BLOOD FROM A STONE
"I heard from Sakuragi you were sick?"
"Food allergies."
"Did you go to the hospital?"
"No. Fukuda helped out before it got worse."
"You should be careful what you eat."
"I know."
"You were also in a fight with Sawakita?"
"No. He sent a guy to me. Thought I would get totally captivated by him. I sent him packing, though. Along with a warning to Sawakita."
"Don't mind Sawakita. He's not right in the head."
"Say that to his face when you see him, Mitsui."
Mitsui Hisashi, the head leader of the Shohoku Mafia, observed the young man sitting in front of him. He passed two documents, each sealed in a large envelope, to Kaede.
"What's this?" Kaede asked, hand running along the rim of the thin envelope.
"I need you to collect his debt. He falls under your jurisdiction."
"How many millions are we looking at?"
"A few."
"Got it. My boys will sort him out. And the other one?" Kaede picked up the thick envelop to examine.
"Business. I need you to negotiate with him. Set out all the terms and conditions."
"Regarding?"
"Funding he wants from us."
"Who's he?" Kaede flicked his eyes at him.
"Another mafia family."
Kaede chuckled. "Really? Someone wants to join forces with our family?"
Mitsui looked at Kaede with adoration in his eyes, seeing the leader he'd become. Mitsui remembered the first time he saw Kaede. Dirt rag. A tall, gangly boy out on streets. Soot smeared all over his face.
But Kaede had come far, proving himself with self-determination. His education was top grade. His fighting skills were to notch. The boy had overcome every obstacles put in his way. If he had a son, Mitsui would want him to be like Kaede.
Mitsui didn't know much about Kaede family. Kaede never talked much about his past. Although, he would deliriously dream about his family whenever he was sick. Screams of agony. Shouts of anguish. Cries of pain. There was also something about protecting his mother. But Mitsui knew this was a topic Kaede wasn't comfortable talking about. So, he never pushed the boy.
"I'm proud of you, Rukawa." Mitsui said after some time. He moved closer to Kaede. "I'm sure your father would be proud of you."
Kaede scoffed. "I have no father."
A wounded look appeared on Mitsui face. "Your mother, then. She'd be proud of who you've become."
"Would she be proud of me if she knew I belonged to another mafia family?"
"Rukawa." Mitsui clutched Kaede hand. "Our family may be a mafia family, but those days of killing people and dealing with the black market are long gone. Our battlefield is now negotiation and business ventures. And you've done that by helping me with my business so far. Hotels. Malls. Apartments. And lending companies. If anything were to happen to me, you'll be my sole heir."
"Mitsui. What's all this talk about? You've got a long way to go before god takes you to heaven."
"Hell, Rukawa. Hell." Mitsui closed his eyes. He was tired. He missed those happy days when he was robust, and full of energy. He missed those days when he fell in love. So much in love. Especially with the guy named Kiminobu Kogure. A guy which ends in death.
Mitsui opened his eyes again, banishing those thoughts from his mind. It was too painful for his heart to bear. If only Kogure still alive...
"Heaven, Mitsui. You saved my life. I wouldn't be here without you. My leader."
"You're a good guy. Get to work, then. I've got some things to take care of myself."
"Would you like me to escort you somewhere? Fukuda brought the van."
"No. Miyagi will take care of it. You take care of this business. I really want this project to work."
"Sure, Mitsui. I won't let you down."
"You never let me down, Rukawa." Mitsui smiled tiredly. He called Miyagi and exited.
Kaede smiled, and exited the room, too.
Kaede slammed both fists on the table. I almost jumped a mile high through the roof. Now, if I weren't the recipient of his wrath, then who could it be directed at?
I took peek at Kaede. He was glaring at his underlings, all of them sitting like little children about to get scolded by their mother--in this case, the father--and my god, Kitsune looked mad. Not in a lunatic way, but as in red face, steam coming out of his ears.
The mood right now was even icier than the icebergs in the Arctic. I was busy polishing the many ornaments inside his office, but I couldn't help eavesdropping on their conversation when Kitsune started swearing like a madman again.
And there was a side effect to his swearing, too. The more he swore, the more my hands seemed to scrub his precious ornaments, until--
"Aki!"
Now all his attention was on me. I smiled. "Yes, boss?"
"Sit down." I nodded and darted my eyes about to look for any spare seat for me to wedge my bottom on. Sakuragi seemed to have a little room left on the edge, so I went to his side. As soon as I approached the guys, I could see they were clasping their hands in fear.
I shuffled Sakuragi out of his seat, but he wouldn't let me in that easily. He kept pushing me back. On and on we went until--
"Aki!" Kaede shout made my body freeze up.
"Yes, boss!" I yelped back, too fast and too loud for my ears.
"Get your ass in a chair. Now!"
"I am," I whimpered, turning to face him. Damn! I'd never seen Kitsune this mad before. Would he cut off all our heads?
"Then what's the fuss about?" Kitsune growled, his face inchies from mine.
"There are only four chairs," I meekly replied, blinking back at him.
"For fuck sake." Kitsune ruffled his hair, possibly annoyed with me again. "Here, take my chair."
"What?" Everyone in the office, including me, almost flipped over in surprise.
Kaede giving up his cushy chair for me?
I gulped, suddenly not liking where I stood. "Ah, boss, it's all right. I'll stand and listen here, like a good--"
"Just sit your ass on that seat, Aki." Kitsune came around and literally dragged me to his chair. He pushed me down, his hands resting on my shoulders, and now I was trapped. I was literally facing the guys on the other side of the desk, and they were all looking at me in disbelief.
I saw Sakuragi mouthing something at me.
He. Likes. You.
I smiled and wink at Sakuragi.
"Aki!"
"Yes, boss." I put on my sweet smile for him.
"What's with the winking? Are you going to flirting with Sakuragi now?"
Did Kitsune catch me?
"What? No, my eyes just got dusty. If you don't believe me, ask Sakuragi."
Kaede immediately swung his attention to Sakuragi. Sakuragi trembled in his seat. "Ah. Aki is right, boss. Why would I flirting with him? He's not my taste." Sakuragi grinned.
"Oh yeah, really Sakuragi? Am I really not your taste?" I grinned back to him.
"Would you two shut your mouths?" I'm in charge here." Kitsune ceased our argument with his command.
"Sorry, boss," both Sakuragi and I chorused.
"As I was saying, it's hard to squeeze blood from a stone, but you asses..." Kitsune pointed his finger at his four underlings. "If only you tried harder. That tall bastard is just buying time with his excuses. I don't want any more excuses. Mess this job up and I'll mess with your faces. You all got that."
"Yes, boss." They all hastily nodded.
"Ah, boss?" I had to lift my hand to ask for his attention. "Who's the tall bastard? And what did he do?"
"For fuck sake, Aki, get out of my seat and go make us some coffee." Kitsune exploded. He lifted me by the collar and shoved me off his chair. I almost fell.
"Easy, boss."
"Aki, I'm seriously now." Kitsune face turned raspberry red.
"Okay, boss."
Today was another debt collection day. The five of us were now sitting in the black van, discussing why the boss almost lost his head yesterday.
Apparently, it was all about some tall bastard who refused to pay his debit. Said man was a millionaire, as Fujima told me. Squeezing blood, in mafia terms, meant money.
See, I'm getting smart, learning all about the life of the mafia.
"I say we stalk him." I gave myself an imaginary pat on my head for my splendid suggestion. "What do you guys think?"
"I think you'll end up being the maid in jail." Maki supplied.
"But aren't we already illegal businessman?" I clarified.
"Akira, we are legit businessman. Boss doesn't like to think of us doing illegal work," Fujima responded.
"So, what we're doing here is legit stuff--threatening people with turning them into breakfast just to get some cash? Is that what you guys are telling me?" I looked at all four, straight in their faces.
Sakuragi had the decency to flush. "It's part of our job to act tough. We have to protect the boss."
"Boss?" I frowned. "What has he to do with any of this? Hey, that reminds me. How did he get into the mafia? Do you just happen to be born into it? Or did something happen to him and he became--"
"Shut it, Akira!" Fukuda cut me off. "Don't talk about the boss history. He doesn't like anyone digging into his past. So, if you want to stay here peacefully, don't ask about it."
"Chill. Fine. I don't care." I lifted my hand in surrender.
And that was the end of our discussion. Everyone just nodded when I mentioned the stalking method again. Sakuragi then pushed on the pedal and drove into the city.
"Hey, ah, Sakuragi, are we lost?" I tapped his shoulder to grab his attention. "We seem to be going around the same block."
"Nope. We're not lost. The building is right over there." Fujima pointed to the tall, grey tower.
"Then how many more times are we going to swirl around the place?" I poked my head between the front seats, looking at Sakuragi making yet another round.
"Boss said to only park at dollar car park. I'm trying to find one," Sakuragi answered with a nod. Like that would save the fuel money.
"Won't circling the place five times cost more than finding a dollar car park? Think of all the gas we're wasting. How's that going to benefit us in the long run?"
"Akira has a point." Maki agreed.
"Yeah, why didn't I think of that?" Sakuragi scratched his head.
He immediately found a car park. It was a two-dollar space. What was the fuss before? I couldn't work out what these guys brains were made of. Anyway, we swiftly got out the car and entered the high-rise apartment.
We acted like spies. I paired up with Sakuragi, Maki and Fujima, and Fukuda...well, he have smug face. He didn't need to pair up with anyone.
Sakuragi and I were stationed at the main foyer of the flashy apartment. Fukuda was in the black van, scanning personal documents about tall bastard, Hanagata Tohru. Maki and Fujima hung out near his apartment door.
At precisely fourteen-hundred hours, we spotted Hanagata walking out his apartment. I got this message from Fujima. And just five minutes after that, Sakuragi and I saw the elevator door open. Out walked Hanagata, with a cane, followed by a guy assistants glued to his sides.
We followed Hanagata at a sensible pace until he got into his limousine. Now, all four of us were sprinting to the van, shoving ourselves into it. And before butts met seats, the van drove off at a dangerous speed.
"Follow that limo, Fukuda. Follow it," I shouted, adrenaline running high, eager to get to the bottom of this ridiculous raid.
I knew Kitsune would be upset if he didn't get his money back. I'd do whatever in my power to help.
Our vehicle followed the limo until it screeched to a stop, right in front of a highly prized establishment.
I saw Hanagata walk into that building with the guy by his sides. I glanced up at the polished signboard. "Welcome to the Holly-G Club."
"Now what are we going to do?" Sakuragi asked, his shoulders slumping in defeat. "Boss said we need to get money from him today. But we can't go in there. Everyone will know us."
"What do you mean, Sakuragi?"
"Boss owns that club. Everyone's know four of us."
"Holly-G, what kind of club is this?" I asking.
"Gay club." Fukuda answered.
"There are no women in there." Fujima added.
Some an idea popping in my head. I smiled devilish at the guys. "They only know fours of you. But not me. Don't worry, guys. I've got a plan. Do you have a white tank top?"
The four guys blinked in confusion.