Tides Of Protomis XXII(22)

Hashimoto Jirou- Son of the Syndicate

Morning in the Shima ward. All was seemingly normal, but there were telltale signs that wasn’t the case. The Inferno but a few days before, and the attack on Santa Maria had begun to make those in the shima ward and beyond fearful, Paranoid. What if there’d be another attack? Would it be here next? Why hasn’t the government found the ones responsible yet? What were their motives? Between those on the street, the internet, and television alike, these questions were asked again and again. Perhaps it wasn’t an exaggeration to say that the entire nation was on edge. Maybe, one might say, the earth. Only three years after the third world war, and it looked like issues had popped up in their nations once more.

Though, even so, the country had to operate nonetheless. So for some, things kept going, as usual, the crowds of people walked to their respective schools, workplaces, and whatnot, And, for a time all seemed normal… At the least, until a certain orange-haired student rushed down the street, a bag slung over his shoulder and a slice of toast in his mouth. Though, things like this were something the boy, Akashi Ketamura, was known for.

“Oh Man- Oh man, I'm gonna be late!! This is bad!”

He continued his dash around the street, dodging around, and, even hitting some people, drawing yells from the people who were less than happy about that. And, as he continued through the streets, he breezed past a group of men, seemingly in the same age range that stood standing between one of the many buildings on the street. Wearing the very same uniform as him, a noticeable difference, however, is that they were all unbuttoned, revealing the white shirts underneath, and somewhat wrinkled. The first to notice him was a youth with wild, brown hair that reached his shoulders. As he rushed by, he followed his disappearing form with his eyes. Until he got far enough away, he turned his gaze forward, not bothering to follow anymore.

“Hm. that was Ketamura wasn't it?”

Just beside him, A well-built, white-haired member of this group, his angular jaw covered in scars, moved his purple orbs toward the brown-haired one, who was known as Kodomo Tadashi in response to his comment. He raised an eyebrow as he leaned onto the wall.

“Ketamura?”

“One of Corde's friends… he goes to our school y’know.”

“Hey, we’re barely ever there in the first place. Not like I’m gonna know who everyone is.”

Tadashi paused for a moment, before nodding in agreement.

“Good point.”

“Looking at the time, I'm guessing he's late or something… but why is he doing all this running with that toast. You'd have to be a dumbass to do something like that”

“I guess that's what he is then…”

While they began to stand in silence, once more, one of their members brought their hands across the display of their screen. One, in particular, wearing a pair of glasses, inched closer as he took note of something.

“Kenzo, we got an issue… Those guys from Enyama are shaking guys from the school down…”

It was now that the white-haired one, Ueda Kenzo, glanced at his friends.

“They must be gettin’ bold cause they know Corde’s out of town.”

As the man with the spectacles spoke, Kenzo began to turn his gaze away.

“That so…”

His hand drifted toward his chin, as he debated their next course of action.

“Alright, I say we show them that, Corde or not, they’d better learn who they’re messing with… Let’s move!”

Now, they began to walk further into the alley, toward the street at the other end.

Elsewhere, Ketamura continued to run on the sidewalk, dodging people as he went along. He was mostly focused, only occasionally glancing to the side… At least, until he noticed something, he caught a glimpse of yet another alley, with another interesting scene within it… Which seemed to be strangely common today. But he did not dwell on that as he took note of a rather muscular boy, wearing a t-shirt walking deeper within. Ketamura stopped in his tracks. Soon after, walking backward, to put his gaze on him once more.

“Hold on a minute… who is that?”

The youth looked to be about 5’10, around Arctaius’ height. His white locks covered some of his face, and reached down to his shoulders at the back of his head, Only reaching his ears on the side. His yellow orbs were in plain sight as he opened his eyes. His appearance would tip most people who’d been in the area for a while off to who he was, Jirou Hashimoto, The 9th demon Pillar, and the son of the man who was dubbed the Yuugure No Omo, Lord of the dusk. The chairman of the Hashimoto-Kai yakuza.

He silently continued his walk, as he glanced around as if he were searching for something.

“I know one thing, he better be here…”

Ketamura, unwilling to be left behind, began to follow, treading lightly through the alley, as to not alert him. Something that seemed to be somewhat successful, considering he walked as he had before.

“He’d best not be lying about knowing where Corde was. We were supposed to fight some days ago- but he disappeared after an attack near him... I checked his apartment building- but it was burnt down… Sucks for him. But that’s beside the point. This Tsumotsu…Member of the silver lions, Eh… Heard those guys were all over the world during world war 3. He may really know where he is.”

Now, as he reached the end of the alley, stopping as he reached the sidewalk. Something that caught the attention of those walking around him, many of who began to steer clear. Though it wasn’t something he worried about, rather, he began to glance around once more, searching for what felt like minutes. But, even then, a bust, he sighed as he started walking once more.

“At least I was able to get my dad's guys to stop following me for once.”

As Jirou walked, Ketamura followed. He kept his gaze on Jirou until he finally stopped walking. Ketamura did the same, and, as he looked deeper within, he took notice of somebody else standing within. An older man with a head of jet black hair stood there. His sharp chin was covered with a small beard, at the very front. His attire was rather formal, for what looked to just be a meeting on the street, a crisp black three-piece suit with a black tie wrapped around his neck. What caught Ketamura’s attention the most, however, was the revolver on his hip, something he hadn’t noticed when he first met him. Though, being military, it wasn't too out of the ordinary.

“It’s that guy, Koeda Tsumotsu… The one we met after Watanabe… What are these two doing meeting up?”

Though he formerly stood leaned against the wall, as Jirou stopped in front of him, he stood up straight.

“Hashimoto-San… How about we skip the pleasantries, and get to the point. Now, As you’ve stated, and we’ve seen. You and Corde have been fighting each other for quite a bit, and are both equal in terms of power.”

Jirou nodded.

“That is correct.”

Tsumotsu casually strode over to Jirou, stopping a few feet away from him.

“I’m sure you’re interested in the causes of his disappearance… To start with, let's discuss the root causes of the shima inferno… It was a direct attempt to reach arctaius by a group that calls themselves the Kaemerge Empire… An attempt to take his life- he left the country in order to pursue them.”

Jirou’s expression remained unchanged, save for a slight grimace, his gaze went away from Tsumotsu.

“He left the country, without as much as a Notification? Dammit… I Still consider him to be my only equal- he and the other demon pillars might be the only good opponents around here, and with how hard to find most of them are, this is an issue.”

Tsumotsu shoved his hands into his pocket, as he began speaking once again.

“That is certainly possible- which is part of the reason I was sent here. The Kaemerge may try to get you on their side...I can take you to Corde…”

Now he was interested, Jirou’s gaze fell back onto the soldier.

“That so? Alright then, but first, What is Corde's status?”

“He’s Heavily injured-- but he’ll live… He battled an opponent named “Minoru Ito”. One of the 4 “Apostles”. Leaders of the organization… to my understanding not only he- but 3 others who are comparable to you both in power struggled against him as well...He was not at full capacity.”

Jirou’s eyes widened, as a look of surprise painted his face, he focused intently on Tsumotsu.

“What?! But- How??”

He’d known for quite a while that there were people above him on the totem pole, but he beat Corde, and three guys just like em’ all at once? And given how they had the same rank, could they all be as strong as the one they fought? His silence continued, as he remembered the reports he saw concerning the battle. Much of the city had been demolished in one explosion, the damages only going further and further out after that… It became clear to him, this was an enemy he couldn’t take lightly, especially if they attempted to make their way here. Now, as he cleared his mind, he returned to his standard poker face.

“When are we leaving?”

“Tomorrow-- Return here at 4…”

Tsumotsu turned on his heel as he began walking toward the other street. Jirou said nothing, as he turned the other way. Ketamura, quickly noticing, soon inched his way out of the alley, leaning on the wall on the side of the street, as if nothing had happened. Jirou walked out of the alley, and, though he gave him a passing glance, he did not pay Ketamura any more attention than that, he turned the corner, following the crowd. Ketamura watched him as he left, a smile finding its way onto his face.

Ketamura: This… Is good for us… Wait…

He stood there silently for a few moments until his eyes slowly moved to his holophone. And, as his eyes widened, he yelled, as his previously happy expression turned into one of panic.

“Now I'm even later!!!”

Ketamura slung his bag over his shoulder, and took a bite of his toast, as he began to make a dash toward the school once again, something that drew a fair bit of ire from the crowd, but, once again, something he ignored.

…

As ketamura dashed through the town. At North Shima High, the students that’d actually managed to get to class on time sat within their classrooms. Included in that, was a certain brown-haired girl, sat in the center of the room, near the window. She sat with her chin resting on her palm, as her gaze went into the schoolyard below... Briefly imagining seeing her old friend walking with Ketamura, who finally arrived in the schoolyard. Though, at that point, he stood with his hands on his knees, huffing from his exhaustion. Though, she ignored this as she looked forward once more, sitting in silence, like much of the rest of her class.

Aside from the teacher, Gouto, at the very front. With a clipboard in one hand, pen in the other.

“Chikafuji.”

“Here”

With a quick stroke of his pen, he continued.

“Chosokabe”

“Here”

Another stroke.

“Corde…”

Silence.

“Corde.”

Silence once more.

Gouto looked up, his brown orbs darting around the room. Truth be told, it wasn’t a surprise to him, but, regardless, he had to ask.

“Not here, huh? He must be skipping class again. Hoshi- Do you have any idea where he is?”

Asami perked up at the mention of her name… But ultimately didn’t move. And, though Gouto focused his gaze on her, he got silence in response.

“Come on, Think of something…. You can’t just say “He ran off to Niopolis for a deathmatch”! ”

“Well--He-Uhm… He’s off for some, Uh... Family time? Gotou-Sensei.”

Gotou squinted his eyes as he put his focus on Asami. Though neither said anything, with Gouto’s gaze, it was quite clear that he was suspicious of the statement. Something that ended in him marking an X by corde’s name.

“Covering for him- Hoshi?”

Now, this elicited a reaction from her, as pink dusted her cheeks, as her gaze went outside again.

“What!! Of course not, why would I waste my time covering for him?”

Now, another within the room, a man with a head of purple hair, leaned back into his seat, as he closed the book that sat in front of him.

“That’s strange coming from someone who was acting so worried about him earlier.”

Now, the blush was more intense… Her gaze shot over to her violet-headed classmate.

“Shut up, I wasn’t worried about that idiot Taius at all!!”

This caught the attention of many of those across the classroom.

“Not worried about the guy you just called him by a nickname?”

Now, Asami's face wasn’t pink, rather, a crimson red, like a tomato. She was quick in her attempt to hide this, putting her face into her hands.

“No, No, No, Why did I let that slip out!! I don't even call Arctaius by his nickname when I talk to him? So why would I say that now?!”

Following this, the class simply continued like normal. Aside from the missing exchange of jabs between Gotou and Corde that would’ve normally taken place. Something that made the class feel a bit more empty to some and much better for others. Now, she walked in the school’s courtyard, along with Tsuchiya. Though the two didn’t talk much, it wasn’t THAT rare for them to walk together.

“All right, I’m heading home now, Senpai.”

As they exited the gates, they began to split up. While Shizuka headed west, Asami went south.

“Tell me if you hear anything about those two!”

Asami said nothing in response, as she walked down the street… Her expression was normal, until, as the school left her view, it began to turn into a grimace, making it clear that she was less than amused about the situation. Her pace, formerly a walk, increased, not going unnoticed by the people around her.

“All this time we’ve had to try to cover for him, coming out of all that without even a message? He’s gonna get it the next time I see him!!”

As she walked, soon, two girls wearing the same uniform, walked just behind her. The one on the left had large yellow orbs. Her expression was a cheerful smile, common for her. She had a head of pink hair that was organized into twin tails. On the right, stood a girl with long white hair, that went past her shoulders. Unlike the one on her left, she stood two or three inches taller than Asami, rather than being the same height. Though they were the same age, she looked somewhat older, especially considering her… Well-grown assets. She pushed her thin-framed glasses up, as she put her nose in a book, at the least, until the pink-haired girl nudged her. It was then that her blue orbs went to the brunette, and she closed her book, as she walked fast, in an attempt to catch up with her, with the shorter one doing the same.

They continued, and continued, with their friend remaining unaware, until one finally came to her side, with the pink-haired one speaking first.

“You know Asami, Corde isn’t really the type of guy to associate with- Do you know what people have found out about him?!”

“Ah, Kazumi.”

Kazumi Miura, a longtime friend of hers.

“Then that must mean that Megumi Isn’t too far away.”

“Yup.”

The deeper of the two voices, sounding out, out came Megumi.

Though, she did not stop with just that, deciding to turn her gaze to Asami.

“Yeah-- Don’t you know why they call him the emperor of the north? Apparently, not only does he help the delinquents here-- Legend has it that he has thousands of proto-Humans under his command!”

Asami glanced over at Megumi, her expression a blank one.

“I don’t think that's right…” She deadpanned.

Kazumi soon stepped in front of the two.

“Some even say that he's the son of the demon king. A Gashadokuro- with an army of evil spirits on his side!! I'm shivering just thinking about it…”

Kazumi indeed shivered. In front of her, both Asami and Megumi stared at her.

“What kind of outrageous rumor is that?!” The two shouted.

Asami sighed as she began walking once more, walking past Kazumi. Soon followed by her two friends doing the same, and walking as well. She glanced between the two of them.

“Geez you two, he may act a little different… But he’s not that dangerous.”

“Well of course you’d say that… With how long you and those others have been around him…”

“Maybe that is the case… A- Anyway, I’m almost home, so this is where we’ll part ways... You guys wanna go out tomorrow?”

Megumi nodded, as she stopped, beginning to wave.

“Alright-- see you tomorrow, Hoshi-Chan!”

Soon, Kasumi stopped too, waving as well.

Asami turned to her left, as she broke off from the two, who continued their respective walks home, with a talk beginning soon after. As for Asami, she began to take her usual route, to the one of the city's many maglev stations.

Part B

Ten odd minutes later, Asami found herself in one of the less dense areas, on the very outskirts of Tokyo’s wards, in front of a line of smaller, brick, and concrete houses, a stark contrast to the towers and apartment blocks of downtown. She finally stopped in front of one of them, modest, at two stories tall. Like some of the others, it bore a resemblance to the traditional houses of the past, at the least, outwardly. Save for the small fence around it, and the driveway, where a black car sat. She soon made her way to the door, before she grasped the doorknob, pulling it open soon after. Soon after, closing the door behind her. She removed her shoes, placing them on the shoe rack, before stepping onto the hardwood floors of the rest of the house.

“Mom, Dad-- I’m home!!”

As she spoke, the eyes of a woman standing in the home’s small kitchen, went toward her. Her hair was brown, much like that of Asami’s, and the resemblance was clear. Though, she was clearly much older.

“Ah- you’re back, how was school?”

The matured, deepened voice came from the woman, known as Hoshi Midori. Elsewhere stood a man with short black hair who wore a pair of glasses on his face. His face was a rather neutral one. Though he didn’t look too out of the ordinary, people would usually take notice of the large scar going across his left cheek. Somewhat visible through the mass of facial hair. This man was Yasushi Hoshi.

“I’m guessing it was good?”

“Yes, but…”

Asami sighed, as she strode move to the counter, placing her bag down

“Corde still hasn’t come back yet, doesn't he realize that I have to deal with the effects of that?”

Midori rotated her body, as she focused on her daughter.

“Oh, he still hasn’t turned up?”

She paused as she put her hand on her chin.

“His apartment got destroyed in the fire, didn’t it? He doesn't have anywhere to stay, so I can't help but be a bit worried about him.”

“That act he puts up may be pretty convincing- but he’s still a kid in my eyes… Just acts a bit different” Yasushi mumbled, loud enough for the two to hear.

Apparently, the sound of their conversation did not go unnoticed, because, coming down the stairs was a much younger girl, looking to be around 4 or 5. Unlike her sister and mother, having the same raven-colored hair like her father. She soon ran to her sister’s side, stopping there.

“Onii-Chan is missing?”

“There’s no need to worry- Kotone, he’ll be back soon enough.”

“But… when?”

As Kotone says this- she continues looking up at her. Having known her sibling for years, it became clear to her how displeased she was. She sighed, as she went to sit down on the couch.

“Guess I have to think about Kotone too… Don’t know why she likes Corde so much.”

Yasushi pushed up his glasses as he soon took a seat as well, right beside his daughter.

“I'm not the best at things like this… But this is my own suggestion- if you really want him to be safe that much… Just make sure he knows it. He's a bit of a wild spirit, to say the least. But I suppose that's what you'd expect from somebody like him. He's been like that since you all were kids after all.”

Midori nodded in agreement.

“Take his word for it- Asami, it might be hard to believe, but your dad used to be like Arctaius at one point.”

This made her recall a picture she once found. Dated in 1987, the year of her father’s 2nd year in high school. In the very front, stood a younger Yasushi, a white headband on his head, a black jacket on his body. A metal pipe slung over his shoulder, at his sides, were many others, dressed in the same manner. At the least, she could believe that much. Even so, she said nothing, simply nodded in acknowledgment, as she stood up, ascending the stairs, and opening the door to her room, a room that, though narrow, was quite long. It contained a twin bed and a window with a view of the modest town around them. To her left, was a desk that lay against the wall, giving her a direct view out of the window, even from there. Mostly empty, save for a few figures, and trinkets.

She pulled her holo-phone out of her pocket, as she sat it on the desk, before laying on her bed, her hands behind her head. She laid there for quite a while, deep in thought.

“No matter how I look at it, they’re right... It’s not like I didn’t already know, but, even so-”

Now she began her attempts to think of a new course of action. She couldn’t get anything on their whereabouts, not from the news, nor any of the four themselves… It did not bode well for trying to come in contact. Her thoughts were interrupted, as she heard her phone chime from the desk. She glanced over, noticing that a smaller, yet noticeable display had come up. She sat up and then got up, her legs swinging off the bed. As she walked toward the desk, she looked down and took notice of who called.

“Huh-- Ketamura? “

Asami picked up the device, as she tapped onto the display, accepting the call.

“Hello?”

“Hoshi- I’ve figured out where Arctaius is… I saw Koeda talking to some guy named Hashimoto. He was saying something about him being Arctaius’ rival.”

As his ecstatic voice came through, Asami placed her hand on her chin.

“ Rival...? But Arctaius is a proto-human isn't he? So they’re equal to each other?”

“Yeah, but that's not the point. He told him that Arctaius and those guys he was with were heading to Kingston, They’re planning on following him.”

Asami smiled as she looked up to the ceiling, saying nothing afterward.

“He made it out safely then… I'm relieved.”

For a few more moments, she sat in silence, before she cleared her throat, speaking once more.

“In that case, when are they meeting? I'm tempted to follow them…”

“The same idea as everyone else- then… Tomorrow at Four O’clock, behind Mankitsu mall, We can follow them from there… I'll make sure to tell everyone else"

“Alright, I’ll see you then.”

Asami hung up. For a moment, she sat in silence, once more, before she jumped out of her seat, cheering.

“YES! FINALLY, I can s-”

However… she quickly stopped as she took note of something, people could still hear her. It was after this that she sat down once more.

“Alright, Taius. Let’s see how you’re doing. “

To be Continued