*ೃ༄

Secret Garden Organization’s motto; Reinforce the Paradigm, Change the World. They are willing to fight against anyone who try to harm their homeland and their culture, they purge traitors and criminals corrupted by the government in Indonesia and also other traitors from the foreign assassins’ respective countries. With the alliance from the other shadow governments, they worked together for the world’s peace. The reason why the unofficial paramilitary organization is known as Secret Garden, is because it is hidden under the name of a popular urban legend. It was rumored among the commoners that there was a secret organization existed somewhere within the city, fighting against crime and terrorism. The rumors spread rapidly through the internet, newspapers and TV stations in Jakarta, making people believe that the rumor is actually real--but it was soon a mystery because no one knew the identity of this group.

Although the public and people know them as an urban tale, the underground businesses and criminals respect and feared them because they are very efficient and professional. They consider Secret Garden as an assassin group, but their operations are more advanced than those other criminal organizations due to their intelligence network and their ability to gather information efficiently through their members. Their datas are securely kept in a database inside the organization’s secret office located in Jakarta--no one else but Secret Garden has access to it except the leader himself.

There are several databases including records of all their previous missions, contact information, and their personal details such as age, height, weight, blood type, hair color, eye color, education background and many other things that will help them identify their target once they found him / her. It is their most valuable asset in gathering and collecting data about their target--this will make everything easier for them to locate their targets easily. This is why most of their clients are always surprised when they see their results--their client’s satisfaction is guaranteed whenever they hired them for a certain mission. This time their task is not easy and straightforward like their past assignments, the target’s location is not revealed to them yet, even when they already started working on this mission.

***

Kohaku checked the wristwatch since it was five o'clock in the nighttime, he donned his assassin attributes; consists of a black high-collared blouse with long sleeves that has "cut-off sexy" slits on his upper arm parts with thick X-crossed black strings on them and revealed the skin of his upper arms, two black leather belts and black pants tucked into pair of knee-length black riding boots, he wears a dark gray slit collared dress-like sleeveless coat that reaching his ankles with belt fastened around his slim waist and a dark gray Batik Garutan patterns underneath--in addition of golden necklace with cross pendant around his neck hung elegantly. His dark auburn hair has almost grown to his shoulders similar to wolf's cut, which his bangs almost covering his magenta-red eyes and cheeks.

Kohaku has arrived at the warehouse where the Secret Garden assassins has important weekly meetings during nighttime, he checked his wristwatch after calling Damien from earlier on his walkie-talkie device he got from Sherry. She had given him a wristwatch-communicator-to-use that is waterproof and will send out a signal to call Damien or Kohaku himself when needed. He entered the warehouse alone and closed the door behind him, he always come very early and his teammates was always on his tail.

Standing there and looking out from the warehouse windows with a smirk, he was told by Damien to talk to him privately first before Kohaku can start the meeting with his team. 'He's not in Bali right now, he was in Jakarta for two weeks before he came back here... but he'll make a hologram soon with the others...' he thought, before he saw the hologram apparition of Secret Garden's symbol appeared--or the official name known Secret Garden Assassin Federation. The symbol of Secret Garden is a flower with thorns on its stem, and inside the circle above it was three triangles made into a single form as their logo with the chains standing above the flower.

The black umbrella is the signature apparition that indicate their presence nearby, also concealing their weapons into a black umbrella that can be unfolded into several weapons that the assassins has. "There he is..." Kohaku muttered, seeing Damien's hologram through his apparition before his eyes.

Damien's eyes gleamed ominously, tilting up the black umbrella as the signature symbol of its leader. He's as still as a statue, but his eyes moved quickly in every direction--they are sharp enough that anyone cannot be avoided from those scrutinizing orbs of a predator stalking its prey from a distance--enough to chill anyone's blood. The black umbrella is held on his hand as if he was shielding himself from the rain, although it's not like it won't be destroyed easily after a harsh swing on certain part of any sturdy object.

"Greetings, Damien."

Kohaku greeted him back in formality, the latter simply smirked at him and nodded--indicating that he understood the message. "Kayana, you came right on time... like usual," he greeted him back with an acknowledging nod to him, Kohaku sensed the tension that's thick enough it feels like he'll fall to pieces if he doesn't respond to his question. The other looked pretty serious, because he didn't want to make a stupid mistake. "My apologies for my absence with the other Administrators except your friends, I had an urgent affairs for other organizations. I'm assuming that Sherry already told you about us?"

Damien's voice echoed throughout the room, reverberating loudly as the purple chrysanthemum swayed with each word coming out from his mouth. His words were said without much emotion, but Kohaku knew that deep down, the assassin felt the same way he did--and yet, even if Damien felt that way, the two of them could not help but carry out their duties without a second thought. "Which one?" he asked, as the boss give a slight shrug from his shoulder.

"Any one of them."

The former answered with his signature sly smile, not taking off his eyes at his younger colleague--especially in need of his loyalty. "Do you know why I summon you here privately?" Damien asked Kohaku who was in silence, the latter had no answer on this. "After assessing your skills and leadership for your team, I have officially declared that you'll be the captain under my command. You have gained my trust since the beginning, congratulations," the man in black suit complimented, making Kohaku nodded. "Thank you, sir... but, can I ask you some questions?"

A sly smile etched his face, a simple answer: "No."

Kohaku narrowed his eyes, trying to make sense of it by 'poking' his hologram. 'Where's the trigger button?' he thought, before he kicked the hologram and made Damien sighed. "I figured, this shit's not hologram... isn't it?" Kohaku asked him with a mocking tone.

"Silly little boy, aren't you?"

The man snapped his fingers and immediately the real version of Damien appeared from thin air, before Kohaku rolled his eyes. "How did you know it's not a hologram?" his boss asked, causing the latter smirk. "It's simple, when I heard you're not in Bali--can't remember where. But to think that you went with the other Administrators to Jakarta... now that's a relief that I can sleep," Kohaku responded, Damien smiled as he closed the black umbrella of his with a chuckle. "I must say, you've done well... now. And for making the Administrators trust you in no time, even the shadow government ministers," he praised while walking in circle around him, the other turned his head towards him as he raised a questioning eyebrow--yet remained silent to hear him out.

"Do you know what makes me curious of you?"

Kohaku listens to his question, not answering it as Damien asked it again with his slight impatient voice and dark look plastered on his face--testing his subordinate. "No," he responded bluntly, keeping his facade with no words. "Wanna know the answer?" Damien added, awaiting his reaction before Kohaku answered him once more. "Yes."

Damien chuckled darkly, knowing his words amuse his subordinate and student. "What makes me curious of you, is because... the shadow government has been asking my favor--whether they should trust you or not. But, the 'script' that a certain someone sent to me... indicates that you'll be the next Administrator. Do you understand, Kayana Sahanaya Tirta?" he explained, knowing full well that the other didn't intend for things to go this far--but it did.

"The script as said, you will be able to lead a team alongside me and the other Administrators--which later became... I don't know, I'm leading Secret Garden and you have a name for your own team."

Kohaku did not refute or denied whatever he said, instead he decided to continue listening to his mentor's words. 'A team of... my own? For the... shadow government? Well, it's nice if it will lead me further to protect humanity...' he thought, before he shrieked when Damien hit his shoulder with the tip of his umbrella. He stood in his position again after getting surprised by sudden painful strike, even it's just a light hit and it stings a little on his shoulder--he needs to be prepared when there's stranger around, same case for Damien in here. "Pay attention, Kayana... always pay attention to what your senior talking to you."

"Yes... sir," the young one nodded, the latter hummed. "Now, you'll get a name for yourself and your team... whether that one chosen by you, or by the Administers or the ministries of shadow government. After that, you'll build your own team from scratch and as the future of the administrator for the whole region, this is an order from me to you," his superior demanded, a smirk appearing from Kohaku's face. "Your wish is my command... Damien Fernandez Christiadjie."

He hasn't forgotten his oath, his subconscious always reminded him when he needed most. They stared at each other for several seconds before something clicked between them, and finally Damien opened his umbrella. "I'll be meeting with the other Administrators, let me know if it's done," he said, before the hologram made the real Damien disappeared--making Kohaku sighed from the tension that has been kept locked inside of him.

Damien had a lot on his mind--what would he say to the Administrators about his decision?

Kohaku went back to sit down on the chair and facing the round table, seeing Byakuya has arrived with Kyouka--his younger sister as he greeted them. "What's up? Is Damien alright?" the last asked with a slightly worried tone, Damien has a very good reputation amongst them and his boss--a person that's so hard to please. "He's fine, just busy with some stuff," Kohaku said, before he saw Kiryu greeted him with a tackle on his shoulders. "Nya! Kohaku--" he shrieked when Kohaku pushed his face with his palm, forcing him to set aside from him. "Geez, couldn't you be polite to people sometimes?"

"Sorry, that's how he is..." Kyouka apologized, before Kohaku pat his teammate's head.

Sherry can't hold back her sly giggles, folding her arm and watching Kiryu's exaggerated movements as she hides her smile. Nadya sat with Kyoran as she saw him had his usual somber look on his face, listening to their leader. "It's been a while, Kohaku..." Kyoran greeted, he let out a small yawn on his somber face. "Ah, Kyoran... can you at least smile sometimes?" Byakuya said as he facepalmed, shaking his head as usual until Rayna sat down beside Kohaku and shyly adjusting her seat. Radjasa made his bombastic entrance into their base, while Kohaku whistled as he give him a thumb up. "Nice one, you're too late!"

"Heya! I brought the pet from Nadya's aunt in her restaurant!"

Radjasa said happily, holding up the pig named Bubu that made Kohaku having a flashback of carrying this huge ass pig when he met him for the first time. "Seriously, why did you bring that pig?" the leader asked, Byakuya froze when the pig sniffed him that Radjasa pushed the beast's nose. "Aw, look at your face! It's gonna lick you," the bluish-black haired male with crimson streaks laughed, the latter frowned at him. "Oh, shut it." he responded back, Kyouka also snickered at her older brother's childish behavior.

Then, the meeting began.

Kohaku opened the suitcase that Damien left on the round table with combination that was their boss' initials, it opened and revealed several files he take a look at. To his surprise, he found his comrades that was close to him and Damien himself work for a shadow government, but their status only restricted on secret since one of the ministries has agreed to them; Department of Analysis and Logistics. But this branch has another title; Administration Office that has mysterious government within, which means the office itself has power to punish those who disobey and act against the law.

"There will be special mission, because our targets are more than one."

Kohaku started, folding his fingers on the table while his friends holding the folders from the briefcase. His teammates know he is confident of all of them with full trust that he won't refuse from, before he continued. "I received an information from shadow government that there is a group of Phantom Beasts that is currently roaming around in Jakarta, the same night as last week's incident. However, the Trilaksana Organization managed to exterminate them with ease, so it's not our problem. Our main problem is..."

He took a long, deep exhale before he continued. "We're dealing with three criminals that people feared the most."

There was a silence before Kohaku frowned, before he look up at them. "There's two yakuza leaders of underworld business of Japan, one is One-Eyed Dragon and one is Crimson Lotus Dragon. His name is Takashi Shimaou, the boss of One-Eyed Dragon... and the second is Kizuna Kekkain, the boss of Crimson Lotus Dragon and nicknamed 'Demon Boss'--now your question is 'why do we need to annihilate them?' because one; they're threats to secrecy, and two--they are related to one of our former operative of Phantom Eruption incident."

Sherry blinked. "Is that...?"

Radjasa nodded, giving a confirmation. "They have connections during bilateral relations of Indonesia and Japan, they aren't exactly good people. However, their men are often spotted in Indonesia when the former Yakuza were arrested but mostly escape from the jail," the Indonesian informed them, making Sherry's expression turned into serious. "Not only that, they were responsible for the deaths of important figures from Phantom Eruption that leads to the destruction of the world. One of the yakuzas has been hunted down in United States of America while the other just arrived in Jakarta today, the Crimson Lotus Dragon."

Kohaku explained, before showing the two holograms; the first is Takashi Shimaou; the twenty-five years old boss of One-Eyed Dragon, he has a messy bluish dark hair with his left bangs covering his black eyepatch that covered his left eye--and he has golden-colored eye, he has fair complexion and wears a white dress shirt with black tie neatly covered by his dark blue vest and black suit--his black suit has underneath of dark and light purple motifs underneath, he wears black polished shoes.

The second hologram is Kizuna Kekkain; the twenty-one years old female boss of Crimson Lotus Dragon, seven generations of her family were mostly born a male and has less female predecessors. Her silky black hime hair that extends to her waist, black messy bangs that fell under her eyebrows, light snow complexion, slender body and long legs. Her demonic, scarlet eyes with the sharp pupils hidden under her sunglasses. Wearing a white collared trench coat with belt draped over her shoulders, wearing her black dress with straps across her cleavage and revealed her shoulders, she wore a black leather pants and heeled boots.

Unauthorized tale usage: if you spot this story on Amazon, report the violation.

There were tattoo of dragon on her back, the same goes for Takashi's back--she only have one dragon tattoo on her back while Takashi has dual-dragon tattoos on his back. Both of them are from rival clans of the yakuza, and not being allies nor friend with each other. "Their nationality is Japanese, but they were raised in United States. We believe that both of them are connected with an unknown yakuza-related groups in Indonesia who's currently aiming to destroy the city," he further explained, before glancing at them. "I don't know their true motives, but it has something to do with their 'business' that is... very important, in order to reach their goals and make whatever it is on their list complete."

"In this instance, Takashi and Kizuna will come to Indonesia and hold meetings with the underworld faction of organized crime and black markets for unknown time... but that's not all. Another problem we faced with is a criminal mastermind, but he is a lot more powerful. He calls himself as 'The Black Cat' and he has been committing crimes without any hesitation or fear whatsoever, not even a slight guilt... people often questioned the meaning behind his alias; 'The Black Cat' was like a message sent out by an unknown entity to its victim; an omen of death," Kohaku explained, when the words 'The Black Cat' and 'criminal mastermind' were spoken--all of the members had frozen. "... this person have proven to be one of the strongest enemies. But in exchange of his sanity, he seeks power. A complete stranger, one could easily underestimate his true intentions. If you ask me, this is worse than any man that walk on two feet. There are far more sinister things hidden in this world than what can be seen through normal eyes."

Kohaku explained, revealing the evidences of the files that the shadow government provided; they are more dangerous than both the Phantom Beasts and Scarlet Armband Army. The latter had a grim expression after he checked the files, understanding what the government wanted to happen--himself and the others. "Are you guys ready for the task?" he asked with a serious tone, despite his smiling facade remained constant when they listened to him attentively. In all honesty, even Kohaku don't know what this guy had in his pocket.

"We're ready, captain."

They responded, nodding at him before the leader grinned. 'Now let's begin, shall we?' he thought, before he continued. "Let's came up with the name for the team, anyone have suggestions?" he added, leaving the others tried to brainstorm with different name. They had a couple ideas: Night Eyes, Crystal Phantom, Elusive Demons, Infinity Eye, Dark Spectre, Hunter's Guild, The Shushus, Nightmare Shadows, and Onmyou Shadow--but Kohaku did not like some of their ideas.

Before Byakuya suggested, causing Kohaku to look back at him; "There's only one name suits us, we should call it... the secret government gave us that name and no doubt it's a perfect fit..."

The others look at Byakuya with wide eyes, he looked at all of them with serious expression. "I don't know the English word, but it has something to do with the definition of departure..." he muttered, before Kohaku got the word and he immediately said to him. "Exodus?" he guessed, making Byakuya instantly nodded at his best friend. "Yes, that's the word."

They seems interested with the name, even Kohaku was already immersed by the word itself. "Then, our team's official name is EXODUS," he announced, before Radjasa suggested. "I can illustrate our logo if you like, we should be unafraid and show to the world what we truly were," he said and taking out his sketchbook from his pocket to open and showed them, his friends never knew that he was also into Illustrating with his workshopping talent.

"From a locksmith like you, very unlikely," Byakuya joked that received several childish protests from the latter, Kohaku shook his head. He doesn't seem upset or displeased for Byakuya's off-colored joke, but is always the kindest and most generous to him. Sherry watched him illustrating an X-shaped mark and have V-shaped end that resembles a triangle, before he continued with some details. Kohaku leaned against the sofa and watch him sketched it, his friends also went closer to see what does his colleague had in mind--it is a V-shape mark, before he sketched a logo of umbrella in black with a chain made from silver in the center.

'Is this... what the script that Damien referred...?'

Kohaku thought as he stared at the drawing, before he heard Radjasa questioning about Damien and its agenda as part of Administrator. He was listening to him, despite the danger will fall upon them shortly in times of trouble. Kohaku noticed that Radjasa seemed more concerned about what Damien said that has anything to do with "script", why there's an all-important script that needs to be finished or completed and why Damien summoned him privately before called him for group meeting--only those Administrators he has trusted.

'The reason is because he wants someone he could trust, seeing it was me--he can put all his trust and hopes on my shoulders...' Kohaku thought, before he cleared his throat--catching their attention. "If you guys still doubting Damien's decisions, all of you can trust me. After all, I'll give a better answer from a trusted member for whatever concerns he have. Do not doubt him on everything, even during missions," he warned with a warning tone. "Damien might be a cryptic in nature, I get it... but he is serious when it comes to his oath. As long as you fulfill his trust, he will return your actions with benefits. Trust him on everything, okay?"

They nodded after Kohaku explained it, knowing that he usually knew the secret behind his facade. As long Kohaku is here in Secret Garden, their trust was placed on his shoulders in accordance to their expectations. "Alright, all of you are dismissed--I'll discuss about the mission later."

Kohaku closed the suitcase, shutting the files after Radjasa revealed his masterpiece--knowing that a piece of art was created. "Meeting's over!"

The next day...

'Damien... what secrets do you have in this shadow government?'

Kohaku thought, walking down the street of Kuta Beach as the Indonesian noticed how sunny it was--making him grumbled. "Fuck, I forgot to bring my--" he felt somebody snatched something into his bag, until he kicked the foreigner with his karate kick onto his head--knocking the culprit out. He took back his sunglasses that were snatched out from his bag, wearing them. As usual, Kohaku didn't get violent unless it was necessary. "Fucking asshole, you think you can steal shit in Indonesia?" he asked, looking at the Italian foreigner who just woke up on the ground. "Alright alright! I'm sorry, but give me a chance to explain!"

But he got punched in the face, even the Indonesian police is scared of Kohaku who beat the fuck out of a thug that stole his belongings in a street brawl. After he spent time in Bali, he went to Jakarta for three days, an epicenter of all criminal activities; Damien gave him a task to assassinate the drug cartel within the institutes of Indonesian police--the hardest challenge for an assassins, in addition of revealing secret agendas of the drugs' business under his former workplace as a new hired hitman in EXODUS. Kohaku ordered his friends of his team to keep everything covered up the authorities, not even calling the government figure nor the secret organizations.

All according to the shadow government.

Kohaku stomped the corpse's back as he hold his black chain bullwhip, he successfully killed the drug cartel leader and his right-hand men without causing any casualties nor blood bath--exposing his bloody hand that he'd used to kill his targets or target location to extract information. "Hey you!" he look up to see his last target, Kohaku smirked when Radjasa unleashed his red threads--restraining the target and locking him up. His hand began to twirl the black bullwhip, while his fingers gripping the handle and prepared to swing the whip.

The blood splashed around on the victim as the latter's screams were gurgling, filling the hallway was dread of something indescribable; like a banshee would with its howling--a sharp wail that evokes emotions of agony and desolation. Kohaku wiped the blood from his cheek, stepping on the body as it slumped to the ground as if it were a broken doll, now lying in a crimson puddle. "Radjasa... burn everything," he demanded, his co-worker snapped his fingers and the place lit with fire. Kohaku took a deep inhale, closing his eyes as the reflection of the corruptors screaming in pain and agony, yet he remained unfazed. His victims does not possess any life threatening characteristics, yet they still were unable to escape from death's grasp.

To say that Kohaku were cruel is an understatement, while others might actually assume that he was a ruthless man because of this.

Kohaku walk out from their burned base of operation, bidding Radjasa farewell as they gave a high-five and went on separate ways. He was cleaning his weapon like usual in the public bathroom, not caring of the blood on his face nor sleeves of his shirt, he clean his bullwhip and whip the blood off. He look up in the mirror for a moment, his shimmering red eyes... feeling empty as if there were no feelings to be felt for this mission. 'Damien... what motivation did you have, aside of taking care of something important to be done?' he thought, after he finished washing his hands and fixing his messy auburn hair.

He felt as if Damien's part of his subconscious linked within his senses, guiding him and speaking the same, hollow, pain.

Kohaku stepped out of the bathroom, seeing a silhouette across the sky. The way it swayed like a feather and made Kohaku seem almost invisible to its presence; all he could feel was that sense of emptiness again. The only thing he noticed was its movement; the figure's steady breaths with every step, and the faint sounds of fabric shifting when it walked. "Sometimes, I begin to wonder if what I did for my own country is right... even if it's shadow government's order."

Damien's voice was cold like usual. Kohaku saw him appearing from the smoke that was engulfing him, as if his mere existence had seeped into the night itself. His head tilted slightly upward, revealing the black umbrella. Even his simple presence made the city's underworld afraid, enough to cause fear and distress among the populace. "If I keep denying it, maybe it'll come true," his figure moved its body, moving more closer to Kohaku as their gaze never parted and it held firm between them--two predators, both are young, both have equal skills and strength as their counterparts. "You're slowly becoming like me, Kayana."

Kohaku didn't say anything, but he responded with a nod. A fleeting instant of peace--that was all they had left. The two just stared at each other, it was all they could do. "All of you are just my 'favorites', they will stop your bleeding and make you feel good. All of them will be protected, you are blessed that my organization trusts you... and I understand how things might've changed for me, and I won't change them, right... Kayana?" Damien said with a calm tone, making Kohaku agree--it's not like he needed to say yes to be trusted, Kohaku learned from his experience.

No longer as an illegally hired assassin, but as a legal one.

"Damien... I'm having a really bad burnout recently... and I thought that... maybe it could give you a hint that I shouldn't be too hardworking, what do you think?"

Kohaku answered, which gave a loud snort from Damien as a response--before Kohaku saw him approached and pat his shoulder, he pulled him into his arms and stroking his hair, letting him stay into the embrace and it made the auburn-haired man looked at him with disbelief. "Damien?" he asked, his words slurred because he was too exhausted to even speak straight but Damien rubbed his back gently as he replied. "It's okay... It's okay, I got you. My little one is a little tired... it's okay, I'll take care of it, alright? You don't need to do anything you don't want."

That voice was gentle as a whisper, a distant, echoing, sweet lullaby.

Kohaku felt ease in his presence, the way he spoke and act was enough to put him into relaxation. "I'll give you a weekend leave, you don't need to do any reckless action--just go home and fix your 'burnout'," Damien told him, somehow he has a humanity within him. "Yes, sir..." Kohaku muttered closed his eyes, his heart finally becoming slow and gentle as he leaned closer to the comfort.

After heading back home in Ubud...

Kahayana watched his son Kohaku was resting after having a terrible burnout in Jakarta for three days, he rubbed his son's messy auburn hair as he kept his son warm by covering him into the duvet. 'Rest easy, my dear son,' his mind were filled with thoughts, about the times Kohaku finally able to work well as an assassin like him. "You can tell me if you were overworking yourself... it would save a lot of trouble, isn't it?" he asked, which earned a head-nodding as he pull his hand away and pat his son's back. "It's fine... it's just, I'm still curious of Damien's past--also the pressure of me being the leader of my own assassin team, EXODUS that is..."

Kohaku explained tiredly, about how Damien treated him nicely and his words from their 'training' just yesterday night had changed him a lot. But, his fucking abysmal luck started acting up and he got a bad fever from his last mission before it hit the 'off' button of his alertness. "Is it confidential to ask about Damien's past...? Did you know anything from him?" he asked his father, Kahayana shook his head no--as he answered. "Unfortunately, no. I've met with him for several times and he prefers to stay private about it, Kayana... the best you can ask for are the files with his personal records and information from his subordinates."

Kohaku sighed, his father rubbed his son's cheek with a smile. "Cheer up, the secret organization are going to provide you lots of support, no matter how their plan and goals are kept to themselves. That's the reason why you joined the organization..." he told him, which makes sense--when he's finally being acknowledged as one of the workers, the secret organization keeps most of their intel between their staffs. "I know... just that our three targets are very tricky for our special mission--which involving all of Secret Garden assassins and shadow government."

"I know that, two Japanese yakuza leaders and one Indonesian criminal mastermind--what makes the shadow government can't kill them easily are... their connections. They don't want to cause too much political war for their 'leaders', so they decided to... bring their hands and get rid of these 'leaders' in secret and replacing them with the people who willing to cooperate with our intel. We will know the identities when the leaders were recruited by them."

Kahayana spoke with a firm voice, adding the last part with a calming tone. He nodded, before his father leave him to get some rest.

Until, they received a bad news.

That day...

Kohaku was shocked that one of his high school friends in college, Julian... was dead on the ground near the Batu Belig Beach--even Andrew and Shania were shocked by the sudden discovery of Julian's death. After he lost Juan and Misuzu in the Phantom Eruption because of that skinwalker, he stood there with grief. "Kayana, look at this..." Kahayana muttered, as he pat his son's shoulder. Kohaku remained silent, while everyone in Warmadewata University got a huge funeral once the details on the victims' identity had been revealed. "J-Julian..." he muttered, he suspected that he just got killed by some kind of syndicate who dared to cause havoc.

"Kohaku..." Byakuya muttered at his best friend, trying to console him and even brought him into a tight hug. Julian was his high school best friend, that would explain the overwhelming feelings that building up inside of him. Kohaku would have sobbed at the thought of losing a friend, had it not been for his previous training that steeled his nerves--he ended up crying hysterically after that. Shania look away as she covered her mouth, while Andrew comforting her with Kyouka closing her eyes with her head was bowed; understanding of how their deceased friend also affected her because she and Kohaku's friend were often hanging out together.

"Last time... he said that he want to go home alone after we hang out... but he said no..."

Kohaku muttered, while tears of regret flowing down his cheek like waterfall. Even Julian's death was declared a mysterious accident in a beach, but Kohaku knew that this was far from an accident. They were gathering information on the scene, only to find out that Julian was killed after he was dragged on the pavement by a group of men with tattoos on their bodies. Sherry frowned to see Kohaku in such a miserable state, she took a deep breath and patted his head gently. "Kayana..." Shania whispered, seeing him nodded his head.

Afterwards, he was invited to visit the crime scene, he saw some foreigner tourists were walking by--many of them were his collage students and they apologized for what had happened to his classmate. Radjasa was consoling him when Kohaku spent his day for mourning at Julian's funeral, while Rayna was giving him comfort with her head on his arm. Nadya frowned as she look down at the coffin, before she saw Kyoran kept his arms folded--muttering something as the psychic knows something. "It's them, huh...?" he asked with a murmur.

Abandoned by life, and separated by death; that was the pain he felt.

Kohaku heard what Kyoran murmured, he glanced at him tiredly--as if he wanted a hint on finding that perpetrator. "They're both have tattoos on their bodies that saying it belonged to a syndicate, from what I seen in the vision..." Kyoran told him, Kiryu felt uneasy and he whispered it to Radjasa's ear. "I think we should discuss about that later outside the funeral home, don't you think it's unethical to speak on that matter in such place?" the blonde Japanese-American told him, before he saw Kyouka and Sherry keeping their eyes on Kohaku who now silent and blank expression on his face. "I can't help it, I'm sorry..."

Damien visited the funeral home with Hisato as he glanced at Kahayana with a nod, he glanced at Kohaku as he narrowed his eyes--he couldn't believe Kohaku suffered more than his colleagues or family members, suddenly he had enough. He walked closer to the young assassin, rubbing his back to soothing him and that made the auburn-haired man startled--but soon calmed down when he realized that it was him. "Ah... sir... what are you..." Kohaku stuttered that made Damien let out an airy chuckles and pat his shoulder, shaking his head. "Sorry for my late arrival, are you okay?"

"No... absolutely not."

Kohaku muttered, before he watched Shania cried with Andrew as he felt like he was a failure and now--this may affect his friend emotionally. He sighed, putting on a brave front for his friends and refused to make them worry about himself. Fuck, he felt so fucking numb and heavy that he can't even think rationally and shit. However, when he and his father got home with the rest... they thought they can attend the funeral properly but...

... Andrew and Shania got involved in a car crash, on their way to the funeral home.

Kohaku dropped his phone, he felt as if two bricks hitting his head. Byakuya looked up to the window and felt his heart dropped, hearing such a terrifying news.

*ೃ༄