A/N: This is a sequel to 'Transformation of a Red Lion'!

Summary of 'Transformation of a Red Lion' – Sawada Shin came back to Japan and became Kuroda Shin, the new Kumichou of the Oedo clan. His Shatei (basically a temporary right-hand man) is Kazama Ren, but is known in the Yakuza circle as Kuroda Ren. By the end of the first part, Yankumi realises that she has a thing for Shin, and Yamato is back from America. Ren has been offered to be in charge of a new company that controls the finances of the Oedo clan, rather than to stay on in the Yakuza.

**Minor details/reminders to take note – Minami is a medical intern, Ryu is a lawyer, Hayato is a financial banker and Yamato is a doctor.

Okay, one last thing (I promise!) – As the title suggests, this fic will follow Ren closer than Shin. It is also YAOI (Ren/Yamato), so please don't read if you can't stomach it. Some scenes can be quite intimate.


"Boss, your schedule is quite full today. There's a board meeting starting at 10am, followed by a meeting with the investors at 1pm. Then, you have another appointment scheduled at 3pm." Ren's secretary, Saki said as he entered the office. "This is the agenda for your Board meeting."

Ren groaned tiredly, but took the list from her. 'Item number 1, update on takeover bid on Toto Group. Item number 2, incorporation of Cosa Italia Pty Ltd (Japan chapter). Item number 3, status report on the new entertainment complex. Item number 4, reorganisation of current investment portfolio.' The list went on up to item number 8. Ren frowned slightly. It was going to be another very long day.

Ever since its formation 5 years ago, the Red Lion Group of Companies had been a massive success. By uniting all of the clan's businesses under one umbrella corporation, they were able to channel funds around more efficiently; thus generating more profits. The fact that the various businesses had a united legal front also improved their reputation and goodwill tremendously. Then, their financial power was further secured when the Cosa Nostra started investing in their group of companies. In fact, the Cosa was so impressed by their business model that they were in talks of doing the same. The Red Lion Group's CEO, Kazama Ren, had won numerous awards; such as Entrepreneur of the Year, Top Young Businessman of the Year, Top Financial Planner of the Year and so on. He became an icon of success in the business world almost overnight.

At the same time, the 'Kuroda Brothers' were becoming a famous legend. There was no one in Japan that did not know about them. Their real names and pictures were never revealed, so not many people knew their true identities – only that they were the epitome of ying and yang. All people knew was that together they controlled both the forces of dark and light. They were perceived as a formidable duo; capable of bringing a man to great heights, as well as to the brink of destruction. The older Kuroda Brother was simply known as 'Kuroda Red Lion' (though the correlation between him and the corporation was never drawn, since it was a generic enough name); whereas the younger Brother's nickname was 'Kuroda White Tiger'.

Ren snapped the file shut. "Alright. I'll go prepare for both meetings." There was no agenda list for the second meeting, because The Investors was actually spelled with a capital T and capital I; and was the codename for the Oedo clan leaders. Ren made sure that there were no records that would link the company to the Oedo clan. That meant no names, no paper trails, no nothing. Phone calls were made strictly by unregistered cellphones only. Only 2 out of the 200 employees knew who The Investors really were – Ren, the Chief Executive Officer and Chairman of the Board; and Yabuki Hayato, his Chief Financial Officer. "Who am I meeting at 3pm?" Ren asked.

"Senator Sawada." His secretary answered readily. Ren arched his eyebrows in surprise. Indeed, with the elections looming, many politicians had been desperately trying to secure funding from them for their campaigns. Ren wasn't a stranger to politicians, but this was the first time Senator Sawada was approaching him. 'This might get interesting.' He thought.

The board meeting proceeded without a hitch. He handled all the questions gracefully, providing them with more than satisfactory answers. Every visible facet of the business was legal; except for the, well, regular siphoning of funds to the Oedo clan. Which reminded Ren – the things Hayato could do to the account books were simply amazing. He was glad that he managed to convince Hayato to work for him. Ren thanked the Board of Directors, and then headed to his private office for a change of clothes. He swapped his tailored shirt, jacket and tie for a loose blue shirt and faded slacks. It would have been too noticeable if he strode into an Oedo clan meeting in his full business suit.

Ren took the service lift down to the lobby, exited the Red Lion Group's building through the back door and entered a slightly less opulent-looking shop lot next to it. This double-storey shop lot was the only asset that they had left in the Oedo clan's name.

"Konnichiwa!" He greeted everyone. "Aniki." He nodded to their leader.

Shin smiled at him. "Ren, it's good to see you. How are you doing?" They didn't see each other as often anymore. Ren lived with Yamato in an apartment near the financial district, about half an hour's drive away from Kurogawa. Shin was also constantly busy with the clan's affairs and Yankumi. They only saw each other every other weekend for some sparring, dinner and catch-up; and during the occasional Oedo family celebrations.

"I'm fine, Aniki, but there's something I want to talk to you about after this meeting." Ren replied.

Shin nodded tersely, then started the meeting without delay. He addressed everybody that was present and gave a brief update on major happenings in the clan. There wasn't much to say, since the Oedo clan had been flourishing since the takeover 5 years ago. There were a few turf wars in the beginning, but Shin and Ren handled everything gracefully. Challenges to Shin's authority were handled diplomatically, with almost zero bloodshed. Unrest within the clan was quickly detected and quelled thanks to Ren's attentiveness. The number of allies on their side practically exploded. Complete order was restored in less than 3 months, a feat that was previously unheard of in Yakuza history. Consequently, Tetsu was appointed as the new wakagashira, and Koisuke became the shateigashira. Due to a leg injury and his expressed desire to spend more time with his family, Wakamatsu was delegated to head the administrative division instead. His job was to oversee the clan members' welfare, audit the accounts, and work with the clan's lawyers whenever a problem arose. Minoru and Makoto remained as members of the Oedo family.

Ren listened to Shin's update with admiration. The Oedo clan was continuously gaining more and more allies every single day. Despite his young age, Shin was becoming one of the most respected leaders in the Yakuza. There were even rumours that he might be elected as the next Kaichou when Tanukibara-kaichou retires next year; thus making him the official leader of the Yakuza. Ren was quite sure Shin would turn it down, though.

A pang of worry erupted in his chest when Shin informed them about an upcoming confrontation with an overseas drug cartel that had been trying to establish a base in Japan. There were times when he wished he had stayed on to protect his Aniki, but he also knew that he was in a much more crucial position. Because of the complete separation, the Oedo clan had no legal claim whatsoever over the Red Lion Group or its money. The entire Oedo clan and its 3000 plus members were relying solely and entirely on Shin's unwavering trust for him.

He cleared his mind. He knew that he could always return to the clan whenever he wanted, just as Shin had promised him many, many years ago. But right now, he was required in another capacity; and Ren was determined to give it his all. He could only pray that Tetsu would protect Shin with his life and more.

"That's all I have for now." Shin concluded. "Ren, can you give us a report on how the business side is doing?"

"Yes, Aniki." Ren stood up. "The business is going well; our combined profit for the first quarter has increased 25%. Hayato has confirmed that there will be a 15 million yen payout and the money will be transferred to the Oedo clan's accounts latest by the 1st of July. We are retaining 10% of the profit and plan to use the extra money to diversify our investment portfolio to even more sectors. Hayato and I have developed a new investment strategy will further minimise our losses and maximise our profits. The Cosa Nostra has also confirmed that they will be incorporating a branch office in Japan, named Cosa Italia Pty Ltd; and will be putting it under our Group's management. The main issue that I would like to direct your attention to today; however, is about election funding. As we all know, the general election is coming up next year; so we have had many politicians approaching us for funding. Who do you all think we should support?"

Shin thought for a moment. "Who has approached you so far?" He asked.

"I think, Aniki, the question should be who hasn't approached me." Ren smiled, holding up a thick folder. "Do you have any candidates in mind?"

Shin nodded. "This election is a good opportunity for us to exert more control in the political arena. Moreover, with the separation of the Red Lion Group from the Oedo clan, we can also influence the more self-righteous politicians without their knowledge."

Everyone murmured in agreement. One could always count on Kuroda Shin to come up with a plan that would allow him to play both sides.

"Do you have Senator Izumi on your list?" Shin asked.

Ren was sure he did, but double-checked his folder anyway. "Yes. However, he's not as desperate as the others. I think he just wants the reputation of being backed by the Red Lion Group. There's another company that has agreed to provide him financial support."

Shin frowned slightly. "What company is that?"

"Give me a second." Ren flipped through his file. "Takira Transport Co. It's a middle-size firm, but has quite a large capital. Net worth is about $100 million yen. No known associations to any major external financial sources."

"$100 million yen is not too much for the Group. Can we launch a hostile takeover?" Shin asked.

Ren considered the suggestion. It seemed like Shin was very keen on getting Senator Izumi under his thumb. "With all due respect Aniki, we already hold about 50% of the market share for transportation; so any more may cause us to come under the scrutiny of the market regulators. What we can do, however, is to temporarily destabilize their financial standing to the point that they would be forced to withdraw from funding Senator Izumi's campaign; but can still continue to remain in business." Ren said. "This way, we can also easily reinstate their financial position after the election."

Shin smiled proudly. His younger brother was becoming quite the adept businessman. "That is acceptable, Ren. Can I entrust this matter to you?"

"Yes, Aniki. Will you be dealing with Senator Izumi, or would you prefer me to do that?"

"I'm afraid that Senator Izumi is a bit of a prude, so I'll have to burden you with that. He will never work with the Yakuza no matter how much money we can offer him." Shin said. "Make sure you do it properly though. If all goes well, we'll push him to become the next Prime Minister."

"Wakarimashita. I will see to it then." Ren replied dutifully. "Actually, Aniki, even the current Prime Minister has requested our backing. Are you interested in him?"

"No," Shin said curtly. "He's a man without discipline. We're already working on digging up some scandals of his, so he won't stay in office for long."

Ren nodded in understanding. Shin was the most intelligent, cunning and manipulative person he has ever met. If he hadn't joined the Yakuza, Ren thought that he would have made a great Prime Minister as well.

"I think Minister Aoi, Minister Kitto and Senator Odagiri are the people's favourites nowadays. What do you guys think?" Shin asked the clan leaders.

"Frankly, Senator Odagiri is a pain in the ass. He's just popular because he's filthy rich and was the former Chief of Police. Nowadays he's more or less riding on his son's fame. I wouldn't put my money on him." Division Three's leader grunted.

"Yeah, but as you said, young Odagiri is garnering a lot of attention nowadays; especially after he took on that pro bono case last year to defend the refugees. He is quite popular among the young to middle-aged community. Maybe we can groom him into the next Member of Parliament?" Another leader suggested.

Shin shot a look at Ren. The latter was deep in thought. "Ren, what do you think?"

"Ryu is quite talented indeed, but I'm not sure if he will be interested. He's really passionate about defending the rights of the oppressed and all that. Furthermore, he hates politics with a passion." Ren said.

"Well, he can do even more as an MP, if he gets elected. I'll talk to him and see what he says." Shin said. "Anyone else?"

"Minister Aoi is a little infamous, but he's more than willing to work with the Yakuza, as long as the price is right. I think he already has some connections with the Tenkai clan." The leader of Division Six said.

"That's good. Tenkai clan is firmly on our side. They won't stand in our way."

"Minister Kitto is a bit of a bully, but he's related to the American president. I think his niece married the president's stepbrother or something." The leader of Division Ten revealed.

"So desu ka." Shin said. "In that case, to ease Ren's burden, we'll handle Minister Aoi and young Odagiri. Ren, you take Minister Izumi and Minister Kitto. See if you can secure a meeting with the President through Minister Kitto. Once you manage to establish a strong enough relationship with the President, drop Minister Kitto immediately. We have no need for bullies."

"Yes, Aniki, duly noted." Ren answered.

"Alright, meeting adjourned." Shin announced. Turning to Tetsu, he said, "Go back without me. I have some things to discuss with Ren."

"Hee, Oyasan." Tetsu answered. Now that Shin was the Kumichou, they were not allowed to call him 'Aniki' anymore. Only Ren was allowed to call him that because he wasn't part of the clan.

"So, Ren, what is it you wanted to talk to me?"

Ren glanced at his watch. It was quarter to three. "I'm meeting another senator in 15 minutes, and I was wondering if you would like to come with me?" He asked with a straight face.

Shin stared at him questioningly. He usually stayed out of all the business dealings, so Ren's request was a little out of the ordinary. "Why?" He asked simply.

"I'm meeting one Senator Sawada." Ren said, grinning mischievously.

Shin broke into a chuckle. "Oh my! No wonder! Yes, I would like that very much."

"I'm hungry." Ren said. "Let's make him wait for a while, alright?"

Shin nodded. "Of course. Let's see how patient he can be."


About two hours later, they made their way back to Ren's office. Shin sat outside Ren's private office and waited while the latter changed back into his business suit.

A lady exited the lift and looked around the floor uncertainly, behaving as if she was not supposed to be here. Shin recognised her as Ren's secretary. She looked absolutely stressed and worried, on top of the nervousness.

He walked up to her. "What's up, young lady? You are too pretty to look so upset."

She glared at him fiercely. "Mind your own business!" She snapped.

Shin stifled a grin. His best guess was that Senator Sawada has been harassing her for the past two hours; probably threatening her entire family's jobs and futures and what not. "Your boss is back, you know." He said casually.

"WHAT? WHERE?!" She asked immediately.

"Don't worry, he'll be out soon. He's just getting ready inside." Shin pointed to the last door at the end of the corridor. Saki stared at him suspiciously. Who was this guy and why was he on the restricted floor? Only her boss had access to this floor. No one, not even her, knew what was behind those doors. She only dared to venture up here today out of sheer desperation to locate her boss. There have been rumours circulating the office that her boss was gay. Was it true? Was he shacking up with this man in the forbidden room?

Shin sighed quietly. Why did people always think that he and Ren are dating? 'I mean, seriously! Even if I were gay, we wouldn't be compatible! I'm shorter than him! Plus he's such a dominant character! Wait, do they think that I'm the girl then?' Shin felt scandalized. He pointedly ignored the secretary and sat back down on the couch.

Ren reappeared in his formal business attire. "Ah Saki, is Senator Sawada still here?"

"Boss! I'm sorry, I shouldn't be here… I was trying to find you…" Saki rambled nervously, before remembering that her boss had asked her a question. "I mean, yes! He's getting really impatient. You better go see him now." She positively fled into the lift.

Over the years, Ren had learnt to sense his Aniki's moods; despite the fact that his facial expression was always unreadable.

"What's gotten your knickers in a twist?" He asked teasingly.

"Your secretary thinks you're shagging me!" Shin growled.

"A lot of people think that." Ren pointed out. "It never bothered you."

"As in, she thinks you are shagging me."

Ren laughed out loud. No wonder Shin was so offended! He hated people undermining his authority. "Oh, this is golden! I need to give her a bonus!" He said, tears flowing out of his eyes.

"Ugh. Shut up." Shin said sulkily.

"Okay, okay. Go wait in the meeting room, Aniki. I'll go get your father dearest." Ren said.