Senea: Hello hello again! Tank you for coming over and checking this out. Sorry for the late update, school is being school and writing isn't on top of the priority list as much as I would like. But a new chapter has come by and I hope you enjoy.
Special thanks to those that reviewed, faved and alerted! It means quite a lot, especially since there's so few Homra alphabet boy stories and you all seem interested in it! Glad I'm not the only one who enjoys them.
NOTE! This doesn't change anything major, but it has come to my attention that Shizume isn't a city like translations have said, but more like a district inside Tokyo (It takes the place of Shibuya according to the map) I will be editing my first chapter accordingly and from now on it will be regarded as such in my work. If you're curious about it, please check out messier-45 on tumblr, the post is called Tokyo Metropolis in K World. It's quite informative about the city and shows where the clans are in respective to each other.
Now onto the story!
Chapter 2: Reports Divided
Fujishima hissed slightly as he cleaned up a cut he had received on his arm. Eric looked curiously over at him and the red head smiled, reassuring the other he was alright. When Eric went back to staring into space he looked back at his scarped arm. Those gang members had been surprisingly resilient and managed to get a few good hits on each of the red clansmen. Nothing they haven't had before, but still annoying and needing to be attended to.
They had just finished up their mission and had headed back to their home base, the Homra bar. Kusanagi who had been behind the counter, got surprised by the four mildly disheveled young men appearing in his bar. Not soon after, his worried 'mother hen' look appeared on his face and went to grab the first aid kit from where it usually was stored. Just for these kinds of occasions.
Totsuka who had been talking with the older man, also noticed the returned clansman and greeted them back, if not laughing a bit at their state and deciding to help patch up the injuries they had as well.
It was late at night, not even Anna and the King were downstairs, the two of them had gone up to sleep while Totsuka and Kusanagi had decided to stay up to wait for the others to return. The rest were who knows where but not at the bar, even they had called it a night.
In the midst of bandages and cleaning, Shouhei began his report about the warehouse they had left. He had just opened his mouth when Kusanagi opened his own, giving him a lecture about waiting for the right moment and if not at least wait for back up to arrive before he decided charging in was the right thing to do. Shouhei nodded and smiled as always, listening but knowing he would do the same things over and over again. Everyone sighed, knowing the words were going in deaf ears. With that the report began, some helpful information added by Fujishima and some not so helpful added comments by Bandou, by the time they were finished being patched up the story was finished.
Everyone was sitting on the couches in a semi-circle, Fujishima and Eric on the far couch, Shouhei and Bandou on the other, and Totsuka and Kusanagi on the last. Half-finished drinks, scattered opened healing supplies, and a filled to the brim ashtray among the used to be cleaned and polished table. Everyone was left to their own thoughts, the long day and night catching up for all of them, nodding off heads, slumping, and prolonged thought. Even Totsuka's regular trademark smile was tired around the edges. It was early in the morning, or late at night depending on opinion, and it was felt throughout the bar.
"High end guns, huh?" Kusanagi repeated, lighting up another cigarette as he broke the silence. The bartender quickly reviewed all the information he had just received from the younger thugs in his head and sighed. This wasn't anything like what he thought it would. It was just supposed to be a simple information gathering mission, just a small task for a small gang. But to have this unfold was quite the headache. Even worse was that this was happening close to their territory, practically inside their turf and they had no idea up until now.
Shouhei nodded. "About ten crates worth tonight. There were even more inside unopened."
"If they wanted to start selling them, then that would be another thing altogether." The bartender mused, breathing out a stream of smoke. "But to keep so many unopened…"
"Perhaps they were moving them somewhere else?" Fujishima offered. "Try to open up their options more."
"Who knows," Kusanagi sighed, leaning forward and taking his phone out. "We're going to have to figure out where those boxes are coming from, and where they're headed. When we find more information on those then it's easy enough to figure out who's behind this."
"You don't think it was that gang then?" Shouhei asked. He rubbed his arm that was bandaged, the dressings itchy on his skin.
A moment of silence worked into the bar again as Kusanagi picked his phone up from the table and began to press buttons. An image appeared above the screen, lighting up the darkened bar. It was inside of a dark building, crates laid out on the floor and several of them open. The items that had been contained in them were scattered along the ground. "Yata-chan and Kamamoto also found something similar when they tracked down a drug dealer…same kind of boxes with the same things inside."
The image of the crates disappeared and another image took its place. This time it was a map. Tokyo was a fairly large one, densely populated with different districts, places that only certain people went to and places where no one should. This one showed only a section of it in red.
Homra's territory, Shizume district. The Red clans turf.
"Then we found one a few weeks ago with the same thing." As Kusanagi said this, three red circles appeared on the map. Two were close together while the other heading towards another section, one that the four others had just been to. Each of the areas were dangerously close to the red border, if not almost inside of it. "For all of these to be so close to us…something's going on."
"You think an attack?" Totsuka tilted his head, facing the older man. Some gangs believed they could actually take Homra, a few stubborn dumb ones. They never stood a chance but that didn't mean they wouldn't try, or get a couple of good hits in.
Kusanagi smirked. "If they think they could come at us with guns and drugs they certainly have another thing coming." His face turned serious. "What I'm more concerned about is how we're not getting information about these things until they're almost right on top of us."
"Hmm," Bandou hummed in thought. "Maybe, they're not targeting us and going after another group?"
Fujishima shook his head. "Territorial issues are the most common cause of fighting these days. There's not a lot of land left to be conquered. Fighting their way through isn't the best of ideas. They can use up a lot of people and resources, and gain more enemies then allies."
"Perhaps they've gotten an ally that's letting them do the grunt work, while they stay cozy. It wouldn't be the first time." Shouhei suggested, scratching a patch of bandage on his arm again.
Bandou swatted Shouhei's hand away from his scratching. "It doesn't matter. If they're dealing with us, we can handle them. We got them good tonight and we can do it again!"
"Ah but, if they were just the grunts, then wouldn't the others be stronger?" Shouhei pointed out, trying to reach his arm again.
Bandou grabbed hold of Shouhei's wrist, keeping it at bay. "We can get rid of them just as easily!"
"Is there anything else that comes to mind?" Totsuka asked, causing the two to pause in their almost bickering. Both shook their heads after a moment of thought.
Fujishima frowned in thought, thinking as he tried to remember if there was anything important that had happened on their raid. "Nothing I can think of." He smiled apologetically before turning over to the one beside him. "Eric? Do you have anything?"
The blond had been staring mostly in space and keeping quiet during the whole conversational report. Which was, quite frankly, rather normal for him but tonight he was especially quiet. Constantly frowning, biting his lip and being deep in thought that he easily missed twice when he could make a jab towards Bandou.
Eric looked at Fujishima, then Totsuka, before shrugging and looking away. "Nothing." He said simply.
The two of them exchanged glances, Totsuka looking curious while Fujishima shook his head slightly, it was something that he'll have to ask about later on.
"What a mess." Kusanagi sighed. "One we won't be solving tonight." Clasping his hands on his knees, he lifted himself up from his seat and began to head towards the bar counter. "Shouhei, since you got us into this, you and Bandou are under clean up duty. Clear up that warehouse of everything you can and dispose of it."
"W-Why bring me into this?!" Bandou stammered.
The bartender turned his head to the other and merely smiled. "You were so concerned for your friend, I thought you might want to keep a closer eye on him." Though his smile grew, his face turned a bit more menacing. "Unless you think my idea isn't good enough, I would gladly hear any suggestions you have to offer."
The other shrunk under the gaze. "A-ah, no…nothing like that. I'll get started right away…tomorrow."
Totsuka and Shouhei laughed lightly at the remark, Fujishima smiled alongside them. Somethings never changed.
As the two young men got up from their seats as well, Totsuka followed suit. "Now, now," He added. "Don't forget to rest up and take care of yourselves first, right Kusanagi-san?"
Sleepy sounding murmurs of agreement filtered through the bar from them as they headed to the door.
Fujishima stood up as well, turning towards the two older men. "Eric and I will be heading back home as well." He glanced over at the still sitting blond and gave him a small smile. "It's been a long day for the both of us. It'll be good to rest up."
Totsuka nodded, smiling at both Fujishima and Eric. "Please take care and make it safely home." Eric nodded in return.
Kusanagi also smiled thankfully at the two. "Yeah, and thanks for helping take care of that idiot and getting as much info as you did."
Bandou stopped halfway to the door. "And what about me?"
"You were the idiot he was talking about." Eric mumbled out, the first sentence he's said since they arrived.
"HEY!"
After another round of tired laughter, they all said their goodnights before the four of them exited the bar. As the door finally closed on the last of them, and Totsuka neatly locked the large door, Kusanagi sighed as he slumped on top of his precious bar counter.
"I can feel the grey hairs coming in just by talking to them." He groaned, eyes closed. The amount of worrying and work they've made him do, it was probably double if not triple more than what could have been done if things were done properly.
"Come on, don't you already have some? Ow!" Totsuka rubbed his head, chuckling as Kusanagi removed his hand from it. "This whole thing is beginning to sound like a mystery, what are we going to do about it?"
Kusanagi sighed, grabbing another cigarette and flicking his fingers to light it. A few moments of silence as we took a drag or two, his brow furrowed in concentration. "Not much we can do for now. Until we figure out where the boxes are coming from and what they're for, we just need to keep looking."
Totsuka watched as the older man took out his phone and began to type furiously with one hand, his other keeping with his cigarette, taking drags when he wished. He smiled. "That look means you've got a plan at least."
Kusanagi finished his messages, watching as they flew in the air before disappearing into coded abyss. "They weren't around for the bust, so they can do the grunt work of asking our brokers."
Totsuka laughed lightly. "That's cruel, Dewa's been really busy with his job recently, you know?"
"He told me recently he's almost done and can't wait to see the outdoors again. It'll be good for him." Kusanagi explained, his phone away now.
"So you are worried about it." Totsuka stated, not a hint of worry or concern in his voice. Sending off people to their informants was a step in not only acknowledging they were causing problems for the clan, but also meant they were going to be more serious in dealing with the people.
He sighed, a puff of smoke filtering out of his mouth. "They're just getting too close. And the less stuff that's in this city, the better."
Totsuka could only smile. "It's fine, it's fine, it'll all work out in the end."
The older one smiled, making a noise of agreement. Even if he was worried about something, that idiot's saying always made things seem less of a problem. Everything always tended to go right in the end so far, this will probably be no different.
With that said, the two began their separate routines. Kusanagi had to grab his light coat and umbrella from behind the counter. It was getting chilly already and the rain was not helping in the least with keeping the weather nice and warm. He was going to have to start thinking of winter style food to put in his bar again.
As he walked over to the door, keys in hand, he saw Totsuka shuffling onto the couch, his blanket already cocooned around him. Despite having his own place, Kusanagi was used to seeing him merely sleep on the couch at the bar. Whenever he asked why the reply that usually came out was he was cold or lazy, so he stopped asking a long time ago and simply made sure he had a key, and instructions for some of the morning routine that the bar and its occupants needed.
"Don't cause a mess now." He called out to him as he opened the door.
Totsuka laughed. "I'm going to make some pancakes with Anna in the morning, we'll have everything cleaned up so Kusanagi-san won't have to worry when he comes back."
"Make sure Mikoto has some of those. And don't make more then we can eat." He waved his hand to his friend as the door began to close. "Goodnight Totsuka."
He returned the gesture, hearing the door lock and muffled footsteps leaving the bar. "Goodnight, Kusanagi-san."
Chitose yawned, eyes half opened as he shuffled through the small apartment towards the kitchen, smelling something good to eat. He could have done the trip blindfolded if he wanted to, but his brain was telling him it was time to get up and see the world.
Sliding the dining room door open, he stumbled his way inside, closing the door behind him.
"Morning Granma, Gramps." He yawned out, waving absentmindedly towards the table.
"Good morning, Yo." His grandmother returned the greeting. He heard his grandfather make a noise akin to a grunt. He must have been reading the newspaper. It was the same old routine every morning he visited. It was nice.
"Look who decided to finally get up."
"Morning to you too, Dewa."
He blinked, one foot still in the air as his tired brain tried to compute who that was. Wait a minute…
Chitose managed to open his eyes all the way as he looked at the table. And there he was: Dewa Masaomi, just sitting at his family's dining room table as if it was the most normal thing in the world. A few years ago he wouldn't have batted an eye to that, but when was the last time he graced this home with his presence?
"W-what are you doing here?" He exclaimed, pointing an accusatory finger at his friend.
Dewa sighed, grabbing a piece of toast. "Waiting for you obviously."
The fantastic breakfast his grandmother had prepared for his family was quickly looking bare, more than half of the dishes on the table were either empty or already getting washed. His stomach growled in protest as he watched piece after piece of food being placed on Dewa's plate.
"Are you eating my breakfast too!?" He sat down on the chair immediately opposite of his friend, grabbing a couple of plates to move towards him. No way was Dewa stealing all of his food.
Dewa made a face, taking a piece of fish off of one of the plates that Chitose was moving away from him, ignoring the glare that came with it. "Maybe if you woke up earlier we would have it at the same time."
Chitose huffed, pouting just slightly as he reached for a fork. "I need my beauty rest." He exclaimed.
"Another late night out is probably the problem." Dewa said in between bites of his meal. Though it was meant to be a light jab, it almost had the hint of disapproval. Dewa knew that he had been out late, and most likely with another girl he had managed to catch.
"You're one to talk, don't you stay up even later then I do?" Chitose countered, helping himself to some eggs.
"That's for work, unlike what you're doing." Dewa retorted, staring back at his friend.
Before Chitose had a chance to tell him off a chuckle broke out in between them and the older one turned to see his grandfather laughing at the two young men.
"Ah, it's good to hear this sort of lively chatter early in the morning again." He smiled, his face popping up from the newspaper.
"It's quite the delight." His grandmother added in, coming back to the table. "Masa-kun, you really should come by more often, I always worry about you living in that small apartment all by yourself."
Dewa started a bit, veering his glance away from the elderly couple. If one looked closely enough they would see a speck of pink shining across his cheeks. "I'm very busy, but, I'm fine there. There's no need to worry."
Chitose couldn't help but bite back his laughter. Dewa was never really one to get flustered but his grandparents certainly were one of the only ones to get any sort of reaction out of him. It was a nice change of pace, made him remember that Dewa wasn't just a stick in the mud.
She smiled a toothless grin back at him. "Oh I know. You always were the more responsible one. If only more of you rubbed off on Yo, we might be able to see a changed man."
"Granma." He groaned his own face flushing a bit at that. "It's too early in the morning for this kind of talk."
She chuckled, enjoying the lively atmosphere. "I know, I know. We'll let you two catch up in peace. Come on now, darling. The store isn't going to open itself."
"Thank you for the meal." Dewa called out to her as she left the room, the older man behind her. She merely waved her hand at his bow, telling him he can come by anytime just like Chitose before she disappeared to the downstairs.
Chitose huffed, leaning his head on his hand, finally full as he glanced over at his lame hair styled friend. It was odd for Dewa to show up at his house. Years ago it used to be the norm, where every day he would invite his friend over and every day the other would agree. It wasn't the case at first but Chitose had been so persistent that the glasses wearing youth could only follow along. He would stay for dinner, sometimes even staying the night, he would even come to wake the other for school, and stay for a quick breakfast as they headed out the door, the shorter one screaming at the other they would be late.
Chitose smiled lightly as he remembered those carefree days and tried his best to ignore the ache in his chest as he missed them. Back when life was a bit simpler, a bit happier, and less broken.
"She really does worry about you, you know." Chitose said, hearing the door to the first floor click. He lazily looked back at his friend. "Stop holding yourself in your house when you're not at the bar. People will start thinking you're a recluse."
"Shut up, I could care less what people think of me." He sighed. "Right now I have a big contract I'm working through, I don't have time to go out, the final stages are being run and we're checking for bugs."
The brunet clicked his tongue. How he managed to get such a nerd for a best friend he couldn't remember for the life of him. "Then what made you decide to come over here early in the morning? I thought you didn't like coming over anymore."
"It's not that I don't like coming here…" Dewa trailed off, his eyes going to the side.
Chitose blinked, perking up when he noticed the sudden change in his friend. "Hm?"
"A call from Kusanagi-san." He stated, pulling out his phone. "He called me this morning to let me know we both have some work to do. He also sent me a message with his files. I figured it would just be easier getting you instead of hoping you would answer my calls."
The brunet sighed inwardly, he knew he wouldn't have gotten a real response from him for that topic now. But there seemed to something pressing they should both be paying attention to. Taking out his own phone he flipped through some screens to see if he could find those messages. "Something important, huh?"
"Seems Shouhei decided to put our plan to take out that gang sooner rather than later." Dewa eyed Chitose as he snorted, that sure sounded like something Shouhei would do. "At any rate," He continued, pressing a button on his phone. A glimmer of light appeared as several pictures began to float in the air from the holographic projection. "The others found boxes that we've found from a few other small groups we've crushed, and they're believed to be linked somehow. Our job is to go through a few of our brokers, and see if we can come up with anything linking these people to one in particular."
"So we're looking for a trail…" Chitose leafed through a few of the pictures. Most were of crates with strange watermark woodwork, as well as a few showing the contents, guns, ammunition, drugs, even some money. Whatever was happening was big. But to hear nothing, not even rumours of something this big was odd enough. But that's what they were for. Their job was to look through the underground and find those loose ends that eventually made the cloth that led them to the truth and the people responsible. "Who are we talking to?"
"Kusanagi-san is going through his own informants. He also sent Kamamoto and Yata to a few others." Dewa tapped a few things on his phone. "We have Naoi, the fortune teller, as well as Yubikiri Maria."
"What?!" The brunet jolted in his seat, sitting straight up and his eyes widen. "D-do we have to talk to her? I thought normally…Totsuka-san…or someone else…" Though they began and ended on friendly terms, the middle part of their encounter still sent shivers up his spine. He did not want to mess with that woman more than he had to.
Dewa smirked at the other. "Looks like they're all busy. I'm sure it's nothing you can't handle, Chitose."
"Hey, you're coming with me on this one, aren't you?"
"Wouldn't miss it for the world."
"I'm hurt that you just love to enjoy my suffering."
"You should've thought of that when you put yourself in that situation."
"You're not helping, you know." He sighed heavily, slumping into his chair so his face was resting on the table top. He stayed like that for a few moments, letting Dewa have his victory before another thought popped into his head. Shifting his head so it was still resting on the table but also looking over at the raven haired man he blinked. "Does that mean you're done your job?"
Dewa rolled his eyes. "I told you, they're checking for bugs in the program, my job's finished, the contracts nearly over and next week I get paid." Taking one last piece of toast he stood from the table. "Now come on, the sooner we get this over with the sooner I can catch up on some sleep. And the same with you."
"Fine, fine." Chitose stood as well, tidying up the tale a bit with the other's help. "But when you get paid we'll have a small party to greet you back into the world. Don't worry, not too many things have changed since you last ventured outside."
Dewa scoffed, but the smile dancing on his lips showed his true colours. "Smartass."
Senea: There you have it! Please tell me what you think and expect to see another chapter shortly! Thank you for reading!