Back to December || Izana Kurokawa

Chapter Seventeen

Izana and Mikey didn't utter a single word as soon as they left the convenience store. None of them wanted to start a conversation. But, they knew to themselves that they needed to address some things. Not just about their gang affairs but also their personal lives.
As much as he hates lowering his pride, Izana decided that he would be the one to start the conversation. Izana sighed as he took a different route from their home.

"Where are you going? Home is on the other way," Mikey asked. Izana flicked his tongue as he increased the speed of his motorbike. He won't be answering a question with an obvious answer.

"Where are you taking me?" Mikey asked once again. Instead of answering, Izana hastens his speed. Not long after, they arrived at the Yokohama Bay—where the fateful showdown between Tenjiku and Toman was.

"Why did you bring me here, Izana?" Mikey asked as he got off Izana's motorbike. "Let's talk, Mikey," Izana replied as he walked away from Mikey, maintaining a safe distance from the shorter man.

"Tell me, Mikey. Why did you challenge Kage Hebi? Why did you fight that gang without your allies?" Izana inquired. He already figured it out. Mikey fought a whole gang all by himself. And frankly, Izana finds it stupid to fight a big delinquent group alone. Yes, Mikey might be strong and invincible, but that doesn't change the fact that he's still a human. And, humans are prone to vulnerability no matter how strong they are.

"What's your business with (y/n)?" Mikey deliberately dodged all of Izana's questions. Izana turned around and looked at Mikey with his bloodshot eyes.

"I am asking you a question, Mikey. Would you mind answering it with a good explanation of your actions and not a rhetorical question?" Izana seriously replied. Mikey smirked.

"You wanna know why?" Mikey sneered. "Because I need to vent. I need to vent out everything because it hurts, Izana!" Mikey screamed as he pointed to his chest. "It hurts in here!" Mikey screamed like a madman. Izana remained silent. He already knew where Mikey's anger was coming from. And, it is not about gangs.

"I-I want you to be happy, Izana. B-but...please d-don't take her away from me," Mikey pleaded as he slowly kneeled down. Izana tightly shut his eyes as his jaw clenched.

"I-if I leave her in your care...will you feel better?" Izana's voice cracked. He didn't know why he asked that stupid question. He also didn't know how he was able to say those words. Just the thought of letting (y/n) go is already hurting him. Izana felt his heart was being ripped into pieces. And it's killing him slowly but surely.

Mikey tried to answer Izana, but no words came out of his mouth. He doesn't want to answer Izana's question. He refused to do so. 'Cuz Mikey knew that one answer from him will ruin everything.

"I-I'm sorry—" Izana's words were cut short.

"I know. I get it. Even if I said that I need (y/n)...you won't give her to me, right?" Mikey said bitterly.

"Because she's not a 'thing' that you can easily give away just because someone needs her," Izana replied coldly. "Get your shit together, Manjiro. You are not you," Izana added.

The two exchanged an icy gaze.

It is indeed that love can be a source of happiness for one. But, love can also cause anger, jealousy, and obsession.

"I know that you already warned me to stay away from (y/n). But that's not something I can do. Not today, not tomorrow, and not in this lifetime." Izana said as he tossed the keys of his motorbike to Mikey before walking away.

"Me stoy quedando sin tiempo, Mikey," Izana's final words before leaving Mikey behind.

Izana found himself standing in front of (y/n)'s apartment, contemplating whether he'll knock or not. He isn't sure why he chose to go to her apartment instead of heading home. Izana thought that maybe running away could help him to rationalize his thoughts. But he's there—right in front of her apartment.

Mikey and Izana's relationship instantly became a ticking bomb. If something triggered it,  the bond they tried to form over the years will instantly vanish and be ruined. Izana knew who and what would be the trigger. Ultimately, Izana decided to leave without bothering to say "hello" or "hi" to (y/n).

"Kakucho, code red. Alert all Tenjiku to stand by for a possible fight." Izana instantly ordered when he called Kakucho.

"Why? What gang will we fight this time?"

"Tokyo Manji Gang."

On the other end of the line, Kakucho sighed out of frustration. Could the Kantou Incident happen again? If it would happen again, most probably, it wasn't about gangs anymore. It would all be about the leaders' personal lives. Kakucho didn't ask further questions and ended the call.

"What is it? What happened?" Ran asked as he tied his long hair into a bun.

"When he called you a few minutes ago, he told you about Kage Hebi shit..." Ran pointed out. "Then their dinner date was canceled...because of 'unforeseen circumstances.'" Rindou chuckled.

"Hey! you don't make fun of—-"

"Kanto Incident might happen again." Kakucho broke the news. The sound of a water bottle dropping on the floor and the television echoed in their room. No one dared to speak nor to react.

"Code Red. Alert all Tenjiku members for a possible fight with another gang." Kakucho relied on Izana's message to the S-62 members.

"Kanto Incident? Y-you mean another fight against Toman is impending?" Ran clarified, which made Kakucho nod."For what reason?" Mucho inquired.

"(Y/n)," Rindou muttered. He knew it. Rindou had already foreseen this scenario the moment he met (y/n). She is like a magical rose that captured the attention of two powerful dragons. And those two dragons are willing to fight neck to neck just to get the rose's love.

"Wh-what do you mean by that, Rindou?" Ran asked as he chuckled lightly. Obviously, he's not taking his brother's  words seriously.

"You know it's wrong to point out innocent people, right?" Shion intervened.

"Stop being oblivious! You know what I mean! Kakucho!" Rindou tried to defend himself and seek Kakucho's help.

"Izana didn't specify the reasons, Rindou," Kakucho calmly replied, making Rindou groan in frustration.

"Y-y'all know that Manjiro likes (y/n) and Izana! Those two are fighting over her!" Rindou shouted. He could already feel the brewing tension. And, for the first time in forever, Rindou is panicking.

"And you also like her!" Ran screamed back, revealing Rindou's secret to the S-62 members and making Rindou shut up. He already had enough of Rindou's temper.

Ran, and everyone knows that (y/n) is the most plausible reason why the Kantou Incident might happen again. However, everyone instinctively rejected that idea. They telepathically agreed to keep (y/n)'s name out of the gang affairs. But, it seems like their telepath message didn't reach Rindou.

Rindou stormed out of the room, fuming mad because of Ran."What the hell was that?" Mochi asked, amused with the turn of events.

"A way to make Rindou shut the fuck up," Ran said as he looked at the door where his brother exited.

"Sorry, bro. But, you need to shut up for a little bit," Ran mentally apologized to Rindou.