Ch. 7
The whine of metal on metal set his teeth on edge. Kubota noticed the clenching and fished through his pocket for some of Lotte's Pomegranate-Blueberry flavored gum that Tokito had pressed him with. The train was almost deserted at this hour, but he still refused to sit, taking a position by the doors instead. Too lazy, he told himself, but the truth was he knew it was a better vantage point should anyone try anything. Not like there were many stupid enough to try and hit a moving train, but you never know, they'd come across some pretty stupid yakuza lately.
Kubota smiled slightly in spite of himself, that had sounded awfully Tokito-like right then. He checked his watch again, 10:24pm, he'd been gone for half the day tracking their associated friends and cohorts down and now all he wanted was to get home. Tokito had probably raised royal hell the minute he woke up and saw Kou there, but without a phone he was saved from that particular barrage until he got in.
His eyes searched the night, straining through the speckled glass of the train and he remembered another train ride, one with Tokito by his side. They'd gone out for a delivery for Kou and Tokito had insisted he come along too. While riding, Tokito had fallen asleep beside him, resting his head on Kubota's shoulder, and clutching his hand painfully during a rather unpleasant nightmare. Tokito had awoken in a cold sweat, fur slick under the leather glove in his hand, but Kubota hadn't let go. He'd never let go.
They continued on in silence, but that was enough for him, a small squeeze to show he was there and Tokito's head back on his shoulder, saying he knew. What was so wrong with them that everyone and their dog had to get involved in their lives?! He was told he couldn't leave the Izumo without compensation, and he blew away most of their rivals, he never made trouble where it wasn't started by someone else first.
He really wasn't an antagonistic person by nature, he was just there, and that was enough for most people around here. Around here, maybe that was the problem. He chewed thoughtfully and wondered if Tokito would like Osaka or Hokkaido better, someplace not here. Shaking his head in resignation he knew what his mate's reaction would be, "What do you mean leave? What about the old man and Taki and that stupid quack?! Where am I gonna find an arcade in HOKKAIDO?! Screw that, I ain't leaving and neither are you!" Then something would get thrown and he'd nod his head and give in, like always.
Kubota leaned against the metal railing and stared out into the storm. Yeah, that sounded about right, as long as they knew people here he wouldn't let them leave, but one day, one day he'd get him out of this place, show him that there's more than guns, and drugs, and leering yakuza hiding in the shadows. He clenched his fist in his jacket pocket, one day, he thought.