The day had passed fast, the day which Yoru spent sparring with Shion in the gym. Crossing their blades once again, they separated, heaving.

“Okay, what is going on in that head of yours?” she asked with a teasing tune.

“What do you mean?”

“You seem to be scheming something. You always have that serious and focused expression whenever you make plans.”

“I’m thinking about how to deal with the mayor without much disturbances; but I need to sort out the details first. Some things were completely unplanned, and are a bother to deal with.” Yoru struck, but Shion held him at bay.

“Oh? Like that man, Hisashi?”

Countering, Yoru felt the corner of his eye twitch. Ducking, slashing, repelling Shion’s attacks, he remembered Hisashi always somehow predicting his whereabouts and plans. Not that he was surprised, he supposed the mayor would send somebody after him, but the fool was like a leech; sticking to him and not giving up until he’s done the damage.

“I can see that brain working like a steam machine.”

Yoru chuckled in annoyance. “Every time. Every single fucking time he has to show up to ruin everything. Is he that desperate to get under the mayor’s skin so much?”

“Perhaps he doesn’t have a choice, did you think about that?”

“Then why the mayor? Couldn’t he pick a more decent job than working under the mayor?”

Shion quirked an eyebrow.

“You ask a lot of questions regarding Hisashi’s well-being. Could it be, that you’re catching feelings for him?”

Stopping Shion in her tracks, Yoru laughed.

“Me?? Catch feelings?? For somebody like him?? The only feeling I have for him is wanting to push him off a cliff! What a troublemaker.”

“Aww, you have a crush on him. So adorable.”, Shion sneered.

“Oh, shut up.” Yoru looked away, pretending to have heard something. But he couldn’t pretend, nor lie to her. Shion saw how Yoru’s cheeks and ears had become stained with red.

“Aww, come on, I’ve seen his face. He’s very handsome. And you’re single.”

“Oh, gosh, Shion. I’m not looking to date him. I want him out of my way, but the fool’s persistent.”

“Just take him out, then.”

Yoru felt his eyebrows relax. His eyelids lowered. “As if I didn’t have this exact conversation with Hisashi just a few hours ago.”, he thought. “Oh, wait. She meant murder.”

Going into an attack, a voice at the doors stopped him. “Boss, you’re not going to believe this.”

Yoru and Shion turned to see Kyoshi dressed in black from top to bottom, gasping for air.

The silence let Kyoshi continue.

“Since the Akiyamas have been found dead, the mayor found himself a new client, who lives here in Kuroyuki. They have made a deal of a sort; I couldn’t hear much. But he’s throwing a party in the garden of his house, where his new client will be as well. It says the citizens are permitted to attend it as well.”

Yoru smiled at Shion.

“Now, I can’t let the mayor make another deal to run the city, can I? However, it would be too risky. The mayor’s Dogs will be snooping around, so only one of us can go. I think it’s the best if we decided together who goes. Kyoshi, is everybody up there?”

Kyoshi nodded.

“Good. Then we’ll head up there as well. I want to hear what everybody thinks about this.”

Just an ounce of one to ten milliliters of sarin on the skin can be fatal. Inhaled sarin can cause death in one to ten minutes. Poisoning via ingestion rarely occurs, but it’s not impossible.

In a lighted room, a cage has been set upon a work desk, a cage with five rats inside. Next to the cage a pile of papers and three pens, one red and two blue. Two petri dishes filled with food, that a tall man in a lab coat just contaminated with said poison. Offering the rats poison infused food, the man watched as the rats ate, and when they finished, he took a stopwatch out and observed the effects.

The room had a small cabinet filled with various medicine and chemicals. Right next to the cabinet was a bookshelf, which he despised as it was filled with medical books, books which gave him a headache when he used to study from them, but they have served a good purpose. A massage table was set next to the cabinet, across a sink where glasses and test tubes dried on a piece of paper towel.

Focused on the stopwatch, the doctor was surprised as a knock on the door stopped his train of thoughts. “Good timing. I was just testing the poison Luna brought me.”

Yoru smiled. “How is it going, Yuuma?”

Yuuma didn’t turn to look at him. “Waiting for the time to pass. And for them to pass as well. If this goes well, we might as well try this out on the mayor.”

“Well, an opportunity might occur sooner than you thought. I have a request for you.”

“Oh, what’s the occasion?”

Wringing his arms and sitting on a chair beside Yuuma, Yoru continued, “The mayor is throwing a party. Some famous faces will be there as well, trying to achieve an agreement on how to wreck the economy in the city even more. However, we can’t attack the mayor head-on this time, nor can all of us go. I need you for this one; the mayor and Shuryo Inu haven’t remembered your face yet.”

“Whom do I have to kill?”

Yoru brought a picture out. A man in his fifties, short but lithe, with brown hair and two grey locks on his right side was shown on the picture.

“This man: Abe Itsuki. The face of the day. I’ve read some news about him before; he is loaded with money, the money which will probably fall into the mayor’s hands. If that happens, everyone can forget about normal wages and living expenses. The money which will supposedly go to the people will be used by the mayor and the Dog brats.”

Yuuma observed the man. Then the dead rats in the cage. The poison surely does its work magnificently.

Perfect for the mayor’s client; he can pour the odorless liquid into his drink, disappear without a trace, and the mayor’s client will be dead before they knew it.   

“Then I shall get ready. And I’ll bring this one with me. It’s a good thing Luna was able to get away with it before the Dogs arrived.” While Yuuma took off his lab coat and went to his room to change, Yoru washed the dishes in the sink. Suddenly a memory of the fight in the alleyway occurred to him. And the dead-looking eyes of Fujiwara Hisashi. Staying silent for a while, Yoru finally replied, “Alright. I’m counting on you. Once you’re done, come to the meeting room, so I can notify others as well.”

The garden was filled with pretty oleanders and hydrangeas, sunflowers, lavender and palm trees making big shades from the scorching sun. A table has been set in the middle of the garden, with large plates with appetizers and main dishes served upon it. Tall glasses for wine and glasses for juice were set next to each white plate, ringed with gold.

Sauntering among the crowd, Yuuma was actually surprised by how many people showed up for the party. Which was perfect; he could operate more efficiently. Dressed up in a light blue shirt and formal trousers, his hair slick back, tied into a low ponytail, carrying an empty briefcase with him, fake glasses, Yuuma made sure his looks screamed “business”. Having an earpiece and a mic hidden in the collar of his shirt, he periodically updated Yoru on the situation around him.

“I can see the mayor’s Dogs all over the place, neither have spotted me yet. I will continue searching for the mayor and his client.”

“Alright. Good luck.”, Yoru’s voice could be heard.

Yuuma took notice of the guards all over the place, and knowing that this won’t be easy. It’s as if the mayor took all precautions. People came up to him and made small chat, and Yuuma kindly responded, all the while thinking, “For God’s sake, leave me alone.” Keeping an eye out, he took notice of his surroundings, he could imagine Yoru rubbing his forehead at the boring stories of many politicians.

And at last, he’d spotted them.

The mayor standing next to and chatting to the face of the day: Abe Itsuki. The two men shook hands and the client nonchalantly swung the hand with his drink around, not caring about his surroundings.

Yuuma smirked. “Good boy, just you swing it around. That will make my job easier.”, he whispered while nearing the mayor.

In that moment, the duo walked off, Yuuma gritting his teeth. Now he had to find a way how to follow them and not look suspicious. And found on in an instant.

Sauntering over to the table, Yuuma took an apple and some freshly cut pineapple, munching while he kept an eye on the mayor’s client.

Once the mayor turned away to greet another man, Yuuma took a sealed test tube out of his pocket, hiding it in the sleeve of his shirt.

Taking the cap out, Yuuma sneaked behind the client, pouring sarin into his drink. The fool hadn’t noticed; neither did the people he’s been talking to.

Yuuma walked away, noticing Abe emptying the contents of his glass.

Grabbing the hem of his shirt, he quickly whispered, “Yoru, the client drank the poison. Within 10 minutes he should drop dead.”

“Excellent job, Yuuma. Now get out as soon as possible.”

The mayor found it really strange at first.

The party had been a bait; a trap to lure the Akai Ryu in like rats. Yet the time was passing and nothing was happening. No sight of any dark figures who would attack from the shadows; that was the sole reason he put bodyguards all over the garden. Nobody had reported anything suspicious.

But the lingering feeling of being watched stayed with the mayor.

The feeling of uneasiness, nausea even.

Looking around, Mayor Anzai wasn’t listening to anything his client was saying. The other man talked as well; nothing of importance as usual. He took notice of the Shuryo Inu joking around and eating, nothing unusual was happening. Except, that he vaguely saw a man he’d never seen before. A businessman with a neatly tied low ponytail and black glasses. The man only ate a plate of fruit, and seemed to mind his own business, but the mayor found him unnerving. It seemed like every once in a while, the man threw looks towards the mayor, looking at him with so much spite.

When his nervousness had finally reached the limit, he grabbed a hold of his nephew who’d been passing with a plate of food. “Aww, uncle! Why’d you grab me like that?” he whined.

The mayor jerked him closer. “See that guy over there? The one in a suit and low ponytail? Follow him, I don’t recognize his face.”

Daisuke nodded numbly and followed him.

Hearing footsteps behind him, Yuuma turned around to see a 14-year-old walking behind him. “Well, that’s unusual.” He thought, while turning right. With a corner of his eye, he noticed the kid following him. Taking an apricot from a fruit basket, Yuuma made another turn, which led to an exit, yet the kid was still on his trail. No matter how annoying the kid is, Yuuma decided to walk straight out from the party.

In that moment, a loud scream tore through the relaxing atmosphere.

“That’s it!” Yuuma thought, while turning around to still see the kid behind him.

“I’ve seen you walking behind me for a while now. Do you need something from me?” he asked.

“My uncle seems not to know you. Care to introduce yourself first?”

Yuuma raised eyebrows. “I’m working in the Eastern hospital here. Due to my achievements, the mayor had sent me an invitation to the party. I did not know the party had been held for the mayor’s recent success; I would’ve congratulated him for the deal that he made.”

“Wait, hold on for a moment.” Said Daisuke as he took his ringing phone out, sealing his left ear softly to hear the message better.

Yuuma took that chance to flee.

And he almost made it.

Raiden crossed his paths, screaming, “Daisuke, what are you doing?! Get the guards over here!” while taking his sword out. “You?!” Launching himself at Yuuma, the doctor took throwing needles out, ducking to avoid the slash of the man’s sword. Piercing Raiden’s shoulder, Yuuma kicked him in the groin, making him fall to his knees. A blow was delivered to Raiden’s head, rendering him unconscious. Turning around, Yuuma threw two knives which caught the hems of Daisuke’s shirt, pinning him to a nearby tree.

With that, Yuuma ran like hell.

And he almost escaped.

A dozen guards shot guns at him, Yuuma running to get behind a wall to shield himself from the fire.

“Yuuma, what is happening? Did they discover you?” Yoru’s concerned voice could be heard from the earpiece. However, Yuuma had no time to reply.

Taking a grenade out, he pulled the pin and threw it at the guards, which ran to the covers. Which allowed him to run.

Sprinting through the back doors of the garden, Yuuma fled the place, taking a turn towards a hideout.

All of a sudden, a heavy block of a person crashed into him, throwing him to the ground face down. Yuuma’s head rang from the impact. Screams could be heard from the garden, “The client is dead! There’s no point in saving him now!” “Who did this?!”

But Yuuma paid no attention to what they were saying.

“Forgive me.” Was the last thing he thought of before his mind drifted away into the darkness.   

Deeply indulged in his own thoughts, Hisashi wandered through the street right next to the sea. Listening to the sea splash against the rocks, ending upon the shore. He didn’t want to go back to the Shuryo Inu house, not when he failed to capture Yoru yet again.

Arika called him, but he just wanted to be alone for a while. He sent her a text message saying so.

“More than anything, I want to bring the mayor down.” He recalled Yoru saying.

“I wonder if that would actually be a better resolution of this mess. I wouldn’t have to own the mayor anything.” He mumbled to himself, staring ahead, looking past the crossroad, where the beach was. Just how much time has passed since he’d last swum in the sea?

“Hey, watch out!”

Hisashi turned to see a woman on a motorbike hitting the brakes and drifting towards him, trying not to hit him. Screaming, Hisashi fell backwards in shock.

The woman stopped the motorbike, rushing towards him. “Sir, are you okay?”

“Ah, I’m so sorry, I didn’t see the light turned red. It’s not your fault.” Hisashi apologized, dusting off his shirt and pants.

The woman took her helmet off.

The smooth brown hair fell down the sides of her face, almost reaching the shoulders. Her build was petite, but still charming. A cute red dress with a bow in the middle fit her slim build, the puffed sleeves reached her elbows.

The woman crouched next to Hisashi, checking his head up, all while asking him questions.

But Hisashi was left speechless.