"Kaiji, this is NOT the optimal place for guests to be around."
"Shoko's right. Let's go outside."
"There's nothing to do outside, right man?"
I don't know what I've walked into myself, really.
I remember following Jukai because she wanted to show me something— then I saw two people, and now I'm here inside of this…never before seen room.
Place was spacey, don't get me wrong. Cracked walls? Sure. Dimly lit with all those bars of lights just shining around the corners, some of which were flickering. Seems to be, there's a kitchen area around here too. Just walk a couple meters and you're already stepping inside a kitchen. And it was nice. Then there was a hallway…had a lot of doors. Three bathrooms, and I think eleven…bedrooms? Atleast, that's what I've counted.
This whole place surrounding me seemed like a hidden gang territory of some sorts. Like these people were in a gang, and they've stayed hidden here to keep a low profile and—or to hang out. And everything people'd say would bounce off of those walls and create an echo.
Now I wouldn't be surprised that these were gangsters in front of me. After all, I'm dealing with a Ground Slam associate here.
But what's Jukai trying to do?
And speaking of Jukai, she saw how distant I was then quietly pulled her fingers calling for me. I approached.
"What're you actin' all so distant for, kid?" she asked me, like what I was doing was wronger than what she called me here for. I told her: "Well there's nothing here for me to do."
"Huuuh??" a delinquent's 'huh'. The way she said it with a larger eye than the other…"You got Kaiji, go ahead and talk to 'em!"
But what should I talk about??? The two other girls laughed, and it was embarassing. But then Kaiji came to stop it with his usual peps, extending his arms over them as he said, "Alright, alright, calm down you two." They did.
But then he said, "Y'know, if you don't know what to talk about. Why don't you introduce yourself? That'll kick things off." As nonchalantly as his eyes rested on his face.
That doesn't sound so bad…But then again, I was nervous. It's been a while since I've…
Sigh.
"Oh, yeah, why don't you introduce yourself??" Shoko insisted, so did that Jasmin beside her, "Yeah, about time we get to know about you."
That only made things harder than it was…I just stood there with my head down, contemplating the choices I've made so far. Coming here was a mistake…"Go on! We're waiting!"
"Yeah, you're nineteen, right? You can't just stay like that forever." Kaiji said. Then Shoko turned her head to him, confused on how he knew, "How'd you know?"
"What?"
"His age, how'd you know?"
"Wait, he's actually nineteen?"
"Yeah."
"WOAH! I actually didn't know!" his voice echoed loudly off those old walls three times more. They all laughed. And to me, that served like a breathing space almost.
"So, your name?" Kaiji askd that again. Like he never got it. I answered immediately, "Imura…"
"Imura?"
"Kashiwada."
"Kashiwada Imura. Alright, where you from, Kash?" same thing what Jukai calls me for short. He slouched an arm over my shoulder as he said that like he was a party-boy. I looked over him and said, "I'm…from around here."
"Ohh?" he raised a brow, now straightening himself like I was worth taking serious more. "Yeah," I said, not sure why. Then he said to me: "Well, Kash— so what's your hobby? Y'got any in particular?"
I didn't want to answer that because I thought that they'd laugh. But I just did it anyway,
"Uhhh, gaming?"
Shoko's jaw dropped.
Jasmin's jaw dropped.
Jukai's didn't. But her eyes went far too wide for me to not be scared. And then there was kaiji, who— as relaxed as always, didn't seem to react. But he did something…
He let go of my shoulder, whipped out his phone and started tapping. The phone's light brushed over his face…"You got 'VIBEZ'?" his eyes locked onto mine, thumbs waiting to tap again. VIBEZ was the social media platform I hangout on, I still do but rarely these days. "Yeah." I said.
He snapped his fingers twice, SNAP SNAP. I knew what that meant.
I told him my username…
'rocksrcool2222'
"You took that photo yourself?"
"No."
"Why do those rocks look kinda edible, man?"
"Probably because of the colours."
"Yeah…check your inbox."
I took out my phone, ignoring the reactions I was leaving to these people. A friend request…
'WHERESMYUBERAT'
Showed him the screen. He analyzed it surgically. Shook his head, telling me that's him. So I accepted it.
Done.
WOA— "YAAAAAAYYYYYYYYY!!!!!!!!!! WE'RE FRIENDS NOW, KASH— WE'RE FRIENDS NOW!" he hugged me all of a sudden after dropping his phone on the ground.
"HEY, HEY! CALM—"
"I'LL SEND YOU A YEARLY SUBSCRIPTION LATER— WE CAN PLAY GAMES NOW, KASH! I'LL DM YOU WHAT WE CAN PLAY!"
"THAT'S—"
"AND I'LL INVITE YOU TO THE GROUP CHAT SOON!"
"THAT'S— THAT'S REAL COOL— REALLY COOL!" I forced that out of my throat, contemplating what I've just gotten myself into whilst Kaiji holds me in a vice-like grip, as though he's trying to deprive me of oxygen. Then finally he let me go. I slumped over, taking a break from that hug he just gave me. Meanwhile Kaiji stood there with his two hands over his hips, smiling kidishly as he said, "Man, I have so many games that I want to see you play now, Imura. I, can't, wait!"
"Yeah, fine, but what was that just now?!" I was pretty angry about what he just did. He took one look at me like he was breaking out of character there. "What?"
"That hug just wasn't necessary, man!" I leaned over, balling my fists whilst the crowd laughed at our stage-play. Kaiji approached me again, laughing while he said— "Woah, woah, I'm sorry man…" he put a hand over my round shoulder, "I guess I got a little too excited. My bad. Seriously man, I'm sorry."
I gave him a side-way bitter glance for a moment. Just staring at him before I said, "Fine." Accepting his apology. He shook my shoulder with his white teeth revealing out of his grin, "Heeeeey, thanks man."
I shook my head, just straightening myself. I feel like I was able to talk a lot more with these guys now that it all played out like this…
Kaiji wasn't so bad after all. At first, he was like every chill dude I've met so far. Chill, easygoing, barely laughs, and scatters some dry humor here and there just to get a laugh out of the moment. He's far exceeded my expectations.
Is this why I was here, though? Just to meet these guys?
"What else do you do then, Imura?" Jasmine asked me. I easily replied, "Nothing much…"
She nodded, but she clearly wasn't taking that answer. "Jukai says you know how to fight, so what do you do?"
I looked at Jukai who wasn't looking at me anymore. She was looking at her phone. Why did she have to tell them that…?
I hesitated. I answered that I just did a bit of muay thai and some boxing— and maybe some karate, but I didn't include what I currently do now. I'm not even sure what I am doing. MMA? Street fighting? Not sure.
"Muay thai's like, you do elbows and knees right?" Shoko said that. She was swinging her elbows and knees while doing so. I nodded, "Yeah. But there's clinching too, and also some kicks n' punches."
"I see." She nod her head attentively. Then, Jukai came back ino the conversation. She said, "These guys here are a bunch'o my friends, you see." I nodded to her.
"But ultimately, the thing is, we're all gangsters." She added then. Flicking her eyes out to a wall, she walked toward it as she said, "We call ourselves Reiba:12." She brushed a finger over the cracked wall, inspecting what she got from it.
Reiba:12, huh…I think I've heard of that name before.
"As the number suggests, we're a twelve member-crew that doesn't need any more. We're kind of like a lil' family. Although I'd consider it something else." She turned around, "A daycare."
I don't know if that was a joke. "A lot of people inside my crew come from bad backgrounds. I try to turn 'em into something better once they join. And that even including…" she pointed behind me, "Them."
I turned around. She was pointed at them. Those three…Jasmin, Shoko, and Kaiji. They were murmuring about something and I didn't know what. Something playful by the looks of it.
Those guys came from rough backgrounds…?
"The thing is though, Jasmin and I're great friends. Since highschool," she said beside me, looking at them, "we've formed this little crew. Oh, and someone else with us too. That girl's also a highschool friend."
The way she said it seemed as though there was something deep beneath that she was hiding. Something that made her seem lighter than she is now. Then a few seconds later, her head shook. A 'tch' escaped, like she was irritated by what she said. "There I go again, explaining things like this…" she said awkwardly.
I didn't pay much mind to it, really. I just shook my hand, telling her its fine. But there was something gnawing at me inside of my head.
Curiosity,
she said that the people she has mostly come from bad backgrounds…and she tries to turn them into better people. By now, I'm just thinking—
There's gotta be a deep reason for this.
What if, this was all because of her own trauma?
I don't know. But right now, I'm seeing someone something more than just a part of Ground Slam. But why? Why is she there in the first place? My curiosity was unwavering.
"Hey look, you're feeling tired, you can go home. I'm not forcing you." She said, as if she was realizing and regretting the uncomfort she brought. I shook my head saying, "No, no, it's fine. I'll stay."
She looked at me with a lifted brow. "Alright then." Then she walked outside, shutting the door with a noticeably loud bang. That startled the three of them. "She left?" Kaiji asked me from the distance, a thumb pointed at the door. I made a moon shaped frown, shrugging, "Yeah." My lips then stretched across a thin line, bored.
The three exchanged glances at eachother, before glancing at me. "I see…" Kaiji said.
Then for a moment, when he was going to turn back to them— he turned back at me. Now staring at me for a bit. "You know what, Kash?" he said, approaching me now, "Why don't we have a bit of talk outside?" he gestured to the door again with his thumb. I hesitated there. Should I?
But hold on,
now that I realize it…
I've been somewhat comfortable…
——————————————————————————————————————
TING, TANG—
SLASH,
Iwado's opponent took the first injury. And badly enough, to the arm that he's holding his machete. No one had the upperhand for a while until this moment. The man switched grips again. This time holding his weapon on his right hand.
He took a step forward. And forward, and forward, shuffling with every step. His legs were pre-coiled to jump a short distance and lunge, but he needed the perfect opportunity to do so. SWIPE, he threw a feint. Iwado barely flinched with his longer sword, his eyes gazing into the Yakuza with fueled intensity.
The man struck again, then—
STAB.
A metallic blade cut through the fabric of suit and shirt, through the flesh, then out of the back just faintly. Wet with the blood of its own opponent, it remained still.
"You chose this."
His lips clenched tight, biting his own lips as he pulled it out of the man's body like a fleshy seathe. Then, he kicked him down onto the ground, falling him right next to his companion.
Katou's blade dripped red.
And like the stone-cold killer that Iwado is, he was unaffected by the scene. Lazily hanging the katana to the side.
The hollow winter was silent around them.
His next opponent or so flinched to the scene, but he was already prepared for this circumstance. When iwado was giving him a lifeless stare from his deep, black pupil-eyes, his opponent failed to return it without feeling a certain heaviness in his chest, bullying him from all the strength that he came prepared with.
But Iwado chose to wait. The distant sirens wailed across the streets, and the traffic beeps frequented amidst the silence. His opponent or so, old, way older than him. Carrying the wrinkles of age, a scar of battle on his face, but yet those scars looked like they meant nothing in front of him. Not anymore. Not in front of the new generation that is.
Then he grabbed ahold of his own katana with his two rough fists, unprepared to strike. Iwado did the same, but yet calm and efficient.
CRACKLE
Iwado moved, the opponent's gripped tightened around the blade's handle, but—
BANG—
The man fell, his grip on his katana went loose. He fell onto the floor, the rough asphalt meeting him rudely. Completely lifeless.
Then another shot rang out, this time killing the second opponent. His body went limp.
Iwado stared at the two for a while before hiding the blade under the scabbard once again, the blood soaking the insides, but he didn't care. Then he walked past the two bodies without care, meeting someone else's eyes.
"Any leads on Arima?"
"No." a young man in a suit, equal his age, put the gun away. "He's still hiding somewhere. But he's got alliances now."
The left hand had an extra sixth finger, completely developed for its size. Some parts of the skin were paler white than the majority areas of his both hands. Like burn marks, they scattered around. And then there was his face.
Like burn marks most of the skin were scattered pale, some parts still tan. His eyes were piercing and small like a woman's, but then there were his pupils. Ash green that served his enigmatic and smoke-like pressence. The neutrality of his face seemed as though he had already seen too much to really panic about what he's done. Numbed to the point that he doesn't really care. "Let's go." He turned back to the van that was sleeping idly outside of the alleyway.
Haru Itsuki, one of VANTABLACK's assassin's and investigators. And Katsuragi iwado's friend since pre-school.
The door to the vans shut close with a thud. The engine roared before moving away from the scene. Leaving those two bodies where they still are.
"There was something I picked up aside from Arima's pressence however," Itsuki said, his eyes still in front. Iwado flicked a glance back from the window, looking at him. "What is it?"
Itsuki Haru took a long breath before stating, "One of his victims apparently was found dead before he could arrive. Remember Emi Arakawa?"
Iwado leaned off the seat, "Wait, her?"
"Yeah. Well—" he cleared his throat, "She was found dead inside of her apartment. Reports suggest she's been abandoned inside for atleast two days. There was a gun near her body, and a container full of pills spilled onto the ground."
He paused. Iwado watched him, waiting for him. "Police confirmed that it was a suicide."
A silence crawled through inside of the car. Iwado's face went blank, colourless. "How did that happen…?" he was looking infront of the road when he said that, but then turned back to Haru.
Haru swallowed a lump in his throat before replying, "A colleague of her called me about it…told me that Arima was beating around the bush until the day came that he actually kills her." He pushed the brakes, now waiting on traffic. "Apparently Arima found out where she lived, what her e-mail is, then threatened to take her life the day that she committed suicide. She believed him, and then decided she takes her own before he reaches her home. At least, that's what I was told." He turned to Iwado.
There was a feeling that was gnawing at him however…he fell back onto the seat, his muscles loosened down, "That sounds wrong…" he shook his head.
"But it's what he said,"
"No. That doesn't sound like enough, there has to be something more to this than that."
Itsuki sighed, "That's all her colleague knew so far…So I don't know. There could be more than what he knew, but that doesn't really matter right now." He said, "Emi committed suicide because of him."
Iwado paused. His hand resting on his forehead, "Emi's not the kind of person to do that so easily…" he whispered.
The dam of traffic fell apart. And so the cars kept moving. Iwado travelled through the rest of Nagasaki downtown inside of the black van that was Itsuki's.
With confusion crawling down his spine.
———————————————————————————————————————
"So you're actually pretty new to the whole fighting scene yourself, huh? Pretty nice,"
"I don't really know much about fighting really…"
"Huh?"
"Well— I mean, I don't know much about the community. I don't really know how it goes around the city."
A motorcycle dashed by at high speed, obscuring the laugh that came out of Kaiji's throat, "So you're just a newbie who knows how to fight?" Imura replied, "Uhhh, yeah. I think so."
Kaiji then began to explain. His eyes set around the entire city block in front of him of downtown, "Well you see— there are tons of fighters all across the town. Many of which are pretty mcuh small time, or big time gangsters. The trend's nowadays is that; fighting people became a source of income to pretty much any gang around here." He added, "And I don't think I need to explain that these fight events are all set up by guys who got a lot of money to waste, and a crowd to entertain. But then, that's where this system comes on, fight clubs."
Imura raised a brow, "Fight clubs?" he already has an idea on what that means. Kaiji nodded, his eyes on the pavement, "Gangs usually go around and deal with fight events from organizers who specialize in these kinds of things. A match's set up, two dudes go on and have a brawl. Whichever one wins, gets the prize money. Meanwhile the loser gets bad rep. It usually all involves bare fists. Some times weapons, but that depends on the organizers." He looked at him then looked back at front.
Imura quietly nodded to that.
"What, this the first time you heard?"
"Uh, well— No…it's just…I've never paid attention to it."
"I see. Well your face is a mess, what kind of fight did you get into?"
Imura was caught between answering honestly, or lying to Kaiji about it. That question hung in the air for a moment, "Uhhhh.." he said to gain some space. Then he finally replied, "…I got all this from a trouble at the gym. That's all."
"Trouble?" his brow raised and head leaned, Imura was getting nervous.
His hand instinctively rose up, itching beneath his right eye then beneath his temple as if he was torn between doing either. "Ss-someone kind of got into a little argument with me that's why I…" he pointed at one bruise, "I got this,"
"Oh really? What kind?" Kaiji persisted, like he was interrogating Imura for answers. At this point it was just getting too frustrating…The push was getting to close to a shove.
"I don't want to talk about it," he replied calmly, rejecting the temper that urged him in his head to tell him to shut up.
Kaiji looked at him for a moment, he could definitely feel the finality in his voice. Then he smirked, "Well, alright then." He looked in front of himself again, his smirk lingered for just a few moments before slowly fading away.
They made it towards a corner around the streets. An alleyway that hosted small, inviting shops and restaurants to their sides. Imura still wasn't sure where he was going, but he felt like Kaiji knew just where. "Where're we going?" he asked.
"Oh, meet a couple friends. They're part of the gang," he looked over his right shoulder, "don't worry, they won't do a thing." Before quickening his pace a little.
Imura continued to follow without questions, wondering who they were. He could imagine that he was going to meet people with scars or burn marks, brawny figures that know how to throw a fist. Or maybe fellows that look like the playful and simple types like Kaiji, but somewhere around they're scary, they're intimidating— but they're stylish.
He could see people looking at him as they walked by. Mostly old people, some young too. They glanced at his bruised face— an outcome of past destruction, then walk past like they haven't seem him. And why wouldn't they? Because, especially when someone as beautiful is destructed like that— bruised cheek and a split lip, some'd look at them and think, 'what happened to him/her?'
But Imura just kept his hands tucked beneath his pockets, ignoring those gazes. Like how they didn't want to ask, he didn't want to answer either.
"Here we arrre…" a medium-sized ramen shop stood before them. Its walls withered like it's been burnt by the smoke that flowed around here. A neon sign screaming 'OPEN' beside the door, orange and blue.
Kaiji glanced at him (at Imura), nodding his head before pulling the glass door open slowly. The breath of air conditioner rushing at their skins, and the murmurs surround. Imura didn't turn his head around when he flicked his glances around the room, like that was the only attempt he could ever take to seem normal while hiding his map of damage. "Ah, look, that's them!" Kaiji patted his shoulder, pointing at a table.
Three people, plain white and black hoodies for the two, the last one stood out like a sore thumb among them with white and black both combined, but the black splashed over the white like a bucket of paint around the shirt. They weren't eating, just talking. The two approached them both, Kaiji being the most confident—
He hit the one with trimmed hair softly behind the skull, startling him, "What's up?" he grinned.
The man flicked towards him, half-frustrated by the sudden swing— "Man, what's wrong with you?!" he held his skull out of instinct. Then he couldn't help but notice the second person standing beside him, Kaiji, with his hands unbotheredly loaded inside of his hoodie's pouch.
"Who's that?" he pointed at him.
"Kashiwada Imura, the star o' your show for today." Kaiji replied.
"Imura…?" he chewed his teeth, "Think I heard your name somewhere."
Imura raised a brow, unbothered by the looks but nervous inside, "You did?"
Words hung in the air momentarily as the person tried to analyze him. He gave up eventually, "Psshhh, nevermind. Alotta Imuras out in the world anyway. Isamu Denji, go ahead and have a seat." He glanced over the chair next to the one with black paint splash. Imura obliged.
The man beside him was giving him a cool-headed stare, the kind that made emotions hard to read. Imura didn't look at him because of that.
"What kinda guy did you bring now, Kai?" asked Isamu.
"Not like the last guy, that's for sure. He's an interesting one."
"Yeah, well, I can see that," he glanced back to Imura, "you've got a face people'd like to see clean, but you got bruises all over it. What happened?"
"A brawl happened." He smiled, oddly enough. "What kind of brawl?" Isamu asked further,
"One inside of a gym, that kind of brawl."
"I see." He sighed. "So what, you can fight?"
"Not the ones that I can't win." He replied smoothly, adjusting himself.
That got a giggle out of the three— including the unreadable one. But Kaiji whistled to that smoothness— Woooo…that really wasn't like him inside of the house, really.
Imura didn't laugh along with them. He just smiled lightly.
"Okay you passed." Isamu grinned at him, but he threw a smooth up of a thumb at Kaiji's view while doing so. "You don't get to see people like you everyday."
Imura shrugged to that.
Then afterwards, the man with the black hoodie stood up from his chair, reaching across the table towards the new man, "Hirohisa Hide," Imura shook it. Then the one with the black splash stated, "Daigo Furumi," arms folded, his tone relaxed and stoic. Kashiwada nodded to that.
They weren't as bad as I thought they would be…he expected them to have a street style, yes, but he expected none of them to pull a laugh. Nor talk with their faces growing time to time with either a 'HA!', or a 'WOW!'. Still yet to see what this Daigo's about though…
Kaiji then began to explain, "These guys here're some o' my closest friends. Met these three when I first joined the gang, only got better the more I talked to 'em." He glanced at all three of them.
"That's because you were such a wild punk that we couldn't let you off that easy." Isamu chuckled. "Right." Kaji snorted.
"But you? You a new guy Jukai brought in, Kashiwada?"
"No…She just brought me and gave me a look around. That's all."
"You a friend then?"
"Maybe?" he wasn't really sure. Isamu raised a brow to that, "What do you mean 'maybe'?" Imura was hesitant to reply.
"We met during training, and she just happened to bring me to the safehouse. I don't really know…"
"Oh, if that's the case, then she's probably gained an interest in you."
Imura raised a brow to that, interest? Then Isamu clarified, "She does that whenever she thinks she found someone interesting. And that guy probably just happens to be you."
For all he knows, he's rarely ever had anyone be this straightforward and tell him, 'hey, follow me' especially accompanied by interest. Whenever he did, it'd usually be a trip to the principal's office then the same question— 'how long have you been in this academy?'
But that's different now. He wasn't walked inside of a principal's office— no teachers office either. Instead, he was walked inside of a gang safehouse, then taken to familiarize with the rest of them. That made it all the more worse, just what was Jukai trying to do? And what is Kaiji trying to do? Does he think they're both friends?
Well— I did give him my ID. So what is wrong with me?
They laughed, they talked, they bantered, and they smiled. Imura watched it all unfold meanwhile sitting there with his elbows on the table, just waiting for this all to end. Maybe I should order something.
As if he told that out loud— he didn't, Isamu was checking the menu while snapping his fingers saying, "Alright, Imura, what do you want?"
That kind of changed his mind…he wasn't sure if he wanted anything anymore. "Soup?"
"What?"
"Okay, nothing. I don't want anything."
He replied awkwardly.
"Alright." SNAP SNAP, he called Hide next, not questioning a thing. "Miso," then Daigo, then Kaiji, then called the nearest waiter, "Hey waiter!" ordering for everyone else apart from the new guy. "He doesn't wanna eat a thing so forget him." The waiter gave him a nod, jogging to the kitchen.
Pots and pans were clattering even louder soon after then. Smoke arised within the kitchen, each thing was a reminder for the service the place was preparing. And even though Imura stayed quiet, the rest of these people didn't, getting an outsider view of a conversation that was mostly not related to him. Time to time he'd nod and say 'yes' to things willingly but without sincerity, just to follow through the motions. But deep down, he was feeling bored, awkward, and even a little lost right now.
He wasn't sure what to really consider these people. Friends, family, brothers, he didn't know. But he played his part. A part to keep a low profile. He didn't think he should let anyone here know about his main motive— that is if any of them were a part of GS.
The bell jingled again.
And when it did, Imura just had to lock his eyes onto it out of interest. But when he saw four figures walk in ever so impatiently, that's when he thought that he should keep looking. Who were they? Jackets, sleeves and a hoodie. Each of them had a colourful mix on each outfit that could only scream 'gangster'.
The one on the very front, turned. Circle eyes and a gapped open jaw like ghastly anger.
He approached them. No, he didn't approach him, he approached Isamu Denji who already followed Imura's eyes, each step was a stomp against the wooden floor. When Denji looked at him, he wasted no time in pushing the chair away and then standing up, as if he was getting ready for any confrontation. The laughter and talking of the crowd slowly died down as if someone had pressed the mute button.
"Hey Yuta—" Yuta hooked his fingers around the collar of Isamu's hoodie. His fingers biting into the fibre with invisible rage. "Yeah, how's it goin'? Huh?" he spat.
Imura stood up with the rest, tension flowing through his veins. He heard every word that came out like a fast storm—
"Hey, hey, we're inside of a restaurant here—"
"Don't care if you're in a restaurant or not you punk! Where's my money at?!" he shook him.
"I said I'll give you the money soon enough, just wait a little longer!" he whispered. "Two whole weeks you punk. Two whole weeks—"
"I said I'll get you your money—"
"THEN HAND IT OVER RIGHT NOW!" his voice blew out like an explosion around the room. The peaceful quiet was suddenly all mute. Kaiji stepped in, his arms slid between them— trying to split them both apart. He begged them both to quiet down— even though this Yuta was being the loudest— but he begged them both to quiet down and not cause a scene here. Patrons were watching, and it's bad news that they did.
But other side wouldn't listen. They only thought 'No'. A henchman of yuta's stepped forward— KICKED him to the side, Kaiji let out a groan of "Ugh!" he fell down immediately. Imura stepped in immediately— stepping in front of the other male with a gaze of feist. He'd already dealt with things like this before. He wasn't going to back down. Meanwhile the other two stepped up in front of the others. It was already getting intense, and the kitchen paused.
But then this man that was in front of him— in front of Imura— and so backed a fist up like he was slinging a shot, unsure of whether or not that was disobedient— then when he swung his arm, Imura countered it immediately…by ducking below.
Then throwing a counterstrike at the man's chin while he was doing so. That dizzied his brain like he took a spin, then crashed down onto the ground. The other two of those henchmen flinched but they were being shoved around like rioters to stay away from them all.
Worried, Imura kneeled beside Kaiji, concern washing over his face but still on guard; he asked him, "You alright?"
"Fine, don't worry 'bout me…" he clenched his side.
Whispers echoed secretly around the room. Chefs and waiters already surrounded them seeing what they were seeing. Yuta shoved Isamu out of his grip, now looking at Imura with those suddenly curious eyes. "Hey you…" he called to him. Imura snapped up, looking at him. "Who d'you think you are?"
He stood up slowly, growing in size. So slowly like he was preparing for the same thing Isamu seemed like he was preparing for. Confrontation. "Who are you?" Yuta budged.
"Just a friend walking by…" he answered boldly. In that case, Yuta was sizing him up now. He couldn't see a thing about him that spoke 'strong' otherwise the face. Maybe that hinted a little something. But it was still pretty. He jabbed his chin up, "What's your name?"
"Imura." He answered.
"What's your age?"
"Nineteen."
"What's a nineteen year old doin' around here?"
He didn't answer. Yuta still kept at that wild gaze, his shaved head giving him a meaty appearance. "You know how to fight?"
Imura didn't respond. "You with these guys right here?" Yuta pointed at them. "What're you doing here?"
Isamu wasn't just going to let this all continue. He pulled the man's hoodie like a handle, turning him around, meeting his angry gaze back again, "Stop." He muttered once. "Now's not the time." His tone was sharp and authoritative now.
Two figures were facing off. One mad and one calm. The kind of face off that would make a regular person afraid, even if they were told that Yuta wouldn't hit them. Those large eyes rarely blinked, and that skull boiled, someone would flick their eyes away almost immediately after meeting him. That is, if they weren't a freak like Isamu was.
Yuta's shoulders slowly climbed up, then went back down. Head shook up and down smoothly and slowly, his jaw tight. And then he began to walk to the side while maintaining eye contact. Denji watched him like a locked weapon.
He watched him go away.
Along with those three other people that he was with. Silently.
Then, he glanced over his team that included even Imura, "You guys alright?" Kaiji gave a thumbs up that spilled down the moment it went straight.
They had to leave the restaurant moments after. For the commotion, Isamu left a fine tip on the counter and cancelled all their meals to everyone's agreements. They walked out of the alleyway and entered downtown. Careless as to whether or not that Yuta fellow was stalking them or he walked the same way they're walking currently.
Denji flicked his head to the side, giving Imura a compliment for what he's done back there, "Nice dodge." He didn't respond. But he smiled.
For the first time in what seemed like ages, Kaiji wasn't happy anymore. He didn't take a bad beating, just a kick to the side, but ever since then he switched. Like a light switch turning off. He was the one on the furthest back of the group like a lonely henchman, meanwhile Imura was second ahead of the group just a bit behind Isamu's shoulder, like they'd already accepted him inside of the gang.
They decided that it was enough and head straight back into the safe house. The streets in background went less noisy as Imura went back in— this being the second time. The rusting door was staring back at them. Isamu pulled it open, "Guests first."
Guess Kashiwada had no choice but to go in first. And when he did, he saw Jukai once again, talking like nothing ever happened to her mood. Shoko and Jasmin too, but there were two other people there; two other girls. And when they saw him, they saw him curiously.
"You're back?" Jukai said. Imura nodded coyly, "Yeah."
"That there's a guest. Kashiwada Imura." He heard her say that to those two girls. Shen turned back to him, pointed a flat hand at them while introducing them to him. The first one with a graying hair was Eiri, Eiri Sakamoto. The second one, one that didn't appeal facially was Kaira Iketsumi. But Imura being the quiet observer that he is saw those two small eyes, and a long nose as a mask. A mask for something in-underestimatable in the mind.
"Does he fight?" Sakamoto whispered to Reiba. She responded, "He does."
As if out of mockery, she was loud and clear with what she asked Reiba next: "And, did he bully someone before?" loud enough for Imura to hear. "I don't think so." Reiba responded for him.
Something about that woman said it wouldn't be easy to talk to her. Not like Jukai's any easy.
The second woman was quiet like an observer. Imura paid no attention to her. The rest of the gang came in afterwards when they should've been in earlier. A smooth 'Sup' came out of Hide's mouth, not out of Isamu's. Then Jasmin shot back: "I'll tell you what's up!"
"Why, what's the matter?"
"You bullied this guy here too, didn't you?!" she pointed at Imura. Hide looked at him like the confused guy that he already is, he oculdn't help but just let out a laugh. "Why would I bully him?!" he said, turning back to her.
Seven members…that's all he counted. He's met seven people so far. Jukai did say that there were twelve people, hence the name, so there are a total of five other people he's yet to meet. But where? Where are they? They out on the streets, or—
The door beside the kitchen swung open, strands of white hair crossed the border of the door first— then revealing a sharp man like, wait—
IS THAT KAZUKI?!!!
"HEY, HEY! WHO'S THAT?!" Kazuki pointed at him, kicking off the concrete floor with each step with quickened pace of his feet like he was trying to pick a fight with the former boxing partner. Imura was equally as surprised, his jaw fell, but he didn't realize it. "WHAT ARE YOU DOING HERE?!" he jabbed his finger like a blade onto the man's neck— staggering him back.
"WOAH, WOAH, WHAT'S going on here?!" Hide put his arm in front of him, stopping the wild grunt. The grunt flicked at him like a bird, saying, "Why've you got this guy going around in our house for!?" he jabbed his finger at Imura. "What, you know this guy?" Hide asked, looking at him then at Kaz again.
"Oh yeah I do. Guy was part of the GYM I train in— nowhere to be seen 'til I found him in here!"
"Yoo, seriously my man? You were his client—?!"
"Partner!" Kazuki cut off and corrected.
Imura didn't answer that. He took a long moment to process what's going on. Then he said quietly, but loud enough for them both to hear, "What're you doing here, Kazuki…?"
"ANSWER HIS QUESTION FIRST—"
"Hey. Take it easy. Why're you screaming for?" Hide demanded. But Kazuki wasn't one to stop boiling but boil less hearing words like those. His shoulders slumped down a bit.
So Kazuki's the eigth one here…?
Isamu had to step in like the leader-figure that he is and ask what was going on. But what did Hide know? He had no idea, that's what he told him. Meanwhile these two contrasting individuals faced eachother like wild tiger and a cheetah.
Like rivals up against eachother.