Fists and Lipsticks 2: The Silver Crescent

CHAPTER 48: Interrogations

CHAPTER 48: INTERROGATIONS

So, are your fingers now tingling?

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One month – a month with no chase, no siege, no blood, and no fists…

"So… are your fingers now tingling?"

Rei chuckled upon hearing Shigeo's semi-sarcastic remark. Neatly fixing the sleeves of his business suit, he looked through the antique full-length mirror before him. His father lit up a pipe, afterwards exhaled a cloud of smoke as he sat down on the leather recliner. Yoshifumi Shigeo's physical appearance alone could be quite intimidating – his graying hair, a considerably brawny built for his age, the tobacco between his cyanotic lips, his dark gray coat paired with his rimmed hat, his stern voice, almost menacing to some degree. Rei has been accustomed to his father's relatively-menacing traits. Also, he and his father were alike in many ways – a likeness that was both 'useful' and 'obligatory'.

Turning around to face Shigeo, a grin formed on Rei's lips, "A month is a little too long. I've become a bit impatient, but it doesn't matter now, does it?"

"A month? Ha, eight years you mean… Hmpk," Shigeo grunted. "I told you that your absurd infatuation with that girl will eventually lead you to nowhere."

"It wasn't just infatuation," Rei shunned away and walked towards the wall on which his extensive sword collection was hung. "I love Ayane-chan."

Shigeo exhaled another cloud of smoke, "I fell in love with your mother at the wrong time. She didn't love me, but I was persistent. I took her, married her… had you," Shigeo continued to narrate as nonchalantly as he could. "And now, she's gone."

"She's dead because the Spectra killed her."

"No," Shigeo shook his head. "She started dying the day I forced her to love me back."

"So why are you telling me all about your tragic love story all of a sudden?"

"Well," Shigeo shrugged, putting down his pipe on the tray. "Fathers ought to give fatherly advices."

"I never thought you had that side of you."

"Now you know, so better take my advice," Shigeo stood up from his seat and headed towards the exit door. "This isn't the time to love, son. It's the time to strike back."

"I know."

Heaving a sigh, Rei picked up one of the swords hung on the wall – the platinum-hilted blade covered in black sheath. It was Ayane's favorite from his collection. For eight years, she trained and improved her weaponry skills using the same sword.

Ayane…

"Am I not good enough? Compared to your star… I'm just a speck of dust.

Rei gripped the sword so hard that his fists nearly bled. His hands began shaking tremendously. In his brief reminiscence, all he could remember was Ayane's 'betrayal' – nothing else. He recalled none of those times when he and Ayane would prepare steak together, perform sword dances together, tour around Zürich together, even the day they decided to finally rebuild the new Silver Crescent Gang together.

That moment, Rei realized that it was possible for the mind to override the heart.

Ayane-chan, you taught me how to be unforgiving.

A man in dark pink suit entered the room and bowed before Rei and Shigeo, "Grand Lord Sting, your ride is ready."

"Good," Rei glanced to his wall clock, then to his wristwatch. "We're still way ahead of schedule, but better early than late."