For Whom the Bell Tolls (Luke/JT)

[Mirim Frost]

I Will Kill Them All

Through the following week, Mirim would spend her time helping her friend Aya through this rough patch in her life. The loss of one's mother was nothing to scoff at, and given the outsiderish mentality she had adopted, this issue would have likely spiraled out of control had Mirim not intervened. Draped in the black of despair, Mirim had snatched her out and placed her back on solid ground, something of which Aya openely expressed her thanks for.

Throughout the week they had followed their normal routine. In the mornings they would visit the gym, they would part then for their jobs and whoever was finished first, depending on the day, the other would visit at their workplace. Without her mother's support, Aya was forced to move in with Mirim, something Landlady, and future boss, Shizuka would approve of. It was odd having her there for the first few days. Her routine was solid, crafted to ensure she didn't accidently hurt anyone with little room for deviation.

Yet here she was, becoming that deviation. Mirim would have thought she'd be worried, but no. Despite being the stronger of the two, Mirim would come to feel safe around her. Sliding into bed next to her brought a different warmth than that she was used to. Being dragged kicking and screaming into this new world by Shizuka had given the shortstack woman a lot to reflect on. What was this really, this secure warmth when merely being near her friend. Could this be what people so casually call, "Love?"

Such introspections often took more brainpower than she had to process, so she'd dismiss it. Still, such thoughts often made the walk home much quicker. The dark quiet of the night made her skin crawl, so the distraciton was highly appreciated. The dismissal of her thoughts on this concept of love would drag another thought to replace it. Just where was Aya this night? The last time she was missing, her mother had died and simply couldn't bear be anywhere else but by herself.

Mirim's brow furrowed, and she'd stop along the sidwalk, only a few blocks away from their apartment. Quickly, she'd dial her number and place the call. Her heartbeat seemed to match the rythmn of the ringtone, each second hoping Aya would pick up, but she wouldn't. Instead she'd hear the feint noise of windchimes in the distance, identical to her friend's phone. Rushing to the source, she'd follow the noise, calling her again and again to keep the ringtone going.

Adjacent to the apartment complex was a small park, filled with trees and a walking path, a normal relaxation spot they'd often share, which would have relieved Mirim should Aya had picked up the phone. Mirim's pace slowed, the orange light of her eye illuminating the dark cast by the tree's canopy. The lack of Aya made her anxious, as did the sweet, putrid, and oddly familiar smell hanging low over the park.

In her short experience, the memories left behind by her predecessors held all the same aspects normal memories do. Through them she could feel, taste, hear, etc, though details were often hazy and/or distorted unless specifically focused upon. This smell fit the criteria she made, but from what ancestor could have smelled something like this. She was afraid to open that door, so she'd simply walk towards the ringing phone in the grass, picking it up.

Blood and ash were smeared over its screen, of which was cracked, barely able to function. She'd pocket the device and turn her attention to the smell, following it deeper into the park. The smell intensified, bringing a nausiating feeling in her gut. her hand moved to cover her mouth and nose in attempt to shield herself from the stentch until she found the source, a barrel with the feint remains of smoke pouring out from the top.

Mirim lashed out with her foot, kicking the heavy metal barrell over, spilling its contents out on the walking path. Ashes would be picked up by the breeze, blowing the toxic mixture into her face. Coughing, the silver haired girl wafted away the smoke and knelt down at the pile. Immediately she recognized charred bone and bits of flesh, meaning it was indeed human at one point. It didn't click in her mind that Aya's broken, blood smeared phone was found nearby here.

She'd brush her hands over the ashes, noticing a few bits of body parts not burned completely, to include a seperated hand clutching something. She'd gag abit as she peeled the fingers apart, pulling the bit of fabric held tightly in its clutches as if trying to conceal it from its attackers. She'd pull the fabric free and look upon it. The fabric was coarse and tough, likely from a jacket of sorts. Upon the patch was a symbol, a jackal's skull pierced by a broken spear.

She'd exhale deeply and stand, her mind swimming in the observations laid before her. The blood, horrifically burnt corpse, Aya's lack of presence anywhere that day all painted a scary picture in her mind. She shook her head and ran, slipping the patch in her hoody's pocket. It couldn't possibly be what she was thinking, She couldn't grasp the "how" here. Aya was strong and fast, and adept at defending herself.

Flickering lights draped the entryway into the apartment complex, a trail of dried coagulated blood leading in along the path she followed. As she hesitantly walked to the doorway, a man clad in black would step in her way to greet him. Clad in a heavy black jacket, leather pants, and a dark motorcycle helmet. "Well well, look what we have here. What's a pretty gal such as yerself out and about at this hour?"

Mirim averted looking into the man's tinted visor, glancing over his jacket before lowering them to his legs, watching him step and move closer. Mirim grasped at her hood, flipping it over, draping her face in shadow as the orange light of her eye shifted to a tense, rage building crimson. The puzzle pieces were starting to fall into place and anyone with a calm mind could put them together. Unfortunately for this would-be attacker, Mirim was anything but calm.

Her chest thumped violently, adreniline filling her vessels and spread out throughout the rest of her body. At any moment she could feel herself nearly lurch at the man, assuming he had something to do with the horrible scene she witnessed. Despite having the same patch, he wasn't the man who committed the act as he still retained his patch intact. She had to give the man the benefit of the doubt, especially in front of her residence. Mirim imagined Shizuka would be very dissapointed in her if she made a mess on her property.

"Well, you're in luck, lil lass. The night's still young and the party is ever going. Why don't you take a ride on my bike, I'll show you how the Karakura Fiends party, baby, just like that other girl." That was it. That was all she needed to hear. Thankfully, the man was unarmed, but she did see a knife strapped away on his belt. Mirim would never give him the chance to draw it. She had appearances on her side. Someone with her build wouldn't be suspected of the feats she was capable of, and this lack of awareness would cost him everything.

As the man reached for her, her swiftness would be put on full display, ducking beneath his grasp. Mirim was not opposed to low blows, not when the person has committed much more indredulous acts. A swift punch to the man's groin would stun him long enough for her swift hand to steal his knife ouf of its sheath. The man cried out in pain and succesffully grapped the smaller girl, but she'd return the gesture, slipping her body around his arms, grappling it.

With a soft exhale of effort, she'd drop to the ground, pulling with all her might as she slipped beneath his feet and rolling to the side, pulling him prone and popping his arm out of its socket. He'd cry out in pain, the fall focused on the dislocated shoulder, but he wouldnt suffer for long. Mirim lept upon him, straddling his back and taking the knife in both hands. her teeth gritted and her palms began to sweat as she brought the knife down again, and again, and again, and again.

Blade would render flesh asunder, splashing herself and painting the ground with his crimson ichor. Until he no longer moved she'd keep up her assault before embedding the blade into his neck, leaving it there. In her right mind, she would have moved the body off the walking path, maybe gain some help to dispose of the body. Perhaps she wouldnt know what to do after all. She'd never taken the life of another living human. This would be the first of many. There just was that taste in the air.

Chest heaving, her heart pumping hard in her ears. She had to get to her room, she had to get there right now. She'd follow the trail of blood inside to the lobby of the apartment building, following the path of crimson along to the elevator and up onto her floor, her shoes splattering every step of the way. When she came to her room, she'd find her doorknob knocked in. Her lips quivered, her imagination burning wild at what she might see. She pushed open the door.

She'd find her apartment wrecked. Sheets torn, clothes scattered, blood staining her carpet, but no sign of Aya. "Fuck", she'd say under her breath, her body calming as she forced herself to look upon the scene, use her mind. It was hard, but she was forced to bring herself down. Tears welled in her eyes and streamed down her face. This wasn't that man's blood nor was it his friends. It was Aya's blood. That trail, that trail led out to the park. Inside the park she found Aya's phone, which now rested in her pocket. Further inside the park was a steel barrel of a smoldering corpse, reduced to scraps and ashes. That was Aya.

Aya, her friend, one of the few people since her arrival here she truly cared for, was killed and drug from her home. This was rediculous, what could she have done? She had just lost her mother and was trying to build her life in a nation not familiar to her, just like Mirim. She kept her nose clean, kept to her business, yet she was sliced up, beaten, and burned. The only two refreshing details about this scene was that her spirit was no where to be found, meaning she probably passed on and wouldn't have to witness what Mirim was going to commit that night, and that she left Mirim a clue for her to follow.

Mirim walked into her apartment slowly and sat on her bed, her hands grasping the patch in her hands. "Karakura Fiends, Hm?".

21

SPOILER: Click to show

{Spoiler}{Spoiler}{Mirims Stats and Stuff!}Class: 5Type: Soul Specialist Version 2
Rank: 1
TP:500

Stats
STR 215 [54] [645]
SPD 165 [111]
RS 25 [17]
SPR 50 [34]
INS 50 [34]
SEN 50 [34]
ES 0


LIGHT 50
DARK 50
HE: 0

SP 325/1600

Skills

Street Fighting 1
Pain Tolerance 1
Battle Focus 1
Focused Eye 1
Anti-Stealth 1
Acrobatics 1
340/340 REIATSU

NOW PLAYING

a couple hours later and i feel like i've only wrote a part of what i've been feeling over the last couple of days.

[/div]

[Luke Clyburn]

What a day. That was all that could be said about it. His transition from homeless mercenary to Xcution’s Chief Strategist was a job hop that would have everyones head spinning. From constant nightly street fights, guarding VIPs, and the occasional Hollow hunt had turned into emails, desk work, and meetings. Constant meetings. Discussions with the strategy team, and the finance department, trying to stop Shizuka’s shenanigans, and reading. So much reading. So many emails, incident reports, and information-gathering results. There was just so much going on. Luke was incredibly grateful for the team that already occupied the department. Without them, he’d be completely lost. They handled most of the work, getting quite a lot of the load off Luke’s shoulders, but it still came down to him for final decisions and being informed on everything. Luke wouldn’t lie if someone asked him if he missed being what was essentially a goon.

But all of this and more was a part of his plan. He had to make allies. He needed to be surrounded by a powerful team. He needed resources, allies, and the structure of an organization if he wanted to see his dream of a safe Karakura realized. Luke couldn’t fight the Vandenreich on his own. He wasn’t arrogant enough to believe such a thing. He just hadn’t expected how much desk work would be involved with this whole networking and outreach stuff he was doing now. Early mornings bleeding into long nights sort of shifts too. He had missed the train on his way back home too. His motorcycle was in the shop as well. So, Luke was already late getting back home and he had to take public transport. He hated public transport.

Scratching the back of his head as he rolled his neck back and forth, getting a satisfying crack out of it, Luke strolled alongside the empty nighttime streets of the city on his way back to the apartment complex. Briefcase in hand and dressed in his usual business casual attire, Luke was more than eager to take his hour nap. Wasn’t like life was done for him now that he was off the clock. Whenever he was done with his day job being the right hand to his assassination organization CEO girlfriend, he spent the night either driving out to Aura’s mountain club to help her or patrolling the city. But he was owed at least an hour and a half to himself. Thirty minutes to eat and relax, an hour to get a full night's sleep.

Hmm? Did he hear voices? Not like that was an uncommon thing or anything but he hadn’t seen anybody else out since the subway station. Luke blinked those amber hues of his, wondering who might be talking, before realizing it wasn’t any of his business. At least before he heard the cry of someone in pain. Blinking with surprise and rounding the street corner, Luke looked across the street at his apartment complex to see someone slinking their way inside. He quickly memorized the feel of their reiatsu, analyzing it with his mind, before happening to notice what the stranger was leaving the scene of. Was that a body??

Luke jogged over to the body, kneeling down to look him over. Stabbed. Luke thought to himself before, blinking again with sudden realization, when he looked up at the building the suspected killer had hidden themselves away into. His own apartment complex. ”Tch. Really? At my own place?” Luke grumbled to himself, looking at the body once more, before reaching into his pocket for his phone and looking around. Nobody was around. Not yet anyway. Hitting a series of numbers on the dial pad at an inhuman speed, Luke lifted his cell phone to his ear and heard the dial tone shift into a click. ”It’s me. Send a cleaner. Yes, the tracking location is correct. Top priority and discreet.” Given what Luke knew about Xcution, was still very little, this mess would be taken care of in three minutes.

Looking at the doorway to the apartment complex, Luke narrowed his eyes and headed in. Where are you going? Luke asked himself mentally, looking upwards at the ceiling with an intensity that would make one think he had xray vision. But, no, he was tracking the reiatsu of the suspected killer. Taking the staircase, Luke ascended. He climbed the levels of the apartment complex until he was on the same floor as the suspect. Peeking down the hallway, Luke started his approach. Passing by closed doorways, Luke approached at a steady pace until he at last made it to the same room as the suspect. Unsure of what was inside, he simply rounded the doorway and stood within it. A business casual silhouette with glowing, amber, eyes.

”Don’t get up.” Luke would say with such authority to the figure sitting in the bed of the destroyed apartment. If Mirim looked up, which she probably would from surprise, and met the glowing hue’s Luke had she would feel an odd compulsion to obey that command. Luke used the ability he really didn’t like to use. Like, at all. The unnatural and commanding charisma that came with his race, Verteiten. He would use the weakest version though. Strong enough to keep the suspect he was looking at from doing something stupid. Luke looked at the woman, lifting his head rather high before taking his eyes off of her and scanning the destroyed room.

Did she do this? Was she a tenant of the complex? Or had she also attacked someone here? What a bother! Luke took a long stride into the apartment, hiding one of his hands in his pants pockets, and spoke once again. ”You left a body on the doorstep of my own home. You’re going to tell me why I don’t call the police and have you put away for five years to life.” Luke Clyburn, resident big daddy Bount of Karakura Town, would ask Mirim Frost directly. ”And answer honestly. I don’t need my night even more ruined.” Luke was already in an annoyed mood to begin with. Now he was just frustrated.

[Mirim Frost]

I Will Kill Them All

 If Mirim was in her right mind and hadn't lost her cool, the body would more than likely hidden a bit. Additionally she would have checked if Shizuka or Luke were home to help. Instead she was shut down, sitting on her torn bloodstained bed staring at this patch. The new arrival didnt necesarily need to follow Mirim's reiatsu signature to reach this point, but the blood trail that connected her room to the entrance to the building. Still, it seemed fate was on her side after all, delivering onto her the help she desired, even if the man was confused.

 As her head raised to look upon the visitor, the azure glow of her mechanical left eye flickered as his power took its effect on her mind. Her face was puffy from the tears, but as the compulsion to answer his question filled her being, it wouldn't do much to loosen lips as they were loose to begin with. Shizuka had given the girl a picture of look, and would refer her to seek either him or Shizuka out if there were any problems, and here he was, Luke Clyburn, in the flesh.

 First she slipped a card out of her hoody, that that supposedly all members of X'cution held and showed it to him. "X'cution prospect", she'd begin to introduce, giving a needed pause to avoid the pain that came with breaking her rule of three. After the massacre at the music festival a couple of weeks prior that Shizuka saved Frost from, she would be gained as a prospect, wit ha grace period to let herself regain her bearings. Given the horrors she witnessed, she was quite useless, so why rush the recruitment process. "I'm Mirim Frost" She'd gesture over the trashed room, showing the bloodstains on the carpet, her torn sheets and curtains, and smashed furniture. "I live here.", she'd continue.

 The short girl would then present the patch she had torn from the gang member's jacket, that of a local, up-and-coming group notable for controlling a large stretch of road that connected the north side of Karakura to the south. They were a biker gang, and had their hands in a number of things whether it be drugs, prostitution, paid killings. They were also not quite fond of foreigners. All of this was from the short amount of digging she was able to do over her phone before Luke arrived, so much of the stories possibly didn't explain the full extent of their business practices, but it did fall in line with why they killed Mirim's friend, Aya.

 "Karakura Fiends, gang.", she explained, motioning to the patch. "Killed friend here.", she'd say with a sigh, her face sinking into her palms to massage at her stinging cheeks. "Burned her body", shed motion out her window at the faint trail of smoke rising in the distance. Had he taken a whiff before he walked inside, he would have smelled the distinct stench of burning flesh. It was a strange smell for those who couldn't recognize it, but instantly known to those who have smelled it before.

 "Gangster attacked me.", her fists clenched tightly, her anger smoldering in her chest. She would do it again gladly, and again, and again, and again. The young fullbringer fully intended to wipe them out. The city would do well without them and she would get her much deserved vengeance. In either case it was a win-win. Now, she doubted she would get support from X'cution as a whole in this personal crusade, but she couldn't help but try. They deserved to at least know. She owed so much to Shizuka and her organization. "I killed him.", she'd continue, breathing deep

 "I'll kill them.", she seethed eyes flicking to her drawers that held Aya's keys to her truck and her gun. Yes, she would kill them all. If she couldn't, she could at least cut off the head of the snake. Maybe level their den while she was at it. She was still human, even if she held some minor abilities that set herself apart from the normal person. She would go alone if need be, but she would have someone she trusted there with her to keep her in check. She didn't want to hurt anyone but these fuck-heads. "Wanna come with?", she'd ask intently, the fire in her chest reflecting up through the hue of her eye's glow, shifting from blue to a fiery red.



7

SPOILER: Click to show

{Spoiler}{Spoiler}{Mirims Stats and Stuff!}Class: 5Type: Soul Specialist Version 2

Rank: 1

TP:500



Stats

STR 215 [54] [645]

SPD 165 [111]

RS 25 [17]

SPR 50 [34]

INS 50 [34]

SEN 50 [34]

ES 0





LIGHT 50

DARK 50

HE: 0



SP 325/1600



Skills



Street Fighting 1

Pain Tolerance 1

Battle Focus 1

Focused Eye 1

Anti-Stealth 1

Acrobatics 1

340/340 REIATSU

NOW PLAYING

[/div]

[Luke Clyburn]

Luke always hated doing this. Brainwashing people with his Bount abilities always left a bad taste in his mouth. There was just something about it he could never get over. Completely erasing another person's will and forcing them to obey his commands created a power dynamic that he just couldn’t get himself comfortable with. However, he couldn’t deny its usefulness. Such as in this situation. By casting Verteiten on this woman, Luke was getting everything and more he had asked from her. His amber eyes glowed with reiatsu as he channeled the ability, affecting Mirim’s mind and forcing her to submit to him. Crossing his arms across his chest, Luke leaned his head to the left as he allowed the woman to explain herself and her situation.

But as her explanation was delivered to him, Luke began to get a better picture of the truth. He was left feeling rather guilty. Her name was Mirim Frost, apparently an Xcution prospect. He hadn’t been aware that another, potential in this case, member of Xcution was living in the same building as himself and Shizuka Sanamizu. What is she doing? Turning this place into a company commune? Luke asked himself mentally, thinking of a rather goofy and sunshine representation of Shizuka shoving all of Xcution into the same housing complex.

Mirim continued to explain. She elaborated that her friend had been killed by a gang known as the Karakura Fiends. Surprise, surprise, Luke actually happened to know that very gang. When he was still employed by Uzaki Enterprise Luke had run into many yakuza and gangs that lurked about Karakura’s backstreets and underground. He’d had a few fights with some from that very gang Mirim blamed. Luke blinked with surprise, shock, and repulsion when she dropped that tidbit about her friend being burned. The ferocity she had made sense. Luke’s brow narrowed. Anger like that could turn self-destructive if it wasn’t focused on the correct target.

Lowering his Verteiten and freeing her from his mental control, Luke watched her. He couldn’t just leave her alone. He had stumbled into this mess and knew it wouldn’t be right to just let her go alone. It probably wouldn’t end well if he did. Shizuka would also probably chastise him if he let one of their future employees go off on their own. ”You’re not giving me much choice.” Luke answered, rubbing the back of his neck and looking off to the side with his eyes. ”But yes, I’ll go with you. I’ve dealt with that group once before and I’m not about to let people who burned someone alive just get away with it.” Luke explained.

”I won’t take your revenge from you, but I also won’t let you get out of hand.” Luke explained, setting some ground rules. ”Do you know where these guys are?” Luke asked before checking his phone after it notified him with a buzz. He’d received a message that the cleaning crew had arrived and were busy taking care of the scene outside the front of the apartment building. One less thing on my mind. he thought to himself as he followed after Mirim, intending to let her lead the way.

”Just so you know, by the way. I’m Luke Clyburn.”