Chapter 27 A talk between brothers

Lee sat, lost in thought. So young and he had a lot to think about. It wasn’t good for his state at all. He had developed eye bags. He knew his father was a gangster don. He was happy even, at the idea that his father was all powerful and bad. That meant that no one would mess with him. That no one would mess with them.

Imagine his surprise when his cousin told him, that a boy he had grown up with, a boy he had called brother, and a boy he shared his mum with. Had killed his father. He had loved Takashi, but he loved his father more. He loved his family more. Now, his dad was dead. His mum was in a special home. And his cousin was a freak.

He never wanted to take over from him.

He wanted to live his life freely.

And his dad didn’t expect him to take over.

He was already expected to take over by others. When he realized that, he didn’t want that. He was already born, and a particular thing was expected from him. He’d have to live up to someone else’s expectations.

Jun was the one to take over.

But now they were here. Him leading a gang, having to take care of something his father should have done a long time ago.

He would never forget coming to Tokyo with Jun. Walking into not the most attractive building, and Jun knocking on a door.

“You said you know a guy? Who can help?” he asked again.

“Yes I did” she replied waiting patiently, humming a tune.

“Then why are we in this place that looks infested?” he said trying not to gag. There were things he was used to, it was not this.

The door opened, and Lee schooled his expression. The gut that opened the door, well he could call him a brother of Jun. They both had hideous scars on their faces. But his cousin, was discrete about it.

“I’m looking for a Hayata Saito” she said bluntly.

Ever his loving family. No beating around the bush. Straight to business.

The guy didn’t seem to care. He seemed used to it.

He turned around and walked back inside, not saying anything. They took it as their que to walk in.

Lee wasn’t used to these situations yet. Anything that involved the family business, he let her do all the talking. He wondered why she just didn’t take over.

The guy who he thought was Hayata was lounging on his couch. Chewing gum. He didn’t look like an assassin. Then again, he didn’t know what they looked like. He only had movies to guide him. Everyone who watched those movies thought the gangster life was cool, it really wasn’t.

“Mr. Saito?” she questioned. Cocking her hip to the side, folding her arms.

“In the flesh. For you to come to me, it must be serious. I only do deals over the phone, but you are one persistent lady” he giggled sitting up.

“Two grown single men, staying together” she said casually. “Looks like you have a lot of time on your hands” she joked dryly.

“State your business ma’am” he smiled.

He saw her jaws clench. He saw her fingers twitch. Probably to reach for whatever weapon was in her clothes. It was time for him to step in.

“I need you to draw out and take care of some people” he nudged Jun.

She groaned and got out the folder from inside her jacket, and tossed it to him with a frown. It landed on his laps.

“Jun” he called in warning.

She just glared at the assassin.

The man opened the envelope and pulled the three pictures out. He didn’t make any reaction to them.

“The payment is after you’ve killed them” she said tersely.

“As always” he stood up.

“Hirose Megumi and Hirose Sachi” Lee spoke up. He didn’t trust Jun to do this. She wasn’t really diplomatic.

“And the boy?” he questioned with a raised brow.

“I just need you to draw him out” he stepped closer. “There’s a hit on his head, but he’s slippery. If you intend to cash in, I don’t want him dead. Just close to dead”.

“The same for the girls?” he hummed.

“No. Do with them as you wish” and he glanced to Jun. “Payment after you deliver”.

“Thank you for your time” and he gestured to the door. “You may leave now”.

“Rude ass” Jun said to his face, then turned to go to the door.

He nodded at the guy, then he left.

“This is the last time I work with assassins. Anything we have to do in future, we do it ourselves” he said sternly.

“Understood sir”.

Jun walked in, with her mask on, to see her cousin with a faraway look in his eyes. She rolled her eyes discreetly.

He was just so soft and squeamish. She was the one actually controlling this thing. She would be the one leading this gang, the family legacy, but she respected her uncle too much. He never said this, but this was what he wanted.

“Sir” she bowed.

“I told you don’t call me sir!” he snapped.

She smirked. She wanted him to get angry. Be more like uncle. Be more like his dad. That was what this needed. Not him being all in his feelings about everything. Get tough. Act up.

“Where were you?!” he sounded annoyed.

“I’ve been out” she replied.

“You don’t just go out” he pointed out. “You’re always by my side, breathing down my neck, then you just disappear. When we’re close to doing this”.

She knew she had been caught.

“You engaged” he stated.

There was no need to lie.

“Yes I did” she replied.

“You went against my direct orders. I said don’t engage!” he raged.

“I went to the club to drink and she came onto me. I would not just stand down, and let her attack me” she argued.

“She?” he stood up. “One of the sisters? You’re no match for them” he said dryly.

“You underestimate my abilities” she folded her arms. “But no. It wasn’t them” she admitted.

“And could it be the one you have a personal vendetta against? The one responsible for your face?” he waited for her answer, patiently.

“He would have been happy I took the initiative” she said unbothered that she was speaking out of line to the boss.

“Well, he’s no longer here” he said through grit teeth. “And I control this. No one is above me, not even you big cousin”.

She scoffed, but played it off as clearing her throat.

“But, you did a good thing” he turned away from her.

“What?!” she asked astonished. Okay she had been lying. Her uncle wouldn’t tolerate what she did, she just wanted to get him angry. Him acting different, was not what she wanted.

“I want them to know that they’re time is running out. That the only reason that they’re alive is because of me”. “What about Hayata? When will he do what he’s meant to do?” he asked confused.

She smirked. Who knew the little shit could be devious. “Soon boss. And when he does, we will know” she approached and placed a hand on his shoulder. “Revenge will be yours” she whispered with promise.

VVVVV

“Karou didn’t take this much time to gather information. What gives?” Megumi asked looking up from her phone. “Has she gotten lazy because I’m not here?” she teased her sister, her eyes not playful in any way.

Sachi didn’t reply.

Megumi let her be.

Then her sister spoke up. “I wonder what type of woman would marry that monster?” she thought out loud.

“Who’s the actual monster? A gangster? Or someone who willingly wants that life?”

Takashi was quiet in the spot he sat in the room. Megumi was married, wasn’t she? She was a monster too, but he liked being alive. He just needed the information so he could get a move on.

And Karou walked into the room.

“Found it” she said energized. Well when you finally find what you’ve been looking for, you’d be happy. She looked smug in accomplishment.

“Do tell” Sachi said.

“Takahiro Nakamura. He married an Aiko Akiyama. And their son, Lee Akiyama. Looking into it, they were the ones who…..”

“It can’t be!” Takashi cut her off loudly.

Megumi’s eyebrows ticked. He was pissing her off. His very presence was nauseating.

“I’m still talking” she gave a fake smile. “Shut up” she growled.

“There’s no way that the woman and child you called are related to Takahiro!” he defended.

“Are you doubting the source?” Karou was no longer smiling.

“That woman adopted me. All the time I was there, Takahiro was never mentioned. There was no man in her life. She-she was a widow?” he was unsure of everything he had always known.

“Lee didn’t have a father. She didn’t have a husband. That source is a lie!” he couldn’t believe it.

The three women gave him an unimpressed look.

“I thought time changed people” Sachi murmured.

The other two women laughed.

He didn’t like the fact that they were laughing at his expense.

“It makes sense doesn’t it Fujiwara?” Megumi asked with a glint in her eyes. “His wife adopted you, and then you were recruited by him…..just to take me out!” she made a move to get up, but Karou placed a hand on her shoulder.

“Should you honestly be surprised?” she turned to him. “You have a talent that everyone wants to use you for. He was the one who contacted the assassin to kill the three of you. And there’s also a hit on your head. And a crazy bitch after me”.

“It all leads back to your precious brother” she ended her tale.

“I will call him, and you will see that he’s not the one” he said determined. Because he refused to believe that everything had been planned out for him, just from the beginning. His relationship with mother and son, was just a lie. To keep him close.

It was to keep an eye on him, so he would be read to do what Takahiro wanted.

“No you won’t!” Megumi stood up, pushing Karou’s hands away from her shoulder. “We’re already in deep shit as it is. You will not make this worse. Things like this happen in life. You don’t really know anyone, so accept it and shut the fuck up!” she threatened calmly.

“I am not in your gang and I am calling. Her source is wrong” and his hands went to his pocket.

“After all this time, you’re still the same pussy” she insulted him and gave him a withering look.

He brought his phone out, and she grabbed his wrist. He grabbed her wrist with his other hand. There were two clicks.

The other two women had their guns drawn.

She shoved him back hard, taking his phone. “You won’t compromise us, and put this location in the line of fire. Don’t forget we’re here because of you. Now grow some balls, and get your little gadgets. You killed your friend’s dad, would it make a difference if you killed his son” she sneered stepping away.

She turned and tossed it to Karou, who caught it and put it in her pocket.

Now that it was taken care of, Karou cleared her throat.

“I also did a little snooping around” she began.

“And what else did you find out?” Sachi lowered her gun, but she didn’t drop it.

“Well it was a unique way that some of the others died. In alphabetical order. I asked around, and there’s actually an alphabet assassin. Hayata Saito. Kills people at a price, in alphabetical order. He’s been in Tokyo for a very long time”.

“Like we didn’t know that” Sachi huffed sitting down.

“I didn’t know that” Takashi moved closer to the girls.

“I also didn’t know he was your half-brother” she said so casual, like it wasn’t a problem.

“Irrelevant!” Megumi spoke up going on the defensive.

“Well….” The only man in the room cut in. “If you’re okay killing your own family, your own blood, I’m not. You can kill yourselves, but I’m not going to kill him”.

“You don’t need to!” the right-hand yelled over her boss and Mistress. “We will do it for you, while you run away with your tail between your legs” she squinted her eyes at him.

“You think I’d let you” and he sounded really threatening.

Sachi had her gun in her hand. Twirling it round her index finger.

“Are you threatening me?” Megumi asked softly. “The only reason you’re alive is because I didn’t put a bullet in your skull!” she yelled irate. “Get out” she said softly.

Takashi just looked at her. That enraged her all the more.

“Get out!!!” she screamed.

He turned to leave. As he walked past, he snatched his phone that was already in Karou’s hand.

“You’re stupid” the woman whispered, blocking him by moving a little. “Hope your stupid actions don’t bring stupid consequences to us” and she let him pass. Not before hitting him with her shoulder.

“I wonder how he still angers me like this!” Megumi yelled knocking things of Sachi’s table.

Her older sister rolled her eyes.

“You never mentioned an older brother” Karou said as she set about putting things back in place.

“He’s irrelevant” Sachi quipped.

“A bastard” the younger sister paced.

“And now he wants to kill you two? Do you three know about each other? Do you talk?” she asked expectant.

Her boss glared. “And why would you make that your business?!”

“This doesn’t concern you Karou. You were never this nosy” her Mistress stated.

Said woman inhaled. She knew what her world was like. They couldn’t just come together and talk it out. But this was rare. A brother trying to kill his sisters. Not that it was strange. It was just rare. And her witnessing it, was baffling.

She was intrigued by all this.

By the story. Not the fact that an assassin, their brother no less, wanted to kill them. This probably wasn’t the time to listen to a story.

“I’m sorry ma’am” she apologized and continued with her work.

“I’m going to blow off some steam. When I come back, we will get back to the bastard problem” she huffed and left.

She watched her sibling go. And when she was out of sight, she looked to the other lady. “You made her mad” she laughed.

Karou looked up from her position on the floor. “She will kill Takashi after this, won’t she?”

There was no need to answer. They both laughed to the answer.

VVVVV

Takashi opened the door to his motel room. There was no way Lee had taken over a gangster empire, and had sent assassins after the three of them in revenge. Lee didn’t have a father. Aiko didn’t have a husband. So Karou was wrong.

And now that they had that lead, didn’t that mean that those three would be going after him? He wouldn’t let them. He could handle whatever was thrown at him. He had what they didn’t. And no stupid alphabet assassin or whatever was going to stop him.

He made up his mind. He would give Lee a call.

After all these years. After just getting up and leaving, without a reason, he was going to call. Just like that.

Would he still be remembered?

With the way he ended things, he wouldn’t be surprised if they decided to forget him. He didn’t call, he didn’t text or anything. But it was to keep them safe. Away from any trouble he might surely bring. He destroyed an entire gang. He had a hand in many people dying, stealing important things and he had a part to play in Takahiro’s death.

It was just a call. That was all he was going to do. He wasn’t going to go back running to Osaka.

He dialed the number. He didn’t know if he still used the same number, but he wanted to stop anything bad from happening. For once, he would do a good thing.

It was ringing, and he but his lips in anticipation. His knees shaking. There was static. Showing that the call had connected. He gasped.

“Hello?” came the strange voice.

“Lee?” he asked, voice somber. “Is-is that you?” he was hesitant.

“Depends on who’s asking” he replied bluntly. “I don’t have time for games. Who’s this?” he demanded.

He laughed. “It’s me, Takashi” he replied. “Fujiwara. Do you remember?”

“Takashi Fujiwara?” he asked, and he seemed to be trying to remember.

“W-we grew up together. I was your adopted by your mum. We were adopted brothers”.

“Takashi?!” he could hear the evident surprise. “Is that you?! Bro!!” he exclaimed. “What happened to your voice? You sound strange!” there was excitement and happiness.

“Yeah” he smiled. “It’s called growing up. It’s pretty deep, right?” he laughed.

“Yes it is. So is mine” he sounded reassuring. “You called. Are you coming back?” there was anticipation. He could hear it. “Is that why you called?”

“No dude. Not really” he shook his head, like he could see him.

“Then why? After all this time, you just decide to call” there was disappointment and accusations in his voice.

“Some bad things happened Lee. I wish I could tell you” he brushed a hand down his face. “Well you could! I gave you a chance before you left, but you didn’t tell me anything. I thought we were brothers. But only me and my mum felt the same” he said gruffly.

“I could come visit the both of you” he tried.

“Don’t” he heard a sigh. “I’m not back home now. I’m not even in Osaka…..”

“Where are you?!” he jumped at the opportunity. “I could come meet you” that was a better possibility. He wouldn’t bring any danger to him.

“I’m in Tokyo. Why is that important Takashi?” he grumbled.

“Coincidence!” he exclaimed. “I’m here in Tokyo too. I can come meet you tomorrow. Just send me your address”.

“That is a coincidence. What are you doing here?” he asked suspicious.

“I moved here” he replied. “What about you?”

“My dad had property here, so I’m here looking at it” he replied casual. “I’ll send you the address, then we can talk” and there was static again.

“Before you go!” he started. “It was nice to hear from you again” he told him sincerely.

“You too. See you later Takashi” and he dropped the call.

He stood on the intercrossed paths. He had no idea what his father wanted to do with this, but it was nice to work on his balance.

Jun approached, on the part that people could walk on. It was separated by a rail.

“Change of plans” he smiled at her. “Call that guy, and tell him to get a move on things. I want everything done by tomorrow”.

“So quick?” she leaned against the steel with a smile of her own. “Are you sure…...”

“No excuses and stupid chatter. Do it now!” he ordered.

“Yes boss” and she leaned away, turning to make the call. Soon, she would pay back for her scarred face.

Hayata stopped his movements, moving the legs that were wrapped around him to this left side, but he didn’t pull out. Just placed them above his shoulder. Earning a warning groan from his partner.

“Hello” he said, gripping the legs and moving his hips.

“Oh!” he drawled. “Okay” he said. “Bright and early princess” and he tossed his phone to the pile of clothes on the floor.

He halted his movements completely. “Guess what sunshine?” he looked down at Eisuke.

“What?” the other guys sat up.

“Tomorrow, we cash in” and he leaned forward quickly and stole a kiss. “Kill shot” he said against his lips.