Work Text:
The silence is getting to him. Other than the sounds of his vehicle speeding down the highway, it’s quiet.
He takes in a sharp breath and grips the wheel tighter whenever something passes his car. A hand brushes over the gun he has holstered when another vehicle gets too close. But nothing happens, and he relaxes. Able to glance to the seat next to him, where a baby is strapped in safe and sound.
It was another call late at night, something he started to expect over the years. Something urgent Kazama needed to be done discreetly. Easily done, it was normal in their line of work after all. When he had arrived at the location however his stomach dropped when he spotted the child.
Not again. Was his first thought, then the second came by in a flash when he spotted the woman that had gone missing nearly two years ago.
Yumi looked at him with a tearful face as he approached,
“I’m glad it’s you he called.”
He looks up to Kazama and Sera of all people, wondering what the hell has been happening in the background for months. Kazama gives the both of them a nod and Yumi gives her child one last kiss on the forehead before placing the bundle in his arms.
“Please…look after Haruka like you did for us, Kashiwagi-san.”
Did he really do that?
It’s been a question he’s been asking himself the entire drive to Sunflower. Accompanying Kazama on a few of his visits, being asked to check up on the proprietor and overlooking some of their books. There’s only brief memories of times he found himself watching over them. Even then he tended to distance himself due to his yakuza ties, Kazama never allowed him to talk about family politics while the children were in the room.
Still, it didn’t stop them from joining in anyway. But they still came to him for advice and invited him out occasionally. Just like the days when Kazama had caught them escaping the orphanage and wandering the more dangerous parts of Kamurocho. Kashiwagi was trusted to watch over them, humor them for a bit until a ride picked them up to go home. Then they were two young adults trying to make it in a harsh world they walked into.
And now…
He grips the wheel tighter again, unable to shake off the truth of the matter in his mind. Even with a watchful eye, how much did he really miss?
He couldn’t believe Kiryu was a killer, nor Nishiki as a merciless patriarch. He can’t help but feel responsible for Yuko, even with the hospital bills only being handled by Kazama and Nishiki themselves. Simply wondering why no one spoke up, no one reached out to help. Nothing until it was too late.
And Yumi…he wanted to ask what happened. Where she was, if she was alright. It only worries him that they need to hide her child, and most likely also hide Yumi somewhere where nobody can find her. All these years and all he can think of asking Kazama…what happened?
Maybe the man is asking the same question to himself. Wondering how everything came to this. How he’s watched his own children grow up and end up ruthless, imprisoned, dead, or hiding for their lives. Perhaps wondering where the younger ones will start going, hoping not to end up like the rest.
Just the thought of how many of these children could die just like their parents did, it festers in his head as the highway stretches out in front of him.
He has to pull over for a moment, undoing the strap in the seat next to him and taking the crying child out of the basket and in his arms. Gently rocking Haruka, he can’t help but remember when Daigo was this small. Silently laughing at the times he was nervous, holding him while Yayoi had to do something. He has to ask her if she was able to track down her son again, just to know he’s safe as well. Or safe as he can be. Last he heard he’s hitting every bar and club in Kamurocho.
Kashiwagi sighs as Haruka starts to quiet down, thinking about what happened to the boy he once knew. The one he watched grow up over the years until everything went wrong. Or maybe it was always wrong to raise a boy in the world they lived in.
He can only hope Haruka never has to live like this. A silent promise to the children that always seem to run into his life.
But Kashiwagi doesn’t get too close, in fear of everything growing cold once more.