A distinctive aroma of gun oil, incense and sake wine occupied the halls of the spartan quarters occupied by Goro Takemura, his small arsenal of weapons lay on a table before him; stripped and disassembled. Their owner lay kneeled, dressed in a simple muscle shirt and pleated slacks, meticulously cleaning and maintaining the inner workings of each firearm, one component at a time. A bolt here, a firing pin there. Each piece of every weapon was expected to be able to operate at maximum efficiency.
For a man such as Goro, nothing less could be accepted. As a painter strives for a masterpiece of art, or a Sumōtori yearns to stand above his peers as a Yokozuna, Goro demands perfection from himself and the execution of his duty. And his duty, was murder. Murder done righteously in his cybernetic eyes, in the protection of Saburo Arasaka. The Emperor of Arasaka Corporation, the man responsible for near everything Goro has to be grateful for today, and the reason for Goro's current task.
Saburo had announced his intentions to take a temporary leave-of-absence in Tokyo, and to "Observe and review the Arasaka postings in the West", coincidentally, his son Yorinobu Arasaka had also taken Konpeki Plaza in Night City as his personal fortress... Saburo needed-not explain his full intentions to Goro, he already knew them. That disappointing bakayarou had stolen something of great value to the Arasaka corporation some weeks ago. The smoke and mirrors of a corporate visit were necessary, a man like Saburo Arasaka possesses many enemies, the fact that Saburo was even coming to Konpeki at all was on a strictly need-to-know basis. Saburo would finally see to his loose end of a son, Goro was sure of it.
What was stolen and why Goro did not know, nor did he care. Whatever it was, Saburo values it enough to see to its return (and the disciplining of its thief) in-person. No small-act, considering the near omnipotent power wielded by Saburo, who had not left Japan in 57 years.
Yorinobu had chosen Night City as his refuge, Goro knew of this place, of all the locations Goro had accompanied Saburo to as his bodyguard, Night City perhaps gave him the most pause. A city of sinners and chaos, slums as far as the eye can see broken occasionally by the corporate spires of steel and glass that Goro had grown familiar with in his 60 years of existence on Earth. It reminded him of his home.
Though his neatly bearded face remained as stoic as ever, Goro recalled his childhood in Chiba-11, Forming petty gangs, imitating the Bōsōzoku that often warred in the slums beneath Tokyo's glittering tower-like skyscrapers, fighting over scraps of food with other children. As he returned the well-oiled slide of his Kenshin pistol back to its place and slid it home, he sipped a gulp of sake, enjoying the familiar burn. Goro rarely drank alcohol at all, preferring his senses as sharp as possible at all times, but before accompanying Saburo on longer trips such as this, he would allow himself to indulge only sparingly.
Goro released a sigh of equal mixture pride and relief as he placed his Kenshin back onto the table. His weapons were now clean, ready for usage in the defense of Arasaka. A sudden thought of the "What now?" variety suddenly struck Goro, as he contemplated his now maintained arsenal. His routine had been completed, and his service not currently required as Saburo had dismissed him earlier in the evening for a family meeting with his daughter, Hanako. Goro's internal clock read 11:05pm and ever since his days as a grunt fighting the Corpo Wars, sleep was a luxury Goro could easily go without at times. A nightly stroll seemed in order, as Goro donned a simple leather jacket and exited his quarters at the Arasaka compound.
Goro's quarters neighbored that of Saburo's, currently locked, at the Arasaka villa situated in the foothills of Mt Fuji. A massive wall separated the home of Saburo Arasaka from the outside world, a small fleet of AVs transporting him and Goro to and fro Arasaka tower everyday for his work. Held within the walls was an extravagantly luxurious, 3 story mansion built in the style of classic Japanese architecture occupied by Saburo.
Outside it, the compound was made up of a stunning garden dotted with bamboo and Cherry Blossom trees, a small bridge over a lily-filled pond led to a Shinto shrine where Goro found himself. The regularly patrolling guards leaving well enough alone, he took advantage once more of his temporary freedom from his position, Goro instead indulged in a different pleasure. That of relative silence. Too often has he found his world consisting of the noises of the bustling corpo world; Talking heads discussing stock and trade, the revving engines of an AV, the suppressed discharge of Goro's pistol. The gentle wind in his face, the warm feeling of sake still in his stomach, and the pale moon overhead. Though he remained as stone-faced as ever, Goro smiled inwardly at the peace and quiet now afforded to him.
He remained there for some minutes, finally crossing the bridge back into the garden to resume his stroll after midnight.
Suddenly, the impact of feet on grass registered on Goro's ears, what would be barely audible to most people, though Goro gave no pause and continued forward. Light footfalls began to follow in quick succession, as he pressed onward. This new follower's pace matched Goro's own, no step out of cadence. Out of line of sight, this nighttime stalker would be undetectable to most.
His next movements would have to be swift to succeed. Turning a corner, in one smooth motion Goro pivoted and drew his Tantō from its sheath at his hip, cutting through the empty air as his target rolled underneath. Changing the direction of his strike just as quickly, Goro engaged again and just as he expected, steel met steel as Goro's dagger clashed with the mantis blades of Sandayu Oda. His former apprentice, and bodyguard to Hanako Arasaka. A younger man, long and wild black hair growing from a mohawk combed to the side flowed in the night breeze.
"You're getting old Takemura-San. You missed the first time..." Oda said with a sly grin.
"Still good enough to hear you stomping away since the temple, Oda." Goro retorted. "And the Tiger need-not worry about his claws, if his teeth are still sharp." Drawing back his Tantō with one hand, Goro unveiled the suppressed Nue pistol he had already drawn with the other, aimed directly for Oda. "Nonetheless, it is good to see you, Oda-San." Oda grinned once more at the sight of the pistol, before retracting his blades back into his forearms.
"Likewise. Takemura-san. I hear that Arasaka-Sama is taking an outing to America, to see Yorinobu-Sama no?"
"Is that what brings you here? To gossip about Arasaka family business?" Goro grumbled, his grim demeanor returning as his Tantō returned to its sheath at his waist.
"If it pertains to Hanako-Sama, it is my business. What was it you always told me? Never go into the unknown not knowing? No detail too miniscule, no advantage too small."
Goro sighed at this, considering his position for a moment.
"Come, walk with me." He spoke as he motioned for Oda to follow, his former student followed suit as the two found themselves walking along the ramparts to the compound, coming upon an Arasaka guard at his post, the man stood at attention in front of the two bodyguards.
"Good evening gentlemen. All is quiet along the North wall, nothing to report."
"Excellent, leave us, at once." Goro ordered.
"Yes sir." The guard resumed his patrol, away from Oda and Goro. Goro remembered when he occupied similar posts, before Saburo hand picked him as his personal shadow. Never one to forget his roots, Goro always tried to maintain some level of respect for those lower on the totem pole than him. Now facing Oda, he revealed what he knew.
"I only know what has been given to me by Arasaka-sama. We are to depart from Tokyo tomorrow afternoon, the fool Yorinobu-Sama has taken refuge in Konpeki Plaza," Goro faced away from Oda, staring out into the Japan skyline, his already-perpetual scowl deepening, "Whatever the reason for it, Arasaka-Sama deems it important enough to see to the matter himself, after every slight that fool has taken against this family, he dares to use our resources to protect himself?" Oda followed suit, his gaze meeting the neon pillars of Tokyo city in the distance.
"So it is true, then I wouldn't call it far-fetched to say that Oni Adam Smasher has been attached to Yorinobu-Sama as well?"
"Where are you getting this information from?"
"Kenichi Zaburo, bodyguard to Michiko-Sama in America, has kept an ear to the ground for these things since Yorinobu landed in Night City. I only seek the knowledge so that I may prepare appropriately in my duty to Hanako-Sama, Goro-San."
"Of that, I now have no doubt Oda-San. Your source continues to speak the truth, I am not anticipating my meeting with Smasher once more." Goro shared his former apprentice's hatred of Adam Smasher. He detested that savage gaijin, hesitating to even call Smasher a human being anymore. Arasaka employed many full-borgs or those with above 50% cybernetics, many as assassins and other hired guns, but Smasher surpassed them all in both categories. A hulking brute made of kevlar, steel and Gods-knows what else, what little remained of his human face, (its top half anyway) lay bolted to his robotic skull. His true loyalty to Arasaka has always been questionable, (he would often disappear for weeks at a time; Whether for covert wetwork or simply his own amusement, no one knew or dared to ask) but his recent siding with Yorinobu could prove a vital tipping point in the continued Arasaka factionalism, it all made Goro feel notably uneasy, which Oda seemed to pick up on.
"With any luck, Arasaka-sama will kill two birds with one stroke; The gaijin siding with Yorinobu-Sama may be the final push needed for Arasaka-Sama to rid us of his presence." Oda's grin returned with this statement, though his compatriot remained stone-faced.
"Doubtful. Savage brute he may be, Smasher is too valuable as a tool to be rid of completely. His previous transgressions have not been answered for, this one will stay much the same I fear."
"If the order ever comes my friend, don't hesitate to call me in, it would be my pleasure. And besides, one swipe of those pillars he has for arms and those rusted bones of yours would shatter like autumn leaves, old man." Oda's grin grew wider, and for the first time all night, Goro smiled slightly at his friend's jesting.
"Never underestimate an old man in a profession where men usually die young my friend. Stay safe in these trying times, may your blades be swift, and your eyes sharp."
The two bowed to each other, each making their exit. Shortly thereafter, Goro returned to his quarters, fatigue slowly, finally, creeping into his body. Deciding why not, Goro treated himself to a final gulp or two of Sake, and resigned himself to his futon. Soon enough, this whole headache with the fool Yorinobu-Sama and his theft would be dealt with, and Goro would be back in Tokyo, resuming his duties as normal.
He was sure of it.
