(Note: Foul language and gun violence warning for this chapter… and probably all subsequent chapters as well, haha)

Many thanks to Orangesorlemons for her advice on this chapter.

A Romeo and Juliet Story

Chapter Four

Sat in a cosy booth in a low-key diner, the two Sendoh brothers were eating dessert together. It wasn't often that they got to spend time alone together like this, even though the two of them got along surprisingly well. Despite the considerable differences in their temperaments and preferences they still enjoyed each other's company.

The restaurant was furnished in the style of an old-school American burger joint. There were tables and booths, all decorated with a 1970s retro theme: red, black and chrome. To the right of the boys' booth a large window overlooking a small parking lot and, beyond that, a busy road and some industrial warehouses and offices. The view wasn't spectacular, but the food was good.

Not three days had gone by since Akira's small scrape with Tetsuo and Kaede. He'd told Hanamichi most of what had happened. He'd even taken some pleasure in being able to inform his brother that the mysterious "kitsune" was in fact called Kaede. He'd avoided, however, mentioning the curiosity he'd felt about that strange boy, and had taken care not to elaborate too much on the boy's attractive face or intriguing manner.

Hanamichi was as puzzled as he was as to why Kaede should have let him go so easily.

"Well. He's not like his brother then," Hanamichi had said. "Hisashi would have killed you first and asked you questions later."

His good luck at having been able to get away, somewhat chastened but otherwise unharmed, was not lost on Akira. He knew where his gratitude was due.

My life is in my foe's debt.

The area they were in was the infamous Tsuzuki district of Yokohama, right on the boarder between the Sendoh and Rukawa territories. It was a district which often saw fighting between the two rival families since it was constantly under dispute. It had been Akira who had suggested that they come here, although he was not entirely sure why. Perhaps he wanted only to feel like he was just a little bit closer to Kaede. The gulf that separated them seemed impossibly large.

He shook his head and picked at his ice cream. Hanamichi was happily tucking into his own strawberry flavoured bowl.

Akira couldn't clearly rationalise his desire to be near Kaede again. The best he could manage was to tell himself that he wanted to ease his sense of debt. He felt like he owed the Rukawa boy something, and wished for perhaps the opportunity to repay him for what he had done.

But beneath that feeble justification there was something more primal at work within him. Curiosity about his reserved and cool manner kept gnawing irresistibly at his mind. It was the hidden world behind Kaede's facade which Akira wanted so very much to access.

A sudden hand on the back on head pushed his face down to the table, narrowly missing his ice cream.

"Get down" Hanamichi hissed urgently. He too had ducked his head level with the table, and was watching something outside the window. Akira followed his gaze tentatively to see an expensive black Bentley pulling up on the far side of the road across from the diner. A tall, slender figure dressed in a smart black suit stepped out of the rear seat of the car. Akira was too far away to see his blue eyes, but the figure was unmistakable. Hisashi.

Hisashi held the car door open while a large, familiar man squeezed himself out. On the other side of the car, from the rear door which opened into the traffic, a third figure emerged. Paler, slimmer, but undeniably in possession of the same jet black hair, handsome features and effortless grace as his older brother. He moved to stand next to his Hisashi, and the physical similarity between them was plain to see.

Seeing the person he'd so very much wanted to meet, but simultaneously realising that being seen by him in turn would be extremely dangerous, Akira's chest tightened at the unwelcome surprise. He swallowed, his heart rate speeding up as he watched. On the other side of the table, Hanamichi's face had also turned pale. He too understood the seriousness of their situation.

If they were seen, they were dead.

Anzai straightened his suit and motioned for the two boys to follow him. Hisashi stepped eagerly into stride behind him as they headed directly to the main door of the warehouse. Kaede hesitated, turning about and giving a long, sweeping examination of the place; the road, the cars, the diner. As his eyes moved across the windows of the restaurant, Akira and Hanamichi abandoned their vigil and sunk lower in their seats so that not even the tops of their heads were visible.

Kaede watched the empty glass pane for a moment. He watched as a waitress approached the table, looked down and spoke. His eyes narrowed in curiosity.

"No, no, go away!" Hanamichi hissed at her as she came over to ask whether there was a problem for the two boys practically hiding under the table, but the damage was already done.

Kaede hesitated for a moment, but then he called out to his brother and father. "There's something odd, I'm going to check it out."

Hisashi rolled his eyes in irritation, but Anzai nodded in consent.

Without further pause, Kaede set out to cross the road towards the diner.

"Shit!" Hanamichi exclaimed, popping up to snatch a look out of the window and seeing Kaede checking for traffic. "He's coming over here."

Akira groaned. He'd never had much contact with the rival family, and now... three times in one week.

He looked over at Hanamichi and saw that his brother already had his hand on his gun. Akira reached for his own gun under his shirt, brushing the warm metal with his hand, assuring himself that it was secure.

He was reminded suddenly of Kaede's renowned gunmanship, and concern gripped him tighter. He'd been harbouring a hope of seeing the boy, and now it looked like he was going to get what he had wished for. He'd rather keep the encounter peaceful however; he had wanted to thank him after all. But Hanamichi's darkened, dangerous eyes told him that his brother was not going to see it in quite the same way.

"Hanamichi," he called the boy's attention over to him. "I'll meet him. You get out of here."

"What?"

"He won't hurt me. I don't exactly know why yet but... I'm pretty sure he won't hurt me now."

"So what? There's two of us and one of him. This time we'll be the ones saying who gets hurt."

Akira thought quickly, his eyes darting around the room for any kind of inspiration. He needed to convince his brother. Finally his eyes settled on the Bentley outside the window.

"I will keep Kaede here," he said in a moment of sudden insight, "And you... you go across the road and follow Hisashi and Anzai. You might learn something important. If they're operating in Tsuzuki now, father will want to know about it."

Hanamichi frowned. "Why don't we both go and tail them?"

"It's safer this way. There's two of them over there instead of three. You know more about Hisashi than I do so… it's better for you to go and handle him. Besides you're much better at this kind of thing."

He was finally making sense for his younger brother. Hanamichi grinned, and Akira nearly sighed in relief. Without further argument the red-headed boy nodded and got up, hurrying towards the door which led to the kitchen, ignoring the protests of the waiters. He threw a conspiratorial wink at Akira as he slipped out, intending to use the back door in order to avoid meeting Kaede on the way in.

Akira hated sending his brother into danger, but on the other hand he trusted Hanamichi. He knew his brother's abilities were extremely high and he couldn't help but feel that Hanamichi was safer over there rather than under the eyes of Kaede.

While Kaede hadn't seemed particularly aggressive on the two occasions Akira had seen him, he nevertheless had a distinct air of pride about him. Instinct told Akira that he would not stand for Hanamichi's particular brand of goading. Besides, it couldn't be denied that there probably was important information to be gleaned from the situation, and it was their responsibility to acquire it. That reminded Akira that he had to keep Kaede occupied until Hanamichi returned.

The door to the diner opened. Akira fixed his face into a smile as Kaede's eyes flashed directly to his table. The younger boy looked somewhat taken aback upon seeing the now-familiar rival, but not as much as Akira was. Akira's eyes widened when he saw what the distance across the road had hidden from him.

Kaede's face was marred with a bruise which entirely covered his right eye. It spread down over the apple of his cheek, violent and swollen. Something about it was... pitiful. Akira hadn't noticed it from the distance across the road, or had assumed it was a shadow.

For a moment he wondered what on earth could have happened. How could he have sustained such an injury in the three days since they'd met? However, even as he stared in confusion at the cruel mark, a memory came to him. Tetsuo's words: "Hisashi will kill you for this." His eyes widened.

Kaede moved towards him with quick, large strides; all eyes in the restaurant automatically looking up to follow his lithe form as it stormed between the tables. Upon reaching Akira he didn't speak. He leant over the seated boy intimidatingly and slammed a palm aggressively on the table. A sudden, violent smash.

Everyone watching jumped at the loud noise.

Kaede glared directly at Akira in anger. "What do you think you're playing at?" he hissed, his slammed hand both threat and question.

Akira didn't flinch. In fact he barely even noticed. He was still staring at the bruise - the price Kaede had paid for him – mesmerised by it. It thrilled and horrified him. The Rukawas - was this what they did to their own? It was absolutely merciless. He tried to imagine doing such a thing to Hanamichi, or Hanamichi doing it to him, but the whole thing was inconceivable.

"Kaede," Akira addressed him, as though the aggressive action had never happened. He gestured with a hand, "Please sit down."

After a long pause Kaede withdrew his hand from the table but still stared at him with annoyance. When Akira's eyes continued to appeal silently to him, he finally moved and slid into the vacant seat with a dignified reluctance, his suspicious eyes never leaving Akira's face. The restaurant patrons one by one returned to their own plates now that the drama appeared to be over.

Kaede spoke first. "I don't need your pity," he snarled.

Akira blinked. He didn't know what to say to that. He dropped his eyes for a moment.

"We… you and me… we should play together again," he said finally, hopefully, looking up again.

He hadn't really thought about it. There were other things he'd wanted to express, but the words just hadn't come to him. 'Thank you' for example. Perhaps even 'I'm sorry'. He couldn't explain it but he suddenly felt that those things were inappropriate; mundane and meaningless.

Kaede raised one skeptical eyebrow.

Of course it wasn't a practical idea; perhaps it would never be possible. How could they meet each other safely when they were born enemies?

But in spite of everything, after a long moment, Kaede allowed himself to nod. Such a small gesture, yet so significant. Akira felt disproportionately pleased the sight of such a minuscule indication of agreement.

Pondering the tiny miracle that was occurring right in front of him, he was suddenly seized with a desire to really make it happen. Meet this boy and play basketball with him. Such a simple desire, but one which could perhaps help both of them escape the mad world in which they lived, if just for a little while.

Seized with sudden, irrational bravery, Akira reached forward and grasped the boy's hand that was resting on the table surface. Kaede visibly flinched. Akira did not let go.

Akira learned forward and whispered conspiratorially; "Meet me on Hato Street, next Sunday, 10am."

Kaede widened his eyes in surprise. He obviously hadn't expected such a sudden and potentially dangerous proposition.

"Bring your bike" Akira added.

It is too rash, too unadvised, too sudden;

Too like the lightning, which doth cease to be

Ere one can say 'It lightens!'

Kaede, for his part, stared at the strange boy sat opposite him.

Emotions could be seen dancing across his face clear as day. He couldn't imagine how anyone could exist in such a way – so unprotected from the world. Either Akira's mask was so good that it was impenetrable, or else he wasn't wearing one at all.

The enigma that was Akira Sendoh might prove to be extremely dangerous as an opponent. He found it very hard to predict how Akira would act. Dealing with him was like trying to stand on ground that was continually shifting underfoot; it made him feel tired.

He cooly extracted his hand from the other's grasp. The older boy seemed momentarily embarrassed when he realised that he had been holding onto Kaede's hand for so long. He gave a sheepish smile which Kaede watched blankly.

"I need to go back now." A simple statement, to bring their brief interaction to a close.

Akira immediately frowned in obvious disappointment, another expression which Kaede seemed to find interesting.

"But… will you meet me?" the Sendoh boy queried.

"Why should I?" his cold, suspicious response.

"I don't know…" the Sendoh boy admitted "…I just want to."

Kaede gave him a dubious look. Akira sighed. His eyes wandered over to the window, wondering what Hanamichi was doing, and whether he was ready to come back yet.

"Hato Road. 10am."

Akira looked up suddenly at the unexpected sound of Kaede's smooth voice.

"I will remember." Kaede kept his face neutral as always.

The idea of spending time with the unusual Sendoh boy, perhaps learning more, working out how to deal with him, how to break his mask, would be beneficial. Without further need of words, content with his decision, Kaede silently rose from his seat, signalling that their interaction was over.

I have been feasting with mine enemy

As he crossed the road to rejoin his father and brother Kaede had to make a conscious effort not to look back towards the window where he knew Akira was watching. For some reason his hands itched – he wanted to wash them. He felt a little conspiratorial, a little guilty, and he found that odd.

For a moment he questioned himself; he'd somehow agreed to a meeting with an enemy which might very well get him killed. He found himself thinking about Akira's smiling countenance. It was just research, he reminded himself quickly. It wasn't at all as if he really wanted to go. It was just that it would profit his family in the end if he could find out a little more about this opponent.

He found his father and brother in deep discussion with a suited man in the main hold of the large, empty warehouse when Kaede finally entered.

The building was old, but in good condition. It was bland and featureless as warehouses usually are: corrugated iron walls and roof, a cold concrete floor. High windows letting in light to the spacious area. As Kaede came in, Hisashi snapped his attention to him,

"Where the fuck have you been?"

Kaede said nothing but continued to approach the three men who turned away from him to resume their discussion. He stopped short, however, when a small scuff of white on the floor caught his eye. He looked down at it, considering.

"What about access?" Anzai continued to talk to the man.

"There are three bays at the rear. The warehouse is on its own plot so naturally it is accessible 24-hours a day." Anzai nodded his head, apparently satisfied.

"Everything seems in order then. Hisashi?"

"Sure, let's go ahead."

"Wait." Kaede spoke. He looked up from the smudge on the floor and addressed the agent directly. "What did you say was stored here before?"

The man gave him a sympathetic smile, as though he was being simple. "Most recently there was machinery. Related to cranes I believe. Before that it was furniture – wooden furniture."

Kaede lifted his eyes to Hisashi meaningfully, who read his expression and reluctantly came his way to see what he had found.

The agent began to frown and adjusted his tie nervously as the two brothers considered the smudge.

Hisashi finally squatted and ran a finger along the floor, across the smudge, picking up some dirty white powder on his skin. He raised it to his nose and smelt it, then tasted it, grimacing. He stood up slowly, all eyes on him.

"This is cocaine," he announced quietly.

The agent's face turned bloodless as the three men looked at him, and he gave a nervous swallow, "Really I don't know… maybe… some local kids perhaps… I…" he stammered weakly. Anzai raised a single, dangerous eyebrow.

"The place is probably dirty," Hisashi decided with an irritated tsk. "The last tenant left in a hurry and hoped we would cover their tracks."

The agent swallowed nervously again.

"Did you know about this?" Kaede's voice was entirely level and serene, but he knew how this would end.

"No… I…" Seeing the disbelieving look on Anzai's face the agent began to take hasty steps backwards, suddenly afraid. "I didn't know anything about it!"

"I think you're lying," Anzai said simply.

Kaede managed to give the man a weak, commiseratory smile.

Hisashi drew his gun and levelled it at the flustered agent who turned frightened eyes on the firearm in silent horror, perhaps not quite able to believe the speed with which his luck had turned against him.

He breathed defiance and swung and cut the winds.

"Good night" said Hisashi quietly and, without a moment's hesitation, pulled the trigger. The unfortunate agent fell backwards with empty eyes, dead before he hit the floor. Kaede turned away in disinterest, having seen it so many times before.

Hanamichi had only just squeezed himself back into the booth when the sound of a single gunshot reached the two brothers' ears. They both sat upright immediately, their eyes flying towards the warehouse across the road from where the noise had come. Several other diners did the same.

"Hanamichi, what were they doing?" Akira asked hoarsely, fear for Kaede immediately erupting in his chest. Was it possible that Hisashi had found out that they had met? Had he… could he have…?

"They're talking to some agent about renting the warehouse."

Akira felt like something was squeezing his chest, forcing the air out of him as he sat stiffly upright in his seat, staring at the closed warehouse door across the road beyond which he did not know what lay.

He'd already seen what Hisashi was capable of doing, was it too much to believe that he might…?

His fear didn't alleviate until the door opened a few minutes later and Kaede was the first to emerge, completely unharmed, his face impassive. Following close behind him was his father who looked angry as he talked aggressively into his phone; clearly something had gone wrong. The last to emerge was Hisashi, scowling, and still tucking his gun back into the belt of his trousers, not in the least concerned about who might see him. The agent did not emerge.

"Well shit," Hanamichi breathed quietly as they watched the men get back into the black Bentley which was waiting for them. "He must have been doing something dodgy. You really don't want to fuck with that family."

Akira stared and nodded mutely, suddenly wondering what he had really gotten himself into.

~tbc

Updated version: Dec 2018

Kikoo! Thank you very much for all your reviews! Critiques are especially appreciated since I am trying to do my best with this fic (I like it a lot and want to do it justice!)

As always – please take a moment to leave a review, even if just to say "A bacon double cheeseburger please", "cats are cool" or "why isn't this fic ruhana?"