Odagiri watched them leave lips pressed to a thin slash across his face. ' Who was this punk, he hand missed the friendly hand that Kyo had rested on the other mans shoulder or the respectful nods the gumi had given him, the smile of welcome on Yankumi's foster brothers' eyes as they spotted the groups arrival. What was with the Young master red lion bull, he didn't have a cool name… however he had never bothered to talk to Kyo for any length of time either. Now that was a tactical error.
All in all though the kicker was the fact that the kid had taken his place behind her right shoulder as if he belonged there, and no one even Yankumi's grandfather had, by word, act or even the smallest of grimaces had gainsaid his right to be there.
The young man sank to his knees in the reception hall, leaning his head against a support pole and closing his eyes. There was a lot of information that could be picked up while listening to the bustle. Rice paper walls were never made to keep secrets from the people inside.
Shin traced the line of Kumicho's top lip starting with the sweet little divot under her nose, he was just about to start on the bottom lip when an elbow jabbed him sharply in the side pulling him away from his little fantasy. He sighed; Yankumi was in another world getting ready for the meeting in front of her. Shin didn't even exist in her world at the moment. 'Fundoshi.' he reminded himself of the one time, the only time so far that he had seen lust in her eyes aimed at him. 'Remember the fundoshi. It has happened before it will happen again.'
Kyo looked over Shin possessively; young master red lion still had the same powerful gaze, even when mooning over their oujo.
Noticing Kyo's gaze, Shin looked back. 'What are Minoru and Tetsu up to?" He asked.
"The boss decided to try them out with a small group in the other ward. Give them some experience. They'll take over for me someday." Kyo laughed heartily "You couldn't split those two up and I must admit it does me good to realize that the boss feels that it takes two men to fill my shoes."
Shin looked at Kyo incredulously, a question hovering on his lips.
Kyo laughed again, "Just planning ahead our boss is the 3rd Generation Oedo Boss when his successor is chosen it wouldn't be good to turn over a house with a leaky roof. I have a good feeling about the future of the family."
Kyo nodded towards Kumicho who was still lost in her own thoughts. "She will pick out a strong leader. A strong woman likes her will only accept a strong man." Kyo then added. "Oh right, by the way, I've been looking for a sparring partner, are you interested?"
Shin bit back a grin. Kyo hadn't changed, and thank god he was on Shin's side. "What about that young punk that followed her in?" Shin unconsciously echoed Odagiri's terminology. "Have you invited him to any sparring sessions?"
Expression sobering a bit, Kyo levelled a serious look at Shin, "I was thinking about it, he isn't you but you weren't coming back and I hadn't heard from you." Eyes fixed on the moving scenery, outside Kyo was taking his time and answering honestly. "He's a good kid. Really a good kid. But I think he sees us like a fairy tale yakuza family. He's from a police family. Ya! Ya! I know you do too, but he's been more sheltered than you were in some ways. A year in and out of the Oedo house hold and he's never really taken the time to talk to Minoru and Titus."
"Or Kyo" Shin added to himself silently sending a quick thank you to any near by gods. "If the Kid had gotten to Kyo, I would never have stood a chance."
"I see" Shin sighed. "And how is the lawyer." He might as well get it the bad news as quickly as possible.
"Now that's a story" Shin gave Kyo a sharp look, noticing a strange look on Kyo's face. "He decided that working for a legitimate company in Osaka last year. The boss convinced him the debt was paid and to do what he wanted to do." Kyo sighed. "He was never one of us. He's like the boy, thinks he can keep out of the family business by staying on the edges. You are either part of us or not, no middle ground."
Shin understood the warning that Kyo was giving him and agreed with it. The Oedo Group may not have been perfect but it had rules to follow and fiercely protected the people within its region. Remembering one African warlord and his almost casual violence he knew that there was no evil with the Oedo Group just pragmatism, and a 'noblesse oblige' a code which required them give protection in return for the money they took.
"Tell me more about the new group" Shin asked quietly. "How long has this been going on?"
"There have been groups trying to bring in drugs since the founding of the family. We've kept it out because we don't deal with those things. Just not right it destroys more than it brings in."
Kyo grunted and adjusted his belt. "You remember those punks from when you were a kid"
Shin nodded.
"They were just a wanna-be group. Just some punks with dreams of starting their own family but without the balls to do it with honour. This time it's the new boss of an established group. He wanted Yankumi. "
"He wanted Oedo not me" Yankumi shot from her seat across from them.
'Not so oblivious' Shin observed.
"He was weak and thought that marrying me would get him a family leadership spot faster than waiting for his father to pass on. Grandfathers tend not to last as long as fathers… Unless of course the father is encouraged to pass on faster than normal."
Kyo seemed to be more taken aback that Shin was."You mean you think that he offed his own boss, his own father with poison."
Yankumi nodded. "That's what's coming back from sources."
"If it can be proven … he will loose all his men... fighting for leadership is one thing… poisoning…? "
"Ya" Yankumi took a deep breath and turned into the Oedo Groups Oujo again. "We're about to arrive. This is going to be tricky but just follow my lead."
The limo slowed to a stop and the driver got out and opened the door. Shin recognized the man, a minor flunky when he was there last now moved up the ranks to a key position for a trusted junior. Kumiko nodded at him regally straightening her back and shoulders before moving forward smoothly.
The trio was led into a meeting room. A middle aged man in a loosely tied yukata lounged back on cushions. Shin was sure that he heard a growl from Kyo before a glance from Yankumi quieted him down. Yankumi knelt formally and bowed politely though not a degree more than was due to him as the head of a family from the daughter of another family.
Wanabi laughed and waved her in place. "So the Kuroda princess has decided to come over to visit me, I'm not important enough to have a formal omiae with when I'm just the heir but now you come trotting to see."
Kyo's legs tensed at the insult while Shin became deadly still. From the corner of his eyes he examined Wanabi's bodyguards. They shifted from foot to foot, trying to hide their discomfort from the other group. "Embarrassed are we" Shin thought to himself. "They don't like the disrespect to Kumiko any more than we do. I guess she really pissed off this one. Well better that than letting him think he could have her."
Kumiko leveled a look at the man in front of her. "I am here to discuss the Oedo Groups position of drugs sales. Not discuss who I marry. The Gumi trusts me to choose the correct person, and they are the only ones with a right to voice an opinion."
Wanabi shot a look at the pair behind Kumiko."I had heard that the Gumi had already chosen for you. A nice pliable boy toy that could be easily manipulated by the kumichou. "
Shin decided then and there that Wanabi had to die, and die by his hand though he would give Kumiko a chance to get her hits in. A quietly whispered 'later' from Kyo forced him to calm down.
Yankumi's lips quirked in a smile that would have made either of her 3D delinquents run in fear. "Boy or toy doesn't describe any of the men in my life. That may have changed if I had agreed to the many offers to meet to discuss an arranged marriage. I am sure there would have been many boys among them; some of them may even have been useless enough to be called toys. Don't you agree Wanabi-san?"
Wanabi's face flushed in anger. "Listen I don't know why you're here Oedo group has no business in our territory. As long as we keep out of your areas you have no say in what we do."
Kumiko leveled him another look. "I am here as the Oedo Group representative to bring greeting from our family to you. Also as it wasn't the place to talk about this at your father funeral, I was to ensure that you understood our family's stance on drugs. There will be no drugs on Kuroda territory."
Drunk female giggling was heard from the entrance way, Wanabi yelled out to the new arrival "Put her in my private rooms" He then looked at Kumiko and smirked. "I have to go now; I'm being called away fro important business.
Kumiko nodded her head at him. "We'll talk later; I wouldn't want to take you away from family business."
She then stood up and walked out the door with out a backward glance trusting Kyo and Shin to follow her out the door.
Sorry for the delay, the whole real life bit can be a drag. Feedback is good. I'm finding myself use more japanese terms than I usually use because of the whole Yakuza thing. I've been trying to research to make sure my facts are correct, if anyone has any good reference sites about yakuza tradions beyond what is shown in the manga I would appreciate it.
honest comments are always welcome.