Disclaimer: I do not own Digimon.
Summer is moving so fast I barely have room to breathe. Both jobs are overwhelming, and I scarce have room for anything. I managed to piece this together in one afternoon practically after not posting for nearly a month. I must admit I have no experience in the lawyer profession or the process nor do I care for it. If you can get past that obvious flaw, then surely this will be an enjoyable chapter. Whenever this character Daichiro Higetoro spoke I imagined him with the English voice actor of Devimon in the original adventure story. One line in the story that definitely stood out to me was: 'Did you really think your feeble powers were any match for mine?!' Assuredly yes, he was that megalomaniacal in his human life before becoming a Digimon. After this two more to go and we can finally get out of here into the action of the canonical timelines with the next Digidestined. I don't have the energy for wit so that's about it.
Chapter Twenty-Seven: The Black-Winged Fiend
A flock of crows eyed Rei Kurenada as he fixed his jacket. He licked his forefinger having enjoyed a decent meal. A surely mistress had been suspected by her husband of adultery, and Rei had no problem dragging out from her all the negativity about her husband that brought her to a situation of cheating.
He found himself licking his lips and smacking his gums. For some reason when people stewed themselves in their negativity it only tasted so much sweeter like adding a savory dressing to a simple meat dish with spices.
As Rei exited the building and walked along his way someone else came out of the house frantic. He immediately recognized the husband, but since Rei did not show him his face the man could only run around looking for his wife whom he would never find.
He fixed his collar and sat down on a bench coincidentally looking down to see an odd article on the cover page of a newspaper.
"Hmmm," he said to himself grabbing it and reading it through. "Serial Killer strikes again. A crime wave has gripped the city. There have been reported incidents of men and women going missing. There is reasonable suspicion they were either abducted or killed, but, for the police to not find a single piece of evidence has baffled investigators."
"Oh my," he said flipping the page still reading. "It sounds like their has been a fair amount of fear spread around due to my influence."
He then flipped to the next page glancing over articles about opinions and politics. He then rolled his eyes as he flipped over to the next page. Rei put his hand on his chin and stroked it intuitively.
"Well now," he grinned. "Daichiro Higetoro." he said looking over the picture, the image of a serious man emitting negativity even from the paper itself. It had not been much, but, very rarely could anyone have echoing negativity like that spanning off of a picture or a device or anything especially when thousands of newspapers had been printed.
He wondered about him and read in detail the article about him. The article explained about how he had just won in court on behalf of the Morning Sun Enterprises. This company had been well known for running experimental medical procedures that according to the paper 'has saved many lives', but Rei knew instinctively things were not as they seemed.
The article seemed to gloss over the fact a man who underwent the experimental medical procedure and died had at one time taken out a vector loan and whose family is now in financial ruin. The family itself were the ones who attempted to sue the company.
Rei found himself taking another look at the picture. Daichiro had such a stern serious expression, and appeared threatening nonetheless. To have him as part of his plan would be not just beneficial. No, it would be essential. His eyes narrowed on his image. Yes, he would have him. All he needed to do was find the man.
It didn't take long. Rei found himself in the Isekai Business District, men and women in their professional outfits flitting about, cars pouring across the road. A sense of pressure could be felt in the air, but it only made the air sweeter to Rei.
"Such pleasant negativity," he smiled approaching a five story building. On the tall window payned glass it read Higetoro Lawyer Group.
As soon as Rei approached the building and walked inside the pressure from outside seemed to have increased tenfold. The most professionally dressed receptionist he had ever seen seemed to be scanning through documents, her eyes locked and focused.
Rei approached her and tapped on her receptionist desk.
The lady glanced at him, her beige cat-like eyes responding to his movement. "This is the Higetoro Lawyer Group Building," she said. "Do you have an appointment?"
"I do not," Rei said.
"Then you will have to reserve one."
"Tell me," Rei said smiling politely, but changing the subject, "This building is all under one lawyer? He can generate that much profit?"
The woman seemed to swallow her nerves as if he annoyed her. In fact Rei could sense it as he picked up a quick flick of negativity emitting from her.
"The building is divided by thirteen clients. Two for each floor with the 13th being constantly under bid. He retains the services of that client."
Rei wondered about that seeing as how pristine everything appeared. Nothing looked out of place. Everything could only be described as razor sharped and focused. From the cleanliness to the clear windows to the fountain in the middle of the room with a gargoyle statue spewing forth water. To put it simply the room was immaculate.
"Then," Rei said, "I would like to reserve an appointment."
"That will be 20,000 yen," she said not batting an eye.
Rei stared at her a little bit curiously. "That much huh?"
It did not matter to Rei. He had amassed all the funds he needed from the other Kurenadas anyway.
"Would you like to pay by card or check?"
Rei thought to himself for a minute and then manifested a check with the corresponding information he would need and took it out of his pocket.
"May I borrow a pen," he smiled setting the check on the desk.
"Do as you wish," she nodded her head sliding a beautifully designed pen holder over to him.
Rei finished it lastly signing his name.
"Here we are," he smiled pushing it towards her.
The woman immediately inspected it as if looking for forgeries, but Rei had gotten passed that childish security check what seemed ages ago.
"Do you have a business card?"
"How could I forget?" Rei smiled immediately putting his hand in his pocket on the fly and swiftly giving one he conjured up to her.
"Kurenada Field Technology Enterprises?"
"That's right," Rei said adjusting his coat.
The lady nodded her head a bit more friendly this time as if he had passed her inspection. "According to his schedule the latest he can see you is two months from now."
Rei raised an eyebrow and adjusted himself accordingly. "That's a bit far off isn't it?"
"Mr. Higetoro is a very busy man," she said. "He has a track record of never losing a case once he picks up a client. He is highly sought after. As a businessman I'm sure you can understand."
Rei closed his eyes and nodded his head. "Of course I can understand. I have been widely sought after for my services as well. However," he said taking out a check and writing down 100,000 yen and then pushing it towards her, "I have a most urgent need. Tell him I need an emergency appointment tomorrow, and not one second passed ten in the morning," he said leering towards her imposing his devilish charm. "I will be waiting at the Isekai Cafe Corner on Isekai street."
The receptionist's eyes lit up a bit as if her core had been shaken. She shook her head for a moment and opened her eyes smiling back cordially. "I understand. But you do know he only meets in this building."
Rei smiled back even more kindly. "Please understand. I get a bit claustrophobic in such pristine environments. I do value his services, but I won't be able to present myself accordingly. As a lawyer I'm sure he understands that as well? That's of course if I am so honored to become his client."
She closed her eyes in almost defeat and sighed. "I will inform him. Ten a.m. at the Isekai corner cafe."
Rei also returned the gesture promptly returning the pen to the holder. "I look forward to it."
The cafe moved in it's own way, waiters and waitresses bustling about. A couple of the young men moved around in costumes, some of them mimicking advertised characters from novels and books. They decorated the store windows bringing in a host of customers. Yet, for all that the cafe remained calm and quiet and spacious.
Rei sat at a corner table swirling a bittersweet cappuccino and partaking of an apple crumb cake. The cappuccino somehow could be tolerated, but the apple crumb cake tasted like garbage. He had to rearrange the data into a digital apple crumb cake just to barely be able to enjoy it.
He swallowed another bite and serenely drank more of his tea. The pleasant scenario would soon be shattered by the foreboding surely Daichiro, but for now he would enjoy it while he had the time.
The sound of screeching abruptly pulled up, seconds later the door opening wide as one Daichiro Higetoro entered into the quaint establishment. The man appeared quite cross. His hair stretched from left to right in almost a square box covering at the ends as if his hair had sprouted devil's horns.
He walked forward, Rei Kurenada smiling and waving as he approached. A look of disgust enveloped him. He seemed to like expensive clothing, but did not appear to be wearing a tie. He only had a business suit and slacks, but the way he moved forward towards him could only be described as intimidating. His sharp amber eyes locked onto him, Daichiro descending his muscular frame into the chair. He scooted it up at the table, a purple amethyst glistening having undergone some dark ceremony fusing into his ring.
He set a briefcase by his side and instantly took out a folder.
"Now then," he said. "Rei Kurenada was it? What business would you have to drag me out of my normal everyday affairs?"
Rei Kurenada took another sip of his tea and then wiped his mouth with a napkin. "The kind that costs over 120,000 yen," he smiled back with his own intimidation.
"You must be quite confident then in your business," he responded. "But we at the Higetoro Lawyer Group don't accept everyone we meet just because they can pay a fee to get us to the table."
"Naturally," Rei said setting his cup of tea on a saucer. "But before we begin would you like to order something? I've heard their red velvet cake is quite amazing. I almost got a slice myself."
"We can dispense of the formalities," Daichiro declared taking the thick folder and letting it thud on the table rattling the dishes.
Rei instantly perked up. "What is this?" he asked.
"An investigative report about all of your companies wrongful deeds," he said folding his arms. "As you can see the folder is quite thick."
"Naturally," he replied not even bothered by it. "I've been doing this kind of thing for so long nothing ever seems to faze me anymore."
"Then you're lying," he replied his eyes locked onto him. "If that was truly the case you would not have solicited my firm's services. What brought this on? You best not leave out any details either," he smirked. "Any of my clientele will tell you that doing so is akin to betrayal. And I punish all who betray me."
Rei Kurenada then took a bite of his crumble and drank some more. The man though rational, sound, and intimidating kept trying to get under his skin, but he would not give him that honor. All of that went to Rei himself.
"I get it," he replied. "No need for such bravado Mr. Higetoro. Once your services are under contract there is no backing down. I am fully aware of this already."
Daichiro tapped his fingers on the table, Rei sensing his anxiousness.
"Tell me. What have you done that is so wrong you need my services? In your own words."
"In my own words?" he questioned. He calmly drank some more of his tea. "Let me think. But, before I do so I would ask any electrical devices to be shut off including the one that is in your suit coat," he said. "I wouldn't want you to use this to blackmail me or anything."
Daichiro tapped his chest. He took out a listening device and turned it off. "You certainly are a sharp one. But you do understand this is business. Any businessman will tell you the most important part of operating a business is profit. So if I lose this case I profit, but if I win this case I profit even more."
Rei stared at him dully and leaned back in his chair. "I see then," he sighed. "So what you are telling me is...you're a coward."
Daichiro instantly stood up slamming the table. "You best watch your tongue! Do you have any idea who it is your dealing with? I have sued even clients for their display of contempt!"
Rei calmly kept eating his cake never taking his eyes off of Daichiro. He imagined he started eating his negativity, the likes of which were on par with the cruelest of men.
"All I am saying is you never lay anything on the line. All you do is win, and, if afterwards your client doesn't give you what you believe is your share you throw them to the sharks. You squeeze them to the point of financial ruin don't you?"
The man seemed agitated beyond measure, but took a breath to calm himself. "If you say one more word about it I will call this off. You will lose all the money you just invested in this meeting."
Rei lifted up his hands in front of him. "Let's not be hasty here," he replied. "Though I do know now how to avoid irritating you I cannot leave empty handed without your assistance. In fact it is most essential."
"I will give you a minute then. State your case."
Rei chewed another bite and drank a little more of his tea. "I will get right to the point then. I'm sure you've seen from your research my company had a certain anesthetic that ran into some problems. Apparently the test subjects themselves developed some blood cancers after months having taken this treatment. They are all filing a class action law suit seeking damages and what not," he said holding out both hands. "I'm sure you can see the dire predicament I am in."
Daichiro folded his arms and nodded his head. "I've been around for a long time Mr. Kurenada. Your business practices do not surprise me. After all only the wealthy and deplorable can dig themselves out of their own graves. The weak and poor only bury themselves trying to climb out."
Rei nodded his head. "That's quite the metaphor," he said opening up the binder and looking through it. "There's some things here about the company that I never revealed publicly. You've done a magnificent job," he said closing it.
"Naturally. We do all of our homework before coming to the table. You did NOT give us much time however."
He leaned forward folding his arms. "Going by how long this problem has persisted and how much they are asking I think we can agree that this offer here is more than enough to pay for our services," he said taking out a document and pushing it toward him.
"100 million yen?" Rei said questionably. "Isn't that a bit much?"
"Not at all," Daichiro said starting to appear a bit manic. "That amount is satisfactory. It not only covers legal costs, but saves you three times as much provided we win the case."
Rei hesitated pretending to swallow.
He noticed Daichiro grin with jagged teeth. "And if you decline my offer then well I'm sure you know what will happen to you and your company."
He put his hands over his eyes and started to make sniffling sounds
"Come now Mr. Kurenada we're both businessmen here. There is no need to cry for-"
-Daichiro stopped, Rei actually converting his sniveling into laughter."
"What's this?" Daichiro said a bit nervously.
Rei could not help himself. He uncovered his hands showing his mocking face, and then bursting out even more into am uproar of laughter. He slammed the table, his eyes tearing.
"Y-you've lost it," Daichiro responded, his hand quivering. "But that's ok. We'll make this work. You'll see the service that we provide will save you and your company! What do you say? Is it a deal?"
Rei covered his eyes with his shirt sleeve stretched across it and grinned. "I decline."
The look in Daichiro's eyes looked dumbfounded.
"You what?"
"I told you. I decline your offer," he smiled plainly. "But thanks for a good laugh."
Daichiro pounded his fist on the table. "You decline? Do you have any idea what I can do to you for this? No one in the history of my firm has ever declined us! You will accept or else! It's madness to think there is another way!"
Rei recomposed himself and continued eating his crumble. "You might think so. And you might just think I've wasted millions of dollars just arranging this meeting. But you would be an even bigger fool than I thought if you think this is just about me."
Daichiro stared at him, his composure starting to go away. A slight bead of sweat went down from his head, Daichiro wiping it with a napkin.
"Just what do you mean? This is nonsense!"
"Let's just call it that then," Rei said. He grabbed a binder like an encyclopedia next to him and let it thud on the table. It knocked down all the silverware and dishes, the impact of them hitting the floor.
"What devilry is this?" he questioned.
"Devilry?" Rei said curiously. "No, this is simple research. Just as you researched me Daichiro Higetoro I took my time to research you and your doings," he smiled. "Have a look if you like."
Daichiro swallowed as he opened the book.
"I'm sure this is just a bunch of useless drivel to make me lose face," he grinned. "All right I will humor you Rei Kurenada. Then let's be realistic and complete. This. Deal…"
His eyes blistered through the contents, his mouth agape.
"Why whatever is the matter?" Rei asked. "After all a lawyer firm is used to dealing with clients with such dealings as this," he chuckled. "I knew your business was never as clean as the driven snow either. In fact, it makes mine look blissfully innocent if we compared the two, wouldn't you say?"
Daichiro coughed in his fist, and slammed the book shut, sweat beading down his face.
"You never really wanted me for your company business at all did you?" he grunted putting a hand to his head. "No. This seemed too good to be true, but like a moth drawn to the flame I jumped into it."
"A suiting simile," Rei said clapping his hands. "Very nice indeed," he smiled folding his arms across each other.
Daichiro glared at him, his teeth slightly jarring crunching together. "If you're not here for my services just what do you want?"
"Nothing much," Rei said calmly. "But even if I told you what I want you wouldn't agree to it. You have too much pride to allow it."
"I'll be the judge to determine that!" he snapped. "Now spit it out. Tell me!"
"Well, since you're being so curt about it I will tell you," Rei said snidely. "I want to see you lose everything and then join my cause."
"Lose everything? I don't understand. What do you mean?"
"You're a lawyer," Rei smirked, "But you don't even know that much? Let me spell it out for you. I. WANT. YOU. TO. LOSE. EVERYTHING. Your house? Gone. You're spouse. Gone. You're career. Gone. You're business in shambles. You wallowing in misery and despair and in the muck and mire of poverty."
"Why? What have I done to wrong you?" he asked. "I just met you!"
"It's not about what you've done," Rei said holding out his hand. "This is just business. For you to come over to my side you have to lose it all. Otherwise you will never want to."
"There you go speaking such cheekiness!" he yelled pounding the table. "What do you mean coming over to your side? Do you want my company to merge with yours? No, are you some cult leader or something?"
"I am simply Rei Kurenada," Rei replied. "But when you do lose everything Daichiro Higetoro you will come over to me. I guarantee it. You'll want a fresh start and that power you crave ever so much. But you won't find it here. You will get it reborn into a new world."
"A cult leader it is then!" he exclaimed. "I have never heard such foolishness! In fact, I am beyond offended! All that money you gave me I will use to drain you completely dry! Your business! Your assets! Everything! They will be all part of my Lawyer Firm!"
Rei smiled back. "I care for no other thing but myself," he grinned. "And you are just a necessary stepping stone for me to obtain my ambitions. We seem to be at an empass," he said standing up putting one hand in his pocket. "So I would like to make a proposal."
"A proposal?" he said a bit on edge. "Let's hear it."
"It works like this. We'll both put everything on the line. You'll use your evidence to sue me and take whatever you want. Once you do I will counter sue and do the same. At the end of this little game whoever wins the case gets to keep everything."
Daichiro swallowed a bit placing his hand on his head. Rei could see in his eyes a manic desperation. He knew that Rei had the capital, but did not know his resources. Yet Rei knew the temptation would be too great for him to deny taking the bait. Nothing could suit this man's incredible lust for power.
Rei leaned in studying him. "What do you say Daichiro? You've played it safe for far too long. You could deny it if you so wished and I wouldn't counter sue you either. But, would your pride allow it to happen? Is it so great it would risk everything just for you to maintain your dignity?"
Daichiro kept staring at him losing his mind while Rei remained the epitome of being cool.
"I admire your bravado," he said gathering himself back together. "But, your insolence will now cost you everything. You've just made a deal with the devil," he said reaching out his hand and grabbing Rei's hand, Rei enjoying the negativity emitting from him.
"Shall we start the paperwork? I will cancel all my meetings and draft it asap!"
Rei shook his hand back and grinned. "You do just that. But, you have made one fatally critical error already in your assessment."
"Hmm? And what pray tell is that?" he questioned.
"Why my dear Daichiro you failed to surmise the situation. You aren't the devil. Because I'm sure you know this already, but, the true devil is not any one man. The devil," he sneered, "Is in the details."
That evening Rei Kurenada thought little of the trial that Daichiro would soon put him through. As he sat back stretching his arms and propping his feet up on a table things could not have gone anymore perfectly. His prey had been caught in his trap, but Daichiro honestly believed it was the other way around.
He recalled having received a summons from him, but Rei flitted his hand away upon receiving it. The language itself appeared threatening and would normally discomfit anyone, but Rei had already thought everything through.
"My dear Daichiro..." he grinned. He imagined him turning into a devilish being with black wings, sharp teeth, and menacing red eyes. He could literally taste his victory, wondering about this transformation.
"...Your rebirth is assured. All we have to do is to let the process play out."
The first day of the trial Rei represented himself in court and quite well if anyone was to ask him his opinion. Daichiro went straight for the throat accusing him and lambasting him for his crimes. He called in witnesses, pulled up documents, and had obituaries, and family members come and testifiy against him.
This process went on for days Rei barely able to stave off his boredom by thinking of how much he wanted that ruthless being to be part of his next world. He was like a kid wanting a quarter from his parents to get a gumball from the candy machine, but had to complete his chores first.
When at last all the evidence had come out and the people were about to make their verdict Rei Kurenada made his only defense.
He turned towards the judge and smiled and then stared at the jurors staring at him and also smiled. He wetted his lips and curtly bowed his head. "I apologize IF I have offended anyone by my company or my own actions," he said. "We strive our best to give the best services we can offer, painstakingly so. If you truly have suffered financially due to my company's policies or results I will even cut off my own arm to make it right," he sighed.
He could sense Daichiro in chipper spirits, his negativity waning.
"...But," he said ominously, "That's not really the case is it? This would be the pot calling the kettle black wouldn't you say?"
He stopped bowing and then pleasantly smiled towards each of them. "If any of you were to have committed crimes or done things that would permanently scar or change your life and if someone were to find out and they took you to court, then, how can you, or anyone else dare to cast judgment upon me?" he said, his fake mask starting to come undone.
He for a moment saw the Digital Creator in the Judge's spot and Homeostasis in the jury. "Can the guilty judge with a righteous judgment?" he accused. He held out his hands. "There is none in this world who is so righteous. Not even myself," he said. "But if there is one who can judge me or my company let them come forward of a righteous record."
"Objection!" Daichiro scolded. "Your honor this man is clearly clinically insane! He spews nonsense and nearly threatening language demeaning all of us in this room! Surely he is showing contempt of court!"
Rei Kurenada then glanced at the judge, grinned, and then back at Daichiro. "Be assured," he said. "Be you a devil or an angel your sins will find you out."
The judge coughed in his fist, Rei noticing him on edge. "We will now declare a short recess with a verdict. Meet back in fifteen minutes," he said hastily retreating from the room.
Daichiro gritted his teeth glaring at Rei, Rei Kurenada sneering back. They turned their backs to each other and walked their separate ways.
When the jury returned and everyone made themselves comfortable, Rei glanced at Daichiro who seemed to have been so anxious he started sweating quite uncomfortably.
"Has the jury reached a verdict?" the judge asked.
A group of jurors nodded their heads and one woman stood up.
"We have your honor," she said.
Rei imagined the lady as Homeostasis. He chuckled to himself starting to crack up inwardly. With the sins the Digital Creator had committed their could be no one who could cast judgment upon him if he could expose them. No one.
The lady swallowed a bit anxiously. "We find the defendant, Rei Kurenada, the Director of Kurenada Field Technologies Enterprises...not guilty."
At the mere mention of those words, the judge banged his gavel. "This case is dismissed," he said quickly hastening away from his position.
Cameras started flashing like crazy. People all over started moving to the nearest pay phoines, Rei hearing some of them talking a million miles a minute to Daichiro's clients. Daichiro dejected gathered some of his documents and walked out, Rei following him.
They were all greeted by an onslaught of reporters, Rei watching as Daichiro attempted to compose himself and address them, but he could not. He stern-facedly walked through them.
"Get out of my way!" he snarled making his retreat.
They all after he left made their way over to him barraging him with questions, Rei having a response for only one of them.
"How is it possible I could win?" he said repeating the question. "It's really quite simple. You don't have to win. All you have to do is show the world is darker than you are. And all of you," he said, taking in some of their negativity, "Are part of that world."
A few days later the secretary he had spoken with at the office called him. She said a few things that got garbled up, but the only words he can make out clearly were "...Isekai cafe, 3 pm."
So back to the cafe Rei Kurenada went. He decided for sure this time to try the red velvet cake, surprisingly finding that even in his state of being it tasted quite nicely. He sipped some more black tea and calmly waited for Daichiro to show up an hour later.
The screeching tire wheels pulled up, Daichiro practically pushing people out of the way with his gait sitting at the table groaning and leering at Rei.
"Quite curious you decided to meet me back here of all places," Rei said calmly eating his cake. "Might I recommend the red velvet cake again? I'm actually having it myself. It is quite yummy," he smiled.
The disheveled man scratched his head furiously, his teeth clenched, his fists white from being clenched together so hard.
"How did you do it?" he asked. "How did a lawyer less eccentric defeat the most successful lawyer group in all of Japan? Everything pointed to me winning this case! The testimonies! The documents! The articles! The evidence! How could all of this be presented, and yet I, the one and only Daichiro Higetoro still lost?!"
Rei nodded his head and calmly took a sip of tea, the slight bitterness lingering on his lips.
"For one simple reason Daichiro: By making the world darker than I am," he leered, Daichiro on edge. He got up out of his chair accidentally knocking it over.
"I've read articles about your company to," Rei said. "Apparently you have lost the faith of a quarter of your clients. Your stock is down 15% and all of your bids for the 13th spot as your client have all mysteriously stopped bidding and vanished."
Daichiro took a step back, Rei imposing, his eyes rattling and disturbed.
"C-call it off," he swallowed. "Their is no need for anymore of this," he said trying to compose himself. "You have cleared your name. I have lost this case. My company has suffered immensely enough. Their is no need for this to go on any longer, right?" he said starting to smile.
Rei Kurenada glared at him trying to hide his disgust. "Is that what you told the poor woman who lost her husband when he took out that vector loan without her knowledge? Did you 'forgive' him of this debt when you took her house to pay for the debt? Of course you didn't. You simply restated the contract and told her it was your 'obligation' to complete it. A contract has to be fulfilled once it's been signed by both parties," he said as if he could only imagine the scenario.
Daichiro twitched slightly, a scoff in his voice.
"So you know what I am about to say don't you?" he asked. Let me repeat your quote verbatim: "It's nothing personal. It's just business."
With that Daichiro turned his back to him and stormed out of the cafe.
Rei took another bite of his cake savoring it. "And next time try this cake!"
Over the course of the next week Rei Kurenada had each of the different lawyers in Daichiro's office visit with him asking for settlements before the process had even started. Surely they were thinking of trying to keep things quite before a case went public with their office as defendants to preserve their company image. Rei Kurenada declined them each and every time.
Finally Rei Kurenada had enough of it and went directly to the building himself. He met the receptionist again who seemed even more nervous to talk to him.
"Yes Mr. Kurenada. What can I do for you?"
Rei Kurenada smiled pleasantly. "Hi again Miss. Give Mr. Higetoro this message for me…"
Over the course of the next week Daichiro had received his summons and appeared in court with over six different lawyers present with them. Rei had no one on his side.
Rei presented his case quite flippantly as if all of this could only be described as a boring chore a child did not want to do. He convinced himself though to keep on going to obtain the prize.
There must have been objections every other sentence of his, but those objections were overruled the moment the judge looked at Rei and he only smiled pleasantly.
Daichiro could not have looked anymore baffled.
This process continued on for several days as Rei presented his evidence, witnesses, etc with extreme fits of boredom throughout.
After the last hearing Rei walked along with Daichiro and they both stepped out to the Isekai cafe during the break. It was after all right down the street.
"Tell me, did you take me here to humiliate me?" Daichiro asked. "Your evidence against me is impressive, but you don't have the clout to win. My group will eventually rebuild itself stronger than ever before. We might take some losses for now, but, after this with our name in the clear of any rumors or concerns we will recover."
"That's not why I asked you here," Rei said as a waitress came towards them and placed down a piece of red velvet cake for each of them.
"Then why did I agree to go with you? If you were asking for a miniscule settlement I might have been able to accept," he scoffed.
Rei Kurenada smiled and took a bite. He tried to hide his annoyance, but he could not help at being infuriated by this little imp, nowhere the demon he had been feared and respected as.
"I'll tell you what I will do," Rei said. "I will call all of this off if you take one bite of that cake for me."
Daichiro stared at him incredulously. "Did I hear you right? You're telling me all of this will be called off, the millions of dollars, my company reputation, and everything else all for one bite of measly cake?!"
"That's what I said," Rei said studying him. "It is quite delicious. How about it? Will you take a bite?"
"But why?" he questioned. "What do you have to get out of all of this? I don't understand! Just what are you thinking?!"
Rei Kurenada only stared and pushed the plate in front of him. He imagined he would upend the table, spout a verbage of assaults and then storm away.
Instead to his surprise he picked up his fork, his eyes having been beaten into submission from all he had been through and started to bring it to his mouth.
Rei Kurenada could no longer hide it. Before he could do so he backhanded the fork out of his hand, the fork spinning away out of control. He then turned over the table all the contents crashing to the ground.
Daichiro stared up at him a bit confused. "But you just said-"
"-Look at the mighty Daichiro Higetoro now," Rei scoffed. "Here you are reduced to a pitiful state of a man. You're no longer the devil you were before. No you're just a miserable little piss ant waiting to be stepped on hoping you will get away with no consequences."
Daichiro stared at him angry as if he wanted to form a response, but he could only put his hands on his knees groaning in frustration.
"Because you never had lost you had all the confidence in the world. But now that you have your willing to sacrifice your standards and character for safety? That's not the devil that gave me shivers up my spine the moment I first laid eyes on him in a newspaper article!" he snapped.
Daichiro then got up his hands out as if ready to fight him. "What did you expect for me to do? To just let you ruin whatever is left of my company? To let you take away everything that I have? I've worked ceaselessly this last decade just to get the Higetoro Lawyer Group where it is now!"
"That's not what I am talking about!" Rei groaned. He bent down to the ground and grabbed the mashed up remains of a piece of cake.
"You were willing to settle," he mused. "You, the demon that everyone feared, were willing to lower your standards just to save face. That is what I can't stand more than anything else. And more than that!" he shouted shoving the piece of cake in his mouth, "You won't come out of your dam castle tower to face me in battle! You don't have the balls to do it knowing you can lose. You hide behind your shields of lawyers and won't come at me with everything you have! Are you a man to be a respected or a mouse to scurry away in fear? Decide!" he shouted kicking the table and then walking away leaving Daichiro paralyzed for a response.
He then walked over to the front counter and took out a few hundred dollars. "I apologize for the commotion and the damages," he smiled. "I hope with this will be enough to make amends."
Over the course of the next week Rei Kurenada kept an eye on the Higetoro Lawyer Group. Stocks dropped another 10%. Three of his biggest clients left. A couple employees even quit the company.
At last, the final day had come for the hearing. Rei had presented all of his evidence in court and now the jury were going to make their decision. And no matter what Daichiro did Rei Kurenada could not lose. And this solely was because like the previous case he had basically threatened the jurors and judges to choose him over the process. He had exposed their own vile deeds and in turn they could not cast judgment upon him.
He sat their in court in his place arms crossed growing quite tired and bored of this hearing.
At last the judge addressed the closing arguments. "Does this defense have any closing arguments?" the judge asked as all of Daichiro and the other lawyers present went to the front.
Rei rolled his eyes knowing he would have to hear a long cacophany of detailed lawyer explanations from each and every different one hoping to sway the judges. He could literally sense an oncoming headache from all the boredom starting to pound at his temples.
"Present your case," he heard dreading the words. He started massaging his temples preparing himself.
"All of you are...dismissed," a familiar voice said. The pounding immediately ceased. Rei put down his hand and much to his surprise all of Daichiro's lawyers retreated leaving Daichiro up at the stand solitary.
"Listen up all of you," he said. "My name is Daichiro Higetoro, the President of The Higetoro Lawyer Group. We have helped countless people. We have been accused, nay, ridiculed by this man who is in no way himself innocent despite having been acquitted of all claims against him!
With that Rei passionately listened to Daichiro list his faults and blame them at himself, but then he responded back by defending each of those claims boldly challenging the state of mind of the accuser. Rei could not help but start to clap for him, even enthralled by his performance. The man next counter argued against the nature of each claim showing the contempt for the very people who brought it against him. His condescending nature masked, nay, shielded him from the pressure around him and he dispersed it with his own ruthless accusations and standing up the Higetoro Lawyer Group.
At the end of it all he pointed right back at Rei Kurenada. "Any claims this man makes is unfound and uneducated. He borderlines mental instability having no knowledge or awareness how these claims go and even sought to represent himself in court with no representation as a lawyer. I ask you what kind of jury would side with one such as that? He muscles his way along a facade of innocent smile turning you against me. He claims this world is darker than he is and therefore he is innocent of the crimes claiming judging him would be judging yourselves! So judge jurors! And judge with righteous judgment! Who has helped thousands of people win their cases against the unrighteous? Who has corrected the countless wrongs of thousands of crimes? Who has brought down crime syndicates and squashed corrupted practices all for the sake of justice? That is us, the Higetoro Lawyer Group! So jurors I will ask you, will you judge us who have sacrificed so much of our time and energy so you can have your justice? Let your consciences absorb this fact, and make your rightful judgment that we are innocent."
With that the room came to a hush as the judge coughed in his fist. "And now we will declare the verdict after a short recess."
As people made their way around a flock of other of Daichiro's lawyers came over with hushed voices, Daichiro frustratedly tossing them away from his presence. Only Daichiro and Rei stayed in the room eyeing each other down. Both of them started to appear intimidating, then grinning, and then lastly bursting out into hearty laughter by the time everyone started to head back into the room.
"I must admit for someone having no experience with the law you were quite fun to toy with!" he besmirched.
"Well, let's hear you continue with such confidence when your castle starts to crumble into pieces," Rei retorted.
Everyone took their positions as the judge sat back down and everyone looked up at him expectantly.
"Have the jurors reach a verdict?"
A woman stood up clearing her throat. "We have your honor. In a 14 to 10 split we find the defendant Daichiro Higetoro...guilty on all charges."
With that a hushness fell over the crowd. The judge cleared his throat as Rei Kurenada simply lifted his feet over the desk and put his arms over his head. He knew that Daichiro must have been dejected.
Instead he looked over at Daichiro with one eye who hung his head, fell back in his chair and lifted up his head and laughed out loud.
"I have been soundly defeated!" he shouted, but not in lament. "Rei Kurenada was it? Well played!" he declared.
His other lawyers started to scold him and talk to him about their concerns, but he brushed them aside.
"What do I care about your feeble concerns for?" he said shrugging his shoulders. "Away with you. Can't you see I am no longer your employer? It is all up for that man to decide. I have no say in the matter."
He then said nothing as he exited the room with his wife. She looked pale, him holding one arm over her shoulder.
"Very soon," he said looking Rei's way, "You will have to decide which way the Higetoro Lawyer Group goes. Whether you build it up or tear it down, I don't care. Leave me out of it," he said walking away.
Reporters and the like surrounded Rei Kurenada who really did not want to see them. Still he would answer them. "I suppose if I did have to say one thing to you it will be this: The Kurenada family will not look so kindly on those who pester us with questions."
Weeks later days on end the Higetoro Lawyer Group disbanded. The clientele had been sold to another lawyer firm, and the building had been taken over by the Kurenada family, the other survivors anyway.
Rei had no need for it. Little by little Daichiro's assets came over his way. Cars, priceless art, jewelry. A monetary fine also had needed to be paid for to satisfy a large balance, but the only thing that Daichiro really had left was the manor he lived in.
Very soon it would be his. The Kurenada family had grown even more immensely powerful and Rei hated to admit he was responsible for it. Rei himself decided right when Daichiro had almost lost his property he would pay him a visit. After all, he knew, right at that cusp the time would be ripe to harvest him.
A once rich and comely estate had been reduced to a skeleton. Flowers were shriveled up. The grass was withered. Weeds had sprouted, but places where heavy statues had made deep embedded images in the grass had been taken along with some of the grass making holes in the ground.
He wandered up a cobblestone path towards the main gate of the estate. Hesitantly he knocked on the door; even decorative curtains obviously having been pulled down. Even the door bell had been torn out, a long piece of electric wire hanging out.
Instead of a servant opening the door, it was none other than Daichiro Higetoro himself.
"If you're wishing to lay claim to your property I have until the morning to get out," he sighed. "But if you so wish me to show you the way around I don't mind."
"Neither," Rei said, still noticing Daichiro still maintained his prim and proper attire and behavior. "However, would you like to join me for a drink?" he said pulling out a bottle of gin and tonic.
Daichiro led him into the main chamber where Daichiro had collected the rest of his things. Everything else had been gutted and emptied. A low hanging light and the fireplace lit up the main room, but except for themselves there was not a soul around.
"Make yourself comfortable," he said sitting down in an armchair leaning forward towards the fire. "I don't have much but there is a blanket if you need one."
"No thanks," Rei said. He opened a cabinet and took out two crystal glasses. He then walked over towards a small side table and set down both glasses and poured the gin.
Rei had discovered not too long ago even in his new state gin and tonic still affected him. He tried all other forms of alcohol, but something about this drink specifically still warped his senses reminding him he was partially an organic being.
He handed him one, Daichiro gladly accepting it.
"You'll have to forgive me for not being so hospitable," he said drinking deeply. "I have the last piece of venison in the fridge if you would like to have it. I have not been in the mood for strong food or drink lately."
"Not to worry," Rei said looking at him. The man who formerly had been a shadow of himself had been restored despite all that happened.
"I have to say Daichiro Higetoro you really are an amazing man."
"Hmm?" he said curiously putting the beverage down. "And how is that?"
Rei sipped and sighed. "I thought I had you all figured out. You had never been so much as touched financially with your business, and when you finally did I thought you had crumbled to dust. You were going to basically save yourself by demeaning yourself with one bite of red velvet cake," he sneered.
"I'm grateful that you stopped me," he said. "If I had saved myself I don't think I would have been able to remember who I had been before. I would still be that loathsome man I had been before. Though I have lost everything I still have my dignity intact."
Rei nodded his head and drank deeply.
"So what does the great Daichiro Higetoro have planned now? What are you going to do with your life?"
"I'm going to go live in a condo I have stored out in Odaiba somewhere," he said. "Though my firm is gone I can still practice law. I'll probably start with small claims and work my way from there."
"Of course," Rei said staring deeply in the fire. "But, Daichiro Higetoro will that make you happy?"
"Of course not," he growled. "It means I'll have to start nearly from scratch. I'll have to get another wife and build relationships with other people. Honestly it's so detestable," he scoffed.
"Truly it is," Rei said. "I recognized that about you to. Despite my friendly demeanor I hate dealing with people myself. I only prefer a handful of people. And I want you to be one of them."
He stared up at him a bit perplexed. "I don't understand. I thought you considered me an enemy. Is that not why you did all this to me? Is it not because I wronged you?"
"Nope," Rei said taking another swig. "It's just as I said before. I am no cult leader Daichiro Higetoro. I am simply a being that wishes to change all worlds. And I want you to be reborn into the one I am fashioning in my image."
"What are you talking about? Surely you have drunken too much," he said getting up going for the glass.
"I assure you that is not the case," he replied. "Your negativity emitted from an image, and now that I have taken everything from you, well mostly everything I can now ask you something."
"What is it?"
"Will you join me in this new world?"
"Join you?"
Rei took out a syringe from his coat pocket and set it on the side table.
"What is this?"
"You're invitation," he said showing him his hand break down into digital particles and restore it.
"Witchcraft," he said nearly breathless. "But how did you-"
"-You will have similar powers as I have," he said. "In fact you will be my first general. You will command those of lesser ability than you and have them fight on your and my behalf."
"A general? And you did all of this just because how negative I am? I'm only negative towards my enemies and those who do not meet my standards."
"Not only that," Rei snickered, "But you also come across as unapproachable."
"Of course," he said drinking. "I don't have time to deal with incompetent people who get afraid by how I am. They are a waste of time."
"My thoughts exactly," Rei said finishing his drink and throwing the drink in the fire, the fire stirring up.
"So this is where things stand," he said nonchalantly. "You can go start all over with your business holed up somewhere. Or, if you really crave power as much as I do you can start all over with more power than you can possibly imagine."
His face contorted slightly as he let his negativity surround him. "What say you Daichiro Higetoro?" he said his voice also warping as well.
Daichiro stared at him a bit frazzled, but determination seemed to fill him. "You can change your appearance all you want," he said. "But that will not change my decision. It was decided the moment you showed me your hand changing."
"And what did you decide?"
He said nothing, eyed the vial of dark digital data and rolled up his clothing on his arm.
"What does it look like?" he asked plunging the vial in his arm twitching slightly.
The vial rolled to the fireplace as Daichiro dropped to his knees breathing heavily.
"When I'm reborn in this new world I will expect nothing less than the most omnipotent of powers," he declared grinning. "You can do that much can't you?"
"When you awake again, I assure you," he said changing back to normal, "You will have only contempt for those around you, only care about yourself, and will be wielding the immense powers of dark digital data."
Daichiro grinned hiding back his groaning, Rei witnessing him start to break down. "Then witness my return as I make everyone else bow before me," he said closing his eyes, the man having completely vanished.
Rei Kurenada walked over towards the bottle of gin, downed it, and threw the remaining contents in the fire, the fire breaking out all over the mansion.
"Through the flames of hellfire and ashes the demon will eventually awaken," he chuckled leaving the home as it all crumbled into smoke and dust around him.
He stared at his hands joyous to have Daichiro on his side. "We only need a few more," he said. "And then once I have them, we can prepare for THAT inevitability…" he grinned.
"...The return of even more chosen children."
