It was the dead of night in Honoji village, and the torrential rain cascaded down the pitch-black sky.
It had a wired way of smelling like wet stone and old cigarettes everywhere in Honoji. In the sky's clouds of dark grey smoke, rose high above the clouds.
It was an ugly, grey, suffocating void that hung over the small village; the neon signs flickered in the streets.
Everyone knew to close up shop early in the night, except for one man.
Old man Kuma and his ramen, late at night, were for everyone who didn't want to face their wives or go home for the day.
They would stay here, eating and drinking till the early morning.
Inside the small wooden enclosure, Kuma stood at the counter, his old, wrinkled hands clasped tight to greet anyone who would enter.
Loud, booming laughter came from just outside the wooden building, and the scent of cheap cologne and hairspray.
The small door swung open, a loud thud rang out as it collided with the wall, and in walked three men.
The first one, obviously the leader of these low-level thugs, had his black hair styled into a long pompadour.
He was rather tall, at least six foot three. On his face sat a villainous smirk; behind him were two smaller men, both holding steel bats.
Old man Kuma moved back, "Excuse me, sir," he said, stuttering as he spoke.
But before he could finish, the tallest man grabbed him by his shirt and pulled him over the counter.
His smaller goons began to laugh, "Hey, old man!" The leader shouted into Kuma's face.
Everyone had stopped their conversations to turn their gaze towards the scuffle.
"We told you last week, the new protection fee is a million yen! You haven't paid up!" The mobster screamed into Kuma's face.
He stood, placing his large booted foot on Kuma's chest, "What do you want to break, your face? Your legs? Your ribs? Or your shop!" He barked.
Kuman began to struggle against the much larger man, "No, please... I will pay, I will pay! Forgive me, Atchimaru!" Kuma pleaded.
Atchimaru and his thugs let out a sharp mocking cackle, his foot came heavier on Kuma's chest.
"Forgive me, I'll forgive you when I've got a million yen in my hand. You're short on cash, so I'll just take something else!" He barked.
Atchimaru commanded his men to begin smashing the shop, but before they could cause any real damage, a sharp metallic echo reverberated through the small wooden building.
It was a metal spoon being sat down against a bowl; it wasn't loud, but in the shocked silence of the room, it seemed like a gunshot.
In the far most corner of the shop, hidden by a flickering light, sat a single lone man, he was staring blankly into his half eaten bowl of ramen.
His lean, muscled shoulders were covered by a school gakuran laid over them.
"The old man said he'd pay," the silhouette's voice came from the corner, deep and powerful.
The light flickered again, showing a lean, muscular figure. "Take your boots off his chest and leave; your cheap hair spray is ruining my meal!"
Atchimaru froze, his smirk twitched before stretching into a sharp snarl. He lifted his foot from Kuma and turned towards the man.
His men paused, looking up as everyone turned to face the shadowed man.
"Show yourself, if you think you're some big shot, you brat!" Atchimaru bellowed.
The lean figure rose slowly, revealing a large and lean six-foot frame. Once stepped out of the shadows.
The entire shop knew his name; his hair was a deep crimson, slicked back while spiking at the edges.
His school shirt was unbuttoned slightly; his blazer rested on his shoulders, its sleeves Baron.
On his thin lips, two sharp canines were on show, along with a lip ring. He was smirking wide.
His brows arched down, but his eyes stopped everyone where they were, sharp and full of fury.
"Akane..." Kuma said, his voice raspy as he spoke from the ground, a mix of terror and elation.
Atchimaru laughed to himself; he had no idea who this boy was, just another school punk.
"I think you and your goons should leave!" Akane said.
"I think! I don't care what you think, boy! I want my money, and I'll get my money!" Atchimaru mocked the boy.
The two goons began to laugh. "Hey, boss, let us deal with him," said the larger guy.
Atchimaru laughed as he slid his hair back into shape. "Hold on, boys."
Atchimaru held out his arm, stopping his two henchmen. "Listen, kid, I don't care if we kill you or not, so sit back down and finish your bowl before I shove it down your cocky little mouth!"
Akane smirked. He rolled his shoulders back as his blazer slid off his shoulders.
"I won't say it again," Akane began, his voice now more annoyed than defensive. Everyone moved to the back of the shop as Akane proceeded forward.
"Leave or I'll make you leave!" Akane barked.
"What are you going to do, little kid!" Atchimaru remarked, stepping towards Akane.
"Are you going to report me to the school body?" Atchimaru mocked.
"No!" Akane fired back. He cracked his fingers; "I'm going to make sure none of you ever walk again!"
Atchimaru scoffed, "Boys get him!" He ordered as the two lackeys charged forward.
Old man Kuma rolled away and joined everyone else at the back of the shop, staring on in amazement and fear.
The two henchmen turned to look at each other. "Kanbo!" shouted the larger man towards the other.
"Heijiro!" the short man shouted as the two charged at Akane.
Akane stood still, unmoving. The two men brought back their large metal bats.
Mr Kuma tucked his small eyes under his arm, too scared to look.
Everyone in the shop followed suit, terrified, not wanting to see a young kid's head be shattered by a bat.
A low metallic sound rung out across the wooden shop; everyone looked up to see Hejiro and Kanbo's weapons interlocked.
Their eyes searched for a broken skull only to see Akane crouched down, balanced on his toes.
The two thugs were utterly shocked, their eyes slowly lowered. Hejiro met Akane first, only for a sharp, pointed knee to connect with his chin.
Hejiro stumbled back, his eyes rolling into the back of his head, and he fell backwards, crashing into the counter, his body still.
Everyone began to cheer, as Kanbo backed up terrified, his legs gave out as he fell flat on his back.
He began to push himself towards Atchimaru, with a petrified look on his bald face.
Atchimaru stomped on his henchman's hand, and Kanbo screamed out in pain.
Akane stood with arms crossed, looking towards Atchimaru with a cocky expression full of utter self-assurance.
"Well done, kid, you took out two rookies!" Atchimaru clasped his firsts together. "Now you must defeat me, boy!" He barked.
Akane walked towards the fallen Hejiro and grasped his metallic bat, tossing it carelessly towards Atchimaru.
The notorious boss fought it by the handle and grabbed the frozen Kanbo's bat as well.
He twirled the two bats around in his large grizzled hands "you ready boy!" He barked.
Akane laughed, "Let's take this outside," he said calmly. Atchimaru nodded.
A few moments later, the two stood across from each other on the stone-cold, stone-laid streets.
Everyone inside Mr Kuma's shop watched on through the windows as the two punks sized each other up.
Akane stood still, hands in his pockets, not caring to even remove them. Atchimaru circled the teen, twirling his bat.
And then he charged, "You're dead!" He bellowed, raising the bat as he swung towards Akane.
Akane dodged. Atchimaru smirked as he went to sweet the legs of Akane while he chased him back.
He's done for now! Atchimaru began to recite over and over in his head.
But just then Akane jumped, dodging the leg sweep, and he kicked the bat out of Atchimaru's grasp.
Atchimaru grunted as he looked towards his missing bat, but just then a foot struck his stomach, and his body shot forward.
But he flew backwards, skidded across the wet stone floor, crashing into the side of a building.
His breath hitched as he gasped, trying to regain some breath. Akane walked over and placed his foot on Atchimaru's chest.
"Say you give in!" Akane ordered. Atchimaru's mouth began to bleed. "I...give in." He said quietly, staring down at his gashed hands.
"Come back to my village ever again, you big oaf, and I will kill you!" Akane ordered as he walked away, grabbing his blazer from Mr Kuma.
"Akane!" Kuma shouted, to zero reaction from the rapidly diapering teen. "Thank you!" He shouted again.
Akane waved backwards as he continued to walk away.