Fox Under Maple
Chapter Six
Kazumo sighed internally as he stalked through the darkened hallways of Susumo's manor. With each step he pondered yet another reason why this was a terrible idea. Kazumo listened carefully to his siblings bumble their way out of the window, each of them sliding down off of a makeshift rope made out of tied together bed sheets. Some of them landed with more grace than others. As he listened, his ears perked up at the sound of oncoming footsteps. Kazumo peered around a corner and spotted Susumo and his entourage making his way down the hall. Silent like a cat, Kazumo made his way back to the room. He slid the doors open to find Azumi trying to fit out the window as Kenji held up their makeshift rope. Kazumo warned them with a gesture to be silent, and the two samurai froze. Kazumo crept back out of the room, and silently closed the door behind him. He flitted from shadow to shadow until he had found Susumo once more. Carefully, he trailed the man and his two companions as they shuffled down the hallway.
"Do you think I was too harsh to her?"
The words broke the silence, the tone almost mournful, and Kazumo noted with some surprise that it was Susumo who had spoken.
"Not at all." The burly samurai to his right replied.
"She's still a crab, and won't listen to anything less." The thin woman to his left said softly.
"I'd hate for our relationship to turn sour as well. We used to get along and laugh all the time, but I don't think she's laughed in years." Susumo lamented.
"That's outside of your responsibility, my lord. You did what you could. Maybe it's best to send a message to her father?" The woman consoled.
"Him?" Susumo shook his head wearily, "No, he'll just make things worse. I doubt he even knows she's here."
Kazumo's interest was piqued at the mention of Azumi's father and he leaned forward slightly to better hear the conversation.
"You think she's running away from him?" The gruff samurai asked.
"Can't blame her if she is." Susumo sighed.
The trio finally passed the bedroom door and Kazumo slid it open once more to find Kyou and Kenji waiting. He motioned for them to continue and made to join them, but then he hesitated. His curiosity won out over his caution and he closed the door, before stalking down the hallway after Sasumo and his yojimbo, ravenous to learn more.
Kazumo had gone for several paces before Sasumo's voice finally floated back into hearing "Perhaps I could send her on some local business." He suggested, "Have her represent me in some negotiations. I'm sure she'd like to be productive. It'll give her a reason to stay nearby without being in town, while we deal with the Black Tuna gang. If we happen to find anything about this iron ring, we can pass it along."
The Black Tuna gang, really? Was Evil Fish taken?
"An excellent idea my lord. Also, I did want to mention something about that, now that we're alone." The thin woman proposed.
"Which is?"
"I had not thought it was a relevant detail when I learned it, so my deepest apologies for not mentioning it until now, but I had been informed by our scouts that the leader of the Black Tuna wears an iron ring on his hand." The thin woman explained.
"Anything significant about it?" Susumo queried.
"Not that we're aware of, but I can have someone investigate."
"No need." Susumo answered. "Once we have him locked up, we can ask the man himself." The thin woman bowed in acknowledgement.
The three approached the doors to a large master bedroom, as a waiting servant slid the doors open to allow Susumo to enter. Kazumo pressed himself behind a corner to watch over the last of their exchange.
"If that is all lord Susumo, we'll take our leave." The burly man said in farewell.
"Iwao-San, Sakiko-san." Susumo called.
"Yes my lord" the two responded, suddenly more serious.
"Keep on watch for the sibling named Kazumo." Susumo ordered.
Kazumo could feel the hair on his neck stand up on end, as a chill was sent down his spine. There was a heavy pause, as the two yojimbo looked back at their lord, and then to each other.
"Forgive me lord, which one is Kazumo?" Iwao asked as he raised his burly arms to scratch his head. "Is it the naive one that served the cakes?"
"Or was it the tiny little Matsu who thought she was clever?" Sakiko asked, as she pushed her long hair back into place.
"Kazumo's a guys name, so it must be the lanky homeless looking one." Iwao exclaimed. Susmo took a small breath before answering.
"Kazumo is the peasant."
The two yojimbo paused for a moment, before Iwao turned to Sakiko.
"To be honest I had forgotten about him." He muttered.
"I admit that I did as well, my lord." Sakiko admitted with more shame. "Perhaps it would help to know more insight on why you find him suspicious."
"He clings to the shadows, and acts when others aren't watching. I don't know what he's hiding, but there's something about him that worries me." Susumo warned.
"Want us to rough him up?" Iwao offered, and Kazumo found himself nervously glancing around for a quick escape.
"No. He's still one of Azumi's siblings, and they are guests in my house. I just ask that you stay alert around him." Susumo explained.
"We'll keep an eye on him then, lord." Iwao promised as he crossed his arms.
"Know that you can count on us, lord." Sakiko reassured.
"Then I bid you two good night. We will discuss more on this matter in the morning." Susumo bid farewell, as the servant closed the door behind Susumo. The two Yojimbo stepped away and walked down the hallway together.
"I mean, he's just a peasant." Iwao sneered.
"If the lord wills it, we shall heed." Sakiko warned.
"Oh, I'll snap his neck if ordered, but I don't see why lord Yasuki would care. Peasants are always a little sneaky." Iwao grumbled.
"Although I agree that the concern is beneath us, and far beneath our lord." Sakiko agreed. "Perhaps the Black Tuna gang has the lord more cautious of late." Sakiko suggested.
"Pfft, that scrawny boy? He'd probably piss himself running into anything more dangerous than wheat."
Kazumo briefly considered throwing something at the back of Iwao's head to prove a point, but his sense of self-preservation won out. Instead, he contented himself with watching the two walk past him without so much as glancing in his direction. After making sure they weren't heading towards his sibling's room, Kazumo snaked his way through the halls.
Haughty samurai, too good to notice the peasant walking right under their nos…
Kazumo's thoughts were interrupted as he rounded the corner, and nearly ran into one of Susumo's servants. The tea tray she was holding rattled for a bit as she suddenly stopped. The servant swallowed before speaking.
"My apologies for asking, but shouldn't you be attending to the guests? The lords might be concerned if they found someone wandering near the lord's room." The servant asked meekly.
Kazumo examined her face, to try and discern her next move. The last thing he needed was for this servant to mention that he was wandering around the manor. The woman's face was a mix of concern, and shyness. The last statement would have sounded like a threat coming from anyone else, but something in her tone gave it a whole new meaning. Kazumo watched her glance sidelong the hallway, looking for someone else. It wasn't a threat, but rather a warning.
She's concerned for my safety?
That thought struck Kazumo. He figured that she would be more concerned with the manor or her lord. Yet, here she stood, afraid for him.
"My deepest apologies, my lords had requested that I check up on Kuni-sama, to see if she needed anything. I had some difficulty finding her room, and by the time I found it, she was already deep in prayer. On my return though, I had gotten lost." Kazumo confessed in a hushed tone while bowing low.
Kazumo watched her reaction as he lifted his head back up. The servant had a bemused expression on her face, with a hint of shock.
"I'm not a samurai, there's no need for such formality." She gestured to his bow.
"Oh.. then could I simply request the way back to my siblings room?" Kazumo asked, a bit embarrassed. A wave of relief washed over the servant's face.
"Sure thing, go down this hall and take a right. Go all the way to the end and turn left. That should take you back to their quarters." She calmly explained.
"Many thanks!" Kazumo started to bow his head again, but caught himself, causing the servant to smirk.
"You spend too much time around samurai." She jeered as she walked away, shaking her head slightly. Kazumo's face burned with humiliation as he shuffled his way back towards the room. As he found the room again, he quietly slid the door open, and moved inside. From within, he spied the open window, with a bed sheet hanging off. Kazumo peered out the window to spy Kenji slowly making his way down the makeshift rope. Kazumo opted to crawl out of the window, and examined the wooden beams beneath him. Kazumo descended down the wall with barely a sound, his hands expertly latching onto the barest of grips. Kenji landed with a thud, then stood up to dust himself off.
"We just need Kazumo-san now." Kenji spoke before turning to find his brother had stepped next to him, surprising the rest of the siblings.
"Amazing!" Kenji cheered, as the others quickly shushed him.
"Amazing!" Kenji whispered, slightly abashed. Azumi glanced around to see if anyone had heard, but they were the only ones outside. The sun having dipped beneath the horizon, the only light coming from the moon and the softly shining stars. The five siblings quickly made their way from the manor and towards the city. Once they were clear of the manor, Azumi lit a lantern she had grabbed earlier to give the group more light, and they all slowed their pace down to a walk.
"Now what?" Kyou asked.
"We search for this gang, and get our answers." Azumi answered darkly.
"Do we even know where to find them, or who they are?" Tatsuya questioned.
"They call themselves the Black Tuna gang apparently." Kazumo explained.
"No they don't, that's ridiculous." Kyou said with exasperation.
"I've heard worse." Tatsuya said nonchalantly.
"Where did you even hear that?" Kyou interrogated Kazumo.
"I overheard Lord Yasuki talking about it." Kazumo explained.
"Then it's private information, and you shouldn't be sharing it!" Kyou rasped at Kazumo. Azumi sighed, and turned to stare at her sister.
"She does have a point." Kenji agreed, while leaning his head between Kyou and Azumi's staredown. "It's our responsibility as good samurai to ignore that information, and pretend that we never heard it, as respect to your uncle." Kenji proposed. Azumi responded with another sigh, and a shake of her head, and she turned her attention back towards the road.
"Either way, we still need to find the not-Black Tuna gang." Kazumo joked. Kyou turned to give Kazumo a scowl, as Azumi huffed.
"Ooh" Kenji suddenly cried out, and looked around.
"What's wrong?" Kyou asked, alarmed.
"I forgot the hats!" Kenji let out a small cry of anguish. Kazumo, Kyou, and Tatsuya made a grasp for their hair, as they made the same realization.
"So much for remaining hidden." Tatsuya lamented.
"It'll make no difference. Let's just find them and get this over with." Azumi growled in frustration.
"Still don't know where we'll find them." Kyou brought up.
"If they sell opium, then there has to be somewhere for buyers to reach them. Likely an opium den for people to smoke." Tatsuya theorized.
"If we find their dens, then we find those vile criminals!" Kenji exclaimed, which was received with another shush from his siblings. Kenji clapped his hands over his mouth and gave an apologetic look.
"Let's get moving then." Azumi ordered in a gruff voice.
"What makes you in charge?" Kyou asked.
"I'm older." Azumi replied. Without giving time for a response, Azumi held up her lantern, and started walking into the town, Kyou gave on last defiant, 'harrumph', but joined the others as the followed along behind. Kazumo clung to the group closely, using them to hide himself from onlookers. The siblings meandered around looking for a den of criminals. Each of them searched their surroundings, although Kenji and Kyou had no idea what to look for. It wasn't long before the siblings came across a part of the town still alight with candles and lanterns. Drawn by the light and activity, the siblings presumed if there was anything happening, it would have to be there. The buildings were suspended on stilts rising out of the water, and the walkways were encrusted with mud. Trees rose up and twisted their ways around the buildings and walkways, forming forbidding hallways deeper into the bay. As they entered, Azumi waved her lantern around, examining each house and shop they passed by. The buildings leaned precariously to their sides, and the doors barely hanged onto them. The whole place looked decrepit, and the people within it didn't look much better. Tatsuya, already bored, walked up to a random beggar sitting on the side of the street.
"So where can we get some midnight oil around here?" Tatsuya whispered. A pained groan escaped Azumi, while Kyou shot up in alarm. Before the beggar could respond, Kyou had already stormed over to Tatsuya.
"What are you doing?" she rasped.
"Whaat?" Tatsuya said, annoyed. Kyou breathed in deeply to calm herself before continuing.
"You really think someone is going to just tell samurai where to find an illicit drug den? No one would believe we would be going to smoke!" Kyou whispered.
"Because we all know that Samurai never smoke opium." Tatsuya responded, layering his sarcasm on thick.
"Not respectable ones!" Kyou whispered back.
"Yeah, respectable." Tatsuya turned back to the beggar.
"My apologies honorable samurai, but I have not seen any-," the beggar paused to hack out a cough, "any such place around here."
Kazumo mentally noted the blue stains on the beggar's lips and teeth, marking him as a smoker himself.
"Come on man. You're not fooling us. Just tell us where to find it." Tatsuya pressed.
"I don't know anything." The beggar said with a bit of panic rising in his voice. Tatsuya sighed.
"Really?" Tatsuya asked with suspicion.
"If he won't speak." Azumi rolled her shoulders and stepped towards the beggar menacingly, causing the beggar to tremble and glance from side to side, ready to run away.
"Stop!" Kyou rasped at Azumi, hoping a little to make up for their difference in height. "You stop, and you stop." She pointed between Azumi and Tatsuya. Kyou let out a frustrated huff, and then raised her fingers to her mouth to ponder the situation. After thinking, she walked over to Tatsuya. "Do you still have the box?"
"Of course. It's evidence." Tatsuya replied.
"May I see it?" Kyou said in a polite voice.
"I guess." Tatsuya said as he pulled out the box to show to Kyou. "I don't think…" Tatsuya started but was interrupted by Kyou snatching the box out of his hands. "Hey?"
Kyou walked over to the beggar, while opening the box.
"If you can tell us where to find what we are looking for, you can have this." Kyou offered as she presented the box of opium to the beggar. The beggar's eyes lit up at the sight of it.
"I had heard that smoke rises near the abandoned lighthouse during the day, just outside of town on the north side." The beggar rattled out while staring at the opium box desperately. He finished by bowing his head and holding out his hands. After a moment's hesitation, Kyou dropped it into his hands, and walked away. "Kami's blessing upon you. You are most generous, and beautiful." The beggar spewed out praises while clutching the box close to his heart. Kyou walked back to her siblings, Tatsuya giving a slight pout at his box being given away.
"You have to make people want to help you." Kyou lectured, as if teaching children, before making her way to the north side of the town.
"Excellent work Kyou! We have their location, and we've removed such foul substances from our possession." Kenji praised Kyou as he caught up to her side. Kazumo and Azumi followed after, while Tatsuya gave one last huff and muttered to himself.
"Apparently it's ok for respectable samurai to just steal."
Kazumo was the only one who heard, and he had to cover his face to prevent himself from laughing. As they walked, Kazumo looked north, and could spot their destination. A lone lighthouse, barely lit by the moonlight. It stood in the distance like a warning sign, daring all to approach cautiously. Such warnings that were all but ignored by most of the siblings. Only Azumi and Kazumo scanned their surroundings for any danger. The other three strode forth paying no heed to their surroundings. The more they approached, the more the land around them turned into a swamp. They walked across a raised wooden platform, the edge uncomfortably close to them.
Kazumo looked over to see the beach itself at least thirty feet down from the platform. Small fishing houses followed alongside the west side of the walkway, as stragglers and beggars stared at the strange group of samurai walking past. As they approached the light house, its full form was revealed. A tall and worn wooden tower, its lantern long since broken. A house had been built around the base of it, where people could be seen inside and around. Despite the miasma of filth and mud around them, the house was well built, with lights seen from the inside. It was stretched across the coast and had the tower jutting out from the center.
"So, what's the plan?" Tatsuya said in a hushed tone to the group.
"We go in, get what we need, and leave." Azumi responded.
"Good, I'd rather not be here any longer than needed." Kyou said with a hint of disgust in her voice. As they approached the house, they were greeted by a thin man, with a toothless smile. Mud caked his legs and arms, as a wiry beard protruded from his face.
"Looking for a place to relax samurai?" The man asked in an oily voice.
"We have come to deal with the villain who has been plaguing our journey!" Kenji declared, causing the other siblings to almost jump in surprise. The man's smile faltered for a moment, as he eyed Kenji up and down.
"Pardon?" The man asked, his tone slightly less friendly than it had been.
"Oh sorry," Kenji apologized. "We are coming to deal with the villain who has been plaguing our journey." Kenji said again while enunciating. "Is he available to talk?"
"Kenji-san, you don't need to be polite to the drug dealers." Kyou explained.
"But we are no such dealers" The man said, nervous now, as he seemed to reclassify the siblings in his mind from potential customers to trouble.
"Suuure." Tatsuya followed up sarcastically. As they spoke, a crowd began to form to look on. Azumi groaned and stared at her siblings in disbelief.
"Step aside. Let me handle this."
"We are all on equal footing Azumi, and are not here to be ordered around." Kyou argued.
"Yeah, life is often more fulfilling being one's own master." Tatsuya remarked.
"Do they teach you that kind of wisdom at the Togashi monastery?" Kenji asked with curiosity. Azumi could only sigh in response.
Something's wrong
Kazumo's instincts kicked in as more people approached, nay surrounded them. The stragglers subtly moved their way closer and behind them. Each hiding a hand in their garments, no doubt hiding a weapon.
"We aren't safe." Kazumo whispered with alarm rising in his voice.
"Of course you're afraid." Kyou scolded.
"Don't worry yourself." Tatsuya comforted with minimum effort.
Azumi rolled her eyes and shoved her way to the front of the group, and was about to speak, but stopped suddenly as a glint appeared in the toothless man's eyes.
Kazumo saw Azumi quickly glance from side to side and he saw her body tense, as though she had just now realized, as Kazumo had, that this was a trap.
However, before she could move, the man yanked a knife out from his ragged shirt and jabbed it straight into Azumi's chest.
The blade hit home and for a moment Kazumo felt a lump leap into his throat. However, the attacker's eyes went from triumphant to confused as the blade hit something hard with a clattering sound.
The man's eyes began to widen as he withdrew the knife, revealing the armor beneath, as Azumi's expression turned to rage. Kazumo gave a quick thanks to the Kami for the paranoia of the Kuni.
The man's grin had vanished now and became a snarl as he began to strike again, but Azumi's hand lashed out to seize him by the throat, lifting him in the air, the blade falling to the ground.
"We're under attack!" She yelled out.
All at once, the bystanders suddenly sprang forth, pulling knives and clubs forth to assail the siblings. Kazumo immediately dove towards the edge of the walkway, knowing he would stand no chance in a brawl. Keeping his body low to the ground, he ran to the platform edge. In a single motion, he dropped off the platform, and grabbed onto a support beam, sliding down until he could no longer be seen from the walkway. His hands gripped the support with adrenaline fueled strength to keep him attached, as he swung his legs to wrap around. Once his grip was secure, Kazumo risked peeking his head above the walkway to see what was going on, dreading the outcome.
To his relief, no one was coming after him. Likely no one had even noticed the peasant escape. The others had fought back against their attackers, but it was clear that they were getting overwhelmed. There were easily dozens of goons rushing into the fight. Far more than some opium gang should have available, especially considering Kazumo had seen no reinforcements come from within the stronghold itself. Five men jumped Kyou before she could even grab her katana and although she thrashed about and roared, they drove her down to pin her on the ground.
At seeing the many thugs approaching him, Tatsuya seemed to realize that to fight was hopeless, and instead began to turn to run, but he had already been surrounded. The Togashi shook his head and lifted up his arms in surrender as the goons bared blades that shone with reflected lantern-light. He spoke and although Kazumo was too far away to make out the words, he had no doubt it was some acerbic remark.
Azumi knocked a few down on the approach, but they swarmed around her, trying to pull and beat her down into the ground. As more men piled in, Azumi was slowly dragged to the ground as well. Even more came to try and bludgeon her with their clubs. That is, until they realized that despite their efforts, Azumi had still not released the greeter. Their efforts then became a mad dash to try and break her grip around the man's throat.
Kenji had managed to break an opening in the crowd, and had already drawn his blade and cut down three men, his swiftness so great that the men fell down and cried out just as much in surprise as in pain. As more approached, Kenji's sword was a maelstrom around him, cutting all that got too close. He managed to get his back away from any thugs, and all at once they were hesitant to approach him. Even from a distance, Kazumo knew Kenji was different. His demeanor had changed, and the color washed from his face. His eyes were dull and lifeless, eyeing each opponent in front of him, the strike already seen in his mind. The fight had suddenly come to a standstill, with most of the other siblings captured, all turned their eyes on the Crane.
"That's enough!" A voice boomed. Suddenly everyone's attention was on a short man exiting the house. His hair was tidy, and pulled into a knot. He was fit, with sharp features, and his attire screamed of opulence, with gold and silver hanging from anywhere that could hold it. His robes were fine violet silk, adorned with patterns of fishing boats. As he raised his left hand, Kazumo spotted a tiny sliver of light reflecting off his hand.
The iron ring!
The brawl stopped in an instant, with the thugs practically freezing in place. The man stepped out and glanced over at Azumi before ordering.
"Get off of her. Don't you know it's bad luck to harm a shugenja?" The thugs quickly stood away, as Azumi slowly rose, still holding the toothless man by the neck. The man in charge gave a glance and raised his eyebrows at his minion being slowly choked out. Azumi and the man stared each other down, before Azumi released the man, who dropped like a rock to land wheezing on the ground. At that moment, a ronin walked out of the door to stand beside the man with the iron ring. Kazumo thought he looked somehow familiar and then he saw the missing hand.
It was the same ronin that had attacked the siblings back in the capital.
Who are you to…" Kyou began to demand, but was cut off by the thugs covering her mouth with an arm, causing Tatsuya to look down at his subdued sibling and roll his eyes.
The man with the iron ring turned his attention to Kenji, who still had his blade raised above his head, poised to strike down the next person foolish enough to approach.
"I'd think diplomacy would suit you better in this situation, Crane. It came down to a fight, I'd hate to see your companions get hurt." The man called out.
The man made a gesture and in response, the goons all jabbed their weapons towards the three they had captured. Kazumo watched as some of the color returned to Kenji's face, and his eyes returned back to normal. Whatever strange mood he was in, was suddenly fading.
"Run! Don't worry about us." Azumi shouted out.
"Run? Surely such an honorable Samurai wouldn't abandon his comrades while they are in danger." The man jabbed. "If you give in quietly, I promise they will make it out of this unharmed." Kenji relaxed slightly, and eyed his blade, looking between his siblings.
"He won't hurt us, now go!" Azumi roared.
"I think you'd be surprised what I will and will not do." The man said with a hint of malice in his voice.
Kazumo wanted to scream at Kenji to get him to run away. Despite the circumstances, they were still samurai, which meant harming or killing them was far too dangerous for the man to do. As many thugs as he had, the death of samurai would give the lords cause to call in an army to enact retribution. Kazumo knew the man had every reason to ransom his siblings back rather than harm them, and wished he could express that to Kenji. Kazumo watched in horror as Kenji slid his blade back into its sheath.
"You promise not to harm them?" Kenji asked.
"You have my word." The man replied. Kenji nodded his head and pulled his sword sheath from his belt, and gently placed it onto the ground. He raised his hands in surrender and slowly approached the mob. The rest of the siblings were rounded up, weapons pointed at their heads. As Kenji reached him, the ronin gave a smug smirk and stepped forward to meet him.
"Too bad, you should have included yourself in the deal." The ronin jeered, as he threw a sucker punch with his remaining hand. However, as the ronin's fist swung towards Kenji's face, Kenji caught his punch and sent the ronin stumbling with a flick of his wrist. Without missing a beat, Kenji slammed his fist into the side of the ronin's head without even looking at his assailant, knocking him to the ground. The silence that followed was deafening, and then shattered by the ronin groaning out in pain.
Kenji blinked a couple times, before slowly looking down at the man, and it took a few seconds before what had happened registered in Kenji's mind. He looked back up in a panic, and spoke.
"I didn't intend to fight back, but I have been trained too well to defend myself." Kenji apologized profusely while trying to help the man up. The ronin cried out and angrily swung all around him, while sprawled on the ground.
"Please allow me to amend for this error. I'll allow him to hit me properly next time." Kenji begged the man in charge of the gang.
He gave a bemused smile and looked down at the ronin, "No. I shall graciously forgive this… transgression."
"Thank you. My deepest apologies… what should I call you?" Kenji returned.
"Kawabata Dai." The leader said proudly, puffing his chest out, before turning back towards the light house. "Get these four to their quarters. We'll discuss what to do next." Some of the thugs surrounded Kenji, and pulled his hands behind his back. They began to direct the siblings into the building when a voice rang out.
"Wait, four?" The ronin asked, perplexed. He stood up, and wiped the blood off of his face. "There were five of them." Dai turned back around and counted his hostages.
"I count only four samurai. Who is the fifth?" Dai questioned the siblings.
"It was the peasant!" The ronin shouted out. "Where's that sneaky little bastard?" The ronin growled out, looking around. As the man searched, Kazumo slipped his head back under the planks, and silently swiveled around the support to hide underneath. Every nerve in his body was on end, as he strained his ears to listen in.
"So there is a fifth red haired cohort, and where might they be?" Dai said menacingly. A small pause spread out between the siblings before Azumi spoke up.
"Oh right, the peasant. I think Matsu-san got rid of him." Azumi said casually.
"THAT'S IKOMA-SAN." Kyou screamed out while the thugs around her struggled to keep her down. She then took a deep breath to calm herself. "And a peasant should know better than to step in the path of a lion." Kyou ended with a more subtle display of anger in her voice that sent a shiver down Kazumo's spine. Although Kazumo felt his sister was a little too eager to admit to killing him, he still felt a wave of relief come over him. He thanked the Kami that no one had actually noticed or remembered him.
As long as everyone thinks I'm dead, I can easily…
"But Kazumo-kun was just with us, what do you mean he was gotten rid of?" Kenji asked with concern in his voice.
KENJI NO!
The gang leader smiled again, as he looked around.
"So one of them got away. Search the vicinity." He ordered. The goons not busy with holding the captured siblings scattered like cockroaches, searching around them. Kazumo took in a deep breath, and held it as he heard some people approach the edge.
"Maybe he jumped off?" A thug guessed.
"To his death?" Another mocked. Kazumo heard the wood boards above him creak as the thugs leaned over the edge. Kazumo tensed every muscle in his body to keep himself still, although he could feel his arms and legs burn from the effort.
"It's too dark to see down there." Another thug shouted out. To Kazumo's relief, the goons walked away from the edge of the planks, and returned back into a huddle.
"No sign of anyone else, boss."
Dai paused for a moment, as he mulled it over.
"It's too late now. Maybe we can find him in the morning, but for now let's show our guests where they will be staying." Dai ordered.
Kazumo listened to his siblings as they were dragged into the gang's base until the front door was slammed shut behind them. He finally let out the breath he was holding, and looked around. With an effort of will, he shoved aside the aching exhaustion in his limbs as he swung over to another wooden support, clamping onto it with his hands and legs with the barest of sounds. Kazumo swung over a couple more times, before he risked popping his head above the planks to take another look at the lighthouse. The thugs had returned to their places to act as fake bystanders, and watch over the entrance. However, the side closest to the beach had been cleared out. Kazumo pulled himself back onto the planks, and sat beneath a window, finally giving his tired limbs a rest. His mind was racing, as panic started to overtake him. All four of his siblings had been captured, and the Black Tuna gang was far larger than any of them had expected. Every instinct in his body screamed at him to run. Kazumo took in one more deep breath and focused himself.
No, I won't give up now.
Kazumo glanced around to look for an entrance, until he eyed the lighthouse once more. Against his better judgment, Kazumo began to climb the dilapidated lighthouse. Whatever may come. Kazumo would see it through to the end.