Archive of Our Own ^beta

Chapter Text

I walked into the building with a single duffle bag in my hand. The tall cement building now held the apartment I spent what little money I had on. My hand shook a little as I turned the key. I was no longer afraid of what was outside the door, it was an almost relieving feeling, but the reality of what would happen after I walked in was what weighed on me. 

I was fresh out of high school, a runaway who barely had ¥28,000 to her name that I would probably need for rent in three weeks anyway. Worst of all, I had landed myself in the S.W.O.R.D district, there isn't a single street in this damned place that isn't claimed by a gang. 

I was lucky that I didn’t end up in Nameless City, but I was still unlucky nonetheless for landing in Daruma Ikka territory. Actually, I probably had a better chance here, at least the red light district meant job opportunities. If I was lucky, I’d be working in a restaurant and nowhere shady. Though, considering my luck, the latter was the more likely outcome. 

I layed on the apartment’s wooden floor for a long moment, staring at the ceiling, my duffle bag just barely out of reach. That black bag now carried my only possessions. A few sets of clothes, a charger, a phone, and maybe a granola bar. I looked towards the singular window in the room, the sun was far from setting. 

I grunted and sat upright. I had two options at that moment, stay there for the rest of the day to try and forget the fact I would be hungry in a few hours or go outside to observe my surroundings and maybe pick up an odd job to earn a few dollars. I groaned as I knew that I had to choose the latter, I couldn't just pull out of my existing funds like that. 

I made my way to the closet on the other side of the room and threw the duffle bag inside, it landed with an almost hollow thump. The keys jingled in my hand as I pulled them out along with my phone. 

***

The streets were lively as some restaurants began to prepare for the dinner rush. Some businesses began to open, others were getting ready for their more lucrative business hours. I avoided eye contact with most of them, those who I did accidentally make eye contact with, I threw a small smile and bow after jumping a little. Though, for the most part, my experience in the S.W.O.R.D District wasn’t too bad. I guess I just had to avoid the gangs and I’d be alright.

I kept my eyes peeled for any posters on shop windows and doors, maybe even signs, as I walked by. That ¥28,000 would be gone in a flash as soon as rent day came around, and if I didn’t have that amount during rent day I would have other things to worry about. 

“You think it’s a challenge?” I heard a stranger speak as I neared the table where the stranger and his friend played mahjong.

“No one calls for a challenge by putting a job advertisement up dumbass,” The older-looking man said coolly while he clacked two tiles together.

“I get that but it’s Daruma! Surely they’re looking for a fight.” The older man simply grumbled in response.

“How ‘bout you stop speculating and actually head up to their base and ask? Might be the only job interview you’d be able to land.” I couldn’t help but get interested in the prospect of a job. Wouldn’t be too bad to snag an interview for one. Though, the Daruma Ikka name did make me hesitate.

“Um… Do you happen to know where I can apply?” I approached the table sheepishly. The younger man looked at me like I was crazy. To be fair I would have the same reaction if someone asked me where they can apply for a job that involved interacting with one of the major S.W.O.R.D gangs.

“I’m… Uh, I’m new to town. ‘Been looking for a job, do you know where I can apply for the one you’re talking about?” I fiddled with my fingers as I spoke, the younger man’s eyes stayed wide as I did.

“You heard what I said right? It’s a job sent out by the Daruma Ikka! They say they want a cleaner for the shrines or some shit but we all know they’re just looking for their next party!” He put violent air quotes around the word party. The older man proceeded to hit him with a newspaper he had set to the side.

“Stop yelling, you’re disturbing others,” He was right, just about everyone else in the shop behind us stole a glance, “If you really wanna try out for the job, unlike this wuss, you gotta head up to the shrine itself. Daruma aren’t the over-the-phone type of people. But, did hear they’re paying a lot for someone willing to deal with it for a while”

“Oh… Um… Do you happen to know where their temple is?” The younger man had no words, even the people in the store looked scared for me if they weren’t looking at me like I was crazy, that is. 

***

A day after that conversation I found myself at what used to be the gates of a temple. All that was left of the gate were the two stone pillars to either side of the road, the actual metal gate leaned on one of the two pillars, broken and rusted. What I assumed was a large Daruma Ikka Emblem was plastered on either pillar. 

About 40 meters away were four cars, two of them were vintage and each one was more flamboyant than the last. Each car was parked in front of the small temple. As I slowly walked closer to the temple, not failing to trip over my own feet on the way, more men wearing red and white Happis came into view. I couldn’t help but step back when I made eye contact with one of them.

“Who’re you?” A man came from behind the purple vintage Chevrolet I was nearing. He wore a red happi like the rest, it didn’t stop him from seeming more intimidating than the others I saw though.

“I… I heard there was, uh, that you guys were looking for a ground sleeping for this place,” My voice slowly grew softer and softer as the man with the dyed white hair stared me down. I didn’t know how I managed to stop my knees from buckling from the sheer amount of intimidation I felt.

“That so?”

Chapter Text

The silver haired man stared me down, I could feel sweat beads forming on the nape of my neck. We seemed to garner the attention of a few other people at the temple. A man, with hair that I’ve never known the name of but I’ve always referred to as the salmon nigiri style, walked up to us.

“Who’s this?” The sushi haired man shifted his weight from one foot to another as he crossed his arms. 

“She's here for the cleaner job.” The sushi haired man looked baffled but failed to hide his amusement.

“Someone really came for that? Holy fuck man, I didn’t know anyone was crazy enough to take the offer.” The sushi haired man laughed for just a moment before returning to his previous stoic state.

“Oi, little lady, you’re not suicidal or anything, right?” A man wearing a baseball cap on top of a bandana walked up to us, equally amused at the news. I shook my head to answer his question, with the three of them staring me down I was barely able to speak.

“What the hell are you doing?” A voice came from the gate, slightly muffled by the sound of a car’s engine. A car entered the temple’s courtyard, it was arguably the flashiest car I had seen in the place. It was a Cadillac, vintage, painted in a shiny gold paint coat. Though, what made it so eye catching at the moment wasn’t the fact that the car was gold from hood to trunk but rather because of the man sitting on its hood. He leaned back on the windshield, sitting there the same way a normal person would rest on a couch. Soon enough the car came to a stop and the man on the hood got off like he didn’t just ride in like that.

“Who’s this?” He spoke as he straightened the happi dropped over his shoulders. The men around me cleared the way for him to face me.

“Ah, Hyuga, she said she’s here for the clearer job,” The silver haired man spoke.

“That so?” The man stared me down, he was more intimidating than the rest. The men grew silent at his word, not only that but I could easily guess he didn’t only look like a mad dog but he probably fought like one too. In that moment I realized, he was Daruma Ikka’s leader, Hyuga Norihisa.

He nodded his head once and began walking off towards the temple. He stopped just as he reached the temple’s stairs, he looked over his shoulder towards me, an eyebrow raised.

“You coming or not?” It took me a moment to process his words.

“Oh, right, I’m coming.” I hastily walked towards the temple’s doors that he left open. The sushi haired and silver haired man walked a few steps behind me but when I entered the temple the two of them simply took a seat in the stairs like Komainu protecting a shrine.

***

It was just me and Hyuga inside the small temple. The Daruma Ikka crest seemed to watch my every move. While I shifted in my spot, Hyuga lit a finely decorated kiseru pipe using one of the nearby lanterns.

“You know what this job’s askin’ for?” Hyuga spoke after puffing out some smoke from his mouth, the scent of which made its way over to me.

“I just heard that you needed someone to keep your temples clean. I, uh, I just thought I’d take a shot since I need a job.” He let out a noise, I could only assume it was a singular chuckle. The red lantern next to him highlighted his slightly squinted eye and bruise on his left cheekbone. 

“Good, you’re honest but also we’re lookin’ for someone who’s able to move from one spot to another for a cleaning or to patch some boys up. These idiots get into more fights than necessary, don’t even know how to clean up after themselves after they work.” He took another puff from the pipe and my eyes continued to drift across the man. I wondered what his happi was made of, it shined in the light like a plastic or shined leather. The jacket he wore beneath the red was colorful, carefully embroidered, and finely made, it was designer no doubt. If the colors of the jacket and chains weren't masked by the happi he wore on his shoulders I would say he looked flashier than even the White Rascals. 

“I don’t have a car or anything but I got a good enough memory, just tell me where stuff is before hand and I’ll be alright for the most part. I, um, at least I think so.” I tried my best to keep eye contact as I spoke, thinking it awkward if he ever realized how much I'd been staring at him. 

Hyuga fell silent for a moment, this time taking a long puff from the pipe. The smoke that escaped his mouth was heavy enough to cover part of his face until it eventually disappeared, a red tint fell on it as it passed the lamp. 

“Can you get here at noon tomorrow?” I furiously nodded my head causing a small and more discernible chuckle to come from him.

“You got it, tell the boys on your way out. Ukyo’s the one with the silver hair, just tell it to him and you can go on your way.” He dropped the now burnt kizami into an ashtray and refilled the kiseru as I made my way outside.

The two men sitting on the stairs like Komainu looked up at me, waiting for me to speak.

“He… Hyuga says I’ll see you guys tomorrow,” I spoke as I passed the two of them and quickly descended the hill. From now on, I’ll be working for a S.W.O.R.D. gang, and for Daruma Ikka no less. Though I couldn’t lie, I was more than a little interested in the gang and its leader.

Chapter Text

Numerous clothes had been thrown on the floor, what little I had. I had turned my single bag of clothes upside down as I tried to find something red.

Like many of the gangs in S.W.O.R.D, Daruma Ikka had what you could call a dress code, of all the colors I didn't bring with me, I didn't have a single piece of red. I left the apartment block that day more worried about my own wardrobe than ever before. 

***

I arrived at the temple five minutes before noon, there were more people than yesterday. I felt a few eyes on me as I walked past the parked cars and neared the Komainu like men sitting on the shrine’s stairs.

“Goddamit,” Ukyo muttered as his sushi-haired counterpart smirked and held his hand out, Ukyo slapped a couple of bills into his hand reluctantly. Sushi counted the bills before stuffing them inside his pocket merrily. 

“Told ya’ she’d come.” Ukyo stood up, sushi did the same moment later, clearing the stairs. I stared at them for a moment, none of us spoke.

A moment later the doors of the temple slid open, thudding against their stoppers. It was Hyuga, I couldn’t tell if it was bed head or not but his hair looked particularly messy as he swung the happi over his shoulders.

“Follow,” His voice was deeper than yesterday, he must’ve just woken up. The two men on the stairs walked behind Hyuga, the three of them together must’ve been a force to be reckoned with. I watched as they walked to the golden Cadillac, I scanned the area as they did, looking for some kind of cleaning tool.

“What’re you waiting for?” I heard Hyuga yell out, his last few words overshadowed by a yawn. I looked around and pointed to myself.

“Yes, c’mon.” I rushed to grab whatever I had just put down and ran over to the golden Cadillac where the back seat was waiting for me. Hyuga sat on the other end, not technically on the seat but rather on the part of the deck lid directly behind it.

The sushi-haired man started the engine and began to drive off. As we entered the main road I could feel eyes on us, the car wasn’t one to blend in after all, or maybe it was Hyuga whose Happi fluttered in the wind.

“Where are we going?” I asked Ukyo as I was too worried about interrupting Hyuga’s picturesque moment. 

“The other temple,” The older man spoke as he turned on the radio, shifting stations until he found one he was satisfied with. I could tell those on the street could hear the music blasting from the car. 

“There’s another temple?” I heard Hyuga chuckle next to me.

“‘Course there is. You think we’d say that we’re in charge of the festivals with only one temple?” I didn’t have a response, I just nodded as if to say ‘Right’. 

I looked over in Hyuga’s direction for a moment, almost jumping when I made eye contact with him. I returned to looking at the heads of the two in the front seats despite feeling his gaze on me.

“Is… Is there something wrong?” I finally turned back around to him.

“Red,” A single word left his mouth in response. I waited for a moment for him to continue, my head tilted slightly to my right as I did.

“You’re not wearing red.” I knew I should’ve borrowed something from someone.

“I… I don’t own anything in red… sorry. And I’m sure that, um, it isn’t that big of a problem, I’m not part of the gang, just a cleaner, right?” I shuffled in my chair a bit. Hyuga made a sound in response, a small ‘hm’ before pulling a red bandana from his belt.

“Here.” He extended his hand towards me, the white and red bandana was firmly clutched in his hand to keep it from flying away.

“No, it's alright. I'll just, uh, I'll get something on my way home.” He made another sound, more annoyed this time. The sudden rough texture of his hands against mine as he placed the bandana in my hand made me jump a little.

“I, um, it's really alright.” I tried to protest.

“Wrap it around your hair or something. Daruma are red.”

Chapter Text

I took the bandana out of his hand, making sure not to accidentally make any contact with his skin. I contemplated for a moment as to what I should do with the fabric before finally deciding to go with Hyuga’s advice.

Hyuga’s glance went back and forth between me and the road as I tied my hair up with the bandana, I could only hope he couldn’t see the beads of sweat forming on my neck as I grew more aware of his gaze. Luckily for me by the time I had finished tying my hair the car had come to a full stop in front of a one story traditional house. It was very oddly placed, right next to it was a bar, down the corner was a “gentleman’s” club. It was no place for such a large house to be placed, and even stranger was the fact that it didn’t seem to have any lights, save for the little red lantern that illuminated what seemed like a shed to the left of the house.

Instead of sliding the large wooden doors open with too extravagant of a flourish for his lazy posture to effectively pull off, Hyuga led us to the shed off to the side. I watched as he opened the door to reveal a Daruma Ikka crest made of neon lights resting above a staircase. On the landing the door opened to wore two men wearing red Happis and bowed a little to Hyuga as he passed, I followed a few steps behind Ukyo.

As we neared the bottom of the staircase the truth of the “temple” was in full display. It was a basement but decorated as though it was a street. Lights hung from the pipes and stand were set up with enough space between them to make makeshift streets. Like a blast to the past the red light district was recreated in the basement of the traditional styled home. Men bet against one another, chickens fought in the corner, women walked around in kimonos that were altered to show skin, all while the Daruma Ikka crest illuminated the far side of the room, looking down on everyone.

I was toured around by Hyuga, for a man who looked so ragged he seemed powerful as he walked through the streets of the place. Two women clung to him as soon as they saw the chance, only for him to shake off.

“I told you , I don’t have time for that.” The women only seemed to want him more after he said that.

***

“This place opened eary today, it usually opens at 3, I need you ‘round here at 2 o’clock to make sure no one got themselves killed and to patch up any of the guys who come here after a fight. Stuff you need is upstairs, you won’t need to do any actual sweeping, all the shop-keeps do that at the end of the night.,” Hyuga spoke as he made himself comfortable on the platform located directly beneath the neon crest.

“For the other place it’s pretty much the same but you’re gonna need to make sure no one burns down the place and keep the pathway clean, feel free to punch anyon who throws a cigar into a pile of leaves.” I nodded as I tried to remember the path Ukyo took us to get here.

“What’re ya’ doin’?” I responded with a raised eyebrow and tilted head.

“Get up here, we’ve been walkin’ ‘round for an hour, take a goddam seat.” He motioned to a pillow a foot or so away from him on the platform. He was right, me feet were hurting, but I didn’t know how I would react to being close to him again.

I pushed myself up to the platform and moved the pillow away from him by maybe a foot or so before sitting down. As I looked on to the meticulously set up headquarters I wondered how much effort the gang had put into financing, decorating, and hiring. I had heard that the White Rascals had ruled S.W.O.R.D’s nightlife, but to me Daruma wasn’t too far behind. Daruma’s title might have been “ruler of the festivals” but what would competitors do if they made everynight a festival?

Chapter Text

The night was getting colder as time passed, I didn't bring sheets with me. I was in such a hurry that I didn't even think about bringing them. Still, having to buy a few things was better than staying back where I was. I was freezing, who knew spring could be so cold. The light slipped past my depressed duffle bag in the corner, the red bandana staring at me as it did. 

Soon, all the natural light had faded from the one window in the entire room. I was curled up in a ball, watching as the minutes ticked past on my phone, I wasn't going to be sleeping that night. The bandana kept staring at me. Outside the window, the lights of the city replaced all the natural light that had just faded.

***

With the bandana tucked into the waistband of my pants, the cool night breeze blew in my face as I stepped outside. The streets were lively, it was Daruma territory after all. I weaved past the crowds of nightlife enjoyers, and the smell of food enticed me towards stalls. I simply stared at the men grilling the barbecue from the window as I forced my feet to move. I didn't have the luxury of spending money like that, the only place to go was the seven-eleven at the end of the block. 

The cup of ramen that I came out of the store with was my favorite flavor. I was lucky that the clerk was in the mood to even heat it for me, she looked tired. What was I thinking when I took the job with Daruma? This was a city, not the suburbs that grew up in, there was a surplus of jobs that needed to be filled. No, I took the one that makes me affiliated with one of the biggest gangs that the district is named after. 

I stood at the crosswalk that I passed that morning to get on the trail towards the temple. It was a literal crossroads as I looked down the block to my depressing apartment where I could simply turn my head and face the mountain that the temple was on. 

"Goddamit," I silently mumbled to myself as I took the turn. 

The walk up the mountain wasn't that long but I did worry that the noodles inside the cup of ramen were swelling too much. Though, just as I thought that my fingers would be burned off because of the hot water I finally reached the dilapidated gates of the temple. 

The wind was colder up there, but it was nice. The hustle and bustle of the city were at least half a mile behind me and the stars were particularly bright up here. Staring at them as I slurped my noodles made me remember that this place used to be an actual temple, people used to come here to get in touch with celestial spirits. Now here I was, god knows how many years later, on its stone steps slurping on some cup ramen as industrial-sized containers lit the yard with the fire inside them. 

"What're you doing here?" The noise of the door opening behind me almost made me drop my cup of ramen. Behind me, with worse bed hair than usual, was Hyuga. Bits of worn tatami fiber was stuck in his hair. 

"You're not meant to be here," He looked at the golden watch on his wrist, "for another six hours." He stepped down from the temple's room, closing the door on the ever-watching Daruma symbol. 

"I, uh, I didn't want to stay in my apartment." I placed the cup of noodles next to me. 

"It's 2 AM, what the hell?" He scratched his head. 

"It...It was cold" Just as I said that the night breeze tossed both of our hair sending a chill through my clothes. 

"It's colder up here! Go back home!" Hyuga raised his voice a little, like a parent scolding their child. 

"But I like it up here..." My voice grew softer as each word left my lips. 

"Aish." Hyuga scratched his head once more before giving in. Though, to my surprise, instead of going back inside the temple he took a seat next to me. 

We sat on the steps of the temple like that for a while. Barely any more words were shared but it wasn't awkward. Though, he did steal a bite of my cup of ramen while I was busy watching the stars. Two hours passed just like that, the sky was getting lighter but I was starting to sneeze. 

It was then that I felt a weight fall on my shoulders. When I looked, Hyuga was no longer wearing his Happi. The iconic red happi of the Daruma Ikka was now on my shoulders. 

"Come in later if you want, don't tell the boys," Hyuga mumbled as he stepped back inside.

Chapter Text

I had no clue what time it was, the sky was pitch black, outside the dazzling view of the milky way that was on full display above me. Looking at my phone to check the time would only ruin the moment, all I knew was that the night was getting colder. 

Despite the rather thick leather of the unconventional happi and its lining, the wind began biting through it. I looked behind me to the closed temple doors who, despite seeming rather old, looked sturdy. It must have been warm inside, at the very least it would keep out the wind. I continued staring at the night sky as I continued to think. 

Sure, Hyuga said I could come in. There was nothing stopping me on that front. Still, was it really alright for me to go in? Not only would I be sleeping in the same room with a man I barely know, but he was my boss and a gang leader. The leader of a gang who was known for being unhinged. Anyone in my position would hesitate as well.  

Then again, it was also Hyuga. His gang work was unhinged, sure, but he was pretty chill. If he wanted to take advantage of me or be a creep he would’ve pulled something earlier, right? 

No, that isn’t a safe way to think at all. 

I considered walking back home. That idea was scrapped rather quickly, walking down a pitch-black mountain and walking around the S.W.O.R.D district alone was probably a riskier move than sleeping in the temple. 

With a sigh, I pulled the happi closer to my body before finally standing up. With a final pitch of the instant ramen cup toward a flaming garbage can, I finally turned in for the night. 

I slid the door as slowly as I could, hoping to avoid any noise from stirring Hyuga. A small yelp almost escaped from me when I finally made it inside. Hyuga was directly beneath the Daruma Ikka crest, lanterns on either side of him were lit ablaze. He slept like he was faking it, with his hand in his head while the rest of his body was perfectly tilted to the side. 

How could anybody sleep on the hard tatami floor like that? He didn’t even have a futon plus, the only thing that seemed to keep him warm was the colorful hoodie he always wore beneath his happi. It almost made me pity him, but with the money the other temple was making, it made me wonder why he slept in a place like this. 

I huddled in a small corner, rolling myself into a ball. The tatami was comfortable, worlds different from my apartment. I wondered what made them so different, age? Location? I let my thoughts linger from me as I drifted off to sleep. Who knew my first comfortable sleep in two weeks would be in an old, and probably cursed, temple, across the room from a gang leader. 

***

Creak

Creak

Swoosh

The sudden gust of wind that entered the room woke me. I could see a few rays of sun peaking through the cracks of the wooden shutters of the windows. I had half a mind to go back to sleep.

“Hey! Shut the hell up!” Well there went any hopes of peacefully going back to sleep. I propped myself up before realizing that the sun was a little too high.

I tumbled to my feet before realizing that the person yelling was Hyuga, to the entire gang. At least, I assumed it was the entire gang, I could hear fights and conversations happening from the opened door Hyuga was standing in. They were all now relatively quiet because of Hyuga’s scolding.

I shrank in to the corner hoping no one would see me. What would people say if they saw me waking up with Hyuga Norihisa of all people?

Before I could do anything Hyuga rolled the door shut and focused his attention on to me.

“Hey, it’s twelve already, get to work soon,” He spoke through a yawn before returning to his odd sleeping position. I took his word and went for the door, “Hey, if you’re gonna go out now cover up with the happi or something. The pajamas are cute and all, but the boys’ll never let you live it down.”

I flushed while he chuckled. I ran back to the corner that I had previously discarded the happi in. 

“Remember the warning I gave you last night, that was for you not me,” I could hear the smirk on Hyuga’s face while he spoke. 

Swoosh

Chapter Text

I looked down on my phone as I waited for the minutes to pass by. How long was long enough for me to leave the temple without any of the guys putting the pieces together? However long it needed to be, I obviously didn’t wait long enough.

With one slide of the wooden door I suddenly felt about fifty or so eyes on me. The number only grew as I traveled through the courtyard, walking into more people’s line of sight as I did. The red happi only seemed to draw more attention as I began to see people’s eyes darting between me and Hyuga. Who uncharacteristically, was void of his happi. But here the new girl was, coming out of the same place he slept in, with one covering her loose pajamas.

I stayed a reasonable distance from Hyuga and the group he was talking to. In the short moment we made eye contact I could see him mouth ‘I told you’ as I picked up my pace.

I could not get out of that courtyard fast enough. I damn near sprinted off the mountain, risking the safety of my ankle. With a few more odd stares as I ran through the streets, I had safely made it to my apartment.

My heart was in my throat, and not just because of all the running. I pulled the red cloth closer to me as I recounted the last 12 hours. 

***

With a shaky breath, I made my way up the last five steps. The happi was folded neatly in my arms as the sound of the members grew louder with every passing step. 

As soon as I made it off the stairs Hyuga’s smirk greeted me. He laid on his side, the doors of the temple were wide open, giving him a full view of the change in colors on my face. By the time I made it halfway down the path I could be sure that my face was matching the happi in color. 

“Is that for me?” He spoke low once I got close enough to him. Low enough for me to just barely hear at my distance. 

“Shut up,” I spoke before I could remember who I was talking to. Just as it registered in my head that I had told the mad dog of the S.W.O.R.D district to shit up, he had already stood up to take the happi from me. 

“No one’s said that to me in a long time.” In one fluid motion he threw the red cloth over his shoulders in a dramatic flourish that ended with his back towards me. The bold white characters that marked every Daruma Ikka member greeted me.

He stood there for a moment as a man frantically burst from the ground’s entrance. Causing even Hyuga to turn around. 

“Boss!” The man shouted, “Those bastards are at it again!”

Hyuga gave little reaction. Not even a look of surprise or alarm.

“Eh?” Was all he said. The bald man stumbled towards us. Little drops of blood fell from his lip, staining the gray tiles of the pathway.

“Beneath the bridge. Gangsters. Different district,” The man took breaths between every few words. If the bridge he was talking about was the one near the Nameless City border, he must have ran a long way. 

Hyuga laughed a little. I couldn’t tell if it was at the distress of the out of breath messenger or the invitation to a fight, but he laughed. 

“Babies!” He called the attention of the entire courtyard with that word, “We’re riding out.”

The men around me cheered. I wondered if their previous fights had messed up their heads. Who else but Daruma Ikka would be this excited to fight?

Men gathered their weapons from their cars, numerous engines invited with a roar. Hyuga, most importantly, took his seat in an open top car. Well, not inside, his feet were on the back passenger’s seat, but the rest of his body were firmly on the back of the car. Ukyo revved the engine, ready to roll out. 

“As for you,” Hyuga held the procession behind him, “Head down to the second temple. Bring some bandages, lots of em’”