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chapter nineteen
ghosts over calvary
I couldn't breathe. My entire body was shaking as I sat down on the edge of the bed, panic blossoming across Tetsu's face as he patted down the pockets of his jeans in an attempt to find his phone. He hadn't told me anything about Daruma Ikka yet, not before he was going to get the rest of Sannoh involved.
"Yeah, Cobra, sorry to interrupt your Saturday night plans or whatever, but we've got a situation." Tetsu began, ducking out into the hallway after finally getting through to Sannoh Rengokai's leader.
Trying to calm my racing heartbeat, I went over everything that I already knew about Daruma Ikka from my pre-travel research.
Fact: Hyuga Ikka used to be apart of a coalition of yakuza gangs around the S.W.O.R.D area, before it was called the S.W.O.R.D District. They were booted from the coalition ( mob? ) after losing a fight to a motorcycle gang, the very gang that Yuki used to be a part of: Mugen.
Fact: Norihisa Hyuga was the youngest of four, and his three older brothers looked twice as threatening as he did. Kentaro and Keiji Hyuga- the two eldest, both twins- had extensive records for assault, property damage and arson. Naoki, the middle brother, had a significantly shorter record but was also currently in the hospital for a kidney transplant following three months in rehab for alcoholism.
Fact: Daruma Ikka was formed by Norihisa after his family was cast out from the yakuza. Hyuga Ikka had a long list of prospects: illegal gambling, prostitution, arms deals, weapons trading, the works. Daruma Ikka's offenses list was shorter: mainly just assault and battery.
Fact: The Internet's resources on Norihisa Hyuga run dry about two years ago, when he was arrested after biting a chunk of flesh out of a man's thigh during a fist fight.
Slowly, I made my way back downstairs, where Tetsu was talking to Noboru. Whatever they knew about Hyuga, I needed to know as well.
"I got here as fast as I could, man. Midori had Murayama over for dinner," Noboru began "as well as the Amamiya's- which may have been my fault- this guy she knew in high school, something Yuken, I think, and an army of emotionally unstable teenagers from Oya."
Tetsu was about to say something when the patio door flew open, Dan charging into the kitchen with Chiharu right behind him. "Where's the fire broski? Is Gillian okay?"
"I'm fine Dan." I managed to say, even though my throat felt like sandpaper and my mouth felt like it had been stuffed with cotton swabs.
Tetsu shook his head "Hyuga's been threatening her. It has something to do with Yuki Morizono."
"I need to know everything that you guys know about Daruma Ikka."
Chiharu glanced at the others. "Shouldn't we wait for Cobra and Yamato?"
