Heartless

{38}

The stench of meat permeates the air but considering how loud the man's screams are it's hard to focus on their nauseating environment. The slaughterhouse. Where men butchered animals and the mafia could string up their victims and do the dirty work without worrying too much about the mess.

He was one of the last remaining members of the Yakuza and somehow managed to escape prison alongside others including the man that killed San's wife. Kenzo, a gang leader with a scar running down each eye and a red kiss inked on his neck. They're unsure of what they could be possibly scheming because men like them don't go down without a fight.

They'll try to scrape up whatever money and buy the other gangs out to start a new drug line. It's what they do and have always done. If they can get enough power they can take over Japan and start trouble again which is the last thing they need. Runa promised to kill every last one of them and now that they've managed to escape prison, this is her business to handle.

While they track the remainder of the members, the first step is finding Kenzo which their most recent victim has proved to be quite helpful with. It took a few teeth and fingernails to be plucked out but they've gotten somewhere. San is the one who called her here. Usually he's the type to handle things on his own but he figured she should be by his side.

She appreciated the call and involvement, her and Jungkook keeping a good distance behind the underboss to make sure the blood on him doesn't taint them. Her offer to join in with such torturous matters flattered San but he shook his head and told her he had this. He in fact always did.

The man passed out and remains hanging from where his hands are bound by chains, his body slightly swaying. They got the information they needed and he left the room to clean up, washing off his face over the sink in the dingy bathroom down the hall. Runa gave a nod for her bodyguard to keep his distance while she talked to him, leaning against the doorframe with her arms crossed.

"Are you gonna go after him?"

"I have to." He answered, water dripping down his face and he tugs paper towels out of the dispenser to pat dry, his sleeves rolled to his elbows.

"He's all the way in Japan. Do you want to send men over there-"

"No." He shortly interrupted, passing her an almost apologetic look while he stood straight and tossed the used paper towels in the overflowing trash can.

"No. I need to do this myself."

She nodded. "I understand. You'll talk to Jimin about it then?"

"Yeah. I'll try not to be long over there."

Runa flashed a brief smile to let him know they established an understanding. "Do you want me to come with? You know I will. Just say the word."

He shook his head, the Oreo dyed strands of his hair fading from how many times he's had to wash his hair this week from the blood he's spilled. It took a while but now that he's got something solid to work with he can't pass up this opportunity. He needs to right his wrongs and as much as he appreciates her sentiment towards his situation he can't allow himself to ask that much of her.

"No. I have to do this alone. If she were here she'd probably tell me to let it go but I can't. I won't forgive and I won't forget what Kenzo did."

"Alright. When you get back, alive, I'll buy you dinner and you can tell me more about her."

San managed to smile and it was enough to make her feel better about things. He could be a hard man to crack sometimes but he was her friend nonetheless. She cared about him and figured with all the trouble he's about to go through they could celebrate Kenzo's death and honor his wife's memory with good food and a toast. It's thoughtful and he takes it to heart.