Only one shot

—And with this, we should be able to find Yoru around this area.

—Good eye, Yuki.

We were having an investigation session before going out, we had the TV with the news on and with a whiteboard at the side, along with another whiteboard covered with newspaper and handmade maps.

The area where the previous fight was should have been gone for now, the elementers move around those places, since there are a lot of strong people around, they can retreat as soon as possible with them.

We determined that the next spot was one that the police were not investigating, according to the patterns of the police reports and the areas around, this time it would be in a place that should be far away.

The police is currently investigation the whole district now, so they should change it to one that is not obvious, one that has a ton of people at night, and that is the perfect spot to do it, and we are sure this will work because we are not searching for an elementer, we are searching for a gambler of this fights, so if we find the fight, we find Yoru.

We left the house and went to the train station, it was going to be a long journey, and we probably wouldn’t make it to school tomorrow, but this is an important matter for me.

“I’m sorry I’m dragging to this again, Yuki”

“I started to enjoy it, even though I get scared”

“You are a really good friend, Yuki”

“Don’t get mellowed man, is gross”

“Sorry”

I laughed and we entered the train, I was looking at the window with a concentration that would make anybody think that I was about to do something to the person in front of me, fortunately I am just a kid.

But it was uncomfortable still, Yuki let his fist fall on my knee and it made me react.

“Calm down, are you really that nervous?”

“I am… we need to make this work, I don’t know what else is to be…”

“You sound pretty confident in your own skills with that stamen, hope you don’t let that attitude down when you met Yoru”

“Heh… that bastard…”

After a bit, we reached our destination, there was still time until the night came so we started to hang out in a ton of places, first we went to the arcade, a coffee shop, and had something to eat around, when we finished, we lay down in a dark alley drinking sodas.

It was already late; it was time to get on the hunt but before doing that we kept a little chitchat.

“I am so full…”

“Yeah, me too… thanks for treating me, Yuki”

“Is nothing, but you sure eat a lot… I didn’t expect that”

“Did I overdo?”

“No, it’s fine, it surprises me only”

“I told you, I’ve been practicing a lot, that made my body requiring more food”

“Makes sense, and your powers don't consume that?”

“I haven’t really been using them that much, I practice with them but I just feel tired and not hungry”

“I see…”

“Well, then” —I threw the can in the trash bin and looked at Yuki while smiling. “Shall we?”

“You bet”

We had planned something really easy, this time we went inside the dark alley and we were detained. We would ask about Yoru, it was a pretty stupid plan at first, Yuki even told me how dangerous it was but he forgot about something.

Elemeneters are not dangerous but on the defensive side, so when they approached us…

“Hey! Kids buzz off!”

“We have something to deal with Yoru”

“Yoru? Who is that? Listen, if you don’t to be in that trash deposit you better turn aro-“

I took the necklace out of my shirt and the man stopped talking.

“Recognize this?”

“I do… how do you get that?”

“We are registered to enter and see the fights”

“Kids? Who even let you enter?”

“Yoru”

“That fool…”

“So, you do know him, do you know where he is?”

“Yeah, he is a few blocks from here, but be careful with that man, he is not good news”

“We know, thanks”

We were about to go but one of the friends of the man that stopped us reach me with his voice

“Yo, kid!”

“What is it?”

“You have it?”

I smile and put my fingers like pointing with a gun to an empty bottle, I throw an air bullet and destroy the bottle, the man smiled and nodded at me while we left.

“That was easier than I thought… you think they get mad at me if I don’t have powers too?”

“C’mon Yukki, what are you saying? The necklace is enough, besides there are a ton of people without powers in here too, those guys didn’t get scared, you saw? They were accepting me!”

“Just… don’t go up in the clouds, okay?”

“What’s that supposed to mean?”

“You will get it…”

We walked through a few blocks in the dark with only the light of the moon guiding us, and then we found Yoru playing cards while smoking and drinking a beer. He was being questioned about the hand that he used since he won.

“Hey, being a charlatan is part of the game, just accept your loss”

“Don’t you give me that you idiot, you sure cheated!”

“My, my, what makes you think I cheat?”

“There is no way you won against my straight flush, it's just not possible!”

“Royal flush son, I am the lucky one tonight”

“BUT HOW?!”

Yoru saw us and he left the table grabbing the money and saying goodbye with his hand.

“HEY COME BACK!”

“Leave it man… if we cannot prove he cheated it is over… you just look like a fool right now…”

“Goddammit…”

Yoru started to laugh and count the money while smoking.

“You cheated?”

“Whaaat? You kids too? Of course not, I might do trickery but I am a fair player, sometimes you just gotta take risks, am I right? Isn’t that why you are here tonight?”

We stopped and I look at Yoru in the eyes.

“That is right, I need a manager, and unfortunately you are the only one available that is willing to take kids as a fighter”

“Huh… so I am just your last resort, tch, tch, you should not say that kids, you kn-“

“Please!”

I shouted and looked him in the eye directly, Yoru took a deep smoke and let it out.

“Don’t get to pushy kid, I don’t like the tense air that you are forming around me, fine, I’ll do it”

“Conditions?” —Yuki asked.

“Let’s go to one of the places around here, these are just empty shelters, I have a desk around, we can talk more there”

We nodded and we followed Yoru, we entered a small apartment with a few chairs and a desk, we sat down and put the cigarette away.

“Okay, first, do you know does this battle work?”

“Is with everything you can, not killing allow”

“Yeah, but I mean how the system works”

“Not really…”

“You saw the fights already so I’ll leave you that for homework, other than that… wind powers, right?”

“Correct”

“Is a very versatile power, you have force, speed, and mobility, but you lack defense, and brute strength”

“We know that, are you… examining him?”

“Of course, I am, I am willing to be your manager so the best I can do is knowing with what I have to offer, is not going to be easy I tell you that, the championship has allowed younger fighters but is always a hassle”

“I understand, but this is really what I want to do”

“Big words, your name, kid?”

“Ren Kazeki… 16 years old”

“I thought you were younger… okay, got it. So, I know what you are waiting to hear, and I’m going to tell you the two of them. Yes, I am going to be taking part of your money, I’m taking the 30% percent of the total amount how’s that sound”

“30%?!”

“Fine”

“REN!”

“There is no other option, Yuki, I think is a fine percentage anyway, but by your look it may be not”

“70% of the pay is good enough”

“Yeah, without knowing the range”

“Perspective, kid…”

“I don’t want to make you rich”

“Hoo… looks like you are not the only one with fangs, Ren… What is your name?”

“Yuki Arima, same age”

“Perfect, okay I got what I need, you leave me the rest to me, here”

Yoru throw us a detachable phone and I took it.

“I’ll let you know when to come, keep training as you are right now”

“How did you…”

“Let me be straight with you in the final point, if you don’t make me win, you better give up on this, I am not a charity kid, remember”

Yoru left and I smiled

“I didn’t expect less”