It had been five days since Yume and Kaito had arrived in Shinkase. In that time, the city had continued to move at its own pace, completely unaware of what was stirring beneath its surface.
In the darkness of an abandoned subway, a man was running in a panic.
"Shit, this is the last thing we needed!" he panted, rushing down a long corridor that led to a metal door.
He flung it open violently.
"Boss! They're here!"
Inside the room, a man sat on the bed. He wore torn black pants and a tight white shirt; his bright purple-dyed hair was slicked back. Behind him, a woman lay sleeping among the sheets.
"What the hell's wrong with you?" he asked, barely looking up.
"T-those two… the ones who started hitting the local gangs… they're here!"
"So what? The three brothers will handle them," he scoffed, getting up.
"You don't get it… they took them out with a single blow."
Silence fell like a blade.
"What?!" he paled.
"You've got to be kidding me! Those three are professional assassins… Do they have spirits?"
"I don't know. I just saw someone with blades."
"Tsk. Fine. Take me to them."
The two of them rushed toward the entrance of the subway.
"Are the others still there?"
"I told them to keep the intruders busy until I warned you."
"Forty men… against two people... impossible."
He threw open the door. The moment he crossed the threshold, he turned pale.
Under the flickering blue lights, all his men were lying on the ground.
At the center of it all, two still figures: Kaito and Yume.
"Well, I'd say we can move on," Yume said calmly.
"No need. That should be enough," Kaito replied, his gaze unwavering.
The boss stared at them.
"You kids… you're just kids… How did you beat them all?!"
No answer.
"W-what, playing tough now?! You think you can come here and do whatever the fuck you want?!"
"We just want to ask you a few questions," Kaito replied, his voice as steady as steel.
"Questions?! Are you messing with me?!" the boss snapped.
"No way I'm letting a couple of kids push me around!"
Kaito took a step forward.
"Then I guess you want to end up like your buddies?"
The boss clenched his fists, then hesitated.
"If I tell you what I know… will you leave?"
"You can't be serious!" hissed his companion.
"You see any other way out of this?" the boss whispered, not taking his eyes off Kaito.
"Alright," said the boy. "Answer our questions, and we're gone."
"What do you want to know?"
Kaito crossed his arms.
"Where the Fuyumi family auction takes place."
Silence.
The boss swallowed hard.
"The Fuyumi family… don't even say their name!" he exclaimed, voice cracking.
"Do you have any idea what happens to traitors?!"
"We do," Yume said firmly. "But we need an answer."
"Boss, don't. If he finds out, we're dead," the other man whispered, trembling.
"Answer us," Kaito ordered.
"I'm not risking my life for you."
An instant later, Kaito vanished.
He reappeared just in front of the boss, his blade at his throat. The cold metal made the man hold his breath.
"If your life means that much to you… then talk."
"Wait… he didn't…"
The companion fell silent, realizing he too had a blade aimed at him. Yume hadn't moved an inch.
"Go on," Kaito said. "Answer."
The boss nervously gulped.
"The auction… takes place inside the Fuyumi skyscraper. The Tenshō Tower."
Silence.
"Now put the blade away, come on."
"You're not getting off that easy. Tell me the layout… and how to get in."
Kaito pushed the blade even closer.
"Alright, alright!" the boss broke into a sweat.
"The tower has forty-eight floors, but the auction is held on a basement level. They call it White Place."
"You can't just pay to get in. You need an invitation. The Fuyumis personally select who can attend. Only those they consider 'good buyers.'"
"And do you have this invitation?" Kaito asked, tightening his grip.
"That's enough! You're asking too much! They'll kill me, don't you get it?!"
Kaito didn't move.
"And how many people have you killed for them?"
The boss's eyes widened.
"W-what?"
"You think you're the first one we've come to? Some gangs told us you're the ones who make their problems disappear."
"How many families have you destroyed? How many lives have you ruined just to earn some favor?"
Then he lowered his voice, sharp as a blade.
"If it were up to me… I'd take you out right now. But I'm giving you a chance."
Silence fell between them.
"Let me be perfectly clear: I'm not asking you to give it to me… I'm ordering you."
(This guy's not bluffing… What do I do?) Panic took hold of the man.
(The boss is screwed…) the companion thought.
(He's got the weapon on me… but he's not focused. If I can grab my gun…)
His hand moved slowly inside his jacket. (Now!)
He pulled out the gun quickly, ready to fire…
But a moment later, he was in midair, then crashed to the ground.
(Who did that?!) he wondered in pain.
When his vision cleared, he saw his arm pinned… and a leg pressing down on his stomach.
"You… how did you!?" he asked Yume, stunned.
"Thanks," Kaito's calm voice echoed, still focused on his target.
(It's over… I'm dead either way.) The boss lowered his gaze in defeat.
"Fine… I'll give you the invitation. Just stop the violence," he finally said, resigned.
"Boss…"
"Shut up. I know what this means."
Kaito lowered his blade.
"Give it to us, and Yume and I will leave."
Soon after, they walked down the corridor toward the bedroom.
The woman in the bed had woken up.
"Morning, boss…" she began, but stopped when she saw Kaito and Yume.
"Wait, those are—"
"Go outside. We need to talk," the boss ordered.
She said nothing and silently left.
"It's in the safe."
He pointed to a small niche in the wall.
In no time, he opened it and pulled out a necklace with a black stone set in the center.
"Here." He handed it to Kaito, who took it cautiously.
"Are we sure this is enough?" Kaito asked, inspecting it.
"I'd be insane to lie at this point."
Kaito said nothing. He turned to leave.
As the two walked away, the boss's legs gave out. His breathing turned shallow.
"I have to get out of this city. And fast…"
HALF AN HOUR LATER
Kaito and Yume were walking through the streets of Shinkase, heading toward Kagura's hotel.
"We did it, in the end," Yume said with a smile.
"Yeah. Now we have everything we need to take part."
He stopped on the sidewalk.
"What is it?" she asked.
"I told you we'd only go in because of the Mugentamashii," he looked her in the eyes.
"And I also told you we wouldn't fight the Fuyumi… unless it was necessary."
He paused.
"But the more I think about how many people they've killed… the more I realize that if even the Reikeitai can't stop them… maybe we should."
Yume didn't reply right away. Then, a gentle smile formed on her face.
"That's just how you are," she murmured.
"Actually, I was going to ask the same thing. That we stop them… They sell people too, and I know what it's like to feel trapped."
Her smile turned briefly bittersweet.
"Kaito… let's do it."
The boy looked at her, surprised by her words.
"Yume… thank you for coming with me."
At those words, the girl lowered her gaze.
She stood still for a moment, her face turning red.