Title: Murder II
Rated M for violence and mature scenes
Fact: a flock of crows is called a murder
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Chapter VII
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Tokaji shifted his grip on his cello case, looking up at the practice room number. O-5. Orchestra room number 5. He swallowed, before taking his sunglasses off his face and setting them atop his head, turning the doorknob and walking inside.
The room had been softly buzzing with talk and the soft tuning of instruments but everything went silent when Tokaji walked in. He didn’t know most of them, since they were all upperclassmen save for a young girl who he had seen at auditions. She played Oboe. She averted her gaze quickly from his own, looking nervous and fearful.
Most of the other musicians were giving him a once over and a disapproving sneer.
Fuck this shit. Shige had said to meet here, so where the hell was she…?
“Come in and take a seat, Yuji-san. We’re tuning our instruments before we begin our warmup.” Aida Arinori, the concertmaster and the only person besides Shige that Tokaji knew, gave him a stiff nod. The other guy didn’t seem to like him, but he was tolerating him, probably for Shige-san’s sake.
He noticed the other judges from the first day, all of which looked disgruntled and wanted to say something, but didn’t.
“What do you mean?” A member snapped, a male bass player. “You’ve got to be kidding me. This kid only just began, and he probably doesn’t know any of the pieces we’re going to be playing! Chigiru-san had the highest judging by the panel, so that was why she was allowed in, and we’ve already tested her on her knowledge of the pieces.” He pointed to the shy Oboist, who squirmed under Tokaji’s gaze. “But what about him?”
Arinori placed his violin on his shoulder, playing a few notes before looking over at the bass player. “Maestro is the one who recommended him, so are you going to continue complaining? If he cannot play the pieces he will fall behind and will be asked to leave. Please, keep the rest of your comments to yourself.” He looked back to Tokaji, then pointed at an empty seat in the cello section with his violin bow. “Go talk to Ienari Eizan. He’s the first chair cello and he’ll give you the sheet music you need and tell you where to sit.” Tokaji gave a gruff nod in recognition and headed to the cello section where the other man sat. He was a few years older than Tokaji, with designer glasses and a chic haircut. He watched Tokaji approach with mild annoyance and when he stopped in front of him he sighed.
“Here you are.” He pulled out a large section of papers and handed them to Tokaji. “I hope you can read music.” He gave him a questioning glance.
“Of course I can fucking read music. It’s a requirement, isn’t it?” Tokaji snapped back.
Everyone who heard went silent, and Eizan opened his mouth to retort, his face reddening in anger. He was stopped, however, as the door opened and HIrase Shige walked in. The entire room went quiet, as everyone reached for the instruments, ready to begin.
Shige smiled and nodded at them all, her gaze resting on Tokaji. Her smile grew and she nodded at him before turning to Arinori. He stood. “Alright everyone, take your seats. We’re beginning with a few warm-ups.”
Everyone nodded, sitting in their chairs, backs straight and excited to begin. Tokaji took his own seat at the end of the cello section, pulling his instrument out of its case and placing his papers on the stand in front of him.
Shige lifted her hand and everyone lifted up their instruments.
Tokaji felt an odd excitement bubble inside of him.
Then they began.
Two hours later Tokaji felt like hell. Not only was he frustrated beyond the point of wanting to destroy his instrument and strangle himself with the strings, but he had a feeling that it was a mutual thought between everyone else in the orchestra as well.
He didn’t know the pieces very well, and his unfamiliarity with them was obvious.
Finally, as soon as the music died down, the 1st chair clarinet, Higashikuni Masujiro, put his instrument down and turned pointedly to Tokaji. “If you aren’t going to play with the group, then leave. You’re holding us all back.”
“Masujiro-san…” Arinori began, but the lead contrabass violinist Baisotei Fusae, stood, holding her bow and pointing it at him.
“He’s right. I don’t care how good Maestro may think you are, but I can’t see it.”
Shige stood, looking worried.
“What the hell is wrong?” Tokaji snapped back, standing as well. “I’m holding my fucking own and palying my own part perfectly fine. What the hell is the problem?”
“It isn’t about just playing your part.” Fusae snapped out, “You aren’t watching Maestro at all!”
“What?”
“You aren’t reading her hands or playing how she wants you to. Because of it, you aren’t playing with the rest of us. If you’re going to play solo, do it somewhere else…not in an orchestra.” Fusae finished coldly.
Tokaji took a step toward her. “What the hell do you mean by that?”
“Alright.” Arinori stood. “That’s enough. We’re done for the day. Everyone out. Continue practicing. Our next practice is tomorrow at 6.”
Everyone nodded, silently getting their instruments and filing out of the room. Fusae held her head up high, looking down her nose at Tokaji as she left, her music sheets clenched tightly in her hand.
Arinori waited until everyone else was out of the room before closing the door behind him with a last worried glance, leaving Shige and Tokaji alone.
“Dammit.” Tokaji cursed to begin his tirade, unsure of what was going to hapopen but knowing it wasn’t going to be good.
Shige merely turned toward the large board behind her where she wrote down comments during their playing and began writing.
Playing solo and playing with an orchestra are very different.
“What the hell does that mean? I just play my part and everyone else plays theirs and it works, right? What the hell are you talking about?”
Shige smiled patiently, and it annoyed him. It was like the look of a mother chastising her young child.
He was not her son, so she had better not damned act like it.
It’s alright. I think that if you continue working with the pieces, you’ll understand in no time. I think in the next session you should sit back and watch and see how the others play.
“Are you kicking me out?” Tokaji snarled.
She shook her head quickly, lifting her hands in a placating gesture before turning back to the board.
Of course not. I think that if I tutor you privately you will catch up quickly.
“I don’t want to be part of this shitty orchestra anyway.” Tokaji muttered.
Shige shook her head. You just need a bit more practice. You love playing, so you should try your hardest to make yourself better.
“I don’t like playing.”
Don’t lie to yourself.
“I said I don’t want to fucking play! Why can’t you get that through your fucking head?”
Shige lifted a hand as if to stop him, but it only seemed to make Tokaji even more frustrated.
Tokaji have never been so humiliated in his entire life. He was not the kind of person who let people insult him without throwing a punch in retaliation. He was frustrated and his pride stung, so he took it out on her.
“And why can’t you just fucking talk!? If you’re going to be telling me about all the shit I’m doing wrong, don’t you think you should at least be able to speak!?” And he walked out of the room, slamming the door behind him.
---
The door to the Shun family store opened and the bell chimed, signaling a visitor.
“Welcome—NIICHAN!” Aki screamed out as she turned, wheeling her wheelchair over. She was still unable to walk properly, but that was normal for someone with the extensive injuries and complicated surgery as she’d had. She was still as chipper as ever, it seemed, and her physical therapy was going well.
“Izaki!” His mother gave a bright smile, coming out from behind the counter. She gave him a tight hug before holding him at arm’s length. “You look so different. College has truly changed you. But you’re a bit pale…are you eating enough?”
Izaki smiled placatingly at his mother. “I’m fine. I’m eating well. I wanted to know if you had any of that special tea you used to give me when I had a nosebleed?”
“Oh, of course. Are you getting them again?” His mother asked curiously, reaching behind the counter.
“It’s nothing serious. I think it’s stress.” Izaki quickly put in, looking around the shelves for something to buy. Tamao had always liked the ramune from his father’s shop.
His mother nodded. “I see. As long as it’s not…fighting…?” She asked worriedly.
Izaki shook his head. “I’m in college, okaasan. I don’t have time for fighting anymore.”
His mother visibly relaxed. “Oh. Oh that’s good.” She gave another smile, this one brighter and more genuine. “How busy are you today, dear?”
“Mother!” Aki exclaimed. “Niichan promised to spend all day with me until he has to go to classes in the afternoon! You can’t monopolize him!”
“Monopolize? You’ve been studying hard.” Izaki murmured.
“Of course!” Aki nodded with another grin. “I’m planning on going to Todai just like you!”
Their mother watched them all for a moment before speaking. “Well Aki, I promise you will get to spend the rest of the day with your brother, alright?”
“Ok…” Aki seemed a bit unconvinced.
“What do you need me to do?” Izaki asked calmly, putting the ramune back. Maybe he’d come for it later…
“Oh, dear.” His mother smiled brightly. “Aki needs to go to the doctor for her checkup, could you take her? I’ve already set one up for you too. You needed to get your medical records for college anyway, didn’t you? I’ll pick Aki up from the hospital afterward, since I’m going to visit Miyu-san.”
Tokaji’s mother? That sounded suspicious…
“Why…?”
“Oh nothing!” She said quickly with a bright smile. “I have some cookies I made for Tokaji that I wanted to give her for him. He’s been working very hard at music school after all.”
Izaki smirked. Heh, Tokaji at music school, if only everyone else knew…but he would save that piece of blackmail for later. He merely nodded. “Alright. Come on Aki, let’s go.” He bent down next to her hear and whispered, “We’ll go get something to eat first, ok?”
Aki gave a vigorous nod, cheering as the two headed out of the house.
---
“Cupcake?” Tamao peered into the living room sleepily. He still wasn’t quite awake—Izaki and Tokio leaving in the morning had roused him from his sleep but not enough to get him out of bed—and he’d just realized that his little welsh corgi was nowhere in sight.
Something was off.
“Oi. Cupcake!” He looked around the living room, scratching the back of his neck and frowning.
“Dipshit, where are you?”
No reply.
The only places he hadn’t checked were…Tamao swallowed, finding himself standing in front of Izaki’s door. He felt awkward breaking in, but the door wasn’t locked. He turned the handle, opening it slowly, excpecting something horrible to happen the moment he stepped inside.
He stopped as soon as the door was completely open, giving him a good view of the bed.
Cupcake was fast asleep on Izaki’s bed, his little legs twitching as he dreamed.
“Oi…you can’t just come in here…” Tamao walked over to the dog and was about to pick him up…but then looked down at the bed. He was tired, and it was Izaki’s bed and well…no one else was home. Tamao slumped facedown onto it, trying his hardest not to fall on Cupcake. The little dig woke up, but quickly went back to sleep when he saw that it was just Tamao.
Tamao lay there for a few moments in silence, breathing in the smell of the room and clean detergent of Izaki’s sheets and pillowcase. Silently, Tamao was pleased to note that Izaki had used the same detergent as he did at his old house when they were still friends.
It was a nice familiarity, and it reminded him of the times when he and Izaki didn’t hate each other.
Those times seemed so very far away…
Tamao and Cupcake at the apartment…how Tamao hadn’t found Cupcake in the morning until everyone was gone…and he’d snuck into Izaki’s room and seen the little guy sleeping on his bed. Tamao is going to lay down on Izaki’s bed for a moment, staring up at the ceiling…and remembering when he’d slept in Izaki’s bed when they were little when he didn’t want to be home with his abusive father.
“Oi, hold still! You’re being such a baby.”
“Shit! That stings like a bitch!” Tamao whined, trying to wiggle out of his friend’s grasp. Izaki held Tamao firmly in a headlock, dabbing the alcohol-soaked cotton swab to the large gash on Tamao’s forehead.
“You should have come straight over instead of yelling back at him.” Izaki chastised, his grip tightening as Tamao squirmed. “You know when your dad gets in those moods you shouldn’t provoke him.”
“Whatever.” Tamao grumbled. “It isn’t my fault that asshole decided to start talking about my mom again.”
“You’re a dipshit.” Izaki retorted. “He always talks about your mom when he gets drunk, you should know to just shut up and come sleep over here. I can’t believe he threw you into a fucking table!”
“I’m fine. I don’t even see why you’re—HOLY FUCK!”
“Hold still!” Izaki snarled, dabbing the last bits of blood away as Tamao punched his arm savagely. He slapped a bandage on the gash before letting Tamao go, waiting for him to attack him in revenge.
The blow never came and Izaki looked over curiously to see Tamao staring down at his hands.
“…what…?”
“Nothing.” Tamao whispered.
“…are you crying…?”
“Shut the hell up!” Tamao hissed back.
Izaki’s smirk turned into a worried frown. “Hey…look, you know your dad doesn’t mean it when he talks about your mom like that.”
“I don’t need your fucking pity.” Tamao snapped, shoving his face in Izaki’s pillow and inhaling deeply. He liked the smell of Izaki’s sheets. It calmed him.
“Whatever.” Izaki whispered, lying down beside him. He looked to the pillow and contemplated stealing it, but decided against it. Tamao was hurt, after all. Sometimes he wondered why he never just told Tamao to never go back to his father. But Izaki knew the world wasn’t that simple. They couldn’t legally keep Tamao with them and if he didn’t live with them, he would have no place to go. So Izaki would offer his home whenever Tamao needed it to escape, and that was all he could do. He was a child, he was helpless. He couldn’t protect Tamao, so he had no right to tell Tamao to never return to his father’s side. Unless he could do something like that than he could only be a comfort.
Tamao shifted under the covers.
“Dammit, stay on your own side, Tamao!” Izaki grumbled.
“You’re the one who’s squirming too much! Don’t hog the blanket!”
The two fought over it for a while before they eventually fell asleep, practically curled around each other.
They woke up in the morning to the sound of a camera going off and a flash. They blinked sleeping before turning to see Aki sitting at the foot of the bed with her dog Momo. She was grinning mischeviously and she waved the developing photo in their faces before runnoung out of the room, giggling loudly.
The two exchanged looks with one another before scrambling out of bed, tripping in the sheets as they ran to the door.
“Oi, Aki-chan! Oi! Come back here!”
“Aki! Give it here! AKI!”
Tamao looked up at the ceiling of Izaki’s room in silence, Cupcake licking his cheek. He pushed the dog back a bit, ignoring its small whine as he dug into his jeans pocket. He pulled out a folded piece of paper and held it up to his face, opening it.
It was the photo.
He’d managed to get it from Aki that day but hadn’t told Izaki he’d found it. Aki had promised to not tell her brother, keeping it a secret. Tamao had never had any photos with anyone before. He didn’t have photos of his mother at their house, or of anyone else he’d met over the years. A picture was something special…
…and Izaki had been his first close friend…
Tamao sighed, folding the picture back up and stuffing it in his pocket.
“Fuck this…”
---
“Two beef cutlet bowls!” Chuta grinned proudly as he placed the two bowls in front of Aki and Izaki. He stood there, waiting, before Aki got the hint and took a bit, smiling.
“It’s really good!”
Chuta beamed, “I’ll go get the rest of your order!” And he ran off.
“Why are you encouraging him?” Izaki asked, looking to his friend’s retreating form.
Aki giggled. “He looked like he needed some encouragement.”
“Mm.” Izaki agreed, taking a sip of his water.
Chuta walked back into the room with the onigiri that Aki had ordered. She squealed with delight at seeing them shaped like hearts.
Izaki sent Chuta s suspicious glance, but he merely pointed back at the kitchen. “My mom made them.”
Izaki nodded as Aki said thank you and then took another sip of his water.
“Genji-san comes by here often, ya know.” Chuta sighed, leaning against their table in his apron.
“Mmm.”
“He’s lonely, I think.” Chuta stared up at the air as if he weren’t talking to anyone in particular.
“I see.”
“You should go and talk with him sometime soon. I think Genji-san thinks you’ve abandoned him, Izaki-san…you know that Genji-san always thought of you as his second-in-command. He expected you to go with him to the Ryuusekai as well.”
“I never promised to follow him any further than the top of Suzuran.” Izaki whispered, but he knew very well that he’d contemplated joining Genji more than once. If he hadn’t gotten the scholarship to Todai…there was no doubt in his mind that he would have joined him.
“My brother is going to college.” Aki said stubbornly. “Just because my brother isn’t working with the yakuza doesn’t mean he isn’t his friend, either! And the yakuza is dangerous!” She turned to her brother. “Niichan, I should go and talk to Genji-san right away and tell him how dangerous it is!”
Izaki gave a low laugh. “No need, I’ve already tried.” Because Genji’s mind was set, no matter what Izaki told him, nothing would change.
And that was what worried Izaki even more. He couldn’t join the yakuza now, not when his family could be endangered. He knew that Genji was having them protected and watched but…there was only so much he could do. Yakuza were still yakuza, after all.
“Izaki—”
“Drop it, Chuta.” Izaki said tiredly. “I’ll go see him soon.” He turned to Aki. “We’ll leave when you finish.”
---
Tokio gave a tight smile and a nod. “Of course, mother.”
“Well I just thought that maybe you should look into it a bit more…you know that your father is already frustrated over you not taking over the company…” She looked away, biting her lip in worry.
“I already said no.” Tokio muttered. “Why can’t he accept that? I’m going to be a doctor and the other thing—I’m not going to let him control my life.”
“What’s that?” His father walked into the room, his phone up to his ear and a digital-assistant in one hand as he checked over some files. “Yes, yes.” He said into the phone before turning to his son. “What exactly aren’t you doing?”
“I’m not getting married.”
His father stilled, eyes narrowing behind his glasses before he muttered into the phone, “I’ll call you back in twenty minutes.” He hung up the phone and the silence became tense before he spoke again.
“What…are you not going to do, exactly?”
“I told you I’m not getting married.”
“You don’t have a choice.” His father replied.
Tokio stood, gritting his teeth. “I am not going to marry some girl just so you can expand your business!”
“Come on now, Tokio…” His mother murmured pleadingly, standing and putting her hand on his arm. “She’s a sweet girl and she comes from a very good family…”
“You have no say in the matter, Tokio.” His father said coldly. “Get used to it. The two of you will be married in—”
“I am not marrying that bitch!” Tokio yelled back.
The room went silent, save for his mother’s quick, labored breaths.
“…I suggest you shut your mouth and sit down or I will disown you right now.” His father hissed.
“Fuck this!” Tokio stalked out of the room, slamming the door behind him with a loud bang. He stood in the hallway, silently fuming. A few seconds later his mother walked out, putting her hands on his shoulders.
“…Tokio…”
“I don’t want to talk.”
“…Tokio…”
“Mother! I mean it, I don’t—”
“Just listen…I know you don’t want to marry her…” His mother gave him a sympathetic gaze. “I’ll try and talk to your father about it but…you need to marry someone…even if you don’t take over the family business, you know that it will go in your name when your father dies. If your wife’s family…”
“…mother…” He began warningly, but she shook her head.
“Just a girl, Tokio…just find a good girl, alright?”
He was trying, really…
---
Izaki looked up at the hospital, before turning to Aki, giving a small smile. “Are you excited?”
Aki nodded from where she sat in her wheelchair. “Hai! If my checkup is good, they say that I can start my intensive walking exercises soon!”
Izaki nodded. “I’m sure the doctor will say everything is fine.” He began wheeling her into the hospital. A few of the nurses recognized them from their many trips and waved. Aki waved back, and Izaki gave them gruff nods.
“I can’t wait to start school again! Do you think I’ll be able to walk by then?”
Izaki wheeled her over to the elevator. “I don’t know. School begins in a week, doesn’t it?”
Aki pouted a bit. “But I want to start walking now!”
Izaki snorted, pressing the button for the third floor. “You have to be patient.”
“You have a checkup today too, don’t you?”
“I need a full checkup for my college files.” Izaki nodded. “Just a few blood tests.”
“We can get blood drawn together!” Aki smiled. “I usually have the nurse hold my hand when they do it, but you can this time.”
Izaki laughed. “Hai, hai.” The elevator dinged and the doors slid open…and Izaki pushed the wheelchair out into the crowded hallway.
---
Kang-Dae looked at his mahjong tiles, frowning in concentration. Jomei sat across from him, smoking a cigarette. Renjira was lounging on the couch a few feet away, reading a book.
Dong-Yul was sitting in a chair in the corner, sharpening a knife.
Kuma was not there because he had a match in a few days.
The door to the club burst open and Tadao walked inside, “Hello!”
Dong-Yul stiffened, hand tightening on his knife before he caught Kang-Dae’s warning gaze and nodded gruffly, continuing his knife sharpening.
“I’ve come across something very interesting.” Tadao grinned as he slipped into the seat beside Renjira, putting his feet up against the table.
“What is it?” Kang-Dae’s gaze never left the mahjong table.
“I found out where Shun Izaki is living.”
The table was forgotten.
“What did you say?” Kang-Dae’s voice was low, and had a deadly hint to it.
Tadao continued as if nothing was wrong. “La Tour Abodai, that’s the name of the apartment complex.”
Renjira’s eyes narrowed. “Tadao…what are you doing?” He exchanged a worried look with Jomei.
Tadao’s smirked grew. “Oh…and there’s a bit more as well.”
“Tadao…” Renjira began warningly, standing.
“What is it?” Kang-Dae bit out.
“He’s living with Serizawa Tamao and Tatsukawa Tokio.”
The room was completely silent, save for the silent clicking of Dong-Yul’s cellphone as he searched for vacancies in the apartment complex across from La Tour Abodai, his sniper rifle ready.
---
Dr. Goro smiled softly at Aki, nodding at her before turning to Izaki. “I need to speak with you about something.” He gaze went back to Aki and it became solemn. “In private.”
Izaki nodded. Aki looked up at him and smiled, “Mother is coming to pick me up from the hospital. She’ll check me out so you can get to your afternoon classes.”
“Alright.” Izaki smiled softly. “I’ll see you in a few days.” He waved to her before following Dr. Goro down the hall. He swallowed shallowly. This couldn’t be about Aki. Something couldn’t be wrong with her!
The turned a corner and Dr. Goro turned to face him, his face serious. “Shun-san…I just got the reports of the blood tests…”
----
peaceful
tired
curious
sleepy
crazy
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determined
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drained
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