The next morning was finally there. It was raining without stop. The sky had a dark grey color. The sun was hidden behind dim and shady clouds. And although it was morning, everything looked so dull and foggy. Everything was set for Yusuke's wife's funeral. The wake, the burial in a family grave, and periodic memorial service. Everything was ready. The authorities were informed, and a death certificate was issued. Every friend and relative were notified by the family. (Mostly by Tetsu ((Gokusen Tetsu)) and Minoru). Cobra did also informed, Yamato and the four SWORD leaders. Not only about the funeral. But mostly about the accident; if an accident you would call it.

The funeral was organized faster than usually. First, because of Yuki. Secondly, because that night Kuroda-san and Sawada concluded that the hit and run accident. It wasn't an accident at all. They were afraid, there was more to come. And they wanted everything to be settled. Oedo, SWORD and the Amamiya Brothers were all on guard.

The previous night after the accident happened. After Yusuke's wife died, they held the tsuya (wake). All funeral guests wore black: men wore black suits with white shirts and black ties. Women wore black dresses or black kimonos. That night, until the morning everyone gathered there. There was everyone from the Oedo family. Old clan members, new ones, anyone that was connected to Kuroda-san. There was Shin's friend, from Kumai, Noda, and the rest. Yankumi's students were also there. Her first student to the last. (The only one missing was Yanbuki, and Shin's sister. Those two were in New York. Of course, they were also informed. But it would take them more than a day to return to Tokyo. Hayato, Natsumi and their daughter were already on a plane.) There were also Yusuke's friends, and students. Ryusuke was also there, with Kira's working buddies. The four SWORD leaders, most of Hoodlum Squad members, Naomi, and the Amamiya Brothers did arrive last. The only ones missing were Cobra and Kira.

The stench of blood was fresh as it dripped onto the ground from Yusuke's wife's body and Yuki's. That smell and the image haunted Kira's mind. It didn't matter how fast she ran that night. She shivered with the eeriness of it, or perhaps it was the cold and the rain which must have to hover her. It was never supposed to get this bad. Why did it get so bad? She wondered around the streets for hours. But nothing change, her terror was still the same. The pain just too much to take. Too much to express.

Cobra wasn't much different. The rain and the cold did already do their harm. He was almost frozen as he was looking for Kira for hours. And the death of Yusuke's wife or Yuki's critical condition didn't make it any easier. But he could control his emotions. He didn't lose himself. He was stronger than he used to be. But he knew Kira wasn't. He looked for her at Shin's old house. He went back to the Oedo family home. He called anyone he could think of, even Ryusuke. But Kira was nowhere to be seen. Finally, it hit him. Maybe he is at Naomi's or somewhere in Sannoh district. He drove there as fast as he could. At Itokan Diner she wasn't, neither at Bar Odake or his room.

After a while, he spotted her at the end of the Sannoh district. She was sitting at the end of the street, leaning against an old wall. Her clothes were all wet, filled with mud and ripped. Her make up, worn off. He couldn't tell if it was from the rain or her tears. Last, but not least, it was her facial expression. She looked like she had lost her spirit. Like she was still falling in that abyss. Cobra turned his bike off. He climbed off his bike and strode was she was. He grabbed her from her arm and lifted her up, crushing her against the wall rough.

"Oi, Punk! What are you doing?" he yelled glaring at her with a deadly gaze. In all his life, he was never worried so much. Kira wasn't just devastated, sad or angry. She was something worse. And that was killing him inside. He didn't know how or what he had to do. But he would kick her back to reality if he had to.

Kira didn't react when her back hit against the wall. It was like she couldn't feel anything. She glanced at Cobra, with a dark gaze. "It's my fault!" she mumbled.

Cobra tighten his grip around her arms and rocked her "Snap out of it!" he yelled at her louder. He never lost eye contact with her.

Kira only gave him a darker smile, as a crazy person would. She tried to break from his grip "Leave me alone!" she said louder this time.

"What are you doing, Punk." Hoodlum Squad Leader asked her as he wouldn't free her. He had seen that dark look before. Back then when Noboru had lost his way. He wouldn't do the same mistake twice. He grabbed her chin and turned her to face him. "Listen, ...Oi! Punk!"

But Kira punched his grip away with all her force and pushed him, as hard as she could. Cobra lost his balance and fell in the muddy ground. "You don't get it! Let me be!" Kira screamed at him, ready to run.

Cobra hit his fist against the rocky ground. He leaped and blocked her way. "What don't I get! Are you the only one who lost someone?" he angry expressed himself.

Kira pushed him again. "Let me go! I'm not in the mood for your personal vendettas." she howled.

"Oi! Get to your senses!" he yelled and launched his palm against her, shoving her against the wall. "You think that's what I am trying to do here?"

Kira without emotion gathered her fist and forced her punch against his face. Cobra (who was out of guard) felt her fist against his chin and fell down one more time. Kira gave him a fast glance and by-passed him. Cobra, without thinking twisted his back and lifted his right hip. His left foot touched the ground, and the right hit her on her belly. She jammed against the ground. After that things went out of course. Kicks, Hits, punches, and launches were all over the rainy open place. Neither Kira or Cobra hold back. They started fighting.

Their one to one duel lasted longer than anyone would expect. They only stopped fighting when both had reached their limits. They crushed against the ground, heavily breathing, wounded and in pain.

"Oi!" Cobra yelled at her trying to get her attention. He cleaned his lips with his thumb, and gazed at her "enough with this."

Kira pinned her gaze against him. It seemed that a rough encounter brought her back. "It's my fault. You don't get it!" she murmured as she gathered her legs closer to her chest and started whimpering.

Cobra took a deep breath. Finally, that punk lost the dark aura around her. Being sad, scared, even angry, he knew it was normal. But not showing any emotions at all. And lose herself. It wasn't ok. He struggled and stood up. "Punk, you really have heavy first," he complained. Next, he swaggered close to her and knelt. His gaze dropped on her, and with a sweet sad voice he said: "I do understand, Kira." He wrapped his arms around her and embraced her. "You have any right to launch out any emotion. But the darkness you tried to pull off. Never do that."

Kira snuggled closer as she could "They are dead. It's my fault." she went on saying again and again.

Cobra lifted her upper body and faced her. "Not both are dead. It's not your fault. And we will find who did that." he said more than once.

It took a lot of effort and time to get Kira back to the reality she had to face. Cobra managed it somehow, to have her again stand on her feet. Broken, sad and lost. But at least she was communicating with the real world again. He stood up and gave her his hand "Get up. Let's get you to change. And then go to the funeral. We are late."

She nodded and took his hand. She stood up and followed. Cobra drove her back to the Oedo home. Walking to the area where the accident happened was hard. But Cobra dragged her through it. And each time he felt her weaken, he whispered: "I am here." Finally, they had reached home. "Go change. I'll wait for you here," he said and waited for her at the entrance. He was too dirty and wounded to walk into the Oedo residence.

Kira walked inside, and after a while, she returned. She pulled him into the house, upstairs into Yuki's room. She pointed at Yuki's bed. There was a black suit, a white shirt, and a black tied. "Shower is on the left, wear those," she said. Cobra didn't fight back. He nodded. He wasn't the type to wear a suit. He even did not own one. But just for today, he went along.

Both of them showered, bandaged their wounds, and changed. Cobra into the black suit. (That was a bit long for him since it was Shins) And Kira into a black Kimono. (That one was Kumiko's since Kira didn't own any black Kimono's) And they were ready on time and showed up at the funeral.

The rain, the cold and the foggy atmosphere remained. Cries and angry feelings were all over the place. The leaders were all gathered in one corner, talking about the "accident" Yusuke, Kira, and Kumiko was at the front greeting everyone. It took forever for the funeral to end. And although, the funeral was now over. More dangerous and serious stuff would raise. But for now, everyone returned home to rest.

A few days passed like that. Until most stood on their feet again. Others with bigger wounds in their hearts, and others with less. Although nothing was forgotten or forgiven. Yusuke was angrier than before. He didn't only want to find who was behind it. He needed revenge. The only thing that made the matter better, was that Yuki awoke and was safe.

Kira spent all those days at the hospital. She loved Yuki a lot. If Yuki would die. She would lose her way forever. She was still heartbroken. Revenge was the last thing she wanted now. That "accident" had changed her completely. She didn't look like the sweet girl, or the spoiled brat or even the reckless punk. She seemed like a bitter, sad and serious person. Even the day that Yuki woke up. It only made her move a step forward. Now she also wanted to know who was behind the hit.

As for Cobra, his days were complicated than before. He spent his time around Kira, Shin and with the other 4 leaders. When he wasn't looking after Kira. He would follow Shin, to find who was behind. And in his remaining time, he was informing the other SWORD leaders.

Because things went also worse for SWORD. Minor attacks around each district. Police showed up after complaints were made. Club Heaven had to close down. The remaining Nameless city was surrounded by other clans. Oya High was about to close. Daruma Ikka had attack after attack. And Sannoh district faced many other hits. Everything was chaos. And no one knew who was behind it.

At least until now. Because, neither the Oedo, or SWORD or the Amamiya Brothers wouldn't stay down anymore. Things were about to change. It was time to fight back.

(( upcoming chapter ~ Act 21 ~ ))

---

Note:

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