Memories

"Stop right there!"

The man runs like his life depends on it. It probably does.

"Piece of shit."

Kyo keeps chasing. He's used to it. He bumps into a few people on his way as they all get startled, with a few even cursing at him. The man he's after bumps into an old lady carrying a box of green apples. This gives Kyo the chance to reach him. Kyo helps the old lady up, then grabs the man by his collar and stands him up.

"You motherf—," Kyo remembers who's next to him. He coughs and continues. "You dirty little rat! Why are you running from the inevitable?"

The man is sweating profusely, jumbling his words. "I... I'm sorry. It's... it's not my fault! They stole my fucking money! I was gonna pay! I swear!"

Kyo sighs. "Bull. Shit. Who stole your imaginary money?"

"The casino! I swear, man... These are the real criminals of our day. Robbery in plain daylight. I've put so much money into it, you'd think a win is overdue. Nope! They're definitely scammers!"

Kyo facepalms. "You're clearly an idiot, so I won't beat you up. You've got three days. Three! I won't be so kind next time."

The man gets on his knees and thanks Kyo profusely. "I'll get the money, I promise! Thank you for your mercy!"

"Scram!"

The man starts clumsily jogging away.

Kyo turns to the old lady. "Let me help you, baa-chan." As he starts picking up apples, he notices she's frightened. "I'm sorry. You've got nothing to do with this. Please don't be scared of me."

She cracks a faint smile. "You kids these days..."

Kyo picks up the filled box. "Where are you taking this?"

The old lady smacks his shoulder lightly. "Don't underestimate me! I'm quite spry for my age. I don't need a carrier!"

Kyo chuckles and hands her the box without arguing. She brightens a little. "Take a couple."

He does. "Thank you, baa-chan. Stay safe." She waves him goodbye as he bites into a sweet apple and leaves.

Damn, these are really good.

The street noise fades behind him as he checks his phone. A new message flashes on the screen.
You better not be late this time. 
Kyo smirks. "Yeah, yeah." He takes another bite and starts toward the bar.

As the sun starts to settle behind him, he makes it to his destination. This seemingly ordinary building hides inside a private enclosure. The bouncers let him in without question.
Eyes fall on him as he passes through, glances filled with various emotions.

"Yow! You're late. Again."

This is Suzy. Regarded as beautiful and skilled, she's been in this clan longer than me. Patronizing bitch. She would probably say we're friends. I probably wouldn't.

"No shit. All I fucking get is runners."

Suzy smiles playfully. "Can you blame them? You're the angriest man I know."

"Tsch. I only get angry when they bullshit me."

"Which is..."

Kyo sighs. "All the time. Point taken."

Suzy grabs him closer and shows him a video. "Look at this shit. I wonder what he did to them."

Kyo recognizes the face. "That's the chairman of that place. Uh, what's it called again?"

Kyo struggles to remember, then snaps. "Ah, whatever. I know him. He's a piece of shit."

"What'd he do?"

"No clue. Something for sure."

"Shit, good enough for me. Let's drink!"

Kyo scoffs. "I'm not drinking today."

"Why the fuck not?"

"I'm quitting."

"Like hell you are. How long have I known you?"

"A while."

"Two years. Two years since you joined. How many days without a drink, you think?"

"Gotta be like—"

"Zero. You drink here every night. I know that 'cause I do the same. You're not quitting."

"Is that a threat?"

"It's a fact. Sit down, I'm paying tonight."

"Fuck. Now I gotta drink."

"See? Just 'cause it's free. Doesn't really sound like quitting."

"Alright, hit me."

Suzy waves the bartender over, and the sound of clinking glasses fills the dim air.

As Kyo raises his drink, the door creaks open behind them. A man in a white suit walks in, confident, young, but with that polished smugness Kyo’s seen a thousand times before.

Suzy lights up. “Oh, shit. Didn’t think I’d see you here.”

The man grins. “Work never ends, huh?”

Kyo’s eyes narrow. “You two know each other?”

Suzy nods. “Yeah. He’s with the ruling faction. But don’t freak, he works with us sometimes. Information exchange and all that.”

Kyo stares for a second too long. Something about the guy feels wrong. Too calm. Too clean.

They talk a bit, laughter echoing faintly through the smoke and neon. The man excuses himself. “Bathroom,” he says with a smile, leaving his jacket on the chair.

As the man heads toward the restroom, Kyo leans back, watching idly, until the collar shifts.
A faint mark catches the light.

His breath stops.

A symbol, burned into his memory but buried deep under years of grime and noise. For a moment he can’t move, can’t blink. The chatter around him fades to nothing.

Then it hits.

The blood on the floor. His mother’s trembling hand. The sound of his father’s voice, broken and fading. That same symbol, slick with red, glinting in the dim light before disappearing into the rain.

Kyo’s chest tightens. His vision shakes. The room twists, drunk on memory. The glass in his grip cracks, liquid spilling between his fingers.

Suzy’s voice barely reaches him. “Hey. Kyo? You good?”

That... this is it. I remember now.

The mark burns behind his eyelids, clearer than it ever was that night. And for the first time in years, the noise in his head goes quiet, replaced by one single thought.

He found it.