"Aniki." Ren entered Shin's office. "I've set up a meeting with Tanukibara-kaichou as you requested. He will grant us an audience tomorrow at noon."
"Thanks, Ren. I guess all we can do now is wait then." Shin answered with a sigh.
Ren nodded. It had been a long week for both of them. "Is there anything else you may need?" He asked.
Shin gestured him to sit down. "We need to talk. What did you mean the other day when you said 'I'll go back to the Red Lion Group or wherever you need me'?"
Ren furrowed his brow in confusion. He didn't see how that was hard to understand. "Um, Aniki, I meant that I will serve you in any capacity that you need me to." He tried to answer as well as he could.
Shin gave him an assessing look. "Ren, I don't want you to just do what I want you to do. I want you to do whatever you personally want to do. I gave you the Red Lion Group because I thought that it was what you wanted."
Ren gasped when he realised what Shin was thinking. "No, Aniki, I did not mean to insinuate that I don't want to manage the company! I do enjoy everything I've been doing so far. After building it up from scratch to what it is today, the Red Lion Group is like a baby to me. My only misgiving is that I can't stay by your side while I'm at it."
Shin considered the situation. "Would you like me to reabsorb the businesses back into the Oedo clan, and then allow you to manage them from within the clan?" He would rather not, of course; since there was a reason why he separated them in the first place. However, Ren's happiness meant a lot more to him.
"We both know that's not a good idea, Aniki. The risk is too high, especially now with the Red Lion Group being under public scrutiny. If the authorities realized the true extent of the Oedo clan's wealth, we'll all be thrown into jail and our assets confiscated before we can say 'run'. Plus, the separation of the assets from the clan is one of your greatest achievements; I cannot in good conscience allow all your work to be undone."
"One of my other great achievements is also acquiring a Shatei that I have come to love as a brother, Ren. I want you to be happy. I don't mind taking some risks or making some losses if it means that you can live a fulfilled life." Shin murmured.
Ren beamed at him. "Thank you, Aniki. That means a lot to me. It really isn't that big of a deal though, I just get worried about you occasionally. As long as you don't get attacked by a group of a hundred men every other day, I think I'll survive. In the meantime, I'll continue to manage the Red Lion Group. Perhaps in the future we may find a viable solution that will suit both our purposes."
Shin nodded. "I understand. Always remember that you can come to me, Ren. No matter what, when or how. And you are welcomed to come back to the clan anytime."
"Wakarimashita, Aniki."
"So, the Kuroda Brothers are reunited again, I see?" Tanukibara-kaichou commented questioningly.
"Just temporarily, Tanukibara-kaichou." Shin answered. "However, the circumstances that led to our reunion have not been pretty."
"What happened?"
"The Morimoto clan launched a surprise attack on the Oedo clan last Wednesday. We lost many men, including 2 key leaders. My saiko-komon (lit: highest advisor) passed away, and my wakagashira is still fighting for his life."
"I see." Tanukibara-kaichou said gravely. "Will you be avenging the deaths of your men, then?" He asked sadly. Revenge had led many men to darkness. He didn't want Kuroda Shin to be one of them.
"No, sir. Firstly, revenge won't bring them back; and secondly, they died in a fight. I cannot hold a grudge against the Morimoto clan for their deaths. The Oedo clan has always abided by the principle that 'all is fair in love and war'. We, too, have killed and injured many men in our conquests."
Tanukibara-kaichou cheered up slightly upon hearing Shin's answer. He knew that this man was the next Kaichou candidate for a reason. "So what are you planning to do? Why are you here today?" The fact that they have sought an audience with him meant that they needed his consent in some form.
"I forgive them for the death of my men; but I do not forgive them for the attack on my clan. It may sound similar, but it is not the same. If I were seeking revenge, my primary motive would be retribution. But as I am retaliating in protection of my clan's honour, my primary motive is deterrence. I want both the Morimoto clan and the rest of the Yakuza to know that no one gets away with messing with the Oedo clan. Furthermore, I would have reacted the same way even if none of my men had died; so I can assure you that I am not acting for the sake of revenge." Shin said quietly.
Tanukibara-kaichou nodded. "Wise words indeed, Kuroda-kumichou. You have my permission to proceed. This might be a tad redundant seeing that it is you I'm talking to, but I must remind you to keep within the boundaries of the Code and our practices."
"Not at all, Tanukibara-kaichou. I am thankful for the reminder."
"If you do not mind a curious old man asking, Kuroda-kumichou; what do you plan to do to them? You do not have to tell me, of course, if you would rather not." Tanukibara-kaichou asked. He was quite certain that Kuroda Shin had a few tricks up his sleeve that the Morimoto clan would not be expecting.
Shin gave a small smile. Tanukibara-kaichou had become quite friendly with him ever since the Aiken-Taiyo incident. He knew that the old man wanted to see more of his potential. "Of course, Tanukibara-kaichou. I trust that this will be kept in the strictest confidence?" The old man nodded.
"We will start with economic oppression, a little similar to trade sanctions imposed by the authorities. All our divisions and allies will be asked to cease any trade, co-operation or communication we have with the Morimoto clan or their allies. At the same time, our business operations – which are controlled by my brother – will be upping the level of competition with their main businesses; even if we have to do so at a loss. The Oedo clan has many more sources of income, so I believe that we can pull it off even for an extended period of time." Ren nodded in confirmation. He had done the calculation himself.
Shin continued. "The next stage is political oppression. We will be meeting with their major allies and providing them with incentives to either switch sides or stay neutral; with a range of available options – from a permanent alliance with the Oedo clan to a low interest loan to keep their businesses afloat throughout the duration of the sanction. By this time, we predict that the Morimoto clan will be struggling financially; and hopefully, with a distinct lack of allies to fall back upon. As such, they will only be left with 2 options – either resort to a lifetime of kill, rob and steal operations; or to yield all their assets and businesses to us in exchange for a reasonable sum of money and for us to leave them alone."
Tanukibara-kaichou couldn't help letting loose a smirk, which Shin proudly returned. He had to give it to Kuroda Shin. It was ingenuity at its finest. Bringing a clan to its knees without shedding a single drop of blood. And probably much more effective too, in terms of deterrence. Most of the clans in the Yakuza were more afraid of losing their money than the lives of their henchmen. Furthermore, to have to resort to selling one's business to one's sworn enemy was considered a humiliation in the highest order. "Very well, Kuroda-kumichou. I wish you all the best in your endeavour."
"Thank you, Tanukibara-kaichou."
A/N: Still waiting for your feedback guys - the next chapter will be pretty graphic (based on the current draft) but I kinda want to know if you guys will be okay with it. Don't want to scar you guys for life or anything like that (hehehe).