This isn't the norm. When they had their fights or disagreed with each other; when Saikai went too far, it would take a few hours to rekindle as if nothing was lost. But a whole day passed and then some.

Saikai increased security during more vulnerable times, and the two sat quietly whenever gang members were present. Kisha resonated with the indifference, often noticing Saikai's gaze drifting toward his friend.

Saikai has never seen this side of Kisha before, and he didn't know how to deal with it. His best friend isn't acknowledging him, and Saikai finds himself seeking comfort in looking away and keeping his distance. Kisha has always needed his personal space, but this is a whole new level.

Nothing has ever rocked their friendship like this. In just a few minutes, they felt more like strangers. Saikai thought giving Kisha some room would ease the tension, but he now realizes his actions might have gone too far. Kisha isn't the type to be overly sensitive, which makes Saikai feel even guiltier about screwing things up.

Today, Saikai decided to skip classes, just sitting quietly on the bed while Kisha lounged in a recliner across the room.

Head bent, arms crossed, body slumped, Kisha remained for hours with nothing but the slow rising of his chest. To be in thought for that long, or even sleeping in that position worried Saikai.

Was he depressed?

Due to Kisha's personality, he's aware of his stubbornness. Kisha will stand on a needle for a few weeks if it means him being rebellious and not wanting to listen. It will take Saikai to approach, to mend, and then sitting alone is the perfect time. Shifting on his bed, he turns his frame to face Kisha. Drawing one knee up, cupped by demanding arms Saikai stares with a questionable gaze. Kisha's bath still lingered, the room full of a warm nice smell of grapes, now wearing only his night attire.

Kisha is dressed in sweatpants and a tank top, both the same color as his uniform. His demeanor suggests deep emotional distress, but Saikai can't pinpoint the exact emotion. Kisha rarely shows anger; his expressions range from frustration to irritation. He relies on self-control, with forceful aggression and silence being his main modes of communication. When he's silent, Saikai can't determine if Kisha is simply being moody or if there's something more troubling beneath the surface. Despite having known him for a long time, Kisha remains difficult to read, and today his emotional weight feels even heavier. As he twirls his pointer finger at his barefoot, Saikai feels an overwhelming urge to break the silence. Are they really going to sit in this awkwardness any longer?

"Hey, are you still mad, Kisha?" Saikai's voice is low, and innocent, but his nerves ramping up. What reaction will he receive? The same as always, none. Saikai trails his eyes downward, meeting up with the finger that now creates a circle of ash-kissed skin. 

"I mean, can you talk to me?"

Still, no answer. 

A long drawn-out sigh of defeat bellows from pursed lips. Saikai draws his knee closer for comfort. The jittery feeling in his skin forces him to realize how uneasy this situation has become.

They stand with a cold wall, Kisha so readily built between them. The betrayal rush feels unreal.

"Ki--" His voice fades as Kisha shifts in his seat. Kisha stands abruptly, showing no hesitation as he begins to leave the room.

As Kisha walks past Saikai, he intentionally ignores him, but this only fuels a wave of worry within Saikai. In a moment of urgency, Saikai reaches out, gripping Kisha's warm wrist. Kisha halts, yet he keeps his gaze averted, maintaining his independence and making it clear that he won't be swayed by Saikai's distress.

Saikai's head droops in defeat, the freshly curled red strands cascading gently around his face. He closes his eyes tightly, bracing himself for Kisha's reaction, but instead, an uncomfortable silence stretches between them. 

"Please... say something, Kisha," Saikai urges, his voice tinged with worry. The slight withdrawal of Kisha's arm signals a readiness to end their connection without any further words, amplifying the tension in the air.

"Sorry." Kisha's barely audible voice sent a shiver down Saikai's spine. The only other time he could recall hearing Kisha apologize was when they were kids. Back then, Kisha had broken one of his treasured toys, and when Saikai informed their mother, Kisha felt a mix of anger and disappointment. Even though he was hurt, he told Kisha it was important for him to learn how to say sorry. Kisha delivered the words in the harshest tone imaginable before running off, tears streaming down his cheeks. His pride took a hit that day. But now, the sound of his voice feels so different. The expressive child he once knew, who wore his heart on his sleeve, had vanished. It was hard to believe that the vibrant Kisha had turned into this distant figure standing before him.

"Why are you--" Saikai suddenly shifts his gaze, a look of confusion crossing his face as he struggles to grasp what's happening.

"Did it ever occur to you?" Kisha cuts him off once more, yanking his arm from Saikai's hold. He begins walking towards the door, leaving Saikai with his arm still extended and frozen.

Saikai looks into space, dumbfounded, eyes darting back and forth in shock. Sorry? Is that all it takes? Yanking his hand back, his overthinking betraying him, Saikai rapidly turns on the bed now facing the back of Kisha.

Kisha opens the door and sees a familiar, shorter figure standing in front of him. The sudden movement startles the person. Tanned, with short jet-black hair, the guy waves cheerfully. Kisha feels an irritating urge to punch that cheerful greeting away.

Now, in the presence of his leaders, the newcomer's face lights up. He bows, releasing a small sigh of relief. Kisha merely raises his hand, rubbing the back of it against the male's cheek.

A greeting versus a submission.

"Why are you here?" Kisha asks.

"Oh, Boss Saikai called for me! It's really nice to see you, boss." The man stands up, offering a bright smile, his eyes gently closed in warmth, as he waits for Kisha to invite him in.

Yet, despite his cheerful demeanor, the slight snarl from Kisha doesn't match his welcoming vibe. Kisha's voice holds an edge as he speaks, "I won't repeat myself." 

The man winces at the tone, instinctively bowing his head. A small whine escapes him as he processes what must have triggered this reaction. He remains still until Kisha's warm hand swipes across his cheek again. Confused by the mixed signals, he leans into his touch, hoping Kisha will ease up on him.

"I called for him. Let him in," Saikai commands, bringing their intense exchange to a close. Kisha steps aside, and the man strides purposefully into the room, directing all his energy toward Saikai. He collapses forward, arms wide open, ready to embrace him.

They collide, knocking them both on the bed. The air pushes from his frame and suddenly sends a coughing fit as Saikai tries to speak through it.

"Dammit..." Cough. "You always do..." Cough. "That... Get down." Cough. Cough.

The man shifts his weight, a wince crossing his face as he notices Saikai's pain. He chooses to sit beside Saikai, offering a warm smile to lift his spirits. His heart aches for his friends; he misses them dearly. With a schedule so different from theirs, he often feels the weight of their absence, only able to connect during group meetings or whenever Kisha calls them together.

"I'm glad I get to be with you guys by myself. I have been craving being close to my boss since the meetup."

"Of course. He's like a big brother to you after all." Saikai reaches out digits spread and runs a heavy path through the male's strands. The leaning into his touch only forces him to pet harder.

"Still as loving as always, Ralp." Saikai plays with the tip of his ear.

"B-but I came for something..." Ralp's eyes flutter shut, and his voice fades as he gets lost in a blissful trance. He can't help but lean into the ear play; it's his favorite thing. His ears are super sensitive, and a small groan slips from his lips while his cheeks start to blush. It feels amazing. The tingling sensation runs down the side of his face, making his foot twitch unexpectedly.

"You're right." Saikai sounds disappointed. Just as it begins it ends, Ralp takes in a deep breath to calm rushing emotions. Pure joy.

"Let's talk about something. Kisha, you should stay. I've called Ralp because he has something to tell you."

Kisha takes a small breath, closing the door and leaning against it, feeling the weight of the moment. He knows Saikai well, aware of the games he plays and the tension that lingers in the air. Sometimes, Kisha feels that confronting Saikai might be more necessary than simply turning a blind eye. He doesn't want to be in this situation, but he understands the dynamics of their roles—Saikai is still his boss, and that demands a level of respect.

However, it's hard to ignore how Saikai often seizes on any discomfort, making the atmosphere even more challenging. The unexpected arrival of Ralp adds to the stress; Kisha can't help but feel a pang of dislike for him. He looks at Ralp's frail form, contemplating the consequences for his future punishment.

Yes, Saikai has authority overall, but there remains a special few only Kisha controls. His cold stare lands in Ralp's who only avertes his gaze in respect before bouncing back to glance at Kisha and then away again. He's hoping Kisha won't approach him, but he knows better. There are more authoritative interactions between them than quiet ones. The others always said it was because Ralp was weak.

The urgency in Saikai's tone over the phone forced Ralp's forgetfulness. He didn't even send a heads-up text. Saikai spoke as if something bad had happened, even on the verge of shedding tears. Ralp's heart is too big and in the end, he succumbed to it only to find out that it was fake. Saikai's always trying to be a good actor, but this will now get Ralp in more trouble than he bargained for.

"Ralp, so far these are the symptoms." Saikai's tone dips dramatically and begins to knock his head mockingly. 

"Being unable to hurt someone who is clearly being a disrespectful piece of shit. That little display goes against your pride and stuck-up personality. Given how much of a hardass you are... You start to think about them sexually but try to act like you're too cool for it because you're clearly dumb and pretend we can't see it. Being too conscious of the other person even though none of that is remotely normal. It just makes you look like a creep." The entire time, Saikai is staring at Kisha with a glare on his face. 

Ralp chuckles lightly as he watches the two interact while Saikai reacts with an eye roll. Although Ralp doesn't fully grasp the situation, he can see that Saikai is somewhat upset as he tries to explain himself. Ralp raises his hand and slaps it against his forehead, feigning confusion over what he has just heard. To some extent, this worked; Saikai's dumbfounded expression turns into a happy nod as if Ralp understands him on a deeper level and they are in agreement. From Kisha's perspective, it seems like both of them are just talking nonsense.

"Sounds like someone is attracted to someone?" Ralp decides carefully on his word choices. "You're... giving up your hoe-ish ways?"

"The fuck is hoe-ish ways? Nevermind." Saikai knocks his head in Kisha's direction which makes Ralp follow awkwardly. "I'm talking about... hiiimmm."

"Wait... Boss, it's... you...?" Ralp's mouth parts, eyebrows furrowing. He just assumed the one Saikai was talking about was a complete asshole. It's a good thing he had chosen to keep that idea mental. If Kisha heard him think of him so lowly then Ralp would be slaughtered. The secondhand embarrassment to find out it was Kisha! He couldn't even look in Kisha's direction for a moment. 

Lowering his head suddenly, Ralp reaches out, playing with the bed sheets a little. His peak in submissive energy, Kisha picks up and doesn't hesitate to react. His eyes dance around Ralp interested in what he's seeing. Ralp often exhibits moments where he seeks to be dominated because he's guilty of something and Kisha never ignores a moment. These moments are an ego booster.  

Ralp has recently entered the world of gang life, but he isn't a stranger to Kisha. Their relationship dates back to before he took on the role of his boss, and their shared history adds layers of complexity to their dynamic. As time passes, Ralp finds himself increasingly perplexed by Kisha's intentions and the messages he conveys. Often, he feels like he is walking on eggshells, landing in situations where the only way out is to submit to his authority. 

Apologizing has become his go-to response, a habit he falls back on even when he knows deep down that he has valid points to make. This pattern has led Ralp to struggle with his self-confidence, and he rarely asserts his beliefs. It's a cycle that keeps him trapped in a state of uncertainty, torn between his past connection to Kisha and his present circumstances within the gang. 

He puts himself lower in stature beneath Kisha's excited stare, showing just how beneath Kisha he is. Ralp's the perfect candidate for Kisha's control. Unraveling his arms, Kisha approaches Ralp, extended hand placed at the back of his head he pushes Ralp into the mattress aggressively slow. The answers to Saikai's fucked up ideas can wait. Kisha's in a mood that needs to be corrected for him to feel less shitty.

Ralp put up no fight, dipping his posture obediently to Kisha's warm palm. The heavy hand dominating him flushes his face with satisfaction and Ralp feels the urge to curl up. It's his time to shine. Get Kisha to realize how much control he has and please Ralp's willing to show. Eyes shut tight, Ralp grips the blanket in rehearsed fear.

"Ralp," Kisha whispers.

"Anything, Boss." A weak, unsure, broken voice calls back.

"Do it right..."

"Of course." Ralp pushes upward, hesitantly crawling until his head bumps Kisha's knee. He then slowly raises his frame, rubbing his face against Kisha's thigh before resting the side of his head on Kisha's waist. Sitting like a human dog on his knees, Ralp nearly whines but Saikai's voice cuts their interaction short. The satisfied stare Kisha gives, as Ralp looks into him with an intoxicating gaze. 

"Stop bullying Ralp. You're just enjoying giving us all a headache. Don't make him whine, Kisha. He's not even your company."

Saikai reaches out, grabbing hold of Ralp's arm before yanking him hard into the comfort of his space. Ralp falls back, sitting on his butt close to Saikai as Saikai wraps his arm around Ralp's torso to protect him in an embrace that tells Kisha he's claiming Ralp instead. Seeing him so fearful is Kisha's enjoyment, but Saikai doesn't like it. Ralp often creeps around Kisha. He hopes Ralp never gets scolded and his leader-pleasing skills are so sacrificial that he's sure Ralp will cut off his arm if Kisha orders him to.

"Just explain it, Ralp. Don't mind him."

"Uhmm..." Ralp hesitates, feeling the weight of the moment. He's still riding the wave of energy he received from Kisha, and it brought him a sense of joy. Kisha's ice-blue eyes seem to reassure him, conveying that he's on the right track in his submitting play, and that validation means the world to Ralp.

"Tell him. So he can move on and get this under control."

Saikai reaches over Ralp's shoulder, cupping his face before he brings his head up to face Kisha. It's always appropriate to look people in the eye whenever they speak to them. This is a sign of respect and basic human knowledge. One day, Ralp will be this confident, even if Saikai needs to beat it in him.

"You've met someone very special to you're changing..." Ralp tries to speak through his face being squashed. Though his head is now up, his eyes remain off to one side. The stare Kisha's giving him he can feel it without even looking-- you better not look. Ralp's stuck between listening to Saikai and respecting Kisha as his leader. Both stand at different hills and there's one he'd listen to more than the other. 

"Doesn't matter if it's a stranger. It's not up to you... It's just a curse. Whoever he is, it'll lead to a world of pain. I'd get far away from him before you can't."

"A curse?" Saikai asks, confused.

"Yeah. It's inevitable once you've encountered those kinds of people. You can't run from them if you're too close. They're like... something that's..." Ralp sighs as Saikai releases his face.

Kisha turns away from the words, looking off to his side of the room. Bullshit. Things like that are rare, only told in old stories. They never apply to real life. Old tribal family members will often speak about these blessings and call them the gift of heaven. Meeting the earthly gods. It grants a life of prosperity, love, and fruitfulness. Never will they be alone if they have each other. Fantasies that many tribal members looked into, but it's a rare thing to find. An addiction to not being alone is the opposite of what Kisha truly wants. Billions of people resided on earth, who's to say that person is near?

Ralp telling him he's tied to some scrawny brunette? Sounds like a curse. Kisha blinks, taking in a heavy breath. His courage of foul words only grants because he isn't in Crescent's face. A natural submission forces Kisha otherwise and he knows Ralp speaks some truth. The more he stays away from Crescent, the better he has his thoughts.

Saikai looks over to Kisha who had enough of what he's being told. He turns on his heels, making way until he exits the room with a heavy door slam. He's upset by the answer, but he needs to hear it. It's important. It also scares Saikai. When these things begin to unfold will that mean he'll lose Kisha eventually?

Saikai's attention now turns to Ralp. He smiles at him, as Ralp shrugs in return.

"It'll get worse before it gets better, boss Saikai."

"With a person like Kisha... It might not get better at all." Saikai whispers back. Ralp can see how serious Saikai's facial expression is. He knows he's worried about Kisha, but this is something that Saikai will have a hard time going against. 

A soft knock suddenly hit the door, drawing both their attentions as the stiff air within the room began to dissipate. Saikai sighs. He made sure to tell every member not to bother them for a few hours while they were in discussion. Looks like the announcement skipped one idiot.

Tilted head, he rubs his cheek against his shoulder for a quick scratch.

"Come in."

The door flings open, and a tall, medium-built man comes rushing in. He stops hard, shoes clapping on the ground before a thick rug placed near the door catches the tip of his floppy shoes. Saikai watches as the male's weight falls forward and he violently stumbles until he collides stomach-first into the edge of the bed.

In pain, groaning, but waving a piece of paper around frantically, determined. Saikai nearly burst into laughter, with Ralp worried he may have been hurt. He hesitates to help because the male is just a goon. In Saikai's gang, goons are left to experience pain without acknowledgment because Saikai refuses to let any of them believe that they can be his friend.

"Stop waving that piece of paper, idiot! Do I look like a cat?" Saikai's laughter turns into sudden irritation.

"No! Boss! Vandalism." The man slams the paper down on the bed.

"Yesterday night, D.A.'s truck! They exploded and the money inside burned they also took some. They're saying we did it!"

Saikai's heart suddenly drops into his stomach, and his eyes venture at the crumpled poster. Was an attack orchestrated without his knowledge? Had a few of the members found themselves consumed with greed? However, D.A.'s property is only in their territory, and the leader often does not disclose his possessions to everyone.

"Does Kisha know?"

"Not that I know of..."

"But he just left..." Saikai tries to speak, but his mind drifts towards the image.

A bold, enhanced picture captured the moment a perpetrator stared directly into the camera, surrounded by words he had not read yet. Above the culprit's image, large black letters spell out the word "WANTED." A spotlight illuminated the figure, whose brown hair was hidden beneath a black cap... those golden eyes.

"He's not a part of our gang..."

((A/N

Ralp's information isn't so pleasant as it's the last thing Kisha wants to hear.

Crescent has officially made it on the Wanted list, but who's wanted list?

Don't be afraid to tell me what you think by commenting.❤️❤️

Drop a vote if you like. 👍👍))