Chapter 2

A Letter From a Past Life

Affirming to everyone that it was "getting crowded" in the dining room, Akira beckoned both friend groups outside, leading them out onto the beach in front of his house with little regard to anyone in particular. His local friends tried to embrace, ask him feverish questions, inspect that he was in fact okay, but Akira paid them little mind until everyone was standing on the pale, nearly white sand.

Akira took a moment to take in the sight of the afternoon sun hanging low over the water, the waves lazily rising up the shore and receding back into river. The water was just as calm, clear, and blue as it had been when he left – a thought that sounded almost silly to him when pondering on it, as he had only been gone for about a month. But in his bones, his mind, his soul, he felt as if ages had past since he last set foot on the sands he felt he was practically born on, raised on, where nigh every day of his youth was spent. He turned around finally, looking back at the two very concerned and confused friend groups that were watching him and each other, and he breathed in quickly before beginning obligatory introductions.

They were brief and casual. The black-haired man who directly inquired first about who his new friends were, Kanji Tatsumi, a former thuggish punk turned upstanding citizen that worked at his mother's textile shop. The blue-haired intellectual girl beside him, Naoto Shirogane, an academically gifted detective in training with a strong sense of justice. Beside her, one Yosuke Hanamura, who had already had some introduction. To his side, Chie Satonaka, a sporty and energetic tomboy, as well as an accomplished practitioner of martial arts. She had been Akira's practice and sparring member on many occasions since meeting each other in middle school. Next, a proper, soft-spoken, yet elegantly beautiful young woman, Yukiko Amagi, daughter of the owners of the Amagi Inn, and its future inheritor. Then there was Rise Kujikawa, formerly known as "Risette" in the entertainment world. She was perky, cutely beautiful, and immediately friendly with all of Akira's new friends. Ryuji took particular interest in her, openly stating he had been a fan of her in high school – a compliment she respectfully took in stride.

Lastly, a young man Akira's age with silvery-gray hair and a calm demeanor. He and Akira locked eyes for a moment, then walked toward each other. He placed a hand on Akira's shoulder, then they quickly embraced. Yu Narukami was his name, and Akira explained that he was, in fact, his best friend. Though Rise was quick to add that she was Akira's oldest friend, having known each other since early elementary school.

Yu asked, "How are you, man? Really? That job go well for you?"

Akira looked uncomfortable at the question. "You all know by now that wasn't exactly true, right?"

"We do. We just want to know if you're okay."

Akira looked back out to the river with jaw clenched. "Like I said, it's a long story."

Chie added, "We've got time. We're glad you're back, and we want to be here for you."

"Indeed," said Yukiko. "We've… been worried sick."

Ryuji spoke up, "Trust us, no matter what happened, he was able to take care of himself. This guy's pretty crazy, in a good way."

"Thanks," Akira half smiled. "But… it's true. That wasn't some internship I got pulled away for. I was… well, kidnapped."

"Kidnapped?" Naoto said. "By whom?"

"By the… yakuza." Many exclamations of shock ensued. "Turns out there's a little more to my family history than I thought, though I don't know if I'm at liberty to say all of it." Akira spoke plainly, softly, carefully. "Since it involves people other than me, I don't want to give away too much. But let's just say that that shitstorm that went down in Kamurocho? The one you probably saw on the news? Well, we were at ground zero of all that."

"What were you doing there?" asked Rise pleadingly. "Even if your family has some ties to the yakuza, what did they want with you?"

"Something about my grandparents, I guess. Didn't ask too much about it, didn't really want to know too much about it. Besides, I had these guys behind me every step of the way."

"Are they yakuza too?" asked Yosuke.

"Yusuke and Ryuji are. That's it though. The girls are here just through… happenstance, really. Like I said, long story."

"I hope we can hear about it sometime," Yukiko said. "This is all far too much to just absorb though. I mean, we were beginning to think you might be dead."

"No we weren't!" Chie blurted out. "At least I didn't! We had faith in you, Akira, promise!"

Yukiko looked away sheepishly. "I was worried," she muttered.

"And thanks for worrying," Akira said. "But as you can see, we made it out okay. A bit rattled, maybe, and seen quite a lot of shit none of us wanted to see, but we're alive nonetheless. Alive and home."

Ann added, "He's really amazing, you know. Well, you probably don't know all of it, but he really is. We probably wouldn't be here if not for him."

"She's right," said Makoto. "Akira is quite the fighter. We were happy to be able to help him."

"What all were you fighting?" Kanji asked. "Bringing the pain to a bunch of Osaka assholes like the news said?"

"You could say that," Akira rubbed his shoulder awkwardly. "It's more complicated than that though."

Rise asked, "What all did you do? Like, were you a debt collector or something?"

"I was briefly. I spent most of my time, uh, fighting for my life."

"WHAT?" shouted all his friends.

"We were at war. We had to."

Ann added, "Not to mention how we even met."

Ryuji said, "Yeah, that was a hell of a story in itself."

"I still shudder to think about it," added Kasumi.

"What do you mean?" asked Yu. "How'd you meet?"

"One of their high school teachers was a sexual predator," Akira exclaimed. "He tracked Ann here and one of her friends down while we were in the city, and they had kidnapped Kasumi to try and get her to star in some disturbing porn. It was a whole—" he cut off for a moment, wincing, "—fucking mess," he finished quickly.

"Nightmarish," Yukiko remarked, holding a hand to her mouth in a gasp. "Well, I assure you all that my family and I would be honored to have you stay at our hotel. Your safety and comfort will be our highest priority as you recover," she bowed dutifully.

As they all admitted to themselves how lovely a comfortable rest sounded, they all nodded to her appreciatively. "We're very grateful," Haru spoke up. "And don't worry about the tab, everyone. I can cover it without worry."

Makoto asked, "Are you sure? You don't even know how expensive the rooms are, Haru."

"Whatever it is, money is no object. It's the least I can do to repay you all for getting me out of Kamurocho. And besides, we all deserve a rest." She looked back to Yukiko. "Whatever expenses we accrue while we stay here, I can pay in full. You have my word."

"Damn," said Yosuke, "you must be pretty wealthy, Okumura-san. And quite generous at that."

"My wealth can be better used than it has been thus far, believe me. My friends here have saved my life as well. It's my pleasure to pay them back anyway I can."

Ryuji asked, "Do you think your dad would have frozen your accounts though? I mean, who knows what he's thinking about everything right now."

"I have my own private accounts that he has no access to. I made sure from a young age to not be entirely financially dependent on him, with help from my mother."

Trying to cheer everyone up from the dour conversations, Rise said with a smile, "Sounds like a big sleepover is in order! At least, when everyone feels up for it."

"Oh my god!" Ann exclaimed. "A sleepover without having to worry about getting shot or beaten up the next night? That sounds like heaven right now!"

Naoto raised an eyebrow. "You will all have to fill us in on what exactly you have been doing this whole time. Everything you say sounds more and more concerning."

Kanji added, "As much as I respect how badass you all are, I gotta go with her. The stuff you're saying sounds like a real shitshow."

"Another time," said Yu. "They need some rest, Kanji."

"Hey, I wasn't even the first one to say it! And I'm just concerned for them, is all!"

"We appreciate it," said Akira. "But Yu's right. We could all use some rest. And I…" he looked back to his house, "have my own affairs to take care of, I think."

Yukiko said, "Well, I'll run back to the inn and get the rooms prepared. Are you all fine with one room for the girls and one for the guys? You can all still have your own beds." They all agreed emphatically. "Excellent. Your rooms will be ready by tonight, I promise."

"Maybe we should head to Aiya this evening and have some good ol' beef bowls to take our minds off things?" Chie suggested cheerfully. "You know, just to have something more fun to talk about than… all this."

Yusuke stroked his chin in thought, "Hmm, sounds delicious. Some rustic, homemade cooking from the countryside? I can't say I've ever had the pleasure."

Chie replied, "Their beef bowls can be as big as your head! And they don't skimp out on the meat at all, I'll tell you. It's a mountain of delicious meat they promise contains rise in their somewhere."

"How exquisite!" Yusuke exclaimed. "We shall dine like kings tonight!"

Yosuke leaned over toward Akira. "He's a prim and proper one, isn't he?" he whispered.

"More or less," Akira shrugged. "Good guy though."

"His name is Yusuke, right?"

"Yeah, why?"

"That's gonna get confusing," Yosuke leaned back.

"Ah, touche."

Futaba had still been hiding behind Akira's back shyly, but then popped out from behind him and quickly bowed her head to his friends. "Th-thank you all," she stammered. "Y-you're all r-really nice." Her face went flush, and she quickly hid behind Akira again. "I-it's been really h-hard lately," she muttered.

Chie, Yukiko, Naoto, and Rise all looked to her sweetly. Rise said, "Well, any friend of Akira's is a friend of ours. Don't worry, we're gonna have plenty of fun while you're here Futaba-chan," she smiled brightly. "If you like, I can even do your makeup or nails sometime for you. I've gotten pretty good at it."

Futaba hesitantly nodded. "Thank you…"

"Hey," Akira remarked quietly to her, grabbing her attention instantly, "I've known most of these guys my whole life. You got nothing to be afraid of." His voice was calm and understanding, just as it had been when they first met. "They're good people, promise." She nodded again, this time with a bit more assurance.

With that, they made their way back to the van and started to sort through their things, making friendly chatter with Akira's old friends and just pleasantly getting to know each other. As they approached the car, Anna and Ryuji pulled Akira aside by the shoulders.

Ann whispered to him, "Oh my god, is that Risette!?"

"Huh?"

Ryuji added excitedly, "I remember you telling me you knew her, but, like, holy shit! It really is her!"

"I didn't want to say anything around her," said Ann, "but it was so hard to keep my excitement down. She was one of my biggest inspirations growing up! How do you know her?"

"She grew up here, actually. We've been friends since I was five. We went to school together basically our whole lives except when she was out for her career."

Their conversation was interrupted when the ex-pop idol in question came up to help them with their bags, as well as the rest of Akira's friends. And while they continued to act friendly with each other, Akira was decidedly more distant than them, something Yu took special interest in. After a few minutes, Akira excused himself inside his house, and came to see his parents sitting at the dining table discussing something quietly.

His father was the first to notice him come in, and his mother then saw him as well. Akira felt a twinge of guilt and confusion when he saw her eyes yet red from recent tears. "Hey," he said softly.

"Hey," said his dad more calmly. "You done with introductions out there? Looks like everyone is getting along pretty well."

"Yeah, they are. I think the girls especially are going to get along great. I can see Ann and Rise being two peas in a pod especially."

"A lovely young lady, Ann is," said Takuto with a knowing smile. "And she seems pretty attached to you at that."

Akira shook his head, clenching his jaw. "Can we… just not talk about that right now, Dad? Another time, maybe, but not now."

"Right, I apologize. Come, have a seat though. You probably aren't surprised to hear that we'd like to talk to you about some things."

"I wanted to as well," Akira took a seat between them. "I think we have a lot to talk about," he said dejectedly.

Anri then said, "Only when you're ready, Akira. As concerned as we are, we're not going to force you to tell us about anything until you think it's a good time."

"I don't know if it ever will be a 'good time'. I just… I…" his voice trailed off, anger and stress coloring his face as he searched for the right words. "A lot happened, Mom," he addressed her specifically. "A lot. Too much for me to just talk about. Some things I… don't know how to talk about, honestly."

"Whatever happened, we're not going to judge you, Akira. We're just happy to know you're safe."

Akira whispered, "I wouldn't bet on it."

"What?" asked Anri.

"N-nothing, nothing," he lied, suppressing a migraine and trying his best not to let it show on his face. "But Mom, I'd like to know something: just how deep are your ties to the Sakura Clan?" he looked to her with a piercing gaze, yet she did not yield a bit in her own expression. "Why is our family important at all? Why did you lie to me all my life about who we are?"

Anri's face hardened even more, though not with anger or contempt. She simply seemed steadied, resolute. "Because there are a lot of people in this country that wanted me out of the picture, Akira. Were it not for a few very important and strong people, I likely would have been a long time ago. You and I can talk about it more, though it might have to be in private. I want to help you understand some things myself."

"Like… Heat?"

Anri cocked her eyebrow. "That is something we can discuss in private as well."

"Promise me," Akira snapped back.

"What?"

"Promise me that you'll actually tell me everything I want to know. No more lies, beating around the bush, nothing at all. I'll ask questions and you'll answer them plainly. Promise me."

Anri had never been demanded anything of her son before, nor had she ever seen such defiant anger in his eyes. Theirs had always been a deep, understanding connection, and while she was occasionally a stern mother and sensei, she had been dutiful in never attracting the ire of her only child. But now, here he was, directly and almost aggressively demanding the truth from her. It took her by surprise, yet the only indication of this was her sitting back slightly in her seat.

"Akira," Takuto interrupted, "please try to stay calm. We're only trying to—" He was cut off when Anri shot him a look – a simple shift of the eyes before locked gazes once again with her son.

"I swear it," she said clearly and slowly. "Everything you want to know, I will tell you."

Akira nodded, then sat back in his chair with folded arms. "Good."

"I assume you at least have some idea how… complicated this all is by now though, Akira," she continued. "I didn't tell you growing up because I wanted you to just live a normal life without any of this baggage weighing on you. Before you say anything – I see how you're scowling – yes, that didn't exactly work out, but I promise you that we were just doing what we thought was best for you every step of the way. I never wanted this for you." She paused, her steely expression becoming more solemn. "I never wanted any of this for you… I'm sorry, Akira."

Akira looked confused and distraught as he met her gaze again, but nodded in some semblance of understanding, though said nothing in reply. Anri did not seem to wish for anything verbal, however, just sitting in the awkward silence of the room.

"Akira," Takuto broke the silence, "we're glad to see you're physically okay, really. But if anything else happened that may be affecting you, say, emotionally or mentally, just know that you can always come to us and talk about it. I'm not just saying that as a counselor, but because we care about you and want to be there for you through this."

"Yes, exactly," said Anri. "You can come to us about anything."

Instead of saying anything else, Akira reached into this jacket pocket and pulled out the envelope Sojiro had given him, placing it before his mother. "Sojiro said to give that to you. Don't know what's in it, but it's for your eyes only apparently."

Anri picked it up slowly, pensively, taking in the small white envelope as if trying to read the letter through the sealed parchment. "Thank you. I'll look at it soon. But before we do anything else, I need to ask you something, Akira."

"What's that?"

"That girl, with the orange-colored hair. Is she, uh… Do you know a woman named Wakaba?"

Akira's eyes shot wide open as he realized just what he was being asked, and how he would need to respond. "Kind… of…" he stammered.

"That girl is her daughter, isn't she?" Anri pressed. "She looks so much like her, yet she seems so shy and detached. What's she doing here? Why isn't she with her parents?"

Akira felt as if his chest would burst with anguish, hearing his mother press him so hard as she did not know the fate of Sojiro's only child. He had only heard bits and pieces from Sojiro and Futaba, but enough for him to get a clear enough picture of what happened to Wakaba, and how close she and his mother must have been. Before he could respond, his friends came back into the house looking rather excited.

Makoto spoke up, "We wanted to thank you for letting us get our bearings here," she said to Akira's parents as they came into the dining room. "We'll be staying at the Amagi Inn for the time being, but we appreciate your hospitality."

Haru said, "If there is anything we can do for you, please let us know. We'll be happy to help anyway we can."

Anri seemed to be completely ignoring them, her eyes focusing on Futaba squarely. The girl slinked back behind the other girls self-consciously, not appreciating being stared down so intently. It was then that everyone noticed Anri's face hardening, her eyes welling with tears as she clutched the envelope even harder. She stood up shakily, and in just as shaky a tone, said, "Please excuse me. I'll be back in a moment," and she rushed upstairs to the bedroom, not even registering the confused reactions of her son or his guests.

Anri closed the bedroom door behind her and quickly tore open the envelope. Inside was two pages of a letter, written indubitably in Sojiro's handwriting. She leaned against the bed as she began to read through the stinging tears blurring her vision.

Anri,

Even when you were young, I never claimed to be a good or wise man. Yet never before have I felt like more of a complete fool than I do now. I write this as I look out over the Kitagawa estate, war brewing on the sunset horizon. I think of you, your parents, and the rest of our found family every day, kid. Especially those who are no longer with us. Which brings me to the subject of this letter.

I am just as ashamed to have kept this from you as I am of roping your son into our family's affairs. Rest assured that he is a good strong boy, just like you and your father always were, and I have no doubt that I may be looking death in the eye right now were it not for him being here. But as ashamed as I am of keeping him here as my new "Dragon", I am just as ashamed to have hid Wakaba's fate from you.

Anri, my daughter, your sister by choice, is dead. She was shot in a restaurant by the police a few years ago, leaving her daughter, darling Futaba, with me, her sole living family member. Yayoi has passed too of cancer, and heartbreak, not long after. I am alone in this world now, save for my granddaughter, and I knew since the day of her funeral that I should have reached out to you, told you the truth. But all you wanted was your own life, away from the trials and tribulations of the Clan, and I had hoped that you would live that life long and happily without us.

Or perhaps, in truth, I was simply terrified and ashamed to face the music and tell you myself. She was my daughter, Anri. When I lost her, I lost my judgment as well. I felt as if I buried it with her on that hilltop. Seeing my granddaughter every day, her face and personality the spitting image of Wakaba, was enough reminder of how I'd failed her, how I brought this on her. I guess I couldn't face you as well and admit such shame until now.

Your son has something to do with it. He's strong, he's brave, he's like a dragon in every way. You've raised him so, so well, my dear, and I am so proud of you. You both deserved better, but I'm very glad you raised him as your father would have. He deserves this time of rest, should we all make it out alive.

I do not pray for your forgiveness in any of this. And I never will. I deserve no such thing. But know that I have always loved you like a daughter as well, and Wakaba cherished you beyond words her entire life. She missed you greatly since you left – we all did. I don't deserve to ever see you again, but you did deserve the truth. And Futaba deserved someone better than I to help her lead a happy life. For however long you accept her into your home, know that I, Yayoi, and Wakaba are eternally grateful for you keeping her safe.

You make your father, and all the rest of us, very proud.

Sojiro

The tears flowed freely down her cheeks; the barely muffled whimpers mingled with the cracking paper as she crumpled it in her hand. Her sister was dead. She had suspected it for some time, but now she knew for sure. Her little sister was… dead. Shot and killed like a yakuza, the last thing she ever could have deserved. Wakaba was a researcher, a woman of science and intellect, and a gentle, kind soul who could not have been less yakuza. And yet, she had died in a shootout like so many in the Clan before her.

Unforgivable, to the highest degree. Were Anri younger and more fiery, as she had been in her youth, she may have marched down to the precinct herself and razed it to the ground with her bare hands. But that time was passed, and Kamurocho was far away. She had made sure of that when she left in 1967. Now, there was only the truth, and the exhausted lamenting of a tired, foolish old man. And she clutched the letter to her chest and sobbed quietly into her hands, truly mourning the loss of her dear little sister.

The door opened, and there was Akira, looking down on her with surprising concern. Anri could only meet his eyes for a moment, thinking of how all of this, all he had endured, was surely her fault. The guilt overtook her, and she did not realize for a moment that her son was hugging her. "I'm sorry, Mom," he whispered to her. "I'm sorry I didn't tell you. Or… that he didn't." She cried more, but repressed it enough for it to be quiet. "But her daughter, Futaba, is pretty amazing," he murmured to her. "She's smart, quirky, funny, and… probably needs some help. Sojiro wanted me to bring her here so she could be safe from the yakuza, and… I'm sorry I didn't tell you."

Anri shook her head, wiping the tears from her eyes. "I'm glad you did," she whispered, for that was all she could do. "I'm glad Wakaba got to be a mother. And I'm very glad her daughter is safe. I'm happy to have her here."

"That's great," Akira nodded. "And she—"

Something shuffled behind the doorframe, drawing their attention. Sheepishly poking out from behind the doorframe was Futaba, watching them intently. "I'm s-sorry," she muttered. "I just… saw you had the letter my grandpa wrote a-and I… I guessed that must mean you were pretty important to him if you were given it, M-Ma'am."

Anri watched her closely, then beckoned her forward. She stood up, standing a whole head over Futaba, and sized her up, scrutinizing her. "You look so much like her," she muttered, her voice cracking ever so slightly. "You really are Wakaba's child, aren't you?"

Futaba slowly nodded. "You knew my mom?"

Anri nodded as well. "We grew up together, Futaba. She was like my little sister. Did she… never mention me?"

Futaba's eyes lit up just a bit. "I thought it might be you, but I didn't want to say anything. Mom had told me she was really close to a 'great warrior', or something like that. Who was beautiful and kind and strong, and all the other great things someone would want to be. She sounded like she was describing a D&D character or something, but… I guess it's you. Though she never told me your name. Mom said you were keeping your identity a secret."

"I was, for a long time. When I left your family, I… really left. I felt I had to at the time. I'm surprised your mom really kept my secret for so long."

"She said she loved you. A lot. Like, she said it a lot and that she loved you very much. You were one of the most important people to her."

Tears filled Anri's eyes again, but not entirely of grief now. "She was very special to me too, sweetheart. She really was like my sister."

"So…" Futaba stammered, "does that make you, like, my aunt?"

Anri laughed jovially, and Futaba could not help but laugh as well. Akira smiled approvingly from behind them. "If that's something you're comfortable with, then of course," Anri beamed. "I mean, I basically am your aunt, after all."

Futaba now shed a couple of her own tears, but wiped them away with the back of her wrist. "Mom missed you," she said. "She missed you a lot."

"And I miss her so much too. I'm… so sorry for your loss, Futaba."

Futaba looked down to her feet. "I'm sorry Grandpa never told you. But… he didn't mean anything by it, I'm sure. He… he's been through a lot."

Anri looked away as well. "I know," she said softly. "He's been through a lot indeed. And you lost your grandma too. What a wonderful woman…"

"She was. She was so nice to me since I was born. I miss her too."

Futaba was startled for only a moment when Anri embraced her, stroking the back of her head in a distinctly maternal way. She had not been embraced like this since Yayoi had passed, and the feeling was overwhelming in its warmth and tenderness. She caught Akira's gaze for a moment, and he nodded to her as if telling her silently that it was alright. With that reassurance, she hugged Anri back, and they both let out the last few tears they had to shed over their loss. But it felt so warm, so accepting, and so fulfilling to her, like a thunderstorm rolling over an arid land scourged with drought.

No words were shared before they parted, for there was nothing left needed to be said. Anri had her own thoughts about how Sojiro had handled everything, but she knew that what was important now was comforting this poor, poor child. Her niece in all but blood, who needed to know that she was not alone or abandoned in this terrible world. She silently hoped such a message was reaching her as she hugged her tighter, and she vividly remembered the many times she had embraced Wakaba in their own hours of need.

It was the first hint of her original family she had experienced in twenty years, and a part of her was deeply ashamed to admit that not all her feelings toward the experience were happy. Not only had she not been told that most of her family was dead, but now Shido, the most terrifying and powerful ghost of her past, was trying to rid the world her what little was left. And she had stayed here, in her home on the beach, when her son could have been killed by him. Another one of her family members nearly struck down by that fiend. The thought awoke within her a fire that had only been embers for many years, and she was both afraid of and invigorated by its heat…

[Reviews are always appreciated.]