"You know what I think the best insult is? Who is this clown. Because one, you're calling them a clown. Genius. And two, they're not even a well known one. So simple, yet so elegant."

Mikey, Draken, Pah, Peh, and Kiera were all stationed within an abandoned warehouse. Mikey sat on a bench, while the other three towered around. Kiera had chosen her place on the floor to his left, seated criss-cross-applesauce.

Even though their topic was harsh, she did her best to lighten the mood. Prattling off about the first things that came to mind. In this case, insults. Insults and clowns.

"Oh! Another good one—"

"Are we gonna get started or what, Mikey," Pah interrupted, not letting her finish.

Taking that as her sign to be serious, she didn't snap at him for doing so. They had a lot to talk about. Sure she liked to joke around, but there's always a time and place. Again she was the first to speak.

"We gotta be careful, Pah. Rushing into this could mean bad shit."

Draken spoke up next. "I agree, we gotta think this—"

The footsteps of someone walking in halted the dragon boy's words. All five of them turned to see Takemichi entering the warehouse. How in the hell did he get here?! How'd he even know where to find them?

Mikey was the only one to offer the boy warm regards. The rest spat harsh askings of why he'd shown up. To be fair, it was a valid question. He wasn't a part of Toman, they barely knew him, and it wasn't any of his business. It was Pahs, which had to be respected.

Takemichi's lips were pursed in a thin line. He walked with an aura of determination, but still seemed nervous as hell. Chills ran up her spine when their eyes met, his blue ones so... haunted.

He stopped just in front of them. "This fight with Moebius. It can't happen."

.... Huh?

"I can't say how I know, but there's something else going on here! Someone else is pulling the strings! Toman can't fight them—agh!"

Pah'd had enough, grabbing a fistful of Takemichi's gelled hair and tossing him to the ground. Kiera cringed. Not for the boy being thrown, but for how Pahs hand must feel now.

Personally he'd look better if he left it unstyled. That, or maybe she just had a thing for messy hair.

"Who do you think you are, telling us what to do! You tell him Pah." Good ol Peh. To an outsider you'd think the two were dating.

"One more word," Pah growled, "and I'll kill you, you piece of shit." Turning away from Takemichi, he continued the conversation where they'd left off. "I hear you Kiera, Draken. I won't rush into anything. Just tell me though, what's our plan of attack?"

"You can't do that! You can't fight with them..It's a trap for Toman!" This boy really did not learn when to give up. She respected him for it, but she respected Pahs wish to deal with this more.

"Takemichi." His bottle blue eyes snapped to her onyx ones. They were so desperate. To be heard. But he needed to hear them too. "You know we can't just leave this. We can't leave it because we owe it to Pah. And Pah owes it to his friends who got hurt. You may think we can just drop it, but we can't. You don't even know us, so don't underestimate what we're capable of."

"But Kiera—!"

Pah walked over then, raising his fist to punch Takemichi. "We can't fight them? But you can't tell us why? Bullshit! Who put my buddy in the hospital!? Who put his girlfriend there!?"

"I don't know!"

"Ok, enough Takemitchy. You've made your case..." Mikey spoke up, stopping the assault. "But the fights still on. It's what Kiera said, you don't know anything about this pal. I said we're gonna fight, so Toman and Moebius are gonna fight."

But still he didn't give up.

Falling to his knees, shaking and in tears, Takemichi begged them. "I can't back down. If you guys fight Moebius, Toman's finished! I just started being friends with you three, I can't lose you guys to this! I refuse to accept the kind of future where Toman is over!"

Kiera narrowed her eyes, watching the boy with a hooded gaze. Here he was again, acting weird. Not the normal Takemichi weird, the kind of weird that told your gut something here wasn't quite right.

Just as Pah was about to continue beating him down, Draken stopped him. "Takemitchy said he wasn't gonna back down. Maybe it's not such a bad idea to look into Moebius a bit more."

"Ken, are you going against Toman?" Mikey asked, eyes narrowed and befallen with shadow.

"What? That isn't what I said at all."

"Funny, cuz that's what I heard."

It was deathly silent as the two glared at each other. Mikey still sat on the bench, Draken overshadowing him. Her eyes flickered from one to the other, not thinking it wise to interrupt. She herself had yet to move from the ground by Mikey's side.

Click. Click. Click. Hearing someone else enter the warehouse, her gaze snapped forward. "Sorry to interrupt your cat fight children."

Dressed in all red, it wasn't hard to make out the words "Shinjuku" and "Moebius" on his uniform. A bright red flag to who he was. He held a comb in his hand, running it through pasty looking hair. Obviously dyed blond, but it hadn't been done well.

Standing up, Kiera walked a little ahead to stand in front of her friends. Looking down her nose at the male, obviously far taller, she said, "Who is this clown?"

"You're funny," he laughed. "All I hear is Moebius this and Moebius that! Personally, I'd prefer it if you kept our name out of your mouth. Except you, little lady. You're free to say mine anytime sweetheart."

"I'd actually describe myself as a bitter old man in a teenage girl's body," Kiera ground, irked and now more than a little pissed off. "Take with that information what you will."

From behind her she heard Pah say, "You...your Osanai."

"Shut your filthy mouth dick cheese, you're far from the person I was talking to."

"You son of a whore!" He snapped, rushing out from behind her and straight for the older teen. That talk before about not rushing seemed to have gone over his head.

Osanai laughed through the cigarette in his mouth. "I'm two years older, that's Mr. Son of a whore to you."

Every punch Pah threw was dodged, and then Osanai threw his own. His fist hit Pah square in the face, immediately knocking him to the ground.

"Thanks for proving your middle school punks. Try changing your stupid name to the Junior High Baby Alliance. See, I heard you guys were gonna pick a fight with us." With a raise of his arm, Osanai snapped his fingers...and in entered his entire gang. "So I thought we'd generously bring the fight to you."

Looking at them all, they were clad in grey uniforms. About half had weapons, and all had nasty looking faces. Kiera was pissed. Pissed and itching for a fight. But most of all, she was starting to worry. Pah hadn't gotten up yet, so Peh went to help him.

"This won't take very long."

"Look how puny they look!"

"'Course Toman's got a girl. Pussy's."

"At least she'd be good to have 'round for one thing HAHA."

"They're all dead."

Osanai was the last to speak. "So, Mikey. This is war."

There was an eerie quiet in the way Mikey stood from his seat. She didn't turn to see him, but the rustle of his ankle bracelets chimed. Every move felt calculated, like a lion stalking its prey. He stopped beside her, knowing she'd move forward if he did too.

Osanai radiated cockiness as he stared the two of them down. Thought he had the upper hand because they were smaller. That attitude of his was really starting to get under her skin. Especially 'cuz she knew he wouldn't be able to back it up.

His crew surrounded the six of them, but Kiera felt no fear. No anxiety. Just strife and exhilaration.

"You had to bring all these guys to deal with a bunch of kids?" Mikey smirked then, tilting his head in mocking. "The great Osanai is just another piece of shit. As expected."

They didn't get the satisfaction of a reaction. Instead, Osanai bent down and cupped his ear. "Hah? Couldn't quite hear ya, ya tiny flea!"

Slowly applauding, Kiera hollered in fake laughter. "Woooow, good one! Real creative! But with all due respect. Which is none. If your gonna act like a silly fucking goose, go jump in the pond and drown."

His brow twitched, quickly getting fed up with her sharp tongue. "You mangy little bitch."

On the sidelines, Takemichi watched everything play out with an unrivaled sense of urgency. His breaths were fast, a trickle of blood running down his nose. No doubt from Pah. Kiera watched him from the corner of her eye, and Osanai tracked her gaze.

"Hey." He snapped, addressing the blond. "Who the hell are you staring starin' at punk?"

Before Takemichi could answer, or Kiera could move, Osanai struck him across the face.

"Tch, think you can look down on me!? I hate that look more than anything else!"

Rearing his fist back to hit Takemichi again, instead it was Kiera's palm. The force of the blow didn't even falter her.

Grinning a sort of deranged grin, with a snap she said, "And there's nothing I hate more than cocky ass bastards like you who can't back up what they're preaching."

"I'll show you just how much I can back up what I say sweetheart. After I beat your spunky fucking ass."

Just as Osanai went to strike her, Pah hooked his arm with his own. "Don't touch her, dipshit. Your fights with me."

"Please!" Takemichi cried, trying to move past her to reach Pah. With a jerk of her elbow he landed ass down on the ground. "You can't fight Moebius!"

His whole heart, his entire being right now, was set on stopping them from fighting. But he refused to give them a reason why, just an outcome of the future no one could predict. What he failed to factor in was neither Kiera, nor Pah, or anyone else in Toman was going to rest until they settled this. After what those bastards had done, they had no choice.

She had no choice.

Kneeling down beside him, they watched Pah fight Osanai — not a single punch landing. Her face was hard, lines wrinkling her forehead where her brows furrowed. In a quiet voice she said to him, "I don't know what you're trying to accomplish, but I don't like it. I followed you before because I don't trust you, Takemitchy. You're hiding something. And you better tell me what before shit gets dangerous.

"Pah isn't weak. And neither is Toman. I will do everything in my goddamn power to keep them that way."

Cuz if everyone is strong... my family won't be hurt.

Fear shook his eyes, gulping down air. Whether it was from Toman's refusal to listen, or her own haunting words, she didn't know. Osanai didn't have a scratch on him, yet Pah suffered.

Peh joined them now, squatting on Takmichi's other side. "Have a little more faith, Hanagaki. Pahs one of Toman's best pure fighters. He doesn't care who he's facing! He'll come, fists a-blazing and knock the whole crew out! He'd never lose to a clown like Osanai."

The boy didn't listen. He tried to stand, only to fumble and hit the ground once more. There was a shaking in his arms, a sadness in his soul.

"Takemitchy," Mikey monotoned, hands in the pockets of his black, flowing pants. "Sit back and watch. This is Pahs fight alone."

So they did. Osanai was quick for someone with his bulk, light on the toes. More-so in mocking than for any practicality. He shuffled back and forth, landing blow after blow. His last punch was a sucker right to the face, breaking Pah's nose and gushing blood all down his front.

From the dead stare in Pah's eyes, iced over, as if they couldn't see; the quivering in his boots, struggling to stand; the lagging in each breath he took. He couldn't keep this up much longer.

Peh could see that too, rushing in head first to help. But Mikey stopped him with a few careful words, reiterating how they were told to sit back and watch. It hurt, it physically hurt her to stand there and do nothing as Pah was beaten half to death.

She knew she couldn't interfere right now, no matter how hard that was. Cuz after all...

"He hasn't given up yet," Mikey explained to Takemichi and Peh, a soft smile curling his lips.

"And he won't lose," Kiera affirmed, crookedly smiling back.

At some point during the fight, Pah had lost his shoes. The bleeding from his nose had yet to cease, and with one final blow he faltered. Stumbling back over himself, collapsing to the ground. Only he hadn't. Mikey caught him, propping the semi-unconscious teen against his shoulder.

Twisting her hands together, lips pursed, Kiera held herself back. Oh so badly did she want to jump right in, just like she had with Kiyomasa. But as badly as she wanted to help, now was still not the time.

Moving away from Takemichi, she stood side by side with Draken. Their shoulders brushed, listening to Pahs mumbled words.

"I..I'm sorr..y Mikey... I'm s..such a p...pussy...I lost..."

Pah, don't you dare apologize. You've done nothing wrong.

"What are you talking about? You didn't lose." A grin cut of blades masked Mikey's face, canines flashing. Moebius hollered and spat harsh words; entertained and outraged he had dared say that. Gently lowering Pah to the floor Mikey stalked forward.

"Now what?" Osanai taunted, smoke curling from his nostrils. The smell of cigarettes was addicting, so Kiera held her breath. "Your turn? I'll have you laid out in ten sec—"

Before he finished Mikey roundhouse kicked him. His foot connected with the taller boy's temple, smashing his skull into the concrete. His hands hadn't even left their home in his pockets.

Smiling to herself, Kiera broke a laugh, echoing through the warehouse. "What was that Osanai? You'll have Mikey beat in ten seconds?"

"Anyone who thought Pah lost..." Mikey addressed the crowd, onyx eyes filled with malevolence. "Come forward. I'll murder you all."

A cool breeze drifted through the broken ceiling, lifting Mikey's hair and rustling her own pink, spiky mess. It eased the heat rising in her neck, decorated in a tight-skinned crop top, cargo pants, and blood-stained boots.

Not much skin showed. Bandages wrapped her arms, twisting up and around her arms. Small smiley faces had been drawn on them, but the ink had bled, giving them a rather grotesque look.

"Toman belongs to me. As long as I have its back... none of us are ever gonna lose." Morphing into a soft smile, Mikey turned to face them. "My bad Kenny, I couldn't resist."

Draken could pretend to be angry all he wanted, but secretly she knew he was amused. "What am I gonna do with you?"

Light sparkled and danced off a brown beer bottle, jaggedly broken in half. Osanai twitched on the ground. Weakly he reached for it, standing with a cry, and aiming to kill.

Kiera's pulse, which had moments ago been calm, spiked. With wide, terrified eyes her breath hitched; muscles tensing to spring into action. Jump in front of Mikey. Do anything to keep him from getting hurt. Draken called the aformentioned's attention, and at that moment, her sight vanished.

Sharp pains throbbed through her skull, no longer standing in the warehouse. Instead it was pitch black, and the rain poured, with fat enough droplets to sting. It didn't matter where she turned, she couldn't move. She was imprisoned where she stood. Faintly she could hear the incessant screaming of one word; one name.

Her image glitched then, like when your video game cuts in and out. Like a nightlight, she could see again, but it was not day. People ran and yelled and threw punch after punch in a sea of black and white. In the thick of it all laid a body, sickly pale and drenched from the relentless downpour. Because of that, she almost didn't spot the blood flowing from it. A torrent of dark, scarlet red.

Kiera's head began to clear, a fog lifting, and she heard the yells. DRAKEN! DRAKEN! DRAK—

The body... it wasn't so unrecognizable anymore.

Quickly as it had come, like being thrown out of a movie and back into reality, she no longer stood in the rain. The sun beat down in easy waves, clouds drifting across the bright blue sky. Osanai was disarmed, knocked out cold by ... Draken.

Tears pricked her eyes then. What was that? It was just like what had happened with Kiyomasa, but that couldn't be right. The pink haired boy hadn't stabbed him. So Draken... it couldn't possibly be a premonition of his death.

Quivering, Kiera did her best to mask the hysteria building in her chest, choking her in its icy grip. Moebius was now under Toman's control, and Osanai was toast. Sirens blared in the distance, and Mikey grabbed her arm with a laugh, permanently breaking her out of whatever trance she'd been under.

"Time to scram Kiera! Let's go Takemichi!" He yelled, his voice impish.

Smiling herself, she said, "Hell yeah! No bacon in here tonight!"

Osanai was still out cold in Draken's grip, and so he called for Moebius to help him get away. Only when Kiera turned around, that wasn't what she saw. Instead it was Pah's knife, plunged deep into Osanai's back.

"I'm..n..not gonna...let you get off tha..at easy Osanai..." Pah growled.

"What the hell did you do, Pah!" Draken yelled, pushing him away.

Everyone stopped in terror. Mikey released his grip on her arm, but no one tore their gaze away from that glinting, motherfucking knife, or how the red of his uniform was mixing with the red of his blood.

With a groan, Pah picked himself up from the floor. But he made no movement to run. With a seize of her shoulders, Kiera screamed for him. "PAH, PAH PLEASE LET'S GO. IT'LL BE OK."

"I'm sorry, guys..." With tears in his eyes and blood down his face, Pah looked back at them all with nothing but sorrow. "Peh my friend, look after the division. I'll..go with the cops."

Without a second to spare, she was running; gunning for their third division captain. He couldn't..he couldn't dare do this to them. They had already lost one founder, she refused to lose another.

"STOP IT, LET'S GO, WE NEED TO GO NOW. TOMAN NEEDS Y—"

Draken cut her yells short, hooking her small frame around an arm and dragging her away. Pah did nothing but look away with sad eyes, his back facing them. Kiera begged him, mentally calling for him to just turn around. To look at her. Aching for any sense of closure.

Not once did his eyes meet hers.

"Draken stop it! We need to help him, we need Pah! Stop stop stop!"

With a grit of his teeth, Draken showed his conviction. "We need to leave, now, before we all get caught!" When they passed Mikey, Draken did the same to him, towing him along. Letting Pah have his wish to be taken in.

No...no no..we can't...I can't leave him!

But it was too late, the cops had him, and Draken had her. There was no way of winning. Dazed, she grabbed onto Draken's sleeve like a child, pretending they were running for fun.

Like a game of tag.

So she didn't let the guilt tear herself apart.

.

.

.

❦

"ℍ𝕒𝕧𝕖 𝕪𝕠𝕦 𝕔𝕠𝕦𝕟𝕥𝕖𝕕 𝕥𝕙𝕖 𝕔𝕣𝕠𝕨𝕤?
𝕎𝕙𝕪 𝕔𝕒𝕟 𝕀 𝕠𝕟𝕝𝕪 𝕖𝕧𝕖𝕣... 𝕤𝕖𝕖 𝕠𝕟𝕖?"

A/N: tag, your it, tag tag your it

Chifuyu: if you put "violently" in front of anything to describe an action it becomes funnier

Draken: violently practices

Takemichi: violently saves people

Baji: violently studies

Mikey: violently sleeps

Smiley: violently boxes

Kiera: violently hits you

Pah: violently murders people

Peh: violently worries about the previous statements