Yagami's Little Girl – Earning Your Keep

Written By: RinoaDestiny

King of Fighters and Iori Yagami belong to SNK

"You need to take better care of yourself, Yagami-san." Mako glanced at him over the frames of her glasses, which she was in the middle of removing. She squinted, held the glasses up to the light, and wiped them clean with a soft cloth. "We managed and got a back-up bassist but you didn't get paid for missing out on those gigs. We can't afford for you to miss the upcoming tour."

"It was an accident."

"Whatever it was, you need to be present for this one. It's big. Stops across most of the major cities of Japan, Yagami-san. Surely you understand."

Iori did. He'd seen the itinerary a week before and asked questions of his manager and agent. Mako wasn't pulling his leg – it was one of the biggest tours their band ever planned. When she said major cities, she meant major cities. Osaka to start. Then Kobe, Kyoto, Nagoya. A domestic flight over to Tokyo. Then Saitama, Kawasaki, and Yokohama. Eight cities. Eight stops. Multiple performances. It would make their careers – would guarantee it for some – and it was an opportunity too good to miss.

It left him grappling with what to do with Aoi, though.

Eight stops meant a long time away and she was growing so fast. Iori scarce thought the time flew but after his rib healed, he realized they were in September and his daughter was hitting her fourth month. Already, she made little noises, clutched at his finger, and smiled at him whenever he spoke to her. There were always odd sensations in his chest whenever she did any of that; Iori was grateful none of the other tournament contestants could see him whenever that happened. Feelings were always alien – the ones that made him feel vulnerable – since he was taught only the strongest, most hateful ones.

Having to deal with the ones that left him emotionally open and raw required privacy.

He was going to miss his daughter. The tour, without complications, was going to run for about four months. Would she recognize him after such a long absence?

"It's ambitious of them," he said, meeting Mako's serious gaze. They sat across from each other at the small dining table, as if on official business. In a way, it kind of was. "Last time, it was only Kansai."

"Well, dream big, right?" Tonight, her hair was striped a deep gold that reminded Iori of amber. The earrings that sparkled from her ears this time had green stones. Dressed impeccably as usual, Mako had dropped by to check on him and see how Aoi was doing. She looked like she'd just finished hitting one of the local fashion boutiques and got the classiest clothes money could buy. A glossed red silk scarf was wrapped around her throat. While Iori didn't know her contract terms, Mako would benefit from the tour, so he understood her excitement and demeanor.

He stood to gain as well. He couldn't miss it.

"She's getting so big, Yagami-san."

"It's been four months."

"I still remember the day you called me up, floored me by telling me you had a kid, and could I come over and help? She was so tiny, then."

He remembered. Newborn. Fragile. Trusting.

"You will make this tour, right? I know it's hard with you being a single dad and all."

"I'll be there. I'll make arrangements."

"Good to know we can count on you. I'll reconfirm to the others. They were wishing you well when you got hurt – some went to the local shrines and temples to offer prayers for your recovery."

Iori didn't say anything. On religion, with the exception of his in-laws, he kept his thoughts to himself. If it made them feel better or they believed it worked, who was he to shatter their beliefs? When Michiru was alive, she was a staunch Buddhist and he didn't even question why she believed so fervently. Some topics he left well alone; being a jerk only ran in certain directions and with certain people and she hadn't been one of them.

"I take it they're excited?"

"Yamamoto-san thinks this will propel him to the top. Ono-san's trying to predict our future ranking in the popularity charts. Thinks we can get Tokyo interested, at least. He already went to a fortune teller to ask her about the months ahead."

"And?"

"We have a chance, Yagami-san. To be able to get Kanto interested? That's big."

It was. Iori knew something about the attitudes of the people living there. They considered themselves sophisticated, while looking down on people from the Kansai region – particularly Osaka – as rubes and cheap, stingy bastards. It was a common thing for people from their region and the people from Kanto region to throw snide remarks at each other. For one thing, while he didn't speak Kansai-ben like Sie Kensou or Robert Garcia, his accent would immediately give him away. It was true for all of them.

They were all mentally prepared to weather the attitudes of their audiences there.

"A small band from Osaka sweeping Tokyo? Heh, we'll see."

"I'm going to pray for good harvests. It'll mean more shows, more gigs, and better terms. You want that too, right?"

If it meant he had more money to take care of his family, then he wasn't against it.

"Looks like they have us in Namba Hatch this time."

"Good step up. Rug Time Osaka's a nice place but there are more seats in the Hatch."

"I prefer Rug Time."

"So do I, Yagami-san but atmosphere alone won't pay for the seats. Let's take Kanto by storm, shall we?"

Iori let one of his rare easy-going grins spread on his face. "With you as lead singer, me on bass, Yamamoto on the keys, Ono on drums, and Kawamori on sax, we've got this. How's Kawamori? You didn't mention him."

"He went to see his parents. His mom's fighting cancer, so…"

"That's tough. He'll be ready?"

"You know him. He gets serious during a performance. Kind of like you but different."

"How so?"

"When you play, Yagami-san, you seem to unwind. You enjoy yourself."

"Kawamori does the same though," he said, perusing through his memories of previous gigs and tours. "He plays the sax, Mako. He's upfront. How's he not relaxed?"

"He's more focused. It takes him a while to get into it. You take it to immediately, Yagami-san. Even during rehearsals. From the first note that comes from your guitar."

That was an interesting observation. He'd never noticed. He just enjoyed playing and listening to the music.

"Well, it's time for me to leave. Got to make my preparations, after all." The red swish of her silk scarf heralded Mako on her way out. Iori watched as the door closed and then stood up, walked over, and locked it. As he'd been discussing the tour details with her, he'd been running through his options for childcare and there was only one choice.

Pulling his phone from his shirt pocket, he scrolled through his contacts until he found the one name he was looking for. Hit the call option, placed the phone next to his ear, and waited.

Heard the other line pick up. "Hello?"

Iori took a deep breath. Released it. "Uchida? Need to ask a favor of you."

Notes: Namba Hatch and Rug Time Osaka are actual music venues in Osaka, Japan. Namba Hatch is a larger venue that apparently can seat a thousand people. Rug Time Osaka is a bar that leans more towards jazz. A quick Google search of best music venues in Osaka brought up a list that includes those two.

Apparently, Kansai and Kanto regions (Osaka & Kyoto and Tokyo being the biggest cities in their respective regions) do have some sort of rivalry/mean-spiritedness with each other due to stereotypes. For Americans, think of the common "yuppie Northerners" and the "redneck hicks down South". It's a bit like that from what I've read online from actual Japanese bloggers.

Not a very long chapter this time, but with the tour coming up, there might be more meat on those future chapters since they are hitting eight different cities. Iori's also going to miss four months with Aoi, so her developmental milestones are going to be constantly on my radar.