In a World so Small, All is a Close Call
Dec 28, 2013 18:16:31 GMT -5
Post by Takumi Sokei on Dec 28, 2013 18:16:31 GMT -5
The clouds were passing like soldiers after a firefight. They were heavy and gray and the largest cluster resembled a sluggishly hanging human head. The mist that drizzled to the concrete gave the citizens of Chinatown the familiar scent of the rainy season. Takumi observed these looming blankets in a state of pure contemplation. His mind was often riddled with questions that prodded existence, though he never expected to come to any conclusions. Today he was attuned to the thought that humans belonged to the animal kingdom as much as every other creature that didn't choose to be born. His mind jumped to all living things, brushing against the fact that plants were no less alive than he. Today, he was reminded that everything was connected and served a purpose in the world.
Though he had once believed that peace was the only way to serve his purpose, a small group of thugs would mold this view of his into a different shape today. Takumi was on his way back from the library without focusing on any one thing in particular. Taking the shortcut to his sister's home never seemed dangerous, but the alleyway was dark and ominous today. As he walked deeper within, three outlines could be seen from the deep glow of a desperate inhale, one that seemed to melt nearly half of a mischievous figure's cigarette. Before Takumi could react to the danger he sensed, one of the figures had already started to move toward him. Their formal greeting was when Tak's head was shoved into the brick wall beside him. The shove was not intended to knock Takumi out cold, but it did give him a moment's hesitation. In that time the two other men had approached, one of which delivered a firm kick to his shin; it probably hurt them both equally. Tak attempted to run but was quickly tripped up from behind. The tumble hurt him more than being bashed against the wall, and the thugs began to stomp on a man they thought was there selling drugs from the previous night. Not only did they accuse the wrong person, but Takumi hadn't ever done anything that would aggravate gangsters. His only real offense was bad timing.
"Please stop, I have nothing for you," Takumi uttered as he put a hand over his head.
"Hold it," one of them asserted after a menacing last kick. The smoker of the group wheezed as he flicked the butt on top of the sprawled, bloody body. Though most of what he heard were only muffled murmurs, Takumi was able to piece together that he might not be the one who deserved this particular beating.
"I'm going home," Takumi's simple answers didn't sit well, so before anything worse happened he added, "I have no money, what do you want?"
"Empty your pockets."
Takumi had no choice but to obey. He was lucky to have left the money he'd been saving up at his sister's, which was now only about thirty yards away. He slowly pulled the cell phone from his front left pants pocket, clicking a button so they saw the screen light up. In disbelief, the group had one of the thugs pat down the rest of his pockets for, Takumi assumed, money.
"…Not on him."
Tak was thoroughly confused. At that moment, the thug that had frisked him down pointed a finger back toward where Takumi had entered the alleyway. There was a figure about the same size as Tak, wearing a similar black jacket with the same sort of wavy hairstyle. In that very moment everyone in the alley realized that Tak had taken a beating in place of the man he was mistaken for. That man now started sprinting for his life.
"Fuck! Go, go!" one of them practically screamed. All three of them took off after the mystery lookalike, though one came to a halt and tried to turn around too quickly. Takumi seemed to almost channel the thought that he was a witness to the scene, even though he wasn't able to make out anybody's face. Although he was in a lot of pain, his sympathetic nervous system kicked into flight before the thug could even rise. He sprinted out of the alley, passed his sister's house, and didn't stop until he got to a familiar bakery about two blocks passed his original destination.
In those next few moments, Takumi would experience the worst paranoia he might feel for the rest of his life. He wasn't aware that he had turned the corner before his hunter even saw the direction he left. So he waited.
And kept waiting. The closing employee did not pay attention to Takumi's presence, but rather he was more focused on praying that he wouldn't have to reopen the register and re-add the totals from his begrudging shift. He sat low behind the counter like a child who doesn't realize he can be seen, doing all in his power to remain unnoticeable. Out of his peripherals he could see Takumi's shaking figure, and he decided to content himself with the thought that Takumi was trying to steal a few minutes of warmth before the store closed. Takumi was not cold. He was still shaking in fear that he would be dragged back into the alley and stabbed to death, shot in the stomach until he bled out, or perhaps kidnapped and brought to a remote room where nothing familiar could be caught by a glance. He slowly began to refrain from hyperventilating and thinking so negatively, calming his restless nerves and reminding himself that he was sure to handle any situation better if he could just relax. He rose from his seat and walked out of the door two minutes before closing time, holding open the door for a last minute customer. As Takumi began hurriedly to his sister's home the cashier's disappointment almost infiltrated the entire atmosphere. Takumi, before this day, had faith in his fellow man.
To his relief, Kiyomi was not home when he walked into the small apartment. He quickly remembered that she was teaching a night class and went to the bathroom after grabbing a paper bag from the kitchen. He removed the torn, blood-stained jacket and put it in the bag, leaving it open to catch the falling strands of hair that now began to sprinkle around the sink and floor. The buzzer reminded him of his mother, who used to cut all of her own children's hair to save money rather than spend it at the barber. Four children would have put the family in debt had they not been so self-sufficient. The combined smells of dried blood, wet hair and mud became more of a stench as the strands fell passed Takumi's nostrils. He swept up the rest of the mess and kept the bag in the bathroom while he showered in case Kiyomi should return home early. Though he knew class wouldn't end for another twenty minutes and it would take her another ten to drive home, his logic was still a bit suppressed from the possibilities of what could've happened to him just a few moments earlier. Perhaps noting how lucky he was to have made it out with minor injuries would have provided a better mindset to try and sleep with. After dumping the bag down the trash chute, he returned to the bathroom to brush his teeth.
He looked like a new man. He had spent more time under the water than expected, and at this moment he heard a key fumbling in the lock. He knew the jingle was his sister's keys, but he still felt his nerves starting to fester. It wasn't until he saw Kiyomi walk through the door with full hands that the chemicals in his brain began to return to their normal, balanced state. Without thinking he grabbed one of the bags and placed it on the counter. She almost immediately sensed his discomfort but decided not to dig. She, too, had a mind occupied with angst and anxiousness, though her concerns had more to do with the upcoming finals and her students' preparation. Their body language spoke epics but neither of them said a thing. They each moved into their rooms and failed an attempt at getting a good night's sleep. Takumi would see how fortunate he really was the following morning.
::Requests::
- A news report following the murder of Takumi's lookalike for selling drugs in gang (Triad) territory
* Specifically in the report that there were no witnesses that reported information, clearing Tak's threat of snitching on the thugs
- For Takumi to look a lot less like he did that night so he won't be recognized by any of the thugs
- To be able to use Kiyomi's (sister) home as a place to sleep, eat, etc. until Tak is on his feet
::Requests::
- A news report following the murder of Takumi's lookalike for selling drugs in gang (Triad) territory
* Specifically in the report that there were no witnesses that reported information, clearing Tak's threat of snitching on the thugs
- For Takumi to look a lot less like he did that night so he won't be recognized by any of the thugs
- To be able to use Kiyomi's (sister) home as a place to sleep, eat, etc. until Tak is on his feet