The trio finally arrived in Japanese waters, with Cherryton in sight. Kubo slowed the plane down enough and landed it next to an abandoned dock. He let out a sigh of relief and stepped out of the pilot's cabin. Keanu and Wayne were sleeping peacefully in their seats. Kubo walked to the back of the plane and grabbed the briefcase with Araki's cash. He opened the door of the plane with a loud thud. Keanu and Wayne ever so slightly opened their eyes.
-"We're home boys." Kubo triumphantly announced.
Keanu rubbed his eyes, adjusting to the sun coming from the open door. Wayne slowly stood up, stretched and threw the bag of product over his shoulder. Keanu noticed it was still leaking product, so he grabbed a bandage and stuck it on the hole.
They exited the plane, tying it to a nearby post with chains. Kubo spun the plane keys around his finger for a bit, before putting them in his pocket.
-"So, we gonna call a taxi?" Wayne asked.
-"Yeah, good call." Kubo spoke, pulling his phone out of his pocket.
Keanu looked at the city. It felt good to be back, the warm orange glow from the setting sun gave it an interesting color pallete. But hanging over him was a feeling of dread. His mind still weighed heavy from what consequences he's gonna face. But more so the tribe from Cuba. He couldn't shake them out of his head. It would've been better off if he hadn't intervened at all. If he would've just let things run their natural course they'd be in Cherryton with no enemies and a new source of income.
Eventually, a cab arrived to the road in front of the warehouse. The trio hopped inside, throwing the bag full of product in the trunk, leaving an audible thud. Kubo kept the briefcase tight in his hand though.
-"Damn, what do you guys have in that bag? It's real heavy." The cab driver chuckled.
-"None of your business. North black market, and step on it." Kubo commanded. The cab driver just slightly nodded, keeping silent for the rest of the ride.
The drive was silent. Nobody spoke, no radio, not even a cough. The only thing to be heard was the sound of the car's engine. Eventually the driver arrived in the Northern district of the black market.
-"Okay, that'll be 2000 yen." He read from the taximeter. Kubo looked back at Wayne and Keanu.
-"Don't look at me, I didn't bring my wallet." Wayne blurted out. Keanu just shook his head no.
Kubo sighed and opened the briefcase, pulling out a wad of cash and giving it to the cab driver. The cab driver just looked surprised, before giving a quick thank you. They grabbed the product from the trunk and started walking to their hideout. They stepped into the main room. All eyes were on them, both from the bar and TV area. Raph looked at his watch.
-"Huh, you're uhh... Home early?" Raph asked, confused.
-"Yup. Looks like we won't be doing business with Mr. Ramon any time soon." Kubo answered, walking over to the elevator. "Is Araki in?"
-"Yeah, yeah he's up in his office." Raph replied. Kubo stepped in the elevator and pressed the top floor button. He looked over at Keanu.
-"You. Be up there in 20 minutes." Kubo ordered. The elevator door closed.
Keanu sighed and walked over to the bar, poured himself some Jack Daniels in a glass and sat down next to Johnny.
-"So, how was Cuba?" Johnny asked. Keanu said nothing, and sipped on his drink. Johnny noticed the hand he was holding the glass with. More importantly, he noticed his missing finger. "Fuck..." Johnny shuddered under his breath.
Wayne walked over to the TV area and threw the bag of product on the table and sat on the couch. Sera and Raph looked over at the bag on the table. Yaki however noticed Wayne's bandaged stomach.
-"What happened back there?" Yaki asked.
-"Ah I got shot when we were running for the plane." Wayne shrugged off.
-"Plane? Running?" Sera questioned.
-"Kubo will explain it later, can y'all just fuck off and let me watch some TV? Please." Wayne answered, clearly annoyed.
-"Sure cowboy, I'll go get you a beer." Sera chuckled.
Raph opened the bag and started taking out bricks of product, before grabbing the one Wayne was shot through. He looked at it for a bit, before setting it on the table too. Keanu checked his watch. 15 minutes had passed. He finished his drink and walked into the elevator.
-"Hey, Keanu." Wayne called from the couch.
-"Yeah?" Keanu answered.
-"Good luck kid." Wayne encouraged. Keanu pressed the button for the top floor.
He walked over to the doors of Araki's office. Taking a deep breath, he knocked three times before entering. The room was darker than usual, the only light was a small lamp on Araki's desk. Keanu could see Araki standing on his balcony, smoking a cigar and overlooking the city. Keanu stepped on the balcony, making sure to keep his distance from Araki.
-"I ever tell you what my daddy told me?" Araki asked. Keanu didn't say anything. "Yeah pappy was a criminal too. We moved a lot when we were younger cause he kept running into trouble wherever he went. He used to tell me everything he did was so we would survive. And I believed him. Fact was though, he often did a lot more than necessary. Almost like he enjoyed it. Well when they eventually did drag him off to court and then prison, he sang a whole different tune. He was afraid. Kept rambling about how his sins are catching up to him. Then one final time when I visited, you know what he told me? "I enjoyed it. Every moment of it." He never cared that much for our family, let alone our survival. He did so because he enjoyed breaking the law. And that left me alone, knowing nothing else but crime." Araki told.
-"So... What was the point?" Keanu softly asked.
-"The point is he did bad things cause it was all he knew, convinced he was gonna do us some good. But he just led me down the same road." Araki explained. Keanu was silent once again. "You tried doing something good didn't you?" Araki asked
-"I..." Keanu stuttered.
-"Except it led to all of 'em dying. And it also led to us making a lot of enemies Keanu. It also led to us losing on a whole new source of income. Now cops are still gonna be looking into weapons, and not drugs. We're inching closer and closer to being hunted down..." Araki continued, throwing his cigar off the balcony.
-"I..." Keanu couldn't get any words out.
-"And you decide that now is the time to be a hero!?" Araki yelled. Keanu's legs turned to stone, he was stuck in place from fear. Araki was silent for a few moments. "The gang is your family. We all make sure we're the top priority, everything else comes second. I've lost trust in you."
-"I'm sorry Araki..." Keanu barely mustered up the words. Araki said nothing for a bit.
-"Just go, go home and rest. We'll figure out another plan." Araki begrudgingly spoke.
Keanu slowly walked up next to Araki, leaving his cut off finger on the handrail of the balcony. Araki looked at it for a second, noticing that it was from Keanu's left hand. Keanu turned and stepped back inside the elevator. He went back down to the lobby. He walked over to the bag of product on the table and looked at the damaged brick. He grabbed it and inspected it.
-"We can't sell this." Keanu murmured, putting the brick under his shirt and walking out of the hideout. Everyone looked at him as he was leaving.
Keanu walked in his dark, empty apartment. He walked over to his living room and sat in the pit in front of the TV. He threw the brick of product on the table. He poured himself a drink and just sat in the dark for a bit. He kept looking at the brick of product, and could feel it staring back at him. He stood up and walked on his balcony, to get some fresh air. He leaned on the end of the balcony for a bit, staring out at the bright lights. His grip tightened on the drink. He threw the glass off the balcony, enraged. Keanu put his hands on his face in stress and frustration.