would yall believe that i almost forgot to post this up? damn son, i love christmas and the holidays but this year, im messed up with how much im working. everywhere is like "yea, we'll accommodate for the holidays" and disney is like "we will accommodate...FOR OUR GUESTS HAAH" which means us workers are screwed. ah well, still love my job even though im dying. ive also been working on my ykz ss as well as two other Christmas fics for yakuza in between my breaks so 8) this fic will probably be not much looked at until christmas is over he ck heck.

anyways, here's a new chapter, next update will be in three weeks. don't expect makoto to come for a while, she got some time

also heavy note: i have not played any yakuza game where saejima shows up. i know, ultra sin. im waiting until i get my grubby hands on that remastered collection so if youre like "wtf this ain't saejima" then like shush your mouth cuz i ain't there yet. next time he fully appears again, i will have played it so yall better watch yoselves

Let's just say it might be enough to let one of ya go.

Might be enough to let one of ya go.

Let one of ya go.

Sagawa's words looped in Goro's mind as he packed his bag for the trip. He figured it was going to be a long one so it was even more necessary to carry tools that would carry on survival for a long period of time. If what Sagawa said was true, then nature wasn't going to be on his side. Ice might have symbolism of purity but it was actually treacherous. Snow burns through living matter and sucks all form of life from existing. One minute it seems fun and playful but in the next, if not prepared then it could wreck havoc on everything. Goro learned that the hard way through other missions in the past and they were nowhere near the level of this one he was about to embark on.

All he could think was that the jewel better be worth all of this.

Goro kept on packing and stuffing as many things as he could. Knives, gauze, gloves, a stash of coins, anything he could possibly need on his journey. The only thing missing was warm clothes that didn't exist in his closet so he had to make due with stacking of multiple layers.

His mind concentrated so much that he didn't hear the door opening behind him. A hand pressed against his shoulder and he gave out a surprised jolt, almost grabbing a sheathed knife until he saw who it belonged to. "Fuckin' Christ, Taiga. Could be a bit more sensitive ya know?"

"Then that means you should keep your guard up more," he responded bluntly. His body leaned over to look at Goro's handiwork. "What are you doing there?"

"Clearly packin' for the greatest adventure ever," Goro said with a grin despite it being the complete opposite. Oh what he would do not to worry others. "I got all this stuff prepared. I'm plannin' for the long run here!"

"Where are you going?" Taiga asked with an emotionless tone that Goro couldn't tell if it was upset or curious.

"Ah, piss-for-brains-"

"Sagawa."

"Alright, fuckin' fine, yes Sagawa, that bitch, well, he's sending me off to a place where Imma be kicking major ass and getting lots of good shit."

"You didn't answer my question," Taiga retorted, again still with the same tone.

"Well because I don't even fuckin' know where I'm supposed to go," Goro said in irritation, pulling out the map Sagawa gave him and handing it over to Taiga. "I mean, look at that map! It's doesn't say shit!"

His brother stood silent while his eyes darted across the paper. He didn't say anything and something on his face made Goro look uneasy. "What did Sagawa tell you about this?"

Goro's eye looked up, trying to think of the best answer that wouldn't exactly teeter on a lie but wouldn't be the full truth either. "He just said it's gonna be cold and that I gotta be prepared for that is all."

"Did he mention anything about there being a dragon?"

Oh shit. "Well-"

"Did he mention anything about a dragon, Goro?"

Taiga gave him the stern look, the one where Goro knew he was doing something wrong and he was about to get the kick in the ass for not being cautious for the billionth time. "I mean, he didn't really say anything-" Oh shit, Taiga did the head lean with the eyebrow up. "But he beat around the bush enough that I managed to guess there was a dragon and- Ey, ey, ey, what's with that look?"

His brother gave a sigh before giving Goro a concerned look. "Goro, this place is dangerous. What are you thinking?"

Well, I was thinkin' that it'll make ya free so I can stop feelin' like a guilty little shit was what he thought but was most definitely NOT going to say out loud before Taiga got all preachy on his ass. So he had to fudge it like always. "Well I was thinkin' that there's supposed to be a lotta cash on the line-"

"Goro-"

"And that daddy needs a new pair of knives before I get set free. See, pretty smart plan."

Taiga sighed and deeply sighed again. And sighed once more. "You know, money isn't everything."

Goro raised an eyebrow. "Uh, have you looked at our situation recently?" He asked in disbelief. His arms raised up to give notice to their surroundings. "This shit ain't ours. We're literally tied to a pole like dogs while Sagawa bleeds us dry and throws us scraps. And we can't do anythin' until we throw enough money at him! So tell me again how money isn't everything!?"

Taiga looked away and guilt pierced Goro. "Listen, Imma be real, I'm really frustrated-"

"No, no, I understand," his brother said softly, though he might as well have been screaming it since it echoed in Goro's ears. "I know you don't like to be chained down. But, this," he grabbed the map and wrung it in front of Goro. "This is a suicide mission. And the last thing I need is for my brother to wind up dead too." His voice lowered with sadness piercing each word. "I can't lose another family member, especially not from a dragon. You already had bad luck with a dragon before. Who knows if that luck will only get worse."

Silence suffocated them. Tension built up and up, making it hard to breath in the already small room. Goro didn't know what to say to that. He knew that going into the middle of nowhere with an antagonistic dragon wasn't the smartest plan and probably one that would equal in suicide. It didn't help that his eye showed his losing streak with dragons. But at the same time, if he could try and set Taiga free…..well then that dragon could have his life for all he cared. He'd rather go down a righteous man than live with the guilt that he had a chance and didn't take it.

So he placed his hands on Taiga's giant shoulders and smiled reassuringly. "Imma be alright, bro. Ya know me, ya know I won't go down easy. So take it easy and just trust me," he lied through his teeth before giving him a pat on the back to return back to packing. They stayed quiet for a while, though Goro could feel Taiga's eyes laser into his back, which was enough to make him squirm. Yet, there was something about this that seemed off to him. "Ey, why are ya so hellbent on this anyways? Do ya know somethin' bout this that yer not tellin' me?"

"The only thing that I know is that people I've talked to who brought this adventure up never came back. Some it's been a few weeks and others it's been a couple months."

Goro's eyebrows raised up with a widening eye. "All of them were tryin' to get the jewel?"

His shoulders shrugged. "That I don't know. But one thing I did recall them talking about was the dragon that was there. It seems like that dragon is more of a topic than the jewel itself."

"Interestin'..." Goro whispered. Interesting indeed. Sagawa didn't mention the importance of the dragon, just brought it up as an obstacle. Maybe...maybe there was something special about that dragon that could double the reward. "What's so special bout that dragon? She a princess or somethin'?"

Saejima shrugged. "I heard kinda a mix of things but nothing too set. But that castle belongs to a royal family so maybe that dragon is worth a lot if you keep it hostage? Again, all I know is that it's a dangerous place to go."

"Hmmmm….."

Goro didn't speak as he kept packing his bag. Thoughts whirled around his mind on this mission. If he could get the jewel and the dragon, maybe there was a chance he could free both their heads. And if it's true that a royal family owned that castle, then he could lift that higher in demands. Oh ho ho, he could scheme like no tomorrow. So many possibilities.

Suddenly, this whole job didn't seem as shitty as before.

"Are you sure you want to go alone?" Taiga said, cracking the high spell Goro was in. "I could come with you if you want. Maybe it wouldn't be bad to have extra hands."

"I think that's the opposite, ya big lug," Goro retorted, twirling on his heel back to face him. "Dragons need stealth and yer the least stealthy guy I've ever seen."

"Yea but there's also strength in numbers."

"Taiga, bro, I got this," he casually said, walking around him in a new age swagger that he gained. "We're gonna make it big my dude. Ya just gotta trust me. Plus someone's gotta stay back and hold down the fort. Who knows, maybe there's a job you can do."

His brother looked thoughtful. "Well, some guys were wanting to do this collection's job. I didn't wanna do it because it seemed like a raid but maybe it wouldn't be bad."

"Atta boy! That's the spirit!" Goro pranced back to his bag. "Now if ya excuse me, I gotta get back to packin'!"

Taiga gave a grunt and left Goro in the room alone. Grinding echoed in but it didn't bother Goro as much as it used to. He wasn't a fan of the drink Taiga was making but he wasn't going to complain. After tonight they wouldn't be seeing each other for a while. One night could be an exception.

And just like clockwork, Taiga came in with two cups of steaming liquid. "Just thought I'd make blackened coco for tonight," he said while offering the cup to his brother. With the other, they clinked glasses and gave a hearty drink with a satisfied sigh at the end.

"Thanks," Goro softly responded, turning away from his brother while still holding the cup. This sentimental crap before a mission always got him. It really shouldn't have meant anything since they managed to come back to each other but it was their goodbye lucky ritual so that way, in case anything happened, there wouldn't be heavy regrets. They both fucking hated it. They kept mentioning how shitty it was. But they did it anyways. Traditions, man.

And then, a heavy clothed piece flopped onto his shoulders. His hand pulled it to where it could meet his peripheral and he gave a breathed laugh. "Ya don't have to, ya know?"

"I know but I think yer gonna need it more than me."

Goro glanced over his shoulder. "Wow, look at ya droppin' that fancy accent and goin' back to yer roots."

Taiga scoffed. "Look who's talkin' with yer make believe accent. At least I try and sound proper but ya just threw that out."

"What can I say?" Goro teased before properly putting on the jacket that Taiga placed on his shoulders and returning back to his brother, his cup raised. "I found my home somewhere else. Somewhere with semi good company."

"Ya got that right," Taiga laughed. Their cups clinked and they gave another hearty swing of their drink. Gulps happened between them and they stopped at the same time, giving a look that was sappy but theirs. "Be careful out there, Goro. Make sure ya come back in one piece at least. If not, then I gotta sell all yer shit."

"Hmph, well, I can't have ya doin' that, now can I?"

"Exactly. I know Sagawa would like some of that stuff ya got goin' on."

"See now yer just makin' me roll in my imaginary grave."

"Well let that thought ruminate in yer head while yer out there," Taiga lastly said as he headed out of the room. He stopped for a moment at the door frame. "Night, Goro. See ya later."

Goro grabbed the ends of the jacket and pulled it over, an awkward tick he had in situations like this. "Night, bro."

Taiga gave one last nod and walked into the other room, leaving Goro there with an over sized jacket and a mostly packed bag, ready to start his journey into the unknown.