A Hard Act to Follow

Things went from bad to worse in the span of seconds. A routine execution turned into a blood bath before any of them knew what had happened. It happened so fast, with barely a blink on the criminal's part, and right before their eyes, he sliced a woman's throat open.

Shota roared and darted forward, only to have the woman tossed carelessly at him, like an unwanted, bloody doll. Usaki's mouth dropped open in surprise, seeing his captain covered in the dying woman's life blood. Shota had gone absolutely stiff and sank to his knees with the woman in his arms.

It was Seiju that acted, his arm flinging out, but the man lifted his own arm and watched in disinterest as his hand was severed from the wrist and fell to the floor in a bloody mess. Usaki remembered thinking at the time that the man might even lower his head to drink his own blood. But then the man was looking up as Seiju approached in a fury.

Eyes the color of blood briefly met Usaki's, and the blond drew a breath to warn his partner. The man swung the stump of his arm, splashing his blood into the vice-captain's eyes, blinding him. Seiju cried out and lifted his hands, baring his stomach for the criminal's strike. The man buried his butcher knife to the hilt in Seiju's flesh, grinning a grin of bloody malice.

Usaki couldn't move a muscle. He'd never frozen like this, but then, he'd never watched a dear friend die like this either. A feeling tightened his chest, making it hard for him to breathe. Before him, the man tossed Seiju aside and went for Shota.

The open horror on the older man's face was the most obvious sign of his shock. His eyes were on Seiju, not the criminal, a mistake that could possibly cost him his life. There was only one thing for Usaki to do.

Feeling numb, he lifted his left hand and squeezed the trigger of his gun. The following crack and the silencing thud of the man's body falling to the floor echoed unnaturally through the large, darkened room.

Usaki stood by, haunted by the agonized cries of his captain as Shota bent over Seiju's body.

xXx

Usaki and Shota stood in Mikami's office. Shota hadn't smiled in a long time, not really, and Usaki would never forget the feeling he'd had that day. Later, he had realized it was the feeling of anguish that had accompanied the heartache. It was a feeling that he was wholly unfamiliar with, that loss, and he'd never really dealt with it.

Now, four months after the fact, after the horror and pain of that dark, sunny day, they stood in the office, listening to Mikami scolding them for not allowing him to assign them a new partner. Or rather, he was saying that since they didn't want to choose someone, he was going to assign one.

"You can't do that!" protested Shota angrily. "That's our decision!"

"True," Mikami conceded. "But I can make you take him on for a probationary period. At least give the man a chance."

"No," Shota growled.

Usaki hesitated, then set a hand on Shota's shoulder, making his captain start. "Let's try," he said with his usual calm. "It can't hurt."

"He could get hurt," Shota hissed back. When Usaki didn't back down, however, he relented. Crossing his arms, he glowered at Mikami. "Fine."

Mikami smiled. "Thank you."

There was a knock on the door, and a tall boy with long red hair and sparkling green eyes stepped into the room. He was obviously excited, though he was also obviously trying to hide it. "Mikami-sama," he greeted in a smooth, deep voice that belied his tall, rail-thin stature, and bowed deeply.

"Shiori-san," Mikami replied indifferently. He gestured toward the other two men in the room. "This is Captain Mikoshiba Shota and Vice Captain Todo Usaki. Gentlemen, this man is Himetsu Shiori-san. He was the best in the Academy, graduated top of his class. Just like you, Usaki-san."

The blond gave Himetsu a once-over before effectively dismissing him despite his earlier support of the matter. Shota attempted a smile, since he was stuck in the situation anyway. His smile didn't stay long; smiles always reminded him of Seiju, and it hurt.

Himetsu gave Shota a curious look then turned his attention to Mikami as he was beckoned. Usaki and Shota exchanged looks, and the latter ignored his pain as he recalled a similar situation before. Mikami handed over Himetsu's first brigade uniform badge.

The two waited for the tell-tale intake of breath and watched the boy whirl around, eyes wide. He took the two in for a moment, then looked down at the badge in the small white box resting on his palm. Without missing a beat, the Captain reached forward and plucked it out.

Neither senior Tokkei member missed Mikami's exasperated sigh, even though Shota was already talking. "Sorry, Shiori-kun, but you haven't earned this yet..."

"W-what?" Himetsu gasped, eyes following the badge with a dismayed expression. "But I-"

"You nothing," Shota interrupted, playing the part of bully while Usaki gave him a mock-irritated glare. "You haven't earned it yet, but you may. You're on our team, sure, but we won't accept you until you prove yourself! Seiju's is a hard act to follow." He swallowed the pain that came with mention of his friend.

"Taicho," Usaki said, eyes narrowed on him.

Shota shrugged. "What, you want some snot-nosed brat to replace him, Usaki-kun?"

"I'll follow the rules," was the cryptic reply, though Shota was amused to note that Usaki didn't deny the point.

"Follow my rules!" Shota replied and grinned.

Usaki blinked, pleased with Shota's amusement. This time, it wasn't entirely fake.

"Give it back!" protested Himetsu, though he made no move to reclaim the appropriated badge.

Shota smirked. "Request denied. The first brigade doesn't have any use for snot-nosed brats," he declared pompously. "We'll see for ourselves if you're fit to hold this badge..."

Usaki slid his hands into his pockets, his face revealing nothing for the quick glance Himetsu cast him. Green eyes framed by crimson locks were wide with horror. And Shota was still talking.

"... or not."