In the chopper.

Kamo-san: "This is the man made Chiba White Beach resort. It belongs to one of the sponsors of the female fighting tournament and through the building process they were able to change a lot." He holds up a photo for Ryuji to see

Ryuji, taking the photo: "...Underground..."

Kamo-san: "Or something similar. To avoid the public eye, they also could have used camouflage. For example, a place like this may be an entranceway." He shows Ryuji a photo of a waterfall.

Ryuji: "Humph. I've heard from father that these were people who weren't stingy on money in order to have a good time... but it really seems that way."

Kamo-san: "...Sandaime... Do you think Tsukasa-san is all right..."

Ryuji: "---... ...It's just a meeting of whimsical people... We shouldn't believe that they start only when the sun sets, just as the manuke sniper claims." [Manuke = stupid]

Kamo-san: "...True......... It's better that we hurry."

CRASH!

Tsukasa: "OW! OW! You bastard! What are you doing kuso-Ryujiii!!" She gets up all of the sudden and realizes that she's talking to a wall. "...Huh?"

Girl: "There's no point in complaining to iron bars." The walls are barred, as if they're in a huge cage or something. There are several other girls trapped along with Tsukasa.

Tsukasa: "A...? Hey, you." {From the change room.} She points at the girl she recognized.

Girl: "It's Miho!" {Don't point, that's rude!}

Tsukasa: "Where is this?"

Miho: "I don't know, though I know you were brought here by car."

Tsukasa: "...Now that I think about it, at the secondary round of the competition, there was a strange man in the room... and he asked a strange question..." Tsukasa recalls being asked if she had any lifestyle problems. "...By any chance did you guys answer that you were having money problems......"

All the girls: "Immediately."

Tsukasa: "I thought so......" {...Since that Hizaki is involved with this, I thought it may be a trap, ...but it looks like it was...} She feels a pain in her arm. "!?" {...A mark after an injection...? ...What the hell!? It isn't a drug is it!!?} Her imagination starts going a bit wild. {He's not going to keep us drugged and then sell us or something... Shit! He loves girls in their teens or 20s!} "Nooooo! If that tako is going to be playing with this body I'd rather be a serious bodyguard of Ryuji------!!" [tako = octopus, Tsukasa's name for Hizaki]

She freaks out the other girls at her outburst.

Miho: "What!? What's with you all of the sudden?"

Something catches Tsukasa's eye: "N!? Uooooooo!!" There's a smudge on the China dress. "Who the hell got this dirtied!!? A---! It doesn't come off~~~!!!" She starts crying.

Miho: {What a strange person...} "You're rich aren't you? Why don't you just buy a new one?"

Tsukasa: "If I were rich I wouldn't be here would I--- And even if I use money it's not something I could get my hands on!" {...This is a gift from Kaya-san to me, the only memory of Kaya-san's younger sister!!}

The wall on the other side of the iron bars rises suddenly, and Tsukasa hears noises.

Tsukasa: "...What......? It sounds like there's a lot of people... ...A? W...! What the hell is this------!!"

A huge gambling table surrounds what looks like a fighting arena. The "cage" where they are is held high above the arena, and something that appears like slides connects the cage to the fighting arena below.

Miho: "...Could this be the finals...?"

Tsukasa: "No! You're an ojyousan aren't you?" [Ojyousan = girl from a well off family, a lady.] "...It looks like...... a casino."

Miho: "...A casino?"

Tsukasa: "Gambling."

Miho: "Huh...?"

Tsukasa: "Wait a minute. Could it be that we're being used as game pieces!?" She glances down and notices 2 girls chained by a collar on their necks. Though they're not within reaching distance, it seems like they're about to attack each other. She recognizes 2 people down at the tables. "!" {Hizaki and the co-ordinator of the female fighting competition!}

Down at the gambling tables.

Sunomata: "Thank you for coming here Fujihashi-san."

Fujihashi [a last name]: "Why... isn't it Sunomata-san! It's been 9 years. When I received the invitation and the money I was counting down the days until today. I didn't think you'd open this sort of gambling house again."

Sunomata: "Since you came today, can I assume that you will abide by the conditions as stated on the invitation?"

Fujihashi: "Of course. Hizakigumi is the syndicate no. 1 or no. 2 of the Kanto area. To reject an offer from that Hizakigumi would be a waste. I would be glad for ties with such a group."

Hizaki, who happens to overhear this conversation walks over: "This casino was really supposed to open in the evening but since everyone couldn't wait we opened it earlier."

Fujihashi, laughing: "Well even if we didn't wait until dusk this is not the sort of place that would be found." {That this is behind a waterfall truly surprised me.} "---Now that there is no Kuryugumi's Nidaime in the way we will enjoy this. Since this time around it's better than 9 years ago." [Nidaime is Ryuji's father, in case you've forgotten.]

Hizaki: "---That's right. Unlike 9 years ago we don't bet on who will win the fight, but we bet on which person will live or die. For that we've taken several measures."

Fujihashi, laughing: "Something to look forward to."

Sunomata, also laughing: "Don't you think?" {I couldn't stop laughing since the preliminary round.}

Hizaki [I think]: {---I'm sure that Kuryugumi knows about the casino... Now then... I wonder if Kuryugumi's young Sandaime will show up here---...}

Miho: "...But, if we win then we can take the money and go home right?"

Tsukasa: "Baka! Why do you think that they collected people who have money problems?" {Do you really want to go home?}

Miho: "E?"

Tsukasa: "Even if we die then they'll shut our parents' or siblings' mouths by paying them money!" {Well since the yakuza are involved, they may use violence too!}

Miho: "!!?" The sits down all of the sudden. "---... ...No way...... ...I... entered this so that me and my sisters can lead a better life... ... So that the three of us... can live together..."

Below them the chains and collars are released from the girls' necks. One of them immediately delivers a punch to the other's face.

Tsukasa: "!" {EH!!? To the face!! And to a girl!!}

The girl, panting heavily: "...... ...Money......?" She straddles the downed opponent and begins banging her head on the floor. "Money---!!"

Tsukasa: "!!"

Miho: "...Is that person really human...?"

Tsukasa: "...What......?"

Miho, looking a bit stoned: "...But there's money pouring out of her mouth..."

Tsukasa: "...... What are you saying......" {Isn't it blood......?}

Fujihashi: "---It's a type of hallucinogen is it not?"

Hizaki: "It works when they see blood. Since they are all people hungry for money. They'll keep hitting until the blood stops flowing."

Sunomata: "But it's not fun to see someone hitting a person that doesn't fight back."

Fujihashi: "This round is mine---"

Hizaki: "True. Next." He signals to a man above him. The man presses down on a lever.

Back up in the "prison", holes appear below Tsukasa and Miho's feet.

Tsukasa: "! WA!"

They are now at the opposite ends of the fighting arena.

Tsukasa: "A!" A collar and chain are attached to her neck.

Hizaki: "Which do you think will win?"

Sunomata: "We---ll."

Tsukasa: "!!"

Sunomata stares at her: "---... I'll choose blue." She lays her bet on the table.

Hizaki: "That's a quick decision for you."

Sunomata: "The clothes the person on the red side is wearing is unlucky."

Tsukasa: "! ?"

Hizaki: "...China dress... Aah... Now that I think about it, there was a person wearing something like that 9 years ago." {She was pretty strong.}

Sunomata: "There was. And I bet on her and lost a fortune!"

Hizaki: "Well even though it was an accident, it was the only game where there was a death, so it was the most exciting."

Sunomata: "It was because of that that we changed the bet to life or death." She laughs.

Hizaki: "What was her name. Wasn't it... Shozu something---..."

Tsukasa: {...Wh...at...?}

Tsukasa recalls Kaya's words: "...It's something my sister used to wear often."

She remembers her conversation with Kaya: "...Kaya-san, you lost your only sister to martial arts which she starting taking for self defense purposes---..."

Tsukasa: {---Kaya-san's sister...? Why... It doesn't seem like Kaya-san has any money problems......}

Sunomata: "Stop it! If we talk about the sisters then Kuryugumi will come..." She starts suddenly as she catches sight of someone. "!!?"

Ryuji, backed by Kamo-san, Bun-san, and a couple of kumiin are there.

Tsukasa: {---!!!}

Ryuji: "So Sunomata Kiyoko. It's been 9 years since your last success with a black fighting competition." [I mean black in this case as illegal/twisted.]

Hizaki: ......!"

Sunomata: "Kyaaaaa!" {They really ame!}

Fujihashi: "Sunomata-san! What's this supposed to mean!? I didn't hear that Kuryugumi was coming!"

Sunomata: "I don't know! I didn't know anything about this!"

Ryuji, tossing the sniper at them: "I received an invitation from Hizaki."

The sniper, with tears in his eyes and panicking: "Kumichooo! I failed in my mission to assassinate Shirogami Ryuji!"

Hizaki: "You moron! Kill yourself before you get caught---!" {Don't come back you bastard---!}

Sunomata: "...Assassinate... What does that mean Hizaki-san, to do something so conspicuous!"

Hizaki, sweating a little: "E? Well."

Ryuji: "...That was the plan. Wasn't it Hizaki?"

Sunomata: "?"

Hizaki: "......" He looks worried.

Ryuji: "---Either way," He and Kamo-san take out their guns.

Sunomata, freaking out: "!! Th th there's no weapons allowed here---!!!"

Ryuji: "...I thought so. That is one of the rules for the people who are present at the black competition. I was wondering if 9 years made you forget, since it seems that you forgot that you promised the late Nidaime that you wouldn't open such a casino ever again..."

Sunomata, sweating: "......! That's......"

Ryuji: "---Oh well... I didn't come here to talk about that... I'm here for a few rounds......"

Sunomata agrees, reluctantly.

Tsukasa, who can see them from the arena watches intently. "------..." {---...Ryuji...} She watches as Ryuji takes a seat. {...You bastard...} She turns away.

Kamo-san: "...Sandaime, it looks like they started earlier than planned." {Thank goodness we were in time.}

Ryuji: "...Aah..." He glances up at Tsukasa. "---..."

Tsukasa: {---Bastard... You are a gokudo after all...} [Gokudo = wicked person, a criminal etc.] {You're just like Hizaki and that hag...!! All for your pleasure, you trample us weaker ones like bugs...!!} "Dammit, I'll never forgive you... I hate... the gokudo..." {...and Ryuji as well......!!!}

Ryuji: "...Sunomata... You bet on blue?"

Sunomata: "Th... That's right."

Ryuji: "Hm----... Then I'll bet red."

The dealer [well, okay, maybe not the dealer, but whatever you call him]: "...The amount..."

Ryuji: "Kuryugumi. I'll bet all of it." Turning to Sunomata. "You bet all your assets as well."

Sunomata: "Wh... What!?"

Ryuji, glaring up at her: "...What... You have a problem? I meant to be nice. If you would rather wager your life then that's what I'll do."

Sunomata: "I'll wager! All my assets!!"

The chains and the collars are released.

Tsukasa: "...... Hey...?" She glances at Miho who looks stoned. "...You're... okay......? Right?"

Miho, smiling slyly: "Is there... money inside there......?"

Tsukasa is thrown to the corner as she receives a punch from Miho. "!!!" {...There's something wrong...! Maybe from the injection...? But... Then why am I all right...!?} Blood drips from the corner of her mouth.

Miho: "Money~~~" She grabs at Tsukasa's throat.

Tsukasa: "Shit!"

Sunomata: "My, it seems like the fight will be over already."

Kuryugumi kumiin: "Kill her---! If you don't want to lose then kill her before she kills you---!" They start when they notice Ryuji's glare.

Ryuji: "...I'll kill you."

The kumiin, who have turned to stone: "......"

Tsukasa: {Ba. Bakayaro---! I can't kill her!} "Come one! Come back!" Tsukasa has Miho's wrists in her hands, trying to keep Miho off of her. {She has a family!! I can't make them like Kaya-san!!} She thinks quickly. {I'll knock her out...!} She knees Miho in the stomach while she hits her on the back of the head. Miho however is not knocked unconscious.

Tsukasa: "!! ...Wh... What?" {For a female opponent I put in a lot of power!! Her senses must be paralyzed.}

Miho: "Hey... Let out more money..."

Kamo-san: "...Sandaime... It seems that they were using drugs..."

Ryuji: "......" He sighs. "They sure don't go below my expectations." He raises his hand.

Tsukasa: "...!" Miho is now straddling and choking her. {I have to do something...} From her position she sees Ryuji upside-down. He flicks something at her. She immediately snatches it from the air. "?"

Fujihashi and Sunomata: "?"

Tsukasa: {...E? This capsule......... Isn't it the one that Ryuji forced me to take...!} She glances up at Ryuji. "........."

Ryuji seems to have no expression.

Tsukasa, looking determined, kicks the floor, flipping herself and Miho back. While doing so, she pops the capsule into Miho's mouth. Miho doesn't move for awhile.

Tsukasa: "...Did it work......?"

Miho smiles again and starts throwing punches again.

Tsukasa, evading all of the blows: "...Of course not~~~!!" {Fine.} Tsukasa moves to belt Miho in the stomach. While she's throwing the punch, Miho comes to.

Miho: "...Huh? What am I doing?"

Tsukasa, after knocking Miho out: "...To late~~~!!" {I just put all my strength into that punch, and on a girl~~~}

Ryuji: "So Sunomata, start writing your will." {And of course you're leaving all your assets for Kuryugumi.}

Sunomata: "...You... don't really mean to bet my life do you..."

Ryuji: "Didn't I say so?"

She turns to Hizaki: "H... Hey Hizaki-san, don't just stand there, do something!"

Hizaki: "This doesn't involve me! You just asked me to help out with the casino!"

Sunomata: "My! Who's the one who was going to expand his kumi by using the gambling as bait!!?"

Ryuji: "Instead of asking him for help, wouldn't you be happier by dragging him down with you? How about I tell you why he tried to get me the day before this opened? To make it look like you did it. The manuke guy that aimed for me and was easily caught said that he was hired by you first."

Sunomata: "Wh... What...?"

Ryuji: "Well, after we said that we would cut his nails for him he told the truth..."

Kamo-san [I think]: "They were a bit long and for using a gun---"

A major argument breaks out, with all parties surrounding Hizaki.

Sunomata: "Hizaki-san! You were going to put the blame on me!?" {How could you!}

A bunch of gokudos: "Hizaki-san! You have kumiin that will talk just because of having their nails cut!!"

The sniper: "I thought they were going to pull out my nails..(I mean this is Kuryugumi we're talking about! I wasn't going to believe that they were going to cut my nails...}

Comment from the author: "Still, that's pathetic!"

Suddenly there's the sound of explosions.

Everyone there starts panicking.

"!!"

"...Wh... What's this?"

"Something's approaching."

Kamo-san: "Now that I think about it, Sandaime, didn't we bring some timed bombs?"

Ryuji, putting a fist to his palm: "Oh yeah, I forgot about the explosives. The whole place will be buried in 5 minutes."

The gokudos all start yelling in panic.

"!!!"

"F... Five minutes!? The whole place!!"

"You're going to kill everyone!!?"

"No way! Get out---!"

"That's why I didn't want to make Kuryugumi my enemy!"

"Aren't you the one that was saying you weren't scared of Kuryugumi?"

"Shut up! Run---!" Everyone except Kuryugumi and Tsukasa take off at a run.

Ryuji, blushing: "Was that a bit too obvious...?"

One of his kumiin: "A bit..." {It's like you were reading lines from a play all of the sudden.}

Ryuji turns to glance at Tsukasa who's standing there dazed: "...... You look like you don't know what's happening, but I'll give you the details later. I'll leave Sunomata and Hizaki to you. I'm sure you have something you want to do. Go."

Tsukasa smiles. She then runs off.

Kamo-san: "Sandaime... That China dress..."

Ryuji: "Aah."

Kamo-san: "It suits Tsukasa-san well."

Ryuji: "...Well yeah."

Kamo-san: "By any chance is that your type..." He glances at Ryuji. Ryuji must have given Kamo-san a look. "I... I'm sorry! I've gone to far~~~!!"

Ryuji: "......"

Somewhere in a hallway.

Tsukasa downs another gokudo. Sunomata and Hizaki are the only ones left.

Tsukasa: "...Hizaki... Sunomata...... You've done a lot." A fighting aura surrounds her.

Hizaki, grabbing a lead pipe or something that's hidden on the other side of a doorway: "......"

Tsukasa: "Going for people's weaknesses." She approaches the pair.

Hizaki: "...It's not my fault that the weak die!" He swings the pipe to strike Tsukasa. "!?" The pipe doesn't come in contact with anything.

Tsukasa, from above him: "...Too late---..." She starts beating the crap out of Hizaki.

He's thrown to the ground by Sunomata.

Sunomata screams, then notices that Tsukasa is approaching her. "!"

Tsukasa, cracking her knuckles: "...What do you mean a competition to make weak girls strong. ...What do you mean a pleasure. You've got to be kidding... I'M GOING TO KILL YOU---!!!"

Sunomata screams and crouches in fear.

But Tsukasa jumps right over the woman and starts kicking at the fallen Hizaki. "I'm have a grudge against you! This is for my father! This is for my mother! Go to the other world and have your tako head trampled on------!!"

Ryuji and Kamo-san show up at Sunomata's side.

Ryuji: "When she tires of Hizaki, then you're next." {She can't do more than 2 things at once.}

Kamo-san: "She is born in the year of the Boar."

Sunomata freaks: "!!"

Ryuji: "...But since I want to end things my way, I'll have you and Hizaki remain here."

Kamo-san fixes one of the chained collars around her throat.

Sunomata: "Wh... You're going to bury me alive!?"

Ryuji: "You've got to be kidding. Do you think I would destroy the evidence like that?"

His kumiin start ppearing.

"Sandaime, the explosions have done their job. The casino is clearly visible from the sky."

"Sandaime, we've seized all of the materials, the list of all the contestants and all of the accounts related to the black fighting competition."

"Sandaime, we've taken all of the girls to a safe place."

In the background, Bun-san is trying to tear Tsukasa away from Hizaki.

Bun-san: "Come on! That's enough! He's already down!"

Tsukasa: "No! I'm not satisfied yet!" Another kumiin is dragging Hizaki away.

Ryuji: "With this commotion, the cops will be here immediately. Well you're going to have to try hard to bluff about all the evidence and Hizaki."

Sunomata: "...... No..."

Ryuji: "I be happy to see you open another one of these casinos. ...But only if you have the courage to go against me and to go to hell as well." Sunomata is chained to the unconscious Hizaki and they depart.

Argument in the chopper.

Tsukasa, who had taken off the wig, but is still wearing the China dress: "Hey! Did you know that I entered in the fighting competition!? So before that you fed me all that capsule that guards against drugs!?"

Ryuji: "Kinda."

Tsukasa: "You knew that I was in danger and...!"

Ryuji: "Well, yeah."

Tsukasa: "Bastard------!!"

Ryuji: "Sorry."

Tsukasa is taken aback: "......"

Ryuji: "...To stop those guys from even thinking about doing such a thing, I needed your help to crush it from the inside."

Tsukasa, blushing: {...W... ...What's with him... He's so honest today, for a guy I've been starting to hate.}

Ryuji: "I'm not going to allow such a casino to open again. That's a promise my father made with someone 9 years ago. As a sort of compensation..."

Tsukasa: "..." {...9 years ago...... Compensation. ---These key words are about...} "---The person who's taking care of us. Her name is Shozu Kaya-san."

Ryuji looks at her: "---... ...Very fragile..."

Tsukasa: "What!?" {What the heck are you talking about!?}

Ryuji: "That was my first impression of her 9 years ago. I don't know if it was for protection but Father used to take me to see her often. I found out that she had a younger sister who had just turned 18. Her sister was in that black fighting competition---..."

They go home.

Ryuji enters the house (apparently his Western style house) first and finds Kaya upset.

Kaya: "...Ryuji-kun.........! What should I do? Tsukasa-kun! Tsukasa-kun hasn't come home! When I turned on the TV... the news was on...! And they're reporting something like what happened 9 years ago...!"

Ryuji: {That was fast......}

Kaya, crying: "...M...Maybe Tsukasa-kun... went there......... Ry... Ryuji-kun it's all your fault---!! Because you keep torturing her about that debt! Tsukasa-kun probably took it seriously~~~!!! Iyaa! Give me back Tsukasa-kun~~~~~~!!" She starts pounding her fists on his chest.

Ryuji: "---..." {---It's not easy living alone without parents. But the reason she lived was because she had her sister, because her sister was there to make her forget her worries. When she lost her sister, she showed no emotions. Father tried to help her but it was pointless.

No laughter, no tears. She didn't open her heart. A sudden wish for fun removed her support, her sister and made her a living but dead person. --- Father used to ask me that if he died then could I compensate her for her loss. And this was the other phrase he used to say. "Return Kaya's spirit---"}

Kaya catches sight of Tsukasa, who was watching from the door. Kaya embraces Tsukasa warmly, still crying. [By the way, Tsukasa is back in her school uniform.]

A few minutes later. Tsukasa and Kaya are sitting on the floor, talking.

Tsukasa: "...Sorry Kaya-san, for making you worry."

Kaya: "Don't worry. It was my mistake......"

Tsukasa: "...... ...Kaya-san... You knew about my debt..."

Kaya: "Because... Ryuji-kun said to bill your food consumption to your debt..."

Tsukasa: {Food!?} [The word "food" that Kaya used is more like pet food.]

Kaya: "...Ryuji-kun... probably did all of this for me......" {---...Even back then---...}

Flashback.

Kaya is on the phone with Ryuji.

Ryuji: "---I just threw away 4 dogs... Take a look at them and if you like them could you keep them? I'll pay for the food."

Kaya: "---..."

Kaya: {I wasn't all that interested but...}

Kaya goes to see the "dogs" on the street.

Taku, Sho and Toshi are sitting on the curb and Tsukasa is on her feet yelling at them. It's raining.

Sho: "I'm hungry."

Toshi: "We're going to die---" {It's cold---}

Tsukasa: "Shut up! I'm hungry and I wanna cry too--- But you're not supposed to cry at times like this!"

Kaya: {When I saw Tsukasa-kun then, for a moment I saw my sister---...} "---Ryuji-kun probably wanted me to meet you---..."

Tsukasa: {...Him?} "...Then... the debt attack was for that..."

Ryuji, who just appeared and Kaya in unison: "That's not it."

Tsukasa, trying to look at both of them at once: "!!"

Ryuji, with a cup of tea in his hand: "The debt is part of a deal. I'll have you pay all of it."

Kaya: "What? It was a deal? I thought it was your way of keeping Tsukasa-kun by your side."

Tsukasa glares at Ryuji.

Ryuji: "........."

Tsukasa: "...This house is your right?"

Ryuji: "Aah." {I've left it in Kaya-san's care though.}

Tsukasa, eyeing him suspiciously: "You're not going to put the mortgage on my debt are you?"

Ryuji: "Good idea." {I forgot about that.} He sets the cup down on the table beside a box.

Tsukasa: "UWAAAAAAA! Wait a minute---!"

Kaya glances at the box.

Flashback.

Ryuji: "A momento of the deceased is something that the living has to keep. ---It's all right now---...?"

It was Ryuji who had given Kaya her sister's China dress in the box.

Kaya: {Yes, Ryuji-kun.}

Next morning Ryuji is reading the paper. There's already a huge article about the black fighting competition. There's a picture of Miho sticking up her middle finger, presumably towards Hizaki and Sunomata. It seems that he stayed over for the night.

Kaya: "Good morning Ryuji-kun."

Ryuji: "...Aah."

Kaya: "...You keep your promises..."

Ryuji: "Did I promise something?"

Kaya: "No, Tatsuya-san." [Tatsuya is Ryuji's father.]

Ryuji: "...I thought so. Father had a conservative taste for women but when he did something it was always on a grand scale. Well since it's known among the outside (world), they probably can't do anything like this again. As long as my eyes are black..." [As long as my eyes are black = as long as I'm alive.] He stops suddenly in embarrassment.

Kaya: "...How honest." {You're just like Tatsuya-san.} "...Thank you." She kisses him on the cheek.

Tsukasa enters: "UAAAAAAA! ...What are you doing to Kaya-san---!! You pervert---!!!"

Ryuji: "Are.. your eyes rotten or something?"

Kaya: "Oh Tsukasa-kun, are you jealous?"

Toshi: "What's going on?" Her brothers enter the room one at a time. "What's all the racket?"

Sho: "How noisy."

Taku: "Huh? It's Sandaime." {Why's he here?}

Ryuji: "...Hmmmm."

Tsukasa: "Y... You gotta be kidding!!!!!! Who the hell would---!!! That's it. I'm going back to sleep."

Ryuji: "Would you like me my arms to be your pillow?"

Tsukasa: "No----!!!"