"Well now looks like he's still alive right?" he asked " this kinda surprising doc, I didn't expect to see you with him again since you've run out on him before"

"...i think you've got the wrong person" she said

" your sure of that?"

" stop it already, what in the hell does he want with me now lacky?!"

The man just smirked

Time skip

After Tae went to bed and Aoba decided to watch T.V. 

"We're welcoming you with the executive director of the Toue concern, Mr. Tetsuo Toue!" the woman said. 

"Just do me a favor and ask me easy questions." Toue said. 

"Oh, dear, I wonder what I should start the questions with." The interviewer and Toue laughed

"Well, how about this? I'm more than ready about hitting some of the high points of creating Platinum Jail. I'm really excited about getting this off the ground."

The screen switched to showing what Platinum Jail looks like. A well lit city with multiple screens and light all over, people wandering "I've always wanted to give the public the kind of place  that perfectly caters to their pleasures."

"And you honestly think you're achieving that?  I believe so. Perfect pleasure, as I call it, begins with an environment that frees them from worry. A worry free life creates peace an joy, leading to healthier minds and bodies. There are a lot of people who claim their happiness is a byproduct of the hardships they faced over time. But, I don't think that's true at all."

"Yeah whatever. It's not like folks like us from the old town are gonna be able to play around in this Platinum Jail he's created." Aoba said.

"You've hit that right on the head, my dear.l Toue continued "Perfect pleasure is the pathway to real happiness. Imagine if we could create environments like that all over. Just think about it. Violence as a concept would disappear forever. Platinum Jail is the first step in what I hope is progress to worldwide peace." Aoba clicked the T.V. off. Aoba groaned.

"Don't you think Platinum Jail is a good idea, Aoba?" Ren asked.  "Not really." Aoba replied. "If you were gonna put me on that television show right now, I would have to say that I actually have a lot of fun living where I am."

"Honestly?" Ren asked.  "Oh yeah, things are ju-" he stopped in the middle of his sentence when we heard a door slide open. 

Aoba got up and went over to see.  "What are you doing up? Are you sure you're okay Grandma?" Aoba asked. 

"I...uh...w-went to take some of the trash out." she stuttered. 

She took off her shoes and put them on the doorstep.  "You should've asked me to take out the trash." Aoba said. "You shouldn't push yourself." he said.  "Yeah yeah.." she said. "Alright I'm going to bed! Goodnight!" she said.  Aoba sighed. "Goodnight." he said. 

In some place

The same man with the pipe say with someone standing in front of him "  I'm already to go, is everything prepared?" He questioned

" we're all set" the guy confirmed

" good" the guy says lighting his pipe " I'm gonna get my hands on that thing no matter what"  he then takes a puff

At the tower

Mr toue stood outside talking with some people as his ride arrived " thank you so much for today" toue thanked

" I was really moved by your wonderful words, and it seems like social mediaS are buzzing about it" one of the man Says

Toue turned a little "Oh please, the pleasure was all mine gentlemen, I'd be more than happy to come back" he then turned and walked to the car " take care"

In the car it was silent until

"That was amazing sir, a really nice piece of Public relations" his assistant started

"Oh course, they want positive, and I sell them exactly what they want" toue sighs " you spoke to the old woman?" He asked

" and I got the same answer" his assistant replied

" understood, some people won't change so easily, actually I should say they can't" he turned and looked out the window

After a couple of minutes, Aoba laid on his bed.

Aoba was completely silent while I played around on my Coil.  "Aoba." Ren said. "Are you having another headache?" Ren asked.  "I'm good. Grandma's new medicine seems to me working pretty good on the headaches for now, I guess." Aoba replied

.  "Okay. You still look like you're pretty down, but your not sick." Ren said.  "I'm sick of something." Aoba said. "That one-eyed jackass from Toue Concerns was spouting off about perfect happiness and Platinum Jail." he said

"How can you find happiness in a place called "jail?" he asked. 

Just then he heard singing

"huh?"

Aoba went out to his balcony to seen where it was coming from "Master!" Clear said, popping his head out from the roof. 

Aoba nearly screamed.  "Okay dude. What are you doing out here on my balcony so late?" Aoba asked.  "Singing the Jellyfish song of course!" Clear replied happily.  "

"Huh?" Aoba said confused

The two were now sitting on the roof

"So tell me. What's the Jellyfish song?" Aoba asked "My grandfather taught me all kinds of things about jellyfish when I lived with him. So I made up this song." he said.

.  "I guess I really don't get it." Aoba said.  "Master,. Did you know, it's a known fact that jellyfish are mostly made up of water." Clear explained. "Isn't that interesting?" he asked.  Aoba smiled. "Really? I didn't know that. I guess it is interesting." he said.

"I firmly believe that jellyfish dream when they're asleep." Clear said. "They dream?" Aoba asked. "Yes." Clear replied.  "Oh, yeah. I definatly don't know that." Aoba said. 

"So what's the umbrella for Clear? Huh?" Aoba asked.  "I just looks like the stars are going to rain down." Clear said looking up at the night sky. 

"Hmm? You've got to be kidding me...I mean, I don't see any stars out tonight." Aoba said

"By the way Master." Aoba cut him off. "Can you stop calling me "Master" for pete's sake!" he snapped.  "But why should I?" Clear asked

"It just kind of makes me uncomfortable, you know? Just call me by my name, alright?" Aoba said.  "But you are my master, Master. So I'll just be calling you "master"." he said.  "Is that not okay. Master?" he asked

"I'll learn to live with it, I guess." Aoba said.  "And if you would, please call me by the name my grandfather gave me Master, it's Clear." he said

"Okay. Are you talking about the grandfather who taught you all that stuff about jellyfish?" Aoba asked.  "Yes." Clear replied.  "But, he's asleep now." Clear said, a small sad tone in his voice.  "He's as- I get it." Aoba said, looking down. He's passed

"Master?" Clear said, getting our attention. "I'm certain you were thinking what happiness really is, weren't you?" Clear asked. "Unless I'm mistaken."

"How did you know that?" Aoba asked. 

"I heard your voice, Master."

"Huh?" 

"Why do you think everyone wants happiness, but they expect someone else to give it to them?"

"Uh..." 

"Everyone's going to die one day. But you know...it just seems really strange that in a short life, people are hungry to be happy." Clear says, Aoba hugged his legs and sighed "Well, I sure don't understand it. And I'm not sure if I will get it, either. I suppose people just think happiness is apart of living the best lives that they can, really. Thing is, no one can really imagine what things are going to be like after they die, so they grab for whatever happiness they can."

"They can't imagine it?" Clear asked

"Well...it's not like any of us ever found out. And you kind of have to die to really know. So, I suppose people try to leave proof that they were alive through things they said and did. They believe that if people remember them, that they will have some sort of life after they've passed away." Aoba says smiling

"If they're remembered, they live?" Clear asked

"To be honest, I don't really know what makes me or other people happy. You know, I just want to keep on having fun while I'm still alive, and not let it get complicated." Clear gasped, the set his umbrella down, shifting his body.  "Master!"

"Hm?" 

"The way you think is wonderful! You've taught me something. Something important that I didn't know, Master." He leaned forward, causing Aoba to back up, "Thanks for teaching me something new! It's really great! And to thank you, I'd like to sing for you again. May I?"

Aoba smiled and looked to Clear again.  "Yeah, sure. Your singing's nice. It really is." Clear looked back to the sky.  "My grandfather always said he was pleased to hear me sing too. I'd like to please you as well, Master. So, I'll sing. Right now, nothing would make me happier than to please someone by singing for them."  "Okay. You wouldn't happen to know any lullabies, would you?"

Aoba returned to his room, he was both able to fall into a peaceful sleep as Clear sang his song.

Time skip

In dry juice territory everyone was just sitting on the ground as if they were possessed, except mizuki, he looked at the wall which had been reclaimed as morphine

Kojaku was working on a woman's hair

" is everything gyour hair seems to be showing a lot of ware and tear" he said

Just then one of his gang members run to him "Kojaku, it looks like somethings wrong at Dry juice's hangout!"

His eyes Widen before narrowing

Elsewhere

Ani was working in the kitchen at the mini restaurant, keeping her cover from her aunt when one of the girls rushed in from the back door " hey boss! There's trouble!" She exclaimed, gaining ani's attention along with the others " it's the dry juice boys and mizuki!"

Her eyes widened then narrowed

With the main character

"Thank you for your hard work!" Aoba said as he left the shop just then his coil went off

"Koujaku." Aoba said.  "Aoba get here quick" He heard.  Aoba then started to run off again

As they arrived kojaku noticed two members from the dorami gang along with there boss looking around

"ani!" she turned when she heard his voice and saw him with his guys

" hey...." she responded,

" what are you doing here?" he questioned " looking for Mizuki, what else, what about you?" she asked

" same thing" he replied " did you find anything" he asked

" no nothing" she shook her head

Kojaku and his guys, along with ani and her girls were looking abandoned the place " this can't be good can it boss?" One of them asked

" no" kojaku replied as he looked at the morphine graffiti

" I wonder where mizuki and the dry juice guys are, they wouldn't just pick up and leave

He then heard the sound of footsteps running towards them

" kojaku! Ani!" they turned and saw aoba run towards him

" aoba!"

"What happened here?" Aoba asked.  "It's Mizuki. He's disappeared," Koujaku replied.

While aoba gasped, they all started looking around

"I've been trying to get in touch with him since yesterday. No dice. I came to check on him. And I found this here." He glanced around

searching all day, no matter where they went, all they saw were Morphine's tag art.

" morphine erased and retagged everything, they didn't just get spirited away did they?" ani noted

There were many possibilities of their disappearance, but hopefully being Spirited Away wasn't one of them. After hours and hours of relentless searching, Aoba met up with Koujaku, ani and their gangs again at Dry Juice's base.

"Where the hell are they?" Aoba asked.  "It's not like they just grabbed all their gear an picked a new territory." Koujaku added

Koujaku looked around, "Oh, shit. Look at that." Aoba looked over by the stairs and they saw blood.

Just then they heard footsteps.  "Well now! Fancy meeting you here Aoba!" Virus said

Ani recognised those voices and gasoed, gesturing for the two girls to hide her presence 

"Hey aoba, good to see ya again!" Trip said.

"Trip and Virus." Aoab said. "What are you guys doing here?" 

"Me and the Tripster are actually running things around here." Virus said.  Koujaku glared at them. "Yakuza clowns." he growled, along with his two gang members

"Aoba. Don't tell me you're actually hanging around with these guys." Koujaku said.  "I don't hang with them, and I met Trip and Virus before they joined up anyway. I met the two of them while you were off the island." Aoba said.

"Actually the three of us have been pretty close for a while now." Virus said. "That's right. Works got nothin' to do with it." Trip replied.  "I know they're a lot of jerks who do what we do. But I'm proud to say that never used violence or broken the law. We're just taking a look around the block like we usually do. It's a pleasure to meet you." Virus said. 

"Yakuza are still Yakuza." Koujaku said. "Be as friendly as you wanna be, but once you've fall in with the mob." he then gave a stern look.  "It corrupts you all the way down to the bone!" he said. 

"Maybe. But think about this for a moment okay? The difference between the cops and the crooks on the island isn't a whole lot. Am I right?" Virus said. "You're a street gang leader yourself, aren't you Koujaku?" Virus asked.  "I'm sure you have a friend or two who keep the local cops off of your back." Virus said.

"It's not like everyone in the police department is in the business of organized crime." Koujaku said. "They are some honest ones out there too."

"Well it looks like actually went and made my point for me  about what I do." Virus said. "We're you're friendly neighborhood Yakuza!" he said.  Trip laughed.

"Do you know anything at all about what happened to the guys from DryJuice?" Aoba asked.  "Looks like we're the only ones here doesn't it?" Trip said.  "That's right. It's like they all disappeared." Aoba said

"Disappeared?" Virus asked

"We just got here and found all of DryJuice tags have been spraypainted over and there wasn't anyone here to ask about it. And what's even weirder is that all only the Morphine tag's are here." Aoba explained.  "Who are Morphine?" Virus asked. "Are you talking about that mythical group that people are talkin' about, like it's kinda monster?" Trip asked.

"That's them." Aoba said. "I mean it could actually be possible that someone did something to the DryJuice guys and made it look like Morphine carried out the attack." Aoba said. 

"This looks kinda brutal, don't you think? An entire gang just disappears at once? This whole scenario sounds like something you'd read in a strange horror novel." Virus said.

"That's what I mean. S-so what?" Aoba asked. "Yeah I get it. You've painted a pretty clear picture for us now." Virus said. "We'll give you a buzz if something comes up while were looking" Virus said.  "Thanks for that." Aoba said

"The crazy thing is that a lot of out guys are starting to see more things like this happening. Just be careful, Aoba."

"There's a lot going about this situation and we don't have the complete picture on just yet." Trip stated.

"I'm sure you don't really give a damn about what happens to anyone in the Ribsteiz gang. Are you going to do something about it, or not?" Kojaku asked

"Remember, you're in the middle of my territory and all of this is happening in my city. Like it or not, we both have a common goal here in mind. Finding out who's really behind this. And they can call themselves Morphine or whatever they want to. I don't want them trashing my territory anymore than you do. Attracting my attention isn't smart, wouldn't you say?" Virus explained.

Koujaku scoffed

"Anyway, it's time for the two of us to take our leave now. I promise I'll call you if we find anything at all."

"Yeah, thanks." Aoba said.

Ani sighed in relief as they left

The group left Dry Juice's base and went into some back alleys, thinking about their next move. "Damn, this is some crazy shit." Koujaku stated.

"I don't know where to start. It's weird." Aoba said.

Ani sat on the ground, her back against a building, She was suddenly startled as a cube jumped onto her hand, She gasped, "Huh? You again?" She looked up and saw that Noiz was behind Aoba and immediately got defensive

"They're going to be starting another one here pretty soon. You'd better think about fighting again." Noiz stated

"And why should he?" Koujaku questioned, "You don't give up, do you? Aoba said he didn't want to do it anymore."

"I wasn't talking to you, asshole." Noiz said. "What the hell!?" one of Kou's members said. Koujaku blocked him with his arm. "Don't bother!" he said

"You better watch what you say, little boy." Koujaku warned. "But it's the truth." Noiz replied.

"And you're exhausting all the goodwill I got." Koujaku said. "Whatever." Noiz replied. "Talking to you really makes me want to put an end to all your little Rhymeheads." Koujaku said, glaring at him

" alright! I've had enough of this shit! Aoba doesn't want to fight you end of story! Now either piss off! Or I'll send you away myself!" ani glared

" yeah right, a shrimp like you" he scoffed

" hey! You wanna die punk!" Saki, one of ani's dorami girls glared

"I don't give a damn. Show me someone who likes you Ribsteez creeps, and it'll be the first." Noiz said.

"Hey guys, take it easy okay?" Aoba said, trying to stop them, but they ignored him. 

"Stupid Rib. What kind of idiot fights with his hands and feet nowadays? That's right, you do!" Noiz insulted.

"Nobody ever achieved anything by screwing around with some dumass VR game! You don't know a damn thing!" Koujaku shot back. 

" and plus your one to talk! You fight with your fists too dumb ass!" Ani added

"Hey!" Aoba shouted.

"I guess I can't count on a caveman or a short stack to talk about anything, can I?" Noiz said. "You want me to send smoke signals?" 

"You think either of us gonna take that from a guy who looks like a giant toiletbrush?!" Koujaku insulted.

"At least I know how to use the toilet." Noiz shot back.  "Is that that right? That doesn't explain why you've got a diaper on your head, does it?" Koujaku insulted. 

Noiz seemed to have enough, he slid metal gloves or something over his bandaged hands. 

His crew start backing out

"Are you ready to back up your words with some action?" Koujaku asked

"This is really stupid. When I'm in the mood to kick your ass, so I'll crush you!" Noiz said.  "You won't be crushing anything after I get done with you, boy?"

" by the time I'm finished you won't be able to move..." ani clenched her fists

Koujaku said, taking of his sword straps. Aoba got in bewtween them.  "Come on guys, why are letting this guy get under your skin!?" Aoba asked

"Sorry Aoba. ." Kojaku said

" he's right, this guys asking for it" ani glared

"You wanna talk trash? Then you better be ready to pay the piper!" Koujaku said. "Whatever." Noiz said. 

Koujaku threw his sword behind him and one of his gang members caught it.  "Noiz! For the love of God, will you take it easy before they try to cut your head off!" Aoba said. "I'm not the one who came here looking for a fight, alright?" Noiz replied. 

"Hey wait a minute!" Aoba tried to say. 

Koujaku charged at Noiz, and threw a punch at him, Noiz dodged it pretty easily.  "Koujaku! Noiz!" Aoba called

"Alright that's it!!" Ani said.  Running in.  "Ani!" Aoba exclaimed, She tried to throw a puch at Noiz, but ended up getting a fist to the face. Koujaku's fist. 

" crap! Ani!" His eyes widened, it almost went further until they heard a voice through a bullhorn.  "What in the hell are you doing?" Akushima shouted. 

It all stopped and looked at the crazy cop.  "Oh shit!" Aoba said. 

"Looks like I found me a fight! Rhymeheads and Ribsteez all in one place! So who wants to be the first one to die!?" he asked.

"Don't think I'm done dude." Noiz said. Before he left, he looked at ani.  "Oh and as for you." She looked at him, then...  *BAM* 

A punch came right at her face, and broke her nose. " gah!" She screamed in pain and fell back. "Ani !" Koujaku and Aoba shouted. Noiz ran off  "You....son of a-" She grunted, searing pain her nose, Blood ran down her face and dripped onto her clothes

"This way guys!" Koujaku said. "Yeah!" The two said in unison as they ran.  "I've got something to tell you but it's gonna have to wait until we get to your place!" Koujaku said  to aoba and ran a different direction. 

" I'll meet you there, after I deal with this" ani muttered about her nose, then ran another way

"Sounds good!" Aoba said as he ran one ran. 

He finally came to a halt out of breath but away from the cops "Damn it." He said.

Suddenly, Aoba's watch began to ring. He clicked on it and a screen opened as he received the mail.  "The Kidnapped Princess?" He asked, reading the mail's title, "Is this spam?" He clicked on his watch to delete it. But, as soon as he did, it rang again and he received the same mail.

He tried to delete it again, but he only got it again. "Oh, come on."

Elsewhere a van appeared outside his house and someone was picking the lock

He kept trying to delete it, but he only kept getting them again, "Give me a break. Enough is enough already!" Even after he stopped deleting the mails, he kept receiving them. "Damn it all." He opened his bag, "Wake up." Ren opened his eyes, then he lifted his head. 

"What's going on?" He asked.  "There's something wrong with my email. This message just won't delete." He showed Ren the continuous incoming messages.  "Let me have a look at it. One moment, please." He scanned the screen. "Analysis complete. It's not a virus. But, I'm still taking a few precautions, just in case it's something I've never seen before."  "Couldn't you just put a little something in the firewall to keep them from getting to me?"

"I appears that the sender is connected directly to your mail server. I can't stop that from here."

"Are you kidding? It's like they're harassing me." 

"Maybe opening it will stop them from mail bombing you." 

"Uh...are you sure it's okay to open it?" 

"Fine, jackass! You win!" Aoba yelled to his watch, "I can always get myself another data watch." Suddenly, the messages stopped, "What's this? No, seriously."

"The data appears to be a game." Ren informed.  "So, there's a game in it? Wait. Just like the last one?" The data finished uploading and it was the same game.

'Silent Oath', "That's lame. It looks like the same one, too. There's no start button, just speeds. Ren. It's not doing anything at all. Nothing."

"It might be like the one you got the other day."

"Some kind of demo? Two of the same game I can't play taking up space on my watch. Great. Or...maybe not. What's going on?" It appeared to be a character getting taken away by bats.

Then it's taken to what looks like a shack or something. Then, it was finished, "If that was a game, it didn't make any sense at all."

"Definitely."

"And now I gotta clean a bunch of spam off my watch. I'm definitely not happy at all. Let's call it a night, okay?" Suddenly, someone walked in front of them. It looked like...  "Mizuki?" He asked.  "Mizuki? Uh, hey, wait up, man!" Aoba called. He placed his hand to his shoulder, but as he turned around, it wasn't Mizuki, "Sorry about that."

" Mizuki..." he whispered.  Aoba began to make his way home, but came to a halt at a stop, for he weren't clear to walk the crosswalk.

The whole thing of today was flooding through his minds. A car horn beeped and startled him.  "Aoba? Are you okay?" Ren asked

"I've got a bad feeling about this," Aoba answered, "I better call Grandma, now." He pulled up the number and clicked call. It rang and it continued to ring.  "She hasn't picked up yet?" Ren asked.  "Grandma. Pick up already, will you, please?" The call dropped, "Damn it!" 

He began to run home.  After a long run, he finally arrived and to his shock, the door was unlocked. Aoba flew the door open.

"Grandma!" He called.

. All the lights were off and it was silent, aoba zipped up his bag.  "Grandma?" Aoba took a step in, but his foot kicked something

He looked down and saw that it was the holder for umbrellas and canes.

Aoba gasped and rushed in, He went to the dining room first, "Grandma?! Where are you?"

. Aoba looked down as he saw bodies of people on the floor. He checked them, but none of them were guys he knew. He sighed with relief.  "Thank God, it's not her." However, he recognized that on their necks were the Morphine tags,

"Morphine's tag art!" Aoba gasped and checked another, but he was of Morphine, too, "Another one." He gasped, turned around, only to be met by a tall man. He sprang to his feet, "What did you do with her?!" He didn't answer, "You better tell me where she is, bastard!"

Aoba then noticed he was surrounded.

The one in a long coat suddenly advanced on Aoba and punched him right in the abdomen.

He groaned and his vision blurred.  "Damn you..." He collapsed onto the floor.