Part 4

"Takako… I won't let you leave me again…" No matter how far he ran, his Father just kept getting closer, the walls becoming bloodier. There was no escape, not that he could see.

"Just stay away from me!"

"They've corrupted you haven't they?"

"J-just leave me alone damn it!" The walls began to close in on him. Chills ran down his clammy skin as he hit a dead end. "N-no…" He couldn't see his Father anymore, only two sets of bright sky blue eyes.

"Takako my love... Won't you join our perfect family?"

He couldn't take anymore. He woke up, eyes snapping open to find himself still on the floor of Corn's apartment, clutching the still sleeping Yoyo to his chest. He felt gross. His skin was sticky and cold with sweat. He wanted to shower, but he didn't have the heart to move Yoyo. He just looked so comfortable. He had sprawled himself over his torso, one his legs curled around Beat's and the other digging into the carpet. Every now and then he would move around as if he was trying to just bury himself into the red head until finally he tilted his head up with a yawn.

"Oh… You're finally awake yo?" His voice was small, still heavy from sleep.

"I could say the same thing for you kid."

The mint haired teen yawned again. "I've been fading in and out since Gum and Corn left for work… You weren't sleeping well were you? Y-you cried for help… I couldn't help wake you up yo…" It was easy to how visibly upset the kid was.

"Just a nightmare kid, no need to worry." That didn't put him at ease he could tell. But it did get him off of him and to drop the whole thing.

"Gum wants us to go back to Rokkaku-Dai-Heights. She said while they're at work, to get our stuff from our home to bring back here." Beat gave him a small nod before standing to go get ready.

"I used to get nightmares to yo… They felt so real… Gum could barely even get me to respond sometimes… Seeing you in the same situation scared me…" Beat didn't know what to say. He had barely even known the kid for 24 hours and he was already worried about him and even trusted him enough to share something that personal with. It made him wonder if he just had that effect on some people.

"Hnmm, then how about this? Next time I have one, I'll think about you to wake myself up. If I see you, I'll know it's a dream and that it can't hurt me. You can do the same if you like." That brought a wide smile to the teen's face.

After getting ready and grabbing a quick bite to eat, Beat and Yoyo were on their way back down to Kogane-Cho.

"That Poison Jam freak shouldn't be around at the moment since its daylight." Beat sighed more to himself than anyone as Yoyo led him down the path where the beast had emerged from.

"Yeah I hope s- oh no yo…" Yoyo moaned. He stopped just as he reached an old ratty trailer that looked like it had just been through a tornado: claw marks ran along what wasn't torn up on the outside. The interior was no better as everything inside had been smashed, ripped or thrown around. "T-this was our home…" When he didn't move from his spot, Beat decided to check to see if anything was salvageable.

After a good hour of shifting through the wreckage, Beat had come up with nothing. Any clothing he had found had just become rags under his inspection and the furniture was nothing but splinters and broken glass. But he still wasn't prepared to give up. He didn't want to come up empty handed for Yoyo's sake. From what he could tell, the mint haired teen was just sitting down in the dirt outside. He hadn't even tried to stick his head in. Truth be told, he didn't really think he was going to be able to find anything until he had turned over the ripped up mattress. Underneath the mass of fluff that had accumulated, he found a small golden chain with a small locket attached. Curious, he popped it open to find a small picture of Gum and Yoyo inside. They were bright-eyed and smiling at the camera without a care in the world. Chuckling fondly, he closed the locket to go show his find to Yoyo.

"Hey Yoyo, look what I found. Hey… what'cha staring at?" The kid had his eyes set on the sewers.

"Poison Jam did this Beat! We have to do something yo!"

"They're not why we're here Yoyo. We can tell Gum and then we'll come back with her and Corn. We can't take on Poison Jam ourselves."

"It doesn't mean we can't try!" He shouted as he took off with a boost to the sewers.

"Yoyo! Aw God damn it…" Beat hissed before he took off after him. "Ugh… Why do I feel like I'm gonna regret this?"

He regretted it all right. When he entered the sewers after Yoyo, he didn't expect to find the teen stopped at the entrance. He ended up running into him and knocking them both down into the empty sewage gate.

"Aw sick yo! Why'd you do that?! I swear I can taste sewer water!" Yoyo squealed, spitting hoping for the taste to leave his mouth.

"Well why didn't you listen to me?! If you listened maybe we wouldn't be down here right now!"

"Or we'd all be stuck down here! Least we have a chance of Gum'n Corn finding us yo!" The bickering wasn't getting them anywhere they knew that much. It was just however easier to blame each other instead of looking for a way out. Eventually Beat just threw the locket at Yoyo and turned away to cease the arguing.

"G-Gum's locket? Y-you found it?" He squeaked out in surprise.

"Yeah… Listen Yoyo… Let's just not fight. Let's find a way out of here so you can give it to her-ooph!" He didn't expect Yoyo to jump at him and hug him.

"Awww! Aren't you two just the cutest! Putting my soap operas to shame! To shame!" A familiar loud voice cooed from higher up.

"Garam?" Beat called to find the fly-faced black man staring down at him and Yoyo waving. "Why're you- how did you- tch never mind could you just get us out of here please?"

"Maybe… Just maybe I'll help you two if…"

"I swear to God if you make us-"

"Oh sweet heavens no! I'm not that cruel. But you can if you want. I can just see all that se-"

"Garam!"

"Well! You're no fun. But I digress. I assume you both are going to see Poison Jam and I want to come. Safety in numbers yes?" Beat couldn't exactly say no. Garam seemed like the type to not help until he got his way unfortunately.

"Fine, just please just help us out of here."

"Not a problem~ just step out of the way and help will be down shortly."

True to his word, Garam dropped help in the form a giant rusted girder.

"How'd you move that yo?!" Yoyo questioned the moment he grinded to the top. Beat had to admit he was curious too. If he was so strong, why did he need their help to confront Poison Jam?

"Well Pistachio, I just got mad skills!"

"No seriously."

"D'aww Big Red you're no fun! But alas, tis none of your business at least for now anyways." His voice held a somewhat sinister tone as he began to lead the way deeper into the sewers.

Corn's boss was just plain weird and kind of creepy. As he lead the way, he discussed how his Grandmother taught him and his brother voodoo magic and how he mutated his other brother's goldfish then sacrificed his pet hedgehog and wore its severed head as a necklace for awhile and even how he ended up with a tramp stamp. Yoyo was more than entertained by his stories, Beat on the other hand just wanted this sewer adventure to just be over.

"Ooh smell that boys?" Garam whispered as he over exaggeratingly smelled the air "smells like we found Poison Jam's den! Think we should bring an offering?" As he spoke, a purple mist began to circle their feet and cloud the air in a light haze. Beat was quick to look at his side to see if Yoyo was alright. The teen had pulled up his hood and tightened it around his mouth and nose. The mist didn't seem to be poisonous as Garam was chattering away, but then again, he wasn't even so sure Garam was even human. For safety measures, he pulled the hem of his shirt up to his face and used his other hand to keep a hold of Yoyo.

Eventually when the haze darkened, a woman's voice boomed from beyond it. "Who dares intrude on Poison Jam's ter- seriously Garam?! You again?! I kicked you out of our gang get out of here!"

"You were in Poison Jam?!" Beat coughed in shock at the thought. Garam was the exact opposite of the usual Poison Jam criteria: short, wiry and well flamboyant.

"Why does everyone say that? Hmph! And I'm not going anywhere Cube not until I see my brother and well whatever bone these two have to pick with you!" Garam actually sounded serious which was a complete surprise. He seemed to take everything like a joke.

"Ugh! Just get out of my turf! He doesn't want to see you, you fucking ass-hat! Not after what you did!"

"Is it about the goldfish?" Yoyo suddenly piped up.

"Huh? What? No! Ugh!" The woman sighed as she skated out of the fog with two Poison Jammers following close behind. She had short black hair with a red clip keeping it out of her face and wore a black tube top and black and red Capri pants complete with matching skates. She held a golden beast-like helmet close to her tattooed belly which she promptly chucked at Garam. "Listen here child. He sold out his brother my… King to those Golden Rhinos to save his own ass! Now I'm missing a member of my gang to those freaks and having to nurse my King back to back to full health! I don't have time to deal with you or anybody!"

"Hey that's not what happened Cube! You know that!"

"Oh yeah it was something even less noble, just get out of my sewers!"

"Not until I see Combo!"

"Ghidorah, take out the trash." There was grunt of acknowledgment from one of the Poison Jammers before he began to skate toward the fuming Garam to throw him over his shoulder.

"Cube! You have a cold butt for a heart!" He screamed as he carried away presumably out of the sewers.

"Ugh jack ass… Now what was it you two brats wanted again?" She huffed her patience obviously ice thin.

"Oh yeah uh hi… I'm Beat… leader of the new gang, the GG's…" He could barely find his words under the woman's scrutinizing stare. Yoyo however had no issue.

"A member of your team destroyed the home I shared with my friend, Gum! If we hadn't just joined up with Beat here we'd be homeless!" She was quiet for a long while, her harsh face staying until suddenly it melted away with a frantic tap of her skate across the concrete.

"…I haven't sent anyone out since Orga was captured by the Golden Rhinos… If you are sure it was done by one of my men, it was more than likely him and if that is the case, then the Golden Rhinos are expanding into Kogane-Cho… Rodan go prepare to move Combo, we need to move deeper into the sewers." The Jammer silently obliged, leaving Cube alone with the two GG's. "Ugh this isn't good at all… Their power is growing too fast with that Rokkaku bastard's help…" Beat couldn't help but look away. He felt responsible for all this pain his Father was causing.

"You are responsible. If you just listened to Takuma, everything would be fine and Mother would still be alive. There would be more time to deal with these Golden Rhinos or better yet, they would have fallen out of power." His thoughts always had a way of making things worse for him. He hardly even acknowledged Cube when she was thanking him.

"Without you guys coming down here today, I wouldn't have known what was going on. Thanks I guess… Hey maybe after Combo gets better, we can help you out with your gang. Oh and word of advice from leader to leader?"

"Hnmm?"

"Don't bother with Garam. He's quite the wild card and those are never good."

On their way out of the sewers, the two past by Ghidorah, who regarded them with only an annoyed grunt as Garam's grunt of annoyance echoed throughout the sewers.

When they finally found Garam, he was sitting on the rusted girder, a defined frown on his lips.

"When I was still with Poison Jam, I had poo brain. Least that's what my other brother calls it… Anyways I was tagging with Cube, Orga and my brother, Combo down in Benten-Cho a few weeks ago and we encountered those Golden Rhinos. Cube had this plan that would take'em all out but… I chickened out and ran. Combo was shot and Orga was on an all-"expense paid trip to Golden Rhino HQ… Cube told me to never come back… I did over and over again with the same result as today… I feel bad as it is… I guess I deserve Cube's rage I know I do… Guess it's why I keep coming back…" He took a breath as Beat and Yoyo joined him on the girder. "Ever since that night, I've been trying to do good. When me and Corn's old boss kicked the bucket, I took over for him so his kid wouldn't have to sell it. Hell I'm even letting you guys use it as your hideout at least until find one all your own."

"I don't think it's your fault. We all get scared…" Beat muttered "at least you're tryin' to better yourself and make things right in your own way. You could have cut yourself off and forgot about your brother and old gang. You didn't even have to help me and Yoyo but you did. You're not bad. You just made a mistake. You're human." He didn't even know if he was talking to himself or Garam anymore. But the black man looked pleased with his answer as he clapped him on the back.

"Thanks Big Red I needed that. You and Pistachio are good people. Hey I think I'm ready to join your guy's gang now."

Cube's words rang through Beat's ears"Don't bother with Garam. He's quite the wild card and those are never good." Beat was quick to ignore them however.

"Sure Garam. Welcome to the GG's."

Garam had been to Corn's apartment before. He knew it was small and 'janky' as he put it. He opted to staying down at the garage in case they needed him for gang related business. This suited Beat just fine as he already didn't like having to battle for the couch.

When Beat and Yoyo returned home they were greeted to the sight of Gum and Corn passed out on the couch. They had been listening to the radio as it still played eclectic melodies.

"Wow does this mean we get a bed tonight?" Beat mused much to the amusement of Yoyo.

"Heh Gum would probably destroy you yo."

Beat shrugged "Probably. Hey want anything from the kitchen?" Yoyo nodded before he stuck himself in the corner by the radio to listen.

Corn had gone grocery shopping he noticed as the aging fridge was stuffed with more food than it probably seen in years. He ended up just taking two bottles of grape soda. When he returned to Yoyo's side the loud man on the radio was talking again.

"With Gouji's help, those Golden Rhinos have flourished like germs in a swimming pool! Their reach has gone from Benten-Cho to Kogane-Cho and is even starting to bleed into Shibuya-Cho can you believe it?! He's even placed a new gang on the streets: the Noise Tanks! They can control electricity so it's best not to piss them off if you want to keep your cable! They've already taken down the Immortals of the Sky scrapper district in Benten-Cho. I wonder who they will take on next? Watch your backs kiddies because things are about to get rough!"

"DJ Professor K never lies yo… Think they'll get us?" Yoyo murmured as he took a tentative sip of soda.

"No we'll beat them back. We have to for the better of Tokyo-To"

"Or for yourself? You just want to stop feeling guilty. You don't care about what happens to anyone but yourself." Beat couldn't help his moan of irritation with his head. He hoped Yoyo wouldn't notice but he did. He could feel the teen's pale hand move up his arm in a soothing motion.

"You're not yourself yo…" His voice was a quiet fact. Beat didn't want to wake up Corn and Gum. He ended up dragging Yoyo onto his feet and to Corn's bedroom.

"Yeah… I'm not myself. I haven't been for awhile… I started this gang to get back at the Golden Rhino's for killing my Mother and my mind's been second guessing me the whole way. I've done this all just so I could stop feeling horrible. I got my Mother killed by being out in Benten-Cho and her death made my Father crazy. He killed my brothers and helped those bastards. He doesn't even know they're what did it… Or he does and doesn't care…"

Yoyo's face was unreadable under his glasses; he even realized this as he shakily raised his hand to remove them. His eyes were a strange sight to see. Small little scars of cuts painted the areas of his eyes which themselves were an odd hue of dark brown, they looked almost bloody, you couldn't even see the pupil. It was kind of breathtaking he thought. The teen's eyes were drawn downwards as a small tear escaped one of his eyes. "You're Rokkaku Gouji's son yes?" Beat could only nod.

"None of this is your fault." Beat didn't expect that one. "You told Garam what you should be telling yourself. As much as it applies to him, to should listen to your own words Beat. Your Father made his choice and you've made yours… You both have to own up to it because second guessing…"

"Could get us all killed or worse" Yoyo nodded, his hair covering his face as he reached for the red head's hand. He rubbed his thumb in circles around the older teen's hand for a good five minutes before finally looking him in the eye.

"We all trust you Beat. Gum wouldn't be here if she didn't yo and we all have our reasons for wanted the Golden Rhinos gone. Your Mother's just yours.

"What are yours then Yoyo?"

He wasn't able to answer as Gum walked in her hair askew and her tired eyes locked on Beat in irritation. "Out" was her order and Beat dare not comply. Yoyo just smiled softly as he dropped Beat's hand and watched his flee like a dejected dog with its tail between its legs. "How was our home?" Her voice betrayed nothing of the venom she had before much to Yoyo's delight. But that soon went away as he processed her question.

"oh… It was wrecked… Beat was only able to find this still intact." He handed her the locket which she looked at with soft eyes before clipping it around her neck.

"At least this was safe then…" She sighed before leading him to the bed for some much needed rest. Once she had him pressed into her however she spoke again. "Yoyo?"

"Yeah?"

"You didn't tell him did you?

"No I didn't…"

"Good. It is for the best that he doesn't know at least yet…"

When Beat made it to the living room, he found that Corn was actually awake and had turned off the radio.

"How was your day?" Corn asked as he put the two half empty cans of soda back in the fridge.

"Gum's place was wrecked, only one thing worth salvaging. Ended up in the sewers because Yoyo said Poison Jam did it and well in the end, Garam joined us and we learned that the Golden Rhinos are in Kogane-Cho now."

"Gross." Corn groaned before throwing himself back onto the sofa. "The action just seems to follow you doesn't it?"

Beat couldn't help his laugh at that. "It sure seems that way sometimes doesn't it?"

"I just fixed cars all day and ate lunch at Gum's work. Hey tomorrow we both don't got work, let's go tagging all of us. We can get our street cred up and cause some much needed trouble around the neighborhood."

"I couldn't think of a better thing to do myself Corn."

End of Part 4