Eros. (Benimaru Shinmon)

七十四

As I moved through the narrow corridors of the Nether, the weight of Akira and Ichi in my arms was a constant reminder of the urgency of the situation. The faint sounds of conflict ahead—raised voices, the clash of metal against metal—grew louder with each step. My glowing eyes pierced through the darkness, guiding me toward the source of the noise.I stepped into a large, dimly lit chamber, its walls adorned with the same oppressive symbols that marked the rest of this hellish place. In the center of the room stood Joker, his usual smirk in place, but there was a sharpness to his gaze, a readiness for the fight that was about to unfold.

Opposite him was a man who exuded power and authority, his tall and muscular frame dominating the space. His wavy gray hair, partly styled into a ponytail at the back, caught the dim light, while his bearded chin strap and the black eye patch covering one of his green eyes gave him an imposing presence. I recognized him instantly—Leonard Burns, a figure of immense strength and reputation.Burns stood tall, his gaze locked on Joker, but there was a tension in the air, an unspoken understanding that a battle was imminent.

The atmosphere crackled with anticipation, both men poised to unleash their power.Before I could speak, Benimaru entered the chamber behind me, his presence as commanding as ever. He took in the scene with a quick glance, then looked at Burns, a grin spreading across his face.

"If you're doing this, I want a piece of the fight," he said, his tone casual but laced with excitement.

"Sounds like a good time."Burns shifted his attention from Joker to Benimaru, his single eye narrowing slightly in recognition.

"Captain Shinmon," he acknowledged, his deep voice carrying a weight of respect. The tension in the room was palpable, each man sizing up the other, ready to test their strength. But before anything could happen, the loud slam of the door behind me echoed through the chamber, drawing all eyes toward me.

Joker, Burns, and Benimaru turned in unison, their gazes locking onto me as I stood there, holding Akira over my back and Ichi in my arms. The weight of the moment pressed down on me, but my expression remained cold, my eyes still glowing with the power that had been coursing through me since the moment I entered this place.

"C-Captain Homura," Burns stammered, the fear in his voice evident as he recognized me.I took a step forward, my voice cold and unyielding.

"They're hurt, but they'll live," I said, my words carrying a promise of retribution for those who had caused my teammates' suffering.

Joker's smirk widened, clearly enjoying the shift in the room's energy, while Benimaru's eyes flicked to Akira and Ichi, a brief flash of concern crossing his usually impassive face.

Burns remained still, his gaze now focused entirely on me, assessing the situation with the keen eyes of a seasoned warrior.

"Is there a problem?" Joker questioned, his voice laced with amusement as his cards crackled with flames, ready to fire. "Or just getting cold feet?"Burns only sighed, turning his back to them. "This is no time for us to be fighting. I'd like to hear what you have to say."

Joker's cards extinguished instantly, and he let out a loud, incredulous laugh, his cigarette bobbing in his mouth.

"What?" he yelled, staring at Burns in disbelief. "So, you realize I've got the toughest guy and toughest gal on the force with me and folded, huh?" Benimaru added with a hint of disappointment, "I thought out of all the captains, you'd be the one to give me a bit of a challenge.

Though I hear they keep the biggest fish in Haijima."Joker's expression shifted to one of curiosity as he asked, "If you're not going to fight, then why are you here?"