Karamatsu kicked a rock along as he walked. He was so. SICK. Of the treatment he got at home. He couldn't do it anymore. He would kill for a chance to get the hell away from it all.

Fucking Ichimatsu. He loved his little brother. He really did. Obviously, that was not reciprocated. Not anymore, at least. He could have died today. All he'd done was greet him and offer him some tea, perhaps in more words than necessary, but so what if he was eloquent? And Ichimatsu shoved him to the ground, strangling him. It wasn't until his vision began to fade to black that he swung a fist, effectively knocking the other off of him.

Immediately, the brothers-, who had all been present the whole time, began screaming at him, comforting a now shocked Ichimatsu. Karamatsu had only ever raised a hand to Osomatsu, of course he was surprised the second eldest had defended himself against him.

Karamatsu had ignored the shouting and left, which is where he was now, two hours later. He'd walked a long way, trapped in his thoughts.

What, was it just because Ichimatsu was younger? What a tilted playing field! It wasn't fucking fair! He made him look like an idiot all the time, he got away with legitimate abuse constantly, and it wasn't. Fucking. Fair!

He gave the rock an excessively aggressive kick, huffing as it tumbled down a storm drain.

And Todomatsu, the little liar. Promising years ago to always be there for him. Where was he while Karamatsu was being choked? At the table not five feet away, phone in hand, but eyes on the scene, doing nothing to help him.

How hadn't Karamatsu wised up sooner? He should have known before that moment. Those two never cared, had they? Hell, they'd actively tried to kill him before!

God, he must be stupid.

He heard a grunt coming from an alley, followed by a shout. He knew he shouldn't get involved since it wasn't his business, but what if some poor soul was getting mugged? He had to help.

He ran into the alley to find a man in a checkered suit being held by two men, while one punched his face, and two more looked on. The familiar-looking man was severely outmatched and outnumbered, surely he'd be beaten at least half to death by the end of this encounter.

Karamatsu, while he didn't know the situation, couldn't merely stand by. His barely withheld rage at his brothers boiled over as another punch landed on the man's cheek. He ran into action.

First his first collided with one of the bystanders' temple, with enough force that his head hit the wall of the building next to him, knocking him out. He didn't stop to check, though, delivering the same treatment to the man on the left, possibly breaking his nose in the process.

The man who had been punching now had time to react, clumsily drawing a gun. Karamatsu knocked it out of his hands with a clatter, and landed a blow to his stomach. As the man wheezed, he took the opportunity to grab the gun, butting his head with it, knocking him out as well.

He aimed the gun at the two holding their captive, and yelled, "Get. Out!"

Frightened at how quickly and efficiently he'd taken out their comrades, they dropped the man and took off running.

Karamatsu huffed and lowered the gun, making sure the men were gone, before turning to the man he used to fear.

"Tougou," he greeted coldly.

"Ah, a Matsuno. Let's see," he began, voice rough from his earlier beating, or perhaps from age. "Karamatsu-kun? Did I get it right?"

"Mmh," Karamatsu confirmed. "Tell me, if you would, were you randomly targeted, or did you do something?"

"You don't need to speak so coldly to me, Karamatsu-kun. I'm not some random criminal anymore. Besides that, since I've been out of jail, I've never come after your family."

He spoke almost gently, despite his rough voice.

"You avoided my question."

"Rather, I half-answered it. See, I'm not a random criminal, I joined a mafia. That was a few men from an opposing gang."

"The mafia? You joined- well. I suppose I shouldn't be surprised. So, that's why they were after you. To be honest, I'm not even sure why I helped you."

"Either way," Tougou said, laughing. "I should thank you." He paused in thought, then broke out a wide, sharp-toothed grin. "I think I know just how to do that."