Disclaimer: Don't own Gokusen or its characters.
RECAP: Tsuchi overhead Yabuki, Odagiri, and Imani's conversation and questioned Imani later. She was ticked and told him they definitely were going to remain just friends. Odagiri and Yankumi tried to convince Imani to go with her feelings. Imani disagreed. Imani and Yankumi spent all day preparing the club for the surprise party.
Chapter 25: The Club
The plan was simple. It was actually brilliant in its simplicity even though it was a modernized version of Ren's father's failed plan from years ago (which might have succeeded had it not been for Ren's mother's betrayal.) Although the plan required tenacity, patience, and a great deal of coordination, Junpei was certain that it was fool-proof and could be executed successfully even without Ren's help, especially since he had made his own modifications to it.
The thing about fool-proof plans is that they are designed so that even a fool can pull it off successfully if they follow it to the letter. The problem with fool-proof plans is that it is usually not the fool that causes it to fail. Rather it is the smart, arrogant, cocky person that ignorantly acts foolishly that usually causes the plan to fail. And so it proved to be with this plan. Junpei's ignorance would be the plan's ultimate undoing.
And Junpei was ignorant of many facts, like the fact that the plan had been enacted before and was unaware that the yakuza knew the details of the plan thanks to Ren who had fully disclosed it to them (with the exception of the date since even he didn't know that). Junpei also was ignorant of the fact that the yakuza had long memories and remembered and recognized the plan because they were suspicious and superstitious by nature and didn't believe in coincidences. And that was why Ren was positive that the plan would not succeed unless he was there to modify it.
Junpei was not the only one ignorant, though. Both Ren and the yakuza were also ignorant of some facts that would give Junpei a strategic advantage implementing the plan successfully. They were ignorant of the fact that Junpei was a pyrotechnics expert, having worked as the fireworks display technician in an amusement park until he was fired for injuring some of the young guests due to using too strong a charge, carelessness, and bad timing. From there, he went into setting demolitions for construction sites. Thus instead of starting the fires themselves or hiring other people to set fires at 20 different establishments simultaneously, Junpei had set charges that were on a timer and could be detonated remotely through the touch of a button.
They were also ignorant of the fact that there were actually 25 members in the Black Cross group including three elite members who only Junpei knew about and who worked at a certain nightclub which would be opening the following week but was hosting a private party that very night. Finally, and most importantly, Ren and the yakuza were ignorant of the fact that Junpei had also developed an unhealthy obsession for a certain gaijin professor who was throwing a surprise graduation party at the very same night club that would server as the rendezvous location for the Black Cross members. So it was arrogance, ignorance, and foolishness that would coalesce in one night and at one location, Club XLR8, and all plans culminate into one tragic occurrence.
At The House
Hyuga was the first one to be dressed and ready downstairs. He was wearing an expresso brown suit and a mustard yellow silk shirt. Take was the next to come downstairs in a white suit and a jade green silk shirt. They looked at each other.
"Woah! Man you look sharp." Take told Hyuga
"What about you? Maki chan will have to fight off all the other ladies in the club for you." They were laughing, joking, and complimenting each other.
"I don't think so because all of the ladies will be too busy looking at me." Yabuki came trotting down the stairs, stopped at the bottom to pose, and then did a 360 spin. He was wearing a shimmery gray suit with a pale purple silk shirt.
"Ohhhhh." Take and Hyuga exclaimed together, walking around Yabuki to check out his outfit.
"You might even have to watch out for Maki chan because I'm so smooth I'll have all of the ladies." Yabuki bragged.
"Don't be too sure about that." Odagiri came sliding down the wooden banister in a red suit, a red vest, a black silk shirt and tie and jumped off at the end and straightened his tie. He had his red jacket folded over his arm.
"Ha ha!" Take laughed. "He even had a smoother entrance than yours Yabuki." They all checked out each other's clothes and approved.
Yabuki put his arms around the guys' shoulders and gathered them together. "Yep, we are definitely going to be the finest guys there and have all of the ladies staring at us."
"That's okay." Tsuchi commented. I only want to have one lady's attention tonight." He was wearing a black vest and pants with a silver shirt and tie. He posed at the top of the stairs as he flung his jacket over his shoulder and smiled and then continued downstairs.
They whistled at him. "Looking smooth, my man." Hyuga commented.
"Imani will definitely be staring at you tonight." Take patted him on the chest.
Yabuki looked around. "Speaking of which, where are the two ladies we are supposed to be escorting tonight? I don't want to keep all of the other ladies at the club waiting."
"You know it always takes females a long time to get dressed." Hyuga smirked.
"Yeah and Yankumi needs more time than most to be considered female." Yabuki laughed.
"As long as she is not wearing a jersey and trainers, she should be fine." Take joined in.
"Hey, how much do you want to bet that she will still be wearing the glasses and two ponytails?" Hyuga asked.
"You guys," they looked up to find Yankumi growling at them. They all did a double take because she was wearing a white pant suit with a pink silk shirt underneath. It had a feminine cut to accentuate curves, and she was wearing matching pink low-heeled sandals. She had on a slight tinge of make-up and her lips were glossed in a pale pink shade. As Hyuga predicted Yankumi was wearing her glasses and two ponytails. However, her two ponytails were braided and woven together in the back of her head and pinned together forming a cradle in the back of her head.
"Yankumi!" They all shouted and stared at her. "So you are female?" Take commented.
Odagiri scowled. "Shut up! She looks fine." They all turned away from Yankumi to stare at Odagiri questioningly. Yankumi smiled at Odagiri.
Yabuki looked at his watch. "I wonder how long we have to wait for the princess to get dressed. I don't want to keep all of the other ladies at the club waiting."
Odagiri smirked. "Trust me. It will be worth the wait." He said in a low tone. They turned to look at him surprised that he had complimented both teachers.
"I apologize if I made you wait, but it took forever to find something for a certain person that she would agree to wear." Imani looked over at Yankumi who was blushing and looking sheepish. No one noticed Yankumi's blush because they were too busy staring open-mouthed at Imani in her halter v-neck line black cocktail dress with a hemline that ended just above the knees. She accented her dress with a silver necklace that had a square dangling at the end with an onyx stone in the center and onyx dangling earrings. She also had on high-heeled black pumps, and her long jet-black wavy hair was twisted and clipped in the back of her head with tendrils of wavy hair hanging around the back and side of her face. Her father escorted her down the stairs and was wearing a simple navy blue suit with a charcoal gray turtleneck.
Odagiri was smiling and he said in a low tone. "Worth the wait?"
They all looked at him and nodded vigorously.
"I trust that you guys like your clothes and can fit them?" Imani asked.
"Yes." They all said simultaneously and nodded vigorously.
"Well now that the gang is all here, shall we go?" Imani asked. Her father released her arm as they reached the bottom of the stair case and Odagiri and Tsuchi took either side of her arms while Yabuki and Imani's father took Yankumi's arm.
On a Roof Top in Tenkai territory
"Sejj, this is Junpei. Please repeat the plan for me."
"Okay. I'm going to wait on a rooftop a block away from where I work. Then when I hear a blast and see smoke rising from place, I need to beat it over to the club as quickly as I can." Sejj recited.
"Good, are you on the roof top a block away from your job?" Junpei asked.
"Yes." Sejj replied.
"Do you have your escape route to get to the club?" Junpei questioned the young man.
"Yes." Sejj replied frustrated.
"Do you have clothes appropriate to wear to a club?" Junpei asked knowing the answer to the question already.
"Ye … uh we need clothes to wear to a club?" Sejj cringed and hit his head with his hand.
"Yes, we are going to a club to blend in remember? What are you wearing right now?" Junpei sighed.
"Uhm, jeans and a t-shirt." Sejj looked down.
"Fine, I'll get someone to lend you their shirt at least when we get to the club." Junpei looked annoyed.
"But won't they need their shirt to blend in, too?" Sejj asked.
"Don't worry about that. Just follow the plan!" Junpei yelled and hung up.
"Alright! Alright! Uhm, hello? Hello?" Sejj shrugged, hung up and continued looking through the binoculars at the yakuza establishment that he hoped to soon be taking over.
"Are you going to call the others?" Hiro asked Junpei.
"Nope, I don't need to. Sejj is the weak link. I'm sure everyone else is on top of things." Hiro nodded in agreement.
At Tenkai's Office
"Boss, we think it's going down tonight." A man wearing a flashy white suit, a light blue t-shirt and had a long black ponytail down his back with graying temples.
The old man with the dark glasses was sitting behind a huge desk and had turned toward the door when the man came into the office to report. "Continue, why do you say it's tonight?"
"Because 20 of the 24 we kept under surveillance are absent from their jobs tonight, and some items that prove our operation's existence is there?" The man with the ponytail replied.
"I thought we changed our protocols such that those items are stored remotely." Tenkai was thoughtful.
The man with the ponytail nodded. "That's why we thought it was odd and feel that it is tonight."
"Okay have the fire brigade on stand by and let the fires burn long enough and big enough for certain ones to see them, then move in on them."
"Okay, boss where do you want them at?
"All 24 places just to be sure." Tenkai replied.
"Understood boss." The man with the ponytail turned around to leave and then turned back. "Don't worry boss. We'll be ready for them, and they won't know what hit them." They smiled ignorant of what was about to unfold that night.
In a store room of Club XLR8
"Hey Minata, I guess this is both our first and last day on the job. Too bad, did you see all of the talent lined up out there? Man, I wish we wouldn't have promised Junpei to help sneak him and the rest of the Black Cross group members into the club." Ken said.
"We owe him since he took responsibility for that fireworks accident where that kid got burned when it was really all of our faults." Minata replied. "Besides, after tonight's operations go down, he promised us jobs. We may still get to work in a nightclub like this with him as the owner, which means that no matter what we do or don't do we won't be fired."
"That's right. So we may still get to work here." Ken smiled excitedly.
"Naugh, this isn't one of the places where Junpei is trying to take over. It belongs to some gaijin sensei." Nino inputted.
"So, why are we working here then?" Ken asked.
"Because Junpei has a thing for the gaijin sensei who owns it and the yakuza won't suspect that they will lay low at a club after everything happens." Nino continued.
"Why? With all the talent out there to choose from, why is he so fixated on that gaijin sensei?" Ken asked peeking out on to the dance floor.
"You k now it was never about looks alone with Junpei. He liked unique girls that were exciting and feisty. Besides I hear that she is hot from some of the guys that were hired before us." Nino explained.
"Well if that's her, I bow before Junpei." Ken was looking at the front door. The other two ran to look out and whistled.
"Wait, if that's her then she's the owner. Remember what they told us it means as soon as she steps through the door?" Minata asked.
"Oh, crap." They both responded, and all three boys ran to their stations.
Moments earlier Imani and the others had alighted from a Hummer limousine in front of the club. All the guys were looking around the club in amazement at the decorations, the décor and all the people at the club. Imani signaled the DJ as soon as they stepped into the club.
"Alright ladies and gentlemen, welcome, welcome, welcome to Club XLR8. The characters XLR8 in English sounds like a word that means to speed things up, and that is what the club is here for. We want to accelerate your fun. Club XLR8 does not have its official premiere night until next week, to which all of you are invited by the way, but the club's owner wanted to host a special preview party tonight to congratulate a few of her friends on their recent graduation. They don't know that this is a surprise party for them so let's put your hands together to welcome the owner and let her say a few words to congratulate her friends."
The spotlight shown on Imani as she smiled and waved to everyone who stared surprised. Imani strode up to the DJ's booth and took the microphone. "I'd like to say thank you all for coming and welcome to my students, my project team members, Tsuchiya san and her friends, Kurogin Gakuen's graduating 3D class, Maki chan and her friends and anyone else that I've missed. I'm very happy you could all make it to congratulate two of my very special friends." The spotlight shone on Tsuchi and Odagiri. For all of you who are graduating, congratulations. I don't want to say too much because I want everyone to have fun. So, there is plenty of food, fun, music and non-alcoholic drinks for everyone to enjoy themselves. So eat, drink, dance or whatever until your heart's content. Now, let's get this party started!" The DJ played a group dancing song and Imani ran over to Tsuchi and Odagiri and grabbed their arms to pull them to the dance floor. She looked at them smiling. "Surprised?" They nodded. "Pleasantly surprised?" She asked apprehensively. They nodded and bent down to kiss her on either cheek. "Yes."
On a rooftop
"Hiro, did everyone check in?" Junpei asked.
"Yes." Hiro nodded.
"Then let's get this party started." Junpei picked up a detonator and pushed a button. Immediately he heard a blast and saw white smoke billowing from the building a block away. Simultaneously, 19 other blasts occurred across that part of the city but far enough away for them not to be noticed at the other locations. They heard a commotion as people started to yell "fire." That was their cue to leave and make their way to Club XLR8.
Tenkai HQ 20 minutes later
"Sir, it's begun." The man with the ponytail reported.
"Is everything progressing as planned?" Tenkai asked.
"Not exactly. They used incendiary devices detonated remotely to start the fires instead of doing it personally as we suspected. So, we weren't able to capture them before they got away, but we managed to pick up their trail."
"Good, are the fires out?" Tenkai asked.
"Yes, we waited long enough for them to see the smoke before we put them out so that they would think they were successful."
"Good, is there warehouse covered?" Tenkai nodded.
"Yes, but they don't seem to be headed there. With the direction they are headed it seems that they are going to rendezvous at some night club opening near Keiko University."
Tenkai had just taken a sip of his tea when he spat it out, almost choking. "Keiko University, did you say?"
"Yes. Is it one of our clubs?" Tenkai was apprehensive.
"No, I believe it is Club XLR8."
"Are you sure it's that club?" Tenkai asked.
"Yes, that is the only place in that area where they could blend in and get lost."
Tenkai slammed his tea cup and plate down on the desk. "No! The Little Raven." Tenkai bellowed. "Get Kenazawa sensei on the phone right now and warn him to keep an eye on the Little Raven."
"Yes, boss." The man pulled out his cell phone and dialed right away.
At the club
The 21 men had come in the side and back entrances of the club and were milling around the exits. Imani had tried to get Tsuchi to dance with her after the initial song to no avail. He wanted to find some place to talk to her quietly alone, but everyone kept asking her to dance, and she felt obliged to comply as the hostess. After watching Imani and Odagiri dance to "Daite Senorita," Tsuchi decided that he would definitely dance the next dance with her. However, when the next song came on one of the club's employees interrupted her to tell her that there was an issue that required her attention in the back. Imani followed the one called Nino to the back.
"What's wrong?" Imani asked him.
He led her to her office. "Your security said that you needed to see this right away." He cued the video monitor to where there were 21 young men entering from the back and side entrances (members of the Black Cross Group.) Imani didn't know who they were, but she was sure that she hadn't invited them.
All of the staff were equipped with headsets to communicate easily, and Nino began talking into his. "I'm with the owner right now, can it wait? (pause) Okay, I'm on my way." He bowed and walked toward the door. "I'm sorry, ma'am. Please excuse me." Nino closed the door, locked it from the inside, and blocked it from the outside, unbeknownst to Imani. It was at that moment when the boy with the crooked nose, scar, and green-streaked hair stepped out of the shadows and stood right behind Imani. She felt his presence immediately and froze. He then lightly kissed the nape of her neck, and she shivered.
"Hello, sensei. Long time no see." The young man spoke first.
"Junpei, what do you want? What are you doing here?" Realization set in. "So those are your friends, I take it?" Imani didn't wait for him to respond. "So, what is this all about, anyway? Don't tell me it's about your brother Ren. If it is, you can forget it. He is in Hong Kong answering for crimes that he committed there. He's not coming back for a long time."
Junpei stroked her cheek with his index finger. "That little punk is no brother of mine. No, it's not about that. In fact, I should thank you for getting rid of him for me. That little prick thought he could just come in and take over as leader of the group after all my hard work just because he has skills, and he taught us a little something."
Imani quickly called to mind what Uncle Tenkai and Grandpa Kuroda had told her and realized that Ren and Junpei were members of the Black Cross Group and that Junpei must have been the leader of the group. So, tonight is the night where he puts his plans into action in Uncle Tenkai's territory, but the Nekomata group was arrested earlier this week. So they couldn't play their role in Grandpa's territory, or was that their plan. Maybe Ren acted alone in that. This is just like Ren's father's original plan. If that is the case, then history is repeating itself. She was apprehensive and had a foreboding about the situation. "So, you're here to thank me. Well, that's so nice of you, but you didn't have to come by. You could have called, wrote, texted, or emailed me. You're welcome." She gave him a quick hug and then moved away from him and headed quickly for the door to open it. "Well, thanks again for stopping by. If you will excuse me, I need to return to playing hostess and see to all my guests. You don't need me to see you out, do you?" She tried the knob, but it was locked.
Meanwhile, in the control room, one of her security team came to Kenazawa sensei and handed him the phone. "Sir, it's Tenkai san on the phone for you. He says it's urgent."
"Most honorable Uncle, it is my pleasure to hear from you again. To what do I owe this honor?" Kenazawa sensei answered the phone.
"It's about the Black Cross group."
"Ren's group?"
"Yes, their operation is in play tonight. They have already set the fires and now they are headed for their meeting place." Tenkai responded.
"Which is?" Kenazawa sensei had the same foreboding as his daughter.
"We think the club." Tenkai's voice was serious.
"Which club?" Kenazawa had a sudden sinking feeling in his stomach.
Tenkai paused. "XLR8."
Kenazawa sensei motioned for the security team to bring up the security monitors. "But why?"
Tenkai recalled something that Ren had said when they interrogated him and made the connection. "The leader, he's after the Little Raven. That little insect stalker of hers kept insisting that we let him go so that he could protect her from the leader of the Black Cross group."
"He's after Imani. It's like déjà vu." Her father swallowed a big lump that had formed in his throat.
"Not exactly. This time the Little Raven is the initial target not the Oeda clan's Ojou. And this time, it's personal. It's not to keep us from stopping him. Don't worry. It won't be like last time. My men are already on their way over there and should have almost reached there by now."
"But if your men are here, then that means that … Thank you Uncle Tenkai. I'll report later."
"Locate the Empress pronto!" Imani's father ordered. They brought up numerous monitors and placed them on the main screen and scanned them one by one.
"There," one of the security guards pointed to the screen. "She is in her office."
Kenazawa sensei shook his head. "And she's not alone. Rewind all of the cameras near exits and find out when and how they got in here." They rewound the cameras to ten minutes earlier to see Junpei and all the other members of the Black Cross group enter with the help of some of the club employees. They also saw when one of the employees lured Imani into her office. "I see. They have help. Have all of security meet in the control room, now."
"What about the doors, sir?"
Kenazawa made a phone call. "It's covered." He said after hanging up.
DANCE FLOOR
Odagiri went over to Tsuchi. "Hey Tsuchi, have you had a chance to dance with Imani and work things out?"
Tsuchi sighed. "No, I was going to when someone from the club called her away on club business."
Odagiri frowned. "How long ago was that?"
Tsuchi looked at his watch. "About ten minutes."
"Don't you think that's been a long time? Why don't you go back and check on her? It will give you a chance to be alone together." Odagiri suggested.
Tsuchi nodded and headed toward the back. They saw a bunch of what looked like security guards headed toward the back. Odagiri looked at Tsuchi. "Something's up."
"You think so?" Tsuchi asked.
"I know so. That's Imani's security team. Let's go." Odagiri followed Tsuchi to the back.
IN THE OFFICE
Imani turned the knob, but it didn't open. Then she unlocked the door, but the door still wouldn't open. She looked back at Junpei. "Junpei, what's going on? Why is the door locked? What do you think you're doing?"
He smiled and advanced to where his body was right behind hers, touching her. "You're not going anywhere, at least not without me." He trailed his finger along her arm, and took her hand off the door knob, and led her away from the door. "You see tonight, I'm about to reap my just reward. After a year of planning and hard work, I'm about to see all my efforts and hard work pay off." He smiled at her.
Imani's thoughts were racing half between what to do and the other half trying to figure out what was going on and how it happened. Inside job, but who? Nino, he must be involved. He was the person who had lured her to the office. But there had to be more than just that. There were at least 20 guys that snuck into the club. How do I alert Daddy? "Congratulations, that's great. I'm happy for you. Why don't we order a bottle of champagne to celebrate, or how about some sake? I'll just call the bar and have them send something back here for us." She picked up the phone. He took it from her, hung up the receiver, and laughed.
"Nice try, but we'll have plenty of time to celebrate later. Alone. Tonight." Junpei had a sinister tone.
"What do you want from me Junpei?" Imani took a bold, stern tone.
"As I was saying, I'm about to acquire quite a few businesses, and there is only one thing that will make my success sweeter." He got directly into Imani's face.
"And that is?" Imani asked knowing the answer already.
"You." Junpei captured her lips in a kiss.
Imani pushed him back and slapped him. "I don't think so. I'll never go anywhere with you or be yours. Didn't you learn anything from what happened with Ren?"
"Yes, I did. I learned to make sure to back up my threats with actions." Junpei pulled out his cell phone and dialed. "Go ahead." He hung up and pointed to the monitor. Imani gasped as she saw the scene unfolding.
DANCE FLOOR
Tsuchi and Odagiri were headed to the back where the offices were when four tough-looking young men blocked their path. "Where do you two think you are going?" Hiro asked.
Tsuchi and Odagiri looked at each other and nodded. "That's none of your business." Tsuchi replied and tried to push pass them.
"It's our business if you want to live." He nodded a point behind him. A fifth and sixth tough-looking pair were behind them with knives drawn each a couple of inches away from their abdomens. They looked at each other worried.
IN THE CONTROL ROOM
"Reporting, sir." One of Imani's security team responded. "All present and accounted for."
"We have a situation. Some vermin have infested the club, and one of them is pestering the Empress. It seems that some of the club employees left out something to attract them. We need to be discreet and act quickly so as not to alert our guests and cause a panic." Kenazawa sensei briefed his security in code.
They all nodded and prepped their equipment. "Sir, what about the exits? We want to trap them and not let any escape, right?" One of the security team members asked.
"Yes, but our friends from the underground have those covered."
"Okay, move out. Whatever you do, make sure that the Empress or none of her guests get bit." They all nodded and left.
THE OFFICE
"So, you're going to come quietly with me if you don't want your friends or anyone else to get hurt." Junpei was still right in front of her.
Imani sighed and nodded. "You do realize that you will never get away with this right? So, why don't you just give up, and I'll ask them to go easy on you and your friends. Otherwise this ain't gone be pretty."
Junpei just smiled at her fighting spirit and motioned for her to go first. He grabbed a hold of her arm tightly to keep her from getting away and made two calls.
Outside of the office, Minata moved the items Nino had put in place to block the door. At the same time the six boys surrounding Tsuchi and Odagiri motioned for them to follow their lead.
DANCE FLOOR
Yankumi and the other three boys had noticed that Imani, Tsuchi, and Odagiri were nowhere to be found.
"Hey Yankumi, have you seen Tsuchi or Odagiri?" Yabuki asked.
Yankumi looked around. "No, and I don't see Imani either."
"You think the three of them are up to something?" Hyuga wriggled his eyebrows.
Yankumi grabbed him by the collar and pulled him close. "What the hell is that supposed to mean? Just what are you implying anyway about my little sister?"
Yabuki and Take got on either side of Yankumi trying to extricate Hyuga from her vice-like grip. "Nothing. Geez Yankumi calm down. I just don't think that it's coincidence that all three of them are gone. Maybe Imani wanted to surprise them with a cake or something privately? And since when did she become your little sister anyway?"
Yankumi loosened her grip and relaxed. "That makes sense." She looked around toward the back and then toward the exits and recognized one of Tenkai's men at the exit. Her eyes gaped. "Guys, let's go. There's trouble."
"Eh, Yankumi, wait up. How do you know?" Take asked and then excused himself from Maki chan and followed the two boys and the teacher.
The Hall in front of the office
Junpei had his arm around Imani's waist, holding her closely and had a knife in his hand, next to her ribs. They were walking towards the back exit. Imani was trying her best to distract Junpei enough to drop his guard and give her a chance to escape and help Tsuchi and Odagiri. "So, let me guess. You are trying to take over some of the yakuza businesses in this area. You know that you won't succeed. This isn't the first time this has happened, and it's never worked before."
"Yeah, well this time it will succeed. It has already succeeded. That little punk Ren came up with a decent plan that I made a few improvements on." Junpei was sure of himself.
"Oh, Ren made the plan. Well, is it the one where …?" Imani recounted the original plan that Ren's father had enacted.
Junpei looked taken aback. "That's close to it, but I made some modifications."
"Would you mind telling me what those are?" Imani asked
"Since we are going to be sharing everything from now on, I guess it couldn't hurt." Junpei bragged about his modifications.
"Oh, those were clever modifications, but you still won't get away with it."
"How did you know about the plan in the first place, and why won't I get away with it?" Junpei asked.
"Because Uncle Tenkai and Grandpa Kuroda have long memories and would not fall for the same thing twice. I told you that this has been tried before."
Junpei was starting to have doubts, but he dismissed them. "I see. That little punk Ren must have spilled his guts to the yakuza when he was caught at the love motel. That's how you know the plan. You tried to trick me into thinking that the plan has been tried before. Nice try, but it won't work."
"Well, Ren did spill his guts to the yakuza, but I'm serious about the plan. Ren's father was the first to try it years ago, and he failed."
Junpei's confidence was once again shaken momentarily, but he recovered. "Maybe so, but I modified it enough make it foolproof."
"That's true. Hopefully, Ren didn't catch on to your modifications and tell Uncle Tenkai about those as well. Also, did you know he sent threatening letters both to Uncle Tenkai and Grandpa Kuroda warning them that it was coming?" Imani kept on the same path seeing that she had successfully distracted Junpei before.
Something Imani said had struck him as odd, but he couldn't place it immediately while answering her questions. There it was again, but it had not registered with him yet. "I knew about the letters that he sent to you, but I didn't know he had sent some to both Uncle Tenkai and …" Bingo, there it was. "Did you say 'Uncle Tenkai' and 'Grandpa Kuroda'?" Junpei was definitely feeling uneasy now. "As in Kuroda from the Oeda clan?"
Imani smiled and nodded. Got him.
"What does a gaijin professor have to do with the heads of two Japanese yakuza clans?"
Imani shook her head now confident. "Oh dear, it seems that Ren has been constantly holding back on you." Imani smiled again.
Junpei was beginning to get nervous wondering what her relationship was with the yakuza clans and momentarily dropped his guard as they passed the entrance to the dance floor. It was long enough for Imani to secretly signal the DJ of the trouble. The DJ acknowledged the signal and enacted the plan.
"Okay boys and girls. It's slow dance time, and it's a Club XLR8 tradition that everyone must dance the first slow dance. So, girls grab the guy closest to your left, and men grab the girl closest to your right. I don't care if you don't know the person. You can get to know the person as you dance." The DJ put on the song "Kizuna," which was a cue for trouble and then flipped a switch under the turntables connected to a red flashing light in the control room to signal trouble. The security monitor alerted her father and his security team. The DJ's distraction kept the other 14 Black Cross members occupied on the dance floor dancing. The others were in the corridor ahead of Junpei waiting for his arrival with Imani.
All of them were close to the exit, when Imani's father and security approached them from behind with weapons drawn. Her father closed the door leading to the dance floor so no one could see the events unfolding.
"Get away from her and let her go or else." Her father demanded.
Junpei shook his head. He placed Imani in front of him and put the knife to her throat. "You guys back off and lower your weapons or I'll slice her throat."
Tsuchi and Odagiri had turned around to see what happened, and Tsuchi reacted first. "Imani!" He yelled and attempted to close in on Junpei. To blocked his path and put the knife next to Tsuchi's face. "One more step and you will be permanently scarred."
"Tsuchi no!" Imani cried out. "We got it covered."
Neither her father nor her security lowered their weapons. "Junpei, drop the knife and move away from my daughter. You won't hurt her because you came here to get her. So just let her go, and we can work something out. I know you don't want to hurt her." Her father and security progressed one step closer to Junpei and his men.
Junpei shook his head. "No! You stay back or the two little punks over here get it as well." They moved the knives closer to Odagiri's face too. "Now this is what's going to happen. Me and my 23 guys and the sensei here are going to leave quietly and with no trouble. If you don't follow me, I'll leave the two little punks unharmed where you can find them."
"Give it up Junpei because it's not going to happen." Imani's father advanced another step.
"Why not?" Junpei was getting frustrated.
"Because as we speak, the yakuza already have most of your young men in custody." Kenazawa sensei responded.
Junpei was beginning to sweat. "I don't believe you. You're lying. That's impossible."
At that moment, Nino, Ken, and Minata burst into the back right behind Imani's father and security team.
"Junpei, something weird is going on. Some yakuza just arrived and they have the others." Ken spoke.
Junpei began to think. "Okay, that's just a minor setback and a small change in plan. You're going to let me, my guys, the sensei, and these two punk kids leave quietly or else."
Just then the back door to the club opened. "I'm afraid that I can't let you do that. Get away from my precious students and little sister." Yankumi walked in followed by Yabuki, Hyuga, Take, and about ten yakuza.
Everyone's attention turned toward the back door, which was just the distraction that Imani needed. She bit Junpei's hand causing him to drop the knife, and flipped him over on his back. Tsuchi and Odagiri used that distraction to elbow the guys threatening them in the stomach. At that point a melee ensued as the yakuza and the security acted to capture the remaining Black Cross members. During the commotion, Junpei found his knife, crawled out from under the crowd of people to where Imani was and lunged toward her. He was hoping to stab her in a non-fatal place to momentarily incapacitate her and escape with her. However, Tsuchi saw him and got in between Imani and Junpei. He ended up being stabbed in the back near the kidneys. He had hugged Imani close to him.
Imani looked up at him as he grimaced. "Tsuchi, are you okay?"
He half smiled and then winced as he slowly slid to the floor and gasped for his breath. One of the yakuza grabbed Junpei and subdued him. Odagiri, Yankumi, Imani, and the other three all yelled at the same time. "Tsuchi!"
Odagiri went to support Tsuchi as he slowly descended to the ground. Tsuchi reached for him. He smiled and then gasped. "Now, (gasp) we're even." Tsuchi said weakly.
"Eh?" Odagiri was puzzled.
"Now, (gasp) I've risked my life (gasp) for you and Imani (gasp). We're even." He gasped out.
Odagiri shook his head. "No, man. We were never even. You're ahead." He helped Tsuchi collapse to the floor.
"Tsuchi!" A tear escaped Imani's eyes, and she sniffed. She wiped away the tears, and smiled. "Tsuchi, don't try to talk. Listen to me. You were always ahead of Ryo. You were never behind. Now, you're miles ahead." He smiled at her as she checked his wound. She applied pressure to it. He blacked out as he heard her yelling at him. "Tsuchiya Hikaru, you hang in there. Don't you die on me. You promised me that you wouldn't leave me alone again. You keep your promise. Besides, we still have unfinished business to resolve."
(A/N) Okay, it took me 3 months to get this correct. It was difficult trying to put all of the scenes together, but I like how it turned out. I told you I wasn't through yet. This chapter started off a little slow but quickly intensified didn't it? Okay, you are probably going to be mad at me, but no previews this time. You have to wait for the next chapter to find out what happens to Tsuchi. Sorry. I'll try to update soon though.