Blood Drip

Episode 5:Running Out of Streets

Morning light crept slowly over the city, but the district Kakaido and Julo had wandered into still looked abandoned. Windows were boarded up, streetlights flickered weakly, and the sound of wind moving through broken buildings echoed down the empty roads.

Julo walked a few steps behind Kakaido, stretching his sore arms.

Julo: You know… when I imagined my future, it didn’t involve getting chased through half the city by a guy who laughs while trying to harvest blood

Kakaido kept scanning the rooftops.

Kakaido: Stay alert

Julo sighed.

Julo: That’s your answer to everything

They crossed an empty intersection. A burned-out car sat in the middle of the road, and a shattered storefront hung open like a missing tooth.

Julo looked around.

Julo: So where are we even going

Kakaido: Somewhere harder to track

Julo: Pretty sure we passed that option three neighborhoods ago

Kakaido stopped suddenly.

Julo bumped into him.

Julo: What now

Kakaido raised his hand slightly, signaling him to stay quiet.

The street was still.

Too still.

Then—

Footsteps echoed from somewhere above.

Julo slowly looked up.

Julo: Please tell me that’s a pigeon

Kakaido didn’t answer.

A shadow moved along the rooftop across the street.

Then a familiar voice drifted down.

Kikuda: You two run faster than I expected

Julo dropped his head.

Julo: Of course it’s him

Kakaido stepped forward, eyes locked on the rooftop.

Kakaido: What do you want

Kikuda crouched on the edge of the building, smiling like someone watching a show.

Kikuda: I already told you

He pointed down at Kakaido.

Kikuda: Your blood

Julo crossed his arms nervously.

Julo: Yeah we’re still not doing that

Kikuda chuckled.

Kikuda: I admire the loyalty

Kakaido: Leave him out of this

Kikuda tilted his head.

Kikuda: Why

He stood up and stepped off the roof.

Instead of falling normally, he twisted midair and landed lightly on the pavement.

The impact cracked the ground slightly.

Julo blinked.

Julo: Okay… that landing was not normal

Kikuda slowly walked toward them.

Kikuda: You know what I like about this game

Kakaido clenched his fists.

Kakaido: It’s not a game

Kikuda laughed.

Kikuda: Everything is a game

He gestured around the empty street.

Kikuda: The running, the hiding, the fighting

He pointed at Kakaido again.

Kikuda: And eventually… the losing

Kakaido charged him before he could finish the sentence.

Their fists collided with a loud crack that echoed through the street.

Julo quickly backed behind the burned-out car.

Julo: Here we go again

Kikuda spun sideways, dodging Kakaido’s second punch and countering with a kick to his ribs.

Kakaido slid across the pavement but recovered quickly.

Kikuda grinned.

Kikuda: Better

Kakaido lunged again.

This time the two exchanged a rapid series of punches and blocks.

Each impact sent dust flying from the ground.

Julo peeked over the car hood.

Julo: I’m gonna need therapy after this

Kakaido ducked under a swing and slammed his shoulder into Kikuda, forcing him back a few steps.

Kikuda laughed again.

Kikuda: Now that’s interesting

Kakaido: Stop talking

He threw another punch.

Kikuda caught his arm mid-strike.

For a moment, the two stood frozen.

Kikuda leaned closer.

Kikuda: You’re getting stronger

Kakaido pulled his arm free and jumped back.

Kakaido: I don’t need compliments from you

Julo slowly stood up again.

Julo: Yeah save the motivational speeches

Kikuda suddenly dashed forward again.

His speed was almost impossible to track.

Before Kakaido could react—

Kikuda slammed into him and threw him through the window of a nearby store.

Glass shattered everywhere.

Julo flinched.

Julo: Oh that’s bad

Inside the store, Kakaido rolled across the floor and stood up again.

His arm had a deep cut from the broken glass.

But it was already slowly closing.

Kikuda stepped through the shattered doorway.

Kikuda: That healing ability of yours

He stared at the wound as it closed.

Kikuda: That’s exactly what I want

Kakaido wiped the blood off his arm.

Kakaido: Not happening

Kikuda smiled wider.

Kikuda: We’ll see

He suddenly rushed forward again.

The fight exploded inside the store.

Shelves collapsed.

Old bottles shattered.

Wood splintered under their feet.

Outside, Julo paced nervously.

Julo: Okay… okay… think

He looked around the street desperately.

Then he spotted something near the sidewalk.

A loose metal pipe.

Julo grabbed it and ran toward the store.

Inside—

Kakaido blocked a punch but got slammed into a counter.

Kikuda raised his arm again.

Then—

Julo swung the pipe.

It hit Kikuda across the back.

The sound echoed through the room.

Both fighters stopped.

Kikuda slowly turned his head.

Julo froze.

Julo: Uh… surprise

Kikuda blinked once.

Then laughed harder than before.

Kikuda: I like you

Julo: That’s not comforting

Kakaido grabbed Julo’s jacket.

Kakaido: Run

Julo didn’t argue this time.

The two bolted out the back door of the store and into the alley behind it.

Kikuda stood alone in the destroyed shop for a moment.

Then he looked toward the broken back door.

His smile slowly returned.

Kikuda: Keep running

He stepped over the shattered counter.

Kikuda: The longer the chase…

His laughter echoed through the empty building.

Kikuda: The more fun it gets

Outside, Kakaido and Julo disappeared deeper into the city.

But neither of them felt like they had escaped.

Not even close.

End of Episode 5

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