Chapter 1

The big city. A sprawling metropolis of buildings. A jungle of skyscrapers with flowing rivers of automobiles.

A place where any man could find his place in the world. A place where any woman could raise a family with peace of mind. Where children could grow and let their dreams take hold. And where anyone had a chance to make it big on the silver screen

Los Konohas was truly becoming a city of wonders. A city where dreams could come true. Its people thought of it almost as a little slice of heaven on Earth. Its beautiful weather, vast beaches, and growing economy made it the perfect place to call home. It truly was a place most people could only dream of living in.

But sadly, dreams aren't without their nightmares. And Los Konohas had its fair share of those as well.

While the city seemed to be a place of hopes and dreams, it hid a dark secret. A secret that always lurked just out of view, silently skulking in the shadows, just under everyone's nose.

The criminal underground was flourishing from the dark alleyways just as much as the city was. A massive underground business of drugs, prostitution, thievery, and murder. But it proved to be a worthwhile risk for anyone involved. Even small time drug peddlers could make a pretty penny slinging dope on the street corner and those in charge could lead lavish lifestyles.

It was inevitable that some gangs would prove more successful than others. While some struggled to keep their heads above water, others grew beyond imagination. And none were more successful or notorious than the Taiyos and Tsukinos.

The Taiyos were led by a man who kept his identity a secret for his own protection. He led his gang from a distance and with an air of caution about him. Not many people knew who he really was and he liked it that way. But the man had some brains and some guts.

His gang had been running the city from the shadows for a long time. They had more money and power than they knew what to do with.

That is, until the Tsukinos came onto the scene and started to stir things up. They started out as a small time gang who didn't stand out much. The kind of people who wouldn't even make a blip on the Taiyos radar. They were nothing more than small time drug peddlers operating out of abandoned buildings.

But that was only until Ryuuji Tsukino inherited the family business from his late father. Ryuuji was a calm and collected man with a knack for business and investment. He was also very cautious when it came to his dealings with the underground world. A man of dignity, poise, and style.

He took a dying business and turned it into a thriving empire. While in charge he opened an array of bars, brothels, and restaurants as a cover for his gang's criminal activities. They were useful in many ways. They made it easy to conduct his business in safety and they proved a wonderful way to launder his gang's profits.

The Tsukinos had made their mark on the map with the smuggling and manufacturing of drugs, illegal alcohol trade, and an array of women to serve the needs of lonely men. And it made the Taiyo gang very uneasy.

A bitter rivalry started between the two as the Tsukinos grew in power. The fights between the two gangs escalated from small street brawls to brutal murder in just a few years. The Taiyos had become afraid that the Tsukinos could pose a real threat; that they could lose their grip on the city and they planned to do something about it.

The Taiyos tried their best to take out Ryuuji at every turn. But Ryuuji was a cautious man who made it very difficult for the Taiyos to even get close to him. He rarely went out in public and only traveled in armored cars. Even the Taiyos best assassins couldn't get close to him.

But shortly after the death of his wife, Ryuuji began acting out of character. He was brash and reckless with his dealings and the businesses he had opened in his years of operating the gang were beginning to waver. He began spending his evenings drinking his sorrows away rather than at home. And it was this behavior that cost him his life.

Another lonely night spent at the bottom of a bottle followed by a stumble through a park were how he spent his last minutes on Earth. Maybe they had been following him for a while or maybe it was just chance that a small group from the Taiyo gang happened to be in that same park. But one way or the other, they were the last thing that Ryuuji Tsukino ever saw.

He left behind two daughters. Hime, his oldest, was already a full grown woman and married to a handsome rich fellow. She had always been on the spoiled side and preferred not to bother with the family business. She opted instead to spend her time at fancy parties and in the company of men.

Okami was his second born. A woman in body alone. Although less spoiled than her older sister, she was still a bit immature and egotistical. But she had been raised to know the business and, had she more time to mature, could have rivaled her father in running it.

As per their father's will, the youngest would inherit the empire that had been left behind. Half a dozen bars, acres of land, warehouses and factories, and a grimy underworld to call her own.

Just as her father did, she kept the illegal activities of her gang hidden behind the facade of the bars she managed. And none of her bars were as lavish or as popular as the Crescent Moon Club.

Over the years it had become the hottest place in town. And it had been lucky enough not suffer too much during Ryuuji's grieving. The bar was known for its wide selection of drinks, swinging music, and its beautiful women. Not a night went by when the bar wasn't packed with people of all kinds. Happy couples cutting a rug on the dance floor, men looking to get away from their nagging wives or perhaps spend the night with someone new, youngsters hoping for a night of fun, and even those who just want to drink their worries away.

It was by far one of Okami's favorite places to be. It gave her a chance to operate her empire from the comfort and relaxation of the club. And tonight seemed to be just like any other.

She sat at her favorite table in the back of the club watching the patrons dance and mingle. The scent of liquor and cigar smoke filled the large open room. A familiar smell that made her feel at home. She smiled to herself and gently reached down to take a sip of her drink. The sound of music casually drifted through the air and the beautiful voice of one of Okami's favorite singers set the mood.

But the peace was short lived. A man with soft blonde hair and piercing blue eyes walked up to the table she was seated at. He stopped just inches from her table, a stern and serious look on his face. "Boss. There's a bit of a… problem. Over at the docks."

Okami turned her gaze from the man in front of her and down to her drink and spoke just above a whisper. "What kind of 'problem' are we talking about here, Raiden?"

He slowly bent over the table and leaned close to her ear, wary of any passerby's who may overhear their conversation "A Taiyo was found dead this morning right by one of your warehouses. Word has it that this wasn't just any Taiyo either." Raiden paused for a moment, gauging his boss' reactions before continuing. "It was their second-in-command… I don't know who offed him, but there's no doubt that the cops are gonna' be lookin' at us for it."

Okami let out a sigh and rubbed her temples. "Raiden, find out everything you can about this and get back to me. I didn't authorize anything of this sort and the last thing we need is the cops sticking their noses in our business."

"You got it Boss." And with that, Raiden made his way out of the bar.

The dark haired woman sat at her table, alone, listening to the song in the background and the murmur of conversation that filled the club. Worry filled her mind as thoughts of the news started to settle in. The second in command of the Taiyo gang getting killed wasn't a good sign. Either someone went behind her back and killed him without her say-so or someone was trying to frame her. Neither option sat well with her as they could both lead to a war between the two gangs.

She stood from the table and made her way to the back of the club where her office was located. Maybe some peace and quiet, she thought, would calm her mind. She nodded to the bartender as she walked into her office, signaling that he was to keep watch on things while she was in the back.

Her office was fairly simple and tidy. A bookshelf lined the wall to the left, it's shelves lined with various titles on business management and laws, along with some light reading for entertainment. On the right wall was a mini bar stocked with an array of her favorite drinks. Her desk sat in the middle of the small room, clean and organized. She strode over to the bar, grabbed one of her crystal wine glasses, and poured herself a small glass of merlot and went to sit at her desk.

She slumped into her chair with a sigh. Raiden most likely wouldn't have any information until the following day. And even so, he may not find out much given how recent the murder was.

The wine tingled on her lips as she took a sip and began to look through paperwork that had been sitting at her desk. She hoped that perhaps getting some work done would help to get her mind off of things until she had more information. Until then, worrying was doing her little good. She elected, instead, to spend the rest of her evening occupied with sorting the club's affairs.

She made her way home shortly after the bar closed for the night. She was driven home by her personal driver who escorted her around town in her custom-made armored car. She watched through the bullet proof glass as the street lights passed by her. Night had long since set over the city and most people were already home and tucked in their beds, safe and sound with their families.

Okami lost herself in thought until her driver opened her car door for her and announced that they had arrived at her home. He reached out a hand and helped her from the car. Before leaving, he bid her a good night and then made his way to tuck the car safely in her garage.

Her heels clacked on the ground as she made her way up the steps of her sprawling mansion. A gift left to her by her father. The large home was once filled with servants busily going to and fro as they did their jobs. The sounds of her sister gushing about whatever man she was dating at the time. The sounds of her mother playing the piano well into the evening. And the sounds of her father greeting her warmly as she arrived home. But now the house was silent. Her mother and father had passed and her sister had long since moved out. Okami didn't bother keeping the servants after her father passed. She thought it better to grieve peacefully by herself.

The grand foyer was a stunning sight. The large room held a beautiful chandelier and two masterfully carved staircases that lead to the upper floor. A large rug, no doubt imported, was spread out on the floor accenting the room perfectly. It had long decorated hallways on either side that led to other parts of the house.

Okami, tired and stressed, made her way up the stairs and towards her bedroom. The day had worn on her. Not only the worry she felt due to the murder near her warehouse, but the long night of paperwork for the club as well. She pushed the thoughts from her mind as she reached the hallway that led to her bedroom. She tried to never make the mistake of bringing her work home with her.

She opened the door to her bedroom and stepped inside. Her bedroom itself was fairly simple. It held a canopy bed with dark blue sheets, a simple vanity that her mother had given her, and a desk where she could take care of whatever paperwork her businesses demanded at her leisure. She never spent much time at home so she never bothered with anything but the necessities.

Her heels clattered to the floor as she haphazardly kicked them off. She then undressed for bed and went about her nightly routine. With the worries of the day pushed into the back of her mind, Okami crawled onto her bed and under the soft comforter. It didn't take long for her to drift off to sleep. Tomorrow she would have some answers. Tomorrow she would get to the bottom of this.