Infiltration successful.
Shūji Hanma is currently placed as "acting commander" of Valhalla. The real Commander hasn't shown his face to the other members, except Hanma.
Hanma gathered all of us for a meeting to discuss issuing a challenge to Touman. Like you suspected, this is a cover up for their true intended purpose.
Once the meeting was over, I tailed Hanma to the back of the abandoned Arcade—where Valhalla is currently using it as their base of operations.
Hanma was talking to someone who was hiding in the shadows, but I was close enough to see his face.
Dark colored skin, glasses, blue eyes, and dyed blonde hair.
The picture I managed to take proves our suspicions that the leader of both Moebius and Valhalla—is Kisaki Tetta.
Further observations of their secret conversations also prove Kisaki was the mastermind pulling the strings behind Osanai attacking Pah's friend and his girlfriend. He was also involved in wanting to kill Draken, so he could take his place as Mikey's right hand.
Right now he's planning his next move that involves using me. I'll send another report in the future once I know what it is.
—Shadow
Takemichi read over the report Shadow managed to send him. So his suspicions were indeed right. Kisaki Tetta is the manipulator behind everything that's been going on, and possibly more events to come. This time he foresaw the gang Valhalla issue a challenge to Touman in a vacant lot.
This gang war was going to be different from the rest.
Next to the report were his hand written notes, detailing what the future showed him:
1) 2005年 10月 31日
2) A member of Touman leaves and joins Valhalla
3) The date of October will forever be known as "Bloody Halloween"
So far everything he's predicted before seeing the future was happening just as he saw it. Kisaki Tetta will no doubt use this as another opportunity of trying to eliminate another Touman Founder. He already knew what Kisaki was planning to do and was already a few steps ahead of him.
'He's also not above murder, but doesn't want to do the deed himself. Instead he uses and manipulates others into either killing, or other deplorable actions.' If anything, Takemichi will admit that Kisaki's ambitious and willing to do anything in order to achieve his goals.
People like Kisaki are dangerous.
No doubt he'll be making his own move very soon.
"Takemichi."
Looking up, he saw the worried look in Inui's eyes. The guy always keeps a straight face, yet his eyes constantly give him away. Not necessarily a bad thing either, especially since the two of them share the same mind in situations like this.
"Something has troubled you." Inui got right to the point, just like always.
Takemichi gives him a piece of paper, "Read this." He tells him.
Inui grabs the paper from him and begins reading the contents. Slowly, his eyes start to widen as he reads on, "This is…" he trailed off.
"This is Shadow's latest report. He's confirmed for himself that Kisaki Tetta is the puppet master behind everything." Takemichi said, knowing Inui would be shocked but soon get over it.
Inui looked back at him, "We already had our suspicions because of Osanai's confession, but to think it was all really true…" He was trying to understand why Kisaki would go so far as to do all this. Why go so far?
"Hard to believe, isn't it?" Takemichi found the whole situation to be ironic, "That someone would orchestrate an attempted rape on someone's girlfriend, and try to have someone else murdered—all for the sake of power." What made it ironic was the fact that some criminal organizations first started out like this.
From street gangs to actual criminals.
"Do you believe his goal is to join and eventually take over Touman from the shadows?" Inui asked, having a sense his guess was correct.
"That's my take on everything. In his mind, Mikey is someone he worships and adores. He wants Mikey to acknowledge him." In other words, an obsession.
Kisaki is obsessed with Mikey. As for why that is, he's not sure. This is almost like an obsessive stalker that's hell bent on wanting his intended target all to himself.
Twisted little snake.
Inui frowned, "Should we inform Touman about our findings?" It only makes sense to let them know since they're allies now.
"No, not yet." Takemichi shot down, standing up and going over by one of the windows of the chapel.
"Why?"
Closing his eyes, he replied, "We need more evidence. This alliance is still new, and the last thing we need is for Kisaki to start spewing venom at us." They need to plan their next move carefully. If they point the finger first, then Kisaki will use that opportunity to counter attack and claim he's being set up.
That's a headache he does not need.
"You have a point. He could claim someone is setting him up to be the mastermind, or claim we're trying to use our alliance with Touman as a means of gaining power." Inui theorized, believing Kisaki would be underhanded enough to pull such a move.
Takemichi opened his eyes, looking out at the world through the cracked glass window. The human mind is a fragile thing. Too much pressure causes a crack—changing a person's mindset.
'There's a crack in Kisaki's mind that's beyond repair.' Whoever the person he used to be no longer exists. Forever lost in the void and existence extinguished.
"In his twisted mind he believes his actions will be the results that are best for Touman. For the gang to become what Mikey wants it to be." Takemichi said, dissecting and breaking down Kisaki's character.
Inui had a cold look in his eyes, "And yet…he tried to have both Osanai and Hanma kill you." Not once, but twice. The first attempted murder was during their brawl with Osanai and Moebius—then there was the festival with Hanma acting as a stand-in leader. He heard later that a Moebius grunt tried to assault him with a metal baseball bat—
—only the attempted assault was meant to kill.
Kisaki Tetta orchestrated both attacks from the shadows.
Interestingly, instead of being worried, Takemichi found that to be amusing, "Guess that means I'm in the way—or there isn't a reason for the two leaders whose gangs once had a bad history with each other to suddenly be on good terms." Knowing what he knows about Kisaki so far, that means the little snake will try again.
Inui clenched both fists, "I won't allow that to happen," he vowed, "If it comes to that point where he'll try to take your life again, then I'll—" He was cut off by Takemichi's sudden laugh, which startled him.
Takemichi leaned on the window, trying to catch his breath, "You don't need to go that far, Inui. Although, I wouldn't mind seeing you let out that dark part of yourself." Pushing off the window, he sits down on the steps and in front of the statue.
Inui seems visibly shaken by his words, "I…" he tried to explain, but Takemichi just lifts his hand—silencing him.
"Inui, you're not the only one that's out for Kisaki's blood." Everyone, from here captains to vice captains—hell to even the whole gang all together wants to bleed the snake dry.
The most vocal of course are Takuya and Hinata.
This doesn't seem to surprise Inui at all, "It isn't surprising. Black Dragon is what it is now because of your efforts," his eyes narrow, "And now, Kisaki Tetta threatens to ruin that." He can't blame the others for wanting the other boy dead.
"We can't forgive that." He said.
"And I'm not saying you should." Takemichi tells him, bluntly, "Look, I get that all of you are pissed off and want nothing more than to skewer Kisaki—or at the very least make him suffer," he air quoted, "But right now we need to focus more on screwing up any other plans he'll have in the future…and he will." He said, ominously.
Inui didn't protest and instead agreed, "I understand. Please remember that no matter what you decide, we will follow." It was the vow Inui made when Takemichi was chosen as commander.
"I know." Takemichi said, standing up, "This isn't a game of chess. Kisaki seems to think he's the one moving us around like pawns—controlling our every move." He walked past Inui, his jacket moving behind him.
"Let's show that conniving snake just who he's picking a fight with." Takemichi let himself smirk at his own challenging words.
"Yes, commander." Inui saluted, following behind the black haired teen. Kisaki better watch his back because the Black Dragons won't fall no matter what he tries.
They won't let him have his way.
Location —Public Bathhouse
It's foggy.
Why was it so foggy? Simple.
Mikey and Draken decided to drag him to a public bath in order to relax and hang out. Granted this is Takemichi's first time being in a public bath, he'd rather it not have any people around him.
Maybe having his own private bath spoiled him.
Probably.
Truth be told, being here really wasn't all that bad. Only older men were, the younger ones being him, Mikey, and Draken. Another bonus was that they were quiet and not making too much noise…well with Mikey being here nothing stays quiet for long.
Case in point—
SPLASH!
"Boo!" Mikey shot out of the water, trying to scare Takemichi.
An unimpressed look was what he got instead, "Having fun?" He asked in a dry tone.
Mikey pouted, "I was trying to scare you." He whined, sounding like a little kid that didn't get his way.
"Obviously." Takemichi stated.
"Hey! Shut up!" Both of them turn their attention over to Draken. The taller teen was wearing a shampoo hat, washing his hair, "You're not a kid. Quit messing around in a public bath." He chides them, but it's mostly directed at Mikey.
"I don't want to hear that from a third-year who still wears a shampoo hat," Mikey countered, leaning down near Takemichi, "Isn't that hilarious? He's a giant beanpole, but he's afraid of getting shampoo in his eyes." He whispered.
"Shut the hell up!" Draken said, having heard him.
Mikey just laughed at him and sat down next to Takemichi, who at this point had his eyes closed. Honestly, ever since the clash with Moebius it seems like these two have been even more insistent he hang out with them.
Good lord, and he thought his boys were overprotective.
Draken sat next to him on his other side and sighed out loudly, "Man, I feel alive again." He exhaled.
Even though it was still a little foggy in the bath house, Takemichi was able to see Draken's muscles. He really isn't built like your average middle schooler, and his body shows it.
And to think, had he not actively involved himself in wanting to change the future—Draken wouldn't even be here right now.
"What's up? You look like you're thinking about something." Draken's voice snapped him out of his trance.
Leaning his head back against the tiled wall, Takemichi replied, "Nothing. Just thinking about what comes next." What comes next is another fight that involves one of Touman's members.
He hears Draken snort, "Try not to think about it too much. Out of all of us you need this the most." That wasn't a statement, but a fact.
So these two purposefully dragged him here so he would relax for once. And honestly…he's okay with it. Sitting and relaxing in a warm bath like this—drowning out the world around him and simply letting himself go.
All these emotions he thought were buried inside himself are starting to resurface. Was it because he met Mikey and Draken? Or was it because of something else?
Takemichi stares up at the ceiling, blinking as his bangs stick to his forehead, "…this might be the first time in a long time that I let myself relax like this." It feels so warm.
"That's why we dragged you here," There was a splash as Mikey sat up, "Takuya told us you've been busy lately and wanted us to forcefully bring you here to have fun." He revealed.
So it was Takuya, huh?
Little snitch.
Letting out a long sigh, he tilts his head towards Mikey, "Thanks…" he said, meaning it.
Smiling, Mikey leaned up against Takemichi, placing his head on the other teens shoulder, "You're welcome." He replied.
There was nothing but silence after that.
Takemichi allowed himself to let go and simply relax and embrace the silence. In this small world, nothing else matters. He can let go.
He can let go.
He can let go.
.
.
.
.
.
He can let go…
Blood…
There's a house stained with blood.
It's cold.
The feeling of being unable to breathe.
It hurts..
It hurts…
It hurts…
"…WhY…?"
Mikey was jostled from his spot as Takemichi suddenly stood up. His back was facing him, his back rigid and tense—as if preparing for a fight right now.
What happened?
"Oi, what's up. Takemichi?" Kenchin was worried. Mikey can tell because he leaned forward in an act of concern.
"Takemichy?" Mikey gently and cautiously called out to him. For a second he thought the teen didn't hear him but Takemichy turned to look at him with a haunted expression that reminded Mikey of the time with his brother—
His train of thought is gone once he sees the nasty scar on Takemichy's body. It started from his chest to his right side, it was a long and nasty looking scar and it made him wondered how in the hell had they noticed before getting in the bath.
Out of the corner of his eye, he noticed Kenchin tense up as he too saw the scar.
"Takemichy—
"—I'm getting out." Takemichi didn't give him a chance to finish as he was already getting out of the bath and out the door.
The two of them side eye each other before getting out of the bath and opting to check up on Takemichi. It didn't take long to find him, he was hunched over, his hair was still dripping wet as it was lowered—looking at nothing but the ground.
Kenchin walked over before placing a towel over his head, "Make sure you dry yourself off first, you'll catch a cold…" As expected of Kenchin—being the older brother in this situation.
Mikey then walked over and sat next to his friend, his eyes automatically locking on the scar he now couldn't help but notice. It doesn't seem to be a recent injury, which means he's had it for a long time.
"A childhood injury…" Takemichy mumbled, but the two of them heard him clearly, "I've had this scar since I was a kid. Every once in a while an old memory appears in my head and makes it throb."
He placed a hand on his chest, "Even now…there's a small throb." A dull ache that will soon fade doesn't change the fact it's still there.
Mikey doesn't ask about how he got it, nor does he push Takemichy into doing so. Right now, what he needed was their support. And they'll damn near give it to him.
After everything he's done for them—it's only fair they repay the favor.
Takemichi tosses the milk he just finished into the trash. Why did he suddenly remember those vivid images from the past? Was it because he let his guard down like he did all these years ago?
'Haven't thought about it in years and now suddenly…' He trailed off.
"Are you ready, Takemichy?" Mikey's voice called out to him. He was already in his Touman uniform as was Draken.
"Yeah." Wrapping his jacket over his shoulders, he follows behind them as some captains from both Touman and Black Dragon were already outside, waiting for them.
Mikey was going to make an announcement, along with a new member joining their ranks and wanted Black Dragon there to witness it as their new allies.
Tonight will be the start—
—but not the last.
隠された動機
(Hidden Motives)
