The bustling nightlife, the glaring light of the neon signs, the lingering stench of alcohol, expensive perfume and cheap cologne clogging up the streets of this town. It was home. Passing by a group of scouters wooing half-drunk businessmen to waste their money away with overpriced champagne for a night''s company in return. They would say the same old hollow lines every single night and lonely men would fall for it and get ushered into the host club. It was pathetic but humans are humans, a species weak to desire and crave another''s warmth even if it''s momentary.


    A young gentleman has seen this scene far too many times that he''s grown numb. Scoffing to himself as he watches some middle aged man scuffle his way into of of the clubs. Being stationed in this area for patrol was definitely a drag but it was his duty.


    Whistling and odd tune and and skillfully tossing and catching a set of charms he would always bring along with him, the collection ever so expanding as he catches a new one in the claw machines. He comes to a halt as his eyes reach a certain figure all to familiar to him leaning against the railing meant for bicycles outside the convenience store. A young man around his age too, bleached blonde hair with his roots all too obvious, leopard print shirt, the first two buttons unbuttoned and a pair of black ripped knee skinny jeans. An eyesore indeed.


    "Ah? Rikki!" The boy shot up, jogging his way over. Shooting a toothy grin. The reflection of one of the lights from his silver studded lip piercing was almost blinding. "Patrolling huh? Don''t you ever catch a break?" He sighed.


    "En." Rikki acknowledged. "It''s my duty, I can''t fall back on it." He stated sternly, opening his mouth to continue but was stopped when En shot his hand up in a halt in front of Rikki''s face.


    "Yeah yeah, gotta keep watch on our territory yada yada yada. Jeez you''re a real fun one eh." En chuckled dryly, his eyes drifting to a nearby lamppost behind Rikki. His eyes changed, the usual light in his eyes was now hollow, he looked...sad? "You really listen to Zee huh..." He sighed, "I mean yeah, he''s like ya saviour right..." His tone was sad but cold, was he angry? Rikki couldn''t tell.


    "En?"


    In an instant En''s cold and distant expression turned back to his signature bright smile. "Yeah anyways! You''re ending your patrol soon right? Let''s go get something to eat, meetya outside the arcade aight?" His eyes shifted to the top of the other boy''s head and reached over, the suddenness of his movement making Rikki flinch. En''s eyes flashed with guilt as he swiftly swiped whatever was on Rikki''s head and held the item in front of him. It was a white feather, it was pure white, untainted, not even a botch of dirt. It was peculiar, he''s never came across a white pigeon during the times when he was patrolling or when he was travelling around the city. "Sorry man, got a lil somethin'' on your head." En explained. Rikki shook his head and ruffled a hand through his blood red locks, making sure that there weren''t anymore that he didn''t notice.


    "It''s fine En." Rikki sighed, "I''ll meet you later." He smiled at the boy to ease his feeling of guilt. En grinned and gave a light slap on Rikki''s shoulder, "Alright! Seeya in awhile man!" He exclaimed, turning on his heel to walk away when a blood curdling scream filled the air and the hustle bustle of the city quietened. Whispers then filled the air as everyone tries to understand what was happening. It was like his body went on autopilot, quickly rushing to where the scream came from, his thoughts were a haze he had to figure out what happened. It was his duty. It was what Zee appointed him to do. He needs to hurry!


    "Rikki!"


    His legs brought him to a nearby alleyway, dim and musty, the only source of light coming from the lamppost nearby. Rikki made his way further in, not noticing En trailing behind him. The air smelled metallic, it was so pungent it caused his head to swirl a little. "Geh! What the hell''s this smell!" En exclaimed, placing a hand to cover his nose and mouth, not being able to take the odour. This smell was familiar, this distinct odour of iron, it was...blood? Rikki halted, En knocking into him as he wasn''t expecting him to suddenly stop.


    The sight laid out in front of him was horrific. It shook him to his core. He couldn''t move. "R-Rikki?" En questioned, craning his neck over to look at what made his friend suddenly stop. A loud gasp emitted from the fake blonde, his knees weakening and dropping on his tailbone.


    What laid out in front of them was truly something they wouldn''t forget. A dead woman with her abdomen shredded, organs in full threatening to gush out, they were in a shade of dark red, almost black, and what seemed like her small intestine was wrapped around her neck. Her mouth agape, the pupils of her eyes unable to be seen and her body was contorted in a way that didn''t seem humanly possible. What surrounded her were pearly white feathers, similar to what En snatched from his head but they were stained with blood.


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    A wave of nostalgia washed over him as he looked at the tainted feathers. Why? A sharp pain shot through his head and his vision blurred, letting out a yelp he clutched the side of his head tightly, holding onto the wall for support. "Rikki?" En quickly got up to assess the condition of his friend. That was the last thing he could hear properly when a blast of white noise overcame his hearing. Everything that happened next was a blur, he could roughly make out the sound of police sirens and the ambulance and the hushed panicking of civilians.


    The next thing he knew he was seated on a soft cushion, the warmth all too familiar. Rikki blinked slowly, taking a look around. He was at Headquarters and he was seated on the sofa placed inside of the office. "Ah you came to." That voice''s gentle low rumble, it made Rikki feel at ease.


    "Zee..." Rikki croaked, his eyes widened in realisation. "B-boss! I''m sorry..." He quickly apologized, lowering his head in shame. Mentally punching himself for how rude he sounded. A soft laugh filled the room as a warm hand cupped his shoulder in comfort, "Look kid, I told you it''s alright to call me that, you don''t have to worry about shit like that." A light flick to his forehead, making Rikki tilt his head up to face the man in front of him. That gentle smile that never fails to ease his worries, that very same smile that saved his life.


    "B-but..." Rikka mumbled but was cut off with another light flick to the forehead. "You can call me Zee." The man stated, he looked serious but still gentle. Rikki deflated in defeat.


    Zee, leader of their clan, Geraiki, owning a faction of Neo Kakucho. A silent man of few words, infamous amongst the clan leaders of the city for snatching the previous clan leader''s crown and rebranding the clan to what is known today. He was a tall and fit man, sporting a natural tan and definitely wasn''t lacking in the looks department. He had a strong aura with the charisma to boot, being able to woo the members of the clan to fall into his command. This was the man that saved his life. The man he owed everything to. The man who accepted him for who he was and took him under his wing.


    "Rikki." Zee called out, taking a seat on the coffee table, staring into Rikki''s eyes. "What did you see just now?" The man questioned. What did he see? Right... that woman...when he was patrolling. Rikki shivered as he remembered the sight he saw. He''s seen his fair share of blood and gore after being by Zee''s side for years but that sight was truly something that would haunt his dreams. Rikki couldn''t keep quiet to the man in front of him, he was still his boss, he expects everything to be reported back to him no matter how much the boy doesn''t want to remember it.


    "When I was doing my nightly patrol around, I suddenly heard a woman''s scream and I ran to find out what happened and when I arrived she was..." Rikki paused, the scene flashing before his eyes again as he let out a shaky breath and continued his report with as much detail as he possibly could. Zee just sat quietly and listened.


    "That''s all I can remember, boss" Rikki concluded. Zee nodded and stood up.


    "Zee." He corrected.


    "Z-Zee..." Rikki nodded.


    "I actually heard everything from En but I wanted to hear your side too, sorry to bring up the memory kid." Zee said, looking at Rikki guiltily. Rikki shook his head and his eyes quickly widened, "En..." That''s right, En was there too to witness the scene. Zee hummed, "You better go out there and thank him, he dragged you all the way here when you were all conked out and was panicking like hell trying to dodge the cops." He let out a dry laugh.


    Rikka let out a noise of agreement and a wave of guilt washed over him. He made En do all that, maybe he should treat him to his favourite beef bowl he always talks about as thanks.


    "Rikki." The man called out again, "Looks like I need to have a talk with the other clan leaders." He sighed, making his way over to the huge wooden desk filled with piles over piles of paper. "The other clan leaders?" Rikki breathed out. A meeting of all the clan leaders means serious business.


    When a clan leader calls forth a meeting, it means the peace of all the factions are at risk. Zee knows something that Rikki doesn''t, he can feel it.


    The five factions of Neo Kakucho was established after the battle of Exousia when the current four leaders and the now dethroned continued to stand their ground and decided to end the battle and lessen innocent lives by agreeing to break up Kakucho into the five factions where they were to take over respectively. The five factions made the new Kakucho and the leaders did their best to ensure the peace of the city. This is why Zee was infamous amongst the leaders, he was an outsider who forced his way in.


    Rikki didn''t realise he was gripping onto his pants so tightly that his knuckles turned white. Zee took a seat onto the black leather chair behind the desk and flashed a small smile to the boy. "Why don''t you go now, En''s probably shaking in worry outside right now." Rikki nodded and took his cue to leave.


    "Rikki." Zee called out, stopping Rikki as he was about to turn the door knob. Rikki turned and looked at his boss quizzically. "Go get some rest alright? Seeya tomorrow." Rikki flushed and bowed slightly, "See you tomorrow…Zee." and quickly made his way out.


    As he shut the door, a warmth engulfed him, the impact being a little too sudden as his knees wobbled threatening to give out and cause him to fall but quickly steadied himself. "Rikki!" His left eardrum almost bursted at how loud that cry was. En was embracing his side, body shaking, as if he was about to cry. "E-En..." Rikki felt so guilty, it was because of him En was in this state. It confused him why but he didn''t want to question it now.


    A muffled hiccup emitted from the fake blonde, "Rikki! You had no idea how worried I was!" He snapped up his head to show his red face, showing that he was probably crying before this. The bubbly boy started rambling but was quickly stopped by Rikki, "Hey i''m fine, let''s get out of here alright." In hopes to soothe the blubbering boy. En nodded and sniffed, "Alright but i''m bringing you home though..." Rikki just smiled and said a small ''okay'' as the two made their way out of the headquarters.


    At the other side of the door, the leader let out a small chuckle, hearing the whole scene that was happening just right outside. Pulling out his phone from his front pocket, and finding the contact he was looking for, and with only two rings they picked up. "ZeeZee! So rare of you to call me!" The cheery voice plaguing his ears was disgusting.


    "Io." Not even bothering to acknowledge the stupid nickname. "We all need to have a little talk." He stated gruffly, getting straight to the point. A questioning humm came from the other end. "Seems serious..." Their tone still keeping up it''s playfulness.


    "Alright, I''ll let everyone know. See you soon, Zee." The playfulness was gone and the air stilled, soon enough the call ended. The man let out a sigh and placed his phone onto the desk, closing his eyes and leaned back into the chair.


    "Rikki..."