AN/ Warning: DARK THEMES AHEAD, all the transnational, national, or local groupings mentioned to be part of an Organized crime were solely mentioned for sheer entertainment purposes, I have no education whatsoever in what these groups do. They are not real and I have no fundaments to such claims. Enjoy :D
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L O V E
Jester
Aksel's POV
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My eyes darted over him, he was flagrantly vicious with a spiteful cackle, my face remained unmoving, I watched the rest smile and hoot in sheer viciousness, I scoffed a laugh, just to show them their motives entertained me, I am accepted, none of them questioned my age and I let my back relax a little bit. I watched a young man snigger at another filthy witticism one of the elders larked, I shook my head, inhering in a fictional character of a young man that found their detesting laughs to be humorous.
"Gentleman, gentleman," I interrupted, I know this is just another reason why my mother wasn't concerned in having me advocate her interests, "Expressly, Dante Yinova," His eyes landed on me, "Shall I remind you that if the Belgian landfill goes against your enterprises it will only and solely affect 60% of Yinovanis' 2020 incomes, without counting tax proscribed endorsements," Rather, my entire family's interests "If I were you, I wouldn't be as lenient."
She knows I am fearless.
My left eyebrow lifted, cockily "And that 2020's year estimation was assesed with a very positive mind," I sighed looking at the written tables, "Still, I have good news, in representation of the Kles Haler Company, I can assure you we have indeed interests in alliance with you. Rather, an agreement."
The alluded placed his hands together and I noticed how his shoulders tensed, he asked, serious "Where are the indicators?" I nodded at his inquire and handed him a neat placed folder, I continued "Just for collective awareness, we want you all to know that Tax evasion just grant us a little bit over 0.3% from our final impost. Take into account our Ponzi scheme is about to detonate, withdrawals are projected to minimize over 80% to 60% in the first half of the year, the investment is set to increase each year over a 33%"
They gasped, some silently. Some others just nodded, "Without taking into accountability new developments and future projects. If we were to keep our hands in stationary commodity. That yearly 33% is what our future upholds."
I continued, delighted "That means we are not in the fall anywhere near, Mr. Yinova, if my calculations are correct, you have a projected descent for over a 44% and that if the Belgian want to act up late, we estimate a 52% of downfall with crude assessments. Today the Incala trades, with the lady present" I acknowledged a woman's presence with a courteous hand motion, she nodded politely, "We decided to overbear money laundering in 42 new real estates in Osaka."
He nodded, the room submerged in dexterous silence, "You mean without the hedge future trading?"
"Yes, we are not in the least concerned about the infamous Belgian Landfill's parting, though 0.5% will be impacted in the first week, our new trades are set to expand in little less than three days."
He remained silence, I smiled condescendingly, "I wouldn't be giving this information if not for all the respect The Kles Haler company have for each of you, but with all due respect, you are screwed up without us" I leered, the man was baffled "We only ask for 15% of your commissions in entry from today to 2028 and we of course, hand our help if anything goes wrong with the Belgian Landfill. And of course I am speaking about the White House's forgery. We want 500 million in assurance, your buildings in Yokohama are a great place to start."
He scoffed, "For a shitty guarantee? Are we going to be chained to you with the only millionaire income we can be sure of?"
"Isn't that how it's supposed to work? I'm offering something of value and you give us something of value. We send our people and we are risking too much for a crumbling corporation." I blinked slowly, I was having fun, "What did you expect? It's our people blood we are giving off and you? You just have to pay us a humble amount of mone-"
"Humble my ass, that is half of my personal revenue!"
I growled silently, my eyes darkened menacingly "Listen Dante, we can save your sorry ass this time around, but there is a shit tons of things to do in between. Be grateful we are even open for negotiation, without us that million dollar baby you have will soon be a million kills baby with a dead daddy, now be clever and sign up for it." I surely earned their respect, they were all nodding at Dante, he gulped and then he dipped his head thoughtful.
He was handed the papers and with closed penitent eyes, he signed up. "I-Is there any guarantee you can give off to me?"
"Oh?" I asked as I saved the papers he just handed me neatly inside my black attaché.
He cleared his throat, "I mean, is there any warranty that you will be successful with the Belgian Landfill?"
"Oh Dante!" I sounded unapologetically coated in crude cynicism, "Didn't you read the papers? We never offered any warranty if things didn't go as planned? We are anyways going to seize the buildings if you refuse to pay."
He remained deadpanned for the rest of the meeting. I thanked him anyways, as polite as I could and the conversation with the rest kept on thriving, I could sure say this one was easy.
The only woman in the room chimed in again, "The high yield investment programs of the Kles Haler Company and the Incala Trades are set to distribute together throughout the country, we don't want the FBI to uncover the pyramid scheme before 2019, we offer a 4% brute intrinsic value for the Hagari's firm if you want to build that one up for us."
"Agreed" Pipped in the Hagari's house advocate, "But 0.8% after 2019."
I nodded, "Only if you assure a pyramidal veneer for 2018 to 2021." Their advocate moved his head doubtfully.
"Er… well that's risky."
"That's 0.8% of brute worth, terrorism is masking well, but like I explained all of you before, we are betting for a bigger scheme, it's labor racketeering will project a 15% in clean money and 19% in laundering wages. We have our laboratories occupied with the newest pócima. Our traders are ready."
"Alright," He still seemed doubtful but once he heard the last part, he grinned, "Alright agreed."
I handed him the papers, I surely enjoyed playing checkmate with them. Especially when I won.
It wasn't that I was superb in negotiation, I'm not going to say I am not good, certainly I am, but throughout the years I've learned that The Moby corners you to negotiate, concede, threaten and agree. I didn't have the enthusiasm to speak to my mother every day, some days I couldn't say I could keep my families' interest intact. But let's just say this time I did, that should be enough for her.
O
Did it bother me to be their Jester? I just don't know how I missed it for so long; I wasn't the prioritized son I thought I was, crudely I am just a well-trained fool. No, for now I am not concerned in dying, I know too much, I am too useful, I am still too useful to abandon. I'm the Jester of an invincible King, a King that once told me I was a Prince.
…
What a sucker.
"We were all worried, but you know man, when things go down that path, there is almost nothing we can do"
I snorted, "At least lie to me and tell me you tried."
I heard him shift awkwardly at the other side of the phone, "I'm sorry man, you know how this shit is," He laughed amicably "at least we are happy with Shippo's involvement, if it wasn't for him you'd be dead."
"No, he is not involved, he was not" I ingested "I don't think it has to do with him, wasn't I supposed to be monitored?"
"Oh you are, we all are" Nick shrugged, "I think… but the thing is that he alerted everyone and prioritized they find you rather than speculating if you were actually being kidnapped."
"You think?"
"Yeah," He breathed loudly, "I mean, I don't know what keeps him so aghast of this whole thing, he is surely or must be really stupid."
Stupid? I smiled bitterly to myself, in all honesty I thought he was endlessly lucky.
"I guess then,-" My eyes closed, "-but Nick, don't work mom's head up," I stopped "I mean, that Shippo's involvement might be useful," I heard him make a thoughtful noise "he is fine that way," I didn't want to think I was being protective, but I knew I would be endlessly sorry if I didn't do anything to stop them from spotting Shippo.
"Why I was about to talk to them about it."
"Well don't" I heaved a breath, "He wouldn't be as faithful as we are between us" I don't think I was harming Shippo by saying that, if anything, it would be out of the contrary.
"You think? What you mean by faithful?"
But I also knew I had to be more careful with my choice of words, "I mean, he doesn't appreciate us like we appreciate each other, you know that."
He coughed, "Uh, I mean yeah but he could help? I mean we could help him, he lives sadly" My face paled.
"Nah, he doesn't deserve our shit."
I heard him shift again, "Aksel you are too greedy, we must protect each other, including him" That was exactly what I was doing, "but yeah, last time you said he was being shitty with you right?"
"Yeah, it's not about greediness, Shippo is just… different."
"I wish he wasn't like that," he muttered, then recovered his light mood "anyways how is that he managed to be away from Norway? I mean Japan, for real?"
I sighed, "Well I guess Shippo's dad had a will, it's not like we can talk our parents into inducing him into this, like I told you before, his dad had a Will that I don't know how the fuck is being respected, I don't even know how is that Shippo has managed to have us at bait."
"Dilik's mom said last time Shippo reminded her so much of his dad, I guess Shippo's dad was a man of character. I guess he didn't leave his son protected enough though"
Protected? That man protected Shippo more than anyone in this family ever protected their sons.
"What do you mean Nick, Shippo has the easiest of lives from all of us."
He chortled, "You kidding?" I heard Nick laughing, "He doesn't have our luxuries, he doesn't have cars, expensive shit more than what he asks for one at a time. He could be here with us, not alone, enjoying family trips and dinner, his life sucks man, his father screw his life up."
His point of view was just as vain and ignorant as mine not too long ago, before I was chosen to represent the Kles Haler company in Japan, alongside The infamous Yakuza Clan, unprotected, feeling stabbed by how my family behaved when I was kidnapped, I thought I had it all, before getting to realize I didn't have anything at all. Nick you fool, money, the money you and I have access to will be our eternal debt, the toys we played with, the cars we are driving, the food we eat, the jewelry we use will be our blood on the pavement, and what will they say? That if we died violently we did a good job. That we died fairly.
No I didn't want this, I don't want this, my little brother and my little sister don't even care if you buy them a million dollar Barbie, a million dollar G.I Joe or the cheapest toy, they don't know they are creating a debt that will only be fulfilled with their blood and if I were allowed to prohibit it to them, I would.
I swallowed unnecessarily hard, "But he is away from all the shit I have to go through to get to a luxurious dinner don't you think?"
To even express unconformity with my so-called close relatives was straight-up dangerous, I came to realize that we weren't as faithful to one another as we were to our last name, how idiotic right?
"Uh-Oh, I don't think so," He appreciated me, I know that, but he stopped me right there, "you are only saying that for what you last experienced and the thing that happened to your eye, but think about it Aksel, when has it been hard for us?"
O
Sundry and past tensed conversations come to my mind as I sit and watch these people interact, Shippo is laughing and jesting with this young kid that I liked since I first saw him, regardless of his gender, I think he is one of the prettiest persons I know, he is mounting Shippo's back and it seems like the cold breeze don't bother them enough to stop their playful gags, Youki tells him something that hits me home, "Aw but you are my soul brother dude," He is talking directly to Shippo "my whole fucking family."
I remember what Nick told me the last time I spoke with him over the phone, from everything that he said, he also insinuated that Shippo was alone. What the hell was he thinking when he said that? Did he really expect Shippo to feel fuller with our company, in Norway, twisted between our crimes? Does he expect anyone to ever feel fulfilled with that? Does he feel complete? Does he know not even him feels complete?
Just as a bitter catalyzer, my mind suddenly tangles with itself, cobwebs and lethargies start to appear and they make me hitch uncomfortably, Nick knows nothing, I am obliged to see Shippo's lucky life through my broken eyeballs. It bothers me, I know I have my reasons to be upset, I know I don't understand myself yet, but I also know I will.
Soon enough silence has to untangle my messy head.
I stop and stand, I feel cold hands on my shoulder, the wind is penetratingly cold, I sigh as mutely as I can, I see my breath, he tightens his hands on my shoulders and judging by their size, they belong to no other than Jazz, I look over but I am too distraught, he leers as usual and though his sight lifts me up from my mind's sudden breakage, I stand still; I can't even push him as I often do, I step away and I leave.
I just need some time.
Let me rehearse.
I get away, I hear my phone ringing but I need silence.
Why am I affected? I think Jazz once told me never to underestimate anyone else's hell and I've tried my best not to, especially with Shippo, but sometimes it is one thing; hard. It is hard because he has that one thing that money can't buy; freedom. True, I have and I can have everything that money can guarantee you, I have everything that any man my age could only wish for, I can have everything that Nick told me we had that Shippo didn't.
But Shippo has so much, so fucking much that we don't. So much that I want and I know I can't have.
Sometimes, I want no other than the right to make a mistake. I know my family has indirectly suggested that I wasn't even born with the right to think about this, or that's what they have tried to convinced me.
I just want the right to feel tired, to be sad, to be unwilling to cooperate, to be fucking messed up and distrust everyone around me, the right to feel disaffected and isolate myself in my room because I just don't want to see my mother's face any longer, the right to yell and disagree with the ones that share my same bloodline, the right to doubt if I will ever have and taste true success in my life because I am just not a fucking millionaire with a tainted planned lifeline. I want success in my own way, I want to be proud of myself not just because I shamelessly scammed an equally corrupted man.
I want the right to feel wronged and being able to say it, the right to be me and not anyone else's command.
But my life wasn't granted with those rights. At my 19 years of life, I've come to that bitter realization, a realization nobody should come down to.
Sure, I want the newest car? One that I've seen in a movie? They offer it to me before I have time to wish for it, I can stick up with the ones I already have, why would I need another one? They ask if I want to wear what certain designer designed for me? Bring it on, if I want some kind of exotic new food from the other side of the world? They got it from me before I am even hungry. Wanting is so dull that I don't feel like wanting anything anymore, not anything that can be given immediately to me. Nothing that money can buy me.
I might be the poor-rich boy for anyone that reaches my outer thoughts, for Shippo I am merely that; a poor-rich mommy's-kid with a consented will. I can certainly agree, money does make me feel miserable and empty, but I am not only lacking what you may assume those poor-rich kids lack, I am lacking the true essence of life, I am lacking the right to screw it all up.
I often disengage myself from dramatic thoughts but it's just right to say that if I screw it up, I'll end up executed.
Nick, my closest cousin thinks that Shippo would be happier if he was with us, the thought comes from a good-intentioned bend, I know my cousins appreciate Shippo, they think he had the toughest life for being raised alone, they think that living modestly is living miserably, but regardless it all, Shippo has so much more than us, solitude? He has a family here, a realer one, a more genuine family than mine, than ours. I would give my entire fortune for what he has.
A football team where he isn't the captain, he knows he has to work hard if he wants to go further, a lazy girlfriend that has him on edge because she refuses to go out and hang out every day, the most supportive best friends I have ever seen, I don't see anyone behind him for monetary reasons, I see loyalty to him, even that jerk Ranma seems genuine with him, a group that respects him, even Ayame does. His own history, he is proud for having picked himself up from where his father once left him, from having being severely depressed to a strong reliability to others and when I see him with Youki, I know the two orphaned teenagers have now a solid family.
I will do my very best to keep my family's nose off of him.
He can live the life I want.
I'm at least glad that my eyes can witness freely what genuine love is, as for me, I am aware I am thus doomed to die how I started, I know there is no way I could ever break free, not without dying.
O
Now I get to wonder if I really want to victimize myself, knowing how unapologetically lionized I am, I highly doubt I want to wear that type of rueful mask.
"You are alive and should move forwards, you did a whole lot of drama about the abduction as if we didn't care, I've dealt with your audacity and restraint of ever insinuating I was not enough of a Mother. I let it pass, will not again."
I breathed, grave "Yes mother."
"Now you know all the sacrifices I've done, you need to put your best face for us."
"Sacrifices."
"The life you are lucky to enjoy isn't one anyone has the luck to have Aksel" her tone severed, the phone's distance didn't make it less stark "Recognize me for having being the woman I was with you. I still am. Don't give us for granted, don't you dare give your mother for granted."
I spaced, nodding "Yes mother."
"Aksel," My attention was picked by her sudden solemn tone, "You are in eternal debt, don't forget we all are, we are all in this together, you know my love for you goes in true depth." She was threatening me, I was left wordless, for me that was the most disgusting manipulative tactic she had against me, a sordid threat disguised as love.
"I know mother."
"Don't you ever imply I don't, otherwise I wouldn't have paid the amount of money we paid for you."
"You got it back."
"Moving our currencies for a stationary deceased is difficult Aksel," my breath hitched lightly, those words carved through my skull "stop victimizing our boundaries, you are in debt with our entire organization. With our family. Even with yourself, it is also your money" Another cold warning, I nodded. "Now all we need to do is wait, you need to be more patient."
"Okay," Smiling inordinately, I guarded my ordnances "should I wait for what?" the discussion started because I wanted to go back home, but now I don't think I want that anymore, to what home would I go back to?
"We are not going to give your location off, we need to be more careful."
"Yes, but I can barely move, my eye still hurts. I have a horrible headache." Is it normal for a son to search for his mother's compassion? I was in genuine pain.
"It will be fine," She remained unmoving "I don't want more drama, we have sent good doctors to attend you."
"They are barely helping." I sighed, I really needed to hang up; She was severing our ties without letting me go.
"Be grateful we didn't give up on you. You are alive and that is what matters. Toughen up son, now is the moment."
"…"
"If you lose that eye, you will have to move forwards, we are all going to be sorry, but we will still be grateful with the outcome."
"What outcome mother?"
"You are alive."
Oh, how lucky. I just laughed.
But it at all passed, my eyesight is somewhat healthy, I can see now in a physical and metaphorical way and not because of her doctors, time lessened the murky memory that my mother's perpetual anger left behind and I am supposedly fine. What can I say? I am fine. But I get to wonder, for how long will I be?
My thoughts are still strained.
I'm wondering if anyone noticed I left, I sighed in contentment, at least that idiot Jazz called me twice. I didn't hear my phone though, or maybe I did, maybe I should pay him a visit.
O
"Ah," His golden, aggressive eyes were hooded, his characteristic smirk had me glad this time, "I was waiting for someone else." I smiled at his lively voice.
"As if," I jeered, he motioned me to step in, "Thanks." He closed the door shut and locked it once both of us were inside. The freezing wind still jarred my back.
"Ah come on, I was," he laughed "maybe they saw you and ran away."
"What the fuck why, if anything they would run back up, can't you appreciate the flawlessness of a true God?"
"Perhaps of the flawed."
"Don't be an ass," I smiled and we made our way closer to the living room, I sighed amusedly, the fucking nerd had a pile of books on the living room's couch, I highly doubted he was waiting for someone. Sometimes Jazz reminded me of a mouse living in cute hazelnut house, everything was neat, cozy and warm and had books around but still remained spotlessly neat "Put on a less adorable weather sweater and then you are allowed to be the bad guy again."
"It isn't adorable, in fact, it is very…" He looked down at it, his cheeks colored pink "Yeah whatever it was cold."
"Sure because there isn't any sweaters on the men section."
He scoffed, he reached for the behind of his collarbone and yanked it to the front, intending me to read it, "What does it says there you uneducated amoeba, MALE and the fucking S is for Small size but man nonetheless."
Shit I liked him.
"Aha."
"What can't you read now?" his cheeks were still red, "Jesus, if you need glasses I'll get you some, you know I'm just as friendly. I'm sure I have some around."
"That would be interesting to see, but..." I laughed and moved my head apologetically, "Are you sure? I mean it says Women there" I pointed at it jestingly.
His eyes widened and rapidly pulled it off of him, I snorted, he was left with a plain black sleeveless shirt, he looked at the collarbone of the sweater intensely "Says male…" he said quietly, relieved, he nodded and confirmed loudly "SAYS MALE you imbecile."
"But you doubted it."
"You are so-No I didn't!"
"Yes you did," I watched him intently "Jaaz" I complained as he struggled to put it back on, "Jaaaz~"
"Say my name correctly you fucking-" His hands finally found their way on each sleeve, "-fucking, agh" he was really struggling, it was too big for his size, and it had strands, maybe his hair was pulling it backwards? "Shit…" that was under his breath, I snorted again, he was helplessly endearing.
"Jaaaz~" I repeated. He was irritated, I went near and smiled, Jazz is your atypical bad guy, he is in fact too short to behave like he does, but somehow it matches perfectly. I yanked both sides and managed to help him enough that his head finally found its way out, he breathed loudly, released, his hair was a violet mess, I think that it was partially his hair's fault.
I snickered at his blush "fucking sweater easy pull yeah fucking right, what was I saying?"
"You want to kill me right?"
"Ah… Yes? I mean, I guess what did you say?" he was frowning.
"Adorable, Jazz," I looked behind me at all the books rustled and scattered, tall piles on the couch and I sighed, sometimes I remind myself that Jazz isn't stupid "Weren't you supposed to be more intelligent?"
He stopped and growled, his hand went as usual on the right side of his hip, I smiled and thought it was a girly gesture "Oh I'll show you just that you pretentious moron," His sudden smirk broadened, "I dare you! Let's see," He looked around, "Why don't I kick your ass on VR? Maybe The Walking Dead?" He dragged me to the living room's couch, "I got season 3 dude, I've never played it before, we'll test our luck."
"Dare taken."
There is something special about Jazz, with him and only when I am with him, I know everything that I am not.
With Jazz, I don't have a last name, I am only Akuseru or however he pronounces my name, with him I can be as moneyless as him, I can talk about solitude without having to be lonely, I can eat pizza three times in a row, I can borrow his large clothes if mine are dirty,-mind to add that his clothes are always oversized- I don't have to use a brand or a suit, I can talk about why it hurts, why I feel the way I feel and he listens and he has shown me that I am too a person worth of another person's trust. He trusts me and has spoken about his own hell, painful things that I wish I was there to stop them but then I get to think that he is Jazz only because he is stronger that what happened to him.
He makes me wish I was better.
He is too special for me, I would do anything to protect him and I don't know how to call what I feel for him, I can quite pinpoint it. What is it that only when I'm with him I feel free?
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A/N: Here is second part and I wish I had more to say about Aksel but I did not create him :'V like I did with Jazz I mean, anyways I hope it turned out fine. Yes I guess their friendship is a little bit advanced and I will go into depth in later chapters. I am dying to write romance already :D
I am so sorry about his POV if you think its OOC, I really tried, that's why it took me longer to write than to write Jazz' POV, You know what consumed my time in this fucking chapter? The first part, the negotiation and how cool it turned out lol So anyways I hope it wasn't as tedious as it was writing it lol I hope you understood Aksel's reasons to speak of Shippo the way he did, I do think they have unblended feelings for each other and remember that Aksel's POV doesn't have to be 100% accurate about Shippo, I am simply speculating.
Lol if you say I didn't touch Aksel's thoughts abou in this chapter read it again, they are more subtle, but they are certainly making an appearance.
Sorry for grammar mistakes, I will not check it, I want to upload it, its so late already :D I am also writing ranmaxyouki because I still fucking love them so much *cries*
Till later
Batya000