Persona BLEACHED 4: Chapter 23

Chapter 23: The Leather Cut
November 1, 2031
Early morning in the Kubo home. Fresh out of bed, Rin was on the couch, staring at a laptop screen. "Good morning, Ms. Kat. Or I suppose 'Happy Halloween' would be more appropriate. How was the party?"
On the other side was Kat, sitting in her bed. "Welp, it started out okay, but then everyone started getting hammered, and it made Hoodsie really uncomfortable, so we moved the fun back here."
"Aww. I forgot the drinking age was lower over there. How'd the costume come together?"
"Y'know, I thought it turned out okay? Realized a bit too late I could've used a brighter shade of purple for the wig, but that can go in the 'Lesson Learned' file. I finally saw the pics from your shindig. You came out so *fire*, Rin."
"It's still so weird to hear you call me anything but 'Prof'. But thank you. Wasn't enough to win, but I guess the Gatekeeper maxed out his charm."
"Yep." Kat snickered.
"So, did you see Shizuka's pictures?"
"Oh my God, YES. You're lucky I wasn't there, I would've been SCREAMING. Care looked so confused when I started crying. I'm so proud of my princess."
"So are we, believe me. Seeing her out of her shell and having fun made my heart melt."
"She deserves all the happiness in the world. She won the lottery with you and Doc."
"Oh, stop. You don't have to flatter me."
"You're right, I don't. But I wanna. So, what's on the docket for today? Haircut time again?"
"You know it. Rose is coming with me this time. Her first professionally done haircut."
"Wow. Guess she's not as picky about it now that the platinum look's gone."
"It's the season of change around here. Today's mainly going to be a girl's day with Kirumi. Oh, she's my nephew's mom, if I hadn't told you yet."
"Yeah, you mentioned it. Kirumi...Kawagami, right? That was her name?"
"Yes...? Is there something wrong, Kat?"
"Nothing 'wrong', really. That name was just familiar, and I couldn't put my finger on why when you first mentioned it. So I did some digging, asked around, and...have you ever heard of 'Kawagami Steel'?"
"Hm...no, I can't say that I have."
"Not surprising. They're based out of the west end, in Fukuoka. My Pops used to tour there cuz of how close it is to Korea. That name was so familiar because you see it *everywhere*. They're a big-time construction contractor on that side of the country. A lot of the buildings that have gone up over the last century have their names on it."
"So Kirumi comes from old money. She does have that air around her."
"Yeah, old money is right. Here's a pic of the whole clan."
A picture was sent to Rin's phone, of a large family posing in suits and dresses. Her eyes went to one woman in particular, with short brown hair wearing a sandy brown dress.
"Anyone there look familiar to you?" Kat asked.
"This woman on the top row, third from the left. I think that's Kirumi, but...she's not blonde in this picture. And that's a much duller color than she normally wears."
"Probably bleached her hair at some point. Found a headline about her marrying some rich political type...Minakata, I think it was. Real bad news, that one."
"Yeah, that part I know. Her divorce from him lasted for five years. There's a reason Tan had to keep Uri a secret from us."
"Did you know she was only 20 when she married the guy? What's a girl like that doing marrying a guy almost three times her age?"
"Guess I'll have to ask her later. There's probably a lot she's not wanting to talk about. I wonder if she still talks to her family..." Rin looked at the photo with curiosity.
---
Downtown Naruki, in a high-rise apartment. Kirumi Kawagami awoke with a yawn. She had curlers on either side of her head, and wore a white nightgown. She got out of bed.
Her room was immaculate, as was the rest of the apartment--an impressive feat, given her son's boundless energy creating chaos wherever they went. On her nightstand was a photo of her with the boy, the only picture present in the entire room.
On the wall next to the bathroom was a calendar, with words written on nearly every date. Grocery days, hair and nail appointments, teacher meetings, everything was listed. Blank dates were reserved for the rare day off she could spend with her son and his father, who she recently started seeing. It was the first time in her 33 years of life that she was pursuing a relationship that had no political agendas to it.
This weekend, her son was with his father. Today was a work day for her, though she'd be spending long parts of it with the family of her son's father. Unforced friendship was something else she was only beginning to get used to.
In the bathroom, she took off the curlers. Her hair went just above her shoulders, and today she decided not to have it tied. She put on today's wardrobe--a white dress with a black sash, white heels and faux diamond earrings--and applied her makeup. On the way out the door, she grabbed a bagel, picked up her purse, and departed.
It wasn't a long walk to The Leather Cut--the salon she owned. Waiting in front of the door were her girls. "Good morning, ladies. Hope I didn't keep you too long." she greeted.
"Patience is a learned skill, Kirumi." one girl replied.
"You're here earlier than usual, Rumi. Your boy behaving himself this morning?" Ibuki asked.
"He's probably jarring his father awake at this very moment. I'm by myself this weekend. I love the boy more than anything, but..." Kirumi replied.
"Childcare's a lot, I get it. Ya need some time to relax. Kanae-chan's my life's joy, but if I had her all day, they'd need to stick a tube in me."
As Kirumi unlocked the door, she caught sight of something across the street. The old bank building had a fence around it, with a big white sign hanging in front. "So they're finally tearing that place down, are they?"
"That place has been falling apart for years now. Took them long enough." one of the girls said.
"Maybe they'll build a restaurant there so we don't have to walk a couple blocks to eat!" another girl chimed.
As her employees filed inside, Kirumi looked at the sign. Then, she noticed the emblem on it. A sun surrounding a red letter 'K'. The sight of it filled her with dread.
"(No...that can't be! They've started doing business farther east? Am I really never going to escape them? Father was so devoted to serving Fukuoka...what could've--)"
"Rumi, hey, Rumi!" Ibuki called out.
"Hm? Ah, sorry about that." Kirumi snapped out of it.
"Something wrong? You look a little pale."
"...maybe later. When I know we won't be seen."
"Okay...?" "(Oh, boy. I know that tone.)"
As the morning went along, customers began to file in and out. "So, Ibuki, have you heard from Max lately?" Kirumi asked.
"Ah, not lately, no. It's, um...really intense training they're putting him through." Ibuki fibbed.
"I wonder why he would just up and go do training overseas like that. Especially when things were going so well for you."
"Maxie's not the most confident guy in the world. He's always going on about wanting to be the best for me. I'm like dude, you gotta think about yourself, too. Not that I'm complaining about keeping me at the front of his mind. But if it puts his head in order..."
"Is the apartment search going alright?"
"Still hunting. Doesn't gotta be anything fancy. Just enough that me and him get out own space to do what we gotta. I'm basically doing the work of two people with this. It's gonna be tough living away from my sister, but being in a spot to do it is more than I could've said a year ago."
"Getting away from family is always going to be intimidating. But sometimes it's what you need for your own growth."
"You speaking from experience, Rumi?"
"....."
"Too close, got it. Sorry."
"No, it's fine. I don't much like talking about it, is all. Oh, look who's here."
In walked the Kubo trio. "Good morning." Rin greeted.
"There's three of my favorite people! Come and take a seat, Professor." Ibuki bid.
"Sure thing. You can sit over here, lovebug."
"Okay." Shizuka replied.
"The moment of truth is here, Rose. Ready for a transformation?" Kirumi asked.
"Yes, I am. I leave it in your capable hands." Rose replied.
Kirumi proceeded with her careful craft. "Oh, my, I absolutely adore how your hair feels. So silky...almost..."
"Otherworldly?" Rose piped up. "That is, that's what other people tell me..."
"(Smooth, Doc.)" Ibuki thought.
A short while later...
"Alright. I think we've cleared out the forest. Tell me what you think." Kirumi said.
Rose looked into the mirror. Her hair was cut down to shoulder length and curled, with the sides being curved into a spiral shape. "Is that...me?"
"It looks so beautiful, Rose! It suits you to a T." Rin reacted.
"You think so? It's very different from what I'm used to. Of course, I've had the same hairstyle more or less for the last decade. I...honestly love it."
"You should! Ya look like a new woman, Doc." Ibuki exclaimed.
"This is exceptional, Kirumi. It's better than I could have imagined. Thank you so much."
"Anything for you, Rose. It's what I'm here for. You wear it gracefully. Not to gloat or anything." Kirumi replied.
"Let me compensate you appropriately." Rose took out the payment.
"Thank you very much--oh, wait. This is..."
"Consider it a gift. A welcome to the family, if you will. Get something nice for yourself."
"Oh Rose, that's far too kind. Thank you. Let me treat you all to lunch, then."
"Fine by me. Nothing beats a good meal and better company." Rin replied.
"You want to come along, Ibuki?"
"Normally I'd love to, but I already promised Kaede I'd swing by the house." Ibuki replied.
"Next time, then. Let's go, ladies."
The women left the salon, and headed right. Kirumi looked toward the building with the sign in front. "....."
"Something the matter?" Rose asked.
She and Rin turned to look at the building. "That old bank is condemned. It's been there since I was little. Wonder what they're...hm?" Rin noticed the logo. "The company that's tearing it down, is..."
"Stop." Kirumi spoke up.
"Kirumi, that logo...it's Kawagami Steel. You're part of that family, aren't you?"
"Not anymore, I'm not."
"Kirumi--" Rose spoke.
"Stop, just...not here. It can't be here. Let's just have a nice meal and not bring up things like this. What happened in Fukuoka should have stayed there..."
"Okay, it's okay. We're sorry. We won't pry any further. But if you do want to talk about it, our doors are always open." Rin replied.
"Thank you..."
"....." Rose looked curious. The women continued walking.
Inside the old bank, a man in a tan suit, glasses and swept brown hair stared out the window.
"...and we can start the tear-down on Tuesday once everything's been brought in--hm? Mr. Kawagami, sir?" a worker spoke.
"You may continue. Pay me no mind." the man in the suit replied.
"R-right, like I was saying, we can start--"
The man's gaze intensified as it focused on Kirumi. "So...this is where you've been hiding. Kirumi."
---
The group seated themselves outside of a café, sipping tea as they awaited their meal. "Mmm...okay, so I've been dying to know. Has Tan always been..." Kirumi began.
"Yes." Rose answered.
"Whatever you're asking, the answer is yes." Rin agreed. "He means well, and he's kept Dad's shop afloat for years now. Sometimes he can be his own worst enemy. Did he tell you how he ended up in jail?"
"Yes, he did. Your mother was struggling after you lost your father and brother, so he resorted to theft. But he's stayed out of trouble since his release, yes?" Kirumi replied.
"Yes, his record's been clean since. My brother, for all his quirks, is a good man. The one thing he's been missing was someone with a good head on their shoulders. I think he checked that box with you."
"You're flattering me, Ringo."
"Please call me Rin. Mom's the only one who calls me by my full name."
"I'm used to being formal, sorry."
"Don't apologize, I really don't mind. It's more of a familiarity thing."
"So, Kirumi...have you heard Tan sing yet?" Rose asked.
"Oh, yes...it's, ah..." Kirumi uttered.
"Kirumi." a male voice sternly spoke.
The salon owner froze. She looked over her shoulder. The man from the abandoned bank was standing there, looking as if he was staring right through her.
"Genji..." Kirumi uttered.
The man adjusted his glasses. "Are you quite finished dragging our good name through the mud with your frivolousness? Why on earth are you dressed like that?"
"Kirumi...who is this?" Rose asked.
"Brother...why are you here? Father would never take contracts outside of Fukuoka." Kirumi asked.
"Figure it out, Kirumi. Father is no longer the one in the CEO's chair. Our business would have gone stagnant if we kept ourselves limited to one city. So we gave the reigns to someone with more vision. Now it is Masayoshi who leads us into the future." Genji replied.
"So you all really did it. You displaced Father like you always wanted. I imagine he had no say in it?"
"What is it to you? I would have imagined you would be pleased by his sudden impotence, what with how even now you spit in our faces. Oh, let me count the ways. Associating with the common rabble, dressing like you're crying for attention, and oh, lest I forget, betraying your marital vows and soiling our bloodline with a boorish criminal's genetics. Do you have no shame at all?"
"You want to repeat that last part?" Rin stood up. Kirumi held her back.
"Please, let me. I make no excuses for my infidelity. But don't mistake me as the only guilty party. Or for the sake of your argument, are you ignoring those five children Kagerō fathered outside the marriage? The man who fathered my son was not the boor, brother." Kirumi argued.
Genji grabbed her by the wrist. "Don't you tire of embarrassing your own family? Cease this farce. You're coming with me."
Rose stood up and slapped his hand away. "Now who is the boor? And you're questioning why she refuses to go with you?"
"How dare..."
"Leave, Genji. My home is here. Why would I go back when your intent is surely to pawn me off for political gain? Never again. I won't let you twist my son into a hollow puppet, like the rest of you." Kirumi stated.
"Hmph. Enjoy it while it lasts, sister. You ought to know just how difficult we can make things for you. This is far from over." He brushed his suit off, and left.
"....."
"What a dreadful man. That's what you had to grow up with?" Rin asked.
Kirumi grabbed her bag, and put a number of bills on the table. "Lunch is on me. I'm sorry you had to see that. I'll be heading back now."
"Come now, don't let him get to you. A man like that wins by getting in your head." Rose objected.
"Please. I...need some time to myself. I promise I'll be there for dinner tonight. I'm...I'm sorry."
Kirumi walked away somberly. 
"What a debacle." Rose replied. "Are you alright, Shizuka?"
The girl had her headphones over her ears, and appeared frightened.
"Don't worry, it's okay now. That awful man is gone."
"I can understand Kirumi's feelings. We need to make her feel safe coming to our home." Rin said.
"Know anybody free to provide security?"
"I think I might."
As she walked away, Kirumi pulled out her phone. "Hello, Tan? It's me...I need you to keep an even tighter grip on Uri for me. My family is here...No, I can't. I just know they'll follow me...please, just take extra care of him until I know it's safe..."
Nearby, Genji got into a dark limousine. He took out his phone. "We have a problem. It seems some peasants have taken Kirumi hostage. I trust you know what needs doing."
---
The sound of heels clacking on the sidewalk echoed into the neighborhood. With the sun setting, Kirumi carefully walked to the Kubo home. She couldn't help glancing over her shoulder a few times, and taking longer looks at whoever she passed by. At last, she arrived at the flower-laden house.
"Hm?"
She noticed two men on the porch. One sat on the bench, wearing an orange jacket with the logo of the Yomiuri Giants baseball team, while fittingly holding a bat. "Hi." Tsutsugo waved.
"Um...and you are?"
"I'm your security detail for the evening. Some folks call me the Hero of Yomiuri."
"Nobody calls you that anymore, Tsutsugo." Jin chimed in, leaning against the wall with his arms crossed.
"No need to rain on my parade, chum."
"Hero of--Ryōma Tsutsugo? The baseball player?" Kirumi questioned.
"The one and only. So you *have* heard of me."
"How could I not? I'd wager there isn't a soul from Fukuoka who doesn't remember 2023 Game 7!"
"Ohhh, right. I did kinda shut you guys down and walk ya off. Good times."
"And then you got banned right after. I wouldn't be gloating if I were you." Jin pointed out.
"Oh, you and your pesky facts and logic."
"I, um...I'm going inside, if you don't mind." Kirumi walked to the door. "Is it really just you two?"
"'Just'. Heh."
"Don't be vague, Tsutsugo." Jin grunted. "I'll tell you this. In the house next door, an Olympic-class fencer is putting our two-year old down for bed. The king of the south side has his best men patrolling the area around DJ Tan Man's apartment, along with a member of NPD's finest. You and your kid are in good hands."
"How...how does she know all these people?" Kirumi asked.
"A long, hectic tale, milady. Almost as hectic as that 9th inning." Tsutsugo chimed.
"I will drop you like a rock, I swear." Jin threatened.
"I'm going inside now." Kirumi entered the house.
"...you had to make me look bad, didn't you?" Tsutsugo asked.
"You do a good enough job yourself." Jin replied.
Kirumi stood awkwardly in the doorway. "Hello..."
"Hi there. Good to see you made it okay." Rin greeted.
"Let me get this for you..." Rose took Kirumi's coat. "Shoes off, please."
"Of course. It's only proper." Kirumi did as instructed. "Oh...Ibuki. You're here, too."
"Yep. Kanae-chan forgot something from her playdate, so I came to grab it. But Prof here told me everything that happened today. I was wondering why you were so off. I'm really worried about you, Rumi." Ibuki replied.
"You've been a wonderful friend, Ibuki. You deserve to hear the truth from me. All of you do. Is Shizuka not going to be joining us?"
"She's been tired all day after how last night went. But she wanted me to give you this." Rin handed Kirumi a paper.
On it was a crayon drawing of Kirumi with butterfly wings, reading 'Get Better Soon, Auntie Kirumi'.
"Oh, bless that girl's heart...'Auntie Kirumi'...I love the sound of that." Kirumi uttered.
"You have her approval. Now you're *really* in it." Rin smirked.
"So, would you like the table or the couch?" Rose asked.
"Let's do the couch. It would be more comfortable for me." Kirumi replied.
The women got their food and took their seats. "I should start with what you already know." Kirumi began. "I'm the third-youngest of the nine children of Masahiro Kawagami, the now-former CEO of Kawagami Steel, which, up until recently, was based solely in Fukuoka."
"You've got *eight* siblings? Good gravy." Ibuki expressed.
"Are they all like that man from earlier?" Rin asked.
"Genji, yes. We were raised to be fanatically obedient to our clan. My brothers were made to be strict, controlling perfectionists, while my sisters and I were trained to be political pawns, meant only to connect us to other powerful families. That's how my marriage to Kagerō Minakata came about." Kirumi explained.
"It's easy to guess that there was no love in it." Rose surmised.
"Love? Hardly. I never even met the man before I was forced into exchanging vows with him. He was old enough to have been my grandfather. Our individuality was disciplined out of us from an early age. Things like love and hobbies would only serve as a distraction."
"I saw in that old photo how uniform everyone looked. Including you. You looked positively miserable." Rin said.
"I *was* miserable. We were made to look as sterile and unassuming as possible. Wouldn't want any 'commoners' getting untoward ideas."
"I just can't picture it. You always look so stunning, Rumi. That must've been torture for you." Ibuki said.
"That's putting it kindly. I grew up without having any friends that Father didn't approve of beforehand. My wardrobe was selected for me. My LIFE was predetermined every step of the way. 20 years old, forced to marry an adulterous wretch who I despised. But they made a critical mistake, sending me here, so far from their constrictive ways. I finally began to truly understand what I was missing. Two years into that loveless union, I broke free and ventured to a bar in Naruki."
"That's where you met Tan." Rin surmised.
"He looked so intimidating, but he was so...genuine. He listened to me as I drunkenly vented everything I'd been forced to endure. For the first time in my life, I felt free. And then, we...you know. But it was my choice. I...had choice. Not long after is when I discovered I was pregnant. I was horrified. Was I being forced to birth the child of this man I hated? What would happen if it *wasn't* his? But when I had Uri...that fear gave way to joy. And that joy only grew as I realized that he wasn't Kagerō's. That happiness gave me the strength to break free. And do you know what I did next?"
"Sing it to me, girlfriend." Ibuki replied.
"I left him. I took Uri with me. I bought an apartment, I bleached my hair, I got a new wardrobe, I painted my nails, and I took my boy to meet his real father. My real self could finally live. And as that scum dragged me through the courts, I *thrived*. I opened the salon, I expressed myself more than I ever had, I looked good and I felt *beautiful*! Those five years were equal parts terrifying and liberating! And now, at the peak of my happiness...my past comes to drag me back. They want me to be their puppet again. They see my freedom, and they see a threat. This...everything you see here...is an embarrassment to them. And now..." Kirumi rubbed her eyes, shaking her head. "Now I've dragged you all into it."
"I don't think that's true at all." Rin retorted.
"What?"
"You didn't drag us into anything. My family believes in something called the Wheel of Fate. I think we were placed in your life because we're meant to be here. You and Uri are part of our lives now, and we'll do everything to ensure it stays that way."
"What she said. Screw those elitist pricks. They don't know who they're messing with." Ibuki affirmed.
"Frankly, it matters not how powerful your family is, or what they think they can do. We know some powerful people, ourselves. If it's a battle they want, we're more than capable of meeting them in kind." Rose stated.
Kirumi looked as though she was about to cry. "You all...really mean it. There isn't a person in Fukuoka who isn't afraid of crossing the Kawagami clan. You don't know what they're capable of."
"Maybe so." Rin crossed her arms, and smirked. "But they don't know *us*."
Outside, Jin and Tsutsugo were sitting down and playing ro-sham-bo. For five consecutive tries, they picked the same sign. "What are ya, psychic?" Tsutsugo griped.
"I'd be winning if I was." Jin replied.
Then, he heard something.
"What's up--"
"Shh." His eyes darted upwards.
Hiding inconspicuously behind a nearby tree was a black drone, hovering. Further up the street was a white van, where three men, all wearing gas masks, were viewing the drone's video feed.
"Looks like we're marked. I'm taking it out." Tsutsugo said.
"You're really gonna try from here?" Jin asked.
"Make it look like I'm throwing a rock or something."
In the palm of his hand, Tsutsugo created a sphere made of wind. As if he was still on the mound, he wound up a pitch, and tossed it. The drone was struck, and the feed cut out.
"What the hell was that?!" one of the men in the van demanded.
"What's going on over there?" Genji questioned over a comm device.
"Our drone's been hit, sir...with what, I don't know..."
"Hm. You'd think a construction crew would take better care of their equipment." spoke a soft, female voice.
All three men looked to the passenger's seat. A girl in a magenta-colored hoodie was sitting there. "Good evening, gentlemen."
The man in the driver's seat reached over to grab her, but she grasped his arm, before promptly breaking it. "GAAARGH!"
The hooded girl then slammed his head into the steering wheel, knocking him out. The two men in the back grabbed their weapons and fired, but the girl acrobatically jumped out the window and onto the roof.
"Who the hell--?!" one of the men questioned, as they fired upwards to try to get them, leaving several holes in the roof. Then, there was silence. The men waited.
Suddenly, a crimson sword poked through the roof, followed by several identical ones that all exploded into dust. The girl jumped through the hole in the roof and onto one of the men with force, before disarming the second. He tried to attack, but the girl delivered several thrusts to his neck, destroying their equipment and knocking the man out.
"--do you copy...I repeat, do you copy?" Genji repeated over the comm.
Sakuya took off her hood, and picked up the device. "Heed my advice, you cookie-cutter suit. Find more competent henchmen. Good day, now." She dropped the device and stepped on it.
Genji looked at his device with confusion, before tossing it aside, frustrated.
Sakuya, now sitting on the roof of the truck, called Rin. "...yes, they're all taken care of, Kubo-sensei. That equipment they were using tells me this isn't the first time they've done spy work. Unfortunately, without Carrie-chan here, I don't know how much data we can extract from their hard drives."
"We'll worry about that later. Thank you, Sakuya. Do you mind waiting for Jugo to come around and get everything, unconscious thugs included?" Rin replied, now out of earshot from Kirumi.
"Very well. I'll just have to let Mother know to wait on heating up dinner. I'm sure Sahir-kun is already giving her excuses."
"I'll tell Jugo to hustle, then. Tell Sahir and Ms. Lily I said hi."
---
Genji stewed in his chair, and was on the phone. "Well maybe if the men you sent were a bit more competent...tch. Yes, I know. There are other ways to get the message across. I know the one thing she can't resist."
He switched lines. "Get in that apartment. Dispose of the oaf, if you must. And bring me the boy."
In a complex by the residential district, a group of masked men broke down the door to one unit. They searched the apartment.
One of the men noted the various posters for rappers. "This guy think he's Snoop Dogg, or something?"
Genji watched on the video feed. "He's an oaf. I'll not allow someone with Kawagami blood to be tainted by that weakness."
The men looked around. "We're not finding anything, sir. Someone must've tipped them off."
"Keep looking. Turn it upside-down."
The intruders were alerted by a whistling sound. Standing in the doorway were three men in suits, brandishing weapons. Kaido was among them. "Gentlemen. I'll need to see your lease."
"This isn't yakuza territory...what are they doing here?" Genji looked on.
Footsteps could be heard from the hall. Shūjo entered the apartment, a toothpick in his mouth. "Alright. Who wants to go first?"
Genji watched as his men were summarily routed, the ex-gangsters being far more trained than one would expect.
"Tie 'em up real nice for Sheriff Yokel." Shūjo ordered. He picked up one of their comm devices. "Hi. Am I speaking to the boss of this operation?"
"Who are you?" Genji demanded.
"You don't gotta know who I am, you just gotta know what. And you can probably tell from these immaculate suits just what we are. Now I might not be about the underworld life anymore, but I'm a phone call away from some people that *are*. And I think you're a sharp enough businessman to know that those are the types of enemies you don't wanna be making. So here's some advice. Back off. Or you're gonna learn right quick how you shouldn't have stepped into this town."
"I'm already getting that sense. I'll just have to change tactics. Tell your masters that Kawagami Steel hasn't survived this long by cowing to the demands of armed miscreants. This is not over." Genji hung up.
Shūjo blinked. "The asshole just hung up on me."
"Did he sound like he was backing off?" Kaido asked.
"Nope." Shūjo placed a call on his phone. "Hey, how are things up there?"
Over by the Lover's Lake on Mt. Shirayuki, Hiyoko sat at the table outside, drinking tea with Aura. "Peaceful as always, my love. Hyōtan and the boy are inside watching TV with Ms. Hana. How about you?"
"Just like Red thought, they got into the apartment. Their boss isn't gonna back down from this. I don't know what he's gonna try now, but I'm not gonna take any chances. I'm coming over."
"I'll tell Ms. Hana to make an extra cup of tea."
"Is that Papa? Can I talk to him?" Aura asked.
"Oh, of course, dear. Aura wants to talk to you, JoJo." 
The girl took the phone. "Hi, Papa!"
"Hey there, Snowball. You having a nice time with your mom?" Shūjo asked.
"Uh-oh. It's Girl Dad time." one of his men said.
Shūjo stuck up his middle finger. "Yeah, it's real pretty up there, Snowball. I'm gonna be with ya in a little while, alright?"
---
"Kirumi." Rin approached her.
"What is it? Has something happened?" Kirumi asked.
"I've been fielding calls for a bit, and I need to tell you that a drone was flying around here, spying on the house. And that several men just broke into my brother's apartment."
"Oh, no...are Uri and Tan alright?"
"It's OK, they're safe. They're outside of town with my mom. I've got some people looking after them. And our security detail already dealt with the drone and the people operating it. It's all taken care of."
"Oh, thank goodness..."
"That being said, I don't feel good about letting you go back to your apartment. They could already have it cased out. If it's not too much trouble, I want you to stay here for the night."
"Yes, that's probably for the best. Thank you all so much for this...I don't even know what to say."
"'Thank you' is enough for me. You're in good hands." Rin put her hand on Kirumi's. "I had a spiteful brother too, once. We'll get through this together."
".....thank you. Thank you...Rin."
"Don't mention it. I'm gonna get desert ready. Just relax." Rin walked away.
For the first time all day, a feeling of relief came over Kirumi. Maybe things would be okay, after all.
"(Tan really was right about her.)" she thought.
---
November 3, 2031
Tick.
Tock.
Tick.
Tock.
The only noise echoing within the Leather Cut was the wall clock moving along. On a normal day, the salon would be busy with the chatter of the hairdressers and their clients. And it had started out like any normal Monday for Kirumi.
But now she was sitting in one of her revolving chairs, her face and clothes coated in ash. She was emotionless, and held a comb in her hands. She tapped on it, matching the rhythm of that clock.
Tick.
Tock.
---
Earlier that morning...
"...so that's how it's going to be. Call it your Father's Weekend, Part 2." Kirumi dictated to her son, out in front of the prepatory entrance.
"So I get a few more days with Dad? Awesome! Now I can learn to ride his bike!" Uri exclaimed.
"Let's pump the breaks on that for a few years, buddy. I'd like the old horse not to have any dings I can avoid." Tan said.
The school bell rang. "Time to head in. Be on your best behavior, like I know you do, and I'll call you later." Kirumi said.
"Okay! Bye Mom, bye Dad!" Uri waved as he ran inside. 
"See ya later, buddy! Smart decisions!" Tan called back.
"Well...suppose I should be getting to--" Kirumi turned to leave.
"Ah ah ah, one second, missy. You really gonna keep dodging this? I'm happy to have the kid over, but he needs his mom, too." 
"I'm doing what's best for him now. I'm afraid that they have the apartment on surveillance. He's safer away from me."
"And when will it be safe? When they knock that bank down? Something tells me they're not gonna stop taking projects after one building. Especially now that they know where you're at."
"So what do you suggest I do? Relocate the salon? Change apartments? Recolor my hair again? Absolutely not. If my siblings think they can disrupt my life enough that I'll eventually return to them, they're gravely mistaken."
"And they haven't already? You stayed at Rinnie's house all weekend, you're not going anywhere without some of One-Eye JoJo's crew following after, and you're keeping yourself away from your own kid. That isn't your life being disrupted?"
"I'm doing what I must until they eventually get the message and leave. Until then, I'm asking you to support him and me."
"You know that I'm gonna. But you can't just stand around waiting for something that might never happen."
"With the alternative being what? Attacking my family head-on? What can I do alone?"
"Kirumi..."
"I have to go, Tan. This will be over soon. They'll realize what a waste it is to focus on me. Please bear with me until then." She walked away.
"Maybe you can fight them, Kirumi. Maybe you can."
Like any other work day, Kirumi walked to the salon she adored. Her girls were all there, happy to start another day. And she gave that old bank another glance. The logo she feared so much was still there. Tomorrow it would be demolished, and until whatever was replacing it was built, she would be looking over her shoulders.
For now, she could focus on her clients. Maybe she would luck out. Maybe her brother's failures from Saturday would be enough to dissuade him from moving any further. Maybe her happy new life could resume.
Maybe.
Tick.
Tock.
Tick.
Tock.
Boom.
---
It was around noon. Tan was behind the counter at the market his father had slaved over. He had his earphones in, largely to mute out the sound of his cousins arguing at his mother's flower shop next-door.
The song stopped when a call came in. "Yello." he picked up. ".....wait, slow down, what?!"
---
Tan rode over to the downtown area. Immediately, one could see the red and blue flashing lights blocking off the road. He slid to a stop, got off and ran to the police barricade. 
"Sir, we can't let you in, there's--" one officer blocked him.
"Buzz off, my son's mom is in there!" Tan retorted.
"Oi, just let the guy in!" Ibuki yelled out. She had a couple of bandages on, and was covered in ash. Several other women were also bandaged and being attended to.
Tan made his way in. "Fireball, what the hell happened?"
"See for yourself."
The bank building was now rubble. What was readily apparent was that it was not limited to its immediate area. The buildings beside it had also suffered damage. And most jarring, was the building across the street--the Leather Cut--had also suffered significant damage to its front. The windows had all been broken. The remains of the old bank were strewn about the area.
"Joint went boom. Shit just started flying everywhere. Sounded like a warzone for a bit there." Ibuki related.
"Where's Kirumi?" Tan asked.
Ibuki gestured at the building. "She hasn't moved. She knows why this happened. And...she knows about us."
"What do you mean 'about us'?"
"It got real ashy when all that debris came flying. Most everyone kept their heads down, but Kirumi didn't. A big chunk came at her and...I blew it up with an arrow. I know she saw me. You're gonna have to explain it to her. My bad."
Tan sighed. "You did what you had to. It was probably gonna come out sooner or later. I'll go talk to her."
He entered the ravaged salon. An eerie silence filled the place, broken only by the sound of the wall clock ticking. Kirumi, covered with ash and holding a comb, sat in her seat.
"Kirumi. Are you--"
"This was a message."
"Huh?"
"The demolition wasn't supposed to be until tomorrow. There weren't supposed to be large explosives. They've already taken the lead worker into custody. He'll be taking the fall, most likely. He won't give my brother up. None of them will."
"You think this was done just to hurt you?"
"Look at how much damage there is compared to the rest of the area. This was purposeful. Targeted. They'll write it off as incompetence on the crew's part. They'll pay the fine, and this will be swiped under the rug. An unfortunate accident, but nothing more."
"I'm so sorry, Kirumi. I know you've poured your heart and soul into this place."
"Buildings are just that. Buildings. Walls and equipment can be replaced. Lives can't. And they've made it clear that mine doesn't matter. If I won't live as their puppet, I won't live at all."
Kirumi began to tense up. "I will do what I must to survive. I'll take clients from my apartment, if I have to. I won't be intimidated. A life under someone's thumb is no life at all. But what can I do...?"
"Kirumi...there's something I've gotta tell you."
"What is it? Is it about how Ibuki fired an arrow from her fingertips? Or was that me hallucinating?"
"It wasn't your imagination."
The two turned around. Rin was in the entrance. "I got the call. I brought someone with me."
"Mom!" Uri ran in and embraced Kirumi.
"Oh, my sweet boy..." she reciprocated.
"Are you okay, Mom? Why's the salon all messy?"
"I'm alright, mostly. Some...very bad people tried to hurt your mom. I've been trying to keep you away because...you're the most important thing in the world to me. And I want you to grow up to be as good and kind as you are now."
"Mom..."
"I'm sorry, Uri. Could you go outside with Ms. Ibuki for a minute? I need to speak with your father and your aunt."
"Go on, buddy. It's alright." Tan added.
The boy hesitated, but complied, and walked out. 
"Okay, Rin. Tell me. What was it that Ibuki did?" Kirumi demanded.
"The simplest way I can explain it is...we've been fighting an invisible battle for over a decade. Do you remember the Captain Thunder incident from last year?" Rin asked.
"The so-called hero that Uri is obsessed with? That fought those...Ashen Artisan people?"
"The Artisans are my students."
"Your...excuse me? Your *students*?"
"Yes. My first group. All of them. Plus Ibuki."
"And how was any of that possible?"
"There's a whole other world you don't know about. A world made from people's hearts and most hidden thoughts. We get our powers from it. It's way more complicated than that, but those are the notes." Tan replied.
"*Our*? So then..."
"Both of us, yes. Most of my friends, too. We all fought against our trauma and won, and were gifted power because of it." Rin opened her hand, and a flame sprouted out from it.
"Oh my...how are you...?" uttered a flabbergasted Kirumi.
Rin extinguished the flame. "There's so much that I can tell you about what I've seen. The things we've experienced and fought against. But what's important right now is that there *is* a way for you to put a stop to your family's misdeeds."
"What are you asking me to do, Rin? Burn the entire operation to the ground? Gratifying as that might be personally, it'll be an instant trip to a jail cell or worse. I couldn't do that to Uri."
"And I'm not asking you to. Our M.O. isn't to attack people directly. It's bringing them down, discreetly and without them ever knowing. This world that Tan mentioned is the key. Through there, we can make even the seemingly invincible repentant. We can change your siblings' hearts, and they'll never hurt you or anyone again. We've done it countless times before."
"....." Kirumi looked at Tan. "Were you going to keep this secret from me forever?"
"Eh, figured it was gonna get out sooner or later. I'm not against you finding out, but it's up to you how you wanna keep going." Tan replied.
"...tell me something, Rin. What do you suppose will happen if this works? What will happen to Kawagami Steel once my siblings are made to confess their misdeeds?"
"That I can't say for certain. Depending on the severity of their actions, the whole corporation could come crumbling down." Rin answered.
"Are you willing to accept full responsibility should things go awry, either during or after this plan of yours?"
"Without question. If anything goes wrong, and you or Uri suffer for it, I'll never forgive myself."
"Believe me, she means it." Tan chimed.
"You realize that now that I know this secret, that there's no getting rid of me, right?" Kirumi asked him.
"Wasn't planning on it. Anyone'd be stupid to let you go, anyway. That suit-and-tie scumbag doesn't know how good he had it."
"Heh. True enough. I'm glad it's you that fate allowed me to have Uri with."
"Ah, er...d-don't mention it."
"Hehe. That reaction to compliments is hereditary, isn't it?"
"I have no idea what you're talking about." Rin replied.
"Rin."
"Yes?"
"Promise me that you'll win. Promise me that this generational curse can stop with me. Promise me you can."
"*We* can. And we will. I'll help you see it done. All you need to do..." Rin extended her hand to Kirumi, materializing her armor around her arm. "...is stand up, and take my hand."
"....."
Kirumi got up. "I'm entrusting my future to you, Ringo Kubo." She took Rin's hand.
"And I'm here to help you seize it." Rin replied. "Now let's get everything sorted out here."
"Right. There's much to be done. Here and away. One thing at a time."
The clock kept up its movements.
Tick.
Tock.
The seconds ticked away. Closer to the moment of fate.