Chapter 1: Streets of Sotenbori

Welcome to Sotenbori. A bustling little town and the entertainment district of Osaka, with two bridges built over the river where boats sail every passing day.

Cabaret clubs dominate parts of the Sotenbori nightlife, where customers can pay to socialize with beautiful women in dresses and drink to their heart's content. And through it all, all sorts of other businesses, big or small, whether they're shops or restaurants, and everything in between.

But as glamorous as the city looks day and night, there's always something hiding beneath the city. A shadow that always looms over and threatens the everyday lives of the Sotenbori people and elsewhere in Japan...

The yakuza, and one of the biggest syndicates in the Kansai area at that... The Omi Alliance [近江連合]. They're as yakuza as yakuza gets. Shaking honest people down for “protection” money. Extortion, laundering, loan sharking, smuggling weapons and drugs, you name it.

They put fear and danger in the lives of every innocent life in Japan, and you best steer clear if you don't want to get into hot water with them... or sleep with the fish in the bay, where they'll never find your body.

But amongst the people living in this small shindig of a town, there was one young, spry man. A man who's known his way around town for as long as he's lived in Osaka.

A handyman, a fixer, whatever you want to call him, he's a man you can call to take up whatever job it is you need, regardless of how dirty or odd it may be...

This... is a story of a man whose legend will soon transcend entire worlds... and that man... is Kazuki Murasaki.

PRESENT DAY, APRIL 2010 ONE MONTH AFTER THE SEISHIRO MUNAKATA SCANDAL

Murasaki, in a white baroque patterned button-up shirt and black jeans, walks across East Shofukucho.

Murasaki: Jeez... I need to find more work. Clients' ain't been so plenty for the past couple weeks. My coffer's runnin' dry, no spare change for booze either. There's gotta be some place I can work, right?

Meanwhile, there's a middle-aged man in a black vest and bowtie outside Ebisu Pawn on the street, calling out for new employees...?

Pawn Owner: HELP WANTED! WE NEED A NEW PAWNBROKER! I PROMISE YOU, THE PAY IS GREAT! ANYONE CONSIDERING WORKING AT EBISU PAWN, STEP RIGHT UP!

Murasaki looks at the pawn owner.

Murasaki: ...Ebisu Pawn? Hey, shit, this might be a pretty good gig. I'll ask the guy.

Murasaki walks up to the Ebisu Pawn owner.

Murasaki: Yo. You lookin' for a fresh pair o' hands, sir?

Pawn Owner: Oh? You're here to work for Ebisu Pawn, mister?

Murasaki: Yeah. I heard ya hollerin' about that. Position's still open?

Pawn Owner: You bet! Being a pawnbroker isn't exactly easy though. Are you good with finances, firstly?

Murasaki: I work as a handyman if that counts. No yen goes uncounted with me. Though I haven't gotten a new client in a while, so money ain't exactly my strength at the moment.

Pawn Owner: I see, I see... Anything else I should know?

Murasaki: Well, other than just being 21, nah. Just make sure ya tell me how much your inventory's worth and I'll make sure you get more bang for your buck... and vice versa. Heh.

Pawn Owner: Haha! I like your humor, kid! I think you're going to be a great pawnbroker already. What's your name anyway?

Murasaki: Kazuki Murasaki.

Pawn Owner: Kazuki-san it is then. Please, you can call me Mr. Sato.

Murasaki: Awright, Sato-han. You got yourself a new employee.

The two shake hands.

Sato: I'm forever grateful for your service, Kazuki. Now, let's show you how we do things at Ebisu Pawn.

The two walk inside, and Murasaki is quickly acquaintanced with the business.

Sato: So, you feel familiar with how your job works, Kazuki-san? Know the resale and market value of the items, and check its condition. You can check your notes if you need to. I don't expect you to instantly know values that easily. Oh, and make sure any goods the customer is selling definitely aren't stolen or counterfeit. Best we don't get into trouble with the cops now.

Murasaki: Heh, yeah, yeah, I got the gist of it, Sato-han.

Sato: Excellent. I'll be in the back if you need my help. Here's to your first day!

Mr. Sato walks in the back.

After a long shift, it's now nearly 9 PM. Sato comes back out of the backroom.

Sato: Great job today, Kazuki. Here's your cut for tonight's shift.

Murasaki: Heh, thanks.

Murasaki receives 4920 yen for his 6-hour shift.

Sato: I'll cover the nightshift for you. You go home and get some rest. Not bad for your first day on the job.

Murasaki: Appreciate it, Sato-han. See ya tomorrow.

Murasaki walks out of the shop with yen in hand. He then heads back to his apartment across the Sotenbori footpath... The same one Majima resided in in the 80s, when he was forced to work for the Cabaret Grand and its Omi-affiliated owner Tsukawa Sagawa, before he returned to the Shimano Family.

Murasaki puts the money aside and sleeps on his futon.

Murasaki: Heh. Finally got some dough. That Sato guy ain't so bad.... Time to call it a day though.

Murasaki dozes off. It's now morning once more, as a month has passed by and he gets back to Ebisu Pawn.

Murasaki: Yo, Sato-han! I'm back!

Sato: Oh, Kazuki-san, great to see you. Ready for work as usual?

Murasaki: You bet. Pawnbrokin' ain't that bad of a job now that I think about it.

Sato: That's the spirit. You've been a real natural at this stuff! If you still have any questions like always, I'm in the backroom!

Murasaki: Copy that, boss.

Murasaki gets back to work at the stand.

Until three hours later... A quartet of Omi Alliance thugs barge in. Among them is their leader Wataru Takayama [from RGG Online], a former Go-Ryu Clan lieutenant under Ryuji Goda before the clan's dissolution in 2006.

Takayama: OI! SATO-HAN! It's your old pal Takayama!

Murasaki: Who the hell?!-

Sato: A-Ah! Takayama-san, you're here for protection money again, aren't you?

Takayama: Yeah, that's right, dumbass. Remember, you're in Omi turf. Don't you forget it. Now, I believe ya got some cash to cough up, eh?!

Sato: D-Dammit. How much do you want?

Takayama: Let's see ‘ere... I'm feelin' a little peckish today... So how about 100 mill'? You're a pawn shop owner, surely ya got the cash, eh?

Sato: 100 million!? We're only halfway there, considering our revenue right now!

Takayama: You tryna cheat outta your debts, old man? I said, 100 million! Now lemme see it! Or else we'll be takin' all this shit on the shelf with us as compensation!

Sato: No, Takayama-san, please! Just a few more months and I'll get you all the money, I promise!

Takayama's Goon 1: Are ya DEAF?! He said he wants the goddamn money now!

Takayama's Goon 2: Maybe we gotta get it through your thick skull, ya old hag!

Sato: Please, I'm begging you, Takayama-san! I don't want to cause the Omi trouble but I need more time, I swear!

Takayama: Tch, sorry, Sato-han, but my terms ain't negotiable. Ebisu Pawn owes us big-time this month... So I'm afraid we're gonna have to accept compensation our own way! BOYS! Help yourselves to the loot tonight!

Takayama's Goons: YEAH!

Murasaki: OI, THE HELL ARE YA DOIN', YA BUTTBALLS?! YA LEAVE MY BOSS ALONE!

Takayama: Oh? And who's the junior? Your new errand boy, Sato-han? HEH! Scram already, kid. Let the grown-ups do business here.

Murasaki: Shut it, Takayama. You think you Omi shitheads can just run around this town like ya own the damn place! People like me and Sato, and everyone else here in Sotenbori are doin' just fine without the damn yakuza. We don't need yer fuckin' “protection”!

Takayama: HUH?! You wanna flap those lips one more time for me, junior? Or are you tryna grow some big damn balls here?

Murasaki: Damn right. Now you heard MY boss. We'll get ya yer fuckin' money later. So why don't ya scram?

Takayama: Oh, really now?! Maybe I'll consider takin' you as compensation too!

Sato: NO! YOU LEAVE KAZUKI-SAN ALONE! THE BOY HAS NOTHING TO DO WITH THIS!

Takayama: Oh, he does now! Boys, take this dumbass with ya too! We might put him to good use later!

Sato: NO!

The goons grab Murasaki.

Murasaki: 放せ!!

He starts kicking and squirming out of desperation, until his instincts start kicking into overdrive and he does a Rear Spinning Side Kick to one of the goons grabbing him.

Takayama's Goon 2: OI! WHAT THE HELL?!

Murasaki: Sato-han! You stay inside!

Murasaki turns back to face Takayama and his gang.

Murasaki: You motherfuckers wanna thrash my shop? Then yer gonna have to get through me first, dammit!

Takayama: Well, I'll be damned... Kid's got some punch to him. AWRIGHT THEN! FELLAS, FUCK HIM UP!

Murasaki enters his very first fight.

START FIGHT

Murasaki develops a very rough and aggressive fighting style, almost the exact same Thug Style used by Majima. He manages to take down Takayama's three goons first, and takes down Takayama last, but Murasaki is left injured and bruised.

Takayama's Goon 2: AUGH- SHIT!- How the hell does this kid know how to fight?!

Murasaki: You dirtbags ain't fuckin' invincible, ya know? Don't go thinkin' just cuz' yer yakuza doesn't mean ya can't be touched.

Takayama's Goon 1: Son of a bitch...

Goon 1 collapses.

Murasaki: Heh... Wow... I actually... got them?

Unfortunately, Takayama is still alive, and he runs up and tackles Murasaki down to the pavement and brandishes a dagger.

Takayama: Got ya, little fuckin' twerp!

Murasaki: SHIT!-

Takayama takes the knife and prepares to stab it into Murasaki's skull, but Murasaki pushes back.

Murasaki is struggling, but slowly pushes the knife to his left eye...

Takayama: You got some fuckin' balls picking a fight with an Omi officer, kid! So how about an eye for an eye?!

Murasaki: NO, NO!-

Takayama manages to drive the dagger into his left eye, making Murasaki scream in anguish as he tries to get Takayama off him.

Sato: K-KAZUKI-SAN!

Sato gets one of the goons' discarded bats and whacks Takayama with a clumsy but hard swing to the head, definitely knocking him out cold for sure.

Sato: Oh my God, Kazuki-san! Your eye!

Murasaki: Tch! I-I'm fine! They didn't leave a finger on ya, right?!

Sato: Yeah, but not you, that's for sure! Go into the backroom and wait inside! I'll try and get help right now! I'll be quick, I promise!

Murasaki: T-Thanks...

Sato runs off to Don Quijote while Murasaki limps back inside, covering his bleeding left eye socket with his hand as the civilian spectators watch in horror. He sits on a chair waiting for Sato, who returns with a bag with a first aid kit.

Sato: Kazuki-san! Please, put this over your eye.

He hands out... a purple medical eyepatch.

Sato: I-I know the purple makes it look silly. It's the closest thing I got on such short notice...

Murasaki: ...I can't complain though. Better than nothin'.

Sato starts patching up Murasaki with bandages and tending to his eye wound.

Sato: Kazuki, you didn't have to stand up for me... I'm the one who got you into this mess, I'm so sorry! I didn't think Takayama wanted more protection money this month!

Murasaki: Nah, nah, it's fine... They were gonna thrash you anyway. I know how those yakuza douchebags roll. Beatin' folks up is all they know if they don't get their way.

Sato: But still! You risked your life for mine, and now you're probably the Omi's next target, and you're practically still just a kid... I don't know how I'm supposed to repay you for this...

Murasaki: It's fine. All that matters now is that you keep this shop open and running. As long as we're making an honest living, who cares?

Sato: R-Right... but still, you took responsibility on my behalf. It wouldn't be right if I left this particular debt unpaid to you. Please, forgive me.

Murasaki: Forgive? For what? I was just doin' it for the shop. Ya ain't gotta be so regretful, Sato-han...

Sato: No, I insist... Although I can't really offer you what we're selling on display... I can offer you the stuff we don't sell back here. I must repay you for your sacrifice... and, well, you can't go out looking like a murder suspect now. You still got blood on your clothes, you know...

Murasaki: You really sure? You don't owe me jack, Sato.

Sato: Please, it's the best I can offer to you! You were a hero for me, Kazuki... It's only fair I make sure you aren't left unrewarded for your efforts!

Murasaki: ...Fine. I'll take you up on this.

Sato: T-Thank you, Kazuki-san! Please, feel free to have a look around in storage! Anything in there's free for you today.

Murasaki: Uhh... I'm not exactly the picky type. How about you decide?

Sato: S-Sure! Hmm... Ooh, how about this? I think it goes nice with that eyepatch I got you.

Sato presents a mannequin displaying a Fjord blue tuxedo suit, with a purple dress shirt underneath... the exact same type Majima wore as the Cabaret Grand manager back then, but black and white respectively.

Sato: The suit is pretty tacky. Like a bargain store costume, sure, but it's the best one I can give to you without costing us a thing. It never really sold for as long as we've had it anyway.

Murasaki: Heh... Well, like ya said... As long as I don't look like a murder suspect, I'll take it, boss.

Sato: Very well then. Try it on!

Murasaki takes the suit off the mannequin and puts it on flawlessly as he checks himself on another old mirror in the storage room...

Murasaki: The fit's nice... Snag and sharp. Not too stiff to move in either.

Sato: You're lookin' good already! Anything else piquing your interest?

Murasaki: Hmm...

Murasaki eyes a purple peaked police officer-looking cap.

Murasaki: Heh... What's this?

Sato: Oh, just some strange-looking hat I got from a past customer. I can't help but shake the feeling it's just some cheap prop, but I found it was made of some pretty high quality materials... Was worth somewhat of a pretty penny. ...But, heh, what do I know? No cop I've ever known wears purple!

Murasaki: Well... if I'm going for tacky anyway, I don't see why not. You alright with me takin' it?

Sato: Not a problem for me, Kazuki.

Murasaki puts on the cap... His new outfit has been created.

Sato: Not too shabby. I like it a bit.

Murasaki: Heh... I dunno. I kinda look like a real yakuza with this suit... and now, shit's a lil' ironic wearin' a cop hat.

Sato: I'm sure that's got to mean something, does it? Heheh...

Murasaki: Eh, sometimes it may not even have a meaning to it, Sato-han. Ya never know. Maybe I'll find that out sooner or later.

Sato: Heheh, sure... Anyway, there's an employee washroom upstairs. Here's the key. Just so you don't get any weird looks outside... You still got blood on ya.

Murasaki: Right... Thanks.

Murasaki goes upstairs and washes the blood clean off his skin, and prepares to leave.

Sato: Kazuki-san... Are you sure you still want to come back for work? I know today's been... intense for us both, but if you're willing to, you're always welcome to return. I won't force you to... I get it if you're still shaken up...

Murasaki: Honestly, Sato-han... I think I oughta pass.

Sato: Y-You really sure?

Murasaki: Figured after what happened today... I thought I knew my way around this town... But look at me now. Some naive, punk-ass kid I am... Maybe now... I'll try to learn what life's got ready to throw my way. See what it's all really got in store for me.

Murasaki: If the Omi wants to take my head... Let ‘em come. ‘Cuz when they start barkin' at me... I'll be ready to bite back... and make sure it's where it hurts most for ‘em.

Sato: ...If that's the case, Murasaki-san... It's been a pleasure being your employer... for the month at least. Please... Take care of yourself out there. Thank you for saving the shop... and my life.

Murasaki: Heh... You take care too, Sato-han...

Murasaki waves off as he departs... He is no longer just a handyman... A new legend has been forged from blood... with a new vendetta against the Omi.

The Mad Dog... of Sotenbori.