Chihiro Hanagaki

Chapter 17

'Where are you?' 'Please answer me!' 'Kakucho!' 'I won't stop spamming you until you reply!' Kakucho forgot just how stubborn Chihiro could be. Even as kids she refused to let things go until you were straight with her. He sighed in his bed knowing that he couldn't just keep ignoring her. After fifty missed calls and over a dozen texts, he knew he had to appease her. *Ring Ring*

Kakucho didn't have to look at the contact to know who it was. Instead of ignoring it, he answered, "Hello?" "You! You! You IDIOT!" Chihiro's voice boomed on the other line. Kakucho winced as Chihiro continued ranting, "How could you leave me on read?! Why have you been ignoring my calls too?! Explain!!" Kakucho gave an exasperated laugh, "You never change." He could imagine her puffy face even now.

"I'm serious Kakucho," Chihiro muttered. He glanced over at the bunny doll, "I know. I have been dodging your calls." He could hear Hibiki telling her it was a bad idea in the background. Kakucho had never personally met Hibiki, but he knew how close the two girls were. Chihiro would always talk about Hibiki when they were kids. The only time he met her was during the festival twelve years ago.

"You know she's right. I did try to kill you Chihiro," Kakucho told her. He felt sick to his stomach after the words left his mouth. "I know you did. Who ordered you to kill me?! Was it Kisaki?" she pressed. Kakucho's whole body went rigid, 'How did she?!' Chihiro supplied, "Hinata's brother is a detective. He told us everything about it." Kakucho knew a little bit about Hinata Tachibana's little brother Naoto. Kisaki wanted Naoto's sister killed for some reason.

Kisaki never went into detail as to why he wanted Hinata, Takemichi, or Chihiro dead. He assumed the only ones who would know that answer would be Kisaki and Hanma. "Yes, you're correct. Kisaki did want me to kill you," he confirmed. "I'm guessing he didn't tell you why." she surmised. Kakucho confirmed her assumption as well. "Did he do anything to you when you failed to kill me?" she asked.

Kakucho was hesitant to go into detail on just what Kisaki did to him. "Tell me Kakucho." Chihiro insisted. Kakucho sighed, "He severely beat me." Chihiro fell silent on the other line. He could only guess how she was reacting. Chihiro was the type to defend her friends and family fiercely. If Chihiro still considered him anything. "I'm gonna kill that bastard!" Chihiro hissed. Kakcuho's eyes went wide at her rage-filled words. He honestly hadn't expected anything, but resentment from her.

"I'll fix this Kakucho," Chihiro said before hanging up.

*Hibiki's apartment*

Hibiki sat next to Chihiro as she glared at the wall. "Talk to me," Hibiki said, leaning against her shoulder. "I feel so angry....But this kind of anger scares me..." she muttered. Tears of frustration began to stream down her face. Hibiki had a distant look in her eye, "Yeah...that kind of anger scares me too." The two sat in Hibiki's room in silence.

*October 20th, 2017*

Naoto asked Takemichi and Chihiro to meet him at the Tokyo Detention Center. They waited for Naoto for a good 30 minutes before he arrived. "Sorry to keep you two waiting." Naoto apologized. "I got worried when I didn't hear anything back from you," Takemichi said. Naoto apologized once more. "Anyway, is there a reason you wanted to meet here?" Takemichi asked. Naoto explains that Draken is no longer in Toman, but is not dead; instead, he is on death row.

They meet Draken in a visitation booth inside the detention center. Draken eyes the two as he enters and sits down, "It's been a while, Takemichi. Chihiro. You guys look well." Chihiro is shocked at how Draken is a former shell of what he used to be. His eyes looked slightly sunken and void of the fire they once had. He looked older than a twenty-seven-year-old should look. Even his smile seemed kind of forced.