Disclaimer: Nuramago belongs to Shiibashi-sensei
Warning: AU, oOC-ness, violence, blood, disturbing images (wow, thank god it's in M-rated now), cursing words and bad language, possible mistypes and grammar errors, etc…
A/N: Okay, today is supposed to be for Nura's Golden Days update, but I still have to check it over and add this and that for that chapter, so I decide to switch the update days. This chapter for MBiO is up first and Saturday, I'll update Nura's Golden Days… Anyway, many of you have been waiting for this as well, right? So, by all mean, please… ENJOY!
Chapter 12: Direct Attack! Inugamigyoubu 'Tanuki' Moves!
"Yosume-chan! Sorry for the long wait! Student Council could be so much of a hassle when it's busy," Tsurara said as she ran approaching her new friend who was waiting for her on the gate of her school.
The girl who had straight long black-greenish hair tied into pony tail behind her head, nodded expressionlessly. She didn't talk a lot and was kind of straight-faced, but Tsurara knew she was forgiven because she offered a small pack of warm taiyaki (1) onto her hand.
"Thank you, you bought it while waiting for me?" Tsurara smiled, accepting the gift. The girl in yellow blazer and skirt, the uniform of Tsurara's high school, nodded again quietly, her reddish amber eyes looking at Tsurara's golden amber ones unreadable as usual, but Yosume was a good girl and friend. She actually saved Tsurara once when she was about to get attack by a pervert.
Though, Tsurara actually could defend herself from any danger just fine. She was actually in the verge of using her skill to beat the shit of the guy, but before she had a chance, Yosume had come and beat the guy with her bag and dialed 911. The guy of course escaped.
Later Tsurara knew that Yosume just bluffed about calling the police and she was relieved immensely. Getting involved with police never did anything good. Tsurara was after all, an undercover member of yakuza family.
After that, Tsurara found out that the girl was a new student in her school and was in Tsurara's class as well. She then volunteered to be her guide for a few first days when Yosume was adjusting to the new school and from those few days, Tsurara realized that the girl never talked unnecessarily. Everything she did was always effective and smart with logical reasons. She also didn't ask many unimportant questions unless it was really important, so Tsurara quite liked her.
They became fast friends and now Tsurara could say that Yosume was one of her best friend.
"Ah… I know! Why don't you come with me, Yosume-chan? I know a good takoyaki (2) vendor. Do you want some?" Tsurara offered while smiling cheerily at the quiet girl.
Yosume looked like contemplating for a moment, though it didn't show in her face. She just went into pause mode before she nodded ten seconds later.
"Great! I know the seller, so he will give us bonus if we buy in his place," Tsurara grinned and grabbed her friend's hand to lead her to Kurata's vendor near Rikuo's school.
0oo—Rikuou x Rikuo—oo0
"Woman…!" Inukami hissed in anger as he was standing again, seeing Yura obstructing his way to get to Rikuo.
"Yura-san!" Rikuo called her name worriedly as she just stood there in front of him, preparing her fighting stance and glaring at Inukami tensely.
"Move away, woman! I don't have a problem with you!" Inukami shouted at Yura and she snorted.
"As if I'd let ya touch Rikuo-kun…! Ya have to get past me first before ya can even think about it!" Yura narrowed her sharp eyes even more.
"Whoa~, Keikain-san so cool!" Mezumaru whistled as he saw the showdown between Yura and Inukami.
"Hah!" Gozumaru then realized after he was slightly impressed himself. "It's not the time to get impressed! Her opponent is that Mad Dog Shikoku, you know!" he yelled in horror.
"Yura-san! Please stand back!" Rikuo shouted anxiously. He didn't think that something like this could happen! Yura was involved because of him…!
"It's okay, Rikuo-kun," Yura said reassuringly but she didn't turn her face to Rikuo and kept focusing on the mad teenager boy in front of her. "I'm strong ya know?" she smiled confidently and then she started her attack first.
Yura's form was momentarily gone from everyone's eyesight, surprising them before she appeared second later just in front of Inukami and a very fast straight jab from her right hand succeeded in knocking the air out of Inukami's lungs.
"So fast!" Everyone's jaws, except Inukami's, dropped at the unexpected sight while Inukami widened his eyes in shock for being attacked so suddenly like that. His body was sent back a few feet, but before he could react and defended himself, Yura already delivered another blow. This time came from her left fist which connected to Inukami's jaw.
Rikuo, Gozumaru and Mezumaru cringed at the cracking sound. That second one must hurt like hell. Inukami's body was lifted from the ground for a moment and Yura kicked him on the stomach, sending him fly backward a few meters again.
Yura attacked all out, not giving Inukami's any chance to fight her back.
"Whoa… she's so strong…!" Mezumaru mumbled in disbelief, face paling seeing that.
"This is…Keikain ability, huh?" Gozumaru was sweating nervously as well, but Rikuo was the one shocked most.
"I have… no idea that Yura-san can fight that well in hand-in-hand combat," Rikuo gulped as he watched how Yura kicked the hell out of Inukami who seemed unable to fight her back.
She was… probably stronger than Rikuo himself. How scary! He even had rejected her…! It was good that she was cool about it. If she wasn't… Rikuo shivered. He didn't even want to think about that.
"You…! You've done it now, woman!" Inukami growled as he wiped a trail of blood that came from his split lips because of Yura's uppercut. "Even if you're a girl…, I won't go easy on you!" his amber eyes turned yellowish and the pupil turned so small it looked like a slit of black inside the iris.
Without further pause, Inukami dashed to Yura fast, another knife in hand as he attacked. Yura saw his movement and dodged as he thrust the knife to her and using her hand, she slapped the hand away so he would drop the knife, but his grip on the knife was solid. That was rather unexpected. However, Yura hurriedly sent another blow, now using her knee to knee the gut on his chest, but it seemed Inukami was prepared for that as his other hand came to block it.
Inukami jumped back for a second to dodge another blow from Yura's right jab after that and suddenly he had a grip on her wrist.
Not wanting to get cornered, Yura pulled her fist back while lifting her left leg to give Inukami a side kick which was readily blocked by Inukami lifted right leg and squatting right hand.
"This is incredible…! They exchanged so many blows in the matter of seconds…!" Gozumaru assessed the fight between Yura and Inukami and couldn't help being impressed again.
"It's the first time I saw a brawl like a fight in a battle for real…!" Mezumaru also widened his eyes in amazed look.
Rikuo bit his lower lip. That Inukami guy was strong…! He wasn't 'mad' at all. His movement and reflexes were precise and effective. He was a fighter!
Yura-san is in danger…!
As he was panicking on the inside, the fight had progressed in Yura getting some more blows to Inukami's body, but she also suffered from some cuts made by that annoying knife on his hand. The last cut was quite deep and painful as it cut through her arm.
"Ah!" Yura had to step back as the blood came out from her arm.
"Yura-san!" Rikuo couldn't let this go further. He clenched his teeth and moved in a spur of moment to protect his friend.
As Inukami almost stabbed her, Rikuo also ran to her direction and grabbed her to move away, protecting her from the knife that he got cut on his cheek.
"Rikuo!" Gozumaru and Mezumaru shouted in horror as Rikuo brought Yura away from Inukami.
"Gozumaru, Mezumaru! I'll take Yura-san in safe place!" Rikuo shouted at them and they understood instantly what it meant.
It meant both Gozumaru and Mezumaru had to stall Inukami while he and Yura ran away. Well, it wasn't like Rikuo's usual move because he had to back down from a battle, but with Yura there, he couldn't exactly 'fight' Inukami so openly. He didn't want to endanger Yura further, but he couldn't reveal his identity in front of her either.
"Yura-san! Let's run!" Rikuo said while pulling her to run with him.
"Eh, but…!" Yura looked at Gozumaru and Mezumaru who cut Inukami's path from chasing after Rikuo and Yura.
"It's okay! I'll protect Rikuo no matter what!" Gozumaru said with a confident smirk. "After all… he's my boyfriend," he added and Yura flushed at that, while a bead of sweat dropping from Rikuo's cheek. Even at a time like this, Gozumaru still continued his acting, huh?
"And I will always be by Gozumaru's side. We're brothers after all," Mezumaru also grinned confidently at that, totally supporting their cover.
"Sorry! Thanks, Gozumaru! Mezumaru! Stay safe!" Until I get back!—Rikuo yelled and thought of the last line as he was running with Yura's hand on his.
"Rikuo-kun…! Where are we going?" Yura couldn't help asking or more like shouting.
"To a safer place!" Rikuo shouted back as led Yura to some kind of takoyaki vendor.
After that, Rikuo stopped in front of the vendor suddenly while panting while there were two girls eating takoyaki on the seat of the vendor.
"Tsu-Tsurara…!" Rikuo called the black-bluish haired girl who was surprised seeing him.
"Wak—err, Rikuo-kun!" She stood and put down her takoyaki and approached him fast worriedly. "W-what happened…?"
"Sorry… but can you take Yura-san here to the nearest clinic? She's hurt!" Rikuo stated in panicky while thrusting Yura to Tsurara's arms.
"Eh? Wait a—! Rikuo-kun, calm down!" Tsurara tried to help him by stroking his back, but Rikuo couldn't stay there for long.
"Please! She needs stitches!" Rikuo said so tensely and seriously that Tsurara understood it was a grave situation and she pulled Yura to go with her, before Rikuo then turned to Kurata who looked at him worriedly as well. "Kurata, make sure both of them get away from this place as far as possible!" he said, more like whispering to the 'Aotabo' Kurata who nodded at the order immediately. "I have to get back to Gozu and Mezu fast…! Tell Rikuou that we're attacked."
"At once," Kurata said seriously as well. He hurriedly closed his shop to accompany Tsurara and Yura to the nearest clinic. Yosume was there as well, but Rikuo didn't notice her since her presence was quite… unnoticeable.
She watched the entire thing and heard every single word Rikuo had uttered both to Tsurara and Kurata and she closed her eyes slightly in understanding. When she accompanied Tsurara, Yura and Kurata on the way to the clinic, she took her cell-phone and silently sent a text message to someone.
0oo—Rikuou x Rikuo—oo0
Tamazuki yawned slightly as he almost finished doing his homework. It was quite boring to do the lesson he already did in the past. He wasn't being a genius for nothing. Apparently what he had learned in junior year in the past had only been taught here in the senior year. It was kind of useless attending the school right now. He should have been concentrate in taking down Nura Gumi instead.
His cell-phone buzzed and he put down his pen to look at it. Apparently, a message was sent to him.
Tamazuki opened the blocked number and read what was typed down.
Target location confirmed.
Oikawa Tsurara & Keikain Yura. Yakawa Clinic, 23rd St. Number 11.
Hindrance: Aotabo Kurata (one, male, big and strong)
And then a picture was coming as well and Tamazuki saw the faces of the target in the cell-phone: two black haired girls, one long, one short and a big man with short spiky hair in light color and tanned skin.
Tamazuki smirked at the message and the picture. "As expected from my pretty Ninja, Yosume-chan. Good job," he laughed hard for awhile afterward because his plan really did go accordingly, as he wished for. "Arai (3)!" he called one of his friends again and a big bald muscular man (bigger and more muscular, even tanner than Kurata) came out from the door.
"You called, Tamazuki-sama?" Arai asked with a wide scary smile.
"Yeah… I need you to go to 23rd street number 11, to a clinic named Yakawa," Tamazuki said as he showed the picture to Arai then and the big bald man came closer to look for it more clearly. "I don't need the guy, but bring those girls back to me A.S.A.P." Then the boss smiled as Arai grinned.
"At once," Arai said and then withdrew to do his task.
Tamazuki was still smiling as continued to do the homework. Well, doing homework while letting his plan run in smooth motion wasn't so bad. After all, he was also happy that Moki-jii and Inuhou had done their part very well. Their next target should be….
Ah, right… Yakushi Group. This would be very interesting, indeed. Tamazuki chuckled creepily as he finished another problem in his homework.
Some minutes later, he stretched out and put down his pen and closed his book. "Well then… I think it's time to pick Inukami from his task, huh? I hope he doesn't rough Rikuo-kun too much before taking him in." Tamazuki stood and stroke his wrist. "Limousine will be sufficient to pick up our honorable, guest, I think…." He chuckled and took out his cell-phone to rent a car together with the driver.
Once in awhile, appearing as a high class man would be good for his reputation he would build later on, after destroying Nura Gumi of course.
0oo—Rikuou x Rikuo—oo0
Rikuou was reading some reports in his working room when Kuromaru knocked on the sliding wooden door. "Excuse me, Sandaime."
Rikuou looked up from his report at the now slightly opened door and to Kuromaru's kneeling form. "What is it, Kuromaru?" he asked putting down his pen.
"We've got a visitor," Kuromaru said with serious expression.
"Who?" Rikuo raised his eyebrows, slightly intrigued by Kuromaru's tense look.
"Actually… it's Senba-sama," Kuromaru answered and Rikuou's face brightened slightly.
"Senba from Senba Ornament Store, huh? It's been awhile since I saw his face," Rikuo knew that man. He used to work with his father and retired from Yakuza work ten years ago to open the ornament store he had been dreaming of making since he was a kid, he said. "How is he?" Rikuou asked then.
"Um… actually…." Kuromaru explained why Senba was there and to Rikuou's horror to boot.
"What…?" Rikuou widened his eyes in shock hearing the explanation before he stood and then walked out of the room, intending to see Senba in person. "Where is he? He's not hurt, right?"
Kuromaru stood and followed Rikuou. "No, he's fine… but some of his workers aren't so lucky…." The black haired man answered sadly.
"Who…! Who in the hell did something like this in my area…!" Rikuo gritted his teeth in fury.
"I believe he said it was two men' doing… and he wasn't familiar with those guys." Kuromaru said and Rikuou narrowed his eyes in suspicion.
"Impossible… it's Shikoku Yakuza attack?" Rikuou mumbled as he walked to the guest room and to meet Senba to talk to him directly. There was a high chance that Senba had seen the guys face and probably, he could get a clue where he could start looking those bastards.
0oo—Rikuou x Rikuo—oo0
Zen didn't know what he had done to deserve this… stuck with two very suspicious people in a place where he couldn't run even if he wanted to.
Zen was just on his way to Nura Gumi main house when his name was called and then the next thing he knew he was dragged to some dark alley with a dead end in one side and the people who dragged him stood imposingly in front of him.
And then… an old man with bald head and wrinkly creepy face was handing him a document where he should put his signature on and stated that he was no longer in charge of the business of his corporation. Did this old man expect him to just say okay and sign it?
Moreover, what was that chicken face-looking guy doing right there? He was bringing out some kind of gasoline and lighter…. Did he want to burn that building down or something?
"What's wrong, Yakushi Zen-sama? Here's the paper. Please sign it." the old man said while looking at Zen expectantly.
Zen was accepting the document and looked at its content once more and asked again. "I'm sorry, who are you guys again?" he asked.
"We're from your department of treasury, Zen-sama. We're here to inform you that you corporation had just gone bankrupt," the old man said.
Zen snorted at that. "I'm sorry, but you must have the wrong Zen. I know everyone from treasury, and I have never seen you in my life," he said, giving the document back. This was totally ridiculous. Who was this crazy old man anyway?
"Oh… you didn't know? Your men in treasury… everyone is about to die in unfortunate accident," the old man said with a creepy smile.
"W-what…?" Zen was baffled. What was this old man saying? "What do you—? What was that supposed to mean?" This old man was nuts!
"My… you're slow aren't you, Zen-sama? I mean… they're dying right about… now," the old man smirked and just like a cue, the guy behind him was setting the building on fire.
"Wha—! WHAT ARE YOU DOING!" Zen shouted in shock in horror as the building was engulfed in flame. Scream and shout and yell were coming out from that building and Zen stared at it with mortified expression.
"See… your men… they got invited in a special party inside that building, Zen-sama, courtesy of me, Sode Moki and my friend there, Inuhou. Now… they're dead. So I'm in charge of your treasury starting from this point. So… will you sign here?" the old man asked once again and Zen… Zen was still in shock that he didn't even realize that arsonist, who apparently was called Inuhou, had turned his face at him. "Ah… but if you're still unwilling, I only need your hand anyway. The rest of you are unnecessary." Moki-creepy old guy smirked and Inuhou the arsonist walked slowly approaching Zen.
Zen… had nowhere to go…. He couldn't run anywhere because of the dead end…! But…
Zen clenched his fists and gritted his teeth, sheeting in anger. That old bastard…! His men were…!
"Understood," Zen said, after taking a deep breath to appear calming himself down while fishing out his specially made pen from his kimono sleeve. "Give me the document, I'll sign it."
The old creepy man smiled and the arsonist smirked in victory. Zen accepted the paper once again, but this time he grabbed the old man wrist. "Firstly, I'll do this to you," he stabbed the pen on the creepy old man's back hand and the old man yelped in pain.
"Moki-jii!" the arsonist yelled out in surprise and Zen smirked.
"Now… you won't live longer than three minutes, crazy old man…!" Zen looked down at the crouching Moki-jii on the ground, who was howling in pain while holding his shivering hand, with sinister expression and red glaring eyes glowing in rage. "I'm going to take revenge for my men you bastard—!"
The chicken faced arsonist, Inuhou, and Moki-jii paled visibly as they saw the complete fury in Zen's eyes. It seemed they had woken up the sleeping carnivore with their stunt and now no one could stop Zen from spreading his poisonous wings* to take them down.
0oo—Rikuou x Rikuo—oo0
Rikuo ran back to where Gozumaru and Mezumaru were fighting the 'Mad Dog' from Shikoku, Inukami. On the way, he grabbed a wooden sword from a sport store and slammed a 5000 yen bill on the cashier before continuing his running without waiting for the receipt and the change. He was panting when he arrived back to the battle ground once again, and gasped in shock at the view in front of him.
Inukami was… biting Gozumaru's shoulder. Rikuo widened his eyes at that.
"Gozumaru!" Mezumaru yelled in revulsion.
"AAAAAAAAAAH!" Gozumaru screamed in pain while Inukami was smirking very evilly after he let go, ripping some of Gozumaru's flesh in the process. The young boss of Gyuuki Gumi collapsed on the ground holding his bleeding shoulder.
"You do know why I'm called the 'Mad Dog' right?" Inukami showed off his pointed teeth and long tongue as he swiped the blood on his lips, Gozumaru's blood that was. "I have implanted canine teeth as my weapon. Now… some of your arteries might have been ripped apart by my teeth just now, boy. Bleed to death!" he laughed very loudly and madly at that.
"Gozumaru, hang on!" Mezumaru shouted worriedly as he glared daggers at Inukami. "You bastard—!" he took out his string and pendulum and then attacked Inukami to subdue his movement, but the Mad Dog was ready and deflected the string away.
"As if something like that would stop me," Inukami smirked, but then he was startled as the he felt something gripped at his lower body from the other side. "What…?" He widened his eyes as he saw the string gripped his body tightly together with his arms that he couldn't move them at all.
"You fell for it!" Mezumaru smirked. "I can use as many strings as I want, you know…. You're too preoccupied by the pendulum you didn't notice the one without one!" he said while pulling the string hard, as result gripped Inukami's body so tightly that the string cut his outer skin.
"You—!" Inukami growled at Mezumaru angrily and he tried to reach the string with his teeth, but unfortunately, the string was too low for his mouth to reach.
"Gozumaru!" Rikuo ran to Gozumaru's side to check on his injuries. "Oh God… this is bad… You're bleeding so much! Hang on, Gozumaru!" He was very worried as he gave pressure to the open wound on Gozumaru's shoulder with both hands. The blood kept oozing out. The big artery above his shoulder blade was severed. This wasn't just bad…. This was really bad…!
"I… I'm fine…!" Gozumaru clenched his teeth, pushing himself to bear the pain. "Anyway, I have to… help Mezumaru…!"
"Don't push yourself! Stay down! Your wound is severe!" Rikuo said tensely, holding him down as he tried to get up.
"You don't understand…! That guy… no matter how hard and how much he takes blows and damage, he always stands back again as if… as if he didn't feel any pain! His physical power aside, he didn't feel at all… That's just too dangerous! Mezumaru can't hold him down for too long…!" Gozumaru gritted his teeth now, seething. "I won't let him harm Mezumaru…!"
"Gozumaru…!" Rikuo knew how much Gozumaru wanted to protect his twin, but even so… fighting in that kind of condition was suicide. "Understood," he then nodded as he got the idea. "Let me fight that Mad Dog together with Mezumaru." Rikuo then stood after having Gozumaru's hand give pressure to his own open wound, a wooden sword ready in hand.
"What—? Don't, Rikuo! We're supposed to protect-, ah!—y-you…!" Gozumaru gripped his wound hard so as not to let it bleed more. He could die from blood loss if the wound wasn't closed soon.
"It's okay…! We'll be quick… and we'll bring you to the clinic to treat your wound…!" Rikuo focused his gaze on Inukami who was still struggling to free himself from the Mezumaru's strings. "How dare he… hurt my family in front of me…!" Rikuo narrowed his eyes dangerously.
Gozumaru was startled as he saw the anger and fury in Rikuo's dark chocolate eyes. He was shocked that a guy as nice and as cute as Rikuo could make that kind of expression. It was a little bit different from his expression when Rikuo was fighting Gozumaru and Mezumaru on Nejireme. This was… Rikuo looked ten times scarier than at that time.
"Prepare yourself, Mad Dog from Shikoku…! I won't go easy on you…!" Rikuo said as he launched his attack. There was no hesitation in his movement as he struck Inukami with his blade right to the head.
"Gaaah!" Inukami went down on his knees, blood splattering from the wound on his head where it made contact with the splinter of the wood from Rikuo's sword.
Rikuo glared down even harder at the spiky haired boy in front of him as he readied his next attack from the side and without any mercy, he struck Inukami once more on his temple, sending him fly aside and collapse on the ground, unmoving.
Rikuo was breathing hard and heavy, panting, and then dropped his wooden sword because his hands were shaking. This was the first time he hit someone so hard just because he wanted to hurt and destroy. He hoped he didn't go too far and killed Inukami, but imagining letting the boy live was also terrifying him. This Mad Dog guy was seriously brutal. He almost killed Gozumaru by biting him, for God's sake…!
Rikuo shook his head to clear his mind and turned to run to Gozumaru which now was with Mezumaru who already saw that Rikuo had dealt with Inukami, so he helped Gozumaru instead.
"Gozumaru! Mezumaru!" Rikuo knelt once again beside the wounded boy. "Come on, let's get out of here and go to the clinic," he said as he took off his gakuran and ripped part of his white inner clothes to make a temporary bandage just so he could move Gozumaru without him having to lose more blood.
"Ah, your uniform…," Gozumaru was barely awake, his head swaying because of the blood loss and his eyes unfocused, but he could still make out the outline of Rikuo's body and fair slightly tanned skin.
"It's okay. I can always buy a new one," Rikuo smiled reassuringly while putting on his gakuran again to cover the ripped part of his white clothes. "Let's go." He said as he helped Mezumaru help Gozumaru stand while supporting him, but before they could walk far a limousine car went passing them and then stopped just near Inukami's passed out form.
Rikuo paid an eye on the car as the window rolled down and Tamazuki's concerned look was revealed. "Oh my… what happened?" he asked as he opened the door and got out.
"Tamazusa-san…?" Rikuo was surprised seeing his senior.
Tamazuki looked at the wounded Gozumaru, to Mezumaru and Rikuo, and then to the unconscious body just a few feet beside him. He sighed. "You're surprisingly disappointing me, Inukami," he said, frowning and Rikuo widened his eyes in shock as the body twitched just after Tamazuki's words.
"Ugh… it's not done yet…!" Inukami, the one who was supposed to pass out because of the blunt force trauma to the head, was growling as once again, he tried to stand up… though his feet were shaking.
"That's impossible…!" Mezumaru gasped in disbelief as Inukami once again, glared intimidating at the shocked Rikuo, the drowsy Gozumaru and the terrified Mezumaru.
"That's my 'friend'…," Tamazuki chuckled and put his palm on Inukami's cheek just after he steadied his grounding, checking him over. "Hmm… you're quite banged up. Against three people from Nura Gumi at the same time seemed too much for you, huh?" he asked.
"No…! I haven't lost yet…!" Inukami growled heatedly, but Tamazuki just smiled at him and stroke his bruised cheek tenderly, making Inukami lean over and seek his touch.
"It's fine. I also didn't expect that Rikuo-kun could be this strong…. It's a little unpredictable, but factor X is always present in every experiment," Tamazuki said while turning his face at the shocked party. He smiled at the pale faces in front of him.
"Tamazusa-san… what are you doing…?" Rikuo was demanding answer in disbelief. This couldn't be true… Tamazusa was part of Shikoku Yakuza?
"Ah, I believe you haven't known this side of me. Pardon me for my rudeness. "My name is Inugamigyoubu 'Tanuki' Tamazuki, the youngest son of the ruler of dark world in Shikoku, Inugamigyoubu Gumi. Though, I'm no longer under my father's family." Tamazuki introduced himself fully now and Rikuo gritted his teeth for not noticing this sooner.
Since the first time Rikuo met Tamazusa…no, Tamazuki, he already felt that something was wrong with him. He should have trusted his gut a little and dug information about him, but he was just too preoccupied with his and Rikuou's relationship problem that it distracted him!
"Tamazuki…!" Rikuo narrowed his eyes in anger at this man.
"I believe my friend here had given you trouble. I'm sorry again for the rudeness, but… I need Rikuo-kun to come with me," he said with a sly smile.
"Like hell Rikuo would go with you!" Mezumaru yelled at the fair skinned golden-amber eyed senior boy, but he was ignored totally because Tamazuki didn't even spare him a glance.
"I'm sorry but I can't go with you," Rikuo declined politely, but totally with certainty. "I have to bring my friend to the clinic. Your dog there had bitten him quite severely." He was trying to be sarcastic as he answered, but it failed miserably because he was too tense. This Tamazuki guy was planning something nasty and Rikuo just knew it. His face was full of deceit and trickery.
Tamazuki's smile widened. "The clinic you mentioned… is it Yakawa Clinic?" he asked then, cryptically and Rikuo was startled hearing that.
"How do you…?" Rikuo widened his eyes in realization. "You… what have you…!"
Tamazuki chuckled and took out his cell-phone to show him a picture. Rikuo squinted at the screen and saw… that Tsurara and Yura had been abducted. And they were unconscious too in the photo.
"You—BASTARD!" Rikuo almost attacked Tamazuki before realizing if he had gone ahead, Gozumaru would have fallen and it could worsen his wound. He stopped before it could happen and snarled "Tamazuki—!"
Tamazuki chuckled again in amusement. "Now… will you come with me, Rikuo-kun? Or you prefer me playing with these two girls in your place?" he asked, smirking in victory.
Rikuo gritted his teeth and sheeted angrily, but he didn't have any choice but to follow his instruction or else…! Yura and Tsurara were in danger, damn it…!
"I will let them go instantly after you come with me," Tamazuki bargained and Rikuo looked up at him in surprise.
Would Tamazuki really release those two if Rikuo went with him?
"Don't, Rikuo! If you go with him, that's just giving what he wants! He can't be trusted! You going with him won't guarantee that he won't hurt those two! Heck, we can't even be sure if he will let them go!" Mezumaru tried to reason as Rikuo's obstinacy was wavering.
"Will you… really let those girls go unharmed?" Rikuo asked, just to make sure.
"Rikuo!" Mezumaru yelled in shock and horror. Rikuo would bargain with the Tanuki bastard!
"I always keep my promise, Nura Rikuo. It's the code in our world, no?" Tamazuki smirked again.
"Understood. I'll go with you," Rikuo nodded then, in agreement.
"Wait a min—! Rikuo, you idiot!" Mezumaru shouted in desperation as Rikuo slowly released his support on Gozumaru's body and put his weight on Mezumaru's entirely. He didn't listen to what Mezumaru was protesting about.
"Mezumaru… go take Gozumaru to another clinic or a hospital. And tell Rikuou… don't do anything until he heard back from me, okay?" Rikuo warned in whisper.
"What do you mean 'don't do anything!' You're about to get kidnapped! You expect the Sandaime… and the others in Nura Gumi main house to stay silent and do nothing when they know you're in danger?" Mezumaru hissed in protest. Was Rikuo really an idiot or… or he had gone nuts now?
"Don't worry… Tamazuki doesn't seem wanting to harm me. He's just trying to look for the weakness of our family. And he sees me as one, expecting that Rikuou will lose his cool and sense, and will do something reckless and stupid just to take me back. Don't let that happen. Don't endanger Nura Gumi for my sake. No matter what happens… try to act a rationally and save me without endangering the entire family, got it?" Rikuo turned his face to Mezumaru sternly before he then smiled at him gently and reassuringly.
"Rikuo…." Mezumaru couldn't help feeling amazed again seeing Rikuo's smile. How could he do that in this kind of situation was beyond Mezumaru's logic, but seeing Rikuo's smile brought the sense of peace and calmness to him that he could think more clearly now.
"Look for more information… Heck, try to contact Inugamigyoubu Family in Shikoku if you must. Just… proceed with extra caution. I promise I'll be fine and I'll wait for you guys to rescue me. Make sure Rikuou hear that, okay?"
Rikuo looked at Mezumaru's blue eyes so surely, so faithfully with his clear dark chocolate eyes that Mezumaru couldn't help but say "Okay," with conviction as well. Really, he couldn't win arguing with Rikuo, ever. He had to trust Rikuo.
The young boss of Nura Gumi smiled small at that. "Take care…." He said as he turned to Tamazuki again more seriously. "Okay… you can take me now." Rikuo said while walking closer to the taller fair skinned boy.
"Such a wise decision, Nura Rikuo," Tamazuki moved slightly to give a way for him to go inside the car while Inukami silently followed to go inside from the other door on the opposite side of where Rikuo got on to the limousine.
Tamazuki got on next and sat beside Rikuo who sat in the middle, between Inukami and Tamazuki. He then closed the door before Rikuo warned him.
"I tell you… whatever you do, I won't give you any information regarding Nura Gumi and to let you know, I have no connection whatsoever with that Yakuza Family. They won't risk their safety for my sake," Rikuo said, totally sure of that. "You're wasting your time."
Tamazuki smirked evilly at that. "We'll see about it later, Rikuo-kun," he said as the car drove away to a certain place in Ukiyoe….
0oo—Rikuou x Rikuo—oo0
Rikuou's cup mysteriously cracked when he lifted it to drink his tea, sending the flow of hot tea down wetting his yukata. "Ouch, hot! What the—!" He stared at the broken cup, puzzled.
"It seems something happened," Senba who was sitting in front of him spoke slowly, while he was fixing the position of his sunglasses on the bridge of his nose. "The cup broke suddenly… a bad omen," the light-brown haired man explained the superstitious belief.
Rikuou wasn't into superstition, but for some reasons, he felt his heart clench at the sight of the broken cup. There was an unexplainable bad feeling surging inside him, making him uneasy. He just didn't know what it was.
Rikuo shook his head and called Kino to put away the broken cup and to make him another cup of tea, not bothering to change first despite the spilled tea still sticking on his skin through his wet clothes. "So… what kind of persons are we dealing with, Senba?" he asked then, looking at the older man seriously.
"I'm sorry for bothering you despite my vow not to get involved in Yakuza matters anymore, but these guys attacking my store were quite strange. It was as if they were moving in some kind of organization." Senba said with worried expression. "Rikuou-sama… I'm afraid it has something to do with the many closing of the small stores and corporations that happened in Ukiyoe for the last week," he said.
Rikuo narrowed his eyes as he heard that. Something like that happened in the last week and everyone failed to report it to me? Impossible, "Why haven't I heard about it?" he asked then, irritated that something suspicious like that had slipped out of his attention.
"Probably… because no one is brave enough to report it to the patrol from Nura Gumi," Senba said with a concerned tone. "People are getting blackmailed and coerced to shut down their shops. The men that coerced me to shut my ornament store know a lot of things about my past that… I wish to disappear. They blackmailed me that if I didn't close my store, they would start the rumors that could get Nura Gumi in trouble… and worse, they also forced me to sign the bankruptcy document and transfer the ownership to some kind of shady corporation. If I didn't do it, he said he would burn down my store… with my workers inside. I tried to resist, but they're not afraid to hurt other people. Some of my workers were injured by an arsonist. I don't know his name, but he has a face like a chicken. The other one is a creepy bald old man…. They were just so horrible. We couldn't even report it to the police because our connection to Nura Gumi would be investigated, and it would hurt Nura Gumi name…."
Rikuou heard the explanation carefully while noting some important facts. The perpetrators were two people, a creepy old guy and an arsonist whose face was like chicken. They were somehow informed about the store owners' connection to Nura Gumi and… "Have you ever seen them anywhere before they attack your store?" Rikuou asked further.
Senba shook his head. "It was the first time I saw their faces…."
Then… they were probably outsiders…. The probability that those guys were part of Shikoku Yakuza increased a little bit more. Did they also have connection to the one that attacked Hihi?
"What are you going to do, Sandaime Rikuou?" Senba asked carefully.
Rikuo was seriously thinking for a moment before nodding. "Hang in there, Senba. I and my family will do our best to catch those guys… and return the ownerships of those stores closed because of those bastards…!" he said, looking at Senba surely.
"I'm a little bit embarrassed, but I think it's really necessary to have to say this, Rikuou-sama. We're counting on your promise," Senba said while nodding, his light brown hair swayed slightly following the movement of his head.
Just when Senba was about to excuse himself to leave, Kino ran down the corridor and opened the door to the guest room in a hurry. "Rikuou-sama!" she shouted in panicky and Rikuou was startled.
"Kino? W-what's wrong?" Rikuou stood up and walked to her, rather concerned with her pale face and worried look.
"There's a phone… from Zen-sama, but he sounds very strange…!" Kino then offered the wireless and Rikuou got even more worried as he heard that it was from Zen.
Rikuou accepted the phone and hurriedly spoke, "Hello, Zen?"
"Ri… Rikuou…?" Zen's voice came as a reply, but for some reasons, it sounded very croaky and weak.
"Zen, are you okay?" Rikuou was very worried as he hard it.
"Not… okay at all…! My men are… 'cough-cough'… Tried to save them… but the fire is too big… 'cough!'"
"Fire? What fire?" Rikuou was slightly confused, but the horrible coughing fit Zen had fallen into worried him even more. "Zen?"
"Please stop talking already, Zen-dono! You're even barely breathing!"
Rikuou made out another voice on the background, and he knew who it was. "Shouhei?"
"Ah, I'm sorry, Sandaime Rikuou, Zen-dono can't really talk right now! He's inhaled too much smoke! Paramedics! Get your ass down here and help Zen-dono!"
"What the hell happened there?" Rikuou was very worried now because Shouhei's voice sounded very frantic. "Oi, Shouhei! Answer me, damn it!" he demanded that Shouhei at least gave him a clue.
"I'm sorry, I don't know the detail, but Zen-dono was involved in accident, and then it seemed he went into a building which was already on fire to rescue some people…! Ah, don't move his head too much! He's dizzy!"
It seemed Shouhei also spoke with the paramedics on site in between trying to explain the situation to Sandaime.
"Oi, is Zen okay?" Rikuou knew that talking over the phone was ineffective right then because Shouhei said he also didn't know the detail. But Rikuou just needed to know if Zen would make it.
"I'm not sure… he inhaled smoke quite a bit, and there's his respiratory problem. He was in weak state when the ambulance arrived. We're on our way to the hospital along with 24 other people who were stuck in the fire. I'll call the main house again as soon as I know how his actually condition is."
Rikuou sighed long at that. Well, at least Zen was still alive. "Understood. I'll wait for the news, Shouhei. Take care of Zen and don't leave his side," he said on the phone tensely.
"Yes!" Shouhei's response was absolute and then they severed the connection.
"What happened, Rikuou-sama?" Kino asked from her spot, still waiting for Rikuou to say something.
"It's Zen… he got into some kind of accident," Rikuou repeated what Shouhei had told him. "I'm not really sure, but Shouhei and he are on the way to hospital and once they arrive, Shouhei will call again later to update the news," he said, giving the wireless back to Kino.
Rikuou then turned to Senba. "I'm sorry, Senba. Something happened to Zen," he said apologetically to Senba.
"Zen-sama is also an owner of a medical and pharmaceutical corporation, no? Maybe he was attacked by the same guys that had been acting up closing the stores in Ukiyoe," Senba speculated.
"Could be… but I need to wait for an update from Shouhei to be certain. At least until Zen can tell us what happened…." Rikuou sighed long in defeat. "Just the time before Rikuo gets home…. Later he will be very upset if he knows that Zen's been hurt…."
"Rikuou-sama!"
Now, Rikuou could hear Kubinashi's voice shouting out from the corridor and his running steps approaching the guest room.
"Ah, what now?" Rikuou was getting annoyed at everyone shouting his name.
"Rikuou-sama! It's bad! Gozumaru and Mezumaru are…!" Kubinashi looked very worried when he arrived in front of the room, just like Kino earlier, but this time, his face was more mortified.
"Huh…?" Rikuou widened his eyes in total shock as he heard what Kubinashi had to say.
0oo—Rikuou x Rikuo—oo0
Rikuo was brought to a certain big building that probably belonged to a certain corporation. Though, there was no name board or anything to identify it. Rikuo's eyes were covered the entire time with black cloth by Inukami on the way to the building, but Rikuo had lived in Ukiyoe more than 15 years. Wanting it or not, he already memorized the outline of the town by heart, so he totally could recall how many times they turned and how far they went after they left the starting point near their school.
This was good. Rikuo could give out their base location to the guys in Nura Gumi if he could find a way to send them the message.
Inukami gripped Rikuo's wrist and tied his hands behind his back. Rikuo tensed his muscles the entire time during the tying process, to create some spaces later when he relaxed his hands. He didn't plan to get captured and to just sit down doing nothing. As soon as those guys from Shikoku released Yura and Tsurara, he would also run away.
Rikuo knew when he was brought inside the building, even though his eyes were still covered, because he could feel the cold breeze from the air conditioner. There was a click sound indicating a door was opened and then he was nudged to walk to enter some kind of room before another sound of door closed could be heard. Then Tamazuki spoke.
"Uncover his eyes, Inukami."
A moment later bright light attacked Rikuo's eyes as the black material was removed from his eyes. Rikuo blinked several times to get used to the light and then he glanced around to see where he was. it turned out to be some kind of office or so, with a big wooden table and a comfy looking chair behind it. There was a couch in front of the table and some bookshelves surrounding them except by the wall where the door was attached.
"Where is this?" Rikuo asked just to make sure even though he knew he was in their base.
"Our base," Tamazuki said as he sat down on the comfy chair behind the working table. "Welcome to Inugamigyoubu 'Tanuki' Gumi temporary HQ, Nura Rikuo," he smiled, greeting the glasses wearer chocolate haired boy.
Rikuo was expressionless as he stared at Tamazuki.
"Oya, don't be so hostile, Nura Rikuo. We won't harm you… yet," Tamazuki said again with a sly smirk.
"Where are the girls?" Rikuo didn't bother greeting him back and responding to his provocation.
"They're fine," Tamazuki answered accordingly.
"You promised to let them go once I go with you," Rikuo narrowed his eyes at Tamazuki. If this guy broke that promise, Rikuo would definitely kick his ass later.
"And they will be released… just, not right now," Tamazuki said.
"You—!" Rikuo snarled at Tamazuki again in anger.
"Relax… I just can't have you run away as soon as I let them go. I'm not that stupid," Tamazuki chuckled. "You're quite unpredictable, Rikuo-kun… This is the first time I can't figure out someone. I can't find any connection between you and Nura Gumi, and yet… you're so close to the current Sandaime of the Alliances. Actually… who are you?" he asked then with intrigued expression, seeming very interested to know who Rikuo was. "Moreover, you bear the almost same name as the Sandaime… Nura Rikuou. Actually… just what are you to Nura Gumi?"
"I'm not obliged to answer any of your questions. Besides… haven't I told you I'm just a civilian who unfortunately has the similar name with the most troublesome guy in Japan?" Rikuo said evenly.
"Well, the fact that you're important to Nura Gumi remains the same," Tamazuki didn't hear him apparently, because he already speculated every possibility by himself. "Maybe you're a shadow for Sandaime… ah, but your appearances are too different, like the sun and the moon, so it's probably not accurate. Or maybe, you're Sandaime's boy toy?" he laughed at the latest guess and Rikuo wanted to punch this guy in the face.
"Obviously, you've got it wrong," Rikuo said, still calmly. "I have nothing to do with Nura Gumi, and that's it."
"Liar," Inukami scoffed at that and Rikuo turned at the Mad Dog while narrowing his eyes. "You said you got close to Sandaime Rikuou because you want to take him down… because he adores you, no?" the reddish amber eyed boy smirked teasingly.
"Oh? Isn't that new?" Tamazuki raised his eyebrows. "You want to say that you're the same as us?" he snickered.
They obviously knew that it was a lie to distract Inukami earlier. But if he could play his card right, maybe they'd fall once again into his trick. "No. I'm way better than you are," Rikuo answered then, with a smirk, relaxing his stance and then sitting on the couch like he owned the place.
It was a long shot, but there was no harm in trying it.
"What did you say?" Inukami growled at Rikuo, narrowing his eyes in disdain as he saw how comfortable Rikuo was.
"Obviously, I said it to distract you because you got a knife on my neck… but it doesn't mean that it wasn't true." Rikuo leaned his back on the backrest of the couch and closed his eyes, remembering his 'painful' memory when he was still jealous of Rikuou and hated the guy with passion. "How hard do you think I've lived all this time… just because I bear the similar name with him? Kidnapped repeatedly, almost died repeatedly because of the mistaken identity… I HATE that guy whose name brings nothing but trouble in my life!" Rikuo snarled as he opened his eyes and looked at Inukami sharply.
The wounded Mad Dog looked startled. It seemed he really saw the hatred in Rikuo's eyes.
"Hmm, this is unexpected. You really hate the Sandaime, huh?" Tamazuki also looked surprised.
See, it was working. If Rikuo recalled and infused his hatred a little bit, his act was outstanding. Maybe he would become an actor someday… if he ever passed the nervousness in acting in front of the public.
"But you also don't want to give me information about Nura Gumi despite your hatred. Why is that?" Tamazuki baited again, but Rikuo totally wanted him to ask that question.
"That's totally easy. Nura Gumi is okay… more than okay actually. They're strong…, have a lot of connections… and rich to boot. Why do I want to destroy such amazing organization if I can control and take advantage of it?" Rikuo smirked convincingly and Tamazuki looked startled, probably not expecting such an evil answer from Rikuo. "The one I hate and want to destroy is Nura Rikuou, the Sandaime, not the Nura Gumi itself. That fool… just by using a little bit angelic face and seduction, he falls for me so deeply and easily. I totally want to see his expression when I stab him in the back someday…." Rikuo laughed evilly at that. "Just imagining his shocked, betrayed and despaired expression makes me shiver in excitement...!" he continued laughing while Inukami and Tamazuki looked at each other, sweat prickling on their cheeks.
"You're… surprisingly eviler than I thought," Tamazuki said, looking slightly nervous. He seemed really not understanding Rikuo's nature now and seeing Rikuo's act made him doubt his ability to judge people.
"Really? Haven't you heard that angelic face is deceiving?" Rikuo snickered.
"And you call your own face angelic? Aren't you ashamed as a boy?" Inukami asked as well, sweat dropping from behind his head.
Rikuo chuckled. "Well, it's the truth. Aren't I angelic?" he asked teasingly while winking. "Men can do anything when it's about survival," he added, looking at the deadpanned Inukami amusedly before he turned to look at Tamazuki again. "How is it, Tamazuki? My act in front of Rikuou's subordinates was awesome, right? Why don't we make a deal?"
"A deal?" Tamazuki looked interested now, falling completely for Rikuo's 'supposedly' true color and nature.
"I'll destroy Rikuou for you, in exchange, you give Nura Gumi to me. Of course, I'm prepared to follow Inugamigyoubu 'Tanuki' Gumi as one of your generals. That way, you'll get the biggest control of the dark world in Central Japan without having to do the conquering yourself. Isn't this plan more effective?" Rikuo offered the mouthwatering deal then, his ultimate weapon for now.
Both Inukami and Tamazuki widened their eyes in shock as they heard the deal. "You… you can do something like that?" they even dropped their jaws, looking like fishes out of water.
They looked so hilarious right now Rikuo just had to laugh at their faces for that reason alone. Well, couldn't really blame them for being surprised, though. They just didn't expect Rikuo to be so evil and so… politically advanced about trickery as well. Although the idea of using this as his advantage to dupe them came in the spur of moment, he should be given the credit for his genius plan and quick thinking.
To think it further, it actually made sense if Rikuo really wanted to do this looking from Rikuo and Rikuou's history. It wouldn't be weird if Rikuo had this planned all along. Though, of course it wasn't true. After all, he loved Rikuou, was in love with him even. He couldn't bring himself to hate his half brother despite what happened between them.
"Of course I can, Tamazuki. After all…, Rikuou is indeed in love with me," Rikuo was still chuckling when he answered it. "Moreover… those guys in Nura Gumi love me dearly as well… it won't be strange if they pick me to lead them after Rikuou's dead," he continued so surely and confidently that he was positive that both Tamazuki and Inukami believed him.
There was a stretched silence between the three of them and Tamazuki seemed like contemplating this unexpected offer. The deal wasn't bad at all. It was too good even. Moreover, Rikuo appeared so sly right then that Tamazuki seemed considering if the boy would do something similar to him in the future.
But… future or not, this offer really could change everything. If Tamazuki made that deal… he could conquer Nura Gumi without even having to do all the work. This boy, Nura Rikuo, was willing to follow him as the next leader of Nura Gumi soon after Sandaime Rikuou was out of the picture. He would get to control Central Japan after that.
"You have all your time to think," Rikuo said then, yawning. "I'm kind of tired right now after that fight…."
Rikuo then turned to Inukami who was still banged up but the Mad Dog didn't even bother to treat his wound first and Rikuo felt kind of bad that he had caused the severest injury on his head. Though, he wouldn't apologize because aside Inukami deserving those wounds for hurting his friends, it also didn't go right with Rikuo's 'personality' he was performing right now.
The 'Rikuo' in Rikuo's act right then was a guy who thought nothing but taking advantage of people's opening and weakness for his own benefit. He had to make it believable until the smallest detail, including discarding his 'caring for other people' tendency.
"You'd better treat those wound on your head or it will hurt like bitch when it gets infected," Rikuo even put some cussing words he normally wouldn't say as well in his speech to Inukami as he laid down on the couch in carefree manner, not in the slightest intimidated even though he was inside his enemy's base to show that he didn't regard Tamazuki and his cronies as his 'enemies'. "I'm borrowing your couch to nap, Tamazuki," he added again before closing his eyes and pretended to sleep for real.
Inukami and Tamazuki were stunned speechless for a moment before one of them had to say it. "He's such a weird guy…"
Rikuo made out Inukami's voice and then there was silence again before Tamazuki added. "Weird… but brilliant…."
Rikuo smirked in his pretended sleep. Now if he just could think something in the borrowed time, find a way to get out of this enemy base… or at least to send message to Rikuou about his plan to 'befriend' Tamazuki's group and then make them totally powerless in front of Nura Gumi forces….
End of Chapter 12
Tbc…
Additional Notes:
*It's a metaphorical expression because Zen is specialized in medicine and poison. And he uses his specialization in here.
1)Taiyaki: a baked bread in fish shape filled with sweet red bean or adzuki bean.
2)Takoyaki: I believe a lot of you have already known this, but just in case you haven… it's one of Japanese dumplings, made from egg, flour, vegetable and squid, shaped into balls and eaten with sauce (red/ketchup or white/mayonnaise) with dried fish or nori (dried seaweed) topping.
3)Arai: a human name for Tearai Oni (just in case if you don't know who it is)
A/N: How the hell does it turn out this way? *dizzy* I have no idea I can make Rikuo act this way… forgive me if he seems oOC in this chapter. But being a genius he is (in this universe) I can totally imagine him doing something like this to buy time until he figures out how to escape. At least, one danger is out of the picture ^_^. Anyway, what do you think? Tell me! XD