X

Everything happened just as Raito had predicted. Higuchi's people had attacked Namikawa's headquarters indeed, and by the time we arrived to our destination point there were very few of Reiji's people left alive. The premises turned into a battlefield, with flames and black smoke rising to the skies from open windows of a half-ruined building, and maimed corpses lying haphazardly on the ground. I didn't have time to really process all the gruesomeness of the scene, since just as our car was getting closer, the enemies started shooting. We got out of the vehicle, hiding behind it and firing back at those men. There wasn't time to divert my attention on anything else, and it was soon that I was left alone behind our car and didn't even notice that.

Some time later there were no more shots sent my way, and I peeked out cautiously, observing surroundings. It seemed that it was safe to venture further. I was racing to the entrance of the building when in my peripheral vision I saw Mikami, who was in a fight with three thugs. The thugs, probably, had wasted all of their ammo, because they had metal pieces of debris in their hands, guns laying now useless on the ground. And it was obvious that Mikami wasn't able to rebuff them alone.

I watched him for a couple of seconds. His movements were fast still, but it seemed he was growing tired, for he was barely dodging the attacks in time. I picked up a long piece of metal scrap that was laying at my feet and rushed over to him. Don't know what motivated me to do that at the moment, but I couldn't stay away.

"What the hell?!" Mikami exclaimed, indignant, when he saw me next to him, just when I was parrying a strike that would have made his hand useless for a long while.

"That's my thanks for helping you?" I asked, drawing attention of one of the goons onto myself.

"I didn't ask for help," he spat angrily.

"You didn't need to," I cut short, and shot my opponent.

"Fuck!"

Mikami fell on the ground from a powerful strike that had been delivered by one of the thugs. He was clutching at his head and groaning in pain. His enemy, breathing heavily, took advantage of that and brought his rod at him. The young man opened his eyes in horror and tried to crawl away, but a kick in the stomach didn't let him do that.

"Mikami!"

I cried out, and rushed straight at the goon. Leaping on his back, I delivered a series of short hits on the base of his skull and his throat. The brute staggered and dropped the metal rod that landed inches away from Teru's face. As I was going to check on Mikami's wound, I remembered about the last remaining thug. He was just about to strike a blow at me, and if not for Mikami's cry "Behind you!", I would have been laying dead. Parrying the hit and slipping behind the enemy, I kicked his back, hard, and shot him the next moment. The man fell on the ground, doubtlessly dead. I inhaled deeply, looking over the scene before staggering to Teru and falling on my knees beside him.

"How are you?"

"I'm okay. Been through worse," he said hoarsely and doubled over, coughing. Wiping a thin track of blood from his chin, Mikami looked at me. "Do I owe you now?"

"I suppose we're even. You've already saved my life today."

"Just to kill you myself," he grinned. "But otherwise, you'd be dead."

"Indeed," I smiled for some reason. "Thank you."

And for the first time Mikami's eyes seemed to become warmer and a smile touched his lips. I put my hand on his shoulder and squeezed it.

"The fight is not over yet. There's no time to relax."

"Then what the fuck are you doing chilling out here?"

Mikami's words were habitually rude, but I couldn't hear the hatred that usually imbued them anymore. Grinning, I helped Teru to get up and together we made it inside the building. It didn't take us long to stumble at another fight. Judging by the looks of it, we were going to win: there were about ten enemies left alive. Just when I was going to join the battle, someone's desperate cry made me freeze in place.

"Reiji!"

Racing towards the cry, I saw Namikawa fighting with four men that captured him in a ring. Just as he disposed of the one who stood right in front of him, he swiftly turned and shot two of the delinquents at his sides. The last of the offenders kicked his back and Reiji fell on his knees, dropping the gun he was holding. I saw then him sending a quick glance at my boss who was a few meters away. Raito nodded and tossed one of his pistols to Namikawa, letting the man finish his fight. Reiji caught the gun, smiled at Raito and then a shot rang.

I stood still, watching as the smile on Reiji's lips faded, his eyes obtaining a surprised expression. The next moment his body fell on the floor. The man behind his back came into view, grinning victoriously. I couldn't move and just stood there, looking at Namikawa and expecting him to stand up. He couldn't be dead, right? It was all a trick, there was no other explanation. Time seemed to had stopped. Namikawa was laying still, his face against the floor, and there was a rapidly growing puddle of blood beneath his body. Slowly, ever so slowly, I turned my eyes to look at my boss. Yagami stood frozen, staring at his friend's body. A strong tremor was visibly shaking him, his blades fell from his hands and the look at the dead comrade was full of despair.

"Reiji... No, it can't be..."

"Boss!" I yelled, noticing a thug that was running directly at him. But I was too late with my warning, and the thug brought Raito down on the floor.

I rushed over to him. Blinded with fear, I didn't even comprehend my own actions, fighting the man with all my strength. The only thought that was running through my mind over and over was to save Raito and not let him fall.

When the delinquent was laying dead, I stumbled down on my knees beside my boss. That's when the sirens of police cars resounded somewhere in the distance.

"Everyone! Retreat!" I heard Kiyomi crying.

"Boss, we need to get out of here immediately," I said, not recognizing my own shaking voice.

"Namikawa is dead... he's dead... Where's Midou? Namikawa..."

Realizing that boss was in shock after what had happened, I pulled myself together and firmly grasped his arm, helping him to get up. After picking up his katanas, I stumbled outside with boss leaning on me, completely limp. Mikami helped me to get him inside the car, and I slowly lowered Raito on the backseat. He was unconscious.

"We need to drive back before the police get here," I told Teru and got in the driver's seat, starting the engine. "Get in."

Thankfully we got out of there just in time, and now were heading down the road without police cars chasing us. I decided to bring Raito back home and not to the headquarters. Teru, who was sitting in the seat next to me, glanced at boss' reflection in the rare-view mirror.

"What happened to him?" he asked. "Was he wounded?"

"I didn't have time to check... After Namikawa was killed, he seemed to get in a stupor, and then he just blacked out."

"Namikawa's dead?.." Teru asked quietly, to which I just nodded. Mikami's gaze turned gloomy. "Shit..."

I didn't find what to tell him in response and tightened my grasp on the steering wheel. After a few more minutes Teru looked at me bewildered:

"Have you forgotten the way to the headquarters? You've missed a turn there."

"I'm not driving him to the HQ. We're going home."

"Home, huh? What if he needs medical tending? Do you think you can handle that? Besides, we will need him. He has to give orders, you know. Midou's betrayal marked the start of a war," he looked at me, suddenly serious. "Now we need him more than ever."

I slowed down the car and looked at Mikami with doubt.

"I don't think his emotional state will allow him to give sane orders."

"That's none of your business," Teru looked back at me. "He's the head of the clan. He is responsible for his orders and for his people. You're not the one to take him away from his duties just because you're worried about his mental problems."

"I know that," I frowned. I didn't want to admit it, but Mikami was right. No matter how I was against it, I had to bring Raito back to his people. I couldn't have him all to myself indeed.

"Can you even imagine how worried Takada will be?" Teru kept persisting. "She can yell and argue with him all she wants, but she loves him. As all of us do. You're not the only one, you see."

His words left a nasty imprint on me. For some reason that moment it felt like Mikami knew exactly about my feelings towards Raito. He was gazing at me, the feeling of something all too familiar burning in his eyes. The feeling that had been suffocating me each time I'd seen Raito flirting with women. Jealousy.

I turned my face away from him.

"Alright. I'll drive to the headquarters."

It was night when everything had more or less but settled down. Yagami was put in a bed in a small room that was hidden behind a closet in his office. We also had him examined by a doctor who told us that we'd have to keep an eye on him for the next week. "It's a state of shock, " he said, "most probably caused by experiencing a trauma and/or physical overexertion." Aside from mental damage, he diagnosed Raito with mild concussion. I understood that such an outcome was only expected after everything that had happened that day, but still I couldn't help but panic upon looking at Raito's unusually pale face and blueish lips. And I wasn't alone who was feeling that way. Everyone was distressed with Raito taking to his bed, but to my surprise it was Takada who was handling the matter the worse. One moment she would start fretting, checking on Yagami every few minutes and panicking over the possible development of that day's happenings, another moment she'd try to think of some plan of destroying Higuchi, and a couple of times she even wanted to gather our people to "take a revenge on that fucking bastard" as she'd phrased it. I was deeply concerned with her behavior. While Raito was unavailable, we still needed a leader, the one who would not only make decisions but would also be wise with them. Couple of guys tried to make her listen to reason, but with her current state of mind it was simply impossible, seeing that she aimed a gun at anyone who dared to tell her to get some rest and sort everything out the next day. Thankfully, Kiyomi drained all of her strength by two o'clock in the night and fell asleep on a sofa. By that time almost everyone had left to their homes and the only people left in the headquarters were meant to stay at guard.

I looked at Kiyomi's sleeping figure and turned off the light before leaving the room she fell asleep in. I wished my brain would stop racing, too, and let me doze for a couple of hours. But some sort of a strange tension just wouldn't leave me and I decided that perhaps a shower would put some of it off me.

Twenty minutes later my decision proved to be a correct one. I stepped out of a steamy, hot shower cabin feeling both emotionally and physically wasted. After drying myself with a towel and putting my clothes back on, I quietly opened the door to Raito's room. Judging by his deep and peaceful breathing, he'd fallen asleep not even coming back to his senses. Stepping as quietly as I could, I moved an armchair to his bed and curled up in it, watching boss as he slept. I had to be there with him in case he'd wake up and need anything. I watched him for about an hour before I fell into slumber myself, lulled by quietness and darkness.

It seemed that mere minutes had passed when I awoke to a feeling of somebody's intent stare. Blinking slowly, I focused my eyes on the bed in which Raito was laying. His eyes were half-closed but he certainly was awake, watching me.

"Boss?" I whispered.

Due to the darkness surrounding us, I couldn't see him well at all, but nevertheless I was certain that he kept looking at me, staying silent as though he hadn't even heard me.

"Boss... Do you need something? Should I bring you some water?" I asked him, raising my voice a little.

There was silence again. It lasted for a few moments that seemed to drag on for unholy hours, but eventually Raito blinked once and then closed his eyes. I stared at him for a couple of seconds more before I understood what he meant – he wanted for me to leave. As much as I didn't want to leave him alone in his current doubtful state, I let out a silent sigh and stood up. As I was tip-toeing my way to the door, Raito startled me:

"Lawliet."

He said my name in his usual voice – confident and commanding. I turned around and gave him a questioning look.

"Stay."

A little relieved, I walked back to the chair and curled up in it again, looking at my boss.

"Talk to me, Lawliet," he said, closing his eyes.

His request got me a little confused. What was I supposed to talk to him about? At the moment the only thing I could think of was his wellbeing, but for some reason I was hundred percent certain that he didn't want to talk about that.

"What do you want me to talk about?" I asked hesitantly.

"You ask me? Come on, Lawliet. How are you going to get a girl if you can't even think of a topic?"

"Well... uh..." I struggled to think of an interesting question. Was I supposed to ask him about his childhood? That's when I suddenly discovered that even though I knew all about current him, I still knew very little of his past. "It might be an unexpected question, but I've figured I've never before asked you about that... What actually led you to become yakuza?"

Raito turned his head and gave me a curious look.

"Why? Do you expect to hear a weepy story? If that's the case, you probably won't be disappointed. I was raised in an orphanage and when I was ten years old, I decided to ran away. A few weeks I spent out in the street until I met people that offered me food and money in exchange for a rather dirty work. You can guess what happened next," he closed his eyes for a moment. "I was lucky enough to meet your father while I still was a kid, and thankfully he made me finish my education. For that I am grateful. Before you ask me anything more concerning this matter, know that I do not regret anything."

"But what exactly were you doing when you just started? You invited me in the family when I was twelve, and back then I was absolutely helpless... Weren't you the same?"

"I was. I couldn't fight or kill, and so my only use was in being a bait, dealing with junkheads and cleaning mess. That's why I call it 'dirty work'," he smirked.

"I see," I mumbled. "Can I ask one more question?"

"Go on."

"Did you have a mentor?" I asked and froze waiting for his reply. I watched Raito's face screw up, as though he was reminded of something highly unpleasant.

"Yes, I had. And be so kind to never touch this matter again."

"Alright..." I trailed off but started again. "That tattoo of a tiger you have on your back, is it the only one?"

"Yes."

"Why? Other guys have their whole bodies inked!"

"I'm not like them, am I?" he looked at me sternly but I could see playful sparkles in his eyes. "Having excessive amount of tattoos seems plain tacky. I, for one, was against getting any of them on my skin, but as the oyabun was obliged to have at least one."

"Is that so?.. It's just I've been wondering when I will get my tattoo."

"Are you sure you want one?" he looked at me, obviously displeased.

"Well... Not really. I thought it would be nice to have something that would show my involvement in the family," I fidgeted under his gaze.

"Think again," Yagami told me simply.

I nodded, not knowing what else to say. Silence surrounding us was so complete, that I even heard ticking of Raito's watches that were laying on a nightstand beside his bed. I sneaked a surreptitious glance at Yagami. His eyes were closed again, there was an indent between his eyebrows and a pained frown distorted his lips. My heart squeezed painfully. The empathy I felt toward him was so encompassing and strong that sometimes I couldn't tell my feelings from his. And I knew that he'd tried to seek consolation in me, talking of little nonsense that neither of us really cared about. But what was shallow chat for him right now, when he was crushed with grief over the death of his friend?

"Alas, poor Yorick. I knew him, Horatio..." Raito said suddenly and fell silent.

I stared. Was he... was he playing that game with me again?

When I had been a trainee, we'd frequently played a game of quotes. Raito would start it by randomly reading lines from a variety of poems and would break off in mid-sentence, while I was supposed to continue where he'd left.

I took a shaky breath:

"...a fellow of infinite jest, of most excellent fancy. He hath borne me on his back a thousand times..."

"A thousand times..." Raito echoed. "Here hung..."

"...those lips that I have kissed I know not how oft."

A pained expression washed over Raito's face.

"Good..." he whispered. We shared another moment of silence before he asked in such a weak voice that I didn't recognize it: "Where is the body?"

My heart rapidly sank into the pit of my stomach, giving way to cold emptiness and fear. In our hurry to escape before police arrived, we'd left Reiji's body where he had fallen. I hadn't even thought of bringing Reiji with us, too dissipated on everything around.

"I'm sorry..." I said in a whisper, too scared to talk loudly.

He stayed silent, his face now void of any emotions at all. Finally, he parted his lips, uttering words:

"Did we lose the fight? When Reiji... fell, there weren't many people left, were there? What so urgent happened that everyone forgot about him?"

"We heard police coming and Takada-san ordered for everyone to retreat. I... I am terribly sorry, boss... I can't tell you if we won or not. At that time all I could think about was to get you out of there. Alive."

"I understand."

He didn't say a word more for the rest of the night, and I stayed there with him, sudden feeling of guilt eating away and not letting me fall asleep again.

Raito stayed in bed for three days, even though he was vigorously against that confinement. It was Kiyomi who wouldn't let him go back to business, keeping an eye on him all the time and shouting at him occasionally. Thankfully, Raito was conscious all this time and could at least give orders to his people. And to no one's surprise his first order was to find Namikawa's body.

I was among those who were sent to scour the ruins of Namikawa's headquarters. And even though I very well remembered the place where I saw Reiji's body last time, I found nothing. Just like everyone from our group. When we returned and reported of the search results, Raito's face gone grim. He demanded to bring his cell phone and made a call. I didn't know who he was talking to, but after about half an hour a man in a gray suit arrived to our headquarters. Following my boss' order, I escorted the man to the room where Raito was laying, studying his appearance for any signs of threat. The man looked to be around Raito's age. He had black hair, bangs of which were falling on his forehead, round brown eyes, and a rather meek, sheepish expression on his face. I opened the secret door in Raito's office and led the man inside.

"Yagami-kun!" the man gasped as soon as he saw Raito laying in his bed.

"Hello, Matsuda," boss replied, waving his hand sluggishly. I snuck a quick glance at him. Yagami was already looking better, or perhaps he was just doing great job at hiding his grief.

Meanwhile, Matsuda came closer to Raito's bed and sat at the chair that was still standing beside it. The two men shared a moment of silence.

"I know what happened," Matsuda finally said, clearing his throat. "I'm sorry for your loss. As far as I know, Reiji was a good friend of yours. My condolences to you."

"That's not just my loss, Matsuda. The family lost a member. All of us mourn for our brother."

"Yes..."

Raito's face grew darker. He suddenly frowned and made a pained grimace.

"Ah, stop pretending to feel depressed. You're a bad actor, I told you that thousands of times. I know that you are secretly glad that Reiji's not with us anymore."

"Well..." Matsuda paused for a second. "I admit that I feel relieved about the fact of his death, but nevertheless my heart pains to see you suffering the consequences."

"At least you're being honest. You know why I asked you to come, don't you?"

"Uh... About that... I don't think I can help you anymore, Raito-kun," Matsuda said, hanging his head down.

"Nonsense."

"No," Matsuda shook his head. "Do you know how much of a havoc you caused by your stupid shoot-out? A little less than hundred of people are dead, and some of them were civilians. The police aren't going to simply turn a blind eye to this case."

"And do you know what really happened?" Raito stared at him with frighteningly cold eyes. "Do you even know that it was Reiji's wedding that day? Do you know that they murdered Reiji's wife just as she was walking to the altar? Do you know how it felt like to just stand there while he was holding her body? Do you know that it was our friend, who brought all of that on us? Do you now understand what that 'shoot-out' was about?"

With each word he spoke, his voice was becoming more ringing with anger and desperation. Matsuda cringed.

"I understand... But police still need defendants. I can't hush it up."

"I ask you not to close the case, but to give back Reiji's body. So that we could tell him farewell in a fashion that he deserves. Do me this favor. Please."

"Raito..." Matsuda looked at him with hurt eyes. "As much as I want to help you, I can't. We need his body. You should know that it's a part of the case. Court will demand it from us."

Raito stayed silent for a few moments.

"You just need a body. It's never been said that you need Reiji's, correct?"

"It goes without saying! Of course we need his body, we can not..." he glanced at Raito who was staring at him with an obvious intention. Matsuda gasped. "No... Don't tell me you want to substitute Namikawa's body with someone's else!"

"That's exactly what I want to do."

"No! I won't let that happen!" Matsuda got so shocked that he even jumped off his chair. "That is too dangerous, for both of us! I will be killed if someone learns about that! Besides, coroners already know everything about Reiji and they are sure to notice the changes!"

"Coroners can be silenced with money. How much do they need? I am willing to give the amount to them. I am willing to provide you with another corpse that you will present as Reiji's."

"No! Nobody will do what you're offering, that's just insane!"

"Yes, they will. You don't know how much people do if they're offered enough money," Raito squinted his eyes, looking at the man. "Ah... I almost forgot. You will be paid more than enough for your help, too."

"What?.." Matsuda seemed to freeze, shocked with Yagami's words. "I never accepted money, you know that. I helped you because you are my friend. Are you trying to abase me with a bribe?"

"No..." Raito closed his eyes and bit into his lip. He then said in a whisper: "No... I'm sorry. I'm just... desperate. I don't know what to do anymore... Please, Touta... Help me. I beg you."

Completely astonished, I watched a single tear slide down Raito's face. That was the first time I saw him cry. Somehow, it got me utterly terrified. And it seemed that Matsuda felt exactly the same way as I. He crouched beside Raito's bed and clutched at his wrist.

"Oh my god... Raito," he whispered, stuttering. "I... But police..."

Raito caught Matsuda's hand into his own.

"I've asked you more of what you can do. I understand... Please, forget about my words. To steal the body..." he chuckled completely humorlessly. "I must be going insane, indeed. It's just... something's changed after Reiji passed."

For a long minute both of them stayed silent. Then Matsuda let out a heavy sigh and got on his feet. He walked toward the door and just before exiting he turned his head and said in a flat voice:

"I'll see what I can do. I can't promise you anything but I will do my best to help you. Get well, Raito-kun."

With these words he left. I closed the door behind him and looked at Raito, still not over the unexpected demonstration of his emotions.

"Boss?" I called quietly, walking to him. That's when I saw a small smile that was playing on his lips. Suddenly, I felt abhorred at him. Wasn't he grieving? Was that show just for the sake of making the poor policemen do as he willed?

"Lawliet. We're going to get Reiji's body in no time. I am certain," he looked at me. There still was a great sadness in his eyes, but I could also see a relief in them.

Out of instinct, I crouched beside Raito just as Matsuda did minutes ago, and put my hand on top of his. My heart sank when I felt his hand squeeze mine gently in return.

"There is a lot of work ahead. A war has been started, and this time it will be much more brutal," he said. "I'm glad that you are with me. You are the only one I've got left."

That moment I wanted to tell him that I would always stay by his side. I wanted to tell him how much he meant for me and how I was willing to do anything for him. I so much wanted to say that I loved him. But instead, I nodded my head and lay it down on the bedsheets. His fingers combed through and ruffled my hair like he used to do back when I was a child.