The Tangerine Grows on Discordant Vines

[Aura]

Hirono was caught off guard when Tsuioka mentioned her knife. She didn't even try to be intimidating with it. It had basically been like a part of her hand since she pulled it out of her bag, and she was pretty sure that anyone else who had one was acting the same way. It could protect her, and it could dissuade people from starting shit. She didn't see any good reason to put it away.

"Yeah, pretty nice. Haven't had to use it, though." She stated. Admitting that she hadn't been in a fight on the island could defuse the tension, or it could make her sound weak. She was really hoping for the first one, though. Still, it didn't look like Tsuioka had a weapon... or at least he hadn't shown it yet. That made the situation worrying at the very least. She swallowed with anxiety as she tried to control the conversation.

"So... we gonna play it cool?"

[carduinal-cyn]

If nothing else, Shimizu's threat wasn't overt. Sho's eyes narrowed. What was her angle, brandishing it like that and then offering peace? A warning? A promise to stab him and Motobuchi when their backs were turned? He took a single step backwards, just in case. Her eyes were nervous; best not to frighten her, or she might attack with no warning.

"Of course, of course," he reassured her. "You have nothing to fear from the two of us, as long as you keep that knife somewhere far away..."

Sho opened his body language, softened his stance. That was deliberate. Shimizu was smart enough to understand; better to let her know they meant no harm now, rather than later. If she behaved, didn't sell them out or stab them or steal their supplies in the dead of night, maybe he'd even let her in on the project the Kiriyama Family had planned.

A quick glance at Motobuchi, who was in no position to fight back even if he wanted to. Play it cool, he thought. That was the only sensible way to go.

[almostinhuman]

Tension only continued to mount. It was clear neither Shimizu nor Tsukioka particularly wanted a fight, but it was also clear neither trusted each other enough to not start one. The best thing for Kyoichi to do now would be to stay silent.

But he continued to bristle as Tsukioka spoke of them as a unit once again. So he said something a little unwise.

"Not kidnapping this one, huh?" He muttered, perhaps a little too loudly. "Sure makes me feel special."

As the words fell from his lips, he realized what a stupid thing it was to say.

[Aura]

Kidnapping?

That word dropping out of Motobuchi's mouth put Hirono on high alert. Her grip on her knife tightened, and her eyes narrowed at Tsuioka. She felt good about not letting her guard down now. What the hell was she expecting, anyway? One of Kiriyama's boys to actually be friendly or helpful? She wasn't that naive.

Neither Motobuchi or Motobuchi seemed to have a weapon, so she wouldn't be surprised if Tsuioka had just used his size and strength to bring him under his thumb. Tsuioka was probably one of the bigger guys in class, and Motobuchi was a shrimpy-ass nerd. Hirono already knew what would happen if the two of them got in a fight. Even she felt a little short standing next to him, but she had been in enough fights to know that she could hold her own.

"Cut the shit, Tsuioka." She said, moving into more of a fighting stance. "I'm not gonna be your fuckin' hostage."

[carduinal-cyn]

Of course it wouldn't be that simple. Of fucking course. Why would it be? Motobuchi didn't understand a thing, and Sho figured he'd wait for the other boy to grieve before he laid out his plans. Then Shimizu showed up — he could have managed her. If only. Why couldn't Motobuchi have waited just a moment more to open his misinformed mouth? More importantly... why didn't he run when he'd had the chance?

"Neither of you understand," Sho sighed. "I really did want peace between the three of us."

He checked his stance. Feet perpendicular. Arms poised. If Shimizu went in for the kill, he'd knock her unconscious and take Motobuchi with him again. A simple plan. If he could just get them to cooperate...

"But we need Motobuchi. And if you don't get it, well... I'd like you to meet two very dear friends of mine — the Fist Twins, and Mr. Sandman."

[Aura]

Hirono met Tsuioka's words with a skeptical sneer. Peace? That's not something that usually goes along with kidnapping. She felt like he was just trying to cover his ass now that the cat was out of the bag. That wasn't gonna work with her though, especially since he wasn't even trying not to act threatening anymore.

Motobuchi... Hirono never really cared for him much, but he deserved better than to get dragged around the island by one of Kiriyama's assholes. Maybe this was some kind of chance to rebalance Karma, or at least make up for a little bit of the bad shit she's done to her classmates.

Giving Motobuchi a quick glance, she took a step forward that turned into a sprint, and her rapidly approaching fist was swung straight towards Tsuioka's face.

[carduinal-cyn]

POW!!

Sho stumbled back a few steps. He'd expected his threat to work a little better than that — but at the end of the day, he was one man, and Shimizu was a fellow delinquent with a knife. As he reeled from the first blow, he realized she hadn't bothered to stab him. How perplexing. Surely the big, bad 'kidnapper' from Kiriyama's gang deserved it? Or was she plotting to distract him and rescue Motobuchi instead?

He didn't care. There was no explaining himself. Not when he was Sho Tsukioka, and Shimizu was unable to listen. Not like he could've said his express goals the minute before, oh no. All he could do was fight back.

So surely she'd understand why he struck her, his fist connecting with the first piece of Shimizu-flesh it could find...?

[Aura]

Hirono felt a sense of satisfaction when her fit slammed into Tsuioka's face and she saw the tall boy lose his balance. She guessed that he probably wasn't expecting her to hit him that hard. She moved another step forward, trying to keep him from staggering back too far.

She felt a surge of confidence as she held the upper hand. She could handle Tsuioka. He was big, but she had her instincts. Those instincts kept her out of trouble on the streets of downtown Shiroiwa, and helped her slip away from the cops. Plus, she still had the intimidation factor of the knife, which couldn't be ignored.

That confidence went sour as a blind punch from Tsuioka found a target in her side right under her ribs. Hirono made a sick-sounding noise as she doubled over from the hit, and now it was her turn to recoil as she took a couple of shaky steps back. With a pained grunt and an attempt to ignore the throbbing in her side, she swung with a wild haymaker, hoping to make contact before Tsuioka could again.

[carduinal-cyn]

Perfect, Sho thought as he made contact, that'll hold her! Shimizu let out a disgusting, retching sound, and she was knocked backward. The Fist Twins had struck again.

Sho didn't consider himself a violent person. His size was usually enough to intimidate his classmates away from the Kiriyama Family, and he much preferred reconnaissance work to roughing people up. Lashing out never got anyone anywhere. He stood out enough as it was, with his open secret. College would be his ticket out: his statement to the world that Sho Tsukioka, rough and frightening and flamboyant, could still shine as bright as the full moon over the hills. His punches were pulled. His loyalty to Kazuo and company was slim. But to hell with college. He'd never go if Shimizu ruined his plans. None of them would. The bodies were already piling up.

Sho felt thrust into his old role all over again. He was the Kiriyamas' enforcer now, and if he had to beat someone senseless for the greater good, then so be it.

Shimizu wasn't quite injured enough to stop fighting, unfortunately. She lurched forward and swung at him; the blow connected.

Silly girl. Still aren't using the knife. You'll come to regret that.

Sho grunted, taking the brunt of Shimizu's attack. Then he swung for her face.

[Aura]

Her fist connected again, and the sense of urgency pumped through her veins as she exhaled. She knew that Tsuioka was tough, but she just needed to outlast him long enough to find a way to make her getaway. Motobuchi wasn't the center of attention now, so he could probably make a break for it whenever he wanted. That could be her god deed for the day, or at least a start.

Hirono got ready to strike again, but Tsuioka's fist cut her off by slamming into her jaw. Hirono knew how to fight, but that didn't change the fact that when a guy Tsuioka's size hit you in the face, it fucking hurt. She felt her jaw click in her head as his punch landed with perfect accuracy.

Hirono was rattled, and with that, she felt fear. Tskuioka didn't have a weapon, at least as far as she knew, but he could still beat her. And if she didn't keep hold of her knife, then he could geta hold of it. Since he's willing to take hosteges, she wouldn't be surprised if he'd be willing to slice her up too. However, the ringing of her head after that last punch had left her stunned for a few moments longer than she needed.

[carduinal-cyn]

Sho's fist flew, swift and sure, and Shimizu looked dazed.

For a moment, a pang of guilt ran through him. His first time in a real fight, all things considered, and here he was, beating some poor girl senseless. Sakamochi might've been cheering him on, if it wasn't for the whole gay thing. He was disgusted with himself for even stooping this low.

He hesitated.

Then, he swung again.

[Aura]

Hirono was able to look back at Tsuioka just in time for his fist to crash into her face once more. Her cheekbone took most of the impact, but one of his knuckles landed on the side of her nose. She could already feel her nose starting to bleed as the viscous red began to slowly drip from her nostril.

The new injury fueled Hirono's panic and urgency. She needed to take Tsuioka down fast, since he definitely had the upper hand now. As soon as she got an opportunity to make a run for it, she needed to take it.

Planting her feet on the ground, she rushed forward and tried to tackle the larger boy. He may have been bigger than her, but she was a scrapper, and her adrenaline was pumping. If she could just get him off balance, that was all she needed.

[carduinal-cyn]

Sho gritted his teeth and sucked in a breath at the sight of Shimizu's blood. Red dripped from her nostril; who knew if the girl's nose was broken by now, and who'd care once this despicable Program was at its end? No, no, he couldn't think about that. All for the greater good. All for the greater good...!

He was too busy psyching himself up for another blow to notice Shimizu's quick recovery. The girl slammed into him at full force, and it sent him tumbling to the ground.

"Shit!" he grunted. His uniform was covered in dirt and grass stains now, the way he skidded into the dirt. That'll be on your head! he vowed. Already he raised his hands on instinct, in an effort to counter the inevitable stabbing.

[Aura]

Hirono felt her feet leaving the ground for just a moment as she and Tsuioka fell to the ground together. Tsuioka's body acted as a cushion for her when they hit the ground. Although the fall shook her slightly, she knew that he took the brunt of it.

Tsuioka was on the defensive now, which was perfect for her. She could have just ran, but the blood dripping from her nose and onto his raised hands reminded her of the damage he'd done to her face. It sparked her anger, and she was determined to give him a reciept in kind.

She used one hand to quickly swat at his raised hands, then used that brief opening to swing her other hand downward, looking to land a punch with the added weight of the knife. Her fist slammed into him, and as it did so, the blade caught itself in Tsuioka's face, opening a cut across his cheek and nose.

[carduinal-cyn]

There it was. The knife swung down and lodged right in Sho's beautiful face — that bitch! — cutting a thin, bloody line from the side of his supple cheek to his perfectly formed, pert nose. The absolute nerve! The scar would never fade. His beauty was spoilt for ever. Shimizu clearly wanted to toy with her prey, torture him, even, before dealing the fatal blow. It was clear she had no clue of the stakes, and more importantly of his extensive personal grooming routine.

Sho Tsukioka would not stand for such humiliation!

With a furious growl, his hand closed around the wrist that dealt the disfiguring wound and began to bend it, back and back and back until he knew it would hurt.