In.
Out.
Slow, controlled breathing.
In.
Out.
BANG!
"Kazuya, you lazy fuck!"
Slow. Controlled. Breathing.
"I know you're sleeping!"
With a sigh, I opened my eyes—only to be greeted by black tights. I looked up from the floor.
"Shimizu. Good morning. I was just meditating. Care to join me?"
She snorted, still looking down at me.
"Fat chance, Kazuya."
She squatted, bringing her crotch into my line of sight. I tore my eyes away, only to be met with her sharp grey eyes peeking out over her modest chest.
"You're going to be late, Guardian Kazuya."
I rolled my eyes at the title. "I liked it better when you hated me."
She scoffed, rising to her feet and placing a gloved hand on her hip.
"And I liked it better when you were shorter..." She trailed off into a mumble I didn't catch.
I walked past her to my dresser and grabbed one of the many black turtleneck long sleeves I owned.
"You and Toma are taking your team out today, right?"
I received a nod as I pulled the shirt over my head, then grabbed a black mask and wrapped it loosely around my neck.
"Try and stretch it out for a few days."
I turned just in time to catch the tanto Rin threw at me. I clipped it to my waist.
"Why? Is something happening?"
I nodded, answering as we exited my room.
"Something that'll need you and Toma away for a while."
On the way to the door, I grabbed the burner phone I'd been using to stay in contact with Kaito over the past year and handed it to Rin.
"I can't say when or why, but you'll get a message on this phone. It'll have a location. Go there. Someone will be waiting—they'll explain the rest."
Rin looked down at the phone, then gave me an odd look.
"You're not about to do something stupid, are you?"
I shrugged, opening the door.
"Can't say. But considering you and Toma have been pestering me nonstop for a year, I figure it's time I cashed in on that trust."
She shrugged back and pocketed the phone, heading off in the opposite direction.
"Fine. Keep your dirty little secrets. Not like I care anyway."
I waved her off, waiting until she was gone.
"If Mizuki saw that, she'd have killed the girl."
I turned around. Renard was there, leaning against the wall in all his smug glory.
"A shame she'll never get the chance." he said. "Considering what you plan to do today, Kazuya-san."
I nodded and walked past him. He fell into step beside me.
'Didn't think I'd not kill a blond.'
I hadn't really considered the consequences when I killed Daigo and his men. I didn't think about the fallout—or what it might mean for Mizuki and me. It wasn't until Renard found me walking away from the wreckage that I realized we'd drawn too much attention.
"Something on your mind, Kazuya-san?"
I hummed in response. "Just thinking... I'm glad I didn't kill you when I had the chance."
He chuckled but didn't reply, leaving me alone with my thoughts.
When things had finally settled down, Weiss Adelheid launched an attack with far greater force than our informants had anticipated. She didn't come after us, though. No—she killed the other branch leaders and the main head of Kumamoto, absorbing their forces for herself.
'Now only two outrank her in Kumamoto.'
The "Spokesperson" and the Elder were the only ones keeping her in check from my point of view.
Which brings us to today—March 5th, 1998.
The day the Spokesperson, Mizuki, Renard, and I would meet to decide the future of Kumamoto.
"Is everything set up, Renard?" I asked as we stepped onto a quiet footpath, waiting for the car to arrive.
"Yes." he responded curtly. "Communication will be shut off for a few moments—long enough to take care of Mizuki and the Spokesperson."
I nodded and was about to shut off my hearing to think, but Renard wasn't finished.
"What do you plan to do after this? And I don't mean after killing Mizuki and Adelheid. I mean after killing the entire Council of Elders."
I frowned, shrugging. "Not sure. Why does it matter?"
He sighed, adjusting his suit before replying. "Because the reason I'm helping you—the reason I'm willing to follow you—is that I believe you can take us normal people to new heights. That you'll be able to stop what the Elders have allowed for far too long."
I raised an eyebrow at that, but before I could press for more, the car pulled up with the window rolled down.
"Otouto~ Your Onee-chan is here!" Mizuki grinned.
I bowed before getting into the passenger seat beside her. Renard took the front.
"Aww~ Why'd you have to get so tall? I liked it when you were short and cute." she said, clinging to my arm as I looked out the window.
'After the Elders…'
Renard's words lingered in my head.
'Get married?'
No. That shit wasn't for me. Being tied to one person felt too restrictive.
'Run a Yakuza?'
Even worse. The thought made me want to frown. My loyalty still lay with my old boss.
'She'd want me to move on…'
I glanced down at Mizuki, who was subtly rubbing my hand against her crotch, then looked back out the window. We were heading toward the docks.
'Maybe… maybe I can achieve the goal she couldn't.'
I smiled at the memory of Yukiko, drunk and ranting about extending her control beyond Japan.
'And with the training I've been doing, I doubt anyone could match me.'
After the fight with Daigo, I intensified everything—breaking bones, tearing muscles, pushing my organs past their limits just to rebuild myself stronger.
'If I fought my old self now…'
I'd win, without question.
The only thing I still griped about was my height—I wasn't as tall as I used to be. But then, I was only fifteen.
'Still… 6'2 at fifteen isn't bad.'
I shrugged just as Mizuki gasped. I felt warmth spread across my fingers.
"Ah~"
I looked down at her just as the car stopped in front of a warehouse by the docks.
"We're here, Lady Mizuki." I said.
She pouted and raised my fingers to my mouth. "Lick them for your dear Onee-chan~"
I did as told, licking her fluids off my hand before stepping out and helping her from the car.
"Thank you~" she cooed, then turned to Renard, who stood silently, hands behind his back.
"Renard, Kazuya. Stay alert."
We nodded and followed her as the car drove away. The silence in the area stood out.
'I doubt they'll want her dead.'
From Renard's reports, it seemed like they were desperate for a ceasefire.
"Lady Mizuki, how nice to see you!" a voice greeted her as we stepped inside the warehouse.
I spotted four people up ahead. Renard looked back at me, I gave a nod and moved closer to Mizuki as she responded to the man.
"Ah, you must be—"
I ignored him, placing a hand gently on Mizuki's head.
"Kazu—?"
With a hard clench, her skull gave way beneath my grip.
Squelch.