Sequel to "The Chase"
Please read it first...or this won't make a bit of sense.
This was supposed to be the same length as "The Chase" but...well...it ended up being double the length ;_;
Cover art for this (and the other part) is mine.
Without further ado, Part One:
"Call me 'Deputy Rinrin' one more time and I swear-" Rin lunged after the blonde who had stolen his hat for the umpteenth time, drawing lots of unwanted attention from the busy lunchtime crowd at The Spotted Calf.
Nagisa giggled and ducked under the deputy's flailing arms, bounding over to hide behind Rei. "Look out Rei! He's gonna arrest me!"
Rei peered up from the cup of tea he was meticulously preparing, "He wouldn't, even Rin isn't mean enough to do that." A slight smirk was etched onto his features.
"I hate all of you," Rin grumbled, resigning to the fact he wasn't going to get his hat back anytime soon, half the cafe was still staring at them, and Nagisa would continue with the nicknames until hell froze over.
"Hmm, yes, that explains perfectly why you're always coming back," a warm voice chuckled from the end of the table. Makoto grinned at the trio, holding up a small pad of paper, "anything you lovely gentlemen would like to order for lunch?"
"Black coffee and a grilled ham and cheese sandwich for me," Rin replied.
"Oh oh! I'd like one of those sweet bun things filled with jam and frosting!" Nagisa enthused, "make it two!"
"Sure thing," Makoto stifled a laugh, "anything for you Rei?"
"A refill of tea perhaps," he adjusted his glasses.
"Alright, you three behave yourselves," the tall man swept away, depositing his order to Haru before whisking off to attend to the other tables.
"I will make no such promises," Rin muttered.
"Aww Rin, always so grumpy, we were hoping you'd be feeling better with that case you're working on," Nagisa leaned over the table and cupped a hand over the side of his mouth, "but we know it's hushity hush, top secret." Nagisa winked at him, waiting expectantly.
Rin blinked, "I'm still not allowed to tell, if that's what you're hoping."
"Aww come on! We're your friends! We'd never tell!" Nagisa leaned back, slumping defeated against Rei, cheek smushed into his shoulder.
"Rules are rules, and to be honest I've been on this case for almost two months now without real headway. It's starting to get on my nerves."
"Could your brooding attitude also be attributed to the fact you're no longer chasing that mobster?" Rei asked coyly, stirring his tea with detached interest.
Rin colored, "that has nothing to do with it! Er, I mean, I am annoyed because that little prick is my business."
"Your self-appointed business," Rei intoned.
"Oh will you turn off that super analytical perceptive brain of yours for one minu-"
Makoto reappeared then with their food, sending an all-knowing look between Rin and Rei.
"You know, perhaps you should ask Sousuke to change your current assignment seeing as you're so passionate about chasing the mob."
"Bag it Tachibana."
"That'll be $7.25"
Rin begrudgingly handed him a ten, "you can keep the change if you quit giving me shit about the mobsters."
"I think you meant mobster, singular," Rei corrected.
Makoto slid the bill into his apron pocket and bobbed his head in Rei's direction as if to agree.
He collected what Rei and Nagisa owed him and bustled off again to keep up with the noon rush.
Rin shook his head, "whatever, all of you are right anyways, who am I kidding myself."
"Why not ask to have your case assignment switched?" Rei asked reasonably.
"Already have," Rin waited until Nagisa was distracted by something else to snatch away his police hat, "but Sousuke said no. He claims I was 'too passionate' to handle the case rationally."
Nagisa made a disappointed sound in the face of his defeat, faceplanting dramatically into the table. Rei patted his head,in sympathy. He returned his attention to the deputy, "too passionate, you say? Here I thought a trait like that would be highly valued."
"To be fair, the first case I was distressed over Gou being taken and stuff, but now he thinks I won't be able to treat the case with impartiality. And if the sheriff says so - I can't refuse," Rin sighed deeply, slugging down his coffee.
"I wish the best of luck to you, Deputy Matsuoka," Rei nodded.
"Yeah! You'll crack this case! Ain't no case that can't be cracked by the magnanimous Deputy Rinrin!" Nagisa cheered as Rin rose to his feet to leave.
"Do you even know what magnanimous means?" He grumbled, straightening his hat, "and did I hear you say 'Rinrin' again?" the deputy glowered down at the blonde who was doing everything in his power to hide under Rei's arm.
He didn't really care enough to make a scene, "text me next time you guys want to have lunch. This was fun." Rin made another stop at the counter to say his farewells to Haru and Makoto. Maybe someday he'd convince them to actually go to a restaurant they didn't own so they could have a real meal together. The whole crew, Rin thought with a vague smile, venturing out into the bright noon sunshine.
It contrasted horribly with the dark mood that had been clinging to him for the past…
...well he'd lost track of how long it had been.
Now his friends had started to notice, even after all the efforts he'd been through to keep it compartmentalized.
The "it" being the case. It was always the case.
Rin stared up at the burning sun for a couple of seconds before his eyes began to water.
Sousuke was hoping it would give Rin a challenge; a case too difficult for the average officer but perfect for pushing the limits of the deputy. A case the sheriff couldn't take on himself.
Because the case was to catch a cop-killer.
He trudged back to the station in a moody haze, ignoring the sun, ignoring the happy passers by, ignoring his surroundings.
Ignoring the pair of arms that shot out from an alleyway, grabbing Rin around the waist roughly, the other clamping hard over his mouth.
The deputy's muffled yell sounded only into the palm of his attacker, and while his thoughts flew instantly to Nitori, this assailant was too tall, with a physical strength that out matched the tiny mob boss.
Once within the crisscrossing shadows of the alley, the attacker whirled Rin around and shoved him away. Rin stumbled, unable to regain his balance before he was again grabbed by the assailant and slammed against the side of the alley.
"Do I have your attention now?" A vaguely familiar voice demanded.
Rin blinked rapidly, still trying to make sense of his environment.
"Answer me!" The attacker whined.
"Momotarou?" The Deputy made a face as he took in the second in command mobster, "what are you doing?"
"I was gonna ask you the same. And only I get to ask the question bub!" He shook Rin by the collar for emphasis. "What are you doing with Nitori?"
Rin misinterpreted the question and colored deeply, "Er, um, nothing-"
"Oh my god I did not mean it- gross!" Momo too colored, vivid as his flaming hair, "I mean!" He put on a serious air, "What the hell are you doing screwing around with - shit that was worse." Momo sucked in a few breaths to steady himself, "what are you doing to Nitori's head?"
"What am I doing to his head?" Rin asked incredulously.
"That was the question stupid-head. ANSWER IT!"
"Nothing at all! Out of the two of us, he's the manipulative one."
"He talks about you...not a lot...but you can just see the way his face changes," Momo spat, "like he's talking about a lover."
"It is nothing of the sort," Rin stated shortly.
"Oh yeah? Well you seem to have the boss convinced you're something wonderful, and to be honest, I'm not buying it. What does he see in a surly, grouchy, sarcastic-ass cop?" Momo's eyes narrowed.
"I don't understand, my relationship to your boss is not like you're making it out to be!" Rin glared at Momo who stood nearly eye level with the redhead, "All I want is to see that bastard behind bars. I'll see you're put there too for good measure."
"You keep saying that, pretending not to care, but I don't believe you. You lack conviction Deputy. Nitori and I have been together since the beginning, we've been through it ALL. And if you think I'm going to stand out of the way for some suck ass - dammit - cop...you can kiss your shiny little badge goodbye. And whatever sick obsession you have with Nitori, you'll have to go through me and the rest of the mob to get to him."
"Why not end me now?" Rin hissed, considering only briefly the dangers of addressing this particular course of action.
"Consider this your warning, and don't ever let me catch you dicking around the boss's turf again, capiche?'
Rin raised an eyebrow at his unusual wording.
"God dammit I did it again!" Momo yelled, tossing Rin into a pile of crates with excessive force. The mobster scampered away as Rin came to his senses, extricating himself from the heap of splintered crates.
Despite the orange-haired mobster's warning, Nitori was still Rin's to take. Nothing was going to change that.
Rin paused to check his reflection in the front window of the station before entering. Other than a couple of minor scratches, he looked just fine and hopefully anything 'amiss' would be ignored. He snuck over to his desk, almost making it before Sousuke noticed.
"Oi, Rin, Enjoy your lunch?" The sheriff called, sauntering over to his desk.
"Yeah, it was good," Rin pulled out his coffee mug out of habit, walking to the coffee machine mechanically.
The sheriff followed him, clapping Rin on the shoulder in a good-natured manner. "I hate to ask about the case but…" He tried to make eye contact with Rin.
Rin remained stubbornly focused upon filling his mug, "dead ends galore." He didn't mean to be so short with Sousuke, most of his foul mood emanated from Momotarou's assault. But he did hold a significant amount of residual anger towards his partner, for ignoring his requests to pursue Nitori and for placing him on this crummy case. Sousuke must have noticed his inquiet and was trying to make amends. Rin wasn't willing to forgive him yet. When everything was well, they were thick as thieves, the best of friends anyone could ask for...but then something would happen, and something always happened to cause strain in their relationship. Why this pressure? Why this constant tension? Weighing down on the two of them until it became suffocating. Until someone had to bend and break. It shouldn't be that way.
"I'm sure you'll make some headway," He squeezed Rin's shoulder.
Rin blew off his coffee, "lets hope." He wasn't convinced.
"What's this?" Sousuke reached forward suddenly, withdrawing a splinter of wood entangled in Rin's hair.
The deputy jumped, startled by both Sousuke's forwardness, and the explanation he would inevitably have to give.
He inspected the sliver of wood curiously before flicking it away.
"Er…" Rin looked away.
"Care to explain?" Sousuke quirked an eyebrow.
"I um, fell on the way back from here," Rin said lamely, taking a swig of coffee to cover his fib.
"At a playground?" Sousuke dropped the hand that had been resting on Rin's shoulder. "That was a fresh splinter, broken most likely by you impacting it. Do you have something to tell me?"
"Nothing to report, partner," Rin muttered into his coffee, halted when Sousuke jerked the cup from his hand.
"Tell me the truth." His eyes were like steel.
"Not here," Rin hissed, conceding.
"Fine. My office. Now." Sousuke stalked off to his underused private office, preferring to have a desk out with the rest of the force instead of holing himself away.
Now the sheriff was in a mood. The station fell into an uncomfortable, hardworking silence. It was one thing when the hot-headed deputy was flying off the handle, but now both sheriff and deputy had fallen into brooding. Everyone went out of their way to keep a low profile.
Sousuke slammed the door behind him and gestured for Rin to take a seat. Rin declined, standing with his arms crossed. He started speaking before the dark-haired man could cajole him again.
"On my way back to the station, I was jumped by Momotarou-"
"Are you hurt?" Sousuke again grasped Rin by the shoulders, shaking him gently as though doing so would cause his injuries to sift to the surface.
"I'm fine," he insisted, "Momo just roughed me up a little bit...and tossed me into some wooden crates."
"What prompted the attack?" Sousuke asked fiercely, eyes searching over Rin to ensure the redhead wasn't leaving anything out.
"Apparently he takes issue with my personal vendetta against his boss," Rin shrugged, "in all honesty I'm not surprised."
"But you haven't been on that case for months, why the sudden aggression?" The sheriff turned heel and began pacing.
"No idea," that was a half-lie, Rin had a hunch, but it wasn't something he was about to share with his best friend and boss.
"If you think it might be in anyway linked to the cop killer, be careful," Sousuke's attention was diverted as the phone conveniently rang.
He made disgruntled noise and began reaching for it, pausing long enough to remind Rin, "eh, Rin, remember it's your turn to look after Ace, our newest police dog."
"What? Jeez Sousuke," Rin's shoulders sagged, "get one of the interns to do it!"
Sousuke answered the incessant phone and shook his head at Rin, motioning towards his ear.
Rin groaned, the bastard probably planned that. With no other choice but to obey, Rin trudged back to the kennel where the five resident hounds were kept. Off to the side in a smaller kennel of his own, the one year old Ace hopped to his feet, still a tangle of gangly legs and too-big paws. He barked once, tongue lolling, tail beating.
"Yeah whatever I'm happy to see you too," Rin grumbled, taking a leash from the line of carefully organized hooks. He unlocked the kennel and clipped the rambunctious dog onto the leash before he could scamper away to sniff and sniff and sniff everything in the station again.
"Might as well clock out for the day," he shrugged, running a hand through his already messed up hair, inadvertently snapping the hair tie that held the back in a ponytail.
"Ace, heel," he snapped, keeping the german shepherd on a short leash as he wove his way back to Sousuke's office to let the sheriff know he was leaving.
He found Sousuke drumming his fingers pensively on his desk, eyes half lidded and staring off in the distance.
"I'm heading out for the day," Rin announced without preamble, expecting to be shushed.
Sousuke nodded, not ceasing his drumming fingers.
"You on hold?" Rin guessed.
"Yeah, the Samezuka Tax Syndicate's CEO - Seijuro something or another - had some security questions." Sousuke rubbed his temples, of the many things being sheriff entailed, making phone calls was not his favorite.
"Later, then," Rin gave him a brisk nod before tugging Ace away from the trashcan he was nosing through.
With the hyperactive german shepherd bounding around his feet, Rin again felt the stark contrast of his brooding mood against the rest of the oblivious world. It was lonely, so impossibly lonely.
Ace paused mid-frolic, seeming to detect Rin's gloom. The dog whined softly and sat down in front of Rin, tail thumping against the sidewalk.
Rin reached down and scratched him behind the ears, "it's not you buddy, it's me...it's me…" He stared up at the sky, wishing it could be any color but blue.
By nightfall, Rin remembered he couldn't keep dogs at his apartment, meaning he'd have to return Ace to his kennel. As the deputy meandered through the lower part of town, he found his thoughts drifting again.
Drifting until Ace bounced off the ground, tail wagging, and broke into a sprint. The force of his lunge jerked the leash from Rin's grasp, leaving the spaced-out deputy with the image of an exuberant dog barreling away down an alley.
"Get back here!" Rin bellowed, "ACE!"
He wound through the alleys, calling for that stupid dog until he was hoarse. Defeated, Rin found a graffitied city bench and took a seat, running an anxious hand through his hair repeatedly as he contemplated how he would break losing their newest dog to Sousuke.
A couple minutes later, Rin heard a scuffling noise behind him. He craned his head to see, coming face to face with a chagrined Ace who was currently emptying the contents of his bladder onto the very bench Rin sat upon.
"Tch, where have you been?" He asked, more relieved than angry.
Ace barked, rearing up on his hind legs, paws hooking onto Rin's belt.
"Oh you think a doggie hug is going to make up for you running away?" Rin reached for the leash, halted when he noticed a piece of paper tied to the dog's collar.
Perplexed, he withdrew the tiny slip and unrolled it.
Meet me at the diner where those grainy pictures in my file were taken. Go to the bench out back. I'll be waiting for you at 9. Don't be late.
-A
Despite all the rational parts of Rin's brain that told him not to listen to the sketchy message tied to Ace's collar, there was no way he wouldn't be following those instructions to the T. "A" had to stand for Ai, and the mobster might have some information or...
Rin wanted to see him. That was really what the note boiled down to. It had been three months since he'd seen the blue-eyed mobster, no contact, nothing. He had been hiding his tracks arguably better than before. The promise of seeing Ai had become something of a poison in Rin's veins since he'd found the note, breaking him down, numbing him to the point when 8:30 rolled around, there was no question in his mind about his course of action.
The singular streetlamp behind the crummy old diner flickered unevenly. It's weak fluorescent glow setting the graffitied walls of the alleyway aglow in staccato flashes.
Rin admittedly did have reservations about meeting the mobster here, in the middle of gang territory at night. He had changed out of his uniform into something more practical, but being a lone civilian didn't diminish his chances of getting mugged.
He found a bench, equally caked with crude graffiti designs, and sat down, shadowed by the alleyway.
Minutes later, a dark figure silhouetted against the light, appeared at the end of the alley. As he approached, Rin recognized the familiar trench coat and height of Ai.
He sat wordlessly on the other side of the bench, just catching the angled edge of the light.
"You came," he said, eyes trained forward, not so much as glancing at Rin.
The redhead knew why the mob boss was acting so detached: they needed to look like two unrelated parties on that bench. If anyone noticed they were in cahoots, it could jeopardize both their safety and the integrity of the mission.
"Yeah…" Rin managed, hating how lame the first thing he said to Ai sounded.
"I suppose you're wondering why I called you here," he leaned forward slightly, fedora brim almost brushing the high collar of his coat.
"Should we move somewhere more private? Doesn't the diner have surveillance."
"No, the cameras are just there to make you think that. The diner is run by the mob - they deal in drugs mostly. Food's pretty good if you don't mind rosemary on your fries," Ai's tone held a hint of humor.
"I know it's not relevant, but how did you get Ace to come to you?" Rin sneaked a glance at Ai before returning to a state of ambivalence.
"Dog whistle. And I tend to have a way with animals. Dogs especially. It's a good thing you had the pooch with you...I wasn't sure how I'd slip the note to you otherwise."
"Were you...watching me?" Rin asked, voice hushed.
"Just as soon as you left the station. I waited all afternoon for an opportunity to contact you because…." He let out a low sigh, "I know the case you're working on. And I wish you weren't."
"You know about the cop-k-"
"Sh, yes, of course I do," Nitori's voice became pained, "he was one of mine. Deserted a few months ago. He was out for blood. I'm not sure why he hasn't struck yet...unless he's planning on something big. In which case...every officer should be on alert."
"What do you know about him?"
"Name: Shouta Nakagawa. Average mobster, lacks subtlety…" he withdrew a piece of paper from his pocket, "this is all I have on him."
Nitori slid the paper across the bench. Rin reached out to take it, fingertips momentarily brushing against Nitori's, sending a shock of electricity shooting through his body. Both jolted their hands apart.
"If he lacks subtlety, why no attacks? It doesn't add up," Rin muttered, tucking the paper deep into his pocket.
"I know. Whatever you do deputy, be careful," Nitori stood, hands buried in his pockets. Finally he looked at Rin. The deputy smiled as he took in the mobster's comfortingly familiar features.
"I will," he promised. This encounter felt so different from the last. When before their meeting had be intertwined with fire and passion, this one was built upon mutual restraint. Cold as ice.
"It was nice seeing you, Rin," Nitori murmured, turning his head away as he felt heat rise to his cheeks.
Rin's ears were burning as he replied, "Yeah, you too, Ai." He blinked and the mob boss was gone.
Left alone beneath the flickering street lamp, Rin made haste to return to his apartment. For the first time in weeks, he would sleep well, kept awake only by the promise of his first real break-through residing in his pocket.
"Your request for a permit to manhunt Mr. Nakagawa has been denied," an elderly receptionist lady intoned, much more interested in the etsy page she was scrolling through than the sheriff's request.
It had been a week since Rin came forward with breakthrough evidence that reignited the cold-case he had been assigned. Most of the station had gotten involved, action pending only the permit to scour the city for the prime suspect…
...which had been denied again.
"Care to explain why you are hindering the law?" Sousuke demanded, using the tone he reserved for when he was about to fly off the handle.
"If there had been an actual spree of murders, by all means. However, this man you claim is a murderer hasn't made a peep for months. I told you the first time Mr. Yamazaki, we're not going to let you hunt down a man who is more than likely innocent."
"So you're saying we have to wait until someone dies before we can do anything?" Sousuke leaned over the desk, using his imposing stature to reinforce the magnitude of his displeasure.
"I'm telling you we will not allow a man hunt based off of a hunch!" The woman closed etsy and adjusted her glasses in a manner that served only to make Sousuke more pissed.
"Actually it was an anonymous tip," Rin, who had been hanging back, poised to restrain Sousuke if necessary, said offhandedly.
"In either case, your request is denied. Good day Sheriff, Deputy," she reopened etsy and proceeded to scroll.
Rin tapped Sousuke's shoulder, shaking his head sadly at the tall man who practically seethed as they exited the city hall.
"How are we going to catch this bastard if those idiots don't get their heads out of their asses?" Sousuke fumed once inside the squad car.
Rin tried to stay rational, though he felt a similar amount of anger, "we'll think of something."
Back at the station, Rin noticed someone had left him a text.
Guess who it read.
Rin rolled his eyes and excused himself, taking a walk to the nearest park before answering.
What Ai. And texting me at work, really?
You're not getting anywhere with Nakagawa within the city's ordinance?
Yeah...how did you know that? And why do you have my number.
Gou's phone. And I have eyes everywhere.
What do you really want.
All I'm saying is hear me out. If you can't catch the baddie lawfully, perhaps you need to take a different angle. I'm offering myself and my gang as help.
Wait what are you kidding me
No I'm not. Think about it. Mobsters taking out rival mobsters, you get to help, case closed.
Won't that incite some kind of gang war?
Eh probs. But i'm sick of that ass rutting around on my turf.
I'll think about it.
Sheriff Grumpy Pants won't like it.
I know. He'll either shoot it down or want to come along.
Not sure which I dislike more…
Gtg.
Rin noticed five minutes had passed, meaning any moment he would be missed. He silenced his phone and hustled back to the station, still weighing his determination to finish the case against his misgivings about breaking the law.
"Work with the mob?"
"Just...hear me out, please," Rin held up his hands.
"You have a ringer?" Sousuke asked, taking an uneasy seat at his desk.
"The one who submitted the anonymous tip," he admitted, on edge to admit who gave him the tip.
"Then...it will have to be just you and me," Sousuke rubbed his temples.
"Both of us? I thought it would just be-"
"Rin I can't allow you to go there alone, and I don't trust anyone but you to keep this whole incursion a secret. We'll be heading into the proverbial lion's den but...if there's a chance to eliminate the killer...I wouldn't want to go into this with anyone else by my side," Sousuke trailed off, hands folded pensively.
"Is that...a yes?" Rin offered.
"When is the soonest we can do this?"
"Three days," Rin affirmed.
"Ready yourself," the sheriff nodded, "we'll take him down."
Despite Rin's misgivings about how Sousuke was bound to react upon seeing that his so called "ringer" was the mob boss himself, when the time arrived for the meet up, he couldn't have been more excited. Though most of that energy revolved around being relieved of the case.
They met again behind the old diner.
Nitori, Momo, and a small crew were waiting, dressed in sinister trenches despite the mild weather.
"Welcome coppers," the mob boss announced as Rin and Sousuke approached, "I know we've had our differences in the past, but for today, we shall treat you as one of our own."
"And we expect you to do the same for us," Momo added.
Rin nodded slowly. Sousuke was more recalcitrant to do so, "what do you want from us out of this deal?"
"Immunity," Nitori's eyes glowed.
"Until we arrest you on a different occasion," the sheriff's eyes narrowed.
"Of course, of course. Mutual immunity for the day, then we can get back to chasing one another to hell and back. Momo, take them to the back of the car, we're wasting time."
The orange-haired mobster sent Rin a pointedly irritated look as he shoved the deputy with excessive force into the back of a nondescript SUV. He treated Sousuke with a mildly more polite manner.
Momo took the wheel with Nitori in shot-gun as the mob moved out, caravan of two winding deeper and deeper into the cesspool of gang territory that strung about the south side of Iwatobi City.
Once they arrived, Nitori ordered the group to gather behind the head SUV.
"Okay, here's the plan, Momo, tie the officers up and put bags over their heads."
"What?" Rin and Sousuke simultaneously yelled.
"We've gotten permission to meet Mr. Nakagawa, I figured he would be more helpful if we delivered him two officers," Nitori shrugged, "we'll let him think that. Then when the moment presents itself, you two will untie yourselves and jump them with the rest of us. And while that's happening, Momo or I will shoot down the killer, that way neither of you coppers have to have his blood on your hands, in case this little tea party makes public news. Which it won't. Capiche?"
Sousuke sent Rin a disgruntled stare before black bags were placed over their heads. Their hands were loosely tied with zip-ties. Perforations had been made in the heavy plastic that would allow them to tear free at any time.
After a series of indiscernible steps and a flight of stairs, the bags were removed, and the officers were met with the harsh fluorescent light of many naked bulbs wired into the ceiling of an abandoned warehouse.
Nakagawa lounged in a moth bitten loveseat, his equivalent to a throne, ringed by his fellow mobsters.
"Well hasn't it been awhile? And what as the elusive Aiichiro Nitori brought me?" he asked, slanted eyes taking in the sheriff and deputy badges. "how did you manage to catch both?"
Sousuke made a disgruntled noise through his teeth while Rin stared unblinkingly at his target.
"I have my ways," Nitori lilted, "now the reward, as discussed."
"Hold on a moment, I find it a bit suspicious that you bring two top ranking police officers to my hideout. You promised two policemen, not these high profile targets. Now leave before I change my mind about letting you into my territory unscathed." He waved a hand as if to dismiss them.
"And here you're missing the chance of a lifetime, crossing out two of Iwatobi's finest in one fell swoop. I could have taken them back to my headquarters and done away with them myself, but instead brought them here as a gift," Nitori sighed, closing those huge blue eyes of his. He knew what effect he could have on people, and did he ever know how to use it.
Nakagawa was unimpressed, "go now."
"I tried to be nice," Nitori sighed, hands subconsciously reaching inside his trench coat.
"Is this a joke?" Nakagawa laughed, "we disarmed all of you."
"But you didn't disarm them," Nitori shrugged in the direction of Rin and Sousuke who lept into action instantly.
They tore free of their bonds, sidearms out.
"This was supposed to be an unarmed truce!" Nakagawa yelled.
"I don't operate like that, especially not with the likes of you, traitor."
Sousuke aimed to fire on Nakagawa when one of his henchmen dove into the sheriff, knocking him aside before he could fire. The gun clattered from his hands, lost in the scrum exploding on the warehouse floor.
Rin tazed one mobster, knicking another before he too was tackled. The fist fight that ensued was bereft with chaos, often unclear of who was fighting for whom.
"Grab the guns!" One of Nakagawa's goons called above the din.
Momo heard the goon, eyes landing at last on Sousuke's dropped firearm. The flame-haired mobster dove for it, aiming for Nakagawa just as one of the goons was tossing him a semi-automatic. He fired three shots from where he lay, each one pegging the cop-killer in the chest.
All attention shifted to Nakagawa, draped dead across his chair.
"Everyone. Cars. Now!" Nitori ordered, desperately hoping to evacuate before this turned into a firefight.
Momo and the others wasted no time breaking for the door, reclaiming their firearms as they did.
Rin headbutted the thug he battled, rendering him unconscious. He stumbled around, head reeling, to run after the others. Sousuke pounded after him, halted abruptly when a seemingly unconscious thug grabbed his ankle. He slammed into the floor, winded. Rin halted mid-stride to help him when another assailant swung a broken shaft of wood into his head. The deputy collapsed beside Sousuke as the assailant knocked him unconscious as well.
In the final moments before Rin lost consciousness, he could see Ai charging at him, calling after him in a warbled, muffled voice. He seemed to move in slow motion, halted by two other thugs who pinned him down.
"Let them go," Nitori hissed.
"Nah ah, I can't do that," the stick-wielding assailant laughed.
One of the thugs restraining Nitori produced Rin's taser, dry tazing the mob boss. He slumped to the ground, eyes unfocused.
"Good, good, keep them alive." The same laugh resounded again.
Nitori glared up at him through blurring eyes.
"Hello Aiichiro, we have some catching up to do…"
Any guesses who the real villain is?