Chapter Text
There was flash of bright light and then Reigen was elsewhere.
"Mob? Hanazawa?" he asked in confusion, but the boys were nowhere near. And neither was anyone else – or rather, Reigen wasn't where he had been. Gone was the warehouse where they'd been and instead there was... a forest. An old looking one too, with big old trees, trunks thicker than a man.
Reigen stared up for a moment, trying to gauge how high the trees were, before sighing. "Aww geez," he muttered and absently looked for his smokes. "So that's teleportation, huh?"
Well, if nothing else, Mob seemed to have some skill in it – and he could teleport other people too. And it definitely wouldn't hurt the kid to have couple of tricks that were not just benign, but actually useful in practical sense. This would save them on bus fees... once Mob learned to control it, anyway.
"I could've done without a practical demonstration, though," Reigen muttered and lit up a smoke to try and calm his nerves. Should he wait and see if the boys would teleport him back – or start looking for a bus stop while it was still light outside...?
How far away had Mob teleported him anyway? What with the trees and all – was it a national park or something? Where was the closest national park anyway?
And then, suddenly, he wasn't alone. "Well, there you are. Finally," Reigen muttered to cover his relief, turning to face the two who had appeared behind him. "Did you work it out, then?"
It wasn't Mob, or Hanazawa. Instead it was two strange guys, cosplaying samurai or something. They were both even carrying swords.
"Oh, lookie what we have here," one of them said, grinning at him over his ragged looking scarf . "A little rich fuck and all alone. Hey, bastard, gimme your wallet, will ya?"
Reigen stared at him. "Is this a joke?" He asked slowly.
"Does this look like a joke to you?" The scarf guy asked and pulled out one of his katanas. It had dents and chips in the blade and it looked like it was actually metal.
It looked pretty dull and rusted though.
Reigen eyed it and then blew out some smoke. "It does a bit, yes," he answered honestly.
"What was that?!" Scarfy asked dangerously.
"Hey, we got a job to do," the other said, twiddling with his gauntlets. "Gatou wants it done quickly – we can't just –"
"Shut up, this won't take long," Scarfy said and leered at Reigen, lifting the blade to his face. "See that, you bastard? It's fucking real. Now hand me the money or else!"
Maybe it was a role play thing? Maybe he was ruining their act. Better play along a bit.
"Or else what, you'll kill me?" Reigen asked with unimpressed look. "Honestly, you're working for Gatou," whoever that was, "and you have to resort to robbing random bystanders? Can't even afford a decent sword," he added and pushed the blade aside with a finger. "Not paying you much, is he?"
"Huh?" Scarfy said, falling out of character before quickly recalling his act. He levelled the sword at Reigen again. "What's it to you how much he pays us, bastard?"
"Oh, nothing, I'm sure," Reigen said placatingly and inhaled through his cigarette. "I'm sure you're doing just fine and get all the benefits of working for such an... upstanding gentleman," he was warming up to his role now. "Equipment and such notwithstanding."
Gauntlets looked at him nervously. "Who are you? You're not from around here, not in that get up."
"Oh, I'm just looking around," Reigen said and smiled. "Seeing the sights, as it were. No harm in that, is there?"
They stared at him like he was insane. Bit too over the top maybe. Ah well. Reigen smiled. "Well I guess I'll leave you to your... business."
"Oi, I'm not done with you –" Scarfy started to say but Gauntlets stopped him.
"Hey, look at him," Gauntlets whispered to his partner. "Do you think guy like that would be here alone? Even Gatou isn't stupid enough to go without bodyguards."
"So fucking what?! We can take them!"
"And if they're ninja? Just look who Gatou's hired – and old man Tazuna too! You think this guy would do any less? And just think about it – this timing..."
Reigen let them whisper amongst themselves, trying to hide his amusement. This was kind of fun – and they were really good actors too. Maybe they were from a theatre school or something, doing elaborate improv?
Reigen turned away, to look at the forest, wondering if it was a set – nah, it looked pretty real.
"Look there you go – he's signalling them."
"So, what, you think this guy is here to –"
"Well think about it? Gatou is going head to head with Tazuna. He's pretty distracted right now. What better time to swoop in?"
"...he's gotta be pretty damn confident to just be strolling around like this, huh? Do you think...?"
"Gatou has a lot of enemies..."
They whispered for a bit more and Reigen pretended he wasn't over hearing everything. They were probably being loud on purpose on the account of him having stumbled on their act - giving him necessary info in form of dialogue. What nice guys.
"So," Scarfy said, raising his voice now that the exposition had been covered. "You're here to see the sights, huh?"
"Something like that," Reigen said and dropped his cigarette stub on the ground. "I'm waiting on my subordinate right now, so I might just as well..." he crushed the still smoking stub under his heel, "...kill some time."
Gauntlets swallowed. "Maybe we could show you around," he offered nervously.
Reigen considered him and then smiled. Tour in a theatre school's playing grounds, huh? That sounded interesting. "Excellent, lead the way," he said and motioned ahead.
Reigen looked left. There were wooden buildings there, with empty store fronts and people in ragged, semi old fashioned clothes hanging about in whatever shade they could find. There were beggars on street corner, reaching for the people passing by and being ruthlessly kicked away when they got too close. There were a lot of similar tough samurai types like Scarfy and Gauntlets. They were doing most of the kicking
Reigen looked right. A town square of sorts, with just the one rough stall, selling fish – few people glanced in on it and then hurried away when they saw the prices. It was manned by an old lady with a crooked back, whose shoulders slumped every time a potential customer walked away.
"Amazing," Reigen said and took out his packet of cigarettes. It was like being in an actual town, the set was so well done. "Just amazing."
"Yeah," Scarfy said with a dark laugh. "Gatou's bled this place pretty much dry."
"There's not even any decent sake left here," Gauntlets agreed with a sigh and ducked his head down when Reigen glanced at him. "I mean. Not that I'd drink on job," he said, and then quietly added, "much."
"Hmm," Reigen hummed with amusement and lit his cigarette. They were garnering some attention from the samurai types. Sideways looks were being thrown their way and some people just flat out stopped to stare – few even whispered to each other while eyeballing them suspiciously.
It was like something from an old samurai movie. Or a western. All was missing was a saloon and they'd be all set. It was amazing – and not something he, in his position as the Greatest Psychic of the 21st Century, often got to see. Horror movie sets were more his usual fare.
Reigen inhaled through the cigarette to stifle his grin before it could widen and his eyes landed one of the beggars.
It looked like a kid. Her costume and make up were pretty damn convincing – it really looked like she was half starved to death and probably recently beaten up. Man, they must have one hell of a costume department in that school.
Reigen hummed consideringly and then dug around his pockets – ah there. Clutching the candy bar in hand, Reigen stepped over to the kid and crouched down. "Hi, there," he said. "How are you –"
"Stay away from her, you bastard!"
It was a woman in maybe her fifties, and she was brandishing a broom at him. "You disgusting filth! How dare you – how dare you even try – in front of my bar – you filth!"
"Now, ma'am," Reigen started with surprise. He'd gotten so used to Scarfy and Gauntlets' supportive acting that he'd forgotten – he was in middle in other people's set and probably messing up their play.
"Hey, watch what you're doing, you old hag," Scarfy snapped and pulled a sword on her. "Don't you even know who you're talking to?! You ought to pay your respects to, uh –"
"Reigen," Reigen supplied with some amusement – though maybe he should've tried for a made up name?
"I don't care if you were damned rabbit goddess herself!" the woman spat. "I won't have you lecherous bastards anywhere near my bar – and keep you disgusting hands to yourself. These kids -!"
"You bitch!" Scarfy snarled and then punched her square in the jaw, just like that.
Reigen stared, mouth agape, as the woman went down.
"There, now shut up and fucking stay shut up," Scarfy spat and then went to kick the woman for good measure.
"Oi," Reigen said, stopping him. That looked like it hurt – it looked real. And acting or not, he'd done it in front of the kid too. Or what very convincingly looked like a kid anyway. "What the hell do you think you're doing?"
"Er," Scarves said, looked back at him and then went pale. "She was talking back at you, Reigen-sama! I couldn't just let her –"
"What, talk?" Reigen asked with disbelief. "You think punching someone is a justifiable counter argument to talking?"
"She was – she was saying those things and –"
"So? People have said a lot worse," Reigen shrugged. "Its just words – there's no need to get physical over words."
Shaking his head he held out a hand to the woman who was furiously wiping at her mouth with the back of her hand. "I am so sorry, ma'am. Are you alright? Here, let me help you up."
She eyed his hand with surprised suspicion and then, very cautiously, took it. "Reigen, was it? This your rabble, then?" she motioned at Scarfy and Gauntlets, who were standing back, looking awkward. "Tch. You should keep your dogs in check."
"What was that, bitch?" Scarfy growled.
"Hey, how about some manners?" Reigen said placidly. "Calling names never gets anyone anywhere."
They were drawing in a bit of a crowd – lot of the samurai-types were making a circle around them. And now they all stared at him like he was insane. Apparently his acting wasn't setting appropriate.
"Right," the woman said slowly and picked up her broom. "Now what were you touching little Aki for?"
"I was going to give her a candy bar – but she seems to have vanished," Reigen said thoughtfully. He'd wanted to see how good her make up was up close – because her eye had been all swollen up, and that had probably taken some prosthetics and whatnot.
He'd for a while now thought that make up might make a good addition to his business – add a bit of flavour to the whole thing.
The broom woman stared at him in disbelief. "Candy bar," she repeated.
Reigen shrugged and flicked bit of ash off his cigarette before breathing through it. "So, things seem a bit tense around here," he commented, and blew the smoke out, wondering what the full story here was.
The way he figured, this Gatou character was a landlord or something, and apparently not a good one. So maybe a story of people vs. dictatorial lord, or something like that. Pretty classic. But did they have actual plot to this whole thing, or…
"You don't say," Broom said sarcastically, looking him up and down, taking his suit – not very setting appropriate – his hair cut – also probably not very setting appropriate, everyone here seemed to have longer hair. "So who the hell are you, and what are you doing here?" she asked and scowled. "If you're here to see Gatou – he's not in the town."
"Isn't he? Pity," Reigen said and looked at the samurai-types around them. Man, but the costumes were good. There was a sort of sci-fi, cyber-punk tinge to them. One guy had a gas mask on, another seemed to have sunglasses attached to his temples with screws, and so on. Everything from the clothing to tattoos to the hair cuts and bits and pieces of jewellery – they were all just… so good.
"Well, look at you lot," Reigen said and shook his head. The budget this theatre school had must be amazing.
"You got something to say, ya bastard?" one of the samurai – one with a scythe for some reason – growled at him.
"Show some respect to Reigen-sama, you rat!" Scarfy growled back, going for his katana.
"Oi, oi, calm down," Reigen said, sighing and flicking some ash off his cigarette again. "No need for hostility. No one wants a fight."
"I want a fight," one guy in the back said, waving his meaty arm. "I love fighting!"
"Well," Reigen said, a little lost for words. "Good on you," he settled on saying and someone laughed in the background.
Man, there was really a crowd around them. And they seemed to be expecting something. Scarfy and Gauntlets were both glancing at him expectantly and even Broom was looking at him like she was waiting for something. What did they want?
Oh, of course. He was surrounded by actors – and he was an outsider who somehow barged into their improvised role-play. Obviously they wanted him to prove his chops.
They wanted a speech. No, a monologue.
"Hmm," Reigen said, looking at the crowd. Alright. He could do a monologue.
"This is one hell of a place," he started, with every eye on him, looking from person to person. "And you're one hell of a crowd. Just look at you lot – amazing," he shook his head. "I'm told Gatou's bled this place dry – and that there's not much here left. True it looks a bit vacant here and there. But this place doesn't look bled out. There's spirit here."
In his element now, Reigen turned to look at Broom who was now scowling at him. "This lady here almost brained me with a broom. A broom," he said, shaking his head. "Over a little beggar girl. That's spirit for you," he nodded to her and then looked at the rest. "And you people. I've just arrived and already you're here, up in my face, ready to fight me. That's spirit."
Reigen turned on his heel again, glancing at Scarfy and Gauntlet. They were watching him avidly. Doing good then. "I don't like to fight," he continued. "Fighting for me has never solved anything. Killing people doesn't make anything better. What really matters is working together. People, in group, can accomplish anything. Even I can't do much alone – even I'm just one man. But together, with others, we can accomplish anything."
Everyone was staring at him now – there were even people other than the samurai-types trickling in. He was doing good. Probably. Feeling a bit more confident now, Reigen paused and then gambled a bit. "I've heard a lot about what Gatou's done here," he said and held a long, dramatic pause, looking from person to person, meeting eyes. "What have you lot done? What have you accomplished here?"
Now people – especially the samurai-types – were shifting on their feet, some looking vaguely guilty, while the regular old towns people were glaring at them. Reigen nodded knowingly. "Yeah, I know how you feel," he said and shook his head. "For a long while, I didn't accomplish anything either. I was just like you," he said sadly. "Living from day to day, from pay to pay, no care in the world. Following the crowd, making no mark on the world around me, making no difference… Just existing…"
Another dramatic pause, this time with nostalgic expression thrown in. They were lapping it up. Ha, see, even amateurs could have decent acting chops. "They won't remember us if we just existed," he then said and looked up, nodding to his audience. "And they won't remember us for what we tore down. They'll remember us for what we build. And we can only build together – and for that… you need spirit."
Reigen met more eyes. Some people were actually nodding along. Incredible. "And I think this place still has it. But who knows," he trailed off for a moment and looked away sadly. "Maybe I'm wrong. Maybe Gatou's bled you all dry by now."
He ended it there. It had gone on a bit too long anyway.
"He damn well hasn't bled us dry!" Broom shouted and waved her broom. "This is Wave! We got the sea in our veins! There is no way a little bastard like Gatou can kill out spirit!"
"Yeah! We're made of stronger stuff!" someone shouted just as another called out triumphantly, "We got life in us left! And so does our land!" and third shouted, "Yeah! Yeah!"
The samurai-types were exchanging looks before one of them shouted, "I haven't even been paid in four months!" and another shouted, "Yeah, me neither!" and third shouted. "There isn't even any booze left here!"
"Reigen, Reigen!" Scarfy chanted. It caught on pretty quickly. "Reigen, Reigen!"
Reigen smothered the urge to smirk smugly as he watched them. He'd gotten them pretty rallied up, huh. Not bad for an amateur improvisation, he thought, and pushed his hands into his pockets. Not bad at all.
The impromptu rally was then interrupted by yet another samurai type figure who shouted, "What the hell are you people doing! Gatou's called for a gathering!" he called, breathless, as he barged into the crowd. "He's going to take out the ninja, he wants everyone there!"
Everyone looked at Reigen. Reigen arched an eyebrow. He could feel a bead of sweat roll down the back of his neck. Was this the plot finally showing itself, or was this more improv, but on larger scale? Damn it, were they expecting him to take a lead role in this play, even though he hadn't even read the script?
Maybe he should've just kept his mouth shut after all.
"What are you just standing there for?" the messenger asked. "Lets go! Gatou's waiting for us!"
"Oh, is he now?" Reigen said, and took out his packet of smokes, trying to stall for time, trying to think it through. He went for a lighter too but before he could grab it, several were thrust at him from all sides, as about dozen people, samurai and towns people alike, tried to light the cigarette all at once.
Reigen stood still in a circle of lit lighters for a moment, glancing at the people around him. Their acting was impeccable – they looked so earnest, so serious. It was like scene from a movie. Damn.
It was pretty cool.
He'd been playing the responsible adult for a while now, with Mob and the others. Maybe… maybe he could loosen up a bit and just have fun with this.
Reigen took light from the nearest lighter, sucked a breath through the cigarette and smiled. "Alright," he said and blew out a trail of smoke. "Let's go meet Gatou."