Author's note: I have rewritten the previous chapters and added some details that may cause confusion in future chapters. I thank all who have given me personal messages and reviews over the course of this story. This is chapter 14, please enjoy and please review. Thank you. :D
"Boss, you summoned me?" Harada Toshizo bowed and kept his eyes averted to avoid locking gaze with the intimidating blond man. The man still did not say a word and merely flicked his wrist. Nodding, Harada took a seat far away from the man but not too far to allow anyone to think he really feared the man.
Harada stared curiously at his boss who simply continued to flip the pages in a file. It was as if he was not afraid of a probable assassination; rather, he seemed to be waiting for one. Black eyes narrowed as he continued to watch the blond man who was very much at ease that it actually aroused suspicion and frustration in Harada. How could a man who probably had dealings with a Mafia boss be so darn calm and collected? It was as if the world outside could explode and he would still sit in his seat, reading the file and sipping quietly from the cup!
Finally after a long period of suffering and waiting, the man stood up and walked to the impressive glass walls. He moved so gracefully that professional waltz dancers should be ashamed of themselves. His back was straight and rigid and Harada simply continued to frown and frowned harder if he could. "Boss, who else is joining today?"
Harada was never known to be patient and he would be damned if he had to wait any longer. It had been nearly an hour that he had to endure being in the same room as him.
"Patience," the boss advised as he turned around slowly and a gave a cold spine-chilling smirk, "They're here."
Shortly after, the door was swung open and two very good looking people entered. Harada quickly got to his feet to greet them but only to be ignored. "What a fine office, Kings," Kaen commented while she chuckled lightly and took a seat opposite Harada, "I like how the walls are all glass windows. Makes assassinations so easy."
Harada could only swallow the saliva in his throat. What? Assassination? He closed his eyes to will himself back to a composed and collected moment. He should have known what kind of people they are. After all, he's the gang leader of the infamous Kyoto Gang. If he was not mistaken, she dealt with casinos and possibly assassination too. The man who came in with her, Flinch, is probably human slavery and trafficking and weapons. Of course he could be wrong since none of them know what the other does in the Underworld. Only the boss knows and he does not say anything. "Boss, may we begin now?"
"Patience, he's coming," the blond man whispered slyly as he gave a sickening sidelong glance that seemed to challenge Harada to question his decision, "We will wait until Diaz comes." Then he opens the newspaper and begins reading.
Why is everyone so relaxed when the meeting was said to be very important? What was worse was probably how both McCain and Flinch were staring at him as if they could see right past him. Harada felt mocked and ridiculed in front of them. Vultures. Sweat began forming on his hairline as Harada fidget under their scrutiny.
"Is something wrong?"
That sickening singsong voice. Momoru. Harada fought the urge to jump up and scamper out of the room when he felt a squeeze on his shoulder. "Get your hands off me, Momoru," he managed to get the threat out to sound as menacing as possible, "Or I'll dismember you." Fucking retard Momoru starts laughing and praising his ability to crack jokes of which affirmed Harada's conclusion they, except him, were mad.
"Jokes aside now, and take a seat Momoru," the blond said solemnly and Harada felt himself released a sigh of relief. Finally he would not be put on the spot any longer. "It appears we have a traitor amongst ourselves who is responsible for the death of Shiro and Sheng." He droned on and on as a matter of fact. "Flinch returned this morning with this file," he tapped the file he had been reading, "And we have one of my three suspects." At this point, Harada straightened up. Of course he wanted justice for the death of his men and not because he wanted to save himself from the wrath of his boss for tuning out. "One of you here," he pointed to them and Harada felt all of them, him included, frowning at their boss, "is the traitor."
Immediately, Momoru jumped to his feet and snarled viciously, "I may be a son of a bitch but even I have enough dignity not to kill my own men! I have things I am loyal to! How dare you accuse me of such blasphemy!"
"Save your breath, Momoru," the boss advised and he stared at Momoru had enough for the man to take the hint and sit down, "It's just my suspicion." Turning to Harada, the gang leader of Kyoto Gang gulped and held onto his gaze. "What do you think of bosses who kill their own men?"
"If they kill because they are paid to, then they deserve worse than death," Harada replied darkly despite his racing heart beats as he locked gaze with the intimidating blond man, "However, if it's for reasons like nipping a traitor, then he deserves no death for he is trying to protect the other men."
"I see, what about you, Flinch?"
"Death without doubt, without exemptions." Harada watched the cold grey eyes of McCain's boyfriend and he shivered. What is he surrounded with? Mad monsters in the disguise of humans?
Clicking his tongue, the boss stood up, looked at them and dismissed them. He left first followed by McCain and Flinch. Just as Harada stood up, Momoru came to him and stopped him from leaving.
"What blasphemy don't you think? To accuse us of murdering our own men! Really, he's mad."
"We're all mad but what does it matter? A traitor is amongst us and there's only one thing to do- we eradicate the rat."
"You're so certain you can kill the rat," Momoru murmured as he walked ahead and touched the door handle lightly, "Don't be too sure of yourself that you leave yourself wide open and vulnerable."
"What are you saying Momoru? You think I can't take you down?" Harada felt riled up, he felt insulted. Just imagine a fight where a slender man who is on the verge of being thin and sickly is fighting a buff guy who is as sturdy as a tree. Clearly it's a one sided match with the burly guy winning easily.
Momoru only laughed loudly before he smiled menacingly, "You and what army?" Before Harada could retort, he continued, "Don't be all brawns and no brains. Pick your enemy well and maybe you'll live to tell the tale. The real enemy is not me." With that, he coolly left the room and left Harada fuming alone.
Momoru does not know anything. He pretends to know but he's just a retarded man. I'll just bid my time and shut that retarded up. How dare he makes a fool out of me. He'll pay the price. No one insults and ridicules Harada Toshizo and gets away with it. McCain, Flinch, Momoru and boss. They will all pay the price once all this is over. Harada slams his fist on the table before he stomped to the door and yanked it open. Rage bubbled in him as he walked into the red mist of revenge.
Unknown to Harada and Momoru, someone had been listening and watching them from within the shadows.