104 Brewing Storm (1/2)

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It was still dark but Jirou was running around his house and rushed towards Tomoyo's room. Just when he thought that they could all put yesterday's business behind them, he received a disturbing call early in the morning.

”[I want you to answer me honestly old friend…]” A serious tone was immediately heard when he answered the call from Doumyouji Gakuto. ”[Is Old Kou's grandson still at your place?]” a hint of hostility could be felt from his voice as Jirou rushed out of his room.

”What happened?” he asked. His friend showing hostility towards Kazuya who Jirou, the old bat and the stubborn bull was proved that Gakuto wasn't thinking clearly. The fact that Kazuya was Kou's grandson to top it off made the way he acted unreasonable so Jirou knew someone serious must have happened.

”Just tell me! Is the boy there or has he ever left your house?” Gakuto was being emotional so Jirou decided to hurry on towards Tomoyo's room. He quietly knocked before peeking in when there was no answer.

”He's here. From the looks of it, my granddaughter has been holding onto him ever since last night” Jirou commented as he saw Kazuya being enveloped by both Tomoyo's arm and leg.

”Are you sure that he didn't leave last night?” Gakuto didn't give up.

”I don't know what you're so worked up about but I know my granddaughter's sleeping habits better than anyone” Jirou was getting annoyed as he scoffed at his friend. ”She will not let go of him and I have experienced this while I was raising her. Tread carefully and tell me what is wrong. You of all people should know whose grandson the boy is”

”Sorry…” Gakuto who was on the other line immediately understood. He was but one man of one clan. To betray one of them, especially Kouzuki Kou was akin to suicide because of all the people that would give their all to help him. ”My grandson… Kuuga is missing”

”Missing? Didn't he run away last night to avoid getting punished by your old ways?” Jirou snorted. He didn't have any good feelings towards this old peacock's grandson.

”That's what I thought as well but when I send some people over to fetch him, they found no trace of him except for… blood splatter that looked to be from a fire arm” Jirou was shocked after hearing what his old friend had to say. It was no wonder he was so emotional. ”Is your grandson…”

”He's dead” Gakuto finished the sentence Jirou couldn't finish. ”I'm having the place he hung out in swept. Currently, they found brain matter scattered along with the blood so it's already a foregone conclusion”

”Are you sure it's him?” Jirou questioned. ”I'm sorry to say this but your grandson isn't exactly someone who I call… a pacifist” he wanted to make sure. His friend wasn't in the right state of mind right now so Jirou could only act as the voice of reason. There was no telling what this old friend of his might do at the slightest bit of suspicion. He both had the means and the power to do so after all.

”There was no one else that entered after he did and no one left according to the udon stall's owner. The district is quite noisy so something like a single gunshot from a random place could easily be mistaken for something else. Don't try to console me by giving me false hope old friend, I already had someone confirm it and started finding which bastard had done it” Gakuto's rage was on the rise.

”Then you should calm down old friend. Your suspicion should be far away from the boy then. Do you remember how Dokuro Domon left this world?” Jirou asked in a serious tone. ”The boy had been out cold ever since that time and I don't even know when he will wake up. I know how you are feeling since I've lost my son once but don't you think you're being too hotheaded?”

”That…” Gakuto was taken aback. His main reason for suspecting Kazuya was that he was the only one he currently knew that almost killed Kuuga if it weren't for his intervention. Kazuya had also shown amazing prowess that would put his own subordinates to shame. ”It seems that I have really been foolish” remembering the pile of ashes that he collected a sample of as well, Gakuto thought that someone with Kazuya's abilities and intelligence would not leave such a bloody mess.

”I'll lend you a hand old friend” Jirou knew how it feels to lose a kin and offered his help.

”Thank you old friend but… I want to be notified if there are any leads” Gakuto made sure to clarify his last statement. ”You of all people should know how I'm feeling and I intend to see this through to the end”

”I know” Jirou's brows furrowed but he understood. ”Just remember to keep your head clear. You already know that we will help but what we help with depends on the actions you will take from now on”

”I got it” Gakuto ended the call. Jirou sighed and dialed another number as he walked farther away from Tomoyo's room.

Inside the room, both Kazuya and Tomoyo opened their eyes slowly. They heard Jirou coming over so Tomoyo immediately pulled Kazuya and made him into her hug pillow. What she didn't know was that Kazuya had been used to this to the point that he wondered if every single girl had a habit of hugging something in their sleep like a mother protecting its cub.

”Thanks, I really owe you this time” Kazuya yawned and stretched his legs. It truly had been very tiring night for him. He looked at the robot girl who provided him with the perfect alibi and patted her head with gratitude. ”Did you a catch cold or something?”

*shake shake* Tomoyo looked a little flushed. This was something that he was not used to so he had to ask. Tomoyo on the other hand was feeling a bit confused and embarrassed. She couldn't put a finger on it but she felt that something had changed in Kazuya.

It seemed as if his gaze had grown sharper and he exuded a certain atmosphere that she had not felt before. Tomoyo looked at him hard but had no idea what exactly changed. Did something happen last night?

”…” Kazuya's hand stopped petting the robot girl's head as it slid down to her cheek.