Author's Note: Hello! I have two weeks free from school so I'm hoping to put together more chapters. This term (each lasts two months) was rough so that's why I've been so quiet, sorry about that.
On a special note, as of posting this chapter, the first of two side stories for Little Sparrow has been posted. It's called 'Bookworm: A Little Sparrow Song'. Please feel free to read! It's dedicated to review #50: aerl. Thanks for being a loyal reader and reviewer! Hope you really enjoyed it! The second story will go up in the next 72 hours, I'm just editing now. I'll do more of these in the future if you guys like them and I get to certain review milestones. For example, next milestone will be 65. Can we get there? Reviewer #65 will get a story with a plot of their choosing dedicated to them.
Please read, enjoy, and review!
(If there is anything wrong with this chapter format-wise or major spelling or grammar, I apologize. I typed most on my phone while being at a concert between sets and even uploaded it from my phone. I'll fix asap when I get on a computer.)
Disclaimer: I own my plot and people like Suzumi. Voltage owns the rest.
So you can throw me to the wolves
Tomorrow I will come back
Leader of the whole pack
Beat me black and blue
Every wound will shape me
Every scar will build my throne
Throne - Bring Me The Horizon
Twenty-One
It didn't come as much of a shock to Suzumi when she stepped out of the bath early evening and saw Eisuke sitting on the couch in the living room of the suite. Nor was it a surprise to see Haruka brewing his coffee and setting up a tea service for her with small cakes. Wherever Eisuke was, he was sure to have Haruka nearby, usually waiting in the shadows or just around the corner. Instead of expressing any kind of surprise, she sighed and asked him to give her five minutes to blow dry her hair.
When she came out of her room, Haruka was nowhere to be found and Eisuke was sitting on the couch, reading through the notes Suzumi had left on the table before she'd decided to take her bath. As she sat and picked up her tea, she could hear him tsk in impatience.
"I don't have all day. You're lucky, I usually don't let people make me wait."
"Next time, tell me you're coming by. I have a cell phone now." Suzumi rolled her eyes and snatched back her notebook. "There's also any of the other penthouse guys, Haruka, Mr Kenzaki, a carrier pigeon, smoke signal, or the mail."
"Impertinent."
"Entitled."
"You've grown a pair. I'm impressed. I remember you cowering that first week." Eisuke smirked and sipped at his coffee.
Sighing, Suzumi sat back in the cushions and eyed the hotel owner thoughtfully. He was such an impatient man, but he also knew how to get things done and she was impressed. He managed to get her the documents Soryu had refused to give her. It had only taken her nearly being raped and killed to change his mind on the matter.
"I'm not done with the documents. I'm about halfway."
"Why not?"
"There's nearly a hundred and forty pages! And it's only been five hours since I left the lounge!"
Eisuke smirked over the rim of his cup. "I doubt you spent all five hours working, though. You just got out of the bath, I'm sure you ate. And you can't tell me you and Soryu came back to the suite to chat over coffee before he left."
"You're transparent, Eisuke. Please stop. Do you want to know what's in the documents so far or not?"
Nodding, the smirk fell from his lips and he sat his coffee cup on the table with a little more force than what was necessary. Sitting up straight, he crossed his arms and put on a no-nonsense air as he coolly watched her reopen the notebook.
"The whole document is actually partial conversations and partial planning. From where I've stopped, it seems to go in chronological order from the initial meeting to agreeing on a plan. I'm on page eighty right now and planned on going on during dinner."
"I'll have Haruka bring up food. Keep going."
Suzumi nodded. "So the document isn't government driven. It's all underground. A faction of Bratva and the Osiris Brethren. Based on the information you tucked in the packet, which I'm assuming you didn't tell Soryu you were giving me, it seems like someone on the Russian half sold the documents in secret for extra cash. I would assume they're probably dead now. But my theory is that Taichi bought these documents to keep people from reading them and discovering their alliance."
"Interesting," Eisuke murmured, tapping his chin thoughtfully.
"The documentation of meetings and conversation lessens the deeper I go and starts to turn more into planning. Though there's also less talk of the Bratva and in some ways, it kind of sounds like they're executioners, but not planners and suppliers. I need to read more to figure out what else is happening, though."
Eisuke nodded, uncrossing his arms and standing. Walking over to the large window looking out at the water, he sighed and glanced at the woman still sitting on the couch. He'd been aware of the Osiris Brethren for almost a year now, Soryu had brought their name up several times in meetings and in private. They were a reckless bunch lead by a greedy and power-hungry man who had no idea how to do business. The large Souma had approached him several times over the years to do business, but he'd always turned him down, sensing the slimy nature of the snake. It wasn't until one I.V.C. that Soryu had seen them talking and he warned him about the hard man. He wasn't at all surprised that he was trying to do in the Ice Dragons, but what did surprise him was how foolish he was being to involve anything that Eisuke owned. The hotel, the auctions, even the Ice Dragons. No one tried to take away what belonged to him and he was going to be sure that he got his message across.
"Are you afraid?" he asked Suzumi, watching her reflection in the glass. It was faint, the sun wasn't close to setting yet due to the summer weather, but he could see her move and shift in her seat.
"It would be a lie to say no. Fear is a strong emotion and despite what I've been through, I haven't run empty of it. But I have a lot of determination now, too. And anger. Lot's of anger."
"So you want revenge?"
"I want justice. What does revenge accomplish on its own? If I can get justice for myself and even the people they've hurt in the past. Those who got involved in that nasty human trafficking that I know is still happening, then I can consider that my revenge. I certainly don't want him killed if it can be helped. Then he doesn't have to feel anything. I don't think that man has felt remorse or fear in a long time. I want both him and his son to feel that. Do you think it's too much to wish for them to feel remorse? To feel sorry for what they've done?"
Eisuke hummed quietly, a deep and quiet noise of acknowledgement. "Perhaps for his brat. He's young still. I doubt it, though. Certainly that snake isn't capable."
"Eisuke?"
Suzumi walked up to the window, standing next to the tall man. Brown eyes meeting his, she stared at him, watching his face for the truth.
"Do you think I'm foolish? To want justice more than revenge?"
"I think fools are people who see the world with rose-tinted glasses. All the more a fool if they see the world in black and white. There are, of course, different kinds of justice, so long as you don't expect them to quietly go to jail, you'll get what you want."
Eisuke's face stayed a cool mask, Suzumi didn't see any sign of false pretense or teasing. She could see the steel conviction in his eyes that he meant every word he said to her. She nodded and looked away, eyes focusing in on the lights of Odaiba.
"Have you told Soryu what you've translated?"
She shook her head and sighed. "Not like what I told you. Just that it looked like conversational pieces." She hoped he didn't catch her lying. She wanted to be truthful, but she felt like she had a duty to Soryu first, not Eisuke.
"Don't tell him anything in detail until you have the whole packet translated. I have a bad feeling otherwise. Don't give me that look. Just do as I say."
Suzumi glared at Eisuke, crossing her arms. "I don't like keeping things from Soryu."
"Then you'd better hurry and translate faster."
"Where's my dinner?"
/*\
Eisuke stayed in the suite, enjoying dinner with the seemingly sour Suzumi. Haruka had brought up room service after a time, as Eisuke had promised, and the two sat quietly in the living room with the meal between them. Eisuke had his own work to deal with and between his paperwork and hers, each couch they'd claimed was filled with important papers and the quiet bodies of busy workers. It was well past sunset by the time he heard Suzumi's exclamation.
"Oh my god!"
"Suzumi?" Eisuke looked up from his final stack of papers, eyes zeroing in on her stiffened body. "What's wrong?"
Staring down at her note book, Suzumi was unable to keep her mouth from hanging open. Blinking a few times, she tried to control her breathing, to keep herself from hyperventilating. "There were hints of this but… I didn't think…"
"Suzumi? Speak up, don't mutter."
"I need to tell Soryu right away! Where's my phone?" Reaching out with her injured hand, she accidentally hit it against the side of the coffee table, sucking out a hiss of pain.
Eisuke stood and grabbed her braced wrist gently, stilling her movements. Stopped, she looked up and he took in her pale face and wide eyes. "Calm down. Deep breaths." When he could see her breath slowing down, he said, "What's wrong? What did you read?"
"Souma. He's… He's got plans of a terrorist level. He and this group of Bratva. They want to sink Odaiba island. And blame it on the Ice Dragons."
"What?"
Face turned to ice, Eisuke's eyes turned to dark steel as he took a step back from the woman sitting in front of him. Lips a thin line and body ramrod straight, the cold and ruthless businessman aura Suzumi had gotten from him was back and she shivered involuntarily.
"Tell Soryu. I need to make some phone calls."
Suzumi dove for her phone sitting on the table, hardly noticing Eisuke stomp out of the suite, slamming the door behind him. She sent a text to Soryu, hoping he answered.
Soryu,
E knows. I finished the documents. Please call me. It's worse than I thought.
Suzumi
When she didn't hear back from him, she bit her lip in worry. It had been nearly an hour and she didn't have any indication that her message had been read. There was no sign of Eisuke returning, despite his forgotten work, and the longer she waited for contact, the more nervous she became. Acting without overthinking it, she found Soryu's name in her contacts and started the phone call. On the fourth ring, there was a click and the sound of Soryu's voice on the other line.
"Suzumi?"
"Soryu. Did you get my text?"
"Hmm, no. Did you send me another after this afternoon? I've been in meetings."
"Yes. The documents. I finished them. Taichi Souma wants to sink the Odaiba island with the help of the Bratva."
"WHAT?"
"And he plans on blaming the Ice Dragons. Soryu, Eisuke wants you back at the hotel."
There was a sigh and what sounded like Soryu trying to compose himself. "Eisuke knows?"
"Yeah… He was with me when I finished translating."
Another sigh. "This won't turn out okay. I think I feel his rage from here. I'll wrap up here and be on my way. Go to the lounge with your notes and wait there for me. I'm sure he's getting the others together."
/*\
When Suzumi went to the lounge, piles of papers in hand, she saw Eisuke pacing, on the phone with someone, voice deadly low, and Baba sitting in a chair, nursing an amber colored drink. The thief greeted her with a smile and a wave.
"Hey there, Suzumi. How are you doing today?"
"Well enough. Hello, Baba. Where have you been?"
Baba just grinned and gestured for her to have a seat on the couch. "I've been around. I'm guessing you translated the papers?"
Suzumi nodded, humming her confirmation. Sitting on the plush couch, she carefully sat down the papers she'd brought in and began sorting them into several piles. She could feel Baba's eyes on her as she worked quickly through the papers.
"What's all that?"
"My notes, the original documents, and some work Eisuke left behind in the suite when he rushed out a while ago." She saw movement in the corner of her eye and turned to see Baba with holding up a manila folder with a naughty smirk. "What's that?" she asked, already knowing the answer.
Baba sighed dramatically and sat them down as a fourth pile on the coffee table next to her own piles. "My dear, these are the original documents that Souma got his hands on. Just for you."
She blinked at him, sighing. "What."
"Stop flirting, Baba. Where's Ota?" Eisuke pocketed his cell phone and, in an uncharacteristic display of stress, ran his hands through his hair while trying to keep his face a mask of aloof annoyance.
Leaning back in his seat and taking on an air of seriousness, the thief replied, "He had a meeting with a patron in Ebisu. He should be on his way now, though."
"Suzumi, find out where he is."
Shooting Eisuke a dirty look as he turned his back, she took out her cell phone and sent a text to the younger bidder.
Where are you? E is being extra charming in his state of pretending not to be freaked out.
Less than a minute later, she had a reply.
I'm crossing the bridge to Odaiba now. I should be there in ten or fifteen minutes. Tell E to relax. I don't know what you did to freak him out, but I'm sure it's not all that bad.
Suzumi frowned. "Did either of you tell him what he's being called to the penthouse for?"
Baba shook his head a negative and Eisuke ignored her and began dialing his phone again, barking at Kishi who could be heard on the other line shouting indignantly.
Hurry. Up. It really is bad, Ota.
Putting away her phone, tired of Ota's laissez faire attitude, she leaned back in her seat and let out a sigh. Unsure of whether she needed to run around in panic, sob in fear, or laugh at the ridiculous situation presented to her, she closed her eyes and tried to calm her chaotic mind and tense body. She could hear Eisuke still barking at his phone to her right and Baba on her left shuffling through papers. Who's papers, she wasn't sure but she didn't have the energy to care right then.
The tense silence was shattered when Suzumi's phone rang, a perky tune in contrast to atmosphere in the room. Startled, she bolted up and fumbled to take it out. Not bothering to read the screen, she answered with a stuttered hello. She could feel Eisuke glare at her from behind.
"Suzumi?"
"Soryu?"
"I'm heading up to the penthouse now. Tell Eisuke I am bringing our guest with me."
Frowning, she asked, "Why did you call me? Why not Eisuke?"
"Eisuke isn't picking up his phone when I call him," he explained.
"Mm, he's in the phone with Kishi."
"I see. Also," There was a pause and she could hear Soryu sigh. "I'd rather hear your voice than Eisuke's."
Baba teased Suzumi about the red flush that crawled up her neck and ears after she hung up the phone a moment later, breaking the tense aura around them. Furiously ignoring the older man, she looked to Eisuke who had also just ended his call.
"Soryu is on his way up. He says he's bringing a guest."
"Good."
The grin that grew on Eisuke's lips sent a shiver down Suzumi's spine. He strode over to an empty chair in the sitting area and sat, his body adjacent to hers. Crossing his arms, he had a deep look of satisfaction radiating off him, the worry he'd unconsciously been giving off gone without a trace left behind. The closest she could think of to compare him to was a satisfied cat who'd walked away from an empty bird cage.
A few minutes later, Soryu walked into the penthouse lounge, followed by an older, slightly shorter man who looked to be the very image of the mob. Seeing both Eisuke and Baba stand for the man, Suzumi followed suit, watching as Eisuke walked forward to greet him with a firm handshake and a crooked grin.
"Mr Volkonsky, it's a pleasure to see you again."
"Mr Ichinomiya, you as well. It's been some time since I've come to the Tres Spades. It still looks like a great hotel."
The man's thick Russian accent stood out immediately in contrast to the Japanese coming from his mouth. Suzumi cocked her head to the side slightly, watching the men exchange greetings curiously.
"Mr Baba! Good to see you as well, you look well."
Baba shook the man's hand and smiled big. "Mr Volkonsky, so do you!"
The three men talked for a moment before the Russian noticed Suzumi still standing by the couch. With a friendly smile, Volkonsky walked over to her and took her hand, shaking it with as much enthusiasm as he had with Eisuke and Baba. Soryu and Baba waited with baited breath, ready to step in and smoothly separate her from the new man. However, their fears were unwarranted when Suzumi stood in place calmly, smiling and returning the handshake.
"Hello, my name is Suzumi."
"Suzumi! Wonderful. I am Volkonsky, a friend and business partner of Soryu's. You were not here the last time I visited, are you Eisuke's woman? You're very lovely."
Suzumi smiled softly, glancing briefly to look at the three men behind the Russian. Baba looked amused, Eisuke stood once more with arms crossed and a secret smirk on his face, and Soryu looked relieved, hand rubbing the back of his neck.
"Afraid not. I doubt Eisuke could handle me," she laughed. Her grin widened when the man laughed and Eisuke glared at her.
"Baba then. He loves beautiful women!" Volkonsky looked back to Baba, who shook his head.
"Unfortunately, this little bird was never mine to have. Not without trying, of course."
Suzumi could see the flush starting on Soryu's cheeks and leaned down to whisper to Volkonsky in his native tongue, "I am Soryu's and Soryu is mine."
Surprised at hearing Russian from the small woman, Volkonsky stared at Suzumi a moment before bursting out in laughter. Patting her on the head fondly, he glanced back at Soryu, grinning. "Excellent woman, Soryu. She's a delight."
"What did you say, Suzumi?" Soryu asked, walking over gesturing for the Russian and her to take their seats first.
"Ah ah, that's our secret, yes?" Volkonsky winked at Suzumi who smiled and looked away, somewhat shyly. "Just know she is good for you. Unafraid to speak her mind, that's a strong woman."
"I'm here!" Ota burst into the room, a frown on his face. Pausing at the sight of a new person in the room, he lifted his lips in a small smile seeing who it was. "Mr Volkonsky, what a pleasant surprise."
"Ota Kisaki. Good to see you are still here. How is your art coming?"
"Well, thank you. When business is done, should I do another piece for you? It's almost tradition at this point," Ota laughed.
"Absolutely."
"The last member of our group is doing recon, so he won't join us. I've told him details and I will catch him up afterward," Eisuke said, taking a seat. Ota and Baba followed suit, filling the couch opposite of Eisuke's chair. Next to Eisuke was Mr Volkonsky in his own armchair, followed by Soryu and Suzumi on the smaller couch centered in the seating area.
"First I would like to explain Suzumi. She may be with Soryu but she isn't here for decoration. She's actually extremely useful." Eisuke smirked, watching the woman shoot him another dirty look. "Almost ten months ago, Suzumi wound up in the hands of the Osiris Brethren's heir, Ren Souma. She eventually was sold in our auction and Soryu bought her. Since then she has been providing us with information she became aware of while living with the Soumas. She also has a handy skill of language and has been working with the Ice Dragons translating intercepted messages from rival gangs like the Brethren."
"You were sold at auction, Suzumi?" Volkonsky frowned. "I didn't realize you dealt in flesh, Eisuke."
"Suzumi was the first. And likely the last. It's a foul business."
"And I went willingly. It was that or death and I took a chance," she added. "I was being thrown away, so what did it matter? I got very lucky that Soryu bought me."
"Suzumi, tell our friend what you've found," Eisuke said, watching her reaction. He wasn't disappointed, the look of surprise was entertaining to say the least.
"Okay… Well, there was an auction last night and some papers were being sold. They were Russian documents and none of these fools can read them and they wouldn't let me. I had a run in with both Soumas which led to several things, the arrest of Ren Souma, Taichi Souma running off into the night, and me getting my way and getting copies of the documents. I spent the day translating them, watching the text go from conversation and half baked planning to a solid and very real inevitability. A question I have for you, Mr Volkonsky, before I go on is, are you here to help us? Because this means the lives of thousands or even millions. I don't care if illegal underground operations happen around me. I just care about what's right. You can sell guns and illegal goods from one sunrise to the next but I don't buy into cruelty for its own sake. Do you agree with me?"
There was a silence that rang in the room. Suzumi could feel five pairs of eyes watching in her various states of confusion and astonishment. She could feel the amusement radiating off of Eisuke, but she didn't break eye contact with Volkonsky to check and confirm. It was another set of heartbeats before the older mafia man answered her.
"I may be in the underground, in a violent and deadly business. But I would never advocate the harming of innocent bystanders if it can be avoided. You have my word that your ideas, Soryu's ideas, and my own all align for this venture."
Suzumi nodded and, ignoring the collective sighs of relief three of the bidders let out, she continued explaining the information she had found, only rolling her eyes at them in any acknowledgment.
"The plan itself was hatched and paid for by the Brethren. The maturity was a mutual venture between them and a Bratva group centralized in Yuzhno-Sakhalinsk. I'm sure this is very remote considering the size of Russia, but they seem to be a very money hungry group. I'm not a hundred percent about the name of their faction, but Cherep was mentioned several times in place of names and nouns. The Brethren have hired this group to lay the foundation and execute their plans, which are essentially a terrorist attack on this very island. They want to sink Odaiba. I'm assuming it is because they know Ice Dragons do a lot of business here with the Tres Spades, which has the most prominent name attached to its business. The Ice Dragons are not officially based in Odaiba, but it does a good deal of its business here."
This was the most information Suzumi has told any of the men surrounding her, but they all wore similar looks on their faces. Hard masks of rage, narrowed eyes that showed plotting, and thin lines where their mouths were sealed tight in serious grimaces. Eisuke had a terrifying look on his, a fire burning behind his eyes that showed how serious he was taking her words and how cruelly he planned on dealing with the situation. Ota lost his smile, face harder than she had ever seen it. There was a reason why Ota was known for actually being the devil and not the public 'angelic artist' everyone knew him as. Baba had become a blank mask, very little emotion showing, except his eyes. They too had become hard and unyielding, the seriousness of the situation taking root. For the first time since being bought for fifty million, Suzumi felt a fraction of fear looking at Soryu's face. Any traces of the kind man she had come to know we're gone, replaced by the man who ran one of the most prominent groups in the underworld. In this moment, he was an Ice Dragon. The fear was a quick wash, replaced by another emotion. One that Suzumi hadn't felt in well over a year and it raced in her veins, causing her a sudden revelation and her to avert her eyes. Next to her, she could see Volkonsky let out a heavy sigh and she looked at him, seeing a large frown and furrowed brows.
"This isn't good. Cherep is slang for an Eastern Bratva faction who does as they please despite others warning them. This is a good opportunity to put them down for good. Suzumi, Soryu, I will help you with every man I can spare. To commit an act of terrorism, especially on that scale. It is terrifying and low. I am surprised that a group in Japan would be willing to destroy a part of their own city for what sounds like a petulant temper tantrum."
Suzumi sighed and eyed the men in the room, looking someone guilty. "I don't think it had reached this scale in size until about seven months ago."
Volkonsky could cocked his head slightly, thinking. "Is that when you came to Soryu?" She nodded in response. "Then all the more reason to stomp out these annoying groups. Men who act irrationally are no men at all."
"Do not think you are the cause, Suzumi. I'm partially aware of the Osiris Brethren and those in Russia are aware of the Cherep and their foul dealings. A plan of this scale takes years, yes?" Volkonsky switched to his native tongue easily and Suzumi, after a moment, responded in kind.
"Yes. The papers are all dated and go back two and a half years. The final plans are dated on the last seven months and end a month ago."
He nodded. "Don't worry then. Anything beyond the plot is just, what is it, sour grapes."
"Uh you guys… Can you fill us in? We don't speak Russian." Ota looked between the two, frowning.
"Sorry, Ota," Suzumi sighed, switching back to Japanese.
"It was nothing major," Volkonsky said, waving a hand casually, following suit. "Now. Do you have a plan?"
Soryu finally spoke up, crossing his arms. "Unfortunately not. I called you here initially to see if you had heard anything. Suzumi finished the translations a few hours ago and the actual plans are news to us." He looked to the woman sitting next to him. "Is there a date planned or details on how the plan on doing this?"
"Yes. It's in my notes. Seems like a lot of volatile chemicals and explosives, sabotage of the underground infrastructure of the island. Dirty cops and middlemen taking bribes. Forged paperwork in the government from those who opposed Odaiba being built and certain businesses opening." She eyed Eisuke to make a point. "It's a rather intricate plan, honestly. I wouldn't have thought any of the neanderthals in that group could pull it off."
"Never underestimate an enemy, Suzumi," Volkonsky chided.
Eisuke spoke up, taking in what Suzumi had learned. "Kishi should be back soon. I want to know what he's found out. He should have more info on those dirty cops and politicians, as well as copies of the forms, if that's in the documents. What was the date range for the conception of the plot?"
"September fifteenth."
"Then we have three weeks to figure out a plan. If no one's against it, let's meet up first thing in the morning. I'll clear my schedule." Five heads nodded in agreement and Eisuke stood, the others following suit. "Baba, show Mr Volkonsky one of the empty suites. I will have Haruka come prepare it."
"Of course, Boss."
"Goodnight, Suzumi! It has been a pleasure to meet you. I will see you tomorrow, yes?"
Suzumi nodded after glancing at Soryu who showed no disagreement to the plan. "Yes. I'll be here."
Volkonsky shook hands and spoke parting words with the other men, discussing security and his own men that he had brought along. After twenty minutes or so, Soryu finally came back to Suzumi who waited patiently, watching the interactions.
"Let's head back to our suite," he said, putting a hand on her shoulder.
A/N: Thank you for reading, I hope you've enjoyed! Leave a review to let me know and please do include your thoughts. I enjoy long ones that initiate conversation. Some of you can attest to that! Ha! Find me on Tumblr, velvetcovered-brick, for your extra Voltage dose and random chatting. Don't forget to check out the Spotify playlist too!
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