Hello again, dear readers. It's KatsuragiRorensu. Yeah, I know it's been a long time since Chapter 2. Well, here I am for Chapter 3 of Blinded by Rage. Last chapter, I showed that SCEPTER 4 had grown since their victory over HOMRA, and, yeah, Munakata and Seri have been dating since then. Sweet moments for a while... well, what's gonna happen in Chapter 3? Here it is. Enjoy reading, and sorry if it took a long time. Writer's block. Truly, I apologize for the long, long, long, long wait. I really do. :)
Saruhiko Fushimi, fresh from a day-off, came running around the headquarters. The Blue King, Reisi Munakata, had called him in to handle an illegal trade deal at the seaport.
"What do you want from me, huh, Captain?", Fushimi sighed. He pushed his eyeglasses up after a yawn.
"Ah, Fushimi-san. How was your day-off?", Munakata asked. The clacking sounds of jigsaw pieces kept him from looking at Fushimi.
"The usual. No single glimpse of HOMRA. Just some annoying, no-good delinquents roaming around the area.", Fushimi answered. He does not seem satisfied with his earlier day-off.
"I see. Would you like another day-off?", Munakata teased him for his answer. Fushimi groaned.
"Why the hell will I take another day-off?"
Munakata looked at him. "Because you don't look refreshed."
"What?! I'll show you 'refreshed'! Gimme a task and I'll do it immediately!", Fushimi barked at Munakata.
"Oho, did I make your blood boil? Very well then.", Munakata chuckled. "I need you to lend me your eyes and ears, because this is important."
"Tch...", Fushimi grinned. "...Fine. A little intel won't hurt."
A little while passed. Fushimi dashed along the halls like a predator in hot pursuit after hearing his objectives from Munakata.
"We have received reports about an illegal arms deal at the seaport. I sent Kamo and Fuse to do some intel, and from their surveillance reports, a lot of illegal activities have been occurring there for the past few weeks. I want you to stop them here and now. Who knows what they plan to do?"
"An illegal arms deal, huh? Sounds wonderful to me.", Fushimi grinned.
Back to SCEPTER 4 HQ, the Blue King gathered his top officers for an announcement. Seri greets them as they enter the room.
"Good day, gentlemen.", Seri greeted them with a smile.
"Same to you, Lieutenant!", Akiyama, Benzai, Kamo, Domyoji, Enomoto, Fuse, Goto and Hidaka replied in chorus.
"Pardon for the interruption, but the Captain wishes to see you all. He has an announcement to make."
"An announcement?", Kamo muttered.
"That's rare from the Captain, don't you think, Awashima-san?", Hidaka asked.
Seri rolled her eyes with a faint smile. "Well..."
"I know you are all dedicated to SCEPTER 4, but why don't we have ourselves a break just for a night?"
The Blues stand firm in surprise as Munakata spins his chair around to face them, with his trademark calm glare in tow. He's wearing a smile on his face, which is very rare to see from the Blue King.
"Hhhbbb!", Domyoji gulped in shock.
"G-Good day, Captain!"
"As you were.", Munakata replied. "Oh yes, at ease, gentlemen."
*phew*
Seri giggled as their men loosened up from their firm stances. It was enough to turn their faces red.
"Ngyuh...", Goto's eyes widened at the sight of a giggling Seri. "How cute..."
"I've seen her smile before, but hearing her giggle is new.", Fuse whispered to Goto. "Her giggle was cute... no wonder the Captain liked her."
"Yeah, no kidding.", Goto whispered back.
"I have noticed each and every one of you working hard for our Clan. That hard work has bore fruit, and look at where we are now. Everyday, more and more people appreciate our services and some of them asked if they could join us in our daily duties. We may still have some detractors in the form of the syndicates and other business organizations, but our good deeds outweigh them threefold. I am proud to be King of SCEPTER 4, and I am proud that you gave your all with me. Had I been alone, you may be standing in front of my grave right now."
Seri made a soft gasp.
"But not to worry. I am still here, alive and well. Strong enough to lead you all to the future. Thank you, my men. No... thank you, my friends."
The Blues clapped in response. Domyoji and Hidaka couldn't help shouting in joy.
"Yeeaaaah! We got praised by the Captain!"
*WA-PAK!*
"Oww...", Hidaka held his head in pain. "Did you have to hit me over my head, Yujiro-san?"
"No, it's just so you could shut up for once.", Benzai calmly raised a fist while looking away. "There ain't a single day without you yelling your lungs out, y'know?"
Munakata laughed at his men's bizaare behavior. They all looked at him in shock.
"How delightful. This will be a memorable dinner. Don't you think so, Lieutenant?"
Seri blushed. She's unsure of what to say with her fellow Blues looking on.
"Uhh... y-yes, I do, Captain."
"Hm-hm...", Munakata softly chuckled. "...I forgot to tell you that in my office, there is no need for you to address me as Captain, King or anything. Just call me... Reisi."
"SHH!", Seri jerked towards Munakata in shock. "Don't tell them about-"
"Tell us what, Lieutenant?", Enomoto interrupted. Both the Blue King and the Tundra Woman looked at them.
"Yeah, Awashima-san. For a moment there, you two looked like you were having a husband-wife routine.", Hidaka added. Hearing this, Munakata laughed again while Seri looked down, blushing.
"We shall tell you more tonight. Dismissed.", Munakata ordered, ending the meeting. His top officers straighten up in unison.
"Sir, thank you, sir!"
Seri watched as they left the office. Once they were gone, she focused back to Munakata.
"...You are an idiot.", Seri muttered.
"Why?", Munakata whispered. He ran a finger under Seri's fringe, with the Lieutenant following his finger with her gaze.
"Because you're too excited about tonight.", Seri said as she grabbed Munakata's wrist. "What is this dinner for, anyway?"
"Ohoho...", Munakata moaned. "You will all see. I have a surprise for them... and for you, Seri-chan."
"A... surprise?", Seri blushed again. "Ehem. Pardon me. Of course it's a surprise, and I should not spoil it."
"You will find out tonight. You are dismissed as well.", Munakata ordered. Seri stood firm shortly and took a bow.
"As you wish, Captain."
We go back to Fushimi, who has just arrived at the seaport. He spends a few minutes investigating, but the place looked very peaceful and void of suspicion.
"Oi-oi... What a letdown.", Fushimi sighed, having found nothing at the place. "Those idiots Kamo and Fuse must have been drunk or half-asleep to think something was going on here. Oh well."
Fushimi took a few steps forward to leave, but he catches sight of three vehicles approaching the seaport.
"Ha!", Fushimi grinned. "I guess they're just late for the party!" He hops back and vanishes from sight as the vehicles stop in the middle of the port. Three groups of men exit the vehicles and confront each other as Fushimi watches from the shadows.
"Y'got the grub?"
"You tell me first. You have the money?"
"Why, yes."
"We did as you told. We brought half of the total price each, so that leaves you nowhere to complain."
"Sure, sure. You won't regret dealin' with me."
Fushimi watched as one of the groups brought out half a dozen boxes of what seemed to be unlicensed firearms.
"Are these the fully-automatic pups?"
"Yes."
"The latest?"
"Oh yeah."
"Shit!", Fushimi's eyes arched as he knew that this deal could be dangerous for others.
"Our intel says that there has been three groups frequenting the seaport for their deals. Fushimi-kun, confirm the target's identity before you strike. Whether it is them or not, you must stop this deal."
"You don't need to tell me that, idiot.", Fushimi smiled as he thought to himself. "You might be forgetting that I'm Fushimi!"
The sadistic Blue arched forward as he let out his signature maniacal grin and pulled his knives out. In a flash, he threw these and hit three bodyguards on their backs.
"Ughwaaagh!"
"What the?!"
The three men collapsed, Fushimi's knives still lodged on their backs. The knives began glowing red as they looked in horror.
"W-Wait a minute! A red color?!"
"Is it HOMRA?"
"Oh no, my good sir!", Fushimi laughed as he left the shadows to introduce himself. "SCEPTER 4. You are under arrest."
"It's a Blue! Kill him!"
"Heehee...! Fushimi...", Fushimi drew his sword with glee. "...Ready for emergency battle."
"Kill him!"
"HAHA!", Fushimi dashed past the ringleaders and went for the guards, slashing their guns in two. "You might be forgetting that I have a color! Resistance is futile!"
*WHAM!*
"Oghhh!"
"Nyaahahaha...!"
*BAM!*
*DGG!*
*WA-PAK!*
"More! More! MORE!", Fushimi laughed as he delivered a kick to the last bodyguard's face, knocking him out. "Mmm...", Fushimi focused his attention to the leaders.
"Please don't arrest me! I'll give you what you want, just let us go!"
"Let you go? The three of you?!", Fushimi laughed. "...I'll cut you to ribbons instead... How does that sound...?"
The leaders became mortified from Fushimi's nasty smile. Just as Fushimi was about to raise his sword, a red pulse caught his attention.
"Huh?", Fushimi looked around. "Ehh. Hehe!" He raised his sword again, but this time the pulse wave distracts him again with a voice in tow.
"Oi..."
"Tch. What is it now?!"
Annoyed, Fushimi turned around. His eyes suddenly widened as the surrounding becomes bright.
"What the-"
Evening has finally come, and the Blues, having shed their authoritative Blue uniforms for elegant (and some simple) dinner clothes, meet up with Munakata at the main entrance of their HQ.
"Good evening, gentlemen. You have finally dressed up for tonight.", Munakata chuckled.
"Certainly, sir.", Akiyama responded.
"Have you seen Lieutenant Awashima?"
"Now that you mentioned it, we haven't seen her since the meeting.", Goto wondered.
"Have you been looking for me?"
The Blues' jaws drop as they find a beautiful, blonde woman walking down the stairs. It was Seri. They could not help blushing as they stared in awe. Even Munakata was captivated.
"How do I look?", Seri asked. She clutched at her dress, apparently embarrased.
"YOU LOOK STUNNING, LIEUTENANT!", her fellow Blues yelled in comedic unison. "A-OKAY! PASSED!"
Seri chuckled. "T-Thank you." She looked at Munakata, who is still staring at her. "Captain?"
"Oh, uhh...", Munakata snapped back to his senses. "S-Shall we go?"
"YES!"
The elite members of SCEPTER 4 made their way into the venue. Hidaka ran about in awe as he had never been inside a fancy restaurant before. He then jumped onto Munakata's leg.
"Captain...", Hidaka comically cried. "...I've been wanting to be in one of these fancy places all my life! Thank you very much!"
Munakata laughed. "Hahaha! Your wish is now granted." Hidaka stood back up and wiped his tears. Seri looked on as a waiter approached them.
"Ahh, SCEPTER 4, I presume? This way, if you so please."
The Blues are then led into a table for many people. They wonder what to order as they are presented with a vast range of food.
"There's so much to pick here...", Benzai said as he skimmed through the menu.
"I'll go for that... steak thing.", Domyoji said. "Is that ok, Captain?"
"Feel free, Domyoji-kun.", Munakata clarified. "As for me, I would like to have those steamed dumplings as appetizers."
"Ooh, ooh, us, too!", Fuse added.
"How about you, Awashima-kun?"
"Oh, okay.", Seri replied.
"This looks good! I'll have this one!", Hidaka pointed to a rib-like item.
"I'll have what Akira wants, too!", Akiyama said.
"What the heck is a grilled ox tongue?", Fuse muttered. "I'd like to try this one. And if I can't finish it, Yujiro-san, Ryuho-san, please help me do so."
"Oi, what the hell!", Benzai yelled.
"Ay yi yi...", Kamo sighed.
"May I have a martini?", Seri asked.
"Yes, madam. How would you like it?"
"Let's see... Four parts gin, one of vermouth and... five scoops of red bean paste."
Munakata planted his palm on his face in disgust. One thing he could not stomach about Seri was her appetite for large amounts of red bean paste.
"Ehhhh.", Enomoto looked on as the waiter made a worried face.
SCEPTER 4's night continues to be a delightful one as they chowed down on their food. After eating their dinner, Munakata reveals his surprises.
"Gentlemen and Lieutenant Awashima. You have heard my thanks and praise for all of you earlier this day. But, it is not only these that I have in store for you. Himori Akiyama. Yujiro Benzai. Ryuho Kamo. Andy Domyoji. Tatsuya Enomoto. Daisuke Fuse. Ren Goto. Akira Hidaka. Stand up."
The aforementioned Blues stand up in surprise. Domyoji gulped in anxiety.
"...You are hereby promoted from your previous positions. From this night onwards, you will holding a rank as superior as the Lieutenant's."
Kamo gasped. Everyone just got promoted. By Munakata, the Blue King. This never happened before with the previous Blue Kings. In response, they yell happily.
"Oh my.", Seri giggled. Munakata gently grabbed her hand. "Ehh?"
"...Seri-chan...", Munakata smiled. "As for you... this is the perfect night for me to ask you... to be my Queen."
Seri stared at Munakata, dumbfounded by what he said.
"I am not just promoting you from your Lieutenant rank. I am also asking you if you could stay by my side from now on."
Seri's eyes suddenly fill up with tears of joy. "...Reisi-kun...", Seri muttered. "...Yes...!", she said as she gave a happy nod.
"Uwhoooah!", the other Blues moaned as they watched Munakata kiss Seri's hand.
"Hooray for the Captain and the Lieutenant!", Hidaka yelled. Akiyama could not help planting his palm on his face in annoyance.
"You just had to kill the mood.", Akiyama said. But before they could celebrate further, someone screams from the outside.
"Hm?", Munakata looked on. A red pulse catches SCEPTER 4's attention.
"RUN! It's a Sword of Damocles!"
"Is it the Red King?! The Silver King?! The Colorless King?!"
"Who cares?! Just run!"
Munakata stands up, alarmed by what they heard.
"A Sword, huh?", Munakata muttered. "Who is it this time...?"
"C-Captain, we're not prepared for battle! We left our sabers at HQ and it's gonna take a while to get there!", Goto exclaimed.
"You forget that we have our Blue Aura to protect us, Goto-kun. Whoever this fellow might be-"
*KABOOM!*
"Ngh!", Munakata shielded his eyes as he stood in front of Seri. "...Who in the world-"
"Captain!" A fireball roared towards Munakata. The Blue King did not have enough time to shield himself with his Aura and took the blow with force.
"GHHH!", Munakata groaned as he crashed far away from his subordinates.
"Reisi-kun!", Seri screamed as she jumped from her seat and ran to Munakata.
"Awashima-san, wait!", Kamo yelled. They suddenly freeze in terror as a tall man instantly shows up in front of Seri.
"...", Seri froze as she stared at the man. "...You..."
"Awashima-san!", Benzai yelled as Seri got backhanded on the face "Crap! Ready for unarmed emergency battle!"
"WROOOAAAAAGH!"
Seri, still wincing in pain from the blow she received, crawls to an unconscious Munakata while watching her subordinates fall one by one to the mysterious assailant. "Reisi..." She shakes Munakata's shoulder in an attempt to wake him up. "...We need you..."
"GWAGH!", Akiyama curls up and drops to the ground after getting hit with a knee to the gut. The assailant then focused again on Seri and walked to her.
"...Hello... Seri-chan..."
Seri draped herself over Munakata. "...Why...? Why are you...?"
"...I want to destroy... SCEPTER 4... and I don't care even if you're part of 'em. I'll obliterate them down to the last man."
Seri sobbed. "...No... please...!"
"Crying won't help. Do not worry. I won't kill you all right now. I'll let you suffer more instead."
Seri sniffed and shook her head. "Please...! ...Izumo-kun...!"
"...Bonne nuit... mademoiselle.", the man, who turned out to be none other than Izumo Kusanagi, ended. He raised his foot and made a swing at Seri's face, knocking her out.
"...Hehehe... Munakataaaaa...!", Izumo growled as he set the place on fire. "Hahahahaha...!"
Izumo left the Blues knocked out cold and walked away. He looks up at the night sky, marveling at his own Sword of Damocles. He just became the one person Munakata disliked. Izumo has become the new Red King.
"...No blood...No bone...No ash..."
That is the end of Chapter 3. Again, I apologize for the long, long, long wait. I hope that twist at the end is good for you. Well, I'm off to bed once more. Hope you like it. Reviews are free, just don't bash me. :D