❝ CALM BEFORE THE STORM ❞

42

"It's more like a masquerade ball!"

Senju announced to Brahman on the long table while reading an email she received from a certain business organization that will host an event at the nightclub which will be similar to a masquerade ball.

"Really? We're invited to that?" Benkei blinked, "Seems a little extra bro."

"Nothing is extra Benkei," Takeomi laughed. "My acquaintance owns that luxurious club in Tokyo. They're also hosting a little masquerade ball for their business event, and he decided to invite us, bringing us a special invitation letter."

"Especially that Takemichi is the one who brought it!" Takeomi laughed as he slung his arms around a certain man's shoulder who was sitting with them on the meeting table.

"U-uh, it's not really that necessary; I just issued the invitation; I can go home now!" Takemichi said as he scratched the back of his neck; he'd just returned after months away and is Brahman's most trusted friend. You'd never interacted with him before, but you had seen him once just chatting with some Brahman members.

"So, you guys will wear masks for the masquerade ball, right?" Takemichi asked.

As soon as you heard the word, you turned your head to them from the corner of the table where you were seated quietly, not really paying attention to their meeting., but you just simply ignored it not minding to talk.

"Oh, yeah. Well, I prepared some masks that we'll be wearing for the event already," Takeomi said as he took out a box and placed it on the table.

Senju grabbed some and examined them, they were modern masquerade ball masks, some of which were white, black, or silver in color. They were embellished with sparkling glitters, side feathers, jewels, and glossy silk. There were half, full, or had handles and covered the upper part of the face.

"I will go now, I—" Takemichi said as he stood up, but he was pushed by back Takeomi and Benkei.

"Hey man! No fair! Have some fun as well!" Takeomi pats his back and side hugged him, "Come with us to the nightclub!"

"Fine..." Takemichi huffed, leaving with no choice.

"You should really pick now," Senju said with a tremble in her voice. "We'll be going later at night."

"Senju loosen up!" Takeomi said, trying to make his sister less nervous.

"Yeah," Senju sighed as she lowered her voice a bit so that the other Brahman members won't hear.

"Hey, you'll be fine." Takeomi wrinkled his brows.

You looked at Takeomi and Senju while other Brahman members were chit-chatting, you decided to eavesdrop on Takeomi and Senju's conversation while remaining silent in your chair and quietly sitting back.

"You're worried about what?" Takeomi grunted, still trying to reassure his sister. "Worried about (Y/N)?"

Senju exhaled deeply as she rested her back on the wall, "It's not only (Y/N), I mean yeah, I'm worried about her, which is why I had her train and get stronger in order for her to protect herself, since who knows what the circumstances are, Takeomi. I made her Brahman's second leader and my right-hand man because I trust her, not just because we've known each other for a long time, but because I see potential in her that was wasted when she was with Bonten, especially her past when she was with Draken, and when she was in Bonten, which I'm sure you know since you were with her the entire time, right?" She said, leaving Takeomi into thinking especially on the last statement.

"Trust (Y/N). If you trust the people, they'll reciprocate the trust tenfold to you." Senju added.

"I get it, I do trust her, Senju. I've literally watched her when I was still... Still a fucking executive in that hellhole." Takeomi replied.

Meanwhile, you were still listening to their conversation with a stoic face.

"You don't get it, Takeomi." Senju just sighed as she walked out until her brother said something that made her turn back.

"Is it because of Bonten?"

Your eyes widened and brows furrow from the word, feeling a weird unfamiliar feeling on your chest since you haven't heard that word for almost a year now.

"It's them, yeah? Senju you have nothing to worry about, they are gone, far away from us." Takeomi convinced.

"We can move to another country if we have enough funds, and capacities, (Y/N)'s stepmother wakes up from her coma, then everything is settled," Takeomi remarked. "I know it's a lot of work, Senju, since we can't leave an operating gang and business here."

"Say, if Bonten wants (Y/N) back, they should've already done it a long time ago. It's been a year now, actually almost a year and a half yet we heard no news from them," Takeomi said. "There's a reason why I betrayed Bonten and came back to Brahman, Senju. C'mon, I did this for a reason. I almost lost my life there."

"Yeah, you're right," Senju bitterly admitted. "I came to an extent where I just feel like I need to be extra prudent for our gang at any moment. Anything could happen. It's a matter of time."

Senju then stepped away from Takeomi and joined you and the other members at the other table, asking, "how's it going?" Senju beamed as she watched them play the game.

"Nothing, boss, just windin' up a little before our training starts!" One of the members said.

"Yeah, I need to handle something else," Senju said. "I'll leave you all to (Y/N) for now!" She said as she pats your back and you nodded.

"It's 7 A.M already," You muttered to Wakasa after some minutes.

"You can let them warm up on the training field now," Wakasa replied as you nodded and stood up from your seat.

"Hey! Stand up and go to the training field in three minutes or you'll run twenty laps as a punishment!" You commanded as they immediately obeyed and stood up while changing their clothes and shoes.

"You really got that from me, huh?" Wakasa chuckled.

"You were like that to me during my training days." You mocked, shrugging. "(Y/N) if you are late to training, I'd knock the crap out of you and make you run more than twenty laps!"

"Hard work pays off, I guess." Wakasa whistled as he stood up from his seat and walk away, but he walked past you before doing so and whispered something.

"Train them well like how I trained you."

"Is that how you punch, really?"

You scolded one member who was punching really stiffly.

"Extend your arm like this-" You groaned as you walked behind him and yanked both his arms, causing his eyes to widen as he thought his arms would fall off.

"Ouch," he mumbled.

"Sorry, okay try to punch umm..." You tapped your chin as you looked around, thinking where he could punch.

"Oh yeah, go punch that big muscle guy right there!" You grinned as you pushed him off, "Bye!"

"Who will punch me, hargh?!" Benkei turned around as he looked down with a scary threatening face at the trainee.

"U-uh..." The trainee sweatdropped, "Miss (Y/N) told me!" He said as he pointed at you and you just did a thumbs up from afar while wearing a cap and shades, avoiding interacting with your trainees.

"Hey, Benkei! Would you mind if you train this guy right there? Just work on his stiff punches!" You shouted.

"Okay," Benkei said as he stretched his muscles and pulled his sleeves up to his elbows. "Let's fight, kid."

"Oh no," The trainee said. "I should've picked Sir Wakasa than these two crazy mentors!"

"What's that?" (Y/N) and Benkei raised their brows.

"Nothing!"

Meanwhile, (Y/N) was just sitting at one of the chairs and drinking a glass of juice under the heat of the sun outside the training field while watching her trainees. You were just relaxing back and unwinding when you heard footsteps approaching.

"Hello, boss," one of the trainees greeted.

"What do you need?" You replied, still not taking off your shades and leaning back.

Suddenly, you noticed his hand move out of the corner of your eye and realized he was planning a surprise attack on you. You leaped from your chair and grabbed his arm, twisting it behind his back before kicking him to the ground with your foot on his back, causing him to land on his face.

"Ow! Ow! Ow!" The trainee groaned while laying on the grass.

"I'd say four out of ten." You said as you grab your paper to score his surprise attack.

"Okay get out now and practice more before I score you a fucking zero." You groaned as you grabbed your glass of juice and wore your sunglasses back again then leaned back at your chair as you placed your other leg on your knee.

"(Y/N)." Another person called you again, ruining your relaxation under the sun.

"The hell you need—?" You grunted as you removed your shades, but your eyes widened as you saw the person.

"Oh, sorry sir Wakasa." You said as you stood up from your chair.

"How's the training on the newbies?" He asked.

"They were crying," you shrugged. "Anyway forget about them, I handled them already. May I ask when's my next training again?"

"We don't have much time these days," Wakasa glanced at his wristwatch. "It's like late afternoon, we need to go to the nightclub that they said so we'll arrive early."

"Ah right," you said. "I'll go get ready now."

Well, Wakasa and (Y/N) have been getting along well and they're getting a little close than usual.

"What the actual fuck..."

Wakasa muttered while Brahman was inside the limousine, arriving at the nightclub. Senju, Takeomi, and Benkei were all singing and stomping at the karaoke while drinking.

"Ooooh yeah yeah!" Takeomi shouted on the mic, "Ow— wait hold on my back hurts." He said as he sat down on the chair to rest a bit, inhaling and exhaling while soothing his back.

Senju and Benkei kept singing and dancing hysterically, almost causing Takemichi's eardrum to crack who was fighting for his life at the corner.

Meanwhile, you were sleeping on the corner beside Wakasa with your shades on and earbuds on both sides of your ears.

And Wakasa was just sitting with crossed arms and a stoic face, ignoring that his ears are almost going to crack.

The drive to the nightclub was almost one hour, yet it seems like the people in the limousine were already getting drunk.

"Hey chill everyone!" Takemichi said, "We're not in the nightclub yet you all are already looking err— drunk and ugl— no slumpy."

"I mean you know like— mmmm!" Takemichi's words were cut off and muffled as Benkei shoved a beer glass at his mouth.

"Yeah, I'm accepting my fate." Takemichi sighed as he just grabbed the bottle and gulped it straight.

After some time, everyone was in deep sleep, except Wakasa.

You jolted awake from your slumber and nearly rubbed your eyes, forgetting that you were wearing makeup. You turned around to see that you were still in the limousine, and everyone was in deep sleep, especially Takeomi and Benkei, who were snoring loudly.

You checked the time and it's exactly 18:00.

"You're awake?" You heard a raspy deep voice from beside you, and you almost jumped.

"Oh, Wakasa," You cleared your throat as you composed yourself. "I thought you were sleeping as well."

You reclined back in your seat and sat quietly there, but Wakasa's hand was behind you, so you went forward a little, ignoring the awkward tension, especially it's only the two of you who are awake inside the limo except for the driver who was far away from you all.

"Um, Wa—"

"Are we there yet?!" Takeomi and Benkei suddenly woke up as they shouted.

"What?" Senju woke up and yawned at their loud voices.

"Where are we?!" Takemichi then woke up also, following them.

You and Wakasa were disturbed, again.

"Wait we are here!" Senju grinned excitedly as she looked out the window at a city night, replete with bars and nightclubs and purple lights illuminating the streets from skyscrapers and high rises.

"Wear your masquerade mask everyone." They said as you wore yours and walked with them to the nightclub's entrance.

You wore yours and only your mouth was showing with your reddish peach lipstick and gloss, covering the upper part of your face. Your masquerade mask was white with black diamonds and gold feathers, which suited your tube black silk cocktail dress and it was backless with slits, Senju also wore the same with her hair up in a bun and side hairs hanging. The men are dressed in black suits, with Wakasa wearing a leather coat on top.

"Welcome, ma'am and sir." The employees greeted inside the nightclub as Brahman passes by, and you all were standing out amongst the crowd and customers inside the building.

"VIP room's this way." One of the employees said as they guided you to the highest floor of the club.

As you all were now inside, they immediately ordered drinks and settled down for a moment after the little party they had back in the limousine.

"Don't get drunk too much." Wakasa scolded.

"Order a Black Label! Also need some whiskey here!" Takeomi shouted as he pushed his hips forward and leaned back on the couch while giving his card to the employees.

"Takeomi, don't you got some medical documents that you need to lower your sugar level and your intolerance is getting low from all these drinks!" Senju said to her brother.

"C'mon now! It's not like I'm getting old or something." Takeomi dramatically said.

"Whiskey, gin, vodka, are safe, don't worry." He added.

"I need to shit." Benkei bluntly said as he went out of the room.

"That's why it smells bad." Senju blinked.

"What do you mean—?" You were busy with your phone, not really minding their talks until you smell the room and you almost puked.

"Oh my-!" Takemichi covered his nose as he sneezed beside Wakasa.

Wakasa sprayed alcohol beside Takemichi. 

"Gah dahm!" Takeomi coughed as he accidentally sniffed.

"Anyway," Senju coughed as she cleared her throat.

Suddenly, knocks on the door were heard, and servers entered, carrying trays of food and a large number of beverages to the table. You scrunched your brows as you felt déjà vu when you were also working on the nightclub before, but you shook it off, trying your best to forget because as they say, past is past.

But the one exception is even when you're in Brahman, you were still visiting your stepmother in the hospital sometimes, although she never woke up from her long coma.

"(Y/N)?" Senju waved a hand in front of you as she noticed that you were spacing out.

"O-oh, sorry." You said as you just grabbed a bottle of beer and gulped it straight, shocking everyone in the room with their jaw hung open.

"What?" You blinked as you looked at them.

"Let's fucking drink!" Takeomi shouted as he pats your back for drinking the beer straightly, and it was totally different from before.

"Yeah, hold on," You coughed, "I need to go downstairs, I don't want to feel my intolerance later from these drinks."

You cheered drinks with them before going out, only bringing your phone as you walked down the stairs.

"Everything's ready, boss."

One of the employees said outside the nightclub, where Brahman is staying at.

Seven men donned masquerade masks, some of which only covered half of their faces, while others covered their entire faces. They were dressed in black suits, with some wearing black button-up polo shirts with open collars and black pants, and others wearing black leather coats.

"Don't worry sirs, there are more vacant VIP rooms," The nightclub employee said, "Because one room is occupied."

"Occupied?" Ran raised his brow.

"Yes, sir." The employee stepped back a bit, feeling a dangerous aura around them.

"I'm surprised." Rindou scoffed.

"U-um, they're a group of uh people, sirs." The employee gulped while trying to keep a professional smile.

"I wonder who, hmm?" Sanzu chuckled under his mask.

"I-I don't know, sir," The employee said, "All the information that we had is that um— they're invited to this business event that Mr. Mel hosted." 

"Well, may I have your names, sirs?" The employee gulped, "It's for the nightclub's customers list, and since an event will be hosted here this night-"

"Bonten."

"Huh?"

"We don't need to repeat ourselves, do we?" Koko clicked his tongue as he straightened his posture and placed his hands inside his pockets.

"No, my apologies, sir. G-got it, Bonten." The employee bowed and listed the name.

"Hey! Hurry up and reserve the VIP lounge!" The employee said to his co-workers inside the nightclub.

"O-okay sirs, you may now proceed."

"Good," Mochi said as they then walked off to the nightclub, walking past the stiff employee.

"The name is Bonten, got it?" Kakucho whispered sternly as he taps the employee's shoulder harshly.

"Bonten, B-O-N-T-E-N, fucking Bonten." Mikey repeated once more, and there, they walked off.

Again, it's Bonten's law.

"Why the hell is this nightclub so complicated?" You grumbled while finding the right directions to the bathroom, and you found yourself in an empty hallway that thankfully connects to the nightclub's main area.

"Finally." You thought as you rubbed your legs first because they were hurting from the high-heel-laced stilettos.

You found the bathroom and were about to walk out from the hallway until you saw exactly seven familiar men walking into the nightclub.

Your eyes widened and your heart pounded rapidly as you mulled whether your guess was correct, but you felt it was impossible and that you were already free from Bonten, far away from them, that you had already escaped.

"It's impossible..."

Until one of them turned their head to your direction and you noticed a diabolical smirk growing on their lips under their masquerade mask, making you feel like prey surrounded by lurking predators.

You noticed his eyes turn to you, his searing glare that reminded you of the burning torment you felt in Bonten, both pain and pleasure, his gaze heavy and daggers aimed at you, the target.

And you both held eye contact for more than a second.

Checkmate.

A/N: >:))))))))