High & Low Finale

17th Act: The Labyrinth

"Dan, Tettsu help them down from there. Be careful of the traps." Cobra said (referring to Ukyo and Sakyo who were still hanging.) Hoodlum Squad, Rocky, Takeshi, and Murayama had arrived in the Daruma Ikka district. They have noticed the strange maze (if maze you would call it), the two members of Daruma Ikka hanging and footsteps at the sandy ground.

Yamato took a closer look at the footsteps that were leading inside the maze. "Seems that Hyuga had already entered." he notified the rest and scanned the entrance. Chiharu nodded as he was walking behind him.

"Be on guard! Let's go!" Cobra said. Before passing through the entrance he glanced at Kira. Would "that punk" bring them more trouble if she went with them or would be more dangerous to leave her out?

But Kira broke his thoughts "I'm coming with you!" she half yelled (making clear that she wouldn't stay behind). Cobra didn't react at all he turned and walked into the maze. Telling her not too, could bring more danger. "That punk" could easily turn the safest place in a war zone. So if she was close to him, at least he could keep an eye.

Yamato and Chiharu followed Cobra inside. Seconds later the same did the rest. At first, the stayed as a team. It was getting darker, and walking inside the maze was a bigger issue. They come across with some traps, that wasn't even visible. They slowly noticed that it wasn't a maze. There was only one entrance and it was surely leading in one exit.

"It's not a Maze," Kira mumbled as she slowly understood what they were facing.

Cobra paused. Kira stepped behind him. He didn't turn to face her. He only moved his face a few inches to the right. "Explain?" he asked with a monotone. He had also noticed that the odd design of that place.

"It's like a unicursal Maze, like a Labyrinth. It doesn't have interconnected passages meant to be a challenge to navigate from start to end. We only have followed one path. It's like we will go through things until reaching the end." she explained.

Murayama looked at her "The end for us will be finding Hyuga?"

Kira nodded "Exactly. Usually, Labyrinths are a tool for meditation and spiritual growth. So, if you manage to pass through them you gain some extra power. But here it's set surely for another aim."

And Kira was right. This maze wasn't there to get them lost or anything. It seemed to be there for another reason. 'For once that punk was right.' Cobra acknowledged.

"One more reason to be extra careful!" Yamato added.

While all of them were trying to pass through the maze and find Hyuga. Yusuke arrived at the Daruma Ikka region. Even if Naomi explaining (in her best way) how Kira was connected with Sannoh Rengokai. He still saw them as bad news. And today's extenuating circumstance sounded really nasty and risky. He met with Dan and Tettsu (who had already helped Ukyo and Sakyo down.)

"Where are the rest?" he asked worried looking at the odd shape maze in front of him.

Tettsu pointed at the maze "They are already in."

He looked around trying to find an opening. But the entrance was already closed. "How did they get in?"

"From here," Dan answered pointing at the west side of the maze. "But you cannot pass through. The entrance is shut down."

"There should be a way!" Yusuke said loudly as he runs to the west part of the maze to find a way in.

Yusuke went on looking for a way to get inside.