36. Kenzo
CHAPTER 36
KENZO
In the VIP Lounge of Samurai Castle, Tomo sips whisky, and there’s an open bottle of Yamazaki sitting next to him. It’s his favorite brand, which means it’s a celebration. That’s good. Cherry’s even sipping on her own glass, and Niko sits beside them. Niko isn’t smiling, but he’s not scowling either, which means he’s in a good mood.
Dice nods at Tomo. And though I’d usually give Tomo a hug, I can’t do that right now. My mind is at war.
“ Chichiue? ” Ronin asks.
Just call him ‘boss,’ for fuck’s sake! Calling him “Father” like he’s a goddamn idol is straight brown nosing. Sometimes, I use the title too, but when it comes from Ronin, it grates on me. The fucking suck-up.
Tomo pours three more glasses of whisky. “Golden Honor Firearms agreed to a soft deal,” he says. “No contract yet, but we met with Hayes, and all we need is a few signatures.”
A bolt of heat runs through me. That’s a huge win.
I shake Tomo’s hand. “Congratulations,” I say.
He wrinkles his brows at me; it’s not my typical response, but we clink glasses anyway.
“ Kanpai, ” Ronin says.
Once we sip our drinks, Tomo turns to Ronin. “We’re going to have you work on correspondence with the Ito-gumi,” Tomo says. “You know the Ito-gumi best, and your language skills are better than the rest of us.” He chuckles. “Even mine.”
“Akio and I don’t get along,” Ronin says, his jaw set.
“You gave him your pinky. That’s an honorable expulsion. What more does he want?” Tomo chuckles and pats Ronin on the back. “Akio and I don’t get along either, but we make do, eh?”
“You have a working relationship,” Ronin says. “Akio wants me dead.”
Tomo lets out a deep sigh, and my back stiffens as I recognize the sound from him. It’s not good. Cherry straightens, her fists balled, ready to defend Tomo, and a hint of satisfaction spreads across Niko’s lips.
“If you want to prove yourself to this yakuza, then you will start acting like you belong,” Tomo says, his voice cold. “If I give you an order, you obey without question. It is your duty, Ronin- kun. ”
All of us freeze at those words. It’s not like Tomo to threaten one of us, and calling him “Ronin- kun ” puts him back in his place. After all, we are the equivalent of obedient children. We are the kobun, and we serve Tomo, our oyabun.
But Ronin, the dumb fucker, doesn’t back down. He broadens his shoulders. Does Tomo have him worked up, or does it make him nervous to face Ito Akio, the gangster who raised him? Is Ronin worried his precious little scam will be exposed?
But Ronin nods deeply, closing his eyes. He adds a deep bow for good measure.
“ ōse no tōri ni, chichiue, ” he says. I will do as you wish, Father.
“Tell the Ito-gumi we’ll be charging higher rates now,” Tomo says. “With this deal, we won’t need their business anymore. We can exploit other regions as well. But test the waters, eh? I want Akio to know I still remember where I came from.”
Ronin’s eyes flick away, and I almost feel for him. Tomo left the Ito-gumi decades ago, chopping off his own pinky, claiming he would start a new subsection of the Ito-gumi for Akio in the United States. But once Tomo settled into Las Vegas, he started his own yakuza, completely separate from his old boss. By the time Tomo was established, their business deals were too deep. Akio had no choice but to let the Endo-kai grow and thrive. It was too profitable for both of them.
Until now.
This negotiation—or announcement—will eventually break our ties with the Ito-gumi. That’s a lot of pressure to put on Ronin’s shoulders. But that’s only if Ronin is telling the truth.
I don’t offer any support. He wants me to kill my wife, and I want him to get his ass handed back to him.
Ronin leaves to make the phone call. Tomo finishes his glass of whisky, then turns to the rest of us.
“Let’s drink!” he says.
About an hour later, Ronin returns. His mouth is pinched, a cigarette burning between his lips; he’s a chimney stack, puffing along until the bitter end.
“Tell me the good news,” Tomo says. “I’m on a roll, you know.”
Ronin holds his tongue for a moment, but then he straightens his back. “With the way it is in Tokyo right now, Akio can’t afford?—”
“Is he complaining about the laws again?” Tomo interrupts, laughing. “When have the laws ever stopped the Ito-gumi?” Tomo slaps his own chest in anger. “I want my fucking deal.”
I shift my eyes. Niko rattles a glass of ice as he watches in fascination. He’s never been one to accept orders without question either, but as Tomo’s chosen wakagashira, he gets away with a lot.
“Please,” Niko mocks Ronin. “Tell us about how bad it is for the yakuza in Tokyo right now.”
Ronin, the strong fucker that he is, ignores Niko. He keeps his eyes fixed on Tomo.
“They can’t rent an apartment, get a phone, or open a bank account. If you’re tied to the yakuza, you can’t live anymore,” Ronin says. “We’re second-class citizens.”
“And that’s why Akio lives off of his oldest daughter,” Tomo says dismissively. “Akio should’ve known better than to think he could live like a king forever.”
“ Chichiue, ” Ronin says calmly, though you can tell his patience is wearing thin. He bows deeply before speaking, knowing he has to prove himself to the Endo-kai. “It’s not the same as when you left. Business is different now. They can’t afford to pay higher prices. There isn’t enough business. Guns and Shabu-8 are the last trade they have. Do you have any compassion for your old family?”
Tomo stands. He steps closer to Ronin, his walk careful and controlled. There’s barely any limp to his gait. He’s too proud to show it right now.
“I don’t care what it’s like in Tokyo,” Tomo growls. “Honor. Justice. Compassion. None of that bushido code fazes me anymore.” He snaps his teeth together. “Business is business.”
“The hangure believe the same thing,” Ronin says.
Hangure. Half-gray. The new criminals ruling the streets of Japan.
“No code,” Ronin continues. “No honor. Only violence. Why should a system like that deserve the respect of the kobun? ”
A small chuckle comes from Niko, but Cherry shoots a look at him, and he gives her a cocky grin. And me? I’m fixed on Tomo and Ronin. I’m surprised no one has thrown any punches, but from what I know about Akio, he ruled with violence. Tomo is probably avoiding that kind of response to prove a point. But I have to give Ronin credit for calling out our boss like this. It takes fucking balls, especially when he’s still earning his way into our group.
Dice curls his fists, and Cherry steps forward. I crack my neck, finding my gun.
But Tomo lifts a hand, and we take a step back.
“He’s right,” Tomo says to us. “But the funny thing is, the hangure are taking over the crime world, aren’t they?” Tomo narrows his eyes, leaning in closer to Ronin. “This is Vegas. You can’t live on honor out here, Ronin. If you don’t thrive on violence, you die. ” Tomo bares his teeth, showing the first hint of aggression I’ve seen from him in years. He punctuates each word of his final order: “Make. My. Deal. Happen.”
Cherry guards Tomo as they both walk back to the private elevators. Once they’re gone, Niko pops up beside Ronin.
“Didn’t know you had it in you,” Niko says. Ronin lights a new cigarette, and Niko smacks him on the back. “Good luck with the Ito-gumi. Seems like a lot of fucked-up history you’re dealing with. If you need help, let me know,” he jokes. “You know where to find me.”
For once, Niko is completely amused, a smile on his face, almost like he’s happy to watch the Ito-gumi and the Endo-kai go head-to-head. But as second-in-command, all he has to do is make sure the oyabun’s orders are carried out, no matter what that means. And yet, I wouldn’t be surprised if Niko wants to see Ronin fail. After all, if Ronin is older than Niko, then he’s threatening Niko’s position as the next kumicho.
Niko slips off, disappearing into the casino, leaving Dice, Ronin, and me alone.
As for me, I’m more sympathetic. I’m not jealous of Ronin’s position. Dealing with Akio like that must be a pain in the ass. I shake hands with Dice, then turn to Ronin.
“ Kentō wo inoru, ” I say as we shake hands. Wishing you the best of luck. He’s going to need it.
I head out, relieved that this problem with the Ito-gumi emerged. Ronin’s got bigger shit to deal with than my love life, and that gets him off of my back. Vi and her lies are a secondary issue now.
The urge to see Vi grows in my chest, but even the thought of her innocent blue eyes makes my brain mush. How the hell am I going to “take care” of her?
“Take care” only means one thing to the Endo-kai. I know what my duty is, and it makes me sick.
Kentō wo inoru, I had said to Ronin. As if he’s the unlucky bastard who needs extra push of strength. I’m the one who needs it.