"Are you sure you want to do this, Tony?" My mom asked. She dropped me off at the Miami International Airport.
"A little too late for second thoughts now. I'm more worried about you guys living without me." I said.
She sighed. "We'll be fine. You'll be all alone over there with no family."
I shrugged. "True. But that's the risk one takes if they want to achieve their dreams. Plus, I'm a lovable guy!" I dramatically posed with my usual grin.
"Just know if it doesn't work out, return immediately. I don't want you bumming around." She handed me my bag.
"Of course. My flight is almost here. Te veo." We hugged tightly.
"Que Dios te bendiga." She kissed my cheek and I walked inside without looking back.
Back to reality and gravity
Eungh. Dammit. My eyelids feel heavy. I force them open to see Sakamoto looking down on me.
"Are you awake?" She asks.
"Yeah. Why do you ask?"
"Earlier, you stood up groggily and drank water before going back to sleep. I tried talking to you, but you didn't respond."
"Oh. I sometimes sleepwalk. But that only happens when I'm extremely tired." I can't believe it. That happens rarely, but I remember as a kid that I broke my drawers, cause I was dreaming that I was snapping tree trunks for treasure.
"Well at least you're okay." She casts her gaze at the floor. I guess she's expecting me to ask what was up yesterday. "I should've told you sooner, but I didn't expect them to assault me that way."
"Let me guess, you guys are part of the Yakuza?" Her eyes widened. "It was only a guess, but yesterday solidified it. That also explained why the rent was cheap."
She is silent for a moment. "I can get you another place. It will be hard to find something affordable, but at least you'll be away from us."
"Are you dumb!?" Ack! I just blurted that out. She is taken aback from my reaction. Even with my body being sore, I sit up. "Sorry. I'm actually fine with…you mainly. No offense to the other tenants."
She chuckles. "You're one weird guy." I get that a lot. "But don't worry. No one here is part of the Yakuza, ever since the Tojo Clan disbanded."
"Wait. Did you just say Tojo Clan? That was real!?"
"Real?" I explain to her the main plots of Like a Dragon. Kinda hard to condense eight games worth of lore in a small summary. "Ah. So that explains it. I'm not much into the gaming stuff, so I didn't know they told the story around the clan. Though I assume it was all fictional."
I frown. "So no Dragon of Dojima?"
She shakes her head. "Not as far as I know." That's to be expected.
"Does that mean you have a tattoo on your back?" She gets a bit uncomfortable. Seems to be a touchy subject. "That was rude of me. I understand that you guys take that stuff seriously."
"It's okay. I'm glad you're very understanding."
"So hold on. Does that mean that girl is the daughter of a patriarch?"
She groans. "I guess there's no point in hiding, now that she's interested in you." That's…not weird. But she is a child. Reminds me of when I was a curious little shit. Well I'm still curious. Just a bigger shit now. "Her mother was special. She had created a matriarch that me and others were a part of. That surprised many members and other captains objected, but she put them in their place with her strength and silver tongue. Truly a woman worth serving under." She happily says.
"Wow. She must be amazing!"
"Yeah. She was." Uh oh. As if reading my mind, she continues. "The patriarchs hated her and were trying to find something to slander her. And they found it. She was pregnant. By a foreigner."
"Oh shit."
"The men can lay with anyone that they see fit, but a woman doing it is apparently out of the line. They spun a narrative that she was colluding with the US, since the father was part of the Marines. And just like that, she was dethroned. She lost everything. But that didn't stop her from living a new life with her child." She looks out the window. "When Kamiko-chan was five, she was waiting for her mother at the daycare. But she never came. Turns out, she was a victim of a hit and run on her way to pick her up. It was devastating." She tears up a bit.
I pat her shoulder. "It's okay." I cry with her. I get like that when others cry. It's something I used to hate. But I learned from a man I looked up to, that it's important to let it all out. Because it shows you understand.
She relaxes and wipes her tears. "Thank you, Quirindongo. That was actually the first time I've ever told anyone outside the family. To a foreigner, no less."
"A good looking foreigner?" I grin trying to lift her spirits.
She examines me. "Ditch the braids and then a couple of drinks."
"Hah! I'll take the offer, but my hair ain't going nowhere." We both share a hearty laugh.
I know. The Yakuza are no different than other criminal organizations like the Mafia and the Cocaine Cowboys. My mom had lived that life in her past too. It just pains me that good people have no other choice and once it inevitably dissipates, they're left in the slums and are forever seen as hooligans when the government has failed them in the first place. That's why I like the games. Kiryu and Ichiban are the personification of those people with good morals who despite their upbringing and backgrounds, didn't stop them from doing the right thing. Goes to show that no matter where we live, we share the same experiences.
She stands up. "I have to get going. You work later?"
"Thankfully no. I'll spend the day resting." She nods and leaves. Ugh. I got a headache. Need my daily dose of caffeine. I brew coffee, add cream and look out the window. A man in a suit cycling, while a woman is hanging her clothes to dry. This tranquility is what I want for everyone. We truly are living one of the most peaceful times in human history so far. Although it doesn't feel like it. Even if we won't live to see that paradise, we should leave stepping stones for that future to be possible.
I turn around and see the closet slightly move on its own. My blood freezes. I'm not one who believes in the supernatural, which makes the reality of someone being in there more frightening. I don't know if I prefer Foxy ready to jumpscare me. I remember a time when someone was living in their home unbeknownst to the owner. My anxiety is going off the rails, but I must confront them. My heart beats louder as I approach the closet. I can see the sweat on my arm as I grab the knob. I open it slowly.
"Raaargh!" Someone lunges at me!
"AAAAAAAH!" I trip and land my ass hard on the floor!
"Hahahaha! I got you good, Kirin-kun!" The little girl giggles. I clutch my chest, feeling my heart going a hundred miles a second. Breathing exercises to calm my motor!
"(Jesus Christ.) How long were you hiding in there?" I ask while standing up.
"Not too long. I saw Sakamoto-san leave and snuck in while your back was turned." She beams an innocent smile. More mischievous if you ask me. "Oh! I forgot to introduce myself. My name is Kamiko Rikia!"
Young Sakura Bloom
Rikia Kamiko
"Nice to meet you. I'm Ai Misaki."
She tilts her head while expressing confusion. "Really? But Sakamoto-san called you Kirin…dogo?"
"That's my legal name. And it's Quirindongo."
"I like that better, Kirin-kun. It fits you." How nice of her. The way she says it, makes me think of their mythical unicorn who only appears during times of peace. It's also as strong as a dragon, which obviously I'm not exactly on the same level. And if she means giraffe, I'm more of a bear. "Are you busy today?"
"No. I'm off."
She jumps excitedly. "Great! Can you take me to Kamurocho? There's a popular Manga I wanted to buy and everyone is working."
I think for a moment. I really wanted to lay in my futon all day, but I can't deny those green puppy eyes! "Fine. I'll go. Wait for me outside. I need to get dressed." She nods and leaves as I put on a yellow polo shirt, jeans and black Converse.
Kamurocho, Tenkaichi Street
We left the Poppo store. She happily reads the latest issue of Jojo's Bizarre Adventures. "I didn't take you for an Araki enthusiast." I say.
"I've been reading this series since last year. I was so excited when he announced part nine!" Its so adorable that she's enjoying fine art. Almost makes me forget she's the daughter of a Yakuza. That reminds me, I need to finish Jojolion.
Three youngsters in gray hoodies get in our way. "Hey there. I see you have the manga me and the boys wanted. Turns out, you bought the last one. You might handing it over?"
Rikia holds it tightly. I step up. "Hey man, maybe check another day when they stock up?"
"Fuck off, foreigner! No one was talking to you." The other one shouts. You know, I get yelled at by the ladies back home, but these assholes are pissing me off. The man goes for the manga, but I grab his jacket out of instinct and shove him away.
They punch my face. "Who the fuck you think you are!?"
Something snaps inside me. "The fuck you think YOU are trying to steal from a child!?" My breathing sharpens. Blood is coursing through my veins. Arms are twitching.
They huddle around me. "Seems this fucker needs to learn who owns these streets." I can't believe it. They really are scums of the Earth!
Yakuza 3 - Crush & Strike
The one in the front punches my chest, but I take it unfazed. I grab his arm, twist it and sweep his legs, making him fall. I then punch his face with all my might, knocking him out. One of them smashes a wooden chair on my head. Blood trickles down my face, but I slowly face him with an intense glare. He is quivering. I grab his collar and punch his face twice, before finishing off with a headbutt. The last one pulls out a bat and swings at me. I dodge his attacks. He goes for a predictable side attack, which I grasp the weapon. I disarm him and swing his abdomen, gasping for air. I end it by striking his face.
"W-What is this guy made of!?" One of them says, while limping away. There's still rage inside and I throw the bat to hit his head. Ensuring a knockout.
Is this how it feels? The adrenaline rushing through my veins, the feeling of my fists crushing my foes…I'm afraid that I enjoyed every moment of the conflict.
"Kirin-kun!" Kamiko breaks my inner thoughts. Now that's it over, I can feel the toll of my body and I have a massive headache now. There's a crowd looking over the aftermath.
"Let's get out of here." I say in a serious tone. We leave, but the nagging sensation of being watched never goes away. I hope this won't bite me in the ass later.