Chapter Five
~ooOoo~
Shura growled as she heard the phone dial. She couldn't believe the brat had hung up on her! The red-head huffed as she told herself to kick his ass next time they saw each other. Here she was trying to be helpful by reminding Rin of what his clan duties would be for the day and the arrogant child had told her that he would go later! Later it wouldn't matter; he needed to be seen visiting the grave of his late father. The clan hated and distrusted Rin enough that if he wasn't seen occasionally they may decide to get rid of him. The fact they didn't even know the blue haired brat was the current leader and the reason for some lower rank clan members disappearing was because they had been traitors didn't help. Shura really wished for the old days; the clan had been a family so closely knitted together that everyone was like a brother or a sister. There were no betrayals and everyone loved and admired their leader. Now that the beloved former clan head was dead and only a select few people knew who they were taking orders from; there was distrust and dispute among sections of the family.
The fiery young woman ignored the irritated stares she received as she pushed her way roughly through the hoard of Okumura members to reach Izumo. The other woman glanced at her with disapproval written across her face and irritation flashing in her eyes. "When will Rin-sama get here?" Her tone was sharp and quiet. You never knew who was listening in nowadays.
Shura hissed in response; annoyance plain on her face, "The brat's not coming. He plans to visit later tonight; when he believes his presence is no longer a show."
The indigo-haired woman paled, and worry wormed its way onto her face. Izumo efficiently removed all traces of the brief expression before someone could register the quick flash of uncontrolled had both been taught to always hide their emotions; it was a sign of weakness when an enemy could understand how you felt. Shura sighed, it's funny how she had started noticing all the things Shiro had taught them in simple everyday occurrences; what had been natural to them had only been so because of the old man's constant drilling of his lessons. Izumo finally spoke when they reached the graves; quietly... almost desperately.
"Doesn't he understand?" She paused. "His position in the clan is so...unstable."
They both went silent as they stepped forward to light sticks of incense. As she and Izumo walked to the back of the line Shura glared at the cellphone in her hand; there were so many people waiting for their turns at the grave that they had to be quick with their prayers. She considered calling Rin again but knew it was useless; he knew the risks of not coming and no one could force him to pay respect to his deceased legitimate father. The red-head glanced at the young woman beside her; they would have to do something soon to increase the clan member's opinion of Rin.
The green-eyed woman leaned forward to whisper in the indigo haired woman's ear, "Oh yes, he understands. Unfortunately for us he just doesn't care. So, we just have to figure out a way to boost his popularity."
Shura snickered as she leaned back; the other woman's shocked expression was just too amusing, "I'm sure the brat would love for them to revolt against him. That would just give him an excuse to kill them all. But, we should try to avoid that."
She sighed as they walked towards their former teacher's grave. It was a lot smaller than the former Okumura clan leader's but was just as elegant and well maintained. As both knelt to pay their respects, the red head felt a hand on her shoulder. Shura tilted her head with a frown to glance at Izumo.
The other woman spoke as she removed her hand to rest it on her knees, "Rin hates us doesn't he? We've trapped him in this dirty world before; he even had a chance to be a child...to be innocent."
The red head snorted, "Yeah right, Rin has a chance if he chooses to take it. Also, I wouldn't say the brat hates us per say but rather the clan. We are the few people that I think he actually loves... or at least cares about."
Izumo smiled, "Do you think so, Shura?"
Shura grinned as she flipped her hair over and stood up, "Of course, now let's go back to the house; we have to be ready to punish the brat when he comes home." The red head didn't turn to see if the other woman followed her; she strutted away from her dead teacher's finally resting place with a mischievous grin spreading across her face.
ooo
Yukio glanced at the others as they settled in his room; since Rin was in the kitchen with Shiemi they had to find somewhere else to discuss business rather than the living room. Shima looked excited that he would finally have his chance to say something worthwhile and Miwa just looked amused at the other boy's excitement. Bon on the other hand looked more serious than ever as he read over the summary reports they had all made.
"Well, first order of business should be what Shiemi discovered before we discuss in detail what you all know." The young genius kept his voice calm as if talking to a room of students as he reached for the young girl's poison report but, before he could pick it up a hand snatched it off the table, he glanced up with a raised eyebrow as Shima laughed nervously.
"Well...Shiemi-chan went over her report with me so... I think it would be best if I explained it." Yukio's eyes widened in surprise, he quickly contained the emotion; he would not have expected the pink hair boy to have talked with the blond girl to be prepared. The dark haired boy fixed his glasses as he settled back in his chair; he encouraged the pinket to continue with a small smile.
"Well," Shima ran his finger down the page with a focused expression, "Out of the ten victims that showed signs of poison or died of unseen causes, seven were killed with arsenic and the remaining three with Chlorine gas. The ones killed with arsenic seem to have been killed that way simply for the excruciating pain involved; they would first experience convulsions and vomiting." The pink haired boy's eyes narrowed in disgust as he read the remaining affects and the conclusion of the poison, "Afterwards, when the arsenic had become more acute the victims would have experienced: stomach pain, hair loss, cramping muscles, and more convulsions before they eventually died or fell into a coma." The golden-eyed boy shuddered. "It seems whoever is in charge of this style of execution enjoys seeing others in pain; the chemical was administered in several doses that increased in amount during the period in which they suffered. Shiemi-chan's only conclusion to as why this was done was to prolong the more painful effects."
The boy sat down as he flipped to the second page. "The remainig three seem to have been kept alive for a period ranging from 1 to 3 weeks. They would have been bed ridden and unable to breath; coughing up blood and developing sores and blisters. Shiemi writes that 'It is most likely the victims were kept alive for information. Two of them received treatment before suffering another exposure to the gas.' She even connects that the three to receive the gas to the fact that none of them are connected to the Okumura clan but rather small time gangs and the underworld. On the other hand, the seven to be given arsenic were low ranking members of the Okumura and Neuhaus family. It seems it was more of a punishment than a tactic to gain information."
When Shima went silent, Yukio was left to quickly process all of the information. He could deduce that since all the dead in the files were related to giving information to Mephisto and his contacts that the seven to be given arsenic were punished; most likely for disloyalty to the clan. This information connected to the idea that whoever was currently running the Okumura clan was bitter about the Kuronuma attack; which was a direct result of a betrayal from someone in the clan. The new clan leader clearly didn't accept or condone any lack of loyalty.
The dark haired boy felt a certain kind of admiration for the leader. They had hidden their identity so well that no one had figured out they who were in over a year! And the new leader's lack of tolerance for need of allegiance, though extreme, was in its own way honourable and something to look up to. Someone who didn't tolerate betray would never betray anyone who put their trust in them. It was something Yukio could hope would extend to any bonds made during the meeting. The green-eyed boy shook himself out of those thoughts and nodded to Miwa, "What did you and Shima figure out?"
Miwa picked up the papers in his lap and quietly skimmed through them. "Other than the fact that they all did business with Mephisto through Amaimon; there has been an increase of clan murders. The Okumura clan is made up of two major families: Okumura and Neuhaus. The first ones to die didn't have much authority or influence on the clans affairs but, recently the ranks of the dead have risen. The most recent was a second in command for one of the elders. It seems that Mephisto is trying to destroy the clan from the inside out."
Yukio felt a flash of anxiety; Mephisto's plans seemed to be working out perfectly. The rise of deaths in their own family wouldn't go unnoticed by the clan members. Tension and fear would rise among the family and the new clan leader may face an uprising. It wouldn't bode well for the Suguro clan to be allied with such an unstable group. The dark haired boy took off his glasses and rubbed the bridge of his nose with a sigh. The problem now was how he should inform Suguro-sama of this information; if his theory was correct it would be stupid to even think about an alliance but the connections with such a powerful clan like the Okumuras obviously had its benefits.
He could try convincing the Okumura clan leader to reveal their identity to the whole clan to ensure the stability of the family at the meeting. However, the new leader would hardly be happy to be given advice by someone younger than them without the same amount of experience.
Quietly sliding his glasses back on, Yukio linked his hands together and leaned forward, "Good job you guys; I couldn't have done it any better myself. Now, Bon informed you two of the meeting he and I will be attending?"
Shima pouted and crossed his arms as he sat back in the chair, "Yeah he has! I got to say this isn't fair at all! Miwa and I work just as hard as you two; the fact that we don't get to go is bullshit!"
Miwa sighed, "Shima's just upset because his brothers called to brag that they would be going. He really is a child when it comes to these sorts of things."
The pink-haired boy whined at the insult, "That's not fair Neko! You would be just as upset as me if you had brothers who bragged about this shit all the time."
The smaller boy was silent but clearly amused by the other boy's suffering. Yukio rolled his eyes; at least neither was really upset about not being included. The real problem was with Shiemi; the girl could be so sensitive and didn't really take not being needed well. Even though she had a knack for figuring out poisons with only the tiniest bits of information and clues; the petite blond really wasn't cut out for clan business. If she ever figured out that what the poisons she made were being used for, the gentle girl would likely be heartbroken and guilty. Yukio wondered why she was even put on the case; she was the most likely to want to leave the clan if she ever saw the pictures for the other twisted corpses that hadn't been killed by something as simple as a gas or chemical.
Even Yukio, who was an experienced assassin when required by Suguro-sama had nightmares of those hellish images. Shiemi wasn't the type that would be able to deal with all the death and blood involved in their clan's business. And if the green eyed boy really thought about it, none of the teens Suguro-sama sent on this mission were really ready for what they were most likely to stumble across while searching for the real Okumura leader. And with these new variables like Mephisto's plan they were in danger too.
"Suguro-sama has not yet informed us when the meeting will be taking place. Bon and I will have to be ready to go at any moment; you guys must also be ready to come straight back here when the time comes." Seeing Shima open his mouth in protest, the green-eyed boy raised his hand to stop the other boy. "The reason for this is because we don't want you to be vulnerable to an attack if this meeting is a trap."
Yukio looked them all in the eye so they could see the seriousness and danger in the situation. His voice was calm and cold; adding a weight to his words that had the other boys shivering, "If this isn't handled properly it could result in all of our deaths. When the time comes you two are to find Shiemi and go straight home."
Shima literally deflated at the more authoritative boy's words; the pinket couldn't fight the truth in his words or tone. It was finally starting to hit the carefree boy that this mission wasn't a game. If they messed up it could not only result in his death but also the deaths of all of the people he loved and cared about. Miwa and Bon had similar reactions, although they had also been thinking along the same lines as Yukio; it was still very startling to hear your own possible death being discussed so bluntly. The mood of the room got noticeably tense and heavy. All the young men were faced with the fact that their lives now contained possible life and death situations like these.
The young second-in-command was pleased with the change in the room. Yukio didn't like to see them so scared and worried but they needed to face the reality that death waited at every corner when you were in the yakuza. Before, they all had seen this as some sort of vacation; only Bon had taken it seriously the dark haired teen was beginning to see the others were developing the same mature mindset.
Yukio stood up, " Soon we should probably go check-" A loud scream interrupted them. It was high and shrill; all of them but, the green-eyed boy whipped their faces towards the door with varying degrees of panic and worry. "-on Shiemi. Is what I was going to suggest but it seems evident that we should now." His voice remained calm yet his eyes were narrowed. He moved his left hand lightly over his hip, confirming the location of his gun. The dark haired boy turned sharply and walked purposely towards the door followed quickly by the Kyoto kids.
They burst into the kitchen; Shiemi was clutching her hands to her chest with blood slipping down her arm in thick rivets. She was whimpering and crouching in the corner, a kitchen knife rested by her feet; while Rin was bending towards her with another a knife of his own. The younger boy seemed to be trying to calm her down and had a hand stretched out for her but, the blonde shook her head frantically in refusal of whatever request the blue-eyed boy had made. Yukio opened his mouth to ask what had happened; however before he could Bon rushed at Rin, obviously coming to his own conclusions about the situation.
The raven looked up at the sound of hurried footsteps; his blue eyes widened in shock at the sight of the blond-streaked teen rushing at him. The green eyed boy couldn't see the Suguro clan heir's expression but it was mostly likely fury; he winced as Bon grabbed the younger teen by the collar of his uniform and slammed him into the cupboard. Rin's head snapped back and he let out a gasp of pain, his grip on the blade loosened and it clattered to the ground with a dull twang. Shiemi let out a small scream as she jumped up and grabbed the back of Bon's shirt.
"What are you doing?! Let Rin go!" Thick tears coursed down pale her face and she tore at the blond-streaked boy's shirt with sharp movements. Yukio took a small step forward, "Shiemi's right, Bon. You don't have a reason to be doing this; we don't even know what truly happened."
Bon glared at them, "No reason!? This little bastard must have hurt her!"
"Why don't you actually ask Shiemi before jumping to your own conclusions?" The green-eyed teen snapped feeling that any progress made earlier was totally lost on the stubborn boy.
"That's right, idiot. Why haven't you asked me?" The blond's face was flushed and eyes red as she looked up at Bon with an annoyed expression. "And let Rin go; you could have hurt him badly with the way you slammed against the cupboard."
Her tone was indigent as the blond streaked boy finally loosened his grip on the black-haired boy. Rin gave Shiemi a half smile and reached to touch the back of his head lightly.
"Are you okay?" Shiemi reached out with one hand but, didn't touch him.
The raven pulled back his hand to reveal blood covered fingers. The blond girl gasped and reached forward but, Rin stopped her. "Shi-chan your wounds are more worrying than my own. Where's your first aid kit?"
Yukio had wanted to punch Bon in the face when he had slammed Rin into the cupboard; now he wanted to kill the fool. The boy was too impatient and quick to judge a situation that he didn't fully understand. This was a good quality in some incidents but, currently it was leading to the blond streaked boy to make rash and stupid decisions. Most often times, it was when it concerned Rin and the Okumura clan. Shima, who seemed to overcome his shock asked, "What happened to make you scream like that?"
Rin was already bandaging the blond girl's hand with the medical supplies he found under the sink. Shiemi turned to look up at the others. "I was cutting some vegetables when I cut my finger. Rin was trying to convince me to let him put some alcohol on my hand to get rid of any infections." The green-eyed girl blushed in embarrassment and guilt. "I suppose I childishly refused to let him, I didn't want to because of how much it stings. That's why you guys found us in this position."
Shiemi frowned as she turned to look at Bon. "I can't believe you would act this way! Why would you even think Rin would hurt me? Has he done something to have you mistrust him so?"
Before the blond streaked boy could answer Rin spoke, "I don't need to do anything, Shiemi. Simply having the surname Okumura is enough." He smiled at her gently but, his tone was bitter and slightly amused. "I'll be going home now."
The blue eyed boy stood up slowly and he smiled at everyone else; though to Yukio it seemed forced and cold. Maybe the younger boy was in pain? Well of course he was; he had hit his head hard enough to start bleeding. The dark haired boy was annoyed at his inability to figure out what would cause the distant and calculating look in the younger teen's eyes. "How about you let me bandage your head before you go, Rin?" The green-eyed boy offered with real concern for the younger boy.
"It's fine! Enjoy your meal; Shi-chan put a lot of effort into preparing it." With another small smile he left leaving an accusing silence in the room, pointed directly at a very guilty looking Bon.
Yukio took the chance of peace to look over the table. It was a simple dinner of rice and curry with a salad. It looked good but the dark haired boy doubt anyone would enjoy it. Shima and Miwa looked upset and conflicted; they had known Bon their entire lives but they really liked Rin. Shiemi simply appeared disappointed that the happy dinner she had planned was ruined and the beautiful blue-eyed had been hurt.
They all sat down as Shiemi began fixing them all a plate. Eating in complete silence was something unusual for the tight knit group and as a result the food though, very good, tasted like dust in their mouths. The whole evening left an unpleasant feeling in the green-eyed boy's churning stomach, not only was their group estranged but also Bon may have ruined the only connection and source of information to the Okumura clan. It felt strange to think of Rin as just a source of information but there was no better description of him; he wasn't their friend and he wasn't their enemy. The younger boy could simply only be seen as a way to reach their goal and nothing more. It would seem that Yukio would have to remind the others of this fact; he couldn't let their shallow affection for the boy cloud their judgment or disrupt their unity.
"Bon, I asked you today to be nice to Rin. If not for us then do it for the clan because he is the only real connection we have we the clan; a source of information that you may have just cut us off from." The young genius could hear the annoyance in his voice and his brows were furrowed in irritation.
"A source of information, " Shiemi echoed hollowly, "Rin is our friend. How could you talk about him like that? As if he's some sort of book or report that we can just use to find the information we need before discarding it?" The gentle blonde's voice rose and she looked upset to hear someone she now considered a close friend spoken about this way.
Yukio looked her straight in the eye. "You seem to have forgotten our purpose. We are not here to make friends rather figure out a secret identity that nobody has even a clue about in over a year!"
He sat back in his chair exhausted, "You need to be able to emotionally separate yourselves in these types of situations. Pretending is fine but the minute it becomes real you run the risk of making a mistake. A mistake in this business can lead to death."
The dark haired boy stood up slowly, "I'm going to my room, call me if you need me." He politely added a compliment, almost as an afterthought. "The food was excellent Shiemi. Good job with dinner and your report."
ooo
Rin scowled at the blood on his fingers as he slid into the back seat of the car waiting for him. He hadn't really been expecting Bon to react the way he did; what had made the older boy to be so hostile towards him? It troubled the raven to think that he may have let his mask slip; that the carefully constructed image he created was falling apart and the Kyoto kids were becoming suspicious of him. If the blue-eyed boy couldn't trick a couple of inexperienced teens, then he was definitely beginning to lose his touch. But, it could just be that the blond-streaked boy simply had always been suspicious of his true nature after hearing the name Okumura; Rin hadn't been lying when he told Shiemi that was the main reason for Bon's reaction. But, there must be something else that was causing the older boy to have not warmed up to him yet. He had been charming, funny, and accepting, the perfect combination to make new friends and the rest of the group seemed to have taken this to be his true character. The role was so easy to play that sometimes the blue-eyed boy couldn't tell when he was faking anymore.
Rin hoped that Izumo had the profiles he had asked to gather on the group; he would need to study the Suguro clan heir's. This would definitely help him to gain a better understanding of the other boy's dislike for him
With a sigh, he reached into his school bag to bring out a towel and rest it against his head. The car's purring engine lulled the clan leader into a daze. He wanted to fall asleep but wasn't sure it was safe; the possibility of having a concussion was too high to risk taking a nap that he may never wake up from. Rin closed his eyes; colours popped behind his eyelids and it felt like a hammer was hitting the back of his head. He would have to make sure to pay Bon back for this one; the blue-eyed boy wasn't really forgiving. His whole heartened belief was an eye for an eye and whatever else I can take from you but, since the blond streaked boy was still so young the raven would just settle for hitting the larger boy really hard on the back of the head.
The young clan leader sat up as he felt to car slow to a gentle stop. He elegantly stepped out of the door that Tetsou held open for him, while holding the now blood stained towel tightly against his head.
Rin noticed how his guard jolted at the sight, with a smirk the young boy handed the towel to Ginta who had just gotten out of the vehicle, "Can you have this thrown out. I don't think we'll be able to salvage it."
The silver haired guard bowed and left. Rin gestured for the dark haired guard to follow him. The raven decided to go straight to his own personal rooms by walking through the gardens; partly to avoid any clan members and partly to enjoy the beautiful scenery. He never had any time anymore to appreciate the beautiful simple things in life anymore; it truly was a shame. The azure eyed boy stopped by the carp pond to gaze into its clear depths; golden koi zipped around. Not wanting to leave he turned to speak to Tetsou.
"Find Shura and Izumo and send them here; tell them to bring the profiles I asked for."
"Of course, Rin-sama." With an exaggerated but, elegant bow the highly experienced guard walked jubilantly away.
Rin crouched down to gently run his fingers against the water's surface. He was just starting to realize he couldn't wait for the meeting with Suguro-sama; afterwards he wouldn't have to pretend anymore. It was too tiring faking your personality all day, although he wasn't faking as much as he should have been. The young boy would admit he enjoyed the time he spent with the Kyoto teens; he could even over look when Bon was being a complete asshole when the others were there to lighten up the mood. The meeting would offer them a chance to choose to really be his friends. It was strange, Rin knew they were basically using him to try to gain information or connections but found himself wanting to be honest with them and for them to be honest with him.
The young clan leader was also a bit worried and nervous about how they would react when they finally knew the truth. Rin knew people in his clan found him repulsive and monstrous but would they think about him that way; would Yukio? It was a strange feeling, wanting people to like everything about you: the good, the bad, and the absolute ugly that truly made him Rin. Sensing, the presence of others, the young clan leader stood and turned to face the four people approaching him. His two guards swiftly flanked him and Shura stood in front of him arrogantly with an irritated expression. Izumo simply looked annoyed but, it was likely because of the red head and that he had ordered them to come outside rather than going in the mansion.
"You have guts, kid. How could you even think to order us around after playing hooky? You know I ought to beat the shit out of you, punk." The green- eyed woman literally hissed her words, as she rested her hands on her hips.
Rin rolled his eyes, "I wasn't playing hooky, and I just prefer to mourn in private."
Izumo sighed, "That's the problem Rin-sama. Nobody thinks you even mourn at all." The violet eyed woman seemed to be searching for some sort of reaction from the boy, which he decided not to give her.
"Whatever. Do you have the profiles ready?" he kept his face expressionless and tone emotionless, while turning his face back to the pond.
Shura glared with annoyance at his turned back. Deciding to keep her feelings to herself for once she gazed at Izumo, signalling her cue.
"We have all the information you wanted. I shall begin with the one of most important; the one who is the highest threat to you is Yukio Akumara."
The indigo haired woman's voice was calm and even as she opened a thin red file in her hand. Rin whipped to look at her in surprise; he had suspected Yukio of being more than he appeared to be but to be considered the biggest threat was something unexpected and amusing.
"Suguro-sama has had him training in hand-to-hand combat, marksman ship, and kendo since he was seven years old. He officially joined the clan when he was fifteen years old. Yukio has 17 confirmed and successful assassination missions under his belt. He has led 25 operations and was recently lifted to a second-in-command position. He graduated high school when he was fourteen and has already spent three and a half years at medical school. Currently, he is taking time off; I would guess for the mission he is currently occupied with. I also have heard that Surguro-sama may be even considering advancing his rank in the clan's hierarchy."
Izumo smiled as she looked down at the sheet in her hand. "That old man picked well when he found this one at the orphanage, the boy has been nothing but beneficial to the Suguro clan."
Shura shook her head in amazement, "That wimpy four eyed kid just doesn't seem to be the type."
Rin hummed in amusement, "They do say not to judge a book by its cover. It will often mislead you."
The violet eyed woman grinned at the younger boy's cheeky expression and pulled out another sheet. "Ryuji Suguro, also known as Bon is heir to the Suguro clan as you already known. He has been trained in judo and other martial arts, recently he has started working with guns but not much is known about his progress with them. People say he is extremely ambitious; it seems that this Ryuji plans to take over his father's clan as soon as possible and his one goal is to return the family to its former glory. His belief seems to be that his father has allowed the clan to grow weak by not expanding their territory. Although, many agree with him, most of the clan think owning all of Kyoto is enough. The real problem is that he doesn't have much experience with yakuza business or transactions. Suguro-sama has kept him closely sheltered from all his illegal activities. The mission he is currently working on is the first involvement with any of the clan's business; the rumours say he plans to prove himself and gain his father's trust, since figuring out the true name of the mysterious Okumura leader has been a topic of discussion among the high rollers of the underworld. Though most people from his clan would say that Ryuji is too ambitious for his own good; it has led to many arguments between him and his father and to compromise. Bon got this mission and his father gets to send him away to university for a few years before working for the clan."
"Nya ha ha, that one's too hungry for his own good. Boys that aim high is cute but, obsession with your family's honour are just too much." Shura laughed easily now that Izumo had moved on to a less threatening member of the Kyoto teens.
The young clan leader shook his head gently, "That's a real problem. He hates me simply because I seem to have more access to the clan's higher ups. Bon feels that since he's the heir he deserves more than, anyone else; I've annoyed him by having more power and influence or at least appearing to."
Izumo frowned. "But, he doesn't know what your specific role is. How could he be jealous or dislike you... yet?"
Rin smiled gently. "I was at the meeting when they were invited to meet 'Okumura-sama'. That implied I was important enough to know the clan leader's real identity and it is a well-known fact that not many in our clan do. That would have been enough to set him off."
Shura snatched the folder away from the violet eyed woman, who had been nodding in understanding to the azure eyed boy's response. The green eyed woman scanned the next profile with hungry eyes. "Ohh, this next one will be fun. The little princess Shiemi, not too bright in her school work I see but a genius with plants. The little blond is best known for her ability to whip up the deadliest poisons and quick acting remedies. In addition, she is able to diagnose an affected victim with a glance and whip up a suitable antidote in record time. She is a descendant from a distinguished line of herbal woman that have always been connected to the Suguro clan. Though, she has no fighting or defensive abilities and only was able to go on the mission because no physical danger is expected."
Once Shura finished, Rin raised a brow, "Not much on her but it explains her involvement. I must say I was beginning to really wonder."
"Who's next?" The blue eyed boy looked back at the water dispassionately; it was becoming evident that the teens from Kyoto were really more than he had first expected. Assassins and poison experts was something the raven would not have even guessed. But, he should know more than most people, when dealing with yakuza everyone had a special skill they kept a secret.
"Renzo Shima, he's the last of son of five and has two sisters. Two of his brothers already work for the clan but, the eldest is deceased. His death is due to a deal going south 16 years ago. Not much was gathered about the third son or two sisters; they were deemed irrelevant since they have no involvement in the clan business. Shima is an expert with the staff and sword; these seem to be the weapon of choice for the family. He has some experience with boxing but one of his skills is being able to lie and bullshit himself and others out of tight situations."
Shura looked up at Rin with an expression of slight amusement. "That is a good skill to have, especially if you are found doing something you shouldn't be doing; which is bound to happen if you are a part of a gang."
The red head continued when in Rin only smiled in response. "Last, but certainly not the least is Konekomaru Miwa. Both of his parents were killed in that sour deal mentioned before and the Shimas took custody of the child. He has a fantastic skill really; the little squirt is great at analyzing people and situations. He finds the strategic advantage in everyone, then deduces the best way to use it for whatever purpose the clan needs or the best way to beat the person. Recently, Miwa has taken over the head of his family and is included in the Suguro clan meetings. Quite the little problem we have here, we wouldn't want him to see us fighting that would be the best chance for him to find our weaknesses."
Izumo took the folder from Shura, "The best thing is that only 3 out of the 5 can actually fight but the other two have their own ways of getting someone down."
The raven nodded, "Too true. Well, it is time for me to visit the graves let's go."
ooo
Rin sat next to Shiro's grave, the smell of burning incense made him want to sneeze but, he resisted the urge. He didn't know how long he had been sitting there, only that night had fallen turning the sky a deep navy and that it had started to rain. Ginta had immediately gone to get an umbrella to shield the young clan leader, while Shura dragged Izumo back to the car; complaining that they weren't waiting in the rain for him. He had ignored the irritate woman to settle more comfortably next to the grave. The boy gazed at the grave with glazed azure eyes; he hadn't the foggiest idea what he should say. Should he ask for forgiveness for his harsh last words or for guidance when finally dealing with Mephisto?
It was a confusing decision because he knew he wouldn't receive an answer and Shiro wouldn't hear him; however the raven still felt compelled to express himself in some way. He wanted to cry realizing the only time he would see the old man now was at the cemetery but smile too. His old caretaker always said the only peace people like them would find was with loved ones or six feet under.
Rin gently caressed the poem engraved on the tombstone. The words always resonated deeply with him, while sending him into a deep depression.
There is no meaning to our world.
There is no meaning to those of us living there.
We meaningless being ponder the world,
Though the realization of meaninglessness
Itself means nothing.
It felt like those words were meant for Rin, that everything he was doing was meaningless and he meant nothing. Although, the raven knew Shiro must have some sort of message for him, the blue eyed boy couldn't figure it out. If their world had no meaning, was the young clan leader meant make it worth something? The Okumura had grown weak in his father's time; Rin had made it as twice as powerful in one year. The clan had rejoiced but was still very wary of their unknown leader. The raven had to wonder if he should begin to trust his family, it was unlikely that anyone would betray him if he earned their trust. It had only been one person that had given the Kurnoma's and Mephisto his own and mother's location and yet he felt that everyone them was just as untrustworthy. Shiro had always told him that he would be left alone if he didn't accept his true family; maybe it was time for the young clan leader to try.
As the rain poured down, soaking his surroundings; Rin was swept away in a memory.
~ooOoo~
Shiro's large hands were warm and reassuring to the five year old boy clenching his hand. They had suffered a 5 hour long plane ride and hour long drive to finally reach what Shiro called his "Ancestral home."
After the "incident" in Rin's old home, the old man had brought him straight to the airport. The older man kept trying to cheer the little boy up with stories of his father and all the wonderful family members he had never met. The raven didn't care for all these people Shiro talked about, he simply wanted to feel his mother's arms around him and hear her soothing voice. Dreams of blood and murder haunted the boy; he feared shutting his eyes even for a moment, lest he be forced to endure those horrific memories all over again.
Shiro led him through the elegant Japanese mansion; it was decorated in hues of blue and varying shades of white. The house was a far cry from his mother's, which had been splashed with vibrant reds and greens but, Rin found the blue and white calming and almost familiar.
They stopped at a delicately painted shogi screen, which the old man took no time to throw open with an enthusiastic, "Hello! Did you all miss me?"
There were four people in the room; two teenage girls, one young man, and an older one. One of the girls had wavy, dark red hair and green eyes; her body was voluptuous and her expression slightly interested.
The other had dark indigo hair that was bone straight and brushed her shoulders; her violet eyes were bright with excitement and when she set her eyes on Rin she squealed, "So cute!"
The older man had dark hair with a slight wave, his features were stern and he wore an eye patch. He gave the dark haired girl a disapproving look at her outburst and she quickly looked down to avoid meeting his eyes. The last man had silky silver hair that was ties loosely with a braided silk cord; his face was beautiful in an unearthly way. Perfectly symmetrical and balanced features that were almost feminine, but still retained the edge needed to express his true sex. But, his eyes were what really stood out to the young boy; they were exactly like his own. Not in shape, but in colour; a blue so bright, it seems electric. A light burned in those eyes, alerting the boy to the man's deeper emotions that he could not yet able to figure out.
It was a strange feeling and experience to know immediately who your father was when you had never even met him once. But, there was no mistaking it, Rin's mother always talked about how his eyes were a gift from his father that proved his prestigious heritage. The young boy had never really cared to hear stories about his father; however he did very much enjoy how his mother's eyes would light up at the memory of the mysterious man.
His father stood in a smooth movement, not much changed in his expression but his eyes lit up in happiness and pain at the sight of Rin. The raven couldn't grasp what would cause such an opposing mixture of emotions on the older man's face. The clan leader walked to the pair and crouched to be at eye level; the blue eyed boy noticed that he creased his black suit with the action.
"Hi, Rin. You might not know this but I'm your father. It's nice to finally meet you." The man smiled warmly and his tone was affectionate but slightly nervous.
The raven was confused; he had always hated the idea of his father; A man that sent his wife away to raise his son for "protection". Rin had always felt that family members were stronger when together and despised the sight of his mother crying at night; holding a picture of his father close to her heart. But, the look the man gave him was so loving –so inviting; it changed his cold beauty to a radiant one that encouraged the boy to take a step forward into his open arms.
The man was so different from Rin's expectations that he took a step back to hide behind Shiro's legs. He needed a moment to think this over; peeking from behind the old man's legs he saw that his father looked hurt at the immediate rejection.
"Ha ha, Rin don't be so shy. You're usually so polite and friendly with strangers." Shiro's booming laughter had the boy frowning.
"Last time I met strangers they killed everyone...even mommy. I don't like strangers." His voice was so quiet and flat, Rin hardly recognized it as his own. He hadn't spoken once since the incident and his throat felt funny.
His words had an immediate reaction; his father's expression became distant and the two girls, who had been quietly chatting, stopped talking to stare at the boy. Shiro's hand tightened causing the boy to wince quietly and the other man's face became even stonier.
The silver haired man continued hesitantly, "That's okay. Rin you will be living away from me for a while longer; Shiro and these two will be looking after you at our family's secondary mansion. After I deal with some things you will be brought back to the main house. Is that okay with you?"
Rin had been conflicted about the man earlier but had decided to continue hating him.
When Shiro thought he was sleeping, the raven had heard him argue with someone over the phone that the clan shouldn't be organizing a peace meeting with the very people that had killed a defenceless section of their family. If the man was willing to give up and not seek revenge, the blue eyed boy was willing to keep hating him. It wasn't that hard really; it would easier than trying to overcome his negative feeling for his father.
"I would rather continue living with Shiro after you deal with your business. I want no part in the Okumura clan." Rin gazed blankly into eyes exactly like his own.
One pair was filled with indifference and one consumed in pain. His father stood swiftly after that, however not as elegantly as he had done previously. He looked at his son with confusion, hurt, and regret. It already seemed obvious to the whole room, that the tiny heir had rejected his father and the extended family completely.
"Would you like Kurikara back? Mother said it was an important family heirloom." Rin asked simply to be polite. He hoped the man wouldn't want the katana back; it was the last thing his mother had given him. Even though he wanted nothing to do yakuza he needed the sword to remember the feeling of her hand around his; urging him to hold tightly onto the blade.
The man gave him an empty look, "No, Kurikara was for you; if you wouldn't mind keeping it." His father's tone was tired and empty. He slowly ran a hand over his face and turned to the others in the room. "Shura, Izumo. You two will leave with Shiro and Rin today. Did you guys pack your things yet?"
"Yes, Okumura-sama." Izumo's voice was soft and quiet. She kept glancing between the clan leader and Shiro. "Shura and I will go get our bags."
They both left the room swiftly, already whispering about conversation that had just taken place. They had both been expecting a very bright and cheerful boy from the clan leader's descriptions.
Shiro had told them that Rin hadn't seen much of the attack because his mother had hidden him in the closet. Everyone had been hoping the boy wouldn't have had time to fully grasp the situation yet and they would have time to undo some of the emotional damage. It would seem that the boy had seen exactly enough to be acting the complete opposite of his former self.
Shiro looked down at Rin sadly; he had been hoping the first meeting between father and son would be a lot more...happy and heart warming. The little boy's hands were cold and he looked up at the old man with wide eyes. They were emptier than he had ever seen since the previous night; he had come to expect shinning blue eyes that were always filled with glee, when looking at Rin. He was truly disappointed that meeting his father hadn't brought back that shine.
"Will we be going to our new home now?" The voice was too quiet, too bored. The boy had always asked questions with an inquisitive tone and excited manner, as if finding out the answer would reveal something amazing to him. The current Rin was too damaged, Shiro would have to change that to ensure the boy's and the family's future happiness.
"Yes, we will be." Shiro felt tired and old; tightening his grip on the boy's hand he bowed to Okumura-sama and led him back to the waiting car.
ooo
Rin stood slowly. The stars and moon provided the only light now in the dark cemetery. His joints felt stiff and tense and he walked back to the car slowly. Ginta held the umbrella steadily over him, while Tetsou strolled lazily next to them. The raven was tempted to ask how long he had been just sitting and staring off into space but quickly dismissed the thought. He didn't really want to know how long he had been mourning the loss of his father figure. Rin had to toughen up and start making some plans for the upcoming meeting.
He settled comfortably next to Shura in the car; he glanced at them from the corner of his eye. The moment he had entered the vehicle they had both stopped talking and now stared straight ahead; it would seem they were keeping secrets. Rin grinned at the partners in amusement, "What's up? Don't stop on my account."
Shura gave him a droll stare, "None of your business, brat. But, if you must know it's private girl stuff."
Izumo fidgeted nervously but nodded in agreement to the red head's answer.
"Hmm. I'm sure you two were. I hope whatever you two are planning isn't too painful for me." The raven kept his tone light; he was too tired to really care about what they were talking about. Later, he might try to figure it out but for now he just wanted to sleep.
The red head gave the blue eyed boy a sly glance. "Nya ha ha. It might hurt a little."
Rin rolled his eyes tiredly as he leaned back to settle more comfortably in his seat. Without another word, the raven quietly closed his eyes and hoped for happy dreams.
Thanks to BakemonoShoujo for making sure I made sense and you guys got a good chapter.
Edited-08/21/14