Warning: Minor character death.


It took them close to three hours, but Ren was finally out of the danger zone. Tetsu was still hovering between the two zones, not to mention the high possibility of a brain injury. More injured men were carried in, but none as severe as the first three. Minami attended to them while Yamato stitched Shin up and kept a close watch on Ren and Tetsu's conditions for any changes.

It took over another hour or so before the last of the Oedo men slumped across the doorway of the house. It was Makoto. And – to everyone's horror – the lifeless body of Wakamatsu slung across his shoulders.

"What happened?" Yankumi asked Makoto softly. The usually stoic man was shedding silent tears.

"I'm sorry, Ojou. There were too many of them in the beginning. We fought hard, trying to separate them; but they kept swarming towards Oyasan. Obviously he was their target. Tetsu tried his best to protect Oyasan, but he got injured after a while. The moment Tetsu fell, Ren rushed to Oyasan's side. I didn't see what happened after that. Koisuke and I were on the other end, trying to force them away from Oyasan. It felt like ages before back-up arrived. Wakamatsu – he – came out of hiding and ordered some men to take Oyasan, Ren and Tetsu back to the house. Oyasan tried to protest, but he could hardly stand at that stage. With all 3 of them down, there was no one left to take command of the men. Koisuke and I didn't know what to do. So Wakamatsu took charge of the fight. He couldn't move much, but he held his ground and began barking out formations left and right. I stationed myself next to him and tried to protect him as much as I could. I really tried, but I failed at the last moment. Someone stabbed him in the chest when Koisuke and I were preoccupied with driving away the last few opponents. It's all my fault. I shouldn't have left him. I'm so sorry." His voice cracked horribly before dissolving into an outright sob.

Yankumi touched his shoulder gently. "It's not your fault, Makoto. You did a good job protecting Wakamatsu and your heroic actions have won us the fight and defended the Oedo clan's honour. I, as the representative of the Kumichou, extend my deepest gratitude to you and Wakamatsu alike. Now, come, let's bring Wakamatsu home."

They carried him into the living room. Yamato came over and re-examined Wakamatsu vitals, before hanging his head sadly. "Time of death," His voice trembled as he made the pronouncement. "12.15 a.m., 5th September 2012. Cause of death, penetrating trauma wound to the thoracic diaphragm, resulting in respiratory failure. No findings of foul play." His throat constricted tightly at the obvious lie, but he knew that he couldn't report any foul play to the authorities. Not unless he wanted his boyfriend hauled in for questioning. "Physician on duty, Dr Ogata Yamato, M.D." He concluded and walked away while Minami filled in the necessary forms.

He felt sad for Wakamatsu's death, despite only meeting the man for the first time today. A tiny part inside of him, nevertheless, was immensely relieved that the name he pronounced dead today was not Kazama Ren. He didn't think he could ever do that.


"Ren. Tetsu." A weak voice called out. Everyone focused their attention to the source of the voice.

"Shin!" Yankumi heaved a sigh of relief.

"Oyasan!" All the men, despite their exhaustion and injuries; fell onto their knees.

Shin ignored all of them. His eyes looked around frantically for Ren, before finding him on the bed next to him. He tried to get up. Yamato immediately held out a hand to restrain him. "You need to lie down for a little more, Shin. Ren will be fine, I promise."

"I'm sorry." Shin whispered raspingly.

"It wasn't your fault, Shin. Now lie back down, please." Yamato said gently. Shin, however, was not done yet.

"Wait, I need to know. The fight. What happened?" He asked no one in particular, seeing as none of his top commanders were in sight.

Makoto came forward, his eyes still red and puffy. "We won, Oyasan. But we lost a few men. Good, strong and brave men."

Shin closed his eyes in sorrow. "Who?"

Makoto rattled off a few names, until he came to the last one. "And… Wakamatsu, Oyasan."

A lone tear slid down Shin's cheek. "Wakamatsu." He whispered. "I'm so sorry. I shouldn't have let you go."

"Have their families been informed?" He asked.

"Not yet, Oyasan. We just got back moments ago."

Shin nodded. "Get some sleep now, Makoto. You'll accompany me to inform their families first thing tomorrow morning."

Minami placed a hand on Shin's shoulder. "Shin, you really shouldn't be moving yet."

"I have to, Minami." Shin said softly.

Yamato recognised the look on Shin's face. He had seen it many times before on Ren's face. It was a look that said duty came before self.

"Minami." He called out to his colleague. "I think that our work on Shin is done. This is no longer our area of expertise."

Shin shot Yamato an appreciative look. "Thanks, Yamato."

Yamato looked at him and tried to crack a smile, failing horribly in the process. "If you must go, Shin; then will you bring me with you?"

Shin shook his head. "I can't, Yamato. You have to stay with Ren." He looked at the still unconscious form of his brother mournfully.

"Yankumi told me that you can't fight a battle properly unless you were assured of her safety, Shin. I believe that Ren, too, will not be able to fight his current battle properly unless he knew that you were safe." Yamato said quietly, his eyes not moving from his boyfriend's pale face. "So it would benefit all of us if you allow me to go with you."

Shin swallowed tightly before giving a slow nod. "Thank you so much, Yamato."


"Ya…ma…to."

Yamato was instantly awake and on his feet. "Ren! Oh my god, Ren! Don't you ever scare me like that again!"

"Thanks…"

"What are you talking about, you silly man? It's not as if I would have left you to die, would I?"

"No… A…ni…ki."

"Oh." Yamato realized what Ren was talking about. "Did you hear us talking last night?" He asked softly.

Ren nodded faintly. "Love… you."

"And I love you too. Now rest and get better. I'll take care of Shin for you in the meantime."

Ren relaxed into an exhausted sleep.


The funerals were held together at the Oedo house 3 days later.

After a lot of pleading and cajoling, Yamato had grudgingly allowed Ren to get out of bed to attend the funeral. Tetsu was still in the hospital.

It was a small ceremony, attended only by their closest friends and families. After that, Shin had got down on his knees to apologize to Wakamatsu's wife and children. His tearful wife immediately pulled Shin back up onto his feet.

"Please don't do that, Kumichou Kuroda-sama. Hiro would not have tolerated seeing you on your knees apologizing for his death." She said softly.

Shin's eyes were shining with tears. "Wakamatsu was like a surrogate father to me, just second to Ojiisan. He was a wonderful man, and a very brave one to boot. It is truly my honour to have met a man like him."

"You were like a son to him too, Kumichou Kuroda-sama. I'm saddened by his death, but I know that Hiro would be proud that he died a heroic death. Therefore, I too, will stand proud of the circumstances of his demise. You once told us, Kumichou Kuroda-sama; that a man is like a rose. And that even after a rose dies, its fragrance lingers. I think that Hiro's actions have earned him eternal fragrance, don't you think?"

Shin nodded jerkily, touched by her words and strength. He knelt down to talk to the children. "I'm sorry for your loss, little ones. Your father was a very brave and loyal man. One of the bravest and the most loyal men I've ever known, in fact. Therefore, I hope that you will continue to remember him and his bravery even after he is long gone."


Just before they left the funeral, Wakamatsu's youngest son ran up to Shin.

"Are you Kuroda Shin, the Red Lion?" He asked, wide-eyed.

"Yes, little one. I'm Kuroda Shin." Shin answered gently, preparing for the little boy to blame him for his father's death.

To his surprise, the boy gave him a hug. "My daddy told me to grow up to be just like you! One day, I'm going to grow up and join the Yakuza, just like daddy!" He grinned toothily.

Shin felt his eyes welling up again as he returned the hug. "I'll be waiting for you, little one."