It was just after 9:00pm. Haru could see the park where he was supposed to meet up with the person who infiltrated the city’s most notorious gang.

It was eerily quiet around this evening. He scanned through the area, looking for the person in question. As he scanned through the park, he spotted a lone girl sitting on one of the benches. He could see what she was doing, but it looked like she was fidgeting. Her face cast down to the floor.

She slowly looked up and scanned her surroundings as if someone were watching her. Then, noticing him, or rather the hoodie that he was wearing, standing next to a tree, she came running. With a look of relief on her face.

The Red spider lily prints on the hoodie is what made the young lady realize her escort has arrived.

“Huh!” she gasped when she saw his mask he had on and noticed who he his.

“First lieutenant Takase!?” What are you doing here!?"

“Warrant officer Yoshimoto, congratulations on completing your task. Now let’s head back to headquarters the Grandmaster….”

“No, there is no time for that!!” She said in a stern voice. But her body started shaking uncontrollably. The look on her face says it all. She is terrified of something, but what?

“I am not sure who it is, but I think I am being followed.”

“Followed?”

"Yeah..."

Yoshimoto checked their surroundings.

“...But not just that… Haruhiko! It’s the leader of the Basilisks of purgatory…” Yoshimoto took a couple of steps closer to Haruhiko.

“Yeah, what about him?”

“Believe me when I tell you this. Ok?”

“Sure.” Haru took a step back and listened to what she had to say.

“The leader of the Basilisks of purgatory, the leader’s name is mina…”

Just as she was about to say the leader’s name, Haru caught a glimpse of a shiny object racing towards them. When he realised what it was…

“GET DOWN!!!”

He dragged her down with him behind a tree.

The aggressor, still a distance away spoke up in a rather menacing tone.

“Hey, hey, Yoshimoto, what are you doing here with Manjushage scum? Don’t tell me he is your boyfriend. That breaks my heart.”

(THUD!!!)

The sound of a knife hitting the tree gave Yoshimoto a fright. She tightened her grip around Haru's waist for a moment.

The aggressor’s footsteps became more and more audible as he approached them.

“Hey come on out now! Let me see who I am going up against.”

There is no avoiding this. Now what to do? Is what Haru thought to himself.

Haru pulled out his cell and messaged someone. Yoshimoto assumed he messaged someone from his squad. well technically yes.

Still in a frantic panic, Yoshimoto asks Haruhiko what they should do now.

“Head to the Shiboyu train station. An acquaintance of mine will be waiting for you there.”

“First lieutenant with all due respect, but you can’t fight that guy…”

Baffled Haru asked... “and Why is that?”

“He is the son of lady kaguya. She trained him herself Haru. He is too strong. I’ve seen his skill…”

“Well, isn’t that interesting?..." Haru stood up chuckling. Yoshimoto failed to understand why he was laughing in their current situation.  "It’s bout time I fought someone worthy.”

Haru's whole nature changed, the glimmer in his eyes says it all. This warrior can't wait to battle.

“But first lieutenant…”

“Enough!" The sudden change in attitude frightened Yoshimoto a bit. "Now get yourself to the train station. A guy my age will get you there. He has white hair, he'll be wearing a hoodie that has a fierce tiger embroided on the back. His name is Kirigaya.”

The first thought that came to Yoshimoto's mind was "The Sleeping Tigers." The  "The Sleeping Tigers." is Also a vigilante group that mainly oversees the northern parts of Takarametsu. Their relationship with the Manjushage is not the best. But in the past the two groups did fight together.

Yoshimoto confused could not bring herself to argue anymore, so she left.

"Ok, but be careful."

“What is this? You can run Yoshimoto, but just remember, I will always find you, and know this when I do find you. I will kill you."

“Threatening a member of the Manjushage in front of me is not a wise idea blonde-kun”

“huh!? I am who they call "Kira" now what do they call you trash? You going to come out and fight or keep playing hide and seek?”

“Its been a long time since I fought someone of your calibur, so please make this interesting...”

“ ...oh and as for my name it’s Kurokawa.”

Kira burst out laughing. Haru failed to see a reason for this unexpected behaviour.

“KUROKAWA!” Kira put so much emphasis on the Kawa in Haru’s nickname.

“Oh, I have been itching to go a few rounds with you scum bag I could almost cry.” Kira put his hand on his face, as he could not bear the joy he felt.

“If it is a fight you want, you sure as hell got it. Now can we begin. My mom promised to make me a nice warm cup of coffee after this job.”

“Your mother!! Kukukukuku” he burst out some more laughs so uncontrollably his stomach started to hurt.

“You know nothing, you little shit. That piece of trash…" He burst out laughing again, not being able to finish his sentence.”

“...You know, you one funny guy. I got to admit it.”

“Well, I was not trying to be. And I cannot see the reason why you keep laughing.”

“That’s it. You don’t know nothing... not even about yourself… Kukuku”

Haru normally does not take anything his enemies say to heart. But what Kira just told him struck a cord in him. There are times when Haru does not feel like himself. Times when feels like…

“Now enough about that Kurokawa let’s begin!”

“Sure, whenever you're ready.”

“Welcome to Purgatory .”

In a flash, the two were already exchanging fists with each other. Their overwhelming speed, their flawless technique. Showed that they are both expertly trained.

"Gwah!"

Kira swiftly kicked Haru in the abdomen with his knee and followed it through with a headbutt.

Overwhelmed, Haru took a few spaces back. To create some distance between them. But Kira would not allow him that, so he swept back into close proximity of Haru and went on the offensive.

Haru unfortunately had to go on the defensive as his opponent’s swift movements kept him from fighting back

Bang!

Haru was now laying on the ground. He could not believe how quickly Kira put him to the ground.

“Now, I think it’s about time I start using this.”

What Kira was referring to was his Katana.

In a matter of seconds, he pressed Haru down as he was trying to get up. His blade facing Haru’s throat.

“You were no fun at all Kurokawa! I guess even if you are trained by the great Akihito, you are still no match for me.”

Reluctantly, Haru was slowly accepting the fact that he was outmatched

Then…

Swoosh!

Someone kicked Kira in the head.

Kira went flying with his sword. 

That was a very good kick, just who could it be.

“Haru are you okay?” asked a girl, with long coffee brown hair.

“Ko… Kohaku! What are you doing here!? I told you to stay!!”

“If I stayed you would be a highly caffeinated corpse right now. And a thank you would not hurt, you know.

“Go back now!!”

“What you yelling at me for!? You the one that just almost got killed!”

“Kukuku”

“The Kurokawa saved from the clutches of death by his girlfriend.” Kira got back up and faced his prey

“We not dating Haru is my best friend.”

“Unrequited love! Kukuku what a shame." So how does it feel being rejected, Takase!?”

“Do you know what the blonde idiot is talking about, Haru?”

“No, he has been saying shit like that from the get go.” Haru stood back up and stood next to Kohaku.

“You got beat up bad and quickly, too. Let me take care of blondie over there. Ok?”

“He is too strong. It's unbelieveable.”

“Nothing I can’t handle...”

“… And don’t butt in coffee breath.”

Kohaku walked with elegance and confidence towards her opponent, her beautiful brown swaying in the moonlit night.

“Just so you know, I am not a big fan of hitting girls… But if you do insist, then I will just have to follow through with it.”

Before they could begin their battle, a lady who emerged from the darkness in the park interrupted them. Her hair was white as snow and the most beautiful woman both Haru and Kohaku ever saw.

“Kira! How long are you going to continue with this and where is the bitch that infiltrated our ranks!?”

Kira ran and went down on his knees quickly when he realised who she is “I’m sorry ma’am, she got awa…”

Crack!

The lady kicked Kira. The second kick to his head this night.

“ What a pathetic excuse for a son.” “pfft” she spat at him as he layed on the ground in agony and fear.

“Now, You Manjushage scum, tell me where the spy is. If you do, I will make your deaths painless.”

“Don’t worry about the infiltrator, Kaguya. Our men are chasing her down as we speak.”

“That voice…” Haru whispered

“Your true identity has not been revealed yet. Do you really think it is a wise decision to reveal it here and now? In front of these spectators, especially that black-haired one you seem to praise more than your actual son.”

"Either way, cat’s gotta get out of the bag. Besides, I finally got a solid lead on who attacked us that night."

The man, who was exchanging words with Lady Kaguya, slowly approached Haru from the back. Haru was too afraid to look back to see who the person is for sure. He stood dead still, whereas Kohaku watched in shock when she finally recognised who he was...

"No! It can't be!" Kohaku shouted.

“So you leave for several years, find out who attacked us and now you want to come back home? hmph! So then, as for the spectators, we should dispose of them. Immediatley”

“Haru, we got to get out of here!”

Kohaku’s shout brought Haru back to reality. He turned around and faced the man behind him, now only a few feet from him. He froze up again when he put a face to the voice together. Confused, he tried asking him, ‘what are you doing here’ and ’ 'what were you talking about just now?' But he spoke so softly the guy could not hear him.

“You know Haru, it’s a shame that you have to find out like this, and on the day you die too. Well, not that I care…”

“DAD WHAT ARE YOU SAYING!?”

“We should take care of this before the cops and other vigilante members arrive, Minato.” Kaguya raised this point sternly.

********

meanwhile, back at headquarters…

The sound of the Grandmaster's door creaked open with powerful force.

“GRANDMASTER TAKASE!” Colonel Ichika walked into the office with a serious look on her face. “The spy has arrived, Sir.”

The Grandmaster sat at his desk, smoking a cigarette. After a pull on from it, the spy entered the room without her Escort.

“Yoshimoto, where is First lieutenant Takase?” the Grandmaster asked her this while stubbing the cigarette in the ashtray.

“Goo… goo… Good evening General. The First lieutenant is not here. He got into a battle with one of the Basilisks so he told me to hurry on to the Shiboyu train station where an acquaintance of his will be waiting for me”

“An acquaintance you say… His name… this acquaintance of the First lieutenant. Is it Kirigaya, by any chance?”

“Yes, Sir.”

“um… Sir with all due respect, but I’d like to skip over to the intel I’ve gathered. I fear that there is not much time left.”

Colonel Ichika wanted to say something about the way Yoshimoto was speaking. But with a show of his hand, the general kept her quiet.

“You may proceed”

“Sir!”

“The Manjushage has been infiltrated by the leader of the Basilisks of purgatory himself.”

Grandmaster Kazuto dropped his lighter when he heard this. His expression changed from neutral to serious almost instantly. Meanwhile, colonel Ichika just stood there like a statue.

“Are you certain about this information!?” Asked Ichika

“Yes I am colonel…”

“...And I also know who the Infiltrator is.”

“Go on, tell me who the sly bastard is, Yoshimoto.” Kazuto tried guessing who it could be. It would have to be one of the top-ranking officers and they had to be part of the group for sometime already. But who?

Kinushita, Hashimoto, Kurosaki, Takahashi, Onodera, Karuizawa? Those are just some of the family surnames that have been with Manjushage from the beginning.

“The man’s name is… Minato Bushida! Or as we know him Minato Takase.”

When Kazuto heard that name, he stood up from his seat quickly. Staring at Yoshimoto trying to ask her if she is 100% certain about her Intel, but the words couldn’t come out.

“Wait, are you saying that First lieutenant Takase’s Father is the leader of the Basilisks of purgatory!?” shouted Ichika.

TO BE CONTINUED...