Lawful Drug Write-up of Doom: Drug No. 01

Drug No. 01

"My hands are shivering... I must be... cold..."

Brilliant statement number 1 from Kazahaya. Of course, it also indicates that he has reached a state of hypothermia that his brain no longer registers that his body is cold - the only indication he has is that his hands are shivering.

I imagine if I stay like this in the snow, I'll die...
"I'm going to die..."
"But... but I can't... No, I can't die. I just can't..."

There's a significant pause between Kazahaya saying aloud that he is going to die and then his declaration that he can't. He doesn't seem particularly bothered by the realization that he's freezing to death, but it's pretty obvious that there's more than personal preservation behind his decision to live. "He can't die." It's not that he doesn't want to die, but that he can't. Four pages in, we are given nothing more to work with.

*blah blah blah*
This is it! This is death! But it can't be! This isn't my time to die!
*DOSU!*
"AGHH!"

Not necessarily indicative of anything on the first dozen read throughs, but it now seems possible that Kazahaya was dreaming about his first meeting with Rikuou instead of it having happened as an "at the time" occurrence as he is kicked awaked by Rikuou almost a month later.

Rikuou and the alarm clock.

Call me crazy, but I seriously never caught before that Kazahaya had thrown the alarm clock at Rikuou. This also leads me to believe that Rikuou is right handed owing to the fact that he catches the clock with that hand. Small thing, but interesting to note.

"You know Kazahaya... Your name is like a warning. It's telling you that one day you might disappear... just like the wind."
*gyu*
"I'll fade away, but I'll never die."

It's an interesting moment, looking back at it. The memory of Kei's words obviously upsets Kazahaya very deeply right here - enough to make him clench his fists and snarl. Possibly even more interesting is his choice of words after he remembers what she said "I'll fade away, but I'll never die." This coupled with his reactions after nearly freezing to death, now lead me to believe that it was indeed a grave matter that drove Kazahaya from living with Kei. It is also another insistence that he won't die, and this time when there was no indication that he possibly could.

"Do you have to read the paper while we eat?"
*glance from Rikuou*
This jerk has no manners. He doesn't know how to live with people. Did his family spoil him or something?
*little almost smirk from Rikuou*
What an asshole!

Aside from this showing that it takes Rikuou almost no effort to tick Kazahaya off, it also has some interesting by play. First of all, Kazahaya's insistence on manners. Followed by his comment about Rikuou's family spoiling him (please note that this is only ironic following a Drug Extra from Volume 3 in which Kazahaya says that he has never done chores before). Finally, Rikuou's smirking smile can be taken on several levels once we later see that Tsukiko used to pester a younger Rikuou about the same thing.

He's so pretty. I can't believe he's the manager of a drugstore.

Why, yes, Kazahaya does recognize good looking people. No, seriously, appearances really aren't lost on him - maybe lost on his libido, but he knows and recognizes what a good looking person is when he sees one. ... I'm just saying.

"I do sometimes wonder, though, why a healthy young boy like yourself is satisfied with just sleeping at night. Know what I mean? Here, take this. It's a sample pack."
"Oh, thank you."
*meet Condom-san*
"Wha--! Hey...! Nuh-uh!"
"The morning shipment needs to be put on the shelves, please..."
*insert blushing Kazahaya slipping condom into back pocket with Rikuou watches with a condescending smirk*

Kakei. Is. Evil. No, really, he is. It seems to be a running theme throughout the pharmacy that Kazahaya be made the butt of all jokes. However, due to his apparent naivity in his reactions to some of these situations, one can hardly blame them. Also note here that even though he gets embarrassed as all hell and denies everything, Kazahaya does keep the condom. Rikuou's knowing smirk might indicate one of two things here: one, that he feels more knowledgeable in these matters. However, his later jibe at Kazahaya's virginity more likely shows that he probably isn't.

*kui(tsu) - Kazahaya gets grabbed around the waist by Saiga*
"Don't be a whiner. Drop it."

Saiga's actually playing the role of peace keeper here. He goes on to call Kakei a snake as he's telling Kazahaya that the boss is more than willing to dock his pay no matter how much he smiles. Take one of Saiga being touchy-feely around Kazahaya.

"No hook-ups today either, rent boy."
*unhappy Rikuou goes here*
...huh?

Saiga is referring to Rikuou (rent boy) and Rikuou is looking none too happy. We later find out that they're trying to locate Tsukiko, but please, note that Kazahaya isn't oblivious and does catch this exchange and Rikuou's reaction to the information. (This is followed by the "little miss virgin" crack from Rikuou, which may indicate that his jerkiness is in part to distract Kazahaya from other things.)

*insert school girls*
"Um... I'm looking for this lipstick in peppermint flavor... tee-hee!"
"Over on that shelf."
"Tee hee!" "He's so cool!" "He talked to me!" "The girl's at school are going to freak!" "Best day ever!"
*insert major Kazahaya eye-rolling*
What's so "cool" about a moody guy like him?

It is without a doubt true that Rikuou attracts girls like flies. It is also without a doubt true that Kazahaya sees their fascination with him to be irritating as all hell (bordering on disgust) and mostly incomprehensible. He does, however, notice their interest in Rikuou, while Rikuou apparently does not. Either Rikuou is oblivious to some things, or he's used to it. I'm betting on used to such things to the point where they don't register any longer.

"Kudou-kun. I have a special job for you. Interested?"
"You mean...?"
"It's a side job, so entirely optional."
"I'll do it. I need the money."
"Excellent. That's what I like to hear. Can you and Rikuou come to my office then?"
Crap. Not with him. Oh well... I have to look at it as a matter of survival. I don't want to nearly freeze to death again. If I make money, it means I'll be here to see another Christmas.

Ah, Kazahaya, my little mercenary. ^_^;; Anyway seriously breaking things down now: first of all, Kakei calls Kazahaya "Kudou-kun" while he refers to Rikuou by name. Agreeing here that this probably indicates a much longer standing familiarity with Rikuou than we are thus far given to see and likely a familiarity that extends beyond Rikuou's employment at the drugstore and his search for Tsukiko. Secondly, Kazahaya is a little mercenary. I'm not kidding, either. He takes Kakei's jobs no matter what they are in order to keep up his independence and keep a roof over his head. This may be the reason behind his negligent behavior towards the details of the jobs he takes, even after knowing that Kakei tends to play with them for sport. Finally, Kazahaya's words "I'll be here to see another Christmas" which could mean that he'll be at the store a year from now, but could also indicate that he will simply be living a year from now. I honestly think location for Kazahaya is relative as long as he's got a place to stay and food to eat and isn't back home.

"And as usual, this is top secret. I cannot disclose information about the client or the object in question. Neither is essential to your success. And if anything should happen, you are not to mention Green Drugstore. All expenses require receipts, and your payment is conditional upon satisfactory completion of the assignment. Understood?"

Kakei in short, laying out the rules. This also outlines part of the reasons, Kazahaya and Rikuou don't ask many questions regarding their assignments: they more than likely won't get answers because it's not their concern. The work they do for their side jobs is highly secretive and there is to be no connections made back to the store itself.

"Why aren't you ever straight with those boys? Wouldn't it benefit them to know that the book didn't disappear--that it was hidden?"
"Why would I want to spoil the fun?"
"You're positively evil. Are all precogs sadists, or is that something unique to you?"
"I'm not like everybody else. Isn't that enough?"
"Are you being too tough on them?"
"Don't worry. I gave them plenty of extra time."

Saiga and Kakei talking. We learn several things from this exchange. Namely, that even if Kazahaya and Rikuou had a tendency to question Kakei for more information, they very likely wouldn't get it because Kakei enjoys tormenting them - it's "fun." We also discover that Kakei is a precognitive. He sees into the future and what not. This is also the first reference to Kakei being sadistic - which he is, don't get me wrong. The scene also shows Saiga once more being concerned for the peace of the pharmacy and the well-being of the people in it. He does, however, seem to have some faith in Kakei not sending the boys into a dangerous situation. (Ironically, it was not until I was actually typing this out that I read "Are you being too tough on them?" instead of "Aren't you being too tough on them?" It does change how the scene flows.)

Rikuou took me back to the drugstore with him, and Kakei-san said that if I didn't have anywhere else to go, I was welcome to stay there. All I had to do was earn my keep. I figured that just meant working in the store, but then he started offering these extra assignments. It's usually something like searching for missing people, or things, or couriering packages--all sorts of jobs. Sort of a shady jack-of-all-trades. When I asked Kakei-san why he wanted to use me for these jobs, he just laughed. He said, "Because you see all sorts of things." I don't know how he knew. I never told him anything. Yet he knew all about the special skills that've brought me such grief.

I pointed out earlier that Kakei referred to Kazahaya as "Kudou-kun" and Kudou refers to Kakei as "Kakei-san" (also: "boss" in an earlier scene). This again emphasizes the unfamiliarity between the two that does not exist for Rikuou. The jobs that Rikuou and Kazahaya are assigned are "shady" affairs - no, really. Very little that they do for their side jobs is on the level. Kazahaya knows it, but he doesn't seem to mind it at all, apparently being more concerned that Kakei knew about his powers without being told. This scene also displays that Kazahaya just doesn't talk about what he does. If Kakei had not brought it up, chances are very good that the boy would never have mentioned it or acknowledged his abilities. He also refers to his abilities bringing him grief; it is unclear how exactly this is to be interpreted since it is a very vague choice of words. However, coupled with his repeated referances to not dying, there is a very good posibility that "grief" might be an understatement. In a lighter interpretation of the word, it could likewise refer merely to his issues with constantly having visions.

"Let me see the picture."
"You think you can pick anything up off it?"
"Who knows? Either way, I have to look. Otherwise, we can't get started."
*Insert vision here and Kazahaya waking up from it here*
"Quit this fainting crap."
"Wha--? Well, excuse me!"
"So, did you see anything?"
"Yeah. I saw a tree and some guy."
"That's it? What kind of clue is that?"
"Hey, it's not like I can decide what kind of vision I get."
"That's one lousy skill you've got."

I promise, I'm not trying to transcribe the entire book. -_-;; Basically, this scene has several points of interest. Working through it: "can you pick anything up off it?" Kazahaya replies to Rikuou that he doesn't know, which shows that he is unsure of whether there is enough of an emotional resonance or memory tied to the picture itself for him to have any visions about it. What he is able to pick up from it, "a tree and some guy," is vague enough to be useless to them. Rikuou also tells Kazahaya to "quit this fainting crap." Apparently this is a side effect of using his powers and one of the reasons that Rikuou is his partner - to look after him while he's under the influence of the visions. "It's not like I can decide what kind of vision I get." - this is a pretty important thing to note. He doesn't get to pick and choose with his visions - especially with something as simple as a photograph. Rikuou comments about Kazahaya's abilities with which it's actually pretty difficult to disagree though doubtlessly not for the reasons that the comment was made.

I have the power to see things others can't. I can see memories. Memories of people, of things, of various occurrences--as if they're beamed into my mind. Especially if they have some kind of emotional resonance.
Somehow, Kakei-san sensed my powers. Perhaps because Kakei-san is like me. And so is Rikuou. He has the power to break things. Usually it's small things, like shattering a ceramic mug, snapping a branch, or cracking a lock. Our powers may be different, but we're really one and the same.
"Only kindred souls gather in the gale... and all of them are..."

Okay, this is more talking about Kazahaya's powers. It doesn't tell a lot specifically of what he can see, but it gives the general idea that he is not limited by much of anything, and that emotions carried in a memory make them stronger. For example, he probably won't pick up brushing your teeth in the morning, but he might pick up getting a brand new puppy for your birthday... unless you're really passionate about brushing your teeth that is, and then I'll just have to wonder about you. It also gives a brief look at Rikuou's powers which are rather more limited than Kazahaya's but more useful in the terms of day to day goings on. Thinking about their powers causes him to remember something that Kei said to him, "kindred souls gather in the gale." The rest of that phrase "and all of them are..." is another mysterious and curious element, but Kazahaya's expression following the memory clearly shows that it is not something that he's happy about at all.

*Kazahaya opens the door to a tree with fish flying around it*

Take one: Kudou gets pwned. The emotional resonance of the house, of the area, trigger his abilities, but shh we don't know that yet.

The end. No okay not really. Just the end of Drug No. 01, but we'll continue.