Chapter Text
Renjiro was startled by the sound of the hotel door flying open, and Yuka running inside. “Renjiro!” She cried out, her movements frenzied like she’d seen a monster. “I found him!” She cried out wildly, her lips curled into an almost maniacal smile. Riku and Hyuri perked up at their sister’s behaviors and walked over, both worried and overjoyed at the possibility that their brother was nearby. The teenage boy that remained on the bed glared, inching backwards onto it while the other four rejoiced. “How did you find him?” Riku asked excitedly, jumping on his heels and looking up at his sister. “Found this by a nightclub a few blocks from here.” Yuka explained, chucking the hoodie onto one of the beds. The boy picked it up with two fingers, cringed and dropped it. “I hope he burned.” The boy muttered quietly. They didn’t hear him. “I found it and made a run for another one of the buildings. Then I saw him. He was on the balcony of his big complex.”
Renjiro nodded, taking the hoodie into his hands as he plunked onto the bed. “I see.” He studied the smudged handwriting on the blue cloth, before speaking again. “Did you get to talk to him?”
“Not yet.” She explained. “We can go later on. I know where I saw him.” Yuka explained.
“Then it’s settled.” Renjiro chirped. “Let’s get some sleep and we get the group back together tomorrow.”
Everyone had settled down but one, just the one teenage boy full of anger. The only one of the five who didn’t want to find Kioku to reconcile.
He might as well have been one of the ones Kioku was running from.
He thought back to the day of that fire. The day so many people became scared of pendant bearers. The day he vowed he would never forgive his friend. A look of grief flashed across his face as he thought of Kemuri, and he tearfully leaned over the hotel balcony. “When I see you, Kioku…we’re done.” He hissed. “I’m not going to be that sweet, shy little Yukio you remember. I won’t forgive anyone this time.” He hissed again, more like he was trying to convince himself.
“You are a murderer.” Yukio seethed, his eyes wild with rage. “And a murderer needs to be put to justice.”
He stormed back into the room, and gently shut the door behind him as he put his docile facade back on.