A Demon's Lapse

The ride felt like an eternity. Everything was dark. Terrified, never in her life did she think she would end up being involved with the mob. The van stopped and they took her out. With her hands tied behind her back they placed her in a chair. Suddenly, someone swiped the sack off her head and she was blinded by a bright light. She squinted as she looked around to see that they took her to some warehouse. The presumed leader emerged from the light and said, "You better tell us where your sister is or else my boss will hurt you both."

Nora replied nervously, "I don't know where she is, I swear!" The man scoffed and asked her again but the answer was the same. He gestured to the other men and they began to crack their knuckles. Shaking her head in fear, she pleaded to be let go. The leader's phone rang and he answered. He put his hand up to stop the men and stepped out to take the call.

"Did you find her," asked the man on the other end. "No, sir, but we did find her sister and she claims she doesn't know where she is," said the underling. "Kill her, that'll bring her out," the boss said curtly. "With all due respect, boss, shouldn't we keep her around? It might scare her off and we may never find her," said the man. There was a moment of silence. "Fine then, bring her, we'll use her as bait," ordered the boss and hung up. The man headed back inside.

When the man came back he ordered the men move Nora back into the van. "Wait, what are you doing? Where are you taking me," she yelled. The men proceeded to put the bag over her head again. Nora tried to wriggle away from their grasp but they were too strong. Placing her back into the van, they drove off. Still struggling about, Nora heard a hissing sound making her cough and she began to feel weak. Her eyelids felt heavy and everything went black.

The man on the phone was Kiyohira Kimura, president of Kimura Group, Inc. He vowed to punish that son-of-a-bitch Nakano and his lover, Rosario Ramírez. The traitor decided to steal top secret data from the biotech branch for reasons unknown. The company had been engineering new technological advancements using the element, Sapphirium. An extremely potent element that provided long-lasting energy, it was more efficient than conventional power sources, but rare. Having a deep blue color, like a sapphire, gave it its name.

Hanging up the phone, he calmly walked toward the group of men facing him. The rain was pouring and lightning briefly illuminated the night sky. Bodyguards accompanied him on both sides. They stood on the rooftop of a building in Shinjuku, Tokyo. The men standing before them were the Kokuja Clan and their leader. "We didn't have to do this if you had just accepted my offer, Mr. Takumi," Kiyohira declared as he stood in the rain. "I would never surrender my organization to the likes of you. I said the same thing to your father and I'll say the same to you. I will never submit to your family," answered Takumi. Kiyohira laughed, "The old man didn't have it in him but make no mistake, I'm nothing like him." The Kokuja men pulled out their swords and guns. "I will die before bowing down to you," said Takumi as he drew his katana.

Kiyohira smirked as Takumi and his men charged towards their opponents. He dodged Takumi, kicking him to the floor. Being trained in several martial arts, Kiyohira was a powerful fighter. Takumi tasted wet concrete as he crashed down. Standing up, he wiped the blood from his mouth, spitting out the metallic-tasting crimson fluid. Whilst the men were fighting each other, Kiyohira walked over to Takumi. Swinging the sword once more, Kiyohira slapped it out of his hands and kicked it away. Pow! Kiyohira's fist broke his nose. Takumi was a fearsome opponent, being trained in the traditional art of the Kokuja Clan. Not only was his honor on the line, the legacy of his clan was too. The Kimura Clan was one of their mortal enemies, it was up to him to defend his family. Thrown onto the floor once more, this time Takumi kicked Kiyohira in the chest, sending him close to the edge of the building. He saw this as the moment to deliver the final blow so he charged toward Kiyohira, knocking him off.

Believing he had emerged victorious, Takumi turned to face his men when a shadow engulfed him. Turning around, he saw a figure levitating in front of the neon signs of the buildings across the street. Sharp and slightly twisted horns protruded from its head. Two large wings, webbed like a dragon's, suspended the figure in the air. A long and tapered tail hung below it. Unwilling to believe the stories he had heard about a demon Kiyohira, the sight confirmed all of them. Kiyohira laughed maniacally and Takumi stood paralyzed. Before the men could gun him down at Takumi's order, Kiyohira quickly swooped in and grabbed the clan leader by the neck and flew into the sky.

Above the clouds, he held Takumi by the throat. Gasping for air, he struggled to escape Kiyohira's clutches. With bright red eyes, he looked into Takumi's soul. "It didn't have to be this way but you forced my hand, farewell," Kiyohira said, in a booming and demonic voice. He released him and soared away.