Chapter 26

Calm Before The Storm

Feeling surprisingly pleasant given the rather heavy conversation he just had with Futaba, Akira made his way out to the main building and out to a smaller condo-like building where his friends had gathered. It was about the size of a two-bedroom apartment, with the walkway leading up to it illuminated by warmly colored lamps that fireflies flew around in a picaresque image. Bamboo trees were arranged behind the condo, as well as other trees with vibrant green leaves and multicolored petals all bathing in the crisp moonlight. The breeze blowing through the estate caused them to dance and sway lazily, and Akira was so captivated by the view that he nearly walked into the door.

Catching himself before he did so, he slid the door open and saw a small living room with an attached kitchen, his friends sitting in various spots around the area, though Haru was nowhere to be seen. The living room was rather cluttered, with sketchbooks, painting supplies and what seemed to be chord charts for various songs being only partially organized on the tables and counters. "Hey, sorry I'm late," Akira announced himself. "Where's Haru?"

Yusuke said, "In my bedroom with Dr. Takemi, actually. She's getting checked out to make sure she hasn't suffered any injuries."

Ann added, "She apparently did have some bruising, so Takemi came down to bandage her up."

"Anything to make her feel better about tonight," Akira said, taking a seat beside his Ryuji, who was sitting on the floor with Yusuke.

"Where did you go off to?" Ryuji asked. "Boss want something else from you?"

"No, actually," Akira shook his head. "Turns out his granddaughter is here too, probably to better protect her in case anything happens during this summit. She's… taken a liking to me. Which is rare for her, let me tell you. We watched some Dragon Ball together to help her get her mind off all the craziness happening right now."

"What kind of liking?" Ann asked.

"Just a friend," Akira clarified. "She's young - only fifteen. And she needs some friends in her life that aren't old yakuza. Guess I fit the bill. We talked, goofed around, then she went to bed. It was nice."

Makoto spoke up, "That's very courteous of you. I'm sure she hasn't had the easiest life, if her family is extremely wealthy."

"Apparently not. She's an orphan."

"Oh my," said Ann worriedly.

"Yeah. Guess she lost her mother when she was young, and the dad wanted nothing to do with her or the yakuza. So, she's been in her grandfather's care ever since. She's awkward and shy, but when she gets comfortable, she's actually pretty fun," Akira smiled lightly. "Really likes anime and nerdy stuff, it seems. I actually offered to maybe bring her to hang out with all of us sometime. She could use the social support."

"Sounds great," Ann nodded with a bright smile. "We could definitely help her break out of her shell!"

"But perhaps," Yusuke added with a wry grin, "only after our heroics are no longer needed. I doubt she will appreciate being caught up in a car chase or shootout."

"I was thinking the same thing," said Akira. "She's been traumatized enough, I think." He mustered a weak laugh, as did Yusuke, Ryuji and Ann. They did not notice Makoto's lack of reaction, save for her looking to the floor.

Haru and Takemi then came out of the bedroom. Haru bowed to the doctor and thanked her, who just nodded to her with a smile. "You should be fine by the morning, but still try to take it easy tonight. Try not to get in another car chase, everyone," she addressed the room. "Oh, and if you are able to hang out with Futaba at all, just please be careful with her. She tends to get overwhelmed." She then exited the condo with a distinct look of relief on her face.

Haru turned to face her new acquaintances, rubbing her midsection gingerly. She seemed very tired at first, but then gave them all a smile before bowing to them. "Thank you," she said emphatically. "Thank you all so much for saving me," she stood back up. Before anyone could give her more of a response than a smile and nod, she turned to Ryuji, meeting his eyes as she beamed at him. "And I wanted to thank you specifically, Ryuji. You are truly incredible – inhuman even! – on the road. Seriously, I can never thank you enough." Haru then quickly moved forward, and as Ryuji was trying to find some appropriate way to reach, she embraced him in a tight hug.

"Whoa, whoa, uh," Ryuji stammered as everyone watched on with varying levels of endearment. But Ryuji quickly returned the hug, an uncharacteristically soft smile appearing on his face. "You're welcome," he said in a low yet warm voice. They continued to embrace for another moment before Haru released him, giving each other one last smile. "It's practically all in a day's work for us at this point," Ryuji smirked, putting his hands on his hips in a casually heroic pose.

"You guys really do this often?"

"Just earlier this week," said Ryuji, "we even got kidnapped by some drug runners from the Omi."

"Oh my god!" Haru exclaimed.

"Yeah, life's been a hell of a party the past month!" Ryuji chuckled awkwardly.

Haru stroked her chin pensively. "The past month…" she muttered, then quickly turned to Akira with a revelatory glare. Akira's eyes darted side to side awkwardly. "I heard about some strange young man who came to Kamurocho about a month ago and joined the yakuza to kill that Kamoshida man," she explained.

"Oh god," Akira mumbled, rubbing his temple fervently.

"Are you the Butcher of Kings, Akira?" Haru pressed him.

Ann quickly interrupted, "That's… not a title we like to use here, honestly."

"Oh my," Haru put her hands to her mouth in embarrassment. "I'm terribly sorry. But that means you are him, right?"

Akira's right eye, lower jaw and right hand visibly twitched before he responded slowly. "Yeah," he drawled, "that was me."

Ryuji said fervently, "But it was totally different from what you've heard! The guy was a maniac, and Akira didn't want to kill him, right?" he looked to his friend.

Akira smacked his lips and sighed. "No," he looked from the floor to Haru, "but I still did it."

"I'm not judging you, or any of you," said Haru apologetically, "I was just curious. I've heard many, many things about the yakuza, and here I am having been saved by those very people. And they all happen to be my own age," she looked around at the group. "I'm terribly sorry if I've offended you, Akira. I did not mean to."

"No, it's fine," Akira said quickly. "It was just… a really bad situation. Probably a million different ways I could have handled it better, but it happened how it happened. And that's the long and short of it."

Ann spoke up next. "You act like all you did was kill someone, but that's not what's important." She spoke quietly, yet with passion in her voice, commanding the attention of all around her. "You saved people, Akira. We saved people. People like me, and Shiho. Did it happen in the cleanest way? No, definitely not. But I think you'd feel a lot better if you could look at it more as you saving victims of an evil man rather than just killing someone."

Akira and Ann's eyes met as all watched on in silence. Ann looked to him with strong conviction in her gaze, and some bit of it must have reached her friend, because he nodded. "Maybe," he muttered. "Ryuji was kind of right," he changed the subject, speaking to Haru. "We've somehow gotten in the business of helping people out, saving people when we can. All of us have gone through some bad shit the past month," he looked around at his friends, "and we're all trying to help each other out while we can. And we'll do the same for you while you're with us."

Haru nodded. "I'll gladly accept it. And I hope there is something I can do to repay you, or at least help you out."

"Are you trained in martial arts?" Makoto asked jokingly.

"Only a little," said Haru with no hint of joking in her tone. "Though I assure you that I am physically stronger than I may look. Years of dancing helps you bulk up at least a little bit."

"Even so," said Makoto, "let's hope it never comes to the point where you need to show off. I think I speak for everyone when I say we've endured enough excitement the past week to last a while."

"I agree, for what it's worth," said Yusuke, standing to his feet. "And given that we could take a break from the excitement, perhaps I can interest you all in some recreation and relaxation?"

"What do you mean?" asked Akira.

"Well, do not feel pressured to partake if you are uninterested, but when I'm feeling particularly stressed, I like to unwind with some music and marijuana, as it were."

"Oh my," Haru immediately exclaimed, "that sounds heavenly right now!" Everyone looked to her with silent surprise. "What? I may pursue some air of refinement when in public, but I'm no prude. What music do you have, Yusuke?"

"About whatever you'd like to hear. I would be very pleased if I were able to play for you all tonight."

"Oh, hell yeah!" Ryuji exclaimed excitedly. "Just wait, Haru! This guy's gonna knock your socks off with his guitar skills! And damn! It probably sounds so much better high as fuck!"

"Woo-hoo!" Ann called out, pumping her fist in the air. "Let's get baked, bitches!"

Makoto added with a wistful, almost longing smile, "It's been quite a while since I've been able to relax like that. It sounds lovely."

"You gonna join us, bro?" Ryuji asked Akira.

The young man chuckled to himself, enjoying the much more exuberant tone that had fallen over the room. All eyes fell on him, eagerly awaiting his response. "When in Rome," he remarked with what was intended to be a cool smirk, but instead was a much warmer smile. "Sounds like a great time."

They then excitedly congregated in Yusuke's surprisingly spacious bedroom and music studio. Hundreds of thousands of yen of musical equipment were arranged along the walls, with three expensive electric guitars, a beautiful Yamaha keyboard, and a large drum set all grabbing their attention first. Everything was in immaculate condition; polished and cleaned to a mirror shine that truly exemplified the artistic integrity Yusuke held for these items. On the right, below the hanging guitars, was a shelf of many records of all different genres of music. And on the left was the accompanying pristine record player.

He rummaged through a drawer beside his guitars and produced a small tin of marijuana, passing it around with small papers to his friends. Haru was the first to partake, further contradicting her image of a regal heiress as she lit the joint with a lighter and took a long, deep breath. She sighed, crooning with satisfaction and relaxation as she breathed out a large, dark cloud of smoke without the slightest cough. Everyone else followed suit, though Akira was the least experienced with these matters, and was unable to suppress a scratchy, hacking cough as he took his first puff.

But moments later, the effects of the substance began to set in, with Yusuke lighting his own joint as he took one of his guitars and plucked through the strings to make sure it was in tune. Haru and Makoto sat on Yusuke's large bed, staring contentedly into space as they continue to take periodic hits of the joints. Ryuji sat on the ground next to the bed, directly below Haru, leaning against it with an involuntary wide and dumb grin creeping to his face. Ann and Akira found themselves sitting next to each on the ground and the foot of the bed, though Akira barely even noticed as his head became heavy, his thoughts hazy, and the twitches and flashbacks he was repressing regarding Kamoshida faded away.

"Mmm," Haru crooned, "this is lovely, Yusuke," she said slowly, lazily. "I may need to ask you about your supplier."

Yusuke took a hit of his joint but seemed largely unaffected as he plugged the quarter-inch cable into his guitar. "The Champion District is the place to be if that's what you're after. You can find anything you want for a decent price." He plucked a couple notes, now coming though fully in the amplifier at his feet.

"S… so," Makoto spoke up, herself adopting a large grin, "what are ya gonna play for us, Yusuke?"

"What would you like to hear?"

"Uh, what's one of your favorite songs? But, like, something kinda slow, you know? Too much excitement and loudness can give me a really bad headache when I'm high."

"Then I have just the thing," Yusuke nodded, taking one more hit. "Are any of you familiar with the film Top Gun?"

Makoto's eyes shot wide open as she gasped, her face beaming. "YEAH!" she exclaimed. "It's so good! I love those American action movies!"

"Didya like it for the action?" Ann asked her with a smirk. "Or for the big, chiseled American guys playing volleyball with each other?"

"What about both?" Makoto responded, and all three girls shared a laugh.

Haru then added, "I'd let Iceman be my wingman anytime," she leaned back on the bed with a lusty smile.

"Oh my god, yes!" Ann nearly moaned out.

"Uh," Akira interrupted awkwardly, "what is this about Top Gun?"

"Well," Yusuke continued unabated, "believe it or not, but music is not my first nor primary art form. That would, of course, be painting. It's helped me along in many aspects of my life and is the reason I am not a tattoo designer. But the one thing it did not help me as much was… in connecting with people my own age," he admitted. "That's always been something I've struggled with, honestly. So, when I was younger, I decided that I wanted to find some way that I could better identify with my own generation, and there's few things more ubiquitous with those our age than rock music."

"Why did ya choose Top Gun?" asked Ryuji. "You a big fan of the movie?"

"It's alright," Yusuke shrugged. "However, the main theme's melody is quite simple and easy to pick up, whereas the solos were a good test of skill as I started to really advance in my understanding of the instrument." He sat down on the floor and set his joint aside on an ashtray. "Would you all like to hear it?"

The girls cheered for him, and the guys gave him a reassuring nod, with Akira even giving him a shaky but genuine thumbs up. Yusuke nodded back and leaned over the shelf of many records beside him. He pulled out a record of the Top Gun soundtrack, placed it on the record player and queued up the famous "Top Gun Anthem" by Harold Faltermeyer and Steve Stevens.

As the percussion intro'd the song, Yusuke stood before his friends who watched on in eager anticipation. The air was heavy with the smell of weed, and everyone was thoroughly under the influence now, including Yusuke, whose movements were now much more flowing and laxer as he took his guitar in hand. The record was playing loudly, though no one cared, as the music itself seemed to envelop them all in a sort of beautiful energy. This was obviously the effect of the substance, but that fact mattered not to them anymore. In a moment, amidst all the tumultuous chaos they all had endured recently, and despite the fact that most of them barely knew each other, there was peace and calm among the little group as the piano hit its first chords, and Yusuke prepared for the first notes.

Like a gentle breezing piercing through the warm evening air did those first notes ring out, with Yusuke playing in such perfect sync and the tone of his instrument so perfectly matching the record that one would never even suspect that his was not the only guitar being played. He swayed to the song with eyes closed, physically moving with the music in a way entirely different from how Akira and Ryuji had first seen him playing with Catherine. Back then, he was stiff and proper even in the midst of a great and bombastic show, but here, to their addled minds, it was as if he was a divine minstrel embodying the very music he played, melding with his soul and producing a hypnotizing display.

Rising up through the verses, he continued to play in this way, with everyone watching in awe as they were sucked deeper and deeper into Yusuke's show of artistic passion. But too there was emotion in his performance; through the strong but melancholic piece, he exemplified these very emotions without ever even opening his eyes. While he normally stood perfectly straight, he was slumped over slightly, bobbing his head with the beat as his fingers traveled up and down the frets, perfectly in tune with even the tiniest flare of the record's guitar strums. Makoto was particularly entranced by him, leaning forward on the bed and gazing at him with awe as he passionately played one of her favorite songs.

And as the song came out of its second verse and the piano took over, Yusuke took one more hit of his blunt before the song would ascend into the great and powerful solo. He let the substance heat him up from the inside and overtake him as his hands trembled with anticipation, all present knowing that a great explosion of music was about to unfold. And so, it did. All that characteristic "weirdness" and uptight awkwardness that Yusuke usually embodied was gone in a flash as he played his heart out along with the guitarist. Every note pierced the air and their minds with fervor, and even the colors of the world around them seemed to bend and become more vibrant as if they were all at the feet of a magnanimous god making known his power throughout his kingdom.

There was a sadness in his performance, his expressions, as well as anger as he thrashed about, getting down on his knees as he shredded his guitar. Makoto found herself lying down on the floor, looking up at the young man in a dazed and intoxicating trance, smiling at his engrossing display of whatever message he was attempting to convey through his music and movement. Akira wondered to himself what exactly Yusuke's anger and sadness meant, or if they were even real at all. Was he simply identifying with the feel of the music? Was there a personal conflict or trial he was going through, now bubbling to the surface? If that was the case, Akira felt within him a strong and genuine desire to help however he was able, as his parents had always taught him too.

And Yusuke, still with eyes closed, shredded all along his guitar, bending over backwards on his knee at the song crescendo'd into its final chorus. Ann and Haru waved their hands in the air to the beat, and Ryuji joined in as well until Yusuke played out the final notes, letting them ring out as the song concluded. Those with him applauded vigorously, cheering for him with great fervor. Makoto had enjoyed the show so much that she had forgotten to get up off the floor. Yusuke stood to his feet and respectfully bowed. "Thank you," he said to them. "Thank you very much."

"OH MY GOD!" Ann exclaimed. "YOU ARE A ROCKSTAR, YUSUKE!"

"Oh, it's really nothing," he smiled bashfully.

Makoto interrupted with, "Stop being so humble! You were absolutely spectacular. Own how cool you are, Yusuke!"

"Um, noted," said Yusuke, putting the guitar down.

"That was wonderful!" Haru beamed, her voice somehow even higher pitched and girlishly enthusiastic than normal. "You are amazingly talented, Kitagawa-kun!"

"We told you!" Ryuji shouted at all of them. "This guy's a badass!" Akira was higher than he had been since high school graduation, and thus could only nod in agreement.

Yusuke was about to act unnecessarily humble again, but then his reddened eyes became wide, and he held his hands out in front of his face. "I have been struck," he said, "with an idea of great brilliance!"

"Well, he's really high now," Akira deadpanned.

"What is this idea of brilliance?" Makoto asked, looking up to him on her knees.

"You see," Yusuke began, "there are…" he pointed to each person individually, "six of us here, correct?" They all looked at each other as if checking his count, then nodded. "Yes, there are six! Six of us! Six in total!"

"Uh…" said Ryuji with confusion.

"And we are, as some perceive, great, great heroes!" Yusuke proclaimed. Everyone continued to give him their full attention, though more out of morbid curiosity than anything else. "However, it is from the shadows that we operate; that we were christened into this life along the line between Heaven and Hell! Verily, it is a dark heaven from which we originate."

"What?" asked Akira.

"We desire to ascend into Heaven, away from the schemes of the damned all around us!"

"Okay…," said Ann.

"Yet lo, we are like weapons in the hands of those who walk the line between shadow and dark, salvation and damnation. And there are six of us!"

"Yeah…?" said Haru.

"So, my friends, brought together through the fires of trial and anguish, I propose here, on this night, in the sight of the spirits which guide us throughout these tribulations, that we collectively be known as The Six Black Heavens Guns!"

"That's rad!" Makoto exclaimed, shooting to her feet before promptly falling back to the floor. Everyone burst out laughing and the absurdity of the situation, save for Yusuke, who was as impassioned about the whole thing as he had been in the middle of his speech.

"What say you, comrades!?" he proclaimed, making flamboyant gestures with his hands. "Shall we truly be made one unit to fight back against the evils that seek to pillage and destroy our beloved city and our very lives? Shall we choose this name to be written down in the annals of history as the legendary heroes who saved all of Tokyo from its dark fate!? What say you, my companions!? What say you!?"

All were taken aback by Yusuke's speech, but it was Ryuji was first to speak up. "Well, we do make a good team. And I'm sure it's probably the dope saying this, but I think the name is kinda cool."

"Totally sweet!" Ann pumped her fist in the air. "It's like something out of an anime!"

Makoto got back to her feet and adopted an extravagant martial arts stance. "All villains who oppose us shall tremble in fear at the mere mention of the Six Black Heavens Guns!" she exclaimed proudly.

"This sounds fun!" Haru smiled, folding her hands under her chin. "I'm even more glad you guys saved me. I get to be on a team of heroes."

"Akira!" Yusuke pointed to him with a flamboyant smirk. "You are the one among us with true power! Shall you too join the Six Black Heavens Guns and pledge your power to the protection of our people!?"

Akira looked completely baffled, then he smiled, and then he laughed. He stood to his feet, straightened his leather jacket, and raised his index and middle fingers to his head in a saluting pose. "My flame will burn brighter than the stars themselves! I'll see all of you freed from your dark fates!"

"Hurrah!" cheered Yusuke.

"Wait," Haru interjected, "what's this about a flame."

"Akira has superpowers!" Ryuji replied. "Show her, man!"

"Are you sure?"

"Are you that high?" Haru asked Ryuji.

"No, I promise! Just check it out. Do your Heat thing, man!"

Akira held up his index finger and focused on the tip of it with his mind. After a moment, a small blue flame enveloped the finger, and Haru gasped in amazement. "I'm getting pretty good at that," Akira remarked.

"This flame will light our way," said Yusuke. "And shall be the crux of the Six Black Heavens Guns." He picked up his joint and raised it above his head. "To the Six Black Heavens Guns!"

"Here here!" Makoto cheered, and the rest followed suit.

They all shared an empowering, binding moment at the true birth of their group before Haru asked, "No, seriously, how did you do that, Akira?"

"You want the truth?"

"Of course!"

"Well, I have no idea."

They continued to lazily converse, with Yusuke providing beautiful and ambient mood music, for a while before deciding that it was time to head to bed. Akira and Ryuji were welcomed to stay with Yusuke for the night while the girls had a suite prepared for them in the main building. However, while they were seeing each other off, Akira and Ann caught a moment alone by the door while Haru and Makoto were helping Ryuji and Yusuke clean up.

They too had been aiding their friends, but soon found themselves out of eyesight and earshot. It was by accident, but the aimless, friendly conversation their friends were having soon faded into the background as their eyes met for a moment. He saw Ann's cheeks and eyes had reddened, and she perceived the same in him. Their clothes sat on them crookedly and almost disheveled after laying about, and yet, there was a calmness unlike the effects of the drugs that soon washed over the young man. But mixed with it was apprehension as they continued to lock gazes.

"Hey," Ann began in a small voice, "are you okay? You seemed kind of off when Haru mentioned… the thing."

Akira's relaxed demeanor tensed for a moment, small details and wrinkles appearing around his lips and eyes that Ann indubitably noticed. She leaned in a couple inches, awaiting his answer. "The business of the past week," he said in his own low, small voice, "have kept me pretty distracted. Too much to think about it very often. She brought it up, and it got to me a bit, but I'm fine, trust me."

"I do," Ann nodded, her voice taking on a more tender tone. "I was just a bit worried."

"This was a lovely night," Akira said with a small grin. "Let's not do anything to diminish that."

Ann nodded and smiled to him, becoming much happier before his very eyes. "You're right. It was a lovely night. I'm glad that, even with everything going on, we still got to have some fun."

"Yeah, me too…"

Then the world fell silent. Everything around the two young adults seemed to fade into the background; the very colors and walls of the room they were in becoming wispy and shapeless. Ann's smile returned to a more neutral expression, and her eyes slightly lidded themselves as she looked up to him. Even with her messy hair and clothes, Akira then forgot about everything that had happened that night as his mind went blank. And he did not immediately realize that it was not the drugs that made her seem to be moving closer to him.

His neck tensed as his head also moved closer to her, and his chest tightened as his heart fluttered, until he suddenly pulled back.

Ann gasped, coming out of her revelry with a look of shock and embarrassment that nearly broke Akira's heart. "I-I'm sorry," she stammered, hugging herself. "I thought that, uh, that you were…"

"No, no, no," Akira shook his head desperately, trying to find the right words. "It's not that. You did nothing wrong, I just—" He cut himself off looking at the woman before him, her eyes silently and sadly pleading for some answer about what had just happened. Akira looked down to his side as he said, "We're both under the influence right now. It's just not the right time." Ann did not respond, but her grip did relax around herself slightly. "But… when this is all over, talk to me," he met her gaze again. "We'll both get through this. We'll all get through this. And when we do, we can talk again. Okay?"

Whether it was from sadness or embarrassment that a tear fell from Ann's eye, he did not know. But upon wiping it away, her lips curled into a tender smile. "Okay," she whispered. Akira could not help but smile back. "And… thank you, Akira. For respecting me. Most guys probably wouldn't in this situation." She paused, and then gave him a look that simply arrested him. "You really are a hero."

They exchanged strange smiles and glances of mixed emotions before the girls finally retired for the evening. Akira and Ryuji found spots to sleep in Yusuke's guest room, and Akira fell asleep not long after. The sleep was deep, and the dream was vivid. Ann, wearing a white sundress, stood on the beach by his house, looking out over the water as the springtime sun illuminated her golden hair in radiant light as the soft and cool lake breeze blew through it. They exchanged not a word as they watched the waves roll across the sand, but the look in her eyes said all that was needed.

Sojiro had just been about to retire for the evening when he was once again summoned to the meeting hall on "exceedingly urgent business". While most of the yakuza who were not on guard duty had already returned to their quarters, Sojiro, Shindo, Kashiwagi, and Kuze had gathered in the meeting hall as one Tohru Higashi of the Kitagawa Family entered the meeting hall carrying a large metal box. He was dressed in a flashy suit and shirt typical of the yakuza of his day and generation, complimented by gaudy gold chains around his neck, a platinum watch on his wrist, and gold-rimmed shades over his eyes (even though it was 1:12 in the morning).

Higashi was a rather infamous yakuza agent whose abrasive but charismatic swagger made him a prime candidate for dealing with many lower-level underworld disputes, especially with small gangs that were encroaching on Sakura turf. In fact, the thirty-one-year-old man was personally responsible for three of these young upstart gangs being amicably assimilated into the Sakura Clan and had also kicked five other gangs out of Kamurocho with the help of his friends, including his most respected aniki, Masaharu Kaito.

"Sirs," he began with a bow, "this box was just dropped off at our doorstep, though we are unsure of who left it there. Our men were unable to find any explosives or suspicious elements on the box, save for this note," he held up a small piece of paper, "which states that only the patriarchs should open it."

"The hell is this?" asked Shindo. "It's not fuckin' Christmas. This is some Omi bullshit, I bet."

"Do we have any idea what's inside?" Sojiro asked.

"No, sir. And regarding who dropped it off, they must be pretty good. Not even the guards saw him, or whoever it was."

"I see," Sojiro stroked his chin. "Bring it forward."

"Boss," said Kashiwagi, "are you sure?"

"Someone went to all the trouble of giving us a present. Might as well see what was so important that they had to track us all the way out here."

Kuze chuckled. "This oughta be good," he muttered.

"The code for the number lock was written on the paper," said Higashi. "I can do it." He rolled the numbers on the lock to "12884" until there was a metal pop, and the top of the box opened slightly. Everyone watched intently as Higashi began to open the box, only for their noses to be assaulted with the stench of decay. And the item within the box caused all the men to do a double take.

"What the hell?" Kashiwagi muttered.

Sojiro did not respond verbally but glowered at the sight before him. Within the box was a large bald man's severed head with dried puss clinging to its lips. The eyes had rolled back and become bloodshot and glazed over, while the velvet base of the box's interior was stained in dried blood. The skin was pale and leathery, and the stench only intensified as the box was fully opened. "Saejima," Sojiro muttered.

"Oh my god," Higashi remarked, stunned.

"How did this happen!?" Kashiwagi blurted out. "Saejima Taiga was in a high security prison in Kanto! If this was the work of the Omi, then how did they infiltrate the prison and assassinate him!?"

"Doesn't make any fuckin' sense," said Kuze with a scowl, "but who else would have such a bone to pick with both us and Saejima? This had to be the Omi Alliance."

"But it's impossible for even the Omi to infiltrate that prison," said Shindo. "Those guys hate the Kansai yakuza a hundred times more than they hate even us!"

"We even orchestrated for Saejima to be taken there specifically," said Kashiwagi to Sojiro. "All so the Omi wouldn't be able to touch him. It's not possible for an assassination like this to take place in that prison."

"Then perhaps…" Sojiro muttered, his fists clenching, "it didn't."

"What?"

"Is it possible for Saejima to have been transferred somewhere?"

Kashiwagi replied, "Not that we're immediately aware of, but we can look into it. But even then, it would have been a hell of a feat to get him all the way to Kansai."

Kuze spoke up, "Maybe he was being transferred for whatever reason and was kidnapped on the way? I don't know how they could have, but I'll bet Goda is still sore over the Culling."

"We'll look into it soon, but we have more pressing matters to address," Sojiro said. "This is obviously a declaration of war – a taunt to either goad us into attacking or signal an attack on our front door. Knowing Shido, I'll bet it's the latter: trying to soften us up for the first real blow while the public is in uproar. Kashiwagi," he addressed the man, "mobilize half the boys here to return to Kamurocho and pull as many of our men in a fifty-kilometer radius to assist them as well. The rest will stay here and guard the fort in case of attack. We'll have reduced numbers, but we hold the positional advantage still. I don't want a single one of those Kansai bastards touching my family. Do all of you understand?"

"Clearly," said Kashiwagi.

"This is gonna be something else," Shindo cracked his neck.

"You know I'll die before any of them get to your family, Boss," said Kuze. "Let's do this."

Sojiro looked at Saejima's head one last time, his eyes growing red with anger. "This is for you, my old friend," he whispered. "Rally the men!" he called out. "Let them all know that it's time to show the strength of their oaths!" He clenched his fist in front of his face as his eyes were alight with rage. "Let's give them the war they've waited twenty years for."