I don't own JSRF…I DO own this fic so don't plagiarize. I can't believe how many people are checkin' this out….really; I didn't think I'd get 30 hits in three days.


"You ain't a convict, you got caught jaywalking,

And you don't know the alphabet, but you still talking;

Well I got a blade too,
And I know it's sharp enough to cut you…
They call me starvin' Harlem, scissor tongue, I lick tissue,

And pardon me, my lava just spit almost hit you.

You know I got lava spit and got a lot of it,
We can call it in the air, this is for rain drop missiles."

- Cannibal Ox: "Straight off the D.I.C."


Swing Blades

Corn's Switch Blade

This is my sad attempt at drama. I sincerely apologize to anyone who happens to be a fan of that particular genre.

It's kind of long. I decided for this to be a kind of flashback…a "throwback" as it were…I actually was gonna use this in another fic I started writing but eventually removed from the site after maybe two chapters. I decided to change some stuff and finish the story. Not funny…though not every story will be funny...I think.


Abandoned Apartment Building on Dogenzaka Hill-Nov 7th

"How did you get that thing anyway?" was the question posed by Yo-yo, "I've never seen you use it before."

"Come to think of it," Rhyth started, "I didn't even know you had one. How did you keep THAT a secret?

"Yeah yo, what's the deal?"

Corn had an answer (which was neither a good one, nor believable one) prepared for just this occasion. "Well," he started, "a couple of weeks ago I was out around Kibagaoka Hill. I was just doing a little skating on the rooftops around the top of the hill, when I fell into that room, you know the one, it has all those cats in it. I was down there, and out of nowhere as soon as I got up, because I landed on my back, a fuckin' Immortal ran up on me! We started up, I laid him down, and he got up. When he got up, he pulled this blade out and tried to get at me..."

Gum was standing in the doorway and heard him telling his lie. She was going to say something, but, as he finished telling the story about how he disarmed an Immortal and kept his knife after declaring it "found property," decided it really wasn't worth it. No doubt they wouldn't believe it. No one did.

"Are you serious!?"

"I'm totally serious," Corn said smiling.

"No way, yo! Fuckin' awesome!"

"Yo-yo, you shouldn't swear so much."

"I'll say what the fuck I want."

"See there you go again!"

"What are you, the fuckin' FCC?"

Corn knew they couldn't just believe a total lie like that. If they didn't believe him however, they didn't really show any sign of it. They just walked off arguing about something totally different. Those two never seemed like they kept one thing on their respective minds for too long. Either that or they had A.D.D.

"So, how many times are you going to tell that bullshit story?" Gum asked as she casually strolled up to Corn. "When everyone stops asking, I'll stop lying," he answered.

"There you go again."

"Well if it's any consolation, I really did pick it up in a fight."

"Okay, now what's the catch?"

"I haven't got a clue," he paused, "what the fuck you're talking about." He smiled and skated off. As he headed for the front door, he stopped and turned. He put his hand up to his lips and did one of those kissing waves from the dating game. He then turned and left for the rest of the day.


Well, you'll be happy to know that Corn wasn't just lying his ass off. He had indeed gotten that switch blade during a fight. It wasn't, however, with an Immortal. How could it be? Those mummified bastards hadn't been seen for about a month and a half when he got the knife. Nor was the fight at Kibagaoka Hill. It was at Dogenzaka Hill.


The Garage-August 3rd (1 week after Gouji's disappearance)-4pm

Corn had a pretty big problem, or at least it was in his mind. It was now August, that wasn't the problem. Next month would be September, not a problem. The problem was the string of months following September: October, November, December, January and February. Fall and winter were coming and the Garage was outdoors. There were no walls and no roof, not even a damn canopy.

This wasn't the only problem that Corn had. It had come to his attention that, with the exception of himself, Gum, and of course Garam, Cube and Combo (who, at the time, were all sharing Combo's apartment on Hikage street) the GG's really had no place to live and were actually sleeping in the garage. The garage was a cool place to hang out, but it was no substitute for an actual home.

He had almost everyone accounted for and decided that, barring any unseen developments, they would be able to divide up the remaining GG's and allow them to live with the ones who had homes (sadly less than a month later the ones with homes would lose them), though Combo would only be able to support one more as he was already almost out of room.

He knew that Jazz, Boogie, Rhyth, Yoyo, Clutch and Soda were homeless and pretty much backpacking around the city. The only one that wasn't actually accounted for was Beat. No one actually knew whether he had a home or not. From what he had heard from the homeless GG's, Beat did in fact have a place to live. However, it seemed he would occasionally decide to sleep at the garage. It didn't make sense to Corn. If beat lived somewhere why wouldn't he just stay there?

Corn didn't know a lot about Beat. He admittedly didn't like him much either. No one was exactly sure why and he chose not to elaborate on the subject if he could avoid it. Any other day he really wouldn't give a fuck about whether Beat was homeless or not.

However, given the situation, he felt it was necessary to make sure Beat did have a home. If he did he could share in the task of boarding up the others.

He knew that Beat supposedly lived on Dogenzaka Hill. After asking around, he eventually found out the beat lived up the road that usually had a "no entry" sign posted (the street that you aren't allowed to go up, and are immediately turned around on by the half-pipe). After about another hour or so of asking around (and having to use Beats real name), Corn was led to a five story, gray apartment building. According to the information that Corn had gathered, this is where Beats parents were supposed to live. Reluctantly Corn made his way into the building. What if this was the wrong place? "Note to self: stop asking random people for information," Corn mumbled to himself.

There was a directory on the first floor. He looked for the name "Beniya" on the apartment directory. Fourth floor, apartment 4-C. He found his way to the apartment. After knocking he waited for a couple of minutes. No answer, he knocked again. "What!?" was the response from inside.

Corn wasn't expecting that. He stammered for a few seconds, "I-I'm here to see, I mean I'd like to see Beat I mean Taisuke. I'd like to see Taisuke." He waited, finally there was a response, "Taisuke…doesn't live here."

"Taisuke Beniya?"

"Never heard of him."

"I was told that …"

"Look fucker, Taisuke doesn't live here. Now get away from my door or I'll call the cops on your ass!"

It was at that point that Corn decided to leave.

It didn't make any since, Corn was pointed directly to that apartment building and there was no way that "Beniya" being listed among the tenants was a coincidence. On top of that the man at the door was overly hostile and seemed to grow even more hostile at the mention of Beats' real name. It all didn't add up too well but Corn couldn't do much about it; the guy clearly wanted him gone so Corn left. He would have to come up with another way of finding out what he needed to know. The thought of just asking Beat did cross his mind but it soon occurred to him that Beat wouldn't volunteer information about himself so easily. Only one other idea crossed his mind. It wasn't the best idea he had ever come up with, but it was the only idea he had.

The Garage to Dogenzaka Hill-2am

Corn stayed at the garage a hell of a lot later than he usually did. It was all part of his plan, if he was going to follow Beat he would have to wait until he left. Beat left the Garage at 2:10, Corn left at 2:15, a few minutes later than he wanted but just long enough not to arouse suspicion. Beat was moving slowly so Corn caught up with him pretty quickly. This was a delicate operation; Corn would have to stay 30 yards behind Beat, no more, no less. Corn followed him all the way to Dogenzaka Hill. Beat began to speed up; he dropped into the residential area. Corn didn't follow him down he jumped across to the next building. He jumped down from the building. When he landed he saw Beat going down the curve of the first hill. He waited at the top of the hill and finally rolled down the side of the hill as Beat went around the corner to the next hill.

Corn did the same thing at the next hill, then the next. At the upslope he went the long way. Beat went straight up the side of the hill. Beat went straight through the record store so Corn jumped from roof to roof. Corn stopped on the last roof and ducked down. Beat had stopped in front of the backstreet and was looking around to make sure he wasn't being followed. When he was satisfied he went down the street; Corn could only assume he hadn't been seen. He jumped off of the roof and followed Beat again. As he followed Corn began to think about what had transpired less than twelve hours ago. It didn't make sense to him. Why would everyone I ask point me towards that apartment building if he doesn't live there? They kept going. Eventually he saw the apartment he had visited; it was here that Beat stopped. Corn hid behind a mail box.

Beat just stood there looking at the building. Corn was unsure. Beat seemed unsure of whether or not he should enter the building. Time passed, every second felt like a minute. Time passed until finally…Beat kept skating. Just what I thought. Corn was sure now; Beat didn't appear to live there, but the long pause confirmed that he had lived there at some point. His parents must have kicked him out. Those were the only people that corn could imagine were living in that apartment. Assuming they did kick him out…Corn always tested theories in his mind, where does he live now? Well I guess there's only one way to find out. Corn kept following him; it was, after all, the only way to find out.

It was a lot easier to follow Beat once they passed the apartment He wasn't racing down the hill now; he was actually skating at a slow, almost casual pace. It wasn't easy to follow him though. Beat went through several alleys and backstreets to get to his destination. After a while Corn found it difficult so keep track of where he was. He started to see rundown buildings all around. Occasionally he saw what looked to be prostitutes waiting on corners. Prostitute, prostitute, liquor store, prostitute…where the hell is he going! This was obviously a bad neighborhood and obviously one that Corn was not familiar with. He found himself wanting to just turn around and go home. Every time he felt that way he had to remind himself that he had given himself a task that he must complete…and anyway he didn't remember the way back.

Corn had always set strict standards for himself. One of these was that he would never carry a weapon on his person. He felt that it was unnecessary and that if there was a dispute between himself and another person, it would suffice to use his fists. Corn studied his surroundings. He soon began to regret having set that rule for himself. This was a dangerous place to be, at any time of the day, so why would Beat come all the way out here so early in the morning? Corn checked his watch, about four o'clock; he had been following Beat for nearly two hours now. When is he going to stop?

It's strange how your thoughts can seem to, at times, dictate the behavior of others. At almost the exact instant that that thought crossed Corn's mind…Beat came to a stand still. Corn, sensing his cover was blown, ducked into an alleyway and peeked his head around the corner. What's he doing? Beat approached an ugly, dilapidated, pea green, two story residence. He went inside.

Corn stepped out of the alley. He approached the house. It was run the hell down. There were people outside. They were leaned up against the wall of the house, some of them scratching themselves, some of them seemingly asleep…Junkies…is Beat a junky? This is all fucked up… It was indeed all fucked up but then again it was also an opportunity for Corn to maybe get rid of Beat, or at least make sure he never rose to a position where he could take over the gang. He looked around for someone that looked sober enough to speak to. A dark haired teen sat in the fetal position a few yards away, he had a faded green jacket and maroon pants. Corn approached him.

"Hey you…hey…" Corn spoke to him, the guy was clearly spaced out. Corn felt a migraine coming on. He decided to wake the guy up …the fuck is he gonna do about it? He grabbed his head, pulled it forward and…WHAM! He slammed his head into the wall "Wake up!"

"I'm up, I'm up…" the impact of his head against the wall sent the guy falling out of space and crashing back down to reality. "Ow! What the fuck…who are you? You holdin'?"

"No, I ain't holdin'…I'm here to ask some questions."

"People don't usually ask questions around here…bad things happen to people who come around askin'…" he said to Corn as if to make a threat…but he was weasely and indirect.

The mere thought of being threatened by a junky pissed Corn off in ways he never thought possible. He slammed the back of the junkies' head against the wall again

"Ow! Shit man!"

"I'm not from around here. Now shut the fuck up!" Corn lifted him so that they were eye to eye "I'm looking for a guy named Beat, maybe you've seen him…thin guy, red hair sunglasses, maybe on skates?"

The junky thought for a second. He was sure he just saw a guy fitting that description go inside "Nope…never seen him before."

Corn spun him around and slammed his face into the wall…harder than before. He quickly turned him so that they were face to face. Blood was running out of the guys' nose "Maybe I should rephrase that…I'm looking for Beat. I saw him go in there maybe two minutes ago. You were sitting right where you could see him go in. Now…I want you to tell me just what the hell is he doing around here?"

"Oh…that Beat…" He pinched his nose "I hate that guy…every time he comes around here he hassles me…"

Corn slammed his head against the wall again, he didn't care about this guys problems "What does he do, what's he into?"

"I don't think he does anything…I'm pretty sure he just comes here and sleeps."

Corn grabbed the guys' face "Bull shit…tell the truth!" He prepared to slam his head again…

"Wait wait wait...I'm serious! That's all he does!" he did not want any part of that wall. He was also pretty sure the back of his head was bleeding.

Corn thought about hurting the guy more "Where?" he let him go.

The junky held his head "A bedroom. It's up stairs and at the end of the hall."

As Corn turned and began to walk toward the door but as he prepared to do so he saw a flash out of the corner of his eye. He ducked to the side just in time for a knife to swing past his head. The junky made another lunge for him. Corn grabbed his arm with his right hand and his face in his left. He twisted his arm making him drop the knife and slammed his head against the wall again. This time, however, he forced him down until he was sitting on the ground…then he smashed his knee into his face knocking him smooth out in a pool of blood.

He picked up the knife off of the sidewalk. It was a shiny switchblade that seemed like it hadn't seen much use. After a few moments of internal debate, he finally pocketed the knife.

Steeling his nerves he entered the house.


-To be continued, and hopefully finished, in the next chapter. It should be pretty good in the next part. I think I managed to show a different side of Corn. I haven't really seen other writers show that side of him, so I decided to try it out. I think I like it.

Tell me what you thought…oh and my offer to give me an idea still stands. Review this Chapter!