CHAPTER 8 - REBIRTH

Kenji Takao POV:

"Phwoooooo..." Smoke rose along with the burning ashes into the warm breeze, carrying it along the blue stream above us that was uncontested by white clouds. I withdrew the cigarette from my mouth and my head tilted side to side embracing the view of my men kicking up their feet and letting go of the smoke as I did.

A few laughed others talked and the rest fought over the contest of who was more worthy. Not sure what they meant but it didn't bother me, this view was something I had adjusted to a while ago. The usual kid with glasses also lurked at the door awkwardly grabbing his arm with his hand as his gaze transfixed to the floor, and the only female who was ever seen with me and the rest of these guys stood beside me on this rooftop. Blonde strands hung from her head but the closer to the root they were the more her natural colour unveiled itself. Her eyes sparked an amethyst glow and her body naturally stunned everyone as did her abstract eye colour.

"Say, Kenji," She bobbed her head down to where I was sitting and blowing smoke rings, "When is the next summit being held?" She finished.

I lethargically direct my attention towards her, my gaze unfocused on her figure. "Two weeks, I think Emica." I replied cockily using her first name.

Her face hardened and her fist tightened before she whacked me across the top of my head.

"Ow." I spoke nonchalantly.

"I told you NOT to use my first name, you delinquent!" She scolded me in a harsh tone, her face more akin to a delinquent than mine.

She then springs off of the metal gate enclosing the rooftop. "Is that so? I'm going to go to my girls for now." She waved her hand whilst facing away from me, heading towards the exit.

SWOOSH!!

The door gets swung open violently knocking over the frail kid who stood in front of them, blocking the entrance from anyone. An average child steps through holding his stomach, slightly crouched and biting his lip like a crazed animal with rabies. Brown hair, black eyes, neither skinny nor muscular, he was nothing out of the ordinary.

"Miura...Toru, was it?" I grimaced at his expression. "What's going on, did something happen to my precious Miura-Kun?"

One of my men pauses to assess his condition before lighting up with a taunting smile and announcing, "I heard you got beat up by the new student today, so I guess it's true, eh?"

Miura glared at him and he holds up his hands and laughs before resuming his previous activity.

"Up we go." I mumbled to myself as I scraped myself off the floor. I stood up, hunched, however, and casually walked over to him. "Is that true?" My feet dragged themselves along the concrete sounding a rough scraping noise.

Miura's gaze dared not meet mine whilst he clenched his fist in frustration.

"Kukukuku...KUKUKUKUKU KUKUKUK KUKU!!" All heads turned in my direction as I barely held myself up, laughing maniacally for at least a good 30 seconds straight.

I barely stopped myself. I readjusted my face with my hands dragging it from the top down to the bottom and easing a calm grin that spread from corner to corner.

"So, do you want to beat him up now? Is that it? He humiliated you that bad?" I marginally kept my composure at his twisting face that embodied rage. "Well, sorry to say, but I have concluded that I'm rather more inclined to invite him to our little group here." I explained.

"DON'T EVEN SAY THAT!!"

His tone spread throughout the space. Clearly, not only I but the rest had been taken aback by his tone.

My face returns to a smirk from my earlier shocked expression. "Give me one good reason why I shouldn't kill you right now." A threat escaped my lips and all looked away, quivering.

"Kioshi Kage is his name." A single breath left his mouth but the entire script flipped on its head.

My eyes shook at the memory of that name as I recalled beating a kid till he wasn't breathing and taking all his money. Fortunately, he didn't die and nothing happened to me...but I still hated him for giving me such a scare.

That bastard!!

"How the fuck did you let that kid beat you?" Toru looks at me and reasons that he's different from when he was before.

"He is now taller, muscular and that was clear with his shirt on and clearly knows how to handle himself in a fight." He assessed Kage's abilities and reported to me.

"You got all~ that information from getting beat the fuck out of in three hits!?" I countered his ludicrous claims.

"It may have only been three hits but you know as well as I do that when it comes to estimating people's limits, I'm never far off. "

"In that case, that's incredible, that's incredible! Who knew he'd grow some balls and come back? I thought the stupid orphan killed himself." I reminisced fondly at his lifeless body from years back.

Emica, whose exit was interrupted, eventually spoke up, "Wait, I've heard of that name. Is he the Famous Kage descendant that inherited an insane fortune?"

"Yep, it's that same one." I confirm. Her eyes trace me carefully before turning away.

"He's certainly piqued my interest, unfortunately, I have to take my leave right about now. I have already delayed my plans far too long." As said, she took her queue to leave shortly after.

My attention refocused back on the attention seeker at hand. "So you're saying we should greet him like we used to?" I asked. He spoke no words and instead firmly nodded.

"We should and definitely will, however, for now, we should sit still and brace ourselves for the upcoming summit. Only then will we go after him and cut off his to the point it won't be able to grow back anymore."

"If you so should decide, I will follow. As long as in the end, I get my revenge, I will be more than satisfied." His eyes radiated devious energy, but would that serve as confirmation of our victory? What am I doing? Why am I doubting myself? I am more than capable of repeating what has passed and placing it back into his miserable life. Retaliation is futile, and revenge is only a path chosen for the strong.