Erase

Act 54: The Reunion

WEDNESDAY

-Streets 10:19 PM-

Late Wednesday night. The time of day when the White Lion Triad are at its most active, making transactions in dim alleyways and other dark recesses all over town. To them, it was just another day of work.

To Yuichi, it was an opportunity to get closer to his goal: revenge.

Dressed in a beanie, scarf and thick clothing, Yuichi walked around the streets, scouring through every transaction spot that he used to go through, in hopes of finding an ongoing transaction.

Complacency was one of Evelyn Lau's biggest flaws. She thinks that using the same transaction spots over and over again would lead to quicker transactions, disregarding the possibility of someone spilling the beans to the authorities.

Eventually, she realized this flaw and decided to get protection from the Tokyo Metropolitan Police Department, led by the infamously corrupt superintendent Kyukichi Katsuragi. By paying them a hefty sum, Evelyn gained access to guaranteed protection, not just from enemies, like the Yakuza and the Red Lions, but from prosecution from authorities as well.

Yuichi, however, could care less about the police and whatever "protection" they got. The only thing her cares about is revenge against the White Lions, and, in particular, Evelyn Lau.

After a while of a walking, Yuichi eventually finds an ongoing transaction: in the back alley near the train station, the same place where he took his last assignment as part of the Triad.

"Old habits do die hard, eh Lau?" Said Yuichi.

-Alleyway 10:24 PM-

Yuichi snuck into the alleyway, and watched as the two White Lions are in the middle of their transaction.

He waited and waited for the transaction to end. As soon as the buyer exchanged his briefcase full of money for the White Lion lackey's briefcase full of contraband, that was his cue.

The buyer and the lackey eventually part ways. As soon as the lackey walks closer to the dimly lit recession where he was sneaking on, Yuichi suddenly extends his arms to grab ahold of the lackey.

Yuichi pulls the lackey onto the recession, takes his newly-bought smartphone and uses its flash as a torchlight, which he then shines at the lackey's face.

It was then that he realized that the lackey was a girl, roughly his age. Her mouth was covered with a scarf of her own, obscuring most of her face, and she also wore a newsboy cap, almost like Yuichi's.

"... A girl?" Said Yuichi. "What's your name...?"

"Mmmph...! Mmph...!" The girl replied, her voice muffled by Yuichi covering her mouth.

Yuichi then releases his grip on the girl's mouth but not her body. She continued to squirm in order to let go, before eventually speaking

"Let me go!" Said the girl. "I was just caught in the middle of this!"

"Don't lie. I saw you carrying that briefcase." Yuichi replied. "That briefcase full of contraband."

"How do you know so much about me?" Said the girl.

"I am sure, because I've been through that before." Yuichi replied.

The girl stopped squirming as soon as she took a good listen to Yuichi's voice. To her, it seemed... all too familiar.

"That voice... where have I heard that voice before?" The girl thought.

The girl thought hard about what shd had just hearf, before eventually remebering whose voiced it belonged to.

"Y-Yuichi...? Yuichi, i-is that... you?" Said the girl.

"Yuichi Onodera." Yuichi replied. "So what if I am?"

"I-It's me, Yuichi!" Said the girl. "Remember me...?"

The girl then takes off her scarf and hat, revealing her face to Yuichi. Yuichi's eyes widen upon seeing the familiar face in front of him.

"M-Miharu...?" Said Yuichi.

The girl turned out to be Miharu Hanamura, a friend of Yuichi's during his days with the Triad. Miharu was an orphaned street urchin who was thrusted into the harsh reality of living in the streets at a young age. At the tender age of 5, Miharua learned that the only way to survive in the streets was to steal.

Despite what her actions might dictate, Miharu maintained a kind heart amongst her kind, and made friends with several of her fellow street urchins, and in particular, Yuichi, whom she had a crush on. She used to give half of her nightly earnings to him, so he could pay for Yukari's medical bills.

The last time Yuichi and Miharu met was days before Yuichi defected from the Triad after a drug deal gone wrong. Yuichi left without ever saying goodbye to Miharu, who still kept her feelings toward him through the years.

"M-Miharu is that you...?" Said Yuichi.

"Yuichi..." Miharu replied.

Yuichi loosens his grip on Miharu, as they began to talk to each other.

"So... you're still on the Triad's side, I see." Said Yuichi.

"Only out of necessity... because Madam Lau pays me a sum that no other person can." Miharu replied. "I'm sorry, Yuichi. Seeing me aligned with Madam Lau right after she killed your-"

"I know, Miharu. It's OK." Said Yuichi. "It's not your fault."

"Personally, I have a bone to pick with that Lau bitch myself." Yuichi continued.

"So I've heard..." Miharu replied. "Your sister..."

"Because of her... my sister is no longer by my side." Said Yuichi. "She took my sister's life... so I've dedicated my life to taking hers."

"I... see..." Said Miharu.

Miharu grew silent for a moment, seemingly thinking hard about something, before eventually speaking.

"Yuichi... there's something I wanna tell you..." Said Miharu. "But please... don't tell anyone else. This is only between you and me, okay?"

"What is it, Miharu?" Yuichi replied.

"Well... uhh..." Said Miharu, as tears began to flow down hed face. "No... I can't..."

"Miharu...?" Yuichi replied.

"Alright, I'll say it..." Said Miharu, as she broke down to tears. "I... got violated. By Madam Lau's henchmen."

"It was a few months a go... one of the deals I negotiated went awry..." Miharu continued, in between sobs. "Madam Lau knew about it... and put the blame on me, and me alone... and so I was given a 'little' punishment as warning."

"Madam Lau's henchman took me to a dark room..." Miharu continued, visibly struggling to let her words out. "They tore off my clothes... and then... And then... And then...!"

Yuichi was speechless. Miharu's words sent chills down his spine. He didn't need to know exactly what happened. The unbridled fear in her voice said it all.

"I was so scared... Yuichi!" Said Miharu. "Scared of what Madam Lau and her henchman did to me... and what they might end up doing next...!"

"If that was a mere warning shot... just imagine what she might do to me once I-" Miharu continued.

Suddenly, Miharu's confession was interrupted by a familiar female voice.

"Hmm? What was it that you were talking about, Hanamura?" Said a female voice. "I'm a bit curious myself."

Miharu's eyes widen as she hears the all-too familiar voice.

"It's... It's her...!" Said Miharu.

TO BE CONTINUED