whatever this is." She kicked the nearest man lightly in the side with her boot, making him groan. "Seriously, you're the Pacifist Destroyers? Kayd's pet project? This is embarrassing."

One of the men coughed, trying to sit up. "We're… not…"

Kairi blinked, her smirk faltering. "What?"

The man wheezed, struggling to speak through the pain. "We're… not with the Destroyers. We're… just lackeys. We… work for someone… else…"

The words hung in the air, and Kairi froze for a moment, her expression shifting from triumphant to mildly irritated. "Wait, wait, wait." She gestured to the group, her voice rising slightly. "You mean to tell me… you're not with the Pacifist Destroyers?"

The so-called leader shook his head weakly, wincing. "No… we were just… hired to keep an eye on you…"

Kairi stared at them, her hands on her hips as the realization sank in. Her initial adrenaline-fueled excitement deflated like a punctured balloon. "Oh, for—are you serious? I wasted my time on you losers?"

The lackeys exchanged nervous glances, clearly unsure whether to apologize or try to crawl away. One of them, the woman who had spoken in Russian earlier, finally spoke up in a trembling voice. "We… we thought you'd just run… We weren't supposed to fight you…"

Kairi sighed heavily, pinching the bridge of her nose. "Unbelievable. I thought I was dealing with the real deal, and instead, I get—" she gestured dramatically at the group—"this. What a joke."

She turned away, shaking her head, but paused mid-step. A wicked smirk crept back onto her face as she glanced over her shoulder. "You know what? This is perfect. You can send a message back to whoever sent you."

The leader groaned, trying to sit up again. "What… what message?"

Kairi crouched down to his level, her eyes sharp and full of malice. "Tell them that the Pacifist doesn't run. Tell them that the next time they send anyone after me—real members or not—I'm sending them back in body bags. Got it?"

The man nodded frantically, his fear palpable.

"Good," Kairi said, standing and dusting herself off. She stepped over the groaning bodies, heading toward the fire escape to climb back to the rooftops. "And next time? Bring a challenge. This was just sad."

With that, she leapt up, grabbing hold of the fire escape and pulling herself onto the building in one swift motion. As she ascended, she muttered to herself, "What a waste of energy. I could've been eating ramen instead."

Below, the lackeys remained sprawled in the alley, too beaten and humiliated to do anything but groan. One of them turned to the leader, muttering in a pained voice, "We should've just stayed home."

"Shut up," the leader hissed, clutching his ribs.

Kairi moved swiftly across the rooftop, her sharp gaze scanning the darkened city streets below. The weight of the encounter with the lackeys was already wearing off—disappointment mixed with a gnawing itch for something more substantial. She exhaled, shaking her head. "Guess I'll have to find my own fun tonight," she muttered, half to herself.

But just as she was about to leap to the next building, a figure emerged from the shadows below. Then another. And another. From the alleyway she had left behind, more figures began to appear, their silhouettes growing like a rising tide of malice. These were no lackeys. Their movements were deliberate, their presence intimidating.

One of them—a hulking man with a shaved head—looked up, the faint glow of a cigarette highlighting a jagged scar across his face. "There she is," he growled in heavily accented Japanese. He flicked his cigarette to the ground and stomped it out with deliberate slowness. "Time to show her what real Destroyers can do."

Kairi smirked from her perch, cracking her knuckles. "Finally. Someone worth my time."

Without hesitation, she vaulted off the edge of the building, twisting her body mid-air and landing directly in the middle of the group. The thud of her boots against the ground was followed by a sharp, almost playful chuckle.

"Alright, boys," she said, her voice dripping with mockery. "Let's see what you've got."

The first to move was the scarred man, charging at her like a bull. Kairi ducked under his wild swing, delivering a quick jab to his ribs that made him grunt in pain. As he staggered back, another attacker—a wiry man with a butterfly knife—lunged forward. Kairi caught his wrist mid-swing, twisting it sharply until the sound of bones snapping echoed in the alley. The man screamed, dropping the knife, but Kairi didn't stop.

She slammed her elbow into his nose, blood spraying as he crumpled to the ground. Before she could fully process the takedown, another assailant came at her from behind with a crowbar. Kairi pivoted, narrowly dodging the swing, and delivered a spinning kick to his temple. The impact was brutal, sending him crashing into a pile of garbage bags.

The scarred man recovered quickly, roaring as he grabbed a metal pipe and swung it with terrifying force. Kairi blocked it with her forearm, wincing at the sting but using the momentum to wrench the pipe from his grasp. With a fluid motion, she drove the pipe into his kneecap, the sickening crunch followed by his howl of pain as he collapsed.

"You're just as loud as the last group," Kairi sneered, twirling the pipe like a baton. "But at least you hit harder."

One of the Destroyers, a woman with a mohawk and brass knuckles, rushed her, screaming something in Russian. Kairi ducked the first punch but wasn't quick enough to avoid the second, which caught her in the jaw. Blood dripped from the corner of her mouth as she staggered back, her tongue running over her teeth.

"Not bad," she admitted, spitting blood to the side. "But let me show you how it's done."

Kairi surged forward, slamming the pipe into the woman's side with enough force to lift her off her feet. The woman crumpled, coughing up blood. Another attacker came at her with a machete, but Kairi sidestepped, grabbing his arm and slamming his head into the nearby wall. The machete clattered to the ground, and Kairi kicked it out of reach.

The remaining attackers hesitated, the sight of their comrades either unconscious or bleeding out clearly shaking their confidence.

"What's wrong?" Kairi taunted, wiping the blood from her lip. "I thought you were the big, bad Destroyers. Don't tell me you're scared?"

One of them—a younger man with a trembling hand clutching a baseball bat—took a step back. "S-she's not human…" he muttered in Korean, his voice barely audible.

The scarred man growled from his position on the ground, blood streaming from his mouth. "Shut up and fight! She's just one girl!"

But Kairi was already moving. She leapt onto a nearby dumpster, launching herself off it and slamming both feet into another attacker's chest. He hit the ground hard, coughing violently as the air was knocked out of him.

The scarred man, fueled by rage, crawled toward a fallen knife. Kairi noticed and closed the distance in an instant. She stomped on his hand, eliciting a sharp cry, before driving the pipe into his shoulder. Blood spurted from the wound as he screamed.

Kairi leaned in close, her voice cold. "You should've stayed in the shadows where you belong."

As she stood, the last of the attackers bolted, disappearing into the night. Kairi surveyed the carnage, her chest rising and falling as adrenaline coursed through her veins. The alleyway was painted with blood, the moans of the injured mixing with the distant sounds of the city.

She smirked, tossing the bloodied pipe aside. "Guess the Destroyers aren't as scary as they think."

With a final glance at the scene, she climbed back onto the fire escape, vanishing into the darkness above.

The sterile air of the Kurokawa Metropolitan Bureau's main conference room felt heavier than usual. Officers filled the seats, their faces tense, as the overhead projector illuminated a large photograph pinned to the whiteboard: a grainy surveillance image of Kairi Saigeru, also known as the infamous "Pacifist."

At the head of the room, Police Chief Yuriko Matsunaga stood tall, her sharp eyes scanning the gathered force. The usual sense of order that accompanied her presence was amplified by the gravity of the case at hand. She tapped the desk with her knuckles, the sound commanding immediate silence.

"Let's get started," Yuriko began, her voice steady but firm. "We're here to discuss the ongoing threat posed by Kairi Saigeru, codename 'Pacifist.' For those of you unaware, she has become a major destabilizing force in Kurokawa. Her activities range from violent vigilante justice to confirmed connections to high-level gang eliminations. We are no longer dealing with an isolated figure. Her actions are escalating, and she has evaded us for too long."

She gestured toward the photo on the board. "Saigeru has single-handedly dismantled multiple criminal organizations, leaving destruction in her wake. However, she has also left a trail of innocent casualties—collateral damage we cannot ignore."

Ryuji Liang, one of Yuriko's most trusted detectives, leaned forward in his chair, arms crossed over his chest. "With all due respect, Chief Matsunaga, the problem isn't just tracking her down. It's apprehending her without causing a public outcry. The media has been painting her as some kind of antihero. If we mess this up, we'll look like we're protecting the criminals she's targeting."

Yuriko nodded. "I'm aware of the public perception, Liang. But the law is clear. We cannot allow someone like Saigeru to operate above it. That kind of chaos is a greater threat to society than the gangs she's eliminating."

Mikaela Yoon-Himura, Ryuji's partner and fiancée, chimed in, her tone measured but serious. "It's not just public perception we need to worry about. Saigeru's skill set puts her on a level we're not accustomed to handling. The woman's a ghost—she knows how to disappear, how to use the city to her advantage. She's not just a brawler; she's tactical. Every move she makes seems calculated."

Yuriko walked to the whiteboard, circling the image of Kairi with a marker. "That's exactly why we're restructuring our approach. Traditional manhunts won't work here. Saigeru thrives in chaos, and every time we've tried to corner her, she's turned it against us. Liang, Yoon-Himura—your experience in field operations will be critical here."

She turned to the gathered officers. "Effective immediately, we're designating Kairi Saigeru as our primary target under Operation Iron Veil. This operation will focus on three objectives: containment, de-escalation, and capture. There will be no unnecessary force unless absolutely required. Is that understood?"

A murmur of agreement swept through the room, though the unease was palpable.

Ryuji frowned, tapping his pen against the edge of his notepad. "Chief, about her patterns. She's targeting crime syndicates, which means she's likely moving through their ranks as we speak. Do we have any intel on her next target?"

Mikaela answered before Yuriko could. "There's been chatter about her recent involvement with a group connected to the Harvester of Unity gang. We don't have concrete evidence, but it's possible she's already crossed paths with some of their members."

Yuriko folded her arms. "If that's the case, we'll need to leverage any intel we can get from these gangs. Start leaning on our informants. If we can't find Saigeru directly, we'll track her by following the destruction she leaves behind."

One of the younger officers, clearly uneasy, raised his hand. "Chief, with all due respect, are we sure this is something we can handle? I mean, if she's taking out entire gangs by herself, what's stopping her from turning on us if we corner her?"

The room fell silent as Yuriko's gaze settled on the officer. Her voice was calm but carried an undeniable edge. "That's exactly why we're having this discussion. Saigeru is a threat, but she's still human. She has weaknesses, just like anyone else. Our job is to find them and exploit them, without losing sight of what we represent as law enforcement. If you're scared, Officer Yamazaki, now is the time to step aside."

The officer stiffened, shaking his head. "No, ma'am. I understand."

Yuriko nodded curtly before continuing. "Liang, Yoon-Himura, I want you two to start assembling a tactical team. Focus on officers with urban pursuit experience. If Saigeru continues using rooftops and alleys to evade us, we'll need people who can match her agility."

Ryuji glanced at Mikaela, a flicker of concern passing between them. "Understood, Chief. But I'll be honest—this isn't just another criminal. Saigeru has nothing to lose. That makes her more dangerous than anyone we've dealt with."

Yuriko's expression softened, just for a moment. "I know, Liang. That's why failure isn't an option here."

The tension in the room was palpable as Yuriko stepped back from the board, letting the weight of her words sink in. "Dismissed. Liang, Yoon-Himura, stay behind. We have more to discuss."

As the room emptied, the three stood in silence for a moment, the hum of the overhead lights filling the void. Yuriko finally spoke, her voice quieter but no less commanding.

"There's something else you need to know. Saigeru isn't just a criminal. She's a symbol, and symbols are harder to kill than people. If we don't handle this the right way, we risk creating something far worse than what she already is."

Mikaela nodded, her jaw set. "We'll bring her in, Chief. One way or another."

Yuriko's gaze lingered on the photo of Kairi, her expression unreadable. "Let's hope it doesn't come to the other."

Yuriko Matsunaga lingered in the now-quiet room, the echo of her last words hanging heavy in the air. The fluorescent light overhead buzzed faintly, punctuating the tension. Ryuji and Mikaela stood across from her, both silently processing what had just been said. The image of Kairi Saigeru still loomed on the whiteboard, a stark reminder of the challenge ahead.

Mikaela was the first to break the silence, her voice calm but carrying an undercurrent of unease. "Chief, do you think there's more to this? Saigeru's actions don't just seem random. She's picking targets. There's a strategy here, even if it's buried under all the chaos."

Yuriko's sharp eyes flicked to Mikaela, considering her words carefully. "You're not wrong. Her targets so far have been calculated—crime syndicates, traffickers, and gangs. But I don't believe it's purely altruistic. Someone like her doesn't operate out of justice. There's something personal driving her, and that's what makes her dangerous. Personal vendettas have no limits."

Ryuji exhaled sharply, rubbing his temples as he thought aloud. "If it's personal, then she might have a history with some of these groups. We could start digging deeper into their connections. If we find out why she's doing this, it might give us an edge."

Yuriko nodded. "Do it. I want every gang she's hit put under a microscope. I want to know who they are, who they were connected to, and any incidents from their past that might tie back to her. We've been playing catch-up for too long. It's time to get ahead of her."

Ryuji scribbled a note on his pad, but there was hesitation in his movement. He glanced at Mikaela, then back at Yuriko. "Chief… what if we're wrong? What if she's not targeting just criminals? What if she's got a grudge against the system itself? That would make us next."

The room seemed to grow colder. Yuriko's face was unreadable, but there was a flicker of something in her eyes—concern, perhaps, or grim acceptance. "If that's the case, Liang, then we're already on her radar. But we can't let fear dictate our actions. She's not invincible, no matter how much of a ghost she seems to be."

Mikaela crossed her arms, her tone serious. "And what if she's getting help? Someone feeding her intel, maybe even sheltering her. A lone wolf like her doesn't usually stay this invisible without assistance."

Yuriko frowned, the possibility clearly already weighing on her mind. "It's something we can't rule out. Assign a few officers to investigate anyone who might have ties to her—former acquaintances, allies, even family. If someone's helping her, we'll find them."

Ryuji leaned against the edge of the table, his brow furrowed. "Family, huh? That's assuming she still has any. Someone like her… I wouldn't be surprised if she's already burned every bridge."

Yuriko's voice cut through the room like a blade. "Even burned bridges leave traces. Start digging."

The sound of hurried footsteps outside the room broke the tension momentarily. An officer burst in, clutching a file with visible urgency. "Chief Matsunaga, we've got something."

Yuriko turned sharply, her hand gesturing for the officer to continue. "What is it?"

The officer placed the file on the table, flipping it open to reveal a series of grainy photos taken from a traffic camera. They depicted a figure—slender, hooded, and unmistakably Kairi—vaulting over a railing near a noodle shop.

"She was spotted less than an hour ago near the north district. We traced her movements as far as the rooftops, but then she disappeared again. Witnesses say she had a brief altercation with a group of men before vanishing. No casualties, but the scene was… messy."

Yuriko's jaw tightened as she scanned the photos. "Messy how?"

The officer hesitated. "Broken bones, unconscious bodies, and enough blood to suggest she wasn't pulling punches. But here's the strange part—none of the men were associated with any of the major gangs. Just low-level lackeys. It doesn't fit her usual pattern."

Mikaela narrowed her eyes. "Maybe they were bait. Someone trying to lure her out."

Ryuji shook his head. "Or she's losing control. If she's lashing out at random now, that makes her even more unpredictable."

Yuriko closed the file with a snap, her voice cutting through their speculation. "Either way, it's a lead. I want a team on this immediately. Pull any footage we can get from nearby businesses. I want every possible angle covered."

As the officer hurried out, Yuriko turned back to Ryuji and Mikaela. "This is the closest we've been in weeks. If we don't act now, she'll vanish again."

Mikaela adjusted her holster, her voice steady but determined. "We'll find her, Chief. Even ghosts leave shadows."

Yuriko stared at the whiteboard again, her expression hardening. "Let's hope those shadows don't consume us first."

The weight of her words lingered as the three of them prepared to move. The hunt for Kairi Saigeru was far from over, and the lines between predator and prey were beginning to blur.