Here's the Yakuza idea I've been tossing around. If response is
good, I'll may continue it. If not, well, then it's up for grabs.
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The day had been slow at the Ucchan, which was usual in the hours
between breakfast and lunch. Dressed in her standard chef's garb, Ukyo
Kuonji mentally checked off the minor necessities. The griddle had been
scraped, the ingredients stocked and ready, the floor mopped and counters
wiped. All in all, she had nothing left to do but hurry up and wait for
customers.
Grateful for the chance to kick up her heels a little, she retired
to the small stool situated behind the counter. It wasn't much, but it was
downright comfortable. She gazed at the small television she kept for the
customers at the far end of the counter in the hope that something good was
on. Seeing only some stupid game show, she rolled her eyes and reached for a
manga that she kept handy for slow periods. She glanced at the name of the
author, Rumiko Takahashi, and thought,
//This girl writes good stuff.\\ Sighing, she opened the cover and
began to read. The story drew her in almost immediately as she followed the
exploits of poor Godai as he struggled with his...
The sound of the door sliding open startled her out of her manga.
Embarrassed, she quickly rose to her feet and cheerfully greeted the customers.
They were five men, all dressed rather sharply in dark grey three
piece suits with almost razor-sharp creases, white shirts, and black shoes
polished to the point of gleaming. They were all far too well dressed to be
simple salarymen. Two carried matching black briefcases, but all of them
had a very slight bulge in the side of their double-breasted jackets. Ukyo
didn't even notice that.
Without a word, the five took their seats inside a corner booth of
the restaurant. Picking up the small book of Guest Checks, she put on her
best happy face and strode over to the booth. Konatsu was out for the time
being getting supplies, but it was no big deal.
"May I take your order, sirs?" she asked, pen at the ready.
"No, thank you,"one of them replied. His tone was polite, yet
distant and cool. "We're still trying to decide."
"Okay," she said, "Let me know when you're ready." Ukyo turned and
walked back behind the counter. She grabbed a broom and began to sweep, even
though the floor was already spotless. It wouldn't reflect well on her,
after all, if customers saw her slacking off. She swept for only a few
minutes before a familiar voice sounded in the restaurant.
"Yo, Ucchan!" Ukyo looked up as Ranma took his usual seat in front
of the counter. "Gimme a special, willya?"
Ukyo went about preparing the dish, similing outwardly. Inwardly,
though, she wondered when Ranma would realize that she was more than a free
lunch.
"So, what brings ya by, Ranchan?" she asked in her distinct Kansai
accent. He was sporting a couple of fresh bruises, so she knew Akane had
something to do with his appearance.
"Akane made breakfast this mornin'," he said with a visible shudder.
Ukyo's heart went out to him. "If I didn't know better, I'd swear her miso
soup was plotting against humanity." Ukyo winced, putting two and two
together. She found it incredible that he always went back to Akane,
considering all the abuse she put him through. Of course, it wasn't that
Ukyo herself didn't give him a good smacking from time to time, either. With
an expert flip, the round okonomiyaki landed on a small plate she had ready.
She placed it before Ranma, who began his rather commendable impression of a
vacuum cleaner. She immediately began cooking another two. Out of the corner
of her eye, Ukyo watched the five in the corner booth.
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"They're late." Ryo Sanzaki absently popped his knuckles as he
shifted his thin frame in the booth.
"Would you stop that?" asked the man next to him. "You have no idea
how annoying that is."
"I don't like to be kept waiting," Ryo replied.
"Wait," said a third, a well-built man who looked to be in his late
thirties, "I think that's them."
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Five more men stepped through the door, dressed much the same as the
five in the corner booth. One carried a black attache case close to his
body, as though what was inside was more precious than gold. They took seats
in a booth just two down from the booth in the corner. Ukyo watched two men
from the corner booth get up and take seats with the five recent arrivals.
//I wonder what's goin' on?\\ she thought as she watched. Ranma,
done polishing off the last two okonomiyaki, followed her gaze.
"I wonder what those guys're up to," he whispered.
"Whatever it is, it's none of our business," Ukyo replied. Curious
though she was, far be it from her to pry into the affairs of her customers.
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"You have it?" Akira asked the five who sat before him. He and his
partner each placed a briefcase on the small table. The small man in the
middle placed his attache case on the table. Casting a glance around, to see
if either of the two up front were watching, he opened the case.
Inside were several shiny metal plates. The plates each bore the
image of the front of a thousand yen bill. Akira looked at the plates, a
scowl forming on his youthful face.
"What...is...this..." he hissed. "Where are the rest?"
"You get those once we make sure that all the money is here,"
replied the one on the small man's left.
"You son of a bitch," Akira snarled. "That wasn't the deal."
"In case you haven't noticed, WE are the ones with the plates,"
answered the man on the small one's right. "We set the terms."
"We'll see about that," Akira replied menacingly as he rose to his
feet, reaching inside his jacket. When the others rose, all hell broke loose.
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"Aw, damn," said Ukyo. "Looks like a fight." Ukyo grabbed her giant
spatula and leapt over the counter. "HEY! Take it somewhere else!" She would
NOT let these jerks trash her place.
She froze when one of them pulled out a gun. Ukyo had never seen one
in person before, and was shocked at the sight. She turned around just as
the shots began.
"UCCHAN! GET DOWN!" Ranma shouted. The two dove over the counter
while bullets flew through the air.
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"It was a double-cross!" shouted Ryo from behind an overturned
table, .45 at the ready. He squeezed his eyes shut as bullets smacked into
the now ruined tabletop he used for a shield. With the speed of a cobra, he
levelled his pistol, squeezing off four shots in rapid succession. One of
the Kabudosai fell with two slugs in his chest, though he had no time to
rejoice. "Get the plates!" This was turning out to be one big cluster-fuck.
The die cast plates sat undisturbed on the table.
Sirens wailed in the distance, telling Ryo that time was almost up.
Cursing, he darted out from behind his impromptu shield. ducking under the
hail of bullets, he reached the plates. Closing the attache's lid, he tucked
it under his arm. He also managed to grab one of the two cases of money
before a bullet sailed just millimeters away from his right temple.
Cursing yet again, he called for the rest of his partners as he
headed out the door.
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Ranma had no idea how long the shooting lasted, nor did he care. It
galled him to hide from a fight, but he wasn't about to take on ten men with
guns. Even he knew that a fist couldn't stop a bullet. Finally, the
cacophony of noise stopped.
Smoke wafted lazily in the air, the acrid stench of cordite hanging
everywhere. Slowly, Ranma raised his head above the counter. Three corpses
were laid out on the floor. Most of the furniture was shot up, tables and
the counter riddled with bullet holes. A white-hot bolt of pain arced up his
leg, causing him to give an audible gasp. Inspecting the wound, he found
that it wasn't too bad.
//Man, I must've really been freaked if I didn't feel a bullet,\\ he
thought. He looked down to see Ukyo still lying on the floor.
"Ucchan?" he asked. "Get up. It's over." When she didn't respond, he
tried again. It was then that he noticed the blood. Four dark stains were
steadily spreading on her back., and her skin was getting pale. There was a
little red underneath her as well.
"UCCHAN!!!!!!!!!!!!"
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Well, there's my first teaser! As I said, this is an idea I've been
playng with ever since I found the fanfic "A Thirst For Vengeance."
Unfortunately, I can't find a completed version of it... Anyone know where I
can find it?
C&C is, as always, welcome and appreciated.
Thanks!
Jed