AN: If you frequent AO3 then this might be familiar, I posted it on my AO3 account (my username on there is HOMRA) and it did a lot better than I expected so I figured I'd post it on here as well. Anyway, the setting for this is about halfway through K: Side Red and will follow the basics of the actual K plot without involving the same circumstances, obviously as that would be illegal and pointless. ;P
There will be mentions of past relationships, and one sided feelings. Not to mention some OOC moments, which will come with an explanation for them already written in the chapter. The main pairing for this is obviously MikotoxYata but there will be a few others as well.
Full description from AO3:
Mikoto hated asking for help more than anything, but Anna's warning had been as clear as day. Should he fail to prevent Tatara's murder he too would perish, taking everything he ever loved down with him. Fate had provided him with a chance to change the future and as much as he hated to admit it, he knew he couldn't do it alone. With some reluctance he enlists Reisi Munakata and Scepter 4 as his temporary allies, and the two clans work tirelessly to bring the Colorless King down before the night of Decemeber 7th.
Through it all an unsuspecting party, Yata to be exact, teaches the Red King to not take everything he has for granted, and Mikoto slowly but surely comes to terms with his own demons. Both from from the past, and the alleged future.
I don't own any of the characters used in this story, unfortunately.
Hope you enjoy!
"You got a point there, Mikoto. Things have been surprisingly quiet lately," Izumo Kusanagi mumbled as he tirelessly cleaned the wine glass in his hand. It was late in the night and almost silent, for once, in the corner-store-turned-bar affectionately named HOMRA. The usual bustle of the city seemed far off and distant, not even the sound of passing cars echoed into the building, instead the only noises that could be heard were the sizzling of cigarette papers and the occasional glasses clinking together. Even the conversations were whispered, though they didn't need to be.
"Ah," Suoh Mikoto, the red King, exhaled. Smoke filled his corner in the room and with tired eyes he watched the cloud evaporate, leaving no trace of it's existence behind. "Where's Tatara?"
"He went out to meet up with Yata and Kamamoto, he said that before he left," Kusanagi answered with a frown as he set the glass in his hand down on the bar, leaning over the wood as he did so. "Don't you hear anything they say, Mikoto? You've got to stop sleeping so much, you're missing out on everything."
The glare the red King sent his way was enough to keep him silent, his friend had never been one to vocalize his every thought but his facial expression and actions seemed to speak for themselves. The bar owner couldn't help but see the King as transparent.
"I don't think I'm missing out on much," Mikoto spat with a small yawn as he tossed his burnt out cigarette into an awaiting ash tray, he then curled up on the couch. "Besides, it's like they don't know the meaning of being quiet."
"You can say that again," Kusanagi grunted as he returned to his work. Every now and again he glanced back at the sleeping man on the couch, a frown pulling on his lips as he wondered what the voice in the back of his head, the one that was telling him something was wrong, meant. His King seemed to be his usual lazy self, but he couldn't deny the feeling that something was off.
"Mikoto," Kusanagi called, loud enough to wake the man from his light sleep but not loud enough to startle him either, the red haired man let out a grunt of acknowledgment. "Are you all right?"
At this Mikoto finally stirred, pushing himself off of the couch he waltzed over to the bar, taking a seat in front of the clearly concerned bar tender. "That noticeable, huh?"
"Not at all, I'd like to think I know you better than anyone else so maybe it was just my intuition. No one else has said anything, if that's what you meant. You just don't seem like yourself," Kusanagi rambled as he grabbed a small glass and filled it with Fireball Whiskey, the King took it with a nod.
"Hm," he hummed after downing the cinnamon flavored contents, before any further conversation could take place a small set of feet appeared on the staircase, followed by almost silent footsteps. "Anna, why are you out of bed?" The little girl froze in her place about halfway down the stairs, she rubbed her eyes. They seemed to be slightly covered in liquid though it was hard to tell in the dark room. Mikoto stood from his spot and climbed the small distance to her, picking her up as he went back to the couch where Anna strangely curled up onto his lap.
"Do you want to talk about it?" Suoh asked as he looked down at the Strain who had become almost like a daughter to him. Red eyes met his own and it was then that the tears seemingly poured over, the minor shock that crossed his face was quickly tossed aside as he awkwardly consoled her- having no real idea on how to do such a thing- though she didn't seem to mind.
"Don't go, Mikoto..." she whispered, though it sounded more like a warning than anything. Kusanagi nearly dropped his glass.
"I'm not going anywhere Anna, what are you talking about?" Suoh whispered as he smoothed down the young girls ruffled hair, she clung to the bolo tie around his neck for dear life.
"You can't go, neither can Tatara..." the girl mumbled as she wrapped her arms around the older man's neck, securing herself onto his chest. Mikoto stiffened.
"Did you have that dream again?" He asked as he placed a palm on the small of her back, the girl feverishly nodded her head. "Are you sure it's not just a nightmare?"
"I've had it too many times for it to be anything but a vision," Anna corrected, "I'm scared, Mikoto. I've never had visions like this before, they're all so clear."
"Care to tell me what's going on here, Mikoto?" Kusanagi inquired as he left his station and sat on a chair parallel to the couch his King and Anna we're seated on. The red haired man shifted, scooping up the girl in his arms as he headed towards the stairs.
"I will, but let me get her to sleep first," the third King promised as he began his ascent, Anna still clinging onto him as if he might disappear should she relinquish her grasp. Once upstairs Mikoto traipsed into the open door of Anna's room, the small red and black bedroom was dark, save for a faint glow that emitted from a flickering candle light bulb.
"Let's get you in bed, all right?"
Anna nodded her head, exhaustion clinging to her almost as tightly as she had clung to Mikoto. The King laid her down gently, pulling the black and white checkered blanket that draped over her bed on her as he tucked the small Strain in. Flame colored eyes refused to leave his own, though it was apparent she was having a hard time keeping them open.
"Sleep," Mikoto said blandly as he wiped away the hair from the little girl's forehead, she didn't even blink.
"Are you going to try and prevent it from coming true?" Anna asked quietly, her words sounding more like a plea then a question. 'Please don't let it come true', she thought to herself, too afraid and stubborn to say the words aloud. She had faith in Mikoto, she wouldn't be as attached to him as she was if she didn't; but growing so close to someone also meant you picked up on some of their traits. Anna's stubbornness was not natural but a learned behavior, one the third King himself had unconsciously given her.
"Is that what you want for me to do?" Mikoto asked as he turned and took a seat at the edge of the twin sized mattress. Small flashbacks of his own nightmare came to his head, the city laying in ruin while his injured and crumbling body burned around it. Standing in a crater of his own creation, alone, even without his familiar Sword of Damocles- the threat of it falling at any time already being fulfilled. He cursed under his breath, shaking the thought away, refusing to imagine life without the people he had somehow grown close too. Refusing to acknowledge the disaster-waiting-to happen that he was.
"They've never been wrong but they've never been this strong before either, maybe the universe wanted me to tell you to change the future." Anna stated with a yawn as she rolled over, facing away from her King- something extremely unlike her. "But I guess you'll do what you want to do anyway, right?"
The question took Mikoto by surprise, wiping away his usual disinterested face with a sharp wave of shock. He glanced back at Anna, who made no move to return the look, and wondered when she had gotten so sharped tongued. The sweet girl he brought up like she was his own had never been innocent per say, but she had also never been so blatant and downright cold. Mikoto found his fists clenching in frustration.
"Is that what you think? Why would you even ask if you thought I wouldn't listen to you?" He mumbled with a perplexed tone, eyes slipping shut as he shook away the reigns of sleep that threatened to drag him under, Anna didn't move.
"Because I wish you'd listen to me...to any of us...but you never do," she answered honestly as she took a deep breath, Mikoto's eyes snapped open before closing halfway.
"Is that so?" He asked rhetorically, his usual spark and wit crumbled in front of Anna. He was a shell of himself beside the Strain, knowing not only that she could see through the ruse but also that she wouldn't tolerate it either. It was almost an unspoken rule, how he acted around her anyway, but whenever they joined up with the rest of HOMRA and Mikoto's mask came back on she didn't mention it. Something he had never really thought about but was thankful for. Even Kusanagi and Tatara would give him hell if they ever saw a true glimpse of the red King's soft side.
Anna never answered, leaving Mikoto alone and the only one in the room awake. Feeling no need to stay he quietly escaped out of the bedroom door, heading back down the stairs where loud chatter broke out and he made the deduction that the three HOMRA members who had went out earlier in the night had returned. 'So much for that chat, Kusanagi.' He thought to himself as he rounded the bend in the stairs before stepping foot into the lower level of the bar. 'So much for a quiet evening, too.'
"I'm telling you Kusanagi-san, those guys were asking for it!" Yata exclaimed as he pressed a cold ice pack to his apparently busted lip, that and several scratches marking up his usually unscathed face. The bar owner rolled his eyes before pointing back at Mikoto who watched the exchange warily.
"Don't explain it to me, you answer to him after all," Kusanagi answered as he patted the skateboarder on the back. "He's all yours Mikoto, mainly because I don't have the patience to deal with this right now."
The third king smirked and made a grab for his smokes that laid on a table close to the couch Yata, Kamamoto, and Tatara occupied. Snapping his fingers, generating enough spark to ignite the tobacco, he glared at the trio through the smoke. Tatara appeared to be fine, not a mark ran up or down his body and instead of guilt his features sported I told you so characteristics. Something the red King found amusing.
Kamamoto refused to make eye contact with him, which irritated him to a point but not enough for him to mention it.
Yata on the other hand looked the definition of guilty. He was brave enough to look his King in the eye but not stupid enough to try and mask what he had done. His hands we're bloodied, cuts littering his knuckles and his usually pristine white shirt was crumbled, dark red stains littering it. His busted lip trembled slightly.
Mikoto pulled a chair out, sitting down directly across from his clansman as he continued to puff away at the cigarette that hung idly from his lips. Tatara cleared his throat, bringing all eyes in the room on him.
"I've already scolded them plenty," the eldest of the three exclaimed as he crossed his arms, "it kind of is my fault anyway."
"Oh?" Mikoto asked with a raised eyebrow, Tatara's eyes fell to the floor beneath them.
"Yeah, someone bumped into me when we we're walking and I said something under my breath and they overheard it so...it just kind of happened. You know I'm too passive to fight so Yata did it for me...Kamamoto only intervened when Yata got punched in the lip and then we left." He explained as he sat the camera he always carried down on the table, a dull thud echoed across the room.
"Why did you get so tore up, Yata? Aren't you quite the fighter?" Mikoto inquired as he kicked his feet up on the table, much to the displeasure of the bar owner who scoffed at the action. The fire King waved it off, quite literally.
"Well I didn't rely on my Aura, I guess I just wanted to see if I could still fight without it. Guess that was a mistake...but I thought I'd make a huge scene if I did use it and I wasn't ready to handle that." Yata cursed as he examined his own body, eyes scanning every single nick and bruise.
Mikoto didn't know why but no anger boiled within him. Sure, he was known for his violent tendencies himself but it wasn't like he always condoned when others he associated with acted out in the same way. Yata was a rare case. The spunky skateboarder had a fire burning so brightly in his soul that even Mikoto found it hard to look at, 'he's so much like I used to be', he thought to himself.
Mikoto wasn't exactly prepared to be a hypocrite and preach against unnecessary violence when it was the kind of shit he lived for. He admired the fact Yata didn't rely on his borrowed power for help, though he wasn't fond of the idea of his clansmen getting unnecessarily injured either. All in all, everything that popped in Mikoto's head sounded like a contradiction and he knew better than to preach to the choir, Yata would listen but he would never truly listen.
But that didn't mean he wouldn't toy with him for it.
"Yata," Mikoto began, his voice a tad bit lower than usual as his eyes slipped close momentarily before he snapped them open again. Their usual yellow hue illuminated a color completely opposite, a blood red that shone like tail lights in the barely lit room. Yata visibly stiffened. The others gulped.
"Mikoto-san I'm really sorry, I just didn't want those bastards to get away with what they said to Totsuka-san and you know I can't help the fact I'm a hot-head. Please don't be mad at me or Kamamoto, we're really s-"
"Enough," Mikoto cut off Yata's rambling with another wave of his hand, this time extinguishing his cigarette that he tossed into the ashtray with perfect, calculated aim. Yata and Kamamoto gulped while Tatara and Kusanagi exchanged concerned glances. "Let me finish talking next time, Yata."
"Sor-"
Mikoto's glare was enough to snap Yata's mouth shut once again.
"I was going to say I was proud of you but now I'm not so sure," the third king said with a smirk as his eyes slipped close, his body growing heavier with exhaustion though he did nothing in the day to make him feel such a way.
"Huh?" Was the collective response that sounded throughout the room, confusion laden voices only clued Mikoto in on what they speaker's faces must have looked like at the time. He widened his grin.
"You showed remarkable restraint, Yata. But next time, don't." The room became silent once again. Mikoto's eyes pried open as he stood from his chair, "I'd rather deal with Scepter 4 than lose a valuable clansman. You're lucky you weren't seriously injured."
"Mikoto?" Kusanagi called after the King as he began up the stairs, not looking back at the other members of HOMRA.
"I'm going to bed, have everyone here in the morning, early. We're having an emergency meeting," Mikoto replied, "also, you all are to spend the night here. No questions asked, no complaints either. That's an order."
If there was any confusion or perplexity that filled the room after that was said and done Mikoto wasn't around to hear or see it. Anna's words echoed numbly in the back of his mind as did the concern Kusanagi had clearly shown him when he was asked what was wrong. If Suoh was anyone else maybe he would've stayed awake and explained the situation to his lifelong friend, but he wasn't just anyone.
He was Mikoto Suoh, the red King, the very depiction of violence, rash thinking, and was someone who lacked a shred of emotion. At least, that's how everyone seemed to view him. He wondered if anyone even thought he was human at all, his mind raced as he threw himself down onto his cool mattress and hastily wrapped a blanket around him. He wished he couldn't feel anything but unfortunately human emotions we're still ever so present in the King's being.
He wondered if that, like everything else he thought or did, was selfish of him. It wasn't like he was unable of setting his feelings aside, no he did that all of the time, but was it right of him to do so? He couldn't say for certain either way, and with that thought he began to try and find out why he suddenly had the urge to examine every little thing he said or did. To say it was unlike him was a severe understatement.
Mikoto tried not to think about it anymore. The line between his emotions and his unreasonably short fuse was too thin to be crossed, even by himself. He wouldn't admit it aloud but he was very much afraid of Anna's predictions coming true, but he wasn't able to figure out if that was because everyone he knew was at risk or if it was because he didn't want to be viewed as an utter monster.
"Powers exist to protect, huh?"
If there was a truth to Tatara's words then Mikoto was still trying to figure it out. The red powers certainly didn't feel inviting, they definitely didn't feel anything but warm, but what was warm to the red King was an inferno to everyone else. When, when not if, he finally lost control of himself he would cause an incident mimicking that of the Kagutsu Crater.
Mikoto's own predecessor had caused destruction so widespread that 700,000 innocent people lost their lives, along with a vast majority of the then Scepter 4 and the former Blue King, Jin Habari. Mikoto could only wonder that when he finally did blow up if Reisi Munakata would have the guile to kill him or if he would become just another statistic. Either way, Suoh couldn't care less.
"Does anyone else have a strange feeling that something's about to happen?" Kamamoto asked as he relaxed back into the couch, the air of nervousness having disintegrated after Mikoto left the room. Kusanagi was finishing up the nightly cleaning while Tatara helped him put the glasses on their racks, Yata on the other hand sat parallel to Kamamoto, hand clawing at the emblem on his chest.
"Yeah, I know what you mean," he grumbled under his breath, a light but unusual warmth radiated from his marking. "Do you think something is wrong with Mikoto-san?"
Izumo nearly dropped the glass in his hand, causing Tatara to give him a wary look.
"Nonsense, Yata-san! Mikoto-san would have told us if something was wrong," Kamamoto offered, Yata reached over and slapped him on the back of the head.
"You idiot! Clearly something is wrong, it's not like him to order us to stay at the bar, and what's this emergency meeting about anyway?" Misaki hissed as he sat the ice pack down on his lap, wincing ever so slightly.
"Will you two be quiet? Do you really want to wake Mikoto up? Imagine how much worse he'd be if something actually is wrong." Izumo said with a heavy sigh, leaning against the bar for better support- his tired legs swaying, threatening to give out from under him. He urged himself to remain calm, like he always did, but inside he was a nervous wreck. Mikoto had a certain air to him, one that radiated nothing short of self confidence and ability, but lately that had begun to falter. He could only hope his King, his friend, would let the clan know what was bothering him so much.
"I don't like this feeling one bit," Yata mumbled under his breath, cursing silently as his busted lip began to ooze blood again. "I hope he's all right."
"We all do, Yata. King is a tough guy, I'm sure he will be all right no matter what the circumstances may be." Tatara offered weakly, though there was a hidden sliver of doubt behind his words.
"Yeah but since he's so tough it's odd to see him at such ends with himself," Misaki replied cautiously, "hopefully he'll give us some insight. If we knew what we were dealing with then he wouldn't feel the need to face it alone...because we wouldn't let him."
"How cute, Misaki." Kusanagi snorted as he turned off one of the neon signs that hung next to his bar, the vanguard leader sneered at him. "Go to bed, it's late. We need to start planning things for Anna's birthday but that can wait until tomorrow evening, maybe we can get Mikoto to take her out for awhile and give us some time to think. Until then there isn't much we can do, I don't think any of us will be able to think straight with all of this weighing down on our minds tonight."
"Yeah, I agree." Tatara called out as he waltzed out from behind the English imported bar, a yawn escaping his lips. "I'll see you all in the morning, I call dibs on the bed by the way!"
"What? No fair! I beat that guy's ass for you and this is how you repay me?" Yata hissed at the older man who smiled brightly before walking up the stairs towards the spare room. "Guess Kamamoto and I will just sleep in the rec room then, goodnight Kusanagi-san.
"Goodnight Yata," Izumo offered before repeating the sentiment to Kamamoto, who followed the vanguard up the stairs without any protest. As the bar keep turned the rest of the lights off in his pub he could only wonder what tomorrow would have in store for them. The emblem on his chest began to burn hotter than he had ever felt it burn before. Kusanagi frowned.
"What exactly is going on here, Mikoto?"
K-K-K-K
"Mikoto-san?"
Said man's eyes flew open, his conscious alerting him to his clansman's presence before he had even registered what was going on. Groaning, he propped himself up on his elbows, eyes meeting Yata's as he slowly shook off the last remnants of sleep that clung to him.
"Everyone is downstairs waiting for you, like you asked." Yata explained as he rubbed his hands together nervously, something the King raised a wary eyebrow at.
"Sit down," he commanded with a small yawn, motioning at the edge of his bed as he rested against the headboard. The vanguard leader cautiously did as instructed, his eyes not leaving his leader's once. "What's wrong?"
Misaki gulped, an uneasy expression crossing his features as he frantically racked his head for an explanation for his out of character behavior.
"Nothing, I'm just anxious to hear what you have to say," Yata lied through gritted teeth, both knowing the words were false but neither feeling the need to express that. Mikoto sighed.
"Is that all?" He quizzed, "I can tell when something's wrong with you."
The younger man dropped his gaze, taking a sudden interest in the dark red bed spread he was currently seated on, his busted lip shook slightly as he wound his hand up in the thick blanket. Suoh watched him quietly, not wanting to pressure the vanguard into spilling his guts, but Yata eventually broke the silence.
"I know you can, I can tell when something's wrong with you, too. I think you forget we feel your emotions, Mikoto-san." The skateboarder explained as he turned to glance out of the window, the sunlight barely filtering into the room having just broke over the horizon. "I guess you could say that's whats bothering me so much."
"You don't need to worry about me," Mikoto promised as he swung his legs out of bed, running a hand through his disheveled hair as he shakily stood, one hand clutching the back board as if he didn't trust his own footing. "I can handle myself and all of us just fine, I thought you trusted me?"
"I do!" Yata said too quickly, his eagerness and anxiousness mixing into a irrational combination, the Red King spared him a glance. "I just wish you would let us know beforehand so we didn't have to worry about you as much."
Mikoto smirked.
"You're not the only one, believe me." He stated blandly, smoothing out a wrinkle in his white v-neck as he made a move towards the door, he waved at his clansman to follow him- which he did without a moments hesitation.
The bar was deadly silent, which only added to the impending sense of doom Mikoto had begun to feel boil under his skin. Taking the steps two at a time the King emerged, stepping into the crowded room where his clansmen watched him with perplexed eyes. He stuck his hands in his pockets, watching Yata take a seat at the bar with Kusanagi, who looked more concerned than ever. Mikoto wasn't sure why he felt unsure about standing in front of his people, but he chalked it up to not having prepared for such a moment.
For a second, he was at a loss for words.
"King?" Tatara asked, snapping the red haired man out of his revere. Eyes shifted from the speaker back to the only man standing, and it was then that Mikoto gained the courage to be blunt and get the meeting over with.
"Everyone listen up, I'm only going to say this once," he began, the room grew even quieter in return, something he didn't originally think was possible. "Anna has had some rather peculiar visions as of late and in order to prevent certain things from occurring we will be following some guidelines until the end of next week."
Small chatter broke out amongst the clan, some questioning what the King was speaking of while others groaned about having to follow rules, for once in their lifetimes. Mikoto caught Anna's glance, it was fleeting but held a weight too it, almost as if she was silently telling him to explain himself without beating around the bush. He wondered if he didn't say it if she would.
"Tatara, you're not too leave HOMRA without me, this includes going out front and going to the roof. Do I make myself clear?"
Confused glances were stolen amongst other members as all eyes fell on the groups cameraman, who in turn gawked at the king, completely oblivious of the danger he would soon be under.
"Can I at least know why, King? I know yesterday could have been a lot worse but I thought it was done an-"
"It's not about yesterday," Anna interrupted, answering Mikoto's earlier thought as to what her course of action would be should he neglect to give the clan the full story. Tatara frowned at her. "I had a vision that you were killed on the roof by a man claiming to be the Colorless King..."
The quiet in the bar was effectively shattered as an uproar of protest and questions began to pour out of the HOMRA member's mouths, even Mikoto had a hard time regaining the peace after such a statement was said. Which is why I was avoiding that in the first place, he thought to himself as he stole a glance at Anna.
"Mikoto you shouldn't leave either," she added quietly, causing the last of the whispers to disappear as the burning rage in the member's chests turned into curiosity. "If he truly is the Colorless King then your life is at risk, too."
"Anna I don't need you to tell me how to handle myself around another King," Mikoto answered with a sigh, "you see how Munakata and I are, I always come back in once piece, don't I?" Crimson eyes burned furiously back at him.
"Mikoto..." she whispered, hugging herself as she leaned back into the couch. "Are you really that naive?"
Suoh's eyes snapped wide open, his fists clenching as he took long strides towards her, HOMRA members moving out of his way as he did so. Anna refused to look up at him.
"What's gotten into you, huh?" He questioned, leaning down so he was on her eye level, still she refused to lock eyes with him. "You're acting like you're mad at me," he nearly spat, confusion and mild anger burning in his chest as his mind tried to place a moment in time he might have unintentionally upset the Strain. Not surprisingly, he couldn't think of anything.
Anna finally raised her head, tears threatening to spill out of her eyes as she leapt up to her feet, throwing herself into his unsuspecting arms. His glare softened after the initial shock wore off, no longer caring enough to keep up his facade as he hugged her back, worry flooded the smallest cracks in his mind as the Strain kept herself close to him.
"I don't want you to go," she cried out, all eyes falling on them as the other big secret they had been keeping filled the air. Mikoto exhaled loudly, placing his hands on her shoulders as he pushed her backwards enough so he could look her in the eyes. "Even if you managed to kill him you wouldn't survive...neither would we..." she sniffled, her new found cold demeanor shifting into something akin to what a normal girl her age should feel.
"Anna," the King stated, eyes glancing around the room briefly as he took in the shock that radiated off of his clansman's faces. "Go to your room for a bit so we can talk, okay? You don't need to hear all of this, you've seen enough."
"But Miko-"
"Go," he urged, spinning her on her heel as he placed a palm in the small of her back, gently pushing her towards the stairs. Leaving no room for any further protest. After her footsteps vanished the King rose to address HOMRA once again.
"As I was saying, Tatara you aren't allowed to go anywhere until further notice- not until we find this guy and figure out who we're dealing with. I...I guess I'll follow that rule myself. Everyone else is to be on high alert, anyone suspicious looking person who fits the description Anna has given me will be reported to Izumo or myself immediately. You are to stay away from this person by any means necessary."
"That's great and all Mikoto but can you elaborate on what Anna said about you? Don't tell me your Sword of Damocles is that fragile," Kusanagi interrupted, knowing without a doubt he was the only person in the room who could do so and get away with it, though the King looked anything but pleased.
"She dreamt that I caused a repeat of the Kagutsu Crater," he answered blandly, "apparently I'm in worse shape than I thought."
"At least your honest," Kusanagi answered in turn, cutting off any further words the HOMRA members might have had to say. "So let me get this straight, she dreamt Tatara was killed on the roof...so I'm assuming she saw you go out for revenge and then something happened and you got yourself killed."
"Ah," the King answered with a hint of a yawn, his body still feeling drained despite the large amount of time he spent asleep. Maybe Anna has a point. How could I have been so blind to my own health?
"To be more specific, I killed the Colorless King and my Sword of Damocles began to fall," he cleared up, reaching for his smokes- that Tatara handed to him. "It's needless to say that we will be taking every measure we can to prevent all of this from happening. I don't exactly feel like falling into fate's hands."
"How can you be so calm about this, Mikoto-san?" Yata yelled loudly, the silence in the bar becoming deafening as the vanguard lost his temper. "Tatara-san and you are at a huge risk of dying...hell we all are should Anna's vision come true. Preventive measures? Shouldn't we just look for the bastard so we can have him locked up somewhere? That's the only sure fire way to prevent any of this from happening."
"Yata that's a nice thought and all but do you really think yelling is going to help you get your point across?" Kusanagi seethed as he placed a hand to his temple, "besides, where on Earth are we going to find a place to lock away a King? There isn't a place on this planet he couldn't escape from."
An irritated scowl crossed Misaki's face before his eyes dropped to the floor beneath him.
"Maybe we should ask the Blue King to throw him in Scepter 4's prison, he could keep an eye on him after all." The vanguard's words were met with loud outcries of protest, some men asking how he could even consider bringing them into it, others reminding him it wasn't exactly his decision. Mikoto watched on silently. "Yeah, I know it's Mikoto-san's decision at the end of the day, but think about it. That bastard doesn't have anything better to do anyway, his peons do all of the dirty work."
"You've got a point," Mikoto said with a sigh, the thought of calling Munakata and asking for help irritating him to no end, but also making the most sense given the situation. "But what makes you think he's going to listen to me? We've never been on the best of terms, Yata."
"That may be true, but doesn't he consider you a friend?" Yata inquired, trying to hide the redness that surfaced on his cheeks at the attention he was getting from his fellow clan members. "I'm sure if anyone want's to be the cause of your demise it's probably him...that's how your friendshipseems anyway..."
"Mhm," Mikoto agreed as he took a hit off of his cigarette, his feet carrying him to the couch that was currently available. "But like hell do I want to ask him for a favor."
"It's not like we have many other options," Izumo offered dryly as he took a glass of water to the King, who nodded his head in appreciation. "Munakata could never be the end of you but as long as he thinks otherwise he might just want to keep you around, Mikoto." Kusanagi looked around the bar thoughtfully, "besides, he does see you as a friend of his, no matter how strange that is."
Suoh's smirk didn't go unnoticed.
"Well the man we are looking for is approximately Yata's age, white hair, with amber colored eyes. Anna made mention of seeing a parasol with him as well. Remember he is armed and I want you to view him as very dangerous, be on the lookout." Mikoto said blandly as he tossed his cigarette in an awaiting ash tray, his clansmen, minus a few, rose to their feet.
"Also, keep your cell phones with you and turned on at all times, we need to be able to get into contact with each one of you immediately should someone run across this guy." Kusanagi added, "Yata, Kamamoto," the two looked up at the bartender, "stay behind, would ya?"
HOMRA members filtered out of the room after that, the bustle, anger, and confusion of the revelation being the topic of discussion as they left the quaint bar named after their clan. Only Tatara, Yata, Kamamoto, and Kusanagi remained in front of the Red King, who's eyes were downcast to avoid the concerned glances he was sure he was receiving.
"Mikoto you trust my judgment, don't you?" Kusanagi asked with a smile, one the King looked up to see.
"Depends," he answered harshly, "what are you scheming about?"
"Nothing, I just thought that we could keep Kamamoto and Yata here as lookouts." Izumo responded hastily, his hands up in defensive of himself. "I don't think we can be too cautious from this point forward, we need to have as many eyes around here as we can."
"He has a point, King," Totsuka said with a frown as he took a seat close to Mikoto. "I don't really fancy dying and I don't want you to die because of me either."
"No one's going to die, Tatara." Suoh promised as he leaned back against the couch, "I'll be damned if that happens when I know I can easily prevent it. You just need to listen to me."
"But...Mikoto-san what if we can't prevent it from coming true?" Kamamoto asked nervously, the room turning silent as all eyes fell on the speaker.
"Idiot don't ask those kind of questions!" Yata seethed as he pinched his friend on the cheek, reprimanding him.
"No he has a point, Yata. At this time we can't say for certain that I won't die, Anna's vision could be unpreventable."
"If we can't prevent Tatara from getting killed then I will slay the Colorless King and ask Munakata to kill me before I cause mass spread destruction." Mikoto answered honestly as he reached for his water, ignoring the strain his body felt to be under.
"Why not let Munakata kill him if it comes down to that? Surely he could handle it, he's almost an even match for you." Kusanagi deducted as he ditched his post at the bar and took up a seat in front of the couch, motioning for Yata and Kamamoto to follow suit- which they did with some reluctance.
"Does that seem like something I'd be willing to do?" Suoh asked with a sigh, shaking his head softly at the mere suggestion. "I've never taken any action as King, if avenging my friend is the last thing I do then maybe that will atone for my lack of accomplishments in this life."
"King none of that is true," Tatara scolded as he turned to face the former, "you've done a lot with your life. You've given me and many other people a place to belong and call home. You've created a family, a place we can feel safe at an-"
"A place you can feel safe at? Coming from the man who allegedly will be killed right under my nose? On my turf too nonetheless..." Mikoto rolled his eyes, "cut the shit, Tatara. We all know I won't let Munakata handle my problems, he can have the pleasure of killing me after I kill that bastard."
"If any of this actually happens," Yata said, reminding everyone in the room that nothing was set in stone. "I think we have good chance of beating fate here, we have the upper hand since we know what's supposed to happen. I don't mind staying here if that means you both are safe..."
"Mikoto?" Anna appeared from the stairwell, eyes bleary and tired, feet carrying her swiftly to the King, who picked her up effortlessly and placed her in his lap. The young girl looked up at him thoughtfully. "Can I stay with you now?"
"Ah," he confirmed as he settled back into his spot, Anna leaning back against him. Yata and Tatara exchanged small smiles at the interaction.
"Well I think I'm going to go back to sleep, I'm quite exhausted," Totsuka said quietly as he hopped up to his feet, "later I need someone to get some film for me, I've been out since yesterday and it's apparent that I won't be able to get it myself."
"I can do it," Kamamoto said thoughtfully as he too stood from his seat, Tatara smiled and thanked him.
"Don't forget we have something we need to talk about later today, boys." Izumo reminded them, much to Mikoto and Anna's confusion, the other three men nodded their heads in understanding. "Kamamoto I'm putting you in charge of watching over Tatara, Yata, as third in command you're in charge of keeping an eye out on Mikoto's behalf. I'd do it myself but I do have a bar to run. I trust that you don't have any objects, huh Mikoto?"
The King shook his head, eyes briefly slipping shut as he tried to ignore the bright sunlight that was filtering in the bar from the windows. With everyone on the same page, Tatara ascended the stairs in search of sleep while Kamamoto left for the store, with a promise to be back in an hour. Anna hopped off of the King's lap in exchange for playing with her marbles, searching for the Colorless King, no doubt Mikoto thought as he watched Yata drum his fingers back and forth whilst Kusanagi turned the Closed sign over to OPEN.
"Yata," Suoh called out, catching the attention of the vanguard leader who looked more nervous than he had ever recalled seeing him. "Wipe that anxious look off of your face, we have nothing to fear."
"He's right, for now at least," Kusanagi agreed, "I'm having extra locks and cameras installed on the perimeter of the building and I'm sure Anna will let us know if we have any unsuspected visitors."
"I guess," Yata said wistfully, the feigned smile he offered faltering as his eyes met his King's. "I'm going to watch a movie upstairs, if anyone wants to come with me." Anna made no move or indication that she was interested, nor did Kusanagi who had begun counting bottles behind the bar, taking note of what needed to be restocked. Mikoto on the other hand, stood. "You're coming with me, Mikoto-san?"
"Ah," the King said as he rubbed his left shoulder, his own HOMRA marking feeling warmer than usual. Yata smiled and nodded his head, politely waiting for his King to begin up the stairs before he followed after him.
The recreation room was large, a huge sectional sat against the back wall, opposite of a projector and a white screen that hung from the ceilings. A movie player along with several shelves full of movies accompanied a small popcorn machine that sat alongside the hanging screen. Save for the sheets and pillows Yata and Kamamoto had used the night before the room was spotless, something Mikoto was surprised at.
"What would you like to watch, Mikoto-san?" The skateboarder asked thoughtfully as he scanned the titles on the shelf, the Red King took up a seat in the middle of the sectional- picking up the blankets and pillows before setting them aside.
"Doesn't matter," he answered flatly, hands crossing in his lap as he stared ahead at the screen numbly. "Yata?"
"Yes, Mikoto-san?" The vanguard answered immediately, spinning on his heel to watch the older man as he sighed and waved his hand in the air.
"Drop the formalities for now, would you? It's not always necessary."
Yata's face turned bright red, blood rushing to his face as he stumbled over his words.
"Sorry...I'm just showing my respect for you..." Misaki explained as he turned around and continued his search for a movie he hadn't seen a thousand times, somewhere behind him he heard the king chuckle.
"I know you are, I appreciate it but you don't have to prove you respect me, I know you do without it being said repetitively."
"Sorry, I'll stop saying it as much," Yata offered as he finally plucked a movie free of it's case. "Hows a horror movie sound?"
"Sounds fine with me," the Red King answered absentmindedly as he sprawled out on the couch, laying his head on his hand.
"Insidious?" The skateboarder questioned as he opened the DVD player, a nod was the only acknowledgment he received. After turning the lights down and flipping the projector on he made himself comfortable a few spaces down from his King, eyes occasionally darting from the screen to the older man who's face grew wary as the time went on. Something told Yata it wasn't the film making Mikoto look that way.
K-K-K-K
It was bright, the pain was excruciating, and the light, god, it was so bright. Mikoto shook as a wave of agony rolled over him, his body trembling as he made it up to his knees. The only thing he could see for miles was destruction, pure catastrophe, not a soul in sight. His aura radiated from his fingertips, and as he pushed himself up to his feet he watched the usually safe flames rip and char his skin; ushering in a fresh throe of pain echoed throughout him.
He stared down at his arm, absolutely horrified as the flames licked his disintegrating tissue. His eyes drifted upward, where a familiar object, his Sword of Damocles, hung precariously above his head. He blinked rapidly, wishing the pain and confusion away as his reality crumbled and gave way to a foreign scene.
A man stood with his back to him, though he looked grainy, as if Mikoto was looking through night vision goggles. For some reason the date December 7th blurred across his vision. Anna's birthday. A loud incessant humming echoed around him, adding to the impending doom he felt bubbling beneath his skin.
"I'm Tatara Totsuka..." the words shook Mikoto from his trance, but the rest of the words mingled together, the only other thing he remembered hearing after that was a loud bang. The sound coming from a gun the man, who had once faced away from him, had shown. Smoke filled the air, pain ripped through Mikoto's stomach and his fingertips desperately raked over the tingling flesh. Somewhere next to him he heard a dull thud, gasps and wheezing accompanying it. The scene shifted on queue.
"Mikoto, please don't go!" Anna's shaking frame appeared to him next, arms wrapped around herself as her Aura, or was it his aura? Began radiating brightly around her, casting shadows where the blinding light failed to reach, her hand shot outwards; beckoning the King to take it, but he found himself unable to reach her. Suddenly, the world faded into black.
"A nice night you say? Yes indeed, it is a very nice night!"
"Mikoto-san?"
A sharp shake alerted the Red King, bringing him out of the realm of dreams and back into the present, not quickly enough. Wide eyed and confused he glanced at the person who had woken him, Yata, who had concern written all over his slightly bruised face. The older man gawked at him for a second, eyes refusing to forget the images he had just seen, while reality began to sink in.
It was a dream. He thought to himself as he sat up, Yata's arms still planted firmly on his shoulders in support, his only anchor to the present. A realization dawned on Mikoto. It wasn't a dream...that was the vision.
"Anna, Totsuka..." he mumbled weakly, completely oblivious to how much he was shaking in his vanguard's arms. Yata frowned, tightening his hold as if to say it's over, you're safe. Mikoto oddly enough didn't find it comforting.
"They're fine, Tatara is sleeping and Anna is downstairs with Kusanagi...you're fine, too. You just fell asleep," Misaki promised as he took a seat next to his King, dropping his hold as the older man sunk back into the couch, his head resting on Yata's lap. "Mikoto...you're..."
The Red King felt something wet drip down his cheek. For a moment he looked up at his third in command, half expecting tears to be rolling down the younger man's face but instead he found nothing but worried eyes staring back at him. Mikoto touched his cheek weakly, not believing that the liquid on his skin had fallen from his own amber colored eyes.
"I'm fine," he lied, not quite trusting the words himself.
"Mikoto..."
The King looked up at his clansmen.
"Yata, this stays between us." He commanded, though deep down he knew it went without saying. The skateboarder nodded his head slowly in understanding before being brave enough to wipe the remaining remnants of the tear from the Red King's eye. Mikoto found his eyes slipping shut again but this time he pried them open, afraid of what he would see if he fell back into his usual state of unconsciousness.
"Of course," Yata complied, leaning backwards to make himself comfortable and allow his King to turn on his side, his head still laying gently in the vanguard's lap. "Did you have a bad dream?"
"Ah, I don't know how but I think I saw what Anna's been so desperate to prevent." He answered numbly, ignoring the blistering embarrassment he felt at allowing one of his clansmen to see him when he was so vulnerable. Before anything else could be said a sharp knock sounded from behind the door, followed by a simple string of words.
"It's me, can I come in? Anna told me to check on you, Mikoto."
It was Kusanagi, his voice slightly cracked as the words fell off of his lips. Mikoto welcomed him in, Yata reaching for the remote as he paused the ongoing movie, allowing the others to chat for a moment.
"I'm all right, but do let Anna know I saw what she's been dreaming about." Suoh stated with a sigh, flipping on his back once again as he looked up at his third in command, who made no indication of saying anything.
"Oh?" Izumo mumbled with some hesitance in his voice, he leaned against the door frame. "That's unusual."
"Ah, it is," Mikoto responded in agreement as he waved towards the door. "There's nothing to worry about, you don't have to stay here and babysit me."
"No, I don't." Kusanagi said with a slight frown, "that's what Yata is here for anyway."
"Mikoto-san doesn't need a babysitter period, Kusanagi-san. I thought I was just here for moral support and looking out for any weird happenings," Yata replied bitterly, refusing to acknowledge that his King actually needed someone to look after him. He won't lose control, not when Tatara and I are around anyway...Totsuka can handle him and I can handle whatever comes our way, there's no reason to doubt that or ourselves. He thought to himself as he glanced down at the half asleep face of his King.
"I'm calling Seri," Izumo announced as he brandished his phone from his pocket.
"What for?" Mikoto inquired as his eyes flitted over to his second in command, the later shot him a knowing look.
"Because she can talk to Munakata on your behalf, I highly doubt you'll want to ask the Blue King for help so I'll take the liberty of filling them in myself." Kusanagi clarified as he pressed the number seven button on his phone, remaining glad that he kept the Scepter 4 lieutenant on speed dial.
"Be careful with what words you use Kusanagi, I don't want them to think I owe them any favors when all of this is said and done." Suoh warned bitterly as his amber colored eyes focused on the unmoving screen in front of him, he ignored the way Yata watched his every movement.
"Will do," Izumo concluded as he escaped back out of the door, leaving the Red King and his vanguard alone once again.
"Well this is a dark day for HOMRA," Mikoto proclaimed as he reached around Yata and pressed play on the remote, "asking the Blues of all people for help. Munakata's going to have a field day."
"It's for the best, what's more important in the grand scheme of things? Your life and Tatara's, or your pride?" Yata countered dangerously, gulping when his King shot him a dirty look. "Our pride..." he corrected weakly, not meaning it at all. If even he was willing to set aside his long stood hatred for Scepter 4 to ensure his King and friend remained safe then he didn't see any harm in it. Especially not when ultimately, they were the ones benefiting from the situation.
It was quiet after that, the only noise in the room coming from the horror movie that Mikoto didn't understand in the slightest, having fallen asleep during the middle of it. Yata jumped when the devil let himself be seen, something Mikoto chuckled at- much to the vanguard's dismay. After that the movie seemed to pick up, though Suoh wasn't sure how a red and black CGI creature was supposed to scare him.
Misaki was obviously freaked out enough by it to cover his eyes or look away at certain times, something that provided endless entertainment for the Third King. The movie became an after thought and instead he watched it's affect on his third in command, highly amused at how little it took to scare a man who rushed head first into danger most of the time.
"Mikoto-san you're starting to creep me out," Yata said with a laugh as a loud shrill on the screen shook the vanguard to the core, "quit staring at me!"
"But your reactions are nearly priceless," Mikoto countered smugly, Yata all but seethed at the man in his lap. The King went to comment on it when his thought process was cut off by an abrupt onslaught of words.
"Sorry Suoh, am I interrupting?"
If all the blood in Mikoto's body boiled any hotter he was sure he would disintegrate. Propping himself up on his elbows the Red King narrowed his eyes, taking in the site of Reisi Munakata, Seri Awashima, and his own clansmen, Izumo, who looked calm as ever.
"Are you losing your touch? Normally you'd be more than alert to me entering your domain," Munakata said with a forced smile, almost as if he was enjoying seeing the Third King in such a dismal, helpless state. Yata cursed under his breath, a sentiment Mikoto shared.
"I just wasn't prepared for the all righteous Reisi Munakata to appear in my doorway, don't kid yourself." Suoh grunted, eyes locking onto Izumo's as he looked his friend over. "Why are they here? I thought you said you'd handle this?"
"Well he refused initially, but said he'd consider it if he heard the words coming from you directly. I knew you wouldn't agree so I invited them here to try and pry it out of you. Don't look so hurt Mikoto, there are greater things at risk than your pride." Kusanagi growled out of frustration, "have a seat." He motioned at the two blues to enter the room further, waving towards the couch Yata and Mikoto occupied.
Seri politely declined while Munakata took a seat on the edge, somewhere behind Mikoto, Yata paused the movie. Izumo quickly flipped the lights on.
"Get Tatara, would you?" Mikoto grumbled as he forced himself to sit upright, ignoring the groan of protest that crashed over him like a drawn out tidal wave, Munakata raised an eyebrow.
"Getting the beast master involved in case you make the wrong move, Suoh Mikoto?" Seri dared as Izumo left in search of HOMRA's cameraman, "such wonderful hospitality."
"Fuck you lady," Yata challenged at the remark, going against his own rule of never offending a woman. "You're on our turf now, you play by our rules. Say whatever you want but remember-"
"Remember what place you're in, Yatagarasu." Seri interrupted with a huff, "after all it's your King asking ours for help. Mocking us is not going to go over smoothly when you're all but begging for our help."
"Fuc-"
"Enough," Munakata said bitterly, "I'm sure Suoh agrees with me when I say if you can't keep quiet then you can leave. Seri, we are not here to argue- we are here to hear Suoh out."
"King?" Tatara's soothing voice echoed dully throughout the room, Anna clung to the cameraman's sleeve, nervousness dancing in her eyes as she took in her surroundings.
"Come in, have a seat," Mikoto responded dryly. Once everyone, including Izumo, was seated and quiet Mikoto reluctantly began filling Munakata in on what the situation was. It irritated him to no end seeing the Blue King smirk as he all but poured his heart out to him, asking for favors wasn't something Suoh was fond of and having to ask Munakata of all people was worse than a death sentence. If it was just my life at risk I wouldn't be having this conversation, he reminded himself as he wrapped up his narrowed down speech.
Munakata listened thoughtfully, never once interrupting and only speaking when he was certain that the Red King was finished explaining himself.
"So you want Scepter 4 to help you track down and locate this man to bar Totsuka and yourself from death? Are you asking me this because you don't want Tatara to die or because you're afraid of what will happen to yourself if he does? Either way, this is definitely not your style, Suoh."
The Red King grimaced.
"Do you think I like asking you to work with me on this? The only time I didn't mind your clan's involvement was when Basashi rode off with Anna." Mikoto deducted as he crossed his arms across his chest, he ignored Seri stating that his name wasn't Basashi.
"I suppose you don't but what do you expect for us to do? Are you asking me to kill the Colorless King?" Munakata wondered as he too reclined in his seat, eyes darting closed for a moment. "Granted the Colorless King could pose a real threat to not only your clan but mine, but we don't even know what this man is capable of. Imprisoning him wouldn't be an easy task but it would make the most sense. If we can find him, that is."
"Come on, Munakata, do you really want me to be the end of this city and even yourself?" Mikoto retorted bluntly as he met the other King's gaze.
"Don't be foolish, Suoh. I wouldn't let you do that," Munakata answered without a sliver of doubt, all but ending Mikoto's curiosity of what the Blue King would do should his Sword of Damocles fall.
"So my proposal is you help HOMRA capture this bastard and we find out what to do from there, afterward we can return to our usual selves. After the Colorless King is dealt with our war with each other can rage on," Mikoto snickered, "because deep down I know that's what you want. You couldn't bear the thought of ending my life because of someone else. If you ever had the pleasure of killing me wouldn't you want it to be on your own terms?"
Munakata's laugh didn't go unheard.
"I suppose you're right, I don't quite like the idea of you dying without me having a proper say in it." The Blue King rose to his feet, "Seri, issue a code level Royal Blue and alert nearby authorities as well. Tighten up our own security and place guard posts around the city, one being within close proximity to this bar. Make highway checkpoints mandatory and let the Gold King know about this immediately. The Dresden Slate must also be protected."
"Sir, I'll do that immediately," the blond woman stated as she exited the room, no doubt in order to make phone calls and put her King's action into place.
"In the meantime Suoh, I expect your full cooperation, and I mean yours. You're not to sleep while your clansmen clear house for you. Understood?" Munakata's smile did nothing but piss Mikoto off.
"Just because you're working with me doesn't mean you get to treat me like one of your subordinates," the Red King reminded him as he turned his attention to his own clansmen.
"Mikoto I don't think you understand, that wasn't a request." Munakata said bluntly as he sauntered towards the door, "you will do what I say or you can expect no help from myself or Scepter 4. If you want us to help you then be a man, swallow your pride, and act like a damn King for once in your life. This is not the time for a clash of egos, we will cooperate fully but only if you drop the act. Do I make myself clear?"
"Crystal," Mikoto seethed, anger surfacing in the form of a threatening glow in his usually passive eyes. His clansmen winced at the overwhelming heat they felt radiate off of their HOMRA emblems.
"Good, now I'll be back shortly to finish acquiring the rest of the details. With the information you've provided for us we will try our best to track down any persons matching this description and when we do find him you will be the first one to know. Can we expect HOMRA to match our efforts if we send out information pertaining to this matter?" The Blue King placed his hand on the doorknob, ready to walk out once he heard what he wanted to hear- words Mikoto knew he'd regret saying.
"Yeah, HOMRA from this point forward will work with Scepter 4 until the capture of the man claiming to be the Colorless King is complete, but Munakata I have one more favor to ask you." Suoh groaned, utterly hating how the words tasted rolling past his lips. "Can you at least tell me what's in it for you? Why did you agree to help so quickly? Is it because the idea of bossing me around is too great to pass up?"
"Well Suoh that is one valid point, but I'm doing this for more personal reasons than pleasurable ones." Munakata answered wistfully as he turned the doorknob and began to walk out, "consider this a favor from a friend."
"Munakata get back here!" Suoh huffed as he got to his feet, anger and unprecedented warning lacing with his voice. The Blue King didn't re-enter the room, but didn't close the door either. "Should you and I fail to prevent this incident from happening then I will slay the Colorless King, don't let that be forgotten. If this mission falls through before the night of December 7th then our truce is off."
"That's my birthday..." Mikoto heard Anna whisper but he shook it off.
"I wouldn't expect anything less from you, Suoh. Though I don't condone your idiocy I can't necessarily say I don't understand it. From now until this time next week we will be allies but should we fail and should you choose to end the Colorless King's life then I will end yours without a moments hesitation."
"I think you'll hesitate a little but I'll hold you to it," Mikoto retorted with a smirk as he placed a palm on the center of the door before closing it. "Bye Munakata."
The Blue King took the stairs two at a time, meeting up with Seri as they exited the bar and got into one of Scepter 4's transport vehicles, looking back at the bar named HOMRA Munakata felt a brief flash of worry cross his mind. Mikoto's words rang in his head like knifes cluttering together in a kitchen cabinet, he closed eyes.
I think you'll hesitate a little but I'll hold you to it.
The Blue King shook his head and pushed up his glasses, eyes darting to the side as he stared out of the car's window, Tokyo flying past him in a colorful blur.
"Fool."