4 Trial by Fire

Kayne was lying on his back in his room, arms crossed behind his head, reflecting on the mission he would have to accomplish to join the Toman gang. Mikey's words still echoed in his mind; he tried to understand more deeply the kind of person the gang boss was. As for the mission, he was not afraid, far from it. In his former life, he had encountered death more than anyone else, and these experiences had forged a steel mentality.

Noticing that it was time for the meeting, Kayne got up with a start. He quickly put on his clothes, ran a hand through his hair to tousle it, and left his room with a determined step. The streets of Tokyo were lively in the late afternoon, but Kayne paid little attention. His mind was focused on the goal to be achieved, and nothing could divert him from his path.

Meanwhile, in the Toman hideout, Mikey had summoned Draken for an important discussion. The two were sitting, enjoying instant ramen.

"I've decided to accept Takemitchi into the gang," Mikey announced bluntly.

Draken raised an eyebrow, surprised by this sudden statement.

"Are you sure about this? That guy seems pretty weak to me; I don't know if he has what it takes to join the Toman."

Mikey had an enigmatic smile, as if he knew something Draken did not.

"Don't judge by appearances. I felt something in this guy, a kind of inner strength that I like. But you're right, we can't just accept him like that. I'm going to give him a mission, a test to evaluate his determination and loyalty."

Draken nodded, understanding where Mikey was coming from.

"And what will this mission be?" he asked, intrigued.

Mikey leaned forward, lowering his voice as if to confide a secret.

"Do you remember the motorcycle stolen by the gang of thugs hanging around the western district? I want Takemitchi to go retrieve it, alone. If he succeeds, he will have proven his worth."

Draken nodded, a predatory smile stretching his lips.

"Understood. I'll pass on the instructions."

With those words, he left the hideout, heading for the meeting place set with Takemitchi. He found him waiting, leaning against a wall, looking rather vague. Approaching him, Draken couldn't help but size him up from head to toe; he wanted to know what Mikey could see in this guy.

"Listen, Takemitchi... that's right? Mikey is giving you a chance to prove yourself. There's a gang of thugs who stole a motorcycle belonging to the Toman. Your mission is to go retrieve it, alone. If you succeed, you will have taken a big step towards joining the gang. But if you fail..."

Draken left his sentence hanging, letting the threat linger. Kayne, far from being intimidated, accepted the mission with the utmost calm.

"I will not fail. Consider that motorcycle as already returned to the Toman."

Draken, a bit shocked, had an approving smile at this unwavering confidence. He gave Kayne the last details about the gang of thugs and the location of their hideout. Then, he told him that Mikey had placed a lot of hope in him.

"Well, I guess they don't do things by halves. He's sending me straight to get beaten up," Kayne thought with a sigh. Nonetheless, it was his chance to prove his worth, to show Mikey and the others that he was worthy of joining their ranks. For the sake of his future, he had to complete this task.

Kayne then set off, despite not having a set duration for the completion of his task, the sooner would still be better. The streets passed by him as he delved into the city's infamous neighborhoods. The atmosphere subtly changed, the buildings became more dilapidated, the faces harder. But Kayne paid no attention; he was already accustomed to such places.

Finally, he arrived in front of the thugs' hideout. It was an abandoned warehouse, walls covered in graffiti and windows broken. Bursts of voices and coarse laughter escaped from it, a sign that the gang was present.

After a short reconnaissance, he discovered that the gang consisted of about twelve men. Kayne clenched his fists, his gaze darkening. It was time to take action. With a determined step, he advanced towards the entrance of the warehouse, ready to fight. The thugs, surprised by his intrusion, jumped up, looking threatening.

"Who are you? What are you doing here?" one of them shouted, seizing a baseball bat in the process.

"A baseball bat... that brings back bad memories," Kayne thought, a cold, almost cruel smile forming on his face.

"I'm here to take what doesn't belong to you. The motorcycle you stole. Give it back to me without any fuss, and maybe out of my kindness, I will spare you."

The thugs burst into mocking laughter, clearly unimpressed by the threat.

"Kid, are you crazy? The only one who should be begging for our pity is you."

Kayne didn't answer, just cracked his knuckles. Then, with lightning speed, he lunged forward, his fist crashing into the jaw of the first thug. The man collapsed to the ground, knocked out on the spot.

The others, stunned, took a moment to react. Then they rushed at Kayne, screaming, brandishing their makeshift weapons. But Kayne, with his past experience, dodged their blows with disconcerting ease. His fists and feet flew, delivering implacable justice.

In just a few minutes, the gang of thugs lay on the ground, moaning in pain.

"He's going to find you and make you pay," one of the barely conscious thugs stammered.

Kayne, barely out of breath, ignored the man, making his way among the bodies, searching for the motorcycle with his eyes. He found it in a corner of the warehouse, sparkling under a tarp.

With a satisfied smile, Kayne mounted the motorcycle, savoring the familiar feel of leather under his fingers. The engine roared to life as he turned it on, like a beast awakening from a long slumber. He left the warehouse in a rush, leaving behind the defeated and humiliated thugs. The wind whipped his face as he sped through the streets of Tokyo. It had been a good while since he had let off steam like this.

And this was just the beginning. Kayne knew that many challenges still awaited him, but full of confidence, nothing could stop him.