*Haiji

  Daigo took us to a big shaft around the bridge that he knows, the ‘shop’ was actually a very big building like barn, made of rusting zinc sheets and nylon bag, covering busted openings. The whole area was filled with old crushed vehicles and the thugs hanging around the building were harmed with mostly machetes and few had AKs.

  Some gave us the usual death glare as we walked to the open entrance of the shop, but Daigo assured me that they were harmless as long as ‘we’ too remain harmless.

  The noise, heat and different ‘metal against metal’ sounds coming from inside the shop was on other level, especially the heat; which was like I was mining in a tunnel ten of feet below ground-surface, even if I and Daigo were still few feet away from the entrance.

  I looked around as we entered this giant shop, it was filled with people; buying, selling, making and disassembling different types of tools, weapons etc. and there were also guys carrying AKs strolling round the shop.

  Daigo strolled through the shop while I followed from behind, we soon reached a particular counter that had a small queue in front of it which we joined.

  After a while, it was our turn (Daigo’s turn to be exact because he was in front and I just stayed behind him), Daigo greeted the middle-aged fat woman with hideous moles all over her face standing behind the counter.

  “What do you want?” She asked with a stern face.

  “We want to sharpen and refill these axes” Daigo responded, as he stretched his hand out for me to bring the axes from my bag pack and handling it over to him.

  She took the axes; placing one on the table and examining the other one.

  “Hmm, this is some old shit; probably made in the 1990s and definitely not made in Japan, maybe Germany or Russian. Fuck, it even has old refill mechanism and the pattern are foreign” she said looking at the axe, before tossing it on the counter.

  “I will take 5,850 yen for both sharpening and refilling” The ugly old woman said, then spat on the ground beside her.

  “Fine, how long will it take?” Daigo said without flinching at the price.

  It also seems no one can bargain here because I didn’t see any of the people that were attending to before us, bargaining for a low price.

  “I will cover everything, don’t worry adding a dime” Daigo whispered to me, but he seems to think I planned on contributing, which isn’t even my mind.

  Yes; the price was much but he said he will pay for everything before coming here, I am not going to spend money 1 don’t have on shit like this. I will let him keep his word.

  We stood there aside and waited for nearly 45 minutes for the axes to be ready, when the old woman handed the axes to Daigo, the design markings by the sides of the head of the axes were glowing blue; a sign that they are now filled with mana in them.

  “Wait, you got a holster back there of the axes?” Daigo asked, the old woman.

  She pulled out the counter’s drawer and vigorously searched it without taking her gaze off us, then she brought out an old holster and said “600 yen”.

  Daigo handed her the fee for everything and handed me the holster.

  Daigo and I decided to leave, so we headed towards the shop’s exit, we heard a loud gun shot from where we just left, which not made that area as silent as a graveyard but also attracted everyone’s gaze including us.

  The old woman behind the counter held a two-barrel shotgun; with its muzzle still letting out smoke, one of the thugs carrying an AK47 walked up close to the person that was shot.

  Stolen content warning: this tale belongs on Royal Road. Report any occurrences elsewhere.

  The person that was shot seem to be alive because I could see some movement but the person still laid flat on his face; definitely meant he is barely hanging on to life.

  The fat woman said something to the thug, I could not really hear what she said but I picked up some words like ‘fuckin'’, ‘Steal’ and ‘end’. No one seems to be asking about what the guy did, most of us just watched, while some lost interest and continued whatever they were doing before the gun shot.

  The thug bent down and searched the guy on the ground, then he pulled out something that looked like a small faintly glowing yellow glass-tube with multiple short wires on each end of the tube.

  The thug immediately aimed his AK47 with one hand at the back of the guy and fired like seven shots, then uttered something; which I could not hear but by reading his lips, I think he said ‘Thief’.

  Then he shot the guy two more times, by that time two other thugs were already there and entered a conversion with the thug that shot the man.

  “Let’s go…” Daigo said softly as he pulled me with my left arm to exit the shop.

  When we left the shop, we found our way underneath the destroyed highway bridge we made a stop at after fleeing from Daigo neighbourhood.

  “So, should we head to Taisho or do you want to do something else?” Daigo asked, as we walked beside each other.

  “You mean is my head clear now?” I replied rhetorically, then continued being as honest as I can be “That truth is I don’t know and I know care, like you said if I let myself get drown in whatever the fuck this is, then I will be fuckin' dead and I can’t afford death”.

  “Yeah, it’s a bit of a luxury for us” Daigo cut in, making a joke.

  “I think we have chilled enough. Thanks for the axes and the holster, time to get up our asses and make some coins” I suggested and Daigo nodded his head in agreement, before we trekked down to Abeno-South public train station (different from the 1st Metro train station) and boarded the train going to Taisho (Uptown – Industrial Projects).

  Since the local train will go through Sumiyoshi public station and use its railway, we should reach Taisho shopping mall before 3 pm. I and Daigo didn’t talk much on the train, so before you know it I was drawn to the TV to see what program is on.

  It was the usual ‘Gates, Guards and Government bullshit’, but the host did say something that caught me a bit off guard.

  “…so the people in and outside the Conquest district have to generate the revenue to stabilize the effect of the Kyoto incident?” The male host asked.

  “Firstly I have to say, the Public Relation Office do not really like or agree with idea or thinking the general public have pertaining wards of Japan being divided into numerous non-existing districts. The terms ‘Silver, Conquest and whatever’ districts are not terms recognized by the Japanese government and this imaginary walls created by some political parties and the media only serves to divide the shared goals of this great nation.

  It gives people the idea that some people are given special privileges in the eyes of the law, which it isn’t in anyway true. Every citizen is given equal right and opportunities, so are they given equal responsibilities to aid our nation; no one is excluded.” The guest of the program said with so much seriousness.

  “…Including the Guardians, Elite Guards, politicians and all the top brass that could possibly be exempted?” The host promptly asked, before the guest could continue his statement.

  “Every working citizen including them, that is why the NPA (National Police Agency), the Disaster and Riot Control Task force (DRCT) and the Enforcer Agency have join resources under the orders of the Cabinet to make sure every worker irrespective of age or status should pay an affordable amount of contribution in order to quickly heal from the sudden blow of the latest Kyoto Gate outbreak. If the backbones of our nation are going every in their power to make sure that more people don’t suffer or die, why should we all be so absent minded and start using provoking terms and shifting responsibilities?” The guest said in a loud and disapproving tone.

  “Are you seeing this shit?” I said, tapping Daigo’s shoulder without taking my eyes off the TV screen.

  “I see it, what a load of crap.” Daigo responded, with his eyes now glue to the program.

  “I think I speak for most viewers watching this program right now that the government and Guardians works are truly appreciated and if they are point this much efforts in preventing the escalation of the damage on Kyoto, we won’t resist and will try to help in any little way we can but that doesn’t just take out the fact that many of us cannot be to afford a contribution” The host said softly.

  “That is why the contribution will not a fixed amount, it will depend on the income of every individual. That is also why government officials have been sent all over the country to every place of business to help determine the financial strength of each individual and render a decent suggestion on how much they can contribute with causing any discomfort” The guest said, making many hand gestures as he talked.

  “I think the government have pulled through excellently on this matter, because we need a quick and effective solution” He said, ending his lengthy statement.

  “It is very reassuring that something is being done about this particular issue…” The host words were fading out of my ears, as I turned to Daigo and spoke with a worried tone “I don’t believe this is a small matter, what do you think all this means?”

  “I think it means shit is about to hit the fan” Daigo said, slowing and repeated nodding his head.