Anchor

Written by: RinoaDestiny

#34 – Battle of Words

"But Koichi-san's earnings last quarter weren't that strong. How can we be assured that it'll be good this quarter?"

"Well, Kenji-san's start-up shows promise. He's already offered fifteen percent of his annual profit to the clan funds."

"How generous."

"Fifteen percent is nothing to scoff at, Takeshi. If he earns double next year, he may also double it in proportion."

"What about Akira-san? He's a realtor..."

The elder's words drifted off in Kyo's mind – was Daisuke-san speaking? – between all the references to financial things Kyo simply didn't care about. Quarters and start-ups and percentages meant nothing to him; the only words he understood pertained to fighting. Brackets, winners and losers, betting odds, sponsorships, and being champion. Those had merit – had meaning. Everything else was…

Sitting beside him on a floor cushion, Saisyu gave him a subtle tap on his knee beneath the low traditional table. "Pay attention" was the meaning. Kyo didn't look at his dad, so not to draw undue attention to himself and tried to refocus on the discussion at hand. It was still…very dry and…made no sense whatsoever.

"So we get fifteen percent from Kenji-san, fifty percent from Akira-san, and Michiko-san has written that her brother, Tadao-san is pulling in a big profit this quarter and can contribute thirty percent."

"Who would've thought real estate is still profitable?"

"Akira-san doesn't deal with unsellable properties. Apartments for college students and homes for young couples or starting families still bring in business. Nothing like those abandoned homes in the countryside."

"Now, if we contribute our percentages to the pool…"

Which means…what exactly? He tried paying attention, but his mind kept slipping elsewhere. The old men were caught up in their conversation anyway – he was just sitting here like a statue – without asking for his direct input, so…he'd let them have at it. Kyo scratched at the space between his neck and shoulder, aware of what his mom's concealer hid beneath. The marks were lighter today and yet, they didn't want to take chances.

His dad tapped his knee again, a little harder this time.

Kyo dropped his hand, hoping the motion went unnoticed.

"That's a healthy cushion in case we run into issues."

"Yes. I'd say the clan's sustainable for the near future."

"We've always survived. It's good to get involved in matters besides what directly concerns us."

Iori had told him to focus, in case nothing important happened and that the hours would soon pass. It'd been half an hour and watching a chain link fence rust would be more fun. He withheld the sigh he wanted to let out, since nothing short of falling asleep could be more offensive and…perhaps that was why Saisyu was here, tapping his knee.

It happened again and this time, Kyo shot a glance at his dad.

Saisyu noticed and gestured, a single jerk of the chin towards the center of the table. Kyo turned but between his dad's gesture and his delay, it didn't go unnoticed.

One of the elders – Morihiro-san? – opened with a politely phrased volley. "Kyo-san has been quiet. Tell us what you think about the state of the clan's finances. If you have any ideas or suggestions, please kindly enlighten us." With his silver-haired head and small bowed form, Kyo's first impression of him was one of frailty. However, appearances were deceptive and with this, Kyo marked Morihiro as someone not to be underestimated.

The problem was he hadn't been paying attention. Even putting together what he'd heard didn't give him much, because he understood none of it. Yet, the longer he waited before responding, the worse he came off to the elders. His dad couldn't help him, either – it'd be too obvious.

Kyo looked at Morihiro – a peripheral glance at all the elders – and decided to bluff. It was the only viable option he had. "So the clan's safe?"

Morihiro smirked in the way an old man would. "We're secure and will be for some time. You earn plenty from the tournaments you attend – will you contribute to the clan's stability?"

That caught him off guard. "I –"

"We are fully aware that you don't bring home the entire amount, of course. But even with your third, a small percentage will help. An heir's duty, which you must be aware of."

Percentages again. Kyo's head hurt and he reached for his neck, rubbing it to alleviate his sudden spike of stress. "How much?"

"Akira-san – your distant uncle, if you remember – has agreed to give fifty percent. Surely, you can give more?"

"I…uh…"

"Or is it that you don't have the money at hand, Kyo-san?"

He had money – plenty of it. He just never paid attention to the total amount or what he actually had. He just…spent it whenever he liked, whether it was for his personal outings, maintenance of his bike, his previous dates with Yuki, or his current –

"Or are you spending it where you shouldn't?"

Something about how Morihiro phrased that question straightened Kyo's shoulders, his back stiffening. "What do you mean?"

"We understand you just returned from a trip. Must've been expensive." The older man's tone was bland.

There was a trap here, but Kyo couldn't see where it was. "Yes, it was. I also enjoyed it."

"But it wasn't just you, was it?"

Sprung, the trap Morihiro laid snapped around him, the implication drawing all eyes to him. Usually, Kyo loved being in the spotlight but now…. "Just what are you saying, Morihiro-san?"

"Perhaps, your expenses are being spent on the wrong thing. Or should I say, person."

"Iori Yagami, you mean?"

Scarcely-veiled triumph in Morihiro's eyes; the elder gave him a condescending smile. "Is that so? Thank you for stating it for us, Kyo-san. We trust you will not err on that particular detail."

Kyo growled in the back of his throat. "What business is it of yours?"

"Temper, Kyo-san. We are your elders and you need us."

Don't make an enemy out of him. Easier said than done. Morihiro deliberately antagonized him, implied an unsavory aspect to his spending that Kyo took offense to, and…. He gritted his teeth, trying to master his ire. "My earnings are for me to spend. I don't recall having to ask permission from anyone for that."

"Maybe not, but what does that give us? You spend money without forethought or restraint. Will you treat the clan funds that way?"

"Is that what this is about?"

Beside him, Saisyu stayed silent. This, then, was his battle to fight and settle.

"If you spend all your money on the Yagami heir," Morihiro said, not even masking the sneer in his voice, "our clan is much poorer for it. Are we to receive the scraps, then – your meager leavings – once you're done playing around with him?"

Kyo blinked, taken aback by the blatant contempt.

"Morihiro-san," Saisyu interjected, his mild voice cutting in. "We are here to have a civil discussion. Please refrain from attacking my son and his boyfriend. I ask you to phrase your concern in a more courteous manner."

Kyo took great pleasure seeing Morihiro open his mouth and then close it, clearly startled by Saisyu's chastisement. Although he wanted to, he tamped down his immature urge to poke back. Instead, he sat and waited.

Morihiro's face was crimson beneath silvery hair. The other elders exchanged wordless glances, having sensed the shift in the room's atmosphere. Then, Morihiro bowed from his waist from where he sat, palms flat on the table. "My apologies, Saisyu-san. Kyo-san."

"Now…you've expressed concern in how my son spends his money. You wish to know if he'll contribute a portion of it to the clan, correct? Since he is the heir and the heir should set an example for the other members?"

"Exactly, Saisyu-san."

"Kyo," his dad said, turning to him, "Morihiro-san does have a point there. When you are entrusted with the overall clan funds, you'll be constantly updated to the accounts and how to distribute them for the clan's upkeep. Akira-san contributes fifty percent now because business is steady for him. The tournaments you attend are once every year and you're not always guaranteed the champion's spot with the prize money. Check on your balance and let me know how much you currently have. We can figure out your percentage once we know that."

Relief shot through Kyo. This, he could manage.

"As for your other concern, Morihiro-san," Saisyu said, attention focusing back on the elder, "Kyo spends his rightfully-earned money however he pleases. He spent plenty on Yuki-san before, but I don't recollect any complaints during that time. Should he spend any on Yagami-san, I'm certain he'll be mindful. He's generous, not foolish."

Silence.

"Of course, Saisyu-san. You wouldn't misjudge your son."

Kyo didn't know if the elder was ass-kissing his dad to save face, but whatever the motive, at least the nastier aspects were effectively quashed for now. He didn't believe they were completely dead and buried; yet, no one got their faces smashed in or set on fire, and he didn't end up embarrassing himself. He also needed to find out how his dad turned the meeting around, saying what he did.

Experience or an innate talent?

"Now, do we have anything else to discuss about the financials?"

"No," the elder Kyo knew as Takeshi-san said. Unlike Morihiro-san, Takeshi-san looked severe, his face lean and hair still dark. "I believe we are finished regarding that."

"Okay. The next item on the agenda involves certain families living abroad. Have we been keeping contact with them and providing monetary assistance?"

"Yes. I can give you the full breakdown," Daisuke-san volunteered. Out of all the elders gathered here – two more besides the three whose names Kyo had memorized – he was the most reasonable and had a kindly face with a faint mustache. From where he sat, Kyo saw the elder reach down, bringing up a thin bound ledger.

Saisyu's voice was as warm as his smile. "Good. Go ahead, Daisuke-san."

The meeting had wrapped up ten minutes ago – the elders immediately departing – and Kyo headed straight towards the safety of his room. Two and a half hours later, his brain crammed with information, it was still the tense confrontation with Morihiro that remained with him. He'd tried to bluff Morihiro and almost failed, if not for his father interceding at the critical moment. The implication about his usage of the clan funds – as if Iori was unworthy of being treated to better things – was infuriating and insulting. However, he couldn't just trade blows with his elder and Morihiro would put up a fight.

Apparently, in his prime, Morihiro was a contender for head patriarch.

Yet, his dad had…

Kyo reached up and scratched his neck.

A shadow fell across the floor of his bedroom. "Kyo, do you have time to talk?"

Surprised, Kyo dropped his hand to the bed. "Dad."

Saisyu stood across from him, arms crossed but not at all displeased. "You did good in there, son. I'm impressed. He put you on the spot and you rose to the challenge. You still have much to learn, but at least you have his measure and he yours."

"He's not going to let it go, is he?"

"No. Expect more of the same but from different angles."

Kyo sighed. "Great."

"You could've turned it on him earlier but that comes from experience and knowing an old man's wiles. Instead, he baited you."

"And I took it like a dumbass. He wanted me to admit it was Yagami, right?"

"Yes. And that put you on the defensive."

"Dammit."

"Son," Saisyu said, pride in his voice unmistakable, "I watched you behave like a man today. You made a mistake, you were caught out, and you didn't shy away when Morihiro-san took advantage of that. I only stepped in when he breached common decency by making a personal attack against you and Yagami."

"You made him apologize. How'd you do that?"

"Rank and experience. I let him save face, but he couldn't object to my second point."

"About Yuki."

"Funny how he only objects when you're spending money on Yagami, huh?" A slight shift and Saisyu removed a hand from within the folds of his creased sleeve. "That's how you turn a discussion around and redirect the topic. Mind – Morihiro-san says what the others don't."

"So he's their spokesman."

"Yes. So if there's anyone you need to get on your side, it's him."

"But how?" Kyo was sure the elder despised him. "He seems to hate me."

"He's not fond of your 'sudden' relationship with Yagami – the reasons which you know – and the possibility of no direct blood heirs goes against tradition."

"But Souji –"

"Was an exception."

Letting his weight sink into the bed, Kyo leaned back. Here was an obstacle. If he could sway Morihiro, the others would follow. Undoubtedly, there were many opportunities ahead and yet…how to achieve that? How to, without coming out the loser again? For he had lost the moment Morihiro trapped him, leading him towards saying the obvious truth…

"Dad, Yagami wants to know more about our clan history."

"Really?" Saisyu stroked his beard. "What about?"

"The 1800s."

"Only one of the most important eras. Is it relevant to any of this?"

"I asked if he could…well, go over it with me."

His father grinned, delighted. "You've asked Yagami to help you study? Is that correct?"

Kyo nodded.

"You must thank him for me. He's done the impossible."

"Dad –"

"Take whatever you need or whatever he's interested in. I'll help you, or your mother will, since you can't read the texts." Kyo had never seen his dad overjoyed like this. "The records of the 1800s in the archives are hefty, so maybe you can start with a few books. He still has the others, right?"

"Yeah."

"You can bring those back when you're done." With a few long strides, his father was in the room, standing before him. "Son, I'm pleased. Not just for what you did today, but…you're trying. I know how difficult that is for you, but thank you for making an effort to learn."

"Um…you're welcome?"

"And maybe, one day, you can show Morihiro-san why you're worthy of being heir. I await that day."

Kyo didn't know what to say, so he smiled.

"I'll leave you alone now. You've had a tiring day – rest well."