Chapter 33:

What happened to Itsuki

Spice of Life


Rika giddily knocked on the door to Helga's hotel room.

"Well, you're late as hell. I was getting ready to sleep after my all nighter," Shiori growled as she answered.

"Hey, work came up, so is Itsuki fine?"

"Piercing free, but now she'll be bandaged up for a bit. Also managed to laser that tattoo off and get rid of the spray tan, hope your "work" salary can satisfy my fee," Shiori growled as she held her phone up.

"That's in yen right?"

"Euros."

"Fuck, why's it so high!?"

"Well, I also included White hair's medical fees since she's with you."

"Oh, in that case Hana can pay some of it," Rika said as she pulled out her phone."

                                                                             ...

"*Sigh* Well it's what I get for screwin up. Guess my act as a food critic wasn't enough to clear me, well good thing I have enough cash and this place has an exchange counter," Hanabi sighed.

"Is Hanabi sad about losing money?" Izumi asked.

"Nah, since my lousy family usually demands a chunk of my rewards, I make sure to splurge it all before I get back. Though I guess this time I won't be going back, now that I found you."

"Izumi's sorry."

"Don't be. Hell, I'm glad. Besides, that clown probably survived and will put in bad word against me. I did murder those cultists whom are close associates after all."

"Then what do we do?"

"We'll hunt down Illumous. The Ginkawas are already putting high bounties on members and will pay for info on the organization. I'm never working for my family or Illumous again. So let's become strong together and be an unstoppable team!"

"Will Hanabi grow her hair out? Izumi would like to see that."

"Heh, what a symbolic way for me to show my independence," Hanabi smiled as she crushed her hair clippers in her hand and threw them in the trash.

                                                                                   ...

"She says she'll bring the money up in a few minutes," Rika said.

"Come in then," Shiori growled.

"Well you sure took your sweet ass time," Helga growled.

She was laying on the bed wearing a neck brace and had her left leg and right arm in casts. Everything else was covered in bandages, with only her face visible.

"She can at least move everything and talk fine, but she'll be wheelchair bound for at least a few weeks," Shiori stated.

"Great, not like I have a restaurant to work at anyway," Helga growled.

"Oh, yeah... Hana- well guess she's going by Hanabi now, blew a chunk out of it. Well, guess we can say that's where you got your injuries from," Rika suggested.

"I was seen coming to the hotel. Ugh, whatever."

"And how long to you intend to ignore me?" Itsuki glared.

She was sitting on the sofa and wearing nothing but the robe from the hotel. Her entire head was covered in bandages save for her eyes and mouth.

"Yeah, sorry about that, so did my little demon sister mess you up after you left the restaurant?" Rika asked.

"Little sister!? The one that was with your father?"

"Yeah Hasue, she's a demonic little shit."

"All your sisters are crazy. Just last night as soon as I got back from your restaurant, your older sisters stopped by for an examination. They were pissed I cured your friends, but were more concerned about Ichika's hair follicles.  Just as they expected, all Ichika's hair follicles were destroyed. Ichika cried so hard and wailed about how she wanted Nino to join her in hairless hell. Nino then suggested a kill spree and she calmed down a bit," Shiori grumbled.

"What time was it that they came?"

"Round 8, why?"

"Oh, then they probably caused that mess Matcha's mom got framed for. Those bitches."

"*AHEM* Are you going to let me explain!?" Itsuki glared.

"Yeah, sorry."

"*Sigh* I should be apologizing first. I just ran off without thinking and probably made you feel horrible."

"Wait, so you didn't quit?"

"NO! I ran all the way to the police station but decided not to go in and to go back and here you out, but I never got the chance. Some evil middle school girl and her cop sister kidnapped me and took me to what appeared to be a holding cell."

"Hold on! Was it a buff girl with short black hair and no eyebrows!?"

"No, but I do remember someone like that being with those two in the holding cell."

"Shit. Tell us everything that happened!"

"Well, that evil middle schooler ripped up my clothes in lewd places, shaved and waxed all my hair off, loaded my mouth with piercings before gluing it shut, gave me MORE hideous piercings, spray tanned all my exposed skin, and gave that hideous tattoo, nearly breaking my mind. I was in hell thank you very much! Had it not been for you calling that bitch for some reason, I would have lost all hope."

"Call? I didn't call any middle schoolers recently."

"Well I remember hearing your voice, maybe I was hallucinating. Then an officer with a blue military cut arrived and wrapped me up in a package. When I could see again, I was in the rooftop lounge staring up at 6 hairless women with pale skin and red eyes wearing yoga outfits and orange lipstick. Think they were on drugs. Some fat postman was there too. The women said I was broken and I was swapped out for a mummified woman. Then the yoga women were beheaded by two women in jackets, one with blue hair, one with a red buzzcut. I then ran down the stairs, but realized they didn't go all the way down, therefore I ran into the hall and found you."

"Well talk about a lot," Rika grumbled.

"Yeah, I was there in the bar too. Sundae's dead," Helga sighed.

"Wait what?"

"She was brought to those cultists, and I was forced to watch them assimilate her. Then well, she was beheaded."

"I never got along with her, but that was still way too cruel for her to go out. How'd you know it was her?"

"She was bald, but I recognized her by her outfit. Her eyes were the same too, and her voice sounded the same even though it was muffled. She looked a tad different though from when she shaved herself before the mission."

Rika scowled as she digested all the information. Her thoughts were interrupted by the arrival of Izumi and Hanabi. Itsuki went on guard, but Rika calmed her down.

"Yep, all  the money's here, now let me snooze. You can talk in your own room," Shiori grumbled as she pulled out the sofa bed.

"Lucky they gave me an extended stay for free," Helga grumbled.

"So you're FINALLY ditching your family?" Rika asked Hanabi.

"Yup, gonna grow out my hair too. Anyway, we're gonna destroy Illumous as bounty hunters," Hanabi smiled.

"Hit up Izuhana if you want a hit," Izumi smiled.

"Glad fate was smilin on you two," Rika smiled as she waved goodbye.

"And what about me?" Itsuki asked.

"We'll make something up. Though please don't tell Masaru, Zuina, and especially Benihime about my past. Everyone else already knows, heck Matcha's probably your girl to wail on."

"So everyone, but those three know. Well, guess they don't seem to mind."

"Well, some of em were in the underground killing business before-"

"HUH!?"

"Not all of em, mainly Waki, and maybe Mimi, though I think she was more spy than killer. Matcha's normal."

"Yeah, I'm airing my grievances to Matcha."

                                                                              ...

"Itsuki! What happened to you!?" Mimi cried.

"Some gangsters kidnapped me and fucked me up," Itsuki growled.

"Hey, anyone have spare clothes for her at least?" Zuina asked.

"Well, I did bring a lot, and you are in need, so I shall loan you a set," Benihime laughed as she pulled a yukata out of her suitcase.

"A bit overly formal, but I can't really complain," Itsuki thought.

"Hey Matcha, can we talk, alone?" Itsuki asked.

"Sure. Why don't the rest of you explore the place," Matcha suggested.

"Ah, I wanted to explore with you," Waki sighed as she was dragged out by Zuina, Benihime, and Mimi.

Once they were gone, Matcha turned to Itsuki.

"Its OK, you can tell me everything," she said.

                                                                               ...

Itsuki wiped the tears away as she finished explaining everything. Matcha stared pale as a ghost at her.

"Um, Matcha, why are you looking so terrified?" Itsuki asked.

"Was that middle schooler's name Fujiko?" Matcha trembled.

"Yes."

"Shit, then this is bad, my mother's in trouble."

"Your mother?"

"Ugh, now I have to explain everything."

                                                                             ...

Itsuki trembled as Matcha finished explaining.

"No way, we're all caught up in something really bad!?" Itsuki shuddered.

"That's why I convinced Rika to tell everyone about her past, but the stuff with my mother only happened less than 24 hours ago. Worst part is, if that gorilla's with Yumeko and Fujiko, she might be untouchable," Matcha sighed

"Why?"

"Their father's the superintendent general. So Itsuki, do you want to stay?"

"I should have stayed instead of running, now I'm filled with holes and may never have hair again. So I guess I'll stay."

"Alright, I'll let Rika know."

"I get why she told me not to tell Masaru about her, but why not Zuina and Benihime?"

"Well, because I guess Rika killed people close to them in the past."

"Oh, she really is an idiot," Itsuki glared.

"Tell me about it," Matcha grumbled.

This Novel Contains Mature Content

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