Chapter 4

Ultimate Ending

Thanks flame67 for the review and the people who have alerted :) Also if you want something to listen to while reading, I wrote to the 'Inception' sountrack by Hans Zimmer. I thought it made the story more umpf...maybe that's just me :P Enjoy.

…

Why did Tora always have to feel this way under these circumstances? It had to have been from the dream.

Late Friday night Tora dreamt about tonight's "business" and it didn't end well. Police showed up, and even his father too, just to convict his own son. It ended just as police shoved him into the back seat. So why did something so fake make him feel so…

His breath staggered.

Buildings towered over Tora as his footsteps echoed down the alleyway. Tracing the brick walls that reached towards the black sky, Tora forgot how small he really was in comparison. He'd been over here once before, but everything still felt new. At the end of the alley the small light illuminated a staircase leading down to a steel door below the surface.

The chill of the air nipped Tora's ankles, but each of his steps stayed rhythmic. Sirens shushed in the distance but he reassured himself by feeling his front coat pocket for his silver, five-inch pocket knife, safely nestled away. He would never go anywhere without it.

Following the stairs down to the unwelcoming door, Tora knocked twice, feeling the cold steel on his fist.

He heard a small click before an eye slot opened to reveal a pair of dark eyes with one glazed over.

Tora mentally gaped wondering how this guy could see well. Pushing back the thought, Tora muttered, "I'm here for Kudo. I've got the order." He patted his chest pocket where just beneath, the package laid.

'Glazed Eye' slammed the slot closed.

A breath caught in Tora's throat, but before any thoughts could actually process he heard another small click, then the door opening inward, the steel creaking to a whisper down the alleyway.

Tora held his breath, pushing away all his pride and stepped through the entrance.

Through the smoky, dim light, beating music drowned out the chatting people at the open bar with their cigars and drinks. Smoke filled Tora's nostrils, helping him breathe steadily again. It seemed like more people were here than the last time.

Finally Tora noticed how tall Glazed Eye was. He took up the whole entryway.

"This way," he grunted.

Tora smirked and followed him to the other side of the bar to another door reading employees only. Walking through, the atmosphere shifted. The door fastened shut and everything turned silent down the straight hallway. All the cement walls were cracked and light bulbs flickered, making a chill curl up Tora's spine. He could almost hear the faint drip from the rusted pipes. It looked like a place he'd only ever saw in horror movies when the first person's killed.

At the third door on the right, Glazed Eye stopped. "Just wait here." He left Tora to himself in the hall.

Tora still felt one last time for the knife, but like always it was still there.

After a moment of waiting, the door opened to just the man he was looking for.

"Do you have 'em?" Kudo asked.

Tora searched this guy's composed face, but his bloodshot eyes told a different story. It's amazing how fast self control slips away from people these days.

"I always do," Tora said.

Kudo slumped against the wall, dust encircling him before drifting down to his warn shoes.

Tora slipped the small, brown package from his overcoat pocket. "This is everything," he spoke calmly.

In the distance a police siren echoed through the building, catching both their attention. Tora's heart stopped and shot a glance to the doors. The broken deadbolt lock mocked him as it hung there.

Suddenly he felt a tug on the package but Tora didn't let go and shot his attention back to Kudo trying to take it away. Tora was always on the better half of a game of tug-a-war.

"The money?" Tora broke into a cunning smile. "All of it this time."

Thick, musty air hung between the two.

The guy pinched his thin eyebrows together and gave in. "Of course."

Right then Glazed Eye strolled in with a manila envelope, his feet clicking with each step. "You're return." He shoved the envelope to Tora's chest with force.

Tora stepped back and scowled, tightly gripping the folder to his side.

Kudo grabbed his own package and tore it open. The corners of his mouth turned up and that's all Tora needed to know.

Glancing in his own envelope, Tora flipped through the crisp bills beneath his fingertips. His mind buzzed alive. Everything was there.

"Yamada," Kudo motioned to Glazed Eye, "why don't you show Mr. Igarashi his way out."

Yamada as Tora now knew him, nodded.

Kudo continued, "Mr. Igarashi. It's always a pleasure doing business and I hope it doesn't end here. Send my regards to your father." He gave a sly smirk and went back to his office.

Yamada took over and walked Tora back to the smoked-out front door.

Not exchanging anymore words, Tora left up the steps and walked down the alleyway, stuffing the envelope in his coat.

…

When Monday rolled around, Tora finished the student council meeting as soon as he could. The more time he had to explain to Maki and make every detail clear, the better. That way he'd still make time for councilor Fujimoto as stupid as he could be.

Students buzzed to there friends about the weekend but slowly pooled out of the room. Even Maki was starting to pack up.

"Maki, stay," Tora ordered with a quick glance before watching more people leave. Even Sato followed her friends this time, granted they were all slow about it because they kept on laughing at one another. No one could be left in the room for this conversation.

Maki smiled his usual smile. "What's up?"

It was finally empty with the door closing behind the last student.

Tora stood from his chair and sat himself on the table. He might as well be more comfortable especially when his heart was already beating out of his chest. "It's about last week," Tora started, pushing away the fact his breath lurched.

Maki stayed quiet but for some reason it only made Tora tenser. How was he supposed to know where to start? He half-closed his eyes to himself, pondering. This was ridiculous he even needed to do this in the first place-

"Prez?" Maki asked, genuinely looking worried.

Tora immediately looked him straight in the eyes. "There's something I need from you and you can't question it. You need to listen."

Maki nodded, his mouth forming a straight line.

This was serious, but it needed to be said. Tora already knew Maki would never disobey him, at least why would he start now?

"It's probably crossed your mind as to why the board mentioned me stepping down as president," Tora paused. "Also where I go each Monday and Thursday?"

Still quiet.

Tora casted his gaze out the windows. The morning sun rose over the trees. "I need you to cover up every step I take till schools over."

Maki's eyebrows narrowed finally. "Cover up what?"

The door to class creaked and both peered back at it, pausing. After a moment of nothing from the door, just loud students passing outside, they returned there attention to each other.

Tora heard the faint ticks from the clock, but he still swore his heartbeat took up the entire room. "I'm not repeating myself after this ever again, so listen quick," his voice lingered. "There's been some trouble lately regarding my family. Only you will know about this, at least most of it."

This is it.

Tora sat back. "Before the start of the school year I was entitled to a job only entrusted in me. For lack of better words it's illegal. A drug trade worth triple its price and I've been in the middle of it. No one is allowed in on this information, even police are oblivious. Just a couple days before break a teacher had caught me with something. He didn't know what though. Right away the headmaster was tipped off, but the whole time in his office I didn't say anything. He identified it as ecstasy. The board got involved saying I didn't deserve my positions as student council president. Let alone I should stay in the school."

It all came back to him so easily. The disapproving look on the headmaster's face. The long pause on the phone before anyone spoke. And also the unknown feeling in his chest. Tora looked down at the curves of his palms almost remembering the smooth feeling of the plastic bag holding those simple pills.

"It took exactly an hour to get my father involved and on the phone. Obviously he wasn't thrilled and I got what I deserved over break."

Tora cupped his hands to his knees sensing his jitters were getting worse. His tone softened. "Maki, that's all you need to know. If anyone mentions anything, stop them. I don't care how you do it. But make sure I don't hear about it."

You're the only person I trust…

Maybe this was paranoia. But Tora needed these precaution walls up. If more people fins out, every image he had would break. Police would come, feel the need to investigate more and then the game would end. No one wanted to see what would transpire if that happened. It'd be a disaster.

They stayed quiet for what felt like eternity to Tora, but it had to have been only a couple minutes.

Tora's mind stirred. He didn't want to be here anymore, he didn't want to go to the councilor. He didn't want anything except to leave for the rest of the day.

Maki finally broke the silence. "Prez. I'll do it. Especially after all the help you've given me throughout the years."

The door jarred a little catching both their attention again. Was someone there? The whole time?

Tora eased himself off the table to not make any noise. He whispered to Maki. "Keep talking."

"It'd be a shame to loose you so quickly as a president…"

Tora drowned out Maki's voice, wandering slowly towards the door. If someone was there, were they still? Just a little closer.

With one last step he reached for the doorknob and in one sudden action pulled the door open. Without thinking he yanked on whoever's elbow, wrenching them in the class.

Tora barked. "What do you think you're doing!"

Right there, Etsuko winced under Tora's hard grasp.

Tora's eyes shot up. It was her? He instantly let go like a disease attacked him and she stumbled back.

Her mouth opened and closed, not able to find her words. "Uh…"

Every time he asked her something she always acted so stupid. What was her problem?

"I, um…forgot my bag." She pointed over towards the table, growing more confident with each word. "I needed it for class."

Tora followed her vision and sure enough, there it was leaning up against the chair she had been at.

She was here for her bag? Tora smirked to himself. "Maki bring it here."

Maki sighed and left his spot on the other side of the room to grab it.

Tora turned his attention back to Etsuko's stern face. It had to be the first time he actually saw her so serious. From the beginning he knew which buttons to push without even trying. She definitely wasn't laughing now.

Her eyes never left him as she pushed hair that had fallen from her ponytail behind her ears.

"You were listening," Tora replied.

Her mouth gaped again. "I swear I didn't. I had just-"

"You're not lying your way out of this. So tell me. How much did you hear?"

Maki approached the two with Etsuko's bag. Tora grabbed it before she could, liking the upper hand. He was thrown off by the weight of it though, there must've been three textbooks in there.

Etsuko's face scrunched up as she thought.

Tora even noticed her chewing on her lip again. Pathetic.

"Okay," she hesitated. "I wouldn't tell anyone though. What do I have to gain from all this?"

The smirk on Tora's face grew. Did she really not understand the level of power this gave her? She had something that could expel him from this school. She wouldn't have to put of with him anymore. Her innocence blinded her from reality. Etsuko Sato lived a fantasy. The thought of who she really was crossed his mind, only to be stripped away just as fast.

Etsuko's face softened. "I swear I won't say anything. That's your business, not mine."

Tora searched her face for any trace she was lying.

Her body stayed slack and unmoving. The only thing Tora could do was let her leave. There was only so much a person could do.

"This isn't the end." Tora stated, handing over her bag but not letting go just yet.

She smiled. "It never is." She took hold of the long straps.

He let go and watched her leave, disappearing around the corner.

"Maki," Tora said, his back to his friend. "Keep a close eye on her."

It was silent before Maki answered, "I will."

…

By the time Tora made it to the councilor's office, class would start in ten minutes. And once again Tora found himself alone in the messy place waiting for the frickin' man. At least this time he had the decency of cleaning up the crusty mugs.

Impatient, he crossed his arms.

After what just happened, he was surprised he could sit as still as he did. There was no way Tora will ever trust Etsuko Sato, especially with that information. The first reason of the matter: she was a second year. Second: she hung out with obnoxious kids on the debate team. The third reason he had found out last week after she had talked with him. Tora liked to know who he was dealing with. But the third was a threat. Her mother worked in a courthouse.

Suddenly the door opened, cutting off Tora's thoughts.

"Morning Tora." Fujimoto strolled in with his usual cup of coffee. "How was your weekend…anything eventful?"

Tora shrugged, being reminded of his meet up with Kudo and a couple others he saw before that. "It was fine." Actually answering Fujimoto's casual question.

Fujimoto nodded to himself and took his seat with his notebook at hand. "And how about your student council meeting? I'd image you guys are already planning the end of the term festival, right?"

Tora replied with another shrug. That was exactly how Thursday had gone, too. Shrug this, shrug that. Eventually Fujimoto had given up.

But this time Tora could sense something different. Maybe it was the air he brought over from the student council room.

Fujimoto paged through some papers and returned his glance to Tora. "I've also checked in with your teachers and they've said your doing great in class. Your father must be proud."

Tora mentally rolled his eyes. Even if he was it'd be a load of shit. Heir to the company or not. His father just didn't care, he expects him to do well on everything.

Fujimoto rubbed the bridge between his eyes, setting down the stack of papers. "Just for today Tora, I'm going to try to push you to speak up more. It'll only benefit you. I'm here to help in confidence."

Tora watched him. "I never asked for your help if you hadn't noticed. All they said was to see you, not speak with you."

"Talking about stuff helps. I'm here to try and sort things out and make sure you're feeling okay. Drugs are harmful and they fog peoples' minds."

"You make it sound like I'm thinking of suicide or something. Just because I had them doesn't have to mean I'm taking them."

"Then why did you have them? Tora I'm not here to judge you, all you have to do it tell me."

"Like I said before, I don't have to tell you anything."

Fujimoto sucked in a breath and huffed, pushing up his glasses. "You need to trust that anything you say in this room in confidential. I have no right to talk about my students' business."

"That's your first problem."

Fujimoto raised an eyebrow.

Tora shook his head at the councilor's idiocy. "I don't trust anybody."

Suddenly Fujimoto's face softened and turned unreadable. Tora observed his glazed eyes underneath his glasses and his small frown.

"That's a shame." His gentle tone startled Tora. "Friends are nice to have."

"Wrong again. I have friends."

Fujimoto sipped his coffee. "Are you able to tell them everything? Trust them with everything they know about you? Trust them with your life?"

Tora shifted in his chair and looked away in thought. He knew the answer. No. No he didn't trust anyone, not even Maki. Earlier that was still half the story. Everything else was family matter. He could take care of it on his own. No one except him could truly help him sort his thoughts out.

After awhile when Tora didn't answer, Fujimoto had probably given up again.

"I was wondering," Fujimoto thought aloud. "Monday mornings never give us enough time to talk. We can switch it to after school? If so we can call it a day till Thursday."

No brainer. Tora nodded. "Good." Without permission he snatched his things and left, closing the door behind him. He might as well head to homeroom, class started in three minutes anyway.

The rest of the day pretty much hazed by. That was at least true until lunch began. He had talked to some other guys he was close to on the council and they were talking about some underclassman girls who had gotten into a catfight basically. It was the first interesting thing he had heard all day. They just didn't find out who was involved and what about.

By the time school ended, Tora sauntered upstairs to the student council room for paper work and making sure other key members were still on track.

But like most things in his life, the unexpected always has to happen.

Tora sneered at all the unorganized files he let get out of hand from last week. He plopped down in his seat behind his own desk, just staring at the stacks, but sadly that never does anything, so he started.

When he got into the zone, two financial files stopped him in his tracks. Something was wrong. In the first one there was-

A knock sounded from the door. Tora shot a glare at whoever thought they could interrupt his train of thought. "What?" He argued, not looking up and attempted to read the file again.

Here was the unexpected, or maybe it shouldn't have been.

She cleared her throat. It was a she. "President Igarashi, I need your help."

Tora grit his teeth, he now could recognize that voice anywhere. Etsuko Sato had nerve. He'd now admit that any day. He shot her a death glare this time. "Get out and stop wasting my day."

This time as she stood on the other side of the room she never faltered, in fact she waltzed right in front of his desk. Her eyes actually held determination. "I can't. At least not until you agree to help me."

"Why would I ever agree to help you?"

"Because maybe I'm not the person you quite expected," She paused. "Maybe the stuff I heard about this morning will slip out when I'm talking with a friend."

He shook his head. "But I think I do have you figured out." Tora lied, but she didn't have to know. "I don't think you'll lower yourself to those kinds of standards."

"Would you like to test that theory?"

Tora's jaw tightened. "What do you want?"

The determination still in her eyes, she smiled. "I already said I need your help."

He would never understand why she always smiled so frickin much. "What kind of help?" Tora swore he saw her pale face redden.

She looked away. "I got into some trouble. There's just this jerk in my class and she pissed me off when she talked about my dad. Anyway, I sorta hit her…"

Tora's eyes widened in the slightest. The catfight was her?

"She tried coming back at me, which is where I got this scratch." She pointed to her face.

Finally Tora noticed the large, red scratch on her cheek. He had to laugh to himself. This girl was something else. A nuisance even to her peers.

"Headmaster found out after lunch. So he lectured how fighting isn't tolerated, blah, blah. And at the end he said he was taking me off of student council and the debate team as punishment."

Tora snapped. "How is that my problem?"

"You can convince him to let me stay! That's all I need. Tell him something, I don't care, just say I'm a valuable member or something."

"Stop," he frowned. "You need me to lie for you, to the headmaster and let a person I hate say on my student council?"

Etsuko lifted her shoulders and smiled. "Please?"

He stared at her for the longest time trying to figure her logic. "How can you actually guarantee he'll let you stay?"

"Because you're the president." She stated it like it was the most obvious thing in the world.

"I'm not exactly on good terms with him right now. You're being careless." Which he actually meant. He could bet anything the headmaster won't listen to him after that stunt. "Now get out."

"You're the president!" She repeated. "You actually have a family who is somebody. That's enough power. That's all the sense this situation needs. I know you can do it."

Tora rolled his eyes looking down at the rest of the paper work that needed done. He had to get rid of this girl. She was such a pain in the ass. "Why do you even want to stay on the council? It's almost over anyway."

She looked down towards the floor. "My transcripts. Being a second year rep is great as well as being VP to the debate team. It won't look good if this year is incomplete. Also next year I plan to run for student council president. If this year is marked as partial, I can't really do that next year."

This girl wanted to take his position after he graduates? This was a laughable situation.

Etsuko finished. "So you have to help me, because I'm not joking. The secret will come out. Someway or another."

Tora's mouth contorted into a smirk, his eyes narrow. "I never pegged you to make such a threat." Commoner.

She shrugged, smiling back. "Don't be too quick to judge. Besides I have to if I want to survive Miyabigaoka."

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