Chapter 8: Payback Part 3
If you followed the history books to the letter, you already know how this all happened. A century ago, out of nowhere, the new wave virus infected the populace turning the world into a hotbed of mutagenic madness that was eventually reigned in by creating the ever so popular superhero.
But I was living proof that there was more to the story. Back in that time, my family, the Kyandee's, lived in the underbelly of the Kamagasaki area of Osaka, Japan. My father would tell me stories of how my great grandfather Ramune Kayndee was so hungry he had to eat an old shoe in wintertime.
Over time, he was so desperate that he accidentally got in debt with the yakuza. However, Ramune's connection with them became a blessing instead of a curse once the new wave started.
With his newfound chemical-producing abilities, Ramue managed to build an empire based on his own self summoned narcotics, eventually fracturing a piece of the yakuza to form an empire that would forever change it. The Kayndee's soon became the closest thing to royalty amongst Japan's criminal empire down the family line.
Silver spoons were all I had known for 23 years, but I knew I wanted more. Unlike my predecessors, my otosan: Dagashi Kayndee, had spent every expense ensuring I didn't join his world. Every time he left, he would always say the same thing.
"Everything has a price, my dear, and to live a life like mine, you may have to pay one you won't be able to bear. You're fine where you are."
But like a fool, I didn't listen; in fact, the words emboldened me even more, forcing me deeper and deeper into the underworld to the point where I was the secret right hand of the whole organization with my influence spread far and wide.
I was so arrogant that I didn't even think I would ever need my pathetic powers, feeling they were beneath me. And with "my'' empire, I intended to make sure that the Kayndee's stood unopposed.
Under the guise of a business trip, my father and I went to Krimo to make some connections that would share even more of our territory, lose even more of our age-old monopoly. But once again, as my father tried to pull back, I pushed ever forward with my plan.
If everything had worked out, Kirmo's local heroes would've put an end to the rival yakuza heads meeting before they knew better, all while my father and I enjoyed dinner in a private suite, but I guess it's true what they say: not all heroes wear capes. I never could forget the last words he said to me.
"I'm proud of the women you've become, Amai. I know you are about this decision, but I want you to know I do it because you're the only price I couldn't bear to pay. I think it's high time that the Kayndee legacy as we know it ends here today," he said honorably.
Maybe it was in that moment, call it clarity or the time that the message finally stuck, but I couldn't help but shed tears when it finally happened. But, of course, soon, I'd be crying for different reasons, for everything my father said was right. The name would change forever.
Instead, those same heroes I called upon made their way towards me, with our rivals leading the charge. And as the sneering set of wolves looked down at me, I realized that for all my talk, all my bluster, I was nothing more than a sheep guarded by a fancy pen. My presence was a complete nonfactor, to the point where my father used the last of his power to send me far away from the suite.
While my powers were nothing more than a glorified glue gun, my father's ability represented 'himself perfectly. Through this, I lived another day, as I rapidly descended into the lower levels protected in a bubblegum-like barrier, his last embrace of love as the suite exploded.
In the months to come, my riches quickly turned to rags, realizing that in one fell swoop, the Kayndee family name meant nothing now in the criminal underbelly. That all my previous power meant nothing.
I roamed amongst the Rapids, trying to deny that fact, trying to pull the strings of every 2-bit gang I could find. But over and over again, my plans would fail, eventually suffering from my self-made riot that ravaged city blocks. On that day, I thought that I would finally die.
Until Eternus came to play because, for some reason, despite all of his anger, shrewdness, and self-deprecation, there was always a refined conviction about him that drew me closer. He was another broken product of this world driven to the brink of madness, and yet he was the only one I've seen to yell out against such unfairness.
Out of pure insanity or vengeance, he let these emotions fuel him every day to fight with everything he has against such a fact. And unlike I, he saw this mission, this creed to the very end with his own two hands as he stood a king of bodies that he had dropped himself, inadvertently saving my life and ending the riot through sheer force.
In a way, it was like he was my hero. Armed with the chance to finally abandon my now cursed name, I abandoned the foolish Amai Kayndee. Instead, I latched onto him like gum to a shoe, hoping that in some way, I could stand by and help him succeed where I had failed—hoping that he could be the one to pay my price finally.
But like I said before, it looks like no matter how far I run, I'm always stuck. So with literally nothing more left to lose, I prepared myself for defeat. Only to be interrupted by the most unlikely of forces.
Weekly Power Status
-- Power
Ranking 
-- Power
stone