Iori messing up plans again!

tkx yag.

"...Howard… Geese Howard?"

The name made him tremble.

Within him, Riot muttered violent tendencies into his brain. His vision swam. His breath came short, shooting raking pain through his lungs with each breath he took. He curled his hands into fists - and squeezed until blood leaked from beneath the tightly wound bandages. Geese Howard?

"He did this to me?"

When was the last time Iori felt so helpless? He could hardly recall. Even while facing almost certain death, he had never been humiliated this badly. Who had the audacity to caged him like a beast? Who dared to keep him alive, to toy with him - to force him to suffer for the entertainment of that harrowing voice which kept him company these past days.

I'm going to find you, Big Man...

What a pathetic display. He'd been snatched from his home without even putting up a fight. His strength had turned against him. He battled against his own body. With thirst. With sleep. With cold. That damn cold! And all the while… that cheerful voice egged him on, and on, and on, and on.

And eventually… it got to him.

He had fought it with every fibre of his being… Even Riot seemed to know they were in danger, and offered whatever broken encouragement he could - yet to no avail. Iori couldn't remember exactly when it started - hell, he could barely remember anything at all - but eventually the voice got to him.

And with wild eyes, he happily peeled off his own fingernails.

A gravelly voice interrupted him.

"Iori… Are you afraid?"

Iori scoffed and turned his head to look at the old man sitting at his bedside. Besides for the Fourth Elder, nobody else had dared to approach him, as it should be. Throughout Iori Yagami's childhood, only one person stood by his side after his father died of the curse. Only one person didn't scorn him. Only one remained loyal and put faith in him instead of writing him off with his worthless pedigree. This old man had dealt with so much bullshit on his behalf, but nevertheless continued by his side. Through thick and thin. Through rain and shine.

And so, when the power finally flowed, when suddenly he was the 'clan's precious heir', Iori Yagami made damn sure that everyone who ever spit at the Fourth Elder was either dead or groveling at the old man's feet. Iori had never been affectionate. In fact, since childhood, he had been remarkably callous and abrasive. As he aged, he only got worse.

But even someone like him knew how to be good. The Yagami clan conquered Japan's underworld ten years ago, and the old house was suddenly flush with clansmen and quarrels. It was a wild power grab. A confusing game of politics which made Iori's head spin. Frankly, he wanted nothing to do with it, (even now, he stayed far away) but the Fourth Elder wanted in. He was fourth in line, yet he wanted to lead the clan. An impossibility.

First elder still hates me...hehe...

But the Fourth was crafty. A miracle brought the impossible within reach. He had thrown his chips in with Iori Yagami - and his gamble paid off ten times over. He knew that Iori returned loyalty with loyalty, benevolence for benevolence. He also knew nobody would dare touch the heir for fear of harming the source of their newfound power. Iori would do whatever he asked… and he certainly did. He was glad to.

In a single bloody evening, the 'precious' fifteen year old heir stood unopposed as he wildly slaughtered thirty members of the opposing faction. The following morning, the papers were signed, and the Fourth Elder became the most powerful man in Japan's underworld.

That was the day Iori was no longer needed for clan dealings. His only role was to stay alive and channel Orochi's flames. He became an accessory to the Fourth, and frankly he didn't mind. Iori hated them all anyways, and clan politics were exhausting. Once the Fourth was safely established, he rented an apartment on the other side of town and battled it out with Kusanagi for a few more years before moving to Florida to focus on music.

And now… ten years later, the Fourth Elder was the one coming to his rescue. Paying loyalty with loyalty. Benevolence with benevolence. The old man had certainly done well for himself. The last time Iori had visited the old house, it had been so flush with opulence it was nearly distasteful. 'Yagami' was used almost interchangeably with 'Yakuza' (it did no favours for Iori's music career, but then again - he didn't care all that much) and the organization the Fourth had built was powerful and far-reaching.

More powerful, and further reaching that Geese's fucking company.

"Me? Scared?"

Iori cackled out with something approaching deranged laughter. He felt the stirrings of wildness brewing in his head, and fully embraced it. Riot would enjoy this just as much as he would. After all, he'd behaved so well in that stupid cube.

"No… I'm not scared. I just want him dead. I want to skin him alive. I'll hang his head over my television… but most of all, I want that fucking bastard 'Big Man'. I want to slowly send him to hell. Rally your troops, old man. Help me."

"No."

The response was too swift. Iori froze and turned to frown at the Elder. His voice was incredulous.

"What?"

"The Yagami clan is responsible for supporting Howard Connection in it's battle against Kain Heinlein. That's the deal we struck for your release."

"What?!"

Iori stared wide-eyed at the Fourth elder. He could hardly believe what he was hearing. After all of this was Geese still able to buy the Fourth Elder's friendship? Nonsense. Impossible. Ridiculous. Inconceivable.

With a heave, Iori lurched upright and seized the old man's wrist. He ignored the pain from his mangled fingers, and squeezed as he glared at his benefactor. His voice came dripping in venom. His words came as a threat veiling heartbroken rage.

"Explain yourself, Fourth. You can't let them walk away from this! We're the fucking yakuza. What kind of coward are you tha-"

The old man would not be intimidated. Despite his frailness, there was still yet strength in his bones. His cane clattered to the floor as he stood and grabbed Iori by the front of his shirt, yanking him upright. His eyes blazed as he met Iori's threat with equal fierceness.

"Did I ask you to fund a terrorist vigilante group? You know Yakuza have business dealings with Howard Connection. You knew this would affect us, one way or another. Did you somehow think there were no consequences to your actions, heir?! Did you think you could attack Howard Connection without retaliation? We are the Yakuza, but Geese Howard owns the United States. This is nobody's fault but your own!"

Iori had no response. All he could do was continue to glare and pretend his fingers weren't bleeding all over the floor. Yes, this certainly was his fault. The Fourth certainly had every right to scold him. In fact, Iori had expected to be scolded one way or another for this. Scolding was one thing… but losing to HCon? Walking away from this fight beaten, bloodied, and promising subservience? How could they?! That was entirely impossible. The very idea filled Iori's head with rage and confusion.

"... Ah, My boy,"

The old man sighed and looked down at him kindly. His anger seemed to drain away. He patted Iori's cheek and smiled. His demeanor conflicted sharply with his words.

"Do you think I'm not angry? Would I let somebody touch our darling heir, and not crush them to dust beneath my heel? You are vengeful and impulsive, so your plans fail. You go chasing after every dog that nips your heels, and throw carefully laid plans in the air. I have done a lot of work in preparation to bring down Howard Connection. All the pieces were in place. The trap was laid… but - my boy - you were the one who wandered in and sprung it."

Iori blinked. Not understanding. The Fourth had been working on something? Well, probably. The old man is always working on something… so, is he mad I mucked up his plans?

The Fourth Elder didn't elaborate. He never did, but there was a glint of flint in his eyes. The old man hadn't lain down to be trampled on. He wasn't forgiving anyone. He was forgetting anything.

He let go of Iori's shirt and returned to his seat. He reached down and picked up his cane, and rested both hands atop it. The old man smiled at him.

"Iori Yagami, do you still trust this old man? Will you show me your loyalty?"

A long moment of silence.

Iori searched the Fourth Elder's face, and found no betrayal there.

He shut his eyes and nodded. The Old man chuckled and patted his hair.

"Then do as I say, and you'll watch Geese Howard fall."

I love the 4th Elder haha.

He's a badass old man.

Ofc Yag gets yelled at, because tbh he should have checked with Family before starting shit with rival gang.