Survival Game, Book 1: The Fool

Prolouge

    A full moon illuminated the misty night sky, mingling in with the neon lights from several buildings engulfing the perimeter of a single window. To the man who gazed upon this scenery, all the buildings were the same. Rather it be a company headquarters, a simple store, a bar... all of them disgusted him in a way that made him nauseated at the sight of each one. Just thinking about it now made him grit his teeth, biting down onto the cigar placed in his mouth. He abruptly turned away from the window in that moment, impatience burning through his veins as he checked his watch. 10:00 p.m. She's late. He realized with annoyance. I pay for her room and wait for her, and she doesn't have the decency to show up on time?! He puffed out a cloud of smoke from his cigar and folded his arms in wait.
    What originally was meant to curb his stress only added onto it in the end, resulting in him pacing the floor of his hotel room and constantly checking his watch every passing minute. By no means was it his first time ordering a prostitute nor was it his first time staying in this hotel, but as he continued checking his watch and lighting cigars, the limited time frame he faced was growing more and more evident. If I miss that meeting with Noguchi, I may never get any peace other than women and booze. He fretted inwardly. And even those things are getting old...
    "Satoshi Akasaki-san?" A soft voice addressed him as the door creaked open. "May I come in?" She added, despite entering inside anyway. Satoshi quickly put out his cigar at the sight of the young woman, a dark haired beauty with pale skin and gorgeous brown eyes. His meeting almost completely forgotten, he scanned her over and over again, gazing intently at her long, slender legs and bare shoulders. "You're late." He pointed out as his eyes focused onto her ample breasts, partially covered by a floral red yukata. "But, I'll make an exception this time. What's your name?"
    "Hmmm...? You hire someone yet you don't know the name of who you're hiring? That's quite a dangerous game you're playing, you know." She teased, tilting her head slightly and placing an index finger against her glossy lips. "Aiko is my name."
    "Only Aiko? What about your family name?" Satoshi asked through narrowed eyes, watching the woman stroll up to the double bed in the center of the room and seat herself delicately onto the beige colored blankets.
    "That will have to wait." She replied with a small titter. "Now, we didn't meet up just to talk. I'm sure you and I are both quite busy. Let's hurry up, shall we?" Her narrow fingers fumbled with the obi around her waist, though rather she was trying to loosen it or reach for something underneath it, Satoshi couldn't tell. Judging by her pressed lips and narrowed eyes, he assumed the latter. Her concentration was broken by a loud knock on the door, an annoyed anger bubbling inside Satoshi at the sound of it. He stomped up to the door and swung it open, his mouth slightly agape as he prepared to rebuke the newcomer. It instantly closed once he caught a glimpse of the man's jagged black hair and rather plain looking clothes. "Noguchi...?" Satoshi addressed the man in shock. Our meeting isn't until an hour from now... how'd he even find me?
    "You seem shocked, Akasaki-san. Can't I come pay you an early visit?" Noguchi smugly wondered aloud. "Oh, now I see..." His eyes sparked as he gazed at the young woman behind Satoshi. "Mind if I join in your fun while I'm here?"
"I don't see an issue." The woman responded, her voice coming out teasingly despite the uncomfortable twitch of her brow. She said no more afterwards, instead crossing her legs and placing a hand against her cheek, her red nails tapping rhythmically against her skin as she watched the two men in curiousity.
    "Can't this wait, Noguchi?" Satoshi grunted, forcing the man's attention back onto him. The question came out in annoyance, though Satoshi couldn't ignore the temptation stabbing into him as his eyes kept glancing at the thin black box held in Noguchi's hand. That box was the subject of their future meeting and it took all of his willpower to resist jerking the box away and greedily unveil the precious content inside. His fingers were twitching at the sight of the box and he forced himself to divert his gaze to Noguchi instead. "Nevermind." He grunted, his eager temptation driving him to speak. "Are you sure? Can this really give me what I need?"
    "Of course." Noguchi replied, using his free hand to grab a cigarette from his pocket and light it. "More than that, actually. This thing can give you powers you wouldn't even believe are possible. Powers you'd only see in fiction until now." His offer sounded as if he was starring in a commercial and offering whatever product he could sell, though Satoshi couldn't care less about any of it.
"Powers?" He repeated skeptically, cocking a half shaved brow. "What the hell are you talking about?" I don't give a damn what lie you tell to get me to buy it as long as it gives me the adrenaline I need. He added inwardly, wishing his acquaintance would hurry up and make their transaction. The more he kept glancing at that thin leather box, he continued to crave the concealed drug more and more. Anything to take care of the overtime of his job and the splitting headaches that followed. He'd take all the medications in the world if it meant he could get through a work day without wanting to scream inside. And yet, Noguchi continued to stall.
    "You don't seem to understand, do you, Akasaki-san?" Noguchi continued, taking a few steps forward and closing the door behind him. "The AX drug is a new product, but there's one thing you must know before making any deals with us. By purchasing it and claiming its powers, you agree to a whole new way of life. You agree to join us, those bounded by our... special abilities. It's something no common person can obtain. Do you understand that?" A certain tension crackled in the air as he spoke, causing Satoshi's skin to prick as if the room had been chilled over with cold air.
    Satoshi clenched his teeth, a cold sweat trickling down his forehead as his heart raced. What the hell is wrong with me?! Damn this guy! I don't care! His mind whirling with apprehension, he reached out his hand and jerked the box away, instantly breaking it open and pulling out the clear syringe, a thick liquid glinting threateningly inside its glass confinements. "I don't know what the hell you're talking about nor care! This drug is mine! Finally! Finally, I get a break from this shithole of a world!" He sounded half mad, his eyes wide with a newfound excitement and his mouth frothing with drool. Noguchi could take all of his money and his woman both if it meant getting his hands on such a rare item. All the rumors he heard about this drug were even greater in reality. And it was finally his at last.
    He let out an almost maniacal cackle, rolling up his sleeve eagerly and poising himself to inject the liquid into his veins. "It's mine! It's mine! Final–" His joyful cries quickly faded into a shriek of pain, his wrist sliced open before he could even see his attacker or what cut him. He fell to the floor, dropping the syringe along with him, and when he screamed this time, it was out of both pain and fear that the glass would shatter. Much to his relief, the vial was caught by a slender hand, fresh blood smearing the glass as it rolled back and forth in the palm of the figure who held it.
    "My apologies, but I couldn't let that man steal my prey." The soft voice told him, his attacker's dark brown eyes gleaming at the sight of his blood staining her hand. Rather that or the syringe, Satoshi didn't care. He needed that drug back. "You seem upset... or perhaps fearful? Angered? Or all three? Hm... I can't tell. What is it? Tell me why you seem like this drug is more important than your own life."
    "You whore... Give it back... it's mine." Satoshi grunted through clinched teeth. He glanced at Noguchi, seeing if this woman was all part of his ruse, but he just stood there, arms folded, watching both of them with interest. "Was this your idea, Noguchi? Did you set me up?"
"Hm? No, of course not. Truthfully, I thought you'd be suited to join us. But, now... I think your little mistress is better for this role. I don't think I'll be needing you anymore." Noguchi bent down to make eye contact, his glare as cold as ice. "Unfortunately, you're not worthy of tasting AX's powers now. Sorry..." The false pity that covered his words made Satoshi even more angrier. "You said that he was your prey, correct?" He added to the woman, who had the drug still in hand. "Well, I'll let you finish him. I don't have much time left, it seems." An almost fretful glint sparked his cold gaze at the sight of police cars appearing in the window.
    "Very well." The woman let out another irritating laugh, though the blandness in it heavily suggested she was faking it. "But, first... Akasaki-san. I'd like to have an answer to my question. Which one do you value more: the drugs or your life?" She didn't wait for an answer. "Let's see... I guess this'll upset you the most." She decided. Without a second's hesitation, she raised the syringe up and stabbed the needle into her neck, the liquid inside seeping into her veins. Satoshi couldn't resist but to let out a wail of despair, mingling in with Noguchi's fit of laughter that followed. All of his money, his hopes of freedom from this world, were gone. He'd rather have them kill him if it meant that.
    "Well, pretty lady, I must go." Noguchi spoke once he recovered. "I'm sorry it didn't work out, Akasaki. You wouldn't have lasted a second with us anyway. Come back once you actually are man enough to use our powers." He began to walk away, throwing a hand up in departure. "When Azumi Kimura and her wannabe gang show up, leave her a message for me, will you? Tell her that we're the Grandmasters and our game's just begun. We've waited long enough... and we can't wait to see how she plays along."

(Do you like the Japanese honorifics? If not, I will use English ones. Please let me know and I hope you continue to read.)