"I got a bad feeling about this, boss. Hojo san is never late. What if he sold us out and that's why Sakura got shut down?"
"Are you really that stupid Kenjiro?" Ichiro scoffed, pulling a box of cigarettes from his pocket. He shook one from the pack, placing it between his lips as he stowed the small box back inside his coat. "You really think we wouldn't be in jail right now if he had? "
"But say he got caught by the cops? He coulda' thrown the smuggling ring under the bus to save his own ass. Nobody but us knows he's involved." Kenjiro suggested.
Ichiro lit his cigarette with a snap of his fingers and took a long draw. "Kenji, do us all a favor and stop thinking so hard. You're going to hurt yourself. Hojo will be here."
The alley behind the abandoned warehouse remained empty as the panthers watched for the other car to arrive. Ichiro's cigarette was down to the butt when he finally saw something moving at the other end of the alley. A black limosine slowly pulled up the street and parked. The driver had his cap pulled low over their face, choosing to keep their eyes glued to their phone as the panthers approached the car. The back windows were tinted, making it impossible to see if anyone was even in the back at all. Slowly the window lowered, revealing someone, not Hojo, but someone Ichiro had other dealings with.
"What are you doing here Naraku?" he pulled another cigarette from his jacket and lit up.
"I am here for the meeting." The baboon head turned slowly, keeping the face underneath hidden from view under the pale animal pelt.
"Oh yeah? What happened to Hojo?" Ichiro asked.
"He decided to take some time off." Naraku answered.
Ichiro took a long puff of his cigarette, giving himself a moment to think. He knew from experience that Naraku wasn't someone to be trifled with. His father's dealing with him had proven him to be ruthless.
"Tch. None of my business as long as things keep going smoothly for us." Ichiro scoffed, leaning against the side of the car.
"That seems to be the problem though, doesn't it? Things aren't running as smoothly as they should be. With Sakura out of commission we are out one of our biggest suppliers. I was under the impression that your people were less than discreet."
"And where did yo hear that?" Ichiro hissed.
Naraku lifted a pale hand from under the pelt and studied it for a moment, running his thumb over the tip of his middle finger absently. "I had a private meeting with Mister Utsuma recently. After the last shipment I had a specific item procured. All your woman had to do was keep it quiet until delivery, but because of her mishandling of the brat she was discovered and the entire branch running from Sakura has been cut off."
"Now wait a minute. It isn't our fault that flea bitten bastard decided to just show up out of the blue and poke his nose around. Our information that the Taisho's were hands off was solid."
"Yes, I am aware of Inuyasha Taisho's fondness of sticking his nose where it doesn't belong." Naraku drawled, continuing his inspection of his fingernails. "As long as our other locations are still running smoothly, and you keep your people in line then I see no reason to end the arrangement you had with Mister Hojo. Do you have the payment from the last delivery?" Ichiro pulled a bulging envelope from his pocket and passed it through the window. Naraku pulled the cash out, flipped through it as if counting then handed Ichiro his cut.
Ichiro stuffed the money back into his jacket. "It's been a pleasure doing business with you." he said flatly as the tinted window slowly closed itself. Ichiro nodding to Kenjiro and led the way back to their own car.
