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What was supposed to be a simple walk back home had turned into something else entirely.
Spanner took the purple bandanna from his pocket, wrapping it tightly around the man’s arm. He didn’t know who this man was. But he was bleeding out, and it would have been against Spanner’s virtues to leave a person as injured as this in an alleyway all by themselves.
If left unattended he could easily die.
“We need to get you to a hospital.” Spanner spoke bluntly. Trying to guide the other man to lean on him, he refused the gesture.
“Just go! I can take care of myself.”
There was a sense of panic in his eyes, his voice. It was subtle but it was there. You would think he’d be grateful for this.
Was there something more to these injuries? Did a gang inflict these perhaps? Some lowly thugs weren’t enough to dissuade him. Even if it was the Yakuza Spanner wouldn’t back down. Already having lived the life of a delinquent, not much phased him by this point.
He only scoffed in response. “What a ridiculous joke. You’re in no position to be left by yourself. Now come on—”
A gruff voice burst through the silence. “There he is!”
Within an instant Spanner and the man had found themselves surrounded by multiple men. Upon a further look, they didn’t look like mere delinquents or even Yakuza…
Spanner looked back down to the man. To attract such folk, just who was he?
Another one of the men walked forward. “Well Minato, you’ve given us quite a bit of trouble lately. That ends tonight.”
Minato. So that was his name.
Spanner moved in front of Minato, shielding him. Reaching a hand back to grab onto his sleeve. A way to signal that he was there for him, and wouldn’t back down.
Knives were in the hands of each of these thugs. Spanner immediately began to plan a way out. Fighting back against this many armed people would be foolish.
“And your friend here will be taken care of too.”
Spanner could see how Minato’s eyes shook upon hearing those words.
“He’s not involved with me! Leave him out of this!”
The man twirled his knife around in his hand, and the smug look on his face made Spanner want to gag. “I dunno. You two look pretty involved to me.”
A knife zipped past the two of them. Planting itself right into the wall, centimeters across from their faces. Clearly it was a warning shot.
Spanner knew the next one would be aimed much, much closer.
Taking out another knife from his pocket, “Even if he wasn’t, the fact he saw us at all means he has to die. That’s how the boss likes it.”
What the hell did Minato get himself into to be chased after by such fiends? Just who was he affiliated with that drew these men towards him? With each passing second Spanner’s questions kept piling up.
There was time for answers later however, no way would he be getting them now. They both needed to get out and fast. Spanner frantically glanced around for any sort of opening to escape.
That was when a sound echoed through the air. It sounded like a chain, but it was oddly zippy.
A girl emerged from the dark shadows of the alleyway behind everyone, and walked forward towards the crowd of thugs. Slowly, but confidently passing a yo-yo up and down with each step.
She looked familiar.
…That was it! She fit the description of Kudo Fuga’s supposed daughter—a business man who had been reported missing several months ago. Though rumors suggested there was something much, much more to it than that. Forces at hand that were more sinister than the news let on. Than they could let on.
Spanner couldn’t remember her name no matter how hard he tried. It was on the tip of his tongue but there was too much happening for him to think straight.
He moved right to Minato’s side, hands gripping his sleeves tighter as the girl continued to walk. Unsure if she was a friend or foe. One couldn’t put their guard down in this situation.
Through the corner of his eye, Spanner could see something in Minato’s face shift.
Another zip of the yo-yo. It slammed right into a thug’s head and knocked him out cold. As he fell to the ground with a thud, she took the yo-yo into her hands and braced herself for battle.
Turning her head towards Spanner, “You! Get Minato out of here! I’ll take care of these guys.”
“Saki!” Minato wobbled up, finally allowing himself to lean on Spanner. “Thank you.”
Saki?
Spanner did remember that was not the name that was in the papers talking about the incident surrounding Kudo Fuga… Whatever. Spanner shrugged it off, more important matters were at hand.
But just how was a girl going to beat up these men with a mere yo-yo?
He would have been humiliated if he spoke those words aloud. Within a flash the yo-yo zipped around. The sound the chain made echoed throughout the air even louder than before. It whacked each of the men and deflected knives with impressive amounts of skill.
That was no ordinary yo-yo, and this Saki, if that even was her name—was no ordinary girl.
There was no time to gawk.
Spanner guided Minato out of the alleyway. Saki defended the two of them the entire way, staying back to fight them. While Saki was still within earshot, he overheard her calling herself the title of “Sukeban Deka”…
What the hell was going on? Spanner had questions, and would make sure Minato gave him answers.
The apartment Spanner lived in was in rough shape due to its age, though it was still rather clean. He made sure to stay up to date with the maintenance. It was small and humble.
Kyoka wasn’t here. Probably out getting spare parts for who knows what again. Good timing though. To bring in a man who was once on death’s doorstep would have shocked her. Minato wouldn’t want her to become tied up in all this either, Spanner was sure of that. There was no guarantee he’d even provide the answers Spanner wanted.
Pouring the two of them tea, the apartment remained still. Minato silently sipped away at it. Minutes would pass before he spoke again.
“There was a reason I told you not to help me.” He sighed. Still looking and sounding panicked. A slight tremble in his hand as he put the teacup down. Averting Spanner’s gaze the entire time. “Now they’ll be after you too.”
“Just who the hell are they anyways?” Spanner was blunt again.
“Plus you could have died!” He was not willing to entertain Minato refusing his help, or any other sort of avoidant nonsense. Even if Saki arrived on the scene, he could have bled out if not properly bandaged in time.
What a ridiculous joke.
“Minato.” As Spanner spoke his name, he looked up to him. “I have questions, and you will tell me who you are.” He poured him more tea. “That Saki girl too. If I am supposedly involved with you now… It’s the least you can do.”
Spanner couldn’t help but admit to himself that he was drawn to Minato by this point too. He’d only known him for this past hour. Despite this he felt as if his path forward in life had been inexplicably changed forever.
He didn’t have any regrets about this. No way in hell would he have left Minato to bleed out and die like that.
For most of his life he’d been a delinquent on the streets. Getting into fights all the time. Including with a couple lower tier Yakuza groups. What were a few more new enemies?
He sat down next to Minato. Up close he could see the tatters in his suit, the bloodstains that had entrenched themselves in certain areas. As well as the handsome features of his face—
Spanner coughed, stopping himself from thinking about that any further. Back to business.
Looking Minato dead in the eyes. He could also see how that sense of panic still lingered. “I’m not going anywhere, or letting you out of my sight. So you might as well tell me.”
Minato sighed again, visibly looking as if he had resigned himself to how the situation panned out.
Whether either of them liked it or not, the paths of both of their lives had now become intertwined. And there was no way to go back.
“Looks like I have no other choice… Very well.”