I made a deal, I'll keep it
Chapter one: Enter stage left
I stood in front of the gigantic mansion calmly, happily. Today was my first set of lessons, but… I had to work for them, pay them off. So I would basically become an 'assistant' though it sounded more like a slaves job. A dark haired boy about my age opened the door, and grinned.
"You must be Kira," he said chipperly. I nodded, bowing. He dipped his head in return.
"I'm Morinozuka Satoshi," he introduced himself. "Come in." He opened the door wide enough to let me in, and I slid past him into the large, ivory foyer. "This way please, Taka said you'd start with a trial kendo lesson, before he tested out what skills you have. He said you had graduated highschool all ready… really?"
"I graduated early. What kind of skills?"
"Uh… let's see, baking, sewing, cleaning difficult fabrics, basic medical, child-care basics, child-care experience," he began to list them off one by one as we walked through the large mansion."And with this kendo you'll be taking care of self –and others- defense, quick reflexes, and patience." I nodded. I had all of those skills mastered. It sounded like taking care of my little sister, exactly like it.
"I can assure you now, I can do all of those things reasonably well, and have a lot of practice."
"Really?"
"I live with an eight-year-old," I said simply.
"Oh. So this should be easy for you," he said with a grin. "Here we are. I wish you luck." He bowed exageratively, opening a door to a dojo for me. I thanked him and walked in. Inside stood a very tall man in a kendo uniform with dark hair, and closed eyes. He was meditating. I stopped just inside the room, got down to sitting on my knees, and bowed low, waiting patiently.
About five minutes later, he got up, and bowed as well.
"Stand," he said simply, though it really wasn't much of a command. I nodded, getting to my feet. He stood in front of me, though my head could only almost reach his collar. His chest was bare, and I gave the appropriate blush, but I could care less. I had seen men practically in the nude before. It was called a bath house, people!
"Konnichiwa, Morinozuka-sensei," I said, bowing again, though staying standing.
He nodded. Then held out a set of kendo clothing. He pointed to a room.
"There's a shower and towel."I nodded, silently hoping there was a lock, and got ready. Showering to get clean, drying off slightly, I still wanted to be slick, dried off my hands as good as I could, wrapped my chest, and put on the training robe. I walked out, and bowed again, hands pressed together in front of me, determined to use all the formalities I knew. He turned around, saw me and nodded, then got back to his meditating position from earlier, and closed his eyes.
"Meditate," he said simply. I nodded, getting down directly behind him, and closed my eyes. Sometime later, though I'm not quite sure when, I heard him stand up, and I followed suit. He turned to face me.
"Stretch," he said simply. I nodded, and followed his routine as we stretched every muscle imaginable. It was almost as relaxing as the meditation. It was also pleasingly quiet. I got the feeling this man was of little words.
"My name is Morinozuka Takashi," he said suddenly while we stretched, bowing his head. He must have forgotten to introduce himself. I shrugged it off, and bowed my head as best as I could in this stretch.
"Yakuza Kirailainne, sensei. Call me Kira."
"Mori."I nodded, taking that to be his nickname, and then we finished stretching. Once we were done, he handed me a weighted kendo stick. I figured it was so I'd be more used to the heavy weight, and would be faster when I actually had a lighter one. He grabbed his own kendo stick, and started showing formations, and began to ask questions.
"Can you make cake?" I looked over at him, to make sure I had heard him right, then smiled brightly and nodded.
"I'm pretty good at it too, if I do say so myself." He nodded.
"Can you stitch?"
"Yeah… um, cross stitch, basic stitch, blanket stitch, and a few others I can't remember the name of."
"Do you know how to wash clothing and stuffed animals and other basic fabrics and essentials?" I do believe that's the longest sentence I'll hear from him for a very long time. I grinned, realizing he was actually uncomfortable saying so much, and nodded.
"Yeah. I do the laundry at my house. And I got an eight-year-old sister and a three-year-old brother." He nodded.
"Do you have medical skills?" It was kind of creepy how every question he asked was in the same order as Satoshi, who I was betting was his younger brother, had said. I shrugged it off. Creepy tended to be my forte.
"Uh… yeah. Sorry, had to think about that one. I've got the basics down, 'cause of my siblings, and I took some extra first-aid and emergency classes when I thought about going to medical school, but that was in middleschool, so I'm pretty rusty." He nodded.
"Do you have basic child-care experience?"
I nodded. "Yep. I'm constantly watching my sis and bro, not to mention I sometimes watch the neighbors kids."
"Do you have any other self-defense experience or sports experience?"
"Yeah. I took Tae Kwon Do, Jujitsu, Brazillian Jujitsu, karate, tai chi, jijutsu, I know how to handle most guns, I can work a sword, blade, staff, dagger, and a screw driver." He looked over at me, confused, and slightly worried. "I also did track, football, and American football in school."
"Where did you…?"
"My mother was in a bad business. She taught me a bunch of stuff before I graduated school."
"Was?" I mentally kicked myself, but answered him truthfully.
"My mom passed away when I was thirteen."
"Father?"
"Skipped out on her long ago."
"Who do you live with?"
"Um… my sister and brother," I said in confusion.
"Your guardians," he elaborated. I sighed.
"Because of my moms carreer, I would be placed in incarceration, as well as my sister, and my brother would be placed in foster care, or incarceration. The last one depends on how pitying the judge is."
"Why?"
"My mom was a hitman for the Japanese mafia," I said simply, finishing up my exercise. He nodded slowly, letting it all sink in. The last one I didn't usually just tell people, but I felt like being honest with this guy. He was rich, and had his ways to know things, and I could be in trouble later on if I don't tell him now anyways. He finished up as well, and turned to face me. We bowed.
"You can shower." He said. I nodded, grabbing my pile of clothes, and ran into the bathroom. Just as I was dressing, someone called.
"Miss Yakuza?" A timid voice asked as I picked it up, still dressing.
"Hai?"
"Your daughter Saffirae got in a fight about five minutes ago. They're loading her and the boy she fought into the ambulance now, to take them to the Ohtori hospital." I cursed thoroughly in my mind, thanked the woman, and hung up. I barely had my pants buttoned and my shirt halfway on as I ran out of the changing room, stuffing the rest of it in my bag, not bothering with shoes.
"I'm so sorry but I have to go! Now!" I shouted to him, tears of fear stinging my eyes. Suddenly, a hand was on my arm, pulling me to a stop. Takashi pulled my shirt down all the way, and put the shoes on my feet.
"Where do you need to go? I can drive," he offered simply. I smiled in relief.
"The Ohtori hospital, please… thank you so much…"I whispered. He nodded, and before I could stop him, he had picked me up and was walking through the halls, and out to a waiting car. Apparently he had all ready changed. He placed me in the limo, then climbed in beside me.
"We can come back later for your bike," he said. I shook my head.
"I took the train."
"Ah."
"So um… did you decide?" I was attempting to distract myself, I knew it was obvious, I didn't care.
"Yes. Would you still like to continue with the trade?" I nodded, grinning happily.
"Thank you!" He nodded, face as stoic as ever, but his lip twitched. It was an improvement, and made me smile wider.
"Why do you need to go to the hospital…?" He asked, as we pulled by the traffic. I started tapping my feet impatiently and wringing my hands, worry eating at me.
"Saff got in a fight again…" I mumbled.
"Saff?"
"Saffirae, my sister. She got in a fight with a boy at school again. They both have to go to the hospital. Again." I groaned, putting my head in my hands. "Why does she do this to me…?" I whispered. Soon enough, we had pulled into the hospital, just behind an ambulance. I saw Saff struggling against some binds they had placed on her as they unloaded her, and a bloody, unconscious boy. Suddenly, she coughed up puke and blood. I bolted out of the car, so that I was beside her.
"Saff, it's momma. Calm down baby, momma's here," I cooed gently, brushing her hair from her face as I walked alongside the gurney and medics. I could sense Takashi following me. I sighed sadly, as they made me wait outside the trauma room. I stood at the door, staring inside as they attempted to do an ultrasound on her stomach, checking for bleeding, and then prepped her for surgery.
Takashi waited silently behind me. I wondered why he was still here, but I didn't ask. Suddenly, the schools principal walked up. She bowed deeply.
"Miss Yakuza," she said politely. I returned the bow. "Any news on your daughter?" I could feel Takashi stiffen behind me. I sighed, shaking my head as I glanced inside the room, worry eating away at me.
"They're prepping her for surgery." The teacher nodded gravely. "Which boy? D'you know why? How is he?" I asked them slowly so that she could answer. She looked at the ground as she spoke, or looked around, but never at me.
"Chikatsu Kario. Second year middle-schooler." I groaned. My eight-year-old sister, a second-grader, had gotten into a fight with an eigth grader. "He insulted her family name. One of the other students said he said something about the Japanese mafia." Suddenly, I didn't blame my sister so much. He had openly insulted our mother, whether the kid knew it or not. "He also insulted you on many levels, and his mother sends her apologies."
"He's a child. No apologies are needed. Kids do these things." I said simply. The teacher nodded.
"He's got a minor concussion, a broken nose, internal bleeding, a broke rib, a dislocated arm, and both ankles are broken. He's critical because of an illness he has." I wanted to curse my sister and praise her. That was a lot of damage.
"Thank you."
"Miss Yakuza… I'm sorry to say this, but this is the third time in the hospital this year. I've given her exceptions with the other ones because they had thrown the first punch, but, Miss… this has gone to far, and the school board is getting edgy. I'm afraid I have to suspend Saffirae… permanently from our school." I nodded, clenching my jaw, and with a polite bow, the teacher was gone. The minute she was gone, I moved to punch the wall, but a strong hand caught my fist. I shook it away from Takashi's grip, sunk to my knees into the floor, and bowed my head. Tears streamed down my cheeks, as I watched through my hair, them wheel my sister to the surgery room. A nurse came up to me and lead me to the waiting room.
Takashi sat down silently beside me. He seemed akward, and I couldn't withhold my wonder anymore.
"Why are you still here?" I asked.
"You need it." It was simple. Too simple.
"Elaborate."
"As part of the deal, I request that you assist me in taking care of Haninozuka Mitsukuni. He is precious too me." I nodded. I got where he was going. I protect something precious of his, and he wants to make sure I'll be allright when something happens to me.
"Takashi-sempai?" A surprised voice said. I looked up to see none other than the third son of the Ohtori. My eyes widened, I got to my feet, and I bowed deeply. "Mori, what are you doing here?" He asked. I took my seat again, staying away from the boys attention to the best of my ability. I wanted to beg him to make sure my sister was allright, but my dignity wouldn't allow for that. I would worry in my own time and on my own costs and terms.
"Her," Mori said simply, pointing to me. I blushed in embarrassment.
"And why is she here?" He directed the question to me. I kept my head lowered, eyes on the ground.
"Uh… my daughter…" It was difficult to keep the charade up in public, but I had too. I told friends, people I trusted closely she was my sister, but to others, she was my daughter.
"Aren't you a little young? You can't be older than I am."
"I'm twenty-eight, thank you."
"No you aren't," he replied simply. I groaned, annoyed, and bit my tongue to keep back a snarky remark.
Suddenly, there was singing.
"Dontcha wish your girlfriend was hot like me, dontcha wish your-" Before the song could continue, I flipped open my phone, blushing furiously.
"H-hello?" I stuttered. The Ohtori was watching me carefully from his position at the door.
"Mori-sempai? Isn't it time you go pick up Hunny from practice?" Mori nodded.
"I'll wait." Ohtori nodded, but didn't leave.
"Jello, Kiki!" a hyperactive voice exclaimed in english. "Devvo was wonderin' when you were gonna swing by an pick 'im up for that rats fest called Parents Fair at his ol' midget-school, ya? So I told 'im I'd call ya, check up ya know, and… you at a hospital again, aren't ya? It's Sazz, ain't it? Yep. Knew it. I'll be down in a jiffy peanut butter sandwhich and a half." Before I could even reply, the quick-tongued scott had hung up her phone. I sighed, closing it.
"Who was that…?" Ohtori asked curiously.
"My babysitter. Mori-sensei, why don't you go home? I've gotta handle all of this stuff… the paperwork, insurance, then I gotta get to Parents Day with Devvinshi, I've got work at the resteraunt, my class, and I'd hate to keep you waiting if you have to go pick someone up."
"I can take him," he suddenly offered.
"Wha'? Take who to where?"
"Your son to Parents Day," the stoic man elaborated. I was shocked, confused, glad he had caught on to my lie of parenthood, and also wary…
"I believe I am missing something," the Ohtori said in annoyance. I sighed. Great. Explaining.
"I'm working for Kashi-sensei… wait, do you mind if I call you that?" He shrugged. "And in return he's teaching me some things. It's just a deal. I'm supposed to just do what he says. Today's my first day, but my daughter got into a fight at school today, and she's in surgery right now. My babysitter was just on the phone, she's bringing my son down here and-"
Speak of the devil, and he shalt appear.
A tall red-head college student came skidding into the waiting room, panting. She set down the three-year-old on the floor, and enraptured me in a tight hug, her green eyes glistening with tears.
"Ah, Kiki, I so sorry about Sazz, she doin' allright? Did she pound that fool good? How she doin', y'know yet? Tha nurse at tha front desk was tellin' me a sec ago tha' she was in surgery 'n' I freaked and ya allright, right? I so sorry…!" She ranted in English, hugging me tighter, snuggling into my stomach. She was significantly a whole foot shorter than me.
"Breathe!" I exclaimed in japanese harshly. Suddenly, I was free of her grip, being held up by Takashi. I grinned, and patted his head.
"Thanks Kashi-sensei," he set me down and I kneeled in front of my yawning son.
"Sisi ow?" He asked sadly. I nodded, pulling him into my arms, hugging him.
"Sid?" the scott turned to me, smiling, and pointed to Takashi.
"He's cute," she said, still speaking English. She was attempting to teach Devvinshi how to speak English, even if she had a harsh accent and spoke with horrible grammar. She had taught me. I rolled my eyes at her comment, standing up, still holding Devvo.
"Sid, can you watch Devvo for the rest of the night and take care of Saffi since you don't have class? I have to work, both jobs." Devvo looked up at me.
"Mama work? Bye-bye?" he asked softly. I nodded sadly, brushing his thick black bangs out of his soft face.
"Yeah baby, mom's gotta work," I said softly, hugging him close. He broke into tears, hugging me close and refusing to let go.
"Uh… Kashi-sensei?" Mori moved his eyes from Devvo to me. The Ohtori had disappeared. "What do you need from me today?"
"Just to meet Mitsukuni." I nodded.
"Can I bring Devvo?" He nodded. "Never mind Sid, you're off duty. Just take care of Saffi, I'll be back later, 'kay? Let me know if you have any news." She saluted me, standing at attention.
"Aye aye, el capitaine!" she exclaimed. I sweatdropped, but shrugged it off. Devvo's eyes were starting to droop.
"Shall we go?" I asked Mori. He nodded, and turned to leave, me trailing behind him, when the Ohtori appeared in front of us.
"Yakuza Saffirae will be unconscious for atleast the next twelve hours, as well as having to remain in the hospital for a month, not including rehab afterwards," he announced.
"What?!" I exclaimed, fear in my eyes. Devvo whimpered, holding me tighter. I shushed him, rocking him lightly.
"I am not repeating myself. She needs rehab because she broke a leg and a shoulder, the shoulder from falling off the gurney." I wanted to smack myself. That was so like her… ugh… And she had gotten so hurt… I suddenly felt dizzy and sick to my stomach… not to mention how was I going to pay for all of that? I felt a steadying hand on my shoulder.
"Arigatou, sensei…" I murmured, shrugging off his hand. "Sid?" She looked at me sadly. Me and Sid had been friends for a long time. She had also been a close friend of my mother. "You can go home. I'll be back in time to be with her."
"I wish you the best luck for with your brother and sister," the Ohtori said before mysteriously disappearing.
It took a moment for it to sink in.
…
HOW DID HE KNOW THAT?!!
I took a deep breath, calming myself, and got in the limo beside Takashi, setting a sleeping Devvo down in my lap and buckling myself in. I watched Sidheag (pronounced: SHEE – ak) get in her car as we drove out of the parking lot.
Sometime, I don't know when, I had fallen asleep on the drive. Eventually, though, we reached our destination. I woke up to Takashi shaking my shoulder. We climbed out of the car in front of a large martial arts institute. The best one in all of south-east japan.
I wanted to faint. It had been my dream for a long time to attend this school and learn from the masters, the best of the best… to combine my techniques… to TEACH here…
Suddenly, in his sleep, Devvo gave a harsh yank to a lock of my hair, pulling me quite literally from my thoughts. I sighed, gently freeing his hand, and followed Takashi inside. Sitting on the front steps eating a piece of cake was an adorable, blonde child. I smiled pleasantly at him. He jumped up, hugging Takashi.
"TAKASHI!! YOU'RE ALLRIGHT!!" He exclaimed. Takashi frowned sadly, looking down as he hugged the boy who I presumed was Mitsukuni.
"I'm sorry," Takashi said softly. I cleared my throat, and bowed as best as I could with a sleeping child in my arms.
"Don't apologize sensei, it was my fault… I presume you are Mitsukuni-samma?" When he nodded, I 'bowed' again. "A pleasure. I apologize for holding up Kashi-sensei." He grinned.
"It's allright, right, Takashi? I'm sure you were doing something nice." Takashi gave a tender smile to the boy. I grinned. They were clearly precious to eachother, as Takashi ruffled Mitsukuni's hair, and he hugged him. He then bounced in front of me.
"You can call me Hunny! Takashi, who is she…?" He asked suddenly, turning to look at the kendo master behind him. I winced. I hope he doesn't wake up Devvo.
"Mitsukuni, keep your voice down." He smiled sadly up at me and whispered an apology, looking at Devvo with a smile.
"I'm Yakuza Kiralainne. I'm Kashi-sensei's and your's… assistant?" I said. I didn't quite know what to call the job. It was pretty much servitude. "Well, servant fits better actually." Mori frowned, but I shrugged it off. Hunny frowned. I sighed. "I made a deal with Kashi-sensei, so I get a fair trade." Because, on top of learning kendo, I would be earning small wages. Small, but they were extra wages.
"Who is he?" Hunny asked. I figured Takashi didn't want me to lie to him, so I answered truthfully.
"This is Devvinshi, my little brother. He's three." Hunny grinned.
"Does he like cake?" I shook my head.
"No. He doesn't eat sweet things. I, on the other hand, love cake like it's family." Hunny grinned.
"I have a feeling we're gonna be friends, Kiki-chan!"
And that is how I was introduced to the three people who would affect my life more than any other had before. How I came to meet the first members of the Host Club. How I came to healing my past, and building a future for me and my siblings.