"How's your back healing?" Daichi asked. It had been about a week now since the incident with Outlast. That week had been surprisingly quiet, with no interference or even any sightings of Outlast members anywhere near the Dry Juice territory. Even in the territory they had just recently taken it was uneventful. There was no resistance or counter movements at all. Mizuki had strutted around the whole week, loudly boasting about how they had scared them off. He was usually much more humble than this when it came to other ribsteez groups. Despite them being enemies, he respected other ribbers and refrained from trash talking them too excessively unless it was necessary to raise the moral of his own team. However, ever since learning about what the attempted kidnappers had done to Kohaku, he had developed a special hatred for Outlast.
Other than this particular change in behavior, Mizuki had also made it his principle within the last week to almost never leave Kohaku's side. He followed him everywhere, or else dragged Kohaku along with him to wherever it was Mizuki needed to go. These past several days Kohaku had spent the majority of his time in Black Needle, Mizuki's tattoo shop. At night, whenever Dry Juice's activities were over, Mizuki either stayed at Kohaku's house or vis versa. Kohaku didn't mind his friend's sudden overprotective qualities too much, but it did make getting his work done a lot harder. He had his own business to run in the shop he lived above, fixing up broken down allmates and such. However, he'd had to compromise and take his commissions and tool kit to Mizuki's shop, setting up a little corner for himself to do his work. Today was the first day the whole week that Mizuki wasn't there. He was visiting his friend, Aoba, and though he had wanted to take Kohaku along, Daichi had already offered to take Kohaku out for lunch, and Kohaku used the opportunity to get a short break from Mizuki. It had taken some convincing to get the Dry Juice leader to leave Kohaku, but Daichi had promised to look out for him and in the end Mizuki agreed.
"What?" Kohaku asked, lost in his reminiscing about the past week.
"I asked how your back was," Daichi grinned. "Though maybe I should be asking about your hearing." He punched Kohaku playfully in the shoulder.
"Shut up," Kohaku smiled. "Both my back and my ears are just fine."
"So you're healing all right?" Daichi pressed, looking concerned.
"Yeah, the bruises have faded quite a bit," he answered. Kohaku paused a moment, his eyes clouded over with thought. They slipped through a crowd of people as they made their way down the street, heading towards the cafe Daichi had recommended. "Daichi," Kohaku finally spoke up. "Why me?"
"Hmm?" Daichi said. He snapped back to reality, having been preoccupied with enviously watching a car drive down the street. "Why what?"
"The kidnapping," Kohaku told him. It was the first time he'd mentioned it since the night it had happened. "Why did they come after me? If it was random, they wouldn't have been so careful to take me away from Souta and Nori. Honestly, if that were the case, they would've snatched all three of us. Plus the two guys that kidnapped me kept saying something about their boss, Akio, and how he wanted me specifically."
"Isn't it obvious?" Daichi turned to Kohaku, looking surprised. "They're after your scrawny ass because you're Mizuki's favorite.
"What?" Kohaku asked, taken back.
"Come on dude," Daichi laughed. "They have it out for Dry Juice. Those thugs want to take Mizuki down. What better way to do that then go after his right hand man? I mean, they could go after the big man himself, but honestly, no amount of beating they could inflict on Mizuki would get to him as much as harming you. If I was them, that's how I'd do it."
Kohaku was silent a moment, thinking it over. "That does make sense," he finally murmured.
"That Akio may be a cold-blooded coward," Daichi continued. "Hell, there are a lot of colorful words I could call him that would shock the old grannies," he paused for a moment, a slightly intimidated look coming across his face. "Well, I mean your typical old grannies. Not that scary lady with the pink hair." Kohaku laughed as he remembered Tae yelling at them while she was treating his injuries. "But if there's one thing you just can't call him, that would be stupid. The asshole's a mad genius."
They turned a corner and a small pub came into view. "Here we are," Daichi grinned. "Best beer in town!" He quickened his pace excitedly, holding the door open for Kohaku. It was small but cozy inside, filled with workers on their lunch breaks. Daichi led Kohaku over to a small booth and they sat down. "You've got to try the shrimp!" Daichi exclaimed, looking like he hadn't eaten in months. "It's the best."
"Alright, alright," Kohaku laughed. "You can order for me."
A waiter walked up to them, holding out his order book. "What can I get you gentlemen?" He smiled politely.
"Start us off with two beers," Daichi told him. "Then we'll have some hibachi shrimp. Oh," he added, reaching out to grab the waiter's arm before he could walk away. "I don't know about him but once I'm done with my meal, I'll be ordering dessert."
The waiter smiled at him. "We'll have those beers right out." He moved on to take orders at the next table.
Daichi leaned back, looking perfectly at ease. Kohaku, on the other hand, was less than relaxed. "Why do you think they've been so quiet," he lowered his voice so the other people in the restaurant couldn't hear.
"Who's quiet?" Daichi asked distractedly, winking at a passing waitress.
"Daichi," Kohaku snapped. "Pay attention!"
"Right, sorry," Daichin shook himself. "What were you saying?"
"Why do you think Outlast hasn't done anything yet? I know Akio's a coward and all but taking another rib group's territory is a pretty huge insult. You think even they would do something about it."
"Dunno." Daichi was smiling at the waitress flirtily.
"Daichi!" Kohaku hissed.
"Sorry," Daichi peeled his eyes away.
"I can't help but think they're planning something," Kohaku spoke his thoughts aloud.
"Yeah," Daichi replied, looking thoughtful himself. "You're probably right. You're going to have to be real careful to make sure they don't get you again. You shouldn't go out too much. Hell, if I didn't know this place so well they could even have been hiding here to try and ambush you. Looks like this is the last time you'll be drinking the world's best beer for a while, mate. Speaking of beer," he perked up as he saw the waiter coming with their drinks.
"Here you are," the man said, placing the mugs on the table. "Your shrimp will be ready in a few minutes."
"Hell yeah," Daichi grinned. "Drink up, Kohaku!" He clinked his glass enthusiastically against Kohaku's own before gulping down half the mug.
"Man," Kohaku laughed. "Thirsty much?" He took a drink of his own beer. It was just as good as Daichi had claimed. Honestly, it didn't taste like any other beer Kohaku had had before. "This is good," he grinned, drinking some more.
"Told you," Daichi downed the rest of his before calling for a refill. "Once this shitty Outlast thing blows over we gotta bring the whole group here to celebrate!"
"If it blows over," Kohaku whispered, staring down at the golden liquid in his mug. "I know Mizuki's been acting tough all week, but I can tell he's worried."
"He'd be a fool if he wasn't," Daichi spoke in a carefree tone, still shooting flirty glances at the waitress across the room. "Outlast may not be as big as us yet, but they're getting there, and pretty quickly too. At this rate an all-out turf war is practically inevitable." He noticed the worried look on Kohaku's face. "Hey," he smiled reassuringly. "Don't stress over it. You're practically still a rookie here."
Kohaku rolled his eyes teasingly. "I've been here three years."
"My point," Daichi ignored him, "is that Dry Juice has been through many situations in the past just like this, and we've pulled through all of them just fine."
"Every big group has its fall, though," Kohaku continued, not feeling any better despite Daichi's efforts. "Like that one rib group from way back when ribsteez first started in Midorijima. What was it called again?"
"Cake missile or something like that," Daichi told him.
"Cake Bomb," Kohaku exclaimed as he remembered the name. "Before Dry Juice existed, that one was the biggest and most powerful ribsteez team. The first one too. But they didn't last forever. One day they just vanished."
"Isn't that the Morphine rumor?" Daichi interrupted. "Some mysterious ribsteez group called Morphine took them away. If I remember right I think the cake gang thingy was supposedly their first victim, too."
"Morphine's just an urban legend," Kohaku scoffed. "It was probably the police force that bumped them off. They probably took them out in one night without warning. Covered their tracks real good so no one would suspect. I bet you that's the real reason behind all the disappearing rib teams back then."
"Wasn't cake what's-it just a bunch of kids too?" Daichi asked.
"Yeah," Kohaku confirmed, gulping down the rest of his beer. "At least, that's one of the urban legends surrounding that team. It was started by a bunch of young teens who had it rough in life and needed some way to protect themselves."
"Join the club," Daichi scoffed. "That's everyone in this city. Well, the having it rough part, I mean." He eyed Kohaku's empty glass. "You want another?"
"Yeah," Kohaku looked down at his barren mug.
"I would have the waiter bring you another," Daichi began. "But just one should do the trick."
"Do what trick?" Kohaku yawned, stretching his arms.
Daichi ignored his question. "Why didn't you tell me those men had tried to rape you?"
Kohaku froze, his eyes slowly moving up to Daichi. "What?" he whispered. "Who told you about that? Did- did Mizuki-?"
Daichi threw his head back and laughed. "Mizuki?" he scoffed. "Like he would ever betray his little treasure!"
"What?!" Kohaku gawked, steadily growing more astounded by the minute. "Daichi, are you drunk?"
"After one beer?" Daichi grinned, his eyes widening a little more than normal. "I can hold my liquor better than that!"
"But then, why-"
"I really wish you had told me though," Daichi continued over him. "I thought we were friends! Best fucking buddies! Aren't friends supposed to share all their deepest, darkest secrets while giggling at fucking slumber parties or some shit? I never got the invite to your little slumber party I guess."
"Daichi?" Kohaku exclaimed. "I think someone may have put something in your drink!"
"My drink?" Daichi laughed even harder. "No, my drink's fine. I can't say the same about yours though. Tell me, are you feeling a little drowsy?"
Kohaku froze as he realized he had been feeling sleepy after drinking that beer. And it had tasted different from any other beer he'd drank before. "Daichi!" He cried out, floundering helplessly for some explanation as to what was going on.
"That voice!" Daichi grinned maliciously. "I love it! It's like a fucking lost puppy yapping. No wonder Mizuki chose you as his pet!"
"Shut the fuck up!" Kohaku yelled, losing patience. "Daichi, just tell me what's going on?"
"Oh, so I have to tell you everything but it's okay if you keep secrets," Daichi mocked him, amused by Kohaku's bewilderment. "That hardly seems fair, Kohaku. Why did you neglect to tell me someone tried to make you their toy? If you had, I could've punished them sooner for not following orders and trying to play with you before I got the chance."
Kohaku gasped, filled with shock. His vision was rapidly becoming blurry, and he felt himself sinking down in his seat, his legs and back losing the strength they needed to support him. "But," he sputtered. "But that was Outlast!"
"Oh, it most certainly was Outlast," Daichi laughed. "You're right there. And Akio is one intelligent, ruthless son of a bitch, but really, do you think he's leader material?" Kohaku froze as it dawned on him what Daichi was implying. "You weren't too far off in hindsight. Akio is second in command. But the real person that started this rival ribsteez group and that holds full authority, is me alone."
"You're shrimp's ready," a voice spoke up and two steaming plates were placed before them on the table.
"Help me!" Kohaku tried to yell, but his voice only came out as a quiet sputter. He managed to turn his dizzy head to the waiter, but was taken aback by what he saw. The man was grinning down at him cruelly, watching with relish as Kohaku tried to make sense of what was happening. In fact, the entire room had turned to him and Daichi, watching the scenario unfold as though they were witnessing a comedy skit.
"Ribsteez members aren't just thugs you know," Daichi took a bite of his shrimp. "Mmm," he sighed. "Delicious as usual, Taro."
"Thank you, sir," the waiter nodded gratefully.
"They all have jobs. At a shoe store, a pawn shop, or maybe," Daichi paused to swallow the shrimp down, "a restaurant." The horror that had been rising inside of Kohaku was slowly subsiding, fading away with his limited consciousness. "It's a shame you won't be able to eat your shrimp," Daichi continued in a carefree manner. "It really is quite excellent." He shrugged. "Oh well, more for me." The last thing Kohaku heard before he slipped into darkness was Daichi ordering what he wanted for dessert.
