Hakkai complaining about being the only one with siblings here so Chifuyu+Takemichi+Inupi can't understand and Inupi just goes 'I have a sister, she's just dead'
Our favourite cat lover! The adult version is one of the few portraits I coloured following more or less exactly the reference. I liked the hard edged shadow and it was a different challenge from usual. I had to change my usual blending technique to a more calculated one to preserve that edge. I also experimented with the Disney-esque line, using a darker shade of the main colour to outline each area.
The young version didn't leave me totally satisfied, I think it's the hair colour... For the line I used indian ink and a small, round brush instead of the felt tip pens. Also filled Excalibur (he still hadn't been renamed by Baji in this scene 😆) with the ink, since I wanted to give him that black hole-ish look some black cats have, without highlights.
Short reflection that Inupi did when joining what would have become the Second Generation of Toman.
✦✧✦✧✦✧✦✧ ✦✧✦✧ ✦✧✦✧ ✦✧✦✧ ✦✧✦✧
Seishu smiled thinking of Koko and the last time they saw each other, and how they would have met again for sure.
His thoughts were rudely interrupted by Matsuno, showing him the tackiest and most tasteless T-shirt he has ever seen. An insult to both ethics and aesthetics. And that apparently was their new uniform. The only acceptable response to that crazy affirmation was to spit on it.
🩵 Inukoko/Kokonui (implied)
🐈⬛ Rating: Teen And Up
❄️ Audiences Words: 2512
🐶 Written for Inupi's week on Twitter (@/inuiseishuweek)
Day 1: ❆Thousand Winter❆
More under the cut and on Ao3
Joining Hanagaki’s new team was as natural as breathing; this is exactly what Seishu was waiting for.
After Koko showed up only a month or so before with an injured Hanagaki on his back and so much sadness and loneliness on his face, Seishu immediately made the decision to help him, because it was clear that, as Koko always did, he was trying to do everything on his own, without realizing that he was hurting himself in the process.
Or, more probable, Koko realized it very well, but had already decided long ago that he had to atone for something that wasn’t his fault and for how many times Seishu tried to talk to him, Koko was stubborn when he wanted to, especially in making his own life miserable.
But that had to come to an end, and it was decided the moment Seishu saw him in the rain that fateful day.
Therefore, joining Hanagaki was the fastest way to reach Koko. His intention to help Hanagaki was genuine, it was also thanks to him that Seishu decided to leave forever the underworld, trying to live a more honest and healthy life.
It was not easy at the beginning, but he was thankful that all of the former Toman members, that, for some reason or another, welcomed him like one of them. In the end, they all had lost important people after Tenjiku, probably different kinds of mourning brought them together. And Hanagaki, even if sometimes looked and acted like a different person, was always the same kid at heart, and helped him to become part of the group. He owned him.
On the other hand, Seishu had a precise plan in mind: bringing Koko back. And he wanted to clarify this thing to Hanagaki sooner or later, as a sign of respect toward his new captain.
But he wasn’t worried, he opened up to Hanagaki more than two years before, after being kidnapped by Sanzu and Mucho, and he immediately understood the situation with Koko. Hanagaki probably already knew why he was so eager to join the gang.
Seishu smiled thinking of Koko and the last time they saw each other, and how they would have met again for sure.
His thoughts were rudely interrupted by Matsuno, showing him the tackiest and tasteless T-shirt he has ever seen. An insult to both ethics and aesthetics. And that apparently was their new uniform. The only acceptable response to that crazy affirmation was to spit on it.
“You don’t understand Inupi, this is vital for our gang!”
“That’s the opposite of vital, you call yourself a delinquent wearing that thing?”
“What’s wrong with this uniform? It’s perfect! I designed it myself, even the logo”
“I see nothing but problems, in every single word you just said”
“G-guys please…”
Takemichi stood between them, trying to calm Inui and trying to reason with Chifuyu, while Hakkai was sweating cold.
“Chifuyu, we really appreciate the effort you did with the new uniform…”
Chifuyu looked so smug after what he perceived as praise from Takemichi, while the others stared at him in various stages of disbelief (mostly Hakkai) and straight out disgust (mostly Inui).
“But Inupi-kun is just making a constructive criticism, I’m sure we can find a middle ground”
At that point Takemichi was on the verge of tears, looking at Inui begging for mercy with his eyes. Hanagaki was clearly unhappy with the uniform situation, but it was true it was not their biggest problem. Inui decided, mostly for Takemichi’s sake, to momentarily indulge Matsuno and his stupid T-shirt.
“Well, I think the uniform is fine the ways it is, but sure, we can always add-”
“No, please, Chifuyu, it’s-” Hakkai was trying to stop Chifuyu’s stream of thoughts, the whole concept of their so called uniform was already bad enough.
“I mean, Inupi, it’s- well” Hakkai looked Inupi for help, desperation in his eyes at the mere thought to wear the uniform but trying to find a compromise.
Inui sighted. This is getting ridiculous.
“Fine, whatever, we’ll think about the uniform later, we have more important things to do”. Takemichi and Hakkai breathed a sigh of relief.
“Excellent! In the meanwhile, please wear the uniform Inupi”
Chifuyu’s eyes were sparkling when he offered him his T-shirt the second time. Takemichi, who in the meantime walked behind Chifuyu, begged Inui to please don’t question it again. Lip-reading, Inui got that Takemichi was reassuring him that they’d found another uniform but for the sake of their meeting to please accept the T-shirt.
With another deep sight, Inui in the end accepted the “uniform” from Chifuyu, as happy as a kid on Christmas. Inui was thankful there were no mirrors in the break room of D&D.
“You really look goo-”
“Not a word Matsuno. Not. A. Word.”
Defeated, Seishu sat down next to Hakkai, while Chifuyu and Takemichi kept talking or better, Chifuyu was excited talking about possible upgrades for their uniform, while Takemichi tried to change topic.
“You’ve been so brave, Inupi, thank you for trying” Hakkai patted Inui’s shoulder, genuinely impressed and grateful to his friend.
“Mm, whatever, we’ll find a way to get rid of this shit, besides we’re not here to play, we have important things to do”
Hakkai looked at him, thoughtfully. In the two and a half years since Tenjiku, they actually became friends, even with Yuzuha, and given his past as a BLACK DRAGON under Taiju, Inui never expected to bond for real with the younger Shiba siblings. They had all the reason to distrust him and sure as hell, after Tenjiku, Inui wasn’t in the mood to play family or make friends. While he could live without BLACK DRAGON, having found in Toman the kind of gang Shinichiro envisioned, he felt terribly lonely without Koko.
They had always been together, for better or worse, and Seishu, while always dreaded the idea that Koko would get tired of him sooner or later, that one day his money obsession would have eaten him alive, in his subconscious, he never really imagined a life without Koko.
And yet, that moment arrived anyway. It didn’t pass a day without Seishu thinking what he could have done to prevent it, but then he reminded himself that the past couldn’t be changed, but now he could change the future.
And so slowly but surely, with Hanagaki and everyone else’s help, Inui started his new life. Surprisingly, without the pressure of Taiju’s gang, it turned out Hakkai, Yuzuha and Inui actually got along pretty well.
Hakkai just had the power to make other people take care of him and no one, Inui included, was immune. And Yuzuha just cared for her little brother, so if people were nice with him, for her it was enough. They arrived to even joke sometimes about the past, a kind of fucked up humor that only broken people trying to fix themselves could appreciated.
For example, it wasn’t unusual for Hakkai, the ultimate spoiled brat, to annoy people with silly requests, like “hey, let me taste your ice cream!” and while Seishu didn’t say no, in exchange he challenged him to face Taiju or something like that. Which of course didn’t happen and Hakkai always got what he wanted anyway, but it was their way to bond. Even Yuzuha started to play this little game with Hakkai, just to annoy him.
“It must have not been easy for you, when Kokonoi showed up here, and now managing this place alone.” Hakkai added, sympathetic.
“There’s nothing else I can do, I have to go on”
“So!” Takemichi exclaimed, while he and Chifuyu was sitting at the table with Inui and Hakkai.
“Now we need an advisor and someone with better taste”
“Totally agree” Hakkai and Inui answered, dead serious, ignoring Chifuyu’s confused expression.
***
The next person the newborn gang tried to scout was Takashi Mitsuya. One of Toman’s founders, one of Mikey’s best friends before everything went to ruin and someone that actually knew about style and fashion.
Of course everyone was absolutely devastated by Draken’s sudden death, but Mitsuya looked like the ghost of himself. He knew there was a special bond between Draken and Mitsuya, he understood it immediately when Mitsuya hung around the shop, sometimes alone, other times followed by his little tribe composed by his little sisters Mana and Luna, Hakkai obviously, and sometimes Yuzuha. But probably there was something, at least on Mitsuya’s side, that has been able to hide for all that time.
At Draken’s funeral, Inupi felt empty and dissociated, like he felt at every funeral he went to in his life.
Probably because the first funeral of his life was Akane’s and he felt he had no right to be there while she was gone. He couldn’t believe it, he didn’t want to believe it. He started crying only when Koko, tears already streaming down his face, held his hand.
During Shinichiro’s funeral, he was filled with grief and rage, Koko by his side anyway, even if he never liked the former boss of the original BLACK DRAGON formation.
At Emma’s funeral, he felt both incredibly out of place and as if the karma, the universe or whatever, was teaching him a lesson through someone else.
He understood how Mikey felt, losing a sister in such a cruel way. And while their pain was different, he understood Draken, unable to voice his feelings for Emma. And how now it was too late. In a different way, Inupi realized it was too late for him as well.
At Draken’s funeral, he thought that, as always, life was so unfair, thought that once again a good person that was trying his best was killed for no reason. Another family was broken because Draken had a father, maybe not a biological one, but that man raised him as a son and now he was alone, the girls of the brothel had found a friend in him, a confidant sometimes, and Toman’s people, or what was left of it, were all his brothers.
Seishu honestly didn’t expect people to pay attention to him. Sure he was Draken’s business partner and friend, but the same people that had known him for way longer than Seishu, showed him a warmth he honestly would have never expected. Everyone mourns differently, he knew it well by experience; but for probably the first time, he felt he was allowed to mourn with all the others, that he had this right, for how depressing it was.
He tried to reach Mitsuya after the funeral but it was clear the other young man wasn’t in the mood to talk. Seishu respected that and that’s why he didn’t know if it was a good idea to go to his place like that. But Hakkai assured it was okay, so the four of them got in Seishu's car.
Hakkai and Chifuyu were talking heatedly in the back seat (probably about a shojo manga, if Seishu understood correctly) while Seishu paid attention to the road, their chatting just a white noise.
“Inupi-kun?”
Takemichi’s voice caught his attention.
“I wanted to thank you again for joining us. I realize it’s not the best moment, with the shop and everything, that’s why I really appreciate it”
“I told you already Hanagaki, no need to thank me. I owe you, I wouldn’t be here if it wasn’t for you, if you didn’t show me there were other ways”
Now or never.
“But there’s one thing I want to make clear: I have my own personal reasons why I’m joining you, I don’t want to pass as this selfless person when clearly I’m not”
“Well, then I guess we’re all being selfish here, our goal is to defeat Mikey and his gang to save him from this path he chose that… won’t have a good ending”
Seishu looked at Takemichi out of the corner of his eye. It was almost as if Hanagaki was recalling something.
“Mikey did so much for me, for all his friends, I can’t leave him alone like this”
“And Koko-kun is right there at Mikey’s side, I understand you just want to try to save someone you lov- I mean, you care about.”
Seishu didn’t dare to look at Takemichi, both because he was driving and because he was probably blushing. He never really openly talked about his real feelings for Koko, but never denied how important he has always been for him either. Probably it would have been okay talking about it freely? At least with Hanagaki and other trusted friends?
Either way, that wasn't the right moment, the important thing was that Hanagaki understood and not only accepted the situation, even encouraged him.
“Don’t worry Inupi-kun, I still don’t know how, but we will also save Koko-kun. One way or another.”
Hanagaki’s determined tone and expression gave Seishu hope, and the courage he needed to change the situation.
“Thank you Hanagaki, it means a lot for me”
“Don’t even say it. Also, thank you for the t-shirt” he whispered, hoping that Chifuyu, who was still talking with Hakkai, didn’t notice. “It’s temporary, we cannot show ourselves like that in front of the strongest gang of the country, but I don’t know how to stop Chifuyu, he’s just so stubborn.”
“I’m sure Mitsuya will save us all”
“I’m honestly counting on that”.
***
At first Mitsuya declined Takemichi’s offer. He did it to honor Draken’s memory and the promise to become a stylist. Seishu respected that. But then the former captain of the second division changed his mind, realizing that if a friend was gone forever, maybe he could do something to save another that was still there.
And so the five of them were reunited to reorganize the team. Chifuyu willingly left the advisor position to Mitsuya who, as first decision, opted to redesign the gang uniform, to the delight of everyone. Hakkai and Takemichi were glad they didn’t have to face the topic again with a very surprised Chifuyu.
What a bunch of idiots. he thought, not without affection.
After the group separated, everyone making their way home, Seishu approached the gang’s new member.
“Hey, Mitsuya? Your next bike checkup is on me”
“What? No, absolutely not, D&D is a new business, you need every cent you can earn!”
“It’s on me, it’s not negotiable, you saved us from a terrible faith.”
“I don’t really-”
Seishu pointed at the very questionable t-shirt he was wearing.
“Oh that. Yeah, Hakkai told me.”
The T-shirt thing was honestly embarrassing and Seishu was glad they were finally over it, but he was more excited over the gang starting to grow. He was glad in the meanwhile also Pah, Peh and the Kawata twins decided to join them.
Eventually, the second generation of Toman would have faced Kanto Manji. He knew Koko was stubborn but he was as well, especially now that he was sure Koko needed help. Riding his bike back to his shop, he knew that this time, he would have brought Koko back.
