price of power

Chapter 2 – The Price of Power

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A Lesson in Loyalty

The dimly lit VIP lounge pulsed with low, hypnotic music, a stark contrast to the suffocating tension in the air. The scent of expensive liquor mixed with the metallic tang of blood, barely noticeable beneath the thick perfume of wealth and power. The rich crimson curtains that lined the walls billowed slightly in the cold draft, adding a layer of ominous energy to the already stifling atmosphere.

Yuuji sat at the head of a sleek, polished table, his fingers lazily tracing the rim of his glass. The amber liquid swirled smoothly, as if it too feared the tension in the room. Across from him, a trembling man knelt on the floor, his forehead nearly pressed against the carpet.

"Y-Yuuji-sama, please… I won't fail again," the man stammered, his voice barely above a whisper. Sweat dripped down his brow, mixing with the blood from the fresh cut across his cheek. His hands shook as they hovered in front of him, palm up in a futile plea for mercy.

Yuuji sighed, swirling the amber liquid in his glass. "That's the problem," he murmured, voice smooth as silk, cutting through the thick silence. "Failure shouldn't happen at all." His voice wasn't angry—it didn't need to be. There was an eerie calm that made his words even more frightening.

Kaito, lounging casually in the chair beside him, let out a low whistle, looking at the trembling man as though he were nothing more than a bug. "Damn, man. You're really dragging this out. Just shoot him and move on." His voice was flippant, but the gleam in his eyes said otherwise. There was a cruel sort of amusement there.

Yuuji turned to Kaito, his eyes narrowing slightly, but he didn't respond. He stood up, walking slowly toward the kneeling man. Each step was deliberate, almost languid, as if he had all the time in the world. He stopped just inches from the man's face.

The man whimpered, barely lifting his head, his eyes filled with terror. "Please, Yuuji-sama, I'm sorry. Please don't—"

Before the man could finish his sentence, Yuuji's hand was on his throat. The grip was cold, firm, and precise. In a single motion, the man was lifted off the ground, his airways cut off. His hands flailed, grabbing desperately at Yuuji's arm, but it was useless.

Yuuji looked into the man's eyes, his expression as detached as ever. "Your mistakes have cost me too much," he said softly. "I don't tolerate those who can't hold their end of the deal."

A sickening crack echoed through the room as the man's body went limp, his eyes rolling back into his head. With a final flick of his wrist, Yuuji threw the lifeless body to the ground like a broken doll.

"Clean this up," he muttered coldly, turning away. "And make sure the next one remembers why they shouldn't disappoint me."

Kaito chuckled darkly, his cigarette dangling from his lips. "You're a real piece of work, Yuuji." He exhaled a cloud of smoke, watching the man's body get dragged away by a pair of masked figures. "But damn, that was efficient."

Yuuji adjusted his coat, his movements precise, the calmness of his demeanor even more unsettling after the brutal display. He didn't seem shaken in the slightest, like the life that had just been extinguished was little more than an inconvenience.

"I don't do things halfway," Yuuji said, his voice as cold as the blade of a sword. "Everything must be perfect. Or it's worthless."

Kaito grinned. "Fair enough. So, ramen?"

Yuuji didn't respond immediately. He turned to glance at Kaito, his lips curling into a smile that was more unsettling than kind.

"Sure. Why not? After all, it's just another day in the business."

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A Dangerous Encounter

Just as Renji was about to head back to the kitchen, the bells above the restaurant door jingled.

He looked up, expecting another customer, but instead, his body went rigid at the sight of two men stepping inside.

The first one was tall, with red hair, sharp eyes, and an arrogant grin that made Renji's blood run cold. Kaito. Renji had heard the name—dangerous, but charming in his own twisted way.

But it was the second man that made Renji's stomach drop.

Yuuji.

His presence was suffocating, as if the very air grew heavier around him. The restaurant seemed too quiet—as if the building itself recognized the danger standing in its walls. The other customers, who had been chatting just moments ago, fell into an eerie silence. Someone's spoon clattered against a bowl, the sound unnervingly loud.

Renji felt his pulse quicken, his instincts screaming at him to run.

Kaito flashed Renji a wide grin, the kind of smile that didn't reach his eyes. "Smells good. You got any recommendations, Chef?"

Renji forced himself to smile back, trying to ignore the tightness in his chest. "If you don't like it, don't pay."

Yuuji didn't speak immediately. His gaze lingered on Renji for a few seconds, cool and calculating, before moving around the restaurant like a predator inspecting its surroundings.

Renji could feel his eyes on him. The way Yuuji looked at him wasn't just a glance—it was a measurement. An evaluation.

Then, Yuuji spoke. His voice was quiet, but it sliced through the room like a knife.

"You fight?"

Renji hesitated. Was this some kind of test? His fingers curled slightly at his sides.

"Not really," he said, though his gut churned.

Yuuji said nothing, but his eyes narrowed slightly, as if filing away the information. He turned away, losing interest as quickly as he had gained it. Kaito, however, was still grinning like he was enjoying a show.

Renji exhaled in relief, but the feeling didn't last.

Because when Yuuji left, he glanced over his shoulder—just briefly—and offered Renji a fleeting, unreadable smile.

It was in that moment that Renji understood something terrifying.

This wasn't just a man. This was a monster in human skin.

And worst of all? Yuuji had already decided when he'd take his next bite.