Chapitre 25: Chapter 25: The Fight Before the Meeting
The city streets were unusually quiet as Reiji and Chuuya made their way through the winding alleys toward Tom Tanaka's office. The sun was still high, casting long shadows over the streets, though the usual bustle of daily life seemed absent. It gave the entire city an eerie stillness that made Reiji's skin crawl. Chuuya, however, seemed unbothered, his hands stuffed into his pockets as he walked alongside Reiji, eyes scanning the surroundings.
"So, how are we going to do this?" Chuuya asked, breaking the silence. His voice was calm, though the edge of impatience was evident.
Reiji glanced at him, considering the question. "I'm not sure. Shinya didn't exactly give me a blueprint for how to approach this."
Chuuya raised an eyebrow. "You're telling me we're just going to walk up to this guy—Shizuo—and ask him to join us? That's your plan?"
Reiji shrugged, a wry smile forming on his lips. "Well, it's not like we have a ton of options. Shinya said he's strong and loyal, and right now, we need both."
Chuuya snorted. "Yeah, but you can't just walk up to a guy like that and say 'Hey, wanna join our famiglia?' He'll probably knock your head off before you get the words out."
Reiji winced. Chuuya had a point. Shinya had mentioned that Shizuo had a temper, and from the stories, it sounded like he wasn't someone you approached lightly. But at the same time, they didn't have the luxury of being cautious. With Shogo still out there and their team incomplete, they needed every strong ally they could find.
"I'll figure something out," Reiji said after a moment. "Maybe we should just feel him out first. See what his deal is."
Chuuya chuckled, shaking his head. "Good luck with that."
The two continued walking, the silence between them not as heavy as before, but still tinged with uncertainty. Reiji's mind kept drifting back to Shinya's words: "Don't piss him off." It felt like walking into a lion's den. But then again, he had no choice.
As they turned the corner and the building came into view, a sudden sound ripped through the air—an unmistakable sound of fighting. Loud crashes echoed through the streets, followed by the sharp clang of metal striking metal. Both Reiji and Chuuya froze, their instincts kicking in.
"What the hell?" Chuuya muttered, his eyes narrowing as he turned toward the noise.
Reiji's heart raced as he started walking faster, his curiosity getting the better of him. "That's coming from Tom Tanaka's office, isn't it?"
"Looks like it," Chuuya replied, already quickening his pace.
The two of them broke into a jog, following the sounds of the commotion. As they neared the building, the fighting grew louder, accompanied by shouts and the crash of what sounded like furniture being smashed to pieces. They exchanged a quick glance before rushing around the final corner, arriving at the entrance to the office.
The scene before them was chaotic.
A tall, muscular man stood in the middle of the wrecked office, his breathing labored as he faced off against a woman wielding a katana. Shattered furniture and broken glass littered the floor, and several large dents in the walls indicated just how violent the fight had been.
The man was easily recognizable—Shizuo Heiwajima. He was wearing his usual outfit: a white dress shirt with a black vest, sleeves rolled up to his elbows, and black pants. His blond hair was messy, and his eyes burned with fury. Despite the battle that had clearly taken its toll on him, his imposing frame made it clear that he was far from beaten. His fists were clenched, his muscles bulging as he caught his breath, and Reiji could see the raw power radiating from him.
Facing him was a woman with pale skin and short, straight black hair. Her eyes were cold, emotionless, and calculating as she regarded Shizuo with an unsettling calmness. She wore a sleek black outfit—a long, fitted trench coat over a simple black shirt and pants. Her katana gleamed in the low light, the blade reflecting the chaos around them. Reiji recognized the sword instantly—this wasn't some ordinary fighter. This woman was an assassin.
Chuuya's eyes narrowed as he took in the scene. "Looks like we walked in on something interesting."
Reiji remained silent, his mind racing as he tried to make sense of what was happening. Why was Shizuo fighting an assassin? And who was this woman?
As if sensing their presence, the woman's gaze shifted, her sharp eyes locking onto Reiji and Chuuya. For a moment, her expression remained cold and unreadable, but then something flickered across her face—recognition. She turned sharply on her heel and dashed toward the window, her movements fluid and quick.
"Hey!" Reiji called out, instinctively taking a step forward, but it was too late.
The woman leaped through the shattered window, disappearing into the shadows of the alley outside with the grace of someone who had done this a thousand times before. Within seconds, she was gone.
"Damn it," Chuuya growled, taking a step toward the window, as if ready to chase after her. But Reiji grabbed his arm, stopping him.
"Wait," Reiji said, his voice firm. "We don't know who she is or what she wants. We need to figure out what's going on first."
Chuuya glared at him for a moment before sighing and stepping back. "Fine."
They turned their attention back to Shizuo, who was still standing in the center of the wreckage, catching his breath. His shoulders heaved as he slowly straightened up, his fists unclenching as he wiped the sweat from his brow. When he finally looked up, his gaze landed on Reiji and Chuuya.
For a moment, no one spoke.
Shizuo's eyes narrowed slightly as he took in their appearance, his gaze sharp and assessing. "Who the hell are you two?"
Reiji swallowed, realizing that this was his moment to make an impression. He couldn't afford to screw this up, not when they were so close to securing a powerful ally. He stepped forward, keeping his tone calm and respectful.
"I'm Reiji," he said, extending a hand cautiously. "This is Chuuya. We're here to talk to you about something important."
Shizuo glanced at Reiji's outstretched hand but didn't take it. Instead, he crossed his arms, his posture still tense from the recent fight. "Talk about what?"
Reiji hesitated, unsure of how to broach the topic. "It's… complicated."
Chuuya snorted, crossing his own arms. "Yeah, that's putting it mildly."
Shizuo raised an eyebrow, his patience clearly wearing thin. "If you're here to waste my time, you'd better leave now."
Reiji quickly shook his head, trying to salvage the situation. "No, it's not like that. We're not here to waste your time. We've heard about you—about your strength—and we wanted to see if you'd be interested in… joining us."
Shizuo's eyes narrowed further, suspicion creeping into his gaze. "Joining you? Who the hell are you guys, some kind of gang?"
Reiji winced at the phrasing, but before he could respond, Chuuya spoke up.
"We're not a gang," Chuuya said, his tone sharp. "We're rebuilding something. Something big. And we need strong people like you on our side."
Shizuo's gaze flicked between the two of them, his expression unreadable. "And why the hell should I care?"
Reiji opened his mouth to answer, but before he could say anything, Shizuo's attention shifted back to the shattered window where the woman had escaped. His brow furrowed, and for the first time, Reiji noticed a flicker of frustration in his eyes.
"That woman… who is she?" Reiji asked cautiously, trying to steer the conversation away from the awkwardness.
Shizuo let out a low growl, his fists clenching again. "She's nobody important. Just someone who decided to mess with the wrong people."
"Doesn't seem like nobody," Chuuya remarked dryly, glancing around the wreckage. "She gave you a run for your money."
Shizuo glared at him, his muscles tensing. "She caught me off guard. That's all."
Reiji stepped in before things could escalate. "Look, we're not here to pry into your business. We just want to talk. Can we go somewhere a little… less destroyed?"
Shizuo's eyes flicked between them again before he let out a long sigh, the tension in his posture finally easing. "Fine. But don't get comfortable. I don't have time for this."
With that, he turned and began walking toward the back of the office, stepping over the broken furniture and shattered glass as if it were nothing. Reiji and Chuuya exchanged a quick glance before following him, their footsteps crunching softly against the debris.
As they moved through the narrow hallway toward what looked like a private office, Reiji couldn't help but feel a sense of unease. The woman's appearance had thrown him off, and there was something about the way Shizuo had reacted to her that didn't sit right with him.
But for now, he had to focus on the task at hand. They had come here to recruit Shizuo, and that was still their goal. Whatever conflict had just taken place between him and that assassin would have to wait.
As they entered the office, Shizuo gestured for them to sit, though he remained standing. His arms crossed over his chest as he looked down at them, his expression unreadable.
"So," Shizuo said, his voice low and rough. "Let's hear it. What the hell do you want from me?"
Reiji took a deep breath, preparing to explain everything—about the Vongola, about their mission, and about the dangers they were up against.
But even as he began to speak, he couldn't shake the feeling that the fight they had just witnessed was far from over.
État de l’alimentation hebdomadaire
-- Classement
Power Stone 
-- Power
stone