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Inner Rage

Trey walked back into the living area to find Gai and the twins sitting at the kitchen table. Hanbei was there, as well, but there was something off about his neutral expression. It didn't take much for Trey to wonder why that was...

"Trey, good, you're back." Gai said when he saw his nephew. "Is your forehead okay?"

"Yeah, I'm fine." Trey replied, his gaze never leaving Hanbei. "Just a little cut. Nothing serious."

"Trey, I..." Hanbei started as Trey took a seat next to his uncle.

"Hanbei, it's okay. It was my fault for running in without thinking." Trey said, cutting off the fatigued sea turtle.

"...Very well. But we must speak, later." Hanbei said.

"Yes, but that can wait. It's been a long day for everyone. More has happened in our stay here than I would have liked, but all that matters now is that everyone here is alright!" Gai said, turning his attention to the twins. Both twins were still a little shell shocked and were shyly sitting at the opposite end of the table.

"Really sorry that the two of you were forced to do that man's bidding. But he won't be hurting you anymore now, at least. All that remains is to determine what to do with you." He paused for a moment. "So, with that, Hanbei and I are putting the offer on the table: You two can join us."

"REALLY?!" Trey yelled jumping up from his seat. He didn't want to see the twins go back on the streets, but he never thought that his uncle would have considered adopting the two.

"...What's the catch?" Jimmy asked with guarded wariness.

"We talked about it while you were in the bathroom. Officially, the papers would say that I have adopted you two. However, Hanbei would be the one in charge of seeing to their well-being. At least until they're legal!"

"Really, Hanbei, you were okay with that?" Trey asked in disbelief.

"This is a special case. There was someone there for my special case, years ago. It is only fitting I do my part to 'repay' that kind of favor. Besides, you seem to have found something in these two youths...something that made you run to their aid, today..." Hanbei stated, before lowering his voice to whisper an aside to Trey. "And also DEFY my instructions to STAY PUT..."

"You...would really do that for us?" Billy piped up.

"Again, we're not interested in simply turning a blind eye to someone in need!" Gai replied. "But again, whether you choose to accept or walk away is up to you."

Billy and Jimmy looked to each other smiling. "Yes!" They replied in unison.

"Alright, we've got a bit to do, then." Gai smiled, looking over both of the twins and then his nephew. "Hmm, not too far off...Trey, go get some on your clothes for them. Something nice. We have to get profiles and pictures drafted up so that I can have something to send to our people in Japan."

"Sure!" Trey said hopping up from his seat. He stopped quickly, grabbing the table to support himself when the room began to spin a bit.

"Careful, now..." Gai added. "I think it'd be best if you were to lie down for a while, after this."

"No argument there..." The Gaomon replied as he regained his equilibrium.

Trey returned with a couple of black T-shirts and jeans with two belts just in case. While his slightly narcissistic side liked wearing tighter shirts that showed off his abs, they were much looser fits on the smaller boys and ended up fitting them just fine.

After the twins were properly dressed, Gai and Hanbei left with them, leaving Trey alone in the room. The very moment that the door closed, Trey fell back onto is rump in complete exhaustion.

Despite having put on a strong face for his family, he had a pounding headache to compliment the aches he was feeling all over. He popped a couple of ibuprofen and then hopped on the couch to relax.

He didn't even remember falling asleep. But the canine slowly sat up on the couch, his headache nearly gone at this point. He ran a hand through his hair as he checked his cell to see what time it is.

"Six-thirty already? Wow, I was out." He thought, as he got up off the couch and made his way to the bathroom.

Looking in the mirror, he realized how dirty he was from being dropped on the ground, now that his main concern wasn't directed towards his head wound. He quickly discarded his clothes and jumped in the shower, taking care to make sure he didn't reopen his head wound in the process.

Fifteen minutes later, he stepped out of the steam-filled bathroom, clad in a towel as he made his way to get dressed. Trey was clad in a pair of cargo shorts, along with a t-shirt thrown over his shoulder, just as the front door opened with Gai, Hanbei, and the twins making their way into the suite.

"Looking much better, now," Gai commented. "Feel any better?"

"Still a little groggy, but other than that I'm just fine." Trey shrugged in reply. "So is everything taken care of?"

"Getting them passports was actually just the first step," the wartortle explained. "It usually takes about two weeks to actually get applications done on average. Thanks to our connections, they will be done in a week."

"Indeed. And by the time we get back to Japan, all adoption-related details would have already been processed. With me named as their main benefactor, and Hanbei appointed to act in my stead. And since the kids don't know who their parents are, it's HIGHLY unlikely anybody will be coming forward to try and put a stop to this."

"Yeah..." Hanbei trailed off.

"So effectively! As of today..." Billy started happily.

"...Mr. Hanbei is our legal guardian!" Jimmy finished.

"...Right. Tomorrow, we will have to go out and get them more clothes and other things they will need." Hanbei added looking at the twins, who were both rubbing their eyes. "For now though, I think you both should get some sleep."

"Where should we sleep?" Billy asked with a yawn.

"Take my room." Trey replied point behind him. "I'll sack out on the couch."

"Alright, thanks!" The twins said in unison as they ran off to Trey's room.

"I will be in my room, too." Gai soon added. "Got a few phone calls to make."

Gai walked out of the room leaving Trey and Hanbei alone. Hanbei just gave the canine a look that immediately put him on edge.

"...I know, I know. We have some stuff to talk about." Trey cut off as he put his shirt on.

Both of them took a seat on the couch as Hanbei began to gather his thoughts.

"I will not even make an attempt to comprehend what was going through your mind when you blatantly disobeyed me and ran in like that." Hanbei started, noticing Trey's ears drop. "What you did was no act of heroism. It was foolishness."

"Hanbei I..." Trey tried to add.

"Shut it." Hanbei cut off, clearly not in the mood for any excuses. "You ran in there without thinking, and barely gave ME time to formulate a resolution that best insured that neither you nor the boys ended up with a bullet in your heads!" He trailed off, his chest slightly heaving.

"...Are you alright?" Trey asked startled by another untimely emotional outburst from the seaturtle.

"Because of YOU, I did not have the time to formulate a better plan. Because of YOU, he saw my face, and yours, and I had to kill him. BECAUSE OF YOU, I HAD TO BREAK A PROMISE TO MY BEST FRIEND!"

Trey had never seen the wartortle this angry. The fear he felt now was a type that almost made staring down the barrel of Zong's gun look tame in comparison. Almost, anyway.

"I'm sorry..." Trey offered up at last.

"Listen to me, and listen well, boy. Just because you have some rudimentary knowledge of martial arts that might help you take on some bullies in an arcade? Does NOT AT ALL mean you can go charging in to dangerous situations, like this is some cheap martial arts movie that you could see in the cinema down the block. Especially those that pertain to the kind of world that Gai and I belong to. You will just end up DEAD. And I am not about to be the one who has to tell Gaisei his only remaining family went out that way because he wanted to foolishly play hero."

"...Right," The canine nodded slowly.

"I will have to live with what I did. It is what I was prepared my whole life for. I am the remaining Satsujinki, after all. But you are still a boy. Think carefully about the kind of man you want to grow up to be, while you still can. And more immediately...do not defy me or Gaisei's orders again. Do I make myself clear?"

"Crystal." Trey replied almost immediately.

"Hopefully so," Hanbei responded. "Up to now, I have left you to your own devices. Since Gaisei was apparently fine with that, I did not contest how he raised you. But now that I have two more lives to watch out for? Two who happen to look up to you, as well? Trust and believe that I will be much more vocal if I have a problem with your actions." Hanbei ended with that as he walked out of the room.

Trey sat there stunned on the couch, still a bit shocked from the aftermath of that entire encounter. But then, his canine ears were able to pick up a few words from the wartortle as he entered his room. Thankfully, they were not directed towards him.

"'...Roy-dai, gomen yo'?" Trey muttered. "He's asking for forgiveness...but who's Roy-dai?"

His eyes suddenly shot open upon remembering the night they left. Who the promise was directed to made much more sense. The Gaomon turned his gaze sadly to Hanbei's door. "Hanbei..."

"Alright, Billy, let me know if you see anything you like," Trey said, going through the clothing racks outside of the store Hanbei brought them to. The new day however, had done nothing to change the Wartortle's mood.

"Okay!" Billy replied excitedly.

After about five minutes of rummaging, Trey pulled out a shirt he thought Billy would like.

"Hey Billy, what about this... Billy?" Trey walked out on the sidewalk looking for the little Dracomon.

"Must've gone back inside." He thought as he walked towards the door.

"Mmph...Let me go!" A voice yelped.

"Shut up!" said another, deeper voice.

"Billy?!" Trey yelled as he ran around the side of the store to the alley. As he rounded the corner, he saw a Vajiramon pulling Billy into the alley covering Billy's mouth. "HEY! LET HIM GO!"

"Trey, help!" Billy pleaded, breaking the Ox's grip on his mouth.

"Shut it, runt!" The Vajiramon yelled, smacking Billy upside the head. He then turned his attention to Trey. "This street rat belongs to Boss Zong, dead or alive. He's OUR property and so is his brother! Better hand him over, if you want this one in one piece!"

While the over-sized Ox was distracted, Billy broke free of his grasp and gave him a sharp elbow to the groin. He then turned and ran to hide behind the Gaomon. Seeing Billy was unharmed, Trey kept an eye on his captor.

"Billy, run back in there and get Hanbei...NOW!" He ordered as he reached into his pocket pulling out his brass knuckles.

Billy ran out of the alley as fast as he could, before the Vajiramon started to get back up. "Damn runt's more trouble than he's worth. Coulda just handed them over, but no...You had to make things difficult!"

He reached behind him and pulled a knife out of his back pocket, making Trey freeze up for a second. "Shame that you didn't take the easy way out. You woulda lived longer if you did."

The Ox then charged at Trey, forcing the Gaomon to quickly snap out of his fear-induced hesitation and react. Trey dodged the attempted downward stab by quickly side-stepping to the right, and slugged his oppressor on the jaw, leaving a noticeable gash on his face. "Remember what Hanbei said...I can't fight him......But I can at least keep him busy until he gets here." Trey quickly remembered.

"Little fucking prick!" he roared. "Hold still!"

Trey spun around to dodge, but lost his footing on something slippery on the ground and fell on his back. He cringed for a moment, before remembering what was happening and looked up to see the knife going right for his face.

Time seemed to slow to a crawl as his thoughts immediately went back to the night with his mother. How powerless he felt to stop it. How his life was almost snuffed out in an instant...and then, something snapped in the recesses of Trey's mind.

Trey's mind seemed to go blank as he quickly sideswiped the Ox's legs with his own, knocking the brute over. He grabbed the now-freed knife and then...everything around him went dark. The next thing Trey could remember, he was rapidly stabbing at the Vajiramon, screaming the entire time.

"JUST FUCKING DIE ALREADY!!! LEAVE ME ALONE!!!" Trey shouted with his eye's closed. He suddenly felt a hand on his shoulder.

"NOOOOOOOOOOOOO!!!" He yelled again as he spun around with the knife outstretched, but was quickly stopped by a stronger, more experienced grasp.

"Trey...that is enough. He is already dead." Hanbei spoke up, holding the quivering Gaomon still. Seeing the wartortle's familiar, calm visage, Trey slowly began to come down from his murderous "high".

"H-Hanbei?" He spoke somewhat confused, looking behind only to quickly realizing what he'd just done. The young Gaomon quickly shot up and backed into the wall with look of pure terror on his face as he looked at the bloody corpse in front of him. He stood there quivering, still holding the knife that had obliterated the face of his attacker.

Hanbei started to reach over to Trey, but drew back a bit when Trey flinched, pointing the knife at him. A mere second passed before the wartortle quickly reached forward again, this time snatching the knife out of the youth's bloody grasp. The moment the knife was taken from him, Trey bolted out of the alley and ran away, completely terrified over what had come over him.

Trey ran and ran for what seemed like an eternity until he came to a stop at a street corner, completely unaware of where he was.

"N-Need to...to calm down and...Figure out where I am..." He thought. "Why do I feel so... so strange?"

He suddenly jumped in response to a loud burst of thunder, and then it started to pour from the skies above. He looked up at the sky as the rain began to clean the blood off his arms, while hot tears streamed down his face.

"Hey, I found him!"

Trey quickly turned around to see Billy and Jimmy running towards him, with Hanbei coming up from behind.

"N...no, stay back...." His body trembled. He took a step back and slipped off the curb. Soon, the last thing he heard was the sound of a car horn going off and then...everything went dark once again.

Trey's eyes slowly opened as he began to sit up. He cringed slightly from a slight pain the came from his abdomen, but then ignored it.

"Where..." He started before realizing that he was in his room at the hotel. And then, the canine jumped when he heard a loud gasp from the doorway.

"Mr. Hanbei, Mr. Gaisei he's awake!!!" Billy shouted. Almost instantly, Trey's bed was soon surrounded by his uncle, Hanbei and the twins.

"Are you alright, kid?" Gai asked upon reaching his nephew's side.

"I...dunno...what happened?" Trey asked holding his sore head.

"It was insane!" Billy spoke up.

"Hanbei pulled you out of the way of that car!" Jimmy added. "I've never seen anyone move that fast!"

"Car...?" Trey asked puzzled before his eye's shot open upon remembering what he did. "The Goddamn Vajiramon...!!!"

He fell back on his pillow in a bit of pain from moving so quickly.

"Relax..." Gai said rubbing his nephew's forehead. "Hanbei told me what happened." Gai turned his attention to the twins. "Boys, can you give us a minute?"

The twins took the hint and left the room without another word, closing the door behind them. Gai then turned his attention back to his distraught nephew.

"Now, I gotta ask you something, boy. Zong's thug was already dead by the time you stabbed him in the heart three times. You easily did about TWENTY before Hanbei couldn't tell anymore. Who exactly where you stabbing? Was it...?" Gai asked, already knowing the answer to his own question.

Trey closed his eyes as a tear rolled down his cheek. He replied with a slight nod, and opened his eyes and looked back at his uncle. Gai looked back down at his nephew and gently ruffled his silvery hair.

"We'll get through this, alright...?" Gai gave a small smile.

"I'm sorry..." Trey started, having something the edge of his tongue.

"It's late and it's been an involved day. You just get some rest. We'll talk about this in the morning." He said.

Gai got up from his nephew's side and left the room, Hanbei in tow. Trey looked out the window surprised to see that it was now dark out. He had been out cold for several hours. He laid his head back down on his pillow, made himself as comfortable as possible, and then closed his eyes. It didn't take long for him to fall into slumber again.

If only it was a lasting one. Trey opened his eyes again to the darkness of his room. It took a little effort, but he got himself up into a sitting position. He found his cellphone on his nightstand and flipped it open to find that it was 2:18 in the morning.

"No chance of me getting back to sleep..." He sighed, putting his cell back on his nightstand. Since he'd regained consciousness something, had been bugging him. Now, he was figuring out what exactly it was. He slowly made his way out of bed and pulled something out of his nightstand, placing it in his pocket. He found his new jacket on his chair, and threw it on before making his way out onto the balcony.

The blue dog stepped out into the chilly wind of night, zipping up his jacket and then proceeded to climb up onto to the railing. He stood there, with his hands in his pockets, starring down the twenty-five floor drop overlooking the city. He stood there, letting his mind race, before he heard footsteps behind him.

"Trey, what are doing?! Please get down!" Gai begged from behind, keeping his distance so as to not to encourage his nephew to make any sudden movements.

Trey snickered a bit. "If we had been in this same position about a year ago? Believe me when I say I might have considered jumping." Trey said, never moving from his perch. "But that's not what I'm here for, right now."

"Then...what are you doing up there?" Gai asked taking a slight step forward.

"I came out here...to get rid of the last bit of my past." Trey said reaching into his pocket. He pulled out the remains of his trademark headphones.

"I thought you threw those away, already?" Gai questioned.

"I couldn't. It was too alien a concept for me to wrap my mind around. If I threw them away I'd lose my only escape from reality. But then with what happened earlier today..."

"We didn't need another body, that's for sure. But you were defending yourself and Billy, then got caught up in the heat of the moment. That's all there is to it," Gai said calmly.

"That's bullshit, and we BOTH know it!" Trey snapped. "I did it because of HER! All that anger, all that hatred...I refused to let it go. And then I 'pulled the trigger'."

Gai didn't know what to say. He'd never seen this side of his nephew, before.

"If I truly want to get better?" Trey continued. "I need to get rid of everything that reminds me of my old life, my old self...and her."

Upon saying that, he tilted his hand and let the remnants of his headphones fall out of his grasp.

"Her opinion of me has controlled my life and defined who I was, since I was born. But starting today, that chapter of my life is over!" Trey said turning his face slightly towards his uncle with a heartfelt smile on it. "This is my life and my story. And it's about time I take control of it."

With that, he spun around and hopped off the railing. "I'm going to be okay." He said as he walked past his silenced uncle, leaving him on the balcony. He returned to his room and laid his head back on his pillow and drifted back to sleep. And soon, the canine dreamed again...

Truth be told, it had been a dream that Trey had experienced many nights before. He would be floating in all-encompassing darkness. And then, his mother's ghastly form would come at him with the knife. In previous nights, he would wake up before the blow would come and have yet another sleepless night. But tonight was different. This time, he stood there defiantly at his mother's approaching form with a smile adorn on his face.

"You can't hurt me anymore!" Trey said, as the knife passed harmlessly through him. "And I don't know about you, but I've got far too much living to do right now. Let me do that, while you go back to being dead!"

The form of his mother soon faded away, and the darkness associated with her gave way to a warm, welcoming light. It may be a while before Trey can truly say that he's fully escaped his mother's "ghost". But now, he was at a place where those bad memories of her will no longer be the shadow over his life that it once was.

He had family and friends, now. And as he saw the familiar silhouettes of his Uncle, Jojo and the others within that light...his legs couldn't run any faster to be rejoined with them.