"No, no! You can't do this damnit!" Shogo screeched at the top of his lungs, throat becoming raspy. The sides of his fist became a bright cherry red, pain throbbing throughout his fists as he pounded against the casket door. Panic coursed through his body, everything was pitch black and all he could hear was the sound of a car's tires skidding against the concrete pavement. He quit pounding against the casket, realizing that no one could hear his pleas for help. Shogo was inching full speed into death's clasp. This was his worst nightmare. "This can't be happening." He frantically stammered gasping for what little air he had remaining.
This is the time when those in this situation, for the most part flashback into past regrets. "Why didn't I listen to mother? She told me following in his footsteps would lead to no good." He moaned, taking in small breaths. The man he was referring to was his father, Kazuo Akuji – the leader of a prominent Japanese street gang that had just taken root in Stilwater. Shogo could clearly remember the day his father showed up at his mother's front door step, offering Shogo a position of leadership with his gang. The young, impressionable twenty year old, who was sick of stifling aspects of Japanese culture and society, quickly took the position. He didn't truly realize what he was getting himself into. The night before he took a plane to America, his mother tried all she could to change her only son's mind.
The gang life was the exact reason she divorced Akuji, taking their son with her. "I'm sorry mama." He stuttered, holding back tears. He was only twenty one, barely in his prime and this was not how he imagined his last few moments. Vengeful thinking raced through his mind, "He got me into this mess. All I wanted to do was to prove that I could lead!" he mouthed, the amount of air slowly sinking to a dangerously low level. Shogo never knew much of his father until that fateful day and when he did get to meet his acquaintance – he soon came to regret this. He was constantly competing against Jyunichi, his father's top lieutenant, for his father's approval and affection. Sadly, he lost each and every time. He could never seem to get it right. Shogo took a deep breath, gasping for nearly nonexistent air.
His level of consciousness began to fade; his body began to shut down and grow weak. His lungs were in immense pain trying to function without its most precious life source. This was his regret, not listening to his mother. "Would they even notice that I'm gone?" he questioned in his mind, he was reduced to shallow tears. "This wasn't how I imagined going out." He mouthed, his eyes slowly closing, his body going into a state of shock. The candle of Shogo's life dissipated into nothing. If Shogo could take back one thing, it would have been joining the Ronin at all.