Luci was still willing to put up with whatever business Akira and his family could involve themselves in. That was both surprising and relieving, he couldn't help but smirk at her words. "You don't have to be here for this." he said, which felt like it may have sounded cold. "But, i'm glad you are." he added after a moment. Shuya remained quiet. The elevator came to a stop and the doors swung open. As the three walked out they were met by another Yakuza member who had been standing, waiting for their meeting to finish.

"Marco, you coming with us?" Shuya asked the man, who at the moment was smoking a cigarette. He had a rather bored expression on his face at all times. All three of the Yakuza's were dressed in rather expensive black pinstripe suits that were designed for fashion but served as somewhat of a uniform for the gangsters. "Yeah, big man called me as soon as your meeting ended." The group walked in unison through the decorated palace as they spoke, passed a variety of different people and races all there for different reasons. "We can handle ourselves," Shuya remarked in distaste. "Well, I guess Kaito thinks otherwise." Marco replied, Shuya looked away, his arrogance clouding his bosses judgement call.

Several minutes later the group found themselves in the palace's garage. Marco lead the three of them towards a very expensive looking sports car, it was difficult to tell if the vehicle belonged to them or not. Marco entered the drivers seat and the others followed. With the press of a button the engine instantly started and they sped up and out of the garage, into the streets of Chicago.

The drive was about thirty minutes. Shuya sat in the passenger seat making small talk with Marco as Akira sat in the back besides Luci. The boy spent most of his time looking out the window, observing the broken city. Some parts of the city were violence free, politicians and businessmen lived happily thanks to the wealth they most likely gained illegally, or by screwing citizens over. Other parts of the city, the results of those evil deeds were thrown into the day light. Slums and ghetto's plagued the city. Small riots and not so peaceful protests could be found at the turn of a corner. PMC's patrolled some areas and there were checkpoints at almost every mile. It was thanks to Marco's knowledge of the area they were able to avoid most of the military. The city was set on a path that would turn it into nothing more than a pathetic warzone.

Akira merely sighed, that was all he could do.



Chicago
Elf Haven
12:55pm
Entering the Devils Den...

The music could be heard blaring at least one hundred yards from the entrance. Marco lead the group past a very long line of civilians looking to get into the hottest club in Chicago owned by none other than the Yakuza. Thankfully all the rioting and terrorist attacks had stayed away from the area, so business went on as usual. There was a variety of races waiting in line but the majority of them were either elves or halfling. The bouncer was an Orc who was probably hired because of his ugly yet intimidating face. He had most likely been working for the club for quite some time because he recognized all of the Yakuza gangsters on sight, except for Luci. He didn't dare question why she was with them though, and simply nodded his head towards them as they walked through the door. Everyone watched with envy.

The four of them walked through hallways filled with drugged up vampires, elves looking to score. Eventually they came to a corridor that lead downstairs and into the main room of the club. The place was packed and the music was even louder. The four of them stopped in front of the crowd as Marco lit a cigarette. "Bar is this way," Shuya shouted, and walked into the crowd, shoving people aside. As the four of them approached the bar, Shuya took a seat and gestured towards a girl to bring him a drink. Marco leaned on the counter, continuing to take drags from his cigarette as he observed the area. Akira leaned on his back on the counter as well, crossing his arms. "You're underdressed," he shouted to Luci with a sarcastic smirk on his face.

A rather sexualized female android approached Shuya, bringing him a glass of something strong. The boy turned around in his stool, leaning his arm on the counter as he downed his liquor. Marco's cellphone began to ring. He pulled it out of his pocket, placing the phone on his left year and a hand on his right as to improve his hearing. "Hello?! Yeah, where are you? We're at the bar. Hello? Yeah, I said we're at the bar." As Marco shouted into his phone the android bartender tapped Akira on the shoulder, gaining his attention before whispering something into his ear. Apparently it was obvious the group was affiliated with the Yakuza, because the girl was offering Akira drugs in an attempt to make sure he enjoys his time at the club. He merely shook his head.

By now Shuya was on his second drink. He happily sipped on the alcohol and cocked his head to the side as he admired the women in the club. Eventually he laid his eyes on Luci, his curiosity getting the best of him thanks to the alcohol. He looked her up and down for a moment. "So what's your deal?" he blurted out, "How'd you get mixed up with us?" He sipped on the drink as he waited for an answer. He knew fully well why she had been working for the Yakuza, he just an excuse to talk to the girl. He felt awkward with her around.

Chicago
Elf Haven
12:55pm
Entering the Devils Den...

The very distinct smell of Marijuana hit Luci head on as soon as they passed through the doors of the club. She inhaled and shook her head to clear it, she’d never tried it before but the smell of it overtime gave her a little contact high and that was a high enough for her. They walked through the crowd and Luci was bringing up the end of the line that they had formed. Hot bodies dripping with sweat grinding against each other caused her to flush up as she gazed at them. The stoned vampires they passed at a round table roped off from the dance floor looked up at the group with an intense look in their eyes, one’s eyes shot to Luci and he licked his lips as he whispered to his seatmate. Her eyes widened as she moved a little closer to Akira when he winked at her, smiling a cocky grin with two sharp fangs out.

Luci was in serious need of something to ease her hangover; the flashing lights and pounding music were not helping at all. When Shuya announced the location of the bar, she could have kissed the gangster. She rushed past Akira and Marco grabbing the first open seat she saw, not even caring that it was by Shuya. She tapped on the girl who took Shuya’s order and scoffed when she turned and flashed a bright smile only for it to disappear when she realized that Luci was a woman, “I’ll have a Bloody Mary, easy on the Vodka.” The girl gave Luci a look over and looked as if she were about to laugh in her face when Akira walked up to them and leaned up against the bar, she looked very excited for a moment and nodded towards Luci briefly before pulling out a small chest out of her cleavage opening it to Akira revealing a dozen small baggies of labeled drugs with a seductive smile on her face. Luci’s mouth dropped open at the sight, Akira denied them and the girl walked off, defeated.

Luci looked down at herself at Akira’s comment. It was true she was underdressed for such a high end yet sinful club. She glared at him, “Well if you told me we were going to a club I would have dressed differently.” Though she had only been to a club once on her 18th birthday, she wasn’t an idiot. She removed her hoodie leaving her in a black tank top and jeans. She let her hair down from its messy bun and gave it a few shakes to get the curls in place and even pushed up her cleavage for extra measure. An android approached them with their drinks; Luci took the Bloody Mary avoiding her gaze at the android overly perfect artificial breasts. She took the celery out and took a long swig, happy that they actual went easy on the vodka. Luci could feel her headache ease up immediately and sighed as she leaned up against the bar munching on the celery.

When Shuya started talking to her, she didn’t know if she should respond. That was the first time she had actually heard him speak. She blinked at him for a moment and took another sip of her drink, “Well Akira and I met and we both had a similar issue and it just kind of happened…” Being discrete was not her forte. She was about to add to that when something in the crowd happened. Everyone stopped dancing and stared at a figure passing through the crowd the closer it got the more Luci felt some sort of influence making her want to stare at it as if she were drawn to it. The figure broke through the crowd and she was confused when a rather large female ogre came out, looking rather defensive. Then a woman came out.

She was tall and curvy, not overweight but had very defined curves that made Luci envious. Her long light blonde hair was curled to perfection flowing down her back, she had pale skin that looked illuminated in the light, completely flawless and made her water like blue eyes stand out even more. She approached their group and a small smile came upon her pink lips, she tightened the white silk robe on her body that covered some sort of lacy looking lingerie. Her gaze fell on the men and she gave them each a polite nod that seemed to have another purpose, her eyes landed on Akira then and she took in a sharp breath. The girl fell to her knees and laid a kiss on his hand looking up at him with large eyes. The spell had broken for Luci then. Anger and jealously overtook her as she sipped her drink crossing her legs to keep still.

The girl rose then and her eyes landed on Luci then confusion crossing them for a moment before turning her attention back on Akira, “Master Takizawa. The owner of the club offers their greatest of welcomes and honors that you and your party have graced our establishment with your presence and requested that you be escorted to our VIP club room, free of charge of course.” She glanced at Luci again, “We weren’t aware that a female would be joining you but we can accommodate her ‘needs’ as well. My name is Isabella by the way my guard Helen has the curtain opened if you all would follow me please.” Isabella took Akira’s hand then and led them off…to their own personal Debauchery Central.

"A similar issue," Shuya repeated Luci's words, "Hmph." The answer didn't suffice for the gangster, but it was none of his business either way. Akira briefly observed his friend, wondering if he was growing suspicious of their relationship. He usually wasn't one to ask unnecessary questions, but he was also sometimes too intuitive for his own good. While observing Shuya, Akira noticed Luci was drinking, which was somewhat risky. She didn't look the proper drinking age, and they were technically here on business. Than again, the bartender had offered the boy drugs, but that was one of many unspoken privileges being affiliated with the Yakuza provided. Serving alcohol to a minor was probably a daily occurrence in the club.

Akira felt Marco's hand grasp his shoulder as he leaned in and spoke into his ear, "Takiko is in the managers office, i'm gonna go see whatsup. Keep your phone handy in case I have to text you. Don't leave." With that, their companion walked off and into the crowd. Both Akira and Shuya enjoyed Marco's company, even though he was older and had been with the organization much longer, he usually let the two kids get away with a lot in their younger days. They considered him somewhat of a fun uncle, even though he was quite laid back.

"Word spreads fast," Shuya remarked as he nudged Akira on the arm and gestured towards Isabella and Helen. The club owner had already caught wind that Yakuza members arrived, the three stuck out more than they initially thought. This was a ritual they were familiar with, or, one Shuya was familiar with at least, he fancied clubs more so Akira was a little surprised when the diva dropped to her knees to kiss his hand. He usually avoided abusing his privileges, but he wasn't sure where Marco had went and the two women didn't really allow the boy to decline their offer because he was already being lead upstairs to the VIP lounge. He turned around to catch Luci's eye, not wanting to leave her behind.



The walls were most likely sound proof, because the obnoxious music that was being played at full volume immediately faded away as the door to the lounge was closed, and replaced with a more urban tune. C-List celebrities, businessmen, bankers and other such kind of wealthy individuals occupied the room. Some sat at the bar, others at tables, and the more lucky ones were escorted into a private room. Isabelle made sure the Yakuza members were granted their own luxurious booth, already decorated with expensive alcoholic beverages. Shuya was quick to make himself comfortable. Immediately he took a seat on the comfortable lounge seats, chugging champagne straight from the bottle. His cyborg body didn't allow him to become drunk, but he could still enjoy the beverage.

Akira sat beside his friend in silence. He wasn't in the mood for clubbing, not that he ever was, and merely looked around VIP lounge, trying to separate the vermin from the sheep. It was an ironic thought, considering the fact he was sitting amongst them, which only pissed him off. Pulling out his phone he began to scroll through todays news to avoid the negative thoughts. He was hoping to find anything that had anything to do with Operation Freedom or Jackdawl, but nothing popped up. At least not for the public. He pondered calling Sloan.

"Sloan!"

Akira recalled the promise he made yesterday. He needed to pay Sloan twenty grand before the day ends, which was going to be a hassle because her whereabouts were unknown at the moment. He turned to Luci who had been sitting beside him, and briefly took a moment to imagine what she was thinking right now. He claimed their trip could be dangerous but somehow they ended up sitting in lounge chairs drinking champagne. Akira avoided bringing up the fact that Sloan pretty much saved her life, if it wasn't for her skills he would have never found her.

"What are you thinking about?" He asked in a simple tone.