2 years passed after the incident with Akira and Tetsuo. The big explosion that again wiped 50% of Tokyo's population. Which caused the population to decreased even more.

leaving only a few people remaining trying to fix everything up and back to the norm. Things have been progressing but… Slowly, although it'll take a long time. For Tokyo you to heal from the incident that had left deep impactful scar in the minds and heart.

Especially for Kaneda….

Kaneda, Kei, and Kai stayed together as a group supporting part of another side of Tokyo. It's a more secluded and quiet place, the only time they went to their other side was to get specific things and more supplies. Kaneda leading a new bike gang with Kai in it.

His new crew is the ones he'll send out to retrieve things majority of the time. While he helped his girlfriend with the other stuff. The shit was boring for Kaneda, but he would never say to Kei. As she would attack him for being annoying and immature. Despite it being boring, it did help distract him from… other things.

Whenever Kaneda was alone, he would sometimes wonder in his thoughts. Sad, Depressed, and frustrated. With all that happened two years ago, he couldn't forget… how could he ever forget… the pain and suffering that happened between Him and Tetsuo…. Tetsuo especially… His best friend all the way when they were orphans. He didn't, things just became fucked up so quickly.

Because of that kid, the clowns, hell he blames everyone in the whole damn city… Which means he blames himself for the destruction of Tokyo and Tetsuo's death. It was so much to bear and he didn't want anyone to see that. He was the leader and he had to be strong for the gang, and his girlfriend. For everyone that turned to him, to get them through this.

•••••••••••

The Trio lived in a two story apartment together. Which was fine for them, as they enjoyed each other's company and needed it. Kei was out helping the older ladies fix up the neighborhood hood. Kaneda was laying on the couch lost in his thoughts like always. Until Kai stood over him calling his name.

"K A N E D A! Hey are you still alive man?" Kai asked waving his hand over his face.

Kaneda smacked it out the way groaning sitting up, "What the hell is so important that you need to disturb my damn nap huh?"

"Kei wants to see if we can go into the far side of the city to pick up specific items for her?"

"Why the hell can't our other men do it?"

"They haven't returned from the first errand you sent them on."

Kaneda rolled his eyes and cursed under his breath, being frustrated for a bit because his rest was disturbed but eventually shrugged it off. He could use some fresh air, it'll help get his mind off of things. Him and Kai got ready and went to their bikes to rev them up. Kei came up to Kaneda and gave him the list, he saw the paper and turned his nose.

"What the fuck is this!? A damn grocery list? What do we need all this shit for anyways."

Kei rolled her eyes, "Because genius, we need these specific metals and amount. To fix up the homes down the way. And it's not as if you were doing anything."

"Well I could be doing something, if a specific person wasn't always so busy." Kaneda smirked at Kei. She only shook her head and chuckled at him. Quickly pulling him into a kiss before breaking it by pushing him, but she didn't do it hard. But it was strong enough to almost make him fall off his bike. As she walked away she shouted not turning around.

"You better return with everything on that list and be careful." She waved to them from behind. Kaneda only scoffed at her amusingly before Kai and him sped off. Driving through the streets, on a cool and calm starry night. Was always so relaxing to Kaneda, you feel so free of worry and pain. The carefree spirit not having to think about anything but the road ahead of you and where it'll take you.

They finally reached the city and began getting the materials Kei asked for. Kai and Kaneda went separate ways, to finish the process a bit faster because it was a big ass list. As Kaneda was looking around nothing but rubbles of metals, he noticed a timid looking girl down the street. Trying to get food from an old man that seems to causing her trouble. On instinct he decided to help her dilemma.

"Listen you lil TRAMP! If you ain't got no damn Money I ain't selling shit for ya, GOT IT!"

Before the timid girl decided to give up, Kaneda came up behind squeezing her shoulder gently, stopping her from leaving. "Heyyy Buddy, that's no way to speak to a lady. Just to make both parties feel better I'll pay for them."

Kaneda paid the man. One sack of bread with two loaves, the girl nodded and bowed. Before scurrying away, trying to stay hidden from others. Kaneda quickly noticed and followed after the girl

"H-Hey, wait minute! You could've at least said fucking thank you, you raggedy BITCH." Kaneda grabbed her shirt pulling her back, only thing falling off her head was her hood. She looked familiar as If… wait

Kai found Kaneda to rejoin him after finding a few things and he noticed a girl next to him, but not just any girl.

"KAORI!?" They both said in shock, they could've sworn that she had died. If she's alive would that possibly mean.

The sound of her named being called out. She began running, Kaneda and Kai chasing after her. They didn't know how that little body out ran them, she quickly turned into an alley way. By the time the guys reached it, she already vanished. Both of them being baffled and wondered if what they saw was real.

Kaneda did touch her, so she felt real. He went back to the man he bought the food from. The man confirmed that she comes around often, so she makes her way around.

"Was there ever another person with her?" Kaneda ask the man curiously, Kai was wondering what his leader was getting at.

"No… Wait… Actually there was one person."

"REALLY!? Can you describe what they look like!?"

"Well their face wasn't shown, and they were wearing a fox kabuki mask. So I can't give you much with a thick Jean jacket with a fur hood over his head. They looked close with that girl you ran off, and they were taller than her."

Kaneda listen carefully, if what he's hearing and thinking is true. Could Tetsuo had possibly survived and brought back his girlfriend. Why and How? And if he did return, how come he never tried finding them?

"Kaneda what's wrong?"

Kaneda look to Kai, "You and I both know Kaori was dead. There could only be a few things that she's alive. One were all fucking delusional, second she's a damn zombie or some shit… Lastly she was brought back, like how I was able to when Kei brought me back. There's only one person that could care about her."

"You believe Tetsuo is back?" They both made back to there bikes as they were talking.

"I…I don't know, I'm just assuming things at the moment. But I'm sure as hell going to find out."

Both of them rode back to their place, "What you going to do or say when you know he's alive or even see him?" Kai spoke loudly over the roaring bikes down the quiet streets. Kaneda didn't really respond because he couldn't, he didn't know how he'll react if he saw him… Hell is more curious of how he came back and if he's doing okay, and do he still have his powers?

So many thoughts and questions ran through his mind. He know they both went through a lot sense they were young to the incident. Tetsuo may be as lost and confused, frustrated and trying adjust to the aftermath. Nevertheless if he still has his powers, you definitely have to tread lightly. Because him being in a bad mood only makes him go bat shit crazy.

After they finally made it back home, they gave Kei the material she needed. Then Kaneda saw his gang he had an idea, he had his crew gather in his home living room surrounding the table.

"So they're something I need you boys to look into for me. I'm a need all of us spread out on the east side of Tokyo where Kai and I came from. To be on a look out for a chick with shorts, white tank top, and short brunette hair. And the other is a person wearing a fox kabuki mask."

"Why these specific people Kaneda?" One of his members asked."

"Well it's only one specific person that I want to speak with, the bitch is just bait to bring the motherfucker out of hiding. If we don't see him first. If what that fuck said that we saw, that both are usually hanging around that area. We need to be around there specifically so where going out there tomorrow, got it?"

They all nodded, Kaneda dismissed the group. He stopped one of the members though.

"Mizuki!"

Kaneda caught him before he left, "I need a specific person to do this important job for me, and your the right man for it."

Mizuki, smiled happy that his leader saw potential in the youngest member of their group.

Kai pulled Kaneda to the side, "Do you think this is like a good idea? If it really is Tetsuo, we should just leave his ass alone. We don't know how long he's been alive, and things have been fine so far. He hasn't disturbed us, why should we. Who cares if he's alive."

"I care"

"Why?"

"Because!"

Kaneda snapped back at his friend a little too sharply. "S-Sorry, It's personal alright." With that Kai left it alone, he forgot how sensitive Kaneda gets when a topic mentioned about Tetsuo. Because of how close they are.

••••••••••••••••••

It was Morning and the gang got together to prepare for the lookout. Kei asked Kaneda what happened and what they were doing. He explained the whole situation to his girlfriend about what Kai and him saw and found out. Lord and behold she basically felt the same way Kai felt, but she also understood how Kaneda felt.

Especially when he would share some things he never shared with the guys. Especially about stuff with Tetsuo, and she knew Kaneda put the blame on himself for what happened to their friendship and his death. She knew Kaneda wanted some closure, and if that meant finding Tetsuo. Then she wasn't going to stop him.

Although she's worried that what he's looking forward. He may not like what he finds, because she doesn't think Tetsuo may feel the same as him? May be worse? Or he may not want to be around anyone, because of what went down. And she don't blame him, and she doesn't care if he's dead or alive. As long as he doesn't harm anyone or the city again, he can do whatever.

Kei went downstairs to give Kaneda a kiss on the cheek for good luck before he left. Chuckling at the goofy expression he made.

——

All the guys were scattered into designated areas to find the person Kaneda described. He made sure not to say exactly who he was looking for as to not cause an uproar. Until he was able to confront Tetsuo first, which he still didn't know how that'll go.

Kaneda had Mizuki hide in an alley near the spot they saw Kaori. As everyone was waiting, they haven't seen no signs so far. Kai did say to Kaneda as they were riding that he didn't think about, what if Kaori told him that she was caught. Which could mean Tetsuo may suspect them trying to find him, if they went after his girlfriend.

As Mizuki was nodding off, he suddenly heard something. Snapping out of his daze, he noticed a girl walking. It seems the same girl Kaneda described, but she wasn't alone. She was walking behind someone, he made sure not to make noise as he tried to get closer to see who it was.

The guy Next her slowly turned around looking straight at Mizuki in the alley way, he had on the mask Kaneda said he would. The guy turned back to the girl, who shyly nodded headed back to the direction she came from. Mizuki was about to come out he hollered hey to her, then he was thrown in the air so high hanging upside down. He screamed pissing on himself, pee sliding down to his face. He saw the man staring at him, he must be one of those espers years ago.

Kaneda and them heard a high pitch screaming. Wherever each member was scattered at could see a boy in midair upside down. Kaneda was closer and knew that it was Mizuki, he didn't waste no time revving his bike to where he was. He contacted his guys from a walkie, all of them going to where there leader was.

When Kaneda was getting closer in view, he didn't know if it was a good idea, but was going to try. "Tet-"

As if on cue he flung Mizuki towards Kaneda, causing them to both to knocked off Kaneda's bike. The gang reaching them finally, "K-Kaneda!" Kai shouted riding towards him.

They all saw the masked man and Kaori holding a bag of what looked like food, who was on a black bike. He hoped on with Kaori sitting upfront, zooming off. Kai helped Kaneki up who quickly got on his bike to follow after them. Kaneda told some of the men to follow him and others to take care of Mizuki.

Kaneda was not going to lose him… Not again, he knows for sure that's Tetsuo. It seems he doesn't want no one to know who he is, but why is he running from or hiding from him. Kaneda, Kai, and two others were trailing him. Kaneda was ahead, as they were finding trouble keeping up. Tetsuo was moving out, and good at it too. Dodging certain obstacles and people, who screamed as they were causing havoc in another part of Tokyo, the south side.

"Was T-Tetsuo always this damn good!?" Kai shouted to Kaneda, who ignored him. He gestured to his men to surround him, they maneuvered to be on either side of him and behind. Kaneda was on his right and Kai on his left.

"If you don't stop we're gonna ram your scrawny ass!" Kaneda threatened him, Tetsuo looked at Kaneda and just began laughing evilly at him. As if taunting to him to do it, was he fucking with them!?

"Ram him!"

As they got closer to them, Kaori pressed her face closer to his chest, while tightening her legs around his waist and hands on his back and not to drop the groceries. As to avoid upsetting him, Kai got close enough grabbing the end of Kaori's short. Causing her to make a sound catching the Tetsuo's attention, this made him use more strength with his powers.

Creating a big boom psychic blast, making the bikes skid. They trying to get their bikes back in control, but it's as though it wasn't responding to them. They looked up and Tetsuo did Kaneda's Bike slide, looking at them before putting his middle finger up at them. Before continuing to drive off again.

"COME BACK HERE YOU DAMN COWARD!" Kaneda shouted, although Tetsuo and his girlfriend was out of site.

Kaneda knew this was not over, and Tetsuo knows how persistent Kaneda is.

••••••••••••••

Tetsuo and Kaori made it back to where they stayed that was far from everyone. The house is a bit run down, although it was better than what it looked like before. Tetsuo eventually fixed up a tiny bit with his powers after some months of coming back. For Kaori's comfortability, who always defended by saying she was fine.

It was a one floor house, which was fine sense it was only him and her. They had three rooms, but they preferred to share one room. It may look small on the outside, but it's actually pretty big. It was difficult getting supplies when trying to stay hidden from the world, if the world found out he was back. He'll have to deal with the same shit 2 years ago and he did not want to go through that again. And they'll target Kaori for dating a walking apocalypse.

Tetsuo did not need his mood going haywire, he had to keep his mood in control to keep his power on check and not chaos another genocide. He is fine with how things are and he was able to get Kaori back the only thing that helped him stay in control. How he was able to bring her back is something that'll be revealed soon.

Tetsuo got off the bike after parking it, helping Kaori down. They both walked inside, Tetsuo was a bit frustrated and rushed straight down the hall to go in their room. Slamming the door behind him, catching Kaori off guard. She hung her head feeling as this was her fault for getting caught, she feels terrible for making him having to come out in hiding in front of his friends. Because he knew they were going to try and do something if she went out by herself, she sighed setting the food down on an island in the kitchen to make food for them.

As she was preparing some curry rice and fish. She walked to go to their bedroom door, knocking first before entering. Remembering what happened last time when she did that, "T-Tetsuo a-are you okay."

There was a long pause till he spoke, "I'm fine go away!" Was all he said

she only nodded giving him his space, until he was ready, "W-Well, If you need me… I-I'll b-be put here preparing our dinner." Silence was the only response she got before continuing on her way. Kaori didn't mind how they live and having no one around. Having just Tetsuo was enough. And it's not as bad as people would perceive. She's even able to garden in the little backyard they have, to make it easier for material that are harder to retrieve.

She let her curry cook on low and rice finish getting done in the rice cooker. Before she cook the fish, she went in her little garden, as she was grabbing some veggies. She didn't hear the person sneaking up behind her, knocking her out before she could call Tetsuo and was taken away.

——

Kaneda and the guys made it back and Kei saw them through their window. She noticed how scratched and bruised Kaneda was and hurried out to see him. She asked what happened, and he said he'll explain it to her in private.

"T-Tetsuo did this to you both." Kei looked between Kaneda and Kai.

"Well Kaneda got most of the ass whoop-OWW!" Kaneda punched Kai in his bruised side.

"How do you know it was Tetsuo."

"Are you kidding his only bastard I know that rocks an old ass man hair color with those psychic powers! We almost had him if Kai wasn't so thirsty to wanna catch a feel of his woman."

"W-WHAT! I-I didn't! I-I w-was trying to get a grip of his b-bike to not lose him." Kai's face was flushed.

"Just admit you wanted to grip her ass man, there ain't no shame in wanting a feel." Kaneda laugh, before Kei smacked his shoulder.

"Kaneda this is serious." She looked at him sternly, he only rolled his eyes and sighed. "I know that. You don't think I'm serious, that was Tetsuo. Why is he running from me huh!? L-Like what the hell he's got to hide!"

"Himself." Kei said clearly, making the two boys focus on her intently.

"Kaneda I know you were upset about the whole incident and him being gone. You're upset and happy that he's here, but you have to understand why he's acting like this. Granite we know now that Tetsuo is back, at the moment just us. Can you imagine what would happen if other people knew he was back… The very person that destroyed 50% of Tokyo. And can do it again making it 100% in the snap of just thinking about it… Now that we know his powers are still with him, and it seems even stronger and more under control."

Kaneda was listening closely to her, his face turning into one of pain.

"We know you want to go back to how things use to be. But the truth is you can't not after what has happened, and still fresh in peoples hearts and mind. They remember everyday they wake up as we're rebuilding our city… Now that Tetsuo is alive and has seen you. He may going to try harder and keep a distance or maybe see you again when he's ready… he's probably still just as shock as others from all that he's done and what was done to him. You need to give him his space for now, because you'll only make it worse." Kei finally finished her lecture to him.

Kaneda sighs looking away from her, "I hated when your a smart ass."

Kei laughed at that before turning his head to give him a sweet kiss, before pulling away. "I'm a get you boys some ointment and bandages."

As Kaneda went to lay on his back in his bed, with Kai sitting in a chair waiting for Kei to come back. One of his men bust through the door scaring both of them.

"LEARN TO DAMN KNOCK FIRST!" Kaneda shouted at his subordinate.

"I'm sorry, but one of the guys came back with what you asked for."

Kaneda and Kai looked confused and went downstairs. As they were walking down they froze on the steps, along with Kei who followed behind them.

"I got the girl like you said boss." They showed them the girl on their shoulder, who was none other than Kaori. He told him he found where they were staying and nabbed her while she was outside.

They stood in silence for a moment till Kei glared at her idiot boyfriend, "KANEDA!"

"Fuck, guess it's too late." Kaneda said.

At this point whatever happens, happens. One thing for sure he's going to come to them instead of them coming to him.

And it is not going to be a pleasant reunion when he does.