There're those days with time passing so rapidly, so fiercely; leaving only a taste of nothingness. On the other hand, there are those days, their long (so long), you think you'll never live through the day. But the worse ones, are the long nights. Those, that are longer than the days; like the sun will never rise again.

A long night like that, the new pawns where set, for the worse game to begin.

---

- Kuryu Group Headquarters -

The fourth-generation leader of the Oedo family arrived at the Iemura's centrals. He walked inside without fear, as a strong Leader would. A few hours ago, Ryu (the new boss of the Kuryu Group as the old head -Kuze Ryushin- was perished), notified him that he wanted to meet him. The Oedo Clan never got involved with Yakuza groups. They're ill news, always connected to something shady, to something bad. But, after a new threat had awoken, and slowly made itself known. It made it essential for most of them to meet, and find an answer.

"Take a seat, Sawada-san." Ryu said. He was standing behind his old wooden desk. His palms resting on top. His posture was slightly bent. He was wearing a black suit, a white shirt. His necktie was loose. He seemed to worry, more than he was when the lost all the power.

The Kuryu had managed to grow a few years ago. They wanted to control most districts. Their drug sales rose each day. They were involved in any illegal activity. And they became stronger each day. But their luck ended when they decided to take under their control SWORD. Although damage was equally for both sides. The Kuryu Group lost much more. They haven't changed since then. They still are connected with illegal acts. But they don't have the same power as they used to.

Shin, sat down. "Why the sudden urge to meet in such a short time?"

"First, I wanted to meet personally the next Leader of the Oedo family," he said as he took a sip of his whiskey.

"But you were in a Hurry?" Shin asked him curiously.

Ryu looked at him "We are being attacked, stolen and hunted. We're taking a low blow. And I think It's not only happening to us."

Shin was surprised to find that even clans like the Kuryu had been on the news threat list. "Your "business" then is tracked. Although, we don't approve of your ways. You know we don't handle our affairs like that."

"Exactly. I know it's not any local group. Their ways are too harsh. Our merchandise is stolen, the factories blew up, and my people wounded or killed." he explained.

Shin paused a moment to think. "Lately, more groups have been having those issues. Things are changing, like a shadow is taking over. We have also noticed that."

The Leader of the Kuryu agreed "It's like they don't have a plan. Like they want to control us all. Small, or big Clans. Legal, or not. They want it all."

"You better freeze all your transactions. The Oedo family never agreed with the way you're doing business. But we are looking into the new threat." Shin told him as he stood up "Something really dark is behind it, and we need soon to find out, what."

"One more thing we noticed. They are also after SWORD." he added lastly before Shin left.

"We already figured that out. It covers 5 of the main and biggest districts of the city. They would be after it." Sawada notified him.

"See, Sawada-san, The Oedo, SWORD, even the Amamiya Brothers, try to play a fair game. But, you all get dragged into the worse situations anyway." the leader of the Kuryu Group mocked Shin.

Shin, answered as he had already reached the exit "We don't play any games. We have a different code that you'll never understand Ryu-san."

"I know the Oedo's family code. One of the oldest families, that are known for their fairness, and more things. But I never get how the new generations, of random groups, have high standers." he quizzed.

Shin, smirked "And you'll never understand, Ryu-san. The way we are, even SWORD or the Amamiya Brothers, has nothing to do with age or clans. Deeply, the only thing we all want is a safe city to live in. Farewell!"

---

- Daruma Ikka District-

The imagery of the circle and the spiral into a meandering but purposeful path were built over a day (in front of the entrance of the Daruma Ikka.) It looked like a maze but wasn't. Unlike a maze, it had no visible dead-ends. Like no one could get lost. Like it was following the path to the center and out. But, to walk that path, was to learn its lessons. Like it symbolized a transformation journey to the center and back out into the world. And it was there for only one reason. For the leader of the Daruma Ikka.

Hyuga arrived as fast as he could as he got a message. "You manage to walk out the exit. Then they live." He was speechless. His mind would never understand how that bizarre maze ended in front of the Daruma Ikka. But, what was scarier was Ukyo and Sakyo hanging above the entrance. They were beaten. And hanged from their arms. If someone tried to free them, a trap would be open. And both of them would fall inside a hole filled with blades.

The leader of the Daruma gazed at them. Then he noticed the traps. 'What kind of a joke is that' he thought. But it wasn't a joke. Hyuga sighed. He took his phone and messaged someone. Then he didn't wait at all. He simply walked inside. He was sure it was a trap. He was even sure that he wouldn't make it out alive. But he couldn't stand back and let his people get hurt.

---

- Itokan Diner -

Meanwhile, Kira and Cobra were back at the Itokan Diner. They stayed long enough at the graveyard. Kira was the first entering and Cobra was following. They didn't talk at all. Even in their way back. After all what was there to say.

"Aniki? (Older brother)" Kira shouted suddenly as she froze in the middle of the dinner. Cobra pause also behind her, as he noticed Ryusuke, Murayama and another guy with them. They were sitting, and having some drinks. But why wasn't he really surprised? Whenever Kira was with him, he awaited something odd, or bad to happen.

"We came to see Naomi's place you always talk about," Yusuke said clearly as he glanced at her and the ash-blond guy behind her.

Kira tried to act normal. Having her brother around her neverland, was a big 'No!'

"You should ask me first." she mumbled pissed.

"Come, now Ki-chan. I asked Yusuke to join. Since you always hanging around here. This place must have something special." Ryusuke .

Kira sighed and stepped closer to where they were sitting. "Anyway, and why are you even here Ryu-kun. Weren't you suppose to be at a group date," she added.

"Group dates?" asked Ryusuke confused.

Cobra wasn't also pleased. New faces were showing up. He just hoped that they wouldn't bring more trouble as Kira did. Though he was interrupted by Murayama, who pulled him to sit with them. 'And why would Murayama even be with those guys?'

"Den mixed the date. It's tomorrow." Chiharu answered her. He with Den, Yamato, and Noboru, were sitting to the table next to them.

Cobra rolled his eyes "Why am I not surprised."

"I called Yusuke to come over. He wanted to see this place. And since I was already here." Ryususke explained with a smile on his face. He hoped to have her brother there, would spoil Kira's plans. He still didn't like it, that Kira always was around the Sannoh district.

"Of course you would," Kira added in a joking- pissed mood.

"You are.." Yusuke looked the leader of the Hoodlum Squad "Cobra-san?"

Cobra lifted his gaze and nodded.

"I'm Kira's brother. I thought we should meet. Since you are always following her around." Yusuke voiced getting Cobra's and the others' full attention.

"Aniki!" Kira shouted. She, most of all knew. That Cobra was never following her. Honestly, she wasn't either. It was her need for adventure that brought her to the Sannoh district. And just a coincidence they ended up always together.

Noboru smiled. Most of the days he wasn't around with the guys. And he had missed a lot. But that Yusuke guy, was surely related to Kira. He just managed to turn the leader of the Hoodlum Squad to a stalker.

He glared at Yusuke "I follow her around?!"

Yusuke nodded, as he wasn't letting the matter drop "As I have heard you are always around her. Even now, you both came back together."

"Yusuke cut it off," Kira yelled at him.

"Oi, punk! Deal with these." Cobra asked Kira annoyed. There he ended up to have to explain himself to that "punks" brother.

Yusuke stood up "Wait, who did you call punk." he said with a louder voice.

"He calls you sister punk," Ryusuke added. He had noticed many times Cobra referring to her as punk. Even Kira said it before.

Cobra rolled his eyes, he couldn't follow up anymore with all the oddness that Kira would bring. "Deal with it," he said to her again.

Kira was his little sister. He would never let someone insult his sister. He grabbed Cobra from his collar and pulled him back. "You answer me now!" Yusuke demanded.

Cobra, punched his grip to set himself free. "I don't follow that punk around. And if she wants to be called with her name, she should earn it." Cobra uttered.

"All of you stop it!" Naomi yelled serious. She had enough with all the childish behavior. She could get why Yusuke was upset. But she didn't want any kind of Drama or unreasonable fights around her shop. "Yusuke, the problems you have with Kira. Resolved it with Kira. I don't want this kind of attitude in here. You can all drop it or leave now."

Murayama, Dan, and Chiharu were the only ones who enjoyed the show. Specially Murayama who managed to see his teacher so fired up. Since the day they made Yusuke (their home teacher), he was always asked them to be reasonable.

"I think our teacher wanted to show me how reasonable we should behave." he laughed looking at him "He always tried to teach us that."

"Why, since when do you guys even have a home teacher in Oya high," Chiharu asked confused.

Kira pointed at her brother "They do have. Yusuke."

"I am glad I drop out from there," Chiharu commented only to get briefly Yusuke attention.

As long as the others were talking about Oya High and the new teacher. Yusuke was still glaring at Cobra. Yamato that all the time was watching them, ended up next to Yusuke. He signed him to take a sit. "Yusuke-san, Cobra isn't stalking your sister or anything. Since Kira is around the Itokan Diner, it's normal to meet with Cobra and us. We always hang around here." his explanation made more sense.

"Honestly Ki-chan I don't get it, why you liked it here that much," Ryusuke said.

Kira knew exactly why she liked it there. She had found there another world. She had fallen down the rabbit-hole, and she enjoyed the fall to her Wonderland. The problem was, she never knew; how deep the hole was. And how dark; its way to the end.

Yusuke wasn't really convinced. He could tell that most of the blame was Kiras. That couldn't keep herself away from the Sannoh District. But he found that Cobra was to blame also. "Well, yes. Our spoiled brat can do that." he acknowledged.

Cobra gave him a more friendly gaze. He noticed that Yusuke knew at least that his sibling was spoiled. "And she can do way more than that," he mumbled, surprising even himself to say such a comment.

But the cheery atmosphere was cut as suddenly the door opened and Kato (a main member of the Daruma Ikka) rushed inside. "Cobra, you never look at your phone!" he said. Everyone gazed at the wild guy dressed in red and white that had just entered.

Cobra grabbed his phone. He found Hyuga message and read it. He jumped up serious gazing at Yamato and Murayama. "Let's go!" he said, "They trapped Hyuga."

"Is it them again?" Murayama asked He was sure the people that had caused the problems lately had shown themselves again. Only this time their target was the Daruma Ikka.

"Do the others know?" Cobra asked Kato ( he was referring to the other sword leaders.)

Kato nodded as he had already spoken with them. "It looks like a big trap."

"Even if it's a trap, we cannot sit back. We have to find who is behind it." Cobra set serious. "Let's go!"

A simple word was enough to have the members of the Hoodlum Squad and Murayama follow him. Kira didn't think about it at all. She turned and was ready to follow them. But Yusuke grabbed her wrist and pulled her back.

"Where are you going?" he serious asked. He never thought that his sister would recklessly involve herself in any kind of dangerous event. But mostly that she would follow a gang. It was like those months he had missed a lot of Kira's life.

Kira pulled her hand, she didn't overthink things. She needed to go with them. Only this time it wasn't really for her urge of adventure. She really wanted to help. It was like something small had changed. "Yusuke, I have to go!" she only said and followed the others outside.

Yusuke and Ryusuke went after her to stop her. They were both dazzled. They knew Kira was hiding things. But they never had seen that side of her.

"Kira don't you dare go with them. Have you lost your mind completely." Yusuke told her really worried as they stepped outside.

But Kira ignored him and walked over to Cobra's bike. He had already the engine and was waiting for the rest to get their bikes. She didn't even ask Cobra and climbed on the bike. "I'll explain to you later Aniki," she said.

Cobra wasn't really surprised that Kira followed. Of course, she would be there. Like Yamato, Like Dan and the rest. She was an annoying spoiled punk, that would always bring his world upside down. But, that annoying punk was also seen as a member of the Hoodlum Squad. He gave her a fast glance "Are you sure?" he asked her.

Kira nodded "Why are you even asking?!"

Cobra turned the bike around "Only don't be reckless punk." he concluded as the others had arrived. All together drove off to the Daruma Ikka, to help. Leaving behind Yusuke, and Ryusuke surprised.

"What had just happened?" Ryusuke asked his friends. He knew Kira was connecting to that place more every day. But he never knew how deep their connections really were.

"I knew it, she was into more trouble than she said. She wasn't here to visit Naomi only." Yusuke sighed.

"I don't recognize Ki-chan either. Why? What else could she be up too."

"Ryusuke, you don't get it. She just followed the leader of the Sannoh Rengokai. And he simply let her." he noted him.

"Like he would allow every member." Naomi added.

"Ki-chan, a member of a gang?" Ryusuke was out of words. He never saw that coming.

Yusuke turned and faced Noami "It's not her first time, isn't it? She caught herself in trouble like that"

Naomi nodded "Come in, I will explain."

It took Naomi an hour to explain Yusuke what Kira was up too. She used always to do that when they were in High School. Kira was running into trouble and Naomi explained. Now it wasn't any different. Thankfully, Naomi let all the details outside. She only said a few incidents that had occurred. Yusuke could now somehow understand why they saw her as a member of their group. Though Ryusuke was thrown out of track. The sweet, kind Kira, he knew. Had nothing to do, with the wild reckless person that Naomi had just described.

(( upcoming chapter ~ Act 17 ~ ))

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Note:

More than anything, thank you for taking the time to read this!