15

Preparation

Chishiya

"Another supply run? Didn't we do one just last week?" Chishiya silently observed Niragi, seated across from him, who was rolling his eyes, as he complained before all executive officers gathered in the banquet hall, their meeting room.

Niragi ignored him, not a drop of the soft side Chishiya had witnessed in him last night, seeped through his sadistic facade.

"Yes, but no matter. The Beach has grown in members, and our supplies are running low. So unless your visas are running out today, you will be sent on a supply run," Hatter calmly explained.

"How often do I need to remind you, I don't take orders from you," Niragi challenged, his tone arrogant as ever.

"Yes, yes, Aguni is your boss," Hatter sighed dismissively before looking at Aguni. "And what are your orders then general? Do you not agree the Beach is running low on fuel for your cars, ammunition for your precious guns and medicine for your injuries?" Hatter asked calmly.

Chishiya studied Aguni from his seat, the cut on the left side of his face was healing well, yet not healed quite enough to dismiss the possibility of infection. It would certainly leave an ugly scar, that much was sure.

"I do," Aguni answered flatly, as he eyed-off Hatter. He didn't so much as shoot a single glance in Niragi's direction.

Interesting. Looks like tensions are rising between the factions.

"There you see. That settles it. Now, is anyone's visa running out tonight?" Hatter scanned the group bemused, when Niragi rolled his eyes so hard, Chishiya could almost hear it.

No one answered, so Hatter continued, "alright then, as usual you will go in pairs, one from each faction. Aguni and Mira, you'll be in charge of ammunition. Last Boss and Kuzuryu, you'll go find us more food."

"Ah what? Last Boss get's to go hunt? Don't tell me I need to babysit the mechanic again," Niragi objected displeased.

Hatter sighed heavily, he'd clearly had enough of Niragi antagonising him. "No. You'll be in charge of medical supplies. Take Chishiya with you, he has medical experience. Unlike you."

Niragi scoffed at the insult, and met Chishiya's gaze, who's expression remained passive.

"We've raided all the hospitals and pharmacies in close vicinity, there won't be much left," Niragi disputed.

"So you'll take a car to the outer wards. Take two of your militants to cover more ground, or don't. I don't care as long as you get it done."

Niragi huffed a short breath in annoyance but didn't reply.
"Alright, well, then that leaves An and Mahiru in charge of gasoline. Take the new mechanic with you, what was his name again? Toto?" Hatter continued.

"Tatta," An corrected flatly.

"Why can't we just send members out to do the dirty work for us? Why get our hands dirty for some brainless low lives?" Niragi challenged.

"Noblesse oblige," Hatter simply replied.

"Huh?" Niragi raised his pierced eyebrow in confusion.

"It means, that those in power have a certain obligation towards those less fortunate. We as a collective are the rulers of the Beach, so it is up to us to look after our soldiers." Hatter explained, with a wild glint in his eye.

So Hatter's calling himself a king now, am I understanding that correctly? Chishiya studied Aguni, whose wary eyes had progressively darkened with each of Hatter's words.

"Now are there any questions?" Hatter inquired. "No? Start your preparations then, you leave at dusk, when most are leaving for their games. Less chance of coming across hostiles. Meeting concluded." Hatter dismissed them with a quick wave of his hand.

One by one the executives rose from their seats, Niragi was the first to leave the room, cursing to himself, his gun resting on his shoulder. Chishiya on the other hand took his time, he was in no rush. With his hands tucked into the pockets of his hoodie he strolled towards the exit and took one last glance at Aguni. He hadn't moved from his seat and glared at Hatter with unwavering rage.

How I wish I could eavesdrop on their impending conversation. The secrets I could learn.

With the slightest hint of a sigh Chishiya turned away and casually made his way through the hotel, to begin with the preparations for tonight.

"You," Niragi snapped at one of the militants he'd picked to join them tonight. "Go get the mechanic. Tell him to move his ass over here and give the car a last check over before we go."

"Yessir," the kid, Kentaro, if Chishiya remembered correctly, nodded before scurrying off.

"And you, go through the checklist, make sure we've got everything," Niragi ordered the other, named Yori.

Chishiya, leaning against the hood of the car, quietly watched Niragi throw his orders around. Niragi was in a foul mood, Chishiya noted, worse than usual. Lack of sleep most likely. They were in the parking lot adjoining the Beach, going over their final checks before leaving on their supply run. The other executive officers were tending to their own preparations, scattered throughout the parking lot.

Chishiya had been about to enter the restaurant for breakfast this morning, when he'd spotted Niragi emerging from the bathroom to hurry off in the opposite direction. From the way he'd moved, held the tension his shoulders and his quick pace, Chishiya had immediately picked up on Niragi's anxiety. How unusual for Niragi to be up this early, and most unusual to show up for breakfast. He never showed up for breakfast, rarely showed up to most meals for that matter. But in that moment Chishiya had wondered if Niragi had even slept at all last night. Now his gaze followed the militant kid rushing off, to fulfil his orders. Once he was out of sight, Chishiya shifted his attention to Niragi,who was pacing in circles while stifling a yawn.

"You were up early this morning," Chishiya stated.

Niragi halted and blinked at him, his expression furrowed into a frown. "What?"

"I saw you at breakfast," Chishiya replied calmly. He could see the gears in Niragi's mind working on overdrive, wondering how Chishiya could have possibly spotted him this morning, when he himself hadn't noticed him.

"So what, now I'm not allowed to be hungry?" Niragi countered, his mask of hate not showing a single crack.

"Were you though? Hungry I mean," Chishiya asked, his voice soft. He'd seen the full plate of food resting in front of the empty seat at the militants table. Chishiya could only assume it had been Niragi's, since the rest of the restaurant had been empty. He'd eavesdropped on the militant corps conversation, pretending to mind his own business, digging into his breakfast. There he'd learned about Niragi's absent behaviour, the rush he was in to leave shortly after they'd joined him at the table, and that his food had already been cold when they arrived. Given that the militants who took over the second morning shift of patrols usually came to breakfast between nine and nine thirty, and that Chishiya had arrived around nine forty-five suggested Niragi had spent a while in that bathroom. Niragi had looked pale, sick even when he'd emerged from the bathroom.

The fact Niragi had been in the dining hall in the first place suggested he had indeed been hungry. Hungry enough to make his way there, instead of sleeping in as usual. And under normal circumstances there were more people present at breakfast than just the militants. So what had happened for Niragi to lose his appetite and clear the room?

"What does it matter?" Niragi hissed, rage blazing in his black eyes, before stifling another yawn.

"Did you sleep at all last night?" Chishiya studied Niragi, the circles under his eyes, the weariness in his movements.

Niragi glared at him for a moment. Then his dark eyes softened before he answered flatly, "no."

Chishiya simply nodded once in understanding, before the arrival of Kentaro accompanied by the new mechanic, caught his attention.

"Alright, I'm here to um.. check over your car. I just need the uh... the keys," the new mechanic, Tatta, stuttered, avoiding Niragi's glare.

"In the ignition," Chishiya offered.

"And hurry up, we don't have all night," Niragi barked after him, as he moved to inspect the car.

"We got everything?" Niragi demanded a few moments later, as Yori arrived with his checklist.

"Yessir."

"Good. You're in charge of the radio. Now, who's driving?" Niragi scanned his three companions.

"I.. I don't have a license yet," Yori mumbled.

"Me neither actually," Kentaro added.

Chishiya remained quiet, not that he couldn't drive, he just preferred being a passenger, able to observe everything and anything.

Niragi rolled his eyes in annoyance. "Guess I'll drive then."

Then again, if Niragi was sleep deprived, maybe letting him drive wasn't the best idea.

"Shouldn't you be shotgun? Since you're the one with the rifle." Chishiya asked, subtly raising an eyebrow.

"What, you think I can't drive?"

"No, that's.." Chishiya began but found himself cut off.

"I'm driving," Niragi growled. "Now everyone get in the car."

No way I'll convince him to let me drive now.

"Can I use the bathroom before we go please?" Yori asked.

"You've gotta be.." Niragi began but was interrupted by Tatta. "Car is all ready to go, easy on the gas, she's a sensitive one."

"Yeah whatever," Niragi muttered before turning to face Yori. "Fine go, but hurry the fuck up before I decide to put a bullet in your head."

The kid paled and ran as fast as he could. Chishiya climbed into the passenger seat and tucked his hands into his pockets, while Kentaro sat in the back.

Niragi hopped into the drivers seat, adjusted the seat and mirrors, then drummed his fingers on the steering wheel impatiently. "That kid better show up now or.."

"I'm here, I'm here," Yori yelled and climbed into the backseat.

"Alright, where are we headed?" Niragi asked, after the engine roared to life with a twist of the key in the car's ignition.

"Setagaya first," Chishiya replied calmly.