Anchor

Written by: RinoaDestiny

#26 – Shared Troubles

"I have a stalker –"

"The Yakuza guy?"

" – and he's a fucking dumbass!"

Kyo had just finished a meeting with the elders of his clan – his dad presiding over the proceedings – and now sat on his bed, nursing a headache. While being the Kusanagi heir had its benefits, it also meant being trained in complicated (boring) matters. The elders had looked at him – were they going to question him? – before Saisyu opened the discussion. His dad never mentioned Yagami (wasn't part of the agenda); instead, laid out possibilities for the clan's future. One of those possibilities was transferring the inheritance to someone else once Kyo was ready to do so.

Unspoken was the implication of no direct heirs from his line.

Some of the elders had frowned, expressing discontent. His dad had moved past it, smoothly ushering them into the next part of the discussion.

Kyo learned the names of these elders. Understood he needed to memorize more, including important outside contacts. Being heir and later future head patriarch meant heavy responsibilities akin to a full-time job. He didn't mind the fighting aspect, representing the clan that way but paperwork and meetings were snoozefests. Hence, the headache.

"The Yakuza guy, huh? What did he –"

"Dumbass confronts me outside the bar. Brought some idiots with him."

"Again? Didn't he –"

"Obviously not! Threatens me with police there. Mentioned your name, too."

"You sent the text."

"In case he tries something stupid," Iori raged over the other end of the line. "Bastard tried forcing my hand."

His headache spread from his right temple to the center, focused between his eyes. Kyo winced, reaching up with his other hand to pinch the bridge of his nose. "What'd you do?"

"Threatened him back. Burned one of his men."

"He got the point?"

"Who knows?" There were no background sounds where Iori was, so Kyo guessed he was at home like him. "Will have to kill him next time if he doesn't."

"Think he'll escalate?"

"If the mob boss doesn't take him out, he will. He already did. Was there with six men, thinking that'll be enough!"

It was ironic hearing Iori rant about his stalker issue, but Kyo refrained from commenting. Retrieving the aspirin he'd put earlier into his shirt pocket, he swallowed them. Now, he needed to wait for it to take effect. Massaging the space between his eyes, Kyo sat further back on his bed, back to the wall. "He won't get far if he tries it with me."

"He'll be dead."

"Perhaps."

Iori made a sound over the phone, but Kyo couldn't tell if it was sarcastic. "Only an idiot would come after you and me."

"And if this continues?"

"Better not!" Iori was pissed off; Kyo hadn't heard him like this since the first time the Yakuza moron accosted him. "Trying to enjoy my afternoons out and this idiot's following me! Waiting outside the bar to…for what? Already told him 'No' but he…. What's he gonna do next? Hit me with a truck? Ambush me?"

Kyo stayed silent, letting Iori ramble.

"Of all the goddamn annoying…" Iori's voice trailed off, followed by a long pause. "Shit. Kyo, was I that bad before?"

Kyo snickered, ignoring the fresh spike of pain in his head. "Glad you realized it. Yeah, you were that bad, Yagami. Used to drop in on me and Yuki yelling about a death match all the time. I'm surprised the police didn't arrest us for public disturbances. You also wouldn't take 'No' for an answer."

Another long silence.

"I was a dumbass."

"What was that?" Unless Kyo heard wrong, it almost sounded like Iori's way of an apology.

"I was a fucking moron."

It was an apology, just not said with the usual expected words. His headache lessened – the aspirin or his mood lightening? – and Kyo cracked a small grin. "Yes, you were." Iori snorted over the other end, which amused him. "At least it's over now. But say this guy doesn't take your hint and scram. What then?"

"Besides setting him on fire?"

"Yeah."

"Not taking it to the police. I'll deal with it my way."

"So…dead guy."

"He will be if he doesn't stop."

Kyo chewed the inside of his lip. "What's it all about, anyway? Why's he hounding you?"

"Wants to be the boss. The big man in the mob."

"He's trying to recruit you. To use you against…. If he wasn't so stupid, it's actually a clever idea. He's just doing it the wrong way, trying to strong-arm you. But, Yagami…what if he gets desperate? You mentioned ambush or direct attack. What if it becomes worse than that?"

"How so?"

"He's not trying to kill you. Threatening me is a joke. What if it turns…underhanded?"

Was the silence this time grim?

"Won't go that far."

Kyo leaned his head back against the wall, pain diminishing. If Iori believed he had it under control, who was he to question him? "Just be careful."

"You see the bastard, feel free to give him a one-way trip to the hospital."

"Hope he's smarter than that."

"Tch." Iori's scoff made it plain how he felt about that statement. "You? What are you doing?"

"Got a headache. Clan talks. Meetings. You know."

"My sympathies. Off-limits or…?"

"Future of the clan. Inheritance issues."

"Already?" Even Iori sounded surprised by this. "You're not even patriarch yet."

"Dad's already planning in case I have no kids." Kyo paused and then sighed. "I think the other elders are offended by the idea. That I'm shirking my responsibility there. Dad never mentioned you, but…"

"Did they judge you?"

"If they did, they didn't say. They looked displeased."

"You didn't say anything?"

"Time enough for it later." Kyo scrubbed his face with his hand, grimacing as the faintest ghost of pain lanced through his head. "Got a shit ton of names to remember. Important people. Maybe Dad will have me hold meetings soon." He groaned. "Was it like this for you?"

"That was the intent."

"But…?"

"Left home soon after inheriting. Just me now. What'll meetings do?"

It would've been so easy for him to say he was envious; yet, Kyo stopped the stillborn thought before it became words. Envious of what? Being the last of his clan? The last, knowing life was short? Envious of that? "But you still –"

"I still learned a bit, yes. Just in case."

"How'd you –"

"Learn their names. Observe your old man. See how he does it."

"Ugh."

"You have to learn, Kyo. If you don't want to give those elders additional reasons to discredit you." Iori's voice was even, despite the concern lurking behind it. "Prove you can carry your clan. They may forgive you the lack of children, then."

"I didn't ask for this."

"Neither did I. And yet…"

Yet, Iori was still heir to the Yagami clan, burdened with its cursed legacy. Kyo took a deep breath, head no longer pounding and readjusted his position on the bed. The wall behind his back held him upright. "So I'm to make the best of it."

"You have to. Or I'll be seen as a hindrance to you, and your father can't always guard you. The elders can be your allies. Or they can be your enemies."

He certainly didn't want the latter. "You're no hindrance."

"You have to make them believe that."

"Yeah. Guess I'll try." He still hated the thought of memorizing all those contacts – all those strangers soon to become acquaintances – and being shut into rooms dealing with clan politics. Yet, if it meant no questions about his relationship with Iori and all its implications regarding the Kusanagi clan's future, he'd be fine with that. "And your estate?"

"I'll let you know."

"Okay." Kyo breathed a sigh of relief, for his headache was gone. "If the dumbass shows up –"

"Fry him. I'll read it in the news later."

"Heh."

"What?"

"In some things, Yagami – you don't change."

"You're the same. Still dodging making the effort, eh, Kyo?"

Kyo smiled. "When I get the invite, I'll drop by. Sounds good?"

"Sure."