Finding Neverland
High & Low Finale
~ Prologue ~
Almost a year had passed since the last encounter of S.W.O.R.D. and the Kuryu Group. The casino's plan was fully forgotten. Kuzei Ryushin (head of Kuryu) was perished and Tatsuhito Ryu (his only son) was now the new leader. The rest of the nine dragons were finally facing the law and prison. Saigo and his men had evidence to go on with their research. Of course Kuryu Group had lost the war. But this Yakuza organization was around for decades, it could not be taken down totally. They lost power but they were still around causing problems. (Of course nothing that S.W.O.R.D cannot handle.)
The fallout that had began when the Mugen and the Amamiya brothers fought. The town split in five districts, and five organizations rose to the top took over each district. The Iemura Group, Kohaku, the Korean Mafia as well as the Mighty Warriors plotted against the S.W.O.R.D until all ended up fighting in a huge battle. The Amamiya brother dealing with Kamizono group and losing their older brother Takeru . White Rascals fighting with Doubt. S.W.O.R.D united fighting Kuryu. Smoky's (Rude boys' leader) death and the distraction of Nameless city.
All the above had caused all five districts to break little by little during those two years, until nothing was standing. S.W.O.R.D. control their district as before. But they walked through hell and back. They had lost a lot, but they were slowly back on their feet. And the important thing was they were now working as one. And Cobra was the key persona that united them. That made the leader of Sannoh Rengokai, the one who was answer for S.W.O.R.D.
Sannoh Rengokai (Hoodlum Squad) took all the time to fix the damage. The team of 6 (Cobra (leader), Yamato, Noburo, Dan, Tetsu, Chiharu ) were getting in all kinds of troubles. Funny ones, serious, in any case they kept themselves busy. They occasionally meet the rest of the S.W.O.R.D main members. They were moving on with their lives without knowing what faith was plotting to bring on their doorsteps.
On the other side of the city, another notorious yakuza clan has their roots there for four generations. The Oedo Family. Their Leader was still Kuroda Ryuichiro (3rd Generations Leader.) The 4th generation Leader would be his granddaughter spouse; Sawada Shin. His granddaughter, an idealistic teacher with hopes of making a difference in students' lives, Yamaguchi Kumiko.
Sawada was one of her first students. After many years, a lot of stories and memories those two married. They had two kids. Their first one was a boy, Sawada Yusuke. The second one a girl Sawada Kira*. Yusuke, he had a mix personality taking from his father and mother. He grew up to be a great man. He had Kuroda-san's looks (but not his persona). He became a teacher, with the same principles as his mother. But serious and clever like his father. He married at a young age, and had a son (Yuki).
On the other hand the girl, since it was the youngest in the family, became rather spoiled. Kira had a warm childhood, with lots of love. She never came across any hardships. And if she ever did, she had too many people caring for her. If her mother and father, brother and grandfather weren't enough. She had Yankumi's former students. She had Shin's friends. Her brother's friends. And the Oedo Clan. Kira received loved from all those people. But that bored her. Since when ever she needed help, there was someone to help her (or to teach her).
Kira grew up. She went to study art in New York. With Sawada as a father, she had all the connections she needed. After all her aunt Natsumi (Sawada's sister) lived in New York with her family. She had also married one of Yankumi's students; Yabuki Hayato. They had also one kid. She lived with them when she was studying in New York. It's been only a few months she's been back in Tokyo. She has a part-time job as a graphic designer in Sony. She was back home, living with everyone.
~ Zooming In ~
Sawada Kira, Was the youngest daughter of Shin and Kumi. She was a combination of Shin's and Kumi's personality; a scary one. She was usually a serious person with a laid-back attitude and cared very much for everyone ( like Shin). She's also stubborn, got easily fired up, with her Baka* moments (like Kumi). She inherited few of Kuroda's characteristics. (But those were never revealed because until now Kira lived an easy life. But that's going to change.) She was spoiled to the bone. Kira was trained to fight like her mother by Oshima Kyotaro. But Kuroda-san, Shin, Yankumi, Yusuke, basically everyone was around training her. That's why her fighting skills were excelled.
Kira was petite, around 4'9 tall with black long silk (straight) hair. Her deep-set dark chocolate-brown eyes looked at you like a puppy. She had a nice body (not like Yankumi's), a really slender one. Her skin pale, soft (as she always took care of her appearance). She had a rather pixie-like nose that dropped daintily down from its peak. Her lips cute, light pink like they had dwelt into the Sakura colors. Dimples were pressed under Kira's high cheekbones. She liked to follow the fashion, although she was always adding her own flavor to it. Even when she dressed as a boy she really took care of the way she looked. Her hair in pony-tail. Stylish jeans, colorful shirts. Expensive shoes. She would draw the attention, even as a boy. And she liked that. All those years with everyone running after her, she ended up loving the attention.
She never really liked studying. But she was good at it. Art was more of her thing (to create things). That's why she never really studied much. She spent more of her time, drawing, learning music or dancing. Creativity was a part of her. The family, and everyone really loved that about Kira. She seemed like a person that had nothing to do with the yakuza world. And each year she grew she looked more like a lady (maybe a spoiled one), with dreams and hopes.
But Kira had one more thing in her blood. She was Shin's daughter and Kumi's after all. She liked trouble, she liked fighting and loved to live in a world filled with troubles, action and fights than a boring one. And although the Oedo family could offer all that. Everyone did anything in their power to keep her out of it. And neither Shin or Kumiko wanted her in any kind of trouble.
Though everything changed in High School. She met Naomi, Sister of Tatsuya (the one who created "Mugen" with Kohaku) and an old friend of Yamato. She never visited the Sannoh district where Naomi lived. But they spend all their time together. Naomi told her many stories about Tatsuya and Kohaku, and the new gang they had created. (Tatsuya didn't open the "Itokan Diner" yet) To be able to spend time with them Kira started to dress as a boy. That's how her high school yeas become really fun.
Even when she lived in New York. She would talk with Naomi, and find out all the news. Specially the previous years, when SWORD was created and all those trouble happened. It made Kira wanting to be there with Naomi. She wanted to know more about SWORD and their leaders.
On the other side Cobra* (Cobra's real name was Hino Janpei) was the leader of the Sannoh Association. He grew up with Yamato and Noboru, and they're close friends. He took the nickname Cobra, in elementary school by Noboru and Yamato. He had the ability to twist like a copra when fighting. His parents own a gas station "Hino Oil". Former member of Mugen, like Yamato. He wasn't often good with words, and cared more than he showed. His feeling to protect the city was bigger than anyone else's.
He had ash blond hair, that mostly hide his forehead and eyes. His mouth small with perfect alabaster teeth, and noticeable lips. He stood at 5'7 tall with a well trained figure. His gaze deadly serious, with looks that get the attention. Perfect strong hands with long fingers. He is great at wrestling attacks, and very fast and accurate at his attacks. He wears casual clothes, and has always a red scarf with him. A red scarf that he sometimes uses while fighting.
He also, like Kira, never liked studying. But he was smart, could easily read his surroundings. When he was younger he like fighting and be in trouble. But lately after all the fights, deaths and blood he had seen. He did not like to get in trouble. And would only fight if he needed to protect something. He is one of the few that wanted to end the cycle of hate.
A key persona, that started as a simple member of Mugen, but ended somehow unite the S.W.O.R.D. He was always taken seriously by the other gang leaders, and his words count. He was one of the few that was around since the Mugen were formed. One of the few who met Kohaku and Tatsuya in the good days. And one of the S.W.O.R.D. leader. He wants to keep the balance between the S.W.O.R.D. and always over things every action. One of the last that wants to break the chain of hate. And he fought with all his being to do so.
Yamato and Noboru were very important to him. But he cared for all his friends and members. Although he didn't show his feelings, and many times got misunderstood. It's not an easy persona, serious, and sometimes had his bad moments. Cobra had a softer softer side, but wasn't often showing. After the huge battle, it's even more hidden. Only when he was drunk he turned too silly and too kind. (Like a silly- drunk Yankumi mode) Most of the times his friend try to run, and don't want to be around him (when he was drunk).
He earned the respect from everyone, by his actions. He started like no one. But ended up to be well known. Even Kira had heard about the leader of the Sannoh Association. (She never met him though until now.)
~ 1st Act: Finding Neverland* ~
"Hey, can you not see where you're going?" a young woman said as someone bumped into her. She was wearing a light coat, black. The newest heels that were lately in fashion. She seemed pretty.
The other woman who hadn't noticed her answered back "Sorry, I almost didn't see you!" They both looked at each other confused. "Is that you Kira?" the woman asked looking at her.
Kira, stepped closer keeping her body structure up. She was almost ready to say something nasty to the woman. But she dropped it, when she noticed that it was her close friend. "Naomi, what are you doing here?" she asked her.
"Nothing, much. I was just passing by. When did you come back? Why didn't you call?" Naomi went on buzzing her.
Kira smiled at her "I was busy with finding a job and settling down. But i would call you this week." she explained.
"Really you would?" Naomi a bit.
She knew Kira wouldn't lie. She was always honest with her. Maybe she had spoiled, and odd persona but she was always honest with Naomi. "How are things?" she asked serious. Naomi was one of the few people who knew that Kira was bored at home, and would always look for trouble. There were times she was really worried about Kira, when they were in high school.
"Of course I would." she said. "Nothing much has changed. You know how things are at home. I got the job I told you about. But it's only part time." she told her "And how are things with you?"
"The Graphic thing right. That's super. Things are better now. It's back to the ordinary." Naomi responded. "You should come around the Itokan Diner. You will surely like it." she suggested. Of course she never knew that Kira would take that invite to another level.
Kira smiled and nodded "Actually that is a great idea. I may come visit you someday. Is it around the Sannoh district right?"
"Yes. Give me a call and I will come and get you... or something like that. Kira I'm really glad to see you, but I am running late. Call me." Naomi said and left.
Kira agreed and said goodbye to her friend. She was more than happy to see Naomi. She walked back home thinking all the stories that Naomi told her (back then when she was in New York). The fights, all the trouble each day they went through. It sounded like a world that Kira wanted to enter. For Kira it was like an adventure. Like a Kid, who had found a way to enter wonderland.
Though for Naomi and the others, it were serious facts. They lost friends, they lost family. Naomi, as well as Cobra, Yamato and Noboru, were people who had seen a lot of violence. They didn't want more of that in their life. Only if needed. They had deep wounds. And some of those wounds were still open.
But Kira was another story. She was longing for fights. She wanted to express all that feelings that were forgotten, all those years that she studied in New York. Visiting Naomi would surely give her an opportunity. But how could she do that, without getting noticed by her family. Spacing out like that she managed to reach home.
"Kira! Kira!" a little boy ran and jumped into her, almost waking her up from her day-dream. She had reached home already and her nephew was more than happy to see her.
She gave a big hug to the boy and dragged him inside the living room where her brother was sitting with the others. "Yusuke! aren't you early home?" she asked her brother. He always returned late. Working at a high school and following his mothers steps kept him really busy.
Her brother and the rest looked at her "The new class have problems!" he said. It seemed he changed schools and he was assigned at a problematic 3-D class, like his mother always was.
Kira poured some Tea and giggled "You and mother always get the best students." she . Since she was a kid Kira had always heard the stories of Yankumi's students. Each and every day, there was something to talk about the past. Or she would live it in her present. Now, not only Yankumi but also Yusuke was bringing home problems.
"Your mother always had the best ones!" Shin answered as he also stepped into the room "How was work?" he asked his daughter.
"Are you talking about yourself again, dad!" Kira spotted. "It was great. I also met a high school friend. You should remember her Naomi." she voiced and got all the attention. As she always would do.
"Naomi-chan. I remember her! How is she?" Yusuke asked. Mostly everyone knew Naomi, it was one of the few female friends Kira had. It was a sweet girl.
Kira smiled and sat cozier and began telling them about Naomi. "She now has her own dinner store. I will start visiting her." Kira already made it clear. Naomi inviting her in her dream land, now there was no way holding Kira back.
"Of course you should." everyone agreed. After all it was Naomi. "Tell her to come visit us too." they suggested.
The rest of the day went like that. Speaking about Naomi. How she was planning to spend long hours with her. And everyone was happy to see Kira excited. It meant she wasn't fed up and would keep out of trouble.
Meanwhile, at Itokan Dinner Naomi had arrived. The store was busy as always. Lately it had more visitors than before. Not only from Sannoh District, but from all SWORD. Like today Takeshi was visiting Cobra. After, Smoky's death Takeshi was accepted as the new leader of Rude Boys. It had become more than a habit when something serious was on, the five would talk but the first they would always visit Cobra.
"It's happening for a few weeks now." Takeshi said as he was sitting next to Cobra. He also as Rocky did, the previous week. Had noticed something going around their district.
Cobra spaced out for a second serious. He remembered what Rocky told him. "Rocky told me that too. But he wasn't sure. If you say you have notice that. Then something must be going on." he responded.
Naomi by passed them, and walked behind the counter. "Did anything happen?" she asked them. Both gazed at her and nodded.
"Lately there were people ganging up against someone and have them beaten." Cobra told Naomi as they had come to conclusion with the details that Takeshi and Rocky brought to light.
Naomi that started making some coffee thought about it "Which gang?" she asked simply. After all it was used to have gangs mostly to do things like that.
"It's not the same gang every time. Maybe it's not a gang at all. It seems they have a competition going on. The person that gets beaten they take a video and post it online." Takeshi answered her with more details.
Cobra had once more spaced out as he was thinking about it. These days he overthinks, he doesn't take things lightly. The earlier years was a major hit for everyone, and Cobra like most of them have matured around fighting. Of course Dan, Tettsu and Chiharu are easier dragged into fights, even these days.
The next morning, Kira awoke early. She didn't sleep all night thinking about visiting Naomi. She already had found a plan to sneak in and out of Naomi's place. She thought to pose as a boy. She did that in high school with Naomi. Accessing Naomi's world as a boy, sounded perfect. She grabbed her phone and walled and rushed out. Everyone was still sleeping, that avoided all the questions 'where was she going?'.
Kira spend hours buying male clothes, shoes and accessories. Everything she would need to pose herself as a boy. But she forgot the most important thing, where she would hide all those things. At home there was no way she would come and go dressed as a boy. They would have noticed something. There was no privacy there.
'Change at work' she thought as she went to work. 'Nop that cannot help much. Where would I change back to go at home.' Then she remembered her grandparents house (Shin's parents) It was near, she had the keys. No one really lived there anymore. Her grandparents had moved to the countryside. The house belonged to her aunt now (Shin's sister). It was a place she would visit whenever she needed some time alone. It sounded perfect.
After work, she took a taxi and went there. Nothing much had changed. The furniture were the same. The house was clean since twice a week by a lady. She went upstairs and started unpacking everything. She preferred her dad's room. Since it was a boy's room, seeing male items around wouldn't surprise anyone.
After she took a warm bath. Kira relaxed and changed her clothes, fixed her hair. She changed to a different person. She looked more like a boy now.
At first glance, Kira would seem to the casual observer to be a rather normal young male. Nothing in particular about her physical appearance was striking that she was a girl. In subtle ways, however, she looked a bit unusual. Kira's facial features were smooth, pale and pretty. Kira (as a boy) was shorter than average. Her hair was dark and soft. She didn't cut it as short as most boys did. But there were many boys with long hair these days. She wore a plain, solid-colored shirts and jeans — nothing "loud," nothing "hip," nothing bearing popular sports team logos or name-brand insignia. But you could tell the clothes were expensive and well chosen. She did a perfect job hiding her girly parts.
It was already noon and she didn't want to waste any time. She grabbed her phone and called Naomi. "Naomi, i was thinking to come visit you." she said as her friend answered the call.
Naomi was more than happy to hear that. "Sure, when will you come. Should i come pick you up?" she asked Kira.
"I was thinking to have dinner with you today at your place. You don't have to pick me up." Kira informed her friend.
Naomi looked at the time. It was still a bit early for dinner. "You know where I am. I will be here the rest of the day. Come by when ever you can." Naomi told her happy.
"Itokan Diner, right? I will be there shortly." she said with a super exciting voice.
"Yes, Itokan Diner." Naomi agreed "Only try not to get in any trouble." She knew her friend very well. The over hyper reaction, made it obvious that Kira was ready for trouble.
"Who... me trouble? No way. I grew up now." she ended the call. She ran out of the house. Took the first taxi and was ready for her adventure at the Sannoh district.
Naomi gazed at her cell phone as she placed it on the counter. She sighed hopping Kira would be careful. "Grow up surely!"
Yamato waved his hand against her face. "Who was that?" he asked really curious. Naomi and he, were dating now. But they kept it a secret. They felt really awkward to tell the guys. But surely the guys had noticed something.
"It was an old friend from high school. Kira will be coming over." she said without specifying her as a boy or a girl.
"We Never met anyone from your high school friends?" Yamato noticed.
Naomi smiled "Of course you have not. I was mostly hanging around with you guys or Kira."
Yamato rubbed his head confused "Maybe You have talked about Kira before. The name reminds me of something."
"I have. Kira was my best friend back then. Still is. So you guys you surely have heard about Kira." she added.
Meantime, at the Hino Gas station Cobra worked there all morning. If he wasn't at Itokan Diner, he would help with the Gas station. He kept still a room back of the Gas shop. Their house was close by, but honestly Cobra was never at home. That room came in handy for him. Sleeping, changing and showering he did everything there. His bike was always parked outside. Anything he liked and loved was surrounding him at the Sannoh district.
He had never traveled or lived far from Tokyo, or the Sannoh district. Honestly he never thought of that. His reality was different, than Kira's. He had to deal with real issues every day. There were days, where Cobra and Shinigami* ( God of Death ) walked close enough. And one mistake could easily take his life away.
It was not that Kira's world wasn't dangerous. The Oedo Family had dealt every day with more serious problems. But Kira, although she was part of that world she never saw how bad things can turn. Indeed she had heard all those stories, from Naomi, her parents and everyone. She had seen people getting hurt. But she never lived it. She never lost something precious to her. A spoiled person not aware of the real dangers. Not knowing, how needless fights can turn into real trouble. Yankumi's big speeches and actions, had affected everyone but not Kira.
Kira, even though she was a grown woman now. Working, following her dream. Deep down she was a dangerous teen, like Yankumi's students were before meeting her. She needed, action and adventure into her life. Kira would seek for it, without thinking of the consequences. She would storm into the new world she was about to discover, causing more troubles. It didn't matter how smart she was. She was about to discover neverland. And like a child that it had never grown, she would live every moment of it.
(( upcoming chapter ~ Act 2 ~ ))
Notes:
+ Names are written like Surname, followed by First Name in Japan. For example Yamaguchi Kumiko, Surname is Yamaguchi and First name is Kumiko.
+ Baka or 'Ahou' means Stupid. But you will notice that "Baka" is more used. And sometimes even while teasing someone.
+ Mugen is a word of Japanese origin, meaning dream, fantasy, or infinite. Here it means Infinite.
+ Amamiya Brothers at the first and Second season were two brothers. But since our stories takes place two years after (almost two years) They have already found their third brother (Takeru).
+ Kira can be used as a Japanese name, but it isn't actually a Japanese word. The closest is "kirakira", which means "shining" or "glittering". Now Although at first when you hear at Kira's name it is supposed to make you think of something dark. The name was given to her was based to Kira-Kira and her parents thought of something shining.
+ Cobra can be used as a name or nickname. Here it is a nickname. Cobra's name is Janpei.
+ Shinigami literally translated means: Death God, or God of Death. It is most commonly used in the Anime/Manga.
+ Neverland is a fictional location featured in the works of J. M. Barrie and those based on them. It is an imaginary faraway place, where Peter Pan, Tinker Bell, the Lost Boys and other creatures and beings live. When ever i used it i want to have that meaning exactly. A fairy land, a place
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