The Black Hibiscus

**The Black Hibiscus**, a notorious organized crime syndicate formerly known as The Black Cat, holds a significant influence in Tamaki. Renowned for their professed values of establishing hope and a new era of prosperity for the Tamakinese people, the syndicate has gained a fearsome reputation. With an estimated history of 530 members, The Black Hibiscus has always operated as an independent entity since its establishment by Ishiguro Hiroki in 793 AB. Today, the gang is led by Hiroki's direct descendant, Ishiguro Hyouki, and is believed to have a minimum of 30 active members in their organization.

## The Black Hibiscus

### Name

The Black Hibiscus
The Black Cat (Formerly)

## General Information

### Founder(s)

Hiroki Ishiguro †
Nagito Ishiguro †
Unosuke Ishiguro †

## Affiliations and Members

### Affiliations

Tamaki Government
Tamaki Military

### Member(s)

Takeshi SasagawaYouka KoibuchiHayuki AtsumiJimpei HaeharaGustaf HorizonNiamh Geislan

## **History**

### **The First Generation (739 AR to 843 AR)**

The year was 793 AB when Ishiguro Hiroki and his two brothers, Nagito and Unosuke, founded The Black Hibiscus, formerly known as The Black Cat. The inspiration behind the syndicate's establishment can be traced back to a fight that broke out between the brothers and a group of older delinquents who were bullying a young ram named Koibuchi Washirou. The Ishiguro brothers emerged victorious in the confrontation, successfully defending Washirou from any harm. As a result, Washirou became friends with the brothers and eventually joined The Black Hibiscus. This event marked the beginning of the gang's storied history.

Beginning in 801 AB, The Black Hibiscus encountered numerous conflicts with a larger and more established organization known as The Cardinal Fangs, which sparked a lengthy history of conflict lasting over two centuries. However, it was not until the post-Kintora era that The Cardinal Fangs was finally dissolved. As a result, some of its former members decided to join The Black Hibiscus, aligning themselves with the gang's current leader, Hyouki.

The year 829 AB marked a significant period for The Black Hibiscus as they reached their peak in active membership, numbering at 233. However, it was also a year of intense conflicts with several rival organizations, including The Cardinal Fangs, The Sapphire Salute, and The Jade Dragon. The gang was involved in at least 23 separate clashes throughout the year, reflecting the high stakes of their ongoing turf wars.

Tragically, 829 AB also saw the murder of The Black Hibiscus' leader, Hiroki, at the hands of one of his mistresses, known only as "Kairi." Rumors circulated that Kairi was working for The Cardinal Fangs at the time, although her true identity remains a mystery to this day. Nevertheless, her story has been retold countless times over the years, with many referring to her as "the ghost of Kairi."

Two years after the untimely death of Hiroki, his brothers Nagito and Unosuke had a falling out, leading to the establishment of a new organization called The Zen Angels. Roughly 60 members from The Black Hibiscus followed Nagito to his new gang. The disagreement between the brothers had multiple causes, including Nagito's objection to Hiroki's tendency to accept members with minimal qualifications. Additionally, Hiroki had named Unosuke, the younger brother, as his successor in a written will, which Nagito may have viewed as unfair.

Following Hiroki's leadership structure, Unosuke maintained a rigorous screening process for new members. However, in 833 AB, his leadership was undermined by Niipo Hanmaji, who manipulated around 100 individuals and incited them to turn against Unosuke, ultimately resulting in the takeover of The Black Hibiscus.

Remarkably, Unosuke managed to survive the internal conflict that led to his ousting from The Black Hibiscus. Seeking to regain control of the gang, he turned to his brother Nagito for help. Together, the brothers spent the next five years plotting and strategizing their takeover of the organization.

Finally, in a stunning display of determination and cunning, Nagito and Unosuke succeeded in retaking The Black Hibiscus. They rebranded the gang to the Black Hibiscus as they are known for today, and Nagito assumed the role of leader, determined to uphold the values and traditions of their family's legacy.