𝕳𝖎𝖘 𝕺𝖇𝖘𝖊𝖘𝖘𝖎𝖔𝖓 ||ᴀᴍʙᴡ

𝟱.𝟱

3rd POV

(Anytime We're With Raiji Pov Or 3rd Pov WIth Raiji Dialogue They're Speaking In Japanese)

"You actually let her go," Raiji commented, giving a small clap. "This is the first time I've seen you do that. Usually, you make them stay with you until they're broken."

"Shut up," Kenji cursed.

"Don't I deserve a thank you?" Raiji said, circling the room.

Kenji eyed him, puzzled by Raiji's sudden change in demeanor. He raised an eyebrow. "For what exactly?"

"Not telling Father about our little Caribbean princess."

Kenji narrowed his eyes, shooting Raiji a deadly glare.

"Whoa, calm down! If looks could kill, you'd be a real weapon right now," Raiji exclaimed, laughing. "Don't worry, I would never betray you. You're my little brother; I can't bear for you to be angry with me."

"Shut up and prepare to move to the main house. There's going to be a war with the Sumiyoshi-ka," Kenji grunted.

Raiji rolled his eyes. He had never cared much for the group, which was why their father had skipped him and made Kenji the head. During his teenage years, Raiji had done everything in his power to anger their father—sleeping with both men and women in the house, using drugs, and ultimately leading to his father disowning him. Kenji had to plead with their father not to disown Raiji; instead, their father made Kenji the next successor.

As a younger boy, Kenji had held a grudge against Raiji for having to fill the void left by his brother's reckless behavior. If it hadn't been for Raiji, Kenji wouldn't have had to endure the harsh training that prepared him for leadership. While Raiji enjoyed his teenage years, Kenji was subjected to intense training and learning, missing out on the typical childhood experiences other kids had. All he knew was violence and bloodshed.

Kenji was 13 and Raiji was 16 when Raiji began to act out. At that tender age, Kenji was being prepared to take over the group. He took his first life then. With their father and his men watching, he was placed in a cage with a man and forced to fight to the death. In the second round, they were given weapons. The older man, 20 years old, had more muscle and strength than Kenji, so he had to rely on his speed and agility. He came close to death multiple times but ultimately managed to subdue the older man and stabbed him in the neck. The blood sprayed onto Kenji's face, and he would never forget the look on the man's face as life slipped away from him.

Their father and the men shouted in praise, boasting about how his 13-year-old son had taken down someone older and bigger. That was the beginning of young Kenji's harsh new reality.

After his first kill, their father would carry him whenever they went out. What Kenji witnessed no child should have to endure. He was molded into the perfect leader, but this was something Kenji would forever hold against his brother. If it weren't for him, Kenji might have had a different outcome—at least a childhood. But deep down, he knew that with their father's nature, he would still face certain challenges; he simply wished for a different experience.

After his first kill, things didn't get easier, but after a few more, Kenji accepted it. He no longer hated his brother for abandoning his role; he simply held a grudge. With each kill, it became easier; he grew numb to the screams, the terror, and the bloodshed. Eventually, he began to enjoy it. The way his victims looked into his eyes and pleaded for mercy, their gut-wrenching screams, the beautiful red blood painting the perfect canvas—these moments became his twisted definition of perfection, especially in their father's eyes, who was proud of what Kenji had become.

Meanwhile, Raiji drifted in and out of their lives. He would often leave for weeks, then months. Each time he returned, he could see Kenji drifting further away from his humanity. He felt terrible, knowing he was not fit for the role. Raiji understood his brother was stronger and could endure more than he could. He never realized he was the last thread of humanity that Kenji clung to. Kenji often looked forward to going home just to spend time with Raiji. But as they both grew older and Raiji became more scarce, that changed. Kenji realized that in this world, it was just him alone. He let go of his humanity and embraced the darkness that swallowed him whole.

Now that they were older, Raiji had been around his younger brother more often. However, he feared it was too late; Kenji had spiraled too far. Yet, he noticed a slight change in him—could that Caribbean girl be the one to change his brother? He had always known of Kenji's possessive and obsessive nature. Once something caught his eye, Kenji would never let it go until it deteriorated. Raiji was slightly shocked that Kenji had let her go. Hearing about the upcoming war made Raiji realize he might have sent her away to protect her. Maybe there was hope after all.

At this point, Raiji knew his father had lost all hope for him. Nowadays, their father only tolerated him. He typically engaged in brief arguments, but lately, he either ignored him or maintained minimal dialogue.

The shift in their father's attitude toward Raiji began when he was 16. Their father caught him in bed with one of his classmates, someone he had developed feelings for. After that, their father hurled unpleasant insults at him and would often beat him for being an "abomination." He tried to "correct" Raiji by locking him in rooms with multiple women, hoping they would change him. Even though Raiji wasn't gay, he liked both men and women, but their father couldn't accept his desire for men. He called it a phase and insisted he would beat it out of him, claiming Raiji would grow out of it.

Eventually, Raiji decided to run away. He often slept in brothels, engaging in pleasure with both men and women, knowing this would infuriate their father. He indulged in drugs and alcohol, relishing the chaos it would bring.

However, he didn't care; he had had enough of his father's ways and wanted to live his life for himself. His father deemed him unfit to be the heir and stripped him of the title.

Kenji, unaware of this, simply thought his brother was acting out, and this hatefulness and grudge stemmed from that moment.

Their mother had passed away when Kenji was five and Raiji was eight, leaving them with few memories of her. They grew up without a mother figure in their household.

"I'm pretty sure Oto-san wouldn't mind if I got caught up in it and died," Raiji muttered.

Kenji peered at him and shook his head. As much as he held a small grudge against his brother, he would never let anything happen to him; he would protect him.

"Shut up and get there within two hours," Kenji spat.

"Yeah, yeah, who's the older brother here?" Raiji teased.

"I'm not joking, Raiji. I expect to see you there. Stay off the streets, pack what you have to, and come home," Kenji insisted.

"Home, huh?" Raiji muttered softly. "That place never felt like home in the first place." But Kenji caught his words.

"You don't have to be around Oto-san. Avoid him for all I care, but I need you to be safe," Kenji said as he walked closer, placing a hand on Raiji's head.

"When did you get so mature, huh? You're even taller than me now," Raiji commented.

"Shut up," Kenji replied, rolling his eyes.

"You used to be such a little thing," Raiji said, holding out his hand.

"Enough, Raiji. Go," Kenji nearly shouted.

"Fine, I'm going," Raiji said, patting Kenji's head before turning to leave.

Kenji exhaled and sank back down in his chair, covering his face with his hand. I wonder if she's okay, he thought. Is she mad at me for not saying goodbye? No, she wanted to leave; if anything, she's probably happy to be going home. This is fine. This way, I can act without consequences. I don't have to worry about her getting caught up in this.

____________
End Of Chapter
I Was Suppose To Write A Chapter For "The Last Chapter" However I Got Inspired To Write For This.

So This Book Will Be Done In Parts After Part 1 Ends Which Will Be Around Chapter 6.5 Part 2 Will Focus On Leila's POV.

How Are You Guys Liking It So Far??